City of Arts and Sciences, Spain

The Crystal Palace in Madrid

The History of Spain is a Summary of influences from the different cultures that have lived in the country.The first settlers on the Peninsula were the Celts and the Iberians. The first testimonials written about the country date back to this period. It is said that Hispania (the name the Romans used to describe the Peninsula) is a word of Semitic origin from Hispalis (Seville). From the year 1100 A.D. and until the middle of the 3rd century A.D., commercial and cultural contact with high Mediterranean civilisations was held with the Phoenicians and Greeks. At the end of this era, both civilisations were taken over by the Carthaginians and Romans, respectively. The Roman presence in Hispania lasted for seven centuries, during which time the basic borders of the Peninsula in relation to other European towns were set up. In addition to territorial administration, many more institutions were inherited from Rome such as the concept of family, Latin as a language, religion and law. At the start of the 5th century new settlers from the North arrive and settle on the Peninsula: the Visigoths in the interior and the Swabians on the West. 
The conflict between liberalists and absolutists, or in other words, between two different ways of perceiving the establishment of the state, would be one of the longest Spanish conflicts throughout the 19th century. The brief reign of Amadeo de Saboya, the first republican experience and the subsequent restoration of the monarchy, under the rule of Alfonso XII, take Spain to the beginning of the 20th century with a series of serious unresolved problems that intensify following the definitive loss of the last strongholds of the colonial empire: Cuba and the Philippines. Despite the interruption of the First World War in which Spain remained neutral and following the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera, the monarchical crisis returns, resulting in the exile of King Alfonso XIII. The ballot box is introduced into Spain and with it the first democratic experience of the 20th century: the second Republic, a brief attempt to introduce the reformations the country needed, frustrated by General Franco's military rising and the outbreak of the Civil War in 1936.


                                                              Geographical Location
Spain covers an area of 505,955 square kilometres, which places it amongst the fifty largest countries in the world.The largest part of the territory is located in the Iberian Peninsula, the remainder, approximately 12,500 square kilometres, are islands, -Balearics and the Canary Islands- plus 32 square kilometres that are accounted for by the cities of Ceuta and Melilla, situated on the coast of Africa. The situation of the Iberian Peninsula in the extreme south west of Europe and only 14 kilometres away from the African continent, endows Spain with a great strategic value: projecting into the Mediterranean on one side and acting as an intersection on the path to Africa and America on the other. The fact that a large part of Spain is peninsular also explains the length of its coastline, which runs along the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. As a result of its position, between 36 and 43 degrees North latitude, the climate ranges from the mild oceanic climate in the North, to the continental Mediterranean in the centre and the Mediterranean in the East and South, factors which combine to create a wet Spain in the North and mountainous areas, green Spain with luxuriant forests and a dry Spain in the Mediterranean.

Regional Specialties                                                             

Paella is probably the most popular dish to come out of Spain. A Valencian rice dish, typical ingredients consist of white rice, green vegetables, meat (rabbit, chicken, duck) or seafood, land snails, beans and seasoning. Made into a stew-like consistency, paella is rich and hearty as a standalone meal or as a side dish.

Jamón ibérico (Iberian cured ham) also called pata negra, is a type of rare cured ham produced mostly in Spain. Consisting of at least 75% black Iberian pig found in the south and southwestern areas of Spain, this meat is a delicacy only recently was available in the States.

Wine Destinations

Spainish Cuisine

La Rioja, in the north of Spain, is the most internationally recognized destination for wine. Producing an average of 250 million liters a year, 85% of that is red and the rest white and rosé.

Jerez (also known as Xérès or sherry) is a staple of Andalusia. Served in both bars and taverns cold, it is intense, smooth and light on the palate. Sip and swoosh to appreciate the delicate almond notes.

Penedes - El Vendrell sits in the large wine-growing region of Penedès , where cavas, high-quality sparkling wines, are produced. Cava is the wine chosen for toasts and celebrations with Sant Sadurní d'Anoia being the world capital for this product.

                                                   How to Get Around Spain

Spainish National Railway

Train- The Spanish National Railway Network connects all provincial capitals with Madrid and is operating more and more high speed AVE trains every day. Get to all Seville, Malaga, Barcelona and Valencia in a short trip from Madrid on a flexible schedule at a great cost.


Plane- The Largest airports in Spain are Barajas in Madrid, and El Prat in Barcelona , which offer the greatest number of international flights daily. With recent expansions and revamps, they make traveling in and out a breeze. Terminal 4 in Madrid was a recent addition in 2006 and is the world's largest terminal by area. Designed by Antonio Lamela and Richard Rogers and TPS Engineers, they collectively won a Stirling Prize and IStructE Award for their innovative and modern design utilizing glass panes instead of walls and domed ceilings to let natural light in, aimed to give travelers a stress-free journey. It's also fairly easy to island hop between Gran Canaria, Tenerife Sur and Tenerife Norte in the Canary Islands via smaller regional carriers for a very reasonable fee.

Trasmediterranea Ship

Boat- You can also visit the Canary Islands by sea as Trasmediterranea and Balearia, two of the major tour operators run regular routes between Cadiz, Barcelona and Valencia and the smaller ports. Enjoy the wind in your hair as you embark via boat to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The larger cities of Barcelona, Valencia and Malaga are also accessible by harbor, making it easy and enjoyable to visit multiple cities in one visit. Barcelona Port is one of the busiest on the Mediterranean and offers scheduled ferry services to and from Majorca, Ibiza, Minorca and Italy, with the option of travelling with your car. It is also a departure and stopping point for many cruises. Valencia Port offers scheduled ferry services to Majorca, Ibiza and Minorca. The port of Málaga has much history as a Phoenician trading port and is now the second most important cruise terminal in Spain.


                                               Famous Festivals in Spain



The Tomato Fight:-

Tomato Fight

To get things started there's a monumental 110 ton arsenal of ripe fruit dropped in the town centre. This is delivered by large trucks that stop at strategic points along the narrow street to dump the tomatoes into the waiting hands of the crowd. The local farmers sit on top of the trucks and fire tomatoes (including green ones) at the defenseless crowd. Participants then have one hour in which to hurl tomatoes at each other. Several times throughout the hour trucks come through to re-stock the street with more and more loads of tomatoes.


Whilst there are very few rules at La Tomatina it is important to follow the following rules outlined by the city council so the event runs smoothly without incident, as it has done to date. 


- It is compulsory to squash the tomatoes before throwing them. 
- This is a tomato lover's festival so strictly no other projectiles are allowed 
- Be careful of the lorries going through the village
- You must not rip t-shirts
- Tomatoes must stop being thrown once the second incendiary device is fired. 


After the tomato fight has concluded, the town is transformed back to its former self. Shopkeepers take down their tarpaulins and everyone chips in to hose down the town and each other. Fire Trucks are also used to spray down the streets, with water provided by a Roman aqueduct. It is best to look for locals with hoses to wash up after the fight. The river is also a popular spot to go after the fight but the water is of questionable cleanliness and there are loads of people queuing up for a chance to wash.

                                                              Bull Running Fiesta:-

Bull Running Festival

Every year from July 7th-14th thousands pack into Pamplona to start Spain's most famous bull-running fiesta to honour Navarre capital's patron saint, San Fermin. Spain stages more than 3,000 fiestas (festivals) each year but the 7 days of bull-running are the favourite in terms of spectacle and excitement.


After the daybreak of July 7th, runners (mainly young men) gather at the bottom of Santo Domingo, which is the starting line. They crowd together and sing to the image of San Fermin which is placed in a niche on a wall. The song goes: "A San Fermín pedimos, por ser nuestro patrón, nos guíe en el encierro dándonos su bendición" ("We ask San Fermín, as our Patron, to guide us through the Bull Run and give us his blessing.")


Then, as a rocket goes off, a number of fighting bulls are let out onto the streets. A second rocket is then let off to make sure everyone knows the bulls are loose in the street. The bulls run along the narrow street 825 metres (half a mile) to a bull ring. The runners dash along in front of the bulls, aiming to feel the breath of the bull on their backs, getting as close as possible - all whilst trying to avoid getting gored by their sharp horns.


The supposed way to do this is to start off slowly when the bulls are quite a distance behind. Then as they get nearer start running like hell! You can then go near them for a short time, as near as you are prepared to risk it, and then quickly get out of the way. Runners look for a gap in the fence to slip through or jump over, or a space against the wall of the street.


When the bulls finally reach the end of the street, they go into pens and are kept until later that day they are killed in a bullfight.


The tradition is said to have come from practicality when, in 1591 residents merely had to herd the bulls to the bull-fighting arena. At first only the drovers were used to lead the bulls. But it seems that at some date, the butchers guild, who had the responsibility of buying the bulls, began to join in with the drovers and began to chase behind the bulls and heifers up to the bull-ring from Santo Domingo street - the starting point of the run.


As time passed the event became more and more popular and some people began to run in front of the bulls and not behind them, as the drovers do. In 1852, a new bull-ring was built and a new route - becoming much shorter also, because as from 1899, it was decided to bring the bulls up to a small corral in Santo Domingo street the night before they fight in the ring.


Originally only a few daring souls ran with the bulls but the adrenaline rush of running in front of a 1500lb bull has since caught on. People now journey from all around the world to run with the bulls.



Others Cities And Regions In Spain                                    


While some may say Madrid is the heart of Spain as the capital and largest city, and it does get far and away the greatest number of tourists a year, there are a number of other regions worth exploring. The lifelines of Spanish culture are apparent throughout the country's pulsing cities with distinct personalities, attractions and history. An eclectic melting pot, Spanish cuisine, architecture and influence vary greatly across the diverse country so pack a punch into any visit by stopping at a couple of these different destinations.


Madrid:-

Plaza Mayor, Madrid

A visit to Madrid isn't complete without experiencing Plaza Mayor, the town center. Formerly the site of the market, public gatherings and spectacles like comedies, bullfights, and tournaments, nowadays stroll the area to shop, eat and relax. Off of Calle Mayor is Barrio de los Austrias, the old center of Madrid during the Habsburg Dynasty and an interesting way to compare the past to the present. Another must see square is Puerta del Sol, featuring "Oso y Madroño" (the "Bear and the Strawberry Tree") statue, Calle Alcalá, and the equestrian statue of Carlos III. Essentially ground zero, all roads out of Madrid begin here, which has brought the area a rich history of conflicts and battles. Plaza de la Armería (Palacio Real) is another cultural stop as the official residence of the King of Spain. Just outside the city proper experience Ávila, a UNESCO World Heritage City with interesting churches and Renaissance palaces that bear witness to the past wealth of the town as a textile center. Also in the Madrid region and proper for a daytrip is Toledo, another world heritage site known as the "city of the three cultures", where Christians, Arabs and Jews lived together for centuries, preserving an artistic and cultural legacy in the form of churches, palaces, fortresses, mosques and synagogues. Yet another adventure would be to Segovia, the old quarter with Roman aqueducts featuring Romanesque churches, the Cathedral and Fortresses overlooking Castille.


Barcelona:-

Barcelona , Spain

The second largest city in Spain has no shortage of amazing things to see or do. Rated one of the top 10 Beach Cities in the world by National Geographic, it's really the infrastructure that impresses locals and visitors alike. Take a tour of the famous Gaudí architecture in the gothic quarter with buildings dating back to medieval times, some from as far back as the Roman settlement of Barcelona, most of which are classified as UNESCO World Heritage sites. In 1999, Barcelona won the RIBA Royal Gold Medal for its architecture, which was the first and only time the winner has been an entire city, not an individual architect. The National Museum of Art of Catalonia possesses a well-known collection of Romanesque art and it's almost sacrilegious to visit the city without catching an FC Barcelona soccer match.


Andalucía:-

Andalucia , Spain

Bathed by both the Mediterranean and Atlantic oceans, Andalucia is a true wonder of Mother Nature with three distinct geographical zones in the center, and the Betica mountain range in the south. The old towns of Granada, Cordoba, Ubeda and Baeza have been recognized as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, just like Seville overall. Discover everything from underground prehistoric caves and grottos, to world-class vineyards, golf and ski resorts. One of the most impressive sites in Cordoba is the archaeological site Medina Azahara, intended to be the capital of a new province built by Caliph Abd-al Rahman III. Another is the Mosque-Cathedral, arguably the most significant monument in the whole of the western Moslem World and one of the most amazing buildings in the world. Málaga, another providence of interest is called Costa del Sol (Coast of the Sun) and is home to Pablo Picasso, Antonio Banderas and a number of other tourist delights. The Walls surrounding the city are one of the most popular attractions, built in the style of Phoenician, Roman, Visigothic, Arab and Spanish remains of the defensive compounds of the city. The Flavian Roman Amphitheatre and a number of museums, most notably the Museo Picasso Málaga are also must-see cultural stops.


Valencia:-

Valencia , Spain

Valencia is trade and culture, cinema, theatre, museums, magic, business. It is the centre of international and avant-garde design, and one of the most active cities in Europe for festivals and conferences. Feel the pulse of the Mediterranean mecca as you wander around the Cathedrals and plazas. Stop by the Valencia Cathedral, Miguelete Tower and Plaza de la Virgen to get a sense of the city's vibe. An interesting juxtaposition of old-world with modern marvel is the City of Arts and Science, a massive museum campus that houses an IMAX theater, open-air oceanographic park, opera house, outdoor art gallery and interactive science center


Way of St. James:-

St. James , Spain

If you're feeling adventurous, embark on the pilgrimage taken by Apostle Saint James, one of the most important Christian pilgrimages of medieval times. The French route is the most popular, beginning in the Pyrenees and has two variants depending if you enter from Roncesvalles (through Navarre) or Somport (through Aragon). Both routes meet in the town of Puente la Reina, and then continue on through the territories of La Rioja and Castile-León towards Galicia. Interesting cultural points along the way include Puerto de Somport, Puente la Reina de Jaca, Sangüesa, and more. The other route is the Northern Route, first used by the pilgrims in the Middle Ages in order to avoid travelling through the territories occupied by the Muslims. While less direct, the appeal of the Northern route is its landscape along the coastline against a backdrop of mountains and overlooking the Cantabrian Sea. 

Read more »

Posted in: Spain

The Ten Most Amazing And Mysterious Places In The World

Travel and see the world creates a special feeling in everyone. But there are places that have the characteristic of special feelings arouse more than others, either by his greatness, his majesty or rarity, the fruit of human or natural creation.

It is those “special places” of the world, conveying great power to inspire travelers and their amazement, shock and awe. So today is a list of ten “places that have a meaning or significance either by their own stories, the mysteries that surround them or simply because they are sites of unique beauty and unique”.

1 ) Santorini Island – Greece:-

Known for its white houses and blue roofs, which rise in the middle of the Aegean Sea. This is an absolutely different from all the Cyclades islands. Its geological setting gives you that unique wild beauty.

Santorini took its current form by sinking the caldera of an enormous volcano. Its capital is the town of Thira and its main port on the acini. Their spectacular beauties, with a lively nightlife, have become major tourist destinations in Europe.

2 ) Easter Island, Chile:-

Located in Polynesia, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It has an area of 163.6 km ² and a population of 3,791 inhabitants. But it is known worldwide for hundreds of gigantic statues, some erected on stone platforms, others buried or broken on the ground that dominate its skyline.

His name is because the Europeans discovered it on Easter Day 1722. Both legends of the islanders as the studies are insufficient to identify the builders of these magnificent statues. At most one can say that these buildings have a certain affinity with those of Peru, although there are
                                                                      other elements of Peruvian culture that
                                                                      were unknown on the island.

3 ) Bimini – Bahamas:-

It is an underwater rock formation near North Bimini Island in the Bahamas.

The rocks that make up the wall of the “Bimini Road” is basically limestone blocks of varying sizes, usually rectangular, arranged in more or less irregular depending on the size, but very conspicuously aligned according to their edges and in the pattern of ”route, “which suggests an origin” unnatural”.

Although geologists speculate that the half-mile path of Bimini is a natural, many are also awarded to the set of blocks as part of a wall, a wharf, platform or simply a path. Many people believe they were man-made, possibly a way for the lost city of Atlantis.

