It seems to me that what happens in Venice will happen to the rest of the world. Look, for example, at the spritz, that orange drink –Aperol (for non-Venetians)– or red –Campari or Select (for Venetians)–. From a local custom, it has become a global phenomenon that, at times, becomes disgusting, especially if you see some tourists who, while having dinner, drink one without thinking that the spritz is only taken as an aperitif.

Easter gives the starting signal for the high tourist season on the Costa Daurada. It is increasingly common to see groups of tourists walking through the streets following marked routes, with a clear commitment to extending activity beyond the summer. This dynamism represents an undeniable economic engine, but it also accentuates overcrowding in coastal areas, pressure on services, and a progressive homogenization that threatens local identity. Without a real balance between economy and sustainability, tourist success may end up diluting what makes it attractive.

What do localities like Tossa de Mar, Cardona, Bielsa, or Ayna have in common? Well, among other things, their undeniable tourist appeal, but also the fact that they have been the setting for landmark films such as Pandora y el holandés errante, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Palm Trees in the Snow, or Amanece, que no es poco. They are four examples of localities that fit perfectly into what is called screen tourism, a modality of cultural tourism that drives visits to destinations, landscapes, or cities that have appeared in or are related to films, television series, or audiovisual productions of all kinds, such as documentaries, video games, or commercials, as well as events linked to the audiovisual world, such as festivals or thematic gatherings. It is an upward trend that is experiencing significant growth since the birth of streaming platforms and leads viewers to visit those settings where their favorite stories were filmed.

A group of cypresses, the tree that symbolizes welcome and hospitality, surround the kiosk that functions as a bar in the Parc dels Jardins de les Pedreres in Girona. Josep Maria Esteban, who has worked there for ten years in a totally altruistic manner, mentions this symbolism of the cypresses because he believes that welcome is one of the essential characteristics of this urban park, which in past years the residents of the Pedreres-Fora Muralla neighborhood avoided due to its state of abandonment and which today they have made their own as a meeting place, for birthday celebrations, for snacks, for an outdoor classroom to practice Zumba or yoga, to walk pets there, and to celebrate spoken-word performances, among many other activities.  

The tourism employers' association Exceltur forecasts that the Middle East conflict will cause a "slight" boost to the sector. According to the organization, in the event of a short war scenario, the refuge effect would have an economic impact of 4,239 million euros in Spain, which represents two points of tourist GDP. Therefore, Exceltur calculates that a significant number of tourists may arrive in Spanish territory thanks to the fact that a relevant tourist area like the Middle East is in the midst of the conflict.

The Spanish government anticipates "resilience" in tourist activity in the face of the conflict in the Middle East. And it not only clings to the estimates for this Easter week, which are "fantastic" in the words of the Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, but also to an "ability to adapt and resist" of a sector that in recent years has overcome crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic. "The situation is completely different [to that of the coronavirus]. It cannot be compared," Hereu said at a press conference this Tuesday, after the cabinet meeting. The minister, who appeared precisely to explain the current pulse of tourism and the forecasts for this Easter week, acknowledged that there is concern about the impact of the conflict, but linked it to "secondary effects" that will depend on how long the war drags on. "We are analyzing with the sector [the current situation] and what might happen if the conflict lasts not weeks, but months," he said. For example, if this scenario leads to an even more severe price crisis.

When I was Superman correspondent covering all of Lleida from top to bottom, if I climbed the stairs towards heaven I would stop for breakfast at Cal Farré de Baró. Over time I was becoming integrated as just another being in the fauna of those Pallars feasting tables. There I related to one of the most mythical orcs of that land. J.C. showed me the future and told me what would happen. Everything was backwards: the return of the meatball to minced meat. One thing he got right before the internet: “Everyone will live in human farms.” Amen.

The Catalan tourism sector expects Easter with high occupancy throughout the territory, with figures in many cases approaching or exceeding 90%. Good snow conditions in the Pyrenees and high demand on the coast after a rainy winter are boosting a campaign that is expected to be positive, especially from Maundy Thursday onwards. However, the international context marked by the war in the Middle East is beginning to have uneven effects. Barcelona is experiencing a slight drop in long-haul visitors, and rural houses anticipate last-minute bookings due to rising fuel costs.

There are cities that tell stories, and others that make you feel them beneath your feet, as if the stones themselves whisper personal tales. Tarragona belongs to this second category. The former capital of Hispania Citerior, Tarraco was one of the most powerful cities of the Roman Empire, and today it continues to display that legacy with respect, admiration, and a serene naturalness.

In Catalonia, Romanesque art flourished from the early 11th century until well into the 13th century, when it began to coexist with Gothic architecture. To this day, various examples remain in the form of religious buildings scattered throughout the region, although the largest concentration is found in Old Catalonia (Catalunya Vella). These artistic elements, which form part of our heritage, provide an excellent pretext for embarking on a journey that combines art and history in surprising locations.

Zafán Valley Greenway

In our country we have places postcardBut we also have scattered throughout our country different towns that seem to have sprung from the pages of a fairy tale, the kind we were told as children and imagined with dragons, princesses, fairies, brave spirits, and other characters living adventures. They are the charming towns.

Below we present a selection of the most outstanding Passion plays and suggest alternatives to discover the towns that host them and their surroundings, apart from the religious customs that set the rhythm of this festival.

