Leisure

To walk through Barcelona with the palate, nothing’s better than doing it in the “vermouth” time, and tasting a classic in terms of accompanying such a unique drink: the patatas bravas (spicy potatoes). A simple dish but that has a legion of experts able to trace a route with the best establishments where to taste them. We say it’s a simple dish but it has its secrets, the first is the potato whose type and variety truly make a difference, it’s not the same to fry a mealy version more adequate for mashed potatoes that another which is harder and resistant, usually present in an excellent stew that stays long hours cooking without melting. Ways of frying and also the used oil are nuances of taste that turn the tables towards some tastes or others. But what truly makes the difference is the sauce, that’s why they are called patatas bravas. A sauce that needs to have the exact dose of spicy so it doesn’t mask the raw material. We always say the same, be careful with the sauces (of any kind) because a lot of times they’re used to mask more than to enhance. It’s all about giving the necessary touch to turn some simple fries into a valuable dish, ideal to accompany a midday drink. We can replace the vermouth for a beer, a glass of wine or even a Bitter, but the patatas bravas can’t be changed for olives or cockles, they are a complement but not an alternative. Barcelona has a series of bars with a charm that popular wisdom has put in the altar of this potatoes snack. That’s why we suggest that you open your Zolty app and choose the closes vehicle so it takes you to a route. Here we give you some ideas of what can be a map of the best tastes: We start by the neighbourhood of Sarrià, and what could be better than El Tomás de Sarriá fixed in the list of more recommended. We go down to the centre and we stop in La Taverna del Clínic, their patatas bravas have been awarded multiple times. We go to the sea zone and we find the Sant Antoni Gloriós, a classical cellar in Barcelona. If you like them more powerful and tasty, La Esquinica in the Passeig Fabra i Puig is also a referent. But if there is a place you must not forget is the bar La Fuente, a simple place which quality-price relation is indisputable. Most probably you’ll have your own criteria and palate, what’s your favourite place to taste some exquisite patatas bravas in Barcelona?

Jueves de Castañada o de Halloween, como quieras llamarlo, lo importante es la fiesta que te vas a dar en Barcelona. La tradición manda y si eres de los que cualquier excusa es buena para divertirse, esta es una con mayúsculas. El 31 por la noche, previo al día de los santos difuntos, se convierte en una noche mágica. Para los amantes del horror y el misterio de esta noche de brujas, en Barcelona, como en tantas ciudades del mundo también se celebra. Hay para todos los gustos. Los más tradicionalistas le llamarán “la Castanyada” y los más modernos “Halloween” pero qué más da si la diversión es la que manda. Desde finales del siglo XVIII las castañas tostadas, los panellets, boniatos y el moscatel cumplen su deber de endulzar las almas en pena. El origen pagano de esta fiesta estaba relacionado con la ingesta de calorías por parte de los campaneros, que eran los encargados de hacer sonar las campanas durante la noche, antes hacía frío en esta época. Si lo vinculamos al origen celta británico, la noche toma un cariz más religioso. Las noches eran muy largas y los días de poca luz. En esta época del año se multiplicaban las enfermedades por eso los colores que visten esta fiesta, el negro (noche) y el naranja (calabazas). Pero nada te tiene que impedir dar rienda suelta a tu espíritu fiestero y  a tus ganas de pasarlo bien. Barcelona te propone una multitud de fiestas temáticas organizadas en discotecas y clubes.  Otto, Bling Bling, Opium, Soho, Razzmatazz y otras salas ofrecen una espectacular ambientación de terror. El teatro también se suma al jolgorio, en el Teatreneu la noche  del 31 ofrece el  “Impro Horror Show” carcajadas y miedo para pasar un rato excelente. Otro gran plan puede ser una maratón de películas de terror, en los  cines Phenomena que nos volverán a sorprender con los títulos más clásicos del horror. Si quieres salir de Barcelona, pide un Zolty y te llevamos, Port Aventura, el parque temático por excelencia, te hará vivir una verdadera pesadilla donde el miedo te hará morir de risa. Ni quedándote en casa estarás a salvo, en cualquier momento tocarán a tu puerta y el “truco o trato” será tu perdición.

Barcelona, one of the most mentioned cities in the world, a destination that almost all the travellers by train, plane, bus, car or cruise have in mind to visit it at least once in their lives. A city that, with little space, gathers the biggest ludic, gastronomic, intellectual, sportive and corporate offer you can imagine. Normally you get to this wonderful city by land, sea and air counting on an excellent net of picking up in train stations as Barcelona-Sants, bus stations as estació del Nord, the airport Aeroport Josep Tarradellas Barcelona El Prat and port in the Port de Barcelona. And precisely this last one is the one we want to focus on. Every day thousands of cruise passengers disembark in the Catalan capital willing to live a special day in Barcelona. The port has seven international terminals for passengers, where there are tourists that have chosen this destination as the end of the cruise or an intermediate scale. The main companies have incorporated to their catalogue this metropolis, known names like Costa, MSC, Royal Caribbean, Pullmantur, Norwegian, Holland, Princess, Carnival, Grimaldi, Iberocruceros, Club Med, Panavision and many more, are the usual landscape of the port litoral. Taking into account that the port zones are a little bit far from the centre of the city, precisely Barcelona has perfectly integrated the port in the urban area, it’s still a time to take into account. To be able to enjoy as fast as possible of all the charm of this city we advise you to download the Zolty app. Once you download it, it takes some seconds, you’ll be able to ask for a transport vehicle out of all the ones that appear as available close to your location. In a click, it’s already called and you’re ready to seize to the maximum your time in Barcelona. Welcome, enjoy Barna.

