Paradors and Mines - A Day Tour to Cardona

Cardona is a small town in northern Catalonia where you can find the spectacular castle overlooking the town, which has been turned into one of the most spectacular parador hotels. But at The Spanish Touch want to show you more than just one of our favorite hotels: We want to bring the 30 million year old history of the region to life!

Since well before the arrival of the Romans, the town was a stronghold for the Iberians who built a fortress on the hill next to the "snowy" mountain. Why, you might ask? Because the mountain is a salt mountain, with one of the richest and largest mines of salt in Europe, over 300km of underground tunnels that reached a depth of over 1300 meters!  Join us for a chance to see how the industrial and the historical melded together to produce one of Spain's inspiring stories in a fairytale setting.

Contact The Spanish Touch for more information on this or for help in planning your own private tour of Spain at 888-480-0013.

Day Tour: Nerja and Frigiliana

Malaga is becoming an increasingly popular port destination, and with so much to do and see, it's easy to see why people are starting to see past the "costa del golf" label that has been stuck on it for years. Today we offer you just one of our tours departing from the city itself. and heading into the heart of unspoiled Andalusia.  

The Nerja and Frigiliana tour includes:

Transfer to and from the airport, port or hotel to Nerja and Frigiliana

The Spectacular Balcon de Europa promenade in Nerja, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

The Cuevas de Nerja

A Guided tour of the "pueblo blanco" (white village) of Frigiliana, a town of Three Cultures, tucked into the hills behind Nerja. 

For more information about his or other private guided tours in Malaga, contact The Spanish Touch at 888-480-0013.

Modernism and Mosaics in Barcelona - a hands-on experience

Mosaic is a style that is intimately linked to Barcelona. The most prominent are the Modernista examples, the lavish decoration of Park Guell's Drac and the fairytale-inspired guard houses, the Palau Baro de Quadras or the decorative art of the Palau de la Musica Catalana. But there are other examples as well, from Roman houses to Joan Miro's work on Las Ramblas, Barcelona offers an abundance of styles and examples of over 2000 years of artistic heritage. The Spanish Touch is now offering an exciting way to get involved in the history and culture of Barcelona: a Mosaic in Barcelona Full Day Tour!

The itinerary for the tour:
9:30 Meet your guide/driver at your hotel.
9:30 - 1:30 Spend the morning visiting some of the most important Mosaic sites in Barcelona, including:
Palau Guell
Park Guell
Palau Baro de Quadras
Casa Comalat
Las Ramblas
1:30 - Transfer to Mataro 
2:00 - 3:00 Tapas Lunch     
3:00 - 6:00 An Introduction to Mosaic course with local artists at Can Manetes.
6:00 - 6:30 transfer back to your hotel in Barcelona

 The course offers an introduction to the style most-associated with modernisme:Trencadis. Participants have the opportunity to create their own decorative work, which, naturally, they can take with them when they go.

The tour includes:
Transportation to and from hotel/port/airport
Guided tour in BarcelonaAn Introduction-to-Mosaic class with a local bilingual artist
All materials and tools necessary for the class
Tapas lunch in Mataro
A Bilingual Spanish Touch guide

For more information regarding private tours in Spain, contact The Spanish Touch at 888-480-0013.

Roots and Vines - Priorat Day Tour

The Spanish Touch is offering tours for anyone who wants a deeper insight into one of Spain's premier wine regions: Priorat! As one of only two DOQ (Denominación de Origen de Qualidad) - the other is Rioja - Priorat has been the poster child for Spanish wine growth over the last decades. And The Spanish Touch wants you to be able to experience the region, from the roots to the glass and everything in between.


On the roots and vines tour, you will visit the heart of the region, the Scala Dei Monastery, where the thousand year history of the region's winemaking all began, and where they still make an excellent wine. Afterwards enjoy a tasting at a Moderniste winery before enjoying a full lunch at a local restaurant. Walk off your lunch (and the wine) with an afternoon visit to the Bellmunt Mines before returning to Barcelona in time to freshen up, relax and maybe go out for a few tapas!

