14 October 2010
5 international art galleries you should visit
As balmy summer evenings become a distant memory, the big-name galleries around the world pull their sartorially sound socks up to compete for your attention with an array of blockbuster exhibitions. We’ve searched the globe to compile our definitive list of the awe-inspiring art galleries and museums that give New York, [...]
17 August 2010
an above par course Home of the VOLVO World Match Play Championship, the 72 par, 18 hole course at the Finca Cortesin Hotel and Spa resort is 6,800 metres long with more than 100 bunkers, and is regarded as one of Spain’s best. With spectacular views of both the mountains and the sea, you’ll be sure [...]
01 June 2010
No visit to Cordoba is complete without a visit to the Great Mosque, Mezquita. A designated World Heritage Site, it is impossible to escape its impact upon the city as a reminder of Spain’s colourful history and Moorish past. This mosque is like no other, in fact its a work of art in its own right. [...]
28 May 2010
Travelling with friends, families or loved ones can sometimes be a little overrated. The hassle of deciding where to go, where to stay and what to pack. And that’s just the start of it. Soon come the tantrums, the sulking and heated arguments just because you wanted to pop into that shop, or eat at [...]
27 May 2010
Music aficionados take note and head to Toledo, Spain, this June as the ancient city turns into a glorious music venue. The International Toledo Music festival takes place until June 8th and it will showcase the best of music by orchestras, groups and soloists on stage. But we’re not talking about any odd stage. Enjoy music [...]
26 May 2010
Adrenalin junkies get your wetsuits on as the Wild Water Championships come to Spain this June (7th -13th) for the first time in history. Kayakers from 31 countries across the world will descent down Catalonia’s rapid wild waters in order to win the title, Best in the World. The race will take place in Sort, about a [...]
25 May 2010
If you thought the Brits were passionate about their cider, then you haven’t been to Spain. Head to Asturias in northern Spain to discover deep rooted traditions in authentic cider bars. But these aren’t bars in the traditional sense, they’re more like farmhouses. Think long thick wooden tables, barrels of cider, rustic wooden crates piled high [...]
24 May 2010
If ever in Madrid, a visit to the Prado museum is a must. Holding over 8,000 paintings, the Prado is considered to be one of the world’s finest museums. The Prado has the most complete collection of Spanish painting spanning between the 11th – 18th century, and many great masterpieces by universal artists such as El [...]
21 May 2010
Get away from the beaches of Mallorca in Spain with a relaxing visit to the beautiful estate of Alfabia, right in the heart of the Tramuntana mountain range. Driving into the estate you’ll soon discover the romantic gothic Andalusian house which was once a Muslim residence, traces of which are still present today with Arabic writing [...]
14 May 2010
One of Spain’s renowned delicacies is its Iberian ham. Intense flavours, soft textures and enticing aroma gets anyone’s palate craving for more. But don’t think you need only pop to your local Tesco to get your fix, because nothing can compare to trying the real thing in Spain. The Iberian ham is made from the black [...]
12 May 2010
Get your dancing shoes on as the National Flamenco Music Competition descends upon the city of Cordoba once more from the 1st April to 31st May. Held every three years, the festival attracts the best Flamenco dancers, singers and guitarists throughout Spain, with prizes given out for best performer in each category. And for the [...]
11 May 2010
do it like the pagans did it in alicante
A throw-back to pre-Christian times, the pagan festival of Las Hogueras de San Juan is one that is widely celebrated throughout Spain. However, no one quite does it like the people of Alicante. This year, from the 20th – 29th June, residents of Alicante begin frantic preparations for the festival, with huge wooden and papier-mâché figures [...]
10 May 2010
The air is thick with the scent of Jasmine and Orange blossom in Cordoba, Andalucía, as the immensely popular competition of wrought iron grills and balconies approaches, held simultaneously with the Cordoba Courtyard Contest. From the 5th – 16th of May every year, residents of Cordoba gear up to get their green fingers on as they [...]
07 May 2010
ride into the sunset at Castile-Leon
Don your coolest biker leathers and head to Castile-Leon in Spain. The region of Castile-Leon may be better known for its agriculture, but trust us, there’s more to this place than farm yards and lumberjacks. Think stunning monuments, old fortresses, archaeological sites, wineries, vineyards and stunning natural landscapes. Whether its art, history, wine tasting or archaeology; [...]
06 May 2010
anish kapoor at bilbao guggenheim
The Bilbao Guggenheim is a piece of art in-itself. Designed by famed architect Frank Gehry, the building is sculpture of curvaceous metal-clad forms. Over the years the museum has featured both permanent and visiting exhibits of works by Spanish and international artists. This year the Guggenheim presents a body of work never before seen in [...]
04 May 2010
From 10th May 2010, the Bilbao Museum of Fine Arts will be exhibiting the works of Cristóbal Balenciaga, one of the most important couturiers in the history of fashion. Balenciaga is renowned for his creative talents in the fashion industry. Starting out in his own workshop in San Sebastian in 1937, he eventually landed his own [...]
