Category: News

Experience a Mercè.barcelona!

Posted on by Lluis Ouro

Barcelona’s local festival is here from 23 to 28 September, filling streets, squares and parks with music, family activities, shows, traditional culture and artistic projects from this year’s guest city, Manchester. Here’s a summary, you’ll find full details on the website merce.barcelona.

The image for the poster for La Mercè 2025 is the work of Lluís Danés, director, producer and set designer, and the actress Emma Vilarasau will be giving the opening speech. La Mercè also has its own song this year, created by the author and composer Gemma Humet.

The music programme consists of 106 free concerts around 14 venues in the city. Música Mercè and BAM – Barcelona Acció Musical will be offering over a hundred performances from local and international artists, from more than twenty countries, around 14 venues in the city with 16 free-access stages, including the Teatre Grec, Rambla del Raval, Plaça de Sant Jaume, Moll de la Fusta, Bogatell beach and Av. Reina Maria Cristina. From Maria Arnal to The Tyets and Pussy Riot, the music programme also features the likes of Tarta Relena, Mushkaa, Rigoberta Bandini, Niño de Elche, Ladilla Rusa, Mama Dousha and many others.

In-house productions also stand out, such as Al corazón, by Marta Valdés, with names such as Sílvia Pérez Cruz, Mayte Martín, Martirio and Raúl Rodríguez at the Teatre Grec; a tribute to El Pescadilla and Catalan rumba at the cathedral; an evening of contemporary havanera sea shanties in Pl. Sant Jaume, and Hirameki, by Juan Andrés Ospina, with the Orquesta Efímera in Passeig dels Til·lers.

Manchester will be present in the Música Mercè programme with a performance from  Queralt Lahoz and Tom Werkha; the jazz pop of Ríoghnach Connolly & Honeyfeet; the dance music of Porji and the committed songs of Chloe Slater. At the BAM we can also listen to Children of Zeus and Space Afrika, two artists specialising in ambient electronic sounds.

At the Mercè Arts de Carrer we’ll find multiple options such as the Stopgap – Dance Company and the Cambodian artist Nadenh Poan; the installation Warning Notes, and the spectacular Jardí de foc, by the company Walk the Plank. Different bee rusks prepared by Artizani (Bees! The Colony) and the competitive Family Catwalk Extravaganza, by Ghetto Fabulous, are among the other notable activities.

We should not overlook the annual event in the Parc de la Ciutadella from 26 to 28 September either, which is the hosting Terra i Gust, the Sustainable Food Festival.Chosen something yet? You’ll find the full programme all set out at merce.barcelona.

Cartell de la Mercè 2025

Celebrate the European Day of Languages with your .barcelona domain

Posted on by Lluis Ouro

El 26 de septiembre se celebra el Día Europeo de las Lenguas, una iniciativa del European Centre for Modern Languages ​​y el Consejo de Europa, que desde el 2001 pone en valor la diversidad lingüística del continente y promueve el aprendizaje de idiomas como herramienta de convivencia, oportunidad y cohesión cultural.

Held on 26 September, the European Day of Languages is an initiative by the European Centre for Modern Languages and the Council of Europe. The event has been held since 2001, highlighting the linguistic diversity of the continent and promoting language learning as a tool for coexistence, opportunity and cultural cohesion.

Languages are much more than a way of communicating with each other, they are an expression of identity and belonging. In an increasingly digital world, this diversity also needs to be reflected on the internet. A domain in your language gives you a voice and represents you online.

Because of this, and for the third year running, the .cat, .eus. .gal and .barcelona domains are teaming up to mark this occasion with a special promotion: your .barcelona domain for just €5. A unique opportunity to give visibility to your digital identity.

Benefits of having a domain in your language

  • Generates proximity and trust: people identify more with a website in their own language and accompanied by a domain they recognise.
  • Gives cultural visibility: you help strengthen the language and put it on the same level as any other online language.
  • Builds a coherent digital identity: if your content is linked with Barcelona, the .barcelona domain gives your message credibility.

Shared commitment

This promotion is possible thanks to the collaboration between four domains that champion cultural and linguistic diversity on the internet. Working together allows us to reach more communities, share resources and demonstrate that diversity is a key value for a richer and more representative internet.

The previous editions have been very well received, registering new domains that reflect the cultural and linguistic wealth of our communities.Make the most of this opportunity and register your domain here!