For more information regarding this or other private wine tours in Spain, contact The Spanish Touch at 888-480-0013.

Private Shore excursions in Barcelona

Barcelona is one of those magical places that seems to draw people into its very essence. The kind of place where people come time and again and never fail to discover something new. At The Spanish Touch we offer private day trips and shore excursions for everyone from first-time visitors to those who have "been there, done that" and are looking for a new experience. We work with you from the beginning to create a custom tour fit to your demands. All of our guides are billingual experts whose main priority is you. our small group tours offer the advantage of getting into more intimate locales and giving you the chance to meet the people and see the sites that make Barcelona such a special place.


For your next visit to Barcelona, contact The Spanish Touch at 888-480-0013 for a free estimate on your private tour or shore excursion.

A day trip to southern France - Rich and Rose day 9

One of the reasons people can keep coming back to Barcelona is the seemingly unending possibilities to do something completely different in the space of a single day. Walled medieval cities, spectacular mountains, the beach, architecture, museums, exploring ancient civilizations and abandoned castles...all within an hour or two's drive of the city. And yes, even visiting France. On their last full day in Spain, we decided to cross that border. So up through the Pyrenees we headed and over the border into France. It was the first time in a long time for Rose, and the first time ever for Rich, in France. 

Our destination was the town of Elne, only about 3 miles from the coast and overlooking the Roussillion Plain. While the weather had cooperated with us throughout most of the trip, today was slightly overcast and threatening to rain all day. We parked the car and walked the streets of Elne, enjoying the fact that we had traveled to another country and pointing out the cute houses and interesting signs. 

As we reached the medieval quarter and walked through the winding streets, we spotted a particularly likely restaurant, with views out over the valley. Lunch was spectacular (the eggs hollandaise and salmon were mouthwatering, and the pork looked every bit as delicious). On the way back we stopped at a local winery and spoke with the owner for a few minutes before picking up a couple of nice bottles of wine. 

It's great to have so many options for a day trip from Barcelona, the hardest part is deciding which ones you want to do this time, and which ones you will save for your next visit! 

For more information on private tours in Spain contact The Spanish Touch at 888-480-0013.

Walking the hills of the Maresme - Rich and Rose day 8

After having visited the beach yesterday, today we headed to the hills for a different kind of relaxation. When    you leave the paved roads of the towns and the last house disappears you know you are getting close to where you want to be. The best part is that we only had to drive about 15  minutes to get there, and yet somehow it felt much more remote. Parking the car close to the picnic area at the base of the walking route, we began our uphill walk, taking in the plants and flowers (an early year for the almond blossoms) as we walked. After learning about the indigenous flora at the Santa Clotilda Gardens yesterday, we spotted a number of varieties of plants and trees that we recognized. It was a highly enjoyable afternoon hike, as we walked up to the statue overlooking the towns of Teia and El Masnou, with Barcelona in the background.

For more information on private tours in Barcelona, contact The Spanish Touch at 888-480-0013.

The other side of the Costa Brava - Rich and Rose Day 7

There are places along the Spanish coast that have earned a certain amount of infamy among travelers: The Costa del Sol towns of Torremolinos and Benalmadena, for instance, or the Costa Brava towns of Lloret de Mar and Calella have reputations for attracting hordes of young Europeans enticed by the idea of good weather and cheap alcohol. And these reputations have proven hard to shake. In part because there is still a fair amount of truth to it during certain seasons of the year (spring break, summer holidays, etc), but the rest of the year it's easy to overlook the original reason these towns got gained popularity: they are beautiful towns, with picturesque coastlines and the charm of the old world within driving distance of major international airports. 

