Gluten-Free Spain Guide: Barcelona

Contributed by Christine Carty. Christine is an Irish girl in her late twenties, who was diagnosed with celiac diseas at the age of 24. She currently lives in Dublin. Her favorite things to do are play Gaelic Football (Ireland's national sport), travel and discover new and fun places to eat gluten free

I knew very little of what to expect from Barcelona.  I've heard such amazing things about it, but also a definite "watch your bags for the pick pockets". Barcelona is similar to Dublin in the sense that it doesn't really do high rises, but never have I seen a skyline with such varying structures. After one weekend there I finally understood why Gaudi was considered to be left of field, and I am now ever more grateful that not all of mankind has chosen to live as sheep.

 

Using  our stealth direction (OK maybe a map and turning down a few random streets) we found our hotel. The Acta Atrium Palace on Gran Via de la Catalanes is a 4 star boutique hotel, which surprisingly manages to fit in a small pool and a jacuzzi. There couldn't be any more than 60 rooms in this little gem of a hotel, and as well as being a perfect spot in Barcelona, the service is impeccable. On entering our room, we were presented with what can only be described as the best stocked room I've ever been in; a bathrobe and slippers for use when taking the lift to the pool, the biggest variety of toiletry essentials from a comb to a toothbrush, as well as soap and shampoo and two fluffy pillows each.