Romanesque Art and the Mediterranean

This exhibition of Romanesque Art and the Mediterranean, Catalonia, Toulouse and Pisa (1120-1180), organized by the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya in co-production with the Sociedad Española de Conmemoraciones Culturales will be taking a look at one of the most brilliant and creative periods of Catalan Romanesque art. The show will bring together in the MNAC one hundred major twelfth-century works from museums in France, Italy, England and the United States, as well as from Pisa Cathedral, the Romanesque monuments of Toulouse and the doorway of Sant Pere de Rodes, by the Master of Cabestany. By this sculptor, one of the most outstanding figures of the time in all Europe, in the exhibition we will also be able to see the tympanum of Cabestany, one of his great masterpieces. The exhibition, moreover, is supplemented with the application of new technologies, making it possible to recreate in 3D the magnificent doorway of Ripoll (a project led by the UPC in collaboration with the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche in Pisa).
At the the MNAC from 29th of February 2008 to middles of May 2008

La Ola - Jorge Oteiza

Jorge Oteiza Enbil, born at Orio, Gipuzkoa, in the Basque Country, worked as painter, designer and writer, and became one of the main theorists on Basque modern art.
He started his career at the end of the twenties, with primitive works. Between 1935 and 1947 he takes up a great trip abroad to South America. Upon his return to Spain, he becomes the talk at all innovation-trend exhibitions and in public projects (Basilica de Aranzazu, 1950-1969) evidently featuring international projection: in fact, he was one of the winners in the IV Biennale exhibition of Sao Paulo, 1957. During that time he turned into geometry and many of his best works referred to such forms as cylinder, sphere and especially to cube, in his series of metaphysical boxes and crystals. It was at the end of that decade when it left the expressionism and the figuration to begin by the footpath of the abstraction, which took to him to the emptiness in the sculpture. Oteiza decided to leave the sculpture in 1959, convinced that no longer he was going to contribute with nothing new.
In 1962 he published Quosque tandem!, an essay about the aesthetics inherent to basque soul, based on Basque prehistoric art and Basque people's anthropological roots.
The sculpture La Ola, made in aluminum, is based on a small 1957 bronze work. It has an approximated weight of 3,500 kilos and was made in the factory of Pere Casanova in Mataró. Oteiza donated to the Macba Foundation the sculpture, but he could not be present on the unveiling because of his broken health.
He died at Donostia, Gipuzkoa, in the Basque Country at the age of 94 years in 2003.

IUCN World Conservation Congress

Every 4 years the Community of the World Conservation Union, founded in 1948 as the world’s first global environmental organization, gets together for The World Conservation Congress, the world’s largest and most diverse conservation event that aims to improve how to manage the natural environment for a better human, social and economic development.
The Congress has two parts: the Forum and the Members’ Assembly. The Forum will offer four days of debates, workshops, dialogues, art, roundtable discussions, training courses, music and exhibitions. The Assembly, the main governing body of the Union, will approve the Union’s programme of work for the following four years, elect the IUCN President and Council, and manage the business affairs of the Union.
After Montreal, Amman and Bangkok, the Congress will be in Barcelona from 5 to 14 October 2008 at the Modern Venue of the Centre Convencions Internacional Barcelona build in 2004 and designed by prestigious Swiss architects Herzog & DeMeuron and Spanish architect José Luis Mateo.

Temple de la Sagrada Familia - Holy Family Temple

It is difficult to add something new to the many things said about this unfinished Temple. More than 125 years from the day that the foundation stone was placed by the Bishop Urquinaona, the initial project much more traditional, the Gaudi new design much more revolutionary, the dead of Gaudi, the Civil War and the fire in the workshop that destroyed many of the original models, the reconstruction of the burn crypt and models, the different political situations in Spain and in Catalunya through the years, the new architects and Sculptors selected to continue the project will all form part of the story of the church when, some years from now, it will be finished; difficult to know exactly when because as more technology has been added to the project development faster the work, but every new visit gives a better idea of this work in progress.
It is not till the ends of the work that the full magnificence of Gaudi’s project will be appreciate and the Temple will have a complete unity

Sonar Festival in Barcelona 2008

As every other year in June in Barcelona is time for the Sonar Festival. The Sonar is a carefully curated electronic music festival and multimedia showcases.
Sonar is considered in European electronic panorama a festival of reference for artists of last generation, electronic professionals and a place were to see the most influential companies of the sector of music and arts.
The combination of concerts, DJs sessions, audio-visual areas of artistic experimentation and projections has called up the attention of the most demanding European and Spanish public during the 3 days without interruption on the different venues were the Festival takes place.
The dates for the 2008 Sonar Festival are June 19, 20, and 21. The artist and showcase lineup has yet to be announced.

La Pedrera - Casa Mila - Antonio Gaudi

Residential building, known as "La Pedrera" or "Stone Quarry", the Casa Milà was designed by Antoni Gaudi and build in between 1906 and 1910 for the rich Milá family.
It is one of Gaudi’s essential residential buildings and in which his work is more elaborated not only in the magnificent sculptural façade of curved stone with the forged iron balconies, or the roof top with the incredible chimneys with forms of soldiers, or the attic with the brick vaults he had already used in the building s of the School of Santa Teresa and the Bellesguard, also in Barcelona, but also in the sophisticated inner patios that provide the air and natural sufficient light for the interior of the building and apartments, without leaving nor a single hidden inner corner without natural light.
The Milàs new home on the main floor, a truly immense apartment with a floor of 1,323 m2, a special stairway and with a lift that gave direct access to the house was amazing and Gaudi did his best work in it. After many changes after the years now the space is used as an exhibition Area in the building but still it can be seen part of the decoration for some of the rooms made by the architect on some walls and ceilings of this immense space.
The building was approved by the World Heritage Committee to be included on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1984.

Barcelona Apartments - Modernist Apartment

Spacious and sunny apartment, in a building from 1902 with elevator. In the Eixample Neighbourhood of Barcelona on the second floor, with elevator, of a classic corner building from the beginnings of the 20th century. Nicely decorated with an elegant combination of modern and old style furniture.

Close to the gothic Neighbourhood, to the Raval area with its Museums and restaurants, and to the Fira Barcelona. Urgell Metro station nearly in front of the door and walking distance to many of the attractions of the city. Three bedrooms, and two bathrooms. Sleeps from 1 to 6 people.

For more information please visit on our website this Barcelona Apartment in the Eixample Area.

