Archive for 'Tourist Attractions in Spain'

Madrid's Prado Museum is celebrating a very big birthday this coming year, turning 200 in November. Opened in 1819 after the Spanish queen, Isabella of Braganza, came back from a visit to the Louvre and found herself wanting to display her own remarkable collection in an amazing building, it co-opted a space originally designed by Juan de Villanueva to house the Natural History Cabinet. This vast and grand 18th century structure is a Neoclassical gem that is home to the extraordinarily rich royal collections, which includes works by great masters such as Rembrandt, Titian, Goya, Raphael, Rubens, and Bosch, among many others. If you have found a vacation rental in Madrid, it is certainly a must-see, as one of the finest art galleries in the world.

In order to celebrate this special occasion, there is a bicentennial exhibition currently on display in the museum and there will be a calendar of events throughout the year, as well as a program of lending travelling exhibitions and works to other institutions all over Spain. The “Museo del Prado 1819-2019. A place of memory” exhibition, curated by Javier Portús (the Museo del Prado Senior Curator of Spanish Painting up to 1700), opened last year and will continue until the 10th of March 2019 and was the launching event of the extensive program. It surveys the museum’s history, the relationship between the Museum and the public, the trends in the collection over the years, its growth into the incredible institution that is it today, and some of its particular treasures including works by El Greco and Murillo.

Granada is a stunning and historic city in the Andalusia region of the south of Spain. Positioned at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, it is famous for its striking architectural character, which largely reflects Moorish occupation during the Middle Ages. While the most famous attraction in the city is, no doubt, the Alhambra palace complex, there are plenty of other things to see and do. Many make a day trip to see the Alhambra or just spend a couple of days in the area but if you find a vacation rental in Granada you'll find that there will be lots to keep you occupied. Or find a vacation rental in Andalusia and take a few trips to the charming city. Whatever route you decide on, be sure to pencil in these excellent activities...

Here's what to see and do in Granada.

If you like incredible museums and great views then you need to find a vacation rental in Barcelona and take a day trip to the seaside beautiful town of Sitges, where you will find the rather special Maricel Museum.

The Maricel Museum, or Museu de Maricel, is located in the Maricel Palace and traces its origins to 1969, when the Barcelona Provincial Corporation bought the building to house the collection of Doctor Jesús Pérez-Rosales, who had been a well known gynaecologist and an avid art collector. The museum was then opened to the public in 1970, with over 3,000 items on display, including Romanesque murals, Gothic paintings on wood, Renaissance carvings and altarpieces, sculptures, items of furniture, precious metals, ceramics, porcelain and many works that chart Spanish art from the 12th century to the 20th century. In 1995 the Maricel Museum was also made home to the "Vila de Sitges" collection of art, about fifty works by local Sitges in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The Generalife of Granada is a palace and series of large gardens that was built in the 13th century during the reign of Muhammad III (1302–1309) and remodelled and added to several times over the centuries. Positioned on the slopes of the Hill of the Sun, or Cerro del Sol, the whole estate offers amazing panoramic views over the city below. It was the summer palace and country estate of the Nasrid rulers of the Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus but is thought to have originally been an architect's house that later passed to the royal family and remodelled accordingly. One of the translations of the name is actually “garden of the architect”, though there are multiple interpretations and theories.

La Clerecia is a church in Salamanca and its towers are known as Scala Coeli. The church was formerly known as the Royal College of the Company of Jesus and was a school and residence for the Jesuit priests who taught its students. It was begun in the 17th century by order of Queen Margarita of Austria, wife of Philip III of Spain, and was designed by Juan Gomez de Mora. A Baroque-era building with two iconic towers that offer two different perspectives on the city, it boasts utterly stunning views over the city and is a must-see for those who have found a vacation rental in Castille and León and are spending time exploring the city. While the climb to the top is a bit arduous, it is well worth the effort.