Francesc Macià i Llussà was President of the Generalitat de Catalunya from 1932 until his death in 1933. Born in September 1859, Macià grew up in Vilanova i la Geltrú (a medium-sized town approximately 50 kilometres south of Barcelona). After a spell in the Spanish army, he fought for Catalan independence and formed the political…
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Joan Miró Welcomes You to Barcelona
In 1968 Joan Miró was commissioned to create a giant mural to welcome visitors arriving at Barcelona airport. The Barcelona-born artist liked the idea so much that he decided to donate three works of art to the city, welcoming visitors arriving by air, land and sea. Joan Mirós Mural at Barcelona Airport The giant mural…
El Pont del Petroli – Badalona
The 275m Pont del Petroli was constructed in the 1960s by the CAMPSA oil company. Originally used for unloading oil tankers, the jetty was abandoned in the 1990s and soon became popular with local SCUBA divers. In 2003 Badalona City Council purchased and refurbished the jetty adding a weather station at the far end. In 2009…
Mahatma Gandhi Gardens and Statue
Many of Barcelona’s streets, squares and parks are named after famous figures from Spanish history. There are also quite a few international names honoured, including Anne Frank, George Orwell, Winston Churchill, John Lennon and Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi Gardens (Jardins de Gandhi) were inaugurated in 2000 by the then-Mayor of Barcelona Joan Clos. The small park…
Joan Miró Park and the Woman & Bird Sculpture
The main attraction at Joan Miró Park is the 22m high Woman and Bird Sculpture (Dona I Ocell). This somewhat phallic tiled statue was constructed in 1983, just a few months before Miro’s death. Although the the main body of the sculpture might look inherently masculine, the vertical black hole on one side indicates that…
The Magic Fountain of Montjuïc
I have to admit that the first time I visited the Magic Fountain, I was pretty sceptical. Let’s face it, an illuminated fountain that changes colour in time to music sounds pretty cheesy! All I can say is forget any preconceived ideas you might have and check it out. The sheer volume of water in…
Laribal Gardens – Montjuïc
The Laribal gardens (Jardines de Laribal) are located on the lower slopes of Montjuic between the MNAC and the Miró foundation. Tranquil and shady, the park is made up of a series of terraces linked by narrow paths and stairways and was designed by Jean Claude Nicolas Forestier and Nicolau M. Rubió Tudurí for the…
Rafael Casanova Monument
Rafael Casanova was the Councillor in Chief of Barcelona during the war of the Spanish succession. He is a Catalan national hero and was wounded defending the city when it fell to Bourbon troops on September 11th 1714. Catalan politicians and public figures lay floral tributes in front of the statute as part of the…
The First ÚS Barcelona Street Art Festival
The ÚS Barcelona urban art festival took place on the site of the old Encants Vells market on February 1st 2014. The event was sponsored by Barcelona city council and the Rebobinart organisation. The idea behind the festival was to make use of a part of the city which is undergoing transformation to promote urban…
MUHBA Via Sepulcral Romana – Roman Burial Ground
The Via Sepulcral Romana dates back to the first century AD. During the period of the Roman Empre cemeteries were built outside the city limits. In this case the tombs lined the road between Barcino (Barcelona) and nearby Sarria. The cemetery was discovered in the 1950s when buildings which had been badly damaged by bombs…
From Argentona to the Castell de Burriac
The 11th Century Castell de Burriac is a small medieval castle with fantastic views of the Maresme Coast, Montseny and Barcelona. The castle is located at the top of Burriac hill at an altitude of 401m. The only way to get there is on foot or by mountain bike. The walk starts on the outskirts…
The “Maja Madrilenya” Fountain
The “Maja Madrilenya” is a 5m high white marble fountain in Plaça Vila de Madrid (just off La Rambla). The statue was unveiled in 1956 and is the work of Catalan sculptor Lluís Montané Molfulleda. So what exactly is a Maja? “Majas” or “Majas Goyescas” date back to 18th century Madrid. At the time women’s…
Barcelona Motorcycle Museum
Unfortunately the Barcelona Motorcycle Museum is no longer open to the public. The museum closed in 2018 and the collection was moved to the museum’s other location in Basella (Lleida). More information here. This small museum in the heart of Barcelona’s Gothic quarter houses a collection of approximately 70 classic motorbikes. The museum’s collection is…
The Born Cultural Centre
Designed by Antoni Rovira i Trias and inaugurated in 1876, the “Mercat del Born” was Barcelona’s first cast-iron covered market and is the largest of it’s kind in Europe. It was the city’s central food market right up-until 1971 when the new Mercabarna wholesale market opened in the Zona Franca. The abandoned market building fell…
New Year’s Eve Fireworks Display
Traditionally the Spanish see the new year in at home with their family. As the clock strikes midnight everyone eats 12 grapes and toasts the new year with cava. If you’ve visited Barcelona before, you will know that midnight is pretty much considered early evening here! Once the family celebration is over most people meet…
