Culture CULTURE Spain’S Cultural Heritage Is One of the Richest and Most Varied in the World

Home , Pazo, Province of Toledo

culture CULTURE Spain’s cultural heritage is one of the richest and most varied in the world. across spain allows you to experience this culture through different areas such as gastronomy and oenology, heritage, museums, natural parks, festivals, tradi- tions and much more.

1. along the Mediterranean coast 2. camino de Santiago-Portuguese way 3. Cantabric coast 4. cultural Catalonia 5. Don Quixote route 6. gastronomic diversity 7. islamic heritage, main & minor cities 8. Morocco imperial cities 9. shrines of faith 10. star festivals 11. wildhorse festival, NW Iberian peninsula 12. trendy markets 13. wine & architecture along the Mediterranean coast

Cadaqués one of the most symbolic places on the Costa Brava. wander around the old town and winding cobbled streets and discover its stunning nature, coves, beaches and rocks which have been a source of inspiration for no- table visitors and residents for decades. today, this centre enjoys an intense cultural life, as demonstra- ted by its many museums and art galleries, among which the Salvador Dalí house-museum stands Girona this Catalan city has an excellent position, situated at the end of the Pyrenean chain and the Costa Brava, bathed by the Mediterranean sea. set in Girona´s walled enclosure- la Força Vella, stands the cathedral with the widest gothic nave in medieval European architecture. discover also the multitude of small streets making up el Call, one of the best preserved jewish quarters in Spain. Peñíscola one of the most popular tourist resorts in the province of Castellón. the castle, overlooking the sea, offers a glimpse of its past at a time when knights and battle- mented fortresses occupied this area. Pope Benedict XIII, known as ‘Papa Luna’, chose this as a place of seclusion and to launch the fight for the unity of the catholic church. outside the defensive walls there are numerous hotels, apartments and residential estates. Guadalest situated on top of a five-hundred-metre-high rock in the province of Alicante. the well-kept historic quar- ter was declared a historic-artistic site. it is a good idea is to go up to the castle of San José, a muslim fortress from the 11th century, from where you will have splendid views of the surroundings.

1 Camino de Santiago Portuguese way

day 1 Porto airport to Tui in Tui, don´t miss the chance to visit the Cathedral of Santa Ma- ria from 12th century and also cross the international bridge that connects Spain and Portugal over the Miño river. day 2 Tui –O’Porriño (14km-3h) wander through the historic streets of Tui, ascending to Ribadelouro to visit the parish of Bartolomé de Re- bordans. end the day in O’Porriño town. day 3 O’Porriño-Arcade (23km/5-6h by foot) walk to Mos and see Santa Eulalia church and the impressive pazo de Mos, before reaching Rendondela. climb to O Viso in order to admire the estuary from above and arrive in Arcade, famous for its oysters. day 4 Arcade-Pontevedra (12 km/3h by foot) cross the historical, roman bridge over the Verdugo river and reach A Canicouva. finish your day. explo- ring the impressive centre of Pontevedra, including the church of the Virgen de la Peregrina. day 5 Pontevedra-Caldas (21km/4-5h by foot) start a tour along the Galician countryside until Cal- das de Rei, where you can visit the Church of Santo Tomás and its beautiful botanical garden with sixty different species of trees and flowers. day 6 Caldas de Rei-Padrón (17km/4-5 hours) enjoy the landscape along the way and cross the river Ulla to arrive to Padrón, land of the illustrious writers such as Camilo José Cela, also known for its popular, delicious green peppers. day 7 Padrón-Santiago (22km/5-6 hours) the day has come to reach Santiago de Compostela and its majestic cathedral, after ascending the city through several small villages.

2 Cantabric coast

Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country, also known as the “green Spain” are the northern regions of Spain and are known for their well conserved ecological areas and their impressive, rough coasts. Picos de Europa national park for instance is a UNESCO biosphere reserve and can be visited by foot or cable car. get up to almost 2000 metres above sea level to admire the immense beauty of nature in the mountains, or visit Somie- dos natural park, which is home to Europe’s largest population of brown bears living in total freedom. on the coast, enjoy the beaches of San Sebastián, Santander or Oyambre beach in Cantabria, with its impressive dunes. the Cantabric coast also captivates visitors with its culture and history. the world heritage Altamira Caves, Gaudí’s capricho monument in Comillas or the 20th century royal palace of La Magdalena in Santander, are only a few of this region’s historic jewels. pilgrim routes in this area, like the Camino de San- tiago or the Silver route also are of great importan- ce, as well as buildings like the modern Guggenheim museum in Bilbao or the Indianos architecture in the Ribadesella or Llanes. mansions built by emi- grants returned from America in the 19th century. festivals like the traditional Vijanera Festival, and sporting events such as the international canoeing competitions like the descent of Sella river and Deva river also make this area so special and unique. from Asturian fabada to Cantabrian anchovies, you will find Spain’s finest cuisine in the north. always -ac companied by a traditional, exquisite cider or wine of the region. for all cheeselovers and gastronomical experts, there is even the opportunity to take part in a cheese making workshop in a rural farm.

