Fisherman arranging nets in their boats. Coffee, paella and crema catalana awaiting customers in white-washed buildings accented with brilliant blue hues. Children playing in soft waves lapping up on the shore. Painters still at work outside on the street. Feel such visions combine in the unforgettable atmosphere of what was once a haven for Salvador Dali here in Cadaqués. We invite you to experience this piece of heaven with us on Gourmand Breaks Cadaques trips.

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Just a short drive away from the beautiful fishing town of Cadaqués is Port Lligat, the location of what was Salvador Dalí’s private home and art studio. In addition to getting a more intimate picture of the painter himself through kitchy images and rooms he’d use for inspiration, the house contains original artwork that the world has not seen until recently. Now, you can discover this tramuntana genius artwork at some of Gourmand Breaks Dali Tours. The Casa-Museu Dalí, as it is called now, opened in 1997 and it was only two years ago that owners opened up the entire house to the public. This is especially a privilege since Dalí only allowed one guest to this private home for the most part–his wife Gala.

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As soon as you encounter the entrance to this gorgeously well-preserved monument to medieval Jewish communities in Spain—a graceful bridge arching over the Fluvia River—you will feel like you’re walking into another time altogether.

Still standing today are examples of how Jewish and Catholic communities lived harmoniously together until the Spanish government expelled them in 1492. You will be amazed of how our expert guide will bring the local history secrets alive on our  Catalan Culture and Cuisine Tour . You will admire the churches of Sant Pere, Sant Vicenç, Santa Maria and Sant Martí, that blend into structures of Jewish baths, or the miqwé, and streets of the cobble-stoned Jewish district named the Call.

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To see Antonio Gaudi’s genius in all its finished glory (La Sagrada Familia is still under construction) we take aficionados of his work go to La Pedrera, also known as Casa Milá on our Gaudi Cultural Tours.

Built for the Milá family between 1906 and 1910 on Passeig de Gracia in Barcelona, this is one of the most imaginative residential buildings ever built. The façade is made of harmoniously undulating rock formations that culminate at the top with strange and colorful sea-shell like formations and statues which are actually chimneys for the apartments below. Flowing vines were forged out of iron for the balcony guards of each apartment. Each apartment is supported by traditional Catalan “totxo” (brick) arching walls that Gaudi often incorporated into his unique designs.

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If there’s one thing you’ll learn for certain as you browse cafes, fine dining establishments and the plates of all the natives around you, it’s that Spaniards are proud of their ham, or jamón iberico. With one taste of this rich specialty, you’ll already know why, but a little background on what makes it so special will further astound you. On our Barcelona Culinary Tours you will be able to taste the famous Joselito, the best Spanish Iberian Ham, but here are some basics facts about this absolute delicacy.

Instead of being crowded into dirty farms, the pigs that make jamón iberico are raised free range in a forest called a dehesa where there is about one hectare of space for each pig there. These forests, which take up 2 million hectares of land in Spain, is full of ancient oak trees with pastures that have have been kept clear and intact by workers for centuries also. The pigs only graze on fresh acorns, or bellotas, dropping from the trees and the fresh herbs growing around it. So much of their diet is made up of acorns, in fact, that some studies have shown jamón iberico has much more of the healthy kind of fat found in nuts than unhealthy saturated fat. Nutritionist Grande Covián even called the Iberian pig “an olive tree with four legs.”

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Ever since the Virgin of Mercy saved the city of Barcelona from a plague of locusts in 1687, the city has been celebrating the miracle she helped create with the liveliest festival it has all year. Happening at the end of September and on the 24th this year, the parties will go on for four days through the night and early hours of the morning with wild fireworks, strangely costumed giants, colorful decorations and musical concerts lining the streets. It is a kind of end-of-summer celebration, so participants usually party as hardily and as noisily as they can.

Among the events not to be missed are the huge casteller, or human-castle building, contests. You can find out more about these amazing performers here on one of our previous posts. To see the unique Barcelona Castells join us on our Cultural Barcelona Tours.

As wine lovers venture out of Barcelona streets laced with Gaudi’s intricate designs to vineyards in the countryside, they are never left without brilliant Modernist architecture to gawk at. That’s because several of Catalonia’s best vineyards lie next to cellars often called wine cathedrals and you can visit them all on our Penedès Wine Tours. When the region’s viticultural renaissance hit its stride in the early 1900s, some of the best Modernista (or Catalan Art Nouveau) architects wanted to celebrate by contributing their designing genius to booming wine cellars. Continue Reading »

Once you’ve visited the Greek and Roman ruins of Empuries, you’ll be expecting a higher standard for all of your archaeological site visits that follow. I mean, how many archaeological sites are literally steps away from an incredibly beautiful blue beach?

On our Barcelona and Empuries Cultural Tour we will take you to this unique site. Three centuries after Greeks established a busy trading post here, Romans of the 6th century B.C. docked here to begin their conquest of the Iberian Peninsula. The remains of temples, houses, cemeteries, city forums and more lie outside to tour. Several intricate mosaic floors lye in the same halls they laid in more than 2,000 years ago. Living grape vines still wander around the columns the Roman atriums and offer a sweet snack to summer visitors.

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The red and yellow stripes of the Catalan flag drape windows, balconies, walls, make up flower bouquets and wave in the fabrics Catalans hold up in the street all day on La Diada, or Catalonia’s national holiday. Celebrated on September 11, the day of Catalonia’s defeat under Spanish armies in 1714, the holiday brings attention to both the defeats and the optimistic future of Catalonia.

Although it may be odd to some to celebrate one’s heritage on a day of defeat, Catalans do not think so. This is because the day comes on the anniversary of a courageous battle in which many Catalans did everything they could to protect the sovereignty of their nation and culture. We offer you the opportunity to learn more about Catalonia, its history and people on our Catalan Cultural Tours.

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Up until Jews were expelled out of Spain by its government and church in 1492, Jewish communities played a significant role in the culture, the architecture and academia of medieval Spain.

Passing through villages like Besalú, where a Jewish heritage celebrations takes place at the beginning of every September, makes this all the more evident. In addition to a gorgeous medieval bridge stretching over the Fluvia River into town, the walkways, homes and bath houses of these Jewish communities still exist and still look beautiful. We organize guided tours of Besalu Jewish quarters year round, however, so visitors can contribute to the extended restoration of these sights.