Las Ramblas in Barcelona - Las Ramblas in Barcelona -

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Las Ramblas in Barcelona

Las Ramblas is the place where you will feel the real oulse of the city

Las Ramblas is one of the icons in Barcelona. A long street which is a favorite amongst both locals and tourists alike. La Rambla is probably the best well-known street in Spain. This street is both known as La Rambla or Las Ramblas. In this guide to Las Ramblas, you will find information on the best attractions in the street, top things to enjoy, the best itineraries to enjoy la Rambla during your stay in Barcelona, and also top attractions nearby. La Rambla is without a doubt of Spain´s most visited attractions.

From Catalonia Square on the north to the Christopher Columbus Monument in the south, walking down La Rambla is a must-do in Barcelona.  There are many tourist attractions in this avenue which is divided into different parts.

Las Ramblas guide

2 great walking tours to enjoy las Ramblas

What is las Ramblas – Barcelona

La Rambla or las Ramblas is a long pedestrian boulevard with many bars, flower stands, restaurants and street artists. It is 1,2 kilometers long and it goes from the heart of Barcelonsa (Plaça Catalunya to Port Well near the cruise port terminal. La Rambla can be divided into 5 different sections as follows. We follow a north to south order with the first section closest to Plaça Catalunya: Ronda de Canaletes, La Rambla dels Estudis, La Rambla de Sant Josep, La Rambla dels Caputxins and la Rambla de Santa Monica

People walking along Las Ramblas in Barcelona

Where is Las Ramblas located?

La Rambla starts in Placa Catalunya ( a huge 30,000 sq meter square at the heart of Barcelona) and gets south close to the cruise harbor. Walking north to south la Rambla you will find to your right El Raval district and to your left Barcelona´s Gothic quarter.

 

La Rambla – Sections

Rambla de Canaletes. Located at the beginning of the street, Rambla de Canaletes is well-known because here is Font de Canaletes, the fountain where FC Barcelona celebrates its titles.

Rambla dels Estudis. It is also known as Bird’s street because and old birds market was located in this area.

Rambla dels Caputxins. This area is the centre point of La Rambla. In this Rambla you can visit Palau Güell –a mansion designed by Antonio Gaudí– and Gran Teatre del Liceu –the most important theatre of Barcelona where opera performances occur during winter and ballet during the spring.

Rambla de Santa Mònica. Located at the end of the avenue, Rambla de Santa Mònica is the most vibrant and animated area of the street with several bars and restaurants. You can also visit the Christopher Columbus Monument, a lookout which offers a fantastic view of La Rambla.

Rambla de les Flors. The most singular and colourful area of La Rambla is Rambla de les Flors. This part is also known as Rambla de Sant Josep and it is famous because you will find many florists. However, many tourist and citizens love this Rambla because you will also find the Boquería Market, a very special market where you can buy fresh products.

Map of La Rambla

Short history of La Rambla

The boulevard is located at what used to be a river bed (Rambla derives from arab language). Ramlha means a sandy soil . In the 14th century it was outside the city walls. It was not till 1760 that the walls were demolished and 6 years later, coinciding with a time of architectural development all over Europe, La Rambla was built. Its development coincided with the previous location of the wall. Locas soon loved this boulevard which, compared to the narrow allies of the gothic quarter seemed huge. La Boqueria market was installed there, and also the Theatre del Liceu. During the XIXth century Las ramblas was basically the only place in Barcelona where flowers were sold. Artists gathered to paint in La Rambla and the street became an institution for Barceloneses.

Best things to see in La Rambla

We will start our stroll in La Rambla from Plaçca Catalunya. In case your hotel is closest to the Colon statue simply take our recommendations from bottom to top. If you are based anywhere in the middle you may want to get to Placa Catalunya or simply split your walk in two.

Plaçca Catalunya

Many day trips from Barcelona start from Placa Catalunya. This is also an area for affordable shopping with many global brands and the famous Corte Ingles department store located here. Shopping time plus La Rambla can be a good plan. In case you get stuck in your shopping and need a bite have a look at our guide with restaurants near Plaçca Catalonia.

Font de Canaletes

This is the place where FC Barcelona fans meet to celebrate their victories. At the time the wall of the city was in place there was an ancient fountain here which was then changed in 1862 and then again in 1892 to its current shape. The fountain is not spectacular in size nor design, but it is elegant. Made of cast iron, a lamppost sits on top of the structure of the fountain. FC Barcelona fans started to celebrate here by coincidence. They gathered near the Sports newspaper headquarters where around 1930 the matches final score would be displayed… and the celebration started. You can find more information about FC Barcelona’s history in this interesting post.

Building of the royal academy of sciences and arts in Barcelona

This is a private building that can be visited but only its façade is worth a shortstop. Located in Rambla 115, (The Racab) was founded in 1764. This institution has 75 members that promote science and making it available to society. The façade is beautiful and its clock has marked the official time in Barcelona since 1891. Many local Barceloneses got used to stopping in front of the building to check the time.

