Page 12 - AAA Now! – AAA Central Penn – September/October 2021

TRAVEL
Highlights of
Culturally Vibrant
By Judie Karhan
The Iberian Peninsula country of Spain brings to mind a kaleidoscope of images – tapas, castanets, acoustic guitar rhythms, flamenco dancing and matadors. For travelers, the cultural uniqueness of this country presents an invitation to explore and better understand the many facets of the Iberian lifestyle.
AAA Central Penn invites you to experience this fascinating region on a Highlights of Spain tour this spring. Begin the journey in Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia. Barcelona is widely revered as an attractive, avant-garde city – ultra-modern considering its 2,000-year-old Roman history. Poised on the Mediterranean coast, Barcelona is a sprawling metropolis with a rich cultural heritage and innovative style, particularly in the areas of art and architecture.
Explore the Gothic Quarter, the historic center of the old city. Stroll along Las Ramblas, a lively boulevard that runs through the heart of the city center, and Passeig de Gràcia, an important shopping and business area with several of the city’s most celebrated pieces of architecture. In the Eixample District, visit
the Sagrada Famìlia, a stunning basilica that is considered one of Gaudi’s biggest masterpieces and one of the most striking monuments ever built in the world.
Traveling south from Barcelona along the eastern coast, make a stop in Peñíscola to view the sea-lapped castle used in the film “El Cid” before arriving in Valencia, the City of Arts and Sciences. Here there will be opportunity to meet the chef of a local family- run restaurant in the heart of the old city and learn the traditional recipe for paella during a cooking demonstration – later savoring the delicious flavors of the classic dish with a glass of sangria.
The journey continues southward toward Andalusìa, past the Castle at Lorca and the troglodyte dwellings near Guadix to reach Granada. This historic city was a Moorish kingdom for almost 781 years and was the last stronghold to fall to the Catholic monarchs of Spain in 1492. Overlooking Granada stands one of the most remarkable fortresses ever built, the Alhambra. Explore this exquisite 13th century palace and stroll through the elegant water gardens of the Generalife.
Seville, the capital of Andalusìa, is one of Spain’s most charming highlights. The Alcazar palace complex is famed for its beauty and its status as the burial site of Christopher Columbus. The Plaza de España, Renaissance/neo-Moorish in style, has been used as a filming location, including scenes from “Lawrence of Arabia,” a “Star Wars” movie series, and “The Dictator.” The plaza spreads out into a large half-circle, with buildings accessible by four bridges over a moat, which represent the ancient kingdoms of Spain.
Spain
12 I SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021