Dia Europeu de les llengües. Aconsegueix un domini en la teva llengua per només 5€ + IVA. Promoció vàlida del 22/09 al 19/10

A summer packed with big concerts.barcelona

Posted on by Lluis Ouro

Barcelona is set for an intense summer of live music at the city’s two main venues: the  Palau Sant Jordi and the Estadi Olímpic. The season got under way in fine style with concerts by Billie Eilish, Chayenne and Guns N’Roses offering a glimpse of what is to come in the height of summer.

The Palau Sant Jordi is offering a varied range of concerts combining international and national pop.  With a capacity of over 17,000, the venue has become established as an ideal space for concerts with a more intimate experience. Pablo López, Rigoberta Bandini, Ado, Marc Anthony and Rauw Alejandro will be performing here in June and July.

At the Estadi Olímpic, the venue for large-format shows, the music of Imagine Dragons, Kendrick Lamar and SZA and BLACKPINK will fill Montjuïc with music on hot summer nights. The stadium reaffirms its role as an essential stop for big summer tours and festivals.You can check the full programme, practical information and ticket sales on the official .barcelona websites, such as palausantjordi.barcelona and estadiolimpic.barcelona.

Bicing.barcelona becomes an international role-model

Posted on by Lluis Ouro

The Bicing service has become an international role-model in sustainable mobility. The service was chosen as an example of good practice in bike-sharing in the seminar “Shared and Active Mobility Solutions”, organised as part of the European TERRAIN project.

Various European cities have visited Barcelona to get a first-hand look at how the service works. Much of Bicing’s success can be attributed to the density of stations, its interconnection with other means of public transport and the use of advanced technology for smart bicycle redistribution.

With its own .barcelona domain, Bicing stands out as it is flexible, economic and healthy. Offering electric bikes and push bikes and boasting more than 500 stations, the service allows users to get around the city easily.  With over 150,000 users at present, the success of the model now goes beyond frontiers.

Drive your website’s SEO with a .barcelona domain

Posted on by Lluis Ouro

There are still those who are unaware that a .barcelona domain can benefit their website’s SEO. Adding the .barcelona domain to your website infrastructure can be a highly efficient strategy for improving your presence in search engines, particularly if your project is linked with the city.

Either way, regardless of the domain extension you use, the most important thing for achieving a good position is that you work on the content and structure of your website.

How you can use the .barcelona domain to reach your target audience:

·       Clear geolocation: a .barcelona domain says a lot. It shows that your project is linked to the city. It can help you to position your website better in local searches, particularly if you offer products and services in Barcelona.

·       Set yourself apart from generic domains: a .barcelona domain makes you stand out. You’re not just another .com, you’re a brand with personality and local identity. Users won’t forget you. The .barcelona domain identifies you with the city’s values, an open, creative and cosmopolitan city.  

·       A relevant domain: choose a domain name that makes it clear what your project is about. You’ll help Google and users alike to understand you better from the outset.  

·       Content conceived for your audience: publish content linked to the city, use keywords linked to Barcelona and give local customers a voice.

Five steps to strengthen your .barcelona domain’s SEO

1.    Make sure tour website is well programmed and compatible with search engine standards.

2.    Get quality links with websites with authority and relevance.

3.    Improve the loading speed for your site and offer a fluid user experience.

4.    Work on your keywords, particularly those linked to your activity and location.

5.    Filter your target audience well and adapt your message to their needs.

Make the most of the .barcelona domain to connect with your local audience better and stand out in search engines.

Fhar.barcelona shows the way forward for housing in the city

Posted on by Lluis Ouro

The FHAR initiative, which brings together professionals from the public and private sectors to work on the future of the right to housing, is back at the Palo Alto Barcelona site on 7,8 and 9 May, with experts and professionals from this sector taking part.

The fourth edition will be looking at some of the main topics of debate, such as the regulation of the market, taking into account the perspectives of the administration, private companies and organisations defending the right to housing.

The programme for the FHAR  includes discussions about one of the options for turning the current situation around: increasing affordable public housing, with the participation of representatives from different administrative levels.

Decarbonisation is one of the goals that will be achieved through improved energy efficiency in housing. The main areas of innovation and transformation in this area will be presented at the forum, with a look at international models.Besides the discussion sessions, workshops and visits to different housing projects in the city are being organised, including new-build projects and energy renovation projects in public housing. More information at fhar2025.barcelona.

Markets are a click away with mercatsaunclic.barcelona

Posted on by Lluis Ouro

“Mercats a un clic” is up and running, offering an online sales platform for Barcelona’s municipal markets. Fifteen markets have joined in with the initiative, which allows customers to shop at markets from anywhere and at any time of the day.

