The Medieval Mediterranean & the Emergence of
the West
NEH Summer Institute for College and University
Professors
June 30–July 25, 2008 Barcelona (Spain)
Facilities & Orientation
The stipend for overseas NEH
Summer Institutes is $3000. Prior to acceptance participants must agree to
reimburse the organizers for pre-paid
accommodation (approximately $1400) with their first stipend installment before
the program commences. Airfare to Barcelona varies according to time of travel,
point of departure, and airline and route taken. Participants traveling from
the US can expect to spend $800-1500 for airfare. Successful applicants are
urged to make transport arrangements as soon as they have been notified of
their acceptance.
In recent years Barcelona has
become one of Europes most expensive cities, a fact which has been aggravated
by the deterioration of the dollar.
At time of writing (Fall 2007) 1 Euro () is approximately $1.44 USD. By
way of comparison, a coffee in Barcelona may cost 1.50, a cocktail 5, a
three-course lunch 8-15, a mid-range restaurant dinner 20, a movie
6–8, taxi from the airport to the city center 30, train ticket from the
airport to the city center, 3.50, 10 public transport tickets 6.50. Rooms at
the Campus del Mar residence are equipped with kitchens; shopping sensibly, one
could buy groceries for about 60 per week.
Single-occupancy self-catering accommodation has been reserved for
each participant; as a condition for acceptance participants must agree to
reimburse the program for the cost of this accommodation. Participants wishing to use alternative
accommodation must nevertheless pay
for the accommodation which has been reserved for them. During summer it is difficult and expensive to find affordable accommodation; the total price of
(approx.) $1400 is at least one-third of the cost of comparable hotel
accommodation in Barcelona. Participants who wish to stay before and/or after
the Institute are encouraged to contact RESA,
the organization which has arranged our accommodation. Participants with specific
needs regarding access, etc., should
contact the organizers immediately after acceptance.
We will be using two
residences: the Residencia de
Investigadores (June 29-July 1) and, thereafter, the Campus del Mar (July 1-26). Both are located in
Barcelonas Old City, a short walk from the Institute location and most
libraries and archives.
Residencia de Investigadors
c/ Hospital, 64
08001 Barcelona
+34 934 438 610
Location: The Residencia,
the official residence of the Consejo
Superior de Investigaciones Cientficas is located
a short stroll from the famous avenue Las
Ramblas in the heart of the Raval. It is
next door to the former Hospital de Sant Pau (founded 1401), which currently
houses the Biblioteca Nacional de Catalunya. The MACBA (contemporary art museum), CCCB (cultural center) and the philology and
history departments of the Universitat de
Barcelona are nearby, as is the famous La Boqueria market.
This Raval
is a lively, colorful old Barcelona barrio. Now shaking off its former reputation as a haunt of
prostitutes and marginal types it is becoming a dynamic, culturally exciting
neighborhood. Like the rest of
Barcelona, the Raval is safe - far
safer to walk in than most American cities - nevertheless, care and good sense
must be exercised here after dark.
Facilities: Rooms have air-conditioning, TV, phone and full bath.
Breakfast is included.
For more information
regarding the Residencia, click here,
and here.
Campus del Mar
Passeig Salvat Papasseit, 4,
08003 Barcelona
34 93 390 4000
Location: The Campus
del Mar was built in 2002 as a residence for the Universitat Pompeu Fabra. It is located
adjacent to the beach and a park, between Barceloneta, a traditional fishermans neighborhood, and the
modern Vila
Olmpica. It is a short walk to
the La
Ribera neighborhood, including El Born, famous for its shopping and nightlife.
Facilities: Rooms have a full bath, kitchen, TV, phone, and
internet connection; they are not air-conditioned. Rooms are cleaned every three days. In addition there are
smoking areas, and a gym. Breakfast is available (not included).
Using archives and
libraries in Barcelona: Most archives
and libraries require official ID; you may be asked to show your passport.
Library and archive hours vary; in July some open only during the morning
(until 2pm).
Archivo de la
Corona de Aragn: c/
Almogvers, 77. This is one of Europes great medieval archives. It has an
extensive and diverse body of documentation from the eighth to the seventeenth
centuries, including material on the Crown of Aragon, Italy, France, North
Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones
Cientficas: c/Egipcaques,
13. Spains national research council has a branch in Barcelona, the Instituci Mil i Fontanals, which has an
important Department
of Medieval Studies, of Musicology, and History of Science.
The library is available for our use and has an excellent and up-to-date
collection of material in Castilian, Catalan, English and other European
languages; the catalog is on-line.
Biblioteca Nacional de Catalunya: c/
Hospital, 56. Housed in the citys medieval hospital, the national library
specializes in Catalan and Spanish publications and also has manuscripts. A
partial catalog is on-line.
Universitat Pompeu Fabra: Barcelonas most modern university has an excellent
up-to-date library with a very good collection in English. The main
library is located beside Vila Olmpica.
Universitat de Barcelona: This library has several branches, including Literature and Philology
and Philosophy,
Geography and History, both located in or near the Old City. The collection
is particularly strong for Catalan and Spanish history and letters; there is
also a manuscript collection.
Universitat
Autnoma de Barcelona Bellaterra,
Cerdanyola del Valls. This library is located outside
the city; a train journey of about 30min.
The Catalan universities have a consolidated on-line
catalog.
