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Barcelona Holidays, Hotels & Travel Guide
Travel guide to hotels & holidays in Barcelona
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Barcelona Holidays Overview
A guide to holidays in Barcelona - One of the most popular resort towns south of
Barcelona is Sitges, 25 miles (40km) from the city. Renowned for
its swinging nightlife, Sitges attracts thousands of visitors,
including day-trippers from Barcelona, many of them young and
well-heeled. The city has a reputation for being gay-friendly,
expensive, and decidedly arty, having been the town where the
modernist movement began when it attracted artists such as Bohemian
mystic Santiago Rusinol and later the likes of Salvador Dali.
Rusinol's home in the town has been turned into a museum,
displaying some of his works. Most people, however, visit Sitges
for the beautiful sandy beaches it offers. Between the church at
one end of the town and the Terramar Hotel at the other extremity
there are nine breakwaters, each sheltering gently sloping golden
beaches equipped with showers, refreshment kiosks and sun-loungers
for rent.
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Barcelona
holidays - Top Places To Go
1. La Ramblas
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What is it? The most famous street in Europe, the wide
tree-lined boulevard known as La Ramblas, is a long continuous
pedestrian avenue that changes names five times as it cuts through
Barcelona's 'old city', the Barri Gotic, from the Placa Catalunya
to the city's port. It is lined with cafes, restaurants and shops,
and is usually thronged with leisurely walkers enjoying the sights
and sounds. Whilst walking around it is worthwhile to note some
attractions along the way, including Gaudi's Guell Palace, his
first big architectural assignment, and the pretty square, Placa
Reial.
Hours of Operation:
Phone: |
2. Picasso Museum
Montcada Street 15-23
www.museupicasso.bcn.es |
What is it? On Carrer Montcada, a street known for its
elegant medieval structures, two palaces dating from the 15th
century have been converted into the Picasso Museum, home to one of
the most complete collections of works from his youth and formative
years as an artist. Pablo Picasso spent his early years in
Barcelona (between 1901 and 1906), and the museum is now the city's
top attraction. The collection includes a number of childhood
portraits and paintings, as well as engravings, drawings and art
from his Blue and Rose Periods.
Hours of Operation: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 8pm
Phone:932 563 000 |
3. Guell Park
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What is it? Barcelona's famous architectural son, Antonio
Gaudi, left his mark on the city nowhere more prominently than in
the gardens of the Parc Guell. The park, sited on Camel Hill
offering splendid views of the city, was originally planned to be a
garden city suburb, but only two houses were completed before it
was turned into a public recreational park. The gardens are
festooned with examples of his work, including flights of stairs,
columns and a plaza decorated with mosaics. The pink fairytale
house standing at the entrance to the park was once home to Gaudi
and his niece, but is now a museum containing some Gaudi-designed
furniture, décor, drawings and portraits of the
architect.
Hours of Operation: Daily from 10am to 7pm (closing times vary depending
on the season)
Phone: |
Barcelona
holidays - Top Events
1. Carnival
From 2007-02-23
To 2007-03-03
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What is it? Lent is traditionally a time of fasting and
denial, and Carnival is the period before Lent to celebrate
pleasures, extravagance and indulgence with an abundance of
feasting and dancing. Street parades, float processions, and
parties fill every street and plaza in the city and revellers come
dressed in rich costumes. A mock funeral procession on Ash
Wednesday marks the end of the festivities.
Where is it? |
2. Barcelona Summer Festival
From 2007-06-01
To 2007-08-31
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What is it? The Barcelona Summer Festival, popularly
known as the Grec Festival, is the cultural highlight on the summer
calendar, and one of the most important arts festivals in the
world. Every summer the city is filled with some of the finest
national and international theatre, dance and music performances
aimed at promoting different types of contemporary music and
performance arts, as well as classical and ancient music and
traditional acts. It is famed for its creativity and attracts a
wide variety of visitors and locals alike.
Where is it? Various locations around the city |
3. European Balloon Festival
From 2007-07-01
To 2007-07-31
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What is it? Thousands of spectators gather to watch as
the sky is filled with a wonderfully colourful display of hot air
balloons from around the world. Market stalls are set up to
complete the festive atmosphere of one of the biggest ballooning
events in Europe. For more information phone +34 (0)93 804 2202 or
email jm@ultramagic.com
Where is it? The town of Igualada, located about 31 miles (50km) inland
from Barcelona |
4. St John's Eve (Sant Joan)
From 2007-06-23
To 2007-06-23
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What is it? Midsummer in Barcelona is celebrated with a
big bang as fireworks colour the sky in a festive prelude to the
national holiday of the Feast of John the Baptist. Ancient
traditions observed the summer solstice as the most important event
of the solar year and fire was celebrated as the symbol of
abundance, purity and fertility. So too today, the solstice
festivities have fire as their central focus. Each neighbourhood
stages fireworks and all-night bonfires are fuelled by collections
of old furniture, but the biggest celebration is at Montjuic with a
fabulous fireworks display and a colossal bonfire. There are dances
and celebrations in the squares, street parties, music and
entertainment throughout the city, and in all the homes traditional
cake or 'coca' is eaten and sparkling wine is
drunk.
Where is it? |
5. Festival of La Mercè
From 2007-09-21
To 2007-09-24
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What is it? The Festival of La Mercè is dedicated to the
patron saint of Barcelona, the Virgin of Mercy, and involves a
fabulous assortment of popular Catalan traditions and mythology.
The city celebrates by hosting one of the biggest parties of the
year with street music and dancing, fairs, theatre, concerts and
parades. Firework spectacles light up figures of dragons and
devils, and gigantic folklore icons of Catalonia ('gegants') are
paraded through the city centre, while traditional teams of
'Castellers' build human pyramids in St Jaume Plaza. For more
information contact the Institute of Culture on +34 93 301
7775.
Where is it? Various squares and open places around the city |
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