If you've been to Madrid, you know the enormous selection of activities and sightseeing treasures the city has to offer you. If you haven't, make Madrid your travel destination for a touch of the art world. If you're an art lover like many tourists that travel to Spain, you won't have far to look to find some of the best art in the world. After enjoying some of the local recipes for sangria, visit The Queen Sofia Art Museum, located near the metro stations and the Atocha train. It has such an abundance of famous art works; you'll need more than one day to view everything. Some of the featured art works are by greats like Miro, Picasso or Solana.

The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, which was opened in 1992, is considered the museum for 20th century art. Many art connoisseurs consider it the most prestigious art collections in Europe. One of the highlights of the museum is the famous Pablo Picasso piece, Guernica. This 1937 painting got its inspiration from Picasso's feelings on surrealism and the Nazi bombing of the town of Guernica. If you are a fan of Picasso, and I don't know who wouldn't be, there are many pieces of his work from a young age right up to maturity.

The museum is in a building designed in the 18th that was once a hospital. It was scheduled to be demolished when they decided to turn it into a house of art. Renovations and additions were added to the original building to make it what they needed to become a museum. Some thought it odd that an old building would be used to house modern art, but the plans proved to be exactly what they wanted. It was declared a national museum in 1988.

Queen Sofia offers the art lover a variety from the late 19th century right up to the most recent contemporary and modern works of art. If Solana pieces are what you are interested in, you'll get a glimpse of The Chorus Girls, Café Pombo, and don't forget The Meeting of the Pharmacy.

Most famous artists are represented by more than one piece of work, such as Miro whose work Man with a Pipe, Fleur, Toile and Escargot are all on display. They may have been painted in the 20s or 30s, but still manage to interest art lovers. The same can be said for Dalí, whose works spans fro his 1927 Still Life by the Light of the Moon to his 1945 Galarina portrait. You will be amazed at his realistic 1951 and 1955 paintings of the Crucifixion.

Paintings are not the only objects of interest to the tourists and visitors. The 46,000 square yard exhibit space is filled with many art objects as well as pottery and porcelain. They also have a library there in case you wish to look up some of the paintings or artists. You can find interesting reading and take it to the cafeteria they also have for your dining pleasure. If you happen to be traveling during the holiday, spend the perfect holiday in Madrid.

By: Leroy C. Calstard
The writer Leroy Calstard is really passionate about news corresponding to champagne sangria recipe and recipe for making sangria. His publications on sangria recipes are published on http://www.alicante-spain.com and also various other web pages.

Spain has long been praised for its exhilarating and active night life, with visitors enjoying the bars and night clubs in such cities as Barcelona, Valencia, Seville and especially Madrid.

As well as the above "hotspots", Spain is also home to Benicassim. The four day festival has soared in popularity over the years because of the guaranteed sun, and all night acts. To top it off the festival ends with a huge beach party.

Spain has much more to offer than an excellent night life though. It presents a strong sense of its own identity ornamented with an astonishing religious history which has resulted in a country rich with breathtaking cathedrals and palaces, gorgeous rolling landscapes and a vibrant culture of art, dance, and outstanding architecture.

Firstly there is "La Sagrada Familia", a colossal Roman Catholic temple and museum, which has been in construction for over a century.

Over the years La Sagrada Familia has been the architectural project of many influential figures, each adding their own ideas and mythologies to the temple.

Like many other architectural masterpieces throughout Barcelona, it's a must-see for any visitor.

Situated next to the "La Catedral" in Seville is a royal palace "El Alcazar". The palace dates back to 1364, when it was built for "Pedro the cruel" and his mistress, María de Padilla.

The gothic elements added by Charles V, contrast beautifully with the distinctly Islamic elements that Pedro incorporated. This has resulted in a palace that it considered one of the best remaining examples of mudéjar architecture.

There is an abundance of breathtaking sites throughout Spain for you to enjoy when on your holidays, some other notable examples include:

The "Garden of Conception"
Catedral de Toledo
The Sanctuary of Santa María Magdalena
The Guggenheim Museum

By: Liam Gerken
Liam is a UK author, currently focusing on holidays. Compare cheap holidays online today.

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Deep in the south of Spain's southernmost province, Cadiz, hidden in the Gatidano mountain range, is Arcos de la Frontera the prettiest town in Spain. Although the old walled town of Arcos only holds 4000 people & is lost in a valley hidden in the mountains, its place in Spanish history is important because of the town's strategic placement in Catholic Spain's long struggle against the Moorish kingdom. Boabdil, the last Moorish king, finally fell in 1492, the same year Columbus sailed west for India. At Cadiz's tip, near Arcos de la Frontera, Africa looms large across a bit of water that seems a mere swim away.

