Las Ramblas is located centrally in Barcelona city and is popular with the tourists. It is a lively avenue filled with action. Las Ramblas is located at a distance of 1.2 kilometers from Port Vell. As prostitutes repeatedly visit it at the nighttime, the southern-most end of the Ramblas becomes a red light district. Factually Las Ramblas refer to the area around five interconnecting roads running from the Barcelona Harbor to Catalunya Square. There are ample of shopping centers located in proximity to Las Ramblas. A famous landmark on the Ramblas is a Dragon where concerts are held at night in Ramblas.

Ramblas, Barcelona’s famed Pedestrian Boulevard that cuts through the heart of the old quarter is a popular place to take a leisurely stroll. It is alive with activity day and night and is an experience to delight the senses. It is said that through Las Ramblas the city is reduced to one slightly out-of-whack focal point and all that makes up Barcelona is squashed into a thin line that runs from the city center to the sea. Fragrant flowers flourish, music fills the air, living “sculptures” catch the eye, appetizers lure one to stop awhile and indulge, and oil paintings are displayed for one’s admiration. There’s no place like the Ramblas – it is the place to wander- experience - breathe in the culture.

The word rambla is derived from the Arabic term, ramla, which means a riverbed, and these streets actually used to be a riverbed that channeled the water coming down from Collserola hill. In the 13th century, convents and churches were built on both sides of the Ramblas and the streets were named after these religious buildings. During the period of the 18th century the medieval walls that divided the Gothic Quarter from Raval district were pulled down, and in 1830 the convents and monasteries were closed. Las Ramblas in Barcelona is a 1.2 Km walkway through the very heart of the city centre. Here one will view all sorts of stalls, restaurants, bars and street performers along with the many thousands of people that stroll up and down the Ramblas until the early hours of the morning.

It is a tree-lined pedestrian avenue packed with buskers, living statues, mimes and roving salespeople selling everything from lottery tickets to jewelry. The noisy bird market on the second block of La Rambla is worth visiting. Also the nearby Palau de la Virreina, a grand 18th-century rococo mansion, with arts and entertainment information and a ticket office. Next to it is La Rambla’s most colorful market, the Mercat de la Boqueria. In the southern direction is the Boqueria the Mosaic de Miró having only one tile signed by the artist. The next section of La Rambla possesses the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the famous 19th-century opera house. La Rambla terminates at the lofty Monument to Columbus and the harbor. One can ascend the monument by lift. Just west of the monument, on Avinguda de les Drassanes, stand the Royal Shipyards, which has the fascinating Museu Marítim.

The colorful market in the centre of Las Ramblas offers everything a gourmet wishes - fresh fish, fruits, meat, and bread is piled up to the rooftop of the beautiful covered market. It is also a good place to try traditional Barcelona food as many stalls in the middle of the market sell original dishes to try and take away.

Anil Gupta
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Picture: Barcelona La Rambla