Feb 16^th – 22^nd, 2012
Although Barcelona is not famous for its carnaval (‘Carnestoltes’) celebration, there will be various organized events and plenty to see and do throughout the city. Most Barcelona carnaval celebrations will take place on the opening day “Dijous Gras” (Fat Thursday) and during the weekend. Barcelona does not have a large central celebration, instead every neighborhood organizes its own events and plans something special. The events are normally centered around the civic centers and markets of each of the numerous neighborhoods of Barcelona. Scroll down for Sant Jordi Hostels Barcelona’s event recomendations for the Barcelona Carnaval of 2012.

On the opening day of Carnaval in Barcelona, “Dijous Gras”, the various markets of Barcelona organize food competitions and the streets of Barcelona will be filled with different kinds of food from all over Spain as well as some particularly Catalan dishes like botifarra (Catalan sausage) and sardines. Throughout the entire week of the Bcarcelona Carnaval, be sure to check out some of the local produce markets of Barcelona and, if you’re lucky, you just might stumble upon a sardine tasting event or some other similar food competition.

Sant Jordi Hostels Recommendation of Events during the Barcelona Carnaval

The Grand Parade of the Carnaval of Gracia – Gran Rua de carnaval de Gràcia
Where: Jardinets de Gràcia i diferents carrers del barri
When: 18/02/2012 at 18:00
Route: Jardinets de Gràcia, Gran de Gràcia, Travessera de Gràcia, Milà i Fontanals, Puigmartí, Torrent de l’Olla, Diluvi i Pl. Vila de Gràcia.

The Grand Parade of the Carnaval of Sants – Gran Rua de Carnaval de Sants
Where: Carrer de Sants
When: 18/02/2012 at 17:30
Route: The aprade will continue along c/ de Sants starting at c/ Badal and ending at c/ de Creu Coberta.

The Parade of the King of the Carnaval and the Taronjada (Carnaval Battle) – Desfilada del Rei Carnestoltes i La Taronjada (Batalla de Carnaval)
Where: Passeig del Born
When: 19/02/2012 at 18:00
Route: The parade will be concentrated on c/ del Comerç, c/ Princessa, Passeig del Born and it will end at Estacion França.  At around 18.15 the parade should pass through Passeig del Borne where there will be a battle of confetti and balloons.

Also, in the neighborhood of Sant Marti, particularly on the street Rambla de Guispúscoa, you are likely to find a lot of activity: live music, parades, dancing and much more.

Where to stay during the Barcelona Carnaval

Stay with Sant Jordi Hostels at one of our hostels in Barcelona during the Barcelona Carnaval. One of the top rated hostel chains in the world, with 6 locations in Barcelona, Sant Jordi Hostles Barcelona is a perfect choice.

Our Sant Jordi Sagrada Familia Hostel was featured on the popular Taiwanese TV show, “Super Taste”. We’re not exactly sure what they say, but we know it must be good and it sure is entertaining. It was a super cool, “Super Taste” of our hostel in Barcelona.

If you are interested in discovering a uniquely Catalan way of enjoying fresh food in Barcelona, a recommendable option is to visit the bars and small restaurants located inside the fresh meat and produce markets of Barcelona; where they cook, “on site”, the fresh produce of the very markets in which they are located – Fresher… Impossible!!!

Every fresh meat and produce market of Barcelona has at least one bar/restaurant/café that specializes in serving good meals at great prices made with the fresh products of the market vendors themselves. They are a uniquely Spanish curiosity and are a great way to have a good meal and at the same time a real Barcelonese culinary experience. For some of the freshest food in Barcelona at great prices check out our list of a few “barres de mercados” recommended by the staff of our hostels in Barcelona.

Bar Papitu
Located in the Marcat de la Boqueria, the largest and most famous market of Barcleona, El Papitu has everything in one small location: a bar next to the street with a small shop and kitchen that serves cañas, vermuts, calamares a la romana, bravas and various other tapas. The clientele enjoy their snacks and drinks while watching the small farmer’s stalls and commotion of the market.
Location: Mercat de la Boqueria (Plaça de Sant Galdric).

