Las Ramblas

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Les Rambles (or Las Ramblas) is one of the most emblematic streets of Barcelona. Situated in the Ciutat Vella district, it unites the Plaza de Catalunya with the Port Vell.

It is a very animated and busy boulevard at any time of the day, in where you´ll find florist stands, press kiosks, bird shops, street musicians and actors (the highlights being the famous human statues), painters, sketchers, especially a multitude of passers-by originating from all over the world.

As well, throughout the stretch of the street, bars and restaurants are plentiful (such as Flaherty's Irish Bar or Temple Bar), many of which has outdoor seating on the same strip. Its location, right in the heart of the historic centre of the city (functions as a division between the Gothic Quarter and El Raval), makes that a great multitude of places of interest in the city are a few steps away from each other. As such, emblematic places like the Boquería Market or the Liceu Theatre are situated in the very same Las Ramblas.

Till the beginning of the XVIIIth Century, when construction of buildings commenced in its borders as well as tree plantation, Las Ramblas was no more than torrent bordered with convents and walls. Nevertheless, at the end of the same century, it had already turned into a walk.

Its name, in plural, indicated that Las Ramblas (The Avenues) are formed by various stretches with different names:

Rambla de Canaletes
It is the stretch closest to the Plaza de Catalunya and it received its name from the homonym fountain located at this point (currently, a meeting spot for FC Barcelona fans to celebrate important triumphs). It counts with benches and stalls with publications from all over the world. From this part of Las Ramblas, other emblematic streets come out, like Tallers street, with its famous music shops, or the Santa Anna street, that drives to the shopping district Portal de l´`Angel and Cathedral of Barcelona.

Rambla dels Estudis (´Studies´)
Debe su nombre al edificio del Estudi General (antecesor de la Universidad de Barcelona), construido en el siglo XV y suprimido por Felipe V. En este tramo podemos tomar la calle del Bonsuccés, que llega hasta el Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA) y el Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB). Es la parte de Las Ramblas que concentra un mayor número de kioscos de pájaros por lo que algunos la conocen también con el nombre de Rambla dels Ocells.
It owes its name to the Estudis General building (predecessor of the University of Barcelona), constructed in the XVth Century and abolished by Felipe V. In this stretch we can go through the Bonsuccés street, until reaching Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona (MACBA) and the Centre of Contemporary Culture of Barcelona (CCCB). It is the part of Las Ramblas that a great number of pet stores, especially birds, are concentrated and where it is known as well by the name of Rambla dels Ocells (Avenue of the Birds).

Rambla de les Flors o de Sant Josep:
In the XIXth Century, it was the only place in the city where flowers were sold, and in the present, a great quantity of colourful stalls still sit selling this product. Between the places of interest in this area, the Palacio de la Virrieina is a highlight and, especially, the Boquería Market.

Rambla dels Caputxins
The famous Gran Teatre del Liceu (Grand Liceu Theatre) is the undisputable protagonist in this location of Las Ramblas. We also find the Hotel Oriente, constructed in 1882, and the Café de la Ópera, one of the oldest cafés in the city. From here you can go in to Ferran street, that reaches Plaza Sant Jaume (with the Palau de la Generalitat - Palace of the Autonomous Government of Catalonia - and the building of the Ayuntamiento de Barcelona – City Council of Barcelona), or to enter the Plaza Real.

Rambla de Santa Mónica
This is the part of Las Ramblas closest to the the Port Vell and, finally, the sea. It starts in the Teatro square, that receives this name for being situated in front of the Teatro Principal, one of the oldest in Barcelona. It accommodates one of the buildings of the Universitat Pompeu Fabra, the Wax Museum, the Art Centre of Santa Mònica and the Reials Drassanes, where the Maritime Museum is located.

In the extreme south of Las Ramblas, we find the Christopher Columbus statue, where a footbridge, called Rambla de Mar (´sea´), that goes up to the recreational spots, like Maremàgnum, Imax Port Vell and l'Aquàrium.