CONTENTS

WHAT WE’RE LIKE BARCELONA AND BEYOND

Pere Virgili Ruth Marigot

WELCOME to our city, to our country and to our home! Working together with the newspaper ARA, at BCU we’ve prepared this guide to help you to enjoy Barcelona and Catalonia like Barcelona in 10 concepts ...... 4-5 On foot, running and by bike ...... 18-19 a native. Our universities in figures ...... 6-7 From Barcelona to the world ...... 20-21 We aim to help you feel Secret Barcelona ...... 8-9 Why did I decide to stay here? ...... 22 welcome and make things easier Instagram-worthy spots ...... 10 Where can I live? ...... 24 for you. So, in the following pages, Don’t miss out ...... 12-16 Catalonia: more than just a club ...... 26-27 you’ll find plenty of information TALENT CITY ROSES, FIRE AND... about what to do and see, and where and when to do and see it. Pere Tordera Francesc Melcion Because historically we’ve always been a land of welcome and we’re very happy that you’ve chosen our city to study, teach and do research in. Living with us you’ll see that you can also enjoy a rich millenary culture and two official languages,

Competitive research ...... 28-30 10 popular festivals ...... 60-61 as well as the English language, Science Barcelona ...... 31 Barcelona through books ...... 62-63 which is also spoken by many of us Knowledge transfer ...... 32 Sant Jordi ...... 64 here. The Citadel of Knowledge ...... 34-35 Gaudí and the others ...... 66-67 We like sharing our city with Barcelona Tech City ...... 36 people from all over the world so Student Guide ...... 37-54 that they can also teach us and Coworking ...... 55 show us the best way to enjoy life An expert’s opinion ...... 56 together. Barcelona International Welcome ...... 58-59 In Barcelona you can study, do LEISURE AND CULTURE FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD! research, work and, above all, enjoy an extraordinary quality of Francesc Melcion Pere Tordera life while living right next to the sea. We invite you to get to know our culture, our universities, our science, Barça, the Sagrada Familia, and also Sant Jordi, the markets, the music scene, and everything that Barcelona has to

Music ...... 68 A restaurant with history and markets ...... 80 offer. Art ...... 70 A new place and tapas ...... 81 Many thanks for choosing us!

Scenic arts ...... 72 An experimental and vegetarians options ....82

Film ...... 74 One you shouldn’t miss and wine ...... 84

Nightlife ...... 76 A DO restaurant and cake shops ...... 86

Shopping ...... 78

COVER Jordi Olivé ACCESS ALL CONTENTS AT ARA.CAT

TALENT GUIDE TEXTS DIRECTOR BCU Montse Serret. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ARA Esther Vera. COORDINATION ARA Ignasi Aragay, Georgina Ferri. BCU Olga Vallejo ORIGINAL DESIGN AND LAYOUT Cristina Córdoba. BCU TEAM Maria del Mar Roig i Toni Pla. DESIGN BCU Global Design ARA Development, S.L. GRAPHICS EDITION Dani Ríos. EDITING Rosa Rodon. LANGUAGE Albert Pla. ara.cat | Talent Guide | 3 #NewWorldCity #MoreThanTourism

A human city, manageable in size compared to other large capitals. Barelona receives more than 12 Admired and recognized internationally and a benchmark in terms of million foreign tourists a year and is quality of life as a result of a combination of climate, geographical among the 10 most visited European location, gastronomy, culture and urban beauty. Thanks to technological cities by international travellers, advances and new economic and social trends, Barcelona fosters according to Euromonitor professional development while offering an intense and authentic International 2018. Leisure and personal life. tourism are important, but so are creativity, business and research. With a vision for the future and an eye for new opportunities, the city has struck a balance between economic development and quality of life.

Elisa Bono / Getty BARCELONA IN 10 CONCEPTS

Barcelona is an attractive place to visit and to live, work, learn, invest and do Pere Virgili business. In 2019 saw the presentation of “Identity and positioning of Barcelona: a collaborative storytelling”, a project in which citizens from Barcelona and around the world, members of different administrations and public and professional institutions working in diverse sectors explain the city’s values. The characteristic they highlight can be summarised in the following adjectives: modern, open, attractive, lively, dynamic, diverse, international, cosmopolitan and warm. Do you know Barcelona? Below are the 10 concepts that best define it.

Fr

Cèlia Atset

#EcoSystemStartUps Pere Tordera #LifeLong

Barcelona’s innovative spirit has inspired and attracted people from all over the Barcelona works to ensure that world. Perhaps because of this, and because of its network of nurseries, throughout all the different stages of your accelerators and coworking spaces, and because Barcelona is a seedbed of ideas life you’ll feel at home here and find the and projects, it’s the third favourite city in Europe for start-ups and one of the space you need to grow on a personal most dynamic centres in Europe in fields like mobile applications, the internet of level as well as in the family, social and things, e-commerce, video games and big data. professional spheres.

4 | ara.cat | Talent Guide #AlwaysBarcelona

#BeyondBarcelona #Progress ■ 1st city in the world for congresses Some of the main attractions in the region Progress is the engine that has can be found outside the city limits. The driven Barcelona and its inhabitants ■ 3rd favourite city in Europe Barcelona metropolitan area has a rich on a search for continual for start-ups cultural and architectural heritage, natural improvement. We act with beauty spots and parks, state-of-the-art commitment to make our dreams ■ 4th best prepared city in scientific infrastructures and a powerful come true and to continue being a the world for future technology business ecosystem. benchmark for ideas and for a way of being and acting, aware that we ■ 4th most attractive city in want to leave the best possible the world for working abroad legacy for the welfare of our citizens. ■ 9th region for foreign investment in the world Manolo García

#Creative

An inseparable sign of identity. Great names in contemporary art and other creative disciplines are inevitably associated with Barcelona and we continue to promote artistic production and innovation. We are one of the great design capitals of the

Marc Rovira world and an internationally recognised model for urban transformation.

Cèlia Atset Pere Tordera Pere Laura Guerrero

#Talent ancesc Melcion A talent hub that promotes, develops and attracts talent. Many #Spirit great geniuses in fields like #Diversity architecture, art, literature, design So ethereal and yet so tangible, the and gastronomy have made their We think and work in a network so that spirit of Barcelona, a city full of magic name here. We have an innovative, diversity can enrich us and differences where you enjoy the great little things powerful ecosystem that makes us can stimulate us. We combine tradition in life, where traditions and popular a benchmark in different areas of and modernity. This is a place where festivals are ever-present and research, including biomedicine, people from different backgrounds, neighborhood life and street culture information and communication professional fields and interests decide enamour you and make you want to technologies, photonics and to live and grow together. become part of it all. particle acceleration.

ara.cat | Talent Guide | 5 OUR 77,028 STUDENTS IN UNIVERSITIES VOCATIONAL IN FIGURES TRAINING

QUALITY AND 12 PRESTIGE UNIVERSITIES Catalonia has a prestigious, top quality higher education system, with more than seven centuries of history. It is made up of 12 public universities (University of Barcelona, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Pompeu Fabra University, University of Girona, University of Lleida and Rovira I Virgili University), four private universities (Ramon Llull University, Abat Oliba CEU University, International 7 PUBLIC University of Catalonia and Vic University) and one online university (UOC) - which are well positioned in international rankings: three are among the 250 best in the world (UPF, UB and UAB) and two among the 50 4 PRIVATE best young universities in the world (UPC and UPF). Barcelona is one of the cities with the highest concentration of prestigious ONLINE business schools in Europe, two of which 1 (Iese and Esade) are among the 25 best in the world according to the Financial Times (2019). The academic courses on offer are complemented by a series of university services such as libraries, teaching laboratories, language services, sports facilities, medical insurance and health care services and work opportunities that enrich the university experience. The languages most commonly used in teaching are Catalan, Spanish and English, so language is not necessarily a barrier. Furthermore, Catalonia is a regular destination for international students and offers an open and multicultural environment.

6 | ara.cat | Talent Guide 339,665 29,000 STUDENTS MATRICULATED IN HIGHER INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION 5.9% STUDENTS DEGREE in the Catalan higher 262,637 25.4% education system, distributed UNIVERSITY STUDENTS MASTER as follows: 30.6% DOCTORATE

1,399 DEGREE TITLES 45% 488 OF THE POPULATION DEGREES OF CATALONIA AGED 587 30 – 34 HAS A MASTERS COLLEGE EDUCATION 239 DOCTORATES 85 VOCATIONAL TRAINING TITLES

A DYNAMIC AND ATTRACTIVE ECOSYSTEM The most interesting aspect is that this academic excellence interacts with an attractive and dynamic ecosystem: “This is an empowering environment for start-ups - Barcelona is the fourth city in Europe in investment in start- ups – with a research-related infrastructure that differentiates us qualitatively, such as the National Supercomputing Centre and Alba Synchrotron, which attracts knowledge-related projects, such as the Mobile World Capital and ISE, which has a diversified productive fabric that is above the European average, and which connects with the new productive economy. The university system is related to this ecosystem of research and knowledge. If we add factors like the climate and quality of life, the added value we offer with respect to other cities is evident,“ argues Business and Knowledge Minister, Àngels Chacón.

72.2% Catalan Spanish Other languages 47.5%

30.3% 22.2% 14.8% 13,1%

DEGREE MASTER

ara.cat | Talent Guide | 7 SECRET BARCELONA Plaça Catalunya, Plaça de Sant Jaume, Plaça Reial, Plaça del Rei, Plaça de Sant Felip Neri, Plaça Espanya, Plaça del Diamant and Plaça del Sol are among the city’s most iconic squares. Everybody knows about these spots, which attract plenty of tourists and are favourite gathering places for celebrations and protests, as well as having a wealth of literary and historical associations. But Barcelona is much more and has true treasures hidden away waiting to be discovered.

1. PLAÇAPLA DE SANT GAIETÀ

It’s virtuallyvirtu impossible to stumble upon Plaça de Sant Gaietà by chance, and that may be why, if you do happen to find it, it ends up being so gratifying to spend some time there. It’s located in the neighborhood of Sarrià, tucked away behind the municipal market, and to get there you have to walk through an alley that seems at first sight unlikely to take you anywhere at all. And what’s so special about it? The plants and the peace and quiet that reign there. It’s so small that it looks like the SARRIÀ - private patio of the dozen or so low buildings that surround it. SANT GERVASI Jordi Roviralta

1 2. PLAÇAPL DE LA CONCÒRDIA

This charmingc square in the district of Les Corts is presided over LES CORTS by tthe parish church of Santa Maria del Remei –pay special attention to its 19th century clocktower with its structure of 10 2 metres of wrought iron–. Here you’ll also find an assortment of traditional shops, including Boages and the Oller pharmacy, along with a restaurant, Fragments Cafè, with a small and charming interior courtyard, and the Can Deu Civic Center, which occupies the site of the Catalan modernist-style family EIXX Francesc Melcion house of the Deu family, the owners of a liquor factory. The centre has a cafeteria that will transport you back in time and a 7 fantastic patio, complete with a gazebo and an art-nouveau fountain. Nearby, at Carrer Taquígraf Garriga number 23, you’ll SANTS-MONTJUÏCJUÏC find the tiny house of a legendary mouse called Perez whom CIUCIUI children believe collects their fallen milk teeth in exchange for money. 3

Jordi Roviralta 3. PLAÇAPLAÇÇ D’ARMES DEL CASTELLCASTE DE MONTJUÏC

At the top of Montjuïc, you’ll find what the

locals refer to as a castle, which was actually a Roviralta Jordi strategically located fortress and later a military museum. It now belongs to the city council 4. THE PATIOP OF THE FREDERIC MARÈS MUSEUM and has been recognised as a cultural site of national interest. You can take a guided tour of It may notno be a public square, but the patio of this museum is so special that you the building, catch one of the temporary or just have to see it, especially around the Feast of Corpus Christi, when you can permanent exhibitions it hosts and rent spaces see the tradition of an egg dancing in the jet of a fountain that is filled with for events. In the middle of the fortress, you’ll flowers. Located in the heart of the Gothic Quarter, next door to the cathedral, find the Plaça d’Armes, a porched gallery with what was once the courtyard garden of the Palace of the Counts of Barcelona is tiled floors, old street lamps on the corners and now an 425m2 open-air patio filled with fruit trees and flowers, with a café and a small bar. The terrace that surrounds the tables and chairs, making it a spot where you can spend time reading, chatting square on the upper floor is a viewpoint that or just soaking in the atmosphere. The museum itself holds the collection of the offers 360 degree views of the city, the port sculptor Frederic Marès, including artworks, fans, pipes, clocks, jewellery, toys, and the Mediterranean. padlocks and pharmacy pots.

8 | ara.cat | Talent Guide 5. PLAÇA EIVISSA

This square is a meeting place for neighbours in the Horta neighborhood and the centre of the old town. It retains the airs of a village and, indeed, Horta was once a summer destination for the bourgeoisie of Barcelona and did not become a district of the city until 1904. For years the star of the square was Juanito, a parrot that sang and danced from his perch at Quimet d’Horta, a bar where you will find (or so they claim) some of the best sandwiches in Barcelona. Look out for l’Eivissenca, a sculpture by Joan Centelles dating from 1965. The roadworks for the Horta traffic-free superilla (super-city-block), which are affecting the square, are expected to end in July, and will create almost 3,000m2 of new public space. Francesc Melcion

6. PLAÇAPL DEL MERCADAL

HORTA-GUINARDÓ One of the many squares in the district of Sant Andreu.And The most notable element here is a porch built between 1849 and 1851 by Josep NOUU BARRISBARR 5 Mas, the architect responsible for the Neoclassical façade of the Barcelona City Council building. The remodelling works carried out on the centennial municipal market, which 6 is located in the centre of the square, exposed the porches, which now house neighbourhood SANTSANT ANDREUA shops, cafes and restaurants. The new image is 8 so pleasing that some neighbors have asked for a new location to be found for the market. The new facility, which will be inaugurated at the end of 2020, aims to give more prominence to AMPLAMPLEE the porches and to the wrought iron lanterns that hang from each arcade. Jordi Roviralta 7 4 SANTSANS T MARTÍMARTA Í UTATUTATT VEVELLALLA

7. PLAÇAPLA DE VICENÇ MARTORELLMART

TrueTrue, it’s not really a secret, nor is it really hidden, but it’s a treat to stumble upon an Jordi Roviralta oasis of peace and quiet between Carrer 8. PLAÇA MASSADAS Tallers and Carrer Bonsuccés, so near to the hustle and bustle of the Ramblas. In Considered to be the little sister to Plaça this half-porticoed square in the Raval Mercadal,Mercadal this square is located in the neighbourhood you’ll find a little bit of heart of the Sagrera neighbourhood in everything: a playground, some the district of Sant Andreu. It is one of vegetation, sunlight and shade, the only the city’s three porticoed squares, statue of Antonio Machín in Barcelona, together with Plaça Reial in the Gothic shops, La Central bookshop and bars with Quarter, and was built at the end of the terraces like Kasparo, in whose name 19th century on the grounds of Masia many frequent visitors have rechristened Can Massadas. In the middle of the the square. Although you’ll find vestiges square there used to be a market which of the past here, like the foundling wheel, was demolished at the beginning of the where, from the mid-19th century till 1931, 1990s. Since then it has been an open people would leave the babies they were space, one of the city’s so-called hard or unable to take care of, and a small hole for urban squares, though it is surrounded leaving alms, the square is actually the by plum trees. Until 2018 it hosted a result of the rebuilding carried out market for plastic scale modellers, which following bomb damage to the Convent of has now been transferred to the Bonsuccés during the Spanish Civil War. Canòdrom dog racing track. Jordi Roviralta Jordi

ara.cat | Talent Guide | 9 INSTAGRAM-WORTHY SPOTS Barcelona is the third city with the most hashtags on Instagram (47 million in 2018) and has plenty of photogenic spots that are sure to earn you plenty of Likes. On this page, you’ll find five that are bound to help you triumph.

THE MONASTERY OF PEDRALBES THE CARMEL ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERY

The origins of the Royal Monastery of Santa Maria of One of the city’s seven panoramic viewpoints of the city, Pedralbes can be traced back to the beginning of the located on the hill of La Rovira (262 m), this historical site 14th century, when Queen Elisenda of Montcada decided once housed the antiaircraft batteries that defended the city to found a convent under the rule of Saint Clare. The from bombers during the Spanish Civil War, and was the site convent was inaugurated one year after laying the first of a shanty town until 1990. It building stone and prospered under the Queen’s has been run by the city’s protection and donations. If you’re interested in MUHBA history museum since exploring its almost 700 years of history, take advantage 2011. You can get there by of the exhibitions it hosts or take a guided visit of its public transport or private Catalan Gothic church, cloister and the recently restored vehicle, though the last Saint Michael’s Chapel with stretch must be tackled on its mural paintings. foot. The rewards for your Admission costs €5 and is efforts are some fantastic free on the first Sunday of views of Barcelona. There are every month. information boards to guide monestirpedralbes.bcn.cat you around the site. Well worth a visit, even though it can get rather crowded, especially at weekends. Pere Virgili TIBIDABO

The highest peak in the Collserola range is also Iván Moreno known as the magic mountain and, standing at 500m above sea level, it offers some fantastic views of the surrounding area. Work on the tram line and funicular railway to help people get up to the top of Dani Ríos the hill began in 1900, followed one year later by the opening of the Falko Seidel Amusement Park, which is THE KISS OF one of the oldest in the world FREEDOM MURAL and has expanded to around 30 attractions that are suitable It’s the most famous kiss in for all ages. In 1902 the first Barcelona: “The world is stone was placed of what born with every kiss”, the would become the Expiatory tiled wall image created by Francesc Melcion Temple of the Sacred Heart, the artist Joan Fontcuberta which was designed by Enric in collaboration with Sagnier and is crowned by the Ceràmica Cumella, can be CARRER D’AIGUAFREDA bronze statue of the Sacred found in Plaça Isidre Nonell, Heart that is 8 metres high and only three minutes walk Near Plaça de les Bugaderes in Horta you can take a trip back 5 tons in weight, and which can from the cathedral. The in time just by strolling down Carrer d’Aiguafreda: a street be seen from practically photo-mosaic is made up of that’s only 150 metres long, with eight low storey houses, a everywhere in Barcelona. over 4,000 tiles printed with well and a public washing place that local women once took Admission to the temple and a photo depicting a moment advantage of to offer laundry services to the well-to-do the crypt is free, though you’ll of freedom taken by local families of Barcelona. The water up here was considered to be pay €3.50 to take a lift up to the citizens, which make up the purer than that of the Rec Condal canal, in which most of the viewing area. www.tibidabo.cat image of a kiss. inhabitants of the city washed their clothes. templotibidabo.es

