First Steps in BCN

It is my first time that I post here something about myself. If I am doing it, it’s probably because I want to share my former experience and how it continues or maybe just because I just feel like doing it. When it comes to travel, there are certain things you have to expect. But you also expect something more. You want stories to tell. You want adventures to remember. You want travel that inspires and surprises. My story is really complicated but to summarize I come from Ecuador (really little country in South-America but an amazing place), I did most of my studies in France in Brittany (next to Normandy). Also, I was chosen to be part of the Erasmus program in the Netherlands in Maastricht (Between Liege and Aachen). And I am currently doing my first internship in Barcelona. (Everyone knows where is located but in case someone does not know where Barcelona is, just look it up on google). When I landed in Barcelona my expectancies were mixed. I did not know what I was looking for and what this city was about to teach me. The first couple of weeks were really hard for me. I landed in this city and many problems started to arrive at the same time. I had the feeling of struggling and I could not see myself finding the best way to solve all these problems. Therefore, a feeling of repulsion for this city came to me. Day by day, things were far from being solved. Nevertheless, I started to appriciate and enjoy Barcelona. This city is teaching me new things I have never thought about it before and which were not part of me. People I have met here are incredible and we always do something together. It is strange; it’s like a little community of international interns that are always doing something together after work. It’s such an International city that becoming Barcelonian would actually mean becoming more European or more International. Barcelona is also the first city that hosts Italians, (even my roommate is Italian). Now, instead of speaking Catalan or Spanish, I am learning Italian in Spain (does not make any sense). Think I had the opportunity before but I did not take advantage of it. Besides those problems I have, BCN is teaching me how to actually don’t care about them. Imagine a tsunami coming straight ahead to you and you just stand there without moving believing that it’s only a nice and fresh shower. It may be like this at the end. I am enjoying it and of course BCN is teaching me how to live with it.

Every good thing comes to an end

Leaves begin to fall from trees, the wind is getting stronger. Summer is nearly over and so is my unforgettable experience here in Barcelona. More than two months have already passed since I arrived in this city, when everything  was still to be discovered, people, places, streets, scents, colours. And as always, when you start getting used to something, it is time to change, time to go on. It will be even harder to go back home now, since I've been spending more than twelve months abroad, first on Erasmus in France, Strasbourg, then here for my internship in Barcelona.

Barcelona has been a wonderful place to live in, I am glad I chose this city for my internship cause it offers everything someone could look for: good weather, beaches, fun, pubs, discos but also cultural events, museums, music, festivals. The time spent here allowed me to learn more about the Catalan culture and its strong traditions, to such a point that now I can even say a few sentences in Catalan :).
I am thankful to my Spanish housemate Miguel, who helped me a lot with my Spanish and who made me smile every single day with his energy, kindness and craziness. I will never forget the songs danced together, our walks through Barcelona and his stories about the secret corners of the city.

I had already been to Barcelona before and my feelings towards this city are still the same, overwhelming and conflicting: on the one hand the traffic, the noises, the hundreds of tourists to avoid while you're walking on La Rambla, the 40 degrees you have to go through every single time you get the metro; on the other, the beautiful views of the city from Parc Guell, from Tibidabo or Los Bunkers, where you almost feel like if the city was under your control. The sound of the waves on the beach in the sunset, when you are surrounded by lots of people but it's like if you were alone. The tiny streets of Gracia and Barceloneta, where locals leave their doors open, arousing your curiosity with the smell of their Sunday's lunch.

Besides fun and emotions, I also learned a lot from a professional point of view. For this reason I want to thank Jessica, who taught me about marketing (a complete mystery for me until three months ago!), and all my companions at 1Global Translators for the amazing summer spent together. I am sure that what I learnt in the Marketing Department will turn out to be useful for my career. So thanks again to everyone who was part of this (especially Domenico, a loyal friend from the very start <3 ) and hope to see you again soon, who knows where. 

