1. Gastronomy.

At the beginning of the lent the “Coca de Llardons”, when in there the “bunyols” and, at its end at Easter time, the “monas de Pasqua”. This is really the queen of these dates. Try them at Canal, Bubo, Oriol Balaguer y La Colmena. www.canal.es, www.bubo.es, www.oriolbalaguer.com y La Colmena, Plaça de l´Àngel, 12.

2. Processions.

Barcelona is not Seville but it also has its own traditional religious processions. The most well know is in the evening of the Holy Friday (the 29^th of March), organize by the Hermandad Esperanza Macarena. It starts at the San Agustin church to the Cathedral and pasing by Las Ramblas.  http://barnacofrade.com

3. Dance.

The Spanish dancer Sara Baras pays tribute to the commemoration of 200 years since the 1812 Spanish Constitution, which was passed in Cádiz, her place of birth. The flamenco drama performance “La Pepa” transmits all the intensity of this period: war, the beauty of Andalucia, the political significance of the creation of the constitution, the desire to live and freedom. At Tivoli theatre from the 6th to the 31th March. www.festival-millenni.com

4. Music.

On March 25th, Easter Monday and March 28th, Holy Thursday, at the Palau de la Música, a classic of this time of the year, Mozart’s Requiem, will be performed on the first day by Orquestra de Cambra de l´Empordà and the Polofònica de Pug Reig and the second by the National Symphonic Orchestra of Ukraine with the choir of the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Belarus. www.palaumusica.org

5. Shopping.

Start the spring with a change in your look to say hello to the new season. For little indie boutiques go to the Barrio Xino, for trendy fashion enjoy El Borne and for high street fashion to luxury brands go to Paseo de Gracia. Santa Eulalia is a must go visit. www.santaeulalia.com

6. Beach.

Easter means also the arrival of the first sea swimming. Go to vibrant Barceloneta to enjoy the sun, walking with the sea breeze, post your photos at Instagram or simply enjoy a paella overlooking the Mediterranean (try the ones of El Xiringuito d´Escriba). www.escriba.es

7. Parks.

This is the best moment of the year to visit the parks of the city. From the Citadella to the Park Güell and even the ones in the Montjuic Mountain. Enjoy the explosion of flowers and colours.

8. Nightlife.

The clubs and bars are open to the sea with the arrival of the good weather. Have the first “al fresco” drinks of the season in the terraces located on the maritime promenade, the marina and the Port Vell. One of our favourites is Sotavento. http://sotaventobcn.com

9. Sports.

The 2013 Ruta de la Sal will take place from 28th to 31st March during Easter Week. This regatta attracts some 3,000 yachtsmen and women and a varied fleet of more than 300 boats that cross the Mediterranean to commemorate the original crossing that took place in the 19th century when sailors used to set off in search of white gold: the salt. www.larutadelasal.com

10. Nature.

Enjoy the city from the sea, a perfect plan to enjoy with friends and family which runs daily. From the Olympic Port you can enjoy sailing in ships of 12 meters and in the company of a professional patron (ask at reception). www.barcelonaturisme.com

Much more at: http://insiderbarcelona.com

Hotels in Barcelona: Grand Hotel Central

Today we present a tour to Cardona, especially for those who are visiting or planning to visit Barcelona and are interested in leaving the city for a while and would like to see something different. During the day tour you will be able to see: the Vall Salina and the Salt Mountain, the Medium Age Castle as well as the canonical/collegiate church of Sant Vicenç at the medieval town of Cardona in Central Catalonia.

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The Castle and the Fortress

At Cardona, the geographic location of the castle meets the need for defending access to the salt warehouse and of having a privileged view of the Cardener river valleys. Between the 11th and 15th centuries, it was the residence of the lords of Cardona: the “wealthy salt barons”, related to the most prominent European families and such was their influence that the duke of Cardona was known as “the uncrowned king”.

“The castle never conquered by force of arms”

The castle-fortress of Cardona played a major role in the War of Succession. Its resistance to the siege of 1711 and the delivering up of the fortress, 18 September 1714, in compliance with the order of the Catalan authorities, has turned it into a symbol and last bastion of freedoms of Catalonia. Today, Cardona castle constitutes an excellent compendium of military fortification that shows the evolution of military arts from the middle ages to modern times.

The castle monuments have been a State National Monument since 1949, as has the collegiate church of Sant Vicenç, an example of Catalan Lombard art, since 1931. The Minyona Tower, the Ducal Courtyard, the defence bastions and the views over the Vall Salina are outstanding.

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The Sant Vicenç Collegiate Church

The canonical/collegiate church of Sant Vicenç, consecrated between 1029 and 1040, is one of the great Romanesque jewels in Catalonia. It has a basilica with three naves headed by a transept adjoined by three semicircular apses. The central nave is dominated by a large chancel with a crypt below. The nave is covered with a semicircular barrel vault. Also included are the mausoleums of the duke Ferran I (around 1539) and the count Joan Ramon Folc I (1668).

On the outside are the preserved remains of a Gothic cloister and a courtyard (14th and 15th Century), around which are the ancillary buildings that constituted part of the abbey and the counts’ palace, and which are today occupied by the Parador de Turisme Ducs de Cardona.

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The Vall Salina and the Salt Mountain

The Vall Salina of Cardona, bearer of the precious wealth of the salt that has been exploited since Neolithic times, and of the potash discovered by the engineer Emilio Viader in early 1900, is the reason Cardona exists. In 2003, the Salt Mountain Cultural Park was opened nearby in order to display its value and project the Salt Mountain as “a mountain of pure salt that keeps growing the more it is extracted” (Aulus Gel·li, citing Cató, 2nd century AD).

