One of the greatest qualities of Barcelona city is that any time of the year is right to visit. The fall keeps hosting a number of events, so whether you are a foodie, a music enthusiast, a culture lover or a Barcelona FC football fan looking for a tapas bar to watch your favorite match, the agenda with fantastic activities to enjoy in November in the City of Counts is full. Here you will find our suggestions for the Barcelona best things to do in November, funny and eclectic.
ALL SAINTS AND LA CASTANYADA IN BARCELONA
As fall approaches and colder temperatures are evident. Traditionally on this part of the world people remembers the departed, and 1st of November is one of the most expected local celebrations in Catalonia, All Saints day when chesnuts and panellets are eaten before the following day when the dead visit the living and everyone goes to the cemetery.
As mentioned above, during this day the Castanyada (chestnuts), an old Catalonian tradition is celebrated and families get to the streets of Barcelona to eat roasted chestnuts, sweet potatoes, and panellets. Old traditions say that long-standing products such as these ones are somehow a way for the departed to visit us. I am glad their food is delicious and non-scary!
EAT PANELLETS BEFORE THE DEAD
During old medieval days, this unique pastry which is prepared with pines, coconut, chocolate, and almonds, was offered to the deceased. Being a pastry prepared with long-standing products, it was believed that they relate to eternity. Great pastry bakeries to eat this delicacy are Escriba, Pastisseria Mauri or Casa Vives (since 1895).
FESTA MAJOR DE SANT ANDREU DE PALOMAR
Towards the end of the month, Sant Andreu, one of those districts with a unique character closely tight to its past celebrates their identity, through its traditional neighborhood associations and centenary cultural centers. Unique Giants with human and animal forms, trabucaires, demons, traditional dancers and the famous fire-runs makes us remember the rural and working-class village Sant Andreu use to be, including the vast number of dovecotes it used to host. The Barcelona sightseeing activity of the month!
(photo credit : La Meva Barcelona)
THE BARCELONA JAZZ FESTIVAL AND THE BIG IF
The Voll-Damm Jazz Festival which we already recommended as one of the best things to do in Barcelona during October continues, and plenty of good music and food trucks fill the local vibes of trendy Barcelona, while the Barcelona BIG IF festival is back with tons of unscripted fun.
WALK ALONG THE ¨BARCELONA SCULPTORS ROUTE¨ AND TASTE DELICIOUS LOCAL DELICACIES
Manuel Vazquez Montalban, a renowned local writer on one of his best books “Barcelones” encourage the reader to visit Barcelona through iconic Statues. “It’s the history of history and history of taste” he used to say. You start this route by jumping on the Funicular de Montjuic, then walk towards Dante’s square.
The route its long but worth the effort, along the way there are plenty of nice stops to fill your belly and refill your energies. You can find some of our favorite tapas bars and tapas restaurants by clicking above Barcelona map. This route somehow crosses the area that we uncover through our Sant Antoni and El Poblesec Food Tour.
For the adventurers, once you reach the end of the route, go inside the University of Barcelona building, visit its gorgeous gardens and continue a foodie adventure through Enric Granados street, you will find a nice variety of options to keep satisfying your palate.
Hope you liked this selection of the best things to do in Barcelona this November, and do let us know if there are more activities to list, we are sure there are! Enjoy!