Park Guell - Antonio Gaudi

The park was originally planned by Gaudi as a new development for more than 60 luxury single-family residences in an aristocratic city-garden, with the intention to exploit the fresh air (well away from smoky factories) and the beautiful views, and did count with the support of Count Eusebi de Güell. The idea was taken from the English garden city movement. The site was a rocky hill with little vegetation and few trees, called Muntanya Pelada (Bare Mountain). The basic structures for the infrastructure of the future city, the exterior wall, the entrance pavilions, the main stairway, the roadways around the park to service the intended houses, viaducts and bridges, the market area and the big central square, were built in between 1900 and 1914. The idea was to integrate all the elements with the nature.
The plan already included a large country house called Larrard House where the Count Güell moved in 1906 to add prestige to the development. Only two new houses were built, neither designed by Gaudi. One was intended to be a show house, but on being completed in 1904 was put up for sale, and as no buyers came forward Gaudi, at Güell's suggestion, bought it with his savings and moved in with his family in 1906 and lived there till 1925, one year before his death, when he moved to the church he was building “La Sagrada Familia”.
The First World War was coming and the project finally failed. It became a municipality property and a park since 1923. More information at: http://www.gaudiallgaudi.com/EA010.htm and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_G%C3%BCell

Duchamp, Man Ray, Picabia

The Duchamp, Man Ray, Picabia exhibition, organized by Tate Modern, London, will be first in London from the 21st of February to the 26th of May, and in Barcelona at the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya from the 15th of June 2008 to 28th of September. The exhibition explores the affinities and parallels between the work of these three artists and the Dada Movement, showing how they responded to each other’s ideas and innovations, presenting these three important artists from the first half of the 20th century. These artists with their work changed the course of art expression - Marcel Duchamp, the father of conceptualism and creator of the “readymade”, Man Ray, the celebrated photographer and painter, and Francis Picabia, the French painter and poet.
Their meeting led to the creation of the Dada movement in New York during the First World War. These artists remained friends, with periods of varying intensity, throughout their lives and shared a special artistic dialogue. At the heart of their friendship lay a shared outlook on life, which emerges in their works via jokes, a sense of irony, and a pronounced interest in eroticism.
The exhibition will present paintings, objects, photographs and films of the three artists that reflect the universe shared during their Dadaistic experience.
Marcel Duchamp, Fountain 1917 (photographed in 1917 by Alfred Steiglitz)

Carme Pinos y Enric Miralles - Pergolas

Few works done fort he Olympic games have become so controversial as these Pergolas in the Icaria Avenue done by the architects Carme Pinós and Enric Miralles. The fact that the underground of the Avenue was an immense sewer did not allowed to plant trees on it. So in July of 1992 the Pergolas were installed but on a size much more reduced than the original project designed by Pinós and Miralles as a procession of gigantic metallic trees of four meters height and that should had approach to the buildings covering the whole avenue. The poor result created much more contrary opinions than in favour to the project being called even "horrible and discouraging" but as happens always after time passes it has received also some Awards.
More Information at: http://w10.bcn.es/APPS/gmocataleg_monum/FitxaMonumentAc.do?idioma=ES&codiMonumIntern=857

Gran Premio Cinzano de Catalunya de MotoGP

The Motorcycling World Championship will start on March 9 2008 at the Losail Circuit in Qatar, and is coming back to the Circuit de Catalunya with the thrilling Gran Premi Cinzano de Catalunya de MotoGP on June 6, 7 and 8.

The Circuit de Catalunya is one of the most modern tracks prepared to hold the most important motor racing competitions.

The Catalonian Moto GP is one of the most popular rounds of the World Championship. Taking place at the Circuit de Catalunya close to Barcelona, it attracts holidaymakers and race fans alike.

Adria Ferran i Celdoni Guixa - Font de Neptu

This sculpture of Neptune seated on a rock was made by sculptor Adrià Ferran and inaugurated in 1826 on the area of the old port of Barcelona at the Pla de Palau, to oversee all those who arrive or depart from the port. Some years later the sphinxes located at the statue’s feet where added by sculptor Celdoni Guixà to the monument. Changes on the functioning of the port in 1919 obliged to dismantle the monument and was moved to a new emplacement in one of the parks at the Montjüic hillside that was being converted to gardens at the time. But in 1975 because of the construction of the Joan Miro Foundation on that area the statue was disassembled and kept on storage for some years. In 1983 after that a complete block in front of the façade of the Mercé Church was emptied to convert it into the new Mercé Square (Plaça de la Mercé) the statue was restored and placed in a new pond on the opposite side of the square on relation to the church with a tablet recording its previous locations. The new pond and restoration of the monument was work of the architects Rosa Maria Clotet, Ramon Sanabria and Pere Casajoana. More information at: w10.bcn.es/APPS/gmocataleg_monum/FitxaMonumentAc.do?idioma=EN&codiMonumIntern=267. Close to the Plaça de la Mercé is the Avinyo Street and the Ramblas Mansion Apartment A

Bon Jovi - Hard Rock Band

The hard rock band Bon Jovi from Sayreville, New Jersey is coming to Barcelona in the only concert in Spain, to present its last album “Lost Highway”. On June 1st of 2008 they will be in the Estadi Olimpic “Lluis Companys” in Montjuic after 5 years of their last visit to Barcelona. Jon Bon Jovi and his band started this worldwide tour last October in Newark, New Jersey, with 10 concerts and more than 150.000 entrances sold.

The group formed by lead singer Jon Bon Jovi, guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, bassist Alec John Such, and drummer Tico Torres has more than 20 years on stage, many top ten hits and some platinum and double platinum albums.

Santa Maria del Mar - Barcelona

The church of Santa María del Mar is the best and most beautiful example of what it is called the Catalan Gothic and the only great perfectly finished Catalan gothic church, built only in 50 years between 1329 and 1383. The architects in charge were Berenguer de Montagut (designer of the building) and Ramon Despuig.
The outside of the building presents a heavy and austere aspect completely different from gothic style of other parts of Europe with predominance of the horizontal lines and the big sections of wall without great openings or decorations.
The interior of the basilica is of a spectacular height. Formally, it is a building of three naves without cruise with the sensation of space as if it was a single nave; the majestic octagonal columns are well separated (15 meters) and with the three naves looking as if they were the same size. The result is a diaphanous space, that discards the gothic division of the European churches and it inclines more to the idea of unique space. The stained windows and rosettes are not remarkable for their size, but the architectonic disposition gives to the nave a diaphanous luminosity and a very clear aspect that impresses at first sight. The ornamentation in general is very sparing. It is an austere, free church of visual and physical obstacles. The absence of structural ornaments, the elegant simplicity and clearness of the interior of the church became bigger after the big fire that destroyed images, choir and baroque style altar in 1936 during the Civil war, and with the respectful restoration during the 80’s.

Barcelona Apartments - Paral.lel-Fira

Nicely recently renovated small two bedroom Barcelona apartment in the Poble Sec Area close to the Fira Barcelona and decorated with comfortable modern furniture.
The Poble Sec nowadays is a pleasant zone, with squares and calm streets, where you can find many traditional style bars and also modern bars and good restaurants; and, at walking distance to many of the places of interest in the Gothic Quarter, like the beautiful Romanic Church of Sant Pau del Camp, and well connected to the Montjuïc Mountain, from the Olympic Areas to the different museums and attractions. You can climb with the Funicular and continue with the Cableway to the Castle of Montjuïc, or if you prefer to walk, you can go up the hill from some streets of Poble Sec or from the Plaça Espanya.  
For more information please visit on our website this Barcelona Accommodation 

Jaume Plensa - Born

Jaume Plensa when the Olympic Games of 1992 in Barcelona was a promising artist with only 37 years and he was invited to participate, as the Catalan contribution, in one of the most attractive projects of the time, a permanent exhibition of eight Sculptures and Installations of different European artists through the old and renewed neighbourhoods of Barceloneta, Borne and Rivera called as a whole “Urban Configurations”.
The installation made by Jaume Plensa conformed by balls, letters and a trunk called “Born”, came to remember the activity developed in old days on the Borne as a commercial area which heart was the Mercat del Born, at the end of the Passeig del Born, beautiful steel structure that functioned as the city's wholesale market. The pieces of the installation are spread through the area: the trunk is over a stone bench and the cast iron balls and letters look like if they had been thrown on the stroll and left with no clear order under the benches, the back stairs of the church of Santa Maria del Mar and on the nearby street Volta d'en Dusai.
With the time this work has melt so well into the scenery of the place that sometimes looks difficult to visualize.

