Posts in ‘Things to do in Barcelona’

A whole world of fun and entertainment is once again on offer to people taking Barcelona tours following the reopening of the Tibidabo amusement park on February 28th for its 2009 season.

With the new season comes a brand new star attraction – a rollercoaster that offers impressive views over Barcelona as well as plenty of white-knuckle thrills.

The ride reaches a top speed of 80km per hour as it winds along a 718-metre track, climbing to a maximum height of 522 metres.

People looking for some slightly more distinguished entertainment can visit the amusement park from April to take advantage of Tibidabo Plus, a programme of events for older visitors including painting and scenic walks.

Youngsters will also be offered plenty of entertainment, including a series of educational activities designed by Lluis Ribas, who also works on the operations of the park’s automaton museum.

The Tibidabo amusement park occupies a picturesque location on a mountain of the same name and can be reached either by a funicular railway or by the Tibibus, which operates everyday from Placa de Catalunya.

Barcelona – Wonderful Gaudi architecture and a cosmopolitan atmosphere have made Barcelona Spain’s most popular city.

The legendary 20th century artist Pablo Picasso spent much of his life in the city of Barcelona and indeed much of his earliest work is displayed in the city’s Museu Picasso.

However, a special event is currently running at the museum, called Living Things: Figures and Still Life in Picasso.

This exhibition focuses on how the artist created relationships between figures and objects, and uses around 60 of his pieces to display this.

Works on show at Living Things include everything from sketches to paintings and drawings to engravings.

Picasso’s family moved to Barcelona when he was a teenager in the late 19th century and thought of the city as his real home, according to some biographers.

In the early part of the last century, he mainly divided his time between the Catalan city and Paris, and it was in Mougins, France that he died on April 8th 1973.

During his lifetime, Picasso created thousands of works, with some estimates placing the number around 50,000.

Why not book the Montserrat & Cavas Trail tour before you travel?

The people of Barcelona have a love of football and the city’s biggest club is on course to break all sorts of records this season.

With the front three pairing of Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry, Barcelona have swept all before them and are on course to score more points in a Spanish season than any team before them.

However, the Champions League is seen by many as the biggest prize in club football and French side Lyon stand in Barcelona’s way in the last-16 stage of the competition.

Lyon have dominated French football for the best part of a decade but few would bet on them to upset the Barcelona steamroller.

The first leg is played in France but the second, deciding fixture will be in Barcelona’s awe-inspiring Nou Camp on March 11th at 19:45 GMT.

This is an excellent chance to not only see some of the best football on the planet, but also to sample native Barcelonans at their most passionate.

Why not book the Bus Turistic – Ticket in advance?

For runners and spectators alike, the Barcelona marathon is one of the best of its kind in the world, set against the stunning backdrop of this beautiful city.

At 08:30 in the Avinguda Maria Cristina on March 1st, thousands of runners will take off, with the pace setters expected to finish the race around 10:40.

Runners will be hard pressed to keep their minds on the job, as they race around a city famed for its architecture.

Icons such as the Nou Camp (home of Barcelona’s football club), La Sagrada Familia and the Hospital de Sant Pau will all be passed.

Following its humble begins in the 1970s, the marathon has been growing in popularity, with 7,919 men and 1,202 women taking part last year - up from a respective 6,541 and 934 in 2007.

While most of the runners come from Spain, the UK is well represented too, coming third in the number of runners behind France.

Why not book the BARCELONA - Full Day with lunch tour in advance?

Barcelona is known for its football, its culture and its architecture - but like all cities on the Iberian Peninsula, it knows how to put on a great festival.

One of the best occurs in early March and is known as the Fiesta de San Medir.

Taking place in the arty district of Gracia, the event celebrates the life of San Medir, or Santo Emeterio, who is the patron saint of broad beans.

Luckily, for those with a sweet tooth anyway, that tradition seems to have been widely forgotten about and now the sugar plant is the champion of the day.

A parade takes to the streets, with horses and carriages all dressed up in colourful costumes, and passengers throw sweets to the crowds gathered on the Calle Grande de Gracia.

At the end of the festival a firework display takes place in the Jardinets de Gracia, marking the end of a day where not a single broad bean has been celebrated.

Why not book the Barcelona Hop on Hop off tour before you travel?

Barcelona’’s best food and drink will be under public scrutiny at the Catalan Wine and Cava Show between September 17th and 24th.

