This station has the name of the grand opera house located in Rambla de Barcelona: Liceu Gran Theatre. The first operas in Catalonia were performed at the beginning of the 18th century, with the War of Spanish Succession as backdrop. The Liceu building was built in a lot of Rambla, where the Trinitarians’ convent had stood. he building was designed by Miquel Chaparral y Roca with the assistance of Josep Oriol Maestras, and it was inaugurated on the 4th of April of 1847, premiering a varied programme with theatre and symphonic works. The construction was possible thanks to the contribution of private shareholders, who acquired most of the theatre’s boxes and seats. In 1994, after the big fire that consumed the hall and stage, the Fundació del Gran Teatre del Liceu was created and today it administers the publicly-owned opera house. For more information: www.liceubarcelona.com
Restaurant EL CAFÉ DE L’ÒPERA La Rambla, 74 Phone 933 177 585 www.cafeoperabcn.com A century ago it was in this cafe the Barcelona’s aristocracy would stop for a coffee before or after going to the Liceu opera house. A nice place where to drink a coffee or an hot chocolate in the afternoon.
Restaurant L’HORTET carrer del Pintor Fortuny, 32 Phone 933 176 189 www.hortet-restaurant.com Vegetarian restaurant one step away from the Rambla: the ideal option if you wish to choose healthy food à la carte or from the menu.
Restaurant ATTIC La Rambla, 120 Phone 933 024 866 www.angrup.com/attic/restaurante-barcelona/index.php This is one of the few restaurants where you might enjoy your meal in the terrace viewing the Ramblas. They offer a Mediterranean cuisine, menu for groups and private saloons.
LA BOQUERÍA MARKET La Rambla, 89 bis Phone 933 182 584 www.boqueria.info Known as la Boqueria, the historic market of Sant Josep is like a festival of aromas and colors… there must be a reason for being the most visited market in town, that must be seen at least once.
PALAU GÜELL carrer Nou de la Rambla, 3-5 Phone 934 725 775 — 934 725 771 www.palauguell.cat Another building designed by Antoni Gaudí which was declared World Heritage by UNESCO. It is currently undergoing restoration and it offers a temporary exhibition about the restaurant industry. Closed on Monday.
PALAU DE LA VIRREINA las Ramblas, 99 Phone 933 161 000 http://lavirreina.bcn.cat This palace which can be considered a baroque jewel, was commissioned by the viceroy of Perú, Manuel d’Amat i Junyet for his wife. The building has several rooms where art exhibitions are organized and at the entrance, an information point will give you more details about the city’s cultural exhibitions.
SANTA MARIA DEL PI CHURCH carrer del Cardenal Casañas, 16 Phone 933 184 743 http://basilicadelpi.com The first documents about the Santa Maria del Pi church are of the year 987, even though the present construction on the top dates back to the 14th century. It is a baroque building of one big nave only. A wonderful rose window stands out in the main façade, it was built by Josep Maria Jujol.
CARRER PETRITXOL near la Plaça del Pi and The Rambles In Pi square the Carrer Petritxol starts, a a little street with a lot of history and full of life, with different art halls and farms where from the beginning of the last century, the people of Barcelona take the worthy suizos, a delicious cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream on top.
MUSEU DE LES IL·LUSIONS carrer Pintor Fortuny, 17 Phone 618 555 655 If you like optical illusions and the visual games, this is a place for both adults and the little ones, that cannot fail to move you. The entrance is only 10euros!
EROTICA MUSEUM La Rambla, 96 bis Phone 933 189 865 If you want to learn more about the Spanish porn cinema, to go into the Kamasutra or to get to know the prohibited erotic art of Japan, enter this museum where you will certainly learn much more things.
LA PLAÇA REIAL The Rambles with carrer Ferran It’s a square with portico of 19th century designed by the architect Daniel Molina and very well appreciated by the people of Barcelona. In the middle, there is a sculpture fountain, La font de les Tres Gràcies, and two peculiar street lamps designed by the architect Antoni Gaudí.
CATALONIA’S LIBRARY carrer de l’Hospital, 56 Phone 932 702 300 www.bnc.cat You can enter to this splendid building with your membership card or a temporary visa only. It is a Gothic masterpiece of the 15-18th centuries.
