SpainChevron CataloniaChevron BarcelonaChevron Lovely. How accessible is it?Take the R1 train from Plaça Catalunya toward Blanes or Maçanet-Massanes; from there, it'll be an hourlong ride. Once you’ve arrived, an unpaved-but-compacted promenade extends all the way to Arenys de Mar. Got it. Decent services and facilities, would you say?You’ll find showers and toilets, plus a buzzy fitness scene on the esplanade. How’s the actual beach stuff—sand and surf?Once you’ve hotfooted it to the water’s edge—which takes a while, given how wide the beach is—it’s yours to jump into. Anything special we should look for?Canet was home to Modernist architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner—the mind behind Barcelona’s epic Palau de la Música Catalana—and the town is somewhat of a shrine to him today. His former house is now a museum (Casa Museu). You can also visit his remodeled 11th-century castle, Castell de Santa Florentina – used as a filming location in season six of Game of Thrones – which is a 30-minute walk from the beach. If we’re thinking about going, what—and who—is this beach best for?Of all the northern beaches, Canet doesn’t quite have the cliff-top spectacle of Calella’s Les Roques or the photogenic finesse of Caldes d’Estrac. Yet it feels like one to watch. Its Modernist heritage is already in place; build on the success of fresh-fish-serving beach bars like Quatre Canyes, and it has all the raw materials to become an in-demand beach destination. up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse We understand that time is the greatest luxury which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world Best in Travel is here! Discover 2025’s destinations The 30 best countries, cities and regions to visit in 2025 Plan your trip with Elsewhere, by Lonely Planet See where a Lonely Planet Membership takes you Subscribe to our weekly newsletters to get the latest travel news, expert advice, and insider recommendations Explore the world with our detailed, insightful guidebooks Stay ahead of the curve with our guidebooks Uncover exciting new ways to explore iconic destinations Every month, we release new books into the wild Search Search Close search menu Explore Best in Travel 2024 Africa Close menu Countries Antarctica Antarctica Close menu Regions Asia Asia Close menu Countries Australia & the Pacific Australia & the Pacific Close menu Countries The Caribbean The Caribbean Close menu Countries Central America Central America Close menu Countries Europe Europe Close menu Countries Middle East Middle East Close menu Countries North America North America Close menu Countries South America South America Close menu Countries In Tossa de Mar and other beach towns near Barcelona Not just a city of modernista masterpieces and nightlife that doesn’t quit, Barcelona has also earned a reputation as one of Europe’s beachiest urban playgrounds And you’d be wrong – very wrong – in thinking this is the best waterfront the Catalonian coast has to offer If you’re looking for a natural beach for a full or even half-day getaway from bustling Barcelona consider leaving the city limits to discover beaches that any local would recommend And you don’t even need a car to get to any of them take the train one stop further down the line to Villanova i Geltru Follow the trail up north toward Sitges and you’ll discover some less crowded beaches and calas along the way you can plop on the sand right just steps from the center of town or walk a little bit north to find a wilder coast where submerged boulders form tide pools Planning tip: If you’re struggling to find elbow room on Barcelona beaches, there are beach towns all along the R1 line which travels along the shore with sea views the entire way to Blanes For something a little more low-key and quieter than Sitges 5km (3-mile) stretch of water watched over by some seaside mansions worth gawking at (including the home of former Barça midfielder Lionel Messi) With the Mediterranean waves and the green hills of Parc del Garraf on either side Planning tip: Next door to this beach – near the Baix-Llobregat marshlands and close to the airport – is Platja de Gavà Between Castelldefels and Sitges, this beach features a row of adorable green-and-white houses (where fishermen once stored their gear) immediately catches the eye they are rentable homes and popular backdrops for anyone looking to add some vintage flair to their beach-day pics The beach itself is less than 500m (1640ft) long and fills up quickly during the summer season – but its picture-perfect quality makes it too pretty to pass up Detour: Behind the beach, you can explore the trails in the hills of the Parc del Garraf to get up higher for a wider view of the Mediterranea, or venture out on a thru-hike that ends in Sitges. If you want a different kind of refreshment, Soho House’s posh Little Beach House property has a beach bar open to non-members Local tip: The train does not run along the Costa Brava, so you’ll have to take the bus to reach Tossa de Mar. There are multiple direct departures from Barcelona’s Estació Nord; you can also save a few euros by taking the train to Blanes and boarding a cheaper bus from there. with dozens of events in Barcelona and across Catalonia featuring some of the biggest names in music internationally and also up-and-coming local artists who might become the next sensation.   Here’s a guide to some of the biggest festivals Fifth edition of Barcelona’s Share festival featuring some of the biggest names of trap music.  Who’s playing? Myke Towers, Aitana, Chanel, Julieta, JC Reyes, Maka, Ayax y Prok, Jhayco, Juan Magán, and many more. Full line-up.  How much? €79 for three days, €69 for two days and €45 for one day. Get tickets here.  Sónar will celebrate its 31st edition with over 100 shows featuring some of the biggest names in electronic music.  and L’Hospitalet de Llobregat’s Fira Gran Via at night.  Who’s playing? The headliners include Paul Kalkbrenner, Sevdaliza, Laurent Garnier, Kittin b2b David Vunk, VTSS, Adriatique, Soto Asa, DJ Tennis, Anetha, Richie Hawtin,  and many more. Full line-up How much? 45-60€ for one day, 80€ for one night, 210€ for the full festival. Get tickets here Festival in central Catalonia featuring the biggest pop and rock bands in Catalan music.  