The annual festival is held in the town of Maremagnum, and wines from across the region will be on show to tie in with the grape harvest.

More than 400 wine producers from Catalonia and Alt Penedes will have stalls set up at the show. A host of different businesses from all over the wine industry gather to compare and contrast their produce.

Cava is key to the show, as the dry and yeasty-flavoured beverage originates from Sab Sadurni de Noya, only 30 kilometres from the city of Barcelona, and many consider the wine to be better than champagne.

The show consists of a wide range of traditional producers and is worth a visit for anyone who may be holidaying in the region in late September.

The grape harvest is in fact becoming earlier each year as the effects of global warming cause the crop to ripen earlier than ever before.

Wonderful Gaudi architecture and a cosmopolitan atmosphere have made Barcelona Spain’’s most popular city.

Barcelona’’s best food and drink will be under public scrutiny at the Catalan Wine and Cava Show between September 17th and 24th.

The annual festival is held in the town of Maremagnum, and wines from across the region will be on show to tie in with the grape harvest.

More than 400 wine producers from Catalonia and Alt Penedes will have stalls set up at the show. A host of different businesses from all over the wine industry gather to compare and contrast their produce.

Cava is key to the show, as the dry and yeasty-flavoured beverage originates from Sab Sadurni de Noya, only 30 kilometres from the city of Barcelona, and many consider the wine to be better than champagne.

The show consists of a wide range of traditional producers and is worth a visit for anyone who may be holidaying in the region in late September.

The grape harvest is in fact becoming earlier each year as the effects of global warming cause the crop to ripen earlier than ever before.

Wonderful Gaudi architecture and a cosmopolitan atmosphere have made Barcelona Spain’’s most popular city.

Barcelona’’s best food and drink will be under public scrutiny at the Catalan Wine and Cava Show between September 17th and 24th.

The annual festival is held in the town of Maremagnum, and wines from across the region will be on show to tie in with the grape harvest.

More than 400 wine producers from Catalonia and Alt Penedes will have stalls set up at the show. A host of different businesses from all over the wine industry gather to compare and contrast their produce.

Cava is key to the show, as the dry and yeasty-flavoured beverage originates from Sab Sadurni de Noya, only 30 kilometres from the city of Barcelona, and many consider the wine to be better than champagne.

The show consists of a wide range of traditional producers and is worth a visit for anyone who may be holidaying in the region in late September.

The grape harvest is in fact becoming earlier each year as the effects of global warming cause the crop to ripen earlier than ever before.

Wonderful Gaudi architecture and a cosmopolitan atmosphere have made Barcelona Spain’’s most popular city.

Barcelona’’s best food and drink will be under public scrutiny at the Catalan Wine and Cava Show between September 17th and 24th.

The annual festival is held in the town of Maremagnum, and wines from across the region will be on show to tie in with the grape harvest.

More than 400 wine producers from Catalonia and Alt Penedes will have stalls set up at the show. A host of different businesses from all over the wine industry gather to compare and contrast their produce.

Cava is key to the show, as the dry and yeasty-flavoured beverage originates from Sab Sadurni de Noya, only 30 kilometres from the city of Barcelona, and many consider the wine to be better than champagne.

The show consists of a wide range of traditional producers and is worth a visit for anyone who may be holidaying in the region in late September.

The grape harvest is in fact becoming earlier each year as the effects of global warming cause the crop to ripen earlier than ever before.

Wonderful Gaudi architecture and a cosmopolitan atmosphere have made Barcelona Spain’’s most popular city.

From August 15th until 21st, the Festa de Major (Feast of the Assumption) takes places in the Gracia area of Barcelona.

This week-long event is one of the biggest neighbourhood festivals in the city and is basically one big street party.

One of the most popular events during the Festa de Major is the Tabalada Infernal, the drum parade, where drummers show off their skills around Gracia, beating away at their instruments.

Filled with colourful decorations and floral art, streets compete against each other to win the Best Street Decoration award.

In addition, there is plenty of food and drink, music and dance, games, theatre, fireworks and other activities that make this celebration an experience to remember.

Gracia is a district (barrio) of Barcelona, and is located north of the Old City just one km out of the city centre.

To get there, take the line three on the Metro to Fontana, or if you”re using Catalan Railway, take the train to Gracia station.

Barcelona – Wonderful Gaudi architecture and a cosmopolitan atmosphere have made Barcelona Spain’’s most popular city.