L’aranya, by Àngel Guimerà, directed and adapted by Jordi Prat i Coll. © David Ruano / TNC
Adapting the classics. Can a work still be considered a classic if it has been altered?

The debate over adapting theatrical classics is nothing new – and it rarely leaves anyone satisfied. Staying within the bounds of 21st-century Barcelona alone, we’ve seen the...

This map shows the scope of the redevelopment works at the Montjuïc fairgrounds: the remodelling of the pavilions, the expansion of the MNAC, the creation of a new neighbourhood next to Poble-sec and the facilities surrounding the Palau dels Esports. © AB
Montjuïc begins its third major overhaul

Barcelona’s iconic Montjuïc hill has undergone two major transformations: the first urban development for the 1929 International Exposition and the creation of the Olympic Ring...

Illustration ©Riki Blanco
Doll’s house

In our family, we’ve always been the sort to moan endlessly when we’re ill – all dramatic sighs and martyr-like expressions. That’s exactly the state I was in when it all started...

The Ona bookshop runs around ten book clubs. © Joel Codina / Ona
The big (and unexpected) boom in book clubs

A book club is, by definition, a group of people who share a book and meet to discuss it. But in practice, it is much more than that: it is a space where stories...

© Ajuntament de Barcelona / Elena Pastor
The imaginary friend

In the summer of 2022, the Xamfrà arts school radio station began airing a programme hosted by philosopher Marina Garcés, titled Amic imaginari [Imaginary Friend]. The show...

Colm Tóibín visited Barcelona in June to present the reissue of his personal homage to the city.© Brigitte Lacombe
Colm Tóibín. A love letter to Barcelona

Irish writer Colm Tóibín remembers arriving in Barcelona in 1975 and reflects on a deep, enduring connection with streets he knows by heart. Though he lived in the city for only...

Illustration ©Riki Blanco
Time, the most precious thing of allTaking control of our time

One of the most striking changes in recent years has been the dramatic acceleration of our lives. This shift began when mobility technology compressed space, and it has now reached a new...

Illustration ©Riki Blanco
Time, the most precious thing of allTime policy: a tool for urban innovation

Barcelona was the first city in Spain to establish a time policy department and now leads the way in Europe...

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