Modern Barcelona with the Old Delights

Barcelona is one of the favorite cities in Spain. Its strategic location at the northern Spanish coast at the Mediterranean Sea makes it very lucrative to holidaymakers with its beautiful climate and lovely beaches.

Barcelona is a very cosmopolitan city with a thriving economy in Spain. Today, Barcelona is a modern city with many international standards adopted to create a most conducive business and living environment.

Buildings

This city has a lot of buildings; old and new structures reflect the progression of Barcelona from ancient epochs to current day architecture that gives the city its pulse today.

Barcelona has a colorful and long history with a lot of diverse influences in traditions, cultures and folklore. There are Romanesque, Renaissance and Gothic styled monuments still standing in the city and its surroundings.

But the old blends in well with the new architecture that was recently developed in the last 10 decades. The modern works of Antoní Gaudí give his contemporaries new insight and worry.

Another interesting building in Barcelona is the Olympic Ring or the Anella Olímpica. This is a series of sports installations for the 1992 Olympic Games’ main activities. More masterpieces are found in Fundacio Joan Miro which is a popular 20th century gallery displaying the best of works by this great artist.

Tibidabo

One of the interesting spots in Barcelona is the Parc d'Atraccions. This is like a theme park with interesting rides with a house of horrors. Tibidabo also has another hair-raising activity which is the Torre de Collserola. This is a 115m telecommunications tower which takes visitors up a glass lift to an observation area to view the panoramic surroundings.

Another interesting building is the Temple del Sagrat Cor which is equivalent to Paris’ Sacré Coeur; the Barcelona tower is more aesthetic with two churches built on top of each other. The higher one has a large Christ statue with a lift to the roof for some panoramic views. Tibidabo also has a unique funicular station, location en espagne.

Hotels

There are plenty of hotels in Barcelona which can easily fit any tourist’s budget. There are luxury hotels in the city center or simple hotels of lower rankings close to the city center. However, they are all of high standards and services to ensure a pleasant stay while at Barcelona. Most of these hotels are close to many of Barcelona’s interesting sights; if not, the public transportation is easily available at anytime of the day or night to the convenience of the tourists.

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Carefree Lifestyle around Pamplona

Although Pamplona may be very noted for its famous St. Fermin fiesta every July, there are several delightful choices around Pamplona for the tourists to get away from the maddening crowd; especially during St. Fermins. This popular festivity brings on a huge crowd which would not be quiet; if one desires relaxation during this time at Pamplona, it would be advisable to consider areas surrounding Pamplona.

One can consider Rioja which lies not too far away which allows tourists to get the best of both worlds; one can get into Pamplona easily while retreating into tranquility quickly when desired. Besides Rioja, the countryside is another excellent choice to enjoy a carefree lifestyle during a holiday vacation if one had planned for a refreshing and relaxing holiday in Spain.

Rioja

Rioja is located southwest of Pamplona in the wine region of Spain. It is a quaint little province that is unfazed by tourism. One of the best ways to explore Pamplona and its surroundings is by bicycle where there are plenty of bike routes passing fertile and rich vineyards. Wine can be savored as one explores the wine production process from the experts.

The day may be hot but this change quickly when night comes with the majestic northern mountains at the backyard.

Easy living

The locals live simply but to the fullest; they do not watch the time in their living. Hence, businesses can be on flexi-hours, so to say. Opening and closing hours for businesses are not strictly adhered to; breakfast can be served after 9am; lunch can commence from 2pm; siestas are a given for a couple of hours while dinner is likely to be at 9-10pm.

Rioja is a very small village which does not overly indulge itself with anything heavy. Hence, the locals relax throughout the day which makes the town quite a virtual ghost town during siesta and after sunset. Most locals would be at home relaxing in their favorite home activity, locations villa espagne .

Countryside

Navarra Province provides a slightly different type of take from sleepy Rioja. The rugged Basque country is vastly inhabited by the Basque people who are an ancient tribe having their own culture and language. There is a vast land in the Basque country with refreshing countryside scenes where the Basque people till the land for the myriad of fresh produce that is often found in their jealously guarded recipes.

