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Things to do in Barcelona 2012

Thinking of you we have designed this little calendar of special events in Catalonia for this year, this way you can plan your trip and enjoy the main festivals of the province. Check our 2012 Calendar!

Agenda Barcelona in February

Sitges Carnival

February 16- 22 2012

Sitges Carnival is an amazing spectacle. This parades is a true display of aesthetic and artistic creativity. Wealth of costumes, makeup, feathers, sequins, bold fantasy models, improbable scenarios over mobile platforms theater.

There are several parades for all ages during carnaval week in Sitges. The biggest parades are the evening parades called "Rua de la Disbauxa" – the Debauchery Parade and the  "Rua de l’Extermini" – Extermination parade. Both feature around 50 floats and thousand dancing participants.

-Sunday the 19th February 2012Rua de la Disbauxa, or the Debauchery Parade

-Tuesday the 21st of February 2012 'Rua de lExterminior Extermination Parade

Agenda Barcelona in April

Sant Jordi’s day

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April 23th

La Diada de Sant Jordi, where Chivalry and Princesses Live Forever

Sant Jordi Day is the most romantic day of the year in Barcelona, a special date similar to Valentines´s day.

St. George is the patron saint of Catalonia and he is celebrated on 23rd April every year to commerate his death on that day in the year 303.

All people go out to the streets and celebrate with roses and books, that why this day is also known as El dia de la Rosa (The Day of the Rose) or El dia del Llibre (The Day of the Book). Men gave women beautiful roses and women gave men a good book to celebrate de occasion.

Roses have been associated with this day since medieval times, but the giving of books is a more recent tradition originating in 1923, when a bookseller started to promote the holiday as a way to commemorate the nearly simultaneous deaths of Miguel Cervantesand William Shakespeareon 23 April 1616.

Agenda Barcelona in May

Pirmavera sound festival

May  30-31 and 1-2-3 June

This festival is a true recommendation for the music lover and it might be worth to combine this event with a city trip. Every year about a hundred artists from all over the world turn up at this event. Most of them are quite unknown and the real famous bands will not show up here, but Spanish rock is very refreshing and fun. It´s a different sound from any known festival in the world.

More information and tickets

Agenda Barcelona in June

Sonar

June 14-15-16

The International Festival of Advanced Music and Multimedia held. For anyone interested in electronic music, urban contemporary art and the world of multimedia, Don´t mis this!

Sonaris a big dance festival every summerin Barcelona. The festival is during three days and focuses on electronic music: techno, house, electro, hip hop, etc. The festival is split into Sonar by Day and Sonar by Night. The daily program consists of concerts, showcases and exhibitions. Sonar by Night is the big party where everyone comes off and it takes place in different nightclubs. Go wild at the Sonar festival in Barcelona 2011!

Feast of Sant Joan

June 23th – 24th 2012

Sant Joan in Spain marks the start of the summer. This is is the midsummer solstice celebration, which is the day that has the longest period of daylight in the year. The Nit de Sant Joan celebrations in Spain and Barcelona are on the evening of the 23rd June.

The next day is 24th June which is Saint John's day and a public holiday in Catalonia and Spain. The Sant Joan festivals and fiestas are from sunset on 23/6 to sunrise on 24/6 on the eve of Saint John's day.

Agenda Barcelona in August

Gracias Festivities (Festa Major de Gracia)

Gracia fiesta always takes place towards the end of August.

On an average day, Gracia is a peaceful, residential neighbourhood north of the city centre of Barcelona, with narrow streets lined with elegant old balconied buildings and shady squares with historic churches and cafe terraces.

But for one week in August, everything changes. When the week-long ”Fiesta Major” (Gracia Festivities) takes over Gracia.  Tranquillity goes out of the window and is replaced by the Catalans' typical exuberant taste in music and mass celebration in the streets. The Gracia festival is a street festival on streets and plazas of Gracia every year from 15th to 21st of August. The Fiesta Major de Gracia is the biggest of Barcelona's neighbourhood festivals with around half a million people visiting and participating. The 2012 celebration will be the 196th edition.

Agenda Barcelona in September

La Mercé Festival (Les Festes de la Mercé)

September 24th – 27th 2012 (dates to be confirmed)

The most important festival of Barcelona, “Festes de la Mercé”, will be held from 22nd to 25th of September, this time Sant Petesburg, Russia will be the guest city. The county town is full of celebrations that bring together Catalan traditions with dances, music, street art, fireworks and sporting events.

La Mercé 2012  will take place around 24 September however exact dates of celebrations are not yet announced.

