Barcelona's Las Ramblas

La Rambla, Barcelona's pedestrian mall, begins at the Placa Catalunya and extends 1.2 km to the statue of Christopher Columbus at the Port Vell. It is Barcelona's most famous and popular street with tourists and local alike. It divides the Raval area on the west and the Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter) on the east. There may be no better place in Spain to indulge in the Spanish ritual of the paseo, the stroll, than on this spacious pedestrian walk-way. La Rambla is lined with cafes, flower shops, artists, hustlers, souviner shops, and the famous "human statues" that come to life when a coin is dropped into their pot. It is a people-watcher and photographers delight.