The Barcelona suburb of Gracia is normally a sleepy, residential place, inhabited by many artists, students and intellectuals. However for one week in August each year, it is home to one of the greatest festivals in the world, the famous Festa Major de Gracia. A million people from Spain and further afield flock to Gracia each year to witness the awe-inspiring sights of the fiesta. The festivities commence with the opening speech of Catalan celebrity chef Isma Prado on the balcony of Gracia Town Hall on the 15th August each year.

The parade starts in Plaza Ruis i Taulet and includes the famous human pyramids or “castellers”. They even walk these “castellers” from plaza to plaza to impress the crowds who are holding their breath watching this sight. You can also see performers dressed up as characters from Catalan folklore, including giants, devils, dragons and trabucaire bandits.  By day there is a full programme of concerts and activities and by night, there are fireworks, live music and dancing and thousands of people partying on the street into the small hours and beyond. There is a competition that is run for the best-dressed street as part of Festa Major de Gracia. The locals take the competition very seriously and make over their streets into great works of art, which are best viewed at the beginning of the festival before the parties take their toll! The streets that are particularly recommended to view are the Carrer de Joan Blanques and Carrer de Verdi who frequently win the top prizes with their innovative creations. The whole area is decked out with flowers and garlands and the Catalan appreciation for music and celebration take over. The festival has been running for almost 100 years and has steadily drawn more and more people to join to 120,000 residents celebrate their creative and bohemian home.

Catalonia is one of seventeen automous regions of Spain and encompasses the cosmopolitan Spanish capital, Barcelona, as well as the beautiful beaches of the Costa Brava and the historic city of Gerona. So the Festa Major de Gracia is just one of the many things that the dynamic Catalonian region of Spain has to offer. You can join the party by finding great Catalonia property for “http://www.kyero.com/property_guide/55539-cataluna-property-guide“

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So by now, you must have heard that Barcelona has plenty to offer: legendary nightlife, stunning architecture, fascinating culture, mouth-watering cuisine, beaches- the list goes on and on. However, did you know that Barcelona is not just a great city for adults to let loose and play, but a fabulous destination for family trips and kid-friendly activities? One of the first things I noticed upon arriving in the city and exploring my neighborhood, Gracia, is the plethora of children’s shops in the area- they are seriously the majority of stores and once or twice I have walked past a window and seriously considered trying to squeeze myself into the largest size available! This certainly explains all of the well-dressed children I have seen here- be them running around in the large playground/ park in the middle of Via Augusta, splashing in the water at the beach, laughing hysterically as they navigate the maze in the Labyrinth Park, or simply enjoying a meal with their parents. Okay, so you get the point that if you bring your children here, you will be able to take them shopping- but for most people that does not really make for an enjoyable family vacation. So what else is there to do with the kids? I have already briefly hinted at certain activities, such as the beach, Labyrinth Park, and eating, of course. However there’s so much more - check out the “mornings at the zoo” organized just for kids in Park Ciutadella, the Barcelona Aquarium, the amusement park at Tibidabo for fun with an incredible view of the city, Bubbleparc in Maremagnum, expose your children to some of the fabulous culture with special art programs run at the MACBA, and, if you all can stay awake, the Magic Fountain show at Montjuic is a must-see! Barcelona never fails to offer something for everyone, on any given day and if you somehow can’t find something just right for you or your family, we’re up for the challenge, so just ask us!!

