Global Posts

Granada’s art scene allows visitors to immerse themselves in centuries of history and culture, as seen through its galleries and street murals. You can find beautiful artwork in galleries like the Museo de Bellas Artes de Granada or on the streets of the Albaicín or Realejo districts.

Museo de Bellas Artes de Granada

The Museo de Bellas Artes de Granada is a fine arts museum located in the Palace of Charles V. It features various art media, including paintings and sculptures, that focus primarily on depicting religious themes. Containing over 2,000 pieces ranging from creation in the Middle Ages to the 20th century, the museum allows visitors to take in the beauty of this artwork in various different rooms that put these pieces chronologically.

Street Art in the Albaicín and Realejo Districts

Although Granada has beautiful artwork in its galleries and various historical sites, some of its most popular art comes from its street murals, primarily found in the Albaicín and Realejo districts. These murals display history and tell stories of the area’s culture. The art here is done by a number of artists, the most notable being El Niño de las Pinturas. His art depicts strong facial expressions and human figures. With street art becoming more of an important part of culture in Granada, there have been events that have been taken place such as the “Granada Graffiti” festival, where artists from all over the world will travel to have the chance to display their art. These events and the murals generally bring many visitors who are interested in this style of art to Granada.

Bibliography

Alhambra Valparaiso Ocio y Cultura SL. “Museum of the Alhambra.” Alhambra Granada, 2019, www.alhambra.org/en/museum-alhambra.html.

Divento. “Museo de Bellas Artes, Granada.” Divento, 2025, www.divento.com/en/home/23697-museo-de-bellas-artes-granada.html. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.

Vidar. “7 Must-Visit Spots to Discover the Lovely Street Art of El Niño de Las Pinturas in Granada.” Streetartutopia.com, 20 Jan. 2024, streetartutopia.com/2024/01/20/el-nino-de-las-pinturas-a-collection/.

Grandes Villas. “Urban Art in Granada: A Tour of the Most Stunning Murals and Graffiti.” Grandesvillas.com, 10 July 2025, www.grandesvillas.com/en/post/urban-art-in-granada-a-tour-of-the-most-stunning-murals-and-graffiti. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.

Image courtesy of Britannica.

A Comunidad Autónoma (Autonomous Community)
Regional affiliation in Spain is not just a matter of identity, it’s also a matter of government. The autonomous communities of Spain have the right to self-government (manifest as unique, local/regional government bodies), and as a whole possess their own culture, foods, and languages. These autonomous communities have had to fight for recognition of their individual importance multiple times in history, even before the concept of ‘Spain’ existed.

Catalonia, for instance, has had fluctuating autonomy ever since the time that Rome controlled the Iberian Peninsula. The most notable instance of regional suppression came in the 1900s with the dictatorship of Franco. The fascist government suppressed regional identity and nationalized governmental control. It wasn’t until 1979, several years after Franco died, that regional power was restored to Catalonia.

Other regions regained access to the same freedoms around this time as well. Catalan has retained its right to self-governance and cultural identity ever since.

The Languages of Barcelona
Usage of Catalan has suffered in recent years, but this decline certainly does not mean the language is irrelevant. Far from it — it indicates a necessity for appreciation and preservation.

When visiting Barcelona, don’t just practice Spanish to keep up with the locals! Consider looking into common Catalan phrases, too. Immerse yourself in Spain’s culture and Catalonia’s culture; they fought well to ensure their culture is still seen today.

Sources Used
Anthony, Dani. “Top Ten Origins: Catalonia (Catalunya) and Spain.” Ohio State University. Last modified December, 2017. https://origins.osu.edu/connecting-history/top-ten-origins-catalonia-catalunya-and-spain.
Britannica. “Catalonia.” Last modified March 17, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/place/Catalonia.
Nationalia. “Less than a third of Catalonia’s population has Catalan as their most frequenty [sic] used language.” Last modified February 19, 2025. https://www.nationalia.info/brief/11666/less-than-a-third-of-catalonias-population-has-catalan-as-their-most-frequenty-used-langua.

Granada offers a wide variety of sports to watch and play, such as football, skiing, and cycling. Local facilities, clubs, and the university encourage participation amongst the community, making Granada a popular place for both professional and recreational sports. 

