Archive for 'Curiosities in Spain'

Salvador Dalí was one of the most famous artists of the 20th century and a beloved son of Catalonia. He is remembered for his bizarre, wonderful and, sometimes, frightening surrealist paintings and sculptures, his beautiful jewellery and his larger than life personality.

An eccentric dresser and an attention-seeking character fond of stunts that attracted public notice, his life was just as colourful as his work. In fact, even his death was dramatic, as he was laid to rest in a crypt below a stage in a theatre and museum that is dedicated to him in home town of Figueres, in Catalonia, Spain.

The museum in question, Figueres' Dalí Museum, was the town's historic theatre that he knew growing up and where one of the first public exhibitions of young Dalí's art was shown. It was destroyed during the Spanish Civil War and rebuilt in the 1960s as a museum dedicated to the city's most famous son. It was then reopened as a museum in the 70s and expanded in the 80s.

Spain's Costa Blanca is known for her beautiful, picture-perfect beaches, crystal clear water and promise of sun but all this is somewhat taken away from by the reputation of certain towns and resorts and the tourist crowds that can plague them. If you want that assured ideal beach holiday but are looking for something a little more authentic and a little less crowded, we have the perfect place for you: Cala de Finestrat.

Cala de Finestrat is a pretty beachside resort close to the lovely village of Finestrat on the Costa Brava in the region of Valencia.

We all have that one friend, right? You know the one. The one that can't ever agree on a restaurant or doesn't know what they want to eat...except every single thing you suggest.

Maybe you are that friend yourself but, either way, you don't want group dining to become stressful and annoying when it should just be fun!

One of the best ways to ensure that you don't get weighed down by indecision and disagreements is to choose an eatery with ample options under one roof.

Well, good news for those who have found a vacation rental in Madrid, we've found the perfect place for everyone in the group to eat: Mercado del San Ildefonso!

Witch trials are always fascinating things to hear about and, as it happens, while Salem may be more famous for the trials that plagued her history, Spain was home to the largest witch trial in history. Just find a vacation rental in Basque Country and come discover this dark history.

Between 1609 and 1614, up to 7,000 people were accused of witchcraft in Basque Spain, in Salem only 200 people were accused, though 20 were ultimately executed for the “crime”. Fueled by suspicion from the Spanish Inquisition, due to the men of the region having to leave for months at a time to work, strong folkloric belief in the region, and the arrival of gypsies in the Basque country a sociopolitical climate was born in which scrutiny on women, in particular, was at its height.

One of the most talked about and striking buildings in the world has to be Barcelona's Sagrada Familia. It is certainly one of the most famous landmarks in the city and is a truly massive building. Often referred to as a “cathedral” it is not actually the city's cathedral and is not home to a bishop's seat. Instead, it is a large and iconic church that was officially raised to a basilica and inaugurated in 2002 by Pope Benedict XVI. Work began on the building in 1882 and will supposedly be completed around 2026. As one of Gaudí's most iconic works in the city so entangled with his life, it really is a must-see for anyone who has found a vacation rental in Barcelona and is planning to explore the beautiful city.

In the middle of the 19th century, bookseller José María Boca Bella, founder of the Asociación Espiritual de Devotos de San José (Spiritual Association of Devotees of St. Joseph), planned to build a church in Barcelona and to devote it to the Holy Family – the "Sagrada Familia.