When I visited Madrid, it was so hard picking which day trips to go on. As a medieval enthusiast, I easily decided on Avila. The town is known as a medieval town with pristine walls, and also the home of St. Teresa de Jesus. I ventured there to step back in time several hundred years.

Some of Avila’s History

Avila existed since before the Roman era but it’s known today for its developments during the medieval period. Though it retains a Roman city structure, the incredible Avila walls were constructed in 1090, and landmarks such as the cathedral were built … Continue reading

Toledo has always been very high on my bucket list. I was incredibly excited to visit Toledo as a day trip from Madrid but quickly cancelled my day trip to Segovia and replaced it with a second day in Toledo. I absolutely loved this place.

Some of Toledo, Spain’s History

Toledo is a small place steeped in rich history. It’s been inhabited since before the Roman times by Celtic tribes, and was then conquered and became a Roman town. In the 6th-7th centuries, the Visigoths captured the city and used it as the center of political activity, participating in what … Continue reading

I have to be honest: Madrid was not at the top of my bucket list. Even though the museums were a huge draw to the city, I felt I wouldn’t like it as Madrid’s a lot “newer” than other cities. But in the wake of the pandemic, I found a cheap flight and decided to take the trip. Now Madrid’s actually one of my favourite cities!

A Brief History of Madrid

Madrid started as an Islamic city in the 9th century, though it of course fell under Christian rule. It remained a relatively sleepy town until 1561, when King Philip … Continue reading

On a trip to Andalusia, I had to visit Spain’s oldest city: Cadiz. I was super excited because I love old cities and this was really the old city. This beautiful seaside area has a history that spans thousands of years and is still magnificent to visit today.

The History of Cadiz

According to some sources, Cadiz is the oldest city in Europe, dating back about 3000-3500 years or so. It’s actually said to be the island of Erytheia in Greek mythology,

“Towards Spain [in the Atlantic Ocean], at about 100 paces distance, is another long island, three miles wide,

Barcelona is the most popular tourist destination in Spain, but for my first trip to the Iberian country, I opted to visit Seville. Photos got me excited about the wonderful art and history of Andalusia and its primary city. I have to say that I heard some negative things about Spain but they were all wrong. I had an amazing time in Seville!

The History of Seville

Like many Spanish cities, Seville started out as a Roman one – called Italica. The area has more ancient origins but a lot of Seville’s celebrated history comes from the Roman era onward. … Continue reading

Malaga is one of Andalusia’s gems. A city on the sea, it’s most notably the home of artist Pablo Picasso. It’s a wonderful mix of a seaside city, a historic Spanish city, and a lively place to be. Malaga makes a fantastic destination for your trip to southern Spain.

Malaga’s History

Malaga dates back several millennia and is said to be one of the world’s oldest cities. The area had already been continuously inhabited by the Phoenicians for several hundreds of years before it fell under Greek and Roman rule. Its location at the tip of the Iberian Peninsula made … Continue reading

Seville is one of Spain’s most beautiful and popular cities, attracting tourists from around the world. This gem deserves a lot of time, and to fill it, Seville offers a great selection of activities for visitors.

Places to See

Marvel at the Plaza de Espana.

Alright, I have to admit that I didn’t think this place looked so great in photographs. But it’s a must-see in Seville, so I went. It is unbelievably beautiful in person. The size and grandeur of the plaza is absolutely incredible, but its real beauty is in the details. There is significant and stunning tile … Continue reading

Ronda is a small town in Andalusia and it’s a popular spot for tourists, especially because of its super tall bridge that transcends a deep valley. I opted to go here as part of a day trip but I have to be honest; the blog posts I found made it sound like there wasn’t much to do in this small town. When I got there as part of an organised trip, we were given a good walking tour and a little over an hour to explore. That was not nearly enough time. The town actually has a large number of … Continue reading

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Alhambra in Granada is often deemed one of the must-sees of southern Spain. It’s an architectural splendor with very well preserved palaces and gardens. It’s the most visited monument in Spain and is very well deserving of the title. Even though I was excited to see this gem, it absolutely blew away my expectations in person.

Please note that this sells out months in advance so you will need to book your ticket ahead of time.

The Alhambra

Andalusia’s history revolves around its many kingdoms and the changes that occurred over time. The Nasrid … Continue reading

Having a lot of Middle Eastern influences, Andalusian cities have several Turkish baths which you can go to. I like to treat myself to an expensive experience here and there so I decided that a bath and massage would be a great thing to splurge on. Also, people have taken Turkish baths for hundreds of years, so it was also like a cultural experience.

I chose to go to AIRE Ancient Baths in Seville as I was based in that city. So what was the experience like?

First off, all of AIRE’s locations (they do have one in NYC and … Continue reading