Reign in Spain
IF YOU are looking for a classic yet luxurious weekend break, there can be few better European destinations than the Catalan capital Barcelona.
Esther Shaw, Wednesday, 16th January 2008
We kick-started a long weekend with a little retail therapy, using a pair of personal shoppers to guide us through Barcelona’s most exclusive boutiques. B&W Personal Shopper’s Carmen Bosch and Elena Wendt, both well-dressed, well-coiffured and ultra-professional, take us to Passeig de Gracia, arguably Barcelona’s most elegant and fashionable avenue. Located in Exiample, the new town, it is also a byword for modernism. Stores worth checking out include the innovative Vincon, the glamorous Santa Eulalia, Loewe – complete with its own VIP lounge – Aramis, Adolfo Dominguez and Gonzalo Comella.
The tour also took in the easily overlooked Perfume Museum, located within the premises of the Perfumery Regia (Passeig de Gracia 39, www.museodelperfume.com). Also worth a visit is the Chocolate Museum in the old Convent of Saint Augustine in el Borne (Comerc 36, www.museuxocolata.com), if only to ogle at the edible statue of Brazilian footballer Ronaldhino.
After a morning spent in a flurry of Gucci, Chanel, Louis Vuitton and myriad homegrown brands, we took some time out in the trendy suburb of El Borne. This now ranks as one of the most fashionable quarters of Barcelona, boasting chic boutiques, design shops and quirky bars.
From here, you can meander past the architectural perfection of Santa Maria del Mar in the heart of the bustling La Ribera on your way to the extensive Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotic), with its medieval buildings and narrow streets. Stop for a drink or a bite to eat at one of the many tapas bars or restaurants; we opted for Taller de Tapas (Carrer de l’Argenteria 51), simple but bustling.
From here, we joined the crowds thronging Las Ramblas, lapping up the atmosphere. The vibrant, busy street boasts shops, people, flower sellers, food markets and, erm, human statues – some things are unavoidable, whatever country you’re in.
After a long day on your feet, the five- star Princesa Sofia Gran Hotel, with magnificent views of the city, including Barcelona’s dramatic Camp Nou stadium, provided some much-needed luxury. The hotel has a good restaurant, Restaurant Contraste, and a wide range of cocktails are on offer at the Contraste Bar. Drinks can be enjoyed in the hotel’s gardens during the summer months. The Aqua Diagonal Wellness Centre has a gym and pool, but we headed to the Q-Spa. Treatments include Journey to Spain: a wine bath, algae and grape wrap, and wine oil massage.
Barcelona can feel like a world apart, rather than just a brief flight away; there is something for all tastes, from art and architecture to food and high-end shops. Which means that whatever you choose to do, you emerge from your weekend break utterly refreshed – wine massage or no.
One night in a standard room, on a bed and breakfast basis, at Princesa Sofia Gran Hotel (Plaza Pio XII, 4 Barcelona) costs from £173 (E231, $339) plus VAT. + 34 93 508 10 00, www.expogrupo.com
B&W Personal Shopper service costs from E400 for four hours for two people. www.bwpersonalshopper.com
EasyJet flies to Barcelona from Gatwick, Stansted and Luton from £50.98 return, including taxes. www.easyjet.com
For more information, contact the Catalan Tourist Board at www.catalunyaturisme.com
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