Benefits of Erasmus Programme

Erasmus has multiple benefits. Of course, these benefits vary from person to person. But i will try to mention the more general benefits here. Erasmus above all a different education system and will introduce you to the institution that has been integrated into this system. It will be close to perfect as a foreign language. In addition, you will be able to prove a lot of things to study in a foreign language. Your self-confidence will be so good. You will learn the economy of the country and the business. This creates the opportunity to get to know your company can operate in a global sense.
Your awareness will increase your ability to communicate with persons and institutions will increase your ability to solve problems. Meet with different cultures, it will increase your ability to communicate. The lessons of the schools in the country that went through Erasmus, your school will be able counted basis.

Erasmus also not an easy task to go too. To prepare the necessary documents for completing the process will teach you the bureaucracy alone. This information will remain standing you will gain skills and experience. Being alone will increase your ability to travel on your own. It will increase
your chances of finding new friends.
By addition of these benefits;
 Living in the Post-Graduation Preparation: After studying the associate and bachelor degree programs, to be able to make at least master's or doctoral you need to know a foreign language and judges. Erasmus by allowing you to improve your foreign language easier for you to communicate with different cultures.
Work and Economics Preparation: to meet people from different cultures, speak and learn their economic structure, to make it easier to look at events from a broader perspective. It will also help to gain an increase in business and foreign language skills and different positions is much higher.
Self, to recognize their talents and Borders: the completion of a section of the Education and family from abroad to remain separate during this time you will live a very different experience. First, you learn to stand on your own feet, to get to know yourself better and explore the capabilities of yourself and discover the talents that you have but you did not know before.

Barrio de Gràcia

If you are a tourist, and you are searching for something to do or see in Barcelona, you should go to the district of Gràcia!

I have been living there for three months, and I guess I won’t live in a place like this anymore.

Gràcia was an independent municipality until it was annexed to Barcelona in 1897, along with other villages in the area of Barcelona. For that reason, walking in this district is like take a walk in another city.

Gràcia is a really creative, artistic and residential area. There are a lot of different squares like Plaça del Sol and Plaça del Diamant, where you can sit in and enjoy the good atmosphere.

Moreover if you want doing some shopping or drink something with your friends, here there are so many little and cheap shops, bars and restaurants that you will never forget!

Finally, if you are lucky enough to be here from the 15th august to the 21st, you can enjoy, as the majority of people say, the best “Fiesta de major” of Barcelona. It’s an amazing tradition where many streets are decorated following different specific themes, with ornaments done manually by young and older people with recycled objects. In these days there are also lots of concerts and different events.

If you want to get lost in this fantastic district you can take the green metro and stop in Fontana, or also take different buses: the 22, V17, V15.

Enjoy it!

7 Free Things to Do in Barcelona

1.     Free museums on Sundays

All the city-run museums (including the Museu Picasso, MUHBA and MNAC) are free on Sunday afternoons, from 3pm to 8pm. Others are also free on one given day of the month, often the first Wednesday or Sunday – check individual websites for details.

2. Browse the Mercat de la Boqueria

This famous indoor market hall is a colourful explosion of fruit, vegetables, seafood, rows and rows of cured jamón and some mind-boggling butchers’ displays. There are tapas bars, pizza stalls and all manner of produce you can try before you buy.

3. Admire Modernisme architecture 

While many of Barcelona’s architectural gems have admission fees to see the interiors, the arguably more impressive facades can be seen for free. The mind-blowing workmanship of Gaudí’s magnum opus, the cathedral-like La Sagrada Família, for example, or the three stunning examples of Modernisme that sit side-by-side on the Passeig de Gràcia – the Casa Lleó Morera, the Casa Amatller and Gaudí’s Casa Batlló.

4. Bask on a beach

Barcelona has some wonderful beaches perfect for resting aching feet after days of sightseeing. Barceloneta is the most popular, with its lovely sweep of golden sand and promenade backed with restaurants. For something less crowded, walk further north towards the Fòrum area.

5. Sniff out free music, dancing and art

There’s always some sort of free cultural event going on around town, whether it’s jazz in the park, a poetry reading or a kids' workshop. Visit For Free page for information on upcoming events.

