Avinguda Diagonal

Thoroughfare in Barcelona, Spain

Avinguda Diagonal

La Caixa Headquarters on Avinguda Diagonal

Length| 11 km (6.8 mi)
Location| Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Coordinates| 41°23′47″N 2°09′29″E﻿ / ﻿41.39639°N 2.15806°E﻿ / 41.39639; 2.15806
From| Les Corts
To| Sant Martí

Avinguda Diagonal (Catalan pronunciation: [əβiŋˈɡuðə ði.əɣuˈnal], in Spanish Avenida Diagonal) is the name of one of Barcelona's broadest and most important avenues. It cuts the city in two, diagonally with respect to the grid pattern of the surrounding streets, hence the name.

It was originally projected by engineer and urban planner Ildefons Cerdà as one of the city's wide avenues, which along with Avinguda Meridiana would cut the rationalist grid he designed for l'Eixample (Catalan for extension). Both would meet at Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes, which Cerdà envisioned as the new city centre. However, Plaça Catalunya, equally a new addition to the city of Barcelona, and connecting Ciutat Vella and Eixample, and therefore occupying a more privileged position in the urban area, would finally become the centre. Avinguda Diagonal remains to this day a much-transited avenue and many companies and hotels use it as a privileged location, as can be seen in its architecture.

The avenue starts in the Les Corts district on the western edge of the city and runs to the Sant Martí district on the eastern edge. To its west, it connects with the Lleida-Madrid highway and Ronda de Dalt in the neighbouring municipality of Esplugues de Llobregat. To its east, it meets the Ronda del Litoral on the border with the municipality of Sant Adrià de Besòs. It is consistently 50 metres (160 ft) wide and about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) long.

## Name[edit]

The different regimes that held power in Catalonia and Spain during the 20th century sought to change the city's street names, and Avinguda Diagonal was permitted no exception. It has been known under the following names:

* Gran Via Diagonal – original name which Ildefons Cerdà and Víctor Balaguer intended to call the avenue.
* Avinguda d'Argüelles – 1891. Named after Agustín Argüelles (1776–1844).
* Avinguda de la Nacionalitat Catalana – 1922. Mancomunitat de Catalunya, (in English, Commonwealth of Catalonia).
* Avenida de Alfonso XIII −1924. During Miguel Primo de Rivera's dictatorship, named after King Alfonso XIII.
* Avinguda del Catorze d'Abril – 1931. Second Spanish Republic (1931–1939).
* Gran Vía Diagonal – 1939, provisional name imposed the day after the Fascist capture of Barcelona as an attempt to eliminate references to the Republic.
* Avenida del Generalísimo Francisco Franco – 1939. During the authoritarian regime of Francisco Franco.
* Avinguda Diagonal – Its current name, adopted following the restoration of democracy in 1979.

The name "Diagonal" has always prevailed in popular usage.

## History[edit]

### Early history[edit]

Ildefons Cerdà's so-called Pla Cerdà was not totally successful in transforming Barcelona's urban reality, as only parts of it were finally approved. The construction of Avinguda Diagonal is one of the projects it entailed that became reality, when a Royal Decree from Queen Isabella II of Spain and Leopoldo O'Donnell's Spanish government in Madrid allowed him to start the construction of the avenue in 1859. The city council of Barcelona had previously requested the approval of Antoni Rovira i Trias's alternative project instead, which had been rejected.

Apartment building on Avinguda Diagonal from the beginning of the 20th century

After the completion of its central section, from the current Plaça de Francesc Macià towards Glòries, it soon became one of Barcelona's most popular avenues and an ideal place for the Catalan aristocrats and bourgeoisie to exhibit their carriages. Francesc Cambó, leader of Lliga Regionalista proposed the construction of a new palace for the then monarch Alfonso XIII in 1919 (the royal palace in Ciutat Vella had been destroyed in the fire of 1875).

### Recent history[edit]

Avinguda Diagonal suffered several attacks by the Basque separatist organisation ETA in 2000. On 2 November, a car bomb exploded injuring a security officer and a municipal officer. A few days later, on 21 November, a car used by the killers of Ernest Lluch exploded in the middle of the avenue. On 20 December a municipal officer was shot dead.[1]

Four venues in the area hosted competitions for the 1992 Summer Olympics.[2]

During 2010, Diagonal reform proposals were on the headlines, as the Barcelona city council had plans to make the tram cross the whole avenue. A popular consultation (the word referendum being banned by Spanish law) was scheduled for May 2010 between two reform proposals, the so-called rambla or boulevard. It resulted in a big political failure for the city mayor, Jordi Hereu. There was a bare participation of 12% of potential voters, and about 80% voted for the third option none of the former two, that is, against any change.[3]

