A visit to one of the many luxury hotels in Barcelona is sure to include admiring the Sagrada Familia, a stroll down Las Ramblas, and visits to many of the other wonderful places that are the city’s iconic landmarks. However, why not seek out some of the wacky and unusual attractions to delight your friends when you return home?
gastronomic experiences
Tapas with a difference is the best way to describe the delicious bites served at Ferran Adria’s tapas restaurant, Ticket. Just a walk from many luxury hotels in Barcelona, this innovative chef’s idea of tapas is very different from the usual food served in the city’s traditional bars. The ironic ‘air baguette’ is a version of the usual sandwich stuffed with Spanish Iberico ham, and the ‘marinated olives’ aren’t really olives!
Another unusual dining experience will be found on a visit to Dans le Noir (In the Dark). Upon his arrival, blind waiters will lead him conga style to his table, where he will eat in total darkness. The idea behind this is for his taste buds to be taken to another level as his sense of sight is removed. It’s an interesting experiment, and the restaurant’s waiters say many of us can’t tell the difference between red, rosé, or white wine when we can’t see it. If all you want is a drink and it’s sweltering outside, a visit to IceBarcelona should be a refreshing experience. The bar is kept at sub-zero temperatures and you can enjoy wonderfully refreshing cocktails while admiring the ice sculptures. Don’t worry if he’s dressed for a hot day, as he’ll be provided with a comfortable outfit to keep him warm while you’re there.
Historical experiences
Visiting cemeteries will not appeal to everyone as part of their Barcelona luxury hotel stay, but for those interested in history, and in particular the history of the Spanish Civil War, a visit to Montjuïc Cemetery It may be a good choice. itinerary. During the Civil War, 4,000 Catalan nationalists and republicans were executed by Franco’s forces. His final resting place is El Fossar de la Pedrera, which is located in a hidden corner of the cemetery and is the common grave of Montjuïc. A new monument was erected in 2011, and at the entrance stand six stone pillars, engraved with the names of those buried here.
Many of those executed died in the Montjuïc Castle, which is located at the top of the mountain. During the Civil War it was a fearsome place as many of Franco’s opponents were imprisoned there. Another interesting place to visit is at the foot of the mountain. The city suffered severe aerial bombardments in the civil war and 1,400 air shelters were built to protect the civilian population. One of the largest was built on the side of the Montjuïc mountain; Shelter 307 could house up to 2,000 people and was built by the local population with the help of local architects. Now open to the public, it offers a haunting glimpse of what it would have felt like to be in the city during this time.
Whether you want to enjoy an unusual dining or drinking experience or delve into the history of this wonderful city, staying at one of Barcelona’s wonderful luxury hotels will give you the opportunity to do so.