Spain Holidays 10

Granada is a Spanish city placed in Andalusia, and it lies next to the Sierra Nevada, what conditions its weather: very cold in winter and very hot during the summer.


There is probably one building that makes it really worth to visit this city. This building is the Alhambra, a palace and fortress complex built in 889 by Arabs in Granada. Besides the Alhambra, it is also really advisable to visit the Albaicín and Sacromonte neighbourhoods.
From the Albaicín neighbourhood you will be able to see what it has been considered the best sunset in the world. If you visit the Alhambra in the morning, in the evening you can go to San Nicolás viewpoint in Albaicín, watch the sunset, and then go to visit the Sacromonte neighbourhood, with its typical Arabian music and dances.


Another interesting place in Granada is the Sciences Park, where you will be able to get into sciences in a fun and dynamic way.


As we have said, the Sierra Nevada is near the city, so, if you go to Granada during the winter, you can make the best of it, and go there to ski. However, if you go there in the summer, the visit is also really advisable and impressive.


Another place of interest of Granada is its cathedral. It is a building from the Spanish Renaissance, and perhaps it is not as amazing as other cathedrals in Spain, but it is worth the visit.

Finally, if you travel to Granada you cannot miss its gastronomy. It is formed by Andalusian dishes, mixed with different contributions of the new towns, for example beans with ham. The confectionery is really wide, with huevos moles, sponge cakes and San Jerónimo’s Puff pastry.


Granada is an amazing Spanish capital, with plenty of thing to do and see. Streets, mountain and the sea are really close in this amazing city.


Continue reading in Spain Holidays 10: Malaga Spain Travel Guide

Experience the Beauty of Andalucia

Andalucia is one of the most popular destinations in Spain, due to its amazing beaches, warm climate and relaxed atmosphere. The region is home to many ancient cities, including Seville, Cadiz and Granada. Although the region was first settled thousands of years ago, there are plenty of new attractions to keep you occupied.
There are numerous annual festivals or ferias that are held throughout this region. These festivals are a great way to get a true sample of the culture of Andalucia, from its regional cuisine to the spirit of its people.

Fiesta de Los Reyes - The Festival of the Three Kings. 

In all major cities in Andalucia, this festival is celebrated on the evening of January 5th. It is designed to commemorate the three kings of the Orient who delivered their gifts to the Christ Child. The next day, January 6th is a national holiday throughout Spain, which will give you plenty of time to relax and enjoy the events happening around you.

Cadiz Carnival 

Held in the ancient city of Cadiz, this festival occurs each year on Shrove Tuesday, or the Tuesday before Lent begins. A huge parade is held during the Carnival and the entire city gets in on the action. If you think the carnival in New Orleans is fun, you haven't seen anything until you've visited Cadiz.

Seville Spring Fair - This festival is held two weeks after Easter. 

The entire far bank of the Real de la Feria is taken over by enormous tents and pavilions where you'll find incredible bargains, great food and entertainment. The festivities start on midnight and continue for an entire week. As with the Cardiz Carnival, the dates of Easter change every year, so plan your trip accordingly.

San Lucar Manzanilla (Wine) Fair 

During the third week in May, in San Lucar de Barrameda you'll find the San Lucar Manzanilla Festival which is dedicated entirely to a type of wine that is produced in this region. Prepare for a lot of fun and a lot of celebration of this wine for an entire week.

Summer Fairs 

Every town in Andalucia has its own summer fair, so if you time it just right, you can experience at least one fair each week of your stay. The first fair starts in Seville in April and the last is held at San Pedro de Alcántara in October.The fairs are divided into day and night fairs. For the entire week of the fair, all businesses are shut down and the streets are turned into cafes where you can sample the regions best food and listen to live entertainment. At night, small amusement parks are set up complete with rides and more singing and entertainment.

Bullfighting Fairs 

These fairs are usually set up to coincide with the Summer fairs mentioned above in each city. In Ronda, they hold a very special bullfight where all of the fighters are clothed in costumes found in Goya's 18th century engravings.

