Tag Archive for: Barcelona

The incredible Sagrada Família Church, if you haven’t heard of it, is a giant Basilica in the center of Barcelona, Spain  It is a work on a grand scale and is not expected to be completed for another 30 to 80 years!  Barcelona’s skyline is accustomed to the somewhat weird mix of old spires and modern cranes that envelope the Sagrada Família.  It will seem strange if one day the invasive, yet accepted, cranes disappear from Antoni Gaudí’s unfinished Barcelona symphony!

Construction on La Sagrada Família,  Barcelona, began in 1882 and at the end of 1883 Antoni Gaudí was commissioned to carry on the works, which subsequently occupied his whole life right up until his death in 1926.   He played an active role in directing the construction of the Sagrada Família and often requested that work be modified and adjusted until it was exactly the way he wanted it, according to the vision he had in his mind.

In 1892 Gaudí began work on the foundations of the East facing Nativity Façade of La Sagrada Família.  After 1914, Gaudí submitted his work exclusively to the Sagrada Família and on November 30th, 1925, the construction of the first bell tower of the Nativity Façade, dedicated to St Barnaby, was finished, rising a 100 meters high.   This is the only one that Gaudí lived to see built.  Antoni Gaudí died on the 10th of June 1926 as a result of a tragic accident in Barcelona, that had occurred three days earlier, when he was run over by a tram.  On the 12th of June Antoni Gaudí was buried in the Carmen Chapel of the crypt of La Sagrada Família, where his remains still lie today.

Sagrada Familia, Barcelona

 The Nativity Façade of La Sagrada Família celebrates the birth of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.  It is also referred to as the Façade of Life, Joy or Christmas and is elaborately adorned with references to the joy of life, such as flowers and animals, on and around its three entrances:

–  The Portal of Faith is devoted to the theological virtue of faith and to Mary.

– The Portal of Hope is devoted to the theological virtue of hope and to Joseph.

– The Portal of Charity is devoted to the theological virtue of Christian charity or love and to Jesus.

In 1911 Gaudí planned the West facing Passion Façade and in 1923 the definitive solution to the naves and roofs.  The works advanced slowly, though, and Gaudí was recorded as saying:

“There is no reason to regret that I cannot finish the church. I will grow old but others will come after me. What must always be conserved is the spirit of the work, but its life has to depend on the generations it is handed down to and with whom it lives and is incarnated”.

The Passion Façade of La Sagrada Família, representing the Passion of Jesus, depicts the pain, sacrifice and death suffered by Jesus, and is expressed in highly dramatic and emotionally intense groups of sculptures.  As the façade faces west it receives the last rays of the day’s sun hence heightening the symbolic effect of the darkness and shadows that haunted Antoni Gaudí.  Like the other façades, it has three entrances, dedicated to charity, hope and faith, and four bell towers.  This façades’ towers are dedicated (from left to right) to the apostles St James the Less, St Bartholomew, St Thomas and St Philip.  The sculptures on the Passion Façade stand out as they contrast against their background being ornament free and composed of simple forms.  In this way Gaudí wanted to symbolize the desolation, the pain and the death of Jesus Christ with a dramatic doorway illustrating the sacrifice made by Jesus for mankind.

Passion Façade, Sagrada Familia

The South facing Glory Façade is still under construction and, when finished, will be the main entrance to the church.  Gaudí included the construction of a great exterior flight of steps, in the project, to provide a solemn access to the Sagrada Família.

Since Gaudí’s death, different architects have continued the work of the Sagrada Família based on Gaudí’s original ideas.  However today, because of the nature of the existing designs, his work is partly open to interpretation and leads to much controversy – be it the new construction materials which, some feel, Gaudí himself would not have used, or the present day architects’ interpretation of the original designs, unacceptable for many Gaudí fans.  Regardless of all the controversy surrounding the Sagrada Família it is a truly magnificent building and an absolute must-see when you visit Barcelona.

