All posts by Jorge

Three-days tour in Barcelona: What to visit in Barcelona city (Catalonia)

March 14, 2014Barcelona, Beach, mountain and nature, Nightlife, Tours and GuidesJorge

Barcelona is considered as one of the most vanguard and touristic cities in Spain (more than Madrid). But… why? Firstly, its location in the Mediterranean coast provides to the city a warm weather and a lot of beaches in the city and its surroundings. Also, it has many remarkable monuments as The Güell Park, The Holy Family Church, The Gothic Neighborhood, The Catalonian Music Palace and many more. The city has also been the headquarters of many important events as The 1992 Olimpic Games. Finally, maybe the best aspect of the city is its people: By visiting Barcelona you will discover a young multicultural atmosphere with a lot of activities and nigthlife in its beaches and streets, as in La Rambla avenue.

The city is placed in the north-east of the Iberian Peninsula, in the Catalonian region, Barcelona is a metropolis with around 1,500,000 habitants in the city and two million more in its surroundings. The official languages are the Catalonian and the Spanish, but most of people speak English pretty well.

Here we propose you a three-days tour to visit the most emblematic sites of Barcelona. Enjoy it!

Day 1: The Old City: La Ramblas, The Gothic Neighborhood, Colon Statue, La Barceloneta and the beaches

– Las Ramblas Avenue: This is the most famous and visited avenue of the city where. There, people go to visit monuments, go shopping, rest and see the seaport. Las Ramblas street goes from Catalonia Square to Columbus Monument. To arrive at Las Ramblas by metro you can use the Line 3 (Liceu) or Lines 3, 6 and 7 to Catalunya Square.

– The Gothic Neighborhood: The Gothic neighborhood is alongside La Rambla street. It is one of the essential places that every visitor should see. In there, you will enjoy the traditional streets, monuments, churches…

– The Barcelona Cathedral: The Barcelona main cathedral is located in la Seu Square (Gothic neighborhood). It was built between XIII and XV centuries.

– San Jaume Square: In this square you will find the City Council and San Jaime Church.

– La boqueria market: This food market is placed in one side of Las Ramblas avenue. It’s a very popular place to eat something.

– Waxworks: Also located close to Las Ramblas (Banca Street , 7), the wax museum (Museo de cera) is one of the most visited museums of this type in Spain.

– Maritime Museum: It is located in Drassanes Avenue. This museum has a lot of staff about boats, galleys, etc. It can be interesting if you want to know more of the history of the navigation.

– Columbus Monument: This famous Columbus statue (Estatua de Colón) is in the Plaza de la Paz (between Las Ramblas and he seaport). Columbus monument measures 60 metres in height, and it is made of iron and bronze.

– La Barceloneta Neighborhood: La Barceloneta is a marine neighborhood which occupies the area around the beach. This historic neighborhood was designed and built in the XVIII century, taking the ground from the sea. Also, la Barceloneta is one of the most visited beaches of the city.

– The beaches: The coast of Barcelona has the following beaches: Barceloneta, Somorrostro, Nova Icaria, Bagatell, Mar Bella, LLevant, Marina, Forum, Sant Miquel and Sant Sebastiá.

Nigthlife in Barcelona: During evening and night, Las Ramblas zone also has a lot of activity in its bars, restaurants and pubs. In summer, there is nightlife there almost everyday.

Day 2: The Holy Family, The Güell Park and other remarkable monuments

In the second day of our trip we are going to discover the main monuments of Barcelona. Here you have a list with them, please feel free to visit the sites in the order you prefer:

– The Church of the Holy Family: The Holy Family (La Sagrada Familia) is one of the most beautiful buildings the city. Its construction began in 1882 and it’s not finished yet. Antoni Gaudí Architect designed and directed the building from 1883 until his death in 1926. In fact, The Sagrada Familia is the masterwork of Antonio Gaudí, who was buried in the crypt of this church. The Holy Family was declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2005.

– The Güell Park: The Güell Park (Parque Güell) was also designed by Antoni Gaudí, being constructed between 1900 and 1914. People who visit the park can enjoy strolling in its area, sitting down on its decorated benches or admiring its architecture. If visitors touch its sculptures, they will realize the experience of feeling the shapes and the colorful of its artwork, such as the dragon, the 86 columns, the benches, the stairway, so on. The park was included as World Heritage Site in 1984.

– Casa Milà: Popularly known as La Pedrera, Casa Mila is a unique modernist building located at Paseo de Gracia. The building was designed by architect Antoni Gaudí and built between 1906 and 1912. In 1984, Casa Mila was declared a World Heritage by UNESCO. To read the whole history of this bulging, check our article here.

