The Chocolate Museum of Barcelona

In Barcelona, there is nothing better than the Chocolate Museum to completely enjoy this Easter week !

This museum, telling the history and the manufacturing of chocolate, will marvel you thanks to its sculptures entirely made of chocolate.

You will recognize some of the heroes from your favourite cartoons as Tintin or Astérix, but also the most famous buildings of Barcelona, and even a reproduction of the Camp Nou and its players!

But that's not all, the museum also offers activities for all ages, one of the most popular is of course pastry classes or how to make chocolate sculptures by yourself!

Finally, this museum will surely give you the munchies ... Fortunately, the Chocolate Museum has planned everything and has at your disposal a shop where you can buy all kinds of chocolate and other sweets! In the cafeteria, you can also taste the original Xocoatl, the chocolate drink of the Aztecs.

OPENING HOURS :

From Monday to Saturday : 10.00 - 19.00

Sunday : 10.00 - 15.00

Address :

Museu de la Xocolata

Plaça Pons I Clerch, S/N - 08003 Barcelona

Metro : Jaume I (L4)

Tel : +34 932 68 78 78

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Walking in Barcelona :

If you cannot go to the Museum, you also have an other option : indeed, you could see a lot of chocolate sculptures on all the bakeries display, during Easter week.

La Feria de Abril 2011, in Barcelona

Updated April 28 2011

Let you immerse yourself in an Andalusian atmosphere for a week in Barcelona!

You are visiting Spain and you can not go to Andalusia? Do not panic!

From April 29 to May 8, 2011, Catalonia celebrates the 40th Feria de Abril. During this period, Barcelona will be in Seville’s colours at the Forum Park, where you can enjoy various typical activities from the south of Spain, as if you were really there!

For the occasion, the Forum Park, located in the district of Diagonal Mar on the seaside, will be transformed into a small Andalusian village with many stalls where you can find:

- Flamenco music with its guitarists, singers and dancers dressed in their prettiest costume;

- Traditional food such as tapas, fried anchovies and calamari, Spanish ham... without forgetting its famous wine;

- Craft products, accessories and souvenirs originally coming from Andalusia;

- Attractions for all ages specially installed for the occasion, and all kinds of games and entertainment.

This festival is really worth, since the entry is free as well as the stalls! By the way, it will be the opportunity for you to visit the famous Forum Park.

If you want to come and dance flamenco with us, book your apartment now by clicking on this following link : Top Barcelona Apartments.

Transportation:

Metro:

4: Station El Maresme - Forum

On Saturday, April 30 and May 7 subway runs all night.

Bus:

Line: 7, 36, 41.43, 141 (17h service strengthened to 22.30)

Special service: between Plaza de Catalunya and El Fòrum 10pm at dawn and until 3am on Sundays and 5:30am on Fridays. (Every 10 minutes)

Opening Times

Weekdays: 10am to 2am

Friday, April 29: 6pm at 4:15am

Saturday, April 31-Sunday, May 1: 10am to 4:15am

Friday, May 6: 10am to 22pm

Saturday, May 7: 10am to 4:15pm

Sunday, May 8: 10am to 18pm

Address:

Parc del Forúm

Avinguda Diagonal 1 - 08019 Barcelona

Metro : El Maresme Forúm (L4)

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Semana Santa 2011 (Easter Week) in Barcelona

This year, Barcelona celebrates the Semana Santa from the 17th until the 25th of April. For Catholics, coming to Barcelona for Easter Week is a good option but also for Non Catholics, since everybody could enjoy processions organized in the city. These processions are a great opportunity for tourists to discover the charm and the historical part of the city.

Palm Sunday procession route

In Barcelona, Easter holidays will start on the 17th, with Palm Sunday. A first procession will take place on this date in the Raval area, starting at 10.00 from Plaça Sant Agusti and ending around 12.00. Here is the procession route :

View Palm Sunday procession route - 17/04/2011 on a larger map

Holy Friday procession route

On the 22nd of April, during the Holy Friday (Viernes Santos), two main processions will take place.

The first one is called "Nuestra Señora de las Angustias" (Our Lady of Sorrows) and will start at 19.00 from Sant Jaume church. It will end around 22.30 in the same place. The procession will go through the Gothic area, from a point to another that you can see on the following map:

View Holy Friday procession route - 22/04/2011 on a larger map

The second one is called "Nuestro Padre Jesús del Gran Poder y María Santísima de la Esperanza Macarena" (Our Father Jesus of the Great Power and Holy Virgin of Macarena). It will start from Sant Augusti church to finish in this same place. This will follow almost the same itinerary than the procession for Palm Sunday, going from the Raval area to the Gothic area:

View Holy Friday procession route - 22/04/2011 on a larger map

Finally on the 25th of April, the Semana Santa will end with Easter Monday, where the family eat together a traditional easter cake (Mona de Pascua) offered by the godfather to his godchildren on Palm Sunday.

Funny tip:

But for the Semana Santa, there is also a funny tradition for children, which is called "The dancing egg" ("L'ou com balla" in catalonian). This tradition, still unknown from the public, consists in taking the shell of an empty egg and trying to make it turn on itself the longest as possible. For the occasion, fountains are decorated with fruits and flowers.

You could try this childish game in the Cathedral of Barcelona, el Poblet, The Frederic Marés Museum, The Santa Ana Church, el Ateneu barcelonés, The Bones Letres Academy and the Purisima Concepcio Church.

If you still need an accommodation in Barcelona for Easter holidays, check our website : Top Barcelona Apartments.

The Aquarium of Barcelona

For the happiness of youngest as well as oldest, the Aquarium of Barcelona opened its doors in 1955. Today, it is one of the biggest in the world regarding Mediterranean marine life and has more than 35 aquariums, 450 species and about 11.000 “hosts”.

