La Rambla del Raval

Friday, 20 March 2009 15:29

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One of the places I like most in Barcelona, especially on a sunny day, is the Rambla del Raval. Although is has been there quite a while now (about 15 years if I remember correctly) it seems that it doesn’t get the attention it deserves from the millions of tourists that are crowding the old city of Barcelona every year. Maybe it’s the kind of “bad” reputation that some of tourist guide books are spreading about the Raval area, still describing it as the Barcelona’s china town (“barrio chino”), relating it with prostitution, drugs and marginal society. Well, in fact it is not completely untruth as the Raval does have some prostitutes point in it and you can also get something to smoke if you really search for, it but all this you can find almost in any area of Barcelona.  It is also truth that traditionally the Raval was the centre of the social marginality in side the old city of Barcelona, but this has changed so much in the last 10 years that if you haven’t been in Barcelona for the last 15 years you won’t recognize the Raval. I wouldn’t know where to start in describing all the new exiting places you will discover in this fascinating neighborhood. The Raval has been upgraded to the extent that every time more and more people prefer it over the “fancy” gothic quarter or the “chic” Borne.

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A good way to start to explore the Raval is by visiting its main Rambla. It is perhaps the easiest street to start to enjoy the neighborhood, loose the fear and overcome prejudice, especially if you tend to get panic when you are surrounded by 3rd world countries immigration. This relatively new avenue is really worth visiting even if it is just to see its modern urban architecture. In order to create it the city hall of Barcelona had to eliminate a whole street (San Jeronimo street. which still can be found in some old plans of the city), expropriate dozens of buildings and economically compensate hundreds of families, most of them hard working immigrant families. The result is spectacular: huge avenue of almost 100 meters wide and 1 KM long, surrounded by many bars, restaurants and one spectacular hotel (Hotel Barceló). The centre of the Rambla was completely paved with 2 traffic lanes to each direction, leaving in between plenty of free space for the bars and restaurants to place their tables. The Rambla del Raval, as opposed to the famous Las Ramlas of Barcelona is very quiet and has very little car traffic. It was designed in a way that you have no reason (nor interest) to enter it with a car, unless you are a taxi, delivering merchandise or if you live on the Rambla itself.

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In my opinion the Ramla de Raval will become very soon one of the most popular locations in the old city of Barcelona. I can see it from the testimonials of our clients who choose the Raval holiday apartments, not only because they are cheap apartments but also because of their location in Barcelona. By now many of them prefer the Raval for their accommodation in Barcelona over other parts of the city. Many of the clients that I spoke with in the beginning were worried about safety but with time and after discovering the human factor of the Raval as quite attractive now would never choose other location for their apartment in Barcelona. All it takes is an open mind and not to be afraid to approach the locals, most of them speak some English and you will find them much more welcoming then what the first impression implies.

From the accommodation point of view I believe that the apartments that are located on the Rambla del Raval itself are the most attractive and provide the best value. Most of the cheap apartments in barcelona are in this neighbourhood. However the Rambla is wide and close to the sea, to it gets plenty of natural light during all the day time hours, as well as nice breeze. The little car circulation makes it very quiet. It is minutes walk everywhere in the old city and there are 2 central Metro stations near. Every Saturday morning there is a beautiful handcraft market on the Rambla and in general on the weekend the atmosphere is really unique.

For more info about the Raval and apartment’s accommodation in the Raval please click here.

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Y.B Meshulam / Apartime.com manager.