El Raval is Barcelona’s largest neighbourhood, and by far it’s liveliest. Demarked by the Las Ramblas and containing many star attractions such as the MACBA museum and Boqueria market, visitors to the city are likely to spend a fair bit of time during their holiday in El Raval. The buzz in El Raval gets louder at night, when countless bars roll up their shutters for business. In streets like Joaquím Costa (the epicentre of Raval bar culture) the Rambla del Raval and Riera Alta you can pretty much hop from one to another, taking in the distinct personality of each along the way. To get you started, here are some of our favourites bars in the Raval: Marmalade, Riera Alta 4-6 This large, New Yorkian-style locale with ad-hoc furniture and pool table is known for its friendly, up for it crowd and nicely-priced cocktails (most of them are around 5€). Many people meet up at the Marmalade before hitting the clubs, and it’s a good place to pick up flyers and invites. Bodega 1800, Carme 31 Although it may look like it’s been here forever, this little hole-in-the-wall bar is actually quite new, and the perfect spot for some pre-dinner tapas and good barrelled wine ...

It’s been called ‘the greatest market in the world’ and in many ways it is. Barcelona’s Boqueria market is the largest in Europe and the best in the city. Located right on Las Ramblas, La Boqueria goes beyond a place to do your weekly food shopping in Barcelona; it is a showcase for the Spain’s vast array of seasonal produce, an inspiration for local chefs, a stage for local community events and increasingly a top tourist attraction in Barcelona. Traders of all sorts have been peddling their wares at La Boqueria’s site since the 17th century when the city was still walled, though the soaring glass and iron structure you see today dates from the mid-19th century. Inside, there is logic to the market’s layout; in the centre you’ll find the ‘illa de peix’ (island of fish) where pearly-white cuttlefish, bucket-loads of prawns and scary-looking monkfish glisten on seas of ice. Around the edges you’ll find fruit and veg, with exotic fresh fruit juices sold at the Rambla-facing stalls. In between you’ll wander through everything in-between, from tiny paradas selling only eggs or bananas and another with every sort of fungi under the sun (Petras, Nº 867, they also specialise in ...

A visit to Paris is often associated with guilty pleasures; there’s something about those delicate, pastel-coloured macaroons, rich, red Bordeaux wine and even pure silk lingerie that would be foolish to resist. So why stop at shopping and eating? While you’re at it, indulge your body and mind at one of the city’s top spas or saunas. Le Spa Nuxe (32 rue Montorgueil, www.nuxe.com). Exposed brick walls and natural wood combined with contemporary furniture in earth tones set the scene for this popular urban spa that offers both Western and Eastern styles of treatments and massages. Nuxe skincare products, which are produced under the principles of phytotherapy and aromatherapy, are used exclusively. La Bulle Kenzo (1 rue du Pont-Neuf, www.labullekenzo.com), Anything that carries the name of French- Japanese designer Kenzo Takada you expect to be unconventional, and this futuristic spa is no exception. In a quirky décor featuring the designer’s signature vivid colours, you can lie in on a bright pink massage matress (you didn’t presume to see a regular massage table did you?) where you will receive a ‘choreographic massage’ accompanied to music whilst watching the abstract projections on the walls around you unfold. Later on, you will be served tea ...

Here at Holiday Velvet we often get asked about where you can leave your luggage whilst you are waiting to 'check in' to your apartment or after you have 'checked-out'. Whilst you can always ask the owner directly if they are able to look after your bags for a few hours, left luggage facilities still exist at many major train stations and other transport hubs. These days, most of these facilities run on an automated locker system (gone are the days when you checked in your bag in as you would a coat in a nightclub). Remember that they may fill up at peak periods. Rome When arriving at Termini Station on the Leonardo Express train from Fiumicino airport, you can leave your baggage in the ‘piazza’ on the lower-ground floor (follow the ‘Deposito bagagli’ signs). It’s open 6am-midnight, 7 days a week. Venice ‘Deposito bagagli’ is available at Santa Lucia Train Station (open 6am-midnight daily). Cooperative Trasbagagli is a private company that will not only store you luggage for you, but take it by boat to your place of accommodation, saving you schlepping bags over the bridges and canals. They have two offices in Venice; one at the Piazzale Roma (open 6am to ...

