Anniversary Adventures in Andalucía

{A Whitewashed Village in Andalucía, Spain}

This July 1st, Fabian and I will be celebrating our fifth wedding anniversary and we are planning a trip to Spain to commemorate the occasion. My readers were so helpful in giving us tips for our London trip last year, that I just knew I would have to ask you for advice on Spain this year! Although Fabian has not been to Spain, I spent two weeks there in June of 2008. I spent time in Madrid, Salamanca, Segovia, and Avila. All of those cities are gorgeous and have so much to offer, but this time, we want to head south to Andalucía, the birthplace of everything we think of as Spanish.

{The Gorgeous Alhambra in Granada}

As usual, I am in charge of planning the vacation and though our trips are usually filled to the brim with sightseeing and museum visits, this time we’d like to adopt the “slow travel” style. While we plan to visit the major sights in Granada and Seville like the Alhambra and Alcázar, we mostly want to revel in the beauty of the surroundings, have some tapas, and enjoy the culture and a week away from the usual hustle and bustle of our lives. Fabian’s only request is to keep the plane travel to a minimum once we are in Spain. So, this is where I need your advice. We will have about a week to travel and definitely want to spend time in Granada and Seville, but I am unsure about the order in which to see things.

{Madrid’s Gran Vía}

1. Should we include Madrid in the trip at all? I’ve been there and really enjoyed it. Would it be worthwhile to fly into Madrid and then take a train down to Seville?

{A Charming Street lined with Orange Trees in Seville}

2. Would it be best to split our time evenly between Granada and Seville or should we base ourselves out of one city and do an overnight stay in the other?

{Arcos de la Frontera}

3. Are there any other places in the region of Andalucía that we should not miss?

{Corral del Rey Hotel, Granada}

4. Do you have any specific recommendations for hotels, restaurants, or sites that you wouldn’t mind sharing?

{Seville’s Beautiful Cathedral and Giralda Tower}

5. If we were to visit Madrid, Granada, and Seville, do you think it would be worth it to have to pick up and switch hotels every two or three days? I don’t think I would mind so much, especially if we were able to experience more places, but Fabian would prefer to keep the travel to a minimum once we are in Spain. I think he just wants to relax!

I would appreciate any tips or advice you are willing to share! It is always so nice to hear about other people’s travel experiences. ¡Mil gracias!

Jet Set: ¡Viva Sevilla!

It is no secret that I am dying to go back to Spain. I absolutely fell in love with it this past summer. The next time that I visit, I want to explore the Andalucía region in the south, which just so happens to be home to the gorgeous city of Seville.

The city has a population of about 700,000 and is situated on the plain of the Guadalquivir River. "The long Moorish occupation of the Iberian peninsula, from 711 A.D. to 1248 A.D., left indelible traces in Seville as in all of Al-Andalus. La Giralda, the tower of an important mosque, is the most well-known of the remaining Islamic monuments. In 1492 Seville played an important role in the discovery and conquest of America. The 17th century was a period of artistic splendour in Seville. Painters such as Velázquez, Murillo and Valdés Leal, and sculptors like Martínez Montañés were born in Seville and left behind important works. The city also assumed an important role in world literature and was the birthplace of the myth of Don Juan."

It is a beautiful city of narrow, winding cobblestone streets.

The architecture varies from one region of Spain to the next. The Andalucía region is typically home to whitewashed buildings with Spanish tile roofs. Seville is also famous for its abundance of orange groves. It is said that the aroma of oranges fills the city. I'd take that over smog any day!

The Plaza de España is the city's main square, the place around which life revolved centuries ago. The history of the region is evident in its architecture.

The city's main park was a gift from Infanta (Princess) María Luisa in the 1800s.

A Statue Stands Watch over the Casa de Pilatos

The Casa de Pilatos is a private Moorish Palace

The Symbol of Seville: La Giralda. La Giralda is now the bell tower of Seville's Cathedral, which exemplifies Gothic and Baroque styles. However, in keeping with Seville's past, the tower was once an ancient minaret for the Almohad mosque of Seville. Did you know that the clock tower of the Ferry Building in San Francisco was modeled after La Giralda?

I love the way most Spanish buildings look when they are lit up at night. It is as if they are glowing from within. This is a result of the materials used in the building. The city of Salamanca is gorgeous like this at night, as well.

Seville, and the Andalucía region as a whole are the birthplace of the cultural elements most people think of when picturing Spain. The art of bullfighting (regardless of your beliefs on the matter, it truly is an art. I was able to learn a lot about it while in Spain last summer) originated here. This is the facade of Seville's bullring.

Several Matadores in their Beautiful Costumes

Another typical cultural element of Spain is the culinary tradition of Tapas, or small plates. They also originated here. Notice the orange tree outside of this Tapas Bar.

April is a very exciting time in Sevilla because it is when the "Feria de Abril" takes place. The Feria is a week long party that welcomes over one million people each year. What began as a cattle trading fair in 1847 has evolved into a celebration of Flamenco dancing and culture, which also originated in this region. The city of Seville is considered to be the center of flamenco music and culture, also known as "Sevillana" as many of the composers and songs originated there. Every year, a new poster is created in order to promote the Feria. There are many gorgeous vintage Feria posters. In fact, the older ones are my favorite.

During the day, the Feria hosts "daily parades of horses and decorated carriages that wind their way through the city and fairground. This equestrian display is accompanied by strolling singers who play traditional Sevillana ballads on their guitars. Many participants in these parades are members of Seville's aristocracy, and they are exquisitely outfitted in the unique wide-brimmed "bolero" hats and short-cropped jackets that are closely associated with Andalucía."