The Verdiales Music Festival 

To round out a year filled with festivals and fun, you must visit the Verdiales Music Festival, which is held annually on the 28th of December in "Puerta de la Torre" which is near Almogia. Local musicians compete dressed in traditional costume and the wine is plentiful.



Continue reading in Spain Holidays 10:

Malaga is the birthplace of Picasso, which seems right since the historical architecture of this city along with the beautiful landscape would be inspiration for any artist. Malaga is by the Mediterranean Sea and is in the Spanish region of Andalucia. The temperatures stay hot all year through, making Malaga a great getaway for those tourists who are hoping to escape the snow and freezing cold of winter.


Getting to Malaga is not only easy, but can be inexpensive as well. You can take a plane there and land at the airport that is the third largest in all of Spain. This airport also caters to budget airlines, so you don't have to worry about an expensive flight over only to land at some crummy, out of the way airport. The AGP makes sure you can get to Malaga since there are buses, taxis, or trains. If you want to rent a car, don't worry. If you rent a car at the airport, you will find that this a very inexpensive thing to do as well. However, make sure you book a car in advance because even though the rates are cheap, thnking ahead not only ensures that you have a car waiting for you, but you can get discount rates, too.


There are many things to see and do in Malaga. There are the Moorish castles called the Alcazaba and Castillo de Gibralfaro. When visiting these castles, you will have a great view of the entire city of Malaga. If you have a health problem, are handicapped or can not walk far distances then it would be best to only visit Alcazaba. It is a long hike up the moutain to get to the Castillo de Gibralfaro.


You can also visit the birthplace of Picasso, called the Plaza de la Merced. There you will find tons of things that Picasso used when he was a child as well as some paintings. After this, check out the Picasso Museum to see more exclusive exhibitions of Picasso's artwork.

If you like to cycle, try going on the Malaga Bike Tour. It is approximately four hours long and will take you down many narrow back streets. While biking through these small streets, you will get to see lots of hidden places that are great to see and that many tourists miss when they don't take this tour.


There are many beaches in or near Malaga where you can spend a quiet day just sunbathing and taking in the beauty of Malaga while getting a tan. There is also an amusement park to be found in Arroyo de la Miel. It is called the Tivoli World Theme Park and is the oldest park on the coast. This park has beautiful gardens and fountains as well as many rides. There is a fee to get in the park that lets you see the gardens, visit the restaurants and bars and see the shows where there are theater performances as well as a comedy and western show. If you want to have unlimited amounts of times riding the 30 plus rides, then you need to purchase the Supertivolino. You can also purchase single tickets.

The food and drink in Malaga is wonderful. The restaurants serve the traditional andalusian dishes like fish, croissants, soups, baguettes and much more. The speciality of Malaga is espetos which is sardines on a stick. These have been grilled over a fire. You can also try pescaito frito. Basically this is a variety of deep-fried fish ranging from squid to anchovies.


There are several chiringuitos, or beach restaurants, in Malaga. El Tintero is a very popular chiringuito. You will find no menus at this restaurant. Instead, the waiters carry dishes through the restaurant, singing about what they are carrying around. If you want what they are offering you signal to them and they will bring you the food. A different way of ordering food to be sure! Another famous restaurant is La posada de Antonio. Why? Because it is owned by Antonio Banderas. Here you can taste some of the dishes from his home town and they are priced at very reasonable prices.

The best drink to try while in Malaga is their wine. Malaga wine is very sweet but be careful not to drink too much as it has a kick to it despite the sweetness of the taste. If you want to find a nice bar where you can try to meet some visiting celebrities then try El Pimpi.


From museums to amusement parks and from restaurants to chiringuitos, you will be sure to have a wonderful experience in Malaga no matter what type of budget you have for your vacation.


Continue reading in SpainHolidays10: Tourism in Córdoba, Andalucía

Cadiz is a Spanish city placed in Andalucía. Probably, one of the most remarkable features of this city, and also the reason why it is best known, is its history. Or, let’s say it, its eternal and important history.


