For some, this monument of Spanish literature is the best novel ever written. Even for our days, this creation of Cervantes from 1605 is strikingly modern, with wit and irony. The book is a parody of chivalric novels, popular at the time, but can be read either as an adventure or a meditation on our […]
It’s strange to observe, but democratically elected presidents of the past don’t seem to stir up imagination as much as the villains of political scene. We love democracy, but those we choose freely look like dull little wheels in a complicated mechanism. While those who won’t let go their grip on power are painted like […]
Apparently without any useful purpose, this large construction or sculpture in one of Seville’s public squares is bound to make people curious and not easily forgotten. Usually, this sort of constructions are experimented for some international exhibitions, such was the case with the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the local buildings in Plaza de Espana. […]
For the large public, Antoni Gaudi is the name associated with Spanish modernism in architecture. But the brilliant builder of Sagrada Familia was part of a larger generation of intellectuals, that marked a Rebirth in Catalonia, in the decades at the end of XIX, beginning of XX century. They were very interested in modern ideas […]
Some explore every corner of the Earth in a boat, others simply use their imagination to describe space traveling in an age when speed meant horse pulled. While others use their minds to describe the technical means by which any device may function. Whether it’s curiosity or desire for fame, fortune and glory, there sure […]
The Wax Museum in Barcelona contains some exhibits inspired from horror or action movies, supposed to give the visitor a thrilling experience, accompanied by light effects and audio recordings. It’s the more commercial side of this museum, some may say even kitschy, but it always works well with the kids. Nevertheless, this wax museum holds […]
In the public processions of the Holly Week one can find the core of the Andalusian spirit and much of the European Medieval history. It all comes down to a sincere devotion and expression of religious sentiment from the Spanish people, but the significances and historic roots are so diverse. Its origins are linked to […]
Though it is six centuries old and still hosts the seat of the local Catholic bishop, this is definitely not the first thing that comes to mind when one hears the phrase „the cathedral of Barcelona”. This is of course due to the fame achieved by Sagrada Familia, thanks to Gaudi’s genius. The two churches […]
Religious architecture is not only indicative of a community’s spiritual fervor, but also of its economical and technological status. For a thousand years, after the decay of Rome, Constantinople was the religious and economical capital of the world. And Hagia Sophia remained the largest religious building on the face of the Earth. Than even the […]
Malaga is the largest town on Costa del Sol, with a major harbor around which the pulses the life of the city. If you are looking for traditional dwellings, this is not the best place in the region, as it has a lot of modern neighborhoods and landmark constructions like the stadium of local football […]
Marbella is a top destination of Costa del Sol, a Spanish riviera famous for its beaches and residential areas. Celebrities, from Antonio Banderas to Sean Connery, and millionaires enjoy the large villas hidden behind stone walls and shadowed by palm trees. The and architecture around makes you think of the well to do regions of […]
The place where Europe and Africa meet, through a narrow straight of less than 15 km width, is more a strategic and sentimental point. Technically, Gibraltar belongs to Great Britain, it has scrupulous check-points and her majesty’s Royal Police patrolling. Otherwise, this tiny limb of land is not separated from the Iberic Peninsula, and authorities […]
Our Saviour described the Kingdom of Heaven as something that can be taken by force. He made this intriguing remark when talking about the mission of John the Baptist, as the last of the prophets, and a bridge to the Christian age: until then, the Kingdom of Heaven belonged to those who obeyed the Law […]
This is the only of the three facades made by Antoni Gaudi, and is tied to cathedral’s name – The Holy Family (Sagrada Familia). The second facade was done later in a more modern style, presenting the Passion of Christ with human figures done with rectangular shapes and mysterious portraits. The third facade, in progress […]
If you consider holiday resorts boring and want to feel more like an explorer without leaving Europe, you might wanna have a look at the mud houses in Spain. With a bit of imagination you could feel like a time traveler, going as far as the stone age, because in villages like Guadix people are […]
With this large stadium, Spain bid for two summer Olympics and was picked up once. In the 1920s an Olympic sized stadium was already in place in Montjuic („mountain of the Jews”), the residential area of Barcelona that was once dominated by Jewish traders. But Berlin won the race and hosted the infamous 1936 Olympics, […]
Coming from a dry continent, the Arabs developed a profound admiration for green gardens, sometimes building the necessary springs themselves, which required some impressive engineering skills for the time. The Quran itself is full with images of the Paradise described as an oasis in the desert. So when the Muslims crossed the Mediterranean to the […]
One day, in the 18 century, a bullfighter decided he will not face the beast on a horseback, like everybody else at the time, but rather unmount and stand before the bull protected only by a piece of rosy cloth. It happened here, in Ronda, in a round arena that is now a Corrida Museum, […]
In a city of architecture like Barcelona, is tough job to steal the show, but the Agbar Tower manages to turn all heads. It is the most impressive building you will see when landing with a plane or when approaching with a cruise ship and is visible from a lot of places in the town, […]
More than a club is the slogan written on the seats of Nou Camp. And while club sympathies may be opened to discussions, everyone can agree that this is no ordinary football stadium. It is just a few hundred seats from being able to accommodate 100.000 spectators, which makes it the largest stadium in Europe. […]