Football

The most popular of these sports to watch is football. Granada Club de Fútbol, which is often referred to as Granada CF, is a Spanish football club based in the city of Granada. It was founded in 1931, and the team plays its home games at the Nuevo Los Cármenes stadium. Granada CF has gone between being promoted and demoted to the first and second divisions of the sport. In recent years, they have been in the first division, La Liga, and have also qualified to compete against European teams, such as Manchester United and Napoli. Going to Granada CF games is a great way to be exposed to the sports culture in the city. With their entertaining matches and passionate fan base, it is something that you won’t want to miss experiencing while staying in Granada.

Skiing

As for sports any local or tourist can enjoy, skiing in the Sierra Nevada is an experience that attracts both locals and tourists. It is a short 30-minute drive from the city of Granada and offers a variety of trails suited for every skill level. The ski season typically runs from November through May, with the peak months being December to February. This is an activity that is fun for anyone, whether you’re looking to challenge yourself on the slopes, take lessons, or simply to have fun and enjoy the views of the mountains.

Cycling

Another sport that is commonly enjoyed in both the Sierra Nevada and the city of Granada is cycling. This sport is also for a variety of skill levels, as one can ride a more challenging course in the mountains or enjoy a more leisurely ride exploring the sites of the city. Granada also attracts professional cyclists training for major races. A popular Australian cyclist named Cadel Evans found that the Sierra Nevada mountains were helpful in altitude training when he was preparing his team for the Tour de France.

Bibliography:

Barcelona, FC. “The Lowdown on Granada CF.” Fcbarcelona.com, FC Barcelona, 7 Feb. 2024, www.fcbarcelona.com/en/news/3884194/the-lowdown-on-granada-cf. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

Cooper, Ben. “The LVC Insider’s Guide To: Skiing in the Sierra Nevada.” The Luxury Villa Collection, 21 Feb. 2022, theluxuryvillacollection.com/a-luxury-guide-to-skiing-in-the-sierra-nevada/. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

Granada CF. “Granada CF.” VAVEL, VAVEL.com, 2024, www.vavel.com/en-us/data/granada-cf/bio/. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

Malaga.us. “Unbelievable Skiing at the Sierra Nevada – Malaga, Spain.” Malaga.us, 3 Mar. 2023, www.malaga.us/sport/skiing-in-malaga-sierra-nevada/. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.

Sierra Sports & Tours, and Paul D’Andrea. “Granada.” Epic Road Rides, 16 Apr. 2025, epicroadrides.com/destinations/cycling-spain/granada/. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.

There are many famous buildings in Toledo with amazing histories. These buildings’ rich histories are both interesting and educational, perfect for the students to enjoy and learn from!

Mosque of Cristo de la Luz

The first famous building is the Mosque of Cristo de la Luz, also called the Church of Santa Cruz. It is one of Toledo’s oldest standing monuments. This building was made in December of 999 through January of 1000. It was built by Ahmad ibn Hadidi, a member of one of the significant Toledo families. The exterior of the building has a façade that was uncommon at the time it was made. The interior of the building is very open and has many interesting arches, representing the architectural style used during the time it was made. This Mosque is a significant cultural and historical landmark and reflects Toledo’s Islamic past. This would be a great place to see where Toledo intertwines history, art, and faith. To see this building, join one of the walking tours or scavenger hunts, which include this building!

Puerta de Bisagra

The next famous building is the Puerta de Bisagra, which is also called Puerta de Alfonso VI. The purpose of this gate is to be an entrance that opens to the walls of Toledo or a city gate of Toledo. The gate was most likely built during the Arab period. The main significant architects who built this gate were Nicolás de Vergara the Elder, El Monzo, Juan de Benavides and Eugenio Sánchez, Hernán González de Lara, and Alonso de Covarrubias. They built the exterior around 1559, which was a Renaissance/classical design. An interesting fact about this gate was that a façade had been put on the door to the gate to make it difficult for enemies to infiltrate Toledo. This gate would be great for students to see because of its historical significance to Toledo and how it protected the city.

San Juan de Los Reyes

Another famous building is the Monastery of San Juan de Los Reyes, which was founded by King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile. They chose Toledo for this Monastery because of its location and because, in the past, Toledo was the capital of the Visigothic Kingdom, which made it more appealing. They also wanted this Monastery to show off their victory in the Battle of Toro. Its construction began in 1477 and was completed in 1504. Unfortunately, it was destroyed in 1809 during Napoleon’s occupation of Toledo, but was restored in 1954. The style used was Gothic with influences from the Spanish and Flemish. It is known for the coat of arms of the Catholic Monarchs being held by eagles.