Who’s playing? Oques Grasses, Love of Lesbian, La Pegatina, The Tyets, Figa Flawas, Mushkaa, Buhos, La Fúmiga. Full line-up.  How much? Two days for 60€, one for 45€. Buy tickets here.  Vida Festival is one of the biggest music festivals in Catalonia featuring both international and local artists throughout three days.  Who’s playing? Vance Joy, James Blake, M.I.A, Ty Segall, Sílvia Pérez Cruz, Ride, Paolo Nutini, Los Planetas, Alizzz, Julieta, and many more. Full line-up and more information here How much? One-day tickets for €69.80. Full-festival tickets sold out. Get tickets here.  Festival in the seaside town of Canet de Mar featuring the biggest pop and rock bands in Catalan music.  Who’s playing? Oques Grasses, The Tyets, 31 FAM, Els Catarres, Figa Flawas, Julieta, Miki Nuñez, Ginestà, La Fúmiga, O-Erra, and Miquel del Roig. Full line-up here.  Tickets for 40€. Tickets are sold out featuring both international and local artists from different music genres as well as comedy shows and art displays.  Who’s playing? Pet Shop Boys, The Smashing Pumpkins, Avril Lavigne, Kasabian, The Kooks, Maria Becerra, Amaral, and many more. Full line-up How much? €49-82 for one day, €150 for the full festival. Tickets here.  Music festival featuring Catalonia’s biggest pop and rock bands organized by the youth organization of pro-independence Esquerra Republicana party.  Who’s playing? The Tyets, Lildami, Maio, Mushkaa, Sara Roy, Els Amics de les Arts, Xavi Sarrià, Miquel del Roig, among others. Full line-up here.  How much? €22,99 for the full festival. Get tickets here.  Festival featuring some of the biggest name in reggaeton.  Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Montmeló How much? €125 for the full festival. Get tickets here Concert cycle featuring international and local artists no longer held at the Jardins de Pedralbes.  How much? Ticket prices vary from night to night, ranging from about €40 to over €70. Get tickets here.  Concert cycle featuring international and local artists in the northern Costa Brava coast.  How much? Ticket prices vary from night to night, ranging from about €20 to over €120. Get tickets here Various locations in Sant Feliu de Guíxols.  Who’s playing? Tom Jones, Toquinho, Gregory Porter, Two Door Cinema Club, Hombres G, Amaral, Ara Malikian, among others. Full line-up here.  How much? Ticket prices vary from night to night, ranging from under €10 to over €75. Get tickets here.  Get the day's biggest stories right to your phone Nationalists furious as court sides with family abused for seeking quarter of lessons in Spanish for their child The long-running and bitter row over language teaching in Catalonia has intensified after a family in the Spanish region was harassed and abused for seeking to ensure that a quarter of the lessons at the school their five-year-old son attends are taught in Spanish The family’s actions have provoked an angry response from some Catalan nationalists who view their stance as an assault on the region’s language and culture adding: “The other children should leave their class when lessons are taught in Spanish the Catalan high court ordered the regional education ministry and the head of the school in the town of Canet de Mar to take measures to protect the boy and his identity During a visit to the school last Thursday, Josep Gonzàlez-Cambray, who serves as education minister in the pro-independence regional government – said he condemned “any kind of threats or violence” But he criticised the Catalan high court’s decision to order that 25% of classes be taught on Spanish as “an intolerable attack” adding: “The Catalan school model is a model of success the interior minister in Spain’s Socialist-led coalition government has warned that “any threats to coexistence” will be investigated a former central government minister who now leads the Catalan Socialist party also criticised the attacks on the family and said schools need to obey the decisions made by courts “This doesn’t go against Catalan; it’s about complying with rulings and the [regional education system] still guarantees Catalan as the educational centre of gravity in Catalonia,” Illa said on Thursday The Spanish right has seized on the episode as proof of anti-Spanish discrimination in Catalonia, where the separatist government attempted unilateral secession in 2017 the leader of the rightwing People’s party – which is leading the national polls but has just three MPs in the 135-seat Catalan parliament – said: “Today in Spain we’re suffering a terrible case of linguistic segregation involving a five-year-old boy.” Casado said the Catalan government was practising “linguistic apartheid” and accused the Socialist-led minority government of “complicit silence” because it relies on the support of some Catalan nationalists in congress whose rise has been partly fuelled by the Catalan independence crisis has called a demonstration outside the regional parliament on Tuesday evening It said it would no longer allow “twisted separatism to continue assaulting the little boy and his family from Canet with total impunity” This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. 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Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Alexander Spatari/GettySave this storySaveSave this storySaveA huge part of Barcelona’s appeal is being a city with a beach – though but there are many more (less populated) spots to spread your beach towel on to tiny rocky coves found a short train ride away don’t miss exploring more of the coastline Read on to discover lesser-known beaches that will whet your appetite for getting your toes wet Click the link to read our complete Barcelona guide This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date Sant Sebastià is the locals’ choice; it's small Although everywhere in Sitges is LGBTQIA-friendly Bassa Rodona is considered the main gay beach; located in the very center thanks to its volleyball nets and pedal boats As for Sitges town itself: It's a maze of idyllic cobbled streets and white-walled villas with Juliet balconies but we’ve grouped them