This is yours truly with another episode of some news from Spain !!! Lots of things going on This is Spain, let me tell you my latest news chosen by yours truly, By the way CLXXIV is old Roman numeral for 174, Therefore, here is my take on some news from Spain, part CLXXIV !!! Hope you enjoy this post as I.
Tarazona is a small, old city, further removed from the bustling scenes, but it has a more original and artistic character. “There are moments when one feels transported to Toledo, the quintessential historical city,” wrote Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer in From My Cell (1864). The ancient town of Tarazona (see post) is experiencing a new renaissance thanks to the tireless efforts of the Tarazona Monumental Foundation, created in 2007 with the mission of carrying out countless tasks related to the restoration, management, and promotion of cultural heritage. Its primary objective is to keep alive the soul of a city that has reinvented itself and preserved the imprint of three cultures (Christian, Muslim, and Jewish), as well as its Renaissance and Baroque legacy. An open-air museum that was once a refuge for poets. This town in the province of Zaragoza offers a multitude of routes, such as the Medieval Route in the Land of Borders, the Mudéjar Culture Route, the Renaissance Route, and the Industrial Architecture Route. Among the highlights are the recently restored and spectacular Renaissance dome of the Episcopal Palace and the 16C prisons. The 18C church, whose walls house one of the most extensive and haunting collections of prison graffiti in Europe, or the Tórtoles Mosque, restored and opened to the public in 2017, which is one of the few preserved examples of Muslim mosques built during the Christian era. The symbolism relating to Hercules and his labors is present in some buildings in the city, such as on the façade of the City/Town Hall in the Plaza Mayor, where the seven labors of Hercules are represented, or on the dome of the Episcopal Palace.The Aragon region tourist office on Tarazona : https://www.turismodearagon.com/en/ficha/tarazona/
Medina Azahara: curiosities, mysteries, and concubines in a city unique in the world, built by the whim of a caliph. It took more than 40 years to construct the “brilliant” metropolis conceived by Abd al-Rahman III in the 10C to dazzle his enemies. There was never another like it. It was the dream of a caliph who believed himself eternal, Abd al-Rahman III. Indeed, he lived to be 70 years old (and ruled for 58), which was no small feat for the time, back in the 10C. The official Medina Azahara tourist office : https://www.medinaazahara.org/en/
It has been found ,five hundred previously unseen photographs of Nobel laureate Vicente Aleixandre in an old suitcase and will be exhibited at Velintonia (Vicente Aleixandre’s House location) when it is inaugurated as the House of Poetry in 2027. This historic discovery, made by the Association of Friends of Vicente Aleixandre (AAVA), brings to light unknown images, negatives, and intimate letters that reveal the more domestic and youthful side of the celebrated Sevillian poet. The snapshots date from the first decades of the 20C and span from his youth in Mirasierra to unforgettable family summers in Miraflores de la Sierra, portraying a relaxed, easygoing creator fully integrated into his daily life. Inside the suitcase are very moving portraits with his parents, Cirilo Aleixandre and Elvira Merlo, as well as photos with his sister Conchita, who was the true pillar of his daily life and the support of… an author who was considered rather inept at domestic tasks. The collection also includes a studio photograph by the renowned photographer Kaulak, portraying his maternal grandfather, Antonino Merlo, a figure of considerable importance during the poet’s childhood. Beyond the strictly familial sphere, the collection stands out for immortalizing the social and literary side of the legendary Generation of ’27, with photographs showing Aleixandre accompanied by friends of the stature of Dámaso Alonso and Jorge Guillén. Particularly significant is a photograph from 1936 with the playwright Federico García Lorca, which, although little known, is now presented within its original context. As a remarkable technical marvel of the era, the suitcase also contained several stereoscopic photographs, a unique process that used two images taken from slightly different angles to create a striking three-dimensional effect through the use of a viewer. As if that weren’t enough, the researchers have located the complete photographic series that Aleixandre sent to Gerardo Diego for the preparation of the historic anthology Spanish Poetry. 1915-1931, published in 1932. The association of Friends of Vicente Aleixandre on Velintonia : http://www.vicentealeixandre.es/English.html
