This adventure will be a learning experience for all involved. Our hope is that you will gain a useful knowledge of Spanish culture and begin to appreciate international travel as much as we do. Here is some useful background information:
POLITICS
Spain is a constitutional monarchy. King Juan Carlos de Borbón has occupied the throne since 1975 when Francisco Franco’s long dictatorship came to an end. He ushered in a new democracy without bloodshed, convincing a skeptical country that it was the best way for Spain’s future. A few years later Juan Carlos even thwarted an attempt to return to the old fascist rule. Although there is a growing feeling of resentment typical of modern day monarchies, there is still an overall admiration for Juan Carlos as many credit him for having saved them from continued isolation and lack of freedom that existed under Franco, a period which is fast becoming a very distant memories for most Spaniards.
After the tragic bombings on March 11, 2003, then-President José María Aznar, a strong conservative ally of Bush, came out and said it was ETA – Spain’s violent Basque separatist group. If ETA had been to blame, it would have been an electoral advantage to his ruling party (PP – Partido Popular) since they have a reputation of taking a strong-line stance against terrorism. When it quickly surfaced that it was not ETA – only days from the nation elections – Spaniards revolted against Aznar’s premature statement, took to the streets, and in an unprecedented voter turnout, ousted the ruling conservative party (PP). After several years as the opposition, the PSOE (socialist party) has regained Palacio Moncloa (Spain’s White House). Zapatero has promised and passed several changes such as gay marriage and adoption, stronger punishments against domestic violence, and more roles for women in government - his vice president is Teresa Fernández de la Vega. Whether on the left or right, Spaniards overall are proud of their government and impressed thus far with their president as he has kept his word, pulling troops out of Iraq after only a few weeks in office. As you can see, after several decades of a dictatorship, they enjoy their democracy to its fullest.
Spain recently celebrated the marriage of its crowned prince Felipe to Letizia Ortiz, an event celebrated throughout the Spanish-speaking world. It was the first royal wedding celebrated on Spanish soil in more than 90 years. The wedding created a bit of a scandal when it was first announced since Letizia, a well-known journalist in Spain, is divorced and was not of royal blood. Objections soon turned to acceptance, as Spaniards needed a reason to celebrate in unity, and the wedding went off perfectly in May of 2004.
Spain just went through another general election with another victory for the Socialist Party. In the opinion of some experts, the biggest challenge for Spain now, is to reach and consolidate a position among the most advanced countries in Europe
GEOGRAPHY
Spain occupies two thirds of the Iberian Peninsula, shared, of course, with Portugal. Spain’s capital Madrid, lies in almost the geographical center of the country. Its other important city is the eclectic and eccentric, Barcelona – on the northeast Mediterranean coast. There is fierce competition between these two cities especially on the soccer field. Spain is extremely varied geographically and not all of the country looks like the dry flat plains immortalized by Cervantes in his novel Don Quijote de la Mancha. So, from the rolling wet green hills of Galicia to the sparkling shores on the Sun Coast in Andalucía – Spain has something for everyone. This climate, friendly people, and a desire to have fun have made Spain one of the world’s leading tourist destinations. The American presence has always been strong in Spain due to several military bases. This has led to a little animosity towards American culture and our reputation has suffered a slight decline under the Bush administration. Spain is now the world’s eighth strongest world economy and overall Spaniards are proud to be Spanish.
MADRID
Madrid is the capital of Spain and the supposed geographic and political center of Spain; well the exact geographic center of Spain is actually just outside Madrid but the center of practically everything else Spanish, it certainly is. Madrid is the home of the Royal Family; the parliament; all major government ministries; the Prado, Reina Sofia and Thyssen museums; the football team Real Madrid and now even David Beckham! There has been some sort of settlement in Madrid for well over 2000 years. Probably, the most important first rulers were the Moors who occupied the area for around 200 years. Madrid was known as ‘Magerit’, and was founded during the reign of Emir Mohammed I of Córdoba. Alfonso VI of Castile took over power of Toledo and Madrid around 1085. Felip II made Madrid the home of the royal court in 1561 but, unfortunately, the city is under-developed over the next century or so and in 1700 Hapsburg Spain comes to an end with the death of Carlos II. Philip V became the first Bourbon king of Spain in 1700 and ruled until 1746. Between the years 1808 and 1813 the French occupy Spain under Napoleon. The next hundred years see a series of kings, 2 republics and a dictatorship; finally in 1939 General Franco, leader of the right-wing nationalists comes to power and holds on to it until he dies in 1975. King Juan Carlos becomes king on Franco´s death and the country's first democratic elections in over 40 years take place in 1977.
