A town with Roman and Moorish roots, Carmona is a special Andalusian gem with its rolling hills and medieval city walls. This town which lived Roman and Moorish civilizations has a haunting association with the necropolis, an ancient cemetery. But it’s a quaint city that paradoxically offers a serene, small-town retreat for visitors. Popularly known…
Author: Justine Ancheta
California native, churro aficionado, and mom of 3, Justine Ancheta writes fervently about Barcelona and Spain. Since 2008, she's been eating burnt onions (calçots) and tripping on cobblestones in the Gothic Quarter. She shares tips on popular attractions, exposes offbeat non-touristy spots, and gives insight on exploring Barcelona with kids. Her next Catalan culture challenge: top level of a human castle (castellers).
Visiting Barcelona in August 2023
Why you should visit Barcelona in August Barcelona is a popular destination year-round, but August can be an especially exciting time to visit for several reasons! It’s full of cultural festivals and is a perfect time to go to the beach. Beaches: Barcelona has several beautiful beaches, and August is the perfect time to enjoy…
Visiting Barcelona in July 2023
July in Barcelona is an exciting time to visit. With hot, sunny weather, the city is ripe for visiting the beaches, Montjuic mountain, or having a sangria on a rooftop bar. As one of the most popular months to visit, Barcelona is a buzzing city with plenty of outdoor festivals, seaside events, and of course,…
The Barcelona Pass: Save Time and Money
The Barcelona Pass: Save time and money If you’re looking to get discounts on Barcelona attractions, look no further. The Barcelona Pass is a fantastic deal if you want to save money with discounts and save time by skipping the line. What is the Barcelona Pass? It’s a special card that gives you skip-the-line /…
CosmoCaixa: An Interactive Science Museum in Barcelona
Remember this? Your physics teacher tells you to turn to page 137 of your textbook. He rattles on about a formula or a chart. You try to understand it, but you find the “hugs not drugs” posters on the wall much more intriguing. Yawwwwnnnn… So, how do you make learning science FUN AND EXCITING? You…
Vall de Núria, Spain: A Guide to this Magical Valley in the Mountains
Vall de Núria, l Spain: A Guide to this Beautiful Mountainous Destination Imagine taking a 40-minute train ride in the mountains, then arriving at a rolling, lush, green valley. It has a beautiful building complex, a large lake, and is surrounded by rolling grass and towering Pyrenees mountains. One of the most stunning landscapes in…
Faborit Casa Amatller, A Modernist Cafe + Chocolate
Casa Amatller has one more reason to enchant modernist art lovers, who are seeking another experience of modernisme in Barcelona. The lesser-known neighbor to the famous Casa Batlló, Casa Amatller invites visitors to Faborit, the “urban healthy coffee shop”. For the stomach, Faborit serves sandwiches, salads, wraps, smoothies, coffee, and exquisite chocolate. For the eyes, the…
The Visionary Urban Design of the Eixample District, Barcelona
In 2008, when I first moved to Sant Antoni, a neighborhood in the Eixample district (pronounced ‘eshampla’) of Barcelona, I was overwhelmed by the endless blocks and blocks of buildings. And on each block, everything looked the same – fruit stands, bakeries, supermarkets, banks. Then more fruit stands, more bakeries, more supermarkets, and more banks. Barcelona urban…
Good Spanish movies to learn about Spain
Good Spanish Movies to Learn About Spain Spain has produced some international hits by big-name directors like Pedro Almodóvar or Alejandro Amenábar. And of course, we’re familiar with Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardém, or Antonio Banderas, the most famous Spanish actors to hit Hollywood turf. But beyond these well-known names are a few other must-see films…
Where to eat the best paella in Barcelona
When visitors come to Barcelona, I’m often asked, “Where can I have the best paella in Barcelona?” There are literally dozens of places that vie for top spots. Here, I’m sharing which ones are on my must-try list simply because they’re a hit among locals in Barcelona. Eating paella is a time-honored tradition that brings…