Archive for December, 2009

New Year’s celebration in Belem

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Lisboa Noite de Estrelas

Lisboa Noite de Estrelas

If you’re visiting Portugal for the first time and you are planing on celebrating New Year’s in Lisbon but still don’t know what your plans will be on the most important night of the year, rest assured, we have laid out a few options for you:

Lisbon welcomes the new year in style with one of the biggest and most spectacular street parties. This is one of the most important celebrations of the year. In the barrio of Belem, the street parties usually take place at the Torre de Belem (Belém Tower Gardens), where there is live music, dancing and an amazing pyro-musical display at midnight. DJs play until sunset while keeping crowds entertained. There are parties in many bars, restaurants and clubs throughout the city.

This year, the Beatles are back, you can travel back in time to the 60’s and dance to the electrifying tunes of one of the most famous bands of all times. Enjoy the Get Back from the Beatles Tribute Band.

The events usually start at around 10pm so make sure you arrive early to get a good spot. Admission is free.

And just after the fireworks the Portuguese Rock Band XUTOS & PONTAPÉS will keep everyone dancing all night long.

Venue:
Praca da Torre de Sao Vicente de Belem
Lisbon 1400

Transportation:
Buses: 27, 28, 29, 43, 49 and 51 all stop at or close by.
Tram: 15.
Rail: To Belem (Cascais line).

We still have some apartments available in Lisbon, and a few of them with discount. So hurry up and book your stay, before you realize you might have to spend the night under the stars.

For additional information and other interesting venues and activisites visit:

Places to eat in Lisbon:
www.golisbon.com/food/

Portugal concerts agenda:
www.epilepsiaemocional.org/agenda/

Lisbon Tourist Association
www.atl-turismolisboa.pt

Tags: , ,
Posted in Lisbon | No Comments »

7 wonders of Seville

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
Seville Cathedral

Seville Cathedral

Seville is the artistic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. Its rich history offers  a mixture of Christian and Islamic influences that are undeniably present in the city’s architecture.

Food, music and fiestas also make this city one of the most enchanting places in Europe.

Below are what we consider to be the top seven wonders and of Seville:

Seville Cathedral
With its 116 meters long and 76 wide, the Seville Cathedral is the largest Gothic cathedral and catholic cathedral in the world. In 1987 it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Real Alcázar
It’s a collection of palatial buildings and spectacular interior gardens constructed since the early Middle Ages. The compound is used as a place of accommodation of the members of the royal family and heads of state visiting the city.

Giralda Tower
It was originally a minaret. The beautiful structure became the bell tower of Seville Cathedral after the Reconquista and it dominates the city’s skyline.

Women dancing during Feria de Abril

Women dancing during Feria de Abril

Torre del Oro (Gold Tower)
It was part of the last wall of defence that ran from the Alcázar to the Guadalquivier river. It is said that it gained its name from the sun’s reflection on its gold tiles that once covered the dome.

Semana Santa Fiestas
This is the celebration that defines the citie’s own idiosyncrasies, it embodies the spirit of the Seville.

April Fair
This is one of the most international and popular of Seville’s fiestas. Food, horses, parades, traditional costumes, bulls and flamenco all come together at Sevilla’s April Fair

Bullfighting
This is a tradition that goes as far as ancient Greece. The Maestranza bullring is perhaps the best venue in all of Spain to watch a corrida.

If you have any other suggestions feel free to add them to the list, after all there are plenty of other amazing sites to visit in Seville. Olé!

Posted in Seville | No Comments »

Last Days of the Gospel Festival of Catalunya

Monday, December 14th, 2009
11th Gospel Festival of Catalonia

11th Gospel Festival of Catalonia

If you haven’t had the chance yet to witness the many great choir performances of the XIth edition of the annual Gospel Festival of Catalonia, this is your last chance. There’s only one week left of shows bursting with African American spirit and intense rhythms.

Now with a decade of life and totally independent, the gospel festival is the premier annual event for lovers of choral music.

As it happened last year for the 10th anniversary, the shows are held in various parts of Catalonia with concerts in Barcelona, Girona, Vielha, Escaldes, Sant Cugat, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat and Viladecans.

The program includes the most spectacular lineup of the international gospel scene, with special appearances by artists from the U.S., the birthplace of this genre. Since its beginnings, the festival has welcomed the best performers of all times, including classics like Blind Boys of Alabama and some other more contemporary bands like The Campbell Brothers and Tye Tribbet & GA.

Corals of almost all corners of the world have participated in this year’s celebration: the South African singer Soweto, the American performer Georgia, Amen and Black Heritage, the Gospel Choir of the Institute of Catalunya with the soloist from New Orleans Bridget A. Bazile.

The are only 4 remaining shows:

SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR
Thursday, December 17th  – 21h.
Palau de la Música Catalana
22- 48 €
 
BLACK HERITAGE CHOIR 
Saturday, December 19th  – 22h.
Teatre-Auditori de Sant Cugat
22-36 €
 
BLACK HERITAGE CHOIR 
Sunday, December 20th – 19h.
Atrium (Viladecans)
25-28 € 
 
BRIDGET A. BAZILE SINGERS + CORAL INSTITUT GOSPEL BARCELONA dirigit per Oscar Alberdi
Wednesday, December 23rd – 20.30h.
L’Auditori

For more information on where to buy the tickets follow these links:

www.telentrada.com

www.theproject.es

Tags: , ,
Posted in Barcelona | No Comments »