With its fanciful architecture and nice restaurants Barcelona has become one of Europe’s most attractive destination within a short period time.

The sunny Spanish climate and the beaches makes Barcelona a place to enjoy and have fun. It is a destination offering almost everything to everyone: music, good food, art and history, culture, fun and shopping, beaches and discos.

THE CITY

Barcelona was founded by the Romans on the Mediterranean. The original settlement, called Barcino, was a small port located where the Cathedral is nowadays.

Visigoths and the Moors invaded Barcelona. But the arrival of the Franks in the 9th century had a strong influence on the City. It was at that point, Barcelona and Catalonia started shaping its own identity. One of the differences is very clear the language.

Spanish has many Arab words while Catalan has many French words. Catalan is not a Spanish dialect but a language in its own related to other roman languages.

Barcelona’s history is obvious everywhere in the city. The oldest areas are by the sea, including the shopping enclave Barri Gotic.






On the other side of the main boulevard, Las Ramblas, there is the well known Raval area. Until the 1980s this was a poor and degraded area, home to the city’s own Chinatown (Barrio Chino). Today fancy shops, cafes, and museums have moved in.
Further north there is the fashionable Eixample, an area created in the 19th century when the city expanded as it is today. The long and straight streets are broken up by tiny diagonal squares at the intersections.

Santa Maria del Mar One of the most beautiful churches of Barcelona, it is probably the best example of the Catalonian Gothic. The church has a wonderful feeling of spaciousness and the weightlessness is emphasised by the pillars and the decorated chapels.

Sagrada Família Antonio Gaudí was a Catalan architect, who belonged to the Modernisme (Art Nouveau) movement and was famous for his unique style and highly individualistic designs.

The Sagrada Família is the most famous work of Gaudí, to which he dedicated all his life. It is an expression of Gaudi’s genius craziness at the point that he lived inside the church to closely follow the works. It is the unique great temple at present in construction everywhere in the world. It is an astonishing site to visit once in Barcelona!

Gaudì created many worldwide known works among which: next to Sagrada Familia Casa Mila or “La Pedrera” is probably Gaudì’s second most popular building in Barcelona. Other Gaudì’s places to visit in Barcelona are the beautiful Park Guell, theCasa Calvet, the Guell Palace and the “Manzana de la Discordia”

EATING

In Barcelona it is possible to find all kind of restaurants. The easiest thing is to divide them into two categories: the new and the old ones. Some of the world’s most modern restaurants can be found here. There is also the traditional Catalonian cuisine with very good vegetable dishes (grilled or peeled peppers, aubergines and onions, fried spinach with garlic, etc.). A common and well known dish is a slice of bread with olive oil, salt, and freshly crushed tomatoes. The new restaurants can be very expensive, but many of the best known chefs’ apprentices have opened their own lower-priced restaurants. Generally, you should always reserve a table in Barcelona. Dinner is not served before 9 p.m.

COFFEE BARS

Barcelona’s cafe culture is half Italian: “Café con leche” (café amb llet in Catalan) is for breakfast, preferably with a croissant. Mid-day, especially after the lunch, the locals have an espresso with milk. In the afternoon or after dinner it is possible to order a “cortado” (strong espresso) or a “carajillo” (a café with Spanish brandy).

TAPAS BAR

Las Tapas is one of the most well-known aspect of the Spanish and Catalan tradition. The philosophy of the tapas is in serving a small snack (free or pay) joined by a beverage. The Tapas bars are usually crowed around 7pm. There is a wide choice ranging from olives to abundant rations of ham to any kind of cheese. There are so many tapas bars in Barcelona that you can start your long night in Barcelona with this special taste of typical Spanish food together with a good glass of wine or beer!

NIGHT LIFE

Barcelona’s trendy nightlife is in a constant state of change. This makes it impossible to list the hippest bars and nightclubs. The best advice is to ask around for the latest and greatest places.

