Yearly Archives: 2018

The city of Ávila strips its charms before the eyes of the curious on May 10 and 11. Two days a year, the wall hosts open days, a unique opportunity to enjoy the most emblematic monuments of the city. The wall of Ávila is the only one that he knows convincingly since his perpetual embrace shelters the capital of Avila. The beginning and end of its construction continues to create controversy among historians. The date popularly accepted specifically points to May 3, 1090 as the beginning of the works of the emblem of the capital of Avila and marks its end nine years later, in 1099.
The city is a National Historic-Artistic Complex since 1884 and is included in the list of World Heritage Sites of UNESCO since 1985. City of height, Ávila rises to 1,182 meters, on a rocky promontory, a privileged observer of the riverside. River Adaja, tributary of the Duero. It is the highest provincial capital of Spain, and the fourth largest city in Europe in this sense.

Cradle of illustrious geniuses such as Goya and a crossroads of roads and cultures on the banks of the Ebro, Zaragoza is a city with character that has managed to create its own personality.
The Alfajería de Zaragoza was the residence of the Hudi kings and later, it was not only Christianized but inhabited by the Catholic Monarchs. Today it is the seat of the Cortes de Aragón and still reflects the splendor of the Taifa kingdom.
But if there is something that undeniably marks the profile of Zaragoza is its Basilica del Pilar. This baroque temple to which many pilgrims congregate, gathers one of the most remarkable artistic collections in Spain, such as the frescoes by Goya, located in the vault of the Coreto and the dome of Regina Martyrium, the main altarpiece (from the 16th century), the choir mayor, the organ and its museum.

Flamenco is one of the most characteristic elements of Spanish culture.
An art that integrates dance, singing and guitar music.
Flamenco is an artistic expression born of the mixture of many cultures: the Arab, the Jewish, the gypsies (who came to Spain in the fifteenth century and many stayed in Andalusia). And with the Andalusian culture.
From that cultural hodgepodge that occurred in Andalusia came Flamenco.
The cradle of flamenco was Andalusia. This art began and developed, which, over time, has spread, becoming a universal artistic manifestation.
Its main facets are singing, playing and dancing, also counting on its own traditions and rules.
As we know it today dates from the eighteenth century, and there is controversy about its origin, because although there are different opinions and aspects, none of them could be proven in a historical way.
Although the dictionary of the RAE associates it especially to the gypsy ethnic group, it is more than perceptible the fusion of the different cultures that coincided in the Andalusia of the time.
Of all the hypotheses about its origin, the most widespread thesis is that which exposes the Moorish origin, only that the cultural miscegenation that occurred then in Andalusia: natives, Muslims, Gypsies, Castilians and Jews; propitiated its creation.
In fact, it already existed in the region of Andalusia its germ long before the gypsies arrived, also taking into account that there were gypsies in other regions of Spain and Europe, but flamenco was only cultivated by those who were in Andalusia.
In November 2010, UNESCO declared it Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Discover and enojoy it during your trip to Spain!

The Spanish cuisine is rich and varied as the country itself.
Spanish cuisine is more fashionable than ever
Spanish cuisine is one of the most recognized in the world.
Although paella, gazpacho and ham are still the best-known dishes, little by little, Spanish cuisine is being given the value it deserves
Some of the most amazing facts and facts about Spanish gastronomy and cuisine:

• Spain is the largest producer of olive oil in the world. Double the production of Italy and four times that of Greece!
• Spain is the country with the largest wine growing area in the world. More than 15.5% of the world’s vineyards are in Spain!
• Approximately 75% of the world production of saffron (saffron) is carried out in Spain. Saffron is one of the key ingredients for cooking a paella.
• The most famous Spanish wines are red wines, but most of the vineyards are white grapes.
• Tomatoes, potatoes, cocoa and tobacco were imported to Europe by the Spaniards.
• Tapas are not a group of typical dishes, but rather a way of eating. The word tapas comes from the habit of covering the drink in the bars with a piece of cheese or ham to avoid getting flies or mosquitoes.

Try the typical dishes of Spain with its “jamon” and “patatas bravas”, the omelet and Valencian paella and much much more…

To know Spain is to know a spectacular country, full of beautiful landscapes, wonderful cities and corners full of history. Magical and unforgettable places that are scattered throughout its geography. If you have trouble deciding what to visit, we tell you what those essential sites are.