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Pere Virgili DON’T MISS OUT A combination of art, popular culture, gastronomy, patrimony, tradition and a rich associative texture ensures that Catalonia is always brimming with entertainment activities. Every year, Barcelona alone hosts 200 cultural festivals in a wide range of artistic disciplines, more than 5,000 concerts and over 1,000 shows, as well as having a network of over 50 civic centres with free cultural activities, 11 creation factories, 60 museums and numerous exhibition spaces... but the best of all is that that these activities also extend to Cristina Calderer the rest of the country. It’s simply LA MERCÈ SEPTEMBER 20-24 2019 / BARCELONA impossible to get bored here! Below Barcelona’s own local festival is devoted to our you’ll find some of the annual events Lady of La Mercè, one of the two co-patrons of the city. During the fiesta, the streets of the city are that you just shouldn’t miss out on. filled with life, people, music, scenic and visual art performances and folk activities and there are open days at many of its museums. The festival culminates with a spectacular display of fireworks, lights and music at the Montjuïc Magic Fountain. www.barcelona.cat/lamerce

12 | ara.cat | Talent Guide AUTUMN

Manolo García

MEDITERRANEAN FAIR IN MANRESA OCTOBER 10-13 2019 / MANRESA

Winner of the third place award in the division of large music festivals in the Transglobal World Music Chart (2019), if you’re interested in popular culture and world music, this is the festival for you. Here you’ll find interdisciplinary performances in a variety of artistic languages for adults and families and a meeting place for professionals working in the sector. firamediterrania.cat SALÓ DEL MANGA NOVEMBER BARCELONA

This large-scale celebration of Japanese 48HRS OPEN HOUSE culture features 75,000 m2 of exhibitions,

OCTOBER 26 AND 27 2019 Anna Brugués BARCELONA AND conferences, SURROUNDING AREA gastronomy with classes Borrat David of Japanese cooking and The city’s major architecture- show cooking, book related event is celebrating its signings, and workshops 10th anniversary this year with on origami, koinobori over 200 free activities, both in Japanese bridal make-up Barcelona itself and in towns in and gardening, among the surrounding area, including many others, together TEMPORADA ALTA Santa Coloma de Gramenet, with appearances by OCTOBER-DECEMBER / GIRONA AND SALT Badalona, Vilassar de Dalt, leading manga creators. l’Hospitalet de Llobregat and And let’s not forget This scenic arts festival, which has an important presence on Sant Joan Despí, all with the cosplay competitions! the European scene, also has a special section for music and aim of helping you to explore Are you ready to get cinema. It’s a meeting point for professionals from the the area’s rich architectural dressed up like your Catalan and international scenes and acts as a showcase for heritage on open days at many favourite character? show creation and production. Choose any performance at types of buildings. www.manga- random and you’re sure to be pleased. www.48hopenhousebarcelona.org barcelona.com www.temporada-alta.com

ara.cat | Talent Guide | 13 WINTER

MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS 24-27 FEBRUARY 2020 BARCELONA

The most important international get-together in the mobile communication sector. Every year, Fira Barcelona plays host to more than 100,000 attendees from over 200 countries. This is where the big companies come to present their latest products and news, Francesc Melcion together with the leading experts in the TERRASSA JAZZ FESTIVAL sector, and where events like the 4YFN - a MARCH / TERRASSA platform that connects start-ups with potential investors - and the YoMo (Youth An unmissable date for modern jazz fans, Mobile Festival) are held. this three-week festival fills concerts halls, www.mwcbarcelona.com city squares and parks with contemporary jazz performances. Don’t miss the popular Jazz Picnic in Parc de Vallparadís, which comes complete with live music, gastronomic treats and a crafts fair. On the festival programme, you’ll find up to 60 concerts and parallel activities in Terrassa and other towns in the region. www.jazzterrassa.org Cristina Calderer 080 BARCELONA BCNEGRA JANUARY-FEBRUARY / BARCELONA FASHION JANUARY-FEBRUARY This annual date for crime fiction fans BARCELONA features free activities in venues all over Barcelona, including discussions with Barcelona’s fashion week, which authors, round-table debates, exhibitions, also has a spring-summer readings, writing workshops, family- edition, is a showcase in which oriented activities and film screenings. Catalan designers and brands www.lameva.barcelona.cat/bcnegra present their collections. It is an Tjerk van der Meulen open and creative fashion CALÇOTADES platform, which, for 2019, has NOVEMBER-APRIL / CATALONIA begun to target international designers. 080 is a benchmark The season for calçots, a type of scallion or green onion, runs from November to April, event for avant-garde design although the official opening of the season takes place on the last Sunday in January in and fashion and is open to the Valls. The best way of eating them is at calçotades, communal open-air feasts at which general public through its Pop they are cooked over the flames and served with delicious romesco sauce, followed by Ups Gallery. roasted meat, toasted bread and wine. If you can manage dessert, it’s typical to finish the www.080barcelonafashion.cat meal off with orange and crema catalana.

14 | ara.cat | Talent Guide SANT JORDI 23 APRIL / CATALONIA

23 April is Saint George’s Day, known as Sant Jordi in Catalan, who is the patron saint of Catalonia. Although not an official holiday, Sant Jordi is celebrated as the day for lovers and books – you’ll find the streets of Barcelona buzzing with action as people wander around stalls browsing and buying books (which were traditionally given to men) and TEMPS DE FLORS roses (which were traditionally given to women). MAY / GIRONA

What began back in 1954 as a small floral competition and exhibition has grown into the Girona International Flower Festival, with floral exhibitions and displays in public and private gardens and monuments all over the city. The resulting aroma is as or perhaps even more spectacular than the visual impact of the floral art on display. www.gironatempsdeflors.cat

BARCELONA POESIA MAY / BARCELONA

Every May, Barcelona is filled with verses by poets from here and abroad. The festival features over 100 authors and 14 venues and, as well as written and spoken poetry, includes activities in other disciplines and areas such as music, theatre, dance and education. If you’re a poetry fan, remember that every month the CCCB hosts Poetry SPRING Slam Barcelona, in which street poets battle each other with their rhymes. lameva.barcelona.cat/barcelonapoesia

REC.0 EXPERIMENTAL STORES MAY / IGUALADA

Since 2009, for four days every May and November, the old factories and tanneries of the Rec d’Igualada industrial district are transformed into popup stores in which both big and upcoming brands sell their creations at incredible prices – with discounts of 60% and 80% . Visitors can also take advantage of the food trucks scattered around the area, together with concerts, DJ sessions, free talks and workshops for children. www.rec0.com PRIMAVERA SOUND MAY-JUNE / BARCELONA

Every year, Barcelona’s Parc del Fòrum attracts over 220 musical artists, including top names in alternative, electronic, experimental, indie, pop and rock music. The festival programme gives equal priority to the most prominent names from both the national and international scenes. And the audience just keeps on growing: 220,000 people from 126 countries in 2018, 60% of whom came from abroad. www.primaverasound.com

ara.cat | Talent Guide | 15 GREC FESTIVAL JUNE AND JULY / BARCELONA

This international theatre, dance, music and circus festival has a long tradition in Barcelona’s cultural history. Its programme features some of the best creations by Catalan artistic collectives and artists, together with interesting proposals by companies from around the world. It owes its name to its central venue: the Greek-style outdoor amphitheater (called Teatre Grec), which was built on Montjuïc for the 1929 Universal Exhibition. bcn.cat/grec

HAVANERES SINGING JULY / CALELLA DE PALAFRUGELL

The first Saturday in July marks the beginning of the summer on the Costa Brava. For the last 52 years, the season has opened with vocal performances of havaneres, typical tavern songs sung by Catalan fishermen. If you’re interested in seeing the action, you’d better move rapidly: the 1,500 tickets usually sell out quickly. www.havanerescalella.cat

SÓNAR JULY BARCELONA

Sónar has been a pioneer in the world of advanced music for over 25 years. Over the three days of the festival you can dance in the daylight at Sónar by Day or after sundown at Sónar by Night. And if you SUMMER want to explore the latest developments in creativity and technology, check out CASTELLERS Sónar + D, an international YEAR ROUND congress that explores the CATALONIA Tjerk van der Meulen future of creativity. Usually held in June, this year’s edition is Castells - human towers - scheduled for July. sonar.es have been a symbol of ACN Catalan culture for over 200 years. The tower building season traditionally began around the Feast of Saint John (24 June) and ended on the Feast of Saint Ursula (21 October), though you can now see displays of human tower building all year round. One of the most

important days on the Pere Virgili human tower agenda is the Feast of Saint Felix on 30 August in Vilafranca del ACN Penedès. If you’re still in VIC LIVE MUSIC FESTIVAL Catalonia in 2020, don’t SEPTEMBER 18-21 2019 / VIC miss the Human Tower Competition in Tarragona, This festival consists of four days of live music in a variety of which takes place every genres on stages at indoor and outdoor venues scattered all two years on the first around the city of Vic. Within the festival programme, MVLAB is a weekend of October, in space for professionals working in the sector and brings which the top colles or together programmers, institutions, festivals, companies, groups of tower builders promoters, agencies and record companies. come together to compete. www.mmvv.cat

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18 | ara.cat

| BARCELONA AND BEYOND Talent Guide Masnou Yacht Club. Mono factory inBadalonaandthe styleAnísdel Catalan-modernist 250 metres andthe intothesea, the ‘Pont delPetroli’, whichextends theimpressiveBesòs, views from power atSantAdrià station de the imposingchimneys oftheold swimming poolatParc delFòrum, including theopen-air, saltwater bars andrestaurants,clubs tobeach way, ranging from andyacht ports excuses for stoppingoffalongthe and winter. There are myriad in thequietermonthsofautumn the morningandinevening and recommendableparticularly in early Mediterranean breezes. Thisroute is level terrain caressed by ofsome20 kilometresup atotal on having tosetfoot onaroad, making coast toPremià deMarwithoutever extend your explorations upthe kilometres inlength,andyou can right next isfive tothesea, ofthecoast,whichruns This part the bathingzone atParc delFòrum. stretch from thefoot ofMontjuïcto to explore which itseightbeaches, seafront promenade isaninvitation tothecity’s ofaccess The ease SEAFRONT PROMENADE AND BY BIKE ON FOOT, RUNNING tourist attractions andare by accessible easily publictransport. seven metropolitan stretches Allofthese tomajor municipalities. lienear the route, whichfeatures stretches ofvarying difficultyrunningthrough at any point alongthe72kilometres ofsignpostedbicycle of pathsandlanes maritime, river, andurbanenvironments. mountain You canbeginyour ride Marina, Front Marítim,MontjuïcandLlobregat, whichmake upamosaic of sections: Parc de Collserola, Parc Parc FluvialdelBesòs, delaSerralada de The Ronda Verda, orGreenway, isacircular cycling route consistingofsix THE RONDA VERDA The seafront promenade (WWW.RONDAVERDA.CAT)

walkers andcyclists; andtheriver mouth,whichisoffbounds. zone,meanders; thepublic-access withgrassland andpathsfor differentiated areas: thewetlands, withmeadows, isletsand industrialisation ofthesurrounding area. It’s dividedintothree which was closetobecominganopensewer duetothe The creation theregeneration oftheparkhasmeant oftheriver, 5pm inwinter, 6pminspring andautumn9pminwinter. from 10am.Theclosingtimedependsontheofyear, being de Gramenet andBarcelona. It’s opentothepublicyear round Reixac through andpasses Coloma SantAdrià Santa deBesòs, The stretch corresponding totheriver parkbeginsinMontcadai greenmost important zones intheBarcelona metropolitan area. The lastninekilometres oftheRiver make Besòs uponeofthe THE BESÒSRIVERPARK The power inSantAdrià station deBesòs Ruth Marigot

or ontwo wheels.Here are someproposals. guided tours, whetheryou prefer to goonfoot bicycle, helpyou planitineraries andtake you on readyassociations andbusinesses to rent you a and outdoors There types. are plentyofclubs, Llobregat rivers... Thisisaparadise for cyclists Collserola range, and themouthsofBesòs exploration andexercise: theseafront, the excellent for opportunities combining Barcelona anditsmetropolitan area offer

Cèlia Atset The Besòs RiverThe Besòs Park Cèlia Atset MADMA ABOUT CYCLING

EROICAEROI CAFFÈ BARCELONA (Consell(Con de Cent, 350) eroica.cc/caffe-barcelona This is a café, a restaurant and, above all, a meeting place forfor peoplep who are crazy about cycling. Its owner organises bike-relatedbike- activities in the fields of gastronomy and culture,cultu as well as the Eroica Hispania classic ride, which is heldheld every year in early June.

ESPAIESPA BICI (Bruc,(Bru 63) espaibici.com This pioneering bicycle shop offers a variety of urban models,mod including their own tailored Fetamà brand. If you COLLSEROLA PARK buybuy a bike here they’ll take you out on a guided tour. Other servicesservi include a repair workshop, events and outings. The city’s main greenbelt area, a 11,100 hectare haven for an extensive variety of plant and animal species, was VELÒDROMVELÒ BARCELONA declared a Nature Park in 2010. Exploring this range of (Homer,(Hom 22) www.velodrombarcelona.com hills provides you with amazing views of Barcelona and OffersOffe everything an amateur or professional cyclist the surrounding towns. There are some fifteen viewpoints couldcoul possibly need, including a cycling shop, a and the highest point, at an altitude of 512 metres above specialisedspec workshop, cycling holidays, a cycling club sea level, is the peak of Tibidabo, which hosts the andand biomechanics. homonymous amusement park. The park’s website has information on the park and its activities, including VOLATAVOLA MAGAZINE themed walks, birdwatching, astronomical evenings and (Magalhaes,(Mag 54) volatamag.cc the park’s own guided Collserola-tours, as well as details FromFrom its beginnings as a website and trimonthly regarding the park’s information offices and over 250 magazine,mag Volata has grown to incorporate a cycling kilometres of paths for walking and cycling. Visitors to the clubclub and a café-bookshop in Poble-sec specialising in park must refrain from feeding its wild animals, keep cyclingcycl culture. dogs on a leash, refrain from lighting fires outside of the Cèlia Atset specially prepared barbeque areas and respect the speed limit of 20 kilometres per hour. Visits by organised groups The Velodrome in Horta require prior permission. www.parcnaturalcollserola.cat

Pere Tordera

Tibidabo, the highest peak in Collserola Park

THE LLOBREGAT RIVER PARK

The park is a green space that provides a place to walk and engage in sports and leisure activities in a natural environment. Its 30 kilometres of paths running along the banks of the river make up an area of major ecological importance that connects the Collserola range with the coast, crossing 16 metropolitan municipalities. The itinerary is divided into four sections that can be traversed on foot or by bicycle, and there are a number of different itineraries covering the Llobregat Delta, the river park in Prat de Llobregat and the Roman Baths at Sant Boi. It’s also a biodiverse corridor where you can discover a large variety of fauna, especially birds, take part in

Xavier Bertral Xavier educational activities and explore historically important sites. The park is the result of a project that began in 2006 with the aim of regenerating the River Llobregat and its surroundings at the ecological and social levels. www.parcriullobregat.cat

ara.cat | Talent Guide | 19

The Llobregat River Park LONDON BRUSSELS AMSTERDAM Europe’s most visited city Marvel at one of the The city’s most popular museums are the –with 20 million tourists most beautiful squares Rijksmuseum –with the world’s largest per year– is multicultural in the world, the collection of Dutch art– the Van Gogh and always in fashion. Unesco world heritage Museum and the Rembrandt House Big Ben, Buckingham site that is the Grand Museum. Dam Square, the flower market, Palace, Westminster, Place; Hôtel Tassel, the Vondelpark, the city’s coffee shop –where Trafalgar Square, birthplace of art marijuana and hashish are legal– and the Piccadilly Circus, Saint PARIS nouveau, Manneken red light district are among the city’s usual Paul’s Cathedral, the You’ll have seen all the Pis, the first must see spots. To get around like the Millennium Bridge, the classics in films: the Eiffel commercial galleries in locals rent a bike, though the tram is also a London Eye, Covent Tower, Notre Dame, Europe and the Comic good option. Or get a different take on the Garden, Camden Sainte Chapelle, Sacré Museum, where Tintin city by going on a canal cruise. Market, parks, museums, Coeur, Latin Quarter, the is the main pubs, musicals ... You Gardens of protagonist. can go back every Luxembourg, the Chocolate, cheese and month and you’ll always Louvre, the Orsay, the beer are the culinary find something to Pompidou, the Arc de culture’s essentials, but surprise you. Triomphe and the there are plenty more Champs Elysées. Visit good things to try. them all and stroll along L the great avenues and the alleys of Montmartre, sit at tiny tables at pavement cafes and enjoy the Seine, from its banks or onboard a bateau mouche. FROM BARCELONA TO THE WORLD Barcelona is well connected to the main European capitals. In little more than two hours or even less you can explore everything from the meaning of ‘savoir faire’, to the difference between churros and porras and you’ll certainly know what ‘saudade’ is when your adventure is over.

01.20 h 02.30 h 02.00 h Madrid Lisbon LISBON To get an idea of what Lisbon is all about, 01.40 h take Tram 28 as it Seville crosses Estrela, Bairro SEVILLE Alto, Chiado, Graça You can get here by plane or and Alfama, with stops aboard the AVE high-speed train. at the National Awaiting you is la Giralda, the Pantheon, the gothic cathedral, the Real Alcázar, Cathedral or Sé, the María Luisa park, Plaza de España, viewpoint at Portas do the flamenco spirit of the Triana Sol and São Jorge neighborhood... You’ll find Castle. You’ll fall in architecture, but also tapas and love with its elegant manzanilla, people having fun, the decadence, cobbled smell of orange trees in bloom, the streets, tiled facades, April fair, and the Easter fados, cod dishes and processions, all experiences you’ll Belem pastries. never forget. Temperatures often exceed 40 degrees in summer!

20 | ara.cat | Talent Guide BERLIN A good option for any day of the year. OK, it can get cold in winter, but the Christmas markets are a delight. You’ll be surprised to see so few cars circulating in the city. Take advantage of their absence and cycle, like native Berliners, to its most emblematic sights: the Brandenburg Gate, Potsdamer Platz, Alexanderplatz, the Reichstag, Museum Island, the East Side Gallery and the Holocaust PRAGUE Memorial. And when night falls the possibilities In Prague, you get the for partying are practically infinite. feeling you’re walking around a museum. For great views, climb up the tower of the Cathedral of Saint Vit, inside the castle, from where you can see the Berlin historic centre –a Amsterdam 02.50 h Unesco World London 02.20 h Heritage Site– with the Old Town square, the 02.30 h Town Hall with an Brussels astronomical clock on 02.15 h its southern wall that is quite a sight when it Prague strikes the hour, the 02.25 h Jewish cemetery and Paris the Charles Bridge, the 01.35 h most famous one in the city, which unites 06.28 h the Old Town with the Berne Lesser Town. 01.55 h

01.55 h Rome ROME Barcelona Wonders abound wherever you look: the Roman Forum, the MADRID Colosseum, the There are actually many Madrids: the Pantheon, the Piazza neighbourhood of the Austrias in the Navona, the Trevi historic centre, where you’ll find the Fountain, the Trajan Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Plaza de Market, the Basilica of Oriente, Palacio Real and the San Pietro, the Almudena Cathedral and where you Trastevere quarter... have to eat churros and porras at San “Roma, non basta una Ginés; the Madrid of the Paseo del vita”, but do as much as Arte where, in a one kilometre stretch, you can, and remember you’ll find the Prado, the Thyssen- that Italian cuisine is Bornemisza and the Queen Sofia BERNE much more than pasta, mueums; multilingual Lavapiés; It’s quiet and small, with about 133,000 inhabitants. pizza and ice cream. Chueca, the gay neighborhood; the Strolling through the medieval historical centre –a Unesco authentic Madrid of El Rastro, an open- World Heritage site– is a delight: 6 km of arcades and PHOTO: GETTY air market where you can buy just fountains with Renaissance figures; the clock tower; the about anything on Sundays and public Einstein house-museum; the cathedral; the bear pit and the holidays; the Madrid of the theatres Zentrum Paul Klee, which is devoted to the Swiss painter. At and musicals; and the greener Madrid the top of a hill, you’ll find the rose garden, which, while not TRAVEL TIMES BY PLANE of the El Retiro park. always spectacular, offers magnificent views of the city. TRAVEL TIMES BY TRAIN

ara.cat | Talent Guide | 21 WHY DID I DECIDE TO STAY HERE?