19 Festival de Guitarra i altres Acords

The Guitar Festival is back one year more to Barcelona with the name of Guitar Festival and other chords, as during the festival the guitar will not be the only protagonist instrument of the festival. Known national and international names will form part of the program of the festival, from April 3rd to June 7th, and the sounds of flamenco, classic guitar, fado, jazz, soul, funk, rock, r’n’b, drum and bass or pop blues will be present on stage from countries all around the world.
Names like QUILAPAYÚN, PAUL ANKA, FITO PÁEZ, MILTON NASCIMENTO & JOBIM TRIO, THE FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS, JOSÉ MERCÉ, LUIS EDUARDO AUTE, AL KOOPER and many others will be on stage during the 24 concerts of the festival in the traditional venues of the Palau de la Musica, L’Auditori, Bikini and Luz de Gas, together with new spaces added like the Joventut Theatre from L’Hospitalet, TheAuditori from San Cugat and the Auditori from Santa Coloma de Gramenet.
Together with the festival there is the night for the students of different schools of Barcelona to show the work done through the year in the V Mostra de Joves Guitarristas.

Frederic Amat - Mural de le Olles

The Mural de le Olles from Frederic Amat was inaugurated in 2001. It is a link of union among the new glass building of the Institut del Teatre and the back wall of the Mercat de les Flors. The Mural is formed by an endless amount of flattened pots, cracked open, before being cooked, and pierced like bodily organs, that cover completely the back wall of the Mercat de les Flors Theatre and two doors of forged iron. It is difficult to be seeing as there is no big perspective; a different view is from the inside of the Institute, through the glass windows.
The Ciutat del Teatre (Theatre City) of Barcelona, is a large complex of facilities for the formation of students in the Institut del Teatre, and two Theatres, The Mercat de le Flors Theatre and the Lluire Theatre in the ancient Palau de l'Agricultura (from the Universal exhibition of 1929) that accommodates a main room (Room Fabià Puigserver) and one more reduced the Lluire Space, on one of the side of the Montjuïc Park.
The dedication of Frederic Amat to his painting has not prevented him from exploring other artistic expression. Amat has been working simultaneously with different disciplines: theatre, cinema, photography and set design.

MotOh! BCN.

The Great Motorcycle Week
The biggest event in the motorcycling industry.
The Great Motorcycle Week is coming back to Barcelona for the second time, between 8 and 11 May 2008. This is the most important event in Spain for two-wheeled vehicles.

The MotOh! BCN brings together the leading companies, offering the biggest product range and organizing spectacular activities, in an event that embraces the whole world of motorcycling.

At the Fira Barcelona in the Montjuic venue.

The Barcelona Pavilion - Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

The Barcelona Pavilion was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe as the German National Pavilion for the 1929 Barcelona International Exhibition. Surprisingly modern for the time, built with permanent materials as steel, glass, travertine and different kinds of marble, the Pavilion was conceived for the official reception of the German authorities to King Alphonso XIII of Spain, was disassembled in 1930 after the closure of the exhibition. The reconstruction work began in 1983 on its original site, and was finished in 1986.
The Pavilion is considered an emblematic work of modern-movement architecture. The relation in between the interior and exterior space is completely lost. The walls, rectangular planes of marble, glass, and onyx placed vertically or horizontally, freely positioned, make possible that space seems to flow through them. There are almost no corners in the building. The doors are in the form of two halves of an all-glass wall, which rotates about a pivot, and when opened become just another freestanding, parallel glass wall. The ponds, placed also in the interior and exterior with the reflecting images, accentuates the feeling of the global space.
Mies van der Rohe also designed the Barcelona chair especially for the Pavilion, used as thrones by the Spanish royal family, that over the years has become an icon of modern design.
More information at: www.miesbcn.com

EuroPCR 2008

EuroPCR is a major European event based on the exchange of scientific information and education for interventional cardiologists and radiologists.
EuroPCR is the platform for expression, with the sole aim of reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease, in keeping with the mission of EAPCI, your Association for Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions.
EuroPCR will show the way, breaking down the barriers by inviting the entire interventional community: cardiologists, surgeons, nurses and technicians, radiologists, angiologists, industry and allied healthcare partners.
EuroPCR 2008 will be going for the second time in Barcelona, Spain, from 13 to 16 May 2008, at the Centre de Convencions Internacional de Barcelona (CCIB).

Antic Hospital de la Santa Creu - Barcelona

It looks like time has stopped in this Archaeological Gothic Complex, one of Europe's earliest medical complexes, build up to put together in one building six hospitals that existed at the time. The first stone was laid by King Martí el Humà in 1401 and mainly developed in between the XV and XVI centuries. It was planned by the architect Guillem Abiell as a big space in a form of four wings on two levels that surrounded an arched patio, following a well-known model from the orient, but it has suffered some important changes through the following centuries. Even so the hospital patio with the Baroque cross in the centre, the lines of orange trees around the fountain, and the impressive stairway under the arch in one of the sides gives the impression that anything has changed since the first day. These impressive gothic and renaissance buildings now are used by different institutions like the Biblioteca Nacional de Cataluña (National Catalan Library), the Escuela Massana (Massana School of Art, Crafts and Design belonging to the Town Hall), the Institut d'Estudis Catalans (Institute of Catalan Studies) and two other Public Libraries (Bibliotecas de Santa Pau y de la Santa Creu) the Royal Medicine Academy of Catalunya and the Royal Pharmacy Academy of Catalunya. The Chapel of the Old Hospital is now used as an exhibition space. At the Raval Neighbourhood in c/Hospital 56 -08001 Barcelona. 

