Just 35 kilometers from Barcelona, Sitges is that ideal not-too-far-away escape from the city. Because of its microclimate, there are 300 sunny days of the year. And I can say that I’ve never witnessed a bad day at Sitges. Perhaps because the town is painted white and sucks up all that gorgeous light. (Yes, it does…
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).
Guide to Park Guell, Spain’s Most Colorful Park
Guide to Park Guell, Spain’s Most Colorful Park Call it a giant Candy Land in Barcelona. Park Guell is that place where you feel like a 5-year-old, oohing and ahhing at crazy rock formations and multicolored mosaics. While most parks have your typical grass, trees, and benches, this parks excites and explodes with color. It’s…
Parc del Clot and Its Magnificent Arches
If you want to feel wistful and romantic on your afternoon stroll in Barcelona, there’s a special park for you. It’s Parc del Clot in Sant Martí. Reminiscent of the Roman arches, this park was actually built in the 1980s. It’s a central and lively center for the Clot neighborhood to play sports or to…
Romantic Spots in Barcelona
Romantic Spots in Barcelona Combine Barcelona’s sunny weather with the sensuality of the city: the elegant modernist buildings in Eixample, unspoiled historic monuments, and bewildering views. Barcelona feels light in spirit, carefree, and romantic. But not only that, it’s mysterious. You can get lost in the lanes of Born and Gothic Quarter neighborhoods – to…
Getting Morbid at Museu Blau
Located at Barcelona’s modern Parc del Forum, the Museu Blau’s other moniker is the Museu de Ciencies Naturales (Natural Science Museum). The new museum, which found its new home in 2011, is in a massive space of 9,000 square meters. The permanent exhibition of Museu Blau is Planet Life, which explores all past forms of life: the…
The Romantic Medieval Town of Besalú
It’s amazing that Besalú — a town of weaving cobblestoned streets — has managed to stay so intact since the Middle Ages. Its Romanesque bridge dates back to 1075. And although it’s been reconstructed twice after that, it’s still a well-preserved piece of medieval history. I dropped by this little charmer in December when there were…
Christmas at the Santa Llúcia Fair
Christmas at the Santa Llúcia Fair The month of December is chock full of holiday-inspired activities in Barcelona. The downside is that you have to pick and choose which are worthwhile events because it’s impossible to fit them all in your agenda! Me, I never miss the yearly Fira de Santa Llúcia (Santa Lucia Fair) in the…
The Caganer, Another Catalan Christmas Crapper
We’re in a poopy mess here these holidays. Here’s a curious Catalan Christmas tradition that has to do with the act of defecation (other than the caga tió). And that’s the caganer, the “crapper”, or bluntly, the “shitter”. It’s a ceramic statuette of a person or fictional character squatting over a pile of poop. And it’s meant…
Why You Should Visit Cadaques
Described by Salvador Dalí as “the most beautiful village in the world”, Cadaqués has proven to be that charming seaside town with a refreshing feel. This well-preserved town has attracted other past artists such as Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, and Henri Matisse and continues to enchant 30,000 visiting tourists every summer. Wanting to get away…
The Media-TIC Building and its Supergreen Design
It’s green everything. Its design, building materials, and even paint color. And it’s almost a net-zero building, meaning it relies on itself for its heating, cooling, and electricity needs. I finally got to visit the Media-TIC building during the 48h Open House Barcelona event. Its strange / modern / beehive / cubic design caught my attention while driving by one…