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The Via Laietana is an impressive avenue that crosses the
Ciutat Vella from L'Eixample till the port area and separates the Gothic Quarter and the Born district.
As such, it was constructed in 1907, to clear the labyrinth of streets that one had to pass thought to go from Urquinaona plaza down to the port.
Initially, when only the stretch superior to the avenue was inaugurated, it received the name of Bilbao street and it was dominated by the Modernism building of the Caixa de Pensions (a bank). Later on, it received the name Via Laietana, because it followed the old route of the Laietanis, a village from Iberia that habited the area before the arrival of the Romans.
It is a street with buildings of great beauty, between those the highlight, the main office of the post office, various juristic organisms and, very close by, the
Palau de la Música Catalana.
Currently the avenue is flooded with very busy bars and restaurants, both by locals and tourists.