SHOPPING

Barcelona is among Europe's cities of style. Everything from books to jewels, haute couture (local and international), designer furniture, etc. can be easily found. Several markets animate squares around the centre of town. Most of the stores can be found on a shopping axis: from the waterfront through La Rambla to Placa de Catalunya and on to Passeig de Gracia.

The best shopping areas in central Barcelona are Passeig de Gracia and Barri Gotic (i.e. Carrer de la Portaferrissa, Carrer de la Boqueria, Carrer del Call, Carrer de la Llibreteria and Carrer de Ferran, around Placa de Sant Josep Oriol).

The big department stores (such as El Corte Ingles) and shopping complexes (such as El Triangle) tend to open from 9-10am through to 9-10pm. From Monday to Saturday smaller shops often close for a few hours at lunchtime

Visiting the La Boquería, half way down La Rambla, is something of a must because you will enjoy an incredible contrast between colours and activities. It is interesting to discover the Mediterranean cuisine, internationally known due to its ingredients. In the Boquería the best products from Catalonia can be easily found.


OPEN AIR CONCERTS


Choirs taking part in the Festival, will have the unique chance to sing and have fun in some of most spectacular parts on Barcelona. The open air concerts take place mainly in the Barrio Gotico around:

Plaça Sant Jaume (the square is at the centre of the original Roman settlement of Barcino.

Nowadays the City Hall of Barcelona and the seat of the Catalan regional government are located here) this plaza is home to the Ajuntament, (City Hall) and the Palau de la Generalitat (seat of the Catalan regional government).

Placa del Rei (this wholly preserved medieval courtyard of the Royal Palace is where Ferdinand and Isabella are supposed to have received Columbus on his return from the New World.

La Catedral (this impressive Catalan Gothic church, begun in 1298, is the third church built on this site, the first being a Roman temple, and houses the tomb of Saint Eulàlia, the first patron saint of Barcelona.)


PARADE THROUGH THE HISTORICAL STREETS OF BARCELONA

All choirs will parade with the typical dresses of their countries, in one of the nicest part of Barcelona on a pedestrian street very close to the Ramblas.






All choirs will meet up in Plaça Catalunya and will go down through the Portal del Angel, Portaferrissa area, plenty of shops and life.







CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA OF THE PINE
(where the Festival is held)

The Església de Santa Maria del Pi is a 14th-century Gothic church that stands at the heart of three little plazas in Barcelona. Santa Maria del Pi is on the Placa Sant Josep Oriol, the prettiest of the three squares in the area. It is filled with an artists' market on the weekend and the outdoor tables of the Bar del Pi the rest of the time.


The church is named for the pine tree (pi in Catalan) that once stood nearby







Santa Maria del Pi has a Romanesque door but is otherwise Catalan Gothic in style. It has a single wide nave with chapels beneath the buttresses and a giant rose window at the entrance. The interior is plain but features some beautiful stained glass windows. The church was burned out in 1936 and restored in the 1960s.


SURROUNDINGS OF BARCELONA

CALELLA
Known as the tourist capital of the Maresme Coast, Calella is a cosmopolitan and lively city with the typical Mediterranean weather. Between Barcelona and Girona, it is an ideal tourist destination.




MALGRAT DE MAR

Halfway from Girona and Barcelona, Malgrat de Mar is a quite and charming city which turns during summer in one of the best place to go and stay of the Costa Brava.

MARCHE REGION

In the enchanting scenario of Marche Region you can find artistic sites which testify the expression of a cultural pluralism well-established since many years. Nowadays you can experience the beauty of typical squares, monuments, historical cities, fortresses, castles, towers, churches, abbeys, sanctuaries, theatres, museums, galleries, etc. Everything makes the Region one of the most interesting from a cultural and artistic point of view.

Our Festival dedicated to the well-known Flemish composer Orlando di Lasso is organized since many years in this marvellous region. Choirs have sung in several charming locations such as Camerino, Sarnano, Tolentino, Castefidardo, etc.

The current edition will include music activities in the beautiful cities of Recanati, Numana, Loreto, Torre di Palme, and surroundings.