– The Catalonian Music Palace: Palau de la Música Catalana, known as Palau, is an impressive hall concert, located in the center city. This building is one of the most visited places in Barcelona by people who want to enjoy its Modernism architecture or listen to its concerts. It is located near the Gothic Cathedral, and to 10 minutes on foot from Catalonia Square. The Catalonian Musica Palace was was declared World Heritage Site in 1997.

– Other monuments declared World Heritage by UNESCO : You also can visit in Barcelona city the following places: Casa Batlló, Casa Vicens, Santa Cruz and San Pablo Hospital.

Day 3: Montjuic, Tibidabo, Agbar Tower, Camp Nou…

In the third day we will see other touristic places of the city not as famous as the previous ones, but with have a difference among citizens and visitors:

– Montjuic and Tibidabo zones: From these view points people can enjoy the view of Barcelona.

– The Magic Montjuic Fountain: One of the most beautiful fountains in the world is the Magic Montjuic Fountain (Fuente mágina de Montjuic) which offers an outstanding performance of colorful light, music and water. It was built in 1929 for Universal Exhibition of Barcelona, and was designed by the Catalonian engineer Carlos Buigas (1898- 1979). The Magic Fountain is located at the Queen Maria Cristina Avenue in front of the Montjuict Palace. It is worth a visit.

– Agbar Tower: Torre Agbar measures 145 metres in height, the third higher building of Barcelona. It is located at Diagonal Avenue. Although it was built recently, its colorful surface , its shape and its visibility from many points of the city have favored its fame among the people as a new icon of the city.

– Camp Nou: This is a must for all the FC Barcelona football team supporters. This football stadium has a museum inside it and it’s located near Zona Universitaria (Metro Line 3) and Pedralbes Park (Palau Real Metro station).

Please, if you notice any other important place of Barcelona missing, add it in the comments section of this post or send us and email!

More places to visit near Barcelona

– Salou: Salou is one of the summer-touristic-towns places in the Mediterranean coast.

– Sitges: Sitges is also known for its Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, the Barcelona-Sitges Vintage Car Rallys and its Carnival Celebration.

– Castelldefels: Castelldefels is located on the Mediterranean Sea coast of Catalonia, just to 18 km away from Barcelona city.

– La Pineda: With only 3,000 inhabitants, La Pineda (Vila-Seca) is a small town located in the north-east of the Iberian Peninsula, at Tarragona Province.

– Valencia: Bordering the meditterranean coast from Barcelona to the south of the country, you will find this city. In Valencia you can visit places as La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias or La Lonja.

– Zaragoza: Zaragoza is a big city located among Barcelona and Madrid. The perfect place to rest one or two days while visiting the city.

– Madrid: The capital city of Spain. Don’t miss it!

Read here more cities to visit in Spain.

Monuments and nature in Gran Canaria: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Roque Nublo and other inland towns (Canary Islands)

February 28, 2014Beach, mountain and nature, Canary Islands / Islas Canarias, Streets and monuments, Tours and GuidesJorge

As we have already talked about the best beaches of Gran Canaria, its coast and its seaside towns, today we are going to focus on the rest of the island: Gran Canaria has not only beaches, but also a lot of nature and interesting cities, towns and remarkable sites to visit.

In this article we are going to talk about the following places:

– Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: In the north of the island is located this city, than with almost 400,000 inhabitants is currently the capital of the Canary Islands.

– Other touristic cities and towns inside the island: If during your stay at Gran Canaria you have car and you want to visit the whole island, here you will find some interesting suggestions about what to visit.

– Mountains and routes through the nature: Almost all of these routes are in the center of Gran Canaria, where are located many touristic places as Roque Nublo or Cruz de Tejeda.

Gran Canaria, the second biggest island in the Canary Islands

As we have already said in our last article, The Canary Islands are a group of Spanish islands located in the west coast of Africa. They are mainly composed by these seven islands: Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, La Palma, Lanzarote, El Hierro and La Gomera.

The geography of Gran Canaria island and its proximity to Africa creates a strange climate where, while in the north of the island the climate varies between 30 ºC in summer and 15 ºC in winter, in the south the climate is always around 20º and 30º, the perfect temperature to enjoy the beach all the year.

Finally, the center of the island has a mountain area whose peaks almost reach 2000 metres in height (Roque Nublo 1813m., Pozo de las Nieves 1949m.).

