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LA RAMBLA

There may be no better place in the country to indulge in the Spanish ritual of the paseo (stroll) than on this wide pedestrian street. Despite a terrorist attack in August 2017, La Rambla remains a lively hub of exuberant activity. Human statues stand motionless among the passers-by; buskers croon crowd-pleasing classics; caricaturists deftly sketch faces; bustling stalls sell bright bouquets and souvenirs; and round-the-clock kiosks sell everything from The Financial Times to adult videos.

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Crowds on La Rambla

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La Rambla

NEED TO KNOW

prac_info Mercat de La Boqueria: La Rambla 91; open 8am–8:30pm Mon–Sat; www.boqueria.info

prac_info Palau de la Virreina: La Rambla 99: open noon–8pm Tue–Sun; Tiquets Rambles: open Mon–Fri 10am–8:30pm; 93 316 1000; ajuntament.barcelona.cat/lavirreina/en

prac_info Gran Teatre del Liceu: La Rambla 51–59; www.liceubarcelona.cat

prac_info Arts Santa Mònica: La Rambla 7; open 11am–9pm Tue–Sat, 11am–5pm Sun; www.artssantamonica.cat

Google Map

  • Kick back at the Cafè de l’Òpera at No. 74 and soak up the Rambla ambience with a cool granissat (crushed ice drink) in hand.
  • La Rambla is rife with pickpockets – be careful with your belongings.

1. Gran Teatre del Liceu

Google Map

The city’s grand opera house, founded in 1847, brought Catalan opera stars such as Montserrat Caballé to the world. Twice gutted by fire, it (see Gran Teatre del Liceu) has been fully restored.

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The grand opera house

2. Mercat de la Boqueria

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A cacophonous shrine to food, this cavernous market (see Mercat de la Boqueria) has it all, from stacks of fruit to suckling pigs and fresh lobsters.

3. Flower Stalls

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La Rambla is teeming with life and things to distract the eye, but the true Rambla old-timers are the flower stalls flanking the pedestrian walkway, many run by the same families for decades.

4. Monument a Colom

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Pointing resolutely out to sea, this 1888 bronze statue (see Monument a Colom) of Christopher Columbus commemorates his return to Spain after discovering the Americas. An elevator whisks visitors to the top of the column for sensational views.

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Statue of Christopher Columbus

5. Font de Canaletes

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Ensure that you come back to the city by sipping water from this 19th-century fountain, inscribed with the legend that those who drink from it “will fall in love with Barcelona and always return”.

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The beautiful 19th-century fountain

6. Miró Mosaic

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On the walkway on La Rambla is a colourful pavement mosaic (see Jardí Botànic Històric) by Catalan artist Joan Miró. His signature abstract shapes and primary colours unfold at your feet.

7. Palau de la Virreina

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This Neo-Classical palace was built by the viceroy of Peru in 1778. Today, the Palace of the Viceroy’s Wife is home to the Centre de la Imatge, run by the city council, and hosts art exhibitions and cultural events.

8. Bruno Quadras Building

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Once an umbrella factory, this playful, late 19th-century building is festooned with umbrellas.

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Carving at the old umbrella factory building

9. Arts Santa Mònica

Google Map

Once the haunt of rosary beads and prayers, this former 17th-century monastery was reborn in the 1980s, thanks to government funding, as a contemporary art centre. Exhibitions here range from large-scale video installations to photography. The space may be turned into a Museum of Architecture.

10. Església de Betlem

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From a time when the Catholic Church was rolling in pesetas (and power), this hulking 17th-century church (see Església de Betlem) is a seminal reminder of when La Rambla was more religious than risqué.

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