Useful tips for your Barcelona´s Trip:
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What to do in Barcelona

The Three Kings Parade was a success

Take a look at these pictures to see how was all the Three Kings path:

Lari the wizard in the magic bed of dreams

The big moment approached…

some helpers to write letters to the 3 kings

For more pictures visit the following album in Next Stop Barcelona Facebook Page

The Three Kings of the Orient Arrive in Barcelona

One of the most magical and wonderful events in Barcelona is the Three King parade on 5th January.  This parade is a procession of extraordinarilydecorated floats and lot of colors and spirit of happiness.

The event is the most important moment of Christmas Eve even the Christmas day when all kids have their present. In Spain, most children have not received their gifts on 25^th of December as anywhere inthe world; it is not because they were bad, but rather because it is the Spanish tradition that the Three Kings bring children their gifts on January 6^th. Also it is a tradition that The “Carboneros” (guys whom bring coal) bring coal for the naughty ones kids.

The Three King (or Three Wise Men of the New Testament) and their assistants arrive Barcelonaon Thursday afternoon aboard the schooner Santa Eulalia. Then begin a long journey around the city to greet the children.

The Three Kings Parade route starts in front of the Columbus monument at the Rambla de Mar and finishes near Magic Fountain. 800 meterswill be traveling show, with 11 floats and 26 extras spread over six blocks. The Eastern Star opens the parade, followed by the block of postmen, the three Kings and, as a closure, the guys with the coal called “Los Carboneros”.  During the tour will launch 12,000 pounds of candy, suitable for celiac.

This is a gorgeous event where the children will have a good moment and the big ones also will enjoy as a little ones.

Here is a good video that will show you how people live this day in Barcelona:

Click here to know the Three King Parade full rout

More information about Three King Parade

Useful tips for your Barcelona´s Trip:
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Enjoy Christmas season in the new ice rink in Barcelona

This is how the people of Barcelona has begun to live the early days of the ice rink.

Good music, fun times and enjoying the wind on the face are some of the sensations experienced being on the ice.

The track is located in the middle of the Plaza Catalunya, next to the beautifully lit Christmas tree. Inside the track you will find several places to eat and enjoy a good coffee, while children enjoy a great time.

The entrance fee is 6 euros per half hour and 8 hour. It is compulsory to wear gloves.

New Ice Rink in Barcelona

The Ice Rink will take place in Plaza Cataluña, Barcelona and will have 1,200 square meters. Next to the ice rink will be located ice cream bar,  drinking hot beverages and some snacks, plus a dressing room where you will rent skates and gloves, essential elements in order to access the rink.

The facility will become operational in December 2, days after the official  Christmas day where all Christmas lights turn on (November 30). The track will run until January 9 and has agreed with the Ayuntamiento De Barcelona a schedule of 10:00 to 21:00 on weekdays and up to eleven holidays.

The rink will be able for 400 people, also, people will be able to enjoy ice projections. The rental skates will be between 6 and 8 euros.

More information:
La Vanguardia

Information about your stay in Barcelona:
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Thing to do during you trip Barcelona

Bar, brewery and restaurant

The Quatre Gats restaurant in Barcelona, opened on June 12th of 1897. Cradle of the Catalan Modernism, today continues offering dishes of Catalan and Mediterranean tradition

The story starts at the end of the 19th century, when Pere Romeu worked as an entertainments presenter and waiter in the cabaret Le Chat Noir. Enchanted with this atmosphere, he decided to create a similar place in Barcelona.

The restaurant is located on the ground floor of Casa Martí (1896), a building by the architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch in Carrer Montsió near the center of Barcelona.

Els Quatre Gats was a place where artist as Pablo Picasso, Santiago Rusiñol i Prats, Miquel Utrillo  and the sculptor Julio González used to meet with friends.

Under the same slogan of cheap food and piano music, Els Quatre Gats is an amazing place to visit and enjoy the best Catalan and Mediterranean food and have a good moment with friends.

Els Cuatre Gats information:
Address C/ Montsió, 3 bis 08002 Barcelona
Tel: +34 933 024 140
Open from Monday to Sunday from 10h to 1h

Take a look of this video about Els Quatre Gats, for sure you would like to visit as soon you get Barcelona.

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Enjoy the city

A very good choice from a nice shopping day!

The new  shopping centre Arenas de Barcelona, is an spectacular shopping mall in an lot bull fighting ring. It is located in Plaza España near to Fira Montjuic and the Magic Fountains.

The Arenas is an unusual place which combine shopping, cultural and recreation facilities. It is very attractive to tourist and general people because of its great architectural and its exalted historical value.

At the roof the shopping centre has an amazing cupola terrace where whole family can enjoy the best view of Barcelona and the best food of a log list of restaurants.

Arenas has some of the tendry sops of Barcelona, gourmet shops and stylish home. Also the moll has the Barcelona Rock Museum declared a Cultural Heritage Property by  the Government  of  Catalonia.

Opening time: Mon to Sat 10:00 to 22:00 h.

Here is a video about the Arenas with some comments of  Luis Alonso, the architect.

Important Information:
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