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The last Saturday, 10th of July, more than 1 million zealous Catalans were claiming their independence from Spain. The manifestation was peaceful, yet full of emotion! All the important figures from the Catalan government were leading the march and giving the speech to the nation. People were singing the national anthem of Catalonia, carrying Catalan flags and posters with some fierce slogans and phrases. The march went from Diagonal through Passeig de Gracia, ending in Tetuan. The whole distance, which in fact is around 2, 5-3 km was fully packed! Just for the record for those of you who don’t know Barcelona’s streets very well, Passeig de Gracia together with Gran Via are one of the biggest and widest streets in Barcelona! People seemed very determined to show their attitude and unite with the Catalan spirit of independence, despite the heat and humidity of the Spanish summer weather. Many of you might wonder why on earth they want to separate themselves from Spain so much? Behind the idea of being independent for cultural issues, there are a lot of financial connections that Catalonia has with the Spanish Government that are not really at all convenient for Catalans. And on top of that, there are the different languages and different cultures… But on the other hand, would Barcelona and Catalonia be so attractive to the tourists without the Spanish “background”? Would people be interested in coming to Barcelona as much as they are right now if it was not Spain? Would bars and restaurants withdraw” bocadillos con jamon Serrano” and “tortillas de patatas” from their menus? There are some very fair points speaking for Catalan independence indeed, but independent Catalonia as a separate country raises many more questions…..

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So the Spanish League ended… and FC Barcelona won the Championship, smashing Valladollid with a score of 4-0!! The Spanish League consisted of 20 teams from all over Spain. It began on 29 August and finished on 16 May 2010 with glorious victory of Barcelona. The incredible Barça team won 14 games, drawing 5 and loosing only 1.

But obviously there’s no true victory without the celebration! There was a huge celebration event at the Camp Nou stadium right after the game. The beautiful illumination display, fireworks, music and flags filled the whole stadium. Shortly after all of the players showed up and each member of the team, including the coach Josep Guardiola, gave a small speech. At the same time the crowd of cheering fans was celebrating the victory at Placa Catalunya and Las Ramblas. But it wasn’t just “celebration”… it was madness! I don’t know how many people there were exactly, but for sure a few thousand! The entire centre was literally packed with Barça fanatics. People were wearing FC Barcelona T-Shirts and waving the flags of both FC Barcelona and Catalonia, singing and dancing. Everyone was chanting FC Barcelona anthems and fire bangers and bonfires were blazing in the middle of the celebrating crowd! Totally insane! I was thinking that if you just happened to be visiting Barcelona that time, and didn’t know anything about the football celebrations, you would definitely think that the city has been taken over by some insane organization… But frankly speaking, this sort of event is only reserved for the great football fans! “Casual” visitors might find it even a little frightening…! I am not a huge football fan and I survived! And I have to admit that it was definitely a great thing to experience! Visca el Barça, visca Catalunya!

Note:  Check our Facebook page for the pictures from this event!

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Have you ever been bored in Barcelona? I don´t think so…or if yes, then only because of the laziness Even though, Barcelona isn’t the capital city and is smaller than most of the European metropolises, it has all the rush and glamour of the biggest cities in the world. There are always so many things happening that everyone can find something suitable for her/himself. For example, this week there is Barcelona Bike Week, Loop Video Art Festival, Poetry Festival and Stand up Comedy. There are also many concerts and music performances that listing all of them would completely fill up this post. Last weekend was Barcelona Formula1 Gran Prix, International New Rose Competition, Aeronautical Fair and Barcelona Asian Film Festival. Some of you might think that probably attending all these events would be incredibly expensive, but actually there are many activities completely free! For instance, some time ago I went to the totally free of charge Indie Music Festival promoting young, alternative bands from Barcelona, but it also included international stars from Spanish and non-Spanish speaking countries. One of them was famous Danish rockband, the Raveonettes. This 3-day-festival was set at Mare Magnum at Port Vell, which gave a summer spirit to the event, even though the weather was not that summery at all. The atmosphere was great and I discovered a few really good bands! So…….the moral of this story is: do try to keep yourself informed on what’s happening in the amazing city of BARCELONA!

