https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Spain in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed If you live in Barcelona or somewhere else in Catalonia, it's important to be aware of the regional tax deductions available to you before you file your annual tax return, covering everything from housing, to donations and child costs. https://www.thelocal.es/20260410/tax-season-in-spain-the-regional-deductions-you-can-get-in-catalonia Fri, 10 Apr 2026 11:17:23 +0200 tax-season-in-spain-the-regional-deductions-you-can-get-in-catalonia Every year, the small Catalan town of Verges celebrates Easter in a unique way - the hair-raising 'Danza de la Muerte', or Dance of Death. https://www.thelocal.es/20260401/dance-of-death-spanish-holy-weeks-spookiest-celebration Wed, 01 Apr 2026 11:00:01 +0200 dance-of-death-spanish-holy-weeks-spookiest-celebration If you're in Catalonia in winter one of the best local traditions you can take part in is a 'calçotada', a ritual which sees friends and families gobble up flame-grilled calçots (a type of green onion) with a delicious sauce. https://www.thelocal.es/20200127/recipe-how-to-make-eat-and-enjoy-calots Mon, 27 Jan 2020 08:47:51 +0100 recipe-how-to-make-eat-and-enjoy-calots African swine fever has been detected outside a containment zone in Spain's northeastern Catalonia region for the first time since its outbreak in November, officials said on Friday. https://www.thelocal.es/20260213/african-swine-fever-spreads-outside-containment-zone-in-spain Fri, 13 Feb 2026 13:48:37 +0100 african-swine-fever-spreads-outside-containment-zone-in-spain Powerful winds topping 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph) battered Spain’s northeastern region of Catalonia on Thursday, injuring at least 86 people - three seriously - and forcing school closures and flight restrictions. https://www.thelocal.es/20260212/strong-winds-disrupt-flights-and-injure-25-in-spain Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:49:46 +0100 strong-winds-disrupt-flights-and-injure-25-in-spain Devils, dancing, fire and dragons, discover all about the explosive correfoc festivals held in northeastern Spain. https://www.thelocal.es/20240129/in-images-spains-devilishly-explosive-correfoc-celebrations Mon, 29 Jan 2024 12:36:49 +0100 in-images-spains-devilishly-explosive-correfoc-celebrations Commuter trains resumed for hundreds of thousands of passengers in Catalonia region on Friday after a deadly accident caused their suspension, in a week of rail disasters that have shaken the country. https://www.thelocal.es/20260123/commuter-trains-back-in-catalonia-after-week-of-deadly-accidents-in-spain Fri, 23 Jan 2026 11:58:43 +0100 commuter-trains-back-in-catalonia-after-week-of-deadly-accidents-in-spain Catalonia continues to have no commuter train services on Thursday January 22nd, even though authorities decided that it was safe for operations to resume two days after twin train crashes in the region. https://www.thelocal.es/20260121/catalonia-suspends-all-commuter-trains-after-two-more-derailments-in-spain Wed, 21 Jan 2026 10:29:02 +0100 catalonia-suspends-all-commuter-trains-after-two-more-derailments-in-spain Spain's railway system is under more scrutiny than ever after a commuter train crashed near Barcelona, just days after at least 42 people died in a collision between two high-speed trains. https://www.thelocal.es/20260121/rail-safety-questioned-as-spain-reels-from-twin-train-disasters Wed, 21 Jan 2026 12:42:13 +0100 rail-safety-questioned-as-spain-reels-from-twin-train-disasters Proposed reforms to Spain's regional financing system have angered regions across the country, and yet Pedro Sánchez's government is confident it can pass the legislation in Congress. https://www.thelocal.es/20260115/they-get-caviar-why-spains-regions-are-angry-about-catalonias-public-financing