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The soaring and whimsical architecture of Barcelona is most closely identified with Antoni Gaudi, but a host of talented architects contributed to its memorable skyline as well. Lluís Domènech i Montaner (1850-1923), for example, designed several buildings in the modernisme català style that went on to become defining structures of the city. His Palau de la Música Catalana celebrates its centennial in 2008, so there's no better time than now to take in a performance. Its concert hall is considered one of the finest in the world, hosting performances of opera and classical music - as well as jazz, flamenco, and folk - for discerning fans from Spain and around the world. Highlights of this season include performances of Vivaldi, Sibelius, and my personal favorite, Debussy. A tip: try to take in a daytime performance, or else arrange a tour while the sun is still out. The auditorium, with its ornate stained-glass ceiling, is the only concert hall of its kind in Europe that is illuminated during daylight hours entirely by natural light. Guests at Le Méridien Barcelona might enjoy a visit to this living piece of musical and architectural history.
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Destination Spotlight - Barcelona - Discover the Palace of Catalan Music
Thursday October 2, 2008
MoreDestination Spotlight - Barcelona - Adventures in Caffeination
Thursday October 2, 2008
While I'm a devoted tea drinker, I adore the scent of freshly roasted coffee, and on certain occasions, a frothy cappuccino is just the thing. On the other hand, my husband, is the biggest coffee snob I know, and can't function without his morning espresso. The perfect place for us in Barcelona? Cafés El Magnifico and Sans & Sans Fine Tea Merchants. The former is Spain's finest coffee roaster, located at at number 64 Carrer de l'Argenteria, about a ten minute walk from Le Méridien Barcelona And the latter is just across the street at number 59. Both shops are run by Salvador Sans, a third generation coffee roaster who brought the family business into the gourmet realm nearly three decades ago, and has built a solid reputation around his brand.
Burlap bags stacked on either side of the coffee shop's entry are nearly busting with beans from the world's best destinations for coffee bush cultivation. Places like Sumatra, Colombia, Ethiopia and Kenya are stamped upon their rough brown surfaces. Each day Sans roasts a new batch, and offers a free sample to customers as they enter. I'll leave my husband here to chat with the friendly proprietor, and head across the street where they've also got a sample of the day's leafy brew on hand. It could be a Lung Ching green tea, a Darjeeling, or some exceptional herbal concoction like the Infusion Equilibrio, which mixes Rooiboos with honey and chamomile. With nearly 300 types, it's hard to know what the day's special will be, but I've always got my fingers crossed for a transporting cup of fine Earl Grey. Both shops offer their products in bulk, and carry a range of tea and coffee accessories like cups, pots and filters. Set aside some room in the carry on.
[image via Sans & Sans]
Destination Spotlight - Barcelona - Tapas and Beyond
Wednesday October 1, 2008
I've written about tapas in Barcelona before; they're ubiquitous and delicious, the bar food and light snack of the city. But what if you want to break the mold a little? Here are a couple good spots to beyond just tapas when you stay at Le Méridien Barcelona.
Buenas Migas serves tapas, but it's best known for its scrumptious take on focaccia including a delicious mozzarella and zucchini variation. It's a little bit of Genoa in Catalonia.
It seems hard to write about Spanish cuisine without invoking Ferrand Adrià; in Barcelona, a couple of his students have opened Santa Maria a tapas bar like none other. Well, one other: its sister restaurant, simply Santa, a couple blocks away. El Bulli's cutting edge techniques meet traditional small plates in these intimate restaurants, and draws a very fashionable crowd.
The New York Times recently reviewed some of the more creative yet affordable restaurants in Barcelona; I'd recommend checking out Hisop, where minimalism applies to both the ambiance and the dishes, but not the flavor.
Avant Garde Eating in Valencia
Thursday September 25, 2008El Bulli isn't the only restaurant pushing to boundaries of culinary innovation in Spain these days. Valencia is another hotspot, with several restaurants that follow in Ferran Adrià's footsteps and beyond. The Westin Valencia makes a convenient home base from which to try all three.
El Poblet provides some of the most eye-popping presentations of any restaurant, with a tasting menu featuring dishes that transform local ingredients into delicious works of art.
Tiny Ca' Sento's Chef Raúl Aleixandre is an Adrià protégé, but his food is more Slow Food than Molecular Gastronomy; here you'll find fantastic local ingredients allowed to shine on their own in addition to more experimental plates. La Sucursal offers appropriately modernist versions of classic dishes such as paella and grilled seafood, considering its location in the Instituto Valenciano de Arte Moderno, Valencia's contemporary art museum. Whatever your palette desires, next time you're in Valencia, make some reservations for a distinct avant-garde meal.
Discover the Artistic Treasures of Madrid at the Museo del Prado
Friday September 12, 2008When talking about the greatest art museums in the world - the best of the best - the list isn't very long at all. Everybody knows about the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, the Louvre in Paris, and the Met in New York, of course, but the slightly lesser-known Museo del Prado in Madrid is as worthy as any of these to vie for the title of world's number one. With more than 1,300 paintings and countless sculptures, drawings, and other objects on display, the Prado has one of the finest collections of European art to be found anywhere. Priceless works by artists such as 17th century Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens, the 16th and 17th century Italian master and roustabout Caravaggio, and Dutch legend Rembrandt (1606-1669) are all on display in the museum's handsome galleries, which date back to its founding in 1819. Not surprisingly, Spanish artists are well represented, with works from Diego Velázquez, El Greco, and my personal favorite, Francisco Goya, whose dark period speaks to an endless personal wellspring of emotional depth. For a breath of fresh air after wandering among the masterworks, take a stroll through the adjacent Real Jardin Botanico and try to discover where those amazing artists got their inspiration. Guests at the nearby Westin Palace, Madrid will appreciate the world of fine art to be found under this one historic roof.