What to Wear in Barcelona in December
The weather in December has been pretty mild with daytime temperatures between 10 and 16 degrees Centigrade. It has been mostly dry with a mix of blue skies and overcast. Two or three days were stormy with strong winds and heavy rain. Apart from that the only rain was a few light showers. Night time…
Multidisciplinary Art Exhibition at the Agbar Tower
The Agbar Tower isn’t normally open to the general public. So when I heard about the “Agua, Aguas” exhibition I was keen to get a peek inside. The exhibition is a collection of poems, paintings and photos with a common theme – Water. The exhibits are grouped together in 5 categories: Water, the origin of…
Free WiFi Hotspots in Barcelona
Free WiFi is widely available in Barcelona. In 2011 the city council launched Barcelona WIFI and installed antennas throughout the city. You can also get online for free in shopping centres, bars & restaurants and at the airport. Barcelona WiFi Barcelona WiFi is one of the largest networks of free internet in Europe. The transmitters…
Christmas Lights 2013
Barcelona’s Christmas lights were officially switched on by the mayor on November 22nd 2013 . This year there are a total of 85kms of illuminations and most of Barcelona’s main shopping streets have displays. The best known are in the centre of the city on Passeig de Gracia, Portal de l’Àngel, Las Ramblas, Carrer Aragó…
BarGelona – Barcelona’s Christmas Ice Rink
Important – This year (2015) the Barcelona ice rink changed venue to Hospitalet. I will be updating this post as soon as possible. Please check back soon! Now in it’s third year, Barcelona’s Christmas ice rink measures 1400m² making it the largest temporary ice rink in Europe. It’s covered by a giant circus tent (ex…
The Nativity Scene at Plaça Sant Jaume
Every December a giant Nativity scene or “Pesebre” is installed in Plaça Sant Jaume. The design changes each year and never fails to surprise. In 2013 the Pesebre depicted life on Barcelona’s rooftops and is one of the most original and interesting that I’ve seen to date. The traditional characters are all represented but with a…
Curling One Out For Christmas !
If you thought that Southpark’s “Mr. Hankey” was the only toilet related Christmas character – Think again ! The Catalan Christmas tradition includes 2 poo-related characters: The Caganer or “Shitter”- A cheeky figure that first appeared in Catalan nativity scenes during the 18th Century. Caga Tió – The Catalan equivalent of Father Christmas ! The…
Christmas Markets in Barcelona 2024
Barcelona is a great place for Christmas shopping, with a wide range of shops and department stores catering to all budgets and tastes. There are also several traditional Christmas markets that take place every year. La Fira de Santa Llucia The Market of Saint Lucia is Barcelona’s oldest Christmas market and dates back to the…
How to Get From Barcelona Airport to the City Centre
This article outlines the transportation options for travelling from Barcelona Airport to the city centre. The best choice for you depends on several factors: arrival time, the number of people in your party, which area of the city you are staying in, and your budget. Please note that the information in this post refers to…
What to Wear In Barcelona in September
The weather in Barcelona during September has been pretty varied. It started off like the first few weeks of August; sunny with blue skies and temperatures up in the high twenties. Then there were 2 weeks of mixed weather. Some days were cloudy and overcast with a few heavy downpours and temperatures in the low-twenties.…
Barcelona Windsurfing Spots – Badalona
Badalona is just 10km north of central Barcelona. The long sandy and un-crowded beach is popular with Barcelona’s windsurfers, many of whom store their gear at one of 3 windsurfing clubs. According to the locals, the prevailing thermal wind blows stronger here than at any of the other local beaches. The sea breeze normally picks…
The Mediterranean Tall Ships Regatta
From the 21st to 24th of September 2013 Barcelona plays host to the Mediterranean Tall Ship Regatta. This year 30 tall ships are going to race from Barcelona via Toulon (France) to La Spezia (Italy). In the days leading up to the race the ships are moored in Barcelona’s Port Vell (old port). Most of…
Computer and Electronics Stores in Barcelona
If you need to replace your laptop, hard-drive, digital camera, MP3 player or other electronic devices while in Barcelona then the first place you should head to is Ronda de Sant Antoni between Plaça de la Universitat and Carrer de Casanova. There are more than a dozen shops here, selling a wide range of products including; memory…
Catalonia’s National Day – La Diada de Catalunya
Every year on the 11th of September, thousands of Barcelona residents take to the streets to celebrate a public holiday called La Diada de Catalunya or National Day of Catalonia. Often refered to as simply La Diada, the day comemorates the fall of Barcelona to the French and Castilian troops of Phillip V of Spain during the War…
Poblenou Cemetery
Poblenou’s Cemetery (Cementiri de Poblenou / Cementiri de l’Este) was built in the mid 18th Century and then rebuilt and extended during the 19th Century. It is divided into 3 sections. The first of which is a labyrinth of 7 story high burial niches typical of Spanish cemeteries. The second section is full of extravagant…
