February 12th marks the feast day of Santa Eulàlia and the beginning of the city’s winter festival. But who is Santa Eulàlia, besides the co-patron saint of Barcelona? Her name means “the one who speaks well”. Born in 290 Eulàlia was a brave 13-year-old virgin, who preferred to suffer martyrdom at the hands of the Roman… Read More
El Call – Jewish Quarter – of Girona, is one of the best well-preserved medieval Jewish quarters in Europe, with beautiful old buildings and charming narrow streets. The first Jewish families settled in the city as early as the 9th century and lived until 1492, the year of the Spanish Decree of Expulsion. Walk around… Read More
Have you ever experienced the feeling of arriving home with the last acquisition for your house? When I bought my new crockery I laid it all out on the table. Looking at these modern white plates I thought about my old mismatched ones. What should I do with them? In Greece they smash plates to… Read More
Starting on Christmas Eve and finishing on January 6, in Catalunya we have at least 6 special occasions to gather with family and friends to eat and drink. So, if you want to eat at Christmas in the true Catalan-style, these are the musts you can’t miss. December 24 – Christmas Eve: Until recently, dinner… Read More
For 2 days the Born Quarter was buzzing with people walking along its ancient narrow streets. Now and then orange umbrellas popped up, identifying the Walking Tours for La Marató de TV3, the Catalan public TV Telethon. More than 300 people plus 40 children participated in the tours during the weekend 13-14 December. Each adult paid the symbolic… Read More
There is a place, less than one hour by car from Barcelona, where you can find nature and culture a few meters from the sky. The legend tells us that some shepherds were walking along the mountain and found a “black Madonna” figure in a cave 1200 metres high. They called the place “Holy Cave”.… Read More
Every year, around this time, Halloween arrives to our streets with pumpkin and spooky decorations displayed in shops. However much fun Halloween can be, it is an imported tradition that arrived with all the promotion from TV and films. So what are our own Catalan traditions around this time? When it starts to get cold… Read More
Modernisme is a cultural movement that started in Europe in the nineteenth century. In other countries it was known as Art Nouveau, Jugendstil, Stile Floreale, etc. It was based in nature, curved lines and asymmetry, created as a reaction to bourgeois conservatism. Catalan Modernisme was also a political and cultural movement that sought to transform… Read More
89 beaches in Catalonia have obtained the Blue Flag label in 2014, achieving international recognition. The Blue Flag label certifies the quality and services offered by the beach. By areas, Girona has received 28 flags, Barcelona 23 and Tarragona 38. This award values and rewards the environmental management, safety and facilities of the beaches. It… Read More
In the Catalan-speaking lands and beyond, the night of June 23 is known as Saint John’s Night or the Night of Fire: Sant Joan. Different traditions take place on this date: bonfires, fireworks, dances and even running races in the woods carrying flaming logs. There are different opinions regarding this feast’s origin: some say it… Read More
