BARCELONA ZURICH MARATHON MARCH 16 2014

The Barcelona Marathon 2014 - or the Zurich Marató de Barcelona- takes place on 16th March. Start and finish of the 42,195 km long circular course is the Av. Reina Cristina. This is the street that ascends from the Plaça Espanya and Magic fountain. Behind the fountain, which is activated already during the day of the marathon and radiate its beautiful charm, there is the fair trade located here (Marató Expo). The Barcelona Marathon is a becoming popular race on the international calendar. 

Every year it grows in attendance and over 15.000 runner from every country in the world are expected. The Barcelona Zurich Marathon is well-organized with a route entirely in Barcelona visiting the must emblematic sites of the city, such us Sagrada Familia, Passeig de Gracia, Olimpyc villa, fc Barcelona stadium, gothic district, Hospital de Sant Pau, etc 

And offer a service of massage, showers as well as plenty of changing rooms. 

There are many entertainments points along the route and food tasting, band and other activaties. 

Barcelona Mobile World Congress

It’s time to catch up with mobile technology’s latest wave of evolution at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the “GSMA World Capital”, from February 24-27 2014. This is the most important international exhibition and conference for the mobile industry, bringing together top executives and representatives from all sectors of mobile technology; vendors, manufacturers, content owners and entrepreneurs. Mobile telephony is transforming communications, promoting new payment systems that will change commerce and providing us with new ways to interact with each other. And the most important sector in the world is continuing to grow. Once again the congress with be taking place at the FIra Gran Via, a fantastic venue right in the centre of the Mobilie world Capital. Don´t miss this opportunity to witness the unstoppable expansion and growth of the is sector.

Sitges Carnaval

If you visit Barcelona this February, then you absolutely must hit one of the biggest and most anticipated festivals in Europe: Sitges Carnaval! Just 45 minutes south of the city lays the quaint seaside town of Sitges, and from February 25th – March 5th this usually quiet neighborhood comes to life for the Carnival.

This fantastic party is famous for its colorful parades, costumes, masks, folk dances, timeless traditions, and of course, delectable gastronomy! 

Sunday, March 2nd 2014

• ‘The Parade of Debauchery’ at 7:30 pm, kicking off at Cap de Vila. Expect bright costumes and music.
• For families with youngsters, catch the Children’s Parade at 3pm.

Also, in Vilanova (a little further outside Sitges) there will be a candy war on February 10th! Here, sweet treats fill the streets as the different teams of ‘Comparses’ battle it out with candy to see who comes out top in the friendly neighborhood ‘Guerra de Caramelos’.

For more info on how to get to Vilanova from Barcelona, check out the Renfe website.

Tuesday, March 4th 2014

• ‘The Parade of Extermination’ at 7:30pm, starting point at Cap de la Vila. More cool costumes and dancing on colorful floats!

Wednesday, March 5th 2014

• ‘The Burial of the King’ kicks off at 7pm at Plaça Ajuntament, while the festival officially wraps up with the ‘Burial of the Sardine’ taking place at 8:30pm on Passeig de la Ribera. The tradition goes that the‘King of Carnestoltes’ makes an appearance on the first Thursday of the celebrations, absorbs everyone’s sins throughout the weekend, and ‘dies’ during the rituals on the 5^th, in which everyone exchanges their festive garb for black mourning attire, marking the end of the festival and the beginning of Lent.

New years Eve The Millennium Soul

A big celebration featuring water, fire and appearance of the figure of Millennium Soul will be held on Avda Maria Cristina and the Montjuic fountains, to usher in the New Year. 

A 15 m tall human figure made of iron, the Millennium Should will have the privilege of seeing off 2013 and ushering in the New Year. 

This event bears the La Fura dels Baus stamp and will combine water, pyrotechnics, and music in a show that aims to be lively and open to everybody. 

The Castellers de Sants will build a human tower, where they perform alongside the Montjuic fountain and water show. 

The bells, which pay tribute to Wagner's Parsifal on the quarter hours, will chime to volcanoes of fire and a huge explosion behind the Magic Fountain. The event will culminate in a pyrotechnic show mixed with the fountains.

And all in all, "this area, featuring the Buïgas fountains, the Catalan flag, the Venetian Towers... will be practically perfect mathematically for everyone to meet up and represent the essence of our culture, the sense of togetherness".

