Barcelona L’Eixample Esquerra

Meditation. Officially entitled Meditation, the bull’s thoughtful pose mimics that of Rodin’s The Thinker. He’s easy to miss, but you’ll remember his brooding countenance forever. At the opposite end of the avenue, his cousin, Coquette, a flirtatious giraffe of questionable virtue, seduces passersby on Av. Diagonal. (Catalunya, L3. From Pl. de Catalunya, walk up La Rambla de Catalunya 1 block to Gran Via; the statue is in the middle of La Rambla, across from Comme-Bio.)

Casas In L’Eixample Esquerra

Casa Golferichs. One of Gaudí’s collaborators, Joan Rubió, designed this Moorish-influenced, brown brick structure in 1901. Now a civic center, Golferichs hosts courses ranging from “Domestic Economics” to “Ancient Egypt: Art, Magic, and Myth” as well as conferences, art exhibitions, and summer concerts in the courtyard. (Gran Via, 491, at the intersection with C. Viladomat. Urgell, L1. ☎933 23 77 90. M-F 9:30am-10pm, Sa 10am-2pm and 5-9pm. Wheelchair-accessible.)

Casa De Lactancia. Pere Falques and Antoni de Flaguerra designed this Modernista residence—now a nursing home. Stone carvings by Eusebi Arnau and a mosaic flag of Barcelona can be viewed from outside, but step into the foyer to see the equally impressive wrought-iron interior balcony and delicate stained glass windows. (Under construction as of summer 2009, but it is still possible to step into the foyer. Gran Via, 475. Urgell, L1.)

Casa Company. Puig i Cadalfach constructed this house for a local family in 1911. The creamy white Art Deco facade with painted decorations was converted into Dr. Melcior Colet’s gynecology practice in 1940 and later donated to the government of Catalunya. Today, it houses the Museu de l’Esport. (C. Buenos Aires, 56-58. Hosptial Clìnic, L5. Walk up C. del Comte d’Urgell until you hit C. Buenos Aires. Make a right; the building is 1 block down on the right.)

Casa De Les Punxes (House Of Spikes) . Also known as La Casa Terrades, this is one of the most famous Modernista houses in the city. Puig i Cadafalch designed the house in 1905 for the Terrades sisters, who wanted to unite three existing buildings on their property. ( Av. Diagonal, 416-420. Joanic, L4, near the intersection of Av. Diagonal and C. Roger de Llúria.)

Casa Comalat. This casa, built from 1906-11 and designed by Salvador Valeri i Pupurull (1873-1954), has two facades. The one facing Av. Diagonal is symmetrical and well decorated with subtle stone textures. (Av. Diagonal 442.)

Palau Del Baló De Quadras. Puig i Cadafalch designed this house (built 1904-06), which is almost entirely capped in sculptures. It is currently being used as the “Casa Asia,” a building intended to encourage cultural communication and exchange with Asia. (Av. Diagonal, 373.)