NAEIMEH BEHBOOD (TONEKABON - IRAN, 1981) COO at SANA Meditech

A little over 10 years ago, Naeimeh and her husband, both of whom are physicists, were attending a conference in the Basque Country when they decided to fly to Barcelona. It was love at first sight: “We fell in love with the city: it’s beautiful, it’s lively and the people are kind. And the research being carried out here is top quality”. Upon returning to Iran, ALEXIS DOWHUSZKO while finishing her master’s degree, she came across publications by (SAN NICOLÁS - ARGENTINA, 1978) researchers at the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO) and decided to Senior Researcher at CTTC work on her doctorate there. Six years later she was awarded a PhD in photonics and her son was born. Following a short break from work, she In 2010 he completed his doctorate in returned to ICFO to work on a corporate communications project before Argentina and left the country with the joining the private sector as a researcher and later project manager at intention of returning there one day. Monocromo, a company specialised in high-power lasers. Since 2019, Six years later, when his postdoctoral together with her husband and a third partner, she has been working on stay at a Finnish university came to an the launch of SANA Meditech, a company developing internet of things end, he felt that the time was still not (IOT) solutions for the healthcare sector. The first product they developed yet ripe, and, looking for alternatives, is Baby Heart Beat, a fetal monitor which, together with an application he applied for a research post at the and a cloud server, allows you to hear an unborn baby’s heartbeat at Catalan Telecommunications home and maintain contact with your clinic in real time. Regarding future Technology Centre (CTTC). He is plans: “We’ll stay if we can progress professionally. In the end, it’s a currently developing a new line in his question of money. Barcelona is a wonderful city, but it’s expensive. You career, opening up a more applied line need money to live and enjoy yourself here”. of research on wireless optical signals and advancing in the study of technology that allows data to be transmitted through LED lights. The decision to stay in Barcelona was related to the quality of the city’s LUCÍA GRATIELA BARBU research and development centres, (BRAILA - ROMANIA, 1985) but, beyond these professional Postdoctoral researcher at CIMNE and aspects, Alexis believes that Barcelona associate professor at UPC has plenty to offer at the personal and social levels. In addition to the obvious She openly declares her love for Barcelona, factors like the climate and the the Costa Brava –which she gets away to possibility of enjoying both the seaside whenever she can– and especially for the and the mountains, there are factors city’s cultural facilities: “There are so many like the city’s cultural facilities and interesting options, it’s fantastic”. She arrived gastronomy, which has enamoured at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) in January 2010 on an him and restored his health: “Since I’ve Erasmus scholarship to work on her master’s thesis. At first she had no been following a Mediterranean diet, intention of extending her stay, but nine years later she assures us that she’s I’ve had better health check results,” not completely settled down, both personally and professionally, and has no he explains. And the cherry on the plans for leaving. A week after arriving here she had signed up for Catalan cake is the human angle, the character classes, after three months she was communicating without problems and of the people and the social relations shortly after that she met her husband-to-be. She combined working on her that are warmer and friendlier than in master’s degree with doing calculations for dam construction projects and the north of Europe. Taken all together, then began her doctorate at the International Centre for Numerical Methods these factors make living in Barcelona in Engineering (CIMNE), where she is working as a postdoctoral researcher a pleasant and enriching experience. “I on an indefinite contract, as long as there are resources to finance the feel fulfilled here and don’t see myself project, which she combines with teaching duties at the UPC. Since she ever leaving,” he concludes. arrived in Catalonia she has been attracted by the high level of research in her sector: “With my professional profile there are always opportunities to do international postdocs, but I love my job and I intend to continue doing it. I could say that I’m here for love, that true too, but my professional achievements are fundamental”. 22 | ara.cat | Talent Guide

WHERE CAN I LIVE? When you move to a new city, community meets a series of finding accommodation is a big guarantees, they have drawn issue. If you manage to find a up, together with their place that suits your needs, in collaborators, a Commitment to terms of type of housing, Best Practices. Among the many location, services and price, options on offer, including rental you’ll quickly begin feel at flats and student rooms, home. Finding accommodation university residences, colleges in Barcelona is not easy, and shared flats, Jaasiel, who is especially if we take into studying for an international account the fact that rents have master’s degree, has opted for a skyrocketed in recent years, by shared student flat with six up to 10% in some bedrooms and three bathrooms, RESA neighbourhoods. To make a shared kitchen and a living things easier for you, Barcelona room. From Mexico he had The country’s largest Centre Universitari (BCU), a looked for accommodation on accommodation service for newly-arrived real estate portals, but when he management network students, professors and arrived in Barcelona he decided with more than 8,000 researchers, will lend you a hand to get in touch with BCU: “It was places at 34 university and make the process as simple fast and transparent. The residences in 19 Spanish as possible. Faithful to their facilities are adequate and in cities –8 residences in commitment to ensure that good condition. I would Barcelona, 1 in accommodation for the recommend it,“ he says. Castelldefels and 1 in Sant university and scientific Cugat del Vallès– which provide a tailored response to the needs of each individual: full year accommodation, or monthly, weekly and daily stays for students and teaching and research staff. Their aim is to help you to feel at home in the residence and in the city, to create a community that supports the student and will allow you to focus on studying. www.resa.es

ARECMAC BARCELONA STUDENT HOUSING

The Association of Student Residences and The objective of Barcelona Student Housing (BSH) is to combine the Halls of Residence of Catalonia guarantees the independence offered by a university flat with the comforts of a quality and compliance with a code of good university residence. Its university flats, shared by students from all practice of all its accommodations, in over the world, are functional and practical, have between 2 and 8 accordance with the needs of the university rooms, and are fully equipped. The price of the room includes all community. More than 6,000 well-located expenses –water, gas, electricity and Internet– a weekly cleaning accommodation places in different parts of the service, a washing machine and a dryer on each floor, a 24-hour city, close to public transport and the main emergency telephone and its own maintenance staff for incidents, universities and schools. saving you agency fees. www.arecmac.org www.barcelona-student-housing.com

24 | ara.cat | Talent Guide

CATALONIA: MORE THAN JUST A CLUB

FUTBOL CLUB BARCELONA MORE THAN JUST A CLUB

Barça (www.fcbarcelona.cat) – a phonetic abbreviation of its full Camp Nou, the stadium that has name in Catalan – was founded in 1899 by the Swiss businessman hosted the team’s home games since Hans Gamper at a time when football was practically unknown in 1957, is the largest in Europe, seating Catalonia. Now, 120 years later, the club is an icon in Catalonia 99,354 spectators, and has been with over 144,000 members, more than 300 million fans around awarded five star status by UEFA. the world, over 2,000 supporters clubs and upwards of 200 Renovation work, which is scheduled million followers on social networks. Also known as the blaugrana to begin this year, will increase the team because of its blue and deep red home strip, the club has stadium’s seating capacity and enjoyed its period of greatest success this century, with the Juan Medina / Reuters transform its surroundings. This Argentinean Leo Messi as its star player. Among its most summer will see the official outstanding trophies until 2018 are 25 Liga titles, 5 Champion’s opening of the Johan Cruyff League titles and 30 Copa del Rey victories. Fans gather to Stadium at the Joan Gamper celebrate major victories at the Canaletes Fountain at the top of Sports City in Sant Joan the Ramblas, a tradition that began in the 1930s, when the now- d’Espí, replacing the Mini- defunct newspaper La Rambla used to publish match results in the stadium where the Barça B, windows of its office and fans headed there to find out whether female and Youth League their team had won. teams play their matches. FC Barcelona is about more than just football and has five professional sections: basketball, with a team that has won major Spanish and international titles; handball, with a team that has won more Champion’s League titles than any team on the continent; Futsal, with one of the best European teams of the decade; roller hockey, which has contributed the largest number of European Cup trophies to the FCB museum display cabinets; and women’s football. The club also has a number of amateur sections, including athletics, women’s basketball, wheelchair basketball, hockey and ice hockey, figure skating, rugby and volleyball.

Francesc Melcion

Pere Virgili CULERS

In 1909 the club inaugurated its own grounds in Carrer Industria, with capacity for only 6,000 people. During important matches, the new grounds got so full that people were forced to sit on the fence of the venue with their bottoms hanging out: hence the Barça fans’ nickname of culers (cul means bottom in Catalan).

26 | ara.cat | Talent Guide EXPERIENCE THE EXCITEMENT If you want to see a match at the stadium you can buy tickets online on the club website, or at ticket offices and stadium stores. Prices vary depending on the Quique García / Efe competitor and seat availability. If you know a REIALREIA CLUB DEPORTIU member, take advantage of ESPANYOLESP DE BARCELONA the fact that they can buy EsEspanyolpan (www.rcdespanyol.com) is one of the oldest between two and six tickets, cclubslubs in the Spanish league. It was founded at the depending on the match UnivUniversitye of Barcelona in the year 1900 as the Spanish category, at a discount. FootFootballb Society and the following year adopted the namnamee Español (Spanish) to distinguish it from the more interinternationaln Barça, which had been founded by Gamper, a SwSwissi national. A deep rivalry has existed between the two cclubs ever since. The club’s trophy case includes four CoCopapa del Rey titles and the team has reached two UEFA ccupup ffinals. The club has a B team, a women’s football ssquadquad and 12 youth teams, as well as a football school. In 20012001,, the Español sports city was officially opened in Sant Adrià de Besòs. The name was changed in 2012 to ccommemorateomm the memory of Dani Jarque, a player who ddiedied at a tragically young age while still captain of the teamteam. Since 2009, the team has played at the RCDE StadiStadium in Cornellà, which has seating for 40,000 ppeople.eop PERIQUITOSPER

EspañolEspañ fans are known as periquitos (budgerigars). Pere Virgili AAccordingcco to one account, the name comes from the THE BARÇA MUSEUM larlargege number of budgies that lived around the old Sarrià sstadium,tadi the team’s home ground from 1923 to 1997. An The Barça Museum, which is located in the Cap Nou, is one alteralternativen explanation references Xut!, a satirical of Catalonia’s most visited museum, with almost two million mamagazinega in which, in the 1920s, cartoonist Valentí tickets sold every year. It recalls the history of the club CastCastanys,a portrayed Español fans as “four cats”, an through the players, matches, trophies and objects that have exprexpressione used mockingly to refer to a small crowd of thrilled millions of fans around the world. On the days that ppeopleeop in Catalan. At that time, Felix the Cat was a there’s no match at the stadium, you can enjoy a complete ppopularopu cartoon series and was known as Gato Perico or tour of the most exclusive facilities. You also have the chance PeriquitoPeriq , which came to be adopted as the name for to relive some of the high points in the club’s history with the EspaEspañolñ fans. The club issued budgie-shaped stickers to new Barça Virtual Experience. cecelebrateleb its 75th anniversary and the bird became the club’club’ss official mascot. In 2017, renewed mascots called PPericoeric and Perica were officially presented to the public.

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

Barça’s women’s team, which has been professional since the summer of 2015, has repeated the success of its 2017 season by qualifying for the finals of the Champions League. The team has achieved a historic milestone this season by filling the Wanda Metropolitano with more than 60,000 spectators, which is a world record for women’s football, for their League match Getty against Atletic. In its career, the section has won 4 League, 6 Queen’s Cup and 9 Catalonia Cup titles. Pere Virgili ara.cat | Talent Guide | 27 28 | ara.cat | Talent Guide

INTERNATIONAL LEVEL RESEARCH AT THE COMPETITIVE TALENT CITY talent andprojectstalent andtoboosttheeconomy. The specific areas hasmadeitpossiblefor ustoattract linked toknowledge, research andinnovation in structures withresearch centres andinfrastructures vision ofcreating andpromoting authenticnational and Knowledge, Àngels Chacón,“the strategic a world benchmark.For theMinisterofEnterprise is oneofthelargest research centres inEurope and inhighimpactscientificjournals.Catalonia appear produce 1.3% 39% ofwhich ofthescientificarticles, we make uponly0.1% oftheworld’s population,we and itiscompetitive andofhighquality: although Research plays akey role economy intheCatalan GLOBAL VISION 3 MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURES 3 MAJOR TECHNOLOGICAL CENTRES 8 competitive knowledge attheinternationallevel”. integrates thenew andislinked technologies to that ourhighlydiversified productive activity oftheprojects. ofeach activities We have toensure of things–intotheresearch centres andintothe –blockchain,technologies andtheinternet bigdata incredible speed:“We have tointegrate thenew to thenew context, whichisevolving atan the system ofknowledge, innovation andresearch that thechallengefor thecoming years istoadapt of thisresearch tothemarket”. Chacónconsiders competitive. Now we have toimprove thetransfer generation ofknowledge makes usmore SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURES 33 61 SCIENTIFIC ANDTECHNOLOGICAL PA RESEARCH CENTRES 300 SPIN-OFFS with participation from the university and research system

26,402 RESEARCHERS

1,744 RESEARCH GROUPS

46,000 PEOPLE WORKING IN R&D

+ 1,300 START-UPS generating 14,000 jobs

21 CSIC 40 ARKS 61 RESEARCH CERCA CENTRES

7 LINKED TO HOSPITALS 618,366 COMPANIES

1,300 4,024 START-UPS 9,282 TECH FIRMS INNOVATORS

PN@SC

In February 2019, the National Pact for the of the future. “The objective is to relate and inclusive, innovative economy that is open Knowledge Society (PN@SC) was officially finance –3% of GDP in research and to the world. The entire knowledge presented. It’s a nation-wide agreement, knowledge (1% public and 2% private)– and ecosystem is aware of the challenges and promoted by the Department of Enterprise thereby energize the research that is being wants to be prepared to play a role in the and Knowledge, to promote a strategy carried out, adapting to a new context. We international arena”, explains the minister. In shared among the fields of higher have the potential and the elements needed parallel, the PN@SC is promoting a law for education, research and innovation and the to achieve that. We want a knowledge- science and a Catalan law for emerging productive economy to build the Catalonia based society that will drive a sustainable, companies, technology and disruption.

ara.cat | Talent Guide | 29 Manolo García Francesc Melcion

OUTPATIENT OMOMYC: SURGERY THE ANTITTUMOURAL DRUG Doctor Pablo Moreno,o endocrinological surgeon, head of Omomyc is an intravenously administered antitumor the Endocrinological Surgery Unit at Bellvitge University drug without side effects that prevents tumour Hospital and director of the Institute of Endocrinological growth. The journal Science Translational Medicine Surgery (ICE), has revolutionised thyroid surgery. Since (March 2019) has published a study that 2017 he has performed more than 30 thyroid surgeries demonstrates its efficacy in preclinical models of through the mouth. This simple and effective technique non-small-cell lung cancer, the most aggressive and DRIVEN BY INNOVATION DRIVEN BY was perfected in Bangkok by Dr. Angkoon Anuwong, the deadly subtype for women and men. The new drug is world’s foremost expert. And why in Thailand? In the fruit of the work carried out by the Mouse Models Southeast Asian countries, scars on the neck are a of Cancer Therapy Group at the Vall d´Hebron cultural taboo. The new technique consists of Institute of Oncology (VHIO), which is led by ICREA approaching the thyroid from behind the lip thereby fellow Dr. Laura Soucek, with Dr. Marie-Eve BeauBeaulieulieu creating endoscopic access for extraction. “Any new as the principal investigator of the study. More than approach must maintain the quality related results of the 20 years ago, Dr. Soucek began her research with the previous technique - zero mortality, a minimal bleeding goal of inhibiting Myc, a key gene in the development rate (until now non-existent), less than 1% of vocal cord of most tumors and an ideal target for cancer nerve lesions and a rate of less than 3% in permanent treatment. After designing the transgen Omomyc, parathyroid gland lesions - and offer improvements. This which effectively inhibits the Myc protein without new minimally invasive surgical technique does not leave producing severe or irreversible adverse effects, they a visible scar on the neck, generates little discomfort and have gone on to make it an intraveneously less pain and allows the patient to be discharged in less administered drug, which helps it to penetrate the than 24 hours,“ argues the doctor. Dr. Moreno’s cell nucleus and specifically inhibits Myc, attacking professional career has always been synonymous with the cancer cells through different mechanisms innovation: in 2000 he introduced minimal incisions in without affecting other proteins. The mini-protein thyroidectomies, then ambulatory thyroid surgery, in Omomyc is produced by Peptomyc SL, a spin-off 2016 he performed the first surgery through the armpit in from the VHIO, of which Dr. Soucek is a co-founder Spain, before going on to develop transoral thyroid and the executive director and Dr. Marie-Eve Beaulieu surgery, a technique in which he is the top authority in is a co-founder and the scientific director. After Europe. Faithful to his innovative character, he is already demonstrating that Omomyc administered as an anti- working to avoid one of the most frequent complications tumour drug is tolerated and effective in mouse of thyroid surgery: permanent hypoparathyroidism. “We models of non-small-cell lung cancer, the next step is can preserve the functions of the parathyroid glands if clinical trials in humans. The drug is already being we can see where they are; they’re sometimes difficult to produced and clinical trials in patients are set to see with the naked eye. Thanks to fluorescence we can begin in early 2020. Once the trials are over –they reliably predict which glands will work. In addition, there usually last about three years– a new cancer are devices able to capture the autofluorescence that treatment protocol will come onto the market. “The some tissues –including the parathyroid glands– emit results in animals are very promising, with no side spontaneously. If at the same time, we inject effects, unlike all previous oncological approaches. fluorescence, which allows us to see which blood vessels Omomyc is the first tool we have at our disposal to nourish these glands, we avoid cutting the channel target Myc, a protein shared by all types of cancer, through which the blood reaches them”. Doctor Moreno which would allow us to find a universal rather than predicts that the future lies in screen-assisted surgery. personalized therapy”, explains Dr. Soucek.