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We can all feel that summer is coming… More and more tourists in the city, and beaches are getting more crowded as well. For that reason, it is vital to explore some beaches around Barcelona – they are much less crowded and cleaner. Recently I went to Gavamar beach, which is just 10 minutes drive away from Barcelona city. It is just next to two other really nice beaches – Castelldefels and Les Botigues. They are just a little bit further than Barcelona airport, so they are easily accessible by car or public transport. And what is most important is the feeling of being outside the city – the air is lighter, the sand is whiter, people are more friendly…And no matter how much we do love Barcelona, it’s great to leave the city once in a while…then you come back and you love it even more

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The April Fair of Catalonia began last weekend and will last a week. Being a foreigner in Spain, I had a chance to see what a Spanish “Feria” actually looks like for the first time! I had previously read some articles about this famous event but didn’t really have a clear idea of it… Feria de Abril originally comes from Andalusia. The Sevillan Feria de Abril is the second biggest annual event of the city, just after the famous Holy Week. It is also much bigger than the one in Catalonia and it affects city life much more significantly. Even though the Barcelona Feria de Abril is just a smaller version of its bigger Andalusian sister, I am still pretty impressed by the size of this event! The April Fair is set at the Forum Parc, just at the sea coast, in the Diagonal Mar district of Barcelona. Frankly, I didn’t expect so many colorful attractions and stalls. There are stands offering delicious food from around the world as well as countless amusement stalls, such as shooting galleries and flamenco shows. The stands are called “casetes” in Spanish, which means “little houses”. There are usually between 60 and 70 of them, and they belong to various political, governmental or financial organizations. Each of them is filled with people, happily enjoying the festivity. Entire families gather to sing, dance and share the spirit of the Feria. There is also a big funfair with many great roller coasters, bumper cars, Ferris wheels and an enormous big wheel with breath-taking views of the sea and Barcelona.

The Feria de Abril de Catalonia is a great opportunity for everyone who is visiting Barcelona in the coming days to feel the Spanish spirit, combined with fun and amusement. Really worth visiting! Enjoy

Location: Forum Parc

Metro: Yellow Line, L4, Forum

Opening times:

Monday 26.04 - Thursday 29.04: 18:00 to 02:00
Friday 30.04: 10:00 - 04:15
Saturday 1.05: 10:00 - 04:15
Sunday 2.05: 10:00 - 22:00

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After living in Barcelona for some time I realized that this amazing city has so many beautiful monuments and places that are hardly ever mentioned in any standard tourist guide. This inspired me to make a list of Top 10 Non-Touristic sights of Barcelona. La Rambla, Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell or Tibidabo are the sights that everyone knows…but have you ever heard of these? What are your top non-touristic places in Barcelona?

1. Gracia

Former suburban village of Barcelona, which gradually has been incorporated into the city. Famous for its artistic atmosphere with many great bars, pubs and restaurants. Always full of young fun people - ideal for socialising with the locals!

2. Basilica de la Merce

A sort of hidden monument in the Barri Gotic. The Basicila with the recognizable statue of the patron saint of the city which juts above the roofs whilst looking from Port Vell. The Basilica built in the gothic style amazes from outside as well as from inside.

3. Capella de Santa Agata

Although, located just behind the Cathedral is usually an unnoticed touristic sight. Built in 1302, it is a part of the former Royal Mayor Palace. The complex includes huge 16 century watchtower which is now accessible via stairs.

4. Labirynth Horta

Located a little bit further from the Parc Guell, is a real fairytale garden. Consists of a green fence labyrinth that really gives you an impression of a wonderland.

Be careful not to lose yourself!

5. Casa Vicens

A fine example of modernist art. Another work of the great Antoni Gaudi, impressive in size, execution and awesome arabic design.

6. Hospital de Santa Creu i Sant Pau

UNESCO World Heritage Site is a stunning piece of Catalan modernist art. Founded in 1401, it is now an art school and National Library of Catalonia.

7. Casa Macaya

An example of the work of another great modernist Catalan architect – Puig i Catafalch. Finished with precise and detailed facade is definitely a beautiful piece of architecture. The building is now a Cultural Centre where visits are allowed in opening hours.

8. Plaza de Sant Pere de Puelles

Situated between Red Line L1 metro stations Arc de Triomf and Urqinaona, is another example of gothic architecture. It’s a peaceful square with some cafes and tiny shops - ideal for taking breaks between rushed sightseeing.