So with the forecast calling for rain (despite the crystal blue sky and distinct lack of clouds), we packed an umbrella and headed up to Lloret de Mar for a morning excursion. If you take the alternate to the highway, a slightly more expensive but more picturesque route, you can get to Lloret in just over an hour. Our first stop was the Santa Clotilda Gardens overlooking the town. Established in 1918 on the cliffs overlooking the Costa Brava, and mixing Italian Renaissance and Catalan Noucentisme, the gardens offer a spectacular look into the combination of history and natural beauty which first made the region famous.

The exploration of the garden, with its descriptions of the various flora  (both native and imported) was followed by a walk over to La Dona Marinera (the fisherman's wife), a tribute by sculptor Ernest Maragall to the women of past ages who were responsible for taking care of the whole house and everything else while their husbands went to seek their fortunes at sea. The walk along the cliff to the statue is lovely, and the view over the town center and the beach makes the walk even more special.


For more information about private guided tours along the Costa Brava or in Barcelona, contact The Spanish Touch at 888-480-0013.

Down time in Barcelona - exploring Gracia - Rich and Rose day 5 and 6

One of the most common complaints of overly-ambitious travelers is that they end up trying to do too much. Every day has to be packed with activities both morning and afternoon, always on the go, trying to maximize your time. But for many people, this style ends up actually making the experience less enjoyable, as you don't have the down time to settle down at a local cafe, sip a cafe con leche while nibbling on a local delicacy like melindros or even churros con chocolate, and just reflect and relax, letting the culture and the city wash over you.

Rich and Rose took their down time to visit the Gracia district, one of the more popular, and in my humble opinion, best places to do just that. Filled with plazas and small streets, Gracia feels more like a town than anything else, despite being connected by Passeig de Gracia and just a stone's throw from some of the city's liveliest attractions. Going there with a local, someone who grew up in the area and knows all the back streets and where to find the best egg shop, or the olive oil specialist, or even where to find the best tea - coffee is the  big dog in Spain, so finding a good tea shop can sometimes be more complicated than it might first appear.

So a few hours spent wandering the streets, and the chance to stumble upon something magical, in this case the local town hall was open and the parade figures where on display. Sometimes it's the down time that turns out to provide some of your trips most memorable moments.

For more information or to plan your private guided tour in Barcelona, contact The Spanish Touch at 888-480-0013.

Back on top of Barcelona - Rich and Rose - Day 3

Having been to Barcelona already on several occasions, there were a few loose ends to tie up, and one of them was to get back to Tibidabo, the mountain overlooking the city. On their first visit in 2005, they had made it up there, but only very briefly at the end of the day, and so had been waiting for an opportunity to get back and explore. And on Monday that opportunity arose. The four of us headed up the mountain to the foot of the amusement park, which was closed for repairs and which, combined with the relatively chilly wind and off season,  made parking no problem at all. After parking we headed up, walking past the modernista houses which line the entrance, before arriving at the gates of the amusement park. Before us stood the Sagrada Cor Temple, visible from almost anywhere in Barcelona.

The Tibidabo mountain, coming from the Latin words Tibi Dabo (I will give you) comes from the Bible passage about the temptation of Christ, and the stained glass windows reflect that saying with various scenes of saints and from the Bible. The temple is the creation of architect Enric Sagnier, one of the most prolific, if undermentioned, architects of Barcelona's modernista  movement (close to 300 buildings in Barcelona are said to have been built by him). The first hermitage was established on the mountain in 1886, but the temple construction did not begin until 1902. You can still see the original hermitage at the base of the temple.


Aside from the grandeur of the temple itself, the views over the city are unbeatable. We spent several hours walking up and around the temple, and getting a lay of the city below, from Montjuic to Sagrada Familia and the Agbar Tower, the whole city spreads out before you, and it is both inspiring and humbling to realize just how much work has been done, and how much there is to do and see.

For more information about planning a private guided tour in Barcelona or Spain, contact The Spanish Touch at 888-480-0013.

