WHERE: HervƔs, CƔceres, Extremadura, SPAIN
WHEN: April 2014WITH: Family (+2)
HOW: Car from Madrid
WEATHER: Rainy
STYLE: Girly
HervĆ”s es una pequeƱa villa en CĆ”ceres, conocida por su juderĆa y la peculiar arquitectura de sus calles. Es un sitio agradable para visitar si estĆ”s por la zona, aunque yo me esperaba algo mĆ”s.
HervƔs is a small village in CƔceres, known for its Jewish quarter and the original architecture of the streets. It's a nice place to visit if you are around, although I was expecting a little more.
LO MEJOR/THE BEST: Las callejuelas de la juderĆa y el paseo junto al rĆo / The narrow streets at the Jewish quarter and the walk along the river
LO PEOR/THE WORST: La escasa oferta gastronĆ³mica / Very few restaurants
ConocĆ©is HervĆ”s? Os gustarĆa ir? Comentad abajo!
Have you ever been to HervƔs? Would you like to visit? Comments below!
WHERE: Plasencia, CƔceres, Extremadura, SPAIN
WHEN: April 2014
WITH: Family (+2)
HOW: Car from Madrid
WEATHER: Rainy
Plasencia is one of the most beautiful cities in CƔceres and the gate to Jerte Valley. A stop here if you are around is totally worth it; don't miss the huge Cathedral, the Parador and the antique walls! I actually felt like staying longer, so I'll visit again eventually!
WHERE: Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid, SPAIN
WHEN: 22/10/2014 - 18/01/2015
OPENS:10-19h (10-21h Friday and Saturday)
TICKET:11€
TICKET:11€
Ver una exposiciĆ³n de moda siempre es interesante. Y cuando incluye algunos diseƱos que forman parte de la historia del cine, mucho mĆ”s. Hoy os enseƱo mis piezas favoritas de la exposiciĆ³n de Givenchy.
There's a Givenchy exhibition at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid so, in case you are not in the city, I want to share some of the pictures I took.
WHERE: Riaza, Segovia, SPAIN
WHEN: November 2014, 1 day
WITH: Family (+2+dog)
HOW: Car from Madrid (1hr 30mins)
WEATHER: Cold, rain and snow
WEARING: Mountain style
Mi amigo David dirĆa que esta es una de esas excursiones hippies que hago con mi familia; la caĆda de las hojas en otoƱo, la floraciĆ³n de los cerezos en primavera, el deshielo de los glaciares... cosas de ese tipo! Yo soy mĆ”s de ciudad que de campo, pero reconozco que la naturaleza es un espectĆ”culo maravilloso y un hayedo en otoƱo es un lugar de cuento de hadas. El Hayedo de la Pedrosa estĆ” junto a Riaza, en la frontera de Segovia con Guadalajara y es perfecto para respirar aire puro a una hora y media de Madrid.
My friend David always wonders if I have a hippie family when I make this kind of trips; leaves falling in Autumn, blossoming cherry trees in Spring, melting glaciers... stuff like that! I'm more into urban tourism, but nature can also be an amazing choice, and a beech forest in autumn looks like a fairy tale. The Hayedo de la Pedrosa is next to Riaza, on the border of Segovia and Guadalajara, and is perfect for breathing pure air an hour and a half away from Madrid.
WHERE: Patones de Arriba, Madrid, SPAIN
WHEN: October 2014, 1 day
WITH: Family (+2+dog)
HOW: Car from Madrid (1hr)
WEATHER: Hot and cloudy
WEARING: VeroƱo
Patones de Arriba es un pequeƱo pueblo de Madrid, situado en lo alto de una colina y caracterizado por estar construĆdo con pizarra. Es uno de los pueblos mĆ”s bonitos de EspaƱa, coqueto y bien cuidado, el lugar ideal para una escapada desde MĆ”drid.
Patones de Arriba is a small town of Madrid, located on a hill and built in slate stone. It's one of Spain's most beautiful towns, charming and well preserved, the perfect place for a short visit if you are in Madrid.
