The Catalan capital is experiencing a weekend of creativity in all its forms: while it fills the CCCB with international literary voices, it opens the doors of dozens of emblematic buildings to discover the city’s architecture from within. Between tour and recital, the route can continue through the palate, with a trip through what migrants have brought to Catalonia: from Venezuelan cachapas to Bahian acarajé, or tacos. An invitation to a weekend to read, watch and savor Barcelona.
Festival of literary Cosmopolis
The ) celebrates this week a new edition of , the literature festival for five days, from October 22 to 26. In its 13th edition, it proposes a journey through the written and spoken word, with conversations, recitals, performances and installations that cover topics as diverse as comedy, contemporary literature or digital creation.
This year’s program looks towards South Korea, one of the most effervescent literary centers of the moment. Authors such as , a reference in graphic novels, will pass through the CCCB; , representatives of the new dystopian fiction; oy, who explore in their work the identity, memory and collective wounds of the country. The inauguration will be led by the singer, who fuses traditional singing and electronic music.
On Sunday, one of the most anticipated voices will be that of , a Palestinian-British author recognized for novels such as The Paris of the Arabs y Enter Ghostin which he investigates the identity and political tensions of the Middle East. Their presence reinforces the international vocation of Kosmopolis, which this year will also dedicate a prominent space to Galician literature, with names such as Berta Dávila, Yolanda Castaño and Mercedes Peón, in charge of closing the festival with a foliate of poetry and music. The complete schedule can be consulted at .
48 hours Open House
The architecture festival, which in 2025 will be held on October 25 and 26, will open the doors of more than 190 buildings in the city. Places that are usually closed to the public such as private homes, factories, studios and churches. And best of all, completely free. In addition to Barcelona, there are also visiting options in Badalona, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Sant Joan Despí, Vilassar de Dalt and Sitges.
In one weekend it will be possible to discover and visit incredible spaces, learn various stories and end up with the feeling of having discovered another Barcelona. This year, under the motto Feel the architecture (Feel the architecture), the initiative invites us to experience spaces through the senses. Not just looking, but listening, touching and feeling, rediscovering our environment through our senses.
Among the buildings available to visit will be a generous list of viewpoints – such as the viewpoint of the Sitges church bell tower – the Torre Diagonal 00, the Telefónica skyscraper at the Forum and the . A novelty in this edition are the unique homes, houses from all eras that have undergone contemporary renovations like others that are new. More than 75 thousand spectators are expected to attend the 16th edition of the festival.
Latin flavors
The migratory diversity of the Catalan capital also opens a delicious window to the flavors of Latin America. In the Eixample neighborhood, for example, the La Cachapera restaurant invites us to taste la de las — those sweet corn pancakes filled with cheese, meat or Creole combinations — in an informal and warm space.
For those looking for an authentic temple of cuisine, with classic grilled and grilled meat, another great exponent is La Cabrera. Also in the center, La Pachuca displays market tacos and micheladas, and brings the energy of Mexico that also lives in the city.
And closing the circuit of Latin flavors, what better than heading to the Poblenou neighborhood and visiting Buriti, an enclave of Bahian cuisine in Barcelona? This Brazilian restaurant is distinguished by dishes such as , moqueca (fish and seafood stew cooked with coconut milk, dendê oil and peppers) or acarajé (a fried dough of black-eyed peas stuffed with shrimp), and by a festive atmosphere that speaks of Afro-Brazilian roots.
Thus, each of these places becomes part of a sensory journey that intertwines neighborhoods, migrations and dishes with history and tradition.
