Barcelona attractions: what to see and do in summer This excellent exhibition has been laid on to mark the 10th anniversary of CaixaForum Barcelona. It includes almost 100 paintings, spanning all of Goya's favoured themes, from the horrors of war to the feisty majas, and many of his often-satirical royal portraits. Less predictably, it showcases the range of the artist's grasp of different techniques, and what led him to be described as "the first modern artist." CaixaForum, Casaramona, Avda Marquès de Comillas 6-8, Montjuïc (00 34 93 476 86 00, www.fundacio.lacaixa.es) My hotel pick: The Barceló is a bold architectural statement in Barcelona's edgy, multicultural Raval district, with funky, retro-flavoured rooms and spectacular views. Festival del Grec July Barcelona's main festival for all things cultural fills July with an extravaganza of theatre, music, dance and more. The main venues are on or around Montjuïc, and the loveliest is the Teatre Grec - the Greek-style amphitheatre for which the festival is named. Various venues (http://grec.bcn.cat). My hotel pick: Hotel España is the latest addition to Barcelona's hotel scene, a sensitive revamp of a classic Modernista building. Sónar Festival June 14 - 16 The legendary International Festival of Advanced Music and New Media Art runs for three days over two main venues: the CCCB in Barcelona and a string of hangar-like spaces out in L'Hospitalet, on the outskirts of the city. The 2012 festival is to feature Fatboy Slim, New Order, Hot Chip, James Blake, Friendly Fires, Squarepusher and Lana del Rey, along with a host of smaller bands and lesser-known DJs. www.sonar.es My hotel pick: As the name Chic&Basic suggests, this hotel offers designer class at a reasonable price. Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona June 11 Four international photojournalism shows are on display until June 3, together with a programme that looks at the human mind, from both a scientific and philosophical point of view. CCCB (Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona), Calle Montalegre 5, Raval (00 34 93 306 41 00, www.cccb.org). My hotel pick: The Banys Orientals is a real winner in Barcelona on price, with elegant rooms and friendly service that combine to make it consequently quite hard to get into Festes de la Merce September 21 - 24 The end of summer is marked with a huge, week-long, citywide bash that draws in concerts, firework displays, parades of fibre-glass giants and an air-show. It" s also a showcase for the best, and strangest, Catalan traditions, from the all-day competitions of human castles in the Plaça Sant Jaume to the correfoc, " fire-running" , wherein a fire-breathing dragon chases participants through the streets, showering them with sparks. Various venues (www.bcn.cat/merce). My hotel pick: The W Hotel - right on the beach with incredible views out to sea and over Barcelona - is one of those hotels you won't want to leave, and nor will you need to