Sagrada Familia

With all that is featured on the outside, of this magnificent masterpiece, it is hardly surprising that the inside is as spectacular as you would imagine.  But, we’re not going to give too much away, you need to experience this wonder for yourself while in Barcelona, but the interior looks like a forest of beautifully designed trees.  The ornate trunks, branches and clusters of leaves are all visible in this forest of columns where, as the light seeps through the windows, a sensation of woodland and vegetation appears within the Sagrada Família.

Antoni Gaudí is Barcelona’s most internationally renowned and emblematic architect and throughout his work, you will see much of his architectural inspiration came from his experiences in nature.   His work has become one of the main cultural attractions of Barcelona, and is a legacy that has been declared UNESCO World Heritage.  La Sagrada Família, over the years, has become one of the most universal signs of identity of Barcelona, and indeed Spain. It is visited by millions of people every year and many more study its architectural and religious content.

Special mention should also be made to other famous works of Gaudí in Barcelona, like his famous Casa Batlló and La Pedrera.  Gaudí’s famous La Pedrera was built between 1906 and 1910 for the Milà family and is one of the main Gaudí residential buildings in Barcelona. It is one of the most imaginative houses in the history of architecture and is more a sculpture than a building.  And not forgetting, one of the most beautiful icons of the city of Barcelona, ​​Park Güell,  a work by Antoni Gaudi carried our between 1900 and 1914, with wonderful views of the city where you can enjoy a peaceful stroll surrounded by nature and modernist works.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many of our Food, Wine and Cultural Tours include a visit to Antoni Gaudí’s amazing unfinished La Sagrada Família in Barcelona (as well as to other masterpieces).  This means that, you not only get to beat the queues into the Church but, one of our Officially Licensed Bi-Lingual Guides will give you your own private tour and show you so much more.

PENTAX Image

As in every city the place to be, and to be seen in is ever changing. New areas are revamped, businesses are created and tourists flock to a place they would never have dreamed of going on a previous visit.  Inevitably, this revamping, remodeling and breathing of new life has occurred  in Barcelona.

In the last few years the Born area of Barcelona has been transforming and is now THE new area to be and be seen in in the dazzling city.  To the east of the ever popular Ramblas and on the other side of Via Laietana lies this maze of old narrow streets interspersed with small squares and merchant palaces from the 15th Century.  Although getting lost in this labyrinth is part of the charm, this fashionable district of Barcelona invites you into its heart with  wine and tapas bars, candlelit restaurants and designer boutiques.

This born again zone of Barcelona neighbors the Gothic Quarter and together they make up the old side of Barcelona. The Port is also neighbor to the area, and the Ciutadella Park ,to the East, provides the ideal place to stop and relax under the shade of a tree.

At the center of this now fashionable zone is the Maria del Mar church which dominates a beautiful square with an abundance of cafés.  A masterpiece  illustrating  14th century Catalan Gothic style, it was built on the ancient chapel of Santa Maria de las Arenas of 998AD.  The Mediterranean was much more inland than today, so being close to the sea it was constructed thanks to donations from the sea farers.

Behind the Santa Maria square is the main street, Paseo del Born, which is where the witches were executed and burned in Medieval times.  This passage today, invites you to dine at various restaurants with a variety of cuisine to choose from, or maybe just take time out to sip a refreshing glass of Cava in one of the many bars.

The Picasso museum is most surely THE museum to visit in Barcelona, for the artist and,  for the building which is made of five palaces joined together to make the museum.  An enjoyable visit here is a must to understand the formation of Pablo Ruiz Picasso.  The permanent collection of the genius’s work, here at the museum,  comprises of more than 3.500 works of art.

The former Born Market, a magnificent wrought iron structure built in the 1870’s, was once the city’s main wholesale market, until it closed in 1971.  Thanks to the market, the area of Born was once the city’s trading area.  After years of being forgotten, in 2001 excavation work uncovered some amazing remains.  Much debate ensued on the fate of  the market, but in September 2013 after extensive work was completed, the building opened again as the Born Cultural Center,  a civic center and covered plaza home to a permanent exhibition of thousands of artifacts discovered here.

