Barcelona – Something for Everyone

What better destination than Barcelona in Spring , the Catalan capital located on the north-east coast of Spain. Low cost flights to Barcelona are easy to come by these days. Your cheap tickets to the sun await you….with a little patience and the internet, you are sure to find yours.

Why choose Barcelona?

Why is it that everyone leaves this city planning their next visit? Barcelona hosts many festivals throughout the year and the city has what everyone dreams of – sun, sea, sand and shops. It accommodates any visitor, young and old.

La Boqueria Barcelona’s Famous Market

One place that suits everyone’s tastes is La Boqueria – Barcelona’s most famous market and one of the best in Europe. La Boqueria market is located off the Rambla and it will greet you with fantastic smells which will tickle your taste buds, and an array of colours resembling a rainbow. You can visit the market at any time of the day – but perhaps it is worth visiting more than once.

Get there early on your first visit to the market and avoid the crowds. This is the best way to explore every corner and check out the best bars and restaurants. Go back another day for lunch at one of the venues which caught your attention, such as El Quim, Pintxo or Antonio’s restaurant. Pass by the market around 6 p.m. for your last visit after a day of sightseeing and pick up a bargain. All fresh fruit salads and juices go at half price before the market closes…..

Guide to Barcelona’s best fiestas 2010

Barcelona is a colourful, warm, energetic city that has been transformed in recent years into one of Europe’s favourite short break destinations, with festivals taking place throughout the year. Watch this splendid slideshow of Barcelona during feistas.

As the capital of Catalonia, the city has a proud and distinctive culture, language and cuisine, as well as a huge variety of architectural styles – from historic buildings to strikingly modern constructions, and brightly painted Gaudi designs to darkly Gothic styles. If you are planning to stay longer and see more of Spain, car hire is readily available from offices in Barcelona and airports. For more ideas about where to visit in Spain see out other articles tagged Spain here we focus on the city’s attractions and festivals.

Barcelona Sights

Amongst the city’s year-round sights are Las Ramblas, the city’s main tourist thoroughfare; the medieval maze making up the Gothic Quarter; the redeveloped Waterfront; the work of architect Antoni Gaudí (including the immense and unfinished Sagrada Família, Park Güell and Casa Milà); the Picasso Museum; and, for football fans, the FC Barcelona Museum.

Barcelona Festivals

Barcelona also hosts a number of annual fiestas, many of which are unique to Catalonia and offer an insight into its distinctive culture. Here are some highlights from throughout the year:

La Diada de Sant Jordi

23 April 2010

This is a distinctively Catalan day celebrating the city’s patron saint, Sant Jordi (Saint George).

It’s also known as el dia de la rosa (The Day of the Rose) or el dia del llibre (The Day of the Book) since men traditionally give women a rose, and women usually give men a book in tribute to Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright Cervantes, who died on this day in 1616. It’s a bit like Valentine’s Day, and from a traveller’s perspective it’s an interesting time to be around the Ramblas area, where a huge flower market springs up alongside book stalls where locals buy gifts for their loved ones. Catalonia’s national dance, the sardana, is performed throughout the day in the Plaça Sant Jaume, and a variety of street performers and musicians fill the plazas with their live entertainment.

Festival de Sonar

17-19 June 2010

Sonar is a three-day urban festival showcasing advanced music and multimedia art, including emerging artists and DJs representing the most up to date music and new media trends.

The festival takes place on 17-19 June 2010 and is split into ‘Sonar by Day’ activities (in the CCCB and MACBA venues), including technology fairs, and ‘Sonar by Night’ (Fira Gran Via M2 L’Hospitalet), including many music events. You can find out more or buy tickets at http://2010.sonar.es/ (there is an English language choice at the bottom).

Festival de Sant Joan

23 June 2010

This midsummer Solstice festival is a lot of fun, taking place on 23 June mainly around the beach. There are fireworks, bonfires and lots of partying – and you may also find restaurants serving special festival dishes such as Coca de Sant Joan.