Castle of San Servando

The last famous building of many is the Castle of San Servando, which was built to defend the Alcántara bridge. Interestingly, it was originally built as a monastery, which Alfonso VI ordered to honor the Saints Servando and Germano. In the 11^th century, it was rebuilt due to the reconquest of Toledo. It currently works as a youth hostel, so this would be a great place to stay for a few nights and learn about its history!

These sites and buildings would be a great opportunity for students to learn about the history of Toledo! To see and learn more about these amazing historic buildings, you can get tickets for admission or go on a guided tour of each while you are here.

Marzipan

Toledo’s culinary scene is likely most well-known for its marzipan! Marzipan is a dessert made with sugar or honey, egg whites and almond meal, and is used as the base for a dessert, as a filling, or as a stand-alone that can be shaped and colored to look like miniature fruits!. Many cities across Europe claim marzipan as a specialty, with Toledo among them. The legend of marzipan in Toledo dates back to the invasions of Spain by the Almohads (who were Berber Muslims from North Africa). Many people in the southern Castilian region took refuge in Toledo, where they faced famine due to an existing food scarcity and the large increase in the population. However, the Church there had large swaths of land that grew large reserves of almonds. The population thought to mix the almonds with the fruit and sugar they had, creating marzipan and alleviating their hunger.

Marzipan is so important to Toledo that there were three separate clauses dedicated to it by Toledo’s Confectioner’s Guild in the 1600s! Santo Tomé is one of the original manufacturers of marzipan in Toledo, still going strong since its establishment in 1856, and has kept records of the history of marzipan (all accessible on their website)!

You can get brunch (even if you’re gluten-free!), purchase boxes of marzipan carefully crafted to look like miniature fruit, learn more about the history of marzipan, read the marzipan clauses, and visit the largest marzipan Don Quixote in the world (measuring over 11 feet in height and weighing over 1,300 pounds) at the Santo Tomé confectionery website.

Carcamusa

Carcamusa is a specialty of Toledo: it’s a pork stew with vegetables such as tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, garlic, and peas, and the tomato-based sauce in it is typically made moderately spicy from the chorizo. It is usually served as a tapa with crusty bread. Though it is a popular dish, the origins of the stew are unclear: most sources attribute it to the restaurant Bar Ludeña in the mid-20^th century, but the name of the dish is still speculated about. Bar Ludeña is still a very popular place to eat, and with affordable prices, it’s a favorite for any visiting student—but be sure to show up early, because its popularity often means that the restaurant is jam-packed!

Manchego cheese

Manchego cheese is a delicious cheese made from sheep’s milk, aged from 60 days up to 2 years. It has a firm, buttery texture, with a developed, distinctive flavor and nutty undertones. The Manchego Cheese Museum in the heart of historic Toledo is dedicated to the history and production of Manchego cheese. There’s also a tasting room in the museum, where you can taste the best Manchego cheese varieties on offer, paired with the best wines of the Mancha region!

Where to eat?

Toledo is also home to many food markets, with Mercado de San Agustín one of the most well-known. The Mercado de San Agustín is a 23-stall multi-level market that offers a variety of cuisines, both local and foreign, from Manchego cheese salads to Japanese food. This market offers quality food, products, and even tastings, cooking classes, and guided tours of the marketplace—you can’t miss out, it’s a perfect place to grab a bite to eat between classes, sit down for a longer meal, or stock up for the week!

One of the premier restaurants in Toledo is the Restaurante Victor Sánchez-Beato, founded and operated by Chef Victor Sánchez-Beato after he returned, inspired, from a trip to Japan. The restaurant is so small that it can only fit 16 diners (by design), leading to a very personal dining experience that the chef describes as the diner being the “protagonist” of the experience. It is on the pricey side at 62 euros per person, so while it may not be possible to eat there every day, it is definitely worth going once for the experience!

The Beginning of Segovia:

Originally, Segovia was under Iberian settlement until about 700 BCE. The Roman empire took over Segovia in 80 BCE. The Moors had claim over Segovia until the Christian king, Alfonso IV restored order and took the ruling of Segovia back. Segovia was known as a very important place because during King Alfonso X’s reign, his home was based out of Segovia. He is not the only royal figure that lived in Segovia, Isabela I had also visited and lived briefly in Segovia during the beginning of her royal declaration. She was declared “Queen of Castile” in Segovia, which caused a lot of people to be fascinated and drawn to this place.