Another market, alive and kicking today, is the Santa Caterina Market. A fantastic place to stop for a quick bite at a good price or just to peruse the array of rainbow colors that the stallholders sell. With market stalls spread over 3 floors it is a valid rival to the famous La Boqueria. But, Santa Caterina market is not only colorful on the inside, view it from outside and you will see the magnificent roof is alive with over 300,000 colored ceramic tiles.

Many of our Private Food, Wine and Cultural tours include stays in Barcelona to discover this fantastic city via private tours and/or giving you free time for your own sightseeing.

Join us on the Highlights of Spain Tour to combine some fantastic gourmet, wine and cultural experiences while staying in Barcelona, Girona, Penedes, Seville and Madrid.

 

Last month saw the announcement of the NEW Michelin Guide for Spain and Portugal 2014.

A new Michelin 3 star restaurant was awarded to Spain for 2014, along with two new Michelin 2 star restaurants, and various new Michelin 1 star restaurants.

In total, for 2014, there are 17 Michelin 2 Star restaurants in Spain.  This year Martín Berasategui adds his “M.B” restaurant in Guía de Isora, Santa Cruz de Tenerife to the Michelin 2 star category where it joins his already awarded “Lasarte” in Barcelona.

Francis Paniego also joins the elite Michelin 2 star crew with his “El Portal del Echaurren” restaurant in Ezcaray, La Rioja.

* * All Michelin 2 Star Restaurants in Spain for 2014 (in alphabetical order):

Abac. Jordi Cruz (Barcelona)

Atrio. Toño Pérez (Cáceres)

Calima. Dani García (Marbella)

Casa Marcial. Nacho Manzano (Asturias)

El Club Allard. Diego Guerrero (Madrid)

El Portal. Francis Paniego (La Rioja)

Enoteca. Paco Pérez (Barcelona)

La terraza del Casino. Paco Roncero (Madrid)

Lasarte. Martín Berasategui. (Barcelona)

Les Cols. Fina Puigdevall (Girona)

M.B. Martín Berasategui (Santa Cruz de Tenerife)

Miramar. Paco Pérez (Girona)

Moments. Raül Balam (Barcelona)

Mugaritz. Andoni Luis Aduriz (Guipuzcoa)

Ramón Freixa (Madrid)

Santceloni. Óscar Velasco (Madrid)

Sergi Arola Gastro (Madrid)

 

Whereas Michelin 2 star restaurants are classed as  “excellent cooking, worth a detour”,  Michelin 3 Star restaurants are classed as  “exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey” and there are just 8 of these Michelin star wonders in Spain for 2014.  (See our blog post Michelin 3 Star Restaurants 2014 – Spain)

And, even though Barcelona, City, still does not have a Michelin 3 star restaurant it proudly boasts 4 Michelin 2 star restaurants and 19 Michelin 1 star restaurants.

Join us on an exclusively private tour like the Ultimate Luxury Gourmet Food Tour where you can experience Spanish Cuisine at it’s best, and fine dining in Michelin Star Restaurants, including the World’s Number 1 Restaurant – Celler de Can Roca.

 

Everybody loves a good wedding and Barcelona is certainly getting excited to lap up the luxury this weekend to host the most expensively luxurious wedding of its history.

The Mittal dynasty is arriving this week for a fiesta filled weekend in Barcelona. Curiosity is rife in the Catalan capital as the “Top Secret” stamp has been put on everything! It is still unsure who is getting married, from the family of Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, as at the request of the family, the celebration is private.

The budget for the wedding is unknown, but lavish it will be for sure as the Mittal family is known to spend big on this type of event. In 2004, Lakshmi Mittal spent a whopping $65 million on his daughter Vanisha’s 5 day wedding in Versailles, France, which included a 3 song mini concert by Australian pop star Kylie Minogue.

