La Rambla

La Rambla, the most famous and crowded avenue in Barcelona. From above, you can see it winding through the city, resembling the path of a river. This is because it was built on the bed of a dried-up river. The Catalan word “Rambla” comes from the Arabic word “Ramla,” which means sand, but refers to a small, often dry stream. So, Barcelona’s old stream was covered up, and the city built an avenue that would become the city’s emblem. Today, it’s a vast pedestrian street lined with trees and two roads for vehicles on either side. Walking along, you will see street performers, old-fashioned kiosks, and lots of people! The avenue takes you through the historic centre, from Plaça de Catalunya all the way to the sea, ending at the Christopher Columbus monument. If you continue walking to the Barceloneta port—where we highly recommend you dip your feet—you’ll see that Columbus is pointing in a certain direction. But where exactly? This mystery has caused quite the debate… Some say he’s pointing towards the port of Genoa, his birthplace, but that’s not the right direction. Others believe he is pointing towards the New World, but geographically speaking, he should actually be pointing to the ground— which would look a bit odd. However, the most recent theory suggests he is pointing towards the Indies, his original destination. In fact, he is pointing to the direction he would have taken had he sailed from Barcelona’s port. But you don’t need to try and solve this mystery—just continue on towards our next point of interest.