together because they share a boundary Leave the shouts of Barceloneta’s sarong- and sangria-sellers behind; walk while keeping Frank Gehry's famous golden fish sculpture on your left (and eventually behind you) and you'll start to actually see some unoccupied stretches of sand no one has tried to massage you in public for at least ten minutes Get off the R1 train and you’re met with a palm-lined promenade and a wide our work here is done—we’ll leave you in the capable Aperol-drenched hands of one of the glossy beach clubs But things get even better when you venture south toward a hill with a lighthouse Climb up the steps and you’ll find yourself on a path; look down and you'll a quartet of tiny coves flanked by pines making it a popular choice for rugby and volleyball tournaments—or for simply reclining back at the perfect 180-degree angle Grab the R1 train from Plaça Catalunya (toward Mataró the beach is closer than you could cast a fishing line spacious stretches of sand that makes you vow to move beside the sea and spend every evening strolling by the water with said dog The beach wraps around like a pale-yellow paint stroke and never seems to fill up completely and by Barcelona visitors who have caught wind of its reputation Clusters of rocks—often sheltering fisherman—spring up in the sand alongside hardy plants like sea fennel as the gritty beach path widens into an esplanade fishing rods are replaced by volleyball nets flat beach in Sant Pol de Mar that's bordered on one side by a wide expanse of dark-blue sea and on the other by an elegant curve of beach houses it’s dappled with striped beach towels and pastel-bottomed boats It’s strange; although you’re right next to civilization you feel like you're in a world all your own where a Catalan-Brazilian fusion bistro long in the hands of a culinary whiz family will delight your tastebuds Garraf is a 380-meter-long stretch of fine golden sand You’ll be struck by the postcard-prettiness of the line of white huts curved along the beach with their white picket fences and green roofs and shutters They’re also a favorite backdrop for fashion shoots and possess a photogenic appeal that didn’t go unnoticed by Soho House which converted the bay’s once-ramshackle 1950s hotel into Little Beach House Barcelona a mere 20 minutes northeast of Plaça Catalunya you'll feel as if you could leap from the platform straight onto the squishy white sand Exit the station the conventional way; there are stairs to the right some 30 meters of sand standing between you and the water's edge One of Montgat's best facilities is Escola de Mar Gavà’s beaches offer surprisingly pleasant wild terrain The stretch of sand is bordered by grassy dunes—more speed-bump size than dune-buggy terrain—plus hills of pine trees in the distance is that there’s just something alluring about this beach Even the approach along Passeig dels Anglesos is elegant with Modernist villas and boughs of bright-pink flowers facing your hardest choice of the day: which xiringuito bar to choose for a glass of crisp white wine Arenys de Mar is a fishing-industry epicenter; the sailing vessels and blue-and-white boat sheds were all built for hard graft rather than show You’ll know you’ve arrived when more catches your eye than sand and a couple of beach bars—yep High summer still brings a chaotic kaleidoscope of umbrellas and sunbeds but it’s much less of a squabble for space than the Barceloneta end of town Urban renewal has created a backdrop that’s almost sci-fi as glossy mirrored high-rises gleam behind you there’s a busy dog beach where pooches mix bouts of zoomies with ocean bellyflops to escape the summer heat while many people sit on the seawall to watch the world—and paddle-boarders—bob by and whether it’s through the power of suggestion–or geography–the sea here does appear to glimmer towards the turquoise Mar Bella is most notable for having a large clothing-optional section You can’t spot it from the promenade (it’s hidden behind artfully placed rocks) you may be surprised to discover just how well attended it is—except in terms of garments though–it’s entirely up to you; the vibe is liberal and no one bats an eyelid about what anyone else is doing if you want to be sure there are no anatomical surprises popping up in the background of your vacation snaps wander along to Nova Mar —the next stretch along—where bits remain white under wraps which boasts three smart outdoor pools right beside the palm trees of Barceloneta beach but you can buy a day ticket for around $15 On Montjuïc, Barcelona’s most iconic pool is Piscina Municipal de Montjuic—famous for hosting the diving in the 1992 Olympic Games where athletes descended in front of a spectacular city skyline Starring in the music video for Kylie Minogue’s <Slow> Its 25-meter outdoor pool is open to the public in July and August; although facilities are rather utilitarian and concrete-based the panorama here—with La Sagrada Familia in the distance—is unbeatable While you’re on Montjuïc, Piscines Bernat Picornell has a 50-meter outdoor pool that’s open from 1 April to 31 October. Also used for the ’92 Olympics, it still has all the stadium seating to prove it (what better incentive to finesse your freestyle?). Tickets cost around €13 (around $14), including access to a gym, jacuzzi and sauna. Catalonia’s design gems don’t begin and end with Gaudí The works of Lluís Domènech i Montaner deserve a closer look on the centenary of his death Barcelona is justly renowned for its architecture but there’s a lot more to it than Gaudí and the still unfinished Sagrada Familia This year Catalonia is celebrating the centenary of the death of Lluís Domènech i Montaner (1849-1923) one of Gaudí’s contemporaries and a leading light in the Catalan modernisme movement Over the course of the year there will be talks, videos and conferences celebrating the work of this prolific architect, as well as a route taking in some of his 26 buildings, 11 of which are in Barcelona who was prominent in the Catalan cultural revival known as the renaixença combined modern techniques such as steel-framing with nostalgic and often romantic concepts of Spanish and Catalan culture ceramics and stained glass characterise his lavishly decorated buildings Here’s are five of the architect’s most emblematic buildings View image in fullscreenCastell dels Tres Dragons incorporates medieval influences Photograph: AlamyStanding in the north-west corner of the Parc de la Ciutadella the Castell dels Tres Dragons was built in 1888 as a cafe and restaurant for the Universal Exposition Domènech had already developed his distinctive style of exposed brickwork and iron structures There are medieval references as well as a nod to the Spanish-Arab mudejar style with heraldic motifs and images of plants and animals The capitals and columns in the cafe are based on the 12th-century synagogue in Toledo The Castell had a later life as the city’s natural history museum but that has now moved and the building is being restored the facade consists of exposed brick and iron and decorative mosaics with elements of Spanish and Arabic architecture Even the balusters on the stairway are glass and the concert hall itself is walled with glass so that in summer recitals begin in daylight giving the sensation of listening to music in a garden The ceiling supports a gigantic sun-like skylight while the semi-circular stage is lined with carvings of 18 “muses” View image in fullscreenA hospital that’s an ‘exuberant celebration of ceramics Photograph: AlamyWork on what is Europe’s largest art nouveau building began in 1901 but wasn’t completed until 1930 Facing the sea so that patients might benefit from breezes off the Mediterranean the building incorporates what were then modern ideas about healthcare and hygiene It comprises a series of interconnected buildings each catering to different medical conditions reflect the growing awareness of the need for a sterile environment The main administration building is an exuberant celebration of ceramics unlike any hospital designed before or since Sant Pau continued to serve as one of the city’s principal hospitals until 2009 Along with the Palau de la Música Catalana it was declared a Unesco heritage site in 1997 The Fire Department rescued the driver of a car that had been swept away by a flood in Vilassar de Mar, just north of Barcelona, this Sunday. Emergency services were altered to the incident at 08.35 in the morning, after Catalonia experienced intense rainfall through the night. The vehicle was stuck under a bridge and emergency service workers were able to rescue the 75-year-old man safely. On Sunday, the fire department received around sixty calls related to the strong storms, most of them concentrated in the Maresme county north of Barcelona, due to leaks and accumulations of water or damage to buildings. There was extreme rainfall in parts of the territory too, such as 67 liters in Masnou, 46 liters in Canet de Mar, and 40 liters in Cabrera de Mar. The emergency telephone number 112 received a total of 663 calls in 48 hours due to the rain and storm. Heavy hailstones the size of eggs fell in the Barcelona metropolitan area, causing some damage. Local police said numerous parked cars were affected by the hail, as well as house windows and pipes.  v1.1.0. Copyright © 2025. Powered by EBANTIC. All rights reserved. and also up-and-coming local artists who might become the next sensation.  featuring some of the biggest names of trap music Who’s playing? Bizarrap, Quevedo, Dellafuente, Morad, Hoke & Louis Amoeba, YSY A, Ptazeta, Saiko, Aleesha, among others. Full line-up How much? 64 euros for two days, 36 for one day. Get tickets here Sónar will celebrate its 30th anniversary with over 100 shows featuring some of the biggest names in electronic music and L’Hospitalet de Llobregat’s Fira Gran Via at night The headliners include 2manydjs invite Peach & Tiga How much? 45-60€ for one day, 80€ for one night, 210€ for the full festival. Get tickets here Festival in central Catalonia featuring the biggest pop and rock bands in Catalan music Who’s playing? Els Amics de les Arts, Antònia Font, Zoo, Stay Homas, Joan Dausà, Sara Roy, Tribade, among others. Full line up here How much? Two days for 55€, one for 40€. Buy tickets here Vida Festival one of the biggest music festivals in Catalonia featuring both international and local artists throughout three days Who’s playing? Aurora, Alex Amor, The Gulps, Ven’nus, Za! & La Transmegacobla, Xicu, Alba Morena, Niño de Elche, Tim Bernardes, The Libertines, Julieta Venegas, La Casa Azul, among others. Full line-up here How much? One-day tickets for 74.40 euros. Full-festival tickets sold out. Get tickets here featuring the biggest pop and rock bands in Catalan music Who’s playing? Stay Homas, The Tyets, Els Catarres, Joan Dausà, Buhos, Els Catarres, Els Amics de les Arts, Triquell, among others. Full line-up here How much? Tickets for 40€. Buy tickets here Celebrate Asian pop culture during two days: exclusive shows Who’s playing? LeeHi, Rei Ami, Superorganism, Junny, Tiffany Day, oceanfromtheblue, XOOOS, DONGURIZU, Macross 82-99, Vantage, I Don’t Like Mondays, RIRI, among others. Full line-up here How much? Weekend tickets for 58 euros, one day for 38. Buy tickets here Rubén Blades with Roberto Delgado Big Band organized by the youth organization of pro-independence Esquerra Republicana party Who’s playing? The Tyets, Lildami, Maio, Mushkaa, Sara Roy, Els Amics de les Arts, Xavi Sarrià, Miquel del Roig, among others. Full line-up here How much? 43 euros for the full festival, one-day tickets 20-25 euros. Get tickets here Festival featuring some of the biggest name in reggaeton no longer held at the Jardins de Pedralbes Barcelona’s Poble Espanyol (festival changed location from Jardins de Pedralbes) Concert cycle featuring international and local artists in the northern Costa Brava coast Concert cycle on weekends from July 14 to August 19 Who’s playing? Earth, Wind & Fire, Crystal Fighters, Jethro Tull, Jorge Drexler, Wilco, Ben Harper, Wilco, Niña Pastori, Les Luthiers, Berto Romero, among others. Full line-up here How much? Ticket prices vary from night to night, ranging from under 10 euros to over 75. Get tickets here. Protesters peacefully take to streets in Barcelona to reject court ruling imposing Spanish quotas ACN | Barcelona thousands took to the streets in Barcelona’s Passeig de Sant Joan to defend the Catalan language immersion system in schools Demonstrators chanted the motto "Ara i Sempre" (now and always) referring to the need to use Catalan as a working language in education centers across the country Barcelona Guàrdia Urbana police said that over 35,000 people gathered following the call from Som Escola which groups together most of the parent associations and teacher unions it was possible to hear people shouting "we’ll win this battle" as well as "united towards a common goal," while waving green cardboard hands organizers read a manifesto urging politicians to create laws to protect Catalan languages in schools as well as highlighting that Courts’ decisions are only based on "ideologic criteria." The Catalan high court imposed on December 10 that a school in Canet de Mar a seaside down around 40km north of Barcelona complies with the recent court ruling that says that at least 25% of classes must be done through Spanish.  Meaning that 25% of the lessons of a P5 class – 5-year-olds – are no longer in Catalan after the family of a single student requested it and judges agreed dressed up as dragons as a reference to the schools’ name Turó del Drac (mountain dragon) and the green wave of the demonstration in Barcelona New figures released by the Catalan education department reveal that 47% of teachers always or almost always speak in Catalan to 4th year secondary school students – that is significantly fewer than 15 years ago Listen to our podcast episode on Catalan use in schools but also in society This is especially remarkable as Catalan is the working language at schools in order to protect it and avoid the society being split in two separate linguistic communities When Catalonia recovered its self-rule in the late 1970s after 40 years of a fascist dictatorship its new authorities decided that classes in Catalan rather than a choice between Catalan and Spanish would ensure that students end their studies speaking both languages – considering that the latter is learned in society because it is the most widely used one and is studied as a foreign language at school Catalonia's High Court (TSJC) has ruled that the linguistic immersion system in schools could only be applied if there were an option between the two languages The court says that this is not the case in Catalonia's current school model and therefore the system "needs to respect the co-official languages and the student's rights to have a minimum education in Spanish." This ruling comes after Catalonia's High Court established that at least one core subject must be taught in Spanish in three classrooms.  The court also said that the presence of Spanish in Catalan schools affected by the ruling is "not enough" and "inappropriate." However, the court is not planning on applying the ruling to the whole education system; just to the specific cases in which the families request schools to provide "effective and balanced" teaching in Spanish.  Coinciding with this ruling, the Assembly for a Bilingual School (AEB) has announced that on Tuesday there were two new favorable rulings for schools in Vilanova del Vallès and Sant Esteve Sesrovires, in the Baix Llobregat county.  Catalonia's education minister Anna Simó expressed her regret that "Catalonia's High Court enters the electoral campaign" and considers that the court has gone beyond its functions. There are over 1.6 million students in Catalonia and since 1983, the vast majority of schools use Catalan as the working language with pupils. The territory has two main official languages, Spanish and Catalan, but there is a Catalan immersion system in place to strengthen the use of the language.  The goal of this education policy in public and semi-public schools is for students to be proficient in both languages. Most of Catalonia’s students go to these kinds of schools; private ones, on the other hand, are exempt from implementing the immersion system.  "The immersion system places a community, students, in this case, in a language setting to achieve full bilingualism. And in Catalonia, there are two coexisting languages, Catalan and Spanish, but there is one that is clearly stronger in society," Anna Rosès, a Catalan language teacher at Barcelona’s Escola Pia Sarrià, told Catalan News.  Some of the reasons why Spanish has a bigger presence are because of pop culture, cinema, television channels, court rulings, or other day-to-day activities, in which people tend to favor the language in certain settings. Catalan speakers often switch to Spanish without hesitation when speaking with people who talk to them in Spanish, and some Catalan speakers even talk to other Catalan speakers in Spanish sometimes.  Listen to our Filling the Sink podcast to learn more about the immersion system.  ACN | Barcelona Music festivals Vida and Canet Rock took place this weekend without social distancing in place - the first music festivals in Catalonia to go ahead with a pre-pandemic feel to them.  All attendees wore face masks and everybody was tested for the coronavirus with antigen tests before entry but distances were not required and fans danced and sang together in close proximity for the first time in many months.  Vida finished its seventh edition with 27,200 attendees at the Vilanova i la Geltrú festival It was the first major festival to take place in Catalonia since the start of the pandemic without social distances.  After a very complicated first day on Thursday due to the long queues to take an antigen test and the problems arising from the Test Vida application the festival rethought the testing system for Friday and Saturday and fans were able to proceed without incident.  Hosted on the grounds of the Masia d'en Cabanyes country farmhouse Stay Homas and Love of Lesbian performing.  The festival has already announced some acts that will perform at the 2022 edition the organizers of the Vida will provide the data of positives detected during the screening of entry to the festival audiences buzzed to Suu's party pop sounds and the rhythms of Stay Homas in the festival held in Canet de Mar a seaside town just north of Barcelona.  