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Travel + Leisure
4 days ago
- Travel + Leisure
I'm a Travel Photographer and This European Destination Is One of My Favorite Scenic Spots for Its Stunning Architecture
As a travel photographer, I'm most often drawn to places steeped in culture and history. I find these things give depth, meaning, and context to my images, and a view of the world beyond surface-level aesthetics. I'm especially fascinated by the rich legacy of Al-Andalus, the nearly 800-year period of Islamic rule on the Iberian Peninsula. In what is now Spain, this began around the year 700 and lasted until 1492, when King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I unified the nation as a Catholic monarchy. From left: Palacio de las Dueñas; Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba. In what is today known as Andalusia, particularly Seville and Córdoba, these Muslim and Christian influences intertwine, often within the same four walls. I wanted to document how architecture can serve as a dialogue between civilizations. My goal was not just to capture beautiful images but also to explore the layers of cultural exchange that define this region. Córdoba was once the capital of the Umayyad dynasty in Spain. At Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, which was built in the late 700s, I was attracted to the distinctive red and white stripes, an important element of Umayyad design. The building was converted into a Catholic church in 1236. I wanted to document how architecture can serve as a dialogue between civilizations. My goal was not just to capture beautiful images but also to explore the layers of cultural exchange that define this region. I also found a particular moment quite moving, watching a woman climb the stairs, as it made me wonder about all the people, over many, many years, who had climbed these same steps to pray, whether as followers of Islam or Christianity. I also thought about how so many landmarks here have survived for centuries, even as the immediate surroundings have evolved over time. The layers of history in Palacio de las Dueñas, in Seville, also intrigued me. Owned by the aristocratic Alba family since 1612, it was turned into an apartment building in the late 1800s; one of Spain's most beloved poets, Antonio Machado, was born there in 1875. In the 20th century, the Albas turned it back into a home, where celebrities like Jacqueline Kennedy and Grace Kelly visited. From left: Royal Alcázar of Seville; Iglesia de Santa Catalina. Originally developed in the early 10th century as a Moorish fortress, the Royal Alcázar of Seville was transformed over the years into a sprawling palace by both Muslim dynasties and Christian monarchs. Today, it is still a residence for the Spanish royal family when they visit the city. Iglesia de Santa Catalina, a Sevillian church, was mainly constructed in the 14th century, on the site of a former mosque. I admired the Islamic influences that can still be seen, like the brickwork, the horseshoe arches at the entrance, and the roof lantern that echoes the shape of a minaret. A version of this story first appeared in the July 2025 issue of Travel + Leisure under the headline "Stories in Stone ."
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Landlocked city home to one of Europe's warmest beaches hotter than Tenerife
Córdoba in central southern Spain has one of the warmest beaches in Europe. Valdearenas Beach sits on the banks of a reservoir and delivers bright blue water and orange sand A landlocked city in Spain is home to one of the warmest beaches. Think of Córdoba, and it's probably images of historical buildings and art galleries that come to mind. The Spanish city is one of Europe's culture capitals - home to the most UNESCO sites in the world including the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, Medina Azahara, the city's historic centre, and the Courtyards Festival of Córdoba. The city has now become an even more compelling destination after a new study by Saga Holidays revealed it's also home to one of Europe's warmest beaches. Although not a coastal destination, Valdearenas Beach in Córdoba sits by a stunning lake with sandy shores and promises tourists average temperatures of 31°C in the high season. It outperforms two coastal competitors in Badajoz; Playa de Cheles and Playa de Orellana, by just 1°C. The beach is something to behold. In the summer months watersports enthusiasts and sunbathers descend on it in great numbers, thronging over sand that is a brilliant orange colour and into bright blue water. A recent visitor to the beach said they were "incredulous" when they heard that there was a beach near Córdoba, given the settlements' setting more than 100 miles from the coastline. They had not heard that around 40 years ago the lake was dug out of the hillside to serve as a reservoir, with sand artificially piled up on one corner to provide a public place to splash and sunbathe. "I come early morning to walk my dog. The views are incredible. Some mornings it is just so quiet, you feel like the only person on earth. After the walk, and the dogs swim! It;s off up the track for breakfast. Come here in the afternoon and sit with a drink and watch everyone enjoying the lake and the facilities. On an evening, watch the sun go down," one enthusiastic fan of Valdearenas Beach wrote on Tripadvisor. There are plenty of reasons to plan a trip to Córdoba, not least that the area, enjoys over 300 days of sunshine throughout the year. The multiple religions, cultures, and civilizations that have lived in this fascinating city are reflected in its fascinating architecture and food. READ MORE: Holidaymakers stuck on Greek island thanks to little-known rule Founded by the Romans, the city was later ruled by the Visigoths and then became the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate and Europe's second-largest city by the 10th century. The city was then taken by Christian forces in 1236 and integrated into the Kingdom of Castile. Other notable attractions include the Roman Bridge, built in the 1st century BC and reconstructed multiple times, and the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, a medieval fortress and former residence of Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II, which also served as a seat for the Spanish Inquisition.