6. Lose your way in Barri Gòtic

Get lost in a warren of cobblestone alleyways lined with bars and quirky shops and dotted with quiet little plaças, in the atmospheric medieval quarter of Barri Gòtic. Eventually you’ll almost certainly surface on La Rambla, or the Via Laietana, which flanks the area on the other side.

7. Wander through Plaça Reial

At this arcaded plaça, reminiscent of a more modest version of St Mark’s Square in Venice, look out for Gaudí’s first piece of commissioned work for the city – lamp-posts featuring coiled dragon-headed serpents leading up to a winged helmet.

Visit to Sagrada Familia

After a month spent in Barcelona I decided to go and visit one of the most famous monuments of this city: la Sagrada Familia. Actually I went there because a Chinese friend of mine came here for her first time and heard so much about it that she asked me to go with her.
I was pretty curious about it too, its style is so different and unique from the outside that  I had always wondered how the inside looked like.
The ticket for students is €13, which according to me is too expensive, considered that it is a church, a place built for people who want to pray and practice their religion, but compared to the prices for other monuments such as Casa Mila and Battlo, which cost around €20 it's to be considered quite cheap.
Once I got inside Sagrada Familia I admit that I was charmed by its uniqueness and majesty. It is so much different from every church I saw before and I am happy I got the chance to visit it.
The only, big problem that I found was the atmosphere in it: people talking loudly, children running around, big screens projecting Gaudi's story and his ideas.. all things that, according to me, ruined the spirituality  that is to be found in a religious place, or at least in a catholic church.
I know that silence and order are difficult to be mantained in such big and crowded places, but maybe it's worth to try.

Barcelona’s most breathtaking places

Do yourself a favour and don’t be a typical tourist when you are in Barcelona! The cosmopolitan, pulsing heart of Catalonia receives around 8 million tourists every year; with its fantastic art and architecture, and with its many attractions, Barcelona has got a lot to offer. Although all tourists have clear ideas about what to see and visit, the city has got many hidden treasures that are just waiting to be discovered.

Here the five most breathtaking places in Barcelona.

Monestir de Pedralbes

Located just a few Km away from the city centre, this monastery is perfect if you want to escape from the hectic city life.
The monastery was built in 1327, and since then it has been the heart of the religious life of the city. Nowadays it can still be visited and admired from inside and outside, and it also features a beautiful park.

Parc del Laberint d'Horta

It is a pity that almost nobody knows about the existence of this jewel, which actually represents the oldest park in Barcelona.

The park spreads across 9 hectares and is divided into an old, classical garden and a more modern and romantic one. Gigantic trees, peaceful atmospheres and ponds enrich the park, and will guarantee you a once in a lifetime experience.

P.S: Watch out! Only 750 people are allowed to enter each day.

Poble Sec

A great alternative to the “main stream “ city centre might be Poble Sec, the old urban centre of the city. What visitors will find here is lots of night life, as well as typical bars and restaurants, including one of the best tapas restaurants in town, “Quimet & Quimet”.

Tibidabo Amusement Park

Fortunately, this charming amusement park is somehow unknown to most of tourists. What is amazing about it is that old and rustic atmosphere, which can hardly be found elsewhere.

Tibidabo Amusement Park is extremely family friendly and perfect for the youngsters, since it lacks in scary rollercoasters, but it is full of the classic attractions, such as a ferris wheel, from which you can have an outstanding view of the city.

In addition, you might also take the chance to visit the church “Temple de Sagrat Cor”, which is just nearby.

Refugio 307

If you are passionate about history, then this is the right place for you!

Refugio 307 is an underground refuge dating back to the Spanish Civil War. Since Barcelona was heavily bombed during the war period, this shelter offers an amazing tour through its labirintic corridors and the different rooms where people lived during this period.

Definitely an educational trip!

Top Things to Do in Barcelona

1. Try all the tapas in a tapas bar. My recommendation is Quasi Queviures adresi Passeig de Gracia 24.
2. Watch the show of live statue in Las Ramblas.