Cadiz was an important roman city, which stood out for its commercial strategies. It still preserves some of its roman heritage that today we can visit and enjoy. Of all this roman patrimony, we can highlight the roman theatre in Cadiz, one of the biggest and oldest roman theatres in the whole peninsula.


If we get into the historic city centre, we will be able to discover some of the most magical and nice corners in Cadiz, such as the Plaza de España (Spain Square) or El Pópulo district, the old medieval neighbourhood. We can also go for a walk along the Paseo Marítimo (the Boardwalk) without losing sight of the sea. Moreover, it is also really important to highlight the Cadiz cathedral, an impressive building right next to the sea, which mixes the baroque and neoclassic styles.

Cadiz has four beaches: la Cortadura beach, la Victoria beach, Santa María beach and la Caleta beach, each one with its own peculiarities and charming. For example, la Caleta beach may be one of the most picturesque corners in the whole city, since it is placed right in the middle of the old city of Cadiz, or la Victoria beach, which is considered to be the best urban beach in Europe.


Apart from all these, it is also almost compulsory to visit the Genovés Park, which is full of trees, and among them, we can find a centenary dragon tree.

To conclude, we must say that, as we have seen, Cadiz is a wonderful place, appropriate for families who go there to relax and to visit a legendary city, as well as for young people who want to have fun day and night, since the capital has a great number of pubs and discos close to the sea.



Continue reading in Span Holidays 10: Tourism in Cordoba

Nerja is Only a Small Town, but is One of Southern Spain's Most Popular Tourist Destinations.


Nerja, in Andalucia in southern Spain, is only a small town but is a popular destination for tourists to the Malaga area. Built on a hill, Nerja is a traditional Spanish town with a wonderful atmosphere, beautiful surroundings, 12 kilometers of beaches and some fabulous places for walks. Add in the fun shopping and great restaurants, and it's no wonder Nerja is loved by hundreds of thousands of visitors, many of whom make repeat visits every year.


For a small place too, Nerja has alot to do. But, on any visit to Nerja, there are five must do and see things every visitor to the town should not miss.


Visit Nerja's Market - One of the most fun, must do things in Nerja is to shop at the town's street market. Held every Tuesday and Sunday mornings, it starts up at around 9am and runs through until 2pm.

The Tuesday market is the typical Spanish market, chockfull of fruits, vegetables, fresh bread, nuts, olive oil, pasta, meats and fish, plus some stalls selling clothing and accessories. A great place for bargains, particularly if you're on a self-catering holiday and making your own meals. You'll find the freshest food in all of Nerja here.

The Sunday market in Nerja is more of a flea market style, so this is the place to shop if you're looking for something unique or that's not just food stuffs. Take plenty of money, watch your wallet from pickpockets, and don't forget to bargain.

Browse at Mercadona - Nerja has five supermarkets and Mercadona is one of them. If you don't live in Spain, but want to know about the types of things Spaniards eat and drink, then head to Mercadona and browse. You'll find just about every food and drink item you could want, fresh meat, chicken and fish, cheap wine and beer, excellent cheeses, and don't miss the Mercadona brand chocolate. It's wonderful.

Just remember, it is Spain, so while it's open late into the evenings most days, Mercadona is closed on Sundays.


Cuevas de Nerja are Nerja's limestone caves and are quite phenomal, so a definite must visit. Massive stalagtites and stalagmites appear throughout the caverns and, at more than 5 kilometers long, are one of Spain's major tourist attractions. In fact, they're so big, several times a year there are concerts held here. Don't miss the skeleton near the entrance too.

The Balcón de Europa in the middle of Nerja's old town is the town's main meeting point and is the place to go for some truly spectacular views out over the ocean. Apparently, people who have stood on it and gazed around the magnificent vista have exclaimed "This is the balcony of Europe", thus the name.


Coffee on The Promenade - Nerja's typically Spanish promenade gives you ocean views and lots of superb cafes and restaurants, where you can relax over a cafe con leche and watch all of Nerja walk by. Take a walk, have a sit, grab a coffee. Walk some more, find another restaurant, eat lunch, watch the people. It's absolutely beautiful and one of the most interesting places in Nerja, particularly during the summer when artists, street vendors and musicians line the area.