Cafè Magí
Café Magí is located in the mercado de Collblanc one of the most authentic and charismatic markets of Barcelona, with stalls that have been maintained for over 40 years. Selections of choice at Café Magí are coffees, refreshments, beers, bocadillos calientes de varias tortillas(warm sandwiches of Spanish tortilla).
Location: Mercat de Collblanc

Bar Torrubiano
Located in the Mercat de Sant Ildefons, El Torrubiano is a perfect example of a typical “mercado bar” located in an internal corner of the maret itself. The long bar and 4 tables that make up Bar Torrubiano are sufficient to have a nice breakfast or enjoy a lunch of all types bocadillos (sandwiches), pescado (fish), carne (meat), tapas y paella. Bar Torrubiano has an authentic southern Europen atmospher.
Location : Mercat de Sant Ildefons (Cornellà)

El Bisaura
Located in the Mercat de les Corts, El Bisaura is most similar to a street-side restaurant with a partially isolated and well decorated dining area. They make fresh dishes from the market, specializing in fish and seafood, and they have excellent wine offers.
Location: Mercat de les Corts

Bar Joan
Bar Joan is the most traditional bar of the more modern Santa Caterina market. In front of the bar it is always full of the market workers themselves, delivery men, and a varied assortment of clientele. Always rapid and efficient service with basic dishes at a good price.
Located in the Mercat de Santa Caterina

The Santa Eulàlia Festival of Barcelona, also known as La Laia, taking place February 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th, 2012,  is one of the most important and widely celebrated yearly festivals in Barcelona. A city-wide celebration, La Fiesta de Santa Eulàlia encompasses two full days and takes place at various venues throughout the city. With more than 100 events scheduled throughout the weekend, there will be plenty to see and do. Les Festes de Santa Eulàlia is oriented primarily toward the enjoyment of children; but, with a wide array of fascinating cultural activities, there is plenty to keep a curious traveler who is not familiar with Barcelonese and Catalan traditions entertained. Music is the most important theme of the festival and the streets and plazas of Barcelona will be alive with the sound of music. View a detailed list of La Laia 2012 scheduled events

What to Expect During La Fiesta de Santa Eulàlia

Expect Barcelona to be teeming with interesting traditional Catalan cultural activities. The 2012 Santa Eulàlia festival, La Laia, features over one hundred events, mostly for children, at various venues throughout Barcelona. Many of the streets, plazas, and museums of Barcelona will be hosting special events; including, Catalan traditions like parades with the traditional Gegants (giants) and the Correfoc, a night-time parade featuring costumed devils and fire-runs. The festivities will also include Castellers, a tradition of building towers out of people as well as traditional Catalan folk dancing called the Sardanes and various other interesting cultural curiosities. View Sant Jordi Hostels’ pick of events not to miss – just scroll down

Why Santa Eulàlia?

Santa Eulàlia is a co-patron saint of Barcelona. In the year 303 the then 13 year old virgin was tortured and killed by the Romans for refusing to renounce her beliefs in the Christian faith. After suffering 13 tortures, including crucifixion on an X shaped cross and being rolled down a hill in a barrel filled with glass and stuck through with knives, she was decapitated. The legend of Santa Eulàlia goes on to explain that just after her decapitation a dove flew out of her severed neck.

The remains of Santa Eulàlia were kept in a Barcelona church until the Moorish Invasion of Spain in 713 when they were hidden for safe keeping. In the year 878, after Spain was liberated from the Moors, Santa Eulàlia’s remains were returned to their proper resting place where they were kept until 1393. In 1393 the remains were moved to an alabaster sarcophagus in a special crypt and today reside in the Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia, also known as the Barcelona cathedral.

Sant Jordi Hostels’ Pick of Events for La Laia 2012

Remember, this is not some crazy party event like a lot of other Barcelona festivals. La Fiesta de Sant Eulàlia is more of a family event and is designed primarily for the enjoyment of children. That being said, there is still a lot to see and do during La Laia. My first recommendation would be to go down to the Gothic quarter of Barcelona and just cruise around checking out the small streets and plazas and seeing what you find. My best experiences in Barcelona have come as total surprises while finding my way from one place to another, half lost in the mid-evil maze of streets of the Gothic quarter. During La Laia you never know what curiosity you might stumble upon. Besides exploring and getting lost in the Gothic quarter there are a couple of events that should not be missed. Most of the best events of the Festival will be held Sunday April 12th.

What: The Parade of the Tales of La Laia - Cercavila de contes de la Laia
When: Sunday 12, February 2012 at 11:30
Where: Starts at Baixada de Sta Eulàlia
Route: Bda Sta Eulàlia, Banys Nous, Ave Maria, pl St Josep Oriol, placeta del Pi, Cecs de la Boqueria, Arc de Sta Eulàlia, Boqueria, Avinyó, bda. de St Miquel, pl St Miquel, Templers, Ataülf, Comtessa de Sobradiel & ends at  pl Regomir.

