Experiences labelled with 'Spain'
If we believe what the Basque people of Spain say about themselves being the oldest ethnic group in Europe, then perhaps their famous pintxos (also: pinchos) are the grandfather of the Spanish tapas that we all know and love. Either way, the País Vasco knows how to put together tiny foods with enormous appeal. The best place to enjoy pintxos is, without a doubt, San Sebastian—more specifically the Parte Vieja of San Sebastian: the old quarter east of the Playa de la Concha. The best time to enjoy pintxos (pronounced “peen-chose”) is in the evening before dinner when “donostiarras” (the locals) do their “txikiteo” (the Basque version of a pub crawl). Txikiteo (pronounced “cheeky-tay-oh”) involves moving from place to place, having a couple of ...
Cordoba's Great Mosque in Andalusia, southern Spain, is a glory of the Islamic world and Europe's most magnificent Muslim monument. What makes this UNESCO World Heritage Site especially intriguing is its long and checkered history, once serving as a Roman temple, Visigothic cathedral, Christian church, and Moorish mosque. Today, the Great Mosque of Cordoba (“La Mezquita”) is Cordoba's cathedral, known as the “Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption” since the Spanish Reconquista (711-1492) saw the Moorish empire fall to Christian conquerors. A curious blend of architectural styles and Islamic influences still linger inside Cordoba Mezquita's stunning interior. For many Andalucians, the Cordoba Mosque is a lasting symbol of city's heyday as the Moorish Empire's westernmost Caliphate. The mosque's construction lasted over two centuries, beginning ...
As May creeps into June, you should be packing your bags, buying a ticket and flying over the Atlantic to eastern Spain to participate in a festival called the Castells of Catalonia. It is at this time, in a tradition passed through the generations, that teams of “castellers” get together in small towns throughout Catalonia and construct what can only be described as “human towers,” up to 3-stories in height, as a dramatic form of competition and regional pride. Participating in the Castells of Catalonia, you will be witnessing a tradition that began in the 17th century in a small village called Valls in France, and which arrived in north-eastern Spain in the 18th century. Historians claim the tradition was started by local dance groups ...