CARS 2008

The 22nd International Congress and Exhibition of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery (CARS), will take place in Barcelona from 25 to 28 of June 2008.
The CARS Congress is the most important forum at an international level on the application of advanced information technologies in radiology and surgery. It covers a wide spectrum beginning with the radiological image and its management (PACS), to informatics and engineering applications in surgery (planning, simulation, navigation, robotics, etc).
In order to make the new technologies available to the medical and health care specialists, the scientific committee has decided to extend the program with a there will be a Clinical Day. This day will be an educative event where experts from radiological and surgical specialities will present advanced IT applications in diagnosis and therapy of highly relevant clinical topics.
The Congress will take place at NH Constanza Hotel in the I’lla Diagonal Complex build by the well-known architect Rafael Moneo.  More information at: http://www.cars-int.org/ 

EIBTM 2008

The Global Meeting & Incentives Exhibition will take place at the venue of the Fira Gran Via Barcelona, Spain from 2nd to 4th of December 2008.
EIBTM is the leading exhibition for the conference, incentives, events, and business travel and meetings industry, held in the fantastic Mediterranean city of Barcelona.
EIBTM provides the perfect platform from which to influence the global meetings and incentives industry. Bringing together senior buyers with quality suppliers from around the world.
More than 3,000 international suppliers from over 100 countries across the globe will attend to the EIBTM 2008 exhibition that will take place in Hall 3 of the Fira Gran Via, Montjuic 2. 
More information at the website of the eibtm organization.
 

Joan Miro - Dona I Ocell

The Dona I Ocell (Woman with Bird) sculpture is the third work that Miro gave to the city of Barcelona, the three of them of very different characteristics. The other two are in el Pla de la Boqueria at the Ramblas on the floor and a mural at Terminal B of Barcelona International Airport.
This more than 20 meters high, artificial stone partially covered with shattered ceramics, as modernist artists used in their works, reflected over an ornamental square lake, located in one corner of what was going to be a new park over what had been the slaughterhouse from 1892 till 1979 was unveiled in 1983, some months before the artist died, and became the last public piece made by Miro. He took the inspiration for this monumental sculpture from a ceramic work that had made been in 1954. The park was first named Parc de l’Escorxador (Slaughterhouse) but time after was changed to Parc Joan Miró.
More information at: w10.bcn.es/APPS/gmocataleg_monum/FitxaMonumentAc.do?idioma=EN&codiMonumIntern=357 

Barcelona Apartments - Rambla del Poble Nou

Big duplex apartment in Barcelona 120 m2 with a 54 m2 patio on a pedestrian street, just one block form the Rambla of Poble Nou, and walking distance to the beach. On a traditional old neighbourhood and only 5 metro stops from the gothic neighbourhood Completely restored and rehabilitated typical small two stories old village building. The very high ceilings of the ground floor have allowed the second level of the apartment. Very well connected to Gothic neighbourhood with metro line.
Four double bedrooms, and four bathrooms. Sleeps from 1 to 10 people.
For more information please visit in our website this Barcelona Apartment  in the Poble Nou Neighbourhood Area.

 

IFSA World Cup 2008

The IFSA World Cup 2008 will be taking place through the year in Europe Bruxelles-BELGIUM, Nice-FRANCE, Milano-ITALY, also in CHINA, and once again in Barcelona on the 6th and 7th of September.
The competitions in China and Barcelona will qualify for the World Championship 2009.
IFSA represents inline skaters and roller skaters of different sports. The official sports for the world cup are: Freestyle Slalom, Speed Slalom, High Jump and Free Jump.
Each sport is independent from another. Competitors can perform in one, two, three or the four sports.
Barcelona also received last year the IFSA Championship 2007, with a great success at the Park del Clot.

Textil Cafe at the Textile Museum - Barcelona

The Montcada Street in the Borne Area is full with all kind of palaces and small palaces, homes of wealthy nobles and merchants from the medieval period. Many of these Palaces are used now as Museums, Art Galleries or Bars. The Picasso Museum now occupies five of these palaces. The stories of many of these building starts on the XIII century and continues, with many additions and transformations in the following centuries till nowadays. One of these Palaces, the Palau del Marquès de Llió, is now the home of the Textile and Clothing Museum (Museu Tèxtil i d'Indumentària). And in the romantic Gothic-style courtyard before the entrance of the Museum there is this half outdoor indoor café restaurant, the perfect peaceful place to sit and relax for sometime when visiting the neighbourhood. For breakfast, lunch or dinner, to have some tapas, or just for a coffee or one of the eleven teas offered in the menu; sometimes booking is advisable. Sundays at 21:00 live jazz sessions.
Tuesdays to Sundays from 10:00 to 24:00, and Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 to 01:00. Closed on Mondays. Carrer de Montcada 12, 08003 Barcelona.
More information at: www.museutextil.bcn.es/english/musem/frmuseu01.htm 

Barcelona Minivan Service

If you are in Barcelona and you need a displacement in town with your group or you need a service from or to Barcelona or Girona airports you can use normal taxi service or you can have a more personalized service on a luxury minivan, where to fill more relaxed and enjoying the view with a panoramic sunroof. Thinking about your comfort with air conditioning and bilingual (English and Spanish) driver/guide.  

You can also ask for organized or personalized transportation for small groups up to 7 people to Girona, Figueres, Montserrat, the Wine country, or to small medieval towns through Catalunya.                                  

For enquiries or information contact with Federico Vasco, telephone +34 630 174 410

Diada de Sant Jordi - Saint George's Day

The feast of Sant Jordi (Saint George), patron saint of Catalunya, on April 23rd is a very special day in all Catalunya and especially in Barcelona, even it is not a holiday. It is the day of giving roses and books. It is a day for walking around Barcelona and enjoying the spectacle of streets and squares full with hundreds of stands of roses and makeshift bookstalls. By the end of the day, more than four million roses and 400,000 books will have been bought as a present for the loved ones.
While men traditionally give their girlfriends or wife a rose, girls give their boyfriends or husband a book.
The celebration comes from the legend of the Saint himself - The legend says he slayed a dragon and a red rose sprouted from a drop of the dragon’s blood, which the Saint gave to a princess.
This feast of the book has become more international as in 1995, the UNESCO adopted April 23rd as World Book and Copyright Day.  

Roy Lichtenstein - Barcelona Head

At the beginning when the agreement with the artist was settled it was the Creuta del Coll Park the place chosen as location for the Cap de Barcelona (Barcelona Head), but on seeing the prototype made by the artist it was decided to move Lichtenstein’s work from the mountains to the sea and in 1992 just before the Olympic Games it was set into place at the water's edge in the old port.
Best known his work as painter, Roy Lichtenstein was also a prolific sculptor with a clear sense of three dimensions. In Barcelona Head is also important to see how the artist melted the Catalan Technique of the “Trencadis” (used frequently in the begin of the 20th Century by architects and craftsmen from the Modernisme - technique of smashing up ceramics and piecing them back together in patterns to create their work - very well known is Gaudi’s curved bench at the Park Güell) into his work keeping all the force of Lichtenstein’s Pop Art and his interest for the brushstrokes and Ben-day dots.
These eight pieces of prefab concrete and ceramic tiling finish with base of dyed concrete, twenty meters high and five meters wide, represents a woman’s head with her hair blowing in all directions. More information at: w10.bcn.es/APPS/gmocataleg_monum/FitxaMonumentAc.do?idioma=EN&codiMonumIntern=565  
The Harbour Palace Apartments are two minutes walk to this amazing Barcelona Head Sculpture. 