What: Giants Ball and the “Day of Human Tower Building” - Ball de la Gegantona Laia & “Diada Castellera.”
When: Sunday, 12 February 2012 from 12:30
Where: Plaça de Sant Jaume

What: The Parade of the Festival Beasts – Cercavila de la XV Mostra del Bestiari Festiu de Catalunya ‘Animals de granja’
When: Sunday, 12 February at 17:00
Where: Starts and finish at La Rambla, 99 at Palau de la Virreina.
Route: Palau de la Virreina, Ferran, Plaza St Jaume, Ferran  finish back at Palau de la Virreina.

What: Fire-dance of Santa Eulalia - Correfoc de Santa Eulalia
When: Sunday, 12 February at 20.30
Where: Plaça Nova at Avinguda de la Catedral in front of Barcelona Cathedral
Route: Plaza Nova, Bisbe, Montjuïc del Bisbe, Plaza St Felip Neri, St Felip Neri, St Sever, Bisbe, Pietat, Comtes de Barcelona, Pla de la Seu i av Catedral.

Where to Stay During La Laia, 2012

Stay with Sant Jordi Hostels at one of our hostels in Barcelona during La Laia. One of the top rated hostel chains in the world, with 6 locations in Barcelona, Sant Jordi Hostles Barcelona is a perfect choice.

Check Out Some of the Other Great Photos from 2011 Thanks again to everyone who participated. Every photo and vote was greatly appreciated. We are really looking forward to seeing what kind of photos we receive in 2012. So keep them coming!!! And don’t forget to place your vote for next years winner.

We can’t wait to see you all again at one of our hostels in Barcelona!!!

Thank you to all contestants and to everyone who placed a vote to help us pick our winners. We received so many cool pictures of friends sporting Sant Jordi T-shirts in so many random places around the globe.  It was truly impressive!!!

1^st Place – Steven Tieu from Australia, doing the YMCA dance in front of the Eifel Tower in Paris. We love that dance too. Rock on Steven!!!

2^nd Place – Kevin Putnam from Canada, looking like King Kong and sporting a Sant Jordi T-Shirt on a rooftop in the Bernese Alps, Switzerland.  Kevin, You are the Man!!!

3^rd Place – Mama Lidia from Urugay, hanging out in a backyard somewhere in the world with soccer legend Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona. We don’t know how you did it Mama Lidia but you sure are cool!!!

It was so much fun seeing our friends and former guests representing our Barcelona Hostels around the world. We can’t wait to see where they end up in 2012!!!

Join the fun and participate in our 2012 Sant Jordi Hostels Barcelona Photo contest. Submit your Photo or just place a vote and you can be winner!

*Each winner will receive an ipod shuffle for their outstanding contribution
**The names of everyone who voted will be placed in a drawing and one lucky person will win an ipod just for voting.

More than a hostel, a life experience.

An ideally oriented Barcelona neighbourhood, Poble-Sec is located directly between the Montjuic Mountain and Las Ramblas.

Because Poble Sec is a nice residential area just outside the gothic quarter, it is quieter than the city center and still only a 10-15 minute walk from Las Ramblas and Plaza Catalunya. It is the perfect choice if you want to be centrally located and, at the same time, away from the crowds of tourists that are found in other parts of the city.

Poble Sec is also the place in Barcelona for the lover of fine food. With lots of great bars and restaurants that are local gems and have not been discovered by the average tourist, in Poble Sec you can feel like a true “Barcelonés” and dine like a king for a reasonable price.

Things to do in the Montjuic Mountain Area of Poble Sec

Besides great places to eat, Poble Sec provides the option of exploring the vast Montjuic Mountain area. Exploring the Montjuic Mountain, you will discover an amazing view of the entire city and the Mediterráneo on a beautiful ¨green walk¨ with fresh air and some amazing parks and gardens. A few other cool thing to check out in the Montjuic Mountain area are the Fundació Joan Miró, the Estadio Olímpico Lluis Companys, the Jardín Botánico de Barcelona, The Museu Naccional d’Arte de Catalunya, the free museum at the Caixa Forum and the famous Magic Fountains of Montjuic – a water and light show choreographed to music played over loudspeakers that attracts more than 2.5 million visitors per year.

These are only a few of the many reasons why Poble-sec is a perfect place to stay while visiting Barcelona. You can both observe and feel a part of the real life of the Barcelona locals and with a very short walk take advantage of some of the fabulous tourist attractions that Barcelona has to offer… also, if it’s your thing, you will end up in the middle of some of the biggest parties in the city.

Our award winning Hostel Sant Jordi Mambo Tango is located in the Poble Sec area of Barcelona and is continually one of the top Rated hostels in Barcelona.

Sant Jordi Hostels… More than a hostel, a life experience!

Sant Jordi Hostels… More than a hostel, a life experience!