Nearly a thousand guests are expected to descend on Barcelona, to join the lavish 3 day celebrations, from the 6th to the 8th of December. The size of the event is so big that the Town Council, Barcelona tourist Board and the Cambra de Comerç are collaborating in the organization of this monumental wedding. Rooms have been booked in the most luxurious of the city’s hotels, like the Hotel Arts and the W (the sail), the limousines are firing up their engines and the finest restaurants have been reserved.

As the “Top Secret” sign has been stamped all over this wedding it is no surprise that the location of the main ceremony is still a mystery. Although, what is almost definite is that there will be festivities, over the 3 days, at the Maritime Museum, the Italian Pavilion of Montjüic and at one of Gaudi´s works – the old Hospital de Sant Pau. The wedding reception will most likely be held in the oval room of MNAC – Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (which has a capacity of 1.500 people).

 

Barcelona, with something for everyone, is a fantastic city for a wedding, vacation or as part of a dream honeymoon tour.  Our Private Luxury Romantic Spain Tour combines the bustling city of Barcelona with the serene seaside, so offering the chance to experience the best of both worlds.

Who wouldn’t want unlimited funds?  But, remember, all our tours can be completely customized to suit your preferences and budget.

 

 

Our Michelin starred Spanish super chefs are waiting patiently for the results of the new Michelin Guide Spain 2014.  The star studded ceremony, this year, will be hosted at the Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, next Wednesday evening, 20th of November.

UPDATE 20/11/2013: Results of the NEW Michelin Guide Spain 2014.

 

Nerves abound as 7 magnificent Michelin 3 star restaurants, in Spain, fight to maintain their status, while 16, already 2 Michelin star restaurants, hopefully anticipate that extra star to promote them.  Spanish cities Barcelona and Madrid have yet to fill their rumbling stomachs with a TriStar restaurant, maybe this is the year?

 

The suspense will soon be over, as undercover Michelin inspectors have visited, and surely delighted in, the multitude of establishments, to judge what’s on the plate. The Michelin Guide criteria include: the quality of products, the mastering of flavors, the mastering of cooking, the personality of the cuisine and value for money (of what the restaurant offers to its customers both throughout the menu and the year).

 

Earning a Michelin star is considered one of the highest honors in the industry, but, what does a star mean?

3 Michelin Stars “exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey”

2 Michelin Stars “excellent cooking, worth a detour”

1 Michelin Star “very good restaurant in its category, a good place to stop on your journey”

 

Here are the complete lists (in alphabetical order, not preferential) of what Spain is anticipating, in the Michelin Star World, next Wednesday.

 

Good luck chefs!

 

 

The Magnificent Seven!  

Michelin 3 Star Restaurants in Spain, hoping to maintain their status:

 

  • Akelarre. Pedro Subijana (Guipúzcoa) 
  • Arzak. Juan Mari Arzak (Guipúzcoa) 
  • Azurmendi. Eneko Atxa (Vizcaya) 
  • El Celler de Can Roca. Joan Roca (Girona) 
  • Martín Berasategui (Guipúzcoa) 
  • Quique Dacosta (Alicante) 
  • Sant Pau. Carme Ruscalleda (Barcelona) 

 

16 Spanish restaurants chasing their third Michelin Star:

 

  • Àbac. Jordi Cruz (Barcelona) 
  • Atrio. Toño Pérez (Cáceres) 
  • Calima. Dani García (Málaga)
  • Casa Marcial. Nacho Manzano (Asturias) 
  • DiverXO. David Muñoz (Madrid) 
  • El Club Allard. Diego Guerrero (Madrid) 
  • Enoteca. Paco Pérez (Barcelona) 
  • La Terraza del Casino. Paco Roncero (Madrid) 
  • Lasarte. Martín Berasategui (Barcelona) 
  • Les Cols. Fina Puigdevall (Girona) 
  • Miramar. Paco Pérez (Girona) 
  • Moments. Raül Balam (Barcelona) 
  • Mugaritz. Andoni luis Aduriz (Guipúzcoa) 
  • Ramón Freixa (Madrid) 
  • Santceloni. Óscar Velasco (Madrid) 
  • Sergi Arola. Gastro (Madrid)

 

Not on the hopeful list anymore is Can Fabes (Sant Celoni, Barcelona) of the late Santi Santamaría.  Unfortunately, at the end of this summer 2013 and after 32 years of service, this 2 star restaurant closed its doors.