 

Farmacia Nadal

This beautiful chemist shop was opened in 1850 and today it still keeps elements from the original decoration. Located in Rambla 121, you can get an idea on how chemists looked like in Spain during the XIXth century by looking at the outside decoration of this chemist.

 

Flower stands in La Rambla

One of the things that bring live and colour to Las Ramblas are the flower stands. This has been for decades the place to buy flowers in Barcelona and their presence also attracted many artists. One of the most important traditions in Barcelona takes place during Saint Jordi´s day. Flower stands get decorated for the special occasion in which most people offer as a gist a book and a flower.

 

Palau de la Virreina

 

Located in Rambla 99, the Palau de la Virreina is one of our favorite buildings not just in la Rambla, but in Barcelona. The building houses today the Barcelona city institute of Culture. The building is one of Catalonia´s best examples of civil baroque architecture. It hosts temporary exhibitions (some of them free of charge). The building was commissioned by the viceroy of Peru. Manual Amat I Junyent, Marquis of Castellbell. He however died before he could enjoy it and it became the residence of his wife, hence the name of this fantastic palace in Las Ramblas.

 

Miro' s circular tile

Located in 71 La Rambla. Thousands of tourists and locals alike step on this masterpiece by one of the most famous Spanish painters: Miro. The artist was commissioned back in the 1960s the decoration of the façade of the Prat airport terminal. As a gift to the city, he designed the pavement which stands today in Pla de l´Os mosaic in La Rambla. The mosaic was unveiled in December 1976 and at the time it inspired certain controversy. Some people complained the tiles were not placed as they should be! Miro laughed with irony stating that people should learn that it was very difficult to convince the workers to place them irregularly! Close to 80 million people, 160 million feet, step on this marter piece in Barcelona every year! More work from Miro can be found at the Miro museum in Barelona

Casa Beethoven music bookshop

Located right next to the Palau de la Virreina. This is one of Barcelona´s most emblematic shops. It is not a large department store but a shop that has sold since 1880 all kinds of ancient and modern scores and sheets of music. The shop has evolved to survive selling tourist trinkets and cds. But inside the shop you can still feel the atmosphere of the past and deep respect for art and music.

La Boquería market in Barcelona

La Boquería market is the most famous in Barcelona for purchasing fresh products. This emblematic market is located in La Rambla, the most commercial street

Stand at Market of La Boqueria

Gran Teatre del Liceu

Located halfway in La Rambla (Rambla 51-59) this theatre is one of the largest Opera houses in Europe. Founded in 1847, it was almost completely destroyed by fire in 1994. Reconstruction took place and the theatre reopened in 1999. It looked very similar to the original building, but it incorporated state of the art technical equipment.

 

Casa Quadros

Located in front of El Liceu, the Café de la Opera in la Rambla is a good spot ff you feel you need a rest, a bite, and a drink. Its current looks date back from 1929 and it has remained very much the same for decades. You will pay a bit more than at other nearby bars but at Café de la Opera you´ll get a bit of that almost lost “intellectual café atmosphere” where artists, writers, and the likes gathered to talk and discuss.

 

Cafe de la Opera

Located in front of El Liceu, the Café de la Opera in la Rambla is a good spot ff you feel you need a rest, a bite, and a drink. Its current looks date back from 1929 and it has remained very much the same for decades. You will pay a bit more than at other nearby bars but at Café de la Opera you´ll get a bit of that almost lost “intellectual café atmosphere” where artists, writers, and the likes gathered to talk and discuss.

 

Plaçca Real

This is probably our favorite square in Barcelona. Located off la Rambla, the Plaça Real gets sometimes too busy, but that is the price to pay for a “royal” square. A former convent was demolished and the huge vacant spot was transformed into this square. The architect, Francesc Molina, designed it as a luxurious square. Two of the streetlamps on both sides of the fountain at the centre of the Plaza are the work of young Gaudi.

 

Güell Palace

Located at less than 3 minutes walk from the Liceu, The palace is located at Carrer Nou de la Rambla (3-5), off la Rambla. This palace was one of the first important commissions that young Gaudi received in Barcelona. This also initiated an interesting relationship with businessmen Eusebi Güell. The palace was designed as an extension of the Güell family home at la Rambla. Gaudi designed it with a special innovative conception of light and space in mind. In 1969 the palace was declared a historic-artistic monument. This building is key to understand later works from Gaudi, like Casa Batlo or La Sagrada Familia.  and 2 minutes walk from the Liceu theatre, 

Colon monument

This large statue is the end of our walk and itinerary through La Rambla. Columbus monument is a 60-meter high statue shaped as a column and which was inaugurated in 1888, coinciding with the Universal exhibition organised in Barcelona that year. After his trip, it was in Barcelona where Columbus reported to Queen Isabella and Ferdinand on his famous trip!

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