This first of five construction phases will start in the Drassanes area closest to the sea, beside the Columbus monument, and take around 18 months to be completed. According to the council, this will help “encourage its use for social purposes.”

The local government has allocated €10m of the €45.5m it has budgeted for the La Rambla works for construction on this part of the boulevard, which will no longer be asphalted but rather paved in granite and porphyry, and will be lined by around 100 trees, 21 of which will be new.

Attracting locals 

Although construction will begin by the Columbus monument, the entire boulevard, a tourist hotspot, will be reformed with the aim of making it a “more comfortable, green, friendly and cultural promenade with more space for pedestrians.”

The project is set to dramatically transform three different areas across La Rambla in particular, with new squares created in front of emblematic sites such as La Boqueria market, the Liceu Opera house, and in front of Palau Moja, a neoclassical building from the 18th century.

At these sites, the road will be the same height as the sidewalks but security pylons will be installed. Only vehicles driven by residents will be permitted, as well as public transport, bicycles, emergency vehicles and cars using parking garages in the area.

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