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The throbbing heart of the city to some, a heinous tourist trap to others, Las Ramblas boulevard not only divides the Old Town in two but it also polarises public opinion. Championing its positive attributes, Federico García Lorca once described the iconic avenue as "the one street in the world I didn't want to end," and there's still plenty to justify the Spanish poet's praise, particularly the Parisien vibe, created by the outdoor cafes and colonnades of slender trees, and the playful performance artists and boisterous carnival atmosphere of this 1.2 km stretch of street.
Referred to both as La Rambla and Las Ramblas, the name derives from an old Arabic word 'ramla' meaning sandy riverbed, and indeed that's how this magnificent boulevard started - as a humble dried-out stream outside the walls of the Gothic Quarter. At the start of the 18th century the first houses were constructed, and only by the end of the 18th century did La Rambla start to appear in something like its present form, a sweeping tree-lined boulevard in the centre of the city.
Above: Street performers pedal their wares
The street is most-commonly referred to in the plural, Las Ramblas, because it is in fact a succession of streets, which start at Placa Catalunya with the Rambla de Canaletes and work their way down via Rambla dels Estudis, Rambla de les Flors, Rambla dels Caputxins and Rambla de Santa Monica to the newly constructed Rambla del Mar, which links the boulevard to the Maremagnum shopping centre on the Port Vell. (NB: there are two more Ramblas in Barcelona - Nou de la Rambla and Rambla de Raval but these are separate entities!). Just as it joins the city centre and the sea together, Las Ramblas divides the two most central districts of Barcelona's old town, the touristic Gothic Quarter on one side, and the shabby chic area of La Raval on the other.
A walk from the top to bottom of Las Ramblas is undoubtedly highly rewarding and you will find a healthy selection of Barcelona's worthy attractions en route, such as La Boqueria food market, the Liceu Theatre, Miro's mosaic (watch where you step!) and the Monument to Colombus. As you might expect there's also a handful of the city's most upmarket hotels and several great places to eat and drink - and more than a smattering of bad ones, including the ubiquitous global fast food chains. These in part are what have given Las Ramblas a twofold reputation of late, and there's no doubt the street, teeming with tourists and the businesses that cater for them, has in some sense become a victim of its own popularity. Whilst its central location means it will never be abandoned by the citizens of Barcelona (they couldn't, even if they wanted to!), Las Ramblas increasing resembles a touristic circus with tacky gimmicks and T-shirts for souvenirs, chronic overcrowding and soulless consumerism. Worse the area is rife with pickpockets (a plague in Barcelona) who prey on naive travellers by day, whilst after dark scores of prostitutes openly ply their trade.
But let's keep things in perspective! Whilst there's no denying there's an undesirable side to roving on these famous tracts, it's not exactly Armageddon out there just yet. By day Las Ramblas still represents some unmissable and highly-entertaining sightseeing, as the city bustles in full flow and street performers in the form of demons, gladiators, clowns, ballerinas, flamenco dancers and many more outrageous guises, entertain, terrorise, mimic, beguile and charm passers-by. Las Ramblas is an essential calling point for all tourists in Barcelona, but first time visitors should take this rollercoaster ride of a road with a pinch of salt. The real soul of this sensational city is to be found elsewhere... our city guide article will point you in the direction of all Barcelona's greatest attractions and districts. | | | |