Spanish restaurants chasing Michelin Star Number 2 (there’s a lot!!!) :

  • A Estación. Cambre, La Coruña. 
  • Abantal. Sevilla. 
  • Alameda. Fuenterrabía, Guipúzcoa. 
  • Alborada. La Coruña. 
  • Alejandro G.Urrutia. Gijón, Asturias. 
  • Alkimia. Barcelona. 
  • Andra Mari. Galdácano, Vizcaya. 
  • Annua. San Vicente de la Barquera, Cantabria. 
  • Aponiente. El Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz. 
  • Ars Natura. Cuenca. 
  • As Garzas. Malpica de Bergantiños, La Coruña. 
  • Bal d’Onsera. Zaragoza. 
  • Bo·Tic. Corçà, Girona. 
  • Boroa. Amorebieta, Vizcaya.
  • Ca L’Arpa. Banyoles, Girona. 
  • Ca L’Enric. La Vall de Vianya, Girona. 
  • Caelis (Hotel Palace). Barcelona. 
  • Can Bosch. Cambrils, Tarragona. 
  • Can Jubany. Calldetenes, Barcelona. 
  • Capritx. Terrassa, Barcelona. 
  • Casa Alfonso. Dehesa de Campoamor, Alicante. 
  • Casa Gerardo. Prendes, Asturias. 
  • Casa José. Aranjuez, Madrid. 
  • Casa Marcelo. Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña. 
  • Casa Pepa. Ondaira, Alicante. 
  • Casamar. Llafranc, Girona. 
  • Cenador de Amós. Villaverde de Pontones, Cantabria. 
  • Chirón. Valdemoro, Madrid. 
  • Choco. Córdoba. 
  • Cinc Sentits. Barcelona. 
  • Cocinandos. León. 
  • Comerç24. Barcelona. 
  • Coque. Humanes, Madrid. 
  • Culler de Pau. O Grove, Pontevedra. 
  • Dos Cielos (Hotel Me). Barcelona. 
  • Dos Palillos. Barcelona. 
  • El Bohío. Illescas. Toledo. 
  • El Corral del Indianu. Arriondas, Asturias. 
  • El Lago. Marbella, Málaga. 
  • El Molino de Urdániz. Urdaitz, Navarra. 
  • El Nuevo Molino. Puente Arce, Santander. 
  • El Portal (Hotel Echaurren). Ezcaray, La Rioja. 
  • El Serbal. Santander. 
  • Els Brancs. Roses, Girona. 
  • Els Casals. Sagás, Barcelona. 
  • Els Tinars. Llagostera, Girona. 
  • Es Fum. Palmanova, Mallorca. 
  • Es Molí d’en Bou. Sa Coma, Mallorca. 
  • Es Racó d’es Teix. Deiá, Mallorca. 
  • Estany Clar. Cercs, Barcelona. 
  • Etxanobe. Bilbao. 
  • Etxebarri. Axpe, Vixcaya. 
  • Europa. Pamplona.
  • Fogony. Sort, Lleida. 
  • Fonda Sala. Olost, Barcelona. 
  • Gaig. Barcelona. 
  • Hisop. Barcelona. 
  • Hofmann. Barcelona. 
