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.

Walking tour - Diagonal and Pedralbes

Here tradition and modernism live together in perfect harmony. Innovative structures like the Torres Trade rise up from the modern office blocks, residential builidings and hotels and spacious shopping centers.

1- Monestir de Pedralbes
Dating from the 14th century.

2- Pabellones de la Finca Güell
Work of Antoni Gaudí




3- Palau Reial de Pedralbes
Built by King Alfonso the Thirteenth in 1929. Accomodates the Museum of Ceramics and the Decorative Arts.

4- FCBarcelona Stadium "Camp Nou"
Inaugurated in 1957, the stadium with a capacity of 100,000 spectators has been awarded by 5 stars, the maximum distinction granted by the UEFA due to the quality of its facilities.

You plan to assist to a game at Camp Nou? Rent an apartment for the weekend.

Walking tour - The Eixample

On foot. Approximate duration: 2 hours.

"Exaimple" means extension and here it refers to the urban expansion of the city which was carried out in the second half of the 19th Century according to the plans drawn by Ildefons Cerdà. The "Exaimple", which is divided into two by the Rambla Catalunya, is the greatest interest from the point of view of "Modernism" on the right and it is there that we have routed our itinerary. It begins Plaça Catalunya.

1- Plaça Catalunya
Similar in size to Peter's Square in the Vatican and the Etoile de Paris.

2- Passeig de Gràcia
This was the favorite promenade of the bourgeoisie at the turn of the century. Worthy of admiration are the iron lamp-posts by Pere Falqués.

3- Passatge Permanyer
One of the jewels in the "Exaimple"'s crown. Post-Romantic houses with gardens in front.

4- "La Concepció" Market and Church
The architectural structure of the market buildings is lovely. The annexed church is gothic and has a marvellous cloister dating from the 14th Century.

5- Conservatori Superior Municipal de Música
Carrer Bruc, nº110. The work of A. de Falguera.

6- Casa Montaner
Carrer de Mallorca, nº278. The work of Domènech i Montaner.


7- Palau Casades
Carrer Mallorca, nº283. Pompeian style small palace. Houses the College of Lawyers.

8- Casa Thomas
Calle Mallorca, nº291. The work of Domènech i Montaner.

9- Casa Terrades or "Casa de les Punxes"
Calle Diagonal, nº416. The work of Puig i Cadalfach. Modernist style with medevial overtones, rich us of brick woek.

10- Casa Quadras
Calle Diagonal, nº373. The work of Puig i Cadalfach.


11- Casa Mila or "La Pedrera"
Passeig de Gràcia, nº92. The work of Antoni Gaudí. Considered to be Modernism at its best with its impressive façade of ondulating stone and wrought-iron balconies.

12- Casa Montaner i Simó
Carrer d'Aragó, nº255. 1880, work of Domènech i Montaner. The first catalan modernist building. Headquarters of the Tàpies Fondation.

13- Casa Batlló
Passeig de Gràcia, nº43. The work of Gaudí. Mosaic and ceramic tiled façade.

14- Casa Amatller
Passeig de Gràcia, nº41. The work of Puig i Cadalfach. Neo-Gothic style.

15-Casa Lleó i Morera
Passeig de Gràcia, nº35. The work of Domènech i Montaner.

You can rent an apartment on the Passeig de Gracia from walking distance of all these points of interest.

Walking tour - Montjuïc

A vehicle or public transport (cable car, tram or bus) is recommended for a tour of the entire mountain. Partial tours might be made on foot. Approximate duration: 2 to 5 hours. Our itinerary begins in the Plaça de Espanya.

1- Torres de Exposició

47-meter high, these towers line the Avenue María Cristina.

2- Fira de Barcelona (Barcelona Fair)

The exhibition area covers 250,000 m2.

3- Illuminated fountains

The masterpiece of the engineer Carles Buhígas. Water and coloured lights are combined in 50 different formations.

4- Pavello Mies van der Rohe

Reconstruction of the German lodge which Ludwing Mies van der Rohe built for the Internacional Exhibition in 1929.

5- Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC)

Collections of Romanesque art (unique of their kind for their range of mural paintings), Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque and Modern Art, including important collections of drawings, engravings, posters, numismatics and photography. Temporary exhibitions.

6- Poble Espanyol (Spanish Village)

The most characteristics aspects of spanish achitecture from all over Spain are shown in this magnificient replica village. Craft workshops in glass, ceramics, etc.

7- Caixa Forum

Multipurpose Cultural Center, located in the ancient Casaramona, awork of art of Industrial Modernism.

8- Piscinas "Picornell"

Swimming pool

9- Institut i jardí Botànic

10- Palauet Albéniz

It is a royal residence and the Town Hall Holds gala receptions here.

11- Joan Maragall Gardens

"Palauet Albéniz" gardens. Open to the public on Sundays.

12- Olympic Circle

Olimpic Stadium; inaugurated in 1929, Palau Sant Jordi; its designer, the architect Arata Isozaki. Galeria Olímpica; Permanent exhibition on the Games of Barcelona 92.

13- Fundació Miró

The artist's permanent collection is exhibited in this building.Museu EtnològicTeatre GrecReproduction of an ancient Greek theatre which can hold up to 2,000 people.

14- Museu Arqueològic

15- Mercat de les Flors

Former Agricultural House of the 1929 Exhibition. The vault of the hallway is the work of Miquel Barceló.

You can rent an apartment from walking distance of all these points of interest.

Walking tour - Port Vell

We set out from the Colombus monument. On its right we find the largest and most complete dockyards in the world, which house the Maritim Museum. On our way-out, we can contemplate the city from the sea on the Golondrinas, double decker motor-launches which tour the harbour. Following the route around the Moll de la Fusta, we can enjoyed the splendid view from its bars and restaurants. Crossing a wooden footbrige, you can also reach Maremagnum, the shopping and leisure complex in the Moll de Espanya, which includes the Aquarium, the large - format Imax cinema and wide range of shops, musical bars, restaurants, mini golf and all you need to enjoy your free time.

1- Maritim Museum
The Maritim Museum of Barcelona is located in the building of the Drassanes Reials (Royal Shipyards) of Barcelona, at the foot of the mount of Montjuïc, in the area called the Port Vell (Old Port) of Barcelona. The collections of the Museum include models of ships, nautical instruments, exvotos, sea paintings, figureheads, maps, and the replica of the Royal Gallery of Juan of Austria.
2- Imax - Port Vell
The world's only fully Imax cinema with three projection systems: Imax, Omnimax and 3D, where visitors can enjoyed the most spectacular cinema on a 27-meter high screen.

3- The Aquarium of Barcelona
A walk along the bootom of the sea through 21 aquariums and a big ocearium where the visitor has the feeling to be diving among sharks and more than 8,000 fishes. In the macrospace Planeta Aqua, you can discover the strangest beings in the planet: living fossils, piranhas, caimans,penguins, as well as multiple interactive spaces. Recent opening of the exhibition on sea horses, with species such as the big-bellied seahorses and the weedy seadragon.Open every day of the year.

4- Catalan History Museum
The museum shows the history and memory of catalonia from different perspectives. The permanent exhibition consists of an interactive voyage from the distant past of prehistory to modern times.

Do you want to rent an apartment on the Port Vell? Click Here

Walking tour - The Ramblas

On foot. Approximate duration: 3 hours.



The Rambla, which runs from the Plaça Catalunya to the Port; has been the heart of the city down through the centuries and today continues to be the most typical, popular and cosmopolitan of the city's streets. Our itinerary begins at the top of the Rambla where it opens into the Plaça Catalunya.



We list below all the points of interest that you find while wlaking down the Ramblas from Plaça Catalunya:


1- "Font de Canaletes"
Iron fountain dating from the 19th Century. One of the city´s landmarks.

2- Iglesia de Belén

At the junction with Carme street. Ancien Jesuit church. Catalan Gothic style interior.

3- Palau Moja

Located Opposite the Betlem church. Important house at the beginning of the 18th Century.