RETIRO PARK
Nothing beats Sunday afternoon in Retiro Park. Situated behind the Prado museum, it is the most popular and widely visited park in Madrid. On a Sunday afternoon you will see Madrileños walking with their families in the park and being entertained by the multitude of street entertainers. Retiro is also a central meeting point for all sorts of people, from the roller skating youngsters and older men playing 'petanca' (bocci) to football players and joggers of all ages. The Retiro was originally built for the Spanish king Phillip IV and was opened to the general public in the 1800's. As a result of its regal patronage it has many beautiful buildings. One of the most beautiful is the 'Crystal Palace', which is made entirely of glass; the others often put on exhibitions. The central focus of the park is the large lake where you can go boating or simply laze around on its steps and listen to street entertainers perform. The park has a number of 'terrazas' (open air bars) where you can sip a beer or enjoy an 'horchata' (made from tiger nuts or almonds). A major road used to go through the park but is now only used for pedestrians, roller skaters and cyclists - once a year it hosts a huge book fair. Among the park's numerous statues, there is one to the 'Angel Caído' - said to be the only statue in the world dedicated to a fallen angel.
PUERTA DEL SOL
Puerta del Sol is one of the most important of Madrid's squares. It is the place where young people meet; where people stop off to go to the Plaza Mayor and old Madrid; a place to shop in department and smaller stores and on 31st December, the New Year is brought in to the chimes of the Puerta del Sol clock. The design of the Puerta del Sol, as we see it today, was begun in 1859 and was the culmination of the opening of Plazas (and destruction of old buildings!) throughout Madrid by José Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon. Some of the other notable plazas were Plaza Santa Ana and Plaza del Oriente (where the Royal Palace is). The new buildings of the Puerta del Sol have some interesting features; running from the East to West side of the square, along its northern points you can see that the square is curved. The buildings that occupy this side of the square have a certain style – the lowest level consists of a split level shops; the first floor apartments all have arched style balconies, followed by 2nd and 3rd floor apartments. El Oso y el Madroño (the bear and evergreen statue), is a symbol of Madrid which is often used as a meeting point for young people in Madrid. The Casa de Correos built, between 1766 and 1768, was the first home of the post office and is now the headquarters of the Community of Madrid; the first Spanish stamp was apparently created in this building. Outside you'll find 'kilometro cero' where Spain's 6 national roads are measured from.
PLAZA MAYOR
The principal square in Madrid is the Plaza Mayor, which is south west of the Puerta del Sol. Built between 1617 and 1619, and restored in 1790 after a fire, it is in a part of the city known as “Madrid de los Austrias” (the Hapsburg monarchs having built it.), or what is also called “Old Madrid”. It is probably one of the finest plazas in Spain. The center of the square is occupied by a statue of Philip III who was responsible for its construction. The Plaza Mayor was once the focal point of the old city, where bullfights, royal coronations and even the inquisition took place. The first building to be constructed in the square was "La Real Casa de Panadería" (the Royal bakery), which is now the home of the municipal city council and which is located on the north side of the square. It's the one with the beautiful painting on its façade Though the Plaza Mayor is probably the most popular tourist attraction in Madrid, it is still as popular as ever with the Madrileños. A number of street cafes and restaurants cover the Plaza, from where you can buy over-priced Paella and from where you can people watch. You will also find a number of street artists. On Sundays, the square becomes a focal point for traders and buyers of old coins and stamps – both within and surrounding the square you will find shops dedicated to stamp and coin collecting. At Christmas time the square converts into a huge Christmas market where you can buy all sorts of decorations and religious figures and during Easter processions cut through it.
