Codorniu

The imposing Codorniu winery buildings in Sant Sadurni d’Anoia were constructed at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th (1895-1915 ). They were declared a Monument of Historical and Artistic Interest in 1976 and represent one of the most outstanding examples of winery architecture designed especifically for the production and ageing of cava. The winery is not only an impressive architectural complex: it continues to be the neuralgic centree, and indeed symbol , of Codorniu’s tradition and values.

Underground cellars

Below ground, a laberynth of excavated underground cellars built of fired brick occupies more than 200000 squares meters . Here Codorniu undertakes secondary fermentation on lees and ageing of its cavas. The reserves wines, which are used after disgorging , are also aged here.

Cava, culture and Art

Cava production plays an important role in Catalunya culture, and Codorniu has been one of its leading exponents. Making cava, however, has not been the Ravento’s family’s only contrinution to culture and art. Every year , at the beginning of the grape harvest, the Celler gran at Codorniu’s winery in Sant Sadurní D’Anoia is converted into an exclusive musical auditorium , for a gathering of Raventó’s family, company , employees, neighbours and friends.

For more info: Codorniu

Built for the 1929 Universal Exhibition and designed by the Modernista architect Puig i Cadafalch, this composite Spanish village is charmind and kitsch by turns, depending on your taste, and fetures reproductions of traditional buildings and squares from every region of Spain. The cylindrical towers at the entrance are copies from the walled city of Avila, and lead on to a Castilian main square, a tiny whitewashed street from Arcos de la Frontera in Andalucia, the 16th century House of Chains from Toledo, and so on. There are numerous bars and restaurants, a flamenco tablao and more than 60 shops selling Spanish crafts.

Adress: Avda Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia

www.poble-espanyol.com

Metro : Espanya

Phone: 93 3257866

El Born, quartier of Barcelona

The neigbourhood of Born in the Old Town of Barcelona used to be the home of the city’s principal market, which in its days was surrounded by grocer’s stores and wholesale shops. These days, with the closure of the old market, and its awaited transformation into a library – its cast-iron structure is still standing – the neighbourhood mostly houses cocktail bars and restaurants.

However, the streets and buildings remain unchanged, give or take the odd lick of paint. And it is in this part of the city that Barcelona’s young designers have decided to set up shop. The points-of-sale for the city’s latest fashions are small galleries that combine exposed ancient stone walls with modern objects d’art or wide spaces in grand old mansions. Originality and good taste are givens.

From our hotel Duquesa de Cardona, you may have no more than 3 or 4 minutes walk! The nearest metro station is Jaume I

STORES AND DESIGNERS IN THE BORN

* Born en Ribera by Roser Marcé
Higly personalised women’s clothing label. The quality of the fabrics used, the handiworkd and details are the great obsession of this designer. ( Ribera 6 baixos)

* Café de la Princesa
Multi-use space in a 14th century palace in which gastronomy, fashion, art and culture co-exist. Designs for men and women besides gift ideas and accessories (Flassaders 21)

* Cristina Pellafranco
Daring and suggestive designs for women from the hands of this young designer “Clothes that livce” as a designer likes to call her creatins. ( Cotoners 10)

* Miriam Ponsa
Miriam Ponsa’s workshop and store in Manresa are housed in the old Francesc Ponsa factory, imbuing this young designer’s work with a creative spirit that can be traced back to the start of the 20th century. The spring – summer 2011 collection is named “Scarecrows” and plays with earthy materials ( Princesa 14)

* Ocar H Grand
Simple clother for men inspired by classic 20th century designs. Hand sewn and personalised for each client with fabrics imported from England and Italy as well as local materials. ( Barra de ferro 7)

Santa Maria del Mar Church

One of the most perfect surviving examples of the Catalan Gothic Style, this graceful basilica stands out for its characteristic horizontal lines, plain surfaces, square buttresses and flat-topped octogonal towers. Its superb unity of style is down to the fact that it was built relatively chickly, with construction taking just 55 years ( 1329 to 1384 ). In the broad, single-nave interior, two rows of perfectly proportioned columns soar up to fan vaults, creating an atmosphere of space around the light-flooded altar. There’s also superb stained glass, especially the great 15th century rose window above the main door. The original window fell down during an earthquake killing 25 people. The incongruous modern window at the other end was a 1997 addition.

It’s perhaps thanks to the group of anti-clerical anarchists who set the church ablaze for 11 days in 1936 that without the wooden Baroque furniture that clutters so many Spanish churches,  the simplicity of its lines can emerge.

The Cathedral of the Sea, Ildefonso Falcones