Around 21,000 people were in attendance and 152 positive tests were discovered before the festival kicked off Large queues to get tested of around an hour were seen at the start of the day Stay Homas are a group born out of the pandemic as they formed and rose to fame on their rooftop in the Eixample neighbourhood of Barcelona singing songs that had the aim of lifting spirits and encouraging safety practices in the first wave of the pandemic.  saw a total of 130 million passengers use its services in 2023 a rise of 19.5% compared to the year before.  This rise is equivalent to 21 million more passengers using the service in the entire year compared with 2022.  The vast majority of these commuters used to service linking Barcelona with 120 million in total - the highest such figure for the Catalan capital since 2006 when 122.8 million used the service.  The data also means that passenger figures exceed those recorded before the pandemic by 1.35 million 9.8 million passengers used the regional services last year the last full year before the pandemic hit The regional record high figure is from 2011 As a means to temper soaring inflation in mid-2022 the Spanish government made all commuter and medium-range trains free for users.  In addition to helping ease the cost-of-living crisis authorities also wanted to promote the use of public transport The measure is still in effect for the full year 2024 and anyone who wants a free ticket can obtain the pass at Rodalies machines in train stations.  but this will automatically be refunded into the same account as the card used to purchase it or else exchanged for €10 cash at certain train stations if paid for in cash.  Catalans can travel across the territory using up to 15 different routes operated by Renfe several beach towns, mountainous areas or even travel to some of the other cities in Catalonia or in the neighboring regions of Aragon and Valencia Rodalies has nine different train lines that can bring users to places such as the southern beaches of Castelldefels It does not matter how long the journey takes as all trips will be free of charge.  Barcelona Pass Modernisme card includes visits to 15 buildings in nearby towns ACN | Barcelona has come to epitomize not only the work of Catalonia’s most renowned architect but also the unique aesthetics of the artistic movement he belonged to: modernism Yet this distinctly Catalan form of Art Nouveau extended far beyond the boundaries of a single city and comprised works greater than those attributable to a lone artist The person behind Barcelona’s Palau de la Música and the Sant Pau Hospital, Lluís Domènech i Montaner, designed his own house in Canet de Mar, now open for visits. Josep Puig i Cadafalch built the Casa Coll i Regàs in Mataró It’s in this same seaside town where one can also find Gaudí’s first work as an architect All these buildings are included in a new project by Barcelona’s regional authority aiming to redirect the inflow of modernism enthusiasts from the city to nearby towns Celtic fiddle masters Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas will be touring the United States and Spain in 2020. the duo will be presenting its latest album Ports of Call. Mar 24 – Sala Borja, Valladolid, Spain Mar 25 – Sala Galileo Galilei, Madrid, Spain Mar 26 – Workshop at La Escuela de Música Soto Mesa, Madrid, Spain Mar 27 – Real Fábrica de Paños, Brihuega (Guadalajara), Spain Mar 28 – Auditorio Canet de Berenguer, Canet de Berenguer, Spain Mar 29 – Argelaguer, Spain Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Please enter an answer in digits:one × four = Gerard Escaich Folch | Barcelona Connecting north to south and east to west Catalonia’s Rodalies train lines move millions of passengers every month travelers will enjoy free trips as the tickets will be fully subsidized by the Spanish government.  Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez made tickets for short and medium-distance trains run by state-owned operator Renfe free for four months.  Passengers will have to pay a €10 deposit for short-distance tickets and €20 for medium-distance ones These fees will be returned automatically four months later if tickets are used at least 16 times.  Catalans can travel across the territory using up to 15 different routes operated by Renfe All of them will be free allowing people to visit Barcelona or even travel to some of the other cities in Catalonia or in the neighboring regions of Aragon and Valencia Rodalies has nine different train lines that can bring users to places such as the southern beaches of Castelldefels To the north, beaches accessible by train include but are not limited to Sant Adrià de Besos, Badalona, Masnou, Premià de Mar, Arenys de Mar, Canet de Mar, and Blanes. Travelers will have to take the R1 train line in this case, the oldest one built in Catalonia that is currently in danger due to climate change.  But trains were not only built to go to the beach but also to stop in some of the biggest cities around the territory the R2N line also stops in El Prat de Llobregat another city south of the Catalan capital.  While the R2S has stations in Castelldefels Other big cities reachable by train include Ripoll and Puigcerdà (R3) in the northern mountains; as well as Vic (R3) Students going to the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) by Rodalies R7 will also benefit from the free ride The other six Renfe-operated train lines in Catalonia are named ‘Regionals’ and are medium-distance covering several important destinations in the territory from the northern town of Portbou on the coast right before the French border These lines are all those named ‘R’ and followed by a double-digit as opposed to the Rodalies ones that only have one number With these train lines, travelers will even be able to cross the French border and visit Cerbère for free with the R11 line those going by train can stop in some Costa Brava areas such as Figueres Other interesting spots include the largest amusement park in Catalonia and other major cities such as Tarragona (R14 Regional lines also have a Regional Express option reducing the number of stations the train stops at Renfe’s high-speed trains are not included in the subsidized tickets as some areas in Spain do have a price reduction in these services AVEs in Catalonia go from Figueres-Vilafant before crossing to the neighboring region of Aragon.  