30 | ara.cat | Talent Guide B4RCELONA CI3NC1A` In June 2018, Barcelona City Council set in motion the Barcelona Science Plan (www.barcelona.cat/barcelonaciencia/en), with the aim of making the city the European capital of research and innovation

The objective is to promote Barcelona’s research and innovation ecosystem within the scientific, business and academic communities, as well as among its own citizens, giving it international visibility and consolidating Barcelona as a reference point for scientific excellence. Under the plan, a series of actions over the next 10 years will strengthen and facilitate the practice of science, based on three fundamental strategic pillars: municipal support for research, including the provision of additional funding, the transformation of Parc de la Ciutadella into the Citadel of Knowledge and attracting research talent with an offer of accessible public housing; making Barcelona the European capital of science by constituting an Advisory Scientific Council, promoting the annual Hipatia European Science Prize and creating spaces for CITIZEN reflection and dissemination such as the City SCIENCE and Science Biennial; the promotion of urban innovation spaces such as the i.lab By citizen science we experimentation laboratory and the mean scientific research strengthening of the connection between that involves the resident science and research teams and the participation of the fairs and conferences that take place in general public. For the Barcelona. The program also aims to promote last seven years, the scientific knowledge and involve citizens in Barcelona Citizen its progress, so that this commitment to Science Office has been science results in an improvement in ordinary addressing the scientific citizens’ living conditions while, at the same and social challenges time, highlighting the value of the scientific facing the city’s work being carried out here. scientific community through citizen projects THE ADVISORY SCIENTIFIC COUNCIL that involve mapping the The body responsible for advising on the Ciència Barcelona web Fotos: city’s lichen population, deployment of the Barcelona Science Plan is measuring air quality, the Scientific Advisory Council, a “Scientific excellence calls for a place where assessing the multidisciplinary organism that will provide research is carried out with a critical mass hydrological and scientific visions and ideas that will help the and a favourable environment that can satisfy ecological conditions of City Council to develop its science policy and the cultural and lifestyle related interests of a river, creating games achieve its objectives. The council will be the scientific community.” Regarding the for social change and responsible for reviewing the science-related public perception of science, Ferrer carrying out a census of proposals put forward by the City Council underlines the importance of strategies that the biological species in and making suggestions for their help to raise public awareness of the work a particular area. The improvement. Its chairperson, Lluís Ferrer i being done in the city, such as the City and projects interested in Caubet, Professor of Animal Medicine and Science Biennial, the fostering of citizen joining this entity must Surgery and former director of the UAB, participation and reflection laboratories and subscribe to the claims that Barcelona has the added value of PR campaigns that highlight the ability of Decalogue of the Office having achieved a critical mass of science research to solve the problems affecting and be accepted by its that allows it to be visible internationally: society. members.

ara.cat | Talent Guide | 31 KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER Historical social networks Can you imagine yourself consulting 19th century census documents on your smartphone to discover who once lived in your town or city? The Centre for Demographic Studies (CED) and the Document Analysis group of the Computer Vision research centre at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) have come together to develop an interdisciplinary project named XARXES, funded by the RecerCaixa programme, which integrates demographics, computer vision and citizen science. The result is an application that enables the construction of a historical BL-DetecTool network based on the municipal censuses of the inhabitants of the Baix Llobregat region from 1828 on. Its browser gives users access to textual information, including residents’ names and surnames, and a digital version of The rapid detection of resistance the censuses. It also allows them to visualise population pyramids and onomastics and to antibiotics trace migratory movements. The digitalisation BL-DetecTool makes it possible to detect the presence of drug- of these historical demographic records resistant bacteria in a laboratory sample within 15 minutes. facilitates a better understanding of the past Previous detection methods involved a process of exhaustive that fosters present and testing that took from 16 to 24 hours. This new approach is the future innovation. result of a European project involving the participation of three hospitals, including Barcelona’s Hospital Clinic (through ISGlobal), a business school and the company that is responsible for commercialising the final product. BL-DetecTool consists of a strip of absorbent material, rather like a pregnancy test device, which contains antibodies able to detect the presence of the proteins that confer resistance to a type of antibiotics. It has proven itself to be an accurate, sensitive and specific technique that reduces healthcare costs and has considerable commercial potential. bldetectool.com

Cybersecurity A spin-off from the ICFO have integrated light ensure its scalability. The photonics research institute, technology into a single company, which began as an in a chip Quside is engaged in semiconductor chip that ICFO research project, was developing quantum generates true random founded in late 2017 and technologies for the numbers in a process based on receives both public and cybsersecurity and super- quantum mechanics. After private funding. Its staff value computation fields. Encryption sending out the first prototypes highly the environment in which technologies lie at the heart of to customers who have the company is working in the endeavour to maintain the integrated the device into their collaboration with ICFO - an privacy of our internet data centres with the aim of expert ecosystem in this

ICFO / D. Bartolomé / D. ICFO communications and it employs improving their security, Quside technological field that allows the random encoding of data to is currently working to them to attract new talent. do so. The specialists at Quside industrialise the technology and www.quside.com

32 | ara.cat | Talent Guide

THE CITADEL OF KNOWLEDGE The Citadel of Knowledge is a Barcelona with the support of UPF to expand its other developing or existing projects in City Council project that is being educational and research activities in the various cities around the world is its implemented in collaboration with a field of biodiversity. focus on planetary well-being, number of different institutions, The Citadel project is guided by a encompassing the health of citizens, including Universitat Pompeu Fabra steering committee made up of society and the environment. “And all of (UPF). Francesc Subirada, director of the representatives from the municipal that in a city like Barcelona, with a high Citadel of Knowledge project at UPF, government, political groups, quality of life and cultural and scientific argues that the project is in line with the neighbourhood associations and institutions that have historically striven university’s academic vision regarding research institutions. There is a clear to develop knowledge and continue to research and construction: “It’s all about desire among the parts involved to take do so, some at the cutting edge,“ says transforming a city park located in the advantage of the potential of the third Subirada. Although the project has centre of Barcelona into one of the most largest park in the city (300,000 m2, arisen from the City Council, it has the powerful research and innovation areas including the zoo), and the institutions support of the Generalitat and also in Europe”. Among the other challenges surrounding it – the Parliament of aspires to receive support from the posed by the project is making the park Catalonia and the UPF campus, the Zoo Spanish government to move forward as more easily accessible in order to and the park’s historical buildings, ambitiously as possible. “So far everyone connect the neighbourhoods bordering including the Greenhouse, the Castle of has shown interest,“ says Subirada, “we it, extending it to the sea and connecting the Three Dragons and the Umbracle seems to be increasingly aware that the it to the city’s main communication tropical greenhouse. competence of cities is based on the arteries. In line with this, the city’s zoo is What could mark the difference knowledge they have. We can no longer currently developing a strategic plan between this pole of knowledge and speak in terms of spending money on

34 | ara.cat | Talent Guide PLANETARY WELLBEING At the end of 2017, Jaume Casals, rector of the UPF, announced the university’s aim to go beyond its classical mission to educate people and transfer knowledge and take on the new, more functional mission of promoting a transversal, multi and interdisciplinary initiative in the field of planetary wellbeing. The objective is to respond to the challenges of the global society of the 21st century, taking into account the welfare of individual people, society and the planet as a whole, without benefitting one to the detriment of the others. With that end in mind, it is proposed that the boundaries separating disciplines, departments and units should be broken down, thereby creating spaces for scientific and educational collaboration shared by the different fields of endeavour at the university. The Pere Vives idea is that everything that is created should be structured research and development, but rather of university will also have a place there. around the interrelated triad investing in it. We should get rid of the There is a proposal on the table to place made up of the awareness of idea that it’s the richest countries that research personnel who can work in an planetary, societal and personal should be devoting a large proportion of interdisciplinary way on projects related wellbeing. It’s a question of their GDP to research. Rich countries are to planetary welfare with occasional survival. Let’s not forget that, for rich precisely because they have been collaborations with other national and example, 60% of the planet’s investing in research for decades. It’s the international research centres, ideally species has disappeared over the best way to create wealth, and not only through the creation of a Centre for last 40 years and that there is an economic wealth, but also social and Research and Innovation for Planetary island of plastic the same size as environmental wealth, new knowledge Wellbeing, a multi-institutional project France, Spain and Germany and quality of life. It’s within our reach”. focused on planetary welfare. together floating in the North It will also be used to expand and Pacific Ocean. The project is also A new reality improve the excellence of the Catalan in line with UN sustainable The Citadel of Knowledge will begin to research system through the development goals that promote take shape in 2020, when the incorporation of international talent. In improvements in 17 areas, 43,000m2 of building land that was line with the initial concept, the new including poverty, hunger, health, once the site of the old fish market, and buildings will be sustainable education, global warming, which is currently the Wellington-Zoo constructions aspiring to zero gender equality, clean water and carpark, will be used for the emissions and the use of renewable sanitation, clean energy, work construction of three buildings devoted energy in an environment that is as and economic growth, to higher education, research and natural as possible. sustainable cities, the innovation. The aim is to ensure the The commitment to a transformative environment and social justice. presence of other institutions in the project of excellence like this one will area: “There are already pre- necessarily position Barcelona and agreements in place with the Institute Catalonia as world leaders in the pursuit of Evolutionary Biology (IBE), focused of scientific knowledge to achieve on studies of biodiversity, and with the planetary welfare. The completion of Barcelona Institute of Science and the building work is scheduled for 2023 Technology (BIST), which is made up of when it will become a proof of concept seven of Catalonia’s research centres of and a model for the future of the excellence”, explains Subirada. The Citadel of Knowledge.

ara.cat | Talent Guide | 35 PIER01

11.000 M2 · · · +100 COMPANIES BARCELONA · · · +1,000 PROFESSIONALS · · · BARCELONA 4,500 VISITORS TECH CITY TECH CITY Barcelona Tech City (barcelonatechcity.com) is a private non-profit association that was set +800 COMPANIES up in 2013 with the aim of positioning · · · Barcelona as one of the world’s main 30,000 PROFESSIONALS international technology hubs. It welcomes · · · entrepreneurs, start-ups, consolidated DIRECTORY companies, investors, incubators, +500 COMPANIES accelerators and venture builders, universities, business schools, the media, public administrations and other players working in the technological and digital ecosystem. technological ecosystem. In line with this, at The association is PIER01 the end of 2018, ASICS, a Japanese materials working actively to July 2016 saw the inauguration of Pier01, one and sportswear company and a partner in the achieve equal of the six best innovation hubs in the world, Association, moved to the Barcelona Tech City opportunities for women according to Forbes magazine (2018). Campus together with its hub specialized in in the technology sector Located in a late 19th-century waterfront sport, wellness and healthy aging, which will through the initiative warehouse at Palau de Mar, it’s a meeting house emerging and already consolidated # BcnTech4Women. place that encourages contact, collaboration companies that are related to these sectors. To that end, they have and innovation between start-ups and ASICS has also launched the TENKAN-TEN created an inclusive entrepreneurs and the traditional and European acceleration programme for start- working group, with corporate business sector. ups. In order to promote entrepreneurship in women and men, with the video game and cultural industries, the voices from the BARCELONA TECH CITY CAMPUS Peninsula corporate incubator for start-ups, ecosystem working in a The association’s current growth strategy is to which is based in the Canòdrom, the main hub network with other create an urban campus, the Barcelona Tech in the city for that sector, has also joined the associations, entities

City Campus, with a transversal focus such as Campus project. And to accommodate #BCNTECH4WOMEN and initiatives that may Pier01, and, at the same time, specialised entrepreneurs, corporations, investors and be complementary to blockchain, social, life science, videogaming, other agents in the blockchain sector, a hub their own. mobility, IoT and smartcity spaces in order to specializing in blockchain technology will be The areas of action set continue strengthening Barcelona’s digital and created in a location very close to Pier01. for 2019 include a study

Ferran Martí to make women more visible in the technological environment, in terms of number, activity, position and evolution, and that accompanies them so that they gain greater presence in the sector through various tools: mentoring so that there are more female entrepreneurs in technology; bringing in female talent from other sectors, such as economists, HR managers, and communication managers; and encouraging mobility opportunities for women already working in the sector.

36 | ara.cat | Talent Guide Welcome to Barcelona

It can be an adventure accommodated them, but going to a city where you also given them practical have never been, or maybe information. We have told you have only visited for them about the cultural a holiday, where you only offerings of our city, at know what you are going https://bcu.cat/en/agenda/, to study, or you only know because leisure is also part of what project you are going the experience of spending to do... We want you to begin a season abroad, as it’s your experience in the best another way of learning and possible way. socializing with new friends.

We offer you a wide range We strive to make your stay a of accommodations so you wonderful memory that lasts can choose the one you like forever. We want you to enjoy best and feel at home. With the quality of life that this this aim, the universities of cosmopolitan and modern Barcelona, together with the Mediterranean city offers you, City Council and the Catalan that you feel comfortable Government, created (more and help to make Barcelona than twenty years ago) the an international hub of Barcelona Centre Universitari, talent attraction. Last year, an official service for the Barcelona was awarded reception and support of the “Best City Talent the university and scientific Attraction” by The Class community. of 2020 organization. At the BCU we are proud to Over the years we have have contributed to the helped thousands of young achievement of this award. people who have come to learn in our universities and Our flats and rooms must to develop their projects meet safety and quality in Barcelona’s research standards. We make sure centres and its metropolitan that the rental process is area. And we have not only easy and agile and we help

bcu.cat | Student Guide | 37 The Barcelona Centre Universitari would like to welcome you and introduce you to the ways in which we can help you.

What is the Barcelona Centre Universitari? What is it?

C/ Torrent de l’Olla, 219 students by attending to international conferences 08012 Barcelona them at our office as well as and considering the number Tel.: (34) 932 389 049 by phone and online. That of attendees, we at the BCU is why in 2014 the UNESCO also support organizers [email protected] Chair placed the BCU as an through the Conferences Monday-Thursday: example of good practices section of our website, 9:30 am - 1:30 pm for the internationalization of https://bcu.cat/en/, where we 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm universities. list universities venues that Friday: can host events. 9 am - 2 pm This recognition encourages us to continue working to Metro: Lesseps (L3) offer a good service. And not just to students, professors and researchers. Given that 22, 24, 27, 87, 116, V17, H6, D40, N4, N0 Barcelona is the first city in the world to organize Pàdua, Plaça Molina, Sant Gervasi, Gràcia

38 | bcu.cat | Talent Guide What can BCU do for you?

Barcelona is the only city in the world • Create a Permanent Technical Board People with a dedicated office likeBCU that to improve the accommodation of the centralizes help for students from university community and talent. hosted by the different universities. BCU: more In 2018, to provide excellent service One of the outstanding actions of the 2,000 with the best conditions, the BCU, the BCU is the edition of the magazine than Association of Residences of Students that you have in your hands, which Personalized and Colleges of Catalonia (ARECMAC) was published in Catalan and English attention: more and the Student Housing Association, last year. It was created to inform the 500 agreed good housing practices for the local and international community than university and scientific community, to about research topics that are being researchers and make sure that all accommodation: developed in Barcelona and initiatives professors to attract international talent. Each year, • Has a certificate of occupancy and the English version reaches 30,000 energy certificate, or activities license people from other countries that come • Is safe to our city. Most of them receive the Attended • Is in good hygienic condition publication when they arrive at their • Has wifi university destination in Barcelona. The nationalities: • Is furnished and equipped in a “ready to magazine is also distributed through move-in” condition research centers, consulates and events 83 such as national and international fairs The BCU, as a specialized entity in the and the Barcelona International Welcome university accommodation sector, is Day, which is organized every year by part of the Municipal Advisory Council Barcelona City Council. People of Universities (CAMU). In this Council’s informed by the meetings (in 2018) the following actions To help students from our universities were proposed: who are going to spend time at foreign BCU: more than universities, last year we included the 100,000 • Improve the regulation and increase the FROM BCN section on our website, with number of affordably-priced university practical information on accommodation, accommodation. consulates and leisure in other cities • Promote the university community’s around the world. shared housing accommodation. *2018 data

bcu.cat | Student Guide | 39 ‘s Tips for before...Take it easy! a ...RENTING A FLAT The location: Make sure the flat you choose is close to public transportation that will connect you to your university. b ...SIGNING A LEASE Type: Pick your flat wisely and make sure it 1 Read the agreement and make sure meets all your requirements. you’ve understood it all. c Inventory: Both after your arrival and when ...MAKING A DECISION you leave the flat, write down in the inventory all signs of wear and tear you Come to BCU and talk to us! You can ask may find. Take photos and videos if you us all the questions you might have about feel it’s necessary. You need to notify your stay in Catalonia. You have at your the landlord of any imperfections within disposal the best guidance experts: they’ll 48 hours of your arrival. From then on, help you out before you’ve made your you’re responsible for the care and decision and afterwards. This is what we maintenance of the furniture, electrical do. appliances, and general state of the flat 2 If you are renting the flat with friends, and, once the contract comes to an end, be prepared to pay the whole deposit, you must leave it all as it was and in the rent and utilities/services. In this case same place you found it. you should keep in mind your joint responsibilities. Landlord: The landlord must be informed as soon 3 Ask for a copy of the regulations as possible when household items suffer and guidelines that are part of the any kind of fault or damage so that the tenancy agreement you’re signing. problem can be solved quickly. 4 Make sure all repairs and upgrades are formally written down in the inventory, which must be signed by you and the landlord.

5 Keep a copy of the tenancy agreement, the regulations and guidelines, the inventory and any other documents you might consider significant. bcu.cat

40 | bcu.cat | Talent Guide What do we offer?

Resa Housing, Barcelona Centre Universitari’s accommodation service, is managed by Resa, that has its own database, which includes rooms and flats in Barcelona resahousing.com and its metropolitan area. You can browse what’s available on our website, which is updated daily. You’ll find images of the flats and their location on a map, as well as other practical [email protected] information. You’ll be able to book whatever interests you online or, if you’d prefer, in person at our office. Our flats and rooms meet all quality, safety and hygiene (34) 932 389 072 guarantees. They are all furnished and fully equipped.

1 We help you out in your search for In order to gain admission to our service rooms and flats, and we evaluate your you must: needs and budget. • Be a member of either the Catalan 2 We provide you with detailed university community or a research information regarding every type of centre. In order for us to make sure you lodging: dorms, hotels, etc. comply with this condition you will have to present documents as proof. 3 We offer personalized attention to all students, lecturers and researchers. • Provide us with a photocopy of your passport, identity card or NIE. 4 We accompany those interested to visit the flats and rooms.