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria city

With 380,000 inhabitants, this is the biggest city of Canary Islands (Islas Canarias), and therefore the capital city of them.

The main touristic places of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria are its center (Vegueta neighborhood) where is Las Palmas Cathedral (in the photo) built between the 15^th and 18^th centuries, the Literary Cabinet and many more historic buildings.

The city has a lot of activity, nightlife and during the Carnivals this is one of the main touristic destinations of Spain. You also can visit its Comertial Centers (remember that the taxes in the Canary Islands are lower than in the rest of the country, so the prices are lower).

Don’t miss to visit its main beach and its promenade in Playa de las Canteras.

Touristic towns in the north of Gran Canaria: Arucas, Terol and other

In the north of the island, not far away from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria you can visit some towns as Arucas, Terol, Firgas, Valleseco, Santa Brígida, Moya, Santa María de Guía, Agaete or Galdar. Among all of them, the most touristic ones are Arucas and Teror.

– The Arucas cathedral: In Arucas can be seen its “cathedral” San Juan Bautista Curch (which is not officially a cathedral yet). This church was built between 1909 and 1979 over the ruins of and old temple. The architecture of the current building and its neogothic style makes it one of the most emblematic buildings of the island.

– Teror: The main touristic places in Teror are The basilica of Teror (Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pino), The main square and the Museum (Museo de los Patronos de la Virgen).

Touristic towns in the centre and east of Gran Canaria: Santa Lucia, Tejeda, Ingenio…

In the centre of the island can be found the best nature routes of the island and some nice mountain villages as Tejeda, San Bartolomé de Tirajana and Santa Lucia.

In the east, you can find Ingenio, among others less touristic towns (Argüimes, Telde, Vecindario or the airport).

Nature and mountains: Roque Nublo, Cruz de Tejeda, Pozo de las nieves…

Finally, Gran Canaria has some interesting routes through the mountains. The two most famous places to visit are Cruz de Tejeda (close to Tejeda Town) and Roque Nublo.

Roque nublo (in the photo) is an 1813 meters peak at where excursionists can arrive on foot. From its top, it can be seen an impressive landscape of the peaks nearby and the rest of the island.

You also can visit Pico de las Nieves, the highest peak of the island (1900m.) which has a route that connects it with Roque Nublo on foot (it can take 30 minutes walking aprox).

More touristic places to visit in the Canary Islands

– The best beaches of Gran Canaria: A list with the best beaches to enjoy in this island.

– The Canary islands (Islas Canarias): Check here all our posts about the Canary Islands (Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, La Palma, Lanzarote…).

The Canary Islands Gastronomy: What to eat and typical food of the islands

February 25, 2014Canary Islands / Islas Canarias, GastronomyJorge

Today we are going to talk about the typical food of the Canary Islands (Islas Canarias). Its location in the Atlantic ocean, at the west of Africa near the Sahara and Morocco coast makes a difference in the typical food of the islands in comparison to the food that can be grown or fished in the rest of Spain, in the Iberian Peninsula.

Eating in the Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are a holiday paradise for many tourists who travel there to enjoy its beaches and its tropical climate. And of course, as in any other touristic places, the Canary Islands are used to receiving a huge number of tourists who who go to shops and restaurants to eat.

Surely you will find a lot of shops, bars and restaurants in any part of the islands (Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, La Palma, Lanzarote…). Usually, these restaurants are cheaper than the restaurants in the rest of the country, what means that a person can eat dinner for less than 10€. However, everything depends on what are you looking for: In the Canary Islands you can find some of the cheapest places of Spain, and also some luxury ones.

Typical food and drinks from the Canary Islands

When eating in a restaurant in the Canary Islands, you will be able to ask for a normal dish from Spain or Europe… but our recommendation is to try the typical food from the islands. It’s very tasty and our experience there was very satisfying!

Here you have a list with some of the traditional dishes of the Canary Islands:

– Baked potatoes with mojo sauce (Patatas arrugadas): This variety of small potatoes (popularly known as Papas arrugás) are baked in an oven and served unpeeled with Mojo Sauce.

The Mojo sauce can be red or green depending on the ingredients which have been used to prepare it, and it gives a soft taste to the potatoes that everyone will love. Commonly, this typical sauce is prepared from: oil, salt, tomato, pepper and a little bit of garlic and parsley.

– Fish (Pescado): The seaports of the Canary Islands provide all kind of fish to its shops and restaurants.

Also, you will probably see in the restaurant menus some other fish as squid or sepia (calamares, chocos, chopitos, puntillitas) which are not typical from the islands, but which are very popular in other regions as in Andalusia or in the Mediterranean coast.

– Gofio: Long time ago, it was the basic food for the original residents of the islands (The “guanches” tribes). The gofio is mainly composed by cereals (wheat and barley). Nowadays it’s eaten with the main dishes as fish or meat.

– Meatloaf (Carne mechada / Ropa Vieja): The meatloaf is highly popular among the citizens of the islands. You can try it alone, with salad and chips or in a sandwich.

– Cactus Jam (Mermelada de cactus) and Prickly pears (Higos chumbos): The weather of the islands makes very easy to grow upland plants as cactus or palms. With its fruits, people make a wide variety of dishes, as marmalade and other similar products.

– Fruits and juices (Fruta y zumos): Don’t leave the islands without trying its natural juices and smoothies. Also, the Canary bananas (Platanos de Canarias) are very popular, besides they are exported all over the world because of its good taste and its hight quality.

– Alcoholic Drinks: There are two very popular brands of alcohol in the islands: The Tropical Beer and The Areucas Rum, which factory is located in Aruca Town (Gran Canaria).

More about the Canary Islands

– The Canary Islands: Read here all our post about the islands: Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, La Palma, Lanzarote, El Hierro and La Gomera.

Visiting the best beaches of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands)

February 24, 2014Beach, mountain and nature, Canary Islands / Islas Canarias, Tours and GuidesJorge

In this article we are going to talk about the best beaches to go in Gran Canaria, the third biggest island of the Canary Islands with 1500 square kilometers (the biggest one is Tenerife with 2000 square kilometers and then Fuerteventura with 1600km^2).

The Canary Islands: A Tropical Paradise

The Canary Islands (Islas Canarias) are a group of Spanish islands located in the west coast of Africa, at the south of the Iberian Peninsula. They are composed by these seven islands: Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, La Palma, Lanzarote, El Hierro and La Gomera.

The tropical weather of the Canary Islands, its beaches and nature make them a holiday paradise where tourists from all over the world (but mainly from Europe) go there to rest in all seasons of the year.

Gran Canaria island

Gran Canaria is not a conventional island: Its geography and its proximity to Africa creates a strange climate where, while in the north of the island (where is located Las Palmas city) the climate varies between 30 ºC in summer and 15 ºC in winter, in the south (where is located Maspalomas, Puerto Rico and Mogán) the climate is always warm, which means that visitors can sunbathe or go swimming during the four seasons of the year.

Maspalomas zone

At the the south of Gran Canaria is located Maspalomas town, the most touristic zone of the island. It is completely focused on the visitors, with a lot of hotels, apartments, restaurants and amenities.

Among the activities that you can do there, there are the following: sunbathe, swimming, surfing, rent a boat or canoe… Other activities that you can do in the island is to go underwater on submarine, to dive, to visit the attraction parks or to visit the mountains in the central part of the island.

Playa del Inglés (The English’ beach)

In Maspalomas, you have to visit Playa del Inglés: This beach is the biggest beach of the island and has a perfect climate (between 20 and 30ºC) all the year. This beach is located at the south of the island and has a huge extension of sand which is always full of people.

Also the beach has a nudist area and a gay zone, but it’s only in a small part of the beach.

Other beaches in the south-east of the island are the next ones: San Agustín Beach, Pozo Izquierdo beach, Arinaga beach (at Vecindario town) and Vargas beach (at Ingenio town).

Las Dunas de Maspalomas (The dunes)

Between El Inglés beach and the lighthouse of Maspalomas, you will see this wide zone of dunes. By climbing them, you will be able to see all the coast of Playa del Inglés.

On the other side of the dunes, there are placed Maspalomas beach and Meloneras beach.

Puerto Rico (the Spanish seaside village)

Puerto Rico town (don’t mistake with the south American Puerto Rico country) is another touristic zone in the south of Gran Canaria in where you can enjoy its beach and its landscape.

It is located not far away from Maspalomas, in a sheer zone which has forced its citizens to build their houses in the mountain slopes, creating an impressive perspective.

Puerto de Mogán (Mogan Port)

Mogan is another town in the south of the island. In its port you will see the Seaport and more beaches as Mogán, Taurito and Veneguera. Besides, in Puerto de Mogán there is a restaurant zone is its promenade, ideal if you want to eat something while seeing the sea.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (The capital city of the islands)

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the capital city of the Canary Islands. With almost 400,000 inhabitants this is the biggest city of the islands.

As Las Palmas is in the north of the island, the climate is colder in winter, however this city has a lot of activity, especially for young people who will find a lot of discotheques, Erasmus people and many more.