The Mercer Hotel Madrid has opened its doors in the Los Jerónimos barrio or neighborhood , occupying one of Madrid’s most unique historic buildings. What for decades was the headquarters of the Sociedad General Azucarera de España (General Sugar Company of Spain) has been transformed into a five-star Grand Luxury hotel that combines heritage, contemporary design, and an ambitious gastronomic offering spearheaded by Eneko Atxa. The building, located at N 5 Calle de Ruiz de Alarcón, was designed in 1905 by Enrique María Repullés y Vargas, an architect associated with the Royal Household, and for years housed the operations of one of the most influential companies in the Spanish sugar industry. The building, protected for its heritage value and with more than 5,500 square meters of floor space, preserves historical features such as the main marble staircase, original moldings, and the early 20C elevator. The location is another of the establishment’s major selling points. Just steps from Retiro Park, the Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, and the Puerta de Alcalá, the Mercer Hotel Madrid aspires to become one of the most exclusive addresses in the city. It boasts a spa, gym, a future rooftop terrace with privileged views over the Art Triangle, and a hotel concept that has preserved the memory of a historic building while adapting it to the demands of today’s traveler. More info on the Mercer Hotel Madrid : https://mercermadrid.com/en/
The story of the iconic canvas that ended up as a ‘horrible monstrosity’: more valuable than a ‘Goya’… until it was expelled from the Prado. The art gallery ‘rescues’ the work ‘El año del hambre en Madrid’ or The Year of Hunger in Madrid, by José Aparicio, with the idea of reflecting on how politics and society have influenced art over time. The painting depicts one of the most tragic events in the history of Spain: the War of Independence, aka Peninsula War. More info Prado museum : https://www.museodelprado.es/recurso/una-obra-una-historia-el-montaje-de-el-cuadro-del-hambre/e09a8ba8-4f2a-4404-9559-65d8adff4727
It’s the trendiest dessert, and one of my all time favorites. Any self-respecting restaurant, bar, pastry shop, or bakery has cheesecake on its menu, a treat that originated more than 4,000 years ago in Ancient Greece.
The Pastelería Pontónpastry shop, located in San Lorenzo de El Escorial since 1985, won the award for best cheesecake in Madrid, given by the Association of Chefs and Pastry Chefs (ACYRE). They’ve created a variation made with aged La Laguna goat cheese and cream cheese from Albe Lácteas del Jarama ; the egg yolks and eggs from Granjas Villarreal. Then ,the base of the cheesecake with almond tuiles, and it’s served with fig jam,. It is located at Calle San Antón, 1. San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Price from €5.50,The official Pasteleria Ponton : https://pasteleriaponton.es/
In Madrid, we have the Gran Via 18, on the fifth floor of Wow Concept, It’s a fluid cheesecake made with Payoyo cheese, served with homemade mango sorbet and topped with a delicate Payoyo foam The flavor lies in this artisanal goat and sheep’s milk cheese produced in the Sierra de Cádiz, with its intense flavor, buttery texture, and great personality. Located at Gran Vía, 18. price: €12. The official Gran Via 18 :https://www.granvia18restaurante.com/
And Tirso 5: a fluid cheesecake topped with caramelized pork belly, available as a limited edition until August 3rd 2026. Caramelized pork belly adds a crispy texture and a touch of sweetness, but at the same time, creaminess and smoothness to the cake. Grupo La Fábrica, which this bar belongs. Located at Plaza de Tirso de Molina, 5. price: €7. The official Grupo La Fàbrica and Tirso 5 : https://grupolafabrica.es/el-5-de-tirso/
There you go folks, another dandy tour of my dear Spain. It is time to enjoy my some news from Spain once again, Remember,Spain is everything under the Sun ! A very special post, always remember where it all begin, it is you ! Again, hope you enjoy the post on some news from Spain, part CLXXIV !!! as I.
And remember ,happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 