The Ramblas In Barcelona
Ask anybody who is going to visit Barcelona where they would like to stay, and the common response is “close to Las Ramblas”. This Barcelona promenade is the most renowned street in the city, and is essentially an old river bed. The Barri Gotic or Gothic area used to be the old Barcelona (know in Roman times as “Barcino”) and has a wall running round the city to protect it, wit the key entrance the iron gates 1/2 way down the actual Ramblas, and know known as Portaferrissa (literally “Iron door”). Flanking Barcino to the left was country and the Roman church of Sant Pau del Camp (Saint Paul of the countryside) which now is in the heart of the Raval.
Las Ramblas now bisects the old city – leaving El Raval (from Arabic meaning beyond the walls) to the left and El Gotico to the right. The name “Las Ramblas” is essentially plural – meaning many ramblas all picked up together. Ramblas has even coined its own word “ramblear” meaning to stroll / ramble as many neighbors and visitors do on weekends.
From the city’s main square – Plaa Catalunya – down to the Port and the monument of Christopher Columbus, Las Ramblas epitomises Barcelona and is a colourful, 24-hour street where you’ll find a mixture of neighbors and tourists alike. The whole of the promenade is dotted with newspaper kiosks which are open 24 hours, and is the number 1 place to get your hot-off-the-press copy of the local and world news. Find your Hotel Barcelona next to the city Center and enjoy your stay in Barcelona.
Starting from the pinnacle of Plaa Catalunya, and walking down to the port (also this is barely downhill) we first have Rambla de Canaletes – named after the fountains at Plaa Catalunya. This part of Las Ramblas is a favourite for the local OAPs to collect and set the world to rights, as well as the standard hang out for the FC Barcelona fans after a victory ( especially if it’s over their sour rivals Real Madrid ).
Next in the seamless transition is Rambla de los Estudios (studies), which joins the Catalana Library on Calle Hospital, and is where the beginning of the street performers and human statues las Ramblas has become so famous for, begin to appear.
Rambla de Sant Josep is so named for the famous market of Saint Joseph, also more commonly called “La Boqueria” – presumably Europe’s biggest food market selling absolutely everything eatable under the sun. This stretch is closely followed by Rambla de los capuxinos – some of the city’s finest and oldest cafs sit alongside the electrifying Liceu Opera house and have been inspiration to many a visitor and writer to Barcelona. What smarter way to stop and write a postcard than with a caf con leche here!? This part is also known as rambla de les flores, because of the many flower sellers crammed into the small space here, and is a superb place to go to in the saint George’s day celebrations ( the patron saint of Catalunya ) as roses are historically given on this day.
The final stretch is Rambla de Santa Monica – named from the old Portal de Santa Monica still intact on close by Parallel street. Here the city’s many artists and caricature painters plant their stalls together with the typical three cup fraudsters who never fail to draw in interest. Crowning the bottom of Las Ramblas and the entrance to Port Vell ( “the old Port” is Christopher Columbus monument – indicating towards Las Americas. Look for fantastic and cheap Ferienwohnungen Barcelona next to the Columbus monument.
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