An unbeatable Christmas in Barcelona: three cultural events in an exceptional city

The Gran Teatre del Liceu is one of the great opera houses of Europe. Founded in 1844, it has been vital for the expansion of musical dramatic art, as the place where many of the great voices in the history of opera have sung and even debuted. This year, in the midst of the Christmas season, you can savour one of the most beloved titles in the 20th-century operatic repertoire: the famous 'Madama Butterfly' by Giacomo Puccini, a story of betrayed love, cultural conflict and tragic ending, set in Japan, and running between 8 and 28 December. Elegant and moving, it’s the ideal choice for anyone looking for a short cultural getaway in Barcelona. This 'Madama Butterfly' has two great attractions, beyond the piece and music itself: on the one hand, the acclaimed production by Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier, one of the most elegant and historically rigorous versions of this opera ever created, and, on the other, a trio of top-level international sopranos, who will play the lead role: Saioa Hernández, Aylin Pérez and the Bulgarian superstar Sonya Yoncheva. You can book your tickets here.

This exhibition seeks to establish links between two of the most brilliant artists of the 20th century: Henri Matisse and Joan Miró. They are very different painters, who do not share a style or generation: Matisse, one of the pioneers of Fauvism and the first avant-gardes in France at the turn of the century, was 24 years older than Miró, who began to distinguish himself with the birth of Cubism and abstract art. Despite coming from very different creative backgrounds and with styles that in many ways sought different things, both shared the same creative spirit, which consisted of renewing art, and seeking beauty through a new technique. The exhibition, which you can see at the Fundació Joan Miró until 9 February, explores the close relationship between Miró and Matisse through their choice of shapes and colour, their shared passion for the decorative arts, and many documents that have been collected by both the Musée Matisse in Nice and the Fundació Miró. This is a unique exhibition and will be available for a limited time: so, lovers of 20th-century painting, you’re in luck! You can book your tickets here.

At the beginning of the 20th century, a major revolution took place in the technique of sculpture. Many artists decided that to achieve a beautiful work of art, it had to be found in the stone, rather than emerging from the imagination. They did not mean finding it in the stone, in the sense of removing excess material until achieving the desired figure – as the brilliant Michelangelo preached – but rather shaping the stone until it revealed the sublime form concealed within. Many sculptors stopped using plaster and moulds as a technique to find a predetermined shape, and began to work directly on the stone, refining it until they obtained the definitive piece. This exhibition, which you can see at the fabulous Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera, brings together pieces by avant-garde sculptors such as Hans Arp, Eduardo Chillida, Jorge Oteiza, Naum Gabo, Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore. And the venue is incomparable, as it’s inside the splendid building by Gaudí, which many have defined as a symphony of stone, unique in the world. You can book your tickets here.

If you come to Barcelona for Christmas and New Year's Eve, in addition to these three cultural offerings, you’ll discover a city that vibrates with other activities typical of this time of the year. If you want to enjoy a cultural getaway in the broadest sense of the concept, there are events you shouldn’t miss. For example, in the city centre, in Plaça de Catalunya, there’s the Christmas Festival, featuring shows that will ensure you enjoy the festive season in good company. If you spend New Year’s Eve in Barcelona, you must go to the visual – and technological – show in Avinguda Reina Maria Cristina, which is now a classic attraction in the city. If you visit in January, remember that in Barcelona the Three Wise Men bring gifts, and never fail to greet children on the evening of 5 January, when a spectacular cavalcade passes through the city.

Finally, make the most of these festive days to sit down for a bite to eat at any time. Everyone knows that the food in Barcelona is top-notch, but if you choose to book a restaurant at the end of December or the first days of January, don't forget to try some of the specialties of Catalan cuisine that are are typical of this time of year. For example, you’ll enjoy a Christmas ‘galets’ soup – very hot, and with a punchy broth – or the traditional Sant Esteve cannelloni on Boxing Day, a mouth-watering meat-filled pasta covered in a delicious béchamel. You’ll enjoy a Barcelona Christmas to the full!