Spain holiday - La Boqueria Food Market in Barcelona

About two thirds of the way up the Ramblas, on the left, you will see one of Europe's largest and most famous food markets - La Boqueria Food Market Barcelona. This is a place where I love to spend an hour or so feasting the senses.



The Boqueria's grand iron entrance leads to a fully functioning world of food that throngs with both tourists and locals. The floors are slippy with melted ice and fruit skins and the stall holders are loud, but this all adds to the charm of the experience. You will find foods of all varieties and nationalities under one roof.

TIP: It is worth aiming to get to the Boqueria in the morning - preferably before 14:00, as this is when the market is really in full swing. I enjoy walking around the market before lunchtime.

Here's how it is like....

The Boqueria Food Market is a must-see during a trip to Barcelona. Specialist stalls selling many and varied options of olives, seafood, fruit, meats, cheeses and much more are all on offer. Whether you buy some picnic ingredients, feast at one of the tapas bars or simply take a look, you are guaranteed to have a memorable experience.

La Boqueria Market
Rambla, 91
08001 Barcelona, España.

Opening Times:
Monday - Saturday: 08:00 - 20:30

Metro: Liceu (Green Line, L3)

Spain Holiday - Day trip to Avila

From Madrid, I joined a day tour to Ávila. This is a medieval city in the province of Castile-Léon in western Spain, about 70 miles northwest of Madrid. Founded in the 11th century to protect the Spanish territories from the Moors, Ávila has a magnificently well-preserved city wall, a historic cathedral, a number of Romanesque churches, and an authentic medieval atmosphere.



For all these reasons, the entire Old Town of Ávila has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. For pilgrims, the city of Ávila is important because of its association with the great mystic and reformer St. Teresa de Jesus, better known as St. Teresa of Ávila. Teresa was a 16th-century Carmelite nun who reformed her order, had many ecstatic visions, and wrote several books.

Spain Holiday - 11 Day Itinerary

Planning a holiday to Spain?

It is easier than ever both to get to Spain and to travel around the country, with more flights and better train connections. The relatively new high-speed train link between Paris and Barcelona means you can leave London in the morning and arrive in the Catalan capital in time for dinner. It sounds very civilised to me.



With 3,100km of track the Spanish high-speed AVE trains operate on the longest high-speed network in Europe. Running at speeds of up to 310 km/h this extensive network allows for fast connections between cities in Spain. Travel from Madrid to Barcelona in less than 3 hours! This modern train system connects many cities across Spain from Madrid and Barcelona, to Córdoba, Seville, Malaga and Valencia. See AVE map below.



Here's my 11 day itinerary holiday in Spain in March 2017

1)  2 Nights in Madrid

     - Day tour to Avila and Segovia (booked through Viator)

2) 4 Nights in Sevilla

     - Free city historic walking tour
     - Day tour to Granada

3) 5 Nights in Barcelona

     - Sagrada Familia tour
     - Free city walking tour
     - Day tour to Monserrat

I choose this because there are more to see and do in the latter 2 cities.

Where to stay in Madrid?
I stayed in an AirBnB apartment near Sol Station . Very convenient, close to good food and sights.

Alternatively, stay near the Calle Grand Via area. This is also a very vibrant area.

Where to stay in Sevilla?
I booked an apartment near to Sevilla Cathedral. Very convenient and within walking distance to most good restaurants, sights and shopping.

Where to stay in Barcelona?
Suggest to stay somewhere central, like Placa Catalunya or around La Ramblas. This will allow you to radiate outwards and do sightseeing, shopping and dining very conveniently.

I booked an AirBnB just off La Rambla which is very good in terms of convenience to food, shopping and sight-seeing.

For inter-city travels in Spain, I book my AVE tickets via Eurail.(http://www.eurail.com/). Book early to get cheap fares.