LONDON, January 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Barcelona's appeal for tourists has always been strong, but those looking for something a bit different in addition to great sun, sand and sea will be excited to learn that a taste of the World Shakespeare Festival arrives in the city in 2013. With a prestigious art and music festival also running until mid-February and award-winning green spaces to catch some rays in, Barcelona is definitely a hot destination this year.

Calixto Bieito and Marc Rosich's Forests arrives in the grand space of the Teatre Romea this January, having premiered at the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. It's a bilingual (English and Catalan) exploration of the forests that appear in Shakespeare's plays, and draws its inspiration from such works as Macbeth, A Midsummer Night's Dream and As You Like It.

Moving away from traditional expectations of Shakespearean performances without completely obscuring the original works, this production is suitable for both seasoned Shakespeare-lovers and those who are new to the Bard. This literary foray is bound to enrich any trip to Barcelona.

Complementing this highly prestigious event is the Arenas Festival. Held in the imposing Las Arenas Shopping Centre, which was once a bull fighting ring, it is a vibrant celebration of art and music. There's a wide variety of cultural entertainment on offer, including live music and theatre. If you'd like to witness a very traditional form of Spanish dance, then the Flamenco is perfect, and for those with children there are performances of Peter Pan, Snow White, The Magic of the Tales, and The Three Musketeers. Classical music and cabaret also feature, and the festival runs until mid-February 2013.

Once you've had your fill of the city's numerous artistic events, it's also a great time to visit Barcelona's green spaces. In 2012, Barcelona City Council won the 17th Spanish Association of Parks and Public Gardens Award, reminding visitors that chilling out in the park can be a great break from the tourist trail. 

2013 is an excellent year to enjoy Barcelona's cultural offerings, and Monarch's flights to Barcelona are now available from just £36 per person, making it easy to book an affordable city break. Flights depart from Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds/Bradford and London Gatwick airports. To book online, visit http://www.monarch.co.uk/spain-mainland/barcelona/flights. For more information contact Robert Foulkes at Robert.Foulkes@Monarch.co.uk, +44(0)1582-398122.

SOURCE Monarch Airlines