The arrival of spring stirs our desire to travel. Planning our getaways in advance with Eurovacances Travel is a surefire way to ensure success. With 40 years of experience organizing guided tours worldwide from Barcelona, ​​Eurovacances offers a wide range of options once again this year. Europe, as our first destination, opens the door to a multitude of destinations for nature lovers, history buffs, and those who combine both passions for a truly memorable vacation. The Balkans, Albania, and North Macedonia surprise with spectacular landscapes, cities with a rich historical heritage, and increasingly renowned cuisine. The Baltic countries—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—seduce with their medieval historic centers, endless forests, and a unique identity shaped by their history. Away from more crowded destinations, Slovakia allows us to combine historical heritage with breathtaking natural beauty. Its capital, Bratislava, situated on the banks of the Danube, is known for its vibrant old town, with elegant squares, cobblestone streets, and the iconic Bratislava Castle, which dominates the city from a hill overlooking the river. Tatra National Park, a mountainous area in the Carpathian Mountains with craggy peaks, glacial lakes, and numerous hiking trails, is one of the most spectacular natural areas in Central Europe. In Germany, a route through cities like Erfurt, with its medieval charm; Boppard, in the Rhine Valley; and Nuremberg, steeped in history and boasting impressive architecture, allows you to discover a diverse and fascinating side of the country. The vast glaciers, active volcanoes, and hot springs of Iceland create an almost untamed landscape. Norway and its famous fjords will envelop you aboard the Hurtigruten ship, which follows the coast and allows you to contemplate the beauty of the land of the midnight sun.

The Senate has approved the law on repeat offenders, championed by Junts and adopted by the PSOE government. This law, which had already been passed in the Congress (it will now need to return for final approval), is proudly presented by Junts as a major achievement of the current legislature. It is framed as a tool to combat petty crime, understood as a phenomenon closely linked to immigration. Therefore, it includes a significant tightening of immigration law, with new requirements for obtaining a residence permit, as well as the typical increase in penalties, such as three years in prison for petty theft, etc.

Under the slogan 'Biajar' (Travel), B-Travel boasts over 100 direct exhibitors this year, including companies from virtually every Spanish autonomous community. Aragon, Andalusia, the Canary Islands, Castile-La Mancha, Catalonia, Extremadura, Madrid, and Navarre, as well as the island of Menorca and the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, will be present at the Barcelona Tourism Fair, from March 20th to 22nd, in a revamped edition with a new design and an expanded program of activities for all audiences. This year's edition will also feature international destinations such as China, Croatia, the state of Chihuahua (Mexico), France, Portugal, and Uzbekistan, showcasing offerings beyond their traditional imagery. Also present will be agencies specializing in experiences for audiences such as women and in organizing trips with unique proposals to destinations like Colombia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Mexico, the Patagonia region, and the Nordic countries, as well as cruise lines, airlines, and train operators.

EasyJet has launched an advertising campaign to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the airline's first Barcelona-London flight. To attract tourists, in addition to a discount on flight prices, three main reasons to visit the city are listed: its light, Gaudí's buildings, and, as expected, the gastronomy. But in this case, the company hasn't chosen bread with tomato or a frying pan, but rather a sandwich that earned its name in Barcelona: the bikini.

"The Catalan bourgeoisie has always married off their daughters to Rioja wines," Miquel Torres lamented to me many years ago. Indeed, Catalonia produced enormous quantities of wine, but of mediocre quality. Priorat wines, for example, were bought wholesale to be mixed with other wines or simply with soda water. The situation has changed dramatically, but not by chance. The first Pujol government created an institute dedicated exclusively to improving the situation and established a school of viticulture and oenology. Later came the professorships, the designations of origin, and the efforts of a vast number of businesspeople, journalists, and restaurateurs united by the desire to create quality wines.

Despite the fact that 2025 closed in Catalonia with a record number of foreign touristsAfter attracting over 20 million international visitors last year, 2026 has started more slowly, with a decrease in visitor numbers, according to data published Wednesday by the National Statistics Institute (INE). In January, Catalonia received 1.01 million tourists, a 6.2% decrease compared to the previous year. In fact, although the number of foreign tourists increased across Spain as a whole—5.12 million, 1.2% more than a year ago—three of the main receiving autonomous communities saw fewer tourists than in the first month of last year: the Balearic Islands (-8.8%), Catalonia (-6.2%), and the Valencian Community (-3.5%). These declines contrast with the growth in visitor numbers in the Community of Madrid, which received 766,365 foreign visitors in January, an 8.8% increase compared to the same month last year. Other regions that saw an increase in visitors were Andalusia, with 720,164 (a 3.8% increase), and the Canary Islands, with 1,427,922 (a 4.9% increase). Despite fewer foreign tourists arriving in Catalonia, those who did visit spent more money. Tourist spending in Catalonia in January totaled €1.274 billion, a 14.8% increase compared to the same month last year. This increase in total spending, despite the lower number of tourists, occurred because visitors to Catalonia spent more on average than those who arrived in January of the previous year.

They are not served drinksbut drinks. It does not have kitchenbut of food. Customers will be able to enjoy good music, not of musicand they'll find good vibes instead of vibesWith this declaration of intent, the new Soul is being announced on social media. This establishment, which opened its doors last Saturday near Girona's Barri Vell (Old Quarter), aims to differentiate itself from the numerous Anglophile establishments catering to the city's cycling community that have recently sprung up, despite its name and the fact that it's run by an Irishman, Steve Rigney. And it's precisely these local customers that Soul hopes to attract. The establishment is full of nods to these customers: a large lithograph of Saint George slaying the dragon on the wall, figurines of caganers (traditional Catalan defecators) hanging above the restroom door, locally sourced craft beers, sandwiches made with products bought from the butcher shop across the street, and a sign in Catalan inviting customers in: "Come on in."