WHERE: Polignano a Mare, Puglia, ITALY
WHEN: August 2014, 1 day
WITH: friends (+3)
HOW: Car from Altamura (1hr)
WEATHER: Hot
WEARING: Chic Denim
WEARING: Chic Denim
Antes de ir al aeropuerto para volver a casa, hice una Ćŗltima parada en Polignano a Mare, muy cerca de Bari. Es como si las casas colgadas de Cuenca diesen al mar, mas o menos. Es un pueblo pequeƱo construĆdo sobre un acantilado que da al mar turquesa. Tiene una pequeƱa caleta donde baƱarse, y algunas cuevas en las rocas con vistas al mar. Se ha convertido en un lugar de moda donde viene celebrities internacionales a celebrar su boda, y no me extraƱa porque es un sitio de cuento. Y en cuanto a tiendas hay un par de sitios muy recomendables! Por un lado el taller de Peppino Campanella, un artista que hace curiosos objetos luminosos, lĆ”mparas y esculturas con cristales y espejos, al fondo del taller hay una terraza con unas vistas maravillosas. Y por otro la Ć³ptica Seripierri, con una colecciĆ³n fantĆ”stica de gafas vintage. Y por Ćŗltimo, la estatua del cantautor italiano nacido aquĆ, Domenico Modugno... Volareee... Uooooh... Cantare... Uoh Oooo!
I made a last stop in Puglia before taking the plane back to Spain and visited Polignano a Mare, really close to Bari. It's a lovely village built on a cliff facing the turquoise sea. It has a small beach and some rock caves with pretty nice views. The place has become a wedding destination for many celebrities lately, no wonder why! And if you are into shopping, don't miss Peppino Campanella studio, where he makes light objects, lamps and sculptures with glass and mirrors, the backyard of the studio is a big balcony with an amazing view. If you like vintage, go to Seripierri optic, where they have a fantastic collection of vintage eyewear. And finally visit the statue of Domenico Modugno, the italian singer famous for his song Volareee... Uooooh... Cantare... Uoh Oooo!
WHERE: Salento, Puglia, ITALY
WHEN: August 2014
WITH: friends (+4)
HOW: Car
WEATHER: Hot
WEARING: Bikini
WEARING: Bikini
Las playas del sur de Italia son maravillosas, algunas de rocas y otras de arena, bastante estrechas pero con unas aguas turquesas cristalinas de las que no salir nunca. De hecho el agua es donde mejor se estĆ”, porque en cuanto sales tienes que darte tortas para plantar la toalla... Siempre habĆa oĆdo eso de que en Italia hay que pagar para ir a la playa, algo que para mĆ, siendo espaƱola, es una locura absurda! Pero hay matices, como en todo.
Beaches in the south of Italy are wonderful, some of rocks and some of sand, pretty narrow but with turquoise transparent waters you'll never want to leave. In fact, the water is the best place to stay, cause the moment you come out you'll face some trouble to lay your towel down... I had always heard in Italy you have to pay to go to the beach, which to me, coming from Spain, it's as absurd as crazy! But of course there's always a way out...
WHERE: Lecce, Puglia, ITALY
WHEN: August 2014, 1 day
WITH: friends (+4)
HOW: Car from Mancaversa (45mins)
WEATHER: Hot
WEARING: Casual Denim
WEARING: Casual Denim
Lecce es conocida como la Florencia del sur, y es famosa por el estilo Barroco Leccese y la gran cantidad de edificios y monumentos importantes. Yo la visitĆ© en un dĆa y la verdad es que me faltaron ojos para ver todo lo que hay!
Lecce is known as The Florence of the South thanks to the amount of historical monuments, most of them with their own Leccese baroque style. I visited it in one day, but I would have stayed a couple more, too much to see!
WHERE: Santa Maria di Leuca, Puglia, ITALY
WHEN: August 2014, 1 day
WITH: friends (+4)
HOW: Car from Mancaversa (45mins)
WEATHER: Hot
WEARING: Casual Denim
WEARING: Casual Denim
Santa MarĆa de Leuca es un cabo del sur de Italia, famoso por el faro y el santuario, desde donde se pueden ver el mar JĆ³nico y el AdriĆ”tico fundiĆ©ndose.
Santa Maria di Leuca is a town in the south of Italy famous for its lighthouse and sanctuary, on a hill with an amazing panoramic of the Ionic and Adriatic seas merging.
WHERE: Otranto, Puglia, ITALY
WHEN: August 2014, 1 day
WITH: friends (+4)
HOW: Car from Mancaversa (1h)
WEATHER: Hot
WEARING: Mediterranean Summer
WEARING: Mediterranean Summer
Otranto es el plan perfecto de una tarde de verano. La pequeƱa ciudad lo tiene todo; mar, vistas, un castillo, una catedral, un casco histĆ³rico amurallado, terrazas para tomar mojitos, pizzerias que huelen al paraĆso, puestos callejeros de crepes, bailarines de pizzica... Muy muy muy recomendado!
Otranto is the perfect plan for a summer evening. The small city has it all; the sea, the views, a castle, a cathedral, a walled old part, rooftops with mojito bars, pizzerias that smell like paradise, crepes stalls, pizzica dancers... Highly recommended!
WHERE: Gallipoli, Puglia, ITALY
WHEN: August 2014, 2 days
WITH: friends (+4)
HOW: Car from Altamura (3hrs)
WEATHER: Hot
Gallipoli es la Ibiza de Italia y el centro fiestero del Salento. El casco antiguo estĆ” en una pequeƱa penĆnsula presidida por una fortaleza con vistas a las aguas cristalinas del mar JĆ³nico. Por el dĆa las playas estĆ”n muy masificadas, pero el ambiente en las calles por la noche es digno de ver.
Gallipoli is the italian Ibiza and the party center of Salento. The old part of the city is a small peninsula with a fort overlooking the Ionian sea. The beaches are overcrowded during the day, but the atmosphere at night is something interesting.
WHERE: Ostuni, Puglia, ITALY
WHEN: August 2014, 1 day
WITH: friends (+2)
HOW: Car from Altamura (1h 30mins)
WEATHER: Hot and cloudy
Ostuni es un pueblo blanco italiano, a unos 10km del AdriƔtico. Se puede visitar en una maƱana pero no da para mucho mƔs... al estar en una colina tiene muy buenas vistas a los campos de olivas y al mar, el lugar perfecto para un baƱito despuƩs del paseo.
Ostuni is an italian white village, 10km away from the coast. A morning there is enough to visit the town, that has a privileged spot overlooking the olives fields and the Adriatic sea, which is the perfect place for a swim after walking all over the streets.
WHERE: Bari, Puglia, ITALY
WHEN: August 2014, 1 day
WITH: friends (+1)
HOW: Car from Altamura (45mins)/Flight from Rome (1hr)
WEATHER: Hot
Bari es la capital de Puglia y cuenta con un puerto, un castillo, una bĆ”silica y muchas cosas mĆ”s. Pero a mĆ lo que mĆ”s me sorprendiĆ³ es que, a pesar de ser una ciudad grande, en el fondo es muy pueblo! En cuanto callejĆ©as un poco empiezas a desubrir la italia profunda, con seƱoras que sacan media cocina a la calle para hacer pasta casera, los famosos orecchiette, charlan con las vecinas en bata y tienden la ropa en tendederos que plantan en mitad de la calle. AdemĆ”s en muchos recovecos hay montados altares callejeros a vĆrgenes y santos, aunque el protagonista religioso de la ciudad es San NicolĆ”s (sĆ, en quien se basa PapĆ” Noel!), cuyos restos reposan en la cripta de la BasĆlica, que es lugar de peregrinaciĆ³n sobre todo para cristianos ortodoxos.
Bari is Puglia's capital, and it has a port, a castle, a basilica and many other sights. But what really surprised me here was the small town lifestyle, even when it's a big city! If you enter the narrow streets you can observe local women who set an improvised kitchen outside their houses and make fresh pasta, the famous orecchiette, they chitchat with their neighbors in their sleeping robes and hang their laundry on the street. Moreover, you can find street altars in many corners, dedicated to virgins and saint, but the main religious character here is Saint Nicholas (the saint behind Santa Claus legend), whose remains rest in the crypt at the basilica, a pilgrimage place specially for orthodox christians.