5 We manage rental agreements that fulfil all requirements: seasonal, short- stay, etc.

6 We have an online reservation service.

bcu.cat | Student Guide | 41 TURISME DE BARCELONA AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

The Turisme de Barcelona such as knowledge, talent, Barcelona and at its university Consortium is the research and education. The campuses, or maybe even body responsible for consortium has been working settling in the city. promoting Barcelona and for more than 25 years with its surrounding area as a professional groups from Barcelona is a cosmopolitan, tourist destination. With the tourism industry and dynamic and Mediterranean Barcelona City Council and over a thousand businesses city, committed to the Chamber of Commerce that provide an excellent sustainability and excellence. as board members, it is firmly launch pad for projects Founded more than 2,000 committed to sustainable involving the talent pool years ago, it has excellent and responsible tourism of young graduates. Thus, air links to airports around and culture. It runs different the knowledge- and talent- the world and is a pioneer programmes, including food, based pairing of universities in key strategic sectors. A shopping, sport and culture, and businesses becomes magnificent campus where and develops strategies an opportunity, not just for international students and designed for a broad cross- responsible tourism, but for their families can discover section of people looking the city as a whole. everything Barcelona and its for more personalised region can offer them. experiences, based on their In this regard, the motivation and fields of extraordinary quality of A stunning wealth of culture, interest. Catalan universities, which architecture and gastronomy are recognised around the is waiting for you! Turisme de Barcelona works world, provides a wonderful to showcase citizen-based opportunity for international For more information: activities that can improve MA and post-graduate www.visitbarcelona.com and enrich the quality of students who are thinking [email protected] the destination in fields of coming to study in

barcelonaturisme.com

42 | bcu.cat | Talent Guide Barcelona: the world’s first city with a science and technology diplomacy

As one of the leading knowledge ecosystems and a hub for This pioneering initiative policy advice, working as a international organizations, Barcelona launched SciTech empowers the global think tank where scientific DiploHub, the nonprofit public-private partnership in charge community of talent expertise is harnessed in of deploying the city’s science and technology diplomacy. educated in Barcelona, the support of evidence-based Backed by Barcelona’s leading research centers, universities, Barcelona Alumni network. policy and trains the next non-profits, corporations, startups and public institutions, It also brings together cohort of global leaders in it has the mandate to represent its science, technology and diplomatic missions and the science and technology higher education ecosystem abroad, thus making the city an city’s innovation ecosystem diplomacy. influential player in the global scene. to enhance collaborative projects. Last, it delivers Join the hub! www.scitechdiplohub.org

And... For your international move...... arrange accommodation WEB

HOLA ACCOMMACCOMMODATION ODATI AATT IIOO N FROM BARCELONA STUDYINGST LIVING RESEARCH CONFERENCES WELCOME AGENDA BREAKING BEEHAVE - MARTMARTINA MILLÀ INA MILLÀLÀÀ

FROM BCN

ACCOMMODATIONA FROM BARCELONA ENGLISH https://bcu.cat/en/frombcn/ CONTACT

In order for you to save time and feel confident, at BCU we want to help you get the best answers, assistance and guidance not only in regards to your accommodation in Barcelona but also FROM Barcelona.

You can access the page from ACCOMMODATIONACCOMMODAT FROM BARCELONA ION FROM B ARCELONARCELONARCELONELONALONAONANA InIn BCU we want to help you to get in a simple way answers and guidance in order to save time and be confident in your research any device; it will facilitate wantantntt to he o helpppyo youyououutou to totto The website FROMROMOM BarcBarceBarcelona. get inin a s BarceBarcearcelona.lonalon imple way nana answers an Followo w ouourour advice and take good note of the links that may interestd guidanguidance you. In our listings you will find addresses, contacts and adviceadvicdv an ncncece iinn our coccollabcollaborators haved takeproven good experience note of and will help you to resolve any doubtsoorder that to may arise. your searches and can even orators have proven the links linksinksnksksk ththathatth may i experienceperienceerienceeriencrienceienceenncenc nterestteresterestrestreseestessttyot yoyo and will help you t u.u. InIn ouououur listings for accommodation in Barcelona and also youyouutu to resolveresores rresolvevee aananyny yyd ddoubts that m references necessary to start your new project. All Take our advice and note function as a proper agenda down all the links you might or mobility guide, since most DESTINATIONS find helpful. In our listings of the available links directly EUROPA you’ll find all the addresses, connect to pages with such contacts and references you features. DEPLOY LIST will require to get your stay underway. AMERICA

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AUSTRALIA

DEPLOY LIST bcu.cat | Student Guide | 43 17 medical and life sciences institutes 13 science and engineering centres 5 humanities and social sciences institutions 14,000 researchers Over 10,000 WoS papers per year 90 ERC grantees within H2020 programme

CERCA means Research! Barcelona, land of science and technology

The Barcelona region hosts several This fact is highly relevant as the size of research institutions. The most widely the institutions varies greatly, with CERCA known are the so-called CERCA centres representing the smallest member of this (www.cerca.cat), which constitute a pool distinguished European group. By way of of 40 R&D institutes carrying out research example, in terms of annual budget, CNRS within a wide array of scientific disciplines, manages around 3.2 billion euros whilst coordinated by the CERCA Institute. CERCA’s annual budget comes to only 480 million. CERCA centres have managed to remain successful in today’s competitive European Such great success has been achieved landscape. One of the indicators pointing thanks to generous contributions made to such a claim is the centres’ success by the Catalan Government and other in the European Union’s H2020 funding trustees, such as universities and hospitals. programme. Among the top 10 institutions In the short term, the scientific and to receive funding through this programme technological activity of CERCA centres were CNRS and CEA in France, Max Planck are expected to provide the country and Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in Germany, with competitive technologies that will the University of Oxford, the University of generate profit for local companies as well Cambridge and University College London as benefits for Catalan society as a whole. in the United Kingdom, and CERCA in Catalonia. This is all happening at a fast pace, and patents, spin-off companies, innovative If we refine our search of leading clinical treatments and advice to public institutions in Europe a second indicator policies are rapidly appearing from our arouses based on the number of European labs. But perhaps the best of all is the fact Research Council grants awarded. This that young students in Catalan universities indicator demonstrates success as it may look forward to receiving research means talented researchers are being positions or other jobs directly related to awarded funding for their ground-breaking their education and professional ambitions. scientific projects. With this indicator In other words, the next generation of applied, the ranking of institutions changes citizens and researchers is a guarantee. slightly being CERCA (90 grants) the sixth just behind CNRS, Max Planck, the In Barcelona, dreams meet reality. University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford and the University College London. Luis Montesdeoca Luis cerca.cat

44 | bcu.cat | Talent Guide Bosch i Gimpera Foundation, connecting research and society

the licensing of a technology by the European Regional that allows colour correction Development Fund (ERDF) of digital images, and through the REINNOVA UB- whose applications range FBG project. from intelligent packaging to monitor the quality and Promoting innovation has freshness of food to accurate always been the priority of dermatological diagnosis, the FBG, a goal we achieve through imaging techniques every time UB research has a with smartphones. positive impact on society. In 2018, 640 companies and institutions collaborated with de UB through the FBG to improve their competitiveness. Companies In addition, fifteen technologies were and institutions licensed, yielding revenues of over collaborating: €320,000. Seventeen European patents were 640 also applied for through the FBG, together with the UB Patent Centre, making the University of Barcelona the leading Spanish university in terms of the number of European patent applications.

The creation of spin-offs is another essential part of promoting innovation. Over the last fifteen years, the Offering FBG has collaborated services in the creation of nearly forty innovative to almost companies arising from UB projects, eleven of 6,000 which have been set up in the last four years, a researchers growing trend in the field of technology transfer within research centres.

The FBG is also responsible The Bosch i Gimpera Foundation (FBG) has been connecting for supporting the academia and the business world for thirty-five years with the management of research aim of transferring the results of the University of Barcelona’s projects, and offers its research to society. services to the almost 6,000 researchers who carry out This work has enabled a large number of UB projects to have basic and applied research an impact on society. Some outstanding examples of this at the UB. In this sense, collaboration are: the consultancy services provided by the in 2018 the FBG received Antiox research group, from the Faculty of Biology, to the €15.8 million in public and company Biovert in the development of a new product that private funding and research causes flower buds to break dormancy in a uniform way in grants from the European order to yield a crop as uniform and productive as possible; Commission. Since 2016, and the creation of ColorSensing, a spin-off of the UB, through the FBG is co-financed

bcu.cat | Student Guide | 45 UB | UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONA

Student Suport Service (SAE) Office of Mobility and International Programs (OMPI) Pavelló Rosa (recinte de la Maternitat) Adolf Florensa, 8 - 08028 Barcelona Travessera de les Corts, 131-159 - 08028 Barcelona Tel.: (34) 933 556 000 Tel.: (34) 934 035 380/(34) 934 035 562 Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fax: (34) 934 035 387 www.ub.edu/sae/contacte/bustia.htm www.ub.edu/sae/ [email protected] ub.edu www.ub.edu/uri/

46 | bcu.cat | Talent Guide UAB | UNIVERSITAT AUTÒNOMA DE BARCELONA The Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Founded in 1968, the UAB is one of for almost 2,100 students. Approximately (UAB) is a leading public university with the top academic institutions in Spain 50,000 people can be found on campus a strong international vocation, highly and the European Union. It is one of daily, with some 8,300 international committed to promoting mobility, the leading universities in many world students from 90 countries worldwide. collaboration and the capture of talent. rankings such as the QS World University Every year, the UAB reaches new mobility Rankings (QS WUR), the Times Higher agreements with universities from The UAB offerstop level academic Education World University Rankings around the world. programmes in all areas of knowledge, (THE WUR), the Academic Ranking of with almost 100 bachelor’s degrees, World Universities (ARWU) and the UI In 2016, the UAB Barcelona Summer some 300 official and UAB-specific GreenMetric World University Ranking. School was created. It offers a wide master’s degrees and graduate diplomas array of subjects in several fields and and almost 70 PhD programmes. The UAB campus measures 263 hectares takes place from the end of June to the Academic teaching at the UAB is - of which 60% is covered in forests beginning of August. Most of the courses characterised by its multidisciplinarity and green areas - and is just a stone’s are taught in English, with an option and is closely linked to many research throw away from Barcelona. It offers all to learn and improve your Spanish as a activities. The UAB pioneers the types of services: specialised libraries Foreign Language. Depending on the implementation of several action plans open 24 hours a day, computer halls regulations of each home university, focused on increasing sustainability and laboratories, a language school, especially if there is a mobility agreement and environment-friendly measures on healthcare centre, sports hall, theatre, with the UAB, students will be able to campus. cinema, restaurants and shops, as well transfer the credits earned during their as a hotel and residence halls with space stay to their current degree.

Contact with Info UAB Contact with UAB International Relations Area Plaça Cívica – 08193 Bellaterra (Campus UAB) Edifici Biblioteca de Comunicació i Hemeroteca General. Tel.: (34) 935 811 111 Plaça Cívica – 08193 Bellaterra (Campus UAB) [email protected] - www.uab.cat/en Tel.: (34) 935 868 499 facebook.com/uabbarcelona [email protected] twitter.com/UABBarcelona

www.instagram.com/uabbarcelona uab.cat/en

bcu.cat | Student Guide | 47 www.bcu.cat|47 UPC | UNIVERSITAT POLITÈCNICA DE CATALUNYA The university for Engineering, Architecture, Sciences and Technology

64 708 30,155 93% bachelor’s degrees higher education students of UPC graduates institutions with are in employment student exchange 68 agreements 4,678 master’s degrees students in 76% 27 taught in English educational of UPC graduates 2,997 cooperation find employment students on agreements with within 3 months 46 international companies doctoral mobility programmes programmes

18 Among the 26 best schools on universities in the 8 campuses world and 8th in Top university in Spain in number of projects funded Europe QS throughthrough HorizonHorizon 20202020 Top 50 Under 50, programme 2018-2019

BACHELOR’S DEGREE COURSES General information International Relations Bureau Tel.: (34) 934 016 200 http://www.upc.edu/en/bachelors/ www.upc.edu/sri [email protected] MASTER’S DEGREES Tel.: (34) 934 137 505 Twitter: @la_UPC http://www.upc.edu/en/masters/ [email protected] www.facebook.com/universitatUPC DOCTORAL PROGRAMMES www.facebook.com/UPCInternational Instagram: @la_UPC https://doctorat.upc.edu/en upc.edu

48 | bcu.cat | Talent Guide UPF | UNIVERSITAT POMPEU FABRA UPF is a public, international High-quality teaching and and it is the most productive (Catalan, Spanish and and research-intensive outstanding research university in Spain English) for both teaching university. Founded in 1990, UPF is committed to according to several national and research. As a result, it has quickly earned a place offering high-quality, rankings (BBVA Foundation all doctoral programmes for itself among the best comprehensive, student- or the CyD Foundation). and a wide range of universities in Europe. centred learning. The master’s programmes success of this model International vocation can be fully or partially The University, which has is proved by different UPF and Barcelona share taken in English, as can an three campuses located indicators such as the high a cosmopolitan character everincreasing percentage in the heart of Barcelona, satisfaction rate among UPF and open-minded view of of undergraduate-level specializes in the following graduates. the world. Actually, the coursework. The University fields: Health and life University’s international also offers theBarcelona sciences, Economic and UPF is also a research profile starts with its faculty; International Summer business, Political and social intensive university. most of them have extensive School (BISS), which is science, Law, Humanities, Accordingly, it ranks among international experience a flagship programme to Translation and language the top 20 European or are directly recruited advance the curriculum sciences, Communication, universities with the largest abroad. This policy has of both domestic and and Engineering and ICT. number of competitive helped to make UPF a international undergraduate projects funded by the multilingual university with students during the summer European Research Council three working languages term in Barcelona.

General information International Relations Service University Information (PIE) Mobility and Reception Office C/ Ramon Trias Fargas, 25-27 - 08005 Barcelona C/ Ramon Trias Fargas, 25-27 - 08005 Barcelona C/ Roc Boronat, 138 - 08018 Barcelona C/ Roc Boronat, 138 - 08018 Barcelona C/ Dr. Aiguader, 80 - 08003 Barcelona Tel.: (34) 935 422 203 / 12 64 Tel.: (34) 935 422 228 [email protected] -

[email protected] - http://www.upf.edu/en http://www.upf.edu/incoming/ upf.edu

bcu.cat | Student Guide | 49 URL | UNIVERSITAT RAMON LLULL

The URL in numbers

Academic and teaching field* 14 3 Faculties University & Schools institutes 19,526 Students

Degrees: Year 2019-20 46 61 13 Bachelor's Master's PhD degrees degrees programmes

centre adscrit URL-specific degrees: Year 2019-20

Bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, postgraduate courses +300 and other postgraduate degrees Ramon Llull University (URL), located in Barcelona, is a private, non-for-profit university. It is inspired by humanist + 4,000 Agreements with companies and Christian values and promotes a and institutions public service that aims to provide a University with the high-quality, personalised education to largest stock of library 15 = 1.47 books in Catalonia respond to society’s needs. Libraries Million volumes A federation of universitity institutions Ramon Llull University, founded on March 1990, comprises ten higher education Social Work, HTSI School of Tourism & The federal structure of the University and research institutions with a long Hospitality Management Sant Ignasi, enhances the personality of its schools tradition and a prestigious reputation Ebro Observatory University Institute, and faculties, making the URL one of the in Catalonia (IQS, Blanquerna, La Salle, Borja Institute of Bioethics and ESDi most innovative universities in Catalonia Faculty of Philosophy, ESADE, Pere Higher School of Design, an associated and in Spain, promoting academic and Tarrés Faculty of Social Education and school). research excellence.

General information INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OFFICE C/ Claravall, 1-3 - 08022 Barcelona C/ Claravall 1-3 - 08022 Barcelona Tel.: (34) 936 022 200 Tel.: (34) 936 022 231 Fax: (34) 936 022 249 Fax: (34) 936 022 249

url.edu [email protected] [email protected] www.url.edu http://www.url.edu/en/international-and-mobility

50 | bcu.cat | Talent Guide www.bcu.cat|50 UVIC-UCC | UNIVERSITAT DE VIC - UNIVERSITAT CENTRAL DE CATALUNYA

Open to the world and focusing on By choosing to study or do research in Vic students who wish to spend one or two all-round training, the University of Vic you will have an experience of quality and semesters in Barcelona. UVic-UCC offers - Central University of Catalonia (UVic- university life in a town on a human scale. Spanish courses that can be combined UCC) offers degree courses in the fields with other elective courses in English of Science, Education, Business, Health, The International Campus is an umbrella in the fields of Business, Design & Biosciences, Engineering, Humanities, for international UVic-UCC activities, Innovation. Design and Communication. In its teacher mobility and exchange schemes, city-university environment UVic-UCC postgraduate courses, research, 2. Tailored courses attaches great importance to the continuing education and international UVic-UCC offers tailored courses teacher-student relationship, integrated cooperation projects. for groups of international students training and employment prospects. Thirty research groups, four research and and teachers in the fields of Arts & knowledge transfer centres and thirteen Humanities, Social Sciences, Science, At the University of Vic - Central chairs carry forward UVic-UCC research Experimental Sciences, Technology, University of Catalonia we defend activity. Engineering, and Health Sciences. values associated with the unity of The programmes can be exclusively all knowledge and training based on Study Abroad - Programmes in academic or combined with cultural visits science, research and technological Barcelona and sightseeing. innovation to enhance progress and The courses below are for university quality of life. students who wish to spend a few 3. International Summer Term weeks at the University of Vic - Central There are full-time programmes with University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC) in practical seminars, field activities and Barcelona to learn Spanish and broaden a range of off-campus activities held in their studies in the areas of business, Barcelona during summer time: innovation and design. This innovative • Spanish Language and Culture in training does not come under any of Barcelona the standard mobility programmes and • Marketing and Business 4.0 international cooperation schemes. UVic-UCC offers three different types of For further information: programmes. https://www.uvic.cat/en/international/ study-abroad 1. Academic year / Semester programme This programme is aimed at international

UVic-UCC International Relations Area UVic-UCC in Barcelona C/ Sagrada Família, 7 - 08500 Vic C/ Sagrada Família, 7 - 08500 Vic Via Augusta, 123 - 08006 Barcelona Tel.: (34) 938 861 222 Tel.: (34) 938 816 176 Tel.: (34) 930 180 663 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] uvic.cat

bcu.cat | Student Guide | 51 UIC Barcelona 98 300 25%international nationalities exchange agreements with students universities around the world 27 grants international double degrees International Grants for Excellence in conjunction with the USA, the UK, France, Italy and Argentina

Find out about our university degree programmes, Destinations abroad for Special services for double degree programmes, university master’s degrees UIC Barcelona students: international students: and postgraduate degrees in: — Polytechnic University of Turin — Guidance and advice — Business Administration — Physiotherapy (Italy) provided from the start and Management — Medicine — Iona College (New York, USA) — Help with paperwork — Architecture — Dentistry — University of Belgrano for foreigners — Communication — Cultural Management (Buenos Aires, Argentina) — Help with academic — Law — Family — Boston University (USA) documentation and paperwork — Education — Biomedical Science* — EAC Paris (France) — Help to find accommodation — Humanities — Psychology — UCLA (Los Angeles, USA) — Welcome programme — Birkbeck University of London (UK) — Nursing — Bioengineering official approval. *Pending

Universitat Internacional de Catalunya Sant Cugat Campus Barcelona Campus C/ Josep Trueta, s/n C/ Immaculada, 22 Hospital General de Catalunya Building 08017 Barcelona 08195 Sant Cugat del Vallès Tel.: (34) 932 541 800 Tel.: (34) 935 042 000

uic.es [email protected] [email protected]

52 | bcu.cat | Talent Guide UAO CEU | UNIVERSITAT ABAT OLIBA CEU

Abat Oliba CEU University, established as private institution of its type in Spain: INTERNATIONAL GUIDANCE SERVICES a private university in 2003, is one of the • More than 85 years forming If you are an international student, three universities promoted by the San professionals Abat Oliba CEU University helps you Pablo CEU Foundation, an educational • More than 210,000 pupils have passed obtain the documentation necessary institution with more than 85 years’ through our classrooms to complete your registration experience in the field of teaching. The (UNED accreditation or validation of University offers a range of academic EMPLOYABILITY qualifications) and with all necessary options that is unique in the Catalan • 90.1% of our students find employment formalities for your transfer (NIE foreign market, with degrees and double degrees on completing their studies identity number, health care, etc.). in many subjects. Moreover, Abat Oliba • 90% of UAO CEU graduates in To this end, you should contact the CEU University is whole-heartedly employment have university-level jobs University Information and Guidance committed to the internationalisation of Survey conducted by AQU (Agency for the Quality Service at [email protected]. its studies, offering a number of bilingual of the University System in Catalonia) in 2017. degree courses. INTERNATIONAL VOCATION Aware of its importance to the Our students acquire language and professional future of its students, the cultural knowledge necessary to work University has developed a teaching anywhere in the world. methodology based on small class • 13 bilingual/English study programmes. numbers, workshops and practical • Specialisation programmes in the US seminars, a programme of individual and Germany. tutorials, a programme for the • Study visits to both national and development of competencies and international companies and production international mobility, with internships centres. TALENT & WORK AREA abroad, among other things to ensure the • More than 100 agreements established This is a new service designed to help train finest training to prepare students to join to enable students to complete part of people and prepare professionals through the professional world, whether in our their studies or internships at the best a truly effective system of internships and country or elsewhere. The employment universities in more than 25 countries in employment. The service takes companies’ rate among students is 90.1%, one of the Europe, North America (North, Central needs fully into account and helps each highest among all Catalan universities and South), Canada and Asia. student to bring out the best in themselves in the field of social science (2017 AQU to develop their competencies and help Insertion into Employment Survey). PROGRESSIVE INTERNATIONAL them to achieve their professional goals. DEVELOPMENT The system includes: Abat Oliba CEU University is committed New international experience path that • Career Guidance Service to academic and professional excellence enables students in all degree courses to • Internship and Employment Service and to providing all-round formation for enrich their studies with an international • Entrepreneurial Area its students. experience from first to fourth year. • Relations with Businesses International cooperation activities, • Innovation Area REASONS TO STUDY AT UAO CEU academic exchanges of teachers and students, participation in international GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS. CEU is EXPERIENCE research projects and possibility of short the educational institution that awards Abat Oliba CEU University is one of three or long study visits to foreign universities. the most grants and scholarships to its universities in the CEU Group, the largest students.

