Barcelona apartments, Barcelona Hotels, Barcelona Accommodation

One of the top Barcelona sights visitors shouldn´t miss is the Poble Espanyol. It was originally built in 1929 for the Barcelona International Exhibition as the pavilion dedicated to art. Today this charming „Spanish Village" is a great open-air museum and is part of the monuments that once belonged to the International Exhibition. The Poble Espanyol was built to present an "ideal model" of a Spanish village containing the main characteristics of all towns and villages in Spain. Walking through the streets of the village, you will see typical architecture throughout the Iberian peninsula. You might also want to sit down in one of the restaurants and bars at the Gran Plaza of the village to enjoy a fantastic dinner or to have a coffee. To have an overview about the facilities on the village grounds you might consult the interactive map of Poble Espanyol which is even the home of many craft, design and art shops and galleries. On of the most popular hotels near the Poble Espanyol is the Hotel Fira Palace Barcelona near the Plaza Espanya and the Barcelona fair grounds which is able to comfortably accommodate both business travelers and tourists that would like to stay at the Montjuic area. For both types of travelers staying at Barcelona hotels near Montjuic a visit of the Poble Espanyol will be amazing. During the summer season the „Spanish village" will also be the venue of open-air concerts and shows.

Address: Avda Marques de Camillas
Entrance: 8 Euros

Posted by Anja H at 8:32 AM | Permalink

From today on, Barcelona is the home of thousands of brides! The Fira Barcelona is the venue of the famous Bridal Week 2008 where the best selection of international design bridal dresses will be presented. From the 27th to the 30th of May visitors can enjoy shows of the Pasarela Gaudí Novias, the bridal trade fair that is a unique example of creativity, glamour and style. Every year new exhibitors join the platform to introduce their ideas and creations. If you want to have a closer look at this fashionable event, leave your Barcelona hotel and go to the Fira Barcelona (address: Pabellón 8 - Gran Via Precinct). During the Bridal Week the Noviaespaña takes place. From the 30th of May to the 1st of June nationally and internationally best known companies from the fashion and design industry will join the Barcelona Bridal Week. The latest news of the event have been summarized in the brochure Moda Barcelona. Businessmen and journalists joining the event might be interested in the wide range of Barcelona Executive Apartments to have a pleasant stay in Barcelona during the Bridal Week. This year more than 11.000 visitors from more than 50 countries in the world are expected. Barcelona is definitely the world capital for brides during this week!

Posted by Anja H at 9:42 AM | Permalink

Do you want to discover Barcelona from high above? Then you should take a ride with one of the two cable cars in Barcelona that most of all attract tourists during the summer months. The Telefèric de Montjuic (see photo) is the cable car that takes you up to the top of Montjuic. The silver cabins, passing a special viewpoint on half their way, will offer you magnificent views on the city. If you have reached the top you can have a walk around the Castell de Montjuic, an old military fort and enjoy a coffee at the kiosk. Another spectucal ride takes you across the harbor area of Barcelona from a cable car station of the Transbordador Aeri del Port on the Montjuic to Sant Sebastian beach. Staying at El Borne hotels you will be very close to the port area and can have a walk to the cable car Transbordador Aeri del Port that brings you up to the Montjuic Mountain. If you stay at Montjuic hotels just do it the other way round and discover the beautiful Montjuic area first and complete your day with a relaxing stay on the beach afterwards. Regardless which cable car ride you choose - it will be a fun experience. You will never forget about the stunning views from the cabins high above Barcelona.

Posted by Anja H at 9:27 AM | Permalink

The Joan Miro Foundation is one of the top- museums in Barcelona. Be there once is a kind of obligation. The current exhibition presented at the Foundation is "Red aside", with more than eighty paintings, sculptures, installations, photos and videos. These impressive art works are designed by 51 different contemporary Chinese artists. As all pieces on display are part of the collection of the Swiss diplomat and businessman Uli Sigg and reflect the Chinese state of art between 1986 and 2007, to visit the Joan Miró Foundation might be a great weekend activity. The bus line 50 from Plaza Universitat or Plaza Espanya will bring you to the venue which is situated on the beautiful Montjuic mountain area. You can even take the Funicular from the metro station Paral-lel to the Foundation. From Plaza Espanya hotels you can have a walk around around the huge Montjuic area and have a break at the Joan Miro Foundation to see behind the curtain of Contemporary Chinese Art. To explore the whole beauty of the Montjuic mountain you need more than one day. A comfortable and luxury hotel near the parc area of Montjuic is the Tryp Apolo Hotel. Don't miss to discover the Montjuic area while staying in Barcelona!

Posted by Anja H at 12:49 PM | Permalink

In Barcelona Corpus Christi is celebrated with parades of giants and big-headed carnival figures known as 'Cabezudos' that converge around the cathedral area in the centre of the city. Processions of Corpus Christi can be seen in many cities of Spain. One of the most known proccesions include those of Granada, Barcelona, Toledo, Cádiz, Valencia and Sevilla. If you are staying at a Barcelona hotel on the 22nd of May you should jaunt to the Cathedral of Barcelona. At the square around the cathedral the celebration of the L'ou com Balla, or "dancing egg" festival, will take place. The L'ou com Balla is a tradition dating back to the 16th century. But what is it about? At many fountains in the city, which are decorated with fragrant flowers, an emptied eggshell is perched above a stream of water. As the eggshell climbs up the water jet, it appears to dance on the top of it. During the summer there will be many more festivals held in Barcelona. Have a look at the Calendar of Barcelona holidays and festivals provided by BarcelonaPoint.com so that you don't miss one of the cultural highlights in the Catalunya sunshine capital.

