Basque Cider Houses, Historic Caserios & Boutique Cheeseries
BASQUE CIDER & BASQUE COUNTRY SIDRERIAS
So we’ve just returned from the Basque Country where we spent the weekend reacquainting ourselves with Basque cider and the ciderhouses or `sidrerias´of this wonderful region. If you are a food lover and really want a unique, local experience when in the Basque Country or as part of your custom trip to Spain, then Totally Spain can set you up with a top notch private tour, over two or even three days, visiting and dining in historical cider houses; touring and sampling at boutique cheeseries and all while staying in centuries old Basque farmhouses.
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Spanish Parador Hotels with over 1000 years of history
Spanish Parador Hotels in existence for more than a millenium
Spain is a country full of historical heritage. And part of it has been recovered by the state-owned company Paradores, which has obtained and reinvented many historical properties turning them into hotels distributed throughout the country. Of course, always endeavouring to preserve the original essence of the building. In total, there are 97 Spanish Parador hotels throughout Spain of differing styles and settings.
The Spanish Parador network of hotels (Paradores) were officially established in 1928 during the reign of King Alfonso XIII to give a boost to tourism: the first Spanish Parador was the one located in Gredos, but many of them are located in much older buildings, whether castles, monasteries or palaces from medieval times. Three of them stand out for having more than 1,000 years of history behind them:
Experiences in Cantabria Spain| Holiday like a Local
Do you ever wonder what professional travel planners do during their Summer holidays? Because we spend the Spring and Autumn months road-testing new hotels, venues, activities and experiences, in July and August, we stay local at home here in Cantabria. In Northern Spain, the temperatures are perfect for days on the beach, BBQs at home and lunches out with friends and family. Here is the longlist of 25 experiences in Cantabria we’ve planned for this Summer! If you’re planning an active trip to Cantabria, get in touch and we’ll design your perfect holiday!
Forest Bathing in Spain | Where to Visit
When we say forest bathing in Spain, we don’t mean swimming in the conventional sense. We mean surrounding yourself in the beauty of the forest – whether that’s walking, trekking or simply having a picnic or reading a book under the shade of the trees. Perhaps you already practice Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) which emerged from Japan in the 1980s. Or maybe you just believe in the calming effects that time in the forest can have on our health. In addition to boasting the cleanest air and sense of wellness, the beauty of Spain’s forests all year round is something we never take for granted here at Totally Spain. If you’d like to experience them for yourself, here are our favourites:-
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Pablo Picasso’s Spain | What to See
Although Pablo Picasso lived in France for much of his adult life, it’s impossible to understate the influence of his Spanish upbringing on his art. To gain some insight into the exiled champion of cubism, neo-classicism, and surrealism, here at Totally Spain we highly recommend a trip to Malaga, Barcelona & Madrid. That’s where you can visit the places that meant so much to him and see some of his iconic works such as ‘Guernica’ in person.