Continue reading in Spain Holidays 10: Tourism in Córdoba

Feria in Southern Spain means spring has arrived and it is time to get out and celebrate life. The weather is getting warmer; the flowers are blooming; and in Spain, that is reason enough for a big fiesta.

As a foreigner, feria may seem a little mysterious. When I first heard about it, I knew feria involved food, feria dresses and dancing, but that was about all I understood. I hope this article will give you a little insight about what to expect when you head to feria. Above all, remember it is mostly about having a good time.


Feria started in the late 1800's in Sevilla. It began as a large spring market where cattle and horses could be bought and sold. Casetas, which are tents or simply constructed halls, were set up to conduct business. I imagine people started drinking the local sherry that Andalucía is famous for, and business evolved into the festive fair that feria is today.


Most towns have an established feria ground that is hardly used all year except for feria. When the appointed week rolls around (it is almost always a different town every week) the tents are constructed in rows, and lights and paper lanterns are strung about. Every feria has a grandiose entrance, called a portada, which is lit up in eye-opening, glaring color lights at night. The grounds are composed of packed dirt with some paved walkways.

As a feria virgin, you may be concerned about what to wear. In modern times, almost all men, except performers and horse riders, wear regular clothes. For women and girls, it is equally acceptable to wear modern clothes or a traje de Gitana (feria dress). If a mother is wearing a feria dress, she will probably dress her young son in a cropped jacket and a bolero hat. This cute outfit is rarely seen on boys older than six or seven.


Feria dresses often cost 100 to 300 euros, quite an investment if you are not a long-term resident of Spain. If you do decide to wear a feria dress, you might as well toss out all your preconceptions about modern day fashion rules. These dresses look best with a tight waste regardless of body shape, tons of ruffles, and the gaudiest, most opposing colors of the spectrum that can be found. Whether or not you are in a feria dress, a flower in the hair or some polka dot accessories are a nice touch for women.

Feria doesn't have strict opening hours. In fact, feria never really closes, but lulls and climaxes depending on the time of day. My favorite time to arrive is about one or two in the afternoon. I can enjoy a leisurely lunch of tortilla de patata, (potato omelet) and pimientos fritos (local fired green peppers with salt). There is also an abundance of meats, fried seafood and even yard snails, for the brave hearted out there. All this goes so deliciously with a nice pitcher of tinto de verano (red wine mixed with a 7-Up like soda), especially as the temperature ramps up in late afternoon.

By this time of day, the crowd is feeling frisky and Sevillana or flamenco dancing is usually breaking out sporadically in various casetas. You will here music wafting from almost every caseta, inviting you to clap your hands and move your hips. If you never learned the formal steps of Sevillana, but you feel pulled to join in on the fun, do what I recently did. Walk around and find the caseta that is most crowded with dancers. Go to the middle of the crowd and, if possible, get in a dancing line with a partner. Do your best to imitate the other dancers and turn and twirl when they do. It's really quite fun and probably the most Spanish you will feel as an outsider. Try not to carry a big purse because it will be hard to turn and you will likely whack you partner with it. Don't worry about how you look. All the other dancers are having too much fun to notice.


Another part of feria is the carnival area. This area will remind you more of the county fairs you may have attended in the United States. I like to hit this area at dusk, when the lights on all the rides are turned on and color zigzags around in every direction. There are also plenty fair games with stuffed animal prizes. My husband particularly enjoys losing money at these.

Once you've been on a few rides and your stomach begins to settle, you may be ready for dessert. Luckily, there are plenty of choices. There are gofres (waffles) with half a dozen different toppings. There are churros and hot chocolate. There are candies, ice cream, and candy apples. As you chomp on sweets, you may be lucky to see some horses being paraded around by riders in traditional costume.

If you have children, feel free to bring them to feria at any time. Like everywhere in Spain, it is acceptable to have children out until the wee hours of the morning. Babies and grandparents are part of the family and the family celebrates together.


