Rambla De Canaletes

This stretch of the Rambla takes its name from the fountain located on the right side, at the beginning of the avenue. This fountain has become so immensely popular, so much so in fact that it is seen as a city landmark, that at first glance it might seem a tad disappointing to visitors. However, the fountain's history justifies its fame. The current fountain was originally a water trough that existed when Barcelona was still enclosed in its city walls. When these ancient channels were replaced by the current, more modern fountain, a legend was born that claimed that whoever drank from this fountain was destined to always return to Barcelona. The fountain has become a popular meeting spot for people in the city, locals as well as visitors, and is also well known for another interesting reason. Whenever Barça, the local football team, wins a match, all the fans meet at the Canaletes fountain to celebrate and prove the saying that "the Barça is more than a club".

Along this stretch of the Rambla (as well as those that follow), you will find iron chairs, perfectly placed for a revitalizing break. These are an enjoyable feature for people strolling on the Rambla but keep an eye on your belongings. There are many pickpockets in the area who will gladly take advantage of unaware visitors.

Continuing downhill, you will see a number of peculiar establishments that, more often than not, are dedicated to the business of the ubiquitous souvenirs. Other, more interesting, stores specialise in classic and antique musical instruments. The first street that appears on your right, the Carrer Tallers, is home to one of the city's most emblematic cocktail bars, the Coctelería Boadas. It was the first ever establishment to serve mixed drinks in the city. Its historic character and the fact that it is a watering hole for show business personalities means that it hasn't lost any of its fame to the passing years. The streets that lead off the Rambla on both sides take us into other shopping districts (it is important to remember that the left side leads to the Gothic Quarter and the right to the Raval), but for now our itinerary will continue straight on down the Rambla.