Rich and Rose - Day 2 - Local Festivals and a stroll along the beach

On Sunday the sun broke through the clouds and a promising day lay before us. First stop was the local Tres Tombs Festival, a traditional Catalan festival centered around animals. It gets its name from 3 laps (tres tombs in Catalan) which the local animals traditionally did around the church or chapel of the local town before being blessed by the priest. Nowadays the festival features more pets than livestock, but in many ways the traditions remain strong. Locals walk the streets offering neighbors and visitors alike homemade cakes and sweet moscatel wine straight from the porro! 

As the sun soaked streets began to dry out, we headed down to the beach for a stroll along the beach. Several hours, a handful of shells (always a great time to look for shells after a stormy night) and countless pictures later, we headed back for a traditional Catalan lunch of pollaste a l'ast and potatoes. In all a decidely enjoyable way to spend a Sunday and to get into the local culture.

For more information or for help designing your private guided tour in Spain, contact The Spanish Touch at 888-480-0013.  

Mataro's hidden treasures - A day out with Rich and Rose

After arriving on Friday morning and spending the first day adapting to the local lifestyle (siesta included), we began our tour on Saturday with a trip up the coast to Mataro, where the first train in Spain connected Barcelona and the industrial region. The town of Mataro, built on the Roman town of Iluro, houses a number of hidden treasures. As one of the most important towns during the 19th century Renaissance of Catalonia, Mataro offers discerning visitors historical and architectural gems including the Roman baths, the 15th century church and modernista buildings. We also stopped in to take a look at Can Manetes, our favorite local art shop, where you can take the opportunity to learn how to make the mosaics seen throughout the region in Modernista works. After lunch we visited the Modernista pastry shop El Miracle, and headed out for a bit of shopping before calling it a day.

For more information on arranging a private guided tour in Barcelona, contact The Spanish Touch at 888-480-0013.

The High Speed Trains of Spain - or how to get around comfortably

With this week's announcements of the AVE high-speed train connecting Barcelona to Girona and Figueres, it seems like a good time to talk about the trains in Spain. As the most extensive rail network in Europe, Spain's high speed lines are top for comfort and ease of getting from one place to another. So today I want to give you some ideas for travelling via the high-speed lines around Spain.

It's not necessarily as fast as flying, but you have the advantage that most of the stations are right in the heart of the city, and you don't have to be there two hours ahead of time, and you don't have to worry about overhead luggage space, or the guy in front of you leaning his seat back into your knees, you can actually enjoy the scenery, even at close to 300 km/h, and you can always go tot he bar car if you need to walk around a little bit.

Most  of the lines are based out of Madrid, making it easy to get from Madrid to virtually anywhere in Spain quickly and easily. But more and more lines are connecting other cities, like Barcelona or Valencia with Seville, or Barcelona and Malaga. For example (with approximate times):
Madrid - Seville - 2 hours 30 minutes
Madrid - Valencia - 1 hour 40 minutes
Madrid - Malaga - 2 hours 30 minutes
Madrid - Girona -  3 hours 30 minutes
Madrid - Zaragoza - 1 hour 15 minutes





Barcelona - Madrid - 2 hours 30 minutes
Barcelona - Malaga - 5 hours 30 minutes
Barcelona - Seville - 5 hours 30 minutes

Valencia - Sevilla - 3 hours 50 minutes

For more information or for help planning your private guided tour in Spain, contact The Spanish Touch at 888-480-0013.

The most unique bars in Barcelona by guest blogger Harriet Freeman

Bars form a large piece of Barcelona culture, so it makes sense that when you visit the city you should visit a few. Many interesting bars are largely traditional where you can buy a drink and some tapas and can usually be found outside of touristy areas. However, for those looking for something a little different; here are some of the most original bars in Barcelona.

Ice Bar Barcelona: This bar is a few years old now and has built up quite a reputation in that time. In this establishment, pretty much everything is ice, from the stools to the cup you drink from. Don't worry about getting cold here though because you are provided with coats, gloves, and everything you need to stay warm. You'll also find some great ice sculptures of symbolic sites from around Barcelona, like La Sagrada Familia. There is a downside though… The prices. It's not all bad though because it's right by the beach. If you've planned your summer trip to Barcelona then its a great place to sunbathe and cool down in afterwards (or vice versa).

