In the urban environment of Barcelona there is an artery that stands out for its length and its importance as a route of transit and commercial activity. This is the Gran Via de Les Corts Catalanes, a street that stretches for 13 kilometers and crosses the city from the northwest to the southeast, even reaching neighboring towns such as El Prat de Llobregat and Sant Adrià del Besòs.
This emblematic boulevard is not only the longest street in Barcelona, but also holds the title of the second longest street in Spain.
Gran Via de Les Corts Catalanes is much more than just a thoroughfare; it is the nerve center of Barcelona, where a wide variety of business, commercial and cultural activities converge.
Along its extensive route, there are numerous establishments, offices, stores and restaurants that give life and dynamism to this bustling artery.
Gran Via de Les Corts Catalanes
Curiously, although many might think that the longest street in Barcelona is the famous Avenida Diagonal, the reality is that this emblematic avenue occupies a secondary place in the list of the longest streets of the city.
Gran Via de Les Corts Catalanes is the undisputed winner in terms of length, surpassing even other important roads such as Carrer de València, Carrer d’Aragó or Avinguda Diagonal itself.
The origin of the Gran Via de Les Corts Catalanes dates back to the ambitious urban planning project of the Eixample, designed by Ildefons Cerdà in the 19th century. This urban expansion plan radically transformed the urban landscape of Barcelona, creating a network of long, rectilinear streets that stretched as far as the eye could see.
The Gran Via, with its 13 kilometers long and 689 portals, perfectly embodies Cerdà’s vision of a modern and orderly city.
Changes throughout history
Throughout its history, Gran Via de Les Corts Catalanes has undergone several name changes that reflect the political and social vicissitudes of the city.
Initially known as “Letra N, Number 11” in the original plan of the Cerdà Plan, the street was renamed “Avenida de las Cortes Catalanas” in 1931, during the Second Republic.
However, with the arrival of Franco’s dictatorship, the name was changed again to “Avenida de José Antonio Primo de Rivera”. Finally, after the democratic transition, it recovered its original name as Gran Via de Les Corts Catalanes.
Gran Via de Les Corts Catalanes is a symbol of Barcelona’s identity and dynamism, a road that encapsulates the history and diversity of a cosmopolitan and vibrant city.
