Archive for 'Architectural Gems in Spain'

Those of you who have found a holiday rental in Valencia and are exploring this beautiful seaside city will, no doubt, find themselves at the marina at some point. If so, it is hard to miss the striking architectural gem that is Veles e Vents (meaning “Sails and Winds”). Also known as the America's Cup Building, it and its accompanying park were constructed ahead of the 2007 America’s Cup, which is the world’s premier offshore racing competition, and took place in Valencia that year. This was the first time that it had been held in Europe in over 150 years and the city had it built as a central base for the teams and sponsors, as well as spectators who were afforded excellent views of the proceedings from its excellent position overlooking the marina.

An ultramodern pristine white concrete beauty, it is a minimalist building made up of staggered horizontal platforms that was designed by David Chipperfield and Fermín Vázquez. Work was begun in 2005 and it was opened in time for the preliminary regattas, held in May and June 2006.

The Spanish city of Zaragoza is a pretty magical and beautiful place. It is over 2,000 years old, home to many an architectural gem, filled with some of the best examples of Moorish architecture outside of Andalusia, houses the richest selection of works by Goya, boasts a delicious cuisine, and is home to, not one, but two great cathedrals: the Basílicade Nuestra Señora del Pilar and the Catedral del Salvador de Zaragoza, which both share co-cathedral status in metropolitan Zaragoza. The latter of these two is a fascinating blend of architectural styles and periods and is one of the finest buildings in all of Spain. If you have found a vacation rental in Catalonia or a holiday rental in Valencia and are thinking about spending a day exploring the extraordinary city of Zaragoza, this characteristic building is one of the must-see stops to pencil into your itinerary.

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.

Casa Botines is a stunning little architectural gem in the city of León that might surprise visitors to the city: it is one of only a few buildings by Gaudí located outside the region of Catalonia and a rare treat to stumble upon. Just find a vacation rental in Castille and Leónand make a point to visit when you're in the city.

At the end of the nineteenth century, Gaudí, who had never left Barcelona before, headed to León to design a tissue store, Casa Botines. Commissioned by Simón Fernández and Mariano Andrés, the owners of a company that bought fabrics from Güell, to build a residential building and warehouse, it was built between 1891 and 1892. The name by which it known today comes from the last name of the company's former owner, Joan Homs i Botinàs.