Tag Archives: spain

Best Art Museums Worldwide



The Uffizi Gallery, Italy



Prado Museum, Spain



The Louvre, France



Visit the Barcelona Christmas Market

Christmas is so close we can almost hear those sleigh bells ringing. The leading retailers have been fighting for the most heart-warming advertisements on the telly and all the old, cheesy and adorable Christmas films are showing every evening. So what else can we expect in the lead up to Christmas?

Why not take a trip to Fira de Santa Llúcia in Barcelona, one of the most renowned Christmas markets? Normally active between 25th November and the 23rd December, this prestigious Christmas fair has been running for over 200 years, first established in 1786!

It is situated in Avinguda de la Catedral and is home to more than 300 stalls selling a variety of merchandise and foods both traditional and contemporary. The Avinguda de la Catedral is located near the city centre and takes around 25 minutes by hired car to get to from Barcelona Airport, or only 5-10 minutes from any hotel located in the city centre.

Fira de Santa Llúcia also hosts a variety of parades, contests, exhibitions and traditional dancing and more, so for a real traditional experience with a modern day twist, there will be something there for the whole family. There is even a Nativity Scene production on at various evenings throughout the holiday season starting at 19:00 that runs for an hour and a half.

The fair’s named is derived from Saint Llúcia or the Saint Lucy, and so the best day to visit the fair is on the 13th December; the Day of Saint Lucy, where a variety of colourful performances will be on show, plus the reading of traditional Christmas stories.

log pinata fira de santa lluciaOne of the most popular stalls the Fira has to offer is the Caga Tió what looks like a giant humanoid log, complete with smiley face, hat and Christmas blanket. The tradition is that children will ‘feed’ a smaller version of the Caga Tió that they have at home with sweets, and then attack it with sticks on Christmas day until it bursts, showering them with candies and gifts. It’s sort of like a mix between a Pinata and a Stocking.

With four huge sections to explore; Simbombes, Greenery and Plants, Crafts and Nativity and Figurines, and with a wealth of traditional and cultural performances showing, a trip to the Fira de Santa Llúcia is not to be missed.

Top 5 Things To Do In Madrid

Madrid is unusual for a capital insofar as it is found in the centre of the country, whereas most capitals are found on the coast or rivers in easily accessible locations on old trade routes. On the one hand, this does mean that, unfortunately, unlike the majority of popular Spanish destinations, Madrid doesn’t have a beach. However, it also means that the city benefits from a really unique character. So, what are the top 5 things to see and do in Madrid?

Prado Madrid

The Royal Palace

This palace is the official home of the Spanish royals, though they don’t actually live here. It shouldn’t cost more than €10 entry, and there are several concessions and ways to get free entry. Many of the rooms are open to the public and are decorated in an opulent, extravagant manner with lots of marble and luxurious velvets. Be warned that photography is forbidden inside the palace.

Jardín Botanico

There are more than 30,000 plants from all corners of the planet residing in the botanical garden, making this a little slice of paradise and welcome respite from the intense heat of the city. Water features , shaded areas and sprinklers make this the perfect place to visit in the late afternoon when heat can become stifling, and there are beautiful blooms here all year round.

Golden Triangle

The Golden Triangle is the name for Madrid’s three major art palaces – the Prado, the Thyssen and the Reina Sofia. These three galleries between them contain the vast majority of the city’s priceless artworks, making it ideal for art buffs. A pass to the three should come to around €15, a small price to pay to spend time with some of the world’s most impressive, coveted pieces of art.

Eat tapas

Scattered around central Madrid and the Gran Via Broadway are ‘ham museums’, or eateries specialising in various types of cured ham. Many of these act like the abundance of other tapas bars in the city, where you can order a drink and be brought a free tapa as an accompaniment. Wherever you are, the tapas on offer will vary broadly, from seafood to sliced meats and chorizo to vegetables to tortilla, so you can sample a huge variety of Spanish cuisine.

Bus tour

Most European capitals offer up some kind of river tour to visitors, but Madrid’s lack of river means that city tours should be done by bus. You will be given earphones and a map of the city so you can listen to Madrid’s history and figure out where you want to go, and it is a far better way to travel than by Metro as you get to see more of the tiny winding streets, hidden churches and bustling plazas for the price of one hop on, hop off ticket.

Madrid has much to offer its visitors, but anyone wanting to get out of the busy capital can hire a car to nearby city Valladolid, which should take around two hours, with a trip to the vibrant Salamanca taking around the same time.