From Saturday November 26th to Thursday December 22nd the biggest Christmas market in Barcelona will officially be open and ready to be swarmed with eager locals and tourists! This year is special, as it will mark the 225^th anniversary of the Fira de Santa Llúcia! This fair gives you the best of Catalan culture and is filled with handmade gifts, nativity scenes, and much, much more!

You will find this wonderful Christmas market just outside the Catedral de Barcelona in the Gothic Quarter of the city. If you choose to stay in a city centre Barcelona apartment or a Ramblas apartment you can arrive at the Christmas market on foot, otherwise you can take the metro L4 to Jaume I, leaving you

right outside the fair. The Fira de Santa Llúcia will be open from 10:30am until around 8:30-9:30pm, and with over 275 stalls, the atmosphere is filled with Christmas joy and holiday cheer!

History

The market is named after Saint Lucy, virgin and martyr, and dates back to 1786. Each year on December 13^th, people would flood the streets surrounding the

Barcelona Cathedral to commemorate the life of Saint Lucy. As she was known to be the patroness of seamstresses, tailors, needleworkers, and the blind, people would gather inside the Cathedral and worship her, praying for clarity and eyesight. Right outside the Cathedral is where the Fira de Santa Llúcia took

place. Similar to today, there were many stalls and festivities spreading holiday spirit throughout Barcelona. History also named this the ¨girls´ fair¨ as many people thought unmarried young ladies would go there in the hope of finding their future husbands.

The Day of Saint Lucy

A great day to visit the market is December 13^th, the day of Santa Llúcia. On this day, the market dedicates all of its

activities to Catalan Christmas traditions. You may find yourself chiming into the Christmas carols which can be heard throughout the fair, or partaking in a crib scene making course taught by the Association Crib Scene Makers of Barcelona. On this day, the famous Tió de Nadal is displayed. Tradition states that the children will hit their own smaller versions of this smiley-faced wooden log with a stick on Christmas day until they find presents or candies underneath its red blanket. You can also stumble upon the Carassa de Nadal parade during this day, during which sweets are thrown to the children as the Christmas figures pass by on lavish floats. 

The Market

The Fira de Santa Llúcia is split up into four sections so you can easily find what you´re looking for: Nativity and Figurines, Greenery and Plants, Crafts, and

Simbombes.The Nativity and Figurines section offers various items to make your own nativity scene such as Christmas lights, baubles, candles, and handmade models. In the Greenery and Plants area you can find the popular Tió de Nadal figures, lucky branches, and natural and artificial trees. The crafts section contains thousands of homemade gifts such as jewellery, clothes, and accessories. The Simbombes section presents musical instruments and adds the final touches to your Christmas holiday!

Whether you are looking to participate in the Christmas festivities or purchase gifts for your loved ones, the Fira de Santa Llúcia is definitely something you do not want to miss! You can find many Barcelona apartment special offers online to accommodate your stay in Barcelona, and our friendly staff will direct you to the Christmas market!

Kick start the Christmas shopping season with a bang by attending The Shopping Night Barcelona 2011, this Wednesday 30^th November!

Whether you are looking to browse, shop or explore one of Barcelona´s most famous streets, The Shopping Night Barcelona is definitely something you do not want    to miss! Inspired by the Vogue International Fashion´s Night out, this fantastic event will take place on the grand Paseo de Gracia and its surrounding streets, allowing locals and tourists alike to gallivant through the stores until the early hours of the morning. Many of the shops will offer special discounts as well as free treats such as champagne and food tastings to lure in the excited customers. Last year, more than 10,000 people attended The Shopping Night Barcelona and this year the numbers are expected to be equally as phenomenal.

This night is not only attractive to Barcelona´s biggest shoppers, but also to those who want to discover some Catalan culture. You can experience much of Barcelona´s nightlife, art, music, and cuisine during this event as the action does not only take place inside the stores, but also on the street, with live concerts and a party-like atmosphere. And as if that isn´t enough, Gaudí´s La Pedrera will be open to the public until the early hours of the morning as well!

The Shopping Night Barcelona showcases many brands such as Loewe, Swarovski, Emporio Armani, and Escada, as well as the ever popular Bershka, Zara, and Benetton. You can expect many special promotions, so don´t miss out! Last year, renowned chef Carme Ruscalleda offered special samples of her most famous dishes, and it has been confirmed that she will be in attendance yet again this year! Expect to have a luxurious night, filled with great shopping, fantastic food, and lots of fun!

If you would like to attend The Shopping Night Barcelona, staying in one of the city centre Barcelona apartments near Paseo de Gracia will leave you close to all the action, and only a short walk from your comfortable home-away-from-home when you have shopped all you can. If you prefer something a little quieter, there are many other apartments in Barcelona available, so don´t forget to check out the Barcelona apartment special offers online for the best deals!

As you may know, Barcelona is divided into multiple different neighborhoods or "barrios", each with its' own vibe and defining characteristics. Depending on what you're looking to experience, a certain neighborhood is sure to provide just that.

L'Eixample is a pleasant, upscale neighborhood just outside of the middle of the city. The name means "extension" in Catalan and was originally created as a place to live for those who could not afford to live in the center of Barcelona. However, almost the opposite had happened by the end of its' creation and it is now one of the posh, wealthy areas of Barcelona. Streets are lined with stores of international designers such as Armani, Chanel, and Burberry, but there is much more to see than just these high-end shops.
Passeig de Gracia is home to two of Antonio Gaudí's works of art, Casa Batlló and Casa Mila. Also, a couple blocks further down the road is one of Gaudi's unfinished masterpieces, The Sagrada Familia. The unfinished church has been worked on by various architects throughout the years and has come to be known as one of the important symbols of Barcelona. If you're looking to experience some brilliant architecture and do some shopping, this is the place for you.