3. In Eixample, lose yourself shopping. Vincon and Habitat really nice options for household goods.

4. Drink a hot chocolatte in a Jamaican Coffee Shop.

5. See all the city in a open-top bus and tourist attractions in a few hours.

6. Getting lost in the narrow streets of old Barcelona.

7. Take a picture in mosaic bench in Parc Guel. Enjoy this park designed by Gaudí. Especially on days when the sun shines on mosaics.

8. Definitely see Miro museum and the Picasso Museum!

9. Climb Montjuic.

10. Trip to Montserrat. There's a famous monastery. Mountain climbing is also very suitable to do.

Barcelona en Bici

 Desde que vine a Barcelona, siempre quise visitarla en bici! La primera vez, fue en marzo del año pasado y para ser sincera con el frío que hacía se me quitaron las ganas. Este año estoy aquí por segunda vez, y por más tiempo, y un detalle pero muy importante: estamos en verano!!! Así que decidí tomar una bici, pero el problema con la bicis es que no sabes como hacer para cogerlas. Primeramente, el cartelito que te explica como hay que hacer, está en catalán!, segundo que sólo la pueden tomar las personas que tienen un abonamiento anual! ( eso fue lo que me explicaron), y por último pues te dices “felizmente puedo alquilarlas en otro sitio”. En muchos lugares de Barcelona, puedes alquilar una bici desde 1 euro 50 la hora, hasta máximo 10 euros el día, genial ¿verdad?, pues claro, cuando sabemos que un ticket del metro está más de 3 euros si quieres comprar una ida y vuelta, pues mejor me cojo una bici.

De uno, conoces mejor la ciudad, de dos haces ejercicios al mismo tiempo y de tres tomas los atajos que quieras!. El problema del alquiler, es que estamos obligados de dejarlas en el lugar del alquiler, es decir que si la tomamos cerca de la playa y nos fuimos hasta el parque Güell pues hay que regresar hasta la playa.

 Entonces, regresemos a lo de las bicis rojas, esas que vemos en toda la ciudad. Es cierto que hay que pagar un abono anual, pero esto equivale a menos de 4 euros al mes, si si si sólo eso! En total se tiene que pagar 47 euros, pero si estas en Barcelona por varios meses pues si que vale la pena tomarlo. De esta manera, cuando tomes una de estas bicis no estas obligado de ir a dejarla en el lugar donde las tomaste, ya que las estaciones las puedes encontrar en toda la ciudad. Entonces ¿ te animas?, por mi parte el día que visité Barcelona en bici me encantó!!

Entonces, ¿ te animas?, por mi parte, me encantó visitar Barcelona de esta manera.

Escrito por Cristina Waller

Sonar Festival

Sónar is a multi-day, multi-location festival that brings party-heads the latest in new wave Electronica, House and Techno. It was born in 1994 as The Festival of Advanced Music and Multimedia Art, bringing together some of the top names in the leftfield European Dance scene for a three day event.

In 2013 the Sónar festival celebrated its 20th birthday with four distinct festivals running across four different cities, including Reykjavik, Osaka, Tokyo and its spiritual home of Barcelona. The truest Sónar experience is to be had in this Catalonia capital – where you’ll need to book up a hotel room weeks in advance to make sure you’ve got somewhere to stay for this hugely popular event.

Alongside the range of Advanced Music on offer from this event you can also submerge yourself into a feast for the senses with their SónarCinema attraction, where thought provoking films are usually on the menu. There are a number of other exhibition areas where you can find all kinds of delights including the Sónarama area which focuses on audio-visual creations.

Focusing on cutting-edge electronic culture covering both music, art and film, Sonar provides a great mixture of breakthrough digital art forms and uptempo and intense club nights.

This year I’ve participated for the first time at the festival in the night of June 20 and I have been fully satisfied of everything, from the organization (four stages in four different sheds, two with an open roof) to the guests. I appreciated artists as the chemical brothers with their fantastic visual effects, Flyng lotus, Siriusmodeselektor, jamie jones and many others.

A suggestion, if you love the music and the people you can’t loose this festival!

