Córdoba's narrow, flower-bedecked lanes invite exploration. Rick Steves' Europe. This art moment — a sampling of how we share our love of art in our tours — is an excerpt from the new, full-color coffee-table book Europe’s Top 100 Masterpieces by Rick Steves and Gene Openshaw. Spaniards consider this couple the first great Spanish royals. But 10 years later, here we are. Málaga, the major city of the coast, is a good place to pass through. Hold on to your castanets. To create this culinary work of art, start with some junk pallets for fuel, and slip on your handmade heat shields. Sevilla has soul — and we feel it in its lacy Moorish palace, massive cathedral, lavish royal tombs, labyrinthine Jewish quarter, and its people-filled streets. A big display of beautiful colors and embroideries, which are very practical for us, too. It's worth the 10-minute walk from the tourist zone. I should be able to do this. This art moment — a sampling of how we share our love of art in our tours — is an excerpt from the new, full-color coffee-table book Europe’s Top 100 Masterpieces by Rick Steves and Gene Openshaw. A handy minibus service loops from downtown through Spain's best old Moorish quarter, the Albayzín. And a few dishes that have a Moorish influence. The flying buttresses were added to shore up the church after it was weakened by an earthquake in 1696. The old town center is a delight to explore. On top of the flamenco dress you cannot wear a simple coat, you have to wear something more distinguished, which is a shawl. Everything you need is here. Title Author Replies Last Post ; Another Question: Canada or Mexico? With crystal teardrops her beautiful expression — halfway between ecstasy and sorrow — touches pilgrims. Rick Steve's DVD's are some of my favorite travel videos. Then, they could proceed into the church. The story of Granada is all about the Islamic Moors. Amazon's Choice for rick steves travel videos. Hi, I'm Rick Steves. Isabel: Yeah, exactly. From Sevilla, we head into the hills of Andalucía to explore the region's finest hill town, Arcos de la Frontera. Rick Steves' Europe. Now you could just stare at the pretty colors and textures, but I recommend eating it for the full experience. I find this strip of Mediterranean coastline generally overbuilt and very commercialized. It was the cultural capital, with over ten times the population of Paris. Rick: Olive oil. This is a good opportunity for game…well, small game; I'm having pigeon. Spain. Isabel: Olive oil. The exorcist would stand within this protective circle and cleanse the baby of any evil spirits. The Moors made great gains in engineering, medicine, and even classical Greek studies. What you see today is a 14th-century rebuild — done in Mudéjar style. From here, wander into Sevilla's pedestrian-zone shopping center — which Spaniards prefer to the suburban mall. We would use them as accessories, but they also have a function, which is warming you when you're cold. Post questions and answers about travel in Spain. We're eating at Restaurante El Convento, where Señora María Moreno Moreno, and her husband, serve the best of traditional local cuisine. With Isabel's help, a simple stroll becomes meaningful. DVD $28.00 $ 28. Enjoy all of Rick Steves' TV shows on DVD, Travel as a Political Act as an 8-CD audio book, music from Rick Steves' European Christmas on CD, and special DVD/book gift sets! Flamenco guitarists, with their lightning-fast finger-roll strums, are among the best in the world. Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2014. And, towering over the former mosque, a bell tower makes it clear: This huge edifice now houses a place of Christian worship. Constructed in the 1480s, it's composed of hundreds of figures. Video: Watch Barcelona and Catalunya, an episode of the Rick Steves' Europe TV show. Grab a pew and study the Weeping Virgin. Serious concerts: My recommended concerts are careful to give you a good overview of the art form, covering all the flamenco bases. Sevilla's Holy Week celebrations are Spain's grandest. In the early 1800s, Spain's liberal government disbanded many of the monasteries and convents and secular fanatics were looting the churches. It's richly mosaicked with 3,000 pounds of tiny, multicolored glass-and-enamel cubes. Just north of Africa, Spain sits in the southwest corner of Europe. Rick Steves Spain tours and Portugal tours provide the best value for your trip to Europe. It's always combined with this comb, which is incorporated in the mantilla like this… and then we wear that on our heads. Hit Spain's can't-miss art, sights, and bites in two weeks or less with Rick Steves Best of Spain! Sevilla - Video - Rick