The Old Town of Cáceres

The Old Town of Cáceres UNESCO World Heritage Site

From the Old Town of Cáceres World Heritage inscription: The Old Town of Cáceres is an urban ensemble of 9 hectares surrounded by a wall of 1,174m, located in the Autonomous Community of Extremadura in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Cáceres has been a trade route city and a political center of the local …

Read more

10 Compelling Reasons to Visit Madrid

10 Compelling Reasons to Visit Madrid

Madrid is often overshadowed by Barcelona, yet has at least as much to offer the visitor: world-class museums, delectable markets, historic neighborhoods, exciting nightlife, traditional music, friendly people, less touristed venues, sumptuous gardens, impeccable historical credentials, and fantastic day trips (including four World Heritage Sites). If you’re wondering why you should visit Madrid, here are …

Read more

Amy’s First Passport Stamp

With half a decade of non-stop travel under my belt, I can talk about a lot of subjects related to travel. The one thing I cannot talk about, however, is what it feels like to travel for the first time. Recently my assistant Amy made her very first trip outside of US/Canada. I asked her …

Read more

15 Memorable Places to Visit in Andalusia

15 Memorable Places to Visit in Andalusia

The southern region of Spain is a lovely fusion of culture, architecture, and natural beauty. Colorful fiestas with loud locals in flamenco dresses dancing and drinking along the streets, pilgrimages where large statues of praised saints are carried for miles followed by decorated horses, tractors, and devoted people. A varied landscape of rolling hills, steep …

Read more

8 Reasons to Visit Asturias, Spain

8 Reasons to Visit Asturias, Spain

There are many reasons to love Asturias. Asturias’ monikers, “Spain’s natural paradise” and “the green coast,” are certainly justified. Contrary to most of Spain, the region is verdant, with lush, abundant vegetation. It also has a varied geography, from emerald green valleys to snow-capped mountains. But Asturias, officially known as The Principality of Asturias, offers …

Read more

Heritage of Mercury: Almadén and Idrija

Heritage of Mercury: Almadén and Idrija UNESCO World Heritage Site

From the Heritage of Mercury: Almadén and Idrija World Heritage inscription: The property includes the mining sites of Almadén (Spain), where mercury (quicksilver) has been extracted since antiquity, and Idrija (Slovenia), where mercury was first found in AD1490. The Spanish property includes buildings relating to its mining history, including Retamar Castle, religious buildings and traditional …

Read more

19 Incredible Photos of the Canary Islands

La Graciosa on Lanzarote in the Canary Islands

During my more than a decade traveling the world, I had the pleasure of visiting and photographing Spain’s incredible Canary Islands. Located off the coast of Africa, the volcanic chain of islands are a Spanish province with a history dating back to the colonization of the Americas. Over the course of my visited, I explored …

Read more

The Seven Wonders of Spain

Overlooking the skyline of Alicante, Spain

Spain is a country that needs no introduction to the world on why visit—north to south the country has long attracted visitors keen to hike in the Pyrenees and explore Asturia, experience the cosmopolitan charm of Barcelona and the otherworldly landscapes in the Canary Islands. And through it all—travelers and locals enjoy world-class tapas, seafood, …

Read more

How to Visit the Best Gaudi Architecture in Barcelona

The Architecture and Works of Antoni Gaudi in Barcelona

Antoni Gaudí is almost synonymous with Barcelona. The architect was a visionary with an outsized impact on the architecture and building technology of the early 20th century. La Sagrada Familia is Gaudí’s signature building in Barcelona, and it’s been under construction for almost 130 years. Despite the size and scope of this basilica, it’s not …

Read more