WHERE: Trani, Puglia, ITALY
WHEN: August 2014, 1 day
WITH: friends (+6)
HOW: Car from Altamura (1hr)
WEATHER: Hot
Trani es conocida como "la perla del sur" de Italia. Es una ciudad dĆ³nde el puerto es el protagonista y la catedral normanda parece estar flotando sobre el AdriĆ”tico. Yo la visitĆ© por la tarde-noche y disfrutĆ© de una cena espectacular en un lugar surrealista, con las mejores vistas del puerto. Os podĆ©is imaginar cenar en la azotea de una casa construida en una iglesia templaria??? Resulta que hace aƱos la Iglesia de Ognissanti vendiĆ³ un trozo a la familia de mis anfitriones, que constuyeron su original casa aprovechando parte de los muros templarios, asĆ que bĆ”sicamente su ducha es un absidiolo! Aprovecho para agradecerles la invitaciĆ³n a este lugar privilegiado.
Trani is known as "the pearl of the south" of Italy. It's a port city dominated by the Norman cathedral, which looks like it's floating on the Adriatic sea. I visited it in the evening and enjoyed a spectacular dinner in a surreal location with an amazing view of the port. Can you imagine having dinner at the rooftop of a house built in a Templar church??? Many years back, part of the Chiesa di Ognissanti was sold to my hosts family, who have built their original house sharing walls with the church, so basically they shower in an apse! I really thank them for the invitation to this extraordinary place.
WHERE: Alberobello, Puglia, ITALY
WHEN: August 2014, 1 day
WITH: friends (+2)
HOW: Car from Altamura (1hr)
WEATHER: Hot
WEARING: Mediterranean summer
La arquitectura de este pueblo es tan original como su historia. Resulta que en la Edad Media las poblaciones tenĆan que pagar un tributo al Reino de NĆ”poles, y cuando esta zona se empezĆ³ a llenar de campesinos, los condes que dominaban las tierras les dejaron establecerse allĆ a condiciĆ³n de construir viviendas que se pudiesen demoler facilmente en el caso de una inspecciĆ³n por parte de NĆ”poles. AsĆ surgieron los "trulli", pequeƱas casas construidas en piedra, sin cemento, con un ingenioso tejado-cĆŗpula en forma de cono, decoradas con intrigantes sĆmbolos. Y asĆ es como naciĆ³ el fraude fiscal!
Architecture in this town is as original as the story behind it. Settlements in this area had to pay a tribute to Naples Kingdom during the Medieval era, and when farmers started coming here, the counts ruling this land let them stay under one condition; they had to build easy-destroyable houses so they won't get caught in case of an inspection by the Kingdom. This is how "trullis" were born, small stone houses, built without cement, with an ingenious cone-shaped dome/roof, decorated with curious symbols. And this is how tax evasion started!
WHERE: Matera, Basilicata, ITALY
WHEN: August 2014, 1 day
WITH: friends (+1)
HOW: Car from Altamura (20mins)
WEATHER: Hot
WEARING: Cruise
Matera es un lugar diferente. En el paleolĆtico se estableciĆ³ como asentamiento, con casas-cueva escarvadas en la roca llamadas Sassi. Los romanos despuĆ©s fundaron la ciudad, que estĆ” construĆda en las paredes del caĆ±Ć³n por el que pasa el rĆo Gravina. La zona Sassi es de dificil accesso, pues son callejuelas empedradas, cuesta abajo y muy resbaladizas, pero en la zona alta y nueva hay varios miradores desde donde observar esta curiosa poblaciĆ³n, que ha sido utilizada como escenario en muchas pelĆculas, como la PasiĆ³n de Mel Gibson. Forma parte del Patrimonio de la UNESCO y tiene iglesias rupestres tambiĆ©n dentro de la roca.
Matera is a unique place. It was settled during the Paleolithic, and then the Romans founded the city, with cave-houses dug into the rock walls of the Gravina river canyon. The Sassi area is not very accessible due to narrow slippery stone streets, but there's some scenic balconies on the upper and newer part of the city, from where you can see this curious town, used as a filming location in many movies, such as Mel Gibson's The Passion. It's part of UNESCO Heritage and has rupestrian churches also built in the rocks.