Rambla de Catalunya
An enchanting boulevard with Modernista buildings
Rambla de Catalunya is one of Barcelona’s most welcoming streets. Even though it is a natural prolongation of La Rambla, it actually starts at Plaça de Catalunya and ends at Avinguda Diagonal. Along this street there are buildings of great architectural value and its central part is full of terraces that invite you to sit down and enjoy the weather.
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With just one ticket, enjoy the two routes of the Barcelona Bus Turístic, getting on and off the bus as many times as you like.
Why visit Rambla de Catalunya?
Along with Passeig de Gràcia, Rambla de Catalunya is one of the streets in the Eixample that you must visit if you come to Barcelona. When he was preparing his city expansion plan following the demolition of the city walls, Ildefons Cerdà designed this street as a natural continuation of La Rambla, and took advantage of the natural form of the water course to make it especially wide. As soon as it was completed the one-kilometre long Rambla de Catalunya became known as an elegant boulevard where the people of Barcelona could enjoy the shade of the lime trees planted on either side of the central pedestrian area.
Rambla de Catalunya is a markedly commercial street, probably due to the influence of Passeig de Gràcia, which runs parallel to it. It has always been home to shops, art galleries, theatres and cinemas, but now many have disappeared or have been transformed over the years. Now it has shopping opportunities for everyone and welcoming terrace bars where you can take a rest after shopping.
If you take a stroll on Rambla Catalunya, you should look up at the architecture on both sides of the street. At number 126, between Carrer de Còrsega and Avinguda Diagonal, is Can Serra, a Modernista building by the architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch that is now home to Barcelona Provincial Council. Further down, at number 115, is a Gothic church dedicated to Saint Raymond of Penyafort, which was moved to Rambla de Catalunya in the late 19th century when its neo-Gothic facade was added by Joan Martorell; at number 78, Casa Juncosa by Salvador Vinyals; at number 47, Casa Fargas by Enric Sagnier; and at number 19, the Viennese-inspired Casa Heribert Pons, which is now home to the Government of Catalonia’s Ministry of Economy.
You can also see amusing sculptures by Josep Granyer, "Meditación (Meditation) and Coqueta" (Coquette), popularly known as "El toro assegut" (Sitting Bull) and "Girafa coqueta" (Coquettish Giraffe); and at the intersection with Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes there is another large sculpture, "Nena damunt un peix" (Girl on a Fish) by Frederic Marès, which formerly adorned the fountain in Plaça de Catalunya.
How do you get to Rambla de Catalunya?
Rambla de Catalunya is one of the city’s central points and you can get there on the Red Route or the Blue Route of Barcelona Bus Turístic from the following stops: Passeig de Gràcia – La Pedrera, Casa Batlló – Fundació Antoni Tàpies, or Plaça Catalunya, the start and end of the two routes.
For the most curious of you
- Did you know? Rambla de Catalunya used to be known for its large number of cinemas, but now they have all gone. It was Woody Allen’s express wish that his films always premiered at Club Coliseum. This cinema was the last to close, on 31 July 2014.
- Local’s tip: Between Carrer de Diputació and Carrer del Consell de Cent you will find the Casa del Llibre bookshop. We recommend you go in to see its internal garden.
- A must: To take a quiet stroll while you admire the details of the buildings.
