Spain is a major culinary place in the world, but Barcelona in particular has many authentic foods you may not find anywhere else in Spain. The list for traditional cuisine in Barcelona could go on for days. Traditional Barcelona food would be impossible without a handful of essential ingredients. Olive oil, garlic and tomato are the top three. Barcelona cuisine is characterized by a creativity that other Spanish regions lack. For example, raisins and nuts are often mixed into vegetable dishes; rabbit is combined with snails; poultry or meat is cooked with fruit. Because Barcelona is close to the Mediterranean sea, it has great seafood dishes. There is also a notable influence from France and Valencia in cuisine.

I am going to include a list of some of the top favorites and what goes into them.

Escudella d’Olla is a stew that will typically be served in the months of October and May. There are two components to this dish; the first is a broth and then the vegetables, pasta, and meat. Botifarra, which is a Catalan sausage, and botifarra negre, blood sausage, are also common in this dish.

Esqueixada, which is shown above, is made during the warmer times of the year. It can often be referred to as the Catalan ceviche. The dish consists of bacalao, or salt cod, with peppers, tomatoes, onions, and olives. In addition, it can be topped with romesco sauce, which is just a piquant sauce of red peppers, nuts, garlic, and olive oil.

Suquet de Peix; seafood has a big role in Barcelonian cuisine. Which makes it no surprise that one of the favorites is a potato-based seafood stew. The dish can be made with lots of different fish and mixed together with garlic and oil. 

Fideuà is a dish that consist of a mix of seafood including cuttlefish, prawns, etc. You can pair it with an alioli sauce, which is a olive oil and garlic sauce.

Escalivada, which is shown above. This is one of the most popular dishes of the region but is really simple. This is a vegetable dish usually consisting of eggplant and bell peppers. It is sometimes paired with onions, tomatoes and garlic. People eat escalivada as a tapa, or sometimes also as a relish for other fish or meat.

Crema Catalana is a custard dessert closely related to creme brulée. Unlike the vanilla flavor traditional of the French custard, crema catalana is lighter with a citrus and cinnamon flavor.

Mel i Mato is a unsalted soft cheese, topped with walnuts. It makes for a simple, delicious, and healthy end to a meal.

Mercat de la Boqueria is a local market that is located in Las Ramblas in Barcelona. More recently this has become a popular place for tourists. The unique market is a maze of over 2,500 square meters along which are located more than 300 stalls offering different kinds of products that are typical in Barcelona’s cuisine. I want to take a moment to briefly mention the history of Mercat de la Boqueria. The current Boqueria Market sits on the site where the Convent of San José monastery was founded in 1586. With the passing of years, La Rambla became very popular among Barcelona’s locals and when the monastery was destroyed in a fire, the market was moved to that particular location. The Mercat de la Boqueria is an iconic site in Barcelona.

Barcelona, Spain provides such a rich history and is so highly dense with historical importance throughout the Catalonian Capital. Currently the second most popular study abroad location, Spain as a country is full of historical value and Barcelona fits that narrative directly. Spain combines beautiful scenery along with the museums, art galleries, and historical sites necessary to teach a course. For Professors more than students teaching a course out of the country has to include personal experiences as well. Barcelona is a perfect place to combine the site seeing along with historical context, so you, the Professor can combine your much needed leisure time while also educating students. For Example, in Montjuïc beautiful scenery is combined with museums and even the sight of the 1992 Olympics. A day trip to Montjuïc would be nothing short of amazing for an entire class. 

One of the many benefits of teaching a study abroad course is the learning environment. Learning in a first person setting provides some of the most sustainable knowledge a student can obtain. An excerpt from the Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching , found that some of the benefits included students taking more study abroad courses, students taking classes outside their majors upon return to home, and even students expanded their mentalities on globalization and expressed their personal beliefs that the courses benefitted them. 

Picture this, teaching a class while staying in the beautiful Hotel Europark in Barcelona’s beautiful Eixample, one of the most unique architectural neighborhoods in history. Inside this famous Eixample, are some of the best shopping options in Europe. As a professor working so hard to educate the next generation of Historians, there is never a more deserving time to reward yourself with a shopping spree. Barcelona combines the need for spreading education while also making it feel as if you’re on vacation, there is not a better combination available.