A great experience for the New Years Eve in Barcelona! 

Mercat de Santa Llucia 2013

This is probably Barcelona's most well-known and classic Christmas market. It is very specific to Christmas time, with a large percentage of the stalls selling Christmas trees, decorations and mistletoe. It is also a place to buy your Christmas Caga Tio- a log with a friendly face that is an important part of Catalan Christmases (please see our Guide to Spanish Christmas Traditions for more details). 
The real fair, located at Avinguda de la Catedral, celebrates his 227 anniversary, from 1786, 
and will open until 23 december. 

X GAMES BARCELONA 16-19 MAY

Coming right on the heels of X Games Foz do Iguaçu, X Games has announced the preliminary athlete lineup for X Games Barcelona, which makes its debut next month as the fourth stop in the X Games global tour.

Over 200 athletes have committed to the event, which will feature women in the Skateboard Park competition for the first time and the first Real Women bracket ever, with eight female athletes from four different disciplines (snowboarding, skateboarding, surfing and skiing). The two new events are nestled among X Games mainstays like BMX, Skateboard Big Air and Park and Moto X Freestyle, Speed & Style and Enduo X, as well as the second installment of Street League Skateboarding at X Games, among other disciplines.

There will be a mix of familiar faces (Travis Pastrana, Jamie Bestwick, Nate Adams, Ryan Sheckler and Bob Burnquist) and some notable X Games debuts (Lizzie Armanto and Nora Vasconcellos in Women's Skateboard Park, Alain Goikoetxea in Men's Skateboard Park and Jose Miralles in Moto X Speed & Style, just to name a few).

Below is the first round of invites. This list is subject to change and will be finalized closer to X Games Barcelona, which runs May 16-19.

BARCELONA OPEN SABADELL

The Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, Trofeu Conde de Godó Trophy is the clay-court tournament which Barcelona hosts every year. The competition attracts the world’s top players and has become one of the city’s key social events. The 61st tournament will be held on the courts of the Reial Club de Tennis Barcelona – 1899 from 20th to 28th April.
Once again, the Mallorcan player Rafael Nadal will be the hot favourite to carry off the trophy. In 2012, he claimed his seventh Barcelona Open title. In addition to Nadal, some of the top ten ATP players are also expected to play. This is because the Barcelona Open Banc de Sabadell is considered one of the best tournaments on the ATP 500 World Tour. 
In addition to the tournament at the Reial Club Tennis Barcelona, the square in front of Barcelona Cathedral will once again be the setting for an alternative activity which is also associated with tennis and met with great success last year: ‘Tennis in the street’, an initiative which seeks to bring tennis to the community.

FORMULA 1 BARCELONA

There is an exciting variety of sports in Barcelona, besides culture and nightlife. We are not talking only about soccer, even though it is probably the most famous sport in the city, but also about the next Spain Santander Grand Prix 2013 to be held in May.

Formula 1 in Montmelo arrives as every year. The Catalunya’s Circuit comes to life from 10 to 12 May celebrating the first date of the European season. 

We suggest you to buy tickets early if you want to watch the Formula 1 in Barcelona. You can choose from the payment of three days (from 120 € to 450 €) or one day tickets from 50 €. All children under 5 years not occupying a seat and those less than 12 years attending Pelouse have free admission. Tickets can be purchased through ticketmaster or at “El Corte Inglés”.

You should remember that the Formula 1 Montmelo circuit is located 32 km from Barcelona, so the best transportation alternative is the train. R2 Line has departures from Barcelona Sants station, Pg de Gracia and El Clot. The journey time is about 30 minutes. Once at the Montmelo station you have to walk for about 30 minutes to the circuit. If you decide to come by car, consider purchasing the entrance to the parking in advance.

DIADA DE SANT JORDI

Sant Jordi  is  one of the most famous Barcelona holidays, a celebration that links romanticism and culture with the festive and joyful nature of folk festivities. Held on 23 April each year, the festival of Sant Jordi in Barcelona is an extraordinary opportunity to explore the city. La Diada de Sant Jordi is also the patron saint of seven million of inhabitants of Catalonia. Know as the day of lovers, Sant Jordi often compared to Valentine´s Day. The main event is the exchange of gifts between sweethearts-men give the ladies roses and woman give their boyfriend a book to celebrate the occasion. Due to popular legends about Barcelona, roses have always been associated with this day since medieval times. However, the giving of books is more recent.

