Les Tres Torres (, "the three towers") is a residential neighbourhood in the inland
Sarrià-Sant Gervasi
Sarrià-Sant Gervasi is one of the biggest districts of Barcelona. It's the district with the highest per capita income, the largest proportion of university degrees and the lowest unemployment rate. Situated on the north-west of the city, surr ...
district of
Barcelona
Barcelona ( , , ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...
, Catalonia (Spain).
History
The area was originally undeveloped land between the villages of
Sarrià Sarria or Sarrià may refer to:
*Sarrià, Barcelona, a neighbourhood in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
**Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, the Barcelona district containing Sarrià
** Sarrià Stadium, a former football stadium in Sarrià, Barcelona
**Sarrià (Bar ...
and , taking in the small settlement of Gironella and the ''Nena Cases'' estate. Most of it formed the eastern part of the municipality of Sarrià, until the latter was incorporated into Barcelona in 1921. Development started with the construction between 1901 and 1903 of three grand residences (''torres'' in Catalan) by the Mas–Romaní partnership based in
Sants, of which one still stands. This set the tone (and the name) for the new neighbourhood, and further grand buildings followed.
In 1906 the
Les Tres Torres station was opened on the railway line connecting Sarrià with the city, which spurred further development. The line went underground in 1952, and the
Via Augusta thoroughfare now follows its course, splitting the neighbourhood in two.
Many of the early buildings have now been demolished in favour of isolated luxury apartment blocks.
The "other" Barcelona football club,
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona (; "Royal Spanish Sports Club of Barcelona"), commonly known as Espanyol, is a professional sports club based in Barcelona, Spain, that competes in La Liga, the top tier of the Spanish football league s ...
, was based at
Sarrià Stadium
Sarrià Stadium (in Catalan: Estadi de Sarrià ; in Spanish: Estadio de Sarrià) was a football stadium in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The stadium was the home of RCD Espanyol from 1923 to 1997, and was located in the district of Sarrià.
Beg ...
in Les Tres Torres, from 1923 until 1997, when the stadium was demolished and the lands used for housing development. The stadium hosted some matches of the
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup was the 12th FIFA World Cup, a quadrennial football tournament for men's senior national teams, and was played in Spain between 13 June and 11 July 1982. The tournament was won by Italy, who defeated West Germany 3–1 ...
and the
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1992, ca, Jocs Olímpics d'estiu de 1992), officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad ( es, Juegos de la XXV Olimpiada, ca, Jocs de la XXV Olimpíada) and commonly known as ...
, as well as large concerts, such as
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd are an English rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experimentation, philosophical lyrics an ...
.
Geography
Les Tres Torres covers an area of 0.8 km
2, and its 2013 population was 16,140, giving a density of 20,482/km
2.
Notable buildings include: the primary and secondary school, one of
Antoni Gaudí
Antoni Gaudí i Cornet (; ; 25 June 1852 – 10 June 1926) was a Catalan architect from Spain known as the greatest exponent of Catalan Modernism. Gaudí's works have a highly individualized, ''sui generis'' style. Most are located in Bar ...
's early works started in 1887; and , a 1914 residential building by
Josep Puig i Cadafalch
Josep Puig i Cadafalch (; Mataró, 17 October 1867 – Barcelona, 21 December 1956) was a Catalan '' Modernista'' architect who designed many significant buildings in Barcelona, and a politician who had a significant role in the development o ...
which was built for Sultan
Abd al-Hafid of Morocco
Abdelhafid of Morocco ( ar, عبد الحفيظ بن الحسن العلوي) or Moulay Abdelhafid (24 February 1875 – 4 April 1937) ( ar, عبد الحفيظ, links=no) was the Sultan of Morocco from 1908 to 1912 and a member of the Alaouite ...
but is now the
Mexican
Mexican may refer to:
Mexico and its culture
*Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America
** People
*** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants
*** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...
consulate in Barcelona.
File:PiC-bcn-muleyafid-1620-01.jpg , Casa Muley Afid
File:Teresianas01.jpg , Teresian College
References
External links
Official pages of Barcelona city council
Documentary film about Les Tres Torres
Historical website about Les Tres Torres
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tres Torres, les
Neighbourhoods of Barcelona
Sarrià-Sant Gervasi