activities
There’s always something fun to do in Spain. Whether you want to shop, go sightseeing, or hit the beach, here is where you can find some of the top places to see and things to do throughout Spain.
The gang in sterilized suits at Central Quesera Montesinos, S.L.
andalusia
Casa de la Memoria
| casadelamemoria.es | Calle Ximenez de Enciso, 28 (Barrio de Santa Cruz) | Sevilla
Tel: 34 954 560 670 (call ahead to reserve seats)
Flamenco Show.
I never even considered watching a flamenco show. I guess I wrote it off as something I wouldn’t enjoy, but I loved it. It was inspiring, eerie and passionate.
Belle Epoque | antiguedadesbelleepoque.com | Antonio Lopez 2 | Cadiz
Tel: 34 95 622 68 10
Antique shop specializing in furniture.
Fine Arts & Archaeology Museum | Plaza de Mina | Cadiz
Tel: 34 956 21 22 81
The ground floor is devoted to archaeology of the region. The rest of the museum is devoted to Spanish fine art.
Gran Teatro, Manuel de Falla | Plaza Fragela, s/n | Cadiz 11003
Tel: 34 956 220 834
Live theater.
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basque country
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao | guggenheim.org | Avenida Abandoibarra, 2 | Bilbao 48001
Blog Post: When In Spain...
Bilbao’s most important landmark. It was amazing to see how this museum transformed the neighborhood around it, once an industrial city without much decorum, now with modern art sculptures poking around every corner.
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catalunya
Mercado de la Boqueria | boqueria.info | La Rambla, 91 | Barcelona 08001
Tel: 34 933 02 72 60
This is Gretchen's favorite site in Barcelona, and one of the best markets in Europe. Come hungry; besides the fresh produce, there are several eateries inside the market.
Gaudi | (Spanish modernist architect born in XIXth century) has a few buildings in town:
Sagrada Familia | sagradafamilia.cat | C/Mallorca, 401 | Barcelona 08013
Tel: 34 932 07 30 31
Though Gaudi never finished this church, it's still remarkable. You'll feel like you stepped into a Tim Burton movie! After you take the tour inside, make sure to walk around the entire outside of the building--each side has a different theme.
Güell Park | Take the Metro to "Lesseps" on the Green Line. Follow street signposts to the park.
Make sure you don't have to be anywhere, because you'll spend the entire day wandering this park. Everywhere you look, there are carved scultures, magnificent mosaic work, and plenty of photo opportunities. Take a break for lunch with a bocadillo and a cold can of beer on the sunny terrace, which gives amazing views of the town below.
Barceloneta
The local beach, you should go if it gets sunny, and you can taste a wonderful rice or fideuá (paella made with noodles) or suquet by the sea. You will tell how different the authentic is…(just the right raw materials). The grilled vegetables (all simple) are another classic from the Catalan cuisine.
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ibiza
Beaches and Coves of Ibiza
- Benirras (Sant Joan, Ibiza): good for snorkeling
- Cala Bassa (Sant Antoni, Ibiza): white sand beach
- Pou Des Lleo (Sant Carles, Ibiza): tranquil cove, but little shade
Casa Alfonso |Calle de Progresso, 8| Sant Antoni de Portmany, Ibiza
Tel: 34 971 343 012
Cheese and other delicacies.
Mari Mayans | hierbasibicencas.es | Puig d’en Valls | Santa Eulalia, Ibiza
Tel: 34 97 1312 013
Shop that produces and sells Hierbas Ibicencas (traditional Ibizan liquour).
Lara | Vincente Cuervo, 8 | Ibiza Town, Ibiza
Tel: 34 97 1311 271
Shoe shop with both international designer products and shoes from local Ibiza designers.
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madrid
Justo Algaba's Workshop | justoalgaba.com | Calle La Paz, 4 | Madrid 28012
Tel: 34 91 523 35 95
There are only 5 matador tailors in the world; all live in Madrid.
Plaza Mayor
- Madrid’s main square, center of the city
- Lots of bars and restaurants that are open through the night.
Banco Espanol de Credito | Corner of Calle de Sevilla and Calle de Alcala
Madrid landmark; the building “dominates” the skyline in the old city.
Corral de la Morería | corraldelamoreria.com | Calle Morería, 17 | Madrid 28005
Tel: 34 91 365 84 46
Flamenco show and restaurant.
Palacio Real de Madrid | patrimonionacional.es | Calle Bailen, s/n | Madrid 28071
Tel: 34 91 454 87 00
Casa Hernanz |Calle de Toledo, 18 | Madrid 28005
Tel: 34 913 665 45
Sells the best espadrilles in the city.
Museo Nacional del Prado | museodelprado.es | Calle Ruiz de Alarcón, 23 | Madrid 28014
Tel: 34 91 330 2800
Mantequerias Bravo | bravo1931.com | Calle de Ayala, 24 | Madrid
Tel: 34 91 575 80 72
A gourmet food and wine shop; great for jamón.
Lavinia | lavinia.es | Calle de Jose Ortega y Gasset, 16 | Madrid
Tel: 34 91 426 06 04
Wine shop that lets you taste some of Spain’s best wines; will ship to you.
La Duquesita |Calle de Fernando VI, 2 | Madrid 28004
Tel: 34 91 308 02 31
One of Madrid’s oldest sweet shops and bakeries; great for chocolate.
Casa de Diego | http://personales.ya.com/jlleran/eng/home.htm | Puerta del Sol 12 | Madrid
Tel: 34 91 522 6643
Maker and seller of beautiful handmade fans.
Mercado de San Miguel | mercadodesanmiguel.es | Plaza de San Miguel, s/n | 28005, Madrid
Tel: 34 915 42 49 36
One of the oldest markets in Madrid, Mercado de San Miguel offers a whole new concept of market— specializing in Spanish foods as well as fruits, cheese and fish. The market consists of 33 shops that also offer great food in an even better setting.
COVAP Factory | covap.es | Calle de Raimundo Fernandez Villaverde, 51 | Madrid 28003
Tel: 34 915 359 574
We got the complete tour of the factory, and then the food came out. Iberico ham, lomo, salsichon, Lomito, and sobrasada. All were great, but the lomito was the best of the charcuteria. The flavor was amazing. It was slightly gamey, nutty, sweet and salty. It was the most amazing piece of cured meat. The cream of the crop (and the best thing I ate that day) were two cuts from the same Iberico pigs that were being cured—cuts you will hardly see in the US. This meat was the best pork I’ve ever had. It was everything you taste in Iberico ham with the texture of Kobe beef.
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murcia
Central Quesera Montesinos, S.L. | montesinos.es | Calle Vereda Real s/n | Jumilla 30520
Tel: 34 91 856 9431
Producers of specialty cheese, farm tours.
A cheese course from lunch at Central Quesera:
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