## Buildings and places of interest[edit]

Torre Agbar

### Architecture[edit]

* Casa del Baró de Quadras (Museu de la Música) – designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch (1904–1906)
* Casa Comalat – designed by Salvador Valeri i Pupurull (1906–1911)
* Església del Carme – designed by Josep Domènech i Estapà, neo-Byzantine style (1909)
* Casa Serra – also designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch, became a school.
* Casa de Terrades, also known as Casa de les Punxes – Eixample's widest building, designed by Puig i Cadafalch (1903–1905)
* ME Barcelona hotel, designed by Dominique Perrault (2007).
* Palau Pérez Samanillo
* Casa Sayrach – (1918)
* Palau Reial de Pedralbes (1921), built for Alfonso XIII of Spain and its gardens. (1924).
* Torre Agbar – designed by Jean Nouvel, next to Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes (2005).
* La Caixa Headquarters
* Disseny Hub Barcelona

### Shopping centres[edit]

* L'Illa.
* El Corte Inglés Avinguda Diagonal
* El Corte Inglés Francesc Macià
* Diagonal Mar
* Glòries
* Pedralbes Centre

### Cinemas[edit]

* CINESA Diagonal Mar
* Boliche
* CINESA Diagonal
* Glòries Multicines

## Education[edit]

Avinguda Diagonal is also home to several schools of both Universitat de Barcelona (UB) and Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, in the area that is commonly known as Zona Universitària.

The following UB faculties and schools are located on the avenue:

* Biology (Av. Diagonal, 645)
* Chemical Engineering (Av. Diagonal, 647)
* Chemistry (Av. Diagonal, 647)
* Business school (Av. Diagonal, 696)
* Economics (Av. Diagonal, 690)
* Law (Av. Diagonal, 684)
* Materials Engineering (Av. Diagonal, 647)
* Physics (Av. Diagonal, 647)

Panoramic photograph of Avinguda Diagonal, Barcelona in January 2011

## Transport[edit]

### Metro[edit]

The avenue is served by a number of metro stations:

* Zona Universitària (L3, L9)
* Palau Reial (L3)
* Maria Cristina (L3)
* Diagonal (L3, L5) – In and around Passeig de Gràcia.
* Provença (L6, L7) – In Carrer Provença, linked with Diagonal station.
* Verdaguer (L4, L5) – In Plaça Verdaguer
* Glòries (L1) – in Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes.
* Selva de Mar (L4).
* El Maresme Fòrum (L4).

### Tram[edit]

Trambaix line in front of L'Illa

Trambaix

* Zona Universitària (T1, T2, T3)
* Palau Reial (T1, T2, T3)
* Maria Cristina (T1, T2, T3)
* Numància (T1, T2, T3)
* L'Illa (T1, T2, T3)
* Francesc Macià (T1, T2, T3)

Trambesòs

* Glòries (T4, T5)
* Ca L'Aranyó (T4)
* Pere IV (T4)
* Fluvià (T4)
* Selva de Mar (T4)
* El Maresme (T4)
* Fòrum (T4)

## See also[edit]

* Diagonal metro station
* Eixample, List of streets in Eixample
* Modernisme, Noucentisme, Art Nouveau.
* Ildefons Cerdà and his Pla Cerdà, influenced by utopian socialism
* History of Barcelona
* History of Catalonia
* History of Spain
* 2004 Universal Forum of Cultures

* Street names in Barcelona
* Urban planning of Barcelona

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Atentados de ETA desde la ruptura de la última tregua". El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 October 2010.
2. ^ 1992 Summer Olympics official report. Archived 28 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine Volume 2. pp. 209–28.
3. ^ Opción C: Varapalo al alcalde Hereu a La Vanguardia 16 May 2010

## Sources[edit]

* ALBAREDA, Joaquim, GUÀRDIA, Manel i altres. Enciclopèdia de Barcelona, Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana, Barcelona, 2006.

## External links[edit]

* Article on Avinguda Diagonal by journalist Lluís Permanyer
* Casa de les Punxes
* Avinguda Diagonal at the tourism site of the city council.
* The new tile of Diagonal in Barcelona.