There is no better place than these quiet spots around Pamplona to get a real taste of local cuisine and culture.

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An Exciting Experience in Pamplona with Bull Running

Everyone in Pamplona knows what July entails; once the clock strikes 8 in the morning, there would be a deafening silence as huge crowds lining the designated streets await the firing of the rocket to release the bulls.

Within seconds, a rumbling sound can be heard increasingly louder as hundreds of bulls charge through Pamplona along its narrow medieval streets with several thousands of brave runners.

St. Fermin festival.

Pamplona may only have a small population of 250,000 but this figure swells up triple times during St. Fermin fiesta. Thousands of participants and observers would come from all over Spain, Europe and across the globe to witness the adrenalin gushing event at Pamplona.

Hotels would be fully packed with advanced bookings; sometimes as early as a year in advance to secure a room closest to the bull-run route or bull ring.

Saint Fermin festival is a very important religious festival that is held in honor of the local patron, Saint Fermin. The annual run happens on 6-14 July with bulls running out from their pens every morning but the first day where an official opening happens with a rock concert, champagne water fight and soccer match.

The good natured crowds loose themselves easily into the celebrations to ensure a great time as well as to garner up the courage for the upcoming bull runs.

Bull runs

From the second day of the festival, bulls would be released through designated cordoned routes along Pamplona’s streets to the local bull ring just as in medieval times where herdsmen also did the same.

Bullfighting is considered a deeply entrenched Spanish tradition for decades. In the past, townsfolk helped the herdsmen drive their bulls to the bullrings for a bull fight which now has become an annual tradition. Ernest Hemingway, a famous author, put Pamplona on the map with his explicit mentions of this activity in his best-seller “The Sun Also Rises.”

A bull run is dangerous but there are hundreds of participants, both local and foreign, who want to have that exhilarating experience. Participating runners would be given a few minutes’ head start with a little distance between themselves and the bulls before the bulls are released. Some might give up at the sound of the stampede in the distance, locations villas espagne .

There is protective fencing for the observers along the route; ambulances, safety and medical crews as well as police are well positioned to assist in any emergency.

The air is electrified with screams and yells; a bull run may last only seconds but the memory would be etched in one’s mind, heart and soul forever.

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Highlights from Day Trips on Andalusia

Andalusia is one large Community in Spain with many fantastic holiday options. Hence, day trips become a common choice for tourists who want to get the best and the most of Andalusia. Many tourists opt to choose a city where they can base themselves for various day trips to nearby towns and villages.

This saves tourists a lot of time and money giving them a lot of convenience in traveling around Andalusia. There is no need to pack and unpack the luggage or lug it around to different towns and cities when one has a ‘base city’.

Granada day trip

One of the more popular day trips is to Granada where many tourists want to view the Alhambra and the Generalife. Tourists can be picked up from their hotels to travel to Granada for a delightful 3-hour guided tour around the Alhambra which is a Moorish palace. The Alhambra is Andalusia’s popular attractions; one also gets to view the Generalife gardens. Hence, this is a popular 2-in-1 day trip package for tourists visiting Granada. All sites’ entrance fees are already included in the day trip cost.

Tourists are given leisure time to explore the gardens and outside the Alhambra; they can visit the historic city center for lunch or shop around for some souvenirs. Guests would be transported back to their base city shortly after.

Cordoba day trip

Cordoba is famous for its ancient Great Mosque which is part of the ancient influences in this region. However, this day trip happens only on certain days. There would be a 3-hour guided tour on the Alcázar which is the ancient Moorish mosque that stood majestically in the past.

Tourists also get to visit the ancient Jewish quarter, Synagogue and Cathedral. Many of these monuments are built over past Moorish monuments. There would be some free time for tourists to walk around the town on their own to make further personal discoveries. One can choose to have some local cuisine for lunch before being taken back to their base hotel in the evening, location espagne .