30 April 2010
A spectacular Roman ruin still remains in Spain and it’s nothing quite like what we’ve seen before. Las Médulas, a once open-air working gold mine, has definitely left its mark in the Bierzo Region and there’s a good reason why. The techniques the Romans used to extract the gold was called ‘Ruina Montium’, which literally translates [...]
29 April 2010
If you’re crazy about chocolate you simply have to get yourself on this chocolate inspired tour of the city of Zaragoza in Spain. Rumoured to be the area where monks first introduced chocolate to Spain, Zaragoza takes the good stuff seriously. On this Choco Tour you’ll visit some of the most traditional establishments that make up this [...]
28 April 2010
San Pellegrino’s Top 50 Restaurants in the World was announced earlier this week after compiling together numerous polls of the world’s most celebrated chefs, renowned food critics and leading restaurateurs. As always, the focus was on which restaurant made the Top 10, and whether El Bulli could retains its position at the top. However, this year [...]
27 April 2010
May is the hottest month for museums in Spain with the International Museums Day and Museums Night taking place. Spain has a long list of internationally renowned museums that simply can’t be missed. From the quirky Dali and Picasso museums in Barcelona, the world renowned Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao to the famous trio, the Prado Museum, [...]
26 April 2010
What better way to spend Bank holiday weekend than rocking out to some beats in sizzling Spain. Festimad, an alternative rock music festival, is taking Madrid by storm until 9th May 2010. Concerts will be held in the Butarque Leganés Stadium, which itself will be transformed into a mini rock city made up of over [...]
23 April 2010
Brilliant climate, extreme terrain and strong winds make the Canary Islands the place to satisfy your adventure cravings all year round. The volcanic origins of the Islands mean that they are fully loaded with ditches, craters, chimneys, cliffs, fells, fissures, peaks and numerous rocky forms making it paradise for hikers, climbers and those who seek to [...]
22 April 2010
For equestrian enthusiasts, head over to Valencia for an event not to be missed. The International Grand Prix Show Jumping Competition will be kicking off between 7th and 9th May 2010 in the unique setting of The City of Arts and Sciences Complex of Valenica. Part of the Global Championship Tour (GCT), the Spanish Grand Prix [...]
20 April 2010
No one holds a fiesta quite like the Spanish, and between the 20th and 25th of April every year, Seville shows its true party colours at the Feria de Abril (the April Fair). The April fair began in 1847 as a simple cattle show, but has gained momentum over time and is now one of the [...]
19 April 2010
Spain is world famous for its cuisine and for those amongst us who love tapas, this is the time to be in the Spanish city of Pamplona, in the Navarre region. From the 17th to the 25th of April, Pamplona holds its annual Semana del Pincho festival: the Week of the Tapas. More than ninety tapas [...]
16 April 2010
Spain is famed for its cuisine, and in particular, its tasty tapas. So if you’re keen to re-create these Spanish delights, we’ve tracked down some delicious ingredients that will enable you to reproduce the classics. (Or why not head to Spain and let the experts do it for you?) Manchego is a cylindrical yellow sheep’s milk [...]
15 April 2010
For those of you who thought cider was solely the tipple of choice for Somerset farmers, think again. Cider is a deeply rooted tradition in the north of Spain, where age-old cider bars serve the tasty apple beverage. The bars are packed to the rafters with old oak barrels, cider presses and all the utensils of [...]
14 April 2010
open air theatre festival in spain
Every year towns, gardens and historical locations in Spain undergo a summertime transformation to host their annual theatre festivals. Often including some of Europe’s most important programmes, the great classics (think Shakespeare, Homer, Cervantes to name but a few) are enjoyed in an unusual way: outdoors under the stars. Roman amphitheatres, ancient cloisters, castles and old, [...]
12 April 2010
As we continue into April the city of Seville is gearing up for its event of the year, the April Fair. Originally a cattle fair back in the 19th Century, the fair has evolved into a celebration of all things Spanish: Sevillanas dances, Andalusian horses, Spanish food and wine and bull fights and is now [...]
09 April 2010
Sherry, a sweet fortified wine enjoyed by many after a delicious dessert. Like Champagne, Sherry is geographically protected meaning that it legally has to come from the Sherry triangle: an area in the province of Cádiz between Jerez de la Frontera, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, and El Puerto de Santa María in Spain. And [...]
06 April 2010
Whilst we spent our Easter weekend stuffing our faces with chocolate, things over in Spain went a little bit differently. Not only did the most impressive holy festival occur, but it took a whole week to celebrate. Easter week is known as Semana Santa to the Spanish, and everywhere you go the spirit of celebration hits [...]
09 September 2009
dicing with death in san miguel
San Miguel is famous for two things. The first is a crisp, dry refreshing beer, which we are particularly fond of. It makes us feel like we’re on holiday in Mexico every time a drop touches our tongue. The second is the annual bull run, which is modelled on Spain’s famous Pamplona. The Sanmiguelada, which kicked off [...]
