Les Corts and Pedralbes

The district of Les Corts spans the western half of the Avinguda Diagonal, the part furthest away from the sea. It was formerly a village of the same name, which, like Gràcia, Sants and Sant Martí, was annexed by Barcelona during the late 19th century.

The area was irrigated by the streams that flowed down from Collserola. It was an agricultural settlement and has now become a residential area with some of the city's most important shopping centres and major sporting venues and cultural attractions. However, it still has a great many green areas, including parks and the nearby Collserola Massif.

The iconic FC Barcelona stadium, Camp Nou, has stood proudly since 1957 on the southern side of the Diagonal. The stadium tour includes a visit to one of the most popular museums among tourists and locals: the FC Barcelona Museum, which opened in 1984 and was completely refurbished in 2011.

Formerly the residence of the king and queen of Spain when they visited Barcelona, the Palau Reial de Pedralbes stands on the north side of the Diagonal, in the Pedralbes neighbourhood. The gatehouses of the Güell Estate are located at the north end of the palace grounds by the Avinguda de Pedralbes. This extraordinary work by Antoni Gaudí is renowned for its gate in the shape of a dragon. And at the far end of the neighbourhood, almost in the foothills of the massif, you'll find the majestic Pedralbes Monastery, which was founded in the 14th century. A fine example of pure Gothic architecture it has the largest cloisters in Europe in this style.