velvet | Spain

History and art on the Sunshine Coast

Málaga is in Andalusia, on the Costa del Sol in southern Spain, a ferry’s journey north of Morocco. Owing to its location, it has a warm climate and some of the warmest winters in Europe. For those intending to find cheap holidays in Málaga, consider booking between April and November when the average daily temperature [...]

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Culinary Journey: Cal Sastre in Santa Pau

What: Fine-dining at a small medieval village in the Garrotxa region of Catalonia. Where: Cal Sastre restaurant, Santa Pau. Notes: Santa Pau is a sleepy medieval village in the Garrotxa Volcanic region of Catalonia, north of Barcelona. The village is tiny but there are a variety of reasons that make a visit absolutely worthwhile: its [...]

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Ten things to do in Lanzarote

Lanzarote is a small volcanic island in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Morocco. The island, part of the Canary Islands archipelago, is a popular holiday destination for Europeans who come here to bask in the sun and explore the extraordinary volcanic landscapes. From the air, Lanzarote looks like a chain of volcanic cones, [...]

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Plane views: Toledo, Spain

Toledo is an historic city, located 70km south of Madrid. Declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1986, the city is most famous for its magnificent Cathedral and the Alcazar (a fortress that was built by the Romans in the 3rd century and later renovated and expanded by various Castilian kings). Toledo is [...]

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Ten scenic golf courses around the world

I don’t play golf but the exuberance with which the rest of my family pursues the sport ensured that I was dragged from one golf course to another during my adolescent years… as an ‘assistant’ (or rather a nuisance) to the caddy. As my brother and brother-in-law showed off their golfing prowess on the course, [...]

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A relaxing holiday at Hotel Aigua Blava

The road from the town of Begur to Llafranc winds past some of the most beautiful villas on the Costa Brava. After several miles, a left turn in the direction of Fornells leads visitors to arguably one of the most charming hotels along the coast: Hotel Aigua Blava. Situated on a promontory, this family-run hotel [...]

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Enchanting spots: Jameos del Agua, Lanzarote

Lanzarote is a volcanic island that is part of the Canary Islands off the coast of Morocco. The island is famed for its bewildering volcanic landscapes – think multi-coloured craters and black lava fields against the stunning backdrop of the deep blue Atlantic. Of the many attractions on the island, the Jameos del Agua is [...]

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Falling in love with Valencia

A guest post by Monique Rubin. Valencia has a laid back, understated charm that catches you unawares. Located on the Mediterranean coast and possessed of beautiful old neighborhoods and modern architecture, it is emerging from the shadow of Madrid and Barcelona and fast becoming the go-to city in Spain. I developed a major crush on [...]

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Velvet moments: travel photo of the week – Besalú

Besalú is a stunning medieval town in the mountains of the Costa Brava, north of Barcelona. Besalú’s biggest attraction is its 12th century Romanesque bridge which crosses the Fluvia river.  

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Dining with a view at El Far

El Far is a name that’s synonymous with the historic Sant Sebastiá lighthouse that for centuries guided ships along the Costa Brava. The adjacent inn was a favourite among the locals who came here to enjoy the sea breeze, the majestic views and a glass or two of vino. Spectacularly situated high above the seaside [...]

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