A unique geological phenomenon

The Vall Salina of Cardona is a depression of the land in the form of an elongated ellipse of 1,800 m long by 600 wide having a surface area of 100 ha. Its natural features have earned itto be included into the Plan for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty of Catalonia. The outcrops of salt are located within the depression and was thus formerly known as the Salí (salt warehouse), and is today known as the Vall Salina (salt valley).

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If you would like to spend a night in Cardona, we strongly recommend the Hotel Bremon, an old Carmelita’s School that became a boutique hotel of 19 spacious rooms.

The Hotel Bremon is set in the medieval town of Cardona in Central Catalonia its construction goes back to the 19th century and its rehabilitation has been done preserving the original architecture. Its spacious rooms, its large sound-proofed windows, its colors and textures create a bright, peaceful space. The boutique Hotel Bremon has 19 double rooms, one is a suite and two are deluxe rooms. All are equipped with a fully fitted bathroom with hairdryer, vanity mirror, special amenities, bathrobe, slippers and pillow selection. There is a direct outside telephone line in all rooms as well as separate broadband internet connection, desk, safe deposit box, individually controlled air-conditioning, fat screen television and satellite TV. The ample-sized bedrooms, colors and textures create a light and serene ambiance.

The top floor has a multi-use room with a fireplace and terrace with magnificent views of the castle. The carefully decorated restaurant offers traditional cuisine with a slightly modern touch, accompanied by a list of selected wines. Thanks to its location, surroundings, resources and staff, the Bremon Hotel Cardona is perfect for recreational tourism as well as small and medium-sized business conventions.

Location:

Hotel Bremon is located in the Old Quarter of Cardona, where the school of the order of the Carmelites-Vedruens fomely stood. Due to its location the Bremon Hotel is the ideal base from which to explore Catalunya. - View Location Map.

General Information:

This is the Events Calendar for the rest of July.

-          Summer 2010: Terraza Brisa del Mar presents the new summer season program 2010. The best views of the Port of Barcelona will have background music every day, except Wednesday and Friday nights, in which “The Piano Has Been Drinking Jazz Trio” will play cover versions of Pop, Hollywood Golden Age and Broadway songs starting at 21:30 hours.

The band, consisting of piano, bass and vocals, explores alternatives to the twentieth-century Western music, daring to create atmospheres that transform acoustic electro-known songs to generate a sophisticated musical environment.

-          18 and 25 July: Dj DrLove invites us for a sexy walk across the big figures of the International Pop from 19.30 to 22.30. A different way to spend a Sunday evening!

Check out also the Mediterranean Experience special package that includes an exclusive sailing experience with Cava, Flowers and Music for 2 hours in the port of Barcelona with Business Yachtclub Barcelona.

Duquesa de Cardona Hotel

Rates from 108 EUR (135 USD) :

This Barcelona hotel is a XVI century residence completely rebuilt for top level boutique hotel use. The Four Star Hotel Duquesa de Cardona Barcelona retains the spirit and the style of the original building, combined with a modern vanguardista decor in the guestrooms. This Barcelona hotel offers exceptional levels of comfort along with panoramic views of the Montjuic Mountain, the Columbus monument and the Marina right in front of the hotel.

Location:

Barcelona Hotel, the Duquesa de Cardona Hotel is right in the heart of the Gothic Quarter, on the maritime promenade of Barcelona, 3 blocks from Las Ramblas. – View Location Map.

General Information:

VISIT: Barcelona Walks Gòtic

Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter links past and present. Discover in a guided tour the charm of its streets, squares, hidden corners and hundred-year-old buildings with expert guides who will take you, step by step, on a journey through history.

Departure point: Turisme de Barcelona information office at: Pl. de Catalunya, 17 basements. You should be at the information office 10 minutes before the visit of the Gothic Quarter begins. It takes 2 hours long and you could start every day. It takes 2 hours long. Times: In English: Monday to Sunday at 10 am. In Catalan/Spanish: Saturdays at 12 pm.

http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/

DISCOVER: Collserola Park

The Collserola range offers visitors the chance to feel as if they were in the middle of a forest. The park is spread out over close to 8,000 hectares, releasing 60,000 metric tons of oxygen every year and eliminating 80,000 of carbon dioxide. It contains some 10 million trees, 1,000 different species of plants and close to 190 species of vertebrates.

The park has eleven important scenic viewpoints, such as those on Carretera de l’Arrabassada, Torre Baró, la Font Groga and el Puig de la Guàrdia, all offering different views of the park. You can reach Tibidabo by public transport, either by bus or local train, the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat and then the Tramvia Blau to Peu del Funicular, or from one of the park’s many footpaths. At the top of the hill there are a few restaurants and the Tibidabo Amusement Park.

http://www.bcn.es/turisme/english/turisme/welcome.htm

ENJOY: Sightjogging in Barcelona

Whatever for people on work or vacation – Sightjogging in Barcelona is a unique way to experience the city. We run at the place suited for you and your group. You can choose from eight different routes. Barcelona is trendy. But only in the early morning you will escape the big heat, especially in the summertime and the big crush of tourists in the streets. Therefore our advice: Discover the awaking city between 6 and 10 am. If you want to be picked up use the pick up service.
All you need are your running shoes and comfortable running attire.

http://www.sightjogging-barcelona.com/

CUISINE IS PASSION…

A special day means a special dinner here at Ávalon restaurant. Our recognised chef, Ramon Freixa has created a Valentine’s Menu, the most romantic dinner with candles, selected wine and the best company. Celebrate with us this unique day in a different way!

Book your table now! welcome@avalonrestaurant.es