Day trips around Andalusia can be half days or full days. But these short excursions would not be too heavy to tire out the tourists. There would always be enough time to rest or enjoy each spot in leisure. Some day trips are not offered every day so that tourists can have time to rest and plan their other day trips better. Tourists would enjoy their Andalusia holiday much more with day trips.

About the Author

Club Villamar offers many holiday villas dispersed all over location costa brava and villas en espagne whether on the location lloret de mar. Holiday in Spain offers not only freedom but also a wide choice a vacation holiday in locations espagne. And here you can read my articles at Allen Marvin's Articles and my bookmarks at Allen Marvin's Bookmarks.

Preserved Culture at Orihuela

Orihuela was considered a kingdom’s capital in its days of glory. It is located 57 kilometers south-west of Alicante on Segura River. One can reach Orihuela by road or air with the modern facilities available.

Through road access, one can view the delightful coast all the way between Torrevieja and Santa Pola. There is about 16 kilometers of beautiful fine sandy beaches along the Orihuela Coast with a pleasant climate throughout the year.

Landscape

Orihuela has diverse landscape with a strong domination by Segura River with lots of rich orange, olive and almond groves in the countryside with an abundance of cotton fields. The northern town section displays thousands of palm trees in many of its parks which may be of a Muslim origin with a half moon formation. The strong Muslim influence is most evident in the region’s agricultural development with the current irrigation systems where corn is abundant.

There are nearby hills like Hurchillo where one can enjoy magnificent panoramic views of the natural landscape. A lot of concerted effort has been placed in maintaining the harmony between nature and the modern environment.

The delightful beaches at Orihuela alternate with the majestic cliffs that frame the crystal clear Mediterranean waters and vegetation.

There is a myriad of private homes and holiday villas as well as luxury resorts during the crowded summer season along with a plethora of water sports that use nautical clubs’ services and golf facilities.

History

Orihuela is famous for its great cultural heritage preservation which is only second to Valencia. This ancient town was founded by the Carthaginians who first called it Orcelis before it became the Visigoth province’s capital of Aurariola as well as the capital of Tudmir Kingdom in the 8th century. Later, Orihuela was under the control of the Emirate of Cordoba as well as Valencia, Denia and Murcia ancient kingdoms.

Hence, one can enjoy the colorful cultural influences of Orihuela today through its many ancient monuments of various origins such as the 1000-year-old Cathedral in place of an ancient mosque. The Gothic church was later remodeled to a 16th century Baroque style.

There are many sacral buildings in Orihuela which have preserved much of its past culture such as ancient monasteries, palaces and churches. These have well preserved structures and gardens with impressive façades and interiors, location en espagne .

Museums

Much of Orihuela’s rich culture can be viewed also in its museums. There are the ethnology museum, the Re-Conquista museum, the Sacral Art museum and the Semana Santa museum to discover more of Orihuela’s history, culture and long traditions.

About the Author

Club Villamar offers many holiday villas dispersed all over location costa brava and locations espagne whether on the location lloret de mar. Holiday in Spain offers not only freedom but also a wide choice a vacation holiday in locations espagne. And here you can read my articles at Allen Marvin's Articles and my bookmarks at Allen Marvin's Bookmarks.

Amazing Discoveries at Javea

Javea which is also known as Xabia is a popular holiday seaside resort town in Alicante province. It is located on Alicante’s north facing a wide sheltered bay by the rocky Montgó hill which stands at 750 m.

Javea also boasts of a beautiful Natural Park which protects it from cold winter winds to give it a pleasant climate of 15 degrees Celsius in winter and a maximum of 30 degrees Celsius in summer.

Background

Javea may be one of Spain’s smaller towns but packs a great bunch of excitement for the tourists. It is hence considered an international tourist spot with one third of its population being British followed by the Germans and Dutch residents.

Over 100,000 tourists visit Javea every summer with most of them coming from all over Spain as there are easy road accesses.