EL PALACIO REAL
The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the King of Spain, located in Madrid. King Juan Carlos and the royal family do not actually reside in this palace, instead choosing the smaller Palacio de la Zarzuela, on the outskirts of Madrid. However, the Palacio Real de Madrid is still used for state occasions. The palace is owned by the Spanish state. It also has the distinction of being the largest royal palace in Western Europe in size, with over a combined area of over 135.000 m² and more than 2.800 rooms. The vast palace is richly decorated by artists such as Velázquez, Tiepolo, Mengs, Gasparini, Juan de Flandes, Caravaggio, and Goya. Several royal collections of great historical importance are kept at the palace, including the Royal Armory and weapons dating back to the 13th century, and the world's only complete Stradivarius string quintet, as well as collections of tapestry, porcelain, furniture, and other objets d'art of great historical importance.
Below the palace, to the west, are the gardens of the Campo del Moro that were given this name due to the fact that here in the year 1109, Muslim leader Ali Ben Yusuf, encamped with his men in the attempt to recapture Madrid and its Alcázar (fortress) from the Christians. The east façade of the palace gives onto the Plaza de Oriente and the Teatro Real operahouse. To the south is a vast square, the Plaza de la Armas, surrounded by narrow wings of the palace, and to the south of that is located the Catedral de la Almudena. To the north are the Jardines de Sabatini (Sabatini Gardens), named after one of the architects of the palace.
The wedding banquet of Prince Felipe and Letizia Ortiz took place on 22 May 2004 at the central courtyard of the Palace.
EL RASTRO
Each Sunday, El rastro, a veritable institution in Madrid, attracts several thousand people. El rastro is a gigantic flea market that takes place on the street. The enormous tag sale offers a hodge podge of goods; a mixture of clothing, video cassettes, magazines, hardware, many picture frames. You can find everything you want at el rastro. The real antiques can be found just beyond the statue of Cascorro, and in the stores located to the side of the street. You will find beautiful furniture, paintings, and other antiques there. But don't go to el rastro with a precise idea in mind of what you want to buy. That would be impossible given the crowd and the huge size of the market itself. Just let yourself be carried along with the crowd. Keep an eye on your bags and cameras. Even if there are a lot of police around, crafty pickpockets are just waiting for unsuspecting tourists.
EL PRADO MUSEUM
The Prado Museum is one of the finest museums in Europe. It is situated on the stylish Paseo del Prado, a lovely part of Madrid with the Retiro park just a short walk away and right next to the Ritz Hotel, the Palace Hotel, the fountain of Neptune and the stock exchange. It has some great art from artists like Goya, El Greco, Velázquez and Hieronymous Bosch. The Spanish, Flemish, and Venetian schools are particularly well represented. There are outstanding masterpieces of Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese, Rubens, Van Dyck, Dürer, Brueghel, and Hieronymus Bosch, and Velázquez, El Greco, Ribera, and Goya, nowhere else to be seen to such advantage.
The works of art can be broken down into the following schools: The Italian school with works by Andrea Mantenga, Sandro Botticelli, Rafael, Andrea del Sarto, Correggio, Lorenzo Lotte, Tintoretto, Verones, Tiepolo and above all, Tiziano. Early Flemish, with works by Rogier van der Veyden, Flemish master Hans Memling, Jochim Patinir, Quentin Metsys, Bernard van Orley, Hieronymus Bosch, Pieter Brueghel and the Flemish school with Rubens, Jordaens and Anton van Dyck. The German, French and Dutch schools with works by Lucas Cranach, Albert Dürer, Nicolas Poussin, Claudio de Lorena and Rembrandt. The Spanish school is represented with works by the Spanish grand masters Bartolomé Bermejo, Pedro Berruguete, Luis de Morales, El Greco, Juan B. Maino, José de Ribera, Alonso Cano, Caudio Coello, Zurbarán, Velázquez, Murillo, Luis Meléndez,Goya, and many more.
REINA SOFIA MUSEUM
Once the San Carlos hospital, the remodeling of this building began in 1981 and
in 1986 the Centro de Arte Reina Sofía was inaugurated, becoming the
principle location in Madrid for national and international exhibitions. There
is room for all manner of 'art' activities, such as conferences, courses, poetry
recitals or contemporary music concerts. In 1990 the collection of modern
Spanish art was added to the museum, when it was moved from what was then the
Museo Español de Arte Contemporáneo (which today is the Museum of
Anthropology). Not long afterwards a decision was taken to move Picasso's famous
Guernica, with its preliminary sketches and drawings, and a work by Juan
Grisque into the Reina Sofía, all of which had been previously kept in the El
Casón del Buen Retiro. This move remains controversial - Picasso had expressly
stated his desire that the Guernica be exhibited in the Prado and
although its present room in the Reina Sofía was expressly built for the work,
there are often complaints about difficulty in seeing the painting in its
entirety, even though it is no longer behind a bullet-proof glass shield.