A friendly town, Arcenses, as the population of Arcos are known, tend to ready smiles & obliging attitude to the visitor. A variety of restaurants from cheap to middle priced in the old town or by the lake where one can fish, sail, paddle or wind-surf. Many of its hotels like its restaurants are housed in beautiful & ancient stone buildings.

Arcos is built atop a sharp promontory with cliffs to either side in the middle of a wide valley surrounded by distant mountains. The only approaches to the town are at either end of its long, thin length & they are protected by heavy gates. One begins to see how its sheer impregnability made it an important stronghold in the constant battles against the Moors & some of the churches still display the 'infidel's' banners won in battle.

Arcos' coat of arms includes the legend: "King Brigo founded Arcos and Alfonso the Wise recovered it from the Moors" King Brigo being Noah's grandson & Alfonso the Wise the thirteenth century king that captured & held it against the Moors. The bit about it being founded around the time of the great biblical flood is surely legend but Arcos does, never-the-less, offer evidence of an ancient history. Beginning with evidence from pre-historic Iberia including skeletons, artefacts & cave paintings dating back as far as 150,000 years. Some of the caves in the cliffs of Arcos of unknown ancient inhabitants are still lived in today.

Later the Romans occupied the town for six hundred years until 400 AD one of their more durable examples being the bridge at Ronda also near Arcos. Outside of Seville, in the town of Santinponce, is Italica, the largest city of ancient Rome after Rome itself & includes a 25,000 seat Amphitheatre.

After the Romans came the Visigoths for 300 years until 711 AD. Then the Moors for a further 500 years until 1264 AD. Architecture from each culture is still mixed with even later styles like the Spanish Baroque throughout the buildings of the town. Which despite its diminutive size hold seven churches two of which are Cathedrals! Santa Maria & San Pedro enjoyed an enmity based on their rivalry as most important Cathedral that lasted centuries. In the fifteenth century a bishop made the trip from Arcos to Rome on a donkey to ask for Papal dispensation on the matter of which had seniority. It was more than four years before he returned with the gift the Pope made him of a carved baby Christ (on view today) but no final decision.

As the feud grew each church tried to show its importance in whatever way it could like being the first to ring the bells upon the hour, which competition quickly led to very poor time-keeping! Finally in 1775 the Vatican made the decision the older of the two, Santa Maria, built between the fifteenth & eighteenth centuries, was the senior Cathedral.

A rich history, beauty of a kind that can only grow, evolve, over centuries & can never be designed. The gorgeous country-side that surrounds it including valley, forest & mountain for horse-back riding or trekking. Easy access to Andalucia's most important cities: Seville, Jerez de la Frontera, Malaga, a short distance (2 hours) from Tangiers in Morocco & an hour from Gibraltar or Cadiz, Europe's oldest town. Without mentioning the area’s cultural roots in Spain’s bullfighting, horse breeding & Flamenco- Arcos de la Frontera is still a largely undiscovered jewel & definitely worth a visit.

By: Paul Herman
Paul Herman is a painter/sculptor now offering painting workshops hosted in a beautiful 18th century country mansion set on 1000 acres in Arcos de la Frontera, Cadiz, Spain.
Art Workshop In Spain.com.

Spain is a country, a part of the European continent, both of which are over flowing with museums, living and/or established specifically this purpose. So why do I single out this average size museum amongst all the living Castles and large museums with very recognizable names. Could this be do to the single artist that this museum represents? Or is it possibly due to the 3,500 works that make up its permanent collection. As you read on, the answers should become crystal clear.

To fully understand an artist, Pablo Ruiz Picasso, and why his art pieces are associated with such a continually increasing demand while the supply remains finite, then The Picasso Museum in Barcelona becomes indispensable. This Museum is also key point in understanding Picasso’s genius as a young artist along with his solid and intimate relationship developed with the City of Barcelona. This relationship that was originally shaped in Picasso’s adolescence and youth, continued until his death in 1973.

The museum boasts, and rightly so, to have acquired the most complete collection of Picasso’s youthful works found under one roof, that remains open and available for the visual consumption of the general public. Barcelona must thank a friend of the artist, Jaume Sabartes, along with Picasso’s wishes, which were made very clear in 1970 with his own donation of all his early works to this museum. This very large donation now makes up a large part of the museum’s present total collection, which includes representations of every period of the Artist’s life, up to his death in 1973.

The museum also possesses a large and fairly complete representation of his works starting with an important chapter in Picasso’s life. This chapter begins in 1917, the year that the artist met Olga Kokhova, kicking off his most important relationship with a mate. At this point, to stay with Olga, the artist went to Rome along with the Diaguilev’s ballet company. Later, Picasso, with Olga at his side, traveled to Barcelona. The purpose of this trip was to introduce her to his Spanish based family.

His stay in Barcelona was long. This period was marked by his transition from Cubism to the reencounter with classicism. The museum also has a priceless group of works from his later Blue Period.

