It’s always a bit tricky to describe oneself, but when I think about my roots, the first word that comes to mind is the Mediterranean. The vibrant colours, the diverse cultures, the irresistible food — everything around the Mediterranean feels like home to me!

I grew up in a small town in the Empordà county, renowned for its stunning coastline, the Costa Brava, not far from the hometown of Salvador Dalí, Figueres. For the past fifteen years, I’ve been living between Barcelona and Costa Brava, and I’m proud to be an ambassador for Catalonia. The region offers some of life’s greatest pleasures: sunshine, fantastic food, thriving theatres, captivating museums, unforgettable festivals, and, of course, the endless beauty of the Mediterranean Sea.

I was fortunate to explore nature extensively, from hiking the Pyrenees mountains to snorkelling in waters so cold I thought my fingers might freeze! Countless family trips and summer camps in both Spain and France sparked my curiosity for travel and a love of discovering new places from a young age.

A city person at heart.

At 18, I left my tiny town and moved to Barcelona to study Art History at the University of Barcelona. That was a life-changing decision — the world felt like it had expanded, and Barcelona was a city full of energy and possibility, a true cosmopolitan hub for a small-town girl like me. I quickly became a city person at heart, and cycling around the city felt like pure freedom!

During the late ’90s and early 2000s, Barcelona’s European fame grew, and with the advent of the Erasmus University programme, I spent my final years as a student in Bologna, Italy, at the oldest and most prestigious Art department in Europe, DAMS. It was euphoric! Two years spent living in Italy, absorbing everything I could from its culture, history, and cuisine.

The Erasmus programme opened doors for many of my friends, allowing me to travel all over Europe visiting them. London, Cardiff, Paris, Amsterdam, Rennes, Lisbon, Porto… All these places became home for a while, thanks to the cheap flights that made Europe feel so close.

After Bologna, and back in Catalonia, I started working as a guide for educational programmes and school trips, as well as an educational guide in the Costa Brava’s museums.

But the travel bug never left me.

I spent three months in London to improve my English, and from that experience, I realised that, while I love exploring the world, there’s nothing quite like living by the Mediterranean Sea. So I was back again in Barcelona, splitting my time between my hometown in Costa Brava. Since 2012, I’ve been a certified tour guide in English, Italian, Spanish, and Catalan, with a Bachelor’s degree in Art History from the University of Barcelona. Most recently, I completed a Master’s degree in Theatre Studies, a subject I am passionate about alongside art, history, and architecture.

In 2020, one of the world’s most challenging years, I met my partner in this adventure, Pamela, and together we’ve launched Spain Private Guides. I’m as excited as a child with new shoes! Through the Private Guides of Europe network and the friendships we’ve forged with colleagues across the continent who found themselves in similar situations, we can truly say something good came out of this difficult year.

I’ve finally stopped moving around (for a while, at least) and now call Girona home — a charming city just 100 km north of Barcelona, and only 30 minutes from the Mediterranean Sea. For now, I’m resting my restless soul… I think I’ve found my place here!