Barcelona Apartments - Paseo de Gracia

Apartment in the Paseo de Gracia of Barcelona, one of the most well-known, charming and elegant avenues of the city. Comfortable and sunny, 95 m2 flat, three bedrooms and 2 bathrooms on the second floor in an elevator building. It has been renewed, refurbished and decorated with comfortable and modern furniture. The building is a completely renovated six-story construction from 1901. On one hand close to all the modernist buildings, three minutes walking distance from Gaudi’s well-known work “La Pedrera”, and all of the most elegant, upscale shopping in the city. On the other hand all the benefits and advantages of living in a small charming Old World town, the neighbourhood of Gracia, with small town squares, local old style markets and little cafes and also many high-class restaurants.

Please visit this Apartment in Barcelona in the Diagonal/Paseo de Gracia for more information.

World Architecture Festival

The World Architecture Festival is the annual event for architects worldwide.
The Festival will celebrate the work, concerns and aspirations of the international architectural community, during a three-day event taking place in Barcelona, Spain from 22 to 24 October 2008.
The Festival will reflect the increasingly international nature of architecture, while also celebrating its regional roots. It will be possible, through the exhibition of awards entries, to compare and contrast different approaches to the design of 96 building types in the 16 categories.
The World Architecture Festival will be held in the Centre Convencions Internacional Barcelona (CCIB).
The CCIB is the modern exhibition facility, at the eastern end of the Diagonal, next to the Forum and Barcelona visitor centre.
The Festival will occupy a substantial part of the ground floor exhibition space, and the first floor for the Awards Gallery, Plenary Room and Presentation Rooms.
Each floor will be designed as a piece of city planning: downstairs the various elements will be laid out like the historic centre of Barcelona; upstairs it will be like the gridded city, complete with Diagonal. 
 

Palau de la Musica Catalana - Barcelona

The Palau de la Música Catalana (The Catalan Music Palace) is a masterpiece of the Catalan Modernisme period. The concert hall designed by the architect Lluis Domenech I Montaner, and build in between 1905 and 1908 for the Orfeó Català, a choral society, leading force in the Catalan cultural and political independence movement known as Renaixença (Catalan Rebirth).
The architectural decoration in the concert hall is a work of art of creativity and imagination. The rich decoration of the façade of the Palau, which incorporates elements from many sources, including traditional Spanish and Arabic architecture, is successfully married with the building's structure. The exposed red brick and iron, the mosaics, the stained glass, and the glazed tiles were chosen and situated to give a feeling of openness and transparency. The concert hall of the Palau, which seats about 2,200 people, is the only auditorium in Europe that is illuminated during daylight hours entirely by natural light. The walls on two sides consist primarily of stained-glass panels set in magnificent arches, and overhead is an enormous skylight of stained glass whose centerpiece is an inverted dome in shades of gold surrounded by blue that suggests the sun and the sky. Important renewal and extension was made in between 1982 and 2004, when the opening of the new small concert hall took place.
In 1997, the Palau de la Música Catalana was declared a Unesco World Heritage.
More information at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palau_de_la_M%C3%BAsica_Catalana  

Barcelona Apartments - Gran Via - Plaza Tetuan

Sunny classic elegant apartment in Barcelona - Up to eight people. Centrally located in what was the big expansion (L’Eixample) of Barcelona on the third floor, with elevator, of a classic building from the first half of the 20th century. Spacious old quarters have been refurbished for a more comfortable contemporary usage and decorated with stylish and modern furniture, giving as result a beautiful and very comfortable apartment.
Close to the gothic Neighbourhood and many of the attractions of Barcelona. Connected also with several metro lines closed by. Four bedrooms, and two bathrooms. Sleeps from 1 to 8 people.

For more information please visit on our website this Barcelona Accomodation in the Eixample Area. 

Juan Munoz - A Room Where It Always Rains

During the Olympic Games of 1992 one of the most attractive projects of the time was a permanent exhibition of eight Sculptures and Installations through the old and renewed neighbourhoods of Barceloneta, Borne and Rivera called as a whole “Urban Configurations”. This brought to Barcelona a work from the sculptor from Madrid, Juan Muñoz. The installation was located at the Joan de Borbó stroll in the square plaza del Mar.
This work full of melancholy with the tumbler figures, so common in the work of Muñoz, inside of a room or cage without cover was inspired by the shade house in the Ciutadella Park. The idea of the artist, in agreement with the title that of the work - a room where always rains -, was that in that space it should always rain. Technical difficulties to develop a system of recirculation of the water and filters to avoid that the leaves of the trees that normally fill that space damage the system, caused that this part of the installation was postponed. In later conversations other alternatives were studied, because the author thought that the work was incomplete. His sudden dead in 2001 put the end on the development of the idea. More information at w10.bcn.es/APPS/gmocataleg_monum/FitxaMonumentAc.do?idioma=ES&codiMonumIntern=183 

Summercase 2008

Summercase is a simultaneous festival in Madrid and Barcelona during two days. The two last editions were a great success of public in both cities. Summercase 08 continues with the original spirit: a same poster for the two cities at the same time, this year on July 18 and 19. Also the venues will be the same as in the past 2 years: in Madrid it will in Boadilla of Monte, and in Barcelona in the Parc de Fòrum, Rambla Prim 2-4.
The event will take place in several simultaneous scenes maintaining its original spirit: An amazing line up of consolidated artists and bands combined with the brightest new talents and hot tips for the future. For the moment some names have been already confirmed: The Breeders, CSS, M.I.A., Maxïmo Park, Mystery Jets, Pete & The Pirates or The Stranglers.. More information at: http://www.summercase.com/indexen.html

The Ramblas - Les Rambles - Las Ramblas - Barcelona

Of all the streets of Barcelona, maybe the most popular one is the Ramblas (Les Rambles in Catalan or Las Ramblas in Spanish). From the Plaça Catalunya (nerve centre of the city) down to Columbus Monument at the Port Vell (Old Port) and with the addition in the 90s of the wooden walkway into the Harbour to connect with the Maremagnum (a Mall with the Barcelona Aquarium and the Imax theatre closed by in the middle of the old port) this long stroll with different names (the Rambla de Canaletes, the Rambla dels Estudis, the Rambla de Sant Josep, the Rambla dels Caputxins, the Rambla de Santa Monica, and the Rambla de Mar), with the flower, the birds and newspapers stands, with the terraces of the coffee shops and restaurants, with the different human sculptures along the way, with the artist’s corner, with the craft market on the weekends, with the Opera House (Gran Teatre del Liceu), with the mixture of people from locals to tourists from all different kinds of ages and levels, with the Mercat de la Boqueria (large public market) on one of the sides, with all the restaurants and Hotels from 5 stars to small pensions, with the Font de Canaletas close to Plaça Catalunya (water source that according to popular sayings if you drink from it you will come back to Barcelona), with all the other important buildings (old Convents or Palaces) now turned to Museums or Exhibitions Spaces and with many more that will be discovered walking by, it doesn’t matter if it is spring, summer, autumn or winter, is something that needs to be lived at least once in a life.