Therefore, I hope that after reading my short article, the traveler can appreciate how a visit to this exciting and cosmopolitan city of Barcelona cannot be considered as worth mentioning without highlighting a crucial visit to one of the most important 20th century born European museums, The Picasso Museum In Barcelona.

By: Reed Oxman
Reed Oxman, the author of the above, is also creator and owner of the best place to purchase your needed digital camera and portable DVD player, along with all the other needed travel accessories that for this trip you will remember them prior to your departure.

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If golf is your major objective for getting away for a while, why not get away to a virtual paradise that combines the best of golfing with other pleasure pursuits that delight the senses. Yes, Nerja is the place for the perfect golf get-away. While not as famous as the other destinations that Costa del Sol has to offer, it is definitely worthwhile for just the same reason.

Golf on my mind – Of course that’s what you are here for and it makes perfect sense to head straight for Baviera, just 15 minutes from Nerja, designed by a professional to suit all handicaps, and offering a range of strokes. The breathtaking landscape flanked by the Mediterranean Sea on one side and majestic mountains on the other makes this course unique in a land peppered with golf courses.

About Nerja – There really is more to Nerja than golf and you would do well to take a trip around this sleepy little village. The narrow cobbled streets invite exploration and long walks that lead to delightful surprises and hidden gems for non-golfers. There is a Tuesday market that displays local wares ranging from jewellery to exquisite craftwork. Local eateries and bars abound, especially on Burriana Beach. Walking tours are a Nerja speciality and takes you through exotic locations inaccessible any other way.

Balcon de Europa – This is a balcony on the side of a cliff that affords indescribably beautiful views of the Mediterranean and the sandy beaches nestling it. An avenue fringed by palm trees leads visitors up to this panoramic view. Besides being a tourism icon, it also serves as a focal point for local celebrations. The procession for the festival of San Isidro starts here and winds its way to the famous Caves of Nerja. It is a beautiful sight with the majestic Andalucian thoroughbreds and flamenco dancers, flanked on all sides with food stalls selling goodies from pescaito frito and paella to burgers.

Cueva de Nerja – These are the pre-historic caves of Nerja, a huge cavern of which has been ingenuously converted to a concert hall. It is supposed to have been accidentally discovered by goatherds and ever since has become a must-see attraction which draws thousands of visitors from all over. Prepare to be awed by the immensity of it all.

Getting around in Nerja – It would be a good idea to hire a car to move around in comfort. Whether you are hunting golf courses or simply want to take in the spectacular Andalucian landscape, hiring a car of your choice is the best way to go. Doing it online or along with your other travel arrangements is one way of avoiding long queues and hours of mindless waiting. Nerja is about 50 kilometres from the airport and so having a car waiting for you to pick up on arrival would start you off on the right foot. This can be done in advance at Your-Carhire.com - specialists in Spain car rental services and you are ready to go.

By: Seb Jay
http://www.your-carhire.com

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Madrid has some of the nicest collections of art paintings of the world open to the public. Three of the world most important museums are within walking distance: Prado Museum, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and Reina Sofia Museum. Weather in Madrid usually invites to go walking, so you can easily combine the pleasures of walking and visiting museums on a single day. Madrid is a city very friendly to visitors.

Prado Museum, in Spanish, 'Museo del Prado', hosts the best collection of paintings from Velazquez and Goya, is Spain's main art museum. Don't miss 'El Jardín de las Delicias' from El Bosco, a triptic miniature from the Flemish School.

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum hosts the Thyssen collections, with almost 1000 paintings from the the thirteenth century to the twentieth century, complements Prado and CARS, with more international focus.

Reina Sofia Museum, in Spanish, Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, aka CARS, includes the famous Pablo Picasso's Guernica, symbol of Spanish Civil War, also works from Joan Miro and Salvador Dali, and in general, modern paintings and sculptures.

Some excellents hotels close to these museums: Palace Hotel and Ritz Hotel. Just cross the street and you are at Prado Museum! From Prado museum, walk 5 minutes to the South, cross the street and you are at Thyssen's museum. Again, walk 5 minutes to the South, and you are almost at CARS.

If at some time you get tired of art museums, just walk to Botanic Garden or Retiro Park, an impressive green surface in the middle of Madrid.

Once you are in Madrid, you will probably enjoy going to the surroundings, typical places are Segovia, with a Roman aqueduct; Avila, with Middle Age city walls; Toledo, the 3 cultures – Jewish, Muslim and Christian – city, with a great cathedral and tortuos old city; Aranjuez, famous for its gardens; El Escorial, site of Philippe II court. All these places are about 1 hour or less from Madrid, by car or train.

By: Ignacio García Del Valle
Copyright 2006 - Ignacio Garcia del Valle - GVmaps.com.

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