The main beach of the city is called Playa de las Canteras (The quarry beach)

The Port of Agaete

Finally, Agaete is a seaside village located in the north-west of the island, famous for having a rock formation called El dedo de Dios (El Roque Partido). In Agaete you will find the beach Playa de las Nieves.

More places to visit in the island

There are many more towns in the north and in the center of Gran Canaria (Arucas, Firgas, Moya, Galdar, Punta de Sardina, Teror, Valleseco…), but they are less touristic than the south ones. Also, in the centre of the island there are some interesting areas to do excursions through it mountains, as the famous Roque Nublo or some towns as Santa Lucía, Tejeda or San Baetolomé de Tinaja.

– Nature and inland towns to visit in Gran Canaria: Check here more touristic places to visit in Gran Canaria!

– Gastronomy and typical food: Our post with the typical food of the Canary Islands.

La Pineda: A seaside town in Catalonia with beaches, sun and lots of fun (Gold Coast)

February 7, 2014Beach, mountain and nature, TarragonaJorge

With only 3,000 inhabitants, La Pineda (Vila-Seca) is a small town located in the north-east of the Iberian Peninsula, at Tarragona Province (Catalonia). However, it has to offer some peculiarities which become La Pineda a great place to go on holidays: Its wide beaches, its attractions parks and its night life will amuse all people, from families, young people, older people and everyone else.

Also, La Pineda is only 1km away from Salou, which means that people can go from La Pineda to Salou by foot in only 30minutes aprox. (or you also can go by public bus 🙂 ).

The Gold Coast

La Pineda is located in the Gold Coast (Costa Dorada). This coast is famous for its beaches and its golden and soft sand, its warm average temperature both in summer and in winter, and its clear sea-water.

The promenade of La Pineda measures more than 2 kilometres in length (one of the longest of Catalonia), so there is enough space to rest in the beach, take sunbathes and swim without crowds.

What to do La Pineda: Attractions parks, Water Parks, Golf Courses and more

La Pineda VilaSeca has some great installations in its surroundings to practice any king of activities: water-parks, attractions, golf courses…

Here are some of them:

– Aquopolis (Water Park): Located in the center of the town, by visiting Aquopolis you will enjoy a huge variety of water attractions and swimming pools. Aquopolis is the perfect place to stay in a hot summer day enjoying their aquatic attractions and their giant swimming pools.

– Port Aventura (Attractions Park): The older and most famous amusement park in Spain. In there you will enjoy many impressive attractions as Dragon Khan roller coaster and a lot of live spectacles. It also has an independent water park. You can go to Port Aventura by car or by bus from La Pineda and from Salou.

– Golf Courses: If you enjoy practicing golf, you can find some Golf Courses near La Pineda, as Lumine Golf.

Nightlife in La Pineda

Pacha La Pineda is the main discotheque of the zone. It was founded in 1985 and nowadays is considered as an icon in the Golden Coast. During all the summer lots of people come there every night to Pacha to enjoy its thematic parties and DJ’s.

Besides, La Pineda has many more places to visit during the night, as the terraces or pubs located in the town. Also, if you want more fun you can take a bus to Salou, which is always overcrowded of young people.

More places to visit on holidays

– Salou: Salou is a reference for the holydays of Spring and Summer in Spain. Furthermore, the profile of the people who visit the town is highly various: Since families with children, couples, and young people.

– Barcelona: Read here the best places to visit in the main city of Catalonia.

– Castelldefels: Castelldefels is located on the Mediterranean Sea coast of Catalonia, just to 18 km away from Barcelona city.

– Sitges: Sitges is also known for its Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, the Barcelona-Sitges Vintage Car Rallys and its Carnival Celebration.

– Top destinations in Spain: Check here the most touristic cities of Spain, as Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Valencia or Bilbao.

Two-days tour in Saragossa: What to visit in Zaragoza city

February 3, 2014Saragossa / Zaragoza, Tours and GuidesJorge

With almost 700,000 inhabitants, Zaragoza (Saragossa) is one of the biggest cities of Spain. Its strategical location between Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Bilbao, and its proximity to The Pyrenees and France, make Zaragoza one of the most important logistic points of Spain. Also, its size (not too big, not too small) and its mild climate (except for the wind) make Zaragoza one of the best places to live in the country.

But Zaragoza is not only a place to live, it’s also a city which has a lot of activity and history, ideal for visiting it in a weekend. The main monuments of Zaragoza are the following ones: Pilar Square (Plaza del Pilar), The Pilar Basilica-Cathedral, La Seo Cathedral, The Roman ruins and museums, La Aljaferia Palace, La Lonja, Torre del agua and Expo 2008 Zone and many more places to discover.

