Once an ancient Etruscan settlement, San Gimignano’s first walls were erected much later, in 998 AD. It became one of Italy’s smaller city-statues in the 12th century. Featured in fictional form in E.M Forster’s 1905 novel Where Angels Fear to Tread, this Tuscany town provides the perfect backdrop for a modern visit as well. Situated […]

As the capital of Andalucia, Sevilla has enjoyed a colorful history stretching back over 2,500 years. Whether strolling around the gardens of Casa de Pilatos or looking up in awe at Alcazar, it isn’t hard to believe. Casa de Pilatos Located in the ancient Jewish quarter, the Barrio de Santa Cruz, the Casa de Pilatos […]

Wine is produced in many areas of Spain. The hot sun and Mediterranean breezes make for some stellar Palomino grapes. But the capital of one type – sherry – has to be assigned to Jerez de la Frontera, a city in the Cadiz section of Andalucia. The very name means ‘sherry’, a derivative of the […]

More than a mere horse show, the Réal Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre in Jerez de la Frontera is a combination riding school and entertainment wonder. If you can pronounce the name, you are ahead of the game. Housed in a building that alone makes a visit worthwhile, the famed dancing stallions will do more […]

While Americans and others may celebrate Easter only on a Sunday, that occasion is marked in Spain by an entire week of festivities known as Semana Santa, or Holy Week. The Holy Week festivals that take place all over the country are especially marked in Andalucia. Here, the emphasis is less on doleful repentance and […]

Situated at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains in Andalucia, Granada is a smallish city of fewer than half a million. Yet there are more things to see and do here than in some cities ten times its size. Once part of the kingdom of Castile, it is now one of Spain’s best tourist […]

Gibraltar is situated at the narrow entrance to the Mediterranean Sea on one side of the well-known Straits of Gibraltar. Across the water a dozen miles away lies Northern Africa. Far from a mere geological outcropping, the city is a fascinating mixture of Spanish and British culture. The Rock of Gibraltar, of course, is famous. […]

During the 10th century, Cordoba was the cultural center of Spain. Several cities in this ancient country might now claim that title. But, many sights in this Andalucian town show why Cordoba was – and still is – one of the leaders. The Mezquita of Cordoba is one that would easily make the list. Built […]

The port city of Cadiz in the Andalucia region of Spain is an ancient wonder. It is among the oldest inhabited cities in Europe, with roots stretching back to Phoenician sailors over 3,000 years ago. Modern visitors will find dozens of things to do here encompassing the years from then to now. Get a view […]

Europe is full of magnificent churches, cathedrals, and other religious structures. But few are as unusual as the famed Mezquita of Cordoba in the region of Andalucia. Begun at the end of the 8th century while Spain was under Moorish rule, it continued to evolve long after the Reconquest in 1236 AD. The result is […]