Posted by Anja H at 1:42 PM | Permalink

This weekend holiday makers staying at Barcelona hotels can visit the best of Barcelona's museums for free. On the 17th of May more than twenty museums troughout the city will be open from 7 pm to 1am, offering visitors a range of free activities. The famous Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (MNAC) for example will offer its visitors free inaugural concerts on the occassion of the International Day of the Museums. This day has been celebrated all over the world since 1977. Each year, a theme is decided on by the Advisory Committee. In 2008 museum professionals focus on the topic "Museums as agents of social change and development". You might also want to visit the latest exhibitions in the Center of Contemporary Culture of Barcelona (CCCB, see photo) for free. It is even the weekend of celebrating the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. Barcelona has organised 195 activities for the up-coming weekend, as well as Wednesday 21st of May. This events will be a perfect complement to your stay in Barcelona. You only have to leave your Barcelona apartment and keep an eye on the posters and articles announcing the culturally interesting weekend activities as the Night of Museums.

Posted by Anja H at 8:48 AM | Permalink

From the 14th of May on, Barcelona starts to dedicate itself to poetry. Until the 24th of May a series of events and workshops will take place. And all of them have one thing in common: the verse. The 12th Barcelona Poesia includes more than 100 activities in the streets of Barcelona, museums, gardens and civic centres. One of the most famous venues during this poetry week is the Palau de la Música Catalana. If you are staying at a Barcelona hotel you might want to snap at the chance to enter the International Festival of Poetry at the famous Palau de la Música Catalana on the 21th of May. Furthermore, poems and recitations can be enjoyed at various locations across the city: the Botanical Gardens, the MACBA, the Museum of Natural Science, the Hospital de Sant Pau, the Tamarita Gardens and many more. You can even find poetry on public transport! Bus windows and the metro are covered in verse. For a period of one month using the public transport to explore the city from your Barcelona apartment will be a unique experience. Travelers will be able to read comic strips by the artist Juanjo Sáez. His comics refer to famous verses such as those of Anna-Amat, José Corredor-Matheos, Manuel Forcado and Cristina Peri Rossi. The awarding of the Barcelona Jocs Florals Poetry Prize , which takes place at the City Council's Saló de Cent on the 20th of May, will be another highlight of the festival. Of course music and dance will also get their due during the Poetry Week. You have the chance to attend concerts and dance spectacles. If you adore the world of poetry, keep your eyes open while staying in Barcelona this week.

Posted by Anja H at 1:04 PM | Permalink

At the moment Barcelona is the international reference point for video art. Loop, the International Festival and Fair for Video Art, is in the city and over 800 artists will be showing their work at more than a one hundred city locations. Staying at a Barcelona accommodation you might consider to join one of the amazing performances. Professionals and anyone who is interested in videoart are welcome to the Loop Fair 2008 which brings together gallery owners, collectors, critics, museum directors and videoart enthusiasts. The Catalonia Ramblas Hotel is the venue for this fair (Opening hours: 9th and 10th of May from 16h to 21h). The whole festival, held from the 6th to the 18th of May will indeed turn the Catalunya sunshine capital into the capital of video art. The Loop Barcelona also includes international collections. One that stands out is the exhibition "For Your Eyes Only" at the Fundació Suñol. It is the place where the latest acquisitions of the FRAC, a contemporary art collection in the Nord Pas-de-Calais region of France, are presented. You might also want to leave your Barcelona apartment for a visit of the video art collections on show in the city. The 6th edition of the Loop shouldn't be missed!

Posted by Anja H at 1:51 PM | Permalink

As the Spanish motorcycle market is the second largest in Europe, there is no better location for the Great Motorcycle Week than the Fira Barcelona. From the 8th to the 11th of May motorcycle enthusiasts and travelers staying at a Barcelona accommodation can visit the famous MotOh! BCN 2008. This second edition of the most important event for the motorcycling sector will once again be showcasing the widest range of products and the most spectacular activities in Barcelona, the European motorcycling capital. The passion of motorcycling will be presented at MotOh! and about 250 motorcycle exhibitors delight visitors with the latest models, bike equipment and live demonstrations during this motorcycle show at the Fira de Barcelona. For those who are searching for an accommodation near the grounds, the Hotel Torre Catalunya is the perfect choice as it is located close to the venue of the MotOh! BCN 2008. About 200,000 visitors are expected to attend the event to be welcomed by leading manufacturers, distributors and importers of motorcycles. Attracting everyone with a passion for the world of two-wheelers, Barcelona will once again be celebrating a fantastic motorcycling festival with MotOh! BCN.

Opening hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Price: 12 Euros (adults), free entrance for children under 6

Posted by Anja H at 10:24 AM | Permalink