At night, everyone relaxes, enjoys some Andalusian Sherry, and dances.

Sevillanas Wearing Typical Flamenco Dresses

The Feria is set up near the Guadalquivir River. Hundreds of private tents, called "casetas" are set up. They are made of brightly striped canvas and are adorned with paper lanterns.

The casetas are hosted by the aristocratic families of Seville, trade unions, or political parties. Each has its own traditions and atmosphere. Some are very exclusive and are "by invitation only", while others are open to the public and have a more casual, relaxed atmosphere.

The Flamenco costumes are so vibrant!

This year's Feria kicks off next week! If you are wondering where to stay I have a couple of suggestions. The first, pictured above, is the Hospes Las Casas del Rey de Baeza, a hotel located in an 18th century house in the traditional style of the region.

The hotel is actually an oasis from the noise and excitement of the city and the Feria. It is well known for its privacy and soothing atmosphere.

The traditional Spanish building opens up to two seperate courtyards, around which everything is centered. I love the whitewashed walls and Robin's Egg Blue trim.

The accomodations are quite modern and luxurious. All of the rooms open up onto the central courtyard. There are oranges here, too!

The hotel features a rooftop pool.

The second option is the Eme Fusion Hotel, a sleek, hip, newer hotel property with an unbeatable location and vibrant atmosphere.

This guestroom overlooks Seville's famous "La Giralda".

The guestrooms feature sleek finished, many amenities, and ample space.

The rooftop features a lounge and pool directly across from La Giralda.

The location and view are unbeatable. Does it get any better than this?

A cool shot taken from the bar looking up toward the rooftop terrace.

Incredible!

The lobby at the Eme Fusion Hotel

The Eme is home to several eateries including the Santo Restaurante Mediterráneo, pictured above. I love the rustic tables, chairs, and chandeliers. They add a nice contrast to the fiercely contemporary feel of the rest of the hotel.

The Milagritos Bar de Tapas is another culinary option at the Eme. Remember, tapas originated here!

One Last Look at the Spectacular Eme Fusion Hotel

So tell me... does Seville look like a place you'd like to visit? Does the Feria de Abril look like something you would want to experience? Where would you prefer to stay, at the quaint Hospes Las Casas del Rey de Baeza or the hip Eme Fusion Hotel? If you've been to Seville, I would love to hear about your stay there. I hope you have a fabulous weekend, regardless of where you spend it!

Images via Flickr (city and feria images), Tablet Hotels, and Eme Fusion Hotel

Spanish Style

A Gorgeous Living Room from Nuevo Estilo

It's no secret that I am a huge proponent of anything Spanish. The culture of Spain and its people is beautiful in every single facet and interior design is no exception. While the Spanish revel in all styles, I have found that their interiors are most often either A. very eclectic feeling as if they have been collected and carefully curated over time or B. they are sleek and modern.

Enter the aptly named Nuevo Estilo Magazine, which translates to "new style". If Domino and Elle Décor had ever had a love child, it would have been this publication. It features incredibly chic interiors which often include an eclectic spin. You'll find gilded antiques and Bertoia chairs in the same room and they do more than make it work, they make it look fabulous! They excel at blending together so many differing styles, yet they never fight against each other. Instead, they seem to balance each other out.

The Spanish have succeeded in their approach of taking the best from multiple influences (just as their ancestors did with Roman, Moorish, Jewish, and Christian influences) and making them work together in creating a unique design identity.These Spanish interiors are among my favorite from Nuevo Estilo as they are a reflection of the way stylish Spaniards live and they exude the same vivacity and warmth as the people.

The matador or bullfighter and flamenco dancer are images that are often conjured up when one thinks of Spain.

Chairs by Serge Olivares

The use of busts and antlers along with the shelving in this room are quite reminiscent of Domino.

I love the use of symmetry in this glamorous room.

I absolutely adore the shape and color of this sofa. Notice the use of green throughout the room along with the industrial console and vintage Bertoia chair.

This rust colored sofa looks very similar to the green one in the previous picture. I like that they have played up the height of the space. Notice the beautiful chevron floors.

Another classically beautiful room. This one is by Marino, Cassinello, & Isa features items from many different styles, but they blend together quite well. I especially love the chandelier, gothic mirror that looks like it may have been made from an antique window frame, and the beautiful rustic console. The floors aren't too shabby, either!

I wouldn't say that the furniture or art in this room are my favorite, per sé, but I so love the white-washed floors and the gorgeous and enormous gilded gold mirror in the background.

This room is at once relaxed and elegant.

Another Domino-esque room

The vibe is eclectic, kitschy, and vibrant.

I would imagine that the person living in this home would have a bold personality and a passion for the arts. The overall neutrality of the room is balanced out by bold colors in the furniture and art.

A beautifully-done neutral room...all that's missing is a beautiful chandelier.

I love the dining table and chairs used here.

This room feels so classically elegant.

This is beyond cool! The vintage industrial-looking shelving unit is actually a display case from an old pharmacy.

I love that this room, despite it's dominant cozy cottage vibe, manages to infuse a little modernity through the use of a very stylish mantle and modern occasional tables.

A variety of styles come together beautifully in this flat.

This room exudes effortless elegance through the juxtaposition of antiques and modern furniture.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Let's see, there's the cool glass coffee table, to-die-for floors (seriously, how gorgeous are they?), modern sawhorse desk, Parisian flea market chandelier, industrial-looking table lamp on the right, convex federal style mirror, and gorgeous cognac colored leather chair with the most beautiful patina.

All images via Nuevo Estilo