DK Travel : Barcelona

With warm, crystal-clear waters lapping its sandy shores and mountains nuzzling up to its northern edge, this glittering jewel in the Mediterranean is blessed with desirable geographical genes. From the buoyant, revamped port area to the atmospheric medieval streets of the Barri Gòtic and the beautiful Modernista buildings of the Eixample, Barcelona has it all. A host of treasure-filled museums, architectural wonders, lively beaches and enchanting squares provide the icing on the cake.

FC Barcelona Football

Tickets to see this first-division side are rare; 4,000 are sold a week before matches – call to find out when to queue.
FC Barcelona Hockey

Roller hockey (played on skates) is popular in Barcelona.
Feel at Home Barcelona

Lovely apartments in the center of the city.

The building is new and is located at Nou de la Rambla, exactly next to the famous street of Las Ramblas of Barcelona. The apartments have all the comfort I could expect: bathroom with shower, bath tub furnished with towels and a hairdryer, also furnished kitchen, microwave ovens, washer/dryer machines, dishwashers, vitro-ceramic hobs, fridges, coffee machines, toasters and juicers. The apartments have free WIFI connections and are stylish, with innovative and sophisticated details. There is also a daily cleaning service.
Ferdinand the Catholic

King of Aragon and Catalonia (d.1516), he married Isabel of Castile, paving the way for the Kingdom of Spain’s formation and the end of Catalan independence.
Festa de la Patum

The village of Berga (90 km/ 60 miles north of Barcelona) hosts one of Catalonia’s liveliest festivals. The event gets its name from the folks who used to chant patum (the sound of a drum). Streets spill over with merrymakers as fireworks crackle and dwarfs, devils and dragons dance atop parade floats.
Festa del Aquelarre

The small town of Cervera (100 km/62 miles west of Barcelona) erupts with parties, parades and concerts for this festival. The epicentre is C/de les Bruixes, a medieval alley that cuts through the old town.
Festa Major de Gràcia

During this week-long festa , (the largest party of the summer), revellers congregate in Gràcia’s decorated streets. Parades, open-air concerts, fireworks and plenty of beer and cava fuel the infectious merriment.
Festes de la Mercè

Barcelona’s main festival is a riotous week-long celebration in honour of La Mercè (Top 10 Catalan Saints & Virgins). The night sky lights up with fireworks, outdoor concerts are held, and there’s barely a bottle of cava left in the city by the festival’s end. Processions and parades feature gegants (giant wooden figures operated by people).
Festival de Flamenco

A week of outstanding Flamenco music at the CCCB in the Raval.
Festival de Guitarra

International guitar festival.