Santa MarÃa del Mar is the best and only finished example of Catalan Gothic in Barcelona. It is located in the Ribera quarter, near the Passeo del Borne and it has been built between 1329 and 1383.
On the 23rd of April, Barcelona celebrates the Catalan Patron Saint Sant Jordi (St. George in English). The main particularity of this event is that locals consider it as their St. Valentine’s day, thanks to the legend which describes St. George as a very romantic character.
The legend also says that the Saint killed the dragon which was threatening the population since a long time. From the monster’s blood, wonderful red roses grew. This is the reason why, since the Middle Age, men are supposed to offer a red rose to women in this particular day. Later, in XX century, the date was also associated to the national day of books, for an editor’s marketing reason. This is how it was started the tradition of women offering a book to men as an exchange of the rose received.
Els calçots són una varietat de cebes tendres, cebes poc bulboses i més suaus, que s'escaliven calçant-les a mesura que creixen.
Sobre l'origen del calçot hi ha diverses versions però la més coneguda és la que atribueix a en Xat de Benaiges, un camperol que va viure a Valls a la fi del segle XIX, la invenció d'aquest cultiu. En Xat de Benaiges va posar un parell de brots de cebes al foc i va descobrir per atzar un plat que a la primeria del segle XX ja havia esdevingut habitual en moltes llars de Valls.
De llavors ençà el consum dels calçots o calçotada ha esdevingut una festa gastronòmica coneguda arreu, especialment a Catalunya. Els calçots es consumeixen habitualment durant els mesos de gener, febrer i març, es couen amb llenya provinent de sarments o rodals de vinya i es consumeixen acompanyats d'una salsa tÃpica, la dita salvitxada, que és una salsa de tipus romesco.
No fou fins mitjans del segle passat que el calçot es va fer conèixer fora de l'Alt Camp, especialment per la divulgació feta per la colla artÃstica i humorÃstica l'Olla. La festa del calçot de Valls, que se celebra el darrer diumenge del mes de gener, va complir 100 anys l'any 1996. S'hi celebren tres concursos : el concurs de cultivadors de calçots, el concurs de salsa de la 'calçotada' i el concurs de menjadors de calçots.
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Mark, USA
The Sound hostel was a very nice hostel located in a great area almost 1 minute from Para.llel metro station. They have a community kitchen, lounge with three internet computers, wifi, a large TV. The rooms had security lockers with a nice key card system that keeps your belongings safe. [ + ]
26-06-2010Lucas, Australia
Nice hostel, stayed there for 3 nights. Close walking distance to La Rambla. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Thanks for a great stay! [ + ]