Starpick Le Méridien Ra Beach Hotel & Spa
Tuesday August 12, 2008
The Mediterranean coast of Spain is a place of friendly people, delicious food, and exquisite beauty, but it's not always known for its bargains. Fortunately for last-minute travelers, however, there are definitely some significant savings to be found at one of the country's most luxurious resorts. Le Méridien Ra Beach Hotel & Spa is one of this week's participating Starpicks properties, with last-minute rates of at least 20% off regular rates for stays during the next six weeks. Just think, within days you could be frolicking on one of Europe's loveliest beaches, soaking in the summer sunshine and splashing in the waves. If it's total relaxation you seek, book a treatment at the 7,200 square meter Ra Wellness Thalasso Spa, which offers seawater hydrotherapy, aromatherapy, and all types of massages. If you're an active type, take an aerobics class, or join in a beach volleyball game. Epicures won't want to pass up a meal at Blau Mari Buffet, with inspiring Mediterranean dishes that draw the finest flavors out of local ingredients. And when it's time to welcome the evening, the open-air L'Orangerie Lounge Bar has your favorite cocktail along with soothing ocean breezes. Le Méridien Ra Beach Hotel & Spa is just one of many Starpicks properties this week, so check the list for the destination of your desires.
Starpick the Hotel Maria Cristina, San Sebastian
Tuesday August 5, 2008
We can't all be kings and queens, but it's nice to experience the royal treatment every now and then, and one great place to do that is the Hotel Maria Cristina, San Sebastian. This Luxury Collection resort in northern Spain boasts Belle Époque styling and some of the most attentive service in all of Europe. Enjoy a few days at this castle-like resort on the Urumea River, because the Hotel Maria Cristina is one of this week's participating Starpicks properties, with last-minute rates of at least 20% off regular rates for stays during the next six weeks. Spend the day strolling along the nearby beaches of La Concha and La Zurriola, where talented surfers ride the waves and bathing beauties soak up the sun. For evening entertainment, take in a performance at the Victoria Eugenia Theatre, a nearly 100-year-old building that was recently renovated to its former glory. When dinnertime rolls around, savor fine Vietnamese cuisine at Cafe Saigon, or succulent continental dishes at Easo Restaurant, where large octagonal windows create an atmosphere of refined elegance. And as you sip a fine Spanish wine at Gritti Bar and Lounge, you can begin to plan your next great getaway. New Starpicks properties are posted every Tuesday, so check the list for the latest deals.
Art for the Ages at Madrid's Monastery of the Barefoot Royals
Wednesday July 23, 2008
Sometimes you have to travel to some unusual places to experience fine art. Such is the case in Madrid, where some of the finest paintings, tapestries, and sculptures just happen to be housed in El Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales (literally, the Monastery of the Barefoot Royals). The breathtaking 16th century building was the former palace of King Carlos I and Isabel of Portugal, whose daughter, Joan, founded an order of Franciscan nuns and a retreat for noble women in the space in 1557. In the centuries that followed, the order accumulated some of the finest art in Europe, all while restricting visitor access. Since residents took a vow of poverty, the collection was a rare glimpse of tremendous riches in their otherwise destitute lives. To bring in some much-needed revenue, however, the galleries, which include works by Brueghel the Elder and tapestries based on Rubens drawings, were finally opened to the public in 1960, and today visitors gather to gaze upon some of the finest art in Spain. Guests at the Westin Palace, Madrid or the Sheraton Santa Maria de El Paular might enjoy a tour through this most fascinating convent art collection.
Plan Ahead For A Super Vintage Weekend at the Hotel Marqués de Riscal
Thursday July 17, 2008
Some of the finest wines in Spain will be flowing this October 24-26 as the Frank Gehry-designed Hotel Marqués de Riscal hosts the Super Vintage Weekend. Plan ahead for this unique event that celebrates the 150th anniversary of the foundation of Vinos de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal winery in Rioja. It's sure to be a weekend to remember for oenophiles and casual wine enthusiasts alike. An exclusive Live Charity Auction of rare Riscal wines, coordinated by famed auction house Christie's, will culminate in the Riscal Superlot, a single lot consisting of 131 vintages dating back to 1862. While wines from that era don't come cheap, the knowledge that all proceeds go to support children's charities makes it that much easier to splurge. To top it all off, the Gala Dinner will pair some of the most inspiring wines with tantalizing regional cuisine from Michelin-starred chef Francis Paniego, whose mastery of Rioja and Basque cuisine makes the hotel a destination for culinary travelers the world over.
Starwood Insider - Niall Twamley - Sporting History in Madrid and Barcelona
Monday May 19, 2008Niall Twamley is the Branded Experience Analyst at the Starwood Cork CCC office. This week, he takes us to Spain, then to Germany for some sporting history.
In many of the world's major cities, sports venues are major tourist attractions. In many parts of the world, football (soccer) fans can visit the iconic venues where their heroes of past and present have played for sporting glory. Many of the more famous English and Spanish clubs operate museums at their grounds where the faithful can relive past glories and get up close and personal with each club's crown jewels: all their championship trophies.
In Spain, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona incorporate their club museums with tours of their iconic stadiums which have played host to many past glories. Guests at the Westin Palace, Madrid or the Le Meridien Barcelona can add either of these sporting theatres to their itineraries.
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