PDA in Barcelona

Coming into my third week in Barcelona, it is safe to say I love this city. The culture, the weather, and the people are to name but a few of the great things in this wonderful place. What I did not expect though, is the love that couples in this city show to one another. Yes, I´m talking about PDA (or public displays of affection).  

I am from the UK, generally seen as a liberal and open-minded place. However, when it comes to PDA, we British turn our noses up at the very sight of it. In the words of Hannah Bett from The Telegraph, “We are British, for the love of God. We do not do this. PDAs are for children and foreigners - the emotionally incontinent, and / or people with something to prove.” While people might hold hands and occasionally kiss, it is nothing like the scenes that are displayed here in Spain.

So it came as a shock to me when sitting on the beach, walking around day or night or even sitting in a restaurant, that Barcelonians have no problems getting lost in each other`s… well, mouths. In some ways, I see it as refreshing that people don´t care what others think of them. However, there is a line, and at some point I can´t help but think ´Oh, get a room!`. Some nations in the Middle East and areas of Asia frown upon PDA greatly - hand-holding, hugging and kissing are illegal in some countries, with huge penalties for doing so. But this is the other end of the extreme, where people are forced to restrain themselves and will face prison, or worse, if they do not. 

A blog post by a North American speaks about her experience in another Hispanic nation, saying: “The first time I visited Argentina, I was shocked to see teenagers lying under trees in public parks, just sucking face like there was no tomorrow.” One may assume that because of the strict Catholicism in these nations that couples would be more modest in displaying their affection, but after being here for just two weeks, I can say that this is not the case.

I don´t hate it, it´s just not what I´m used to, being from the UK. And hey, if they´re happy, then who am I to judge? I guess it´s just one of those things we´ll adjust to in the process of becoming Barcelonian.

Betts, H. (2014). Kissing in public? No thanks, we're British. Available:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/sex/relationship-advice-and-romance/11251250/Kissing-in-public-No-thanks-were-British.html. Last accessed 23/06/2015.

Speaking Latino. (2014). Dating Latinos It’s Different: PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION (PDA). Available: http://www.speakinglatino.com/dating-latinos-its-different-public-displays-of-affection-pda/.Last accessed 23/06/2015. 

The Other Face of Barcelona

Hello BecomingBarcelonian reader, today i am writing this text a little bit depressed. Because something bad happened last night.

There is a problem which exists in Barcelona, thieves. They are incredibly professional and dangerous and the most of them are not Spanish, they are immigrants. 

Last night me and my two friends sit in front of a closed shop and we were talking, laughing around 11pm. It was a really big street close to Plaza Catalunya. I am saying that because I want you to know it was not a backstreet or small Barri Gotic place, it was downtown. Then a man closed to us and sit in front of me my friend. He was saying something but we did not get it. Then he put a paper between me and my friend. A friend of mine hold the man´s arm and I sad police. The man took the paper and go away from us with his friend. We thought like he scared. But after 5 minutes we realized actually he did not scared at all. He stole my friends phone with the paper. Because he put the paper on the phone. Then he took the paper with the phone and we did not realize at all. He was so professional. Maybe we are so lucky to not realizing it. Because maybe he has knife or gun or something else and he could have hurt one of us. And it would be the worst scenario. After realized the phone is gone I felt nothing. Because my friends came to Barcelona on this date for me. And I wanted to sit in front of that shop. And this happened. I felt myself so quilty. And I just looked to the road without any sense. My friend who stolen her phone was calm. But i could not stay calm.

All my life I thought like these kind of things does not happen to me or to my relatives. To seen all the incident alive, effected me bad. I still feel so sad. Because it was the last  hours for my friends in Barcelona, they had a flight to Madrid 3 hours later and it has happened. Finally, I wanted to say to you all this writing, please be careful and if you are careful but this happened be calm and think like that “It has meant to be and it has done, there is nothing to do, lets move on.” There is always a possibility for come true this kind of situations in every country, but you have to be more careful in Barcelona if you do not want to have a bad memory. Have a nice day. 