Information Service International Office C/ Bellesguard, 30 - 08022 Barcelona C/ Bellesguard, 30 - Office 2.01 - 08022 Barcelona Tel.: (34) 932 537 200 Tel.: (34) 932 540 918 [email protected] [email protected] www.uaoceu.es uaoceu.es/en

bcu.cat | Student Guide | 53 RESA LIFE STYLE

STAY WITH US FROM 1 TO 12 MONTHS

BOOK NOW www.resa.es T. 900 649 169 (National calls within Spain) Resa T. +34 93 394 35 00 (International(International calls)calls) www.resahousing.com T. +34 932 389 072 MAKERSPACE BITS & BOOKSOOKS MAKER + SPACE Located just a stone’s throw from Plaça Universitat,, this is (SPACE FOR CREATION) a creative coworking and maker space that’s especiallypecially well-suited to professionals working in the fieldselds ooff A space for open collaboration with electronics, robotics, programming and digitaldigital access to resources, know-how and manufacturing. It’s linked by an interior hallway to thehe LHA professional connections that are shared in order to create products technical bookshop. Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes,es, 594 www.bitsandbooks.techks.tech FLEXIBLE COMUSICWORKWORK OFFICES HOT DESK

Barcelona’s first coworking and music space is thee place Rented by the hour or the day, You pay for the use of for you if you’re working in or interested in music. ChooseChoose this type of space gives users an unassigned desk in a among the different rates on offer to enjoy accessss to its flexible access to a private shared space coworking space, meeting room and event room.. ThereThere working environment are also rehearsal studios, a kitchenette and a terrace.errace. c/Alba,ba, 1-3 www.comusicwork.comrk.com KNOWMADS

KNOW + NOMAD (NOMADIC KNOWLEDGE WORKER)

Flexible, creative, motivated professionals who work in networks and are able to adapt easily to different working COWORKING environments The users of these shared work spaces tend to be self-employed professionals, start-ups and corporations. The number of coworking spaces in the world is expected to grow to 26,000 by 2020, while the number of members will increase to 5.1 million. By 2030, 30% of all the office space in Spain will be for coworking

KUBIKKUBI

One ooff the pioneering coworking spaces, KUBIK first opened in the neneighbourhoodi of Gràcia in 1995. With a surface area of 900m2, distributed over three floors, it plays host to a transdisciplinarytransdi community featuring all kinds of profiles from differentdiffere sectors, making up a community of 114 talented peoplepeople and 60 active projects. c/Lluísc/Lluís Antúnez, 6 / www.kubikbcn.com

SPACESWORKSSPAC 22@

WWithith aann almost 2,000m2 venue in the 22@ district and another mmoreore tthan 3,000m2 location in Port Olímpic, this coworking Jordi Roviralta ororganisationganis offers private offices, a business club and WE WORK mmeetingeetin rooms that are available with contract terms that are fflexiblelexible and can be tailored to your specific needs. This large international company with cc/Pallars/Palla 193 + c/Marina 16-18 / www.spacesworks.com centres around the world arrived in Barcelona in 2010. They currently manage two locations, near Glòries and UTOPICUSUTOP in 22@, and are about to three more in Passeig de Gràcia, Diagonal and TThishis ccoworkingo organisation has four locations: at Plaça Poblenou. In addition to habitual work Catalunya,Catalu Plaça Gal·la Placídia (ideal for large companies spaces, the company offers its WeWork lookinglooking for private offices), Plaça Clementina (in Gràcia) and Labs, innovation platforms that help start- PlaçaPlaça GGlòries (their latest incorporation). All of these venues ups through the early stages of their offer hhot desks, fixed work places and private offices, meeting development. and eventev rooms, legal counselling and yoga facilities. Ronda c/Tànger, 86 + c/Ciutat de Granada, 121 de SaSantn Pere, 16 + c/Bretón de Los Herreros, 9 + plaça Gal·la www.wework.com PlacídiPlacídia, 1-3 + c/Ciutat de Granada, 150 / www.utopicus.es

ara.cat | Talent Guide | 55 we truly stand out in terms of all of the above factors, anyone who has been IN A directly involved in hiring a researcher from another country (regardless of nationality) will realise that Barcelona is, PRIVILEGED in fact, far from being at a disadvantage when competing on those terms. POSITION It’s true that funding for research is still far from the levels that would be desirable, but it’s also true that TO ATTRACT European programmes have been and continue to be a source of opportunities. It’s true that most (AND RETAIN) institutions still have to work with a public administration that is struggling to understand how to regulate science in the public sector, but it’s also true TALENT that public initiatives such as Icrea have proven to be a splendid instrument in favour of the freedom mentioned in the article. It’s also true that our welfare system is currently emerging from a very complicated decade, though the quality of our education and public In 2010, Nature magazine published a health systems remains special feature titled “Science and the unquestionable. This combination of City”, which analysed the factors that strengths and weaknesses leads us to allowed a city to become a leader in consider Barcelona to be in a privileged science, among which it highlighted its position in the global battle for ability to attract and retain talent. In an scientific talent, at least in the article titled “Building the Best Cities European arena. While falling into for Science”, Professor Mary Walshok complacency would be a mistake, we (UCSD) was cited as saying that there must acknowledge our city’s virtues in were three main factors in this order to continue attracting (and endeavour: funding, freedom and retaining!) highly qualified scientific lifestyle. talent. The first of these factors requires little It’s significant that, almost ten years explanation: no scientific ecosystem after Nature published the afore- can prosper without a minimum of mentioned article, Barcelona is non-refundable funding, traditionally currently ranked the eighth European by the public sector. Freedom, the city in terms of scientific publications second factor, is rather more complex, of excellence in the Nature Index 2018 and refers to the ability of an academic Science Cities. To fully appreciate the institution to develop its own projects enormous merit of our universities and freely, covering issues ranging from the research centres, which have made all free determination of its scientific of this possible, you only need to priorities to the existence of flexible examine the seven cities ranked ahead policies in the labour market. of Barcelona, all of which are located in Lifestyle includes issues that may seem states with longstanding public science obvious at first glance, such as a city’s policies and level of public investment climate and cultural attractions, but the that far exceed our own. And, of concept actually covers all of the course, none of them is located in aspects that are fundamental for a city southern Europe. that aims to play a role in the global As my dear friend Jordi Camí said a few battle for talent: essentially, all the years ago, “on a level playing field, issues related to wellbeing in the host Barcelona is unbeatable”. All we have country. Although a certain natural to do now is to achieve that level

Ruth Marigot Ruth modesty may lead us to doubt whether playing field. PEP MARTORELL Associate Director at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center

56 | ara.cat | Talent Guide

Barcelona International Welcome The website that helps new talent to move and settle here

The City Promotion Department at Barcelona City Council, in collaboration with Barcelona Activa, the city’s local development agency, is working to promote Barcelona’s economic potential and help it to grow by attracting and engaging international talent. The strategy deployed by Barcelona International Welcome (BIW) consists in facilitating the arrival of foreign residents and providing them with advice, while organising a series of year-round activities designed to engage, welcome, energise and gain the loyalty of Barcelona’s international community. The website www.barcelona.cat/internationalwelcome will prove indispensable to everyone who arrives in Barcelona with the idea of fitting in, sharing Welcome, talent! experiences and widening their business and networking opportunities. You’ll find practical information –on housing, · · · education, public transport, finance, healthcare, taxes, rights and social services, traffic and pets– as well as help in English on www.barcelona.cat/internationalwelcome bureaucratic procedures, including how to get a visa and a NIE, how to register as a resident and how to get a Spanish health service · · · card. It will also give you information on activities to help you to WHAT DO YOU NEED explore the city, including information sessions on a number of topics, a Barcelona business tour and roundtable discussions to help FORMALITIES you find work, as well as a list of the documentation you’ll need and advise to help you to feel more at home here, including a basic ACTIVITIES manual of Catalan focused on business and the main social and NEWS economic indicators of the metropolitan area, along with info on languages courses and Barcelona International Community Day.

58 | ara.cat | Talent Guide Ajuntament de Barcelona BARCELONA INTERNATIONAL PuntCOMMUNITY de trobada anual DAY delsBarcelona estrangers International Community Day (BICD) has been held every autumn for the last five years. The sixth annual edition is scheduled to take place from 10am to 7pm on 26 October at the city’s Maritime Museum. Everyone is welcome to attend this event, which is especially focused on Barcelona’s international community. All you have to do is register online on their website. You’ll find plenty of exhibitors, including companies, entities and associations offering products and services, organising activities and providing useful resources to the city’s foreign community. This year’s edition will see a greater presence of cultural and third sector entities At the BICD you can including Barcelona’s food bank and La take part in a number Casa dels Xuklis. This is an opportunity for of different activities and get in touch with foreign residents to get to know the city exhibitors, entities better, make contacts and explore and other expats Barcelona’s welcoming spirit.

74 EXHIBITORS 49 ACTIVITIES 31 informative capsules, workshops and round tables on how to set up, work, do business and “The 360º Job Search” enjoy yourself in the city + 13 cultural and capsule by Barcelona entertainment activities + 5 networking activities. Activa

76 SPEAKERS AND EXPERTS

4,928 ATTENDEES FROM 135 COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN

80% FOREIGNERS e 20% LOCALS

Ajuntament de Barcelona ara.cat | Talent Guide | 59 60 | ara.cat | Talent Guide ROSES, FIRE AND...

Tjerk van der Meulen 10 MISS SHOULDN’T THAT YOU FESTIVALS POPULAR towns. Barcelona and otherCatalan way around thestreets of whowindtheir and carriages The parade features horses animals. of domesticated asthepatronCatalonia saint Saint Anthony, venerated in 17 January, thefeast day of place every year around the The Tres Tombs parade takes SANT ANTONI 01.

Endins inTorelló. and theCarnaval deTerra parades inSitges, Extermini the Rua delaDisbauxaand 300 years ofcarnival tradition, Geltrú, whichboastssome celebrations inVilanova ila Don’t misstheiconic during whichanything goes! seven means Catalonia days sardine, timein Carnival tradition oftheburial before Easter, withthebizarre Ash Wednesday, 40 days lardon cake, andending on eggsausageand omelettes, when localpeoplefeast on Beginning onHolyThursday, CARNIVAL 02.

Pere Virgili La Mona. traditional acake toeat called On EasterMonday it’s inVerges.Dance ofDeath andthe inCatalonia biggest Europe, Súria, whichisthe passionplaythe oldest in place inCervera, whichis ofwhichtakeimportant processions, themost Passion Plays and tradition takes theform of Onesuch in Catalonia. with deeplyrooted traditions crucifixion, iscelebrated Last Supper andthe resurrection, following the Sunday, whichmarks his into Jerusalem,toEaster commemorates Jesus’ entry Palm Sunday, which The periodrunningfrom EASTER 03.

Celia A Celia 04. 05. 06. 07. CORPUS CHRISTI SAINT JOHN’S EVE LOCAL FIESTAS ALL SAINTS The Feast of Corpus Christi The eve of the Feast of Saint Summer is typically the time November kicks off with the takes place 60 days after John, which coincides with the of the year when Catalan Feast of All Saints and the Easter Sunday and celebrates summer solstice –the shortest cities, towns and villages Day of the Dead. This David Borrat David the Eucharist. Since it night of the year– is celebrated celebrate the feast of their tradition dates back to the coincides with the height of in Catalonia with bonfires and local patron saint, with Celtic celebration of spring, Catalans decorate the fireworks. In the villages of the festivities lasting various Samhain and sees many streets of their towns with Pyrenees, groups of people days filled with parades people visiting cemeteries to carpets of flowers to descend from the mountains featuring extravagant figures pay floral tribute to their accompany processions. Don’t bearing burning torches in a from Catalan folklore, like dead relatives. As always miss the Festa de les tradition known as Les Falles, giants and big-heads, here, there are also culinary Enramades in Sallent, the which is considered to be an sardana dancing, human traditions associated with dancing egg in Barcelona, the example of the immaterial towers, street parties with the feast, in this case roasted Corpus flower carpets in patrimony of humanity by hot chocolate, parades with chestnuts and small Sitges and the Patum in Berga. UNESCO. A slice of Coca de fireworks and people marzipan cakes known as Sant Joan cake and a dressed as devils and dragon panallets, accompanied by glass or two of cava figures that spout sweet moscatell wine. are also spectacular flames. obligatory on this day! Atset

Manolo García Pere Virgili Manolo García Cèlia Atset Cèlia Pere Virgili 10. KINGS The evening of 5 January sees the cavalcade of the Three Kings, who parade through the 09. streets accompanied by a NEW YEAR great procession featuring royal pages, floats and A folkloric figure who makes marching bands, just hours an appearance on the last before they bring presents to day of the year, the Home sleeping children. The family Pere Tordera dels Nassos or Nose Man lunch on 6 January brings the takes part in the 10- cycle of Christmas 08. kilometre run that bears his celebrations to an end. Dessert CHRISTMAS name. On New Year’s Eve, typically consists of a ring- Catalans traditionally have a shaped cake with a paper or Families traditionally get together at Christmas to share late dinner with their cardboard crown in the middle hearty dishes like escudella, carn d’olla, and stuffed chicken families and, before going called the Tortell de Reis, and cannelloni, together with sweet treats like neules and out looking for fun, see out which holds two surprises: a torrons. Perhaps the most curious tradition is the Tió, a log the old year by eating 12 small figure of a king, which that takes on life and is fed in the run-up to Christmas, only to grapes, one on each chime gives the finder the right to defecate presents on Christmas Day, and the caganer, a of the clock at midnight, in a wear the crown and a dried figure in the nativity scene representing a peasant caught ritual that is believed to broad bean, the finder of relieving himself behind a bush or tree. No wonder Catalans ensure good luck for the which will have to pay for next are famed for their scatological sense of humour! coming year. year’s cake.

ara.cat | Talent Guide | 61 5 EL CARMEL

4 BARCELONA la plaça del Diamant THROUGH 10 la Sagrada Família 1 BOOKS EIXAMPLE The city is full of attractive spots that invite 2 plaça Universitat DRET you to sit down and read. You’ll see plenty of people distracted by their mobiles, but 3 Ateneu Barcelonès you’ll also see a lot of people reading 9 books. A frequent setting for novels, 6 8 Santa Maria del Mar rambla de Santa Mònica Barcelona hosts literary events practically BARRI 7 every day of the year, has an extensive GÒTIC network of public libraries that organise MONTJUÏC annual meetings with writers and people related to the world of books, and, beginning this year, has its own interactive and paper format map with details of literary routes for individual authors and the LITERARY ROUTE works that are set in the city, bookshops, 1. “Private Life” by Josep Maria de Sagarra (1932) libraries, sculptures, and literature-related 2. “Nada” by Carmen Laforet (1945) memorial plaques and institutions. Since 3. “Un senyor de Barcelona” by Josep Pla (1945) 4. “The Time of the Doves” by Mercè Rodoreda (1962) 2015, the Catalan capital has been part of 5. “Last Evening with Teresa” by Juan Marsé (1966) the UNESCO Network of Creative Cities in 6. “The South Seas” by Manuel Vázquez Montalbán (1979) the field of literature. 7. “The City of Marvels” by Eduardo Mendoza (1986) 8. “The Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafón (2002) 9. “The Cathedral of the Sea” by Ildefons Falcones (2006) 10. “Things that happen to you in Barcelona when you are thirty” by Llucia Ramis (2008) AGENDA

KOS MOPOLIS MARCH 2021 A biennial get-together at CCCB in which literature, in all its manifestations, is the protagonist and where you can see national and international creators from different disciplines and genres interacting and reflecting on key current affairs issues. kosmopolis.cccb.org

JOAN BROSSA YEAR

On the occasion of the centenary of CATALAN BOOK WEEK the birth of Joan Brossa, one of the SEPTEMBER 6-15 2019 most important figures in Catalan literature, 2019 sees the celebration of This is one of the most important cultural events in the country and Brossa Year. It’s the perfect excuse to features the largest selection in the world of books written in Catalan. explore the work of the poet, a It’s a meeting place for readers, bookshops, publishers and magazines multidisciplinary avant-garde artist, a in Catalan and the perfect place to lose yourself among piles of books, genius who produced visual poems, checking out new launches and rediscovering old favourites while plays, artists’ books, objects and other enjoying public readings and an extensive programme of activities for artistic creations. young and old alike. www.lasetmana.cat

62 | ara.cat | Talent Guide CASA ANITA

Located in the Gràcia neighbourhood, this is the city’s main bookshop for children and young people and BOOKSHOPSBOOKSHOPS illustrated albums for kids and adults alike. You’ll also find workshops, presentations, meetings with authors and an Illustrators’ Fair for Sant Jordi, organised in collaboration with ALTAÏR Ediciones Ekaré. c/ Vic, 14 www.casaanitallibres.com Do you like travelling? Do you feel like opening a book and letting your imagination run wild? Do you want to find travelling companions? Are you interested in exploring different travel experiences? If the answer is yes, Altaïr is the place for you. The book shop will provide you with guide books and maps to help you to plan your trips to any destination, and publishes its own magazine. Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 616 www.altair.es NORMA CÒMICS

One of the most important MÓN LLIBRE bookshops specialized in APRIL 2020 comics and manga in Europe, founded by Norma A Literary Festival for Editorial. Winner of the Will children that is held in Eisner Spirit of Comics various venues in the Retailer Award (2018), one Raval –CCCB, MACBA, of the most important Plaça dels Àngels and LAIE awards in the comic Plaça de Joan Corominas– industry. A paradise for with around a hundred Laie’s literary adventure began in lovers of the genre. activities –storytellers, 1979 at their first bookshop in Passeig de Sant Joan, 9 workshops, theatre, Carrer Pau Claris which offers www.normacomics.com dance, music, cinema, local and international novelties encounters with authors and a large collection of books on and illustrators– around literature and the humanities. The fifty publishing houses cafeteria with covered terrace has and 16 bookstores. Two a special charm. They have grown days filled with literature to become a chain that manages for children and young the bookshops at CCCB, adults. CaixaForum, CosmoCaixa and the lameva.barcelona.cat/monllibre Picasso Museum. c/ Pau Claris, 85 www.laie.es

ara.cat | Talent Guide | 63 SANT JORDI A DAY OF BOOKS AND ROSES

The 23rd of April is the most romantic day of the year in Catalonia. It’s a day that celebrates lovers and it’s a day of books and roses. Even though it’s actually a working day, people find time to stroll around their city’s bubbling and colourful streets and squares with their friends and families browsing book stalls for discounted works by their favourite authors, who may well be hard at work signing copies. You’ll also see plenty of stalls selling roses (40% of all the roses sold in a year are sold on one single day). By tradition, men give ladies flowers and ladies give men books, though for some time now it’s common for people to give away both things regardless of gender. Throughout the day, you’ll also find poetry and book readings and it’s open day at the Town Hall, and people named Jordi or Jordina have free access to the Sagrada Familia. There are also plenty of activities for old and young alike. Sant Jordi is an opportunity to explore the city and experience a day that has a powerful patriotic, civic and cultural meaning for Catalans.