Local Spain
19-05-2025
- General
- Local Spain
Why is Spanish called 'castellano' in Spain?
spanish language Have you ever wondered why the Spanish language is usually called Castilian or 'castellano' in Spain and not Spanish? The answer is down to geography, history and culture. If you've ever taken language lessons, Spanish will of course be called Spanish. But when you arrive in Spain, you'll find all the locals calling it castellano or Castilian instead. So why is this? Why do Spaniards have a different name for their own language? Firstly, Spaniards are distinguishing castellano – what foreigners know as Spanish, from the other four official languages in Spain. These are Catalan, Basque, Galician and Valencian. There are also more minority languages and dialects such as Aragonese, Aranés and Leonés. Secondly, it also differentiates between the Spanish spoken in Spain and the Spanish spoken in Latin America. Although they're the same language, there are many differences in the vocabulary, grammar and of course accent. Castellano or Spanish is the official language of the whole of Spain, but there are some other regions which have two official languages such as Catalonia, where Castilian and Catalan are used. Castellano is named after the Kingdom of Castile, which predates the existence of modern Spain. The territory occupying a large part of northern half of Spain is where the language was first spoken. It began as dialect spoken in this area and later became the language of the court of the kingdoms of Castile and León in the 12th century. Spain was not always one country with one official language, in fact it was made up of several different kingdoms. The unification of Spain began with the marriage of Ferdinand II of Aragón with Isabella I of Castile in 1496. This united the two kingdoms of Aragón and Castile – the two largest territories in the Iberian peninsula. At that time the Kingdom of Aragón included Catalonia, Mallorca, Valencia, Sicily and Sardinia, while the kingdom of Castile included Castile and León, Asturias, Galicia, Extremadura and then domains conquered from the Moors such as Córdoba, Murcia, Jaén and Seville. Castilian wasn't even close to being the majority language on the peninsula at this time, however. In Catalonia, Valencia, the Balearic Islands, Galicia, Asturias and the eastern half of Andalusia, it hadn't even been heard of. And only some people in León, Aragón, Navarre and the Basque Country knew it or were at least familiar with the Castilian language, as they were closer geographically. Even the people who all spoken Castilian in different areas of the country found it difficult to understand each other because of the change in dialects and accents. In 1492, Antonio de Nebrija - the most influential lexicographer and grammarian of his time - completed a book called Grammar of the Castilian Language. This was the first publication that actually pulled the Castilian language all together and set out its rules. This was also the year the same year in which the last Moorish stronghold of Granada fell to the crown. So, by this point, much of what we now know as Spain was coming together as one. Nebrija was a friend of Queen Isabella I, and as Castilian was already the official language of the courts of Castile, he was able to influence her to promote the language across the parts of the country she ruled along with Spain's other Catholic Monarch, Ferdinand of Aragon. Over time, through various power struggles between merchants and other influential figures across the country, Castilian came out on top as the most dominant language. It's important to remember, however, that it didn't become the dominant language everywhere – Catalan and Valenciano still reigned in the east of the country – as it still does to this day – and Galician and Basque were still used more in the north and northwest of Spain. This is why Castilian is often referred to as castellano in Spain. However, nobody will bat an eyelid if you refer to Spanish as español. Even Spain's Royal Academy of Language (RAE) has ruled that español and castellano are synonyms, even though in Spain castellano is a more official way of referring to what is known as Spanish to foreigners.
