Ice skating rinks are not a common sight in Barcelona. Although around Christmas time, when decorations are up in full glory, many of the shopping malls install ice rinks. La Maquinista shopping centre (902 248 842, www.lamaquinista.com) houses the biggest outdoor ice rink in winter. The indoor ice rink at Pedralbes Centre (www.pedralbescentre.com, 93 410 68 21) is smaller and more geared to children. The only permanent ice rink of note is Skating Club (93 245 28 00, Roger de Flor 168, www.skatingclub.cat) in Eixample. The ice rink (pista de hielo / pista de gel) is open all year round. It is a good venue for children’s birthday parties (minimum 10 children). But the best feature is the school: children’s courses are given in ice skating and ice hockey, following the ISIA (Ice Skating Institute of America) training method. It is hard to find centres that provide training in the Olympic sport of curling, but Skating Club does so with a seal of approval from the World Curling Federation.