Madrid

We met our friends Dan and Kathy from Canada in Madrid. From there we did a tour of some of the most beautiful cities of Spain. We of course began our adventure in Madrid. We walked the city centre exploring the architecture, food and culture of Madrid. 

Ibérico de bellota, is a type of ham, the ¨bellota¨  refers to the acorn-rich diets of free-range Iberian pigs. It is considered one of the best type of ham in Spain.

We decided to take a break and try some Madrid tapas. 

Toledo

The following day we took the high speed train to Toledo.

The city of Toledo represents the essence and soul of Spain.  There are beautiful historical landmarks that are located throughout the city. Toledo was declared a Historic-Artistic Site by UNESCO in 1940 and later, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986 for its extensive monumental and cultural heritage.   It has a rich and long history and  dates back to the fifth century BC.  In 193 BC, it was taken by the roman empire and remained an important city. During the ages Toledo was known for the quality of the weapons it made for the Romans.

We went into the ¨Iglesia de los Jesuitas¨ a beautiful 18th-century baroque church.

We explored the church and even went up the tower and onto the roof area. 

From there we could see the spectacular views of Toledo and the surrounding area. 

We had a wonderful day in Toledo exploring the many sites and historic areas.

Barcelona

The following day we took the high speed train from Madrid to Barcelona. The train speed was as fast as 300 kilometers per hour during the trip. We arrived in the heart of the city and began exploring the second largest city in Spain. 

We went to the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família, known as the Sagrada Familia basilica. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is  an extraordinary cathedral. It is the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world. Designed by the Famous  architect Antoni Gaudí,

 

We went to see the Güel park which was built from 1900 to 1914. It was designed by the same architect Mr. Antoni Gaudí that was in charge of the construction of the Sagrada Familia Church. The Güel park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984. It is one of the large green spaces in Barcelona, ​​with more than 17 hectares. We walked throughout the park admiring the unique designs of the walls and walkways. 

After exploring Barcelona for a few days we were off on the train again this time to Alicante

Alicante

Alicante is a historic Mediterranean port city with a long rich history.  The history of Alicante spans thousands of years. The first settlements in the Alicante area were made by Iberian tribes. Since then the area has been inhabited successively by Greeks, Romans, Muslims, and Christians. Today Alicante is a bustling city of over 320,000 population. 

We explored the city and walked the beautiful coastline of the Mediterranean sea enjoying the kilometres of white sandy beaches.

Over the next few days we explored the city at a relaxed pace. We walked the promenade. It was decorated for Christmas and there was a very large nativity scene on the promenade.

We explored some museums which were quite unique. The Fogueres Festival museum was very special with different fogueres on display.

We went to the Castillo de Santa Barbara and explored this historic castle.

The medieval castle is a historic landmark and was built on the top of Mount Benacantil. The views of the mediterranean Sea where amazing and the colour of the water stunning.

Kathy in the lookout on the top of the Santa Bárbara Castle

While in Alicante we enjoyed trying a few of the traditional Spanish restaurants and walking through the fresh food markets.

Guadalest

After spending time in Alicante we took a few day trips around the area. The first trip was to Gaudalest a small village anchored in a small valley. Gaudalest was declared a Historic-Artistic monument in 1974. It is known for its ‘castle’, which is literally hanging on the edge of the cliffs.

We did a day trip with our friend and tour guide Filipe to a town called Novelda.

Novelda

The day began with a tour of the Mola castle which stands 360 metres above sea level. The castle was built in the late 12th century by  Islamic occupiers. The castle was originally a polygonal layout with eight square turrets jutting out from the outer wall, although only four still survive today.

We climbed the steep narrow stairs inside the towers reaching the top of the tower. 

We also could see the remains of the 12th century layout of the castle from the rooftop.

We could also see the church Shrine of Mary Magdalene .

We explored this amazing and unique church. Work began on the church in 1918 and was completed in three phases.  The architect Jose Sala Sala, who is a native of Novelda, he dedicated the church to Mary Magdalene, the patron saint of Novelda. 

The outside is made of stone, brick and marble with a similar style to the Sagrada Familia Church in Barcelona.

The main entrance archway is made of large sections of marble and is quite  impressive. The marble organ system which is still under construction is made completely of marble. The three main marble pipes are mounted above the entranceway of the church. 

After visiting the church we finished our day by visiting the Bodega Casa Cesilia which has a great restaurant.  We enjoyed a great meal and then toured the winery.  

It was a great way to end our day.  Over the next few days we relaxed and enjoyed home cooked meals and some quiet time in Alicante before heading back out on our next adventure. 

“Las cosas bonitas se aprecian mucho mejor en compañía de amigos”