Along with many shopping options, museums, art galleries, etc. there are also very special restaurants all along the area around the Hotel Europark in Barcelona. One of the most beautiful areas of Barcelona is the “La Concepio Market ” which is an exquisite outdoor market, unlike any back home in the United States. 

Casa de les Punxes is just another example of what Barcelona has to offer, the early 1900s mansion created by famous architect Josep Puig I Cadafalch, a modernist. This architectural masterpiece just down the street from Hotel Europark provides historical background while contextualizing the modernist art movement of the early 1900s, a great teaching lesson combined with a beautiful sight, is exactly what separates Spain from other locations in regards to study abroad programs. Barcelona is a perfect option if you believe art is a great way to educate.

Overall, Spain provides the most unique combinations of educational value and leisurely feel that is unmatched anywhere in the world. The greatest part about it is that this specific example based around Hotel Europark is only one example, the truth is there are so many different hotels that are directly centered amongst so many museums, art galleries, restaurants and other activities.

Did you know that Barcelona does not share Valentine’s Day with the rest of the world? Instead of celebrating February 14th, Barcelona celebrates Sant Jordi, Saint George’s Day, also known as Día de la Rosa, the day of the roses. While Día de la Rosa is an official Catalonian holiday, it is not a public holiday, so all businesses remain open during that day. Back in the day, during this holiday, men would give roses to the women, and in exchange, women would give books to the men. However, this is not restricted to lovers and partners. Sons can give their moms flowers, and friends can exchange flowers and books. Also, in this more accepting time, gender roles are not as restricting as they used to be, so anyone can get flowers or books. 

Saint George’s Day is usually on April 23. During this day, you can typically see the streets full of vendors selling books and roses to the couples that are walking around. The books and roses are wrapped with ribbons in the colors of the Catalan flag, yellow and red. This year the city plans to have Sardana dancing, which is a traditional Catalan folk dance, in Plaça Sant Jaume from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm. After a year of being in lockdown, I know that this festival will be the best to come.

Barcelona has many great opportunities for students within the city! Studying abroad in this beautiful city is a must for students seeking adventure! Aside from studying and going to class, the city has plenty of fun activities to offer! This post contains useful pointers for students that will make sure they will have the time of their lives in the great city of Barcelona. 

The first tip would be making sure you know a little bit of the Catalan language. Spain is a country that has multiple languages spoken by its people, and Catalan is very different from typical Castilian Español. Almost all of the locals in the city use Catalan, but you can still get by with regular Spanish. 

The second tip is to go out and explore. The city of Barcelona has much to offer as it is a very old and historic city. There is a vast amount of museums, parks, shops, restaurants, and even beaches. The city allows students to try something different each day! 

Tip number three would have to be taking care of your belongings all the time. The locals know an easy target when they see one and will take advantage of this. Many travelers who have visited the city have become victims of pickpockets. To avoid getting your stuff stolen, zip up your pockets or put your belongings in a neck wallet or anything else! 

The fourth pointer is the best one, and it is to have fun! Barcelona has many things students can do to enjoy themselves. Examples of this would be the nightlife in the city. Barcelona has plenty of bars and clubs where students can have the time of their lives. Students could also go to “Camp Nou”, the stadium of the famous FC Barcelona! Here they can watch superstars such as forward Memphis Depay play the great game of fútbol. If students are in the city for a full year, the summertime is always very hot! The best way to spend time in the summer would be to visit Barcelona’s beaches! The city has many beaches students can choose from. Barcelona even has hidden gems such as the chocolate museum, Museu de la Xocolata! At this museum, students can browse famous art pieces all sculpted out of chocolate! 

The fifth tip for Students in Barcelona is to dress fashionably! Spaniards are all about fashion, and they take it very seriously. Dressing up nice each day will save you from being pegged as a tourist as well! The city has many shops where students can purchase high-end clothing if that is within their budget.

The sixth pointer would have to be getting involved in the city. The city puts on many festivals, such as the La Mercé festival in September. At this festival, there are massive parade floats and also a wine fair!

The beautiful city of Barcelona has so much to offer for students! It is a great place for all people, but it is perfect for students because of all of its activities! Hopefully, this post helps students get a footing in adjusting to the awesome culture of the people of Cataluña!