Other archives and
libraries: Other important local
archives include: the Cathedral Archive, Notarial Archive, and Municipal
Archive.
Language: The two official languages in Barcelona are Spanish
(Castilian) and Catalan; most people speak both. Travelers tales of Catalans
reacting aggressively to foreigners who speak Spanish are with few exceptions
urban myth. Previously French was the foreign language of choice, but this is
no longer the case. English is more common than before, but in many
circumstances you will encounter people who do not speak any English. Although
the language of instruction of the Institute is English, you will find yourself
in many situations (outside of program time, at libraries and archives) where
you may need interact with people who speak no English. You should be prepared
for such contingencies, and although we can assist in special circumstances, it
will be participants responsibility to manage their communication needs on a
daily basis.
Travel and Arrival: A number of airlines serve Barcelona, but there are
few direct routes from North America.
To compare prices and routes, try and online consolidator such as Orbitz, but check with the airline itself
before buying to see if they offer a better price. Flying from North America
you will arrive at the Barcelona airport;
coming from Europe on a discount airline you may arrive at Girona. The most convenient way to get from the Barcelona airport to
the Residencia is by taxi (approximately 30). From Girona, take the airport
bus to Barcelonas Estaci del Nord
and take a taxi from there (approx.: 6–8).
Moving around Barcelona: The official map of Barcelona is online; you can find information about
public transport here. The residences, Institute and most
libraries and archives are within easy walking distance of each other.
Communication: The residences have full internet access in each
room. To call the US from
Barcelona dial 001 before the area code (dial 01134 from the US to Spain).
Convenience stores and telephone kiosks sell pre-paid phone cards; this is the
most economical way to call (typically 0.03/min). Your US cell phone may not
work in Barcelona and/or you may have to pay expensive roving fees. You should
consider a pre-paid phone, which can be purchased from a number of local
providers.
Safety, Lost/Stolen Items: As with
most European cities, Barcelona is far safer than the great majority of US
cities; there is almost no violent crime.
However, it is a major tourist destination and minor property crimes
(purse-snatching and pick-pocketing) are not uncommon. Good sense should be exercised and
simple precautions taken. For example, women should wear bags and purses across
the shoulder, and handbags and knapsacks should not be left on chairs or on the
ground beside you if you are sitting an outdoor bar or caf. It is recommended
that you check that your laptop, camera and other personal items are covered by
your home or travel insurance. You
should also keep regular backups of your digital data, which is likely to be
unrecoverable in the event of an equipment theft. If you suffer a loss, obtain
a police report immediately from the Policia Nacional (c/ Nou de la Rambla,
76-78) in order to be able to obtain reimbursement from your insurance company.
Banking and Money: It is generally not necessary to use travelers
checks in Barcelona. Check with your bank to make sure your debit card will
function in Spain, and advise your credit card company that you will be abroad,
but beware extra service charges which you may be subject to. For current
exchange rates, check here.
Medical Insurance: Check with your insurance company to verify your
coverage. You may need extra
coverage, or to obtain travel insurance from a third-party provider (such as Travelex).
Packing for your Trip: The summer in
Barcelona is very warm and tends to be humid; the Mediterranean will be warm
enough to swim in, and the beach is well-cared for and safe. Spaniards dress
more formally than Americans, particularly in academic and business settings;
you should pack an outfit suitable for our opening and closing receptions
(e.g.: jacket and tie for men).
The Spanish Day: The Barcelona schedule may take some adjusting
to. Breakfast is usually light:
coffee and a pastry. Normal business hours begin at 9 or 10am, with a snack
break taken at 11am or noon.
Lunch, the main meal, is typically taken 2–4pm. There is no custom of a siesta. Work hours resume at 4 or 5pm and run until between
7 and 9pm (depending on the type of establishment). A light dinner is eaten at
9 or 10pm. People go for drinks from 11pm–3am. Many restaurants now open
earlier for lunch and dinner, catering to a public made up of overwhelmingly of
tourists. Many restaurants close on Mondays, and stores and businesses often
keep shorter hours on Saturdays. Banks may only be open in the morning (until
2pm). Few businesses open on Sunday, apart from tourist-oriented stores and
corner shops.
Extracurricular: Barcelona is the funnest city in Europe (if not the
world). There is a proliferation
of bars, restaurants, clubs and stores of every kind. It has one-of-a-kind monuments and museums, and a continuous
series of festivals. The Grec
cultural festival brings world-class dance, theatre and music to the city
throughout the month of July – tickets should be bought in advance. Many
cinemas feature original language (VO) films. Get to know the city ahead of
time by consulting the official tourism
site and buying a good guidebook; Brian Catlos recommends either the Rough
Guides series or his own Art/Shop/Eat
Barcelona. Once in Barcelona
complete entertainment listings and a restaurant guide can be found in the Guia del Ocio (published
Thursdays, 1.25); it has a section of highlights in English.
Important: Generally, US citizens who wish to stay in Spain for
tourist or business purposes for up to 90 days do not need a visa. They should
travel with a round trip air ticket and a passport valid for a minimum of six
months. To confirm this, and for visa information for foreign visitors to Spain,
click here.
Disclaimer: Information provided on this site and the documents
linked to it is provisional and subject to change without notice at the
organizers discretion. Neither
the NEH, UCSC, nor the Mediterranean Seminar take responsibility for the
content of external internet sites. Links to commercial sites are not intended
as recommendations of the services those sites offer; they are informational
only.