The Reial Monastir de Santa Maria de Pedralbes is a gorgeous Gothic monastery in Barcelona. The convent was founded by Queen Elisenda de Montcada. It dates from the early 14th century and until 1983 it was inhabited by the nuns of the Order of Saint Clare. The highlight of the monastery is its three storey… Continue reading Monastery of Pedralbes – World’s largest Gothic cloister
Collserola, the mountain and natural park that separates Barcelona from the inland, hides many abandoned and forgotten places. The most interesting and mysterious one is without a doubt the Grand Casino and Hotel de la Arrabassada. What makes the casino so special is its former majesty and size. Considering what it once was, it is… Continue reading The Gran Casino & Hotel de la Arrabassada – Barcelona’s forgotten landmark
Burgruine Hardegg is a well-preserved Castle surrounded by woods. The place rarely sees visitors. It is not generally known or easily accessible. The castle can be visited from a small village called Zweikirchen (lit. Two-Churches). From there you need to follow a dirt-track road leading up the hill. After a 15 minutes walk you will… Continue reading Burgruine Hardegg – Ruins of an enchanted Romanesque castle
Les Roquetes is located in the Nou Barris district of the city of Barcelona. It’s a very vivid and interesting neighborhood. Walking through its streets doesn’t make you feel like being in Catalonia, more like being in Latin America or maybe the Canary Islands or Andalusia. Music and fiestas on the streets are very common… Continue reading An Andalusian neighborhood in Barcelona – Les Roquetes and Torre Baró
The Torre Salvana is an abandoned castle which was built in the 10th century in Santa Coloma de Cervelló (about 20 km south-west of Barcelona; a 20 minutes train ride from Pl. Espanya). The place has been completely neglected and all that’s left is ruins. It seems surprising that this unique medieval building has been left to rot.
Visiting a graveyard may seem a strange thing to do if you are not actually visiting someone close to you and who now rests there. Nevertheless, Barcelona’s main cemetery is kind of a tourist attraction. Many times I heard it was worth a visit before I finally decided to go there and, to be honest, it was… Continue reading A walk through the city of the dead
What you see on this picture seems to be a regular barcelonian street, however, it has a dark and horrifying history. It’s the street of Enriqueta Martí’s former residence. Enriqueta (also called the Vampiress of Barcelona) lived in Barcelona during the late 18th and early 19th Century. Her address: Carrer Ponent 29 (today the street name is… Continue reading Street of horror – the home of a serial killer
