Let your imagination run free these days. Christmas, gifts, meals … everyone, deep down, feels it excited. Although that feeling may not be that strong, there was a time when we did were excited about Christmas. We were happy to receive the catalogs of the toy stores and even during breakfast we were not bothered by the advertisements. We spent hours leafing through those pages full of Playmobils, bikes, scooters, puzzles. So many things … that even on the “date of delivery” we were eaten away by the uncertainty of whether we had chosen well, or on the contrary, we were going to be unhappy all year with what would…
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It is “chestnut time” with Castañada in Barcelona
One of the best things about travelling is the opportunity to get to know somewhere new for holidays and experiencing on first-hand how they are celebrated differently. If you are in Barcelona in October, get yourself ready to see your blood sugar sky-rocket as a habit. (Not suitable for diabetics). We celebrate castanyada. This Catalan tradition castanyada literally means “the chestnut time” and is closely bound up with the Christian holiday All Saints’ Day (November 1st). Over time, castanyada started to be celebrated on All Saints’ Day Eve, October 31st. And then appeared the charming figure of lady castanyera selling baked chestnuts and sweet potatoes onto the streets. The celebration…
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The Oktoberfest Barcelona 2016
¡Prost ihr Säcke! (With love: Cheers, you pricks!) Weather is unpredictable but events must go on in rain or shine. A couple of days ago, amid the pouring rain, the Barcelona Oktoberfest 2016 ground-breaking ceremony was initiated by the tapping of the first Oktoberfest-beer-barrel. As in many other cities around the world, at the cry of “O’zapft is” (it’s tapped) the Beer Festival had just begun. In our city, this multitudinous folk celebration entirely dedicated to the “liquid gold” will last until October, 23. The German nature at this event is inevitable, both waiters and waitresses, as locals and visitors wear in this party the Trachten, Dindrl and traditional Bavarian Lederhosen from…
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Barcelona’s Festival “La Mercè” 2016
La Mercè is the local festival of Barcelona. These days you may certainly hear about it. La Mare de Déu de la Mercè (The Virgin of Grace) is the patron saint of the archdiocese of Barcelona, and co-patroness—along with Saint Eulàlia—of the city. Normally religious in nature, La Mercè is more like a compendium of Catalan popular culture nowadays. In a week! From next Thursday 22nd to Sunday 25th September some of the main spots of Barcelona will become alive with street shows such as: Next Thursday 22 at 7pm The inaugural Sardanas in Cathedral Ave. Next Sunday 25 at 8:30pm Correfoc de La Mercè Route: Antoni Maura Sq., Via…
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Catalonia National Day 2016
Every 11th September since 1980, in Catalonia it is marked the fall of Barcelona into the hands of the Bourbon forces on September 11, 1714. It occurred after a 14-month siege of the city, in the War of the Spanish Succession. In the aftermath, the Catalan institutions were abolished. What do we do during our National Day? A few popular events are held in Barcelona on La Diada Organizations and political parties laying flowers and wreaths at monuments to Catalan héroes. Meetings to pay homage to the soldiers who defended Barcelona during the War of the Spanish Succession. Political demonstrations. Concerts featuring traditional and modern music. Private parties. Communal meals…
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The Best Day of the Week: Brunch in The Park
Our guests in Continental Barcelona and Continental Palacete Hotels often wonder what to do in Barcelona on Sunday. There is not that much to do, we say, but still a lot! This time we would like to tell you a story about a Brunch in The Park and when the Sundays in summer became the favorite day of the week. For more than thirty years, the Gardens of Joan Brossa, Jardins de Joan Brossa in Catalan, were the Amusement Park of Montjuïc. Today it is an extensive area with green Mediterranean vegetation that draws you to stay, or stroll around or even play with the kids. The Jardins de Joan Brossa…
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Gràcia Barrio Annual Festa !
If you stroll around Gràcia you will easily notice that this neighborhood is something else. Until the end of 19th century, Gràcia was a fiercely independent city and nowadays maintains a hotbed of political activity. In fact, and again, if you stroll around Gràcia you will easily notice this is not a city but a village with particular inhabitants. Bohemian and cosmopolitan professionals living there wake up early and go to bed late to enjoy its streets full of life. There are very few cars driving through the narrow streets of the Vila de Gràcia and people still gather in his numerous plazas. Next 15th August you will have the…
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Night of Blues in Poble Espanyol in Barcelona
You may have heard about the ubiquitous Barcelona nightlife. And that is because we love to relax and gather with our friends after an intense week of work. As in such a way Rick Steves would say that Barcelona people generally place equal importance on work and living well. Not surprisingly, the all-night extravaganza in Barcelona then has become a tremendous offer for locals and visitors as well. So much so that a new day has been gathered in Catalans calendar: “Juernes” (that is jueves plus viernes, a fusion of Spanish Thursday and Friday). This time in Continental Hotels in Barcelona we are sharing with you a very good Juernes…
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NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: MUSEU NACIONAL D’ART DE CATALUNYA
Last 21st May we went through a magic night in Barcelona with all its museums open as a courtesy of The Art Factories, launched by Barcelona City Council’s Culture Institute. Next Saturday, 16th July the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (National Art Museum of Catalonia) and from now on MNAC, will also celebrate open doors from 8pm to 1am. The MNAC is located in Montjuïc hill, right next to Plaça Espanya and at the top of the stairway of Barcelona’s biggest ornamental fountain, the Magic Fountain. For five hours, you’ll enjoy an evening of open house with free entrance and accompanied by art, music, cuisine and circus performances. Among the…
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Adele in BCN
Will you experience the exhilaration of Adele live? Within the extensive tour throughout Europe (Adele 25 Tour), which started in Belfast last February, Adele is now performing in Barcelona. The upcoming concert scheduled firstly for 24th May has featured another night (25th May) to present her new “25” album to all her fans in the city, an album which has become the fastest-selling release of 2015. You’d better had hurried up in getting the tickets because they are all gone since last year. This latest album of her “25” happens to be the thrid in studio recording. It has been an unprecedented success worldwide after selling over 2.5 million of copies…
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Welcome Back to Barcelona, Bruce Springsteen
Next 14th May, Bruce Springsteen is back onstage in Barcelona. As in 1988 and 2008, the legendary show will take place in Camp Nou, FC. Barcelona stadium. Unsurprisingly, tickets were already gone only few minutes after they were available online. Although online tickets are already sold out, you may be lucky and get one in resale in the streets of the city. For his distinctive voice and his lengthy and the energetic stage performances, the American songwriter and singer and musician and so on has received a big number of awards. For exemple: 20 Grammy, 2 Golden Globes and even 1 Oscar. The evening of 14th May will be unforgetable…
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The Legend of Saint George in Catalonia
Legend has it that Saint George was a valiant and martyr knight. Because of his chivalrous deeds he became the great hero of Saint George and The Dragon. It was believed by many that the story happened in Cappadocia. But here in Catalonia and for centuries it is believed that it all took place in Montblanch (Tarragona). What is certain is that today and from 1456 Saint George is the patron saint of Catalonia and every year on 23rd April the whole country becomes a dance of roses and books. Following with the legend and located in Montblanch, it is said that in this village lived a fierce and terrible…