Thu, 15 Jan 2026 13:50:39 +0100 they-get-caviar-why-spains-regions-are-angry-about-catalonias-public-financing On Christmas Eve in some parts of Spain, it's not Santa that children are waiting for, but this little guy who delivers presents in a rather unconventional manner. https://www.thelocal.es/20191204/navidad-meet-ti-de-nadal-a-log-that-poops-presents-at-christmas-in-spain Wed, 04 Dec 2019 10:00:45 +0100 navidad-meet-ti-de-nadal-a-log-that-poops-presents-at-christmas-in-spain Catalonia on Thursday became the first region in Spain to pass legislation which prevents landlords from renting accommodation on a temporary basis rather than long-term in order to skirt price caps and other standard rental rules. https://www.thelocal.es/20251219/catalonia-passes-spains-first-law-banning-temporary-rental-trick Fri, 19 Dec 2025 10:22:39 +0100 catalonia-passes-spains-first-law-banning-temporary-rental-trick The Basque Country and Catalonia are two of Spain’s wealthiest regions according to pretty much every indicator. What’s behind their success? https://www.thelocal.es/20241015/why-are-the-basque-country-and-catalonia-so-rich-compared-to-the-rest-of-spain Tue, 15 Oct 2024 21:24:18 +0200 why-are-the-basque-country-and-catalonia-so-rich-compared-to-the-rest-of-spain Spain's minority leftist government on Tuesday approved measures aimed at winning back Catalan separatists whose withdrawal of support threatens its survival. https://www.thelocal.es/20251203/spains-pm-seeks-to-win-back-catalan-separatists-to-retain-power Wed, 03 Dec 2025 07:31:12 +0100 spains-pm-seeks-to-win-back-catalan-separatists-to-retain-power Spain's top criminal court on Monday opened a trial on corruption charges against ailing Catalan nationalist figurehead Jordi Pujol, a titan of Spanish politics following dictator General Francisco Franco's death. https://www.thelocal.es/20251124/catalan-nationalist-titan-goes-on-trial-for-corruption Mon, 24 Nov 2025 15:16:09 +0100 catalan-nationalist-titan-goes-on-trial-for-corruption Long-term Catalonia resident and hiking enthusiast Esme Fox shares her tips and knowledge of some of the best routes in the northeastern region, with stunning waterfalls, volcanoes and lakes on the itinerary. https://www.thelocal.es/20221118/eight-of-the-best-hikes-in-catalonia Fri, 18 Nov 2022 13:07:50 +0100 eight-of-the-best-hikes-in-catalonia Exiled Catalan separatist figurehead Carles Puigdemont on Monday said his party had decided to withdraw its crucial support for Spain's minority left-wing government, throwing its future into doubt. https://www.thelocal.es/20251027/catalan-separatist-party-to-withdraw-backing-for-spains-government Mon, 27 Oct 2025 19:04:03 +0100 catalan-separatist-party-to-withdraw-backing-for-spains-government In what would be a major market intervention, the President of Catalonia, Salvador Illa, says his government is studying ways to stop 'speculative buying' in the northeastern region. https://www.thelocal.es/20251024/catalonia-seeks-limits-to-speculative-buying-in-stressed-property-areas Fri, 24 Oct 2025 11:09:02 +0200 catalonia-seeks-limits-to-speculative-buying-in-stressed-property-areas Spain's national weather agency on Monday downgraded its rain alert for northeastern Catalonia following torrential rain that left 18 people injured, including one seriously, authorities said. https://www.thelocal.es/20251012/spain-back-on-flood-alert-as-torrential-rains-strike Sun, 12 Oct 2025 23:25:44 +0200 spain-back-on-flood-alert-as-torrential-rains-strike A leading pro-independence group has called for Catalonia to be in a different time zone to the rest of Spain, but the idea reveals waning separatist impulse in the region. https://www.thelocal.es/20251002/calls-for-catalonia-to-be-in-different-time-zone-to-spain Thu, 02 Oct 2025 18:28:40 +0200 calls-for-catalonia-to-be-in-different-time-zone-to-spain