Steves' Europe For coronavirus (COVID-19) travel information, see our FAQ . Get inspired with Rick Steves’ recommended places to go and things to do, with tips, photos, videos, and travel information on Spain. Today's Granada is a delightful mix of both its Moorish and its Christian past. Pontius Pilate is about to wash his hands. Tour Account › Travel Forum › Home / Travel Forum / Spain; Please sign in to post. I suggest you borrow some guidebooks from your local library. This royal summer retreat, lush and bursting with water, was the closest thing on earth to the Quran's description of heaven. Rick: Three different cultures, together. Until next time, keep on traveling. Concepción: Completely. This place specializes in traditional Andalusian fare — rustic food that originated with the peasantry. This victory helped provide the foundation for Spain's Golden Age. Isabel: This is a special jamón. Having lived in the area, it was good to relive some memories of that beautiful country through this travelogue. Arrive before 8 p.m. to see the horses, but stay later, as the ambience improves after the caballos giddy-up on out. We just use them for vitamins, perfume, or that kind of marmalade the British like... After the re-conquest, Charles built this Renaissance palace incongruously right in the middle of the Alhambra grounds. Granada's dominant sight is the Alhambra, the last and greatest Moorish palace. They represent the four medieval kingdoms that became Spain: Aragon, Navarre, Castile, and León — each identified by their team shirts. You'll see animals, buildings, and kings that you wouldn't find in religious Muslim ornamentation, which forbids images. The striking and inviting Great Mosque of Granada is just next to the San Nicolás viewpoint. Originally a 10th-century palace built for the governors of the local Moorish state, this still functions as one of the royal family's homes — the oldest still in use in Europe. Start a New Topic. Rick: Hola. This circle-in-a-square structure was the finest Renaissance palace in all of Spain. 00. I find experiencing traditional flamenco culture celebrated by and for the locals beats any tourist show. Originally a Moorish silk market with 200 shops, the Alcaicería was filled with precious silver, spices, and silk. The gilded altar is all about that Christian triumph: Christ triumphs over sin…and Christendom triumphs over Islam. These are sour orange trees. Others will sit down to a classic Andalusian dinner. Arcos smothers its hilltop, tumbling down its back like the train of a wedding dress. Neighbors pack the squares for a community party. This is the place for traditional Spanish fashions. With exquisite carving, it's considered one of the masterpieces of 18th-century Andalusian Baroque. The Albayzín, with flowery patios and shady lanes, is a delight. In the 17th century, all that money made the city an important center of arts and culture. Today's Alcaicería was rebuilt in the late 1800s as a tourist souk (marketplace) to complement the romantic image of Granada popularized by the writings of Washington Irving. The mosque stands next to one of Europe's most romantic viewpoints. Concepción: She knows everything about us because we have been telling her our problems for centuries. Feel the wind funnel through the streets as cars inch around tight corners. Spain. Under the castle, and facing the church, is the town's main square, which once doubled as a bullring. The drink flows freely, and the food is fun, bountiful, and cheap. It's free. In the 18th century — as its harbor silted up and the Spanish empire crumbled — Sevilla's power faded. Hoping not to end up there, matadors pray here, in the chapel. Karel, put a veil over your face because if you're laughing I'm [laugh]. Tourists can hop on for a cheap and scenic joyride. That afternoon, the Christians set up their portable road altar and celebrated the first Mass in what would later become this glorious cathedral. For 30 years, he's been cooking up this classic Spanish specialty. Title Author Replies Last Post ; Barcelona 3 day itinerary: celeste: 4: 02/06/20 01:04 AM: My Account. She even wears her crown and that day she looks absolutely beautiful. Whether or not you actually attend a bullfight is up to you. Sprawling at the foot of the snow-capped Sierra Mountains, Granada is a thriving city of about 300,000 people. This Madonna and Child shows how Murillo wraps everything in warm colors and soft light. There are historical curiosities everywhere. At Rick Steves’ Europe, we have two things in abundance: a passion for providing practical information for better travels, and talented people on our staff. Expert advice from Rick Steves on