GRANADA. The Alhambra in Granada.
It is one of the most visited monuments in Spain. The Alhambra in Granada not only has a long history, but it is one of the most charming places you can meet. Its exquisite Andalusian architecture and its perfect location make the whole an extraordinary landscape.
BARCELONA. Sagrada Familia
The Sagrada Familia is the most visited monument in all of Spain. It is a symbol of Barcelona and is a legacy of one of its geniuses, Gaudí. Construction began in 1882, but the death of Gaudí prevented this great monument from being finished. In fact, it is still being built today.
SEVILLA. Plaza de España
Although all of Seville is beautiful, the Plaza de España is one of its most spectacular places. This emblem of the city was built for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929.
Its characteristic crescent shape has appeared in world-class films. It is bordered by banks in which the Spanish provinces are represented with tiles. While in Seville, take advantage of knowing the Giralda and the Torre del Oro and the María Luisa Park.
CORDOBA. Mosque of Cordoba
This exquisite work of Andalusian architecture is one of the most important monuments in Spain. Its beautiful striped arches represent one of the most beautiful prints of Andalusia.
This beautiful monument was declared a World Heritage Site in 1984. It was the largest mosque in the world, until the construction of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. Visiting the Mosque of Cordoba is connecting with its past and witnessing a balance between Catholicism and Islamism in all its details.
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It is a cultural prodigy. City with an impressive monumental legacy, was the birthplace of countless philosophers, doctors, mystics and poets. To get lost in its corners is to enter the time tunnel and cross the bridge between East and West.
The city, beyond its famous tourist attractions, invites you to simply walk through its streets and see the spectacle of its whitewashed houses, full of flowers, pots and vegetation everywhere; an authentic spectacle of a garden city.
The undisputed jewel of the city, the Mosque, considered the most important monument of all the Islamic West and one of the most amazing in the world. Its construction began in the year 780, where the Visigothic church of San Vicente was located, and it was extended several times until, in the year 987, it acquired its current dimensions.
The most disastrous reform of all its history was carried out in the sixteenth century, under the reign of Charles V, when part of the expansion works of Abderramán II and Almanzor were eliminated (not without controversy) to build the Christian cathedral.
In its history, the complete evolution of the Umayyad style in Spain is summarized, as well as the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles of Christian construction. We can spend hours walking through it and as soon as we seem to be in a huge mosque, as inside a bright cathedral.

Surely we will not find in Spain another city that concentrates as much history and as much cultural legacy of as much level as Toledo. The city of the three cultures, small and monumental, awaits us.
The cathedral is unique. All the artistic styles of the history of Spain have passed through it: the Gothic, the Arab plasterwork, the Baroque influences, the neoclassical … And that’s not all, in this cathedral there is a level outside and inside. Let’s review the pictorial works that are in your sacristy, which could rather be classified as impressive pinacotheca: El Greco, Caravaggio, Titian, Van Dyck, Goya, Morales, Rubens, Bassano, and many more! It can be the envy of many museums.
It is essential to visit its unique but impressive tower, as well as the lantern or the skylight. In this skylight, there is a sculptural ensemble on which the light is reflected and creates a unique visual spectacle. Also here is the door clock, which is one of the few in the world with a single crank, because it marks the canonical hours.
The quarterdeck
The Alcazar is on the highest hill of the city and from there it presides over its rectangular mass. It was built by the Emperor Charles V, to have a residence worthy of its category. But curiously it did not get to host kings, because long before finishing it, the capital was established in Madrid. In the end it became the home of the widowed queens, retired from the court by the successors of their husbands.
It had diverse and curious uses: it was a splendid prison, a spectacular military barracks and even a workshop of sederos. Today it is being adapted to house the military museum and the modern library of Castilla-La Mancha.

Gaudi´s Barcelona

Gaudí, a Spanish genius with his own name, deserves to be considered a wonder for himself. Works in Barcelona such as Park Güell or the always unfinished Sagrada Familia demonstrate the artistic level of this list.
A trip to Barcelona should start with a good panoramic view of the city. One of the best, located in the «modern» center, in the Eixample district of Barcelona, ​​is the one obtained from Casa Milà, also known as La Pedrera.
This is the best example to know what a modernist style apartment building is. This architectural jewel was designed by Gaudí during the first half of the 20th century, but today it still leaves us with an open mouth for its originality.
After La Pedrera, we can immerse ourselves in the traditional Barcelona passion for design, which already comes from far away. In many places of the city, we find buildings of modernist style.
This was the preferred style of the bourgeoisie of the early twentieth century. Leaving aside the jewel in the crown, which is the temple of the Sagrada Familia – a must-see in the Eixample district of Barcelona -, we can not miss the popularly known as the Apple of Discord with Casa Amatller, Casa Batlló, and so on.
The other great modernist work of the city, also created by Gaudí, is the Güell Park. It is far from the center, but it is a unique place in the world and deserves to take a walk there.

Valencia is today a symbol of change. Its leap to modernity has been achieved without betraying its roots and has managed to become one of the most desirable tourist destinations. The design and the first-class cultural facilities go hand in hand with the sun, the sea and the good food of always.
The Oceanogràfic deserves a complete visit. Its 110,000 m2 make it the largest in Europe. In it we can enjoy the main marine ecosystems of the planet and 45,000 copies of 500 different species. Here we can see dolphins, walruses, sea lions, seals, penguins, sharks, rays, sawfish or jellyfish. Its design – large and without visual barriers – is truly spectacular.
From the most modern to the classic
The cathedral, popularly known as La Seu. The temple is dedicated to Santa Maria by desire of King Jaime I and stands on the remains of the old mosque. Its three main doors are of different styles (Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque) and its octagonal bell tower. The Miguelete is the emblem of the city. It rises to a height of 50.85 meters, as measured by its perimeter. From his interior we can not miss the Quattrocento paintings, which arrived from Rome thanks to the Valencian Pope Alejandro VI.
In the Plaza de la Virgen, the Basilica of the Virgen de los Desamparados stand out, and very close by, the Royal Convent of Santo Domingo. This convent was built by the order of the Dominicans in the thirteenth century, with the approval of King James I. In the historic center of Valencia, it is possible to find other churches of interest, among which are those of Santa Catalina, San Nicolás and San Martin.