Estrella Damm Primavera Sound 08

As every year spring is time for the alternative rock music festival in Barcelona. A long list of artists and groups will be in the Estrella Damm Primavera Sound’08 Festival between May 29 and 31, at the Parc del Forum of Barcelona, a spacious environment with many different stages. The first list for this alternative rock festival counts with names of PORTISHEAD, MISSION OF BURMA, LES SAVY FAV, OKKERVIL RIVER, ERIC'S TRIP, MODEL 500, SILVER JEWS, CLIPSE, SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE, SCOUT NIBLETT, PISSED JEANS, DEERHUNTER, SHIPPING NEWS, EDAN & MC DAGHA, HOLLY GOLIGHTLY & THE BROKEOFFS, THE FELICE BROTHERS, MV & EE WITH THE GOLDEN ROAD, FUCK BUTTONS, MAN MAN.. The spirit of the festival is to showcase independent and up and coming acts, as well as experienced bands with strong influence in the music that is done nowadays. Music, sounds and rhythms from different places of the world will sound in the full equipped, wide-open space of the Parc del Forum in Barcelona by the Mediterranean Sea. For more info visit the organizers site: http://www.primaverasound.com/

Romanesque - Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya - Barcelona

The National Art Museum of Catalonia (Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya - MNAC) in Barcelona, is housed in the Palau Nacional at the Montjuich mountain, built for the 1929 World's Fair.
From all the collections of the different periods of art in the museum the most outstanding is the one of Romanesque Art, considered really unique in the world for the size and quality of the mural paintings, mainly Catalan work from 11th, 12th and 13th centuries, one of the richest showcases of Catalan’s cultural baggage. They are the pictorial and sculptural exponents of the Romanesque churches scattered around Catalunya. These wall-paintings of Romanesque churches and chapels where transferred to the museum carefully taken out from there original location in the small churches around the country and place back in the new structures build for the purpose created as exact reproductions of the apses and walls of the churches to the relocate the paintings. It was a very important work to preserve the paintings from robberies and destruction.
More information at: www.mnac.es/colleccio/col_romanic.jsp?lan=003

BREAD & BUTTER BARCELONA SUMMER 2008

A new edition of the Summer Bread&Butter trade show is coming to Barcelona in July 2nd, 3rd and 4th.. The different areas of the show will take place as in the past editions at the venue of 'Fira de Barcelona' in the Montjuic Mountain, the fair grounds where the 1929 International Exhibition took place and in which different very well known Architects developed their work like the famous German Pavilion created by Mies van der Rohe rebuild again in the 1980’s.
A New Order will appear with the defined areas of Denim Base, Fashion Now, Sport & Street, Urban Superior, Sportswear and the clear allocation of the brands to respective segments will provide an ideal guide for trade visitors.
New walkways will be opened up through a new entrance area on the Plaça d’Espanya and visitor’s traffic within the exhibition site as well as particular halls will be improved. The BBBOULEVARD will form the new main traffic artery of this edition and will lead the visitor through the fairground and all the halls.
More information at: http://www.breadandbutter.com/summer2008/en/bread-butter-barcelona/new-order-concept/
FIRA BARCELONA, Avenida Reina Mª Cristina s/n, 08004 Barcelona

George Kolbe - The Morning - Dawn

The Barcelona Pavilion is known as one of Mies van der Rohe‘s main works. However few observations have been made regarding Georg Kolbe’s sculpture Morning, which plays an important role as an integral component of architecture inside the building.
It is surprising also that the statue was not created for the Barcelona Pavilion, into which it was so successfully adapted. Together with the female figure Evening, Kolbe had made it for Ceciliengärten,“ the residential estate of Heinrich Lassen in Berlin-Schöneberg, where both works stood opposite one another on the central lawn. In 1927 the tinted plaster model of Morning stood in the center of a Kolbe room in the Munich Glass Palace, which the architect Wilhelm Kreis had designed. This plaster model was then shown in Barcelona in 1929. After the end of the exhibition and deconstruction of the Pavilion, the model was presumably destroyed. In the 1986 reconstruction of the Pavilion stands a bronze copy.
Shortly after the end of World War II, the bronzes Morning and Evening were separated and placed in different locations in Schöneberg, but were then reunited near the Schöneberg city hall. Since 1996 they have been back in the restored Ceciliengärten“.

Discover Dali

One of the most important artists of the 20th century was the Catalan painter Salvador Dali. His work is all over the world but you can find in the Dali Theatre and Museum in his hometown of Figueras a very important part of his work. The Dalí Theatre-Museum, is considered the largest surrealistic object in the world, and occupies the building of the former Municipal Theatre, a 19th century construction which was destroyed during the Spanish Civil War. Dali decided to create his museum and also the place where he wanted to be buried. Dali created some works especially for the Museum like the Mae West Room, the Rainy Cadillac and others.
To complete this day tour and understand more of Dali’s world is also interesting to visit the Castle of Pubol, where Dali lived some oh his last years and where Dali’s muse and wife Gala Eluard Dali was buried in 1982.
For more information contact with Federico Vasco, telephone +34 630 174 410

Leandre Cristofol - Monument

This big public sculpture, titled Monument, more than 8 meters tall, is a large-scale version from the original in wood, 80 centimeters high, executed in 1935 by the Catalan surrealist sculptor born in Lleida on 1908 Leandre Cristòfol. It is his first work to appear in Barcelona and was chosen by him when the City Hall offered a place on the new public square that had been created after cleaning up from old buildings the space in between the streets of Escudellers, Arenes and Arai. It was unveiled in September of 1991, eight years before the death of the sculptor. The original work can be found at the Catalan National Art Museum. More information at: w10.bcn.es/APPS/gmocataleg_monum/FitxaMonumentAc.do?idioma=En&codiMonumIntern=169
The building where the Ramblas Clock Apartment is located is a protected architectural heritage residential compound just in front of this big Sculpture on the George Orwell Square.

Experience Barcelona on two wheels

There are different ways to discover a city.

One of the newest in Barcelona is on two wheels renting a Scooter by days or discovering new places on exciting city tours. Every Saturday morning you can explore the city on a Scooter with a guided tour, from Sagrada Família, to Poble Espanyol and the Olympic Area in the Montjuich Mountain ending with some “tapas” at the Borne area, accompanied by an experienced guide who will help you to discover better the city. Or you can ask also for a customized tour, whenever and wherever you want to go.
If you want to feel free and not depend on public transportation the scooter is your best solution.

More information with Cooltra Motos, Passeig Joan de Borbó 80-85, 08039 Barcelona, telephone  (+34) 932 214 070

Plaza Sant Felip Neri - Barcelona

One of the coolest squares in the Old town (Gothic Neighbourhood) of Barcelona, and maybe the quiet’s place in town, is the Plaza (Plaça) Sant Felip Neri. This hidden square that you can only access through two narrow, winding and sometimes not very clean streets is build over what was an old medieval cemetery (Montjuïc del Bisbe cemetery). On one of the sides The Baroque Church that gives the name to the square was build in between 1748 and 1752 and on the others different medieval houses moved there at the beginning of last century due to the big transformation that meant the opening of Via Layetana (a direct connection between L’Eixample and the old Port) ; in the centre there is an octagonal fountain and some big old trees.
The rumour of the water magnifies the peacefulness of the place that has not always been. In 1938 during the Spanish Civil War Barcelona suffered several bomb attacks from Franco’s aviation an on January 30th of that year a big bomb exploded on the square and killed a big number of citizens that were trying to protect themselves in an antiaircraft refuge that collapsed. On the facade of the church there are still noticeable scars from the tragedy. The holes of the explosion are well visible and give an idea of the magnitude of the explosion.
Times have changed and recently a nice elegant Hotel has opened its doors on one of the buildings of the square and opened also a nice little bar with an open terrace to the square.

