Tag Archives: Spain

Spain

Almagro Spain

We spent some time visiting the city of Almagro in Spain’s Castile-La Mancha region. We explored its narrow cobblestone streets, the town’s rich history and charm unfolded before us.

Known for its beautifully preserved medieval architecture, Almagro felt like a hidden gem.

In the heart of the town, Plaza Mayor, with its green-painted wooden galleries, was especially captivating.

The Corral de Comedias de Almagro, located at the heart of Plaza Mayor in Almagro, is one of Spain’s most remarkable and well-preserved examples of 17th-century theatrical architecture.

It was built in 1628, this open-air courtyard theater, or “corral,” is a living monument to Spain’s Golden Age.  What makes the Corral de Comedias truly special is that it is the only surviving example of a corral-style theater that is still in use today.  Despite the passage of centuries, the venue remains largely unchanged, maintaining its original wooden galleries, stage, and seating arrangements.

 

The historic buildings, some dating back to the 16th century, showcased the town’s significance during Spain’s Golden Age.

At dusk,  walking through the quiet, narrow streets, we felt transported to another era.

It was quiet and felt like we had gone back in time.

Ray and Shelley in Almagro Spain

Almagro was a great city to explore and enjoy some of the local culture of Castile-La Mancha.

“Encuentra lo mejor de cada día y busca aventuras.”

 

Spain

A great day in Valdepeñas

Our visit to Valdepeñas, whose name means “Valley of Rocks” due to its location in a wide hilly area, was a delightful one-day adventure filled with rich history and beautiful sights.

Ray, Shelley, Sonja and Marcelo

Situated in the Castile-La Mancha region of Spain, Valdepeñas is known for its long-standing tradition of winemaking, which is woven into the very fabric of the town’s culture. Some of the streets were even accented with images of wine barrels. 

We spent the day wandering through its charming streets, taking in the vibrant plazas and admiring the traditional Spanish architecture.

Each corner seemed to tell a story, from the historic buildings, bronze statues to the small artisan shops.

We made sure to visit some of the key landmarks, enjoying the town’s atmosphere and soaking up its unique blend of culture and heritage.

The highlight of our trip was undoubtedly the intimate visit to Casa de la Nava, a new winery that welcomed us with warmth and enthusiasm. The owners took the time to share the intricate details of their winemaking process, explaining each step with a passion that truly reflected their dedication to the craft.

We learned about the delicate balance of flavours and the careful techniques used to create their exceptional wines, which are a true testament to Valdepeñas’ reputation as one of Spain’s great wine regions.

The experience was made even more special by the wine tasting that followed, where we savoured a selection of their finest wines paired with delicious local foods.

Sonja, Ray, owners, Shelley and Marcelo.

It was a perfect way to immerse ourselves in the rich wine culture of Valdepeñas, leaving us with fond memories and a deeper appreciation for both the town and its exquisite wines.

“la vida es demasiado corta para beber vino malo”

Spain

Comillas

We went to visit the city of Comillas it is located in the northern reaches of Cantabria.

Ray and Shelley in front of the Old Pontificia university building of Comillas

The Comillas Pontifical University was housed here before it moved to Madrid. The old pontificia university building

The old university buildings are some of the finest examples of architecture in Comillas.  We took a look at the interior of the old University building.

The interior was as stunning as the exterior.

At the front entrance area of the university there are several barnacle covered cannons that were recovered from the sea and put on display.

Around the second half of the 19th century, the Spanish royal family started spending their summers in Comillas.  As a result, Comillas has some interesting architectural buildings such as palaces and monuments designed by renowned artists such as Gaudí.

Guadi designed vila El Capricho in Camillas

El Capricho is a villa in Comillas, designed by Antoni Gaudí. It was built in 1883–1885 for the summer use of a wealthy noble.

The tower of El Capricho is covered with beautiful ceramic tiles that alternate between bright yellow sunflowers, and green subtle leaves.

Park area in Comillas

We walked along the gardens and paths in Comillas enjoying the day.  There were some art pieces and even some art for selfies so of course we couldn’t resist.

We came across some interesting architecture and beautiful views of the Cantabrian Sea. There are some interesting facts of this historic city.  Comillas was the capital of Spain for one day, on 6 August 1881, following an agreement between king Alfonso XII and the Minister’s Council to gather at a formal meeting in town. It also became the first place in Spain to use Edison’s electric light bulbs, in 1880.

We came to a statue that is titled “Homenaje a la Vendedora de Pescado”  It is a statue to honour the vendors of sardines and fish that were part of everyday life near the Sea.

Homenaje a la Vendedora de Pescado statue in Comillas
Sardines in the bronze basket of the statue-
View of the Cantabrian Sea from the city of Comillas.

Comillas is a beautiful spot and we really enjoyed our day exploring this historic city.

“Cada día puede ser una aventura si la buscas.”

Spain

views from the cliffs in Cantabria

We drove into the natural park of Oyambre in Cantabria and came across a small hill top restaurant.

Hilltop restaurant in the distance

We decided to stop and grab something to eat.

We walked to the restaurant but it was full, however at the rear of the restaurant was a small area with a few food trucks and some picnic tables.

Picnic area in Cantabria

The views were great as we overlooked the cliffs and onto the beaches and Cantabrian Sea.

Shelley and Alicia enjoying the view

We bought our food and had a relaxing hour or so enjoying our food and the vistas.

Ray and Shelley in Cantabria hillside

There was a nice breeze and the sound of the sea waves made the time even more enjoyable. A small gem hidden on the countryside hilltop in Cantabria.

“la alegría del descubrimiento trae aventuras grandes y pequeñas”

Spain

A day in San Vicente de la Barquera

We spent a day exploring the area around San Vincente de la Barquera in Cantabria. The quaint town with just over 4000 inhabitants is located on the edge of the Cantabrian Sea. The day we were there they were having a medieval festival.

The streets leading up the hill towards the castle in the historic section of the town had rows of medieval themed shops and displays.

We walked up enjoying the different displays and the stalls selling all different types of goods.

All types of Cheese were on sale.

There were some medieval interactive displays along the way, of course Ray had to stopped to try one out.

We slowly walked up the street slowly looking at the different stalls and displays.

We eventually reached the castle, which is known as, The Castle of the King.

The Castle of the King

One of the arches in the castle.

We explored the castle area and walked out one of the arches into a nice quiet area with great views of the area and river.

Alison and Shelley on the trail near the Castle
Shelley taking in the scenery

The Castle was built in the 16th century and from there we could see the city and area below.

View from the wall of the Castle of the King

The views were spectacular and we enjoyed some time just relaxing and taking in the vistas. It was a good day exploring the town with so much history.

“Vive cada día con emoción”