Barcelona in Miniature

CATALUNYA EN MINIATURA is the biggest touristic and cultural complex in miniature in the world, and the only one in Spain. lt purpose is to let the visitors know the monuments, buildings and the most representative achievements of the Princedom.

It tries to be also a life sample to exteriorize cultural and folk reality in order to let you know them better, and to get closer to its people and peculiarities, and building a stronger friendship with common effort.

170 miniature reproduction models of Catalonia's most important buildings are on display here, including Casa Milà (La Pedrera) and La Sagrada Familia. So, if you haven't got time to see everything for real, this is a great way to capture the essence of Barcelona's architecture in a single day. Come on Sundays and holidays and you'll catch a children's clown festival as well. It's open all year round. To get here, take a Solé i Sauret bus from the intersection of Calle Riera Blanca and Travessera de les Corts.

It also offers our reality to all foreign visitors, since one of our ideals is also to promove tourism from the inside to the outside —as the President of the Generalitat himself has said— an interesting alternative between the many that Catalonia offers to its visitors.

More Information : http://www.blogger.com/www.catalunyaenminiatura.com

WHERE TO SLEEP :
You can choose Top Barcelona Apartment if you want to stay in the City centre and enjoy the city. They will be pleased to welcome you in their apartments for less than 30€/night/person

GSM 2009 -The mobile telephony congress only reached a 85 % occupation rate of the tourist apartments of Barcelona against 100 % the previous years.

The fourth edition of the " Mobile World Congress " which took place last week in Barcelona only reached a 85 % occupation rate of the apartments of Barcelona against almost 100 % for the previous years as well as the number of visitors which decreased from 55000 to 5000.

Furthermore, to fight the current economic crisis and to assure a maximum occupation rate during the event, the high season rate generally applied during the GSM have been lowered to medium season rate, and the accomodation prices decreased from 60Euros to 50Euros per person and per night.

This decline of profitability is not only due to the fall in demand but also because the competicion is more important due to the fact that the last few years, the number of "holiday apartments" increased considerably in Barcelona.

Barcelona Carnaval!!

The Carnaval of Barcelona is a traditional event, which is certainly worth a visit. It takes place every year in February all over Barcelona city.

When is the Barcelona Carnaval?
The Barcelona Carnaval will be on from 19/02/2009 to 25/02/2009


What is on during the carnaval?
The week of festivities starts off with "Jueves Ladero" (Fat Thursday) with a tortilla eating match.
Saturday is the biggest day of Carnaval in Barcelona. First the “pimiento de oro” (golden pepper) will be awarded to the best entertainer in Barcelona. Later on the day the world famous "Gran Rua de Carnaval" will take place near the seaside of Barcelona


You can find nmore information about the event on the Carnaval Website :
http://www.bcn.cat/carnaval/ca/

And if you don't want to miss the Barcelona Carnaval and you need accomodation you can contact www.top-barcelona-apartments.com and they will be pleased to help you with your research!

Bread and Butter - Winter 2009

Bread & Butter Barcelona is an International trade show for selected brands. From the summer of 2007 onwards, Bread & Butter will be hosting the international kick-off for the fashion industry in a different European metropolis each season. The premiere takes place in Barcelona 21–23 January 2009. The event will be held on the historical site of Fira de Barcelona. Leading brands from the high-end segment of contemporary fashion culture will be presenting their designs at a venue covering 80,000 sq.m.

If you are planning on assisting to the event do not hesitate to contact Top Barcelona Apartments, they will be happy to help you finding accomodation.
www.top-barcelona-apartments.com

Barcelona Triathlon - 5th Octuber 2008

Every year on the 1st Saturday of October the triathlon is hold in Barcelona. The triathlon consists of 1500 metres of swimming, 40 kilometres of cycling and 10 of running. All the participants start at the same time and have to complete the circuit as fast as possible. I would like to recommend you to share this incredible event with us in Vila Olímpica. This unique atmosphere encourages spectators as well as competitors to enjoy the race.

Las fiestas de la Mercè - Barcelona Mercè Festival 2008 - 19th-24th September

Barcelona’s biggest annual festival celebrates La Mercè, the Patron Saint of Barcelona, who according to legend did a good job in removing a tiresome plague of locusts that once visited the city. They never came back, so as long as we keep celebrating in her honour we are safe!

La Mercè festival has over 500 big and small activities, parades, concerts, firework displays, air shows, a 10km run and lots more events happening through out the city of Barcelona from the Friday 19th September until 24th September, the latter being a public holiday.

The Mercè Festival activities fall into 4 main areas:

The Festival of Music
Concerts in the streets and parks all over Barcelona, including the BAM music festival: http://www.bcn.cat/bam

The Festival of Tradition
Castellers competitions (human towers), capgrossos and gegant parades (dwarves with big heads and giants) and an entire menagerie of festive animals, accompanied by guests from Mediterranean countries.

The Festival in the Sky – Festa al Cel
The biggest event of the Air festival is the acrobatic air show featuring jets, balloons and gliders and more. This event is actually at the week-end after the Mercè and takes place at the Parc del Forum

The Festival of Fire
All types of sparks, from the pyrotechnical fireworks and music show to the correfoc (literally a five-run).

Food and wine tasting festivals
There are several smaller festivals that are part of the Mercè festival.

Among other popular festivals during the Merce is the street book fair, la 57 Feria del Libro de Ocasión Antiguo y Moderno, which starts on 19th September and runs until end of the first week of October. It can be found on the streets of Passeig de Gracia from Plaza Catalunya to Arago. Lots of bargains to be found!

And last but definitely not least we must mention the Festival Solar which takes place in the Parc de la Cuitadella. This purpose is to raise awareness of environmental issues and renewable energy. Visit them at http://www.festivalsolar.org/


WHERE TO SLEEP ?
I recommend you to contact TOP BARCELONA APARTMENTS

Top Barcelona Apartments offers you the best alternative to a Hotel room during your stay in Barcelona: a selection of apartments ideally located in the city centre.

Euroleague - FC BARCELONA

In Barcelona we also play basketball. The Euroleague begin in few weeks.

You can book your ticket directly from the website http://www.fcbarcelona.com/

The date and time of games will be decided approximately ten days before.

THE CALENDAR :

Wednesday 29 October : FC BARCELONA vs PANATHINAIKOS

Wednesday 12 November : FC BARCELONA vs PROKOM TREFL

Wednesday 3 December : FC BARCELONA vs SLUC NANCY

Wednesday 17 December : FC BARCELONA vs MONTEPASHI

Wednesday 14 January : FC BARCELONA vs ZALGUIRIS

WHERE TO SLEEP ?

Just book your flat on TOP BARCELONA APARTMENT : http://www.top-barcelona-apartments.com/