A 80 meters gallery goes through the Oceanoarium, the most spectacular pools of the aquarium, where you could bump into a few of the most disturbing specimens which smartly live with all kind of fishes. We can also find some pools reserved for tropical and Mediterranean species. Among the most intriguing subjects, you could see the sea dragon, strange creature similar to seahorses, or the moon fish, a singular animal with circular shapes.

The Aquarium organizes several activities for children and adults, including puzzles to solve, treasure hunts but also an exceptional diving with sharks! Besides, it is also possible for children to make a birthday party there.

Good to see: The gallery under the Oceanoarium and rare species.

OPENING HOURS (Ticket offices and accesses open until one hour before):

Open all year around

From Monday to Friday: 9.30 - 21.00

Weekend and public holidays + June and September: 9.30 - 21.30

July and August: 9.30 - 23.00

CHARGES

Adults: 17.75 €

Children from 4 to 12: 12.75 €

Adults over 60: 14.75 €

Tip:

Enjoy a reduction of 2 € by printing the coupon here!

To spend pleasant family holidays in Barcelona, you can book one of our apartments on our website: Top Barcelona Apartments.

Address:

L'Aquarium Barcelona

Moll Espanya del Port Vell, s/n, - 08039 Barcelona

Metro : Drassanes (L3) ou Barceloneta (L4)

Tel : +34 932 217 474 / +34 628 265 908

Nearby : Port Vell, Maremagnum, Mirador de Colon.

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Sant Jordi's day in Barcelona

On the 23rd of April, come celebrate lovers’ day in Barcelona!

Considered as a Valentine’s Day by Catalonian people, La Diada de Sant Jordi actually celebrates the patron saint’s death of Catalonia: Saint George. According to the story, it is said that Saint George, a Roman knight, killed a dragon in order to rescue from its fangs a princess coming from the south of Barcelona. Then, a rosebush sprang from the dragon’s blood and the hero picked the most beautiful rose to give it to his princess.

Since The Middle-Age, this nice gesture of Saint George has been perpetuated and Sant Jordi’s day has become the most romantic day of the year in Catalonia. On this date, tradition wants boys to offer a rose to their girlfriend and girls to offer back a book to their boyfriend.

Anyway, by walking in the city, you will notice quickly that this festivity is present elsewhere and things are taken seriously in Barcelona! Indeed, you could enjoy a big flowers and books market all along the famous Ramblas, specially transformed for the occasion. And although Sant Jordi’s day is a working day, many Barcelonan people will not hesitate to miss classes or work to hang out in the streets and breathe love perfume…

By the way, this day has become under the auspices of the UNESCO, the international day of book and author’s rights.

Tips:

· La casa del Arcediano (free entry for public during Sant Jordi’s day). Address : click here

· Listen to the best musicians near Cathedral of Santa Eulalia. Address : click here

· Visit the precincts of the cathedral to see swans walking.

· Visit freely the Dependencias del Palau de Generalitat. Address : click here

· The municipality of Barcelona (Ayuntamiento de Barcelona). Address : click here

Enjoy a romantic stay in one of our cosy apartments. More information about this on our website: Top Barcelona Apartments.

Pete Doherty Concert in Barcelona

As a former member of the band Libertines and currently the frontman of Babyshambles, Pete Doherty is on the roads for his first solo tour for the promotion of his new album Grace/Wastelands.

The british rock star, who has become famous namely because of his scandals, is also one of the most talented artists of his generation.

Writer-musician-singer, Pete Doherty will start tonight in Hamburg, to finish on the 23rd of September in London. But he doesn’t forget his Catalonian fans and will stop on the 18th of April in Barcelona! Favoring UK, his homeland, this will be one of his scarce dates in Europe since he will perform only in Germany, Spain, Ireland and Sweden.

Rock fans, don’t miss this concert! Take this opportunity to see Pete Doherty on stage and visit Barcelona by the way! This will take place at Sala Apolo from 20.30 with The Ezra Beats for the first part.

The ticket is 22,40euros: you still can book your place by clicking here.

You could also book one of our available apartments on Top Barcelona Apartments.

Address:

Sala Apolo Barcelona

Nou de la Rambla 113 - 08004 Barcelona

Metro: Paral-lel (L2)

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The 29th Barcelona International Comic Fair

Traveler friends and fans of comics, this article is for you!

The 29th International exhibition of comics in Barcelona will take place from the 14th to the 17th of April 2011, Avenida Reina M. Cristina, in Hall 8 of la Fira de Montjuïc.

For this event, many english artists are scheduled as Brent Anderson (portfolio), Charlie Adlard (portfolio), Eddie Campbell (blog), Garth Ennis (portfolio), Kurt Busiek (portfolio).

During the fair, several activities will be proposed:

trendy rock concerts :

• Thursday, April 14, 6:00 p.m. ANNA & THE BANANAS, 19:00 REMBRANDT42

• Friday, April 15, 7:00 p.m. MOTORZOMBIS

• Saturday, April 16, 7:30 p.m. LOS TIKI PHANTOMS

• Sunday, April 17, 6:00 p.m. MÜRFILA

Dedications: Find all the dedications and schedules on the official website;

video games testing;

debates and conferences.

Opening hours:

• Thursday, April 14 from 10am to 20pm

• Friday, April 15 from 10am to 21h

• Saturday, April 16 from 10am to 21h

• Sunday, April 17 from 10am to 20pm

Price:

Admission 6 €

Tip:

If you go on the FICOMIC stand, a free comic book will be offered (in a limited availability).

Address:

Metro station : Espanya (line 1 and 3 subway)

Hall 8

Avenida Reina M. Cristina

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If you need an apartment, you can go on our website Top Barcelona Apartments.