Congratulations to charming Vitoria in the Basque Country on being elected Spain’s Gastronomy Capital for 2014! This terrific win comes just a year after being Europe’s Green Capital so this city certainly knows well how to go about making a success of these prestigious awards.
Category Archives: La Rioja
Totally Spain’s Ultimate Guide to Spanish Tortilla – the Perfect Potato Omelette
If you’ve ever been to Spain you’ll know just how popular the Spanish omelette or ‘tortilla de patata‘ is. The humble dish of eggs and fried potatoes is an year-long staple in homes, bars and restaurants.
A Perfect Parador Weekend Break exploring Vitoria and the Rioja-Alavesa Villages
Vitoria is a great destination for a parador weekend break and recently we did just that. We stayed at the Parador at Argomaniz in a tiny village just 14km from the city. It’s a wonderful 17th century renaissance palace – where Napolean lay his head before the assault on Vitoria. It’s always been beautiful but following a two-year renovation project, we heard it was looking better than ever and we were keen to see the new improvements for ourselves.
Savouring Real Spain in September – Fun, Festivals & Fine Wine
September is a great time to travel to Spain. It’s much quieter than the peak months of July and August when many Spaniards take their annual vacation. The weather in Spain is still warm enough to take advantage of the wonderful evenings but not so hot as to prevent you from sightseeing in the middle of the day. It’s much easier to secure hotel rooms with sea-views, to visit the popular monuments and enjoy long lazy lunches on outdoor terraces. And it’s when some of the best festivals take place! Living and working here in Spain as we do (Totally Spain is Spain-based travel agent and specialists in custom travel to Spain since 2000), we’re big fans of Spain’s September fiestas and here’s why:-
Visiting La Rioja in Summer
Visiting La Rioja in Summer? Totally Spain asked long-term Riojan resident Tom Perry about visiting La Rioja during the summer. Having worked in the wine exportation business for almost four decades, he knows the La Rioja wine region and the industry better than most. Take it away Tom!