Gràcia, once a village on its own with narrow streets and small squares, has become a part of Barcelona in 1897. Since then the neighbourhood has changed a lot as in that time there were no street lights, only few schools and no wast water system. Step by step Gràcia has been adopted to the rest of the city of Barcelona. Today Gracia is one of the most visited neighbourhoods in Barcelona. The Gràcia district is very culturally mixed nowadays. There are Catalan families, foreign students, artists, gypsies, Arabs and many different kinds of people living there. It is the smallest district of Barcelona, only measuring 4.19 km2 but the second most populated (28,660 inhabitants per square meter). Gràcia stands out for its cultural centers of alternative and avant-garde character. The Teatre Lliure, where there is also a cinema, is an example of this. The Carrer Gran de Gràcia is the main high street in this district where you will find a wide range of shops. There are also many small streets with bookshops, art galleries, little art shops etc. These streets are really suited to spending time strolling around and have a nice cup of tea in one of the little cafés. Parc Güell is undoubtedly the most famous landmark in Gràcia. Parc Güell is, after the Sagrada Familia, one of the most famous works of art by from the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi. The Gaudi museum can also be found at the main entrance of Parc Güell. Other nice places to visit are the beautiful squares in Gràcia, the most popular ones are Plaça del Sol, Plaça de Rius i Taulet and Plaça de la Virreina. Gràcia is a nice and popular district which also has an exciting nightlife. Not only is the Carrer Verdi full of life both day and night, but also the many terraces and squares. If you are planning to go to Barcelona around the 15th of August you should definitely go to the Festival de Gràcia (Festa Major de Gràcia) which takes place every year. There is a "street decoration" contest, live music, restaurants on the streets, dancing, games for kids, and a lot of people. Taking the metro is the easiest way to get to get to the centre of Gràcia. In the centre of Gràcia you can also find the metro stations Lesseps and Fontana (both line 3).