3 cultural Catalonia day 1 Barcelona mediterranean and cosmopolitan city with Roman remains, medieval quarters and beautiful examples of 20th century modernism and avant-garde. day 2 medieval Cardona, located 100km from Barcelona. picturesque town with an important medieval heritage. its most outstanding features include the walled fortress in its castle, set on a hill, and the foremost example of the Catalan romanesque style of architecture.

day 3 nature and world heritage practise rafting or kayaking in La Noguera Pallaresa river. continue with nature and visit Aigües Tortes national park. on the way, you will find beautiful romanesque buildings, such as Sant Climent and Santa Maria de Taüll, Sant Llorenç and Santa María, some with the UNESCO World Heritage designation. day 4 trekking in the edge trekking tour in the impressive and majestic Mont Re- bei gorge declared a Wildlife Refuge in 2005. great gorge in Catalonia with about 4 km long. day 5 roman vs modernism the region of Tarragona, with its roman archaeological complex declared a World Heritage site in 2000. Reus, birthplace of Gaudí with modern jewels such as the institute Pere Mata, also popular for its popular aperitif drink, vermouth. day 6 the cistercian route fascinating, mystic and religious legacy within a route that connects three monasteries related to the medieval splendour of Catalonia: Poblet ( UNESCO world heritage site), Santes Creus and Vallbona de les Monges. day 7 final day of this enriching experience.

4 Don Quixote route

day 1 Madrid start the trip in Madrid. cosmopolitan city that offers historic sights and exquisite gastronomy. the convent of the dis- calced trinitarians might be place where Cervantes and his wife are buried, and on Plaza de España there are statues dedicated to this great artist. day 2 Alcalá de Henares visit Alcalá de Henares, world heritage city and Cervantes’ birthplace. experience the Cervantes’ house museum and visit one of the oldest, most historical universities of Spain. stay in the wonderful parador of Alcalá and enjoy delicious tapas in the evening. day 3 Esquivias – Toledo 40km south, in the province of Toledo, is the birthplace of Cervantes’ wife and where they got married. visit the museum of Cervantes’ house and continue travelling to Toledo city, a world heritage site also known as the “city of three cultures”. day 4 Consuegra – Alcázar de San Juan the next stop is Consuegra, known for the windmills that Don Quixote fought against, thinking they were giants. afterwards, head to Alcázar de San Juan where Cervantes was baptised and visit the Hidalgo House Museum and the Cervantes Visitor Centre. day 5 Campo de Criptana – El Toboso explore the “Land of Giants”, where most of the windmills that inspired Cervantes are located. later go to El Toboso, where you will find his beloved Dul- cinea-House-Museum. day 6 Argamasilla – Villanueva de los Infantes reach Medrano Cave, where Cervantes was kept as a prisoner and started writing his book. head to Lagu- nas de Ruidera nature reserve, which offers beautiful wetlands before spending the night in Ciudad Real.

5 gastronomic diversity

halal any potencial halal muslim who is planning on visiting Spain should know halal products are availble in many restaurants, hotels and catering services. the halal institute is the entity that manages the guarantee seal applied to the islamic halal foods, pruducts and services pro- vided in our country. kosher nowadays travelers in Spain may find quality certi- fied kosher products. there are numerous restaurants and hotels which bring together high cuisine and the healthy mediterranean diet with kosher and the kosher tradition. typical dishes and wines are under strict quality control. Asian since a couple of decades ago, a lot of restaurants have opened in every major city to provide this delicious international cuisine. it doesn’t matter if you prefer Indian and its many varieties such as Jain, or whether you opt for Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai or Korean food, you will find any of it. Mediterranean the Mediterranean cuisine is famous all over the world and has been awarded UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. most Spanish food is influenced by Medite- rranean ingredients; meats, fish, cured meats, rice, fruits, vegetables... Spanish food travellers in Spain will enjoy quality, variety and fla- voursome gastronomy. excellent ingredients and coo- king techniques have brought international prestige to Spanish cuisine. in addition, top chefs are found at the forefront of the international gastronomy scene providing a renovated haute cuisine.

6 islamic heritage, main & minor cities

Córdoba one of the most impressive Muslim buildings in the country is the mosque of Córdoba. it was built in 787 on behalf of Abd-ar-Rahman I and introduced several architectural and innovative ornamental features and techniques to the late Muslim architecture. Sevilla as well as the Alcázar palace or the Giralda tower, there is another important Islamic heritage site, the Golden tower. this military watchtower from the 13th century is located along the Guadalquivir River. Carmona in this city there are many traces of various cultures. the Alcázar de Arriba which is a Parador today, the Seville gate and the church of Santa María built upon the former mosque that preserves nowadays the minaret. Osuna it was declared historic-artistic site and it proudly preserves the remains of the Al-Ándalus era. the wa- ter tower is the best example for the town’s ancient muslin background. Antequera the mix of cultures is what makes Antequera so special. to defend against the catholic troops, it was built te walled complex of La Alcazaba, with its important homage tower, from where visitors have stunning views over the whole town. Ronda this thermal building of the arab time is the best conserved of its kind at the Iberian Peninsula. with an extremely advanced hydraulic system, reflects the muslim culture of Al Andalus perfectly.

7 Morocco imperial cities day 1 España – Tánger in Spain, you can take the ferry to cross the strait of Gibral- tar to Morocco. Tangier located on the north African coast is full of very rich history. overnight in Tangier. day 2 Tánger – Rabat (245 km) transfer to Rabat, the capital of Morocco which boasts a colonial architecture, palm-lined boulevards and a cosmopolitan atmosphere. overnight in Rabat. day 3 Rabat – Meknes – Fez (220 km) transfer to Meknes, UNESCO World Heritage Site. discover its magnificent monuments, such as the Habs Qara prison, the Bab Mansour gate or the ruins of Volubilis. continue to Fez where a delicious dinner at the hotel awaits you. overnight in Fez. day 4 Fez enjoy the city of Fez, UNESCO world heritage site. it is famous for being home to the world’s oldest university, the Qarawiyyin University. overnight in Fez. day 5 Fez – Beni Mellal – Marrakech (485 km) transfer to in the mountain town Ifrane, then on to Beni Mellal where you will have lunch and enjoy the beauty of both cities. transfer to Marrakech at the foothills of Atlas mountains. overnight in Marrakech. day 6 Marrakech discover the souks of Marrakech and the Djemaa El Fna square. in the afternoon, visit the Saadyines Tombs and the Menara and Majorelle gardens. overnight in Marrakech. day 7 Marrakech – Casablanca transfer to Casablanca, known as the “white city”. overnight in Casablanca. day 8 transfer to Casablanca international airport.

8 shrines of faith

day 1 Madrid-Gijón transfer from madrid airport. enjoy the vibrant streets of the capital though a complete tour of the history and architecture of the city. private transfer from Madrid to Gijon. day 2 Covadonga-Gijón transfer to Covadonga shrine. located at the national park of Picos de Europa, built in a grotto and erected by the King Pelayo as appreciation to the Virgin Maria for the victory against the muslim invasions. overnight in Gijón. day 3 Gijón- Garabandal-Santander transfer to Garabandal. spend some time at the cha- pel and places where it is said the Holy Virgin and Saint Michael the Archangel appeared to four young girls. overnight in the city of Santander. day 3 Santander-Loyola stop at the parish Santo Cristo de Limpias. this church became popular, when signs of life ocurred on the christ of the Agonies. this place receives pilgrima- ges from all over Spain and abroad. continue to Loyo- la, to visit the birthplace of St Ignatius, and discove- ring the magnificent Baroque style basilica. overnight in Loyola. day 4 Loyola-Torreciudad-Zaragoza transfer from Loyola to Torreciudad to visit its beautiful shrine. continue to Zaragoza to see the emble- matic Basilica Our Lady of the Pillar. overnight in Za- ragoza. day 5 Zaragoza-Montserrat-Barcelona arrive in Montserrat, known as the site of the Bene- dictine abbey and Santa Maria de Montserrat. it is identified by some as the location of the Holy Grail in Arthurian myth. overnight in Barcelona.

9 star festivals

La Tamborrada every 20th January, San Se- bastián celebrates its patron saint’s day with the Tamborra- da drum parade. event kicks off at 12 o’clock midnight on the 19th in the Plaza de la Constitución, when the city flag is raised. the drumming opens with the Sociedad Gaztelubide and representatives of other drum outfits who play to melodies by Sarriegui. it continues throughout the following 24 hours. more than 125 companies bring the streets to life with their tunes and dances. Las Fallas during a few days in March, Valencia becomes an amazing open-air ephemeral street arts Museum to celebrate spring’s arrival. around 800 Fallas crea- ted using large wooden structures with painted pa- pier-mâché conquer the city. a combination of music, pyrotechnics and traditional dresses creates this fa- bulous atmosphere. this festival was declared as cultural intangible world heritage in 2016. Sanfermines on the 6th July, the “chupinazo” rocket is fired in the city of Pamplona. thousands of people flood the streets, in white and red clothing. the tension invades the route minutes before the bulls set off on their race on the heels of the runners. as well as, the thrillling bull races, customers will also have available services, such as renting a balcony or dinner and fireworks at special venues. La Tomatina a food fight festival held each year on the last wed- nesday of August in the town of Buñol close to Va- lencia. thousands of people take part in this food fight, where more than one hundred metric tons of over-ripe tomatoes are thrown in the streets. this experience lasts for one hour.

