Page 156 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

154  BARCEL ONA

8 El Raval
0 La Rambla
Map 2 F3.  Catalunya, Liceu.
The district of El Raval lies to the The historic avenue of La Rambla (Les Rambles in Catalan)
west of La Rambla and includes is busy around the clock, especially in the evenings and at
the old red-light area near the weekends. Newsstands, caged bird and flower stalls, tarot
port, which was once known as
the Barri Xinès (Chinese Quarter). readers, musicians and mime artists throng the wide, tree-
From the 14th century, the shaded central walkway. Among its famous buildings are
city hospital was in Carrer de the Liceu Opera House, the huge Boqueria food market
l’Hospital, which still has some and some grand mansions.
herbal and medicinal shops.
Gaudí was brought here after Exploring La Rambla remembered in the names of
being fatally hit by a tram in The name of this long avenue, the five consec utive Rambles
1926. The buildings now house known as Les Rambles in that make up the great avenue
the Biblioteca de Catalunya Catalan, comes from the Arabic between the Port Vell and
(Catalonian Library), but the ramla, meaning “the dried-up Plaça de Catalunya.
elegant former dissecting bed of a seasonal river”. The
room has been fully restored. 13th-century city wall followed Palau Güell: C/ Nou de la Rambla 3–5.
Towards the port in Carrer the left bank of such a river Map 2 F3. Tel 93 472 57 75.  Liceu.
Nou de la Rambla is Gaudí’s that flowed from the Collserola Open 10am–8pm Tue–Sun (free Apr–
Palau Güell (see p145). At the hills to the sea. Convents, Oct: 5–8pm Sun & Nov–Mar: 2:30–
end of Sant Pau is the city’s monasteries and the university 5:30pm Sun). Closed 1 & 6–13 Jan, 25
most complete Romanesque were built on the other bank & 26 Dec. & 7 ∑ palauguell.cat
Museu de Cera: Pg de la Banca 7. Map
church, the 12th-century in the 16th century. As time 2 F4. Tel 93 317 26 49.  Drassanes.
Sant Pau del Camp, with a passed, the riverbed was Open 10am–1:30pm, 4–7:30pm
charming cloister featuring filled in and those buildings Mon–Fri, 11am–2pm, 4:30–8:30pm
exquisitely carved capitals. demolished, but they are Sat, Sun & public hols. & 7
9 Museu d’Art
Contemporani
Plaça dels Àngels 1. Map 2 F2.
Tel 93 412 08 10.  Universitat,
Catalunya. Open 11am–7:30pm
Mon–Fri (to 8pm Jun–Sep),
10am–9pm Sat, 10am–3pm Sun.
Closed 1 Jan, 25 Dec. & 7 8
guided tour times change according
to the exhibits; check calendar on
website. ∑ macba.cat Centre de
Cultura Contemporània: Montalegre 5.
Tel 93 306 41 00. ∑ cccb.org

This dramatic, glass-fronted
building was designed by the
American architect Richard
Meier. Its light, airy galleries act
as the city’s contemporary art
mecca. The permanent collec-
tion of predominantly Spanish
painting, sculpture and install-
ation from the 1950s onwards
is complemented by temporary
exhibitions by foreign artists
like US painter Susana Solano
and South African photo-
journalist David Goldblatt.
Next to the MACBA, a
remodelled 18th-century
hospice houses the Centre de
Cultura Contemporània, a lively
arts centre that hosts major arts The monument to Columbus at the bottom of the tree-lined Rambla
festivals and regular shows.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp564–5 and pp586–8

154-155_EW_Spain.indd 154 26/09/17 11:00 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Feature template “UK” LAYER
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Date 7th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm