The Royal Palace of El Escorial lies 45km north-west of Madrid and is one of Spain’s most famous sights. Felipe II ordered the construction of the palace to commemorate Spain’s victory over France at the Battle of Saint Quentin in 1557 during the Franco-Habsburg War. With practically unlimited funds available from the “New World” it […]
Top 10 Historical Attractions in Spain
Having spent so many years travelling around Spain it’s very common for me to be asked where my favourite place is. This is always a question I find impossible to answer. The first place I lived in Spain was on the island of Mallorca which I still try to visit as often as possible. However, since […]
World Heritage Sites in Spain
I’m sure you’re familiar with UNESCO World Heritage Sites which are selected because of their ‘special cultural or physical significance’. Spain began to participate with UNESCO in 1982 and originally five sites were selected for inclusion: the Mezquita in Cordoba the Alhambra in Granada Burgos Cathedral Park Güell, Palau Güell and Casa Milà in Barcelona […]
Spanish Art and Artists
“Los Borrachos” by Diego Velazquez[/caption]If I told you that I’m a great lover of Spanish art then I’m afraid I’d be lying. When I visit a new city I’m always keen on visiting its main architectural attractions and (more importantly) its sports venues. Unfortunately, I’ve never been a great fan of art galleries but my […]
Discover Spanish History
When I first moved to Spain as a naive 24 year old I had no concept of Spanish history. To me Spain was little more than a place people went on their summer holidays. One day near the village of Pollensa in Mallorca I stumbled upon a little Roman bridge which really opened my eyes […]