Cuevas Almagruz***** Appealing and contemporary cave apartments situated in a unique and peaceful setting, surrounded by mountain landscape. Situated in Purullena, not far from Guadix, the rural style accommodation comprises apartment accommodation with all modern comforts, yet in impressively converted cave dwellings. More information.
Cuevas Pedro Antonio de Alarcon** This accommodation combines a rural housing with the modern facilities of a nice hotel. Enjoy an unforgettable experience in this authentic and original rural housing near many cultural and leisure tourist spots. Panoramic views over Guadix and far away the beautiful Sierra Nevada. More information.
Complejo La Tala** Carefully restored 18th century cortijo and house caves near Guadix. Guadix is a pretty town situated in the province of Granada and is considered one of the oldest human settlements in Spain. The grounds are enclosed and full of century-old trees. The establishment boasts facilities such as a large swimming pool, a barbecue area, landscaped gardens and parking. More information
Hotel Cuevas Abuelo Ventura*** Located 600 meters away from Guadix, the Cuevas del Abuelo Ventura Hotel, offers its guests the possibility to lodge in a room excavated inside the mountain, maintaining a constant temperature all year round. All rooms are fully equipped and offer views to Sierra Nevada. The hotel has got an indoor swimming pool, a meeting room, solarium, garden area and its own restaurant, where you can enjoy traditional cuisine. More information.
Spanish Civil War guided tours in Barcelona
Guided tour around Spain
Spanish natureTravelling around Spain on a scooter
Entertaining video from the Guardian here showing a woman travelling around rural Almeria on a Vespa scooter.
Best tapas bars in Palma de Mallora
The Guardian has this article on the best tapas bars and bodegas in Palma de Mallorca, home to an an impressive ranges of good eateries. I particularly liked the sound of Bodega Bellver:
Tucked up a side street around the corner from the theatre, Bellver is about as far away from Palma’s gleaming 21st- century tapas bars as it’s possible to imagine. Dark and shadowy, with shelves lined with dusty bottles and wine barrels, and rickety wooden tables scattered around the small space, it is steeped in history, atmosphere and the smell of spicy pork frying on the tiny grill beside the bar. Order up icy beers and pinchos and settle into a slice of unchanged Mallorquin life.
Trekking in the Sierra Nevada in June
I enjoyed this post on the iberianatureforum by Maria:
Outside the tapas bars of Lanjaron temperatures reached 30 degrees. 2500m above we donned our duvet jackets as an icy wind tore across the white snow filled plateau. Such are the contrasts this year in southern Spain’s Sierra Nevada, a legacy of the worst winter weather in living memory.
Read the original story here:
Travel guide to Osana
Good review of the county of Osana here from Barcelona writing.
On food of Osona
Pork and its by-products may be the most emblematic food of the county, but Osona has much else to offer gastronomes. The truffle (trufa), a black mushroom that grows underground and is highly prized, and a wide range of bolets (Catalan mushrooms) including pinetell, rovelló, rossinyol, cep and fredolic are found locally, as are the white beans (mongetes) of the Collsacabra Mountains, characterised by their small size. For dessert, the pa de pessic de Vic (sponge cake) is worth trying as are the regional cheeses, curds, honey and jam.
Teruel bat
Detail of modernist forge of the Staircase of the Paseo del Óvalo. The monumental staircase was built in 1921 to link the new railway station with the old part of the city. The work has modernist and neomudejar details. By SantiMB on Flickr
History and culture Notes from Spain