SINCE 2006 MAKING BARCELONA COME ALIVE FOR YOU
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 …
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 …
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 …
THE SEASON OF THE CATALAN CALÇOTS HAS STARTED! The calçot onion (pronounced “calsots“) is a winter green onion that Catalan farmers grow in a particular way: they keep covering it with earth as it grows, to prevent the sun from turning the leaves green. That’s how it grows long as a leek and stays tender …
OUR FAVORITE WINTER SEASON FRUITS Spanish markets are now packed with autumn and winter season fruits and vegetables: cold weather is not an excuse to not follow a healthy diet rich in greens and fruit. In my food tours I’ve often noticed that some of our most common winter season fruits are not so common …
AUTUMN AND WINTER FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN SPAIN Read More »
CALÇOTS: CATALAN SPRING ONION! Wintertime is the calçots season in Catalonia: both a social event and a culinary experience for the locals! Calçots are a Catalan spring onion harvested in the winter. Catalan people organize “calçotades” with their friends and families, what could be socially considered our equivalent to summer American BBQs. For this calçots season …
