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A walking tour down La Rambla (part 1)

La Rambla of Barcelona

Gorka Regidor 13 Comments

La Rambla, the most famous boulevard in Barcelona. I am starting a series of three articles that will help visitors discover this must-see attraction. This is not a regular walk to talk about the flower sellers or the human statues but a nice way to get a feel for the walkway that has been the place of gathering in Barcelona since the XVIII century. Find out what surprises are waiting for you.

If you travel around Catalonia, one detail you will notice is that there are plenty of streets called Rambla. Tarragona has one, Lleida too, even some of Barcelona’s neighbourhoods take pride in their very own Rambla. But there is only one original Rambla and that is the one in the centre of Barcelona where all the rest took their name from. The story started long ago when this unpopulated area was a sandy dry plain which the Romans called “arenno” (sand bar). Maybe the Moors that came later didn’t leave the beautiful buildings that you can find in Southern Spain but they left something that stuck: they translated its old Roman name and started calling this isolated area “Ramla”.

Medieval wall and Canaletes towers
Medieval wall and Canaletes towers

Look at the illustration on the left to see how La Rambla looked in the old times. The XIII century medieval walls helped to define its sinuous layout when it was nothing but a dry river bed. However, it would have to wait for another 300 years to see its first buildings go up: convents and monasteries. The old medieval city was so crowded inside those walls that there wasn’t even room for trees. La Rambla became the first street in Barcelona to have that privilege. Come the XVIII century and the actual boulevard that you can see nowadays, with its wonderful palaces on each side, started to take shape.

So let’s start our walk at the top, in Plaça Catalunya. This is the best spot to look down and appreciate the bustling street life. Just at the very beginning on your right is the famous Canaletes Fountain. This is where the Barça football fans gather for celebrations. This tradition started in the 1930s when just across the street a local newspaper used to have a board showing the updated football results. Those were the times before the internet and television and this was the best way to know how their favourite team was doing. The tradition stuck. See if you can find an inscription in Catalan on the floor: “if you drink from the Canaletes Fountain you will fall in love with Barcelona forever and, no matter how far away you go, you will always come back”. Press the tap, drink some water, get refreshed and book your return ticket to Barcelona.

I still remember when, instead of the small benches that you can see behind the fountain, there were chairs that people rented by the hour. But long before the chairs and benches this space was occupied by the “Estudis Generals”, the first university of Barcelona. Now we have another university at Plaça Universitat, not far from where we are. Inside this newer building, you still can see the XVI century stone carved coat of arms of Charles I of Spain. Funnily, this is the same one that used to be at the main entrance of the old building here.

Boadas Cocktail Bar
Boadas Cocktail Bar

Walk a few metres down and on your right, you will see an institution of Barcelona: Boadas Cocktail Bar. Opened in 1933, this is one of the first bars in the city specialised in Caribbean cocktails. The owner learned his trade at the bar that invented the daiquiri: Hemingway’s Floridita Bar, in Havana. Soon after, he came to Barcelona ready to show the city this new trend of cocktail drinking. If you need something with a bit more kick than the water at Canaletes Fountain, order a daiquiri here from the bow-tied waiters behind the bar. Relax and enjoy the quiet Art Deco atmosphere.

Further down to the right is Farmacia Nadal, still in the same family since it opened in 1850. The interior has been renovated but you can still enjoy the beautiful “Noucentista” facade with its glazed tiles. Take a look at the very top and see if you can read the word Pharmacy in a few different languages.

Now you have to cross to the other side of the street to enter one of the most obscure chapters in Barcelona’s recent history: the May Days of 1937. In between #128 and #130 there is a plaque commemorating the place where Andreu Nin, the leader of the anti-Stalinist communist party, was seen alive for the last time. Look across the street and you will find the Royal Academy of Science and Arts. It is from this terrace that, during the Spanish Civil War, George Orwell spent several days fighting against the communist forces located at Cafe Moka, just beside you. This scene is depicted in his wonderful book “Homage to Catalonia”.

Royal Academy of Arts & Science
Royal Academy of Arts & Science

La Rambla is a busy place and, with so many things to see and do, it is quite easy to forget what time it is. Just under George Orwell’s terrace, there is a clock showing, not only the time but the official time of Barcelona. Imagine the days when the wealthy Barcelonians took out their pocket watches at this precise spot to set the correct time. One of these wealthy citizens was Antonio López, Marquis of Comillas, and further down is a Neoclassical building that now houses the Hotel 1898. This was the headquarters for his Philippines Tobacco Company. On top of the door, you can see the allegorical sculptures of overseas and commerce. Cross the street again to find the Marquis family house, the XVIII century Palau Moja. It opens to the public only a few days of the year so, if you are lucky to be in the city then, you can admire its beautiful interior and mural paintings. Antonio López died in 1883 but not before his daughter married one of the most promising businessmen in Barcelona: Eusebi Güell. Does the name sound familiar? Let me give you a clue: a park and Gaudí.

