Casa Vicens wins the Alimara “Through Experiences” Award

Gaudí’s first house wins the award for its olfactory guided tour developed together with the Fundación Ernesto Ventós 

Yesterday “The Night of the Alimara” was celebrated, the 36th edition of the CETT Alimara Barcelona Awards, organised by the CETT together with the B-Travel Tourism Show and Fira de Barcelona. These awards recognise those products, services, strategies or actions that provide an innovative vision in the field of communication, digitalisation, sustainability and research in the tourism, hotel and gastronomic sectors. 

Gaudí’s first house, with its nomination “The essence of Casa Vicens” was awarded in the Through Experiences category, for being an inspiring, emotional and motivational experience that connects visitors to this World Heritage Site with the cultural and social attributes and values of the territory, providing at the same time a unique and memorable experience. 

“The essence of Casa Vicens” is a sensory experience that allows visitors to Casa Vicens to discover the rooms of the first house built by Gaudí through the essences created specifically for each room by perfumer Ernesto Ventós (1945-2020). The result is a creative fusion between architecture, art and heritage with the sensory, olfactory and ethereal essences.  

This visit is the result of the collaboration between Casa Vicens and the Fundació Ernesto Ventós and although due to current health restrictions this experience is not available, Casa Vicens has shown a desire to return to it as soon as possible: “it is a guided tour and unique sensory experience, the visitor enters a house from the late 19th century through aromas created by one of the best perfumers in the world. Hopefully we will soon be able to offer this sensory experience to all our visitors again,” says Emili Masferrer, director of Casa Vicens. 

On this tour, each essence multiplies the meaning of the house. Those who were able to enjoy this experience before COVID-19 highlighted the connection established, that olfactory dialogue that Ernesto Ventós invites us to with his creation. The result is a visit that goes far beyond aesthetic pleasure because each essence connects the visitor with their memories and experiences, ultimately with their most intimate and personal self. 

About the Alimara Awards 

The Alimara Awards were created in 1984, the concept of alimara symbolises the flame that attracts and connects people, symbolising the link between the academic field of the School of Tourism with the business and institutional fabric. These awards have become a benchmark in tourism. 

The CETT Alimara Awards Jury is made up of representatives of organisations from the tourism, hotel and gastronomic sector, as well as teaching and research experts from the CETT-UB Research Groups.