Ciutat Vella

Ciutat Vella, Barcelona is one of the major popular destinations of the city. Ciutat Vella actually means “old city” in Catalan and it refers to one of the oldest neighborhoods of the Barcelona as well as Spain. Situated in between the Mediterranean Sea and the neighborhood called l'Eixample, Ciutat Vella includes Les Rambles, Raval and Barri Gòtic. Les Rambles is located in the heart of the Ciutat Vella and it extends from the Plaça Catalunya to the Mediterranean Sea. The different Les Rambles have different features. La Rambla de les Flors or The Flowers Rambla is primarily dedicated to flower stands, whereas another Rambla mainly comprises of animal vendors and the lowest of the Ramblas are home to temporary art fairs. Some of the popular tourist attractions of the area are El Mercat de Sant Josep and Teatre del Liceu, which a Opera House.

Raval is another integral part of the Ciutat Vella and the local people refer the place as the el Barri Xinès, or China town. The name of the place has nothing to do with the fact that many inhabitants of the place are of Chinese origin. Actually the look of the place resembles a Chinese town and that is the reason behind the nomenclature of the area. Previously Ravel was considered to be a dangerous area, but then off late it has transformed into one of the dynamic centers of the city. The entire place is interspersed with numerous ethnic and fashionable restaurants along with cafes. Here you will also find the Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona or the Contemporary Art Museum of Barcelona.

Located in near vicinity of the Raval is el Barri Gòtic. Barri Gòtic is home to the Cathedral of Barcelona, la Generalitat or the Catalan government hall and l'Ajuntament or Barcelona city hall. There are also many celebrated shopping arenas in the area that include Plaça Reial. Most of the shops of the area can be found along Carrer Ferran. Overall, Ciutat Vella is a must watch for you, if you are looking to feel the spirit and vibes of Barcelona. In fact a tour of the city will be incomplete without a visit to Ciutat Vella.