The Fútbol Club (FC) Barcelona is a professional soccer club in Barcelona. While you may not know this league, you might know the players such as Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Diego Maradona. FC Barcelona was founded in 1899 by a businessman named Joan Gamper. He found all his players by advertising his team in a local Barcelona sports magazine. Their best achievement is winning the top Spanish football league, La Liga, cup 26 times, and they have never been dropped to a lower division while in that league. However, FC Barcelona has also won 5 Champion Leagues, 3 FIFA Club World Cups, 4 European Cups, 3 Fairs Cups, 5 European Super Cups, 2 Latin Cups, 4 Pyrenees Cups, 31 Copa del Reys, 13 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Mediterranean League, 1 Catalan League, 23 Catalan League Championships, and more. As you can see, they are doing great and will continue to do great.

The Usatges de Barcelona was established by Count Ramon Berenguer I of Barcelona in the 1060s. The Usatges were the earliest legal text in Catalonia. From there, it went from being the fundamental laws of Barcelona to the fundamental Laws of Catalonia. Those laws include punishments for acts of personal violence, legal ruling on feudal relations, and more. By the fourteenth century, it became a part of a constitution that had a large influence over Valencia and the Balearics.

Barcelona is over 2,000 years old! The first people to settle in Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, were during the Neolithic time period but the city didn’t have written records until the Romans came to Spain. Some of the Roman’s architecture is still standing today such as the Gothic Quarter.The Romans founded Barcelona in 15 BC on a small hill named Mons Taber or Monte Táber. Mons Taber was the perfect location because it was between two streams and it connected the city to the Mediterranean sea. At first the city was named Barcino and had walls that surrounded the city; these walls can still be seen today.

After the Romans settled, they made Barcino like many other Roman settlements. Barcino soon built a crossroads at its center that made it become a flourishing maritime trade center. After establishing a trade center the city was filled with diversity, with Jews, Muslims, and Catholics all living together, until the end of the Convivencia in 1492 with the Alhambra Decrees. 

After the Roman Empire fell in 395, the Visigoths took over. While the Visigoths were documented there, they have left little presence in the city. All that remains of them are some Visigothic churches. In 719, the Muslims, also known as the Moors, attacked Barcelona and took control of it. Even though the Muslims remained in control for about eighty-two years, nothing Moorish remains. Under the Moors’ control, they converted the churches into mosques.

Madrid would become the capital of Castille with the marriage of Isabelle and Fernand. Barcelona would fall into a rut until the end of the 18th century where they would become an important trade center that boomed them into the industrial revolution, making the city relevant again. During the Spanish Civil War they would fight for the Republic and once Madrid fell the city was named the capital, it was the last city to fall to Franco which made their punishment the harshest. Barcelona wasn’t treated fairly until Franco died in 1975. Since then Barcelona has hosted the World Cup, the Olympics, and has been the center of an independence movement fueled by the Catalonian people.

Barcelona has the most beautiful buildings in the world! The early 20th century was a time of depression and hardships for most of Spain, except for Barcelona who would have a growth in their economy and a BOOM in their architecture. From 1878 to 1910s Barcelona’s art and architecture would create the style that Catalonia is most known for, their modernisme. Beautiful buildings such as Casa Mila, Sagrada Famila, Park Güell, and many more. This time period can give thanks to Antoni Guadi and the founder of modernisme, Lluís Domènech i Montaner. Even though Montaner created the art style Antoni Guadi can be thanked for the most famous buildings in the city. Guadi created all three of the buildings that are listed above and is considered one of the most important individuals in Barcelona history. His architecture gives the city life and is the reason for Barcelona’s modern style. If you are a fan of modern architecture then Barcelona is a must see city for you.

The great Pablo Picasso (25 October 1881 – 8 April 1973) has 4,249 different paintings that are at Museo Picasso. The museum only holds his earlier artwork and was opened under his wishes. Picasso wished to have a museum in the city that he was trained in. He would become a legend to Barcelona and he gave the city credit for influencing his style. He was a modernist artist that then created his own style off of the modern paintings he had seen before. Cubism, the art style created by Picasso and Georges Braque. If you want to understand Picasso’s art style then Museo Picasso is crucial as it is a key reference for the formative years of his art.