La Rambla () is considered the most well known street in central Barcelona. A tree-lined pedestrian street, it stretches for connecting the in its center with the Christopher Columbus Monument at Port Vell. La Rambla forms the boundary between the neighbourhoods of the to the east and the to the west.

La Rambla can be crowded, especially during the height of the tourist season. It hosts a combination of eateries, shops, markets, and cultural institutions.

Orientation

thumb|Map of La Rambla

La Rambla can be considered a series of shorter streets, each differently named, hence the plural form (the original Catalan form; in Spanish it is ). The street is successively called:

At the southern end of the Rambla is the Christopher Columbus Monument and the Port Vell, the old port of Barcelona, now largely given over to pleasure craft. Near to the port end of the Rambla are the Royal Dockyards (), which house a maritime museum specifically devoted to naval history in the Mediterranean. usually dry but an important drain for the heavy rainwater flowing from the Collserola hills during spring and autumn. (, from the Arabic 'sand', is Catalan for "wadi". The name of the city of Ramla in Israel is derived from the same origin). It separated the walled city on its north-east bank from the settlements of El Raval ("the suburb") on its south-west.

In the year 1377, construction started on an extension of the city walls to include La Rambla and El Raval. In 1440, the stream was diverted to run outside the new walls, and La Rambla gradually started turning into a street.

Over the next few centuries, La Rambla became an established center of Barcelona's urban life, serving as a long wide thoroughfare used for festivals, markets, and sports. Several large religious establishments were also built along the street during this period. These include the Jesuit Bethlehem monastery and college (1553), of which just the later church remains; the Carmelite St. Joseph's monastery, on the site of the current Boqueria market; and a Capuchin monastery at the lower end of the street. During the late 19th century, many Catalans who had made their fortunes from trading in slaves or owning slave plantations in Spanish America returned to Barcelona after the abolition of slavery in 1886. Several of them invested their newfound fortunes in constructing opulent mansions in areas such as La Rambla. German historian Michael Zeuske has argued that the street was "built on the backs of slaves", although The Guardian claimed that "[this] is an exaggeration."

thumb|, La Rambla à Barcelone, c. 1915–1917.

Various conflicts over recent centuries took their toll on La Rambla's religious buildings, most notably the St. James's Night riots in 1835, when revolutionaries burned the monasteries and churches and killed a number of friars; and the Spanish Civil War in 1936–39, when Barcelona came under the control of anarchists who again targeted religious buildings and personnel, as well as being damaged by artillery and air attacks on the area from pro-Franco forces.

Until 2010, the was the site of an open-air market for caged birds and other small pets. However animal protection laws made it difficult for the market to continue. After years of fighting the legislation, the market was forced to close.

On 17 August 2017, many people were struck by a van deliberately driven down the sidewalk on La Rambla in a terrorist attack, causing 16 deaths and at least 300 injuries.

Sights

thumb|Flower shop on La Rambla

The tree-lined central promenade of La Rambla is crowded during the day and until late in the night. Its origins as a watercourse are reflected in the paving design, which appears to ripple like water. Along the promenade's length are kiosks that sell newspapers and souvenirs, other kiosks selling flowers, street traders, performers, and pavement cafes and bars. Several notable sights are also located within the promenade, including a mosaic by Joan Miró and the , a fountain and popular meeting point.

Along the Rambla are historic buildings such as the Palace of the Virreina and the Theater (), in which operas and ballets are staged. The market opens off the Rambla and is one of the city's foremost tourist landmarks, housing a very diverse selection of goods.

Culture

thumb|Pavement mosaic by Joan Miró on La Rambla

The Rambla is the location for several of Barcelona's cultural establishments, including:

  • the , or simply , is Barcelona's opera house, opened in 1847.
  • the , is the oldest theater in Barcelona, founded in 1568, and subsequently rebuilt several times since.
  • the is a public museum of contemporary art located on the Raval side of , with regular exhibitions of international artists.
  • the , a Baroque palace, hosts museum exhibitions and cultural events.

In the is a 1971 pavement mosaic by Joan Miró.

  • , immediately adjacent to , is a major interchange station served by several metro and suburban railway lines.
  • , in front of the opera house , serves the central section of La Rambla.
  • is by the port next to .

Three Barcelona Bus lines operate along the service roads flanking La Rambla during the day (numbers 14, 59 and 91), whilst three different night time services also operate along La Rambla (numbers N9, N12 and N15).

Redevelopment

In 2017 the city of Barcelona approved a plan to redevelop the famous street giving it a new image and function. Construction for the redevelopment is slated to begin in late 2022. The redevelopment budget is approximately €45 million and will be carried out in stages. More space will be made for pedestrians by reducing the number of car lanes. Traffic will also be restricted to use only by service vehicle and people who live in the area. The general idea is to create a "green space" that will be more welcoming to locals and tourists alike.

See also

  • Parks and gardens of Barcelona
  • Street names in Barcelona
  • Urban planning of Barcelona

References

  • Amics de la Rambla – Association of La Rambla