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What's on in Barcelona

Our selection of some of the most interesting things on in Barcelona in the next couple of months... not forgetting the football, of course!

Social and cultural programme, Barcelona

Casa Batlló, BarcelonaTaking a Spanish course with us? Our own social and cultural programme is as good a place as any to see something of what's on in Barcelona.

Among the trips this month, one to Gaudí's Park Güell (pictured, right); another to the Ciutadella Park, a trip which ends at the Estación de Francia, which was partly modeled on the Eiffel Tower.

This month's social program also takes you to places you might not get to otherwise -- the Ribera district and Santa Maria del Mar and to some of the other hidden corners of the city.

April also has our popular "Friday Club" language exchange, in the bar at International House.

You can find out exactly what's on in Barcelona this week on our new Spanish blog.

Christmas in Barcelona

Feria de Santa Lucia, BarcelonaAny time is a fascinating time to visit Barcelona, Christmas no less so. Among the many things not to be missed is, in front of the cathedral, the Feria de Santa Lucia, which the locals traditionally go to to buy figures for their cribs (shown, right), as well as the rest of the Christmas decorations.

If you happen to be coming with the kids (or happen to be a kid at heart yourself), the Festival de la Infancia, December 27-January 4 [ website ], is one of Barcelona's many amazing trade fairs.

If are coming with the kids, another event not to be missed is the Kings arriving to bring the presents, as they (not Father Christmas) traditionally do in Spain. The cavalcade tours the city centre for hours on the night of 5th January. We'll take you, if you join us on our social programme (see below). And, if you're really, really good, when you wake up on the 6th, your shoes will have been filled with presents!

Encuentro Práctico

Coming up in Barcelona on December 18-19, we have the XVIII Encuentro Práctico, the annual conference for Spanish teachers run by International House Barcelona, which attracts over 450 participants from around the world.

See also: Spanish Teacher Training

Music

Any trip to Barcelona also has to take in a visit to two of the city's most singular buildings, the richly ornate concert hall, the Palau de la Musica [ website ], and the twice burnt down Liceu Opera House [ website ]. Full programmes of what is on, plus ticket sales, available online.

Coming up in Barcelona we have Prodigy (Sant Jordi Club, December 3); Marilyn Manson (Sant Jordi Club, December 4); Editors (Razzmatazz, December 8); Paradise Lost (Razzmatazz, December 15); Dropkick Murphys (Razzmatazz, January 23); Artic Monkeys (Sant Jordi Club, February 2); Eros Ramazzotti (Palau Sant Jordi, February 15); and the Kevin Costner and his band (Palau de la Musica, February 18 and 19).

Tickets for many Barcelona concerts and festivals can be purchased online via ServiCaixa or Telentrada.

Football

The 2009/10 Spanish league season kicked off with Barça [ website ] hoping for a repeat of last season, when they won the treble: the Spanish Cup, Spanish League and the Champions, something which no Spanish club had ever done previously.

Having disposed of Inter Milan in the Champions and Real Madrid in the Spanish League at the end of November, it's hard to see anything but more of the same this season.

In the League, Barça's one home League game before Christmas is the local derby -- against Espanyol on December 13.

Tickets to see Barça can generally be obtained from the club office's on Av.Arístides Maillol outside the stadium or from online at ServiCaixa.

A visit to the Barça museum [website] includes a look inside the stadium itself, one the world's biggest.

For Barcelona's other, less fashionable Spanish first division side, Espanyol [ website ], there are home league games coming up against Racing (December 6) and Almeria (December 20).

Espanyol, now at a new stadium out in Cornellà, would probably settle for simply staying in the comfort zone; last season they spent 17 games in the relegation zone before pulling themselves up by the bootstraps and escaping with one game left to play.

 

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