Recently in Spain Category

Paella. Gazpacho. Spanish food is just so good. Once you can eat your fill of it - and then some - in Barcelona, you may find yourself out of luck. That's where Cook & Taste comes in - its fabulous cooking classes take you from market-to-table.

Located in a real Spanish kitchen environment in the heart of Barcelona, Cook & Taste's half-day cooking classes include an option (simply a must!) to start with a walking tour around what the Guardian has declared "probably the best market in the world" - the famed Boqueria market. There, you'll speak to purveyors and get plenty of tips on how to select the best and freshest ingredients for your dishes. Once back in the kitchen, you'll spend a few hours preparing your dishes, which can include classics like tortilla espanola (potato omelet), seafood paella, and sopa de tomates (tomato soup). Don't be fooled into thinking that learning how to make Spanish standards will be too basic. The excellent teachers provide plenty of hands-on cooking time, incorporate unique ingredients (like cuttlefish bought fresh from the market), and share dining etiquette tips you'd be hard-pressed to learn elsewhere. Cook & Taste also welcomes children, too, who also get to share in the meal-making fun. When the cooking is done, you eat! Enjoy the fruits of your labor, plus plenty of wine, before heading back to the W Barcelona.

Ah, Barcelona. Is there anything it doesn't have? Most people know about the amazing architecture of Antoni Gaudi, the 20th century masterpieces at the Picasso Museum, and the idyllic pedestrian thoroughfare known as La Rambla, but were you aware that it's also home to one of Europe's finest maritime museums? The Museu Marítim de Barcelona is located just steps from La Rambla in the former Royal Shipyards, and it's filled with centuries of maritime artifacts, navigation instruments, artwork, and dozens of model ships. A model of Magellan's 16th century Santa María de la Victoria, for example, provides a detailed look at the first ship to complete a circumnavigation of the world. Of a fleet of five ships to depart Spain in 1519, it was the only only one to complete the journey, with 18 remaining sailors, in 1522. Magellan himself, unfortunately, perished in the Philippines before seeing his dream realized. But even more remarkable is the full-sized replica of Juan de Austria's Lepanto Galera, a ship powered not by wind, but by oars propelled by legions of very tired, calloused, and sweaty men. Walking through the decks of this old ship, you realize that people didn't cruise for pleasure much in those days. Discovery was the name of the game, as evidenced by another replica of the Santa Maria, which a young sailor named Christopher Columbus sailed back in 1492 to spot a world that was previously unknown to the Europeans. Pay a visit to this exciting museum make a few discoveries of your own. Starwood has three Barcelona hotels, including the chic W Barcelona.

[image via Museu Maritim de Barcelona]

Seductive, virtuosic, mesmerizing. The music of the Spanish guitar immediately transports the listener to refined European settings - the court of Louis XIV in France, Rossini's Italian opera stages, and of course the courtyards, palaces, and concert halls of Spain. One hundred years after the development of the modern classical guitar, by Antonio Torres and Francisco Tarrega, the instrument, with its six nylon strings, is as treasured as ever. This spring, for the ninth year running, Barcelona's great architectural landmarks offer an extraordinary setting for a series of concerts by the masters of Spanish guitar.

Stars of the genre, including Manuel Gonzalez, Xavier Coll, Pedro Javier, and Ekaterina Zaytseva perform nearly every night through May in two of Barcelona's stunning churches. The Church of Santa Maria del Pi and the former synagogue, the Church of Sant Jaume, both offer enchanting historic settings to witness one of Spain's most beloved art forms. Relax among the stained glass windows and lofty gothic arches of these sacred spaces, and experience the music of composers like Isaac Albeniz, Georges Bizet, and Manuel de Falla.

With its ideal location on Las Ramblas, Le Méridien Barcelona is the perfect home base for your visit to the the Catalonian capital. Steps from both concert venues, the sophisticated hotel is surrounded by Barcelona's most legendary attractions.

With a stunning 14th century basilica (Santa Maria del Mar) and two fabulous museums (the Picasso Museum and the Textile Museum), Barcelona's El Born barrio is a quintessential district in this diverse Spanish city. The neighborhood is steeped in medieval roots, but recent years have seen a new life buzzing through its narrow stone streets. Independent designer boutiques and chic tapas bars have made El Born one of Barcelona's most fashionable spots.

Simply wandering will offer endless delights, but for those who prefer a more structured route, follow this well-tailored plan. Of course, you'll have to tear yourself away from the extraordinary W Barcelona, a brand new silvered glass tower on the beach, but there will be plenty more time for infinity pool cocktails later on. Head directly to Iguapop Gallery at c/ Comerc 15. About a 30 minute walk from the hotel, it's a sensational space full of contemporary urban art. Then, get ready to hit the fitting room, On Land, at c/ Princesa 25, where they stock an assortment of wearable European brands. The route to your next stop will lead right past the legendary Picasso Museum, so hit it up now before continuing on to Dudua, c/ Rossic 6, where a fantastic array of adorable handmade accessories, silkscreened T-shirts, and other art objects awaits. Browse the dramatic Ann Demeulemeester coats and cutting edge Ann Sofie Back frocks at Doshaburi Doshaburi. Housed in a gothic palace at c/ L'Esparteria 15, it's just down the block from Bodega La Tinaja where you can indulge in a feast of Iberian cuisine. Now for that sweet tooth. Patisseria Bubo at c/ Caputxes 10, makes one of the best chocolate cakes in the city.