Life & Style

A quick guide for the foreign visitor to the Catalan capital where the only thing you spend is…energy. Going to the CCCB art centre, walking across the Boqueria Market, or discover Barcelona's Cathedral are some of the suggested activities.

During four intense days, the ceremonial hall of the old Palau del Rei (King’s Palace) of Barcelona, the Saló del Tinell, became a catwalk full of glitter, aromas and, above all, glamour.

Among the many culinary traditions Catalonia can boast about, the ‘Calçotada’ is one of the most beloved among Catalans. People from all over the territory and in particular those from southern towns such as Valls, eat ‘calçots’ (similar to green onions) with family and friends in special get togethers for the next three months. On January 29th the season kicked off with a festival that brought together 30,000 people.

From January 27th to February 5th, those who live in the Catalan capital will enjoy discounts on cultural products, markets, restaurants and hotels throughout the city. The initiative aims at energising the economy at the end of January and stimulating Barcelona citizens to discover their own city.

The FCB Escola project is continuing to expand around the world. Barça will open two schools in Indonesia in 2012, where football is growing exponentially.

Barcelona’s independent fashion fair kicks off this week, running from Wednesday 25th to Saturday 28th. The fall-winter 2012/2013 collections of prestigious brands and designers such as Desigual, Pierre Cardin or Mango will be presented in the centre of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter in the Plaça del Rei (King’s Square) and the Saló del Tinell, inside the former King’s Palace.

The night of January 5th is the most important and magical nights of the year for thousands of children in Catalonia. It is when the Three Wise Men –or the Three Kings in Catalan– bring presents. Traditionally in Catalonia, presents are not delivered by Santa Claus on the evening of December 24th, but instead on the evening of January 5th by the Three Kings who arrive in all Catalan towns. Parades are organised to welcome them. Afterwards, when the children are sleeping, they enter through the window or balcony and leave presents for every family member.

Ten businessmen in the coastal town of Sant Carles de la Ràpita want to open a new aquatic base in the Trabucador, an area frequently visited by kite surfers and windsurfers

As Christmas approaches, so does the presence of the traditional nougat sweet, found in almost every Catalan home during the festive season. Torró, first introduced in the Iberian Peninsula through Catalonia, has been part of the Christmas tradition since the Middle Ages. Nowadays, artisans of nougat in Catalonia still respect the original recipe. Nougat from the town of Agramunt, in western Catalonia, is an example of a product, which expects an increase in sales this year.

Just like every Christmas, traditional Living Nativity Scenes around Catalonia are on show, this year with an expected increase of attendance despite cuts in public subsidies. Towns are unwilling to let budget cuts affect them and they have combined imagination, volunteer work and citizen involvement to maintain the tradition.

The ice rink has been fully funded by the private retail sector. It aims to attract locals and visitors to Barcelona city centre in the hope that consumers will spend more in the Christmas period. Catalunya Square is the location for the largest ice-skating rink of its kind in Europe. The attraction has caused controversy because it occupies public space for a private activity in a time of serious economic difficulties.

The Catalan beer company Moritz will open an innovative space at the former factory of the well-known drink and residence of its owners in downtown Barcelona. The 4,500 square metre centre has been designed by renowned French architect Jean Nouvel. It will house a microbrewery, a shop, a beer bar, a wine bar, two restaurants, a museum, a gastronomic classroom, a bakery and a newsagent. It cost €30 million.

FC Barcelona and Tencent have agreed to develop Barça’s brand in China. The deal will allow FC Barcelona to reach a massive audience as well as generate significant revenue.

The 2012 Michelin Red Guide has awarded a second star to the Barcelona restaurant Àbac, and a first star to the family restaurant Casamar on the Costa Brava. However, the total number of Michelin stars in Catalonia has dropped due to the untimely death of the chef Santi Santamaria and the closure of three restaurants, including Ferran Adrià’s El Bulli, considered for many years to be the best restaurant in the world. The Celler de Can Roca and San Pau maintain their 3 stars, as well as the rest of the restaurants with two and one. This confirms that Catalonia continues to be a reference point for Haute Cuisine.

The Fumanya palaeontological site, located in the northern Catalan County of Berguerà, has one of the most important collections of dinosaur fossils in Europe. The remains of more than 3,500 footprints, as well as bones, eggs, and other remains were discovered accidentally in 1985. Between the years 2000 and 2008, the palaeontological site was analysed and tourist visits have since been organised. Furthermore, in 2012, the site’s new information centre will open its doors to the public and will explain dinosaurs in great detail.