The pleasure of eating: Pollo Rico

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” 

― Virginia Woolf, A Room of One's Own

“Blood may be thicker than water, but it's certainly not as thick as ketchup. Nor does it go as well with French fries.” 

― Jarod Kintz, This Book is Not FOR SALE

When you live in a foreign city, you are interested in searching for places to visit, museums, bars, discos and so on, but there is another aspect of great relevance that should intrigue you - and that we unforgivably disregard on this blog: cooking.

You’re not fully enjoying your stay in a city if you don’t explore the local dishes, flavours and spices. The hugest mistake you can do is trying to reproduce your native country’s cooking in another place: if you want to integrate yourself, you have to be open-minded and to discover the typical cooking of the country you’re living in. Cookery is an important feature of each country's culture: you cannot say that you really know one place without tasting its cooking. 

The pleasure of food

I’m not here to suggest you restaurants in which you will taste haute cuisine at very expensive prices: we are students or interns, so we are searching for something good, but also cheap. That’s why I am going to present you a very rustic, cheap and cheerful place located in one of the most historical and characteristic barrios, El Raval. The restaurant is called Pollo Rico and takes its name from its main dish. This restaurant is a little bit unrefined, but there you can breathe the real atmosphere of El Raval and – above all – you can give a try to the typical Barcelonian cooking at very low prices.

Pollo Rico

As said, the main dish of this restaurant is chicken (‘pollo’). Pollo rico means 'succulent chicken' and it describes perfectly the course, which is really tasty. The combination ½ pollo and patatas al horno (or fritas or – for the gluttons – bravas) is the one I suggest you. If you’re not that hungry, you can choose the ¼ version. After the main course, you can end with crema catalana, the most famous Catalan dessert. 

If you don’t like chicken, anyway, there’s plenty of dishes among which you can choose, and with 8-10€ you can satisfy your appetite completely. 

Pollo y patatas fritas

Moreover, in this place you can enjoy the spirit of this barrio, goliardic, rustic and familiar. I strongly suggest you to go there once: if you’re not searching for fancy places, but for something down to earth, you’ll appreciate it. 

Back to 30s: Barcelona Pipa Club

If you're in the magnificent Plaça Reial, a hot-spot of Barcelona nightlife, and you ring the bell of "Pipa Club" at number 3, it will seem you that you're travelling across ages and that you've jumped into the 20-30s. You'll get into an old, Victorian flat, transformed into a fancy bar with the vibe of the beginning of the XX century. You'll see jazz musician jamming in the main hall and you will be able to drink vermouth while listening to good music and enjoying the atmosphere. 

Barcelona Pipa Club's location: Plaça Reial

The Barcelona Pipa Club was founded in 1980 as a non-profit association, which now counts over than 400 members. It was born as a pipe-smoking club, even if live music constitutes the main attraction.

The style - as already said - is very Victorian: it seems to get back to the London of the 20-30s, especially the Sherlock Holmes pub, which reminds us the foggy atmosphere of Londoner Baker Street. It is one of the most unique places you'll ever visit - especially if you're a vintage lover. 

Barcelona Pipa Club

The list of activities offered by Barcelona Pipa Club is wide: the gastronomic section, which organises gourmet assays and monthly dinners; the photographic one, which arranges laboratories and expositions; the cigar section for Havana fans; a literaly division which allows you to chat with writers; the pipe smoking courses, coherently with the true spirit of the place; painting and photography exhibitions; snooker, darts and chess groups and, last but not least, jazz concerts.

Every sunday, there is the jam session held by some jazz musicians, on monday and tuesday you can enjoy tango and milonga, while on friday there are always musicians playing different instrument with various styles, from blues to gipsy jazz . 

Barcelona Pipa Club: flier

Unfortunately, Barcelona Pipa Club will move soon to Grácia district, at number 21 in Carrer Sant Eulalia. I say unfortunately because Plaça Reial is - without any doubt - one of the most suggestive Barcelonian locations, and it will be difficult to recreate the same atmosphere. However, Grácia has its own allure, and I hope that Barcelona Pipa Club will not lose its timeless style. 