10 wildhorse festival, NW Iberian peninsula

Santiago de Compostela discover the world heritage city Santiago de Compostela, capital of Galicia. millions of people from all over the world come to this city every year, many of them reaching the end of the Way of Saint James pilgrimage route.

Sabucedo-rapa das bestas festival parish located 30km from Santiago, with its most popular fiesta dating back to the 15th century which is held every year on the first week ofJuly . it comprises a noble confrontation between man and horse. at the celebration, young people from the village cut wild horses manes. these complicated manoeuvres are a real body-to-body fight. nearby, do not miss other highlights, such as the most representative example of typical Galician manor house architecture, Pazo de Oca with its beautiful gardens. La Toja -Rías Baixas Galicia has more than 300 hot springs. the best example is the Toxa island, which is a haven for an in-depth experience with the sea. afterwards, keep on your journey through the Rías Baixas, where culture lovers will find many places to stop: fortresses, gothic and baroque churches and magnificent manors. north of Portugal cross to neighbouring Portugal and enjoy its culture. the region is crossed by the Douro river. in this area the region’s heritage is seen in its castles, shrines and churches in cities such as Viana do Castelo, Braga, Lamego and Vila Real.

Porto World Heritage city, and departure point for a journey across the natural and cultural diversity of the region. known for its Port wine but also for a heritage which combines historical and modern buildings.

11 trendy markets places packed with flavour where in addition to buying fresh produce, you’ll be able to try a variety of delicious dishes.

San Miguel - Madrid historic and monumental market, located in the heart of old Madrid. this unique venue offers a vast selec- tion of fresh food, international products and many different restaurants and tapas bars. you will find everything, here,from traditional Spanish cuisine as well as also innovative dishes. moreover, the building is worth mentioning as it is the last market made out of iron that has survived until today. Victoria market - Córdoba occupies a wrought-iron zinc-roofed structure origi- nally erected in the Paseo de la Victoria as a fair- ground pavilion for members of a private club. con- sidered as the first culinary market of its kind in Andalusia, where you can do a round-the-world food trip in almost 30 stalls. Lonja del Barranco - Sevilla spread over two floors, this is an attractive gourmet market on the foundations of a historic building, offe- ring a balanced combination of cuisine, leisure and culture. at the foot of Isabel II Bridge, overlooking the Guadalquivir river, this market stands on the site of the old Seville market, designed by the popular French engineer Gustave Eiffel in 1861. the central market - Valencia modernist building designed in 1914. the ceramic co- vered partitions along with the stone, wood, and the colourful glasswork make the building an excellent example of modernist architecture of the time. it has always been known for the quality, variety and fresh- ness of its products.

12 wine & architecture

day 1 Bilbao after the transfer from Bilbao airport continue to the beautiful coastal town of Getaria. here you will visit a typical wine cellar where you can try the well-known white wine Txakoli before joining a tour through a cider factory and museum close to San Sebastián. in the evening, enjoy a delicious dinner with cider from the barrel, cod fish, veal thick entrecote, nuts, cheese and quince. overnight in Bilbao. day 2 Pamplona (Navarra)-Laguardia breakfast at hotel and continue to Pamplona, capital of Navarra, also known for its bull running festival San Fermín. visit the popular Viña Real winery in Laguardia. then visit the city to see with its numerous archaeological sites, including the town wall that dates back to the 13th century. overnight in Laguar- day 3 Laguardia – Haro (La Rioja) explore two wineries in the area of the medieval town Laguardia. one of them, Ysios Winery, designed by the famous Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. this long building can be seen from kilometers away and has a wavy roof which mirrors the mountains in the background. other one is the superb Marqués de Riscal cellar, where tradition and modernity go hand in hand. afterwards, continue to Haro to overnight. day 4 Haro – Vitoria- Bilbao Haro, town famous for its exquisite red wines and its wine festival. discover the Baigorri cellars with a different architectural solution for every area of the production phases of the wine. afterwards, visit López de Heredia wineries, the oldest in Haro, where the wine is naturally handmade and fermented in oak containers. on the way back to Bilbao, stop in Vitoria-Gasteiz, capital of Basque Country. departure transfer to Bilbao airport.

13 dmc & lesiure travel

Barcelona príncep d´astúries, 20, 3ºA 08012 barcelona t +34 93 238 68 91

Madrid arlabán, 7, 2-4 28014 madrid t +34 91 360 58 64