CARNIVAL IN BARCELONA Carnival in Barcelona is not called Mardi Gras. We call it Carnestoltes in Catalan or Carnaval in Spanish, and it is traditionally celebrated the week before Lent. However, the origins of Carnival seem to date as far back as the Roman times and their festivals, later on integrated in the Christian calendar …
CELEBRATE THE FESTA MAJOR DE SANTA EULÀLIA WITH THE LOCALS Saint Eulàlia (or popularly called Laia) was the first patron saint of Barcelona, until she was deposed by Our Lady of Mercy, la Mercè. However, her day is still celebrated in town, with her festival being the minor winter festival of the city. And even …
CELEBRATING THE FESTIVAL OF SANT ANTONI IN BARCELONA There was a time when it was common to see carriages and horsemen in the city, so the Tres Tombs parade and animal blessing felt just like the natural thing to do in a strongly Catholic society. Now animal force has been substituted by cars and other …
BARCELONA RESTAURANTS FOR NEW YEARS EVE Spending New Year’s Eve in Barcelona? Last year we shared the best places to attend a New Year’s Party in our city. But what about dinner? It’s something to absolutely plan in advanced if the party you’ll be attending doesn’t include dinner. And absolutely do not leave it to …
GREAT IDEAS FOR YOUR NEW YEARS DINNER IN BARCELONA Read More »
THE BEST CATALAN CHRISTMAS CAROLS I love Christmas Carols. We sang them in school when I was a child, and my parents bought me a book with tradition Christmas songs so I could learn and sing more of them. And while there are some Christmas carols in Spanish, my favorite have always been the ones …
SKIING IN BARCELONA? YES, IT’S POSSIBLE! When you think about a Barcelona vacation, you are likely to imagine architecture, good food and maybe the beach. But did you know the Pyrenees mountains are close enough to allow you to go skiing for the day? Yes! The season depends a lot on the weather, and it …
EVER TRIED A SPANISH SOUP? When you visit Spain, don’t stick only to tapas: get your spoon ready to try some authentic Spanish soup recipes. When someone thinks about Spanish food, tapas and paella seem to be like the only thing that’s worth trying. However, if anything characterizes the Spanish gastronomy in the cold months …
BARCELONA CLIMATE FACTS The weather being good or bad is one of the points that can make your trip succeed or fail. So knowing about the local weather characteristics in your destination is vital to plan ahead and prepare accordingly to bring the right clothes and equipment. Find out how the Barcelona weather can affect …
HOW TO PLAN A GREAT NEW YEAR IN BARCELONA New Year’s Eve is around the corner! It’s one of our favorite holidays in the year: it feels like for once everyone is celebrating something together (at least in our time frame!). It’s a great time to travel and be in an exciting foreign city… as …
BARCELONA NEW YEARS EVE: MUST READ TO AVOID A FAIL Read More »
YOUR SMART WINTER BARCELONA PACKING LIST The weather in Barcelona is often changing. While some October days might feel almost like it’s still the summer, the next day can be chilly all of a sudden, and eventually wet. January and February tend to be the coldest months in the year. However, it only snows once …