Parc de la Ciutadella, a garden close to the sea

The Parc de la Ciutadella is one of the most important green spaces in the city. It is conveniently situated just a short distance from the former fishermen´s district of la Barceloneta and very close to the city centre, and so it has long been a favourite among the people of Barcelona for leisure activities and festive events.

Over the years its purpose changed, until it became the first area specifically designed to serve as a public park. The facilities are extensive (children´s play area, ping pong tables, toy library, boats for hire on the magnificent lake, bar, toitlets, dog area) and there is a wide range of attractions to tempt tourists and locals alike.

It is well worth taking a look at the sculptures from various periods (there is even one by a young Antoni Gaudí) by following a fascinating route along the paths, past fountains and all manner of vegetation. Other points of interest include a wide variety of catalogued trees, the brick and wood building known as the Umbracle, and the enormous greenhouse known as the Hivernacle.

Visitors may chose to enjoy a stroll and relax (bicycles can also be hired), or they may prefer to explore the Zoology and Geology Museums. The Parliament of Catalonia occupies an area of the park, as does the Zoo.

Source: Turisme de Barcelona & www.bcn.es/parcsijardins/

Núñez i Navarro Hotels, all the Centres of Barcelona arround you: www.nnhotels.com

Carmen, in the Teatre Condal of Barcelona

From 1 August to 19 August, the Teatre Condal, promoted by Ramón Oller, presents one of the most versatile Catalan choreographers who has achieved worldwide acclaim, brings Carmen to the Teatre Condal.

He reinterprets one of the world’s great classics through contemporary language and using a thematic approach.

Source: www.barcelonaturisme.com

Núñez i Navarro Hotels, all the Centres of Barcelona around you: www.nnhotels.com

Hotel Soho Barcelona: we love it!

“We stayed at the Soho Hotel for four nights in May. We arrived at about 23:30 to a very warm welcome from the reception staff. We were delighted with our room not to mention impressed. What a lovely hotel and what fantastic friendly helpful staff, nothing was too much trouble for them. It was our first visit to Barcelona, we loved it and when we do go back we will be staying at the Soho!! Thankyou Soho reception staff for helping to make our visit to Barcelona a really memorable and enjoyable one!!!”

Jayne and Mark, YORK, England – Post added on June 2007

Website: www.hotelsohobarcelona.com

La Pedrera at Night: Essential Gaudí and live jazz

La Pedrera at Night includes a visit to the new Espai Gaudí and the Terrace. Housed in the attic of the building, the Espai Gaudí offers a visual tour of the works of this exceptional architect. The Terrace is a unique space for enjoying Gaudí’s creativity, the night, the city and the music thanks to:

• 29 and 30 June: Llibert Fortuny, Gary Willis and David Gómez.Â
• 6 and 7 July: Ignasi Terraza Trio & Susana Sheiman.Â
• 13 and 14 July: Brunious – Romaní Quartet.Â
• 20 and 21 July: Asstrio.Â
• 27 and 28 July: Ivanow Jazz Group

The conditions to assist: Â

• Dates: Fridays and Saturdays between 29 June and 28 July.
• Place: Terrace. La Pedrera. Passeig de Grà cia, 92.
  Times: 9 pm to 11.30 pm (last admission at 10 pm).
• Advance tickets: Caixa Catalunya’s Tel-Entrada (902 10 12 12) and Caixa Catalunya branches
• Limited places

Source: www.fudaciocaixacatalunya.org

Núñez i Navarro Hotels, all the centres of Barcelona arround you www.nnhotels.com

Barcelona beach website

Barcelona City Council has put a new beach website.

There, in real time, you can find out the state of the city’s seven beaches: Sant Sebastià , Barceloneta, Nova Icaria, Bogatell, Mar Bella, Nova Mar Bella and Llevant. In addition, you can find out what the weather is like in Barcelona and the temperature of the water.

The new site also describes the characteristics of each of the beaches and what facilities there are, it has the calendar for the bathing season and all the initiatives the Council is taking to ensure the Barcelona sea front is well maintained.

Source: www.bcn.es – Click over the image and visit this new website.

N̼̱ez i Navarro Hotels: Barcelona, always! Рwww.nnhotels.com

Picasso Museum of Barcelona

The collections of the Picasso Museum reveal, to a large extent, the relations that the artist maintained with Barcelona and depict the key moments of this affinity. As a matter of fact, a large part of present collect comes from the donation that Picasso himself made in 1970 of all his early work.

Owing to this, the museum is very rich in regard to work from the formative periods in the life of the artist; we could say that it is practically exhaustive. Furthermore, the museum possesses an important representation of works from 1917, the year that Picasso met Olga Kokhlova and went to Rome with Diaguilev’s ballet company to prepare Parade. Afterwards, he would travel to Barcelona to introduce her to his family.