Another very fascinating part of the rich history of Segovia is the religions. When Segovia was being constantly overpowered by multiple cultures, it left a very important mark of three different religions living in the same town. Christians, Jewish people, and the Moors all had significant leaders playing roles in Segovia. One of the most important leaders, Tomas de Torquemada, had become so invested in the idea of the three different religions in Segovia. He took it upon himself to start creating conversation about what is known as the Spanish Inquisition today. 

One of the most prominent figures of Segovia is the Roman Emperor Trajan who was ruling during the building of the Segovia Aqueduct. Segovia today is now prominently known for it’s very impressive aqueduct because of the lack of agricultural advancement compared to today. The building of the aqueduct also marks the start of how significant the Romans would be during this time.

Architectural Structures of Segovia:

The most well known structure is the Segovian Aqueduct. Not only will you be able to see such a historically beautiful piece, but you may be able to try some of the spring water that it produces. Yes, it is still running after many centuries! There is a theory that a woman “sold her soul to the devil, so in return he would build the Aqueduct since she was struggling to do it herself.” Though it is nearly unrealistic for this to be true, it becomes well known that the Romans had such advanced agricultural tools and knowledge for building structures.

The Aqueduct is made of roughly 24,000 granite blocks without the use of mortar. If you don’t believe this fact, more of a reason to find out for yourself and take a visit to Segovia!

Another significant place that you should stop by is the Alcázar de Segovia! Experiencing the in-person visualization of the “fortified castle for the Kings of Castile,” is something unforgettable. This castle is very significant because of the many royal crownings for the Kings of Castle. Also, the first ever woman, Isabella, to be crowned Queen of Castile had the ceremony (1474) in this Alcázar.

Sadly, making a trip to this Alcázar will not be the exact architecture of the original due to an 1862 fire that burnt majority of the building down. To this day, no one knows exactly how the fire started, but if you ask around when on your trip, you might find out more details.

Something that you may find unique is the very emphasized division in Segovia. The two areas are referred to as the “upper town and lower town.”

The upper town is surrounded by a historically ancient wall that is parallel with two rivers: The Eresma and the Clamores. It is believed that the upper town is considered “new,” so why not compare and see how the architecture has changed over the years! The lower town, “old,” contains the 16th Century Gothic Church in the center with pathways that lead to the outskirts of the city.

Architectural Structures of Segovia:

Trying to find a beautiful and historic town? Segovia is just the right place to find all kinds of significant and historical architectural buildings.

The most well known structure is the Segovian Aqueduct. Not only will you be able to see such a historically beautiful piece, but you may be able to try some of the spring water that it produces. Yes, it is still running after many centuries! There is a theory that a woman “sold her soul to the devil, so in return he would build the Aqueduct since she was struggling to do it herself.” Though it is nearly unrealistic for this to be true, it becomes well known that the Romans had such advanced agricultural tools and knowledge for building structures.

The Aqueduct is made of roughly 24,000 granite blocks without the use of mortar. If you don’t believe this fact, more of a reason to find out for yourself and take a visit to Segovia!

Another significant place that you should stop by is the Alcázar de Segovia! Experiencing the in-person visualization of the “fortified castle for the Kings of Castile,” is something unforgettable. This castle is very significant because of the many royal crownings for the Kings of Castle. Also, the first ever woman, Isabella, to be crowned Queen of Castile had the ceremony (1474) in this Alcázar.

Sadly, making a trip to this Alcázar will not be the exact architecture of the original due to an 1862 fire that burnt majority of the building down. To this day, no one knows exactly how the fire started, but if you ask around when on your trip, you might find out more details.

Something that you may find unique is the very emphasized division in Segovia. The two areas are referred to as the “upper town and lower town.”

The upper town is surrounded by a historically ancient wall that is parallel with two rivers: The Eresma and the Clamores. It is believed that the upper town is considered “new,” so why not compare and see how the architecture has changed over the years! The lower town, “old,” contains the 16th Century Gothic Church in the center with pathways that lead to the outskirts of the city.

Sources:

“List of Cities and Towns in Spain.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-cities-and-towns-in-Spain-2041711.​ Accessed 18 April 2025.

“Segovia, World Heritage.” Turismo de Segovia, Ayuntamiento de Segovia, https://turismodesegovia.com/en/segovia-world-heritage. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.