Here we are going to propose you two routes for visiting most of the main places of the city in a weekend:

Day 1: La Aljaferia Palace, Expo 2008 Zone, Rio Ebro (The Ebro River), Muralla romana (The Roman wall), El Pilar, La Seo, Casco Viejo (The Old Town), Plaza España

– The Aljafería Palace (La Aljafería): A must for all tourists that arrive in Saragossa is to visit the stunning Aljaferia Palace.

The Aljaferia Palace is really the most visited historic site in Zaragoza. This medieval islamic palace was built by muslims on the banks of the river Ebro in the 11th century. Abu Ya far Ahmad, known as Al-Muqtadir, king of Saraqusta ordered its construction and it was called Qasr al -Surur (The Joy Palace) .

– Zaragoza Expo 2008: In summer 2008, Zaragoza received the international exposition Expo Zaragoza 2008, which was placed aside the shore of the Ebro River. The buildings, squares and structures were situated from the city center, behind the Pilar Basilic to Delicias Intermodal Station, the main train and bus station of the city. Currently, the Expo Zone is open to all the visitors who want to see the area and enjoy its activities.

Check the map of the Expo Zone here (click on it to see the map bigger):

– The Aquarium of Zaragoza (optional): The aquarium of Zaragoza is the biggest fluvial aquarium of Europe. It is located inside the Expo zone, near the pavilions.

As a recommendation, at the top floor of the aquarium there is a cafeteria with a viewer point to see the Ebro river, the Expo Zone and the centre of the city.

– The Park of the water (Parque del agua) (optional): Currently this is the wider park of Zaragoza. It was built simultaneously with the Expo 08 zone.

Inside The Park of the water, you will find a lot of green areas and activities: A lake with boats, An artificial beach with swimming pools, a whitewater channel, a golf camp, horses and many more (including the famous skyscraper: La torre del agua).

– The Ebro River and its bridges (Rio Ebro): You can walk from the Expo zone to the Pilar Cathedral bordering the Ebro river. The walk can last around 20 to 30 minutes, depending on your speed.

By bordering the Ebro river, you will see the next bridges: Puente del tercer milenio (near Torre del agua and Parque del agua), The Bridge-Pavillion and the The bridge of the volunteers (in the Expo zone), Puente de hierro (The iron bridge, near Plaza Europa), Puente de Santiago (cross it to arrive at El Pilar, the roman wall and the Old town), Puente de piedra (the oldest one, built between 1336 and 1437, and located behind the Pilar Basilica), Puente de La Almozara and Puente de la Unión.

– The ruins of the roman wall (Murallas romanas): Close to the Santiago Bridge and beside the Pilar Square are placed the ruins of the Roman Wall of Zaragoza. Don’t miss them!

– The Main Market (Mercado Central) (optional): The market of Zaragoza is located in front of the Roman Walls. Its building was built in 1895 and is considered as a national monument.

– The Pilar cathedral / Basílica del Pilar: The Our Lady of the Pilar Basilica-Cathedral in Zaragoza popularly is the main attraction in Zaragoza city.

It is not only a meeting point with the tourists and citizens because its beautiful building and its artworks but also its absolute devotion to the Virgin of the Pilar, so called because the image of the Virgin is on a pillar (columna).

– Pilar Square (Plaza del Pilar): The Pilar cathedral is placed in the centre of the city at Pilar Square. This square is the main and biggest square in Zaragoza.

Activities are organized in there the whole year, and the square is considered to be as the most important point of the city because it is surrounded by the Town Hall, The Old Centre and some of the most important monuments as El pilar, La seo, La lonja, The Roman wall or El Foro museum of Caesaraugusta.

– La Seo Cathedral: Saint Salvador Cathedral, commonly called La Seo, was built on the site of the great mosque aljama of Zaragoza between 12th and 16th centuries. Being rebuilt, reformed, improved and widened during these centuries, the present Cathedral has Romanesque, Mudéjar, Gothic, Baroque architectural styles which can really be seen outside the Cathedral, although its most important treasures are inside La Seo de Salvador.

– The Old Town (Casco Viejo) and Spain Square (Plaza España): To arrive at Spain Square (located at Independence Avenue) from the Pilar Square, you can walk along Alfonso Street (Calle Alfonso), which is always full of people.

