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On
the occasion of the Olympic Games held in the city in 1992, it was
decided to plan a new "ensanche" (enlargement) which would project
the city toward the sea. The result of this project was the Nova
Icària.
Its
function was originally to house the Olympic athletes, but it then
became the newest neighbourhood of the city, fully integrated in
the new Barcelona which arose from '92.
It
was designed by the architects Mackay, Martorell, Bohigues and Puigdomènech
and covers a surface area of 150ha, of which 100 are green areas
and facilities.
The
neighbourhood was inspired by the Cerdà (who designed the Eixample)
plan and is made up of 200 buildings. The new architectural ensemble
is completed with twin skyscrapers, the "Mapfre
tower" (built by the architect Bruce J. Graham) and the
hotel De Les Arts (by Iñigo
Ortiz and Vázquez de León). At 150m, they are the tallest buildings
in Spain.
At
the feet of these gigantic towers is the Olympic
Port, also inaugurated on the occasion of the Olympic
Games, and which has become one of the spots with the best atmospheres
in the city, with Restaurants, shops and night clubs.
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Other
places of interest 