Therefore, that year Picasso spent a long period in Barcelona. A group of very important works bears witness to this stay; they mark the transition from Cubism to the reencounter with classicism, favoured by his journey to Italy. Some examples of these are Harlequin, Woman with Mantilla, Figure with Fruit Dish and Blanquita Suárez, excellent Cubist pieces, but with more concessions to polychromy and ornamental elements.

The collection is exhaustive up to the Blue Period, of which the museum has a priceless group of works. The end of this period coincides with Picasso’s departure to live indefinitely in Paris, in April 1904.

As can be appreciated, the collections in the Picasso Museum have an unquestionable Barcelonian character, and at the same time, have given a marked Picasso character to Barcelona.

Source: www.museupicasso.bnc.es

Núñez i Navarro Hotels, all the Centres of Barcelona arround you: www.nnhotels.com

The Festival of Music 2007

The majority of concerts and events for this festival will be on 21 June, to coincide with the celebrations for European Music Day in more than fifty cities, and will embrace all music styles: urban, singer-songwriter, jazz, blues, music from around the world, classic, choir, chill-out, rock, hip-hop, etc.

The Palau de la Virreina is once again one of the nerve centres of the festival. On Thursday 21 June you can see Sons de regalims, an installation of water fountains accompanied by music, from Francesc Miralles.

The Soulnation FM radio station will also have their team at the Virreina for a live broadcast of their black music: hip hop, jazz, soul and funk, among others.

Almost all the halls of the Auditori will be open on 21 June with different proposals.

All day, on Thursday, the imaginative and surprising music from BandaÈria will be on the number 7 bus route, offering passengers music and dance on the bus.

The new cycle New Emergents + Aprop starts on 21 June in Plaça Reial, with seven of the 13 selected bands. The free, open-air concert, is on from 5 to 10 p.m., with Aurea, Planeta Imaginario, Dismensionel, Paul is Dead, Le Pianc, N’Siste and Subwoofus.

Source: www.bcn.es

Núñez i Navaro Hotels, all the Centers of Barcelona around you: www.nnhotels.com

Soho gets our vote

We stayed in the Soho Barcelona for just one night (19/06/07) in one of their superior rooms to celebrate a special occasion, and it certainly helped to make the occasion a very pleasant and memorable one. The superior room, with its own private balcony, was well worth the extra. Very nice comfortable room - especially the huge bed! And the air-conditioning was spot on, and a real joy to come in to. Excellent, friendly staff – always ready to help with advice etc. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this hotel to anyone wishing to get the most out of their stay in Barcelona (especially if its a romantic one.)

Daniel Cassidy – Liverpool

Soho Barcelona Hotel

“I’m a 25 year old modern man, I love my luxuries in life such as good food, fine wine and amazing hotels. I have travelled the world with my wife to places such as Thailand, Australia, America to name a few. I always believe in giving credit where credit is due, I stayed at Soho Barcelona from the 06/06/07 to the 08/06/07; it smashed all my expectations with its modern industrial look yet twisted with the warmth of a top hotel. The bed rooms were very quirky and stylish with mood lighting for the more intimate moments. Customer service was excellent and the food could put off Jamie Oliver’s restaurant ”15” to shame!!!
This is not a sales pitch the hotel was really that good and I would recommend a stay, plus it’s close enough to everything you need to see in your stay.”

Martin Maher – Post added on June 2007

See the Hotel website: www.hotelsohobarcelona.com

Bread & Butter in Barcelona again!

Bread and Butter is preparing a new show in Barcelona, marked by internationalism, the incorporation of new brands and, with the ending of activities in Berlin, the consolidation of Barcelona as its only venue.

Making its debut at Bread and Butter’s July show is Bread and Butter Design, an exhibition entitled “Dust”, which will showcase collectors pieces presented by graduates from the Felicidad Duce Escuela Superior de Diseño y Moda.

The show will also provide the opportunity for 38 graduates from this school to exhibit their creations in the windows of some of Barcelona’s most well-known fashion and lifestyle shops.

At this coming Bread and Butter show, the international presence of visitors and exhibitors has been reinforced.
Studio.V, the show’s area which mixes artistic and experimental elements with aspects of trade and comfort, is larger this year with the presence of 40 international brands.
The Superior Area has also grown due to the demand for space in one of the show’s most exclusive areas. Participants include Cesare Paciotti, Fabio di Nicola, Filippa K., Mauro Grifoni, Belfe, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Citizen of Humanity, The Great China Wall, Kors by Michael Kors and Justin Timberlake’s William Rast label.

Young and contemporary fashion professionals will be able to visit Bread and Butter from the 4th to the 6th of July 2007 in the Montjuïc exhibition centre.

Source: www.firabcn.com

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