I had been living in Barcelona for some time before discovering this beautiful city oasis. I love parks, because they offer a way to escape the city noises, the pollution and the stressful environment without having to go far. Barcelona offers lots of green spots and I have explored many of them. The Cervantes Park… Continue reading Cervantes Park – Barcelona’s secret rose garden
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
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
One of my favorite places in Barcelona is Can Masdeu. Can Masdeu is a former leper hospital which had been abandoned for over 50 years. It is now occupied by squatters and serves as a social center, residence, and community garden. The grounds governed by the squats are used as gardens and for agriculture.
About 40 km from Barcelona you can find a spectacular place called Sant Miguel del Fai which makes it a perfect destination for a day trip from Barcelona. San Miguel del Fai is the name of a 11th-century Benedictine monastery which was, not so long ago, declared a cultural landmark. It is located in… Continue reading Sant Miguel del Fai – a worthwhile daytrip from Barcelona
On the Costa Brava there is nothing more spectacular for nature lovers than the coastal footpaths: on one side, the forest, pine trees, cliffs, coves, and sand beaches; on the other side, the clear turquoise water of the Mediterranean sea. A very special one among these ‘Camí de Ronda’ can be found between Palamos and Calella de Palafrugell.… Continue reading Camí de Ronda Platja Castell – Cap Roig: a stunning coastal footpath
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
Luckily for me, turns out my new home village Gavà is great for hiking. Recently, I discovered a stunning hiking trail perfect for a half day excursion. The trail starts at the Ermita de Bruguers (a 5 minutes car ride from Gavà: about 4 km northwest of the town’s center), a Roman chapel from the 13th… Continue reading A stunning hiking trail in Gavà
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.
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
