The city where nobody is a foreigner

I could not miss this unique opportunity without talking about the city which saw me being born and growing up: La Coruña. This city is situated in a peninsula in the north west of Spain, specifically in the western province of the autonomous region of Galicia.

It can not be said that La Coruña is not a complete city, since you can enjoy the wonders that sea offers as well as the peaceful and quiet atmosphere of the mountains. Though city is complete, the sea has a great importance in the city, as all the city was built around it. Moreover, the sea plays an important role in the city as the best touristic guide , since throughout the promenade which surrounds the sea along 5 kilometres It can be seen the main monuments of the city. So, walking along the promenade can be seen the Hercules’s tower, the only roman lighthouse which is running, or the superb Saint Anton’s Castle built in the 15th century.

But, La Coruña is not only sea, since throughout its streets can be seen great churches of the 14th century as well as beautiful parks as the Saint Maragarite. But what stands out most in the city is its main square. Situated in the heart of the city Maria Pita’s Square is a huge square built in honour of this woman who fought for saving us from the English invasion in the 17th century. Moreover, in this square is situated the City hall of the city, a fantastic neoclasic building.

Indeed, a city to visit and taste its excellent seafood, since La Coruña is considered as one of the best cities where the best seafood is served. Do not doubt it and visit the city where nobody is a foreigner.

Beauty and religion

Beauty and religion have always been synonimous in art. The labour of several religious orders have bestowed the humanity the great artistic field on which the architecture is based today. Romanic, gothic, baroque… all these styles were born and were developed thanks to the support of the Church.

La Alberca, situated in Castilla Leon, specifically in the province of Salamanca, has been become one of the most characteristic villages which shows its beauty throughout the religious trail of its ancestors. With more than nine religious buildings whose arquitectonic styles vary from the romanic to the gotic style, La Alberca offers a great walk to remember the Spanish and European history of the last four centuries.

Among these buildings stand out the Chapel of Nuestra Señora de Majadas Viejas, situated in the centre of a thick wood of oaks which bestows it a mystic halo , and the Chapel of San Marcos which offers the visitors the opportunity of contemplating the great landscape which surrounds the village.

But, La Alberca is not only churches and Ermitas but the nature also plays an important role. The national park of Las Battuecas where it can be found prehistoric caves and the Carmelita Monastery where literary myth of Batuecas was born.

Indeed, a city to admire where from its walls you can learn a piece of the Spanish history. If you have the chance,Do not think twice and go to this wonderful place.

Where the art begins…

The Spanish surrealism can be only identified with a name: Salvador Dalí. This great artist could never have started his career without the inspiration that this village gave to him. Indeed, this village, saw how this movement of art was born.

Geographically, Cadaqués is a town in the Alt Empordá comarca, in Girona province (Catalonia); Specifically, it can be found on a bay near the Cap de Creus Peninsula, on the Costa Brava of the Mediterranean sea. Its proximity to Barcelona , it is only a two-and-a-half hour driving from there, has bestowed this village the flow of tourists that the beauty of this village deserves.

Among the crystal clear waters and its great vegetation of the Natural Park of Creus, can be found some cultural buildings. The first building is the Salvador Dali’s House, now become a museum where you can revise all his life and contemplate some of his wonderfull masterpieces. Otherwise, The white church of Cadaqués is also one of its best attractions. Dated in the Seventeenth Century, its gotic walls illuminate the whole village.

There is no doubt that the beauty, tranquility and history of this village have turned Cadaques into one of the best touristic lures of the East Coast of Spain. Indeed, a place to visit and enjoy.

P.S. Sorry for the delay! The Easter holidays made me be lazy!

¡Del barco de Chanquete no nos moverán!

Never before a Tv series had helped so much to promote a village. The Spanish show “Verano Azul” (Blue summer) during 2 years of emition announced the wonderful places of this village as well as its incredible food. Indeed, Nerja, situated in Malaga, has become a reference for the tourists in the south of Spain.

Beaches with crystalline waters fitted in the middle of the Penibetican range like Burriana, Calahonda, El Salón, La Torrecilla or Playazo, bestow the city the atmosphere of the South of Spain. But, in Nerja everything is not Beach and Sun , since two important monuments decorate the village: The European Balcony and its caves.

The European Balcony, named by Alfonso XIII in 1885, offers the best views of the zone. From this point you can see the other attraction of the village: its caves. The Caves of Nerja ,discovered in 1959 with its huge stalactites and stalagmites, are one of the most prized bastions of Spain, so much so they are situated in third position, behind the museum of the Prado and “La Alhambra” in the ranking of most visited monuments.

A place to see and sing, since you can not go to Nerja without knowing by heart the Chanquete’s song. You can start practicing with this video!

Betanzos: A walk through the History

After an arduous assigment week, it is time to discover one of the most beatiful village situated in the North West of Spain, specifically in the porvince of A Coruña, my home city. Among the great places that this province owns, Betanzos is considered as one of its most preciated bastions.

Just 15 kilometros from A Coruña, this village agglutinates all kind of the historical remains from the civilizations which settled down in this part of the Peninusule. So, from its Castro belonging to the Celtic culture as well as the Roman wall which surrounds the village, to its medieval churches and recently museums and buildings like “La Casa del pueblo”, this village oozes history.

It is impossible to talk about Betanzos without mentioning its village carnival where the biggest ballon made of paper flies through the sky above the crowded “Campo” square between canticles and jubilation.