4) Loch Ness – Scotland:-

Undoubtedly, the thought of Scotland, no one takes to bring to mind the legend of Loch Ness, according to which is housed inside a monster. And nothing bad has gone to the region using this reckless creature hidden. It happens that his alleged presence, annually attracts lots of tourists. Although he never could prove anything, there are many people who claim to have sighted Nessie.

Most scientists and other experts say the evidence supporting the existence of Nessie is not convincing, and regard such reports as misidentifications of fraud or real creatures. But that does not discourage the curious. Boats depart from various points along the coast providing tourists the chance to look at the monster. Loch Ness is part of a series of interconnected lakes in Scotland that were carved by glaciers during previous ice ages.

Its waters have exceptionally low visibility due to high content in peat from the surrounding soil. It is the second largest lake in Scotland by surface area, with about 56.4 km2, but due to its great depth is the largest in volume: it contains more fresh water than all the lakes in England and Wales together.

5 ) The Pyramid of the Sun and the Moon-Mexico:-

Pre-Columbian ruins in the city of Teotihuacan, just fifty miles north of Mexico City. The Pyramid of the Sun is the pre-Hispanic larger building of his era (100-650 AD) and is one of the largest in Mesoamerica. Its name is because, since the sixteenth century, the chronicles mention that this great monument was dedicated to that divinity. Meanwhile, the tunnels can be seen in the sides have been made by various researchers in order to know its history and construction system.

As part of popular folklore, is said to be at the top, standing in the center of the platform, if you make a wish, it will surely be fulfilled. It is also the place to get “cosmic energy” and even some parents bring their children in their arms to the top for presentation to the cosmos. Meanwhile, the Pyramid of the Moon is in the northern part of Teotihuacan and its outline is modeled after the Cerro Gordo, Tenan called in Nahuatl, meaning “mother or protective stone.” It is the largest building in the city after the Pyramid of the Sun and covers an earlier structure.

6) Pyramids and Sphinx of Egypt:-

Only look at the Egyptian pyramids and the Sphinx to many knees tremble. It seems incredible that this scale works were built thousands of years ago. And even more surprised that they have survived the passage of time to become the most portentous and emblematic monuments that today speak of that ancient civilization.

This site is considered by many as the most enigmatic and mysterious world. Stand the three great pyramids of Giza (tomb of the pharaohs Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure), which dates back to the vast majority of scholars, the period known as the Old Kingdom of Egypt. Furthermore, as Rankeen.com bend, the Great Pyramid of Giza, built by Cheops (Khufu) is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

The oldest of the three, also known as the Great Pyramid is estimated that it was built approximately 4,400 years. At that time not yet known techniques as important as the pulley. So striking how they managed to 30,000 kilos stones erected to a height of 150 meters. Were used for its construction more than two and a half million blocks carried by 100,000 men during the 20 years of the work.

No less mysterious is the Sphinx, which is known to have a secret chamber beneath one of his legs and, according to some experts, it also contains a passage into the Great Pyramid. The Great Sphinx of Giza is the king with the strength of a lion and human intelligence. It was the first time this statue was used as a guardian of the royal tomb, next to the main streets that served to supply the necessary materials for the construction of the funerary complex.

It measures 73 meters long by 20 high and 14 high. It made an enormous advantage limestone ledge in the place, though he added blocks of stone for the face of Pharaoh and elsewhere. “Without doubt they are faced with the impression of being in the presence of monuments that are in her womb transcendental secrets very closely related structures,” says the site rankings.

7) Machu Picchu – Peru:-

A few days ago the world celebrated 100 years of the rediscovery of the ruins of Machu Picchu, a spectacular city that reveals the greatness of Indian culture and achievement every year hundreds of thousands of tourists who visit Peru. This extraordinary settlement lies halfway up the Andes Plateau, in the middle of the Amazon jungle and above the Urubamba River. It was abandoned by the Incas because of a smallpox outbreak and, after the Spanish defeated this empire, the city remained “forgotten” for three centuries until it was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911.