During this day, many streets of Barcelona are flooded with books and roses vendor booths. The most popular authors (and even virtually unknown new talents) spend several hours of the day signing copies. Typically, couples exchange gifts, as if it were the celebration of lovers day. In recent years, this festival with religious backgrounds has become an exceptional day for publishers and editorial houses.

Easter Barcelona- Semana Santa 2013

Visit Barcelona in Easter is a perfect time to enjoy tradition, culture, celebration. 
Spain is a modern and cosmopolitan city and the easter celebration are not quite on the same scale than the south of Spain, like Seville. But It´s still an important part of the city we conserve the tradition and we celebrate religious and cultural events. Spain, being a Catholic country, and traditions are happens the Holy week. The Easter week starts on Palm Sunday on the 24th March. There are parades and processions in Barcelona on Palm Sunday and Good Friday, called in here Viernes Santo. Easter ends on Lunes de Pascua easter Monday on Monday 1 April 2013. There are public holidays in Barcelona during Easter on Good Friday and Easter Monday. 

Probably the most significant evente in Barcelona is the Palm Sunday. A processions takes place in the centre of town, ciutat vella commemorating the arrival of Jesus in Bethlem. You will find palms stalls throughout the churches and streets nearby.

GSMA MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS

Whether last year you were unable to attend or now you are only counting the days left to relive the extraordinary experience of the GSMA Mobile World Congress, we have good news: registration is now open for this sensational event!
Although the event will be held until the end of February (Monday 25 to Thursday 28), it is possible to register your participation through the event’s official website. Registering in advance is recommended, as during the event dates there will be many people waiting at the lockers. If you wish, you can register from your mobile phone.

Besides the announcement of open registration we have other news. Due to the dramatic success of the 2012 edition, this year’s GSMA Mobile World Congress will be held in a different location: the facilities of the FIRA Gran Via. For this edition we will not only have more exhibition space, but it will be even easier to get to the fairground as FIRA Gran Via is perfectly communicated. You can get there by subway, using line 8 to station Europe-FIRA. At that same station arrive trains S33, S4, S8, R5 and R6. Another option is taking the H12 or 79 buses.
Do not miss the opportunity to attend one of the most important events in Barcelona in 2013. At this edition of the GSMA Mobile World Congress you will be able to know the latest in mobile technology, apps, the future of communications and everything you need to know to develop a successful virtual business. Lectures, seminars and more than 240,000m² of exhibition in Barcelona are waiting for you!

The best in photojournalism is at the CCCB

The best in photojournalism is at the CCCB

The World Press Photo 2012 is in Barcelona and it has a Catalan accent. The winner of the prestigious photojournalism prize is the Catalan photographer Samuel Aranda, with his snapshot of protests in the Yemen. That is one of the 156 photographs on show at the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB) until 6 January. The World Press Photo is based on a single premise: the visual power of photojournalism. This premise means the winning photographs can inform us about what is going on in the world. These pictures stand out because they awaken the conscience of exhibition visitors and generate debate. They stand out for their informative or artistic value but, either way, people who see them cannot fail to be moved. At the exhibition they are grouped according to their subject, ranging from the most far-reaching news to everyday life, sport and nature, among other things. A Catalan winner Samuel Aranda, a photojournalist from Santa Coloma de Gramenet, is the winner of the 2012 competition. His photograph, showing a mother embracing her son, wounded during the popular revolt in the Yemen, went round the world and has become an Arab Spring icon. But, for this edition of the World Press Photo, the CCCB has gone further. Aranda's photograph is complemented by the exhibition #desprésdelaprimavera. And the photographer himself has been to the scenes of these revolts to show through pictures how people are experiencing the peace. "It is an attempt to show another kind of reality" said Aranda during the presentation of the exhibition, in reference to the media that only show images of violence. New features for this edition A smartphone application has been developed that allows users to contextualise the photos on display with additional information via QR codes. And a room has been set aside for screening interviews with some of the featured photographers, which also has computers for visitors to consult the whole World Press Photos catalogue and the reports in which the winning photographs were published.