9. Casa Perez Samanillo

I couldn’t resist putting this one on the list. Every time I am passing by Avenida Diagonal and Calle Balmes I am admiring this fine piece of architecture. This house reminds me of a castle that a princess would look out from at any minute. Located just in the middle of such a busy district it gives me a feeling of some sort of far away haven!

10. Bogatell/Mar Bella beaches

Barcelona has around 5km of beaches, but the tourists usually know only about Barceloneta. Bogatell and Mar Bella are located farther away from the centre, but are definitely quieter and less crowded.

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Absolutely stunning Magic Fountains of Montjuic are one of the top attractions of Barcelona. This magnificent performance combines music, color, illumination and water acrobatics in a way that leaves everyone with unforgettable memories. It’s just magic!

First performance was displayed on May 19, in 1929 during the Great Universal Exhibition. The works started one year before and many started to doubt that it would eventually finish on time. But the designer Carles Buigas, togerther with the help of more than 3000 workers, ambitiously met the deadline. Ever since there are regular magical water performances throughout the year.

Location:  Plaça de Carles Buïgas

Metro: Pl.Espanya (Red Line L1, Green Line L3)

Schedule of the performaces:

Summer (May to September):
Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Time of music Sessions: 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:00

Winter (October to April):
Fridays and Saturdays
Time of music sessions: 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30

Entrance Fee: Free

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Spring is here, the days are longer and the sun is shining stronger…and good weather favours outdoor activities! And Barcelona is a perfect place to enjoy some good old fashioned outdoor sport! Wandering through the city I have noticed many people jogging, roller-skating or cycling. There are many great places in Barcelona to do sports. I made a list of my favourite sporting spots!

My absolute favourite is the promenade along the Nova Icaria beach. The long promenade along the beaches is perfect for roller-skating, cycling or jogging. It begins from the marina at Port Olympic and goes into Passeig Maritim del Bogatell. Definitely the best place for roller-skating! A long pathway, palm trees, views of the sea and a cooling beach breeze. And you never feel lonely, because you always meet other roller-skaters and joggers there too!

Another nice spot is Parc de Ciutadella. Perhaps not perfect for the roller-skating but definitely a number 1 for jogging! Beautiful alleys with many twists and turns allowing you to take different routes each time. No boring jogging anymore!

Parcs Joan Miro, Guineta, Primavera. There are free activities organized almost every week, depending on the weather conditions. Free tai chi, chi Kung, walking and memory exercises. Usually there are mostly elderly people, but of course anyone regardless the age is welcome. The schedule for the activities:

Parc Joan Miró, Metro Tarragona (L3, Green Line)
Monday: 10-11am Tai Txí & Txi kung
Wednesday: 10-11am walking and memory exercises

Parc de la Guineueta, Metro Llucmajor (L4, Yellow Line)
Tuesday: 10-11am Tai Txí & Txi kung
Thursday: 10-11am walking and memory exercises

Parc de la Primavera, Metro Drassanes (L3, Green Line)
Tuesday: 12am-1pm Tai Txí & Txi kung
Thursday: 12am-1pm walking and memory exercises

Avinguda Diagonal (from the Plaza de Glories until Plaza de Forum). This is one of the busiest streets in Barcelona bustling with business men and women however, the “newer” part, which leads to the sea, is a little less busy since it is situated in a residential area. This is a wide street with the palm trees on both sides which gives you a very Mediterranean feeling in a city setting. It’s a perfect zone for jogging by the sunset especially if its not too hot – you can admire the beautiful view of Sagrada Familia and the pinkish dusk sky.

There are randomly set fitness zones along the whole 5km distance of the Barcelona beaches equipped with basic gym machines. It’s the perfect option for those who get easily bored lazying around on the beach - or if you have bulging biceps and quadriceps that you want to display for an all to interested audience now is the time and Barceloneta beach is the place!!

And…don’t forget that Barcelona is full of parks and green zones! Many of them aren’t even on the map…So, when you feel like playing badminton, football or any other sport, just have a walk around your district and for sure you will find a good place to do so!

Let’s prepare for the summer!

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