8 ideas for a return trip to Spain
Spain has thousands of possibilities, and every time you visit you can discover something new. We suggest 8 very up-to-date ideas for discovering the latest trends in Spain or visiting new and interesting places. Which will you choose?
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An island of renewable energy
El Hierro, one of the Canary Islands, is the first island to be completely self-sufficient in renewable energy. Its volcanic landscape, its temperate climate and the amazing landscapes which have earned it Biosphere Reserve status make El Hierro an attractive destination.
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Gourmet markets
They are the latest fashion in Spain and make an unusual, fun place to eat. Gourmet markets with restaurants and food stands where you can try local recipes, international cuisines, and creative cooking. And a lot of them are part of traditional food markets.
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Alternative culture circuits
The streets of Madrid and Barcelona are bursting with culture. Discover their spaces for contemporary culture, their street art, their liveliest cultural centres and their most avant-garde initiatives, off the tourist track.
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Malaga is in fashion
The Pompidou Centre chose it for its Spanish branch. So did the St Petersburg Russian Museum. Malaga is now an art hub with other important museums including the Picasso and the Carmen Thyssen. The city is in fashion, it has sea and sand, a lively centre, and direct high-speed trains from Madrid which take just two hours and 20 minutes.
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A museum under the sea
Forget what you think you know about museums, because this one is different. Under 12 metres of water in the Atlantic ocean, this is Lanzarote’s Atlantic Museum. It’s the first underwater art installation in Europe, and to visit you must have a diving certificate (you can get one by taking a basic one-day course there on the island of Lanzarote).
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A balcony over the sea surrounded by contemporary art
A new centre for music, theatre, film and contemporary art has opened in Santander (Cantabria). The building was designed by the Pritzker prize-winning Renzo Piano, and its location on Santander’s seafront makes it even more attractive. This is the new Botín Centre, and its views over the Cantabrian Sea are spectacular.
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An art district… in Bilbao
Nowhere else can you see buildings by four Pritzker prize-winning architects in less than one kilometre: a symbol of contemporary art like the Guggenheim Museum, and sculptures by great artists such as Bourgeois, Koons and Dalí. Bilbao also offers the interesting Museum of Fine Arts and the modern Azkuna Zentroa.
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Fine wine… and design
Architecture and wine are perfectly paired in Spain’s avant-garde wineries. We suggest finding out for yourself in Wine City (by Frank Gehry) in Elciego (Álava), Bodegas Ysios (by Santiago Calatrava, in Laguardia, Álava) or Bodegas Julián Chivite (by Rafael Moneo, in Estella, Navarre), among others.