Culture and traditions

Strength, balance, courage and common sense, the four key concepts of human tower building, repeated like a mantra by its practitioners. For spectators, the most appropriate words might be thrills, nerves, suspense and joy. Without a doubt, to experience a human tower building event is to navigate a sea of sensations. So it’s no wonder that UNESCO inscribed this Catalan tradition par excellence on its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Casa Batlló, the Sagrada Família, the Pedrera and, beyond Gaudí, the Catalan modernist site of the old Hospital of La Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Casa Amatller and the Palau de la Música Catalana... Catalan modernism will be your faithful companion throughout your trip to Barcelona. But you should bear in mind that it this movement is not confined to the capital city. Do you need proof? Here are three little-known buildings in the province of Barcelona where you can discover other variants of Catalan modernism: a refurbished mediaeval castle, the house of an upper-class family and even an industrial building. As an extra, enjoy a garden designed by Gaudí himself that predates his world-famous Park Güell.

Cava is a world-famous sparkling wine that no important meal or celebration can be without. It’s part of our everyday life, a fixture of the dining table. As children we wonder whether those bubbles we aren’t allowed to taste will tickle our mouths. But have you ever wondered how and why cava began to be produced in the Penedès area? The story takes us to Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, covering dramatic events of the 19^th-century history when phylloxera wiped out 90% of Europe’s vineyards...