Machu Picchu would have been one of the vacation homes of Pachacutec (1438-1470). However, some of his best buildings and the ceremonial demonstrate clearly that it was used also as a religious shrine. Recent studies based on archival documents of the sixteenth century have provided good and new arguments to determine that the citadel of Machu Picchu, the pyramids of the pharaohs of Egypt or the tomb of Chinese Emperor Shi Huang Chi, a luxurious well-kept tomb to receive the remains of King Pachacutec.

Tourists who visit this natural relic remain convinced that the mystery may never be fully revealed because until now, there are only hypotheses and guesses. The surprising perfection and beauty of the city walls, built by joining a stone, without cement or glue, have led to many myths about its
                                                                   construction.

Since 1983, Machu Picchu is a member in the World Heritage list since 1981 is an ecological protection zone. However, Peruvian authorities have yet to contend with the latent problems in the area such as forest fires, conservation of endangered species and constant maintenance of the ruins.

8) Stonehenge (Wiltshire, England):-

Since ancient times, Stonehenge has attracted the attention and admiration of visitors for its strange and stunning architecture. There is currently nothing in the world that in no way compares to this mysterious sanctuary, built not with mortar and stone, but only with large rectangular blocks of stone.

This site is considered by many as a landmark of engineering. Built in three phases over a period of 1,400 years was carried out by a large group of motivated workers, who had a clear idea of what they wanted to achieve and the skills to do it.

For hundreds of years, scientists and researchers have vied to find the origin and significance of this monument, but, despite many conjectures and hypotheses, it is certain that the mystery of the meaning of the ruins of Stonehenge is still standing.

What is known is that this site was part of a much larger ceremonial complex, including stone circles and wooden ceremonial avenues. Stonehenge consists of large rectangular blocks of stone arranged in a circle, forming lintels.

What we have in the center of a field surrounded by a circular moat measuring 104 m in diameter. Within this space stands a terrace where 56 graves are known as the “Aubrey holes”. The stones were probably transported in huge rafts along the Welsh coast and up the river Avon. They were then dragged overland to Stonehenge, only to be abandoned for a century or more before the real work began.

9) Petra, Jordan:-

In the desert of Jordan, Petra is presented as a beautiful enigma not yet fully revealed. The name means stone in Greek, and it is precisely because the city is built entirely of pink sandstone.

The most famous buildings are the Temple of the Winged Lions and the Treasury. Since 1985 is recognized as World Heritage by UNESCO. Petra is undoubtedly the most precious treasure of Jordan and its most important tourist attraction. As described by the website rankings, this is a huge city completely excavated in the rock by the Nabataeans, an Arab tribe who settled a hard worker in the area 2,000 years ago.

It was founded in antiquity by the end of seventh century C. by the Edomites, but then was occupied in the sixth century BC by the Nabataeans who made it prosper thanks to its location on the caravan route carrying incense, spices and other luxury goods between Egypt, Syria, Arabia and the southern Mediterranean.

No doubt the visit to this stunning city will be unforgettable. We will see a massive façade, 30 meters wide and 43 meters high, carved in the rock face of pale pink and dwarfing everything around it. It was built in the first century as the tomb of an important Nabataean king and is an example of engineering genius of these ancient people.

One of the best recommendations when visiting this site is to hire a Bedouin at the entrance of the archaeological park in the Visitor Center, as one can well take advantage of the expertise with these guides, who have often lived their entire lives Petra. Paying for the rental of a donkey or a camel, surely will tell the history of the site.

Inside the site you can also find two museums: the Petra Archaeological Museum and the Petra Nabataean Museum. Both have a large fund of
                                                                   pieces from the region and provide an overview of
                                                                   the city’s past.

10 ) Nazca Lines, Pampas de Jumana, Peru:-

This is a set of oversized geometric lines, which form trapezoids, spirals, animal figures, people, etc.. The amazing thing is that can only be seen in its entirety from the air flying over the desert, which has raised major questions about the intentions and skills of its builders. The Nazca lines are trenches in the soil, which do not exceed 30 cm deep, with equal width.

Read more »

Posted in: Ten Most Amazing And Mysterious Places