Cèlia Atset THE LEGEND Legend has it that many years ago in Montblanc there lived a terrible dragon that caused havoc with the town’s inhabitants. To placate it, every day they chose a person from the town whom they would feed to the beast. One day it was the turn of the king’s daughter, who would have become the dragon’s breakfast if a young knight named Jordi (George) hadn’t appeared on the scene to fight the dragon and kill it. It is said that on the spot where the blood of the dragon fell to the ground there sprung up a rosebush with red flowers and that the knight picked one and gave it to the princess. That Dani Ríos is the explanation that Catalan oral tradition gives for the custom of giving a rose to your loved one 23 APRIL for Sant Jordi. ■ Sant Jordi (Saint George) has been the patron saint of Catalonia since 1456. ■ It’s been Unesco World Book and Copyright Day since 1995. ■ Three great writers died on 23 April: Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare and Catalan writer Josep Pla.

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GAUDÍ... AND THE OTHERS Antoni Gaudí i Cornet (1852-1926) is an icon in the field of architecture, the greatest exponent of Catalan Modernism and a symbol of Barcelona, where we will find six of his seven UNESCO World Heritage status monuments. But the architect who revolutionized architecture around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries is not the only one who transformed the appearance of Barcelona and other Catalan towns. Here, we are going to review Gaudí’s most outstanding works and take a look at the other great architects of the Catalan Architectural Modernism movement.

CASA VICENS SAGRADA FAMÍLIA CASAVICENS.ORG SAGRADAFAMILIA.ORG The summer home of the Vicens family in the The most important project of his career neighbourhood of Gràcia was Gaudí’s first major project and and one that he worked on for 40 years, to exhibits the hallmarks of his style, including forms taken the exclusion of all other for the last 12 years from nature, vivid colours, decorated tiles and materials in of his life, in the understanding that he was their natural state, in a work that is a prelude to Catalan serving God through his architecture. The modernism. After 130 years it was opened to the public for construction of the basilica is now 70% the first time at the end of 2017. On offer are guided tours, complete and the work is expected to be temporary exhibitions and a permanent collection on the completed in 2026, 144 years after laying second floor. c/ Carolines, 18-24 the first stone. Only the nativity façade and the crypt have world heritage status, but if you visit be sure to take in the temple: the interior of the nave is simply breath-taking. c/ Mallorca, 401

Getty

Pere Virgili

Marc Rovira CASA BATLLÓ Efe WWW.CASABATLLO.ES The house that Gaudí was commissioned to build by the textile magnate Josep Batlló is part of what is known as the Block of Discord, CASA MILÀ together with other Catalan modernist houses WWW.LAPEDRERA.COM that competed for prizes for urban planning awarded by the city council. Although it was The building is also known as La Pedrera (The Quarry) because of originally slated for demolition the house was its appearance and was an object of ridicule at first. It’s one of the eventually completely refurbished and the most emblematic buildings in the city, with its seven mythological results are spectacular, with forms inspired by warriors of the roof, its undulating forms, wrought iron, innovative nature, full of colour and light, and one of structure and decorative elements. Today, in addition to being a Gaudí’s trademark dragons. Restoration work on rental apartment building, it hosts cultural events including talks, the façade and living quarters was completed concerts and exhibitions, and hosts the only Gaudí interpretation earlier this year. Passeig de Gràcia, 43 centre in Barcelona. Passeig de Gràcia, 42

66 | ara.cat | Talent Guide LLUÍS DOMÈNECH JOSEP PUIG I I MONTANER CADAFALCH A major figure in The Mataró Tourist Catalan Office organizes modernism, he was guided tours

Pere Virgili also acclaimed as exploring some of an illustrator and Puig i Cadafalch’s designer of most representative typographies. A constructions in his number of his hometown, Mataró, works, including and in Argentona, Palau de la Música where spent his GAUDÍ CRYPT AT COLÒNIA GÜELL Catalana and SaSantnt summers. In WWW.GAUDICOLONIAGUELL.ORG Pau are public Barcelona, among buildings and have his buildings in This was Gaudí’s test bench, where his creativity blossomed and where been declared Barcelona are the he put his architectural innovations into practice, taking advantage of World Heritage Casaramona the fact that his friend Eusebi Güell commissioned him with the Sites by Unesco. Factory, the site of construction of a church on the site of his textile colony and let him do Among his other the CaixaForum whatever he wanted, without time or budgetary restraints. Although he fascinating works cultural centre, the only managed to build the crypt before Güell’s sons cut off the funding, are Casa Lleó urban mansion the initial project, which features two naves, lateral towers and a Morera in Passeig house known as La central dome, brings to mind a smaller-scale version of the Sagrada de Gràcia, Castell Casa de les Punxes; Familia. c/ Claudi Güell, 6. (Santa Coloma de Cervelló) dels Tres Dragons Casa Martí, which in Parc de la houses the Quatre Ciutadella and Gats cafe- Casa Fuster, which restaurant, and has been a hotel Palau Macaya. In Marc Rovira since the year the Amatller House- 2000. Museum you can learn more about Getty the personality of the architect, who MANUEL JOAQUIM was a key figure in RASPALL the evolution of A disciple of Catalan Modernism. Domènech i Montaner, he began to work as a JOSEP MARIA municipal architect in Cardedeu, in the JUJOL Vallès Oriental 2019 sees the region where he celebration of Year designed a number Jujol 140, an of summer initiative by Sant David Cardelús residences for the Joan Despí city bourgeoisie of council to promote PARK GÜELL Barcelona. Several Jujol’s architectural WWW.PARKGUELL.CAT towns in the area legacy, which has a offer guided tours very noticeable PALAU GÜELL to help you to presence in the PALAUGUELL.CAT One of the city’s largest public explore them. town, including parks and planned originally Don’t miss Casa wonderful designs The urban mansion house of (1900) as a residential estate Millet, the Café and such as the businessman and patron Eusebi for well-to-do families, it hosts the Town Hall in imposing Torre de la Güell in the centre of Barcelona the Gaudí house-museum, l’Ametlla del Vallès; Creu, the first is an example of Catalan which was a show-house for Mansana Raspall in building he modernist domestic architecture the failed garden city and the La Garriga, and the designed there, Can in which Gaudí responded to the architect’s residence from Alqueria Cloelia Negre, which needs of family life and the social 1906 to 1925. Marvel at the and Casa Viader in became a symbol of and cultural activity it hosted. Its park’s many intriguing sights: Cardedeu. his style, Can Serra- sober façade, the dome of the the Dragon Stairway, the Xaus and Casa central hall -Gaudí Parabolic Hypostyle Room, planned as Rovira, which is audiovisual show venue- and the the site of a market, Nature decorated with roof terrace with chimneys in Square, the Laundry Room sgraffiti depicting various colours are among its Portico, the Austria Gardens, the countryside and most outstanding features. streets, paths and viaducts. fruit. Nou de la Rambla, 3-5 c/ Olot, 7 Jujol140.cat

ara.cat | Talent Guide | 67 01_1Music

Barcelona is the perfect Sala Razzmatazz place to enjoy live music in Ferran Forné as many genres and formats as you can possibly imagine. POPULAR MUSIC It’s a regular stopping place on tours by international SALA RAZZMATAZZ artists, with venues like the Every day of the week, you’ll find Olympic Stadium and Palau concerts here featuring the best Sant Jordi, with capacity for names on the local and Manolo García 55,000 and 18,000 people international scene in the fields respectively, and hosts of pop, rock and electronic festivals featuring genres like music. It contains five different jazz (www.jazz.barcelona), spaces hosting permanent clubs, consolidated cycles and electronic and experimental celebrations, including urban music at Sónar (see page music on Fridays and special 16), indie rock at Primavera days at Fuego club, themed Sound (page 15) and world parties featuring hits and dance music at Cruilla pop on Wednesdays and Latin (www.cruillabarcelona.com). rhythms at El Sucio club. c/ Almogàvers, 122 In the following lines, you’ll c/ Pamplona, 88 find information about the www.salarazzmatazz.com Gran Teatre del Liceu city’s classical and popular music venues. HELIOGÀBAL A small venue in Gràcia that has CLASSICAL been hosting performances featuring music, poetry and GRAN TEATRE DEL LICEU L’Auditori de Barcelona other forms of artistic This is one of the oldest theatres expression for almost 30 years. in Barcelona, located in the A meeting place for the Catalan Ramblas since 1847, and one of music scene, it was awarded the fifteen major opera houses in the Ciutat de Barcelona prize in the world. It’s a symbol of the city 2012. In August, during the

LEISURE AND CULTURE and in October 2019 will be neighbourhood festival, it celebrating 20 years since its sponsors the Festigàbal, a free

reconstruction and reopening Pere Virgili outdoor independent music being devastated in a fire. If you’re festival. into opera, dance and classical L’AUDITORI c/ Ramón y Cajal, 80 recitals, you’ll find all types of Dating from 1999, this is the www.heliogabal.com ticket rates and discounts, city’s newest classical music including a special rate for people venue. Cultural outreach, SALA APOLO under 30 and a secret seat ticket education and research all One of the oldest dance halls in priced at €30. And if you’re into come together in its Europe, with more than 75 escape rooms you’re also in 42,000m2. It’s also home to years of history, since the luck, the Puccini Enigma awaits the Symphonic Orchestra of 1990s, Apolo has been you at the Liceu. Barcelona/National operating as a concert hall and La Rambla, 51-59 Orchestra of Catalonia, the has hosted gigs by over 11,000 www.liceubarcelona.cat Barcelona Municipal Band, groups and 5,500 DJs. It’s the Superior School of become a firm favourite among PALAU DE LA MÚSICA Music of Catalonia and the fans of music of virtually any This Catalan modernist construction, which was designed by Music Museum. In addition genre. They even dare to take the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, is another of the to its programme of on classical music on Sunday city’s Unesco heritage sites. It’s an icon for symphonic and concerts, it offers an mornings in January and choral music in Catalonia with its own concert programme education service aimed at February with the cycle (What’s and is a regular host of cycles and festivals, including Guitar all types of public. the Story?) Morning Glory. Bcn, the Gran Gala Flamenco and the Festival Mil·lenni. c/ Lepant, 150 c/ Nou de la Rambla, 113 c/ Palau de la Música, 4-6. www.palaumusica.cat www.auditori.cat www.sala-apolo.com

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Picasso 02_02 Museum

Ar t Enric Fontcuberta

PICASSO MUSEUM Founded in 1963, the museum portrays Picasso’s links with Barcelona, where he had been CCCB educated as a young man. In Located in the Raval neighbourhood, the CCCB addition to its permanent contemporary culture centre is a focus of activity collection, which contains more in creative research and knowledge production. than 4,000 artworks, it hosts Large-scale exhibitions, debates and workshops temporary shows. In October it are all held here. The central courtyard, which is organises the Big Draw, a family- known as the Pati de Dones, contains a viewpoint oriented drawing workshop, in from which you can see the sea. collaboration with the city c/ Montalegre, 5. www.cccb.org council’s Institute of Culture. c/ Montcada, 15-23 www.museupicasso.bcn.cat MACBA Also in the Raval and located very near to the CCCB, the MACBA contemporary art museum MNAC features works from the second half of the The National Palace on the hill of 20th century. Founded in 1995, it is housed in a Montjuïc, which was built for the building designed by Richard Meier and hosts International Exhibition of 1929, is temporary exhibitions and activities, as well as the site of the National Art having an important educational programme. Museum of Catalonia, offering Plaça dels Àngels, 1. www.macba.cat wonderful views and an incredible collection of Romanesque art and work by NAU BOSTIK some of the most representative Barcelona’s first permanent centre devoted to artists of the Catalan Modernist the creation, reflection and promotion of urban movement. You’ll also find art, working to create local links and networks. It Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque exhibits mural works by local and international art and a photography collection. artists and temporary exhibitions, along with Parc de Montjuïc, s/n hosting artists in residence and offering an www.museunacional.cat education service and wall painting production. Dalí Museum c/ Ferran Turné, 1-11. naubostik.com David Borrat JOAN MIRÓ FOUNDATION THE DALIAN TRIANGLE Here you’ll find the world’s Púbol, Portlligat and Figueres are three most complete collection of unmissable stops, three points on a map of Works by Joan Miró, one of the the Emportdà that will take you on a journey of most influential artists in the discovery of Salvador Dalí, one of Catalonia’s 20th century, including over most internationally renowned painters. It’s a 200 paintings, 150 sculptures trip that will help you to understand his life and and some 5,000 drawings. his art: the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres is The building was designed by considered to be the world’s largest surrealist Josep Lluís Sert, one of the object and Dalí himself is buried there, Castell main proponents of avant- Gala Dalí in Púbol was once his muse’s refuge garde architecture in Catalonia. Macba and his house in Portlligat is full of surprises. Parc de Montjuïc, s/n www.salvador-dali.org www.fmirobcn.org Pere Tordera

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ALTERNATIVE NAU IVANOV This centre for cultural creation specialised in the performing arts hosts and accompanies companies in their creative processes, as 03_3_ well as offering education, conferences and fairs. c/ d’Hondures, 30 www.nauivanow.com

Scenic Arts SALA BECKETT The city’s leading venue for contemporary drama is also a training center for playwrights. In 2016 the Beckett left the neighborhood of Gràcia to settle in the building of the former Cooperativa Pau i Justícia in Poblenou, where it has two performance spaces DIGITAL CULTURE and a writers’ club. c/ Pere IV, 228-232 CLASSICAL IDEAL www.salabeckett.cat October will see the opening MERCAT DE LES FLORS of the new Centre for Digital This scenic art venue, which is dedicated to dance Arts in Barcelona in the old SALA FLYHARD and the movement arts, is set in a Noucentista style Ideal cinema building in The theatre, which began its building known as the Palau de l’Agricultura, Poblenou. The centre will life hosting dramatic works by originally built for the 1929 International Exhibition feature an immersive the Flyhard Company, has at Montjuïc, and offers an extensive programme of exhibition hall, a creative now became a production dance performances and related activities. technology laboratory, a VR company open to many c/ Lleida, 59. www.mercatflors.cat zone, a café, offices and a creators. It offers small format residents’ area. theatre performances in an Doctor Trueta, 196-198 intimate space, with works by TEATRE BIBLIOTECA DE CATALUNYA new and up-and-coming The Catalan national library is also home to the La dramaturgs and pieces that Perla 29 performing arts centre. Here you’ll find have already premiered but new scenic languages and new voices in the CIRCUS require greater exposure. dramatic arts. c/ Hospital, 56. www.laperla29.cat c/ d’Alpens, 3 CIRC CRIC www.salaflyhard.com March to July / Sant Esteve de TEATRE LLIURE Palautordera (an hour away With two venues –one in Gràcia, where the theatre from Barcelona) was founded in 1976, and another at Montjuïc– its This circus festival by the Circ TANTARANTANA programme combines performances by Cric company takes place in TEATRE established companies and works by emerging the middle of nature in the Since its creation, more than collectives and young creators. You’ll be surprised Montseny Nature Park. You’ll 25 years ago, the theatre has by the versatility of its scenic spaces. If you’re under find workshops and a variety of combined the programming 30 years of age, you can see performances for €9 circus-related activities on the of alternative and family with the Generació Lliure card. c/ Montseny, 47 programme. oriented performances. As a (Gràcia) + passeig de Santa Madrona, 40-46 www.circcric.com Creation Factory, it produces (Montjuïc). www.teatrelliure.com ACN shows for and supports emerging companies with residences. Call in on Monday TNC for Assajar és de covards, a With its Parthenon-like appearance, the National jam session featuring a Theatre of Catalonia hosts performances of concert and a dramatized classical and contemporary theatre and dance in its reading. large and small halls and workshops. It also offers c/ de les Flors, 22 the TNC Petit programme for family audiences and www.tantarantana.com this year has a new programme aimed at 12 to 16 year old spectators. Plaça de les Arts, 1. www.tnc.cat

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FILMOTECA DE CATALUNYA A cinema with a varied offer, ranging from cycles dedicated to up-and-coming filmmakers discover to movie classics, all in original versions and at affordable prices. It also has a Film good library of film books and 04_ magazines. Plaça de Salvador Seguí, 1-9 www.filmoteca.cat