Javea has a long history that stretches to prehistoric time before blossoming into an important economic centre during the Roman Empire. It functioned as an important and busy commercial port for exports of fish and minerals.

When the Visigoths conquered Javea during the 6th century, the Christian Visigoth monks set up the San Martin monastery before the Moors came into power in 714 AD. A few centuries later, the Spanish Re-Conquista defeated the Moors whose remaining members were expelled from the town in 1609.

Old Town Charm

Modern Javea is formed through a turbulent history with lots of ancient monuments left behind. The Old Town has been set up 3 kilometers away from the shores to protect its inhabitants from pirate attacks in the past. One of the most prominent buildings here is the 14th century Sant Bartolomé church of Gothic structure. A busy local market can be found supplying fresh vegetables, fruit and fish from around the region.

The Old Quarter is a charming place with narrow cobbled streets for a good leisurely stroll to view its ancient Gothic architectural buildings and iron balconies with stone porticoes. There are plenty of pubs, bars and cafés to enjoy a cup of local brew during the sight visits. There are also historical displays in the local Soler Blasco museum, locations villa espagne .

Urbanization

Javea combines the old and new well; the local port as well as Playa de Arenal are two areas which are considered more urban. The El Puerto port was a modest fishing harbor which has now been transformed into a modern complex for tourists with a nautical club.

About the Author

Club Villamar offers many holiday villas dispersed all over Locations Lloret del Mar and villa espagne whether on the location lloret de mar. Holiday in Spain offers not only freedom but also a wide choice a vacation holiday in locations espagne. And here you can read my articles at Allen Marvin's Articles and my bookmarks at Allen Marvin's Bookmarks.

Transformation of Historical Elche

Elche today is modern and industrialized. It is now a much respected center for its famous Spanish footwear industry that has hundreds of shoe factories. It is also blooming in the educational industry with two renowned universities; one is a public university called the Miguel Hernández University and the other is a private university called the University CEU Cardenal Herrera. However, Elche is also a very renowned tourism center for fantastic summer holidays.

History

Elche was inhabited since 5000 B.C. during the modern Stone Age or the Neolithic Age. It blossomed through the Bronze age until the famous Lady of Elche bust was made in the 5th century to represent the best of ancient Iberian art. Today, that bust is kept in Madrid’s National Archaeological Museum with copies in Elche.

Elche was conquered by the Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths and Muslims who grew the town into a prestigious commercial center with many unique developments.

Gastronomy

One of the popular choices of Elche stems from its fantastic gastronomy range where a wide selection of Mediterranean dishes is up for grabs. Its Mediterranean kitchen offers various rice dishes that are prepared with secret recipes such as the popular arroz con costra and pipes i carasses.

There is a variety of local desserts that use the dates from the local palm trees. Almonds and other local fresh fruits are commonly used in the local desserts in Elche. There are many well known restaurants that would be able to whip up some tantalizing local dishes that would whet one’s appetite. These same restaurants are also skilled in serving European and international cuisine.

Special status

Elche has a special place in the hearts of the locals and tourists alike; it has a couple of delightful offerings that have it awarded the UNESCO World Heritage site. One of these heritage sites is El Palmeral de Elche or the Elche Palm Grove which is a vast forest of over 200,000 palm trees. This site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 2000 as a large oasis that surrounds the city with a wonderful foliage and landscape, locations villas espagne .

The other UNESCO World Heritage site is Elx Mystery Play which is a 15th century sacral-lyrical medieval drama. Its presentation is considered a masterpiece in terms of Oral and Intangible Humanity Heritage in 2002. The play is usually performed in mid August in conjunction with the Assumption of Virgin Mary festival.

About the Author

Club Villamar offers many holiday villas dispersed all over Location Lloret del Mar and maison espagne whether on the location lloret de mar. Holiday in Spain offers not only freedom but also a wide choice a vacation holiday in locations espagne. And here you can read my articles at Allen Marvin's Articles and my bookmarks at Allen Marvin's Bookmarks.