By plane, car or even balloon! Just go there and understand why this place is one of the most beautiful places of the region.

Here you have a video from last carnival! enjoy it!

A paradise in the middle of nowhere

A good food, a better hospitality and the best monuments of the plateau of Castile are enough reasons to gain a spot in my blog. Astorga, city situated in the northwestern zone of the Autonomous Region of Castilla y León, has been a nerve centre since its foundation in the Roman age.

From the Roman age there are still some historical remains which bestows the town an halo of greatness and majesty. The most important Roman contruction in the city is its wall. Dated in the third Century this wall surrounds the city along 2295 metros leading the Roman route in which it is found all the historical remains from this ancient civilization.

Not only the Romans antiques remain in this town but numerous buildings an monuments were built along the history. Among all the monuments there are two which deserve a special mention: Saint Mary’s Cathedral and the Episcopal Palace.

The contruction of Saint Mary’s Cathedral started in 1471 and it was finished 1965, 496 years later of its beginning, because of a several eathquakes which affected to the basis of the cathedral. This slowly contructions also gave the cathedral the opportunity of inlcuding new features and styles to its walls. So, this building combines so different styles like the Romanesque or the Baroque. Indeed, a monument to see.

Following the religious tradition of the zone, there is a monument which shines over the other ones: The Epispocal Palace. Designed by the magnificient architec and sculptor, Antoni Gaudi, this palace is the architectural jewel of the zone. Built between 1889 and 1915 the building shows marvellously the Gaudi’s characterists and all the atmosphere which can be seen in his masterpiece: The Sacred Family.

But I could not leave this post whithout saying that people in this region are known for their hospitality and their delicious foods such as the Cecina and the Mantecadas.

Indeed, a place to see and taste!!!

And the best beach in the world is…

in Spain!!! According to The Guardian, the best beach in the world is situaded in the North West of Spain, specifically in the province of Pontevedra where the archipelago of Islas Cíes is found. In this geographical feature surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean is located the Rodas Beach, a marvellous enclave where let your dreams fly and feel the freedom in your lungs.

As the renowned newspaper says “the water is turquoise enough, the sand white enough to believe you are in the Caribe…until you dip your toe in the water. Then it feels more like Skegness. You can sleep in an idyllic campsite, shaded by tall pine trees, with a view over the ocean. And, this being Spain, there’s even a proper restaurant serving great seafood” Everthing you need to have a peaceful and funny vacations. You would never miss someone or something if you had the chance to go there

So, not in the Caribe, the Mediterranean or in Oceanía, the best beach is in my country! I am very proud of it.

Stop visiting the South of Spain looking for the sun and the good beaches and start to know something about the North, usually the most unknown part of Spain.

Gernika: A symbol of peace

The bulk of people have only heard about Guernika because of the fantastic and well-known picture painted by Picasso in the Spanish civil war. But Guernika is much more than a picture…

Situated in the North part of the Spain,specifically in the Basque Country, Guernika has always known how to overcome its difficulties to survive. Founded in 1366 by the Count Don Tello, this village has its roots in the ancient civilizations Indo-Europeans and Romans who settled down in the Iberian Peninsula several centuries before. Unfortunately, most of the traces of these ancient civilizatons were destroyed in the brutal bombing featured by the Condor Legion in 1937.

But, like a phoenix which rebirths from its ashes, Guernika resuscitated to recover all its splendor. Nowadays, wide streets, marvellous parks like “Pueblos de Europa” park, which contains several statues of Eduardo Chillida, and the Udetxea and Joy Palaces dated in the XIX Century decorate the place Don Tello founded 650 years ago.

A special mention deserves “La Casa de las Juntas” with its oak in front of the building. This construction was originally devised to house the Government of Vizcaya, but with the passage of the time its functions became more cultural than official, since the introduction of the “Oak of the freedom” bestows the building a new cultural face. At last, Guernika had the well deserved peace that it never had.

Indeed, a place to visit if you have the chance, and if you have the chance …Remember!

PEACE AND LOVE ( they have had enough battles)

Where the asleep lion rests…

Most foreign people think that Bulls are the most representative animals in Spain. Yes, they are right, but there are also several animals which represent the different regions of my country. Indeed, one of the most characteristic “animals” is the asleep lion of the east coast of Spain. With its 1.181 metres high, this mountain protects one of the most characteristic and unknown destinations of the province of Alicante: Polop de la Marina.

Just ten minutes away from the city centre of Benidorm is situated this heaven on earth. Surrounded by the mountains ,which constituted the Massif of Ponoch, and the Guadalest river, Polop has been institued as one of the best nature reserves of the Mediterranean coast.

Indeed, it could not leave this blog without mentioning the narrow and ancient streets which surrounds the Castle built in the XII Century during the Spanish Reconquest and the 221 fountains which decorate the main square. Indeed, a spectacle to see.

If you have the opportunity, do not hesitate to visit this wonderful village.

Tame the asleep lion!!

Spain is different

 

 

Who said that Spain was only Madrid, Barcelona,Sevilla and Alicante?  There is no doubt that all these cities are a superb representation of my country but, thank goodness, there are hidden places where you can escape from the traffic congestion and the vibating pace of life of the big cities the next time you will be visiting Spain. So, join this trip and don’t miss the opportunity of knowing places as well as learn something more about the Spanish culture.

Come on! Get the tickets right now!