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La Rambla
La Rambla is a famous pedestrian promenade through the center of Barcelona, Spain. It is a
tree-filled walkway that boasts an incredible variety of street life: cafes, shops, markets, vendors, street theater and historic sights. While it is a continuous corridor, it is made up of smaller segments that together are known as Las Ramblas.
The Project for Public Spaces named La Rambla one of 60 great places in the world [1].
History
La Rambla was once a path along a walled stream that marked the city limits of medieval Barcelona. In the late eighteenth century, the old city walls were demolished and La Rambla was formally constructed as an avenue.
The architecture along La Rambla is highly varied, but much of it is a mix of baroque (18th century) and Art Nouveau styles (late 19th century works of Antoni Gaudí and his contemporaries). It is, however, adjacent to the Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter), where many of the buildings date to the Middle Ages and even to the Roman occupation of this area.
Layout
La Rambla connects central city plazas with the Mediterranean waterfront. 
Beginning in the city, the first of the five segments is the Rambla de Canaletes, location of the famous fountain of Canaletes — a meeting place for soccer fans. It dates to the middle ages but was rebuilt in the 18th century. The next segment is the Rambla de les Flors (formally named the Rambla de Sant Josep), a block filled with flower vendors. It holds a large market known for quality products – the Mercat de la Boqueria, which was established in 1914. Further down the promenade is the Rambla dels Estudis, named after a medieval university, the Estudi General, which is now the University of Barcelona. While this is also a shopping area, several distinctive baroque buildings are located here, including the Betlem Church. Next, the Rambla dels Caputxins is known for its magnificent opera house, Gran Teatre del Liceu. Lastly, on the Rambla de Santa Monica, one can visit art museums and art vendors as the walkway approaches the waterfront. A 1992 project extended La Rambla into the harbor via a wooden platform known as Rambla de Mar.
Pedestrian haven
On La Rambla, pedestrians are prioritized; they walk the through the center of the street
while automobiles are relegated to narrow shoulders along either side of the street. The walkway itself is, on average, 60 feet wide and contains seating areas and attractive landscaping. Fascinating buildings with varied architecture further enhance the site's appeal. Due to the dramatic range of activities, the promenade teems with pedestrians nearly 24 hours a day. Attractions include shops, eateries, markets, fairs, museums, street vendors, “living” statues, street theater, and other activities. It has become a major tourist center, and monuments like the Christopher Columbus statue draw even more tourists to the promenade.
La Rambla also provides access to the nearby Gothic Quarter, where the tight, labyrinthine streets are closed to traffic.
According to the Project for Public Spaces, La Rambla works well because the height of surrounding buildings (5 to 7 stories) matches the very ample street width [2]. A diverse, inviting atmosphere gives tourists and residents a feeling that everyone is welcome, which promotes street watching and “sociability between users” [2]. The area draws people of all ages and economic classes.
ALSO ON THE LIVABLE STREETS NETWORK
REFERENCES
Each source is referred to by the same number every time it is cited. Please keep citation style consistent.
[1] 60 of the World's Great Places. Project for Public Spaces.
[2] La Rambla - Great Public Spaces. Project for Public Spaces.
[3]
[4]
PICTURE REFERENCES
Pictures are cited in the order they appear above. Please keep citation style consistent.
[1] La Rambla 2008. Flickr.
[2] Michele Casagrande. Barcelona. Flickr.
[3] La Rambla. Flickr.
[4] Michele Casagrande. Barcelona. Flickr.
