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A Short History of La Rambla
Getting to know why La Rambla is the most famous street of Barcelona La Rambla is arguably the most famous street in Barcelona, the capital city of Catalonia in Spain. It runs from the bustling Plaça de Catalunya to the Mediterranean Sea. It has a varied history that goes back several centuries. Originally, La Rambla was built on a dried-up riverbed called the Riera de Sant Josep. This watercourse had separated the city’s old town from the newer district that was expanding towards the sea. In the late 18th century, the city council decided to turn the empty riverbed into a pedestrian boulevard, the street now known as La Rambla.…
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The robbery in 1981 at the “Banco Central” and its connection with Hotel Continental
The most famous bank robbery in the history of Spain As one of the most iconic and historic hotels in Barcelona, ??at Hotel Continental we are passionate about the history and culture of our vibrant and beloved city. And, in this sense, today we want to share you about one of the most outstanding events in Barcelona in the 1980s: the robbery of the Central Bank on Saturday, May 23, 1981, just three months after the failed coup attempt. The headquarters of the Central Bank had been the Continental Hotel at the beginning of the 20th century This famous robbery, carried out by a group of highly organized criminals, has…
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Celebrate Sant Jordi with us!
April 23rd Sant Jordi’s Day in Barcelona Barcelona and Sant Jordi are closely related to the culture and history of Catalonia. Sant Jordi is the patron saint of Catalonia and is celebrated on April 23 each year in commemoration of his death, fulfilling the ritual of giving a rose and a book. The streets of Barcelona are filled with stalls of books and roses, the locals take to the streets to buy them and give them to their loved ones, it is a way to honor the figure of Sant Jordi and to celebrate the Catalan culture and literature, it is a festival with a strong popular character, which combines…
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Easter in Barcelona
Discover our religious tradition Spain is a country of Catholic heritage. Easter is, therefore, an essential religious tradition in Catalonia. Holy Week, also called Semana Santa, begins this year with the most important day of Easter, Palm Sunday. Many people will spend the Easter holidays in Barcelona. However, the Easter celebrations include several public holidays, so it is vital to find out before your citybreak about the opening hours of sites, museums and attractions. The same goes for shops, restaurants and other events. Top Easter Barcelona Activities The traditional Easter parades and processions make Barcelona an unforgettable experience because the city is even more sumptuous and full of life than…
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Discover the 12 most emblematic stores in Barcelona
Barcelona bets for the European Capital of Proximity Commerce Barcelona has a very important commercial axis that has been woven over the years and that in some cases has lasted until today becoming a highly valuable heritage for the city. Establishments located, in many cases, in streets, squares and corners of Barcelona that have a special charm and that have become emblematic due to their history and architecture. On January 17 of this year the European Parliament approved the Capitalidad Europea del Comercio de Proximidad, a proposal launched byBarcelona Comerç and Vitrines d’Europe with the support of various institutions and administrations and that will be an element to preserve and…
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A Romantic Weekend in Barcelona
Top activities for couples Paris is famous for being the city of love, but anyone familiar with Barcelona knows that the Catalan capital is equally romantic. It’s also one of the most popular weekend destinations in Europe, with plenty of activities for couples looking for romantic things to do in Barcelona. The Magic Fountain For many couples staying in Barcelona, a trip to the Magic Fountain near the Plaça España is amust-see. Atmospheric displays of light, water and music make this spot one of the most magical and romantic in Barcelona – and even better – it’s free! More money to spend on treats for your lover! Rowing Boats If…
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Merry Christmas from Hotel Continental Barcelona & Palacete
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The best plans to experience Christmas in Barcelona
Find your favourite plan for this Christmas time and enjoy Barcelona with us! Barcelona offers you a wide variety of plans to experience an exciting Christmas, full of tradition, surprises for all interests: culture, tradition, gastronomy, shopping and sport. “Fira de Santa Llúcia” in front of the Cathedral Just 10 min. from the Hotel Continental Barcelona and 20min. from the Continental Palacete is the traditional “Fira de Santa Llúcia”, a concentration of products and a Christmas atmosphere that has been celebrated since 1786! Located on Avenida de la Catedral in Barcelona, ??it once again fills us with illusion and light for the Christmas time. Take the opportunity to enjoy the…
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Christmas arrives at Continental Hotel
Our hotels dress up for Christmas One more year we share with you our Christmas decoration, the prelude to these festivities whose tradition in our city and in our family transports us to precious moments lived in the past and with the hope of continuing to live them in the present. Culture, tradition and spirituality For our family, Christmas has always had a transcendent meaning. It represents the arrival of Jesus, the son of God on earth and, although this meaning is lost more and more, we want to remember it so that those who visit us remember the meaning that these festivities have for our city and for our…
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Continental Palacete: a Monument Hotel in Barcelona
First “Tour guide through the “Monument Hotels” of Barcelona” Yesterday, November 24, 2022, the Hotel Continental Palacete welcomed the Barcelona visitors participating in the first “Route through the Monument Hotels of Barcelona”. The Hotels-Monument are a distinction granted by the Barcelona Hotel Guild and which responds to their great beauty and uniqueness. Together with the Continental Palacete, in Barcelona there are 20 official monument-hotels that open their doors for the first time on this route. The Continental Palacete was recognized as a “Monument” in 2018 It was a source of joy and pride to receive this distinction that reflects the beauty and uniqueness of this architectural work that houses salons…
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The centennial wardrobe of the Hotel Continental Palacete
A jewel that came from Paris in 1889 for Hotel Continental Palacete This mahogany wood jewel was acquired by the Vallet Arnau family at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1889. When Pilar Vallet Hernández and José María Malagarriga Miralbell, my parents, joined in marriage, this wardrobe could be located first in a family home and, later, when we inaugurated the Continental Palacete, in this privileged place in the middle of Rambla de Catalunya. This precious cabinet has become the repository for all the wonderful memories of our hotel history. Memories of our long history in the hotel world On the shelves of this cabinet, we can find silver cutlery…
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Come celebrate autumn and “la castañada” with us!
Tradition and gastronomy come together to welcome you! La Castañada is a traditional festival in Catalonia that is celebrated on November 1, coinciding with All Saints’ Day. This festival wants to commemorate our ancestors by consuming products such as chestnuts, sweet potatoes and “panellets”, typically autumn. Legend has it that for every chestnut eaten on All Saints’ Eve, a soul is released from purgatory. It is an old pagan tradition that was celebrated throughout Europe in which the end of the harvest and the good weather were assimilated with the cult of the souls of deceased relatives. Although in its beginnings the day of the chestnut had a stronger connection…
