La Rambla
- December 28, 2006
- Rated 4 of 5 by
Tolik from Tampa, Florida
The pedestrian only boulevard is a 24x7 Barcelona’s carnival. 'Rambla' means 'stream' in Arabic. The Ramblas used to be a drainage ditch along the medieval city wall. The focal point of town is La Rambla, a 1.25km (0.75mi) boulevard running northwest and slightly downhill from Plaça de Catalunya to Port Vell (Old Harbour).
At the beginning of the Rambla, near the corner with Carrer Pelai, visitors stop by famous Canaletes Fountain. As the legend goes, whoever drinks the water from it, will surely return to Barcelona. When Hans Christian Andersen saw this beautiful street he wrote "there's no doubt Barcelona is a great city". Maybe he drank from the fountain too. Colorful Sant Josep market just off the Rambla, definitely worth a detour.
The Ciutat Vella, a warren of narrow streets, centuries-old buildings and budget accommodation, spreads on both sides of La Rambla. Barri Gothic (Gothic Quarter) is at its heart, on the lower half of the eastern section of the boulevard. West is El Raval, ethnically diverse neighborhood is a great place to find a quaint café or a unique shop.
Columbus’s statue Colón marks the point where La Rambla meets the sea, catch a lift to the top for a 360º view of port and city.
From journal Dragons of Barcelona