The Ramblas is perhaps Barcelona’s most famous street. Spanish poet Federico García Lorca once said that Las Ramblas was "the only street in the world which I wish would never end".
It seems many people share this sentiment today, Las Ramblas popularity is an enduring façet of the city and it remains the most popular area of town among visitors to the city. The Ramblas runs along the line of the old Roman wall, over what was once a stream flowing down to the sea (the word Rambla is derived from the Arabic 'ramla' which means 'sandy riverbed'), and forms the main artery of the city, it is always full of life, wonderfully animated, and full of hustle and bustle.
A Rambla in Catalan today simply means a street with a broad pedestrian walkway along the centre, usually lined with trees. Las Ramblas is in fact made up of several different parts - these are Rambla de Canaletes, the Rambla dels Estudis, the Rambla de Sant Josep, the Rambla dels Caputxins, and the Rambla de Santa Monica. Construction of the Maremàgnum in the early 1990s resulted in a continuation of La Rambla on a wooden walkway into the harbour, the Rambla de Mar.
Street perfomers in Las Ramblas
Las Ramblas crowds
On the Ramblas you can find cafes, restaurants, flower sellers and street artists – look out in particular for the human statues, especially impressive in the heat of August!
The Raval neighbourhood is in the oldest part of the city and belongs to the Ciutat Vella (Old Town) district, located between Las Ramblas (The Ramblas) and Avenida Paral.lel.
The Raval is probably one of the neighbourhoods that has been renovated most in recent years, now full of shops, businesses and restaurants. Also it is a cultural centre where you can find workshops, specialist bookshops, art galleries and interesting restaurants. The Raval is home to MACBA (Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art ), CCCB (Barcelona Centre of Contemporary Culture), the Maritime Museum and Liceu Opera House.
If you think that the Gothic Quarter is the place for you, see our ramblas apartments section to see apartments and make a booking.
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