To feel the unique atmosphere and the different cultural dimensions of Barcelona you should take a sightseeing walk along the famous boulevard La Rambla and its side streets. The area hides a number of historic and contemporary treasures in an inspiring combination of styles.

The central pedestrian zone of La Rambla starts from Plaça de Catalunya with its contemporary fountain Homenaje a Francesco Matia. You will immediately immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Barcelona's most famous boulevard with delightful cafés along the sidewalks, street artists, flower sellers and strolling people.

In a quiet inner courtyard on Carrer de Santa Anna, north-east of Rambla de Canaletes is located the pleasant Romanesque Church of St. Anna. It was built in the 12th century and has an original cruciform plan and a rectangular choir. The highlights in its architecture are the rounded arches and the nice small Romanesque windows, as well as the reproduction of the original 15th-century tabernacle.

If you walk back to La Rambla and then continue along its opposite intersection Calle d'Elisabets, you will pass by Plaça del Bonsuccés and reach the crossing with Carrer dels Àngels. Turn right along the latter and in a couple of steps you will be in front of the modern building of Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona, usually abbreviated just to MACBA. Its structure, made of stone, concrete, glass and steel, was designed by Richard Meier and completed in 1995. The permanent exhibition of the museum comprises the period after 1940 and includes remarkable works by a variety of contemporary Spanish and international artists. In the close surroundings of MACBA you will find a series of art shops and fashionable boutiques.

Going out of the Museu d'Art Contemporani you should walk right again along the tree lined Carrer dels Àngels (in south-eastern direction). At the intersection with Carrer del Carme you will see the huge 15th-century Gothic building of Hospital de Santa Creu, now housing the National Library of Catalunya (Biblioteca de Catalunya). It is worth to walk around it and enter its lovely Gothic patio from Carrer de l'Hospital.

Then you should continue along Carrer del Carme, pass by the charming little square named after Alexander Fleming and reach again La Rambla. On your left is the somewhat roughish Baroque façade of Eglesia de Betlem. The church was built in the late 17th and the beginning of 18th centuries by the Jesuit order. Its valuable Baroque decoration and furnishings inside were fully destroyed in a fire and now restored in a not very pleasant Neo-Classical style. Turn right along the lively Rambla de Sant Josep where is located the bird market with parrots squawking from their cages under old chestnut-trees. Look on your right and you will see the Palau de la Virreina or the Palace of the Vice-Queen. It was built in the second half of the 18th century, designed by Josep Ribes in a mixed Baroque and Rococo style. Today the palace houses the main offices of the city's culture department and its halls are often used for various municipal expositions. Passing by it you will soon reach the Mercat de la Boqueria. This is an old market place, first recorded in the beginning of the 13th century. Today it is a true horn of plenty, where under roof construction made of wrought iron and glass you will find all kinds of food. The flower stalls at the charming Plaça de la Boqueria hide to a certain degree the works by Juan Miro. You may pay attention to the narrow and tall building on no 77, featuting a façade decorated with mosaics in the Ar Nuvo style. On the opposite side there is a kitsch building, influenced by the Chinese architecture, over ornate with dragons and sunshades.

After Plaça de la Boqueria you will be already walking along Rambla dels Caputxins. On your right is the Gran Teatre del Liceu. This is the most prestigious theatre and opera house in Barcelona. The Liceu is also the largest opera house in the country and the second largest European theatre. It was built in 1847 and after major renovation works (1994-1999) opened again for public in 1999. Its huge and splendid auditorium features remarkable paintings in the impressive New Pompeian style.

After the Gran Teatre del Liceu and Hotel Oriente you should turn right along Carrer Nou de la Rambla. In a few steps you will reach the magnificent palace of Güell - Palau Güell. It was completed in 1890 after the design of Antoni Gaudí. The palace is a true jewel of the 19th-century Spanish architecture and a bright representative of the Catalan Art Nouveau style. Since 1984 the Güell Palace has been included in the UNESCO list of world heritage sites.

Go back to La Rambla and continue to the right. You will pass by the interesting folded façade of Teatre Principal. This theatre was completed in 1847 on the site of the Barcelona's oldest theatre - Teatre de la Santa Creu, dating back to the 16th century. After a fire in the end of the 18th century it was reconstructed in Teatre Principal. In front of it you will see the statue of Frederic Soler - the founder of the contemporary Catalan theatre.

On the last section of La Rambla - Rambla de Santa Monica, leading to the Statue of Columbus and the port, you will see the Convento de Santa Monica, hidden behind a somewhat neglected façade of a cultural centre. The monastery was founded in 1619 by the Augustine order. Here you should cross the boulevard and walk back to no 42. Then enter the covered passageway with a glazed bridge. It will bring you to the exclusive 19th-century square Plaça Reial with its ritzy cafés, secluded under tall palm trees and lit pillars, designed by Gaudí.