SABADELL in Spain is often referred to as ‘Catalan Manchester’, because it has a textile heritage with many of its chimneys still maintained today.
In fact, the city was once the largest producer of wool textiles in the whole of Spain.
Today, the city is known for being a centre for business, innovation and knowledge.
The city sits on the banks of the River Ripoll and in the old town visitors can see the remains of many historic facades.
Located just 30 minutes from Barcelona, it makes a great alternative compared with the bustling city.
One of the things to do in Sabadell is head to Parc Catalunya, where visitors can ride a boat on the lake, go skateboarding or bike riding.
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Alternatively, you could head to Iglesia de Sant Felix – a church built in the Baroque style with three bells.
There is also the Mercado Central de Sabadell, which is the central market in Sabadell and is a great spot to pick up some souvenirs from local sellers.
The market has been used as a trading hub for centuries and today still is.
One recent visitor said: “Beautiful building outside and inside. There is a great selection of meat, fish, vegetables and breads.
“There are also some stalls offering cooked food and other ready to eat choices are also available.”
Another visitor said: “Very spacious inside allowing traders plenty of space to show off their fresh produce. The fruits stalls are eye catching.
“I had a cafe con leche and chocolate croissant at the bustling tapas bar.”
Another place to head to is Los Lavaderos de la Font Nova – these historic laundry rooms are part of the city’s heritage, but have been preserved and today tourists can see where people used to do their laundry in the 1830s.
Also make sure to head to Masia de Can Deu, which is a historic estate with a museum, rescued church and even a small farm.
Sabadell also makes a great base for heading off hiking as there are several trails nearby.
If you happen to be in Sabadell in September, make sure to visit Fiesta Mayor, where the city transforms into a lively destination with lots of music, fireworks, parades and carnival rides.
Or if you are in the city in December, head to City Hall, where for the first 24 days of the month an advent calendar is brought to life with a new light shining each day.
The annual tradition has a main character called El Llaminer, who is a fairytale-like figure made of sweets, who sings and tells a different story each evening.
Across the city, there are numerous places to grab a bite to eat including Maximmus Pizzeria Napoletana, which is the best rated spot on TripAdvisor.
The restaurant serves up freshly made pizzas, including ‘The peasant woman’ with sausage, artichoke, parmesan and oil for €16 (£13.97).
Alternatively, you could grab a ‘Quattro Formaggi’. which features four different cheese including parmesan, mozzarella, gorgonzola and provolone for €16.50 (£14.41).
There are a number of places to grab a tipple as well, such as These Wild Geese, Irish pub, where a cocktail will set you back just €7.30 (£6.37).
There are just a handful of hotels to choose from across the city, including Urban Sabadell which costs from £65 per night for two people.
Return flights to Barcelona in January cost from £34 per person.
Then to get to Sabadell, you can jump on a train or bus which takes about 40 minutes.
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