No district of Barcelona has the flavour and personality of Gràcia. The area brings together artists, long-standing neighbours, design and fashion stores and some of the city’s liveliest restaurants and bars. A perennial mix of traditional values and the latest trends, Gràcia is always up with the pulse of the times, yet retains the essence that makes it the favourite haunts of many Barceloners.

As we love strolling leisurely through the area and taking in the atmosphere, we hit the streets to unearth the seven must-visit venues – shops, bars and restaurants – for tapping into the true heartbeat of Gràcia.

Magnesia

Leticia, the owner of Magnesia, draws on the work of local and international artists, showcased in what is one of the best graphic stores in town. The prints rub shoulders with ceramics from the United States, cushions by Shara Porter and jewellery by craftsmen and women from Barcelona. You will be enamoured of this venue and are bound to emerge with something under your arm.

Can Tresó

Located on one of Gràcia’s major thoroughfares, the Can Tresó restaurant can go by unnoticed from the outside. But, once you’ve dined there, you will never forget its presence. The tapas are great – the patatas bravas outstanding – and the signature menu of the day on weekdays is really delicious.

La Mueblerí

This vintage-look store is run by a mother and son. With their finely tuned selection of furniture and other objects, it’s easy to fall for a Scandinavian sideboard, a Vitra table from the 70s or a Manises lamp. What’s more, you can find both designer pieces and other reasonably priced wares to suit all budgets. The premises are spacious and well decorated. Here you breathe closeness, delicateness and good taste, which makes it quite special.

Viblioteca

This is a classic among lovers of cheese, sausage, tartare and good food. Done out in white lines, this restaurant is undoubtedly one of the finest in Barcelona when it comes to discovering new wines and pairing them with a first-class culinary selection. We recommend you talk to Yolanda, the owner, and let her suggest what to order.

Alzira

Mónica is one of the veterans of vintage in the Gràcia district. Her exquisite sense of taste manifests in a combination of industrial and rustic furniture with some designer pieces, all imbued with a Bochic aesthetic, making this a must-visit store for antique hunters in Barcelona. The bright, airy premises include a patio where one could relax for hours, if one had the time. The furniture and decoration section is rounded off by a frankly irresistible area featuring retro brooches.

Bobby Gin

Going out for a drink in Gràcia at night would never be the same without Bobby Gin. This sophisticated bar serves some of the best gin tonics in Barcelona. Care has been lavished on their decor, down to the last detail, with restored antique doors, and vintage and industrial furniture. But, what makes this venue unique is the large selection of premium gins and tonics. If you are hard put to make a choice, the staff – who really know their stuff – will help you decide. And, if you’d like something to nibble on, themini-coques de Llavaneras pastries are a delicacy you should make a point of tasting.

Casa Atlántica

Hand-painted ceramic crockery, wooden miniatures and retro lamps are some of the items you can find in Casa Atlántica. A store-workshop full of charm opened by the fashion designer, Belén Martínez, and the Portuguese interior designer, Lester Barreto. The interior is unmistakeably Atlantic in appearance and is redolent with priceless details and furniture designed by the owners themselves, transporting you from the Mediterranean to the other side of the Peninsula.

Book your Vueling to Barcelona and venture into Gràcia, to be seduced by its charm.

Text by Aleix Palau for Los Viajes de ISABELYLUIS

Louvain, regarded as the Flemish Salamanca for its large student population during the academic year, is the ideal destination to head for on a getaway to Brussels as it is less than half an hour’s train ride away.

Louvain and its University

The university is a major feature of Louvain (Leuven, in Flemish). Not only is it a historic institution – it was founded in 1425 – but an international student magnet as it attracts large numbers of foreign Erasmus scholarship holders each year. Many of these will be unaware that Erasmus of Rotterdam, after whom the exchange programme of almost thirty years’ standing is named, actually used to lecture at Louvain University.

No wonder, then, that the population of this Flemish city increases by around 20,000 youngsters at the start of each academic year. They study during the day and hit the town by night, turning Louvain into one of the most fun spots in Europe. Come heat or cold, many of these students congregate in the Oude Markt, a square packed with cafés, pubs and restaurants, compounding what is considered to be Europe’s longest bar counter.

In the morning, many of these students make up for the previous night’s debauchery in the library, located in the Monseigneur Ladeuzeplein square. The library building, formerly sited on the Naamsestraat, was destroyed in World War I and rebuilt with Belgian and American funding. The square is embellished by a striking landmark – a beetle pierced by a huge, three-meter-high needle. It was unveiled in 2005 to mark the 575th anniversary of the University.

