 |
 The
Best travel Experiences in Spain
Spain is one of the most diverse and visually stunning nations
of Europe. As you begin to plan your trip, you may find yourself
overwhelmed with so many fascinating sights, beautiful landscapes,
and charming towns to fit into your limited time. So let
us give you a hand. We’ve scoured the country in search
of the Best places and experiences, and we’ve chosen
our very favorites below, admittedly very personal and opinionated
choices.
Sitting in Sol or Sombra at the Bullfights:
With origins as old as pagan Spain, the art of bullfighting is
the expression of Iberian temperament and passions. Detractors
object to the sport as cruel, bloody, and savage. Fans, however,
view bullfighting as a microcosm of death, catharsis, and
rebirth. If you strive to understand the bullfight, it can
be one of the most evocative and memorable events in Spain.
Head for the plaza de toros (bullring) in any major city,
but particularly in Madrid, Seville, or Granada. Tickets are
either sol (sunny side) or sombra (in the shade); you’ll
pay more to get out of the sun.
Feasting on Tapas in the Tascas:
Tapas, those bite-size portions washed down with wine, beer,
or sherry, are reason enough to go to Spain! Tapas bars,
called tascas, are a quintessential Spanish experience. Originally
tapas were cured ham or chorizo (spicy sausage). Today they
are likely to be anything—gambas (deep-fried shrimp),
anchovies marinated in vinegar, stuffed peppers, a cool, spicy
gazpacho, or hake salad.
Getting Caught Up in the Passions of Flamenco:
It’s Best heard in some old tavern, in a neighborhood like
the Barrio de Triana in Seville. From the lowliest taberna to
the poshest nightclub, you can hear the staccato foot stomping, castanet
rattling, hand clapping, and sultry guitar sound. Some say its
origins lie deep in Asia, but the Spanish gypsy has given
the art form, which dramatizes inner conflict and pain, an
original style. Performed by a great artist, flamenco can
tear your heart out with its soulful, throaty singing.
Seeing the Masterpieces at the Prado:
One of the world’s premier art museums, it’s
home to some 4,000 masterpieces, many of them acquired by
Spanish kings. The wealth of Spanish art is staggering—everything
from Goya’s Naked Maja to the celebrated Las Meninas
(The Maids of Honor) by Velázquez (our favorite).
Masterpiece after masterpiece unfolds before your eyes, including
works by Hieronymus Bosch, Goya, Caravaggio, Fra Angelico,
and Botticelli.
Sipping Sherry in Jerez de la Frontera:
In
Spain, sherry is called jerez, and it’s
a major industry and subculture in its own right.
Hispanophiles compare its complexities to
the finest wines produced in France and make
pilgrimages to the bodegas in Andalusia
that ferment this amber-colored liquid. More
than 100 bodegas are available for visits, tours,
and tastings, and most open their gates to
visitors interested in a process that dates
from the country’s Roman occupation.
Wandering
the Crooked Streets of Barcelona’s Gothic
Quarter:
Long before Madrid was founded, the kingdom
of Catalonia was a bastion of art and architecture. Whether
the Barri Gòtic, as it’s called
in Catalán, is truly Gothic is the
subject of endless debate, but the Ciutat Vella, or old city, of
Barcelona is one of the most evocative neighborhoods
in Spain. Its richly textured streets, with their
gurgling fountains, vintage stores, and ancient
fortifications, inspired such artists as Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró (who was
born in this neighborhood).
Going Gaga Over Gaudí:
No architect
in Europe was as fantastical as Antoni Gaudí y
Cornet, the foremost proponent of Catalán
modernisme (aka modernismo). Barcelona is
studded with the works of this extraordinary artist,
all of which UNESCO now lists as World
Trust Properties. A recluse and a celibate
bachelor, as well as a fervent Catalán nationalist,
he lived out his own fantasy in his work.
Nothing is more stunning than his Sagrada Família,
Barcelona’s
Best-known landmark, a cathedral on which Gaudí labored
for the last 43 years of his life. The landmark cathedral was
never completed, but they’re still working
on it. If it’s ever finished, “
The Sacred Family” will be Europe’s largest cathedral.
Running with the Bulls in Pamplona:
Okay, maybe it’s smarter to watch, rather
than run with, the bulls. The Fiesta de San
Fermín in July is the most dangerous
ritual in Spain, made even worse
by copious amounts of wine consumed by participants
and observers. Broadcast live on TV throughout
Spain and the rest of Europe, the festival
features herds of furious bulls that charge
down medieval streets, sometimes trampling and
goring some of the hundreds of people who
run beside them. Few other rituals in Spain are as breathtaking
and foolhardy. And few others as memorable.
Following the Ancient Pilgrim Route
to Santiago de Compostela:
Tourism as we know it began during the Middle
Ages, as thousands of European pilgrims journeyed
to the shrine of Santiago (St. James) in Galicia in
northwestern Spain. Even if you’re not
motivated by faith, you should come to see
some of the most dramatic landscapes and the
grandest scenery in Spain by crossing the
northern tier of the country—all the
way from the Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela. Some
of the country’s most stunning architecture
can be viewed along the way, including gems in Roncevalles, Burgos, and
León.
|
|
