|
The best-known street of Barcelona, a boulevard that breaks the old city made of small streets in two, and the proof that Barcelona was made to be walked.
The Ramblas is divided into five sections, although you'll be aware of this only if you look at the plaques with the street names.
If you start at the upward side (near Plaça Catalunya), the first section you'll go through is the Rambla de Canaletes. It is said that those who drink from the fountain this section is called after, the Canaletes fountain, will return to Barcelona. This is also the place where celebrations when Barça wins an important competition or match are held.
Next there is the Rambla dels Estudis, named after the university that was placed here between the XVI and the XVIII centuries; and, after that, we arrive at the Rambla de Sant Josep, although it's usually called Rambla dels Ocells because of the many kiosks that sell birds and other small animals (hamsters, turtles, etc.).
In the middle of the Rambla de Sant Josep, at the right, there is the Mercat de la Boqueria, a popular food market, made primarily of iron and glass. The variety of products is amazing, and although it is usually crowded with tourists, it sill keeps the flavour of the old Barcelona and is an important part of the day-to-day activities of the local population. If you're felling adventurous, sit down at the counter of the popular bar Pinocho and ask for some of the more traditional Catalan recipes.
The next section is the Rambla dels Caputxins, but as happens with the prior section, it has a more popular name, the Rambla de les Flors, because of the flower stalls. The most interesting building in this section is the Liceu, Barcelona's opera house. It was destroyed by fire a few years ago, but it has already been rebuilt, and in fact they took advantage of that to make it bigger.
You can now take a short break from the Ramblas and turn right, to the Plaça Reial (where the Capuchine monastery that names this section used to be), a lively square that also shows the rougher side of the city (if you are young, it won't take very long until somebody offers to sell you pot).
The last section, before arriving at the Columbus statue (and talking about statues, you probably will have seen a lot of human statues during your walk) is the Rambla de Santa Mónica, where you can find the Centre d'Art Santa Mónica at the right and the wax museum at the left: choose according to your tastes, or visit both places.
| 