 SITGES International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, 44th edition, is the number one fantasy film festival in the world and represents, at the same time, the cultural expression with the most media impact in Catalonia. With a solid experience, the Sitges Festival is a stimulating universe of encounters, exhibitions, presentations and screenings of fantasy films from all over the world.
Born in 1968 as the 1st International Week of Fantasy and Horror Movies, today the Festival is an essential rendezvous for movie lovers and audiences eager to come into contact with new tendencies and technologies applied to film and the audiovisual world.
This year it will be showing a total of 270 films, with a heavy emphasis on Catalan cinema and a core theme of artificial intelligence and a new target audience: families.
This year the festival's leitmotiv is artificial intelligence and the star film is Spielberg's production of that name, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, first released some ten years ago. But reflection on this issue will not be confined to the screening of that film because there is a cross-section programme based on it, an exhibition and debates.
Finally, to coincide with the festival the local rail service Rodalies Renfe have once again organised the Fantasy Train, a special train that will run from 6 to 16 October, leaving Sitges at 1.30 am, before the early morning sessions begin. If you stay in our backpacker hostel, you can go with Renfe train, line R2, the duration of the journey 54 minutes.Visit Sitges Film Festival.
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Staying at our Barcelona Hostel for Christmas? Want to know some of the Christmas traditions in the city?
As in many cities in the world, during Christmas time, Barcelona specially dresses and lights to celebrate one of the most traditional and magical celebrations of the year. You’ll find decorated Christmas trees and Santa in Red coats everywhere ... but there are some special Christmas traditions and activities that you’ll only find in Barcelona. Would you like to share them with us while staying at our Barcelona Hostel?
Christmas markets:
You'll find many markets during Christmas in Barcelona. However, the largest and most popular is the Fira de Santa Llúcia, located next to the Cathedral of Barcelona. With many handmade ornaments and gift ideas in a stunning setting, it's the perfect place to feel the Christmas spirit. The "Fira" ends on 23 December.
You'll also find other Christmas markets and fairs at the Mercat del Born, at la Sagrada Familia and the Plaça de Sants Market (at Joan Güell street). There's also a wide fair at Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, with christmas crafts and products.
Christmas lights:
Don't miss out the Christmas lights of Barcelona. Plaza de Catalunya is the first stop to enjoy the stunning Christmas lights, especially those at the buildings surrounding it. La Rambla and Portal de l'Angel street are also famous for their illuminations. The Avda. Diagonal, the Passeig de Gràcia, or the Gran Via are also pretty illuminated streets.
The nativity Scenes and the "Caganer"
Do not miss the beautiful Nativity scenes with figures representing the birth of Jesus all around the city. The most famous is located in the plaça Sant Jaume. And in all Catalan nativity scenes there's a unique and unusual figure, typically Catalan, the "caganer".
What is the "caganer"? Traditionally, the caganer is the figure of a man dressed with traditional Catalan clothes … pooping! It is intended to be a symbol of good luck for the New Year. Maybe you find one or two "Caganers at our Barcelona Hostel ;)
The Caga Tió:
You probably don’t know another Christmas catalan traditional figure, the “Caga Tio". It is an old trunk with a face painted on one end, that on Christmas Eve is put in the fireplace as a symbol of abundance. Each day during the month of December, children feed it with sweets and cover it with a red blanket. Finally, on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, children can open it to enjoy the the presents and sweets under the blanket.The trunk is finally used in the fireplace to heat the house, as "giving back " the heat he has received. Even though at our Barcelona Hostel you won't find any "Cagatió" since there's no fireplace, you'll find plenty of evetywhere!
And what to eat in Barcelona for Christmas?
Be sure to try the Turron, the most popular candy for Christmas in Barcelona (and in the whole country). The traditional Turron is made with nougat and almonds, but today yoyu’ll find hundreds of flavors. Polvorones are also a popular holiday dish made with sweet almond paste. And what’s typical in Catalonia to eat on Christmas day? The escudella i carn d'olla (typical catalan soup with meatballs), followed by turkey, and the traditional Turron.
So, come to Barcelona on Christmas, enjoy the city, join us at our Barcelona Hostel.
All our Barcelona Hostel staff wishes a merry Christmas to all our friends :)
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Next saturday, July 3rd, we will have the opportunity to enjoy one of the most important musical events of the year in Barcelona. The Black Eyed Peas, one of the best bands of the last years, who started their career in 1992, will be playing their only concert in Spain in their The E.N.D. Tour. Winners of six Grammy Awards, the kings of hip hop visit Barcelona! Many of our Barcelona Hostel team members will be there. You didn't buy your ticket yet? You can still find some tickets for 73.30 €. To buy online click here. Do not miss it out!
You would like to come but have not found a Barcelona Hostel yet, where to stay to attend the event? Then we have good news for you: you can still find some beds available on Sat. June 3rd at our Barcelona Hostel ... from 29 €!. Click here to make your reservation.
How to reach the Cornellà El Prat stadium from our Barcelona Hostel? You can do it by train. Take the Rodalies line R4 from the station El Clot, at 200m from the door of our Barcelona Hostel, direction Cornellà. Get off at Cornellà station, the trip takes about 25 minutes. Once you're in Cornellà train station, you'll reach the Cornellà Stadium in 15 minutes walking.
Enjoy the Black Eyed Peas concert, book your bed at our Barcelona Hostel.
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At our Hostel Barcelona we have good news again for those who are Backpacking in Barcelona this weekend: from now until Sunday, the contest "De Tapas per Barcelona" is held in the city. It's a special way to promote the cuisine and the "tapas", and several bars and restaurants in Barcelona will serve their tapas with one beer at the price 2.40 €!
Yes, it's true, a tapa and a beer 2.40 € at 40 bars and restaurants in Barcelona for this weekend! From our Hostel in Barcelona we welcome this excellent idea and support the contest.
We think it's great if you're staying at our Hostel in Barcelona, you can explore the city while trying some tapas: a dish of ham, some croquettes or some patatas bravas at a good price and a drink included!
Which are the bars and restaurants who have joined this initiative and their timetable? You'll get all the information at the contest website, where you will find a Barcelona map including the bars and restaurants that serve tapas, and the timetable. www.detapesperbarcelona.es (only available in Catalan, enter and click on "Mapa").
What else can you do this weekend? Some suggestions from our Hostel in Barcelona:
Of course, attending the Primavera Sound Festival concerts, held until Sunday. Some of them, not the only nor the best:
Beach House tonight at 9:40 PM on the ATP stage -Parc del Forum-: pop sound and great great voice of Victoria Legrand.
And Pixies!, The legend comes back to Barcelona after getting together again in 2004. At 1:15 am, at the San Miguel stage -Parc del Forum-
On Saturday, Pet Shop Boys, headliners of this year's edition ... How many years since their "West End Girls"? About 25 years? Talent, quality and good electronic music for decades.
In addition, our Hostel in Barcelona recommends you to take a walk at the Fira Modernista, held at the Eixample Dret Area. At the carrer Girona between Carrer Aragó and Avda. Diagonal, you'll find a fair that will take you back to the XIX century. Some exhibitions, workshops and artisan crafts, different ideas and activities for those who are backpacking in Barcelona this weekend!
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 If you pass by Catalonia between the end of January and the end of March you can’t miss this Catalan tradition of eating calçots.
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Read more... [A Catalan gastronomic tradition: els calçots]
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Barcelona Hostels. Inject some high class into your hostelling with a stay in the awesome Urbany Hostel Barcelona!