Near L'Eixample is the neighborhood Gracia, which begins at the intersection of Avingunda Diagonal and Passeig de Gracia and goes north. It was originally a village of its' own but was connected to the rest of Barcelona when L'Eixample was created. However, it has a different feel than L'Eixample, with an active community that has a more relaxed attitude.Various different plazas throughout the neighborhood help provide a sense of authenticity that the neighborhood maintains. The gem of Gracia is Park Güell, a must-see for anyone visiting Barcelona. The elaborate park features various creations of Gaudi and an experience of art unlike any other. Gracia is the place to go to experience the real sense of neighborhood here in Barcelona.

Heading in the other direction, el Born is one of the more modern neighborhoods in Barcelona. What began as a settlement for medeival fairs and celebrations has become a haven for small boutiques and excellent tapas bars. The different cafes and stores provide a relaxing way to spend the day as well as good places to go at night. El Born is also home to the Picasso Museum and the Textile Museum, as the original textile mills were located here. One of the most fascinating pieces of el Born is the church of Santa Maria del Mar, an elegant church showcasing some of the gothic architecture seen throughout the city. El Born also provides the ideal location for those looking to experience cultural aspects of the city as well as the beach. A ten minute walk to the city center and a ten minute walk to the beach make it one of the ideal places to stay in Barcelona.

For those looking to experience the beach and an exciting night scene, Barceloneta is the place to be. One of the largest beaches in Barcelona, it has over 1,000 meters of beach for one to enjoy. Frequented by tourists, Barceloneta is the perfect place to spend the day lying in the sun and eating at one of the many restaurants located on the boardwalk. The boardwalk is also home to many extravagant bars and nightclubs, with stellar views of the beach. Barceloneta provides both fun and sun.

No matter what it is you're looking for, Barcelona is bound to offer it. Pick your favorite barrio and book your apartment there now!

Unique experiences await you at Maremagnum!  If you like shopping, you will find more than thirty popular stores in this huge open aire mall.  Also, you and your friends can experience a social and leisurely time in the expansive open spaces and sea side terraces of the main building while enjoying just about any kind of food you desire.  Maremagnum is open from 10am-10pm every day of the year, including Sundays and holidays.

Besides its year-round offerings, Maremagnum has even more opportunities for fun in the summer.  For example,  you can visit the Bubble Park! 

This very entertaining park definitely offers unique experiences never before seen until now, like the ability to float in water without getting wet, jump eight meters in the air, and pedal a trike faster than ever before!  Bubble Park at Maremagnum offers these three great attractions:

1. Bungydome
   You can jump freely up to eight meters high while enclosed in a geodesic dome measuring 10x12 meters.
2. Triketrack
   Pedaling, speed, and staying on the ground are no longer incompatible with the Triketrack!
3. Bubblepool
   What do you think it would be like to have an inflated transparent bubble around you while you are submerged in a pool?  Everything feels different and is worth the experience in this new dimension! 

In addition to Bubble Park, Maremagnum encourages you to enjoy an “Experience Day” tour there.  This is a great attraction for anyone who wants to get a better feel for the city of Barcelona.  Maremagnum maps out a route that takes you through the heart of the city and allows you to discover all of its corners, anecdotes, and curiosities.  Plus, it's as easy as downloading a tour file to an mp3 player.  The tour begins in Plaza Cataluña and ends in Maremagnum.    

Check out one of our many apartments in Barcelona, and from there you can discover and get to know all of the cities offerings, like Maremagum and more! 

Due to its touristic importance, businesses, stores, and its great presentation of modernista architecture, El Paseo de Gracia, in catalán Passeig de Gracia, is the principal avenue of Barcelona and one of the most famous streets in the world. Behind the most emphasized works found along Passeig de Gracia are the artists Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Doménech i Montaner, both recognized with the World Heritage Site.

Its most spectacular buildings also include the Casa Milá, the Casa Batlló, Casa Lleó Morera, and the Casa Amatller. In 1906 the architect Pere Falqués i Urpi, designed the famous bancs-fanals de trencadiís, distributed along the avenue.

Paseo de Gracia is situated in the central part of the city, The Eixample, and connects southern part of Barcelona from Plaza Catalunya with the northern part in the street Gran de Gracia.

The avenue could be compared with the popularity of the Avenida de los Champs Elisée, and is considered the second most luxurious and expensive street in all of Spain in respect to apartments and Building rentals.  It is most similar in comparison to the street Preciados in Madrid that currently occupies the first position in the ranking mentioned above.

The most prestigious brands can be found in Paseo de Gracia, making it the most luxurious street in Barcelona.  As a result, the landscape along the avenue is very impressive, and the most affluent of residents and visitors can always be found in transit in the area.  Some of the most notable brands located on the avenue include Dolce & Gabana, Gucci, Valentino, Channel, etc.  Although it goes without saying that many other brands offer their products along side of these notable companies including Zara, Bershka or H&M.

If you come to Barcelona and wish to stay in a Barcelona apartment near or in this area, check out the availability at ComeToBarcelona and enjoy one of the most beautiful areas of the city.