Grec Festival de Barcelona

June-August 2010

This three month long music, dance, theatre and circus festival is one of Barcelona’s top events. Held every year between June and August at venues all over the city, the fiesta features a whole host of lively performances.

For further schedule details and tickets visit the official website

Festa Major de Gracia

Around 15 August (TBC)

This week-long annual Catalonian celebration in the second half of August sees Barcelona’s neighbourhoods compete with one another to present the most beautifully-decorated streets. Festooned with lights and elaborate coloured decorations, it’s a great time to explore the city – and there’s also live music, fireworks, all-night parties and lots of drinking.

http://www.festamajordegracia.cat/

Festes de la Merce

22 – 26 September 2010 (TBC)

Barcelona’s biggest annual festival brings together several events including human tower competitions (featuring groups of castellers), firework displays, live music, and processions featuring giant wooden figures. All the festivities are accompanied by plenty of Cava-drinking, celebrating the national drink of Catalonia.

Car Hire in Spain

Barcelona

Barcelona is famous because of its links with Gaudi, its museums, its shops and its nightlife, and is a great place for a holiday or short break. However, if you hire a car when you are in Barcelona, you can also visit some of the great attractions that lie outside of the city. Here we make suggestions to get the most out of your Car Hire -  Barcelona

Barcelona to the Monastery of Montserrat

If you’re on a car hire holiday in Barcelona, you can take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city by jumping in your hire car and driving to Montserrat, one of the highest mountains in the Prelitoral Catalana range. The mountain is named after its jagged appearance, with Montserrat translating as “Saw-toothed Mountain” or “Serrated Mountain”, and one of its main attractions is the Monestir de Montserrat (Monastery of Montserrat).

Driving from Barcelona to Montserrat

It will take you about 90 minutes to drive to Montserrat from Barcelona in your hire car. To get there, head out of Barcelona on the Avinguda Diagonal and take the B-23 motorway. Take the A2 motorway and leave at the Manresa exit. Take the C-55 to Monistrol de Montserrat and then either park your hire car there and take the cable car or railway to the sanctuary, or take the BP-1103 to Montserrat. There is limited parking available at the sanctuary.

The Monastery of Montserrat

The Monastery of Montserrat was founded by Olbia (the Abbot of Ripal and Bishop of Vic) in 1025 in order to mark the location where the religious icon of Our Lady of Montserrat (also known as La Moreneta, or “the Dark One”), now the Patron Saint of Catalonia, was discovered.

Legend has it that this statue of the Virgin Mary was brought to Montserrat by St. Peter and hidden in a cave. It was discovered by shepherds in 880, following a series of visions, and although the Bishop of Manresa ordered that it should be taken to Manresa, it became too heavy to carry as soon as anyone attempted to move it. He took this as a sign that the Virgin Mary did not wish the statue to be moved, and so ordered a chapel to be built to honour her.

The statue currently housed in the shrine in the monastery’s basilica is a 12th century Romanesque carving.

You can take a tour of the monastery’s Open Air Museum using the audio-guides and maps available. There are four routes available: the first will take you around the monastery’s most significant buildings, including the basilica; the second will take you along the path that pilgrims used to use to reach Montserrat; the third will take you to the Holy Grotto where Our Lady of Montserrat was discovered; and the fourth will take you on a tour of some of the monastery’s buildings and enable you to see a number of monuments.

You can also visit the Museum of Montserrat, which includes six permanent art collections; see the interactive “Inside Montserrat” exhibition; visit the Montserrat Library, which houses more than 300,000 books and manuscripts; take a break from your hire car with a trip on one of the two funicular railways; or hike in the surrounding area, which is a designated nature park.

Hiring a Car in Spain

You can arrange car hire in Spain for your holiday, or visit easyCar.com, online low cost car hire specialist. easyCar has car hire offices in more than 60 countries, including Spain, and you can find low cost car hire at Spanish airports.