The platform allows users to place orders with a mobile app or on the website mercatsaunclic.barcelona. This enables markets to adapt to new needs and shopping habits, with customers able to receive their orders at home or pick them up from the market, even outside of opening hours thanks to refrigerated lockers located at market entrances.

The pilot project “Mercats a un clic” began in June and currently has 91 participating establishments, offering a wide range or produce such as fruit, fish, seafood, poultry, eggs, meat, pulses, cold meats, cheese and dietary products.You can place your order at mercatsaunclic.barcelona.

Control your domain: protect your .barcelona domain

Posted on by Lluis Ouro

One of the main reasons for people losing control of their domain is not renewing it in time. There’s a period of grace when it can still be renewed, but if this elapses the domain may become available again and could be acquired by somebody else.

Follow these steps to avoid this happening:

1.       Use an accessible contact address. When you register a domain, be sure to use a contact address which is easy for you to access.  

2.       Always keep the domain information up to date. A domain can be suspended if the data are not up to date and the registration company is unable to contact the domain owner.

3.       Check your mail frequently. Bear in mind that the registration company will send you reminders when the domain is soon to expire.

4.       Don’t forget the renewal dates. Make a note of the time period for the domain so that renewals won’t get overlooked and set some reminders in advance.

5.       Contract the domain for longer if you know you’re going to need it. Remember you can renew it for up to ten years to avoid having to worry about it.  

6.       Be sure you can contact your registration company. Check that you can communicate easily, whether by email or by phone.

If you don’t renew in time, the first step is to inform the registration company that you contracted. They will be in the best position to advise you.

What do you need to do if your domain has expired?

·         When your domain expires, you have around 45 days to renew it (although each registration company has their time frames and in some cases they may charge you extra to renew it after it has expired). If you don’t renew it, anyone else can register it, even you could acquire it again!

·         If your domain is contracted by somebody else, contact us at suport@domini.barcelona and explain your case to us. We will convey your request to the current holder and, if you are lucky, they will get in touch with you to negotiate the purchase of the domain.

·         Never negotiate the domain if it includes fraudulent information, if the website is being used improperly or if there is an attempt being made to gain from it. If you find yourself in one of these situations, contact us. If necessary, we will take legal action.

Remember to always keep your .barcelona domain up to date!

New aspects to mobility at mobilitat.barcelona

Posted on by Lluis Ouro

February got under way with some changes to mobility in the city. The new by-law on circulation in the city, which you can find on the website mobilitat.barcelona, aims to preserve pavements as pedestrian spaces by prohibiting bikes and personal mobility vehicles (PMV) from circulating on them, except for children with bicycles and those accompanying them.

It’s worth noting that PMVs will now be classed as unipersonal vehicles, meaning they can only carry one person, and should have essential safety elements: helmets are obligatory, and the vehicle must have front and back lights. The current legislation prohibits the use of PMVs by those under 16 and establishes a speed limit of 25 km/h.

The new text prohibits bikes and PMVs from circulating on pavements, which will be exclusively for pedestrians. As an exception, adults carrying children with authorised systems (trailers or child-seats) or accompanying children up to 12 years of age on bicycles will be able to circulate on pavements, as will those under 14 and adults transporting children where there is no bike lane.

Either way, the obligation remains for cyclists and PMV riders to get off their vehicle in crowded spaces shared with pedestrians.

Besides the specific prohibition on parking motorcycles on pavements near schools and hospitals, the by-law on circulation, pedestrians and vehicles also means fines for parking in front of reserved pedestrian entrances, in bike lanes or in front of waste containers. The recommendation continues to be to park these vehicles on road surfaces.

The new by-law also introduces fines of up to 500 euros to guarantee compliance with the measures established. Besides the website mobilitat.barcelona, the new by-law can be found in Barcelona City Council’s Open Repository on Knowledge.

Una persona circula en patinet

Twenty years of the consellciutat.barcelona

Posted on by Lluis Ouro

The Consell de Ciutat (City Assembly), Barcelona’s most important advisory and participatory body, has just turned twenty. During this time the assembly has contributed to the evolution of city governance and become a space which represents society, today’s heir of the Consell de Cent, which lasted five centuries.

The assembly has space for trade unions, business associations, community organisations, institutions representing the city and individual citizens, over a hundred members with the capacity to draft rulings and recommendations for improving municipal policies.

The assembly has three organisational levels: the Plenary, which initially proposes topics, the Permanent Commission, and working groups devoted to listening and consulting experts.

To find out more and discover the history of the assembly go to conselldeciutat.barcelona.