Andorra

ANDORRA occupies 464 sq km (179 sq miles) of the Pyrenees between France and Spain. In 1993, it became fully independent and held its first ever democratic elections. Since 1278, it had been an autonomous feudal state under the jurisdiction of the Spanish bishop of La Seu d’Urgell and the French Count of Foix (a [...]

Catalonia

THERE IS A wealth of natural beauty in Catalonia’s four provinces, plus the small Catalan-speaking country of Andorra. They offer rocky coasts and mountains, fertile plains and sandy shores. Many who visit don’t stray far from the coast, but the rewards for venturing further afield are immense. Beyond the constant bustle of Barcelona, Catalonia is [...]

Barceloneta

BARCELONA’S fishing “village”, which lies on a triangular tongue of land jutting into the sea just below the city centre, is renowned for its little restaurants and cafés. The area was de- signed in 1753 by the architect and military engineer Juan Martín de Cermeño to rehouse people made homeless by the construction, just inland, [...]

Pablo Picasso in Barcelona

Picasso (1881–1973) was 13 when he arrived in Barcelona, where his father, José Ruiz y Blasco, had found work teaching in the city art school situated above the Llotja. The city was rich, but it also possessed a large, poor working class which was becoming organized and starting to rebel. Shortly after the family’s arrival, [...]

Exploring La Rambla – Barcelona

THE HISTORIC AVENUE of La Rambla, leading to the sea, is busy around the clock, especially in the evenings and at weekends. Newsstands, caged bird and flower stalls, tarot readers, musicians and mime artists throng the wide, tree-shaded central walkway. Among its famous buildings are the Liceu Opera House, the huge Boqueria food market and [...]

Barcelona through the year

EACH barri (district) in Barcelona and every town and village in Catalonia has a saint’s day to be celebrated in an annual festa major. The sardana is danced and, on the Costa Brava, havaneres (habaneras) are sung. Food is central to any event, and open-air feasts and special pastries and cakes feature strongly. Many towns, [...]

Barcelona – La Rambla

THE HISTORIC AVENUE of La Rambla, leading to the sea, is busy around the clock, especially in the evenings and at weekends. Newsstands, caged bird and flower stalls, tarot readers, musicians and mime artists throng the wide, tree-shaded central walkway. Among its famous buildings are the Liceu Opera House, the huge Boqueria food market and [...]

Rome

Surfing the Web for THE best hotel deals in Rome Shopping online for hotels is generally done one of two ways: through the hotel’s own Web site or through an independent booking agency (or a fare-service agency such as Priceline.com). Booking through the hotel’s own Web site is definitely the way to go in Rome [...]

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