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IN PICS: How Barcelona’s La Rambla is set to be transformed

Authorities in the Catalan capital have started to redevelop Barcelona's most iconic street, not only transforming how it looks, but also the way it's used. Here's what it will be like and what you should know about the project.

Published: 3 October 2022 11:38 CEST
ramblas barcelona transformation lead pic
The transformation of Las Ramblas de Barcelona is underway. Photo: Ajuntament de Barcelona

More than 200,000 people walk along La Rambla de Barcelona (also called Las Ramblas) every day, adding up to around 80 million people a year. 

It’s by far the most famous street in Barcelona – perhaps even Spain together with Madrid’s Gran Vía – although nowadays it’s particularly popular with tourists visiting the city.

It’s lively, some would say chaotic, and in recent years pickpocketing and other illicit acts have tarnished its image. 

Now city authorities have embarked on an ambitious plan to transform Las Ramblas, providing more room for pedestrians and giving residents the chance to reclaim the space for their own enjoyment.

The plan to transform Barcelona’s emblematic Las Ramblas Street was first proposed back in 2017, but it wasn’t until last week that Catalonia’s Urban Planning Commission gave its final approval and the go-ahead for works to begin on Monday October 3rd.

The redevelopment has a total budget of €44.56 million and will be carried out in stages, with the first one expected to last 18 months.

The aim of the project is to modernise Las Ramblas, whilst at the same time, enhancing its historic elements and reactivating local commerce, as well as creating more space for pedestrians. 

The bottom of La Rambla near the port will be the first part to be transformed. Photo: Ajuntament de Barcelona
 
The new layout of the Rambla will improve the accessibility and connectivity between the Raval and Gòtico neighbourhoods.
 

La Rambla will become a greener space. Photo: Ajuntament de Barcelona
 
Barcelona City Council also wants to make it a greener and nicer space for locals to use, as well as turning it into a cultural hub rather than just somewhere for tourists. 
 
New seating areas will be created under the trees along the route to ensure a balanced use of the public space between areas for leisure and areas where locals live.
 
The press kiosks will also be relocated and redistributed so that they do not face each other. Instead, they will be scattered between the trees along the Rambla de les Flors-Sant Josep, where they have historically been located. 
 
 

The way the pavements and roads look currently. Photo: Ajuntament de Barcelona
 
The pavement will be one of the main elements of transformation. In essence, city workers will reduce the amount of space allocated to vehicles and will give more of it to pedestrians.
 
There will now be one lane for vehicles rather than the current two, with sidewalks of at least 3 metres on either side.
 
Currently, the pavements on the sides of La Rambla are very slim and only allow for people to walk in single file, with others having to step onto the road to let people pass. 
 

A bird’s eye view of how the new Rambla will look. Photo: Ajuntament de Barcelona
 
The road will be restricted to neighbourhood traffic (residents’ vehicles), bicycles as well as service vehicles such as buses, taxis, delivery trucks and ambulances.
 

The central section of La Rambla will be widened. Photo: Ajuntament de Barcelona
 
The central promenade will also be widened, creating more space for both pedestrians and trees. It will be created from types of natural stone, granite and porphyry (a red stone embedded with quartz). This will allow for a simpler and more functional design.
 
There will no longer be any tarmac for vehicles either, the whole of Las Ramblas will be paved without a curb separating the road from the promenade.
 
In light of the terrorist attack on La Rambla in 2017, more security elements such as bollards and blockades will be incorporated. 
 

One of the new centres of La Rambla near the Liceu Theatre. Photo: Ajuntament de Barcelona
 
The plan is to create three large spaces, almost like plazas, including one near the Betlem church, one near the Boqueria market and one near the Liceu Theater. These will be configured differently and have a more circular flow, instead of just a longitudinal one, allowing for more cultural elements too.
 
The city council has already started creating more cultural events around Las Ramblas with the introduction of the Àgora Musical de la Plaça Reial festival, which has attracted more than 7500 people attending 50 concerts, held between June and October this year. 

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PROPERTY

Spain’s Catalonia to offer up to €40,000 to renovate rural properties

The Catalan government is offering a grant of up to €40,000 for those who want to buy a house to renovate in municipalities of less than 500 inhabitants in the region.

Published: 23 April 2024 11:30 CEST
Spain's Catalonia to offer up to €40,000 to renovate rural properties

The initiative seeks to promote repopulation in rural underpopulated areas, in order to inject life into empty areas of the region.

It is only available for homes in municipalities of less than 500 people, however, this number can reach 1,000 inhabitants in specific areas such as Terra Alta, the Priorat, Ribera d’Ebre, les Garrigues, Ripollès and in all the municipalities of the Alt Pirineu i Aran.

Financial aid will reach up to €20,000 per home if it’s already the applicant’s habitual residence at the time of the request. But, for those who want to move to a rural area and do up an empty home, the figure increases to €40,000 up to a limit of six properties.

READ ALSO – Explained: Spain’s new measure to help young people and families purchase their first home 

The Generalitat has confirmed that they will allocate €2 million in total to the plan up until 2027.

The main catch is that you can’t sell the property for 10 years after receiving the grant unless you want to risk having to pay it back. You can, however, rent it out through the social rental mediation network, in order to facilitate access to affordable housing in rural areas.

The subsidy is focused on improving key aspects of the well-being of inhabitants and respect for the environment. Therefore, the aid will cover 50 percent of the cost of the works necessary to improve the energy efficiency of the properties, as well as the repairs that ensure the basic requirements of safety, habitability and functionality of the properties.

The measure not only seeks to encourage investment in the improvement of rural housing, but also to promote construction trade and maintenance, which contribute to sustainability and the efficient use of resources.

With this programme, the Generalitat of Catalonia aims to address two of the significant challenges in rural areas – depopulation and housing deterioration.

To access these subsidies, the home must be used as the owner’s habitual and permanent residence or they must have been empty for more than two years.

Applications for the programme will be open from June 28th and you must have legal residency in Catalonia in order to be eligible.

It hasn’t been revealed yet exactly how to apply, so keep an eye on site and we’ll let you know as soon as we do.

READ ALSO: Six beautiful villages and small towns which are close to Barcelona

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