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.

At Gourmand Breaks we frequently organize for our guests la Boqueria market guided visits, followed by private cooking classes with our chef. Located in the back of la Boqueria is the remarkable collection of Llorenç Petrás: baskets and baskets of gourmet mushrooms with different sizes, colors smells and flavours from all over the world. His stand, which has earned him the nickname “wizard of mushrooms,” is one of the best of its kind in Europe.

And now that we’re entering the best season for mushrooms—at the end of summer and beginning of fall—his collection is at the height of its diversity. Petrás’s humble stall is unique because he still sells his product in person, even though he’s made unknown fortunes selling to luxury clients in both London and Paris.

On our Culinary Excursion to La Boqueria, we make sure you don’t miss it!

Towering above the cobbled medieval Jewish quarter winding around it, the beaming Girona Cathedral has been a significant work of Gothic architecture since its construction began in the 11th century. Its prominence especially rose in the 15th century when architects added what is still the largest Gothic nave in the world and the second largest nave overall, right behind St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Inside are several relics dating back to the 11th century as well, including ancient saint shrines, an ivory throne made for King Charlemagne and Tapestry of the Creation, a very rare surviving tapestry from this era depicting the creation of the world, months of the year and Biblical characters.

On Gourmand Breaks Girona Tours we take you for a walk within the cathedral’s courtyard and the Roman fortification wall behind it -a beautifully peaceful journey through the history of Gothic art.

There’s only one place you can see some of Salvador Dalí’s best works in a museum that he personally designed and was laid to rest at: the Dalí Theatre Museum in Figueres. At Gourmand Breaks we are Dali’s enthusiasts and we take you to experiment the works of this tramuntana tormented genius on our Dali Tours.

Dalí selected this former city theatre, now adorned with large bright white eggs and a pattern of golden bread, because he wanted visitors to do more than quietly stare at his work. He wanted them to be part of the experiment and have a chance to respond to his work just the way an applauding crowd does.

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