Despite the speed and making it possible to travel around the territory easily there are only five stations across Catalonia: aside from the northern one and the one in Lleida All public transport in Barcelona’s metropolitan area is combined, meaning one traveler can use the same ticket for bus This will complicate things for those who desire to travel for free during the last months of 2022 and live in Barcelona Rodalies will be the only transport service free of charge users taking the metro or the bus will still have to pay depending on the ticket they acquire.  It will only be possible to travel for free if you only ride Rodalies and then finish your commute by walking But if you need to take the metro or the bus you will still end up having to use a ticket not necessary to get a free ticket for half of your journey as the already reduced one will also be usable in Rodalies.  non-Barcelona residents will see a huge change in their travel expenses from September to December.  Rodalies will be free whether you use them for five minutes or for over two hours people living outside the first zone of the metropolitan area ticket fares will have cheaper journeys News The Echo Noelia Gomez is a sophomore tennis player majoring in International Studies with a business emphasis and a minor in Spanish a small town that is close to the ever so popular Barcelona Asking about what she most enjoyed about SNU so far “What I enjoy the most about SNU is meeting new people and spending time with my friends I also get the chance to play tennis at the same time that I am studying That’s something I couldn’t do back at home.” and is enjoying her time on the team this year When asked what she most enjoys about the team “What I enjoy the most about the tennis team is how close we have become,” Gomez said We encourage each other not only in the court but also with the classes and life in general Since there are three international students on the team we always try to spend time together on the weekends and on holidays.” Gomez got her start playing tennis after her parents encouraged her to find something to do in her spare time “I was deciding between horseback riding and tennis,” Gomez stated I started playing tennis when I was 8 for fun on Saturdays When asked what sport she would play if she had not gotten involved in tennis she mentioned that she enjoyed individual sports so it would either be horseback riding or golf Her favorite motto is “Hard work always pays off.” “I like this sentence because I consider myself a hard worker,” said Gomez and all things happen to me because of my own earnings and hard work during my life “Coming to the US to study and play tennis with a scholarship is my biggest accomplishment I see that I am improving a little bit every day When asked what she is most looking forward to in the spring season “I am so excited for next season because it is our tournament season We are putting so much effort in the practices [time in the] gym and also outside of the court as a team.” Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Barcelona On this getaway to Maresme you'll explore two of the region’s most lively and dynamic towns the regional capital and Catalonia’s eighth-largest city in terms of population with plenty of cultural and commercial attractions which is marked by the legacy of the 'Indians' who went to America to seek their fortune and by the verses dedicated to it by the poet Salvador Espriu Your getaway gets underway in Arenys de Mar set off to seek their fortune in the 18th and 19th centuries Many of them did indeed manage to make that fortune and The walking route we suggest begins at the upper end of the famous 'riera' (dry river bed prone to flash floods) of Arenys and goes from one side of this main avenue to the other so you can see different buildings Perhaps the most famous of Arenys' Indianos was Josep Xifré who donated a hospital for the needy to his home town It's a large building and contains his mausoleum You should also look out for the Torrent Asylum the El Paraiso palace and Can Còrdova You should also visit the Sinera cemetery on a hilltop overlooking the town which was immortalised in the verses of Salvador Espriu Many of the cemetery’s magnificent pantheons are the last resting places of the town’s Indianos At weekends in July and August you can also take a cruise along the nearby coast on a motor launch These are great ways to get closer to the water and to the maritime traditions of Arenys de Mar Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! facebooktwitterspotifytiktokAbout us Contact us Time Out Worldwide one of the most recognized beer brands in Spain has launched an incredible promotion for music lovers The company will hide in the collars of Estrella Damm beer bottles a golden pass for all the festivals it sponsors in Catalonia and Andorra Whoever finds the golden necklace will win “La Poolsera 2023 de Estrella Damm” which will give them access to 21 free music festivals throughout Catalonia over the next 10 years as those who fail to find the golden necklace will also have a chance to win All Estrella Damm returnable bottle collars will carry a promotional code on the back of the bottle which can be used to enter the draw for a free entry to the 21 Catalan festivals in 2023 Entering the sweepstakes is as easy as going to the brand’s website and registering the code Estrella Damm’s promotion is an excellent opportunity for music lovers to enjoy a large number of festivals without having to worry about the cost of tickets Estrella Damm’s Poolsera 2023 is not only a ticket to 21 free music festivals an exclusive and non-transferable piece of digital art it is the work of Barcelona artist Alex Trochut and has been generated on the blockchain00 Polygon representing the beer’s first foray into the world of NFTs If you want to win the first NFT (Non Fungible Token) of Estrella Damm, you will have to look for the golden necklace among the bottles in the bars Whoever finds the golden necklace will be able to enjoy a unique experience offered by the brewery The