The Jesuits have a special connection to Barcelona since the order’s founder, Saint Ignatius, made his pilgrimage to Montserrat. Their Church of Bethlehem is one of the few remaining buildings from the period when La Rambla was a strip full of convents and monasteries. Like many other churches in the city, its interior was destroyed by a fire during the Spanish Civil War but you can still enjoy one of the very few examples of Baroque architecture we have.

Fountain at Portaferrisa Street
Fountain at Portaferrisa Street

We finish this part of the walk at the fountain on the other side. This is where one of the entrances to the medieval city stood. The street that leads from here into the Gothic Quarter, Portaferrisa (Iron Door), still bears its name from the huge iron measuring devices attached to one of the entrance towers at the time. The fountain that you see was part of one of the old towers and preserved after the demolition of the walls. Take a look at the 1959 ceramic tile and imagine how life looked here in olden times when the new “Eixample” was still to come and the city was just that, the old city.

You can now go down Portaferrisa street towards the old maze of the Gothic Quarter. This is one of the areas we cover on our Free Tours in Barcelona. Sit down for some people watching or read the next section: A walking tour down La Rambla (part 2). But for that, you will have to wait a little bit more.

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All photographs by Gorka Regidor except “La Rambla” by Nigel’s Europe

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MOST RECENT REVIEWS OF RUNNER BEAN TOURS BARCELONA

RUNNER BEAN TOURS - Barcelona Private Tours & Free Walking Tours
RUNNER BEAN TOURS - Barcelona Private Tours & Free Walking Tours
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Maria Fonseca
Maria Fonseca
21:04 31 Dec 20
Was a pleasant experience to have Lisa as tour guide. Full of details her explanation and very focus on what she was saying. A touch of british humour was very much appreciated ;) Thank you
Brigitte Gneissl
Brigitte Gneissl
12:47 09 Dec 20
I booked the group tour for the Gothic quarter but obviously due to the current circumstances I was the only one on the tour. Hence, my fantastic tour guide Lisa gave me a private tour and it was super interesting. I... really learned a lot and it's a great way of discovering Barcelona. Highly recommended for anyone who comes to BCN! It's so important to also learn about the history and culture. A fantastic tour. Greetings to Lisa.read more
Satyajeet Sarang
Satyajeet Sarang
15:56 17 Oct 20
We did the Gothic Quarter tour with Miguel. We were lucky that the other party on the tour had cancelled so we had a private tour!! Miguel was extremely knowledgable and gave us lot of detail and information on each... place and also bits and pieces of the in-between that tied the places together into a whole story! Miguel spent a good amount of time with us and also gave us good local tips for food, shops and such. We would highly recommend Runner Bean Tours!!read more
Lisa Gill
Lisa Gill
11:17 14 Oct 20
We had a fantastic tour led by Lisa and due to COVID it was just the three of us. We've been to Barcelona many times and so it was wonderful to learn more about the history of the city and the buildings we love so much.... Lisa was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommended!read more
rhonda caplan
rhonda caplan
03:03 13 Oct 20
We were so impressed with our tour. It was fun, and extremely informative. They go by donation and they are worth every penny .My friend and I have been on tours in a lot of cities and this tour ranked amongst our... favorite. We were encouraged to ask questions, and if I ever have an opportunity I would take as many tours from them as they offer. Thank you 😊 💙read more
Aoife Leddy
Aoife Leddy
13:56 12 Oct 20
We had a very short time in Barcelona so to make the most of the time we had, we decided to do a walking tour. I'm so glad we chose Runner Bean Tours. We did the Antoni Gaudí tour with Lisa and thoroughly enjoyed it.... Even our children were engaged throughout thanks to Lisa's gift for storytelling and bringing you on a journey with her tour. Given the current climate in Spain with few foreign tourists visiting, we were in a unique position to enjoy an almost private tour in a very quiet city...an experience we will probably never have the opportunity to have ever again. We enjoyed the Gaudí tour so much that we booked the Gothic tour the very next day and were lucky enough to have Lisa as a guide once more. Again, a wonderful tour delivered in an engaging and really entertaining way. Lisa's knowledge of the history of Barcelona shines through and her passion for this wonderful city is absolutely contagious. Highly recommended for the whole family ♥️👌read more
Sophie Nadal
Sophie Nadal
13:46 08 Sep 20
I really appreciated the visit with Ali, who payed attention to us, asking if we add any questions regularly. She loved introducing the city to us and we can feel it, it was a real pleasure. I recommend it !
Elizabeth Skelton
Elizabeth Skelton
14:14 03 Sep 20
We had an awesome time on the Barcelona gothic quarter tour with Miguel! Miguel was an amazing guide. He was full of interesting information, and his passion and love for the city and his job made the tour extra... enjoyable. He also gave us lots of recommendations for places to eat and drink in the city, and even helped us mark them on google maps. He also took some great pictures for us. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend runner bean tours. Thank you Miguel for giving us such an insightful experience!read more
Katie Mckitting
Katie Mckitting
17:06 01 Sep 20
We have done a lot of walking tours all over the world and this was by far our favourite. Miguel was very knowledgeable and funny and made this an enjoyable experience. It is clear that Miguel loves what he does and... made sure that we had fun too. There were only 2 others on the tour with us and he made sure we were safe and distanced and everyone wore their masks to make sure we all felt safe and comfortable. I 100% recommend doing this tour - especially if with Miguel if possible! Gracias for a lovely few hours in Barca!! :)read more
Next Reviews

