la Vila de Gràcia, Barcelona

La Vila de Gràcia is the neighborhood gathered around the Clock Tower and the former town hall, now home to the Gràcia district administration. The tower is the area's most recognizable monument, rising in Plaça de la Vila. This is the historic core of Gràcia's former independent town, which existed from 1850 to 1897.

Its name comes from the church of the Virgin of Grace and Saint Joseph. The neighborhood has a lively publishing history: El Eco de Gracia began appearing in 1866 and supported bringing Gràcia into Barcelona. Its civic calendar includes Festa Major de Gràcia, the Sant Medir celebration, and Tradicionàrius, an international folk-music festival. Together, the tower, the former municipal building, and these traditions give the neighborhood a distinct local identity.