The Magic Fountain is even more magical at Christmas

Christmas. Christmas carols are the highlight of the water, light and music show on at the Montjuïc Magic Fountain during the festivities.

The Montjuïc Magic Fountain will be dancing to the rhythm of the best-known Christmas carols from 7 December, when you'll be able to see a truly Christmassy show combining water, light and music.

Modern and classical versions of popular Catalan Christmas carols will be the highlight of the musical repertoire for a show which aims to become a festival classic. It will feature Fum, fum, fum, El desembre congelat and A Betlem me'n vull anar, among others. So, you've got until 5 January to enjoy the colours, shapes and movements of the water in a fountain that becomes even more magical during Christmas.

The Magic Fountain has choreographed music lasting 10 to 14 minutes which combines music excerpts. And you can also enjoy songs from last 3 to 4 minutes offered between choreography

                                           

The Holy Family Christmas Fair

Christmas. The Sagrada Família vicinity is turning into a Christmas postcard, thanks to the Christmas Fair setting up its stalls by Gaudí's iconic masterpiece.

The Sagrada Família Christmas Fair, which originated in the 1960s, has become one of the most traditional Christmas markets in the Eixample, bringing together close to a hundred stalls. In addition, it turns the Sagrada Família vicinity into a Christmas postcard.

Drop by the fair and you'll discover a whole array of Nativity figurines and elements, including Christmas trees and plants and a variety of decorations. You'll also find everything you need to decorate your home with for the festivities.

One of the most traditional Christmas fairs in the Eixample. He was born 60 years and currently meets 99 stalls with all the necessary products to celebrate Christmas at home.

                                                            

MEDIEVAL DINNER IN THE HISTORY AND LEGENDARY NIGHTS

Requesens palace offers a menu inspired on the typical Catalan food of the XIV and XV centuries on Fridays and Saturdays

Sternalia company proposes to relive the nights in the medieval Barcelona. This company is also responsible for the “Dinners with stars” at the Fabra observatory. This time, though, they swapped the stars for medieval history and the observatory for a palace. It belonged to The Requesens and was built in the 13th century. It was sheltered by the roman wall and so they decided to use one of its towers.  

 

It’s a very complete activity: there’s a guided tour of the Gòtic neighbourhood, a dinner with a medieval-like diet and a speech about the lifestyle the citizens had in that era. The meeting point is the Requesens palace which currently is the headquarters of the institution that takes care of the Catalan history and culture.

  

This trip to the past starts at the palace just before the sunset. It is located next to Sant Just square and even though it starts at 8pm you must be there a quarter before to check. Right after that begins a tour about 50 minutes long for the streets and backstreets that surround the palace to find out the essence of the medieval Barcelona. During August the tour focuses on some mysteries hidden in these buildings: Alchemy, witches and lost souls or Christian and profane legends. From September onwards up until December, the visitors will be able to feel like the medieval people that lived in those buildings and will learn what they used to do to survive the difficult medieval nights.

 

After the stroll, it’s time to have dinner at the Tinellet of the Palace. Even though it may be hard to believe, the Catalan medieval food was quite refined. Some people, such as the Franciscan Francesc Eiximenis, considered it the number one in the Christian world. The medieval food taste has a starter, a second plate and desert. You better experience it than hear about it. 

 

The day will end up with a speech named “The medieval city: walls, towers, burgs and streets” (until de first of September) or “”Marginalized people in the Middle Ages” (from the 7th to the 15th of September).

You can book calling at 93 327 01 25 (from Monday to Friday: from 9h to 21h), at 628 468 539 (Saturdays and Sundays from 10h to 14h) or sending an email to  info@raconsinsolits.com.

SALON NAUTICO PORT VELL

A new edition of the Barcelona International Boat Show is back this September, the benchmark event for professionals in the nautical sector in Spain and for sailing enthusiasts. It will be featuring all the latest innovations and sporting and recreational ideas for enjoying this massive nautical festival.

To the end of the month from 26th to 30th Septembre, will take place the Barcelona International Boat Show, the most important event on boats run by professionals and fans of the sport, which is celebrated each year in the city. 
The living room of Port Vell (Metro Barceloneta, line 4) is a very attractive event open to families and professinals, sporting activities, and introductory workshop to navigation for children. The cost of entry is 12€ ( 6€ registration on the webpage on the event). 