4- Palau de la Virreina
In Rambla nº 99, One of the most sumptuous buildings of the Rambla. There is an information office on the ground floor.

5- The Sant Josep or "Boquería" Market
Wrought iron building which houses one of the most popular and traditional of the city's food market

6- "Pla de la Boquería"
This is that part which lies between Hospital street and Boquería street. There is a mosaic by Joan Miró on the pavement.

7- Palau Güell
Carrer Nou de la Rambla, 3. The work of Antoni Gaudí. Built as the Barcelona residence of the Count Güell. The building houses the Museu de les Arts del Espectacle.

8- Plaça Reial
Square formed by unifrom buildings. Iron fountain in center. lamps-posts are the work of Gaudí.

9- Wax Museum
The building built in 1867 is part of the National Architectural in the exhibition of its figures, protagonists of the history and fantasy of mankind, justifies wordlwide acknowledgment.

10- "Reials Drassanes"
The most important and most complete medieval dockyards in existence are to be found at the end of the Rambla. The Maritim Museum is housed inside.



You can rent an apartment on the Ramblas from walking distance of all these points of interest.

Walking tour - Gothic Quarter

On Foot. Approximate duration: 3 hours.



The Gothic Quarter is what used to be known ago as the "Cathedral Quarter". The great gothic buildings which marked the high point of the city and its culture during the Middle Ages are to be found here. Here likewise, are the remains of the ancient fotified walls and palaces built by the Romans on the "Mons Taber" such as, the temple dedicated to Augustus. Our itinerary begins in the Plaça Nova.

We list below all the points of interest of the Gothic Quarter:

1- Portal del Bisbe
Flanked by two round towers from the ancient Roman wall and on one side of the present Bishop's Palace.

2- Palace Episcopal (Bishop's Palace)
Carrer del Bisbe Irurita. Built at the end of the 12th Century and the beginning of the 13th Century.

3- Plaça de Sant Felip Neri
(Past the Bishop's Palace and to the right). One of the most lyrical places of the city.

4- Casa de l'Ardiaca
Carrer de Santa Llúcia. Built on the Roman walls during the 15th Century as a residence for the Archdeacon of the Cathedral. The cloister-type patio with its gothic fountain is noteworthy.

5- Interior of the Cathedral
Three cruciform aisles and twenty-nine lateral chapels in one of which Cristo de Lepanto is verenated. Noteworthy: The choirstall which features both medieval and rennaissance elements.

6- Cathedral cloisters
Beautiful central garden with palm-trees and magnolias. Interesting wrought-iron work.

7- La Pietat dorr
Entry to the Cathedral cloister. Pieta carved in wood, flamenco school.

8- Casa dels Canonges
Gothic building from the 14th Century now restored.

9- Centre Excursionista de Catalunya
Carrer de Paradís, 10. The Roman columns from the temple dedicated to Augustus are kept inside.

10- Palau de la Generalitat
Gothic building from the 15th century. Joined to Casa dels Canonges by the aforementioned passageway. Orange grove. St. George Chapel.

11- Casa de la Ciutat or City Hall
Next to the Neo-Classical facade (19th Century) there is a lateral gothic facade (14th Century) and some levely steps. "Saló de Cròniques" with paintings by Josep Ma. Sert and the historical "Saló de Cent".

12- Plaça del Rei
This is the most handsome section of Barcelona. It a square outlined by gothic buildings toped by the facade of the former main Royal Palace and its watchtower - a true skyscraper for the 16th Century.

13- Casa Clariana-Padellas
Houses the "Museu d'Història de la Ciutat"

14- Palau de Lloctinent
Gothic building embellish with rennaissance elements. The craftmanship of the stairways in worth noting.

15- Casa de la Pia Almoina or de la Canonja
Plaça de la Seu, beside the Cathedral. Forner seat of charitable foundation set up at the beginning of the 11th Century.

16- Plaça de Ramon Berenguer el Gran
Equestrian statue in bronze representing Ramon Berenguer III.

17- Ancient medieval synagogue


You can rent an apartment in the Gothic Quarter from walking distance of all these points of interest.