Salon Nautico - Barcelona International Boat Show

The 47th Salón Náutico Internacional de Barcelona , Barcelona International Boat Show is one the largest display of yachts, boats and accessories for sailing, fishing, surfing and scuba diving, and will bring again to Barcelona from November 8th to 16th the latest nautical and leisure products. The Show will take up the five halls in the new area of the Gran Via Exhibition Centre. And also the On-water Show at the Port Vell of Barcelona will wide up the offer with more than 250 boats. It is a unique chance to see the news related to the sea.
The Show will bring together all related to the sea industry, from shipyards, sailing and motor boats, nautical schools, sport ports, electronics and motors, to pneumatic, paintings, sail lofts, tug boats, fishing articles, aquatic motos, great length boats and the super yachts.
More information at: http://www.salonnautico.com/

Rossend Nobas, Josep Llimona - A Rafael Casanova

The inscription on the monument says: “The Counsellor in chief Rafael de Casanova fell wounded here defending the freedom of Catalunya …… Casanovas was forced to accept the Capitulation of the City on 11 September 1714. The victory of Philip V brought the suppression of the “Consell de Cent” and of the Catalan Constitution.” 
Its first emplacement was at the Saló de Sant Joan (actually Passeig de Lluis Companys) as it was made for the 1888 Universal Exhibition to be placed, together with seven other sculptures of famous figures from Catalan history, in the pass way between the entrance at the Arc de Triomf and the exhibition enclosure in the Parc de la Ciutadella. In 1914, on the two-hundredth anniversary of the fall of Barcelona after the siege, the Barcelona City Hall decided to remove the statue from its emplacement and moved it to the spot where Rafael de Casanova had fallen wounded as the visit to the monument every September 11th had already acquired the characteristics of a national feast, even the date meant a clear defeat of Catalan liberties. The monument was removed in 1939 by the Franco’s regime and was placed back on September of 1977, for the biggest massive Catalan demonstration before the return from exile of the President of the Generalitat.
The monument itself is a clear expression of the wounded romantic hero mixed with modernist symbols of pain and affliction of Catalans for the lost of their rights and freedom. More information at:
w10.bcn.es/APPS/gmocataleg_monum/FitxaMonumentAc.do?idioma=En&codiMonumIntern=342  

DE CAJON! 2008

The third edition of the Barcelona Flamenco festival DE CAJÓN! will last from 29 May to 6 July.
Vicente Amigo with his guitar accompanied with a group and the voice of Rafel de Utrera will open the festival. The next concerts will bring on stage, between others, the voice of Diego el Cigala and his group, the Flamenco Dancer Juan de Juan with his show, the guitar of Tomatito and his group. The closing Concert will bring to Barcelona to Rosario, the daughter of the always remembered Lola Flores, presenting her last album “Dentro de mi”, even though her music is more a mixture of pop rumbero her feeling has always been pure flamenco.
The Palau de la Música, the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Luz de Gas and the Club Sala Apolo are the venues where the stars of flamenco cante will be appearing.
More information about the concerts at: http://www.theproject.es/es/festival/festival.php?idfestival=33

Specchio Magico in Barcelona

For pasta lovers the place to go is Specchio Magico. It is absolutely not a pizza joint, in fact pizza has never been served here. The Specchio Magico is a restaurant, small, cosy and simple place, with candles on the tables, where what really matters is the quality of the food, mainly consisting of pasta and salads, with generous portions that can be shared. You do not want to miss the selection of meat plates & the carpaccios or their delicious interpretation of tiramisu for dessert. Most of the wines offered are from different regions of Italy. The owners of this typically Italian atmosphere restaurant are from Ferrara (a wonderful city in the north of Italy, recently declared World Heritage by UNESCO) they know each other since their childhood and have been living now in Barcelona for nearly fifteen years. In this restaurant you can find yourself sitting close to cinema directors or actors, designers, or even members of the old aristocracy of Barcelona. If you want to enjoy a cosy atmosphere, good natured and self-assured, the place is Specchio Magico. English spoken. Calle LLuís Antunez 3, 08006 Barcelona; Tel. +34 934 153 371.

Fernando Botero - CAT

There are some times that it looks difficult for a sculpture to find a place in a city. It is what it has happen to this big bronze sculpture of the Cat (seven metres long and two tons of weight) from Fernando Botero. First installed in the Ciutadella Park in 1989, was moved because of the Olympic Games in 1992 to the Montjuich Mountain close to the Olympic Stadium, but it did not stay long in this second emplacement; and only some months after the Olympics, by express wish of the sculptor, was moved to a small square on the rear wall of Drassanes building that did not made happy to anybody, and in 2003 was moved again to the new Rambla del Raval with the intention of adding a new icon to this recently developed part of the city that had suffered this big transformation two years before. Columbian Fernando Botero has another public sculpture in Barcelona in the Terminal B of the Airport.
More information at: w10.bcn.es/APPS/gmocataleg_monum/FitxaMonumentAc.do?idioma=EN&codiMonumIntern=565 

Harm Reduction 2008

IHRA’s harm reduction conferences have been held around the world each year since 1990, and the next event will take place in the city of Barcelona. The IHRA’s annual international harm reduction conferences have grown in importance and become the main meeting point for all those interested in harm reduction around the world.
Over five days, IHRA’s 19th International Conference'will be the main meeting point for all those interested in harm reduction, and an invaluable platform for debate, discussion, and the dissemination of new and evolving good practice in addressing drug use and associated harm. For nearly two decades, these events have been the key forum for the dissemination of harm reduction ideas and practice, and have helped to put harm reduction on the map.
The Programme will cover Global Issues, Gender Issues, Criminal Justice and Human Rights together with a full Film Festival programme, and over 50 ‘Major Sessions’, ‘Concurrent Sessions’ and ‘Living Room Sessions’ covering a massive range of topics.
From May 11 to 15 at the Palacio de Congresos of the Fira Barcelona in the Plaza Espanya Montjuic Venue

Barcelona Apartments - Ramblas Clock Apartment

Big Barcelona apartment, close to the Ramblas, up to 12 people in the gothic neighbourhood area. 
Spacious and completely newly renovated apartment in a building from 1856 on a third floor without elevator; “so leave your huge trunks and heavy suitcases at home”. Three double bedrooms, one with an additional double sofa bed, a sleeping area with a double sofa bed and a double sofa bed in the living room. Carefully restored and refurbished, maintaining traditional existing elements like old ceilings and the woodwork of doors and windows, with the comfort of the new bathrooms and open kitchen, heating and air conditioning.
The best Accommodation in Barcelona in the Barrio Gótico/Ramblas Neighbourhood for big groups.

