After all we have seen the sea seems to be far away although is very close… La Rambla is huge, live and multitudinous and changes in a few steps. It keeps hosting different kinds of persons in the same street.

Once we reach Rambla dels Estudis (Rambla of the studies) called like that in memory of the General Study of Barcelona, the first university of the city built in 1536. Later was built the University Pompeu Fabra.

It is a fact that this part of the promenade is known as La Rambla dels Ocells (Rambla of the birds), because it was full of birds sellers. In other times, the smell of flowers and the sing of the birds made this plain a very nice promenade to walk on.

Nowadays, still are a lot of kiosks and stands which sell animals, ice-cream and souvenirs. Even if it questionable to have animals these stands are another element of this dynamic, surprising and coloured rambla.

The most meaningful building of this part is the Moja Palace of the XVIII century, known as Palace Marqués de Comillas.

In this palace lived Cinto Verdaguer, a national poet of Catalonia who wrote famous plays as Atlantida or Canigó. La Ramblas, let’s not forget, is a place for artists. In this inspiring rambla lived a poet, Mossen Cinto, who worked for the rich Comillas giving his money to the poor. A very original work: writing poetry and clearing the conscience of the marquis.

Downthe Moja Palace there is a porch that enriches La Rambla, gives warm and protects from the rain. In there is the library of the Catalonian government.

The frontier between La Rambla de las Flores and the one of the birds is the street Portaferrissan, name that reminds to the door of the walls which were placed in this point.

The Street Portaferrissa, narrow, popular and commercial is the perfect place to watch fashion, a lot of young people walks in there looking for the latest trends. This street begins in the Cathedral Square and finish in La Rambla with a fountain from the 1818. In the fountain there is an image made in ceramic of this part of La Rambla where the wall Portaferrissa was placed. This name refers to an instrument for measuring, a rod of iron. The Middle Age and the contemporary mix in this rambla.

Barcelona is not a city with big palaces. The habitants are discreet. However, there are a few stately homes. Some of them placed in La Rambla as the Virreina Palace now the venue for important cultural events.

It is for that reason that in the ground floor is placed the Cultural Department of the Barcelona Council. We can find here also the Beethoven House, a shop of music scores.  

Just a few years ago, next to the shop, there where little wood cabins where the scribes used to write letters for those who didn’t know how to write in exchange of some coins.  

But who was the viceroy that gives name to the palace? None other than the wife of the Peru viceroy, Mr. Amat, in a time in which this country belonged to the Spanish Crown.

Next to the Palace is one of the most beautiful buildings of the city, the Regulador House, name that comes from the jewellery placed there.

Once we cross the Carmen Street we find the Belén church. Its baroque style was promoted by the Jesuits in 1681. Here we can remember another Spanish ex colony: Philippines, because here was the Philippines office now turned into a hotel with a British elegant ambiance.

Above we can see the Academy of Arts and Sciences built at the end of XIX century. A clock shows the official time since 1888. At the beginning of the XX century was built the Poliorama theatre famous for its projections.

La Rambla de los Estudiosis a cultural confluence: streets that take us to the Contemporary Art Museum in the centre of Raval, small and big libraries, musical shops, African artisan… In the same way, there are a lot of unique bars such as the Viena- with a piano- or the cocktail bar Boada. 

If you are also interested in booking tours in and around Barcelona, we recommend Barcelona Day Tours. They offer pickup from your hotel or the port and touring in a small group