jeudi 30 mai 2013

Spain: more than a club 18-30 Ibiza, Malaga and Magaluf!

By Jessica Clark


Spain has always been a favourite holiday destination amongst us Brits. However, I do fear that many of us never venture further than the lure of the beach and bars to really discover the treasures it has to offer. One thing's for sure, if you are reading this, then we can safely say that you aren't looking for the all too common 'club 18-30' holiday.

Aside from the tantalising cuisine, exquisite all-year-round weather and Mediterranean coasts, Spain offers a multitude of awe-inspiring buildings. Due to its gigantic geography and intriguing history, Spanish architecture is extremely sought after; it is such a superb mix of tradition and modernity that there really is something to suit all tastes on every street. Second only to Italy, Spain has one of the highest amounts ofUNESCO World Heritage sites due to the artistic beauty and historical significance of its architecture. From Roman times to the Renaissance, from Christian to European, Arabic, Mediterranean and Northern European: a number of diverse ideas and inspirations have shaped the most intriguing and seducing constructions you will ever have the fortune to visit.

La Sagrada Familia, created by Antoni Gaudi from Catalonia, is a superb building to visit. Its situated in the bustling city of Barcelona and began its life way back in 1882. Gaudi managed to devote 40 years of his life to the construction, but it actually won't be completed in its entirety until 2026 - one year after its creator's death. Even in its unfinished state, its still definitely worth a visit. Its truly awe-inspiring from every angle and oozes a sense of deep respect for religion that even the most irreligious would be moved. Another site to behold in the infamous Barcelona is the Casa Mila: known as The Quarry (La Pedera). Believe it or not, this unique edifice is also the brainchild of Gaudi, despite its contrasting appearance to the La Sagrada Familia. A lot of restoration has taken place over the years, but it is now frequently lovingly looked after by the Caixa Catalunya Foundation.

Catalonia is also a wonderful place to visit, more so as its home to the Dali Theatre-Museum. Renowned Spanish artist, Salvador Dali, has much of his controversial work housed here. The exterior castle design is topped with massive sculptures of eggs, whilst inside it is as zany and madcap as its namesake, even housing a vault for where Dali is buried.

In the North, Bilbao boasts an astounding piece of genius created by the celebrated architect Frank Gehry. The Guggenheim Museum is a building beyond imagination: it is a flawless construct of titanium, glass and limestone which reflects the sparkle of the river flowing alongside it. So dramatic is this creation that it has appeared in music videos, computer games and the Bond film "The World is not Enough". From the ancient to the modern, Spanish architecture is amongst the most distinctive in the world lending a well-deserved sense of pride and passion to its cities and peoples.

If you can't get away to visit the beautiful country itself then you could always visit Home House this month instead. The Restaurant will be offering a Spanish themed night, with a full 3 course Spanish menu including tapas style starters and traditional Spanish paella amongst other offerings! Spanish cuisine is famed for being healthy and is influenced heavily by seafood due to Spain's rich maritime history.




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