The Old Town of Zaragoza is famous for its museums, its gastronomy (above all at “El Tubo” zone, where the people go to eat tapas). Also, some of the Nigth life of the city can be done in the Old Town, which is full of bars and discotheques.

Day 2: Parque grande (The main park), La Romareda (Football Stadium), Plaza San Francisco, Gran Via Avenue, Plaza Paraiso, Puerta del Carmen, Plaza Aragón, Paseo Independencia, Plaza Aragón

– The Main Park of Zaragoza (Parque grande): The Main Park of Zaragoza is placed at the beginning of Fernando el Católico Avenue, near the Romareda Football Stadium, and the university campus. The park was built between 1913 and 1927, and it was inaugurated in 1929, since then it has been improved many times. Currently it measures more than forty hectares, it has around 15 fountains, a botanic garden, a view point, many terraces, paths and statues, a swimming pool (for summer) and many more activities to do.

– La Torre de la Cámara de Comercio: At the entrance of the Main Park you will see this tower – lighthouse. It was built in 1940 as an icon of the progress of the city.

– La Romareda football stadium (Estadio de futbol de la Romareda): In La Romareda football stadium plays the Real Zaragoza Football team. This stadium is located alonside the music auditorium of Zaragoza and the lighthouse.

– The Music Auditorium (Auditorio de Zaragoza):

– San Francisco Square (Plaza San Francisco) (optional): Walking from the entrance of the Main Park (Parque Grande) through Fernando el Católico Avenue (in the tram direction) you will arrive at Plaza San Francisco, another meeting point of the city, above of all among the young people.

If you don’t want to visit this square nor the university campus, you can get on the tram (Line 1) from Parque Grande to Gran Via. 🙂

– The University Campus (Ciudad Universitaria) (optional): Currently the University of Zaragoza is divided in three zones: The headquarters at Paraninfo building (we will see later), the Ebro campus at Actur neighborhood an the San Francisco Campus -the traditional one-. These tree zones are connected with the tram.

– Gran Via Avenue: Once passed the cross with Goya Avenue, Fernando El Católico Avenue changes its name to Gran Via Avenue. of Saragossa is one of the most important streets of the city. By walking through it wides sidewalks you will arrive at Paraiso Square (at the beginning of Paseo Independencia).

– Paraiso Square (Plaza Paraiso) and Paraninfo Building (headquarters of the University of Zaragoza):

– Puerta del Carmen (optional): This gate was built in 1789. It is higtly popular among the citizens because it was a crucial defense place at the First Siege of Zaragoza (1808), when the French Army tried to conquest the city and the country.

– Paseo Independencia: Indepedence Avenue is the main street of Zaragoza. Beginning at the end of Gran Via Avenue, the avenue runs from Plaza Paraiso all the way to Plaza Aragón and ends at Plaza España, in the Old Town of the city.

In Paseo Independencia and its surroundings you will find the commercial centre of the city, with a lot of small shops, commercial centers, cafes, restaurants, cinemas and bars.

– Aragon Square (Plaza Aragón): In the middle of Paseo Independencia it’s located Aragon Square, and in the center of it, it’s the Aragon Justice Monument (Monumento al Justicia de Aragón).

Day 3 (extra): Choose one option…

As it’s impossible to visit the whole city in two days, we suggest here some other plans to see that we haven’t included in our route.

– Museums: Zaragoza has many museums. Here you have some of them:

Roman museums: Museo de las Termas Públicas (San Juan Street, number 3), Museo del Puerto Fluvial (San Bruno Square), El Foro (La Seo Square) and The Roman Teather / Teatro de Caesaraugusta (San Jorge Square, number 12). All of them in the old town or in the city centre.

Other museums and expositions centers: Pablo Gargallo (San Felipe Square, at the Old Town), Museo de Zaragoza (Los Sitios Square), Pablo Serrano (Maria Agustin Avenue).

– The Aragonese Pyrenees (Los Pirineos): In summer, many people camp in the Pyrenees for discovering its mountains, rivers and lakes, and for practicing sports in this environment. In winter, the Pyrenees ski stations are some of the most frequented places of Spain to ski.

– Other places to visit near Zaragoza city: Teruel, Huesca, Calatayud, Monasterio de Piedra, Jaca, Pamplona.

How to arrive at Zaragoza

Visitors of other countries can arrive at Zaragoza by airplane to the Zaragoza Airport. Visitors from other cities can come here by bus or by train to Delicias Intermodal Station.

– Delicias train and bus station (Estación intermodal de Delicias):

Read also our post with the best cities of Spain, and the list with the most visited monuments of Spain.