Comments

  1. Jean Bashford says

    March 27, 2013 at 2:57 pm

    Thankyou for your interesting tour.
    I am so excited I will be there in three weeks to see it all for myself.
    Looking forward to the 2nd part.
    Jean.

    Reply
    • Gorka Regidor says

      April 5, 2013 at 10:41 am

      Hi Jean,
      You won’t be disappointed by Barcelona. It is truly an stunning city. Hopefully I will write the second part of the post before you visit.
      Gorka

      Reply
  2. Harish says

    April 9, 2013 at 11:41 pm

    I was on your tour on sunday and absolutely loved it.
    Didn’t know that you had a blog and especially one thats so informative.

    You should update this more frequently. It’ll be great if you can finish updating this in the next couple of days 🙂 but I am going to definitely read this the next time, before I head to Barcelona.

    Good job and keep it up!

    Reply
    • Gorka Regidor says

      April 10, 2013 at 7:20 am

      Hi Harish,
      Thanks for your very nice comment. There is a new post coming today by Ann-Marie about Poble Nou with kids but it is not the second part of this post. Just to finish our Rambla walking tour you will have to come back to Barcelona ;-).
      Gorka

      Reply
  3. Thomas says

    April 16, 2013 at 12:23 am

    Hi – I’ll be in Barcelona and taking your walking tour on May 9th. Looking forward to it and also found this blog, hopefully, I’ll get part II of the series before my trip there 🙂

    Reply
    • Gorka Regidor says

      April 16, 2013 at 7:11 am

      Hi Thomas. I have other posts on the go but hopefully I will publish the second part by the time you visit. In any case, don’t worry, you can do the walking tour in person with me 😉

      Reply
  4. Lisa Stone says

    April 28, 2013 at 6:47 pm

    My husband and I will be in Barcelona the first week of June, staying at Hotel Indigo at Plaza Catalunya where your virtual tour begins – can’t wait to see all the sites you write about! We hope to join at least one of your tours while in town, too. Thank you for the great info!

    Reply
    • Gorka Regidor says

      April 28, 2013 at 11:26 pm

      Hi Lisa. Thanks for the feedback. I just answered your personal email. I think you would love the Old City Tour where we walk around the tiny alleys and secluded squares of the Gothic Quarter. It is a really magical place where you can also find some wonderful traditional shops. Hopefully we will meet in June then 🙂

      Reply
  5. Kathy Kunz says

    May 9, 2013 at 9:56 am

    Gorka , Have booked 2 tours with you , the Gaudi and the Gothic Quarter . Cannot wait to get to Barcelona . I just came across this blog and so excited to read the walking Ramblas tour . Can’t wait for your second article on the La Ramblas .My hotel is just on a side street off the La Ramblas and this blog will certainly help me enjoy and appreciate the La Ramblas . See you on the 8th of June and God bless

    Reply
    • Gorka Regidor says

      May 10, 2013 at 4:32 pm

      Hi Kathy.
      Good to talk to you in here too :-). Our new Haunted Past Night Walking Tour is due to start next month and we have been quite busy with all the preparations so I haven’t found the time to write the second part yet. Hopefully by the time you visit it will be ready.
      Looking forward to seeing you soon 🙂
      Gorka

      Reply
  6. Diane says

    August 10, 2013 at 6:23 am

    Hi Gorka,
    Like Kathy above we too have booked the same 2 tours with Runner Bean Tours. We will be in beautiful Barcelona in 3 weeks. Can’t wait!!! Look forward to reading your next installment………

    Reply
    • Gorka Regidor says

      August 10, 2013 at 4:36 pm

      Looking forward to seeing you Diane. I have been very busy this summer but the second part of this post is finally coming in a few days 🙂

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Top 10 Things to See and Do in Barcelona, Spain - David's Been Here says:
    July 9, 2019 at 1:11 am

    […] a hotspot for locals, the mile-long pedestrian street known as La Ramblas is now more of a tourist attraction. It’s actually made up of five short streets laid end-to-end. […]

    Reply

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