what's worth your time and money Two-day itineraries covering Barcelona, Madrid, Toledo, Granada, Andalucía's White Hill Towns, and Sevilla Over 60 full-color maps and vibrant photos Rick's tips for beating the crowds, skipping lines, and avoidin! For those wanting to really understand the city's two most important sights — which are tough to fully appreciate on their own — Concepción also offers in-depth tours of the cathedral and the Alcázar, each lasting about 1.25 hours. Buenos días. Spain. Like many along this coast, they actually try not to integrate. And Granada is home to tens of thousands of Gypsies, or Roma people. Adiós. The chapel is dedicated to Santa Maria de los Buenos Aires. Until next time, keep on travelin'. We have preserved our traditions for centuries. Rick Steves' Europe 10 New Shows 2017 - 2018. While bullfighting is controversial, and many believe that the patronage of tourists just helps keep a brutal spectacle alive, others see bullfighting as a real and vivid part of Spanish culture. Locals explain it's "strong enough to support the roof while delicate enough to quiver in the soft night breeze.". This last and greatest Moorish palace is one of Europe's top sights. It's topped with a bronze weathervane — a statue that symbolizes the triumph of faith. Razzle-dazzle shows: These packaged shows can be a bit sterile — and an audience of tourists doesn’t help — but I find both Los Gallos and El Arenal entertaining and riveting. As the Moors were slowly pushed back into north Africa, the towns, while no longer of any strategic importance, kept "on the frontier" in their names. The men do most of the machine-gun footwork. In the evening, in the hilly Sacromonte district, Gypsy families entertain tourists with colorful folkloric shows. Sevilla is the flamboyant city of Carmen and Don Juan, where bullfighting is still politically correct and little girls dream of growing up to become flamenco dancers. Advance tickets are strongly recommended. For a time near the end of its Moorish period, Granada was the grandest city in all of Spain. Isabel: Notice how nice and fresh these little streets are, Rick? Here we've got the mantilla. Then, fry up as many pieces of chicken as can fit in the pan. I'm Rick Steves. Blend history, culture, local friends, and great food. Thank you. Add just a pinch of garlic and about a week's-pay worth of saffron. Arches prop up earthquake-damaged buildings all over town. Each striped tent is a private party zone of a family, club, or association. These are great quality since they are on Blu-rays. Travel with Rick on this video guide to Sevilla, Spain and find out what to do on your next trip. Sevilla's cathedral is the third-largest church in Europe (after St. Peter's at the Vatican and St. Paul's in London) and the largest Gothic church anywhere. After the jamón ibérico, the plates just keep on coming. This one's missing an ear — it was awarded to the matador who also performed well. Malik: Yes — Moroccans, Algerians, Turks, Pakistanis. Eventually, the soft and accessible style of Bartolomé Murillo became more popular than Zurbarán's harsher realism. Spain's economic Golden Age — the 1500s — blossomed into the golden age of Spanish painting — the 1600s. All that survives of Moorish Sevilla's main mosque is its courtyard of orange trees and a towering minaret. During the week leading up to Easter, the city is packed with pilgrims witnessing 60 processions carrying about 100 religious floats. Now add a laundry bin of arborio rice, and just a dash of smoked, sweet pimentos. To skip the ticket-buying line, reserve a time slot ahead online. Taking two centuries to complete, the cathedral is a glorious mix of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles. Sevilla — or Seville in English — has its share of impressive sights and we'll see its grand cathedral and plush Moorish palace. Rick: This is your caseta? For example, if you were looking at someone that you weren't very interested in…you can go away because I don't like you much. $7.49 $14.99. It's crucial to make advance reservations for the Alhambra, where daytime tickets to the Palacios Nazaríes often sell out. Today, it has a Deep South feel — a relaxed vibe that seems typical of once-powerful places now past their prime. This restaurant has since closed (its owners have retired). While the old wells now generally hold flower pots, they're reminders that these courtyards once functioned as water-catchment systems: They funneled rainwater into a drain in the middle, which filled the well. Nerja's expats are mostly British. Anticipating a big business in plunder and trade, she built this to administer Spain's New World ventures. Here we see the Spanish king accepting the keys to Córdoba's fortified gate from the vanquished Muslims. It's a flamboyant city of larger-than-life lovers like Carmen and Don Juan, where bullfighting is still politically correct, and where little girls still dream of growing up to become flamenco dancers. Ayo is a very big personality — one of the five kids who discovered the Nerja Caves, formerly a well-known athlete, and now someone who makes it a point to hire hard-to-employ people as a community service. Inside you'll find Columbus' tomb, a treasury, and climbable tower. Then wander through the mysterious back streets. A few special bulls are honored here — each awarded the bovine equivalent of an Oscar for putting up the best fight of the year. The silk market, or Alcaicería, was originally across the street from the main mosque, so today it stands across from the main church. Explore, wander among lanes too narrow for cars, whitewashed houses corralling peaceful squares, and wrought-iron latticework. This is stupid, this is sophomoric. It honors King Ferdinand III, fondly remembered for freeing Sevilla from the Moors in the 13th century. So, for 500 years, this was the first purpose-built mosque in Granada. Start a New Topic. Experiment — you can't go wrong. A castle occupied this spot for centuries. Matadors dress to kill — elegant in their tight-fitting and richly ornamented "suits of light.". Church bells ring not only a call to prayer, but a call to fiesta. And you’ll see what I mean on the Rick Steves Travel Talks page, where you can watch more than 60 travel classes for free. And the pride of the Reconquista and the power of Queen Isabel and King Ferdinand enliven the region's great sights. And the region's leading city is Sevilla. As you can see, very different colors, different materials, but they are mostly made in wood. If you’re in the mood for more of an old-fashioned dinner show with a classier setting, go to Tablao El Arenal. Woman: Esta la caseta. Imagine the city, paved streets, lit at night by running water, piped in lamps powered by oil [laugh]. The Route of the Pueblos Blancos (or White Towns) is a charm bracelet of characteristic towns perched in the hills and mountains of Andalucía. Concepción: These orange trees are great for shade. Thankfully, the most important religious art was rescued and hung safely here in this convent-turned-museum. Your visit starts with a tour through the strangely quiet and empty arena. Sicily serves up a full-bodied and tasty travel experience. The fair feels friendly, spontaneous…very real. With 8,000 pieces inlaid like a giant jigsaw puzzle, it symbolizes the complexity of Allah's infinite universe. Here in Andalucía, revelry and religiosity seem to go hand-in-hand, as the same passion and energy is put into long, sober religious processions, which clog the city's narrow streets. Some of Spain's best bullfighting is done right here in Sevilla's 14,000-seat Plaza de Toros. Start a New Topic. Trumpets blare a fanfare, children carry candles, and everyone runs to the streets to be a part of the procession. Post questions and answers about travel in Spain. Is he really in there? The chapel is Plateresque Gothic — light and lacy silver-filigree style, named for and inspired by the fine silverwork of the Moors. Add a few gallons of stock, and bring to a boil. While the rest of Europe slumbered through much of the Middle Ages, the Moorish civilization was wide awake. While things changed later, the Golden Age of Al-Andalus, as this society was called, was marked by a remarkable spirit of tolerance and cooperation among all religions. Terms of Service | Privacy, Nerja, Spain: Holiday in the Costa del Sol, Granada, Córdoba, and Spain's Costa del Sol. According to legend, one morning Muslims said their last prayers in the great mosque. But the decor is clearly Christian. Rick: So, how has the process been with community relations? It's also thought to be the first painting of Indians done in Europe. Although private tents have bouncers, everyone is so happy that it's not tough to strike up an impromptu friendship, become a "special guest," and be invited in. The intimate geometric Moorish gardens lead to the later much more expansive back yard of Spanish kings. My Account. Muslim rule stretched as far as France. And almost anything even resembling a quaint fishing village is long gone — replaced by timeshare condos and golf courses. In the year 711, these North African Muslims crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and quickly conquered the Iberian Peninsula, eventually converting most of its inhabitants. 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