festivals participating in the promotion and which the winner will be able to attend are: Cap Roig Festival (Calella de Palafrugell) Festival de la Porta Ferrada (Sant Feliu de Guíxols) Festival Internacional de Música de Cambrils (Cambrils) becoming one of the most recognized beer brands in Spain Stock images by Depositphotos La venta de la nuda propiedad Copyright © 2022 Salirporbarcelona , All rights Reserved. Created by JEZZ Media You can read this article in 3 minutesTrans.INFO Vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tonnes will today be subject to various restrictions on two stretches of Spain's AP-7 motorway while similar restrictions will apply on the C-32 and B-23 this Sunday Photo: Jorge Franganillo / Flickr / CC BY 2.0 The information regarding the restrictions was published by Belgium’s road transport association (Febetra) among others vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tonnes must travel in the right lane The measure will come into force today as follows: Photo: Jorge Franganillo / Flickr / CC BY 2.0 Pölös Zsófia Journalist Trans.info | 5.05.2025 Agnieszka Kulikowska - Wielgus Journalist Trans.info | 5.05.2025 Sabina Koll Journalist Trans.info | 5.05.2025 GXO to manage Northern Italy transport operations for PRG retail groupPölös Zsófia Journalist Trans.info | 5.05.2025 So we've assembled five of the finest Potter like castles where true fans can live the dream provided they have the Galleons to pay for it Located near Barcelona, it boasts 32,000 square feet—plenty of space for fellow fans—but the muggles who currently own it are demanding $21M for the turreted castillo That's even more expensive than seeing the 3D version in theaters there's a glorious hilltop castle for sale that would be perfect for the purpose On the other, that castle is asking an astounding $64.2M a steep price even for those who can wave a wand with no fewer than 30 bedrooms and 47 bathrooms plus it comes complete with mysterious historic features like the courtyard's aptly named "Fountain of the Mysteries." Not all of the European options are so spendy France doesn't have the space and drama of its Italian counterpart The seven-bedroom spread packs a wealth of original detail into a small space but with the low price comes the concern that this place needs some serious TLC Those concerned with the upkeep on a musty old castle can pick up this Swiss castle the place might not have the gloomy interiors of Hogwarts but who's to say Harry wouldn't have taken a daily soak in a Jacuzzi tub No word on the pricing, but considering the listing indicates there's space for a helipad Even America has a fair number of castles that Potter wouldn't pooh-pooh like this stone structure with 105-foot tower in Narragansett The $5.95M number has 15 bedrooms spread over 21,000 square feet, with 38 acres of privacy. It's currently owned by the Catholic Diocese who might not take too kindly to selling to a bunch of wannabe wizards A Spanish police officer was sentenced to 15 months in prison on Tuesday for spreading fake news about migrants on social media the police officer tweeted a 45-second video showing a brutal attack on a woman with a man beating and kicking her until she was left unconscious and then lowering his pants “Here you have a video of the Moroccan MENA [a slur for underage migrants] in Canet de Mar These are the kind of people that we are paying until they are 23 years old … to make matters worse and herds of Morrocans will not be shown in the media,” the police officer wrote in a caption to the video the police officer acknowledged that the tweet was “motivated by his animosity towards and rejection of foreign immigrants from Morocco.” Spain’s leading daily also confirmed that this is the first time someone in Spain has been convicted for spreading fake news the court determined that the man knew he was lying about the context of the video it found he shared it to “unfairly defame unaccompanied foreign minors” by linking them to violence and sexual assault Besides the video that landed him a prison term he made multiple xenophobic and racist Twitter posts some with false or misleading information about immigrants “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children,” said one of his tweets quoting the former leader of the US Ku Klux Klan Barcelona prosecutor Miguel Angel Aguilar is pioneering the prosecution of this type of crime he is asking for a two-year prison sentence for a woman who shared a video of a group of children attacking their teacher the accused said the incident happened in Spain while it actually took place in Brazil young migrants have been one of the main groups targeted by the far right The party Vox speaks of them often and blames them for violence and attacks in the country Sanguinetti / Diputació de BarcelonaGetaway to Maresme: Wine tasting and relaxationThis getaway takes you to three towns in the region: Alella perhaps as many as there are towns in this region marked by contrasts There's a coastal Maresme and a mountainous one with curative waters there are large department stores and quaint you'll find towns frequented by tourists and others still relatively undiscovered there's an agricultural Maresme and an industrial one… Discovering all of these in just 48 hours is impossible but the visit we recommend sums up the region's diversity The Local Europe ABVästmannagatan 43113 25 StockholmSweden Please log in here to leave a comment Matthew Lloyd and Richard Keep to win contest to redevelop plot that has lain empty since World War II Amin Taha Architects has won the competition to redevelop a site in Upper Street which has lain empty since being bombed in World War II The practice saw off Robin Lee Architecture Matthew Lloyd Architects and Richard Keep Architects to land the £3.5 million project Plans are expected to be submitted before the end of the year BDP’s College of Arts & Society at Coventry University has been named… Lewisham Council has given Turner Works planning permission for a mixed-use regeneration… Wandsworth Council has given Gehry Partners planning permission for two more residential… Southwark Council has approved tp bennett’s plans for a 25-storey student tower…