Compass: Spain
“I would sooner be a foreigner in Spain than in most countries. How easy it is to make friends in Spain!”
– George Orwell
The beautiful country of Spain is known for many things–the Flamenco, siestas, wine, olive oil (did you know that Spain is the largest producer?), Pablo Picasso and many more beautifully unique and simple things.
Travel Spain to unlock it’s beauty and charm and experience walk the streets of its iconic cities and historic towns through the stories below. Take a vicarious exploration of Spain’s history, striking landscapes and stunning cityscapes.
Travel Spain to taste the vibrant flavors of the cuisine that will have your palette dancing and craving more as you uncover the best things that Spain has to offer.
Far From Home: Experiencing the Holidays in Spain
By Bianka CramblitWhen I moved to Spain, I knew I’d have to say goodbye to the very North-American traditions of Halloween and Thanksgiving. Read more
Spain Events & Festivals
On Antoni Gaudi’s Trail in Barcelona
By Sugato MukherjeeThe Spanish city of Barcelona had been Antoni Gaudi’s canvas and muse, at once. The 19th-century architect-wizard used the entire Catalonian city to express his creative genius and seamlessly blended the Gothic and the French Art-Nouveau with Expressionism to create his architectural masterpieces. Read more
Spain History The Arts
The Architectural Delights of Barcelona
By Simone GalicBarcelona is one of the most visited cities in the world, and once you’ve had a glimpse of the architecture it’s easy to see why. Read more
Spain Architecture
Tenerife Off the Beaten Track: Five Ideas to Escape the Crowds
By Diana CondreaThe volcanic island of Tenerife, the largest and most diverse of the Canary Island Archipelago, is a fabulous year-round destination with record-breaking numbers of visitors each year. Read more
Spain Off the Beaten Path Architecture
Animal Conservation in Spain
By Bianka CramblitWhen travelers dream of Spain, most think about wandering down cobblestone alleys, listening to the Spanish guitar, and drinking wine under the shadows of a towering medieval cathedral. However, it’s a mistake to think of Europe only in terms of its beautiful cities and centuries of human history. There is … Read more Read more
Spain Conservation
What a snack from southern Spain tells you about religious persecution
By David PopeI was eating my favourite sandwich in a tapas bar in Seville when my mind was blown. Read more
Spain Religious Travel Food & Drink History
Picasso’s Spain
By Bianka CramblitRaised and educated in Spain, Pablo Picasso moved to the French capital in the early 1900s. Here he experienced decades of inspiration as part of the city’s buzzing Modernist art movement and bohemian atmosphere. Read more
Spain The Arts
Walking with the Ghosts of the City: A long weekend in Barcelona
By Bianka CramblitAn ever-evolving city full of history, culture, and a buzzing atmosphere, you can visit Barcelona countless time after time without having the same experience. Read more
Spain Food & Drink History
5 Off-the-Beaten Path Places to Visit in Madrid
By Bianka CramblitMadrid is a lively capital city constantly buzzing with excitement. Before COVID inflicted its long pause on international travel, this well-connected international h Read more
Spain Off the Beaten Path The Arts
Roman Influence and Top Structures in Spain
By Bianka CramblitWith the 600 years they spent occupying the region, called Hispania at the time, from 218 BC to AD 409, the Romans irreversibly changed Spain. Read more
Spain Architecture History
Tenerife- The Wild Side of Spain
By Bianka CramblitOne hundred miles off the coast of the Southern coast of Morocco lies The Canary Islands. These eight one-of-a-kind islands will charm you so much that you might start searching for early retirement options on your flight back. Read more
Spain Food & Drink History
Romans, cathedrals, and fairytales
By Tania BanerjeeThe air hangs heavy with moisture. The illusion of stillness is the prelude before the story unfolds. Frowns appear in the sky. 2,000 years ago, the dramatic sky would have convinced the inhabitants of God’s wrath. Redundant chimneys of the slate-roofed houses stand as remnants of the past, but they … Read more Read more
Spain Architecture History The Arts
The Basque Country – Beauty & Independence
By Bianka CramblitThe proud capital of Spain’s Basque region, Bilbao, is a place where culture, history, and mouthwatering gastronomy surround you. Their storied history and decades spent fighting to retain their unique culture have shaped it to be the one-of-a-kind city it is today. Read more
Spain Insights History
Spain As We Know It, Thanks to the Moors
By Bianka CramblitStrolling through the southern Spanish city of Sevilla on a sunny early spring day, the sweet smells of orange blossoms surround you as they waft through the air. These fragrant fruit trees flourish in the cobble-stoned streets and bring color to the beautiful Royal Alcázar of Seville. Read more
Spain Religious Travel History
Asturias: Spain’s Most Overlooked Region
By Bianka CramblitWhere can you wake up in the morning to the pitter-patter of raindrops falling onto the lush, green mountainside while the bagpipes play in the distance? Scotland seems the obvious answer, but if you trade the kilts and haggis for jamón (ham) and bulls, you might be surprised to find … Read more Read more
Spain Food & Drink History