History
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George Orwell Plaza, Barcelona, sculpture by Leandre Cristòfol. Photo by Vicente Zambrano González courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
Dia Orwell: Barcelona's Homage to George Orwell
Barcelona celebrates George Orwell and his efforts to quell social injustice. Read more
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The Pont du diable (Devil's bridge) in Céret. Photo by photoblogdechristian (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) via Flickr.
A Weekend in Céret
Located in the heart of French Catalunya, here’s no shortage of culture or history in this charming French town. Read more
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International Workers' Day demonstration in Barcelona, 2016. Photo by Antonio Lajusticia Bueno courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
Why Is May 1st a Holiday in Spain?
Many traditions or products that are imported from the US receive pushback in Spain. However, one tradition borrowed from America in 1889 that has continued to be popular amongst the Spanish people is Labor Day, or el Día del Trabajador. Read more
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Reflections in the rice fields at the Ebro Delta in southern Catalunya. Photo by Agustí Descarrega (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia Commons.
The Story of Spain’s Love Affair with Rice
From the juicy "calderos" of Murcia to the Costa Brava’s "arròs negre" to the famed "paellas" of Valencia, the extraordinary depth and diversity of Spanish rice dishes, in feast and in famine, is one of the country’s greatest gastronomic achievements Read more
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A naked woman and a bread basket containing large models of phallus, engraved on a vase dated 480-475 BC. Image Archaeological Museum of Syracus.
The Long and Satisfying 28,000-Year History of the Dildo
In the history of human inventions, it is one of the oldest and longest-enduring tools. At our current estimate, the oldest known dildo dates back to at least 28,000 years ago. Read more
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The Bittersweet Story of "el Noi de Sucre"
The assassination of Salvador Seguí, a trade union activist who supported a non-violent approach. Read more
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What Are the Origins of Lent?
The word “Lent” has Germanic roots referring to the “lengthening” of days, or springtime. But facts about the early origin of the religious observance are not as well known. Read more
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The "gegantona" Laia on the patio of the Ajuntament de Barcelona. Photo by Edu Bayer courtesy of Ajuntament de Barcelona (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0).
Santa Eulàlia, Barcelona's First Patron Saint
Long before her name became associated with a 175-year-old Barcelona-based fashion brand, Santa Eulàlia was widely known as young Christian martyr. Read more
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Homo Neanderthalensis, adult male reconstruction by John Gurche, photographed by Chip Clark (CC0) via Wikimedia Commons.
Neanderthals: The Oldest Art in the World Wasn’t Made by Homo Sapiens
Research in the 1990s radically changed the common view of Neanderthals as dullards. We now know that, far from trying to keep up with the Homo sapiens, they had a nuanced behavioral evolution of their own. Read more
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Photo by Tara Shain
Early Signs
Usually found on the corners of buildings and placed at a height of over two meters, these plaques remind us of a time when traffic control was quite a hectic proposal. Read more
