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A Perfect Toledo Day Trip from Madrid
Toledo is one of Spain’s most magnificent and storied cities. Positioned on a hill overlooking the Tagus River, the attraction-packed gem is a popular day trip from Madrid and a highlight of travel to Central Spain. Much of Toledo’s beauty lies in its pretty church-speckled streets, its decorated synagogue walls and its tucked-away mosques. With its monument-laden core, Toledo is a testament to the harmony which once existed between the world’s three monotheistic faiths. As a result, mosques, cathedrals and synagogues cram into the city’s dense and compact core. Walking…
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Visiting the Montserrat Monastery in Spain
Montserrat Mountain lies at the heart of Catalan identity. Sculpted over millennia by wind and frost, the mountain is instantly recognizable. Its knobs and rock formations protrude skyward, like gnarled fingers that extend from weathered hands. Amidst its jumble of rocky turrets and spires, Montserrat conceals some of Spain’s most revered icons, paintings, and scenic vistas. MONTSERRAT IN SPAIN: AN OVERVIEW Montserrat lies 50km northeast of Barcelona and 150km south of Andorra, in the Spanish breakaway region of Catalonia. Its name, ‘serrated mountain’ in Catalan, describes the rock spires…
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Three Days in Barcelona: What to See and Do
With whimsical fabled architecture and some of the liveliest streets in Europe, Barcelona lures party-seekers, history enthusiasts, and everyone in between. The city houses a staggering wealth of architectural masterpieces and cultural highlights—weaving a tapestry of iconic buildings, resplendent plazas and winding alleyways. As the largest city in Catalonia, it represents the best of Spain’s breakaway region in a nutshell. It is boisterous yet classy, worldly yet idiosyncratic. THREE DAY BARCELONA ITINERARY Following a brief side-trip to Andorra, I met my mother-in-law in Barcelona for a three day visit…
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Day Trip to France and Andorra from Barcelona
Renowned for its plethora of banks and high end shopping malls, the minuscule nation of Andorra seems an unlikely destination for lovers of nature and the outdoors. The country is a tax haven and a duty-free shopping mecca. In summer months, it lures hoards of day trippers from France and Spain with its favorable prices and luxurious escapes. But beyond its bustling capital, Andorra la Vella, the country’s idyllic landscapes reveal an astounding wealth of natural splendor. Situated at the heart of the Pyrenees Mountains and sandwiched between Spain and…
