The name Sarrià may come from Sirriano, Sarius, or Serius, and may have first appeared in property sale documents in the year 986.
The town of Sarrià dates back to the 13th-14th centuries; however, human settlement in this area dates back to Roman times. During the Middle Ages, it's possible that the existing nucleus maintained the Roman socio-economic structure. It has been demonstrated that the Sarrià-Sant Gervasi area was a place where Roman villas were built.
In the Middle Ages, the urban nucleus was located around the church, and the existing orchards outside the town formed a rural society whose economy was based on land exploitation. Over time, Sarrià transformed into an urban society of artisans that gained importance with the proliferation of vacation homes in the 16th and 17th centuries.
By the early 20th century, Sarrià became one of the wealthiest and most populated areas in the region. In the 19th century, there was a decline in agriculture as an industry, and the importance of construction as an industry increased as a result of Barcelona's continuous urban expansion. Its population, previously composed of peasants and artisans, began to be mainly composed of artisans.
In the late 19th century, the first attempt to incorporate Sarrià into Barcelona was rejected by the local population. In 1921, the Barcelona City Council reopened the case of incorporating Sarrià, which ended up being approved as a result of a Royal Decree that included the former municipality as part of Barcelona.
During that time, several convents and religious schools were located in the area. Later, Sarrià began to be known as the place where the wealthy built their mansions before moving in.
Today, Sarrià represents the coexistence of the old urban nucleus, which can easily be remembered around the "Carrer Major" (Main Street), and modern areas with large residential units, schools, and office buildings; and has become one of the city's most exclusive areas.
Points of Interest & References:
- San Ignacio School: Jesuit school for the Barcelona elite. The current modernist building opened its doors in 1895. (C/ Carrasco i Formiguera 32)
- Sastre i Marquès House: House built in 1905, designed by the Catalan modernist architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch. (C/ Vives i Tutó 25)
- Sarrià Market: Built in 1911, on the land of Horta del Rectoret, in the center of the neighborhood, which includes designs by architects Marcelli Coquillat and Arnau Calvet. (Passeig de la Reina Elisenda 12)