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City Matters

Recipe: Xató Salad

Xató salad from Calafell. Read more
Homemade Romesco Sauce

Many believe romesco sauce hailed from a recipe that dates back to the Roman stronghold of Tarraco (modern-day Tarragona), making it one of Europe’s oldest sauces. Read more
Photo by Mpellegr. (Flickr)

All up in That Grill: Calçots

Creative cuisine and classy restaurants may have put Catalunya on the culinary map, but it’s food of a far more primitive nature that provides the real flavor of the place—and this season. Read more
Making the traditional ratafia. Photo by Anna Fuster.

Ratafia: Catalunya's Sweet Herbal Liqueur

With origins that date back two hundred years, ratafia's mysterious blend of fruit, nuts and herbs is now cemented into Catalan culture. We hear from those who are working hard to keep the tradition alive and brewing. Read more
Cavalcada dels Tres Tombs de Sant Andreu, Barcelona, Jan 13, 2019. Photo courtesy of the Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-ND 2.0).

Your Guide to Festa Major de Sant Antoni 2023

The vibrant central Sant Antoni "barri" plays host to the city’s first major neighborhood festival of the year, with events happening over several days. We round up some of the “must-sees” of the festival. Read more
Trobada de Puntaires in 2008, photo by Ajuntament de Vilanova i la Geltrú (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr.

Punta al Coixí: Turning Thread into Gold

More than a craft, lace-making is a way to connect with the past and maintain some perspective in these hectic, changing times Read more
Winter Salad Days: The Xató Salad

The xató salad from the Penedès region is a much-celebrated part of the local culture. Read more
Photo by Roverto Al

Sacred Steps: La Ruta del Cister

This picturesque route—a 105 kilometer, circular section of the GR 175 hiking trail—takes you through rural countryside and ancient villages against a backdrop of the soaring Prades Mountains. Read more
Cercavila amb l'Aliga de Barcelona at Festa de la Mercè, photo courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

La Mercè, Barcelona’s Second Patron Saint

Just like every neighborhood has its "festa major," nearly every town in Catalunya has a city-wide festival in honor of its patron saint. Barcelona has two patron saints: Santa Eulàlia and the Mare de Déu de la Mercè—known simply as La Mercè. Read more

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Dance of the new "gegants" during the Festes de Santa Eulàlia. Photo by Edu Bayer courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).

Do You Know Catalunya's Gegants?

These giants have played a key role in Catalan street parties for centuries, here's why. Read more