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Diari de Catalunya

Carrer de Grau in Sant Andreu hides a 'Catalonia in Miniature'

This atypical, vehicle-free alley in Barcelona stands out for its low houses and patios, featuring a unique private thematic garden.

View of a narrow alley with low houses and inner patios, evoking an old village atmosphere in the city.
IA

View of a narrow alley with low houses and inner patios, evoking an old village atmosphere in the city.

The street of Grau, considered one of the most charming in the Sant Andreu neighborhood, preserves an old village layout with low houses and patios, a unique architectural feature within the Barcelona urban grid.

Carrer de Grau is championed by many residents as the most welcoming street in the Sant Andreu neighborhood. This alley is atypical in Barcelona, having been vehicle-free before any traffic calming measures, and features a turn of almost 90 degrees.
Its architectural singularity lies in the low, single-story houses, complemented by gardens and patios across the street. This scene, highly unusual in the Barcelona of the Cerdà grid, evokes the past of the old Sant Andreu village, resembling small towns in the Maresme region.

Carrer de Grau is magical

Beyond its physical layout, the main attraction is the “Catalonia in Miniature” emerging from the small gardens located at numbers 55 and 58. This creation is the work of resident Isidre Castells, who adapted his patio with unique elements between 1985 and 2000.
The private garden is decorated with modernist mosaics (trencadís) and elements representing Catalan identity, such as the Sagrada Família, Montserrat, and the shields of FC Barcelona and UE Sant Andreu. This cultural effort has made Carrer de Grau a point of interest for locals and visitors alike.

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