Umbracle Barcelona

 The Parc de la Ciutadella was build over the old Citadel or Fortress that the Spanish King Felipe V had built in 1714 to intimidate Catalans against repeating early 18th century rebellion against the Spanish central government. In the middle of the 19th Century the political situation had changed and the Park started to be developed. Josep Fontseré was the Architect in charge of the project but everything changed when the City Hall decided to organize the Universal Exhibition for 1888.
The Umbracle (shade house) was build in 1883 and during the exhibition was used as pavilion. After the event the building recovered its original function, being one of the few structures that still prevail from the exhibition.
This shade house is a construction of bare brick façades and wooden louvers to sift the light through, sustained in the interior by slender iron columns, devised like closed space producing suitable thermal and humidity conditions for the implantations of vegetal species from tropical origins. Its attractive open-slatted design provides the perfect home for a range of subtropical and shade loving plants as like being inside a forest.

Die Walkure

Only two opportunities in May 28 and 31, to listen to Die Walküre.

Music drama in three acts. First day in the tetralogy Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung). Libretto and music by Richard Wagner. First performed on 26 June 1870 at the Königliches Nationaltheater in Munich. First performed at the Gran Teatre del Liceu on 25 January 1899.

Directed by Sebastien Wigle with the voices of Plácido Domingo, René Pape, Waltraud Meier, Alan Held, Evelyn Herlitzius, Jane Henschel, Silvana Dussmann, María Rodríguez, Eugenia Maria Bethencourt, Jane Dutton, Renate.

This time presented in concert version with an approximate running time of 4hours and 45 minutes

Eduardo Chillida - TOPOS V

Topos V was placed on the location chosen by the sculptor himself, on the only open corner of this medieval square (Plaça del Rei, where the story says that the kings of Spain Isabel de Castilla and Fernando de Aragon received Christopher Columbus when he came back after discovering America), acting like another medieval building closing this open corner. The architectural character of the sculpture with the semicircular arches like windows, gets even clearer with the name given that comes from the Greek word topos, meaning space or place.
These seven tons of cast iron was unveiled in March of 1986 counting with the presence of the sculptor in the city. Eduardo Chillida Juantegui was born in January of 1924 in the Basque city of San Sebastian, and died at the age of 78 in his house of Monte Igueldo leaving an impressive work behind. He has two other public sculptures in Barcelona, Elogi de l’aigua (In Praise of Water) at the Creuta del Coll Park and a huge mural, Barcelona 1998, first mural done by the sculptor, on one of the sides of the square Placa dels Angels (where the Macba Museum is located).
More information at: w10.bcn.es/APPS/gmocataleg_monum/FitxaMonumentAc.do?idioma=EN&codiMonumIntern=565 

Juli Gonzalez

From November 2008 till January 2009, nearly 3 months to visit this retrospective of Juli Gonzalez in Barcelona organized by the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya.
Temporary exhibition room 1. Curator: Mercè Doñate, Head of the Modern Art Collection, MNAC.
The MNAC will be organizing the first retrospective exhibition held in Barcelona devoted to this great Catalan artist, one of the most outstanding sculptors of the early avant-garde, who pursued his artistic career in Paris.

The show will present original iron sculptures, and will also include drawings and object arts – mainly jewels – from centres like the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and the Institut Valencià d’Art Modern, the Centre Pompidou and the MNAC itself.

Verger Antic Palau Reial Major - Barcelona

The way to the Frederic Mares Museum from the small square (Plaça Sant Iu Nº 5-6) on the street Comtes de Barcelona, at the side of the Cathedral, gives free entrance to a courtyard that was in medieval times the old orchard of the Main Royal Palace (Palau Reial Major), house of the Counts of Barcelona and from where the monarchs of the Catalan-Aragonese crown ruled the kingdom during the medieval period.
The place with orange trees, plants, some benches and a fountain on the centre surrounded by the medieval buildings from the Palau Reial Major is suspended on the time. Quite and peaceful is the perfect place to relax and dream on Catalan stories from the medieval times.
During summer months there is also a coffee place (Café d’Estiu or Summertime coffee) on the courtyard.

LENNY KRAVITZ

Lenny Kravitz will be presenting this first studio album in four years at the Badalona Olympic Pavilion on July 8th.
The success of It Is Time For A Love Revolution, Kravitz’s eighth studio album has undoubtedly been fuelled by fan anticipation for what Rolling Stone has called “the best album Lenny Kravitz has ever made — a visceral, expertly tailored blend of late-’60s and early-’70s classic rock…”. It has already spawned two red-hot singles “Bring It On,” which was featured in the NFL Superbowl Highlights video, as well as in the promo spots for the new season of Survivor, and “I’ll Be Waiting,” whose video has been added to VH1, VH1 Soul, Fuse, BET, and MTV Hits, and currently sits at No. 7 on Billboard’s European airplay chart.
For more on Lenny Kravitz, you can visit www.lennykravitz.com

Frank Gehry - Fish - Peix

The Olympic games of 92 served Barcelona to develop many abandoned areas of the city. One of the most important areas included The Olympic Village, the Olympic Port with the two towers (Mapfre Tower & Hotel Arts) and the big fish sculpture from Frank Gehry on the Gardens of the hotel and all the water front with the new beaches of Nova Icària, Bogatell, Mar Bella, Nova Mar Bella.
The giant copper "Peix" sculpture (35 meters x 54 meters) in the Olympic Port was a landmark in the history of Frank O. Gehry & Associates, inaugurating the firm's use of computer-aided design and manufacturing.

The shape of a fish has been a recurring motif in Frank Gehry’s work and as it appears repeated over and over in his designs. In 1981, Gehry designed a giant sculpture of a fish standing on its tail to occupy an atrium. The following year he put giant illuminated fish in a restaurant in Venice, Calif. He made fish lamps and sculpted the model for a kettle with fish for spout and handles. The first exhibition of Gehry's work, which took place in Minneapolis in 1986, was entered through the body of a giant fishlike structure.
More information: w10.bcn.es/APPS/gmocataleg_monum/FitxaMonumentAc.do?idioma=ES&codiMonumIntern=1070&cerca=null

Barcelona Apartments - Olimpic Spa Apartment

Luxury sophisticated design duplex apartment in elevator building with maximum comfort and latest technologies for relaxation. 4 double bedrooms with ingenious system to convert single beds into comfortable queen size beds. Comfortable terrace with Spa for 6 people, chromo therapy and shower. Nice views over the Hotel Arts and the Mapfre Tower. Surrounded by green areas and close to the metro station Vila Olimpica from were in three stops you are at the Plaza Catalunya. A 5-minute walk to the Borne Neighbourhood, the historic center, the Port Vell, the Barceloneta Neighbourhood and a nice walk to the beaches Nova Icaria, Bogatell, Barceloneta and Mar Bella.Sleeps from 1 to 10 people.

For more information please visit on our website this Barcelona Apartment in the Eixample Area.

Plaza Real - Barcelona