If you are interested in more of a club atmosphere, feria has something for you as well. After dark, music in some of the casetas starts to change from flamenco to techno and disco. About one or two in the morning, families start heading home and hoards of teenagers and twenty-somethings descend in club garb, ready to dance the night away. Many times the party is still hopping at seven am.

The feria differs in size depending on the town. Sevilla's feria is very large, but the casetas are all private. If you don't know someone who sponsors a caseta, you will not be admitted to the tent. For this reason, it is highly advisable not to make Sevilla your first feria experience unless you are with a local. You can start in Cordoba´s feria where all casetas are free.

I hope this gives you an idea of what feria is all about. Enjoy and drink some sherry for me.


Continue reading:  Tourism in Cordoba   or   Sevilla has a special color

The city of Cordoba is found in the south of Spain, in Andalucia, and is located within the basin of the Guadalquivir River which crosses the city, it has a continental Mediterranean climate that makes the summers are very hot.


Cordoba can boast that became capital of Hispania Ulterior during the Roman Empire and, later, the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate, when Muslims controlled the Iberian peninsula. This makes the city have a great prestige. In addition, if you join the folklore typical of the area, it makes a unique center for tourism, in relation to this we should mention that, as in all the country there is a bullfighting tradition that displays its history in a museum dedicated to this practice.


The historic quarter of Cordoba is made up of small squares and streets, special and unique courtyards more known as the Patios de las Flores considered of national interest, very recommendable to visit in the spring, all of this leads to the great mosque of Cordoba, this is the real symbol of the city. The forest of columns, with more than a thousand, make this building something magical, is both their power that when the Muslims were expelled, it was decided to retain for its beauty and built the cathedral of the city annexd to the mosque by creating a space with an unprecedented cultural mixture.


Cordoba also has a Jewish quarter with streets adorned with facades covered in tiles and grilles, a landscape very curious. Nearby you will find the only synagogue in the city.


As in the rest of Andalusia, one of the most prized activities of Cordoba is a stroll through the gastronomy, the great fondness for the tapas where the neighborhoods of San Lorenzo and San Andres, are the key points. The typical dishes of this place are several different types of fish, casseroles, salmorejo and bull's tail and for dessert we should taste the famous pastel cordobes.

"Sevilla has a special color", as the song says, that is because its great historical and cultural mix that hosts this city and leaves you amazed. It consists of very important vestiges of Moorish legacy and from when America was discovered, this made that was the main commercial port par excellence between Spain and the new continent.


This city is ready for the tourism, consists of a large number of hotels, plans for all tastes and events of international interest. In Seville we have from museums and art centers to thematic parks, theaters and other. You can go to visit two natural parks too, Sierra Norte and Doñana, considered a World Heritage Site.


Thanks to its historical legacy, Seville has a large number of palaces and noble houses to visit, also churches and convents. It is almost an obligation to visit the Cathedral, el Patio de los Naranjos, los Reales Alcázares and the famous Giralda Tower, it is very curious to see how the Arabic architecture and christian are melted in a same scenario filling the city in a special beauty.

In Seville, there are several neighborhoods characterized each one by something special such as for example, the Arenal where you can find the great bull ring of the Real Maestranza de Caballería; in the Macarena quarter we will visit the basilica of the Macarena and the church of San Lorenzo, important for the Sevillians due to their faith and devotion shown on the feast of Easter Week, feast of international interest. On the other hand we have the neighborhood of Triana, of great seafaring tradition.


The feasts that characterize Sevilla are two, the above-mentioned Easter Week and April Fair where it mixes the devotion and the folklore, the two are considered to be of international interest and attract thousands of tourists from all over the world each year.

Seville's gastronomy and, in general, in Andalusia, is incredibly rich and consists of a great variety of dishes and products. The pinchos and the tapas are the order of the day, and in the hotter months is perfect accompanying it with a cold beer, a fino or a Jerez manzanilla. The popular tapas are the fried fish, embutidos, cheeses and tortilla de patatas. In summer the main dish is gazpacho.