The Old Bridge, better known as the Ponte Vecchio, is a world renowned monument that draws thousands of people to Florence every year. In a way, the history of the Ponte Vecchio marks the progress of Italy and Florence from the Middle Ages.The first bridge over the Arno River was probably built by the Romans in stone and wood and is mentioned in a document that dates from 996. A little over one hundred years later the bridge was swept away in a flood. It was rebuilt in stone but two hundred or more years later it was destroyed by another flood, save for its two central piers. Consequently, the bridge was rebuilt again to a design by Taddeo Gaddi. The Ponte Vecchio has three segmented arches with the main arch having a span of 30 metres; the arches either side have spans of 27 metres. The bridge itself has always been a place to do business with shops and merchants buying and selling goods. It is reckoned that the word bankruptcy originated from the trade that was carried out on the bridge. If a merchant ran out of money and was seriously in debt, the table from where he sold his ...

Le Marais is an area of Paris on the Right Bank of the River Seine and it is renowned for its numerous little streets and tiny courtyards. Le Marais is French for ‘swamp’ but, fortunately, the only risk from entering Le Marais is from getting swamped by designer bags.There are many popular and chic designer shops in the Le Marais area such as Shine in Rue de Poitou which is owned by Vinci D'Elia who is avant garde when seeking out new design talent from Paris, London and New York. Each season’s collections are hung from simple rails suspended from the ceiling in a shop that is cool, sophisticated and very chic. Yukiko’97 is on Rue Vieille du Temple and has been in Paris for more than a decade. Yukiko chose Le Marais to establish her boutique because it is one of the principal areas of Paris that people come to when searching for designer goods that are extra special. Yukiko’s shop is tiny, unique and incredibly alluring and to not shop with zeal is almost a sin. On the other hand, Parisian trendies simply love Free 'P' Star, which is a tiny, almost claustrophobic designer boutique that has a wide ...

The centre of Rome is for walking or travelling by bus or tram. If you are looking to park your rental car in Rome it will probably be much cheaper to hand it back to the rental company and hire another car when you wish to leave your Rome accommodation. But, if that is not an option and you do wish to park your rental car in Rome, it does require a certain amount of advance planning. The historic centre of Rome is out of bounds to all cars that do not have a special pass and there are cameras and police at the entry points waiting to enforce the restriction. If a rental car does enter the historic zone then the fine is at least sixty Euros. If you proceed to park in the forbidden area, your car will receive a second fine, will have its wheel clamped or may even be towed away. Assuming that you are not deterred from driving in Rome, there is on street parking in certain areas but without a resident’s permit, it is necessary to keep buying a parking ticket and that can get very expensive.So, the solution to parking your rental car in Rome ...

Sorrento is a delightful city with wonderful orange groves and spectacular cliffs looking out over the Bay of Naples to the north and, on a clear day, you can see the Vesuvius. But why not take a break from your Sorrento holiday rental and visit Capri for a day? Getting to Capri from Sorrento A trip to the island of Capri can be taken by hydrofoil or ferry. From Sorrento town centre take a taxi or a bus down the steep twisting road to Porta Marina Piccola where you can buy a one-way ticket for Capri. The journey by hydrofoil takes about twenty minutes. Do not buy a return ticket as you may wish to return by ferry, especially if the sea is a bit choppy, and there are no special deals for buying a roundtrip ticket in advance. The ferry ride takes longer than the hydrofoil but it is much more comfortable and one hydrofoil journey in a day, unless the sea is like glass, is usually enough. ABOUT CAPRI When you arrive at Capri in the Marina Grande you will discover an enchanting, romantic island that has been a luxury getaway since the days of the Roman Empire. In fact, Emperor Tiberius ...

Chelsea, New York, is on Manhattan Island, south of West 34th Street and the area known as Hell’s Kitchen; it is north of West 23rd Street and West Village; and lies to the west of 9th Avenue. Chelsea is home to many art galleries and is renowned in New York as a centre for creativity. Following are the top 10 art galleries in Chelsea, although the selection should be regarded as subjective and a personal choice. 1. AMSTERDAM WHITNEY GALLERY The Amsterdam Whitney Gallery is situated in 511 West 25th Street and throughout the year has glamorous gala openings to promote its exhibitions. 2. BARBARA GLADSTONE GALLERY The Barbara Gladstone Gallery is located in 515 West 24th Street and there is also a gallery in 530 West 21st Street. 3. LUHRING AUGUSTINE GALLERY The Luhring Augustine Gallery is in 531 West 24th Street and holds exhibitions for many of New York’s and the art world’s leading talents. 4. MATTHEW MARKS GALLERY The Matthew Marks Gallery is at 523 West 24th Street and displays the works of a good number of artists and holds both contemporary art and museum exhibitions. 5. GAGOSIAN GALLERY The Gagosian Gallery is one of the most prestigious art exhibitors in New York with galleries in 555 West ...

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