The AFAR Guide to Spain

The Alhambra

For over forty years I have wanted to see the Alhambra in Granada. Finally, arriving in Granada late in the afternoon.....there it was, perched on its strategic hillside glowing in the setting sun. The next day I would see the wonders inside, but...

To Really Know Madrid, Walk Its Barrios

Madrid may be famous for its museums and palaces, but the best way to really get to know the city is to walk its neighborhoods. No trip to Madrid is complete without going back in time in historic Barrio de las Letras, living the high life in posh...

Toledo, Spain's old Capital

Toledo, once the glowing capital of Spain, is today mostly a tourist attraction within the walls of the fort-city. But inside those walls are museums, cathedrals and churches, an ancient synagogue - now a museum documenting the Sephardic Jews, the...

Galería Moisés Peréz de Albéniz in Pamplona, Spain

An incubator for local talent, the gallery features work by Mikel Urmeneta of the comedic San Fermín–inspired Kukuxumusu graphic arts company through the end of May.

34/948-291-686. This appeared in the May/June 2012 issue. Photo courtesy ofGalería...

Hotel Palacio Guendulain in Pamplona, Spain

Situated in the heart of Pamplona, Palacio Guendulain hosted Queen Isabel II when she visited in 1845. The 25-room hotel is still fit for royalty—with a stone facade, an inner courtyard, and displays of vintage carriages.

Doubles from $176 ($1,110...

It's always tapas o'clock in Girona, Spain

Costa Brava has no shortage of great eats, but I kept returning to Txalaka because it not only offered a reasonable 3-course lunch (for 11 euros) but also a sprawling offering of tapas at night, at 1 eur 60 each. With cheerful staff who took great...

A Room With A View

When you decide to head out to a new place, with just a few clicks of your mouse, you can find "best kept secrets" galore. That's what we were looking for when we decided to spend a few days in Girona, Spain. Our goal was to get to Barcelona. But...

The World is Your Egg at Dali's House

After falling in love with Salvador Dali at his museum in Figueres, we caught one of three buses out to the cliffside town of Cadaques where you can get to know Dali a bit more intimately by touring his house. Full of odds and ends including mini...

Trip Out on Art History in Cadeques

The Costa Brava of the Mediterranean is truly a magical place and there is no wonder why so many notable artists frequented the small town of Cadeques, Spain over the last century. This old fishing village is the epitome of picturesque with its...

Hunting for Fungi

Catalonians, particularly near the Pyrenees, love their mushrooms. So much so, hunting them in the forest where they grow wild, has become a beloved pastime. One of the best places to do so in the Pyrenees region is Montgrony. Arrive early in the...

Palacio Marqués de Caro Hotel in Valencia, Spain

The 26-room Palacio Marqués de Caro, which opened earlier this year, is built into a wall dating back to Muslim rule. Arabic vases, medieval archways, and neoclassical friezes add to the appeal, along with the adjacent restaurant, Arrop.

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Hat Gallery, Valencia, Spain

The exhibition space Hat Gallery features all kinds of art. Recent shows include: a multimedia exposition on femicide in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico; designs that one artist created for a local chocolate factory; and a collaboration presenting 40...

Nightlife in Valencia, Spain

The baroque decor at Café de las Horas makes it a favorite among Valencianos for a cocktail (or two) before hitting clubs such as the indie Radio City or the Euro-style Giorgio et Enrico.

Calle del Conde de Almodóvar 1, 34/963-917-336. Photo...

La Falla de Michael Jackson

Every March, Valencia Spain is filled with colorful papier mache statues, like this one of Michael Jackson in his Neverland Ranch. The intricate structures are supposed to represent trends and phenomena Valencia wishes to rid from its culture. On...

Llinares Ice Cream, Valencia, Spain

Valencia is famous for its horchata, or tiger nut milk, and Llinares Ice Cream serves a respectable version of the drink. But the daring come for outlandish ice cream flavors, from glazed doughnut to potato omelet and fresh anchovies in vinegar.

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