Carlotta Neuenschwander

From Zorba to Zara

Zara is without any doubts the flagship brand of chain-store - profitable INDITEX. Actually it’s most unconventional strategy was its policy of zero advertising. The company preferred to invest a percentage of revenues in opening new stores instead. The history of brand had started in 1975 when Amancio Ortega opened the first Zara store in downtown a Coruña.

The name of brand was absolutely a fluke. Supposedly it had to be Zorba after watching the famous film Zorba the Grek by Ortega.  The title was not right, because probably some local bar had the same name. 

Paradoxically, Spain is the only country in which ZARA is pronounced not “Zah-rah”, but “Tha-ra¨.

The first store featured low-priced lookalike products of popular, higher-end clothing fashions. The store proved to be a success, and Ortega started opening more Zara stores throughout Spain. During the 1980s, Ortega begun changing the design, manufacturing, and distribution process to reduce lead times and react to new trends in a quicker way, in what he called "instant fashions".

Porto was the first city, through the company was started its international expansion. It entered the United States in 1989, and two years later-France. This international expansion was increased in the 1990s, with Mexico (1992), Greece (1994), Belgium and Sweden (1994), etc. until reaching its current presence in over 88 countries.

The success of Zara lies in fast deliveries, approximately twice a week. Products that designed at the headquarters in Arteixo reach stores three weeks later. This is a stunning pace, forced by the fact that between 51pc and 55pc of clothing is manufactured in “proximity” markets, Spain, Portugal, Turkey and Morocco, instead of Asia. So while some competitors outsource all production to Asia, Zara makes its most fashionable items particularly in Galicia and northern Portugal where labor is probably cheaper than in most of Western Europe. This successful strategy is vertical integration, that give Zara possibility to quick respond on any market contingency. 

Zara was commented by Louis Vuitton Fashion Director Daniel Piette as "possibly the most innovative and devastating retailer in the world." Zara has also been described as a "Spanish success story" by CNN.

The most astonishing issue about ZARA is that the brand has managed to win over the fashionistas as well as the masses. From Hollywood to Bollywood, the brand is loved by all. Moreover Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge also has a strong inclination toward the brand. Kate Middleton has been recognized frequently in using ZARA.

Now Inditex continue to expand global online platform with the launch of online sales for Zara in Mexico and South Korea. In the previous year Zara opened 343 stores reaching a total 6,683 stores in 88 markets.

If you want to know where the nearest Zaras store in Barcelona is, look at the list below:

  BARCELONA - AVENIDA DEL PORTAL DE L'ANGEL, 11-13
BARCELONA - AVENIDA DEL PORTAL DE L'ANGEL, 32-34
BARCELONA - CALLE PELAI, 58
BARCELONA - PASEO DE GRACIA, 16
BARCELONA - RAMBLA DE CATALUNYA, 67
BARCELONA - CALLE GRAN DE GRACIA, 74
BARCELONA - AVENIDA DIAGONAL, 584
BARCELONA - GLORIES
BARCELONA - CARRETERA DE SANTS, 27
BARCELONA - L'ILLA DIAGONAL
L'HOSPITALET DE LLOBREGAT - CALLE PEREZ GALDOS, 10-12
BARCELONA - DIAGONAL MAR
L'HOSPITALET DE LLOBREGAT - GRAN VIA 2
L'HOSPITALET DE LLOBREGAT - LA FARGA
BARCELONA - LA MAQUINISTA
BADALONA - MAGIC BADALONA
CORNELLA DE LLOBREGAT - SPLAU!
SANT BOI DE LLOBREGAT - ALCAMPO
CERDANYOLA DEL VALLES - AVENIDA DE CATALUNYA, 46
EL PRAT DE LLOBREGAT - AEROPUERTO DE BARCELONA-ELPRAT 
GAVA - BARNASUD
SABADELL - RAMBLA DE SABADELL, 2-8
CASTELLDEFELS - L'ANEC BLAU
SABADELL - PADDOCK BULEVARD