The festival of San Fermín, or the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, as it’s more commonly known outside Spain, officially begins at midday on 6th July every year with the ‘Chupinazo’ which takes place on the balcony of the Casa Consistorial in Pamplona. Thousands of people congregate in the …
February in Spain comes alive with lively festivals which fill the streets with parades, costumes and music. Whilst the renowned Carnivals of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Palmas and Cádiz are iconic, many other unique celebrations also take place such as the Bodas de Isabel de Segura in Teruel and …
The Christian Reconquest of Spain, also known as the Reconquista, was a pivotal period in European history which spanned nearly eight centuries. This protracted struggle, lasting from the early 8th century until the fall of Granada in 1492, was a complex and multifaceted series of military, political and religious campaigns …
The practice of building human towers, known as ‘castells’, represents a defining cultural tradition in Catalonia. This remarkable feat of physical endurance, cooperation and communal identity has become a symbol of Catalan heritage. Recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the Castellers continue to captivate onlookers with their …
Tarragona is a charming Mediterranean port city located 100km south-west of Barcelona on the coast of Catalonia. Originally established as Tarraco by the Romans in the 3rd century BCE, Tarragona served as a key administrative and commercial hub. Today the city’s ancient Roman archaeological complex is recognised as a UNESCO …
The history of Roman Spain, also known as ‘Hispania’, offers a rich narrative of conquest, assimilation and cultural transformation. The incorporation of the Iberian Peninsula into the Roman Empire marked a pivotal chapter in the region’s development, shaping its political, economic and social structures. The Romanisation of Spain introduced enduring …
Roman control of the Iberian Peninsula began in 218 BC during the Second Punic War when they captured territories from the Carthaginians. Over the next two centuries, the Romans gradually conquered and Romanized the region through military force and colonization. The Romans divided the peninsula into three provinces – Hispania …
The Visigothic period in Spanish history, spanning roughly the 5th to the early 8th centuries, bridges the decline of the Roman Empire and the dawn of the medieval age. Although often overshadowed by the grandeur of Roman rule and the Islamic period that followed, the Visigoths in Spain left an …
The Iberian Peninsula, today known as Spain and Portugal, has been a significant crossroads for human civilization since prehistoric times. The history of the early Iberian people is deeply entwined with the broader narratives of European prehistory, marked by waves of migration, cultural exchanges and the emergence of complex societies …