Mercado de San Antón / San Anton Market (Madrid)

January 24, 2014Gastronomy, MadridJorge

San Anton Market (Mercado de San Antón) is a food market located in Chueca Neighborhood, in the center of Madrid City. The market is focused on “tapas” (small dishes of food) and premium food to eat in its stalls and restaurants.

The Market is placed inside a four-levels building, it’s open seven days a week (as San Miguel Market), and it is full of people all evenings and nights, above all from Thursdays to Sundays.

San Antón Market is placed at Augusto Figueroa Street, number 24. To arrive there, you can go by Metro, using Line 5 to Chueca Metro Station. It’s also close to Gran Via Metro Station (Lines 1 and 5).

The history of the market

The current market is located at a modern building placed in the cross between Augusto Figueroa Street and Libertad Street ,in Chueca Neighborhood. This building was inaugurated in 2002 and has a high architectonic value.

However, before the new building was constructed, the market was in an older building located in the same place since 1945. Before that year, the market already existed: Since the 19th century to 1945, the stalls were in the street.

What you will find in San Anton Market

The market is in a four-levels building. In each level there is placed a different kind of stalls:

– The first level is focused in positions takeaway.

– In the second floor you will find stalls with tapas and drinks to eat in the terraces of the market. As example, you can find premium hamburgers, meat, sushi, fish, fruit or any kind of Spanish tapas. To drink, people frequently ask for wine, beer or cider.

– In the third floor there is a restaurant with a balcony from where it can be seen the sky of Madrid. Surely, it’s a good place to have a dinner or just have a lunch and drink something. The balcony is air-conditioned so you can visit it in all seasons of the year.

– The fourth level is in the underground, where there is a supermarket.

Other zones to eat in Madrid

– San Miguel Market: San Miguel Market is a building placed in San Miguel square, between Plaza Mayor and Almudena Cathedral. Inside of this famous market you will find an incredibly variety of food: juices, “tapas”, “croquetas”, hamburgers, fruit, fish… all of this of the highest quality.

– La Latina Neighborhood: La Latina is a central neighborhood of Madrid whose bars and restaurants are highly popular among the citizens. On Cava alta and Cava baja streets, there are a lot of premium places, and also other much cheaper ones which offer original and good quality for a few price.

– Seven-days tour in Madrid: In this article we are going to tell you what are the most relevant places in Madrid: From popular streets, parks and squares, to monuments, museums, football stadiums or restaurants and pubs areas.

Alcázar de Toledo / Alcazar of Toledo

January 23, 2014Emblematic buildings, ToledoJorge

The Alcazar of Toledo (Alcázar de Toledo) is an ancient stone-made fortification located uptown the Old City of Toledo, in Castile La Mancha region. The Alcazar is one of the icons of the city, which is visited for thousands of people every year.

About Toledo city

Toledo was the capital of Spain in the 16th century. Although, the history of the city began many centuries before, with the Celtic civilization.

Toledo has been habited by Romans, Goths, Muslims, Jewish and Christians. Currently, the city has around 80.000 inhabitants and is one of the main destinations for tourists who visit the centre of Spain.

The history of the Alcazar

The Alcazar of Toledo was built initially in the third century A.D. by the Roman Empire. At first it was used as a palace, but some centuries later the building complex was restored by Alfonso VI, Alfonso XI and extended by King Carlos I of Spain and V of Germany in 1534, among others. The construction of the current building was ordered by King Carlos V in the 16th century, who got it built over the rests of the previous medieval castle.

The fortification has been modified and reconstructed many times and has been used for multiple purposes: A palace, a fortification, a King’s residence, a prison and a military headquarters, among others.

During the 20th century Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), the Alcazar of Toledo was occupied by the Nationalist Rebel Franco forces, and was attacked and destroyed by the Republican forces in the famous “Siege of the Alcázar”. After the civil war, the reconstruction of the building complex started in 1940.

The Army Museum (Museo del Ejército)

Nowadays The Alcazar has an Army Museum inside. The people who enjoy seeing military museums will be able to discover the following areas: models, firearms, knives, uniforms, military orders and other documents.
The building also has a crypt and is the home of the Regional Library of Castile La Mancha.

More Popular places to visit in Toledo

– What to visit in Toledo: Discover the most ancient and touristic places to see in Toledo, as the Old Town, the Cathedral (Catedral de Santa María de Toledo), the Synagogue (Sinagoga del Transito) or the The Greco Museum.

– Castile la Mancha: Read here all our posts of this regions, including cities as Toledo or Cuenca.