Louvain’s Historic City Centre

Some of the most emblematic buildings in Louvain, the capital of Flemish-Brabant province, are located in the Grote Markt or Main Square. The most remarkable landmark is the City Hall, an example of the mid-15th-century Brabantine Gothic, with over 230 small sculptures adorning the facade. Noteworthy, too, is St Peter’s Church with its unfinished, low belltower and the Neoclassical building known as the Round Table (Tafelrond), currently the site of the National Bank. Starting from the Grote Markt, if you head along Bondgenotenlaan street, you come to Martelarenplein (Martyrs’ Square) with its marked Spanish air, redesigned as it was by the architect, Manuel de Solà-Morales, between 1998 and 2004.

Like the city of Mechelen, Louvain has a magnificent, 12th-century Grand Béguinage. This secluded precinct is just a fifteen minute walk from the centre and once housed the Beguines, a female religious community that led an austere life. Covering an area of six hectares, the Grand Béguinage is now the residence of many exchange professors and Erasmus students. Bear in mind that Flemish beguinages are listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

Other places of interest include St Gertrude’s Abbey, the Church of St Michael – a masterpiece of the Flemish Baroque – and the statue of Fons Sapientiae (Source of Wisdom), by the Belgian artist, Jef Claerhout, which is decked out in different costumes at various times of the year.

Gastronomy and Beer in Louvain

Beer is a must in Louvain, and several beer routes have been set up, including a tour of the Domus brewery and that of Stella Artois, the best known brand in the city. Several restaurants in town offer menus paired with local beer, notably Zarza and EssenCiel, the latter situated on the crowded Muntstraat.

Now that you know how to find your way around Louvain, get your Vueling to Brussels and enjoy the university city!

Text by María Jesús Torné from tusdestinos.net

Images by Toerisme Leuven, Frédéric Van Hoof, milo-profi.be

“Det finns inget dåligt väder, bara dåliga kläder”, this Swedish phrase means there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes that don't keep you warm. So there's no excuse not to have an unforgettable time during mid winter in a city like Stockholm, which brings in the new year with joy and hope (despite the cold).

For anyone who wants to have an unforgettable time bringing in 2015, Stockholm is definitely one of the best options in Scandinavia. Its streets fill with life, with excellent restaurants and little places to drink glögg (mulled wine) and eat pepparkakor, the typical ginger biscuits eaten at Christmas.

While it is true that most New Year festivities in Stockholm take place in hotels, clubs or friends' house, the city also prepares great New Year celebrations.

The church in Storkyrkan de Gamla Stan – Stockholm's old quarter – is the venue for the New Year's Eve concert called Nyårskonsert. The City of Stockholm also organises a fireworks display to welcome the New Year. The resulting image is unforgettable, as the light from the fireworks creates a dramatic contrast with the snow covering the entire city.

After the chimes have struck, most of the big parties take place in the alternative neighbourhood of Södermalm. One of the best known is the Södermalmstorg, which takes place on Götgatan Street. Music and fun are guaranteed to keep going till dawn.

On January 1st, the open-air Museum of Skansen hosts the Ring Out Wild Bells concert, with a reading of the New Year's poem of that name by Tennyson, which is broadcast live. This event also closes with a fireworks display.

For more sporty people, another option for January 1st is to go ice-skating in Kungstradgården, a kind of Central Park and one of the most popular places in Stockholm.

By Eddy Lara Brito from DestinosActuales.com

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The stalls along the Calle Feria Market, also known as the Plaza de Abastos, have a life all of their own. When you approach the outskirts of the market you will be greeted by colourful stalls, wonderful aromas and the sounds of people talking and enjoying themselves. You may not find many tables free, so a lot of people eat and drink standing up. It gives you that wonderful feeling of having arrived somewhere you know you are really going to enjoy. The Cantina Bar in the calle Feria Market is one of the very best places to eat in all of Seville. After jostling for a table at any of the stalls surrounding the market, which are turned into improvised restaurants serving excellent fresh fish from the market, you order from the bar because it’s much quicker than waiting for anyone to take your order. Prawns, fried fish, squid and spicy chips and chilled beer. The waiter writes everything down on the bricks of the bar wall and asks your name. When your order is ready he calls out your name and you can go to the bar and collect your food.

It seemed like a good idea and I followed the ritual when I was there. When I ordered the food, I ordered the beer and before we could drink them my name was shouted. On that occasion when I returned to the table with the food, I found myself sharing the table with some pleasant locals who told me the pleasures of living in Seville. Good food and friendly conversation. If you are in Seville a visit here is essential.

Image: Anual

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