#barcelonaneighborhoods

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EXPLORING POPULAR BARCELONA DISTRICTS - Sagrada Familia, El Born, Gothic...

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Barcelona Metropolitan Area

The Barcelona Metropolitan Area surrounds the central area of Barcelona; it covers just over 3,000km² and is home to just over 5 million residents. The surrounding metropolitan area of Barcelona includes the area running down the Catalan coast and is bordered by the Mediterranean and the Collserola Mountains. In the surrounding areas there are residential neighborhoods with detached and semi-detached houses often with large gardens and swimming pools. There are housing complexes with shared amenities including tennis courts and pools. What makes these neighborhoods special is that they also have forests and mountains nearby giving them a suburban, village and rural feel. For example there is Sant Cugat del Valles, Sant Vincente dels Horts, Sant Just Desvern and Sabadell. These areas are prestigious luxury neighborhoods where Coldwell Banker represents many properties.

Sant Just Desvern

Coldwell Banker represents properties in Sant Just Desvern which has a village feel and is just 10 minutes from Barcelona via highway B-23. It is also close to the Collserola Park. Sant Just Desvern has many gardens, parks and green areas. About 15% of Sant Just Desvern’s population is foreigners and more than half of them are Europeans. The small municipality has a low crime rate and many amenities including schools for all ages. Sant Just Desvern hosts several festivals and special events each year including the mini-racing Karts e Coixinets and the Festa de la Pau. Their main festival is Festa Major that takes place in August. Sant Just Desvern includes in its landmarks ancient ruins like the Iberian settlement of 6th century BC and 1st century BC Roman medieval town and a quaint flour mill from 1306.

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Barcelona Neighborhood Real Estate Analysis

Let’s take a look at the luxury housing in some of Barcelona’s most prestigious neighborhoods and let’s look at the average prices and the buyers who are purchasing properties in these areas.

Eixample – This centrally located area has mostly apartment buildings which stand in amongst famous landmarks like Gaudi’s Casa Mila, Casa Batllo and sagrada Familia. Buyers looking for Eixample homes include up and coming business people, couples who earn a substantial joint income. Buyers look for apartments in Eixample for private use or buy-to-rent. Many of the buyers come from abroad or work abroad especially in Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, Argentina and the Netherlands. The average price per meters squared in Eixample is approximately 4,350€ and prime real estate can be found on Paseo de Gracia where prices can reach as high as 11,000€ per meter square.

Zone Alta – This is a highly sought after area especially among affluent families. This is an exclusive and quiet area covering Sarria-Sant gervasi, Bonanova, Pedralbes, a section of Le Corts and Tres Torres. Zona Alta has some 19th century mansions built on large plots but there is a wide range of properties in this area from apartments to houses. There are many green spaces in Zone Alta and amenities for families. The average price at the moment in Zone Alta is approximately 9,000€ per meter square for new development apartments.

Ciutat Vella – This area has a wide range of homes to offer including houses and apartment penthouses with sea views. Ciutat Vella is close to the city center bordering on Eixample. The area is home to the Picasso Museum and the cathedral of Barcelona. There are many small renovated apartments in historic buildings which have been given all the luxurious mod-cons yet retained their quaint charm and unique architectural features. The average price in Ciutat Vella for a luxury apartment can be approximately 6,100€ per square meter. The area is particularly popular with foreign buyers from Switzerland and Northern America.

Gracia – For real diversity and an extensive range of apartments to choose from this area is for you. Gracia has always attracted artists, intellectuals and students and it continues to be a hub of bohemian yet upper class residents. Tourists venture into Gracia to reach the famous Parc Guell which boats amazing architectural structures by Gaudi. The expansive park is great for residents especially those with kids. Approximately 70% of buyers in Gracia are local families with the remaining 30% being foreign buyers from Italy, France, North America, Scandinavia and South America. Many of these foreign buyers purchase in Gracia to rent out or to keep as a second home. Because of the wide variety of real estate in this district the prices tend to vary greatly as well. You can get a small apartment in Vall d’Hebron starting from 1,500€ per meter square to houses in Vila de Gracia for up to 5,000€ per meter square.

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Esplugues de Llobregat

The municipality of Esplugues de Llobregat is in the Barcelona metropolitan area; the community has evolved over the years into a vibrant, trendy and high-end residential and commercial location. Esplugues de Llobregat has managed to transform itself into a modern neighborhood without sacrificing its history or cultural identity. The neighborhood is unique in having remnants of its historic character unlike other parts of the Baix Llobregat which has lost their historic and romantic character to modernization. The most picturesque and historic areas in Esplugues de Llobregat are el Carrer de Montserrat and the Palace of Can Cortada. The palace was owned by Baron Malda a leading 18th century voice in the Catalan literary world and author of Calaix Tailor. In addition to its historic areas Esplugues de Llobregat is known for its expansive green areas some of which are urban-style parks and others which have been left in their natural state bringing an air of rural tranquility to the neighborhood. Among the most prominent parks in Esplugues de Llobregat are the Park of Solidarity, Can Vidalet Park and the Park of Torrents.

Read more about Esplugues de Llobregat....

Esplugues de Llobregat as a Residential Neighborhood

This area has fast become a prestigious address for those looking for luxury housing and it is popular with foreign property investors and home owners from abroad. One of the reasons is that the German School of Barcelona and the American School of Barcelona are located within Esplugues de Llobregat. Expats looking for a high level of education for their children and a suburban-style neighborhood with high quality amenities are drawn to Esplugues de Llobregat. The neighborhood has also attracted a few starlets and iconic figures from the sports world that have purchased homes here.

Esplugues de Llobregat Municipal Services

The municipality of Esplugues de Llobregat has an excellent website which also has an English version. Here you can find all the details about local services and amenities as well as the neighborhood’s transportation system, a city map, weather forecast and images of the city. The website has been made easily accessible so that citizens have a quick and direct way of contacting the City Hall. The website has been designed to reflect the innovative outlook of the city which has strong involvement of its citizens. The website has a section for visitors to Esplugues de Llobregat where there are articles on the highlights and landmarks of the city including the Pujol i Bausis Ceramic Factory, Can Tinture Museum, Montsio Monastery, The Anti-Aircraft Defense of Sant Pere Martir, Espai Baronda and the Municipal Historical Archives. The municipality promotes sustainable transportation and their website has a whole section on sustainable ways of getting around like cycling, car pooling and sustainable public transport systems.

Leisure in Esplugues de Llobregat

The city has at least 50 great restaurants which are listed on Trip Advisor. Among the more highly recommended are el Caliu, Ninus, La Pubilla and Restaurant Mendia. If you are looking for a hotel in the city there is Esplugues Hotel and the nearby Abba Garden Hotel. 4,567 vacation rentals are listed on Trip Advisor for Esplugues de Llobregat. The city also has a number of nightclubs and bars.

If you are interested in learning more about homes for sale in Esplugues de Llobregat contact Coldwell Banker.