Cosmopolitan Spain Traveler - Winter 2019

SPAIN TRAVELER Cosmopolitan

Winter Edition | December 2019 - February 2020

LIRIA PALACE

ISLAND OF ETERNAL SPRING

CAÑADAS DEL TEIDE

Exclusive palace opening its doors to the public for the first time in 250 years.

Get lost in Tenerife, also known as the “island of a thousand experiences.”

Exceptional Parador located in the heart of Teide National Park.

www.cosmopolitanspaintraveler.com

Winter Edition | December 2019 - February 2020

Cosmopolitan Spain Traveler

The Tourist Offices of Spain form part of a network of 33 worldwide offices of TURESPAÑA, Spain’s government tourism promotion authority based in Madrid. Four branch offices in the USA (Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and Miami) promote leisure and convention travel to consumers, press, and travel professionals in their respective geographic jurisdiction.

CONTENTS

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL OFFICE

LOS ANGELES (West Coast USA) losangeles@tourspain.es

CHICAGO (Midwest USA) chicago@tourspain.es

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Tenerife Island An idyllic combination of sun and sand, nature and leisure endows this island paradise. Liria Palace Enjoy a unique collection of historical paintings, documents, and decorative arts in Madrid. Carnival 2020 The Island’s most emblematic festival has been putting smiles on people’s faces for centuries.

NEWYORK (North-East USA) nuevayork@tourspain.es

MIAMI (South-East USA) oetmiami@tourspain.es

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12 Paradors of Spain: Las Cañadas del Teide Stay at mountain lodge hidden in natural beauty with spectacular views of a volcano.

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ON THE COVER

San Cristóbal de La Laguna Historical center declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999 . Image by srool from Pixabay .

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NIPO: 115-19-030-8 Design and Layout: Tom Milanovic

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Cosmopolitan Spain Traveler

Letter from the Editor

Spain presents a wide variety of tourist options that make it one of the most visited countries in the world. In this issue we propose a journey through history when visiting Liria Palace in Madrid. Discover Tenerife, one of the most beguil- ing islands of the Canary archipelago, where you should experience the joy of its colorful carnival, and enjoy one of Tenerife’s most charming places by staying in its magnificent Las Cañadas del Teide Parador. The Liria Palace is an exclusive artistic and historical space in Madrid. It is home to one of the most outstanding private art collections in the world, a product of 600 years of patronage and collecting by the House of Alba. It gives visitors the chance to live out 250 years of history through pictures, sculptures, tapestries and other fine items. When traveling to the Canary Archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, you must visit Tenerife, an island of a thousand experiences. Its idyllic combination of sun, na- ture, leisure, numerous volcanic beaches and mild temperatures has made Tener- ife one of the most popular vacation destinations in Europe. Enjoy both the Teide National Park, that covers one of the world’s most stunning volcanic landscapes, and the Historic Quarter of La Laguna, a unique example of a colonial city that was declared, along with the Teide National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tenerife is also very well known for its Carnival celebration, the second most popular in the world after Rio de Janeiro. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people of all ages gather in the streets to share joy, rhythm, brightness and mad- ness while enjoying a costume dance party and live performances. Finally, our featured Parador, with amazing views of the peak of Mount Teide, is located in the heart of the Teide National Park. Access spectacular landscapes, enjoy delicious food and take advantage of stargazing sessions while staying at this mountain lodge.

3 Tourist Office of Spain

Cosmopolitan Spain Traveler

Liria Palace

T he Liria Palace gives visitors the chance