FIESTAS DE LA MERCE 2012

The popular  La Mercé Festival in Barcelona will start on September 21st 2012. This festival marks the closure of summer and it’s an special time for visiting the city, as it has amazing activities you can enjoy, in a time when the weather continues to be perfect in the city.

This yearLa mercé festival in Barcelonais going to start on a friday, and the party will last for 3 whole days,  ash the festival finishes on Monday 24th. 

La Mercè is the festival of festivals, where, in just a few days there are hundreds of activities like these:

• Barcelona Acció Musical (Barcelona Musical Action): to hear new sounds
• Barcelona Street Arts: artists performing amongst the public
• Festival of tradition: human castles, bigheads, giants and all the festive beasts of the city, accompanied by guests of the Mediterranean
• Festival of the sky: acrobatic meeting of jets, balloons, ultra lights, etc.
• The Fire Festival: all kinds of sparks from the musical fireworks to the Fire Run...

With a long etcetera of more than 500 activities to everyone’s taste.
La Mercè is the festival of a thousand faces.

BARCELONA OPEN SABADELL CONDE DE GODO 2012

The historic Barcelona tournement celebrates the 60th edition in 2012. Staged at Real Club de Tennis Barcelona ( Calle Bosch i Gimpera, 5-13) - 1899, the oldest Spanish tennis Club, the Barcelona open sabadell, trofeo Conde de Godo, will celebrate its 60 anniversary in 2012. f you want to enjoy tennis in Barcelona, you need to come to the catalan capital between the 21 and the 29 of April 2012. Some of the best tennis players will be present at the tournament. Spaniards have won the last nine editions, with Rafael Nadal lifting the trophy six times in the past seven years. The tennis tournament of the ATP in Barcelona will count with the participation of great tennis players such as Rafael Nadal, Any Murray, David Ferrer, Feliciano Lopez, Janko Tipsarevic,etc. More information in http://www.barcelonaopenbancsabadell.com/

ALIMENTARIA 26-29 MARCH 2012

Alimentaria is one of the most important food and drinks trade shows in the world. This fact is recognised by the major international operators in food and drink manufacturing, distribution and trade. This is a benchmark event whose success derives from highly specialised offerings, innovation and a tireless commitment to the show's international focus.

26-29 March 2012, Alimentaria will once again become an international business centre for all professionals with ties to the food and drinks industry.

More than 140,000 international operators from the food and drinks industry visit the show to meet with suppliers, network and find new products to entice their customers.

Alimentaria Barcelona the most important International Food and Drinks Exhibition in Spain and one of the world’s premier shows.
The event’s division into sectors, its innovative, creative and dynamic atmosphere, its professional spirit and its international prominence represent the keys to its success.

Not only is Alimentaria a huge international market, but it is also a venue for dialogue, exchange, information and knowledge, as well as a place to spot trends. Top experts, the most authoritative voices, acknowledged and proven reliability are the common features of the broad spectrum of activities, forums, conferences and workshops scheduled during the show. Alimentaria also offers your company the opportunity to take part in all of these to achieve maximum visibility and recognition.


                                                             

PICASSO EXHIBITION-A COLLAGE BEFORE A COLLAGE

Pablo Picasso invented collage as an artistic technique around the spring of 1912. But long before this, in Barcelona in March 1899, he made a drawing in which he glued a technically reproduced image: the portrait of an actress. We now know that this piece is a picture card from a matchbox, which were very popular in the late nineteenth century.

From the peculiarity of the work, this small exhibition explores the new visuality of this period in which drawings and photographs vied for position in the popular illustrated papers and magazines, the boom in the mass production of printed images, which inundated everyday life, and the vogue for collecting them that seized a large part of the population.

The exhibion " A collage before Collage. Picasso 1899" revolves around this work and the reasons which led the young the young Picasso to stick a printed image on on of his painting. The exhibition invites us to explore the interest of Picasso in serial copies and it will also contextualize the obsession of cutting  and pasting which was a pastime of the society at that time.

Place: Museu Picasso | Montcada, 15-23 08003 Barcelona 

Web site: http://www.bcn.cat/museupicasso/ca/exposicions/encurs.html

Opening time: Tuesday through Sunday (including holidays) 10 am to 8 pm.