  • Jardín. Port d’Alcúdia, Mallorca. 
  • José Carlos García. Málaga. 
  • Julio. Fontanar del Alforins, Valencia. 
  • Kabuki Wellington. Madrid. 
  • Kabuki. Guía de Isora, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. 
  • Kabuki. Madrid. 
  • Kokotxa. San Sebastián. 
  • Koy Shunka. Barcelona. 
  • La Cabaña de la Finca Buenavista. Murcia. 
  • La Costa. El Ejido, Almería. 
  • La Cuina de San Simon. Tossa de Mar, Girona. 
  • La Finca. Elche, Alicante. 
  • La Fonda Xesc. Gombrén, Girona. 
  • La Llar. Castelló d’Empúries, Girona. 
  • La Prensa. Zaragoza. 
  • La Sucursal. Valencia. 
  • L’Aliança d’Anglès. Anglès, Girona. 
  • L’Angle (Hotel Cram). Barcelona. 
  • Las Rejas. Las Pedroñeras, Cuenca. 
  • Las Torres. Huesca. 
  • Les Magnòlies. Arbúcies, Girona. 
  • L’Escaleta. Cocentaina, Alicante. 
  • Lillas Pastia. Huesca. 
  • Lluerna. Santa Coloma de Gramanet, Barcelona. 
  • M.B. (Hotel Abama). Guía de Isora, Tenerife. 
  • Manairó.Barcelona. 
  • Maralba. Almansa, Albacete. 
  • Marqués de Riscal. Elciego, Álava. 
  • Maruja Limón. Vigo. 
  • Mas Pau. Figueres, Girona. 
  • Massana. Girona. 
  • Mina. Bilbao, Vizcaya. 
  • Mirador de Ulía. San Sebastián. 
  • Miramón Arbelaitz. San Sebastián. 
  • Moo (Hotel Omm). Barcelona 
  • Nectari. Barcelona. 
  • Neichel. Barcelona. 
  • Nerua. Bilbao, Vizcaya. 
  • Pepe Vieira. Raxo, Pontevedra. 
  • Real Balneario. Salinas, Asturias. 
  • Retiro da Costiña. Santa Comba, La Coruña. 
  • Ricard Camarena. Valencia. 
  • Riff. Valencia. 
  • Rincón de Diego. Cambrils, Tarragona. 
  • Rodero. Pamplona. 
  • Rodrigo de la Calle. Madrid. 
  • Saüc. Barcelona. 
  • Silabario. Tui, Pontevedra. 
  • Skina. Marbella, Málaga. 
  • Solana. Ampuero, Cantabria. 
  • Solla. Poio, Pontevedra. 
  • Torreo de L’India. Xerta, Tarragona. 
  • Venta Moncalvillo. Daroca de Rioja, La Rioja. 
  • Vertical. Valencia. 
  • Via Veneto. Barcelona. 
  • Víctor Gutiérrez. Salamanca. 
  • Villena. Segovia. 
  • Yayo Daporta. Cambados, Pontevedra. 
  • Zalacaín. Madrid. 
  • Zaldarián. Vitoria. 
  • Zaranda (Hotel Hilton Sa Torre). Llucmajor, Mallorca. 
  • Zortziko. Bilbao. 
  • Zuberoa. Oyarzun, Guipúzcoa. 