Nonetheless, the move was made and the museum acquired its current rather long
name: El Museo Nacional centro de Arte Reina Sofía, in an attempt to
create Madrid's equivalent to London's Tate Gallery or Paris' Pompidou centre.
The permanent collection in the Reina Sofía is almost exclusively made up of
Spanish art from this century, with works by many of the most important artists
(Picasso, Miró, Oteiza, Julio González, Tapies, Equipo Crónica, Gerardo Rueda)
but with a notable absence of many others. Also on permanent display are the
Proposals (Propuestas) where work of international artist such as (Barnet
Newman, Soto, etc.) can be found. The top floor is home to the museum's library,
the largest in Spain dedicated to art. The building itself, the central patio,
with its superb movable sculpture by Alexander Calder, the library, the book
shop and the cafeteria all contribute to making the Reina Sofía a museum/art
center which assures that every day more people develop an interest in modern
art.
CÓRDOBA
Códoba was founded by the Romans and due to its strategic importance as the highest navigable point of the Guadalquivir River, it became a port city of great importance, used for shipping Spanish olive oil, wine and wheat back to Ancient Rome. The Romans built the mighty bridge crossing the river, now called "El Puente Romano". But Cordoba’ hour of greatest glory was when it became the capital of the Moorish kingdom of El-Andalus, and this was when work began on the Great Mosque, or Mezquita, which – after several centuries of additions and enlargements – became one of the largest in all of Islam. When the city was re-conquered by the Christians in 1236, the new rulers of the city were so awed by its beauty that they left it standing, building their cathedral in the midst of its rows of arches and columns, and creating the extraordinary church-mosque we see today. As well as the unique mosque-cathedral, Cordoba’s treasures include the Alcázar, or Fortress, built by the Christians in 1328; the Calahorra Fort, originally built by the Arabs, which guards the Roman Bridge, on the far side of the river from the Mezquita, and the ancient Jewish Synagogue, now a museum. Cordoba’s medieval quarter, once the home of the Jewish community, is called La Judería (The Jewry), a labyrinth of winding, narrow streets, shady flower-filled courtyards and picturesque squares such as La Plaza del Potro. In early May, homeowners proudly festoon their patios with flowers to compete for the city’s most beautiful courtyard contest.
GRANADA
Granada was first settled by native tribes in the prehistoric period, and was known as Ilbyr. When the Romans colonized southern Spain, they built their own city here and called it Illibris. The Arabs, invading the peninsula in the 8th century, gave it its current name of Granada. It was the last Muslim city to fall to the Christians in 1492, at the hands of Queen Isabel of Castile and her husband Ferdinand of Aragon. One of the most brilliant jewels of universal architecture is the Alhambra, a series of palaces and gardens built under the Nazari Dynasty in the 14th C. This mighty compound of buildings – including the summer palace called Generalife, with its fountains and gardens - stands at the foot of Spain's highest mountain range, the Sierra Nevada, and overlooks the city below and the fertile plain of Granada.At the centre of the Alhambra stands the massive Palace of Charles V, an outstanding example of Spanish Renaissance architecture. Other major Christian monuments found in the city are the Cathedral, including the Royal Chapel where Isabel and Ferdinand lie buried, the Monastery of La Cartuja and many churches built by Moorish craftsmen after the Reconquest, in Granada's unique "mudéjar" style.The name Granada is ancient and mysterious. It may mean "great castle", for the Roman fortress which once stood on the Albaicin Hill. When the Moors came here, the town was largely inhabited by Jews, for which they called it Garnat-al-Yahud - Granada of the Jews. The Jews are said to have been one of the first peoples to settle in Spain, even before the Romans.
sources: www.madaboutmadrid.com, Wikipedia.com
President Zapatero El Retiro Park Puerta del Sol
Plaza Mayor El Rastro Plaza Cibeles