FIRE!! June / Barcelona VERDI Casal Lambda, which is working for Located in the heart of the the social normalization of neighborhood of Gràcia, this homosexuality, created this cinema offers premieres of international gay and lesbian film independent and arthouse films. festival, which is the first LGBTI In 2019, the first phase of the themed festival in the country and remodeling of its facilities was features a selection of feature films, completed, including a movie- short films and documentaries, themed mural painting by Juan along with talks and round table Antonio García, a film poster discussions. artist in the 1980s and the father www.mostrafire.com of director J.A. Bayona. c/ Verdi, 32 www.cines-verdi.com SALA MONTJUÏC June to August / Barcelona Since 2002, on Mondays, PHENOMENA Wednesdays and Fridays from June EXPERIENCE to August, the MODIband Cultural Phenomena Experience began Association has been bringing the in 2010 with double sessions of best films in the history of cinema classic films screened at to the Santa Eulàlia moat at different cinemas, especially the Montjuïc castle, together with live now defunct Urgell. They now music and picnics. have their own premises and www.salamontjuic.org offer a programme of new releases, cycles and iconic films. c/ Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 168 L’ALTERNATIVA www.phenomenaexperience.com November / Barcelona At the Independent Film Festival of Barcelona you’ll find independent MALDÀ and experimental films that don’t Located in the old chapel of Palau tend to make it to the screen in the Maldà, and integrated into the first commercial film circuit. They also commercial galleries in Spain, organize debates with authors, which have been open since 1943, round tables, symposia and Maldà single screen offers movie- creative workshops for children goers a second chance to see and adults. films that have triumphed at alternativa.cccb.org festivals. It’s also a must for fans of movie marathons. For the price of a ticket you can see all the movies SITGES FILM FESTIVAL screened that day. c/ Pi, 5 October / Sitges www.cinemamalda.com At the world’s most important fantastic film festival you can watch premieres of the latest and best ZUMZEIG CINEMA fantastic and horror movies, test Catalonia’s first cooperative your endurance at film marathons, cinema describes itself as a place get a taste of Sitges Bacanal –a for thinking and sharing and gastronomic activity that offers multidisciplinary reinterprets the leitmotiv of the programmes of original version festival– and take part, if you dare, films that share the space with in the famous Zombie Walk. Don’t other cultural activities. delay, places are limited! c/ Béjar, 53 CYCLES AND FESTIVALS CYCLES

sitgesfilmfestival.com FILMS SCREENING ORIGINAL VERSION CINEMAS zumzeigcine.coop

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OTTO ZUTZ NUBA BCN Since 1985, this has been one of the city’s This restored Catalan posher nightclubs. Located in what was country house is once a textile factory in the Sant Gervasi actually a restaurant neighbourhood, it’s a place for dancing to serving international hip-hop, R & B, reggaeton, house and cuisine where, after your popular hits. If you prefer to experience it in meal, you can kick back more privileged surroundings, head for the in a lounge bar and have VIP zone. Open Wednesday to Saturday. fun on its small dance c/ Lincoln, 15. _ floor. The ambience is www.ottozutz.com glamorous and exclusive 05The Diagonal, which was and it’s a good place for designed by the urban planner celebrity-spotting. Ildefons Cerdà, is an artery that c/ Dr. Fleming, 12 LUZ DE GAS cuts across Barcelona. Eleven nubabcn.com A classic establishment occupying the site kilometres in length and 50 of the former Belle Époque cabaret. From metres from side to side it’s the midnight on, it’s a discotheque and a concert hall from Wednesday to Saturday, city’s widest street and a and ideal for over-40s looking to have fun dividing line that separates the in elegant surroundings. well-to-do parts of c/ Muntaner, 246 neighbourhoods like Les Corts www.luzdegas.com and Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, from the neighbourhoods that lie beneath it. If you go out to sample Barcelona’s nightlife, BLING BLING you can get to know two sides Presenting itself as the city’s most exclusive of Barcelona. club and one that has transformed Barcelona’s nightlife scene, from Thursday to Saturday you can dance here on the large dancefloor or take it easy in the private areas. The dress code is strictly applied: look elegant if you don’t want to be turned away. Nightlife c/ Tuset, 8. blingblingbcn.com

SIDECAR First opened in 1982 in a corner of Plaça Reial. Since then it has hosted over 5,000 concerts, DJ sessions, exhibitions and presentations. It’s small and rather corridor-like, but the acoustics are good for live music. A mover and shaker on the city’s underground scene for over 35 years. Plaça Reial, 7. sidecar.es

LA TERRRAZZA SALA RAZZMATAZZ The only outdoor club (see page 68) in the city, offering a perfect combination of SALA APOLO music and natural (See page 68) surroundings. Located MAGIC on the hillside of Claiming to be enjoying a Montjuïc, inside the second youth, this club has Poble Espanyol been devoted to rock music complex, it’s housed in since the 1990’s. If you’re in a a 16th century Balearic band they’ll even organise farmhouse with your concert for you. Open spectacular views. MOOG from Thursdays to Saturdays Open from May to A local icon on the electronic music scene since 1996 and the evenings preceding October, it’s also a in the heart of the Raval. Here you can dance to up- public holidays. favourite among music and-coming and well-known local and international Passeig de Picasso, 40 lovers. Av. Francesc DJs, including great names like Jeff Mills, Laurent www.magic-club.net Ferrer i Guàrdia, s/n Garnier, James Holden, John Talabot and Josh Wink. laterrrazza.com An essential part of the city’s nightlife scene that opens every night of the week. Resistance is futile. c/ Arc del Teatre, 3. www.masimas.com/moog 76 | ara.cat | Talent Guide

78 c/ 158 Castillejos, and Fridays from 8to9.30 am. hosts publicauctions:onMondays, Wednesdays It’santiques. theonlymarket inEurope thatstill where you’ll ofbric-a-brac findallsorts and plus square metres some500 contain stalls, reflects thehustleandbustlebelow. Its33,000 site isprotected by alarge mirrored canopy that Theopen-air Meridiana andCarrer Castillejos. new locationattheconfluenceofAvinguda Since 2013, this centennial market hashada ENCANTS VELLS P P on thesecondSunday inPlaçaBlanquerna. month inPlaçaSalvador isheld Seguí,andFlea isheldonthefirstFleadeonia Sunday ofthe good conditionandatvery reasonable prices. exchange andbuysecond-handproducts in organising monthlymarkets where you can Since 2007, thisnon-profit associationhasbeen FLEA MARKETBARCELONA MARKETS 06_ fleamarketbcn.com l a ç | a ara.cat

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n palomarketfest.com scene. Openfrom 11amto9pm. food andthebest andcraftspeople artists trucks onthe market, whichfeatures products madeby designers, aswellsessions, asthespecialprogramme for each and free for andDJ neighbours)concerts includes August. Thecostofadmission(€4onthedoor, €3online the first complete weekend ofevery monthexcept This street market isheldinanoldfactory inPoblenou on PALO MARKETFEST q u e r n a

ICONIC ESTABLISHMENTS www.sombrereriaobach.es family. by thethird generation ofthe and women. It’s currently run caps, berets andhatsfor men been sellingawidevariety of Since 1924, thishatshophas SOMBRERERÍA OBACH www.lamanual.com c/ Avinyó, 7 accessory. tradition intoafashion transforming apeasant and embroidery, thereby modelswithheels designer espadrille-makers toproduce 1941 they were thefirst Backin making espadrilles. workshop artisan standing This isBarcelona’s last- ALPARGATERA LA MANUAL

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ATELIERS AND INDEPENDENT DESIGNERS www.dzueco.com c/ Taulat, 55 tailored sizes. Available inlarge, smalland into traditional footwear. since 2014, breathes new life who hasspecialisedinclogs Poblenou, Patricia Bautista, In herold-stylestudioin D ZUECO www.teresahelbig.com c/ Mallorca, 184 unnoticed”. “A Helbigwoman never goes years, because, asshesays, creating fashion for over 20 whohasbeen designer feminine ofa designs have beenseducedby the alikeand internationalstars Barcelona totheworld. Local Prêt-à-couture TERESA HELBIG c/ EnricGranados, 46 fashion for menandwomen. quality andelegancein renowned brand offering of thisinternationally store andexplore thehistory can take aguidedtourofthe anniversary ofthefirm,you To celebrate the40th ANTONIO MIRÓ www.cortana.es c/ Provença, 290 to ready-to-wear dresses. from outfits bridalandparty a goodoptionfor everything small localworkshops. Thisis quality fabrics, are madein and designs elegant, timeless forclothes women, withtheir Rosa Esteva’s range of CORTANA

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Jordi Roviralta

FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD! Catalan cuisine is rich in variety, ingredients and dishes. While faithful to Mediterranean traditions, it is often

seduced by other cultures and culinary Getty innovation. Barcelona is home to a wide range of restaurants serving food from Markets here, there and everywhere, and a fusion SANT JOSEP of all these worlds. LA BOQUERIA

Located in the Ramblas, this is probably Barcelona’s most iconic market. As well as food products, you’ll find cultural and gastronomic activities on offer here, including courses, workshops, tastings and get- togethers. Rambla, 91

SANT ANTONI

The only market in town that opens seven days a week, Sant Antoni, which reopened in 2018 following extensive restorations, is home to three markets: a food market, a clothes and accessories market and a Sunday second-hand book market. c/ del Comte d’Urgell, 1

Jordi Roviralta SANTA CATERINA Since 2005, the city’s first covered market has boasted a new roof made A restaurant up of a mosaic of 200,000 brightly coloured ceramic pieces, representing the fruit and vegetables with history sold within. Av. de Francesc Cambó, 16 BODEGA SEPÚLVEDA If you’re interested in getting to know restaurants in Barcelona according to the traditional Catalan cuisine, do yourself a Macarfi 2018 culinary guide, it’s a risk free favour and call in at Bodega Sepúlveda. This dining option for getting a taste of Catalonia classical establishment, which started out as in the shape of tapas and modern takes on a tavern selling wine from the barrel, has traditional dishes featuring fresh, local been run for some 66 years by four produce, together with over 100 varieties of generations of the Solà family, currently with wine, cloth napkins and excellent service. Josep, his wife Joaquina and their daughters c/ Sepúlveda, 173 Sònia i Núria at the helm. One of the top 50 www.bodegasepulveda.com

80 | ara.cat | Talent Guide Tapas Small portions of cold or hot food, designed to whet one’s appetite. You can eat a couple as an aperitif or go out for some tapas, sharing different dishes at the same place or hopping from bar to bar and restaurant to restaurant.

QUIMET, QUIMET A classic tapas place which first opened in 1914 and still serves top quality tapas, small dishes and tinned produce. It’s located in a small cellar whose walls are

Cruix covered with bottles of wine, vermouth, liquors and their home-brewed beer. c/ Poeta Cabanyes, 25 A new place Pere Virgili www.quimetquimet.com CRUIX LA COVA FUMADA The restaurant Cruix opened its doors for the An authentic Barceloneta hangout that first time at the end of 2017. It’s an informal both locals and tourists are willing to place where originality is at the service of queue for. No one wants to miss out on signature tapas and rice dishes. It appears in the fresh fish tapas or classic specialities all the lists of unmissable new restaurants in such as the bomba - a kind of oversized Barcelona and everyone is speaking wonders croquette stuffed with potato and meat of the food served by chef Miguel Pardo, and accompanied by two sauces, which maître Carlos Fernández and the rest of the was invented here in 1955.

team, all of whom are in or around their 30s: Roviralta Jordi c/ Baluard, 56 “A potential big gourmand”, “Financial and culinary engineering with no lack of imagination” and “Haute cuisine techniques MORRO FI that aren’t hard on the pocket”. They claim that they have a good time at work and it The first of the five establishments they shows in the result. This is a small place where have in Barcelona opened for the first there could be more space between the time in 2010. It’s the perfect place for tables, but you quickly forgive and forget that an aperitif – try the house vermouth, thanks to the creativity of the dishes – cod which is also available for purchase churros with alioli mousse, Pekin-style duck online – as well as tinned goods,

croquettes, an ‘Iberian tear’ with aubergine Manolo García sandwiches and a variety of hot and and the imaginatively titled Sad Day on the cold dishes. c/ Consell de Cent, 171 Beach – all of which offer prime ingredients at www.morrofi.cat an attractive price. Take advantage of this value for money – something increasingly hard to find hereabouts – to try the €16 lunch menu or the 10-dish tasting menu priced at €28. c/ Entença, 57 www.cruixrestaurant.com

ara.cat | Talent Guide | 81 Vegetarians Barcelona is a self-proclaimed ‘veg-friendly’ city – the first city in the world that’s friendly to vegan and vegetarian culture. It’s easy to be a vegetarian here – you have a lot of choice and the variety and quality are first rate. A place that Manolo García experiments

SLOW AND LOW RASOTERRA This signature cuisine You’ll find this establishment at the top restaurant is eclectic, of all the best vegetarian restaurant well-travelled and product – lists. It’s a km 0 certified vegetarian focused, with dishes that will and vegan bistrot and the driving force surprise you featuring local behind the slow food movement in products enriched with Barcelona, with a food and drinks influences from different menu, a seasonal tasting menu and a cultures and gastronomies. fixed-price lunch menu. c/ del Palau, 5 At the helm are chef Frank www.rasoterra.cat Beltri, sous-chef Nicolás de la Vega and pastry chef Francesc Melcion Alejandro Santafe. Their creative energy is boundless: six months after TERESA CARLES opening they had invented 40 dishes and after seven They’ve been working to innovate in months that figure had risen healthy eating since 1979 offering to 55. Rather than offering a food that’s tasty, healthy and la carte service, there are sustainable at a number of three fixed-price menus: a establishments: one that’s named lunch menu with three after head chef Teresa Carles; a dishes, dessert and a drink healthy flexitarian restaurant called at €29.50; a seven-dish FLAX & KALE; a casual healthyfast menu at €42 and a 10-dish location, and a healthy fast food menu priced at €58. Don’t option. c/ Jovellanos, 2 miss the list of cocktails. teresacarles.com The kitchen is the soul of this establishment, which Vegetalia was designed by Sánchez Guisado Arquitectes and is divided into three areas: a VEGETALIA spacious bar that is split into two parts – one with seating An organic food company that has for 16 diners and another in been producing and distributing front of the kitchen with six organic products since 1986. It also tables – and a more has three vegetarian restaurants in traditional dining room. Barcelona - in the Gothic Quarter, Open for lunch and dinner Raval and Born - that are open 11 from Tuesday to Saturday. a.m. to midnight from Monday to c/ Comte Borrell, 119 Sunday. Good value for money.

Fotos: Slow and Low Slow Fotos: slowandlowbcn.com Escudellers, 54 www.vegetalia.com

82 | ara.cat | Talent Guide Have you found your market? Barcelona has a network of 42 municipal the best service. While you’re shopping markets (barcelona.cat/mercats), where you you can marvel at the architectural beauty @mercatsBCN can buy high-quality, healthy, locally-sourced surrounding you, attend cooking lessons fresh produce. You’ll find 2,300 and have fun with the many activities on establishments, ranging from family owned offer. Shop healthily, make new fb/mercatsbarcelona traditional stalls to modern businesses acquaintances and reach out to your local managed by new entrepreneurs. You can let community at your local market. yourself be guided by the advice of 7,500 Look for yours on the map – there’s sure @mercatsbcn professionals who are working to offer you to be one nearby! Wine Catalonia is wine territory and has 12 denominations of origin. Wine tourism is an opportunity to live new experiences, get to know the territory and enjoy the wines: white, red, rosé, sparkling, sweet, rancid and fortified wines and vermouths. There’s something here for everyone.

CELLER DE GELIDA Since 1895, five generations have

David Borrat David managed this business in the Sants district offering an extensive variety of wines and liqueurs in a catalogue with more than 3,500 Unmissable references that pays special attention to local products. EL CELLER DE CAN ROCA c/ del Vallespir, 65 Pere Tordera Pere cellerdegelida.net Three Michelin stars, 10 years in the rankings of the 50 best restaurants in the world –finishing in the top position on two DO CAVA occasions– and belonging to the elite best of the best group all speak volumes for the Cava is a sparkling wine that can quality of the Roca brothers’ restaurant. In only be produced within the Girona, they practise haute cuisine that is territory of the Cava appellation creative and committed to the avant- of origin which covers 69 garde while honouring generations of municipalities in Catalonia. Sant ancestors who devoted their lives to Sadurní d’Anoia is the capital of feeding the people. The teams consists of cava. The majority of Catalan Joan, head chef and considered to be the cavas are open to visits and best in the world (The 50 Best 2018); Bodegas Torres and Sumarroca

Josep, best head waiter (The 50 Best Bertral Xavier are among the best known. 2017); Jordi, the best pastry chef in the world (2014), and 85 more people working in the kitchen (50), front of house (25) and THE VERMOUTH management. If you can, try to dine there MUSEUM at least once in your life. The dishes change every season and the restaurant Vermouth is an aromatic herbal only offers closed menus: a tasting menu liqueur made from 50 to 80 of classic dishes costing €190 and a ingredients. Wine, absinthe and festival menu costing €215. Add €75 and other bitter and tonic species €110 respectively to these prices for are essential components. At paired wines. the Museum of Vermouth you’ll c/ de Can Sunyer, 48 (Girona) find the most complete cellercanroca.com collection in the world of items related to vermouths, as well as If you’re interested in exploring the Roca a restaurant and wine cellar. universe for considerably less money, c/ Vallroquetes, 7 (Reus)

head for Rocambolesc, a craft ice-cream Museu del vermut www.museudelvermut.com parlour where Jordi Roca has transformed the restaurant’s deserts into ice creams. You’ll find them in Girona, Barcelona, Alicante and Madrid. c/ Santa Clara, 50 (Girona) www.rocambolesc.com

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Cake shops You’ll need a few days to taste all of the most typical Catalan cakes. The best thing to do is to explore the pastries that are typical of each area but, to begin with try a xuixo (a kind of filled donut), braç de gitano (like a Swiss roll), taps de Cadaqués (small sponge cakes), orelletes (crunchy flat cakes), bunyols de Quaresma (Lenten fritters), coca de Sant Joan (a sweet flat bread), catànies (cocoa dusted almonds), carquinyolis (almond biscotti), panellets (small marzipan cakes), torró d’Agramunt (nougat bars), neules (wafers), tortell de reis (a round pastry)… It’s enough to make your mouth water! Tjerk van der Meulen van Tjerk

Ferran Forné

Rice dishes with ESCRIBÀ The first of their four shops was a protected opened in the old Casa Figueras pasta factory, a Catalan modernist establishment on the Rambla. designation of Christian Escribà, the fourth generation of the family’s pastry chefs, overflows with creativity and is an icon origin in the Catalan pastry world. Rambla de les Flors, 83

LES BARQUES CAN JOAN Fleca Pastisseria Padrés FLECA PASTISSERIA If you’re a rice lover, this is the place for you. Les PADRÉS Cases d’Alcanar is a typical fishing village, the first or the last one on the Catalan coast depending on how The best one in the world is made in you look at it, lying next to the Ebro delta, one of the Banyoles, according to the most important rice producing areas in Europe, competition held to celebrate the which has its own protected designation of origin. centenary of the xuixo -a sweet Right next to the port you’ll find Les Barques Can cylindrical pastry filled with cream, Joan, a family restaurant with chef Joan Martínez at fried and coated in sugar, a dessert the helm together with his daughter Joana and son that is also commonly eaten at Marc. Here they offer attentive service and an teatime. Passeig de Mossèn Lluís extensive variety of rice and seafood dishes, and a Constans, 157 (Banyoles) terrace that you won’t want to leave. The menu contains examples of the traditional cuisine of the Sant Croi area featuring top quality, locally sourced, fresh produce. You can choose from almost twenty stews, rice and noodle dishes, fresh fish, shellfish and SANT CROI crustaceans. You’ll be licking your fingers and sure to return. For your first visit you might want to Do you know where you can find the choose the €40 menu consisting of an aperitif, four best artisan butter croissant in Spain? In starters and paella or fideuá, desserts and drinks Barcelona. Albert Roca is the first pastry included. Plaça de Sant Pere, 6 chef to win the title twice in a row (2009 Les Cases d’Alcanar (Montsià) and 2018). The chocolate one is equally www.restaurantlesbarquescanjoan.com delicious. Pàdua, 91 + Bassegoda, 56

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