As a country shaped by the powerful empires that conquered it over the millennia, Spain has an extraordinary historical and cultural heritage. From medieval walled cities to Roman bridges and aqueducts to magnificent mosques and Arab palaces, Spanish cities are filled with magnificent reminders of their rich and diverse past.
When the Arabs occupied Spain from 711 until 1236, Cordoba was the first capital of their kingdom – Al-Andalus. In 1000AD, Córdoba was a city of a million people. It was one of the most culturally and politically advanced cities in the world, a rival of Constantinople. The Moors left a magnificent legacy in Cordoba, … Read more
Unlike many other cities in Spain, Madrid doesn’t have a well-defined and easily discernible medieval city centre, something that could be considered an ‘old town Madrid’. But that’s not to say that you can’t discover it if you know where to look. To understand Madrid’s history and Spanish culture in general, you have to remember … Read more
Alicante Old Town is the neighbourhood (or barrio) of Santa Cruz, lying just below the Santa Barbara Castle to the north of La Rambla. It spills down the slope of Mount Benacantil, and its total area is quite large. But the most picturesque area is the main residential area on the highest point of the … Read more
Mainly known for being the capital of Costa del Sol, Malaga is a surprisingly ancient city. By the 6th century BC, it was already a leading Phoenician commercial centre. The first city walls of Malaga were built by the Phoenicians. Today, the area that was contained within these city walls is Malaga Old Town or … Read more
Planning to visit some medieval walled cities in Spain? Have limited time? These 15 cities and towns can be visited on day trips from major cities. With its idyllic coastline and expansive mountain ranges (home to the Iberian Lynx) to imperial capitals, historic towns, and Andalusian white villages, Spain is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe. The … Read more
Looking for things to do in Avila? Here is the guide to the best sites to visit and things to see in Avila on a day trip from Madrid Avila is a perfectly preserved medieval town that is completely encircled by a stone wall. Its charming medieval ambience is safeguarded by the status of a UNESCO … Read more
Planning a day trip from Madrid to Segovia? Here’s how to make the most of it without rushing or missing any of Segovia’s most beloved sites Segovia is a fairytale-like medieval town set around an enormous Roman aqueduct. Over the centuries, Segovia has been shaped by three different empires: Roman, Arab, and Catholic Monarchy, all … Read more
Looking for unusual things to do in Cordoba? Here is an itinerary for a self-guided Roman Cordoba walking tour to uncover the relics of a once-prosperous Roman city. One of the most instantly-recognizable images of Cordoba is the magnificent Cordoba Roman Bridge. This 2,000-year-old monument is the most iconic representation of Cordoba’s long and rich … Read more
The Great mosque of Cordoba, also known as Mezquita or Cordoba Mosque-Cathedral, is a magnificent structure that has been built, expanded and refined for centuries. The original great mosque was built by the Umayyads between 785 and 988 AD, and to this day, it stands as one of the earliest and greatest monuments of Islamic … Read more
If you are planning a trip to Granada, you probably know all about the Alhambra, maybe a couple of other Moorish monuments, the Albacin neighbourhood, and the Granada cathedral. But have you ever heard about the Granada cave houses? What are Sacromonte Caves? Located in Sacromonte, Granada’s old Gypsy neighbourhood, Sacromonte cave houses are a … Read more