RECANATI

Recanati is located on a hill top between the valleys of the rivers Potenza and Musone. The Adriatic Sea, separating Italy from the mountains of the former Yugoslavia, is about 10 kilometres away in the city’s east. In the north of the city, there is the Conero Mountain that slopes downward the sea. Looking southwards and westwards you can see the Apennine Mountains. Just like all other Marche Region’s city centres, Recanati is a so called “balcony city” (città balcone), because the city centre and the other parts of the town are spread all over the neighbouring hills and valleys on different altitude’s levels.

Some of the cultural important sites generously made available for the choirs by the Recanati’s administration, can also be visited. These places of interest are located in the historic building of the municipal administration of Recanati: the popular museum dedicated to Beniamino Gigli, the guitars’ museum dedicated to Oliviero Pigini, and the Giacomo Leopardi Hall.

Just a few kilometres separates the beautiful city of Recanati recalling inevitably Giacomo Leopardi’s verses from the harbour’s beach of Porto Recanati better known as the “The Riviera’s salon” (salotto della Riviera).

Municipality of Recanati: www.comune.recanati.mc.it

NUMANA

The Marche Region offers 180 kilometres of coast and beautiful beaches. Among the 26 cities situated along the Adriatic Coast, the beautiful city of Numana that every year hosts the festival with great pleasure and enthusiasm, has to be mentioned. The mayor of Numana Mirko Bilò and his staff provide on this special occasion, the best that this Marche Region’s jewel has to offer: its churches for the sacred music concerts, the public squares for the open air performances and parades, and the coastal sightseeing on board of a coaster especially made available for the participants.









Numana stretches from the crest of the Conero Mountain across a lot of narrow little streets packed with history down to the characteristic fishing harbour. The little city is divided in two parts: the upper Numana and the lower Numana. The upper part is the elder one, with the typical white lime cottages, the narrow little streets around the “Tower”, and the Ducal Palace, nowadays hosting the town hall in front of which the Sanctuary’s Square is located, right next to the new church where the Holy Crucify of Numana is conserved.

The lower Numana is the younger part. There you find the little tourist harbour and the lido with several beach bars. Proceeding southwards the port you reach Marcelli, the modern part of the city, plenty of tourists’ attractions, where you can find bars, restaurants, clubs, and discos.

Numana is a combination of old and new. The historic and artistic beauty of the monuments and the churches cohabits perfectly with the natural beauty of beaches, coasts, mountain and wood lands: untouched natural environment and modern comfort harmonize perfectly.




Township of Numana: www.comune.numana.an.it

TORRE DI PALME

The beautiful hills surrounding the township of Fermo are covered over and over with little settlings. In the past centuries on the hills’ tops, along the fertile river valleys, and next to the seaside, many little settlements came into existence and nowadays they form the different villages of the surroundings.



One of these villages is Torre di Palme, a medieval castle with a strong defence system situated on a cliff facing the open sea. It is very popular among tourists searching for rural idyll who will appreciate this wonderful place for its fascinating magic and its incomparable urban charm.

The little streets make their ways through the terracotta cottages decorated by geraniums towards the never ending wideness of the sea or towards the circumjacent hills.






Along the main street, just next to the historic Palazzo del Priore you can reach the gothic church of S. Agostino where a very important altarpiece with a painting by Vittore Crivelli is exposed.

The church of S. Maria a Mar is located further down the main street clearly revealing the different changes occurred over the centuries to the mural basement which were not able to destroy completely the gothic temple’s implant.

Stepping out of the church, an amazing view makes you admire the beaches that surround the living centre of S. Giorgio’s harbour and the historic sanctuary of S. Maria a Mare.

LORETO

The city is situated on a hill’s top with a wide surrounding characterized by the cultivation of olives. The basilica’s cupola and its tower on which you can admire a Madonna’s statue stick out.





The breath-taking panorama extends from the mountains to the sea. The city grew around the basilica that hosts the Santa Casa (the house where, according to historical tradition, the Virgin Mary was born, has lived, and where she received the annunciation of the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ).