Walking on Las Ramblas is an obligatory must-do for everyone who is visiting Barcelona. It is a bustling boulevard, unique, full of colours, smells, architecture and spontaneous artists. It is the most famous and cosmopolitan street of the city, full of life at every hour of the day or the night and where you can find the widest variety of people.
We start our itinerary at “Plaça Catalunya”. The first part of Las Ramblas is known as “Rambla de Canaletes”, due to the famous “Font de Canaletas”. They say that everyone who wants to return to Barcelona has to drink from its source.
The second part of Las Ramblas is known as “Rambla dels Estudis”, where we find the curch “Església de Betlem” at the end, in baroque style, and the “Palau Moja”.
The third part is known as “Rambla de les Flors” or “Sant Josep”, and for many people, this is the heart of the street. Here you will find many flower shops that create a lively and colourful atmosphere.
Not less important in this part is the market La Boqueria, the biggest market in Spain with more than 300 stands. It is one of the most visited and photographed buildings in Barcelona. It is a food market, known for its quality and diversity of products coming from all over the world. We also find the “Palau de la virreina” in this part, a palace from the 18th century, currently an exposition place.
The fourth part of Las Ramblas is known as “Rambla dels Caputxins”, where the “Gran teatro del Liceo” is located. This theatre was destroyed by a fire at the beginning of 1994 but was renovated and inaugurated again in 1999. It has always been one of the most important buildings in Barcelona and a symbol for all Barcelonian people as it promotes the Catalan opera. www.liceubarcelona.com
You can do guided visits to the theatre everyday at 10h, with a duration of one hour. The unguided visits take place everyday at 11h30, 12h and 13h and take 15 to 20 minutes.
At the height of the street Hospital, you can find a big mosaic by Joan Miró on the pavement.
Descending further on Las Ramblas, you can find the “Palau Guell”, work from the famous architect Gaudí, on the right in the street “Nou de la Rambla”. www.palauguell.cat
On the other side of Las Ramblas, you can find the Entrance to the square “Plaça Reial”, a big port. On this square, you will find the highest palms of Europa (or so they say) and a unique atmosphere because this is the meeting point of the youth in Barcelona. The square is surrounded by bars and terraces where you can have a drink, while enjoying the spectacles offered by sponteaneous musicians or artists. At the centre of this square, you can see the “Font de les Tres Gràcias” and two lanterns designed by Gaudí.
“Rambla de Santa Mònica” is the name of the last part of Las Ramblas, where you can find the Monument of Colombus, constructed in 1988 for the Universal Exposition. You can go up the tower to have a panoramic view over Barcelona.
In front of the port and going down the boulevard Colón, you will get to “Moll de la Fusta”, where you can find nice restaurants and terraces.
Finally, don’t miss the “Golondrinas”, from where you can get another view of the city, seen from the sea.