 

Michelin Star Number 1 may be on the menu for some of these hopeful Spanish restaurants:

 

  • 41 grados. Albert Adrià (Barcelona) 
  • Abastos 2.0. Taberna. Iago Pazos y Marcos Cerqueiro (Santiago)
  • Álbora. David García (Madrid) 
  • Altaïr. Ramón Caso (Mérida, Badajoz) 
  • Antaviana. Rosina Miserachs (Girona) 
  • Apicius. Enrique Medina de Arnal (Valencia) 
  • AQ. Ana Ruiz y Quintín Quinsac (Tarragona) 
  • Arola Arts. Sergi Arola (Barcelona) 
  • Azafrán. Teresa Gutiérrez (Albacete)
  • Ca’Suso. Iván y Vicente Feito (Asturias) 
  • Casa Urola. Pablo Loureiro (Vizcaya)
  • Compartir. Castro, Xatruch, Casañas (Girona)
  • Coure. Albert Ventura (Barcelona) 
  • El Barrigón de Bertín. Alberto Asensio (Asturias) 
  • El Olivar. Firo Vázquez (Murcia) 
  • El Poblet. Quique Dacosta (Valencia) 
  • El Retiro. Ricardo González (Asturias)
  • Elkano. Pedro Arregui (Guipúzcoa) 
  • Espai Kru. Ever Cubilla (Barcelona) 
  • Fagollaga. Ixak Salaberria (Guipúzcoa) 
  • Fermí Puig. Fermí Puig (Barcelona) 
  • Gresca. Rafa Peña (Barcelona) 
  • Íñigo Lavado. Íñigo Lavado (Guipúzcoa) 
  • Koldo Miranda. Koldo Miranda (Asturias) 
  • La Botica. Miguel Ángel de la Cruz (Valladolid) 
  • La Casona del Judío. Sergio Bastard (Cantabria) 
  • La Llotja. Marc Miró (Tarragona) 
  • La Plaça de Madremanya. Vicenç Fajardo (Girona) 
  • La Salgar. Nacho Manzano (Asturias)
  • La Salgar. Nacho Manzano (Gijón) 
  • Mas de Torrent. Jordi Garrido (Girona) 
  • Messina. Mauricio Giovanini (Málaga)
  • Monastrell. Maria José San Román (Alicante) 
  • Pa i Raïm. Roseta Jorba Duran (Girona)
  • Pakta. Albert Adrià (Barcelona) 
  • Palio. Jesús Ángel (Toledo) 
  • Punto MX. Ricardo Ruiz (Madrid) 
  • Refectorio. Pablo Montero (Valladolid) 
  • Roig Robí. Mercè Navarro (Barcelona) 
  • Sacha. Sacha Ormaechea (Madrid)
  • Sudestada. Estanis Carenzo (Madrid) 
  • The Mirror. Paco Pérez (Barcelona) 
  • Tickets. Albert Adrià (Barcelona) 
  • Torralbenc. Paco Morales (Menorca) 
  • Treintaitres. Ricardo Gil (Navarra) 
  • Tribeca. Pedro Giménez (Sevilla) 
  • Villa Magna. Rodrigo de la Calle (Madrid)
  • Xarma. Xabier Díez y Aizpea Ohianeder (Guipúzcoa) 

 

 

We’ll keep you posted with the results of Michelin Guide Spain 2014 next Wednesday! In the meantime, “Bon Appetite!”

 

Barcelona, Spain,  is an all-round destination offering architecture, culture, history, art, fashion, nature, fine food and good wine!  Whether you’re a galloping gourmet, an exclusive fashionista or a curious culture buff this city has it all.  Here is a photo blog insight into the heart of Barcelona, capturing just a few of the spectacular sights that await you in this bustling, cosmopolitan city.

There’s so much more, so why not join us for a tour!

Our fantastic Gourmet tour of Barcelona and the Basque Country combines stays in Barcelona and San Sebastian – 2 great foodie hotspots!

For more information, and to customize your own exclusive private vacation,  please do not hesitate to contact us

Last  year we customized a number of  tours around cruises of Portugal and Spain,  starting in Lisbon and finishing in Barcelona, for our clients using companies such  as Azamara Club Cruises and Paul Gauguin Cruises, amongst others. Here are some ideas to inspire you for your next trip….  Read more

This food and wine congress , on the 30th of September at Hotel Me in Barcelona, is the first international congress on the harmony and interaction between wine and cuisine and the complementary nature of both on gastronomic menus.

Read more


I was in Barcelona recently and amongst other things during a very busy day had the fortune to meet two of our clients after their Gourmand Breaks Secret Barcelona Tour.   Gwenn Weiss and her husband Phil are ardent cooks and Gwenn has a nowadays internationally respected website, www.cookinginpajamas.com

Read more

In the heart of the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona our Clients have been tasting local Catalan cheeses with Katherine – a specialist in her field, who is delighted to explain the local cheese and its background to all of our clients when they visit with a private guide. Read more