Feria of Sant Ponç 2011 in Barcelona

On the 10th and 11th of May, come try local specialties thanks to the Feria of Sant Ponç! This fair, which is one of the oldest fairs in Catalonia, is celebrated each spring in honor of San Ponç, the Herbs’ Patron come to heal the population facing misery and poverty, with potions of medicinal herbs.

Dating from the 16th century, this is a tradition where a large variety of herbs such as thyme, chamomile, rosemary and bay is presented in the streets.

But this celebration will also allow you to discover and taste the typical gastronomy of the region. Indeed, for the occasion, 93 stalls in total will be settled in Barcelona’s city according to the City Council, in order to offer you the opportunity to buy all kind of local and home-made products. These products include of course deli meats and cheeses, but also sweets such as honey, marmalades, chocolate, cakes and traditional confectionery.

And to follow the trend, some products coming from organic farming will also be available.

The stalls will be spread on 4 main districts, as following:

- Sants – Montjuïc: 10th and 11th of May, calle Blai.

- Ciutat Vella (City Center): 11th of May, from 9 am to 9 pm, calle Hospital.

- Sarriá San Gervasi: 11th of May, from 10 am to 8 pm, plaza Mañé i Flaquer y plaza Sarrià.

- Nou Barris: 11th of May, until 10 pm, at Via Júlia marquee.

Do you know it?

On this day of San Ponç, Catalonian people make their big spring cleaning. By cleaning their house from top to bottom and placing a bouquet of herbs under the bed, they hope in this way to drive away evil spirits.

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Museum Night 2011 in Barcelona

Last update on the 03/05/2011

On the 14th of May, come participate to the Museum Night in Barcelona! Created by the Council of Europe and this for its 7th edition, this event takes place in all the biggest European cities. On this date, the participating museums will be free of access for a night, which will delight tourists as well as residents.

In Barcelona, you could visit for free 40 of the most popular museums of the Catalonian capital, from 7 pm to 1 am more precisely, as MACBA, Maritim Museum and Picasso Museum. Barcelona’s city is famous for its numerous museums and here is for sure an ideal opportunity to take!

In addition, concerts, shows, conferences, poetry readings and all kind of workshops and activities will be organised for both the parents and children. This will be one way to learn and discover a lot of interesting things while having fun.

Museums that you could visit for free are spread on 6 different areas. If you prefer staying near the center, here are the areas that we recommend you:

ZONE 2: From L'Eixample to Gràcia

You could see the following museums:

Click here to view the list of museums for zone 2

ZONE 3: From Gothic to El Mar

You could see the following museums:

Click here to view the list of museums for zone 3

ZONE 4 : From Raval to the Port

You could see the following museums:

Click here to view the list of museums for zone 4

(maps from the website of Barcelona's City Council)

Tips:

As a participant, leave your opinion about the Museum Night 2011 on this page between the 15th and the 30th of May. You could enjoy a free entrance for a museum, for 2 people, available until the 31th of December 2011!

In the meantime, you can already book your apartment on our website : Top Barcelona Apartments.

Barcelona International Motor Show 2011

Looking for the car of your dreams or simply fond of cars? Do not miss in any case the Barcelona International Motor Show 2011, which runs from May 14 to 22, in the exhibition center of La Fira de Montjuïc.

With no less than 1 million visitors every year, this show is now one of the most important in Europe and has become a key event for all car lovers.

For its 36th edition, organizers hope to attract even more curious since the event will be held at the same time as the Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix. The show follows trends and will highlight this year clean energies (electric and hybrid vehicles, vehicle charging infrastructures, renewable energies).

34 of the most famous brands in the sector have already confirmed their attendance to present their latest models. From the simplest to the most spectacular, there will be something for all prices and for all tastes!

Of course, this will not be only about looking at these new wonders. Indeed, the show offers several activities that will delight children and adults. Among the most attractive, there are namely :

- a circuit around Montjuïc especially laid out for the occasion, offering the opportunity to try some new models;

- Formula 1 simulators for those who want to put themselves in F1 drivers' shoes.

OPENING HOURS:

From Sunday to Thursday: 10am - 8pm

Friday and Saturday: 10am - 9pm

ENTRANCE PRICES:

Adults and children over 10: 12€

Children under 10: Free entrance

You can book online by clicking here.

For more information, check the official website of the show: http://www.salonautomovil.com

Interested by this exhibition? Do not waste your time and book your apartment now on our website Top Barcelona Apartments.

Address:

Salón Internacional del Automóvil

Fira de Montjuïc

Avinguda Reina Maria Cristina, 1 – 08004 Barcelona

Metro: España (L1)

Tel: 902 233 200 / +34 93 233 2000

e-mail: automovil@firabcn.es

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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.

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.

See larger map

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.

Casa Batlló

Casa Batlló is one of the achievements of the architect Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona. Its achievement (more precisely the transformation of an existing building) lasted from 1904 to1906. The current Casa Batllo (Maison Batlló in Catalan) is the result of the total reform of an old conventional house built in the year 1877.

Gaudi was commissioned to complete renewal of the owner's building, Josep Batlló I Casanovas, a textile industrial. On this basis, Gaudí built this amazing house, one of the most fantastic and special in Barcelona. The project designed by Antoni Gaudí i Cornet made in 1904, was disputed by the municipal authorities, due to a series of design features of Gaudí, which far exceeded the limits of bylaws.

Despite the mentioned problems, the building was selected as one of the best works of 1906 by Barcelona City Council. The changes made by Gaudí in building were completely and radically altered. In fact, the Gaudí's building is pratically a new one.

Some details of the Casa Batlló:

The facade covered with splendid mosaics of shapes and colors, is perhaps the most imaginative and attractive of the city.

The balconies look like skulls with fragments of eyes and nose. The columns of the gallery's first floor look like humans bones. The shape of the roof is the most characteristic Gaudí's for urban buildings, culminated by an undulating reminiscent form which reminds of a dragon's arched back; it is covered with ceramic tiles that look like scales.

Useful information:

Address: Passeig de Gracia, 43 Barcelona

Metro: L2, L3, L4 Passeig de Gracia

Bus: 22, 24, 28, 7.16, 17

Opening hours: Visits: Monday to Sunday from 9 to 20 h. (The schedule of visits can be modified according to room availability).

Price: Visits included an audio guide

• Individual ticket: 16,50 €

Save 20% or € 13.20 for anyone who:

• A student card,
• Barcelona Card Bus turístic there for more info click here
• Ruta del Modernismo for more info click here
• Barcelona Walking Tours for more info click here

Handicapped Accessibility: The ground floor which level is the same that the street. You can visit the 1st. floor, an elevator provides access for wheelchairs and people with other difficulties. The attic is also accessible by lift, but the upper terrace and its other dependencies are not.

For visiting Barcelona in the best conditions look at our apartments! To see them click here!