El Bosc de les Fades: Time was that this place used to be a well kept secret. Not so much anymore, but don't let that put you off, because you should definitely visit at least once. Located right by the wax museum just off Las Ramblas, this bar will transport you into the world of fairy tales. It is beautifully themed in the form of an enchanted forest and is an absolutely bewildering located to sit down with some friends and chill with a drink. Why mention earlier that it's not a well kept secret anymore? Well, with fame came a price hike, so maybe you should only go once to check it out.

Sincopa: This bar was opened by two french people and it's very unique for a few reasons. The first reason is that there are no tables (though there are several stools around the bar). The decor is also incredibly original to the point that the ceiling is a topsy-turvy  concert stage. The drinks are also more reasonably priced than the last two bars and it's a great place to socialise. You can find it on Calle Avinyó, 35.

Pipa Club: Located in the former studio of the painter Pere Pruna, it's a locale in which various celebrities pass through from time to time. It's a unique space for conversing and social gatherings where you can pretty much enjoy a drink  and feel as if you where at home thanks to the very lovely decor with a focus on Sherlock Holmes and pipe memorabilia, as well as the live piano music. It's a great atmosphere and is sort of a "hidden gem", though it gets pretty crowded with locals and young travelers on the weekends. Again with the prices though, at €4 for a beer or even a cola, you might want to consider making it a one off.

Harriet Freeman is a specialist on northern Spain and Barcelona, and writes on behalf of OK Apartment Barcelona, specialists in cheap accommodation in Barcelona.

High Speed train Barcelona to Girona is here!

In an announcement made earlier this week, the AVE high speed train line from Barcelona to Girona and Figueres will officially start running next week. In just 37 minutes you can go from downtown Barcelona to Girona, one of the jewels of the region for its history, architecture, food...well basically just because it's a great city! And in a few minutes more you will arrive in Figueres, home to the Dali Theater-Museum. Why is that so important, aside from the museum? Well, because from Figueres you can catch the high speed TGV train to Paris! Which means....wait for it..... that the Madrid-Barcelona-Paris High Speed line is now in effect (albeit changing trains in Figueres)!


Prices are reasonable as well, as it will cost just under 25€ round trip from the Catalan capital to Girona and 32€ round trip to Figueres. If you want to take the 17 minute AVE ride from Girona to Figueres it will cost just under 11€ round trip, making renting a car unnecessary for a quick day trip from either Barcelona or Girona to visit Dali's birthplace and museum.



For more information on visiting any of the these cities, or for help planning your private guided tour in Spain, contact The Spanish Touch at 888-480-0013.

Merry Christmas from The Spanish Touch

Merry Christmas from The Spanish Touch!!

Bon Nadal des de The Spanish Touch!!

Feliz Navidad desde The Spanish Touch!!!

Wishing you and yours the very best this holiday season, and remember to enjoy responsibly!!

Hasta Pronto
The Spanish Touch

Visiting Spain - so much more than sun and beach

Recently I came across this quote:

“They want to live like the Spanish, go out for tapas and get to see all the possibilities that the big cities offer. It is not a tourism that is focused on sun and beach but rather on culture, the cities, and with a heavy interest in the food and wine”...

It was in reference to Brazilian travelers, but i think it fits in perfectly with what The Spanish Touch has been saying for the last eight years: Spain is so much more than what it was presented as for much of the twentieth century. We are still fighting the image of a country where everything is about sun, cheap wine, Flamenco and lying on the beach. But little by little people are beginning to realize just how much Spain has to offer. 

I feel privileged to be able to help people discover a part of that. The idea of seeing Spain like the Spanish do, going out for tapas, and really getting into the heart of the culture is what first brought us to create this company. And it is encouraging to see how the Spanish government is getting behind the idea as well. It won't happen overnight. There are stigmas that will take time to get past, and not all of them are bad (Personally, a night out in Seville for tapas and then a Flamenco show is right up there for a great way to spend a night!!), but just as Spanish cuisine has been brought to the world's forefront by a few creative geniuses, let's hope that the culture and heritage of the Iberian Peninsula will get their due. 