* v
* t
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Barcelona landmarks

Beaches|

* Barceloneta
* Sant Sebastià
* Somorrostro

Buildings and
structures|

* Ancient synagogue
* Arc de Triomf
* Arenas de Barcelona
* Avinguda Diagonal
* Barcelona Cathedral
* Barcelona Pavilion
* Barcelona Royal Shipyard
* Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy
* Basilica of Saint Joseph Oriol
* Basilica of Saints Justus and Pastor
* Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
* Bellesguard
* Casa Amatller
* Casa Batlló
* Casa Bonaventura Ferrer
* Casa Bonet
* Casa Calvet
* Casa de les Punxes
* Casa Lleó Morera
* Casa Martí
* Casa Milà
* Casa Vicens
* Castle of the Three Dragons
* City Hall
* Columbus Monument
* Diagonal Zero Zero
* Dona i Ocell
* Els Quatre Gats
* Estació de França
* Fabra Observatory
* Font de Canaletes
* Forum Building
* Fossar de les Moreres
* Hospital de Sant Pau
* Hotel Arts
* Hotel Melia Barcelona Sky
* La Boqueria
* La Monumental
* Library of Catalonia
* Magic Fountain of Montjuïc
* Mercat del Born
* Monastery of Pedralbes
* Montjuïc Castle
* Montjuïc Communications Tower
* Old Hospital de la Santa Creu
* Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya
* Palau del Parlament de Catalunya
* Palau Güell
* Palau Nacional
* Royal Palace of Pedralbes
* Palau Reial Major
* Palau Robert
* Poble Espanyol
* Port Olímpic
* Port Vell
* Sagrada Família
* Santa Maria del Mar
* Santa Maria del Pi
* Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor
* Torre de Collserola
* Torre Glòries
* Venetian Towers
* Virreina Palace
* World Trade Center Barcelona

Museums|

* Archaeology Museum of Catalonia
* Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art
* CaixaForum Barcelona
* Can Framis Museum
* Centre d'Art Santa Mònica
* Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona
* CosmoCaixa Barcelona
* FC Barcelona Museum
* Fundació Antoni Tàpies
* Fundació Joan Miró
* Gabinet de les Arts Gràfiques
* Gaudí House Museum
* Jardí Botànic de Barcelona
* Juan Antonio Samaranch Olympic and Sports Museum
* Maritime Museum
* Museu Barbier-Mueller d'Art Precolombí
* Museu de la Música
* Museu de la Xocolata
* Museu de les Arts Decoratives
* Museu Frederic Marès
* Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya
* Museu Picasso
* Museu Tèxtil i d'Indumentària
* Museum of the History of Barcelona
* Museum of the History of Catalonia
* Perfume Museum
* Vil·la Joana

Performing arts|

* L'Auditori
* Coliseum
* Festival Grec de Barcelona
* Gran Teatre del Liceu
* Palau de la Música Catalana
* Teatre Lliure
* Teatre Nacional de Catalunya
* Teatre Principal

Parks and gardens|

* Catalunya en Miniatura
* Mossèn Costa i Llobera Gardens
* Oreneta Park
* Parc de la Ciutadella
* Parc de la Creueta del Coll
* Park Güell
* Parc Joan Miró
* Parc del Laberint d'Horta

Streets and squares|

* Avinguda Diagonal
* Avinguda Meridiana
* Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes
* La Rambla
* Passeig de Gràcia
* Plaça d'Espanya
* Plaça d'Ildefons Cerdà
* Plaça de Catalunya
* Plaça de Francesc Macià
* Plaça del Rei
* Plaça Reial
* Plaça Sant Jaume
* Rambla de Catalunya

Sports venues|

* Anella Olímpica
* Camp de Les Corts
* Camp Municipal Narcís Sala
* Camp Nou
* Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys
* Mini Estadi
* Palau Blaugrana
* Palau dels Esports
* Palau Sant Jordi
* Sarrià Stadium

Zoos|

* Aquarium Barcelona
* Barcelona Zoo

* v
* t
* e

Venues of the 1992 Summer Olympics (Barcelona)

Montjuïc Area|

* Cross-country course
* Estadi Olímpic de Monjuïc
* Institut Nacional d'Educació Física de Catalunya
* Marathon course
* Mataró (Marathon start)
* Palau de la Metal·lúrgia
* Palau dels Esports de Barcelona
* Palau Sant Jordi
* Pavelló de l'Espanya Industrial
* Piscina Municipal de Montjuïc
* Piscines Bernat Picornell
* Walking course

Diagonal Area|

* Camp Nou
* Palau Blaugrana
* Sarrià Stadium
* Real Club de Polo de Barcelona

Vall d'Hebron Area|

* Archery Field
* Pavelló de la Vall d'Hebron
* Tennis de la Vall d'Hebron
* Velòdrom d'Horta

Parc de Mar Area|

* Estació del Nord
* Olympic Harbour
* Pavelló de la Mar Bella

Subsites|

* A-17 highway
* Lake of Banyoles
* Camp Municipal de Beisbol de Viladecans
* Canal Olímpic de Catalunya
* Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
* Club Hípic El Montanyà
* Estadi de la Nova Creu Alta
* Estadi Olímpic de Terrassa
* Estadio Luís Casanova
* La Romareda
* L'Hospitalet de Llobregat Baseball Stadium
* Mollet del Vallès Shooting Range
* Palau d'Esports de Granollers
* Parc Olímpic del Segre
* Pavelló Club Joventut Badalona
* Pavelló de l'Ateneu de Sant Sadurní
* Pavelló del Club Patí Vic
* Pavelló d'Esports de Reus
* Pavelló Olímpic de Badalona
* Sant Sadurní Cycling Circuit

Authority control

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Israel
* United States

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