The city of Barcelona has an immense amount of attractive things for every taste. Historical heritage, cultural visits, leisure, restaurants, shopping… Condal’s city has a lot to offer to all the people that set foot in it, and today we’ll make a gathering of some of the most emblematic places of the city.   1. Basílica of Sagrada Familia When we think of Barcelona, Gaudí with the Sagrada Família is one of the first things that cross our minds. This church, still under construction, is a great attractive due to its modernist character, being the biggest exponent of this movement. All the sculptures, the architectonic and decorative elements hide mysteries and interesting stories, and paying a visit both outside and inside can be a golden opportunity to know more about modernism and marvel with the immensity of this spiritual and artistic spot.   2. Park Güell Another of the big works by Antoni Gaudí. The Park Güell, far from the centre noise, is the perfect place to enjoy more modernist pieces and the famous colour mosaics. Wandering through its gardens, observe the artworks and the architectonic and natural elements while you breathe some fresh air of the Collserola mountain is a perfect plan for a relaxing day in the Gracia district.   3. Ciutadella Park Ciutadella Park is the biggest and most popular park in Barcelona, after the mountain of Montjuïc. In it, there’s a big area of gardens where you can spend a nice day, or even do a picnic if the weather lets you. In the same park, there’s also the Barcelona Zoo, and a small lake with boats to take a trip. You can also visit the Arc de Triomf, very close to the park.   4. The Ramblas One of the most popular streets, if not the most one, in Barcelona. Full of stores with souvenirs, bars and restaurants for tourists and constant movement, you can walk through the whole street from Catalunya Square to the Barcelona Port enjoying of one of the most emblematic spaces of the city, and visit some mythical places like the Colón statue, the big Liceo theatre of Barcelona and the Boquería Market.   5. Boquería Market Placed in Las Ramblas, the Boquería Market gathers the traditionality of markets in Barcelona, with lots of parades with fruit, meat, fish and fresh food, typical and colourful dishes, being an ideal place to wander and, if you’re hungry, buy some food. Visiting it, you can live a first-hand experience of the most authentic Catalan merchants’ environment.   6. Picasso Museum Picasso is one of the most famous painters on a Spanish and worldwide level. In the Montcada Street, in the middle of the Gothic Quarter, this museum has more than 4.000 original works from the Malaga painter. It’s declared an interest museum by the Generalitat de Catalunya and it has permanent and temporary expositions that tell the personal and artistic story of Pablo Picasso, from his beginnings in the XIX century until his last works.   7. Casa Batlló We go back to Gaudí, very present in the historic buildings of Barcelona, in this case to talk about the Casa Batlló. In the middle of Passeig de Gràcia, the most glamourous and commercial street in the centre of the city, the Casa Batlló is already impressive seen from the outside, with a naturalist facade full of details, colours and shapes to stay marvelled observing it. If you also want to get inside, you can also see the modernist furniture and the rooms like Gaudí designed them back in the day.   8. Camp Nou When you ask a foreigner about Barcelona, one of the first things they say will be Barça. And why don’t see the centre where everything happens? The Camp Nou, the FC Barcelona field, has been a testimony of big moments in the football history, a lot of them gathered in the museum tour that the stadium has. For the football lovers, or simply those who want to know more about the Catalan team and the history of its players.   9. Barcelona Cathedral This Gothic cathedral in honour of Santa Eulàlia, the Barcelona patroness, is the headquarters of the Archbishopric of Barcelona. It was built between the XIII and the XV centuries, and it’s been declared Property of Cultural Interest. Besides visiting it for the architectonic beauty of the building, it’s also the centre of much medieval history of Barcelona. Also, it has a Gothic cloister where thirteen white gooses live as a symbol of the Santa Eulàlia legend.   10. Port Olímpic and Barceloneta beach In the list of Barcelona essentials, the sea could not be left out. The Port Olímpic, built for the Olympic Games of 1992, is a part of the alive history of the city. Besides, it’s very close to the Vila Olímpica, full of restaurants with the best paellas and seafood and also clubs and bars to enjoy the nightlife. Near that, there’s also the Barceloneta beach, the best place to spend the hottest days of the summer.   11. Palau de la Música Catalana The Palau de la Música Catalana is another modernist and mythical building, designed by the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner. It’s the headquarters of the Catalan Orpheus and the UNESCO certified it as World Heritage. As it’s a concert hall, if you’re lucky enough you can get tickets to enjoy classical music in a room with an exquisite sound.   12. Basílica de Santa María del Mar Last but not least, another of the most popular churches in the Condal city, this time placed in the Born neighbourhood. This Gothic basilica has a very high architectonic merit, and also a very interesting story: the stones which form the building were taken from the Montjuïc quarries and carried all the way by the bastaixos, workers from the Barcelona port. Another piece of the amazing history of Barcelona.   Obviously, on this list, we haven’t been able to include all the essential wonders that the Catalan capital has to offer. What do you think we have left that should be included?