For more information on planning a private tour in Spain, contact The Spanish Touch at 888-480-0013. 

MAY 2013 Tour - Patios of Cordoba Festival

Come join The Spanish Touch for a truly Andalusian experience! Flowers, dancing, culture and just a little bit of Sherry to help you along your way as you join in the celebration of Cordoba's internationally recognized Patio competition, and The Spanish Touch wants to be your personal guide to make your experience a once-in-a-lifetime event!!

May 11: Arrival in Madrid. Transfer to hotel. Afternoon walking tour of Madrid city center. Evening welcome meal.

May 12: Breakfast at hotel. Transfer via AVE high-speed train to Cordoba. After leaving our luggage at the hotel, head over to the old city to wander the narrow streets and engage with the locals during the Patios of Cordoba Festival!

May 13: Breakfast at hotel. In the morning, take a private tour of the city of Cordoba, including the magnificent Mezquita-Cathedral, the old Jewish Quarter and the Roman bridge. After lunch spend the afternoon discovering the beauty of the Patios of Cordoba, which will be in full bloom and brightest display as more than 20 patios vie for the title of best patio of the year.

May 14: Transfer to Sevilla. Afternoon private tour of Seville city center, including the Alcazar and the old tobacco Factory, scene of Bizet's Opera Carmen. In the evening why not take a walk along the river to see the Torre de Oro, the Bullring and the Maria Luisa Park.  Optional Tapas dinner in the evening.

May 15: Breakfast at hotel. Morning private tour of Seville Cathedral, central point of Seville's historic center and final resting place of Christopher Columbus as well as the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. Afternoon at leisure. Optional Flamenco show in the evening.

May 16: Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive to Jerez de la Frontera to witness the Royal Equestrian Horse Show before stopping at one of the best wineries for a chance to sample the classic of all Spanish wines: Sherry!

May 17: Breakfast at hotel. Transfer back to Madrid for last evening in Madrid and a farewell dinner at one of Madrid’s classic restaurants.

May 18: Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to airport for return flight.

Medieval Fair of Vic - Medieval fairs in Medieval cities

This weekend is the annual Fira Medieval de Vic, (Medieval Fair of Vic), about an hour and a half north of Barcelona. Along with the fair in Montblanc, this is one of my favorite medieval fairs. Dating back more than 2500 years, the city of Vic enjoyed its zenith during the Middle ages, and this fair brings that heritage to life. From the local stalls and displays of trades that can be traced back through generations, the Vic fair is an extremely popular early December tradition for locals and inquisitive visitors. One of the highlights is the Medieval Market, a remarkable, detailed reproduction of a 15th century market in the heart of the old city.

The fair runs from 10 in the morning through 8 in the evening, December 6 through December 9.

For more information of for help planning your next private guided tour in Spain, contact The Spanish Touch at 888-480-0013.

El Puente de la Purisima - The Start of the Christmas season

In the US we have Black Friday to mark the beginning of the holiday season. In Spain they have the "Puente de la Purisima", or the long weekend of December 6 (Dia de la Constitucion) and 8 (Immaculate Conception), both national holidays. The two days mark the last holiday in Spain before Christmas itself, and as such the real start of the Christmas season. The lights have been up for a couple of weeks now, but this weekend, holiday or no, stores throughout Spain will be open as residents and visitors alike jump into full Christmas Spirit. the Christmas Markets are open and everything is ready for the season to hit full stride. If you are in Spain during the month of December take a moment to catch some of the best of wherever you are. It's usually fairly easy to find something unique, from the local town hall celebrations to the lights to the sweets and traditional Christmas cuisine, indulge yourself a little bit!

For more information on your private guided tour in Spain, contact The Spanish Touch at 888-480-0013.