La Rambla and the Boqueria: the famous mile, eyes open
The flower stalls, the Miró mosaic, the market, and Gaudí's lampposts — done early, before the crush. This is a Claude-drafted route awaiting the editor's walk.

1. Plaça de Catalunya
The top of La Rambla and the seam between the old city and the grid. A big, pigeon-heavy square — not somewhere to linger, but the right place to start walking downhill. Keep your bag in front of you from here on.

2. The flower stalls
The upper stretch of La Rambla still keeps a row of flower and plant kiosks, the last working trace of what the whole street once was. Slow down here; this is the *rambla* at its least theatrical.

3. Mercat de la Boqueria
Go in early, before nine if you can, when the traders are stocking and the place still works as a market rather than a photo queue. The stand-up bars at the back do the best breakfast in the old city — sit, order, watch.

4. Miró pavement mosaic
At Pla de l'Os, mid-Rambla, a round Miró mosaic is set straight into the pavement — most people walk over it without looking down. Stand on it for the photograph everyone else is missing.

5. Gran Teatre del Liceu
The opera house, twice burned and twice rebuilt, with a modest frontage that hides one of Europe's great auditoriums. Day tours run if you want to see inside; otherwise just note the doors and walk on.

6. Plaça Reial
Step off La Rambla through the arch into a porticoed square with palm trees and Gaudí's first-ever commission — the two lampposts with winged helmets. Calmer than the street outside, and the right place to stop for a drink.

7. Mirador de Colom
La Rambla ends at the harbour and at Columbus, pointing out to sea from the top of his column. A lift runs up inside for the view. Drassanes metro is a minute back up the street.

La Rambla and the Boqueria: the famous mile, eyes open