Life & Style

The works to the monument, which dates back to the 12th century and is at risk of ruin, have been delayed two years over a dispute with owner. The Castle is located over the beach of La Fosca, in Palamós. This town is at the centre of Catalonia’s Costa Brava and it is an important tourist centre.

The campaign “We Are What We Eat” has been presented. The project, promoted by the FC Barcelona Foundation, fosters healthy habits and Barça players participate in the ads. It will offer culinary workshops, educational debates and sports circuits in collaboration with the Fundació Alícia and the Fundació SHE.

Thousands of Erasmus students choose Catalonia each year as their exchange destination. The students, from across Europe, started either their work or study placements, last week. The CNA interviewed two of the new arrivals about their reasons for this choice and what they hope to gain from their experiences.

The Catalan chef Santi Santamaria, whose restaurant ‘Can Fabes’ has been awarded three Michelin stars uninterruptedly since 1994, died last February in Singapore, when he was unveiling his new restaurant ‘Santi’. At the time, Santi Santamaria had 7 Michelin stars, being one of the most lauded chefs in the world. Regina Santamaria, aged 25, will follow in her father’s footsteps and take charge of the four restaurants the family has in Sant Celoni (half way between Barcelona and Girona), Barcelona, Madrid and Singapore.

The German Pforzheim School has been invited this year in the Week of Contemporary Jewelry of Barcelona. Twenty designers and five galleries are participating.

Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor has declared himself a FC Barcelona fan and visited Barça players. Ranbir Kapoor is one of the biggest Bollywood stars. And FC Barcelona is also becoming more and more popular in India.

The strong heat diminishes the production of grapes of the wine region Priorat, but their quality is better. Priorat’s Protected Geographical Indication, which brings together some 600 farmers, expects a fall in grape production of around 15%, but the surviving grapes will be of great quality. Priorat red wines, produced in South-West of Catalonia, are internationally appreciated and are famous for their strong character.

Production this year is expected to exceed last year by 15%. The traditional pressing of the first grapes, held in Palamós, officially opened the harvest

The CNA went to the streets to ask tourists what they thought of some of the traditions that live on here. Tourists appear unaware of Catalan culture suggesting that it is not sufficiently promoted internationally.

The former mayor of Llívia, Josep Pous, has left politics and dedicated himself to artisan beer with his microbrewery. Lybica is the first artisan beer produced in the Cerdanya county, in the Pyrenees. It joins the boom of artisan beers in Catalonia.

Escaping city life in a metropolitan area the size of Barcelona is easy thanks to the beaches, which were the result of a profound urban reform. 4,5 kilometres of nature, open to the sea, the are the biggest recreational area in Barcelona. Despite an ongoing controversy over the illegality of certain vendors found on the beach, the space remains a popular get-away for locals and tourists alike.

Seven wineries that are part of the Terra Alta protected geographical indication (PGI) have begun the harvest of white varieties. This is the second harvest with the distinguished Terra Alta Garnatxa Blanca (white Grenache) label in place, to guarantee high quality standards.

Lleida’s unique building receives one of the world’s most prestigious architecture awards. The city’s Mayor, Àngel Ros, is said to be proud and highlighted that 75,000 people have already gone through the cultural and business facility since its opening in 2010. La Llotja, designed by the Dutch firm Mecanoo and the Catalan Labb Arquitectura, can be used as a theatre or a conference centre.

Flowers of varying species, size and colour have been chosen based on their ability endure the climate of the city.

The project ‘Cultures Trobades’ has already avoided the extinction of 300 varieties of seeds, 50 ancient vineyards and the last living specimens of the Catalan goats. The initiative aims to preserve traditional Catalan agriculture, "the country's cultural heritage."