Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid (Spanish for “Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid”) is an 8 hectares (20 acres) botanical garden in Madrid (Spain). The public entrance is located at Plaza de Murillo, next to the Prado Museum. read more…
A Judería—or Jewish quarter—is the area within a Spanish city where Jews were legally required to reside. In a broader sense, the term is used to designate a district in which the majority—or all—of the inhabitants were of the Jewishfaith. read more…
A pincho (Spanish; literally “thorn” or “spike”), pintxo (Basque) or pinchu (Asturian) is a small snack, typically eaten in bars, traditional in northern Spain and especially popular in the Basque country, Navarre, La Rioja, Cantabria, and Asturias. They are usually eaten in bars or taverns as a small snack, in the company of friends or relatives; thus, they have a strong socializing component, and, in the Basque country and Navarre, they are usually regarded as a cornerstone of local culture and society. They are related to tapas, the main difference being that pinchos are usually ‘spiked’ with a skewer or toothpick, often to a piece of bread. They are served in individual portions and always ordered and paid for independently from the drinks. It is not impossible, however, for the same item to be called pincho in one place and tapa in another. read more…
Mercado Central or Mercat Central (English: Central Market) is a public market located across from the Llotja de la Seda and the Church of Santos Juanes in central Valencia, Spain. It is one of the main works of the Valencian Art Nouveau. Most vendors sell food items, although souvenir shops and restaurants are located inside the market as well. It is a popular location for tourists and locals alike. read more…
Almadraba (a Spanish word coming from Andalusian Arabic: al-maḍraba, lit.: ‘the place to strike’; in Portuguese: almadrava) is an elaborate and ancient technique for trapping and catching Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus). This fishing method is over 3,000 years old and evolved from a natural process: The principle of the almadraba is based on the fact that tuna move along the same routes in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean: In spring, they migrate from the nutrient-rich, cold waters of the Atlantic, carrying fat reserves, through the Strait of Gibraltar into the warmer Mediterranean to spawn. And in autumn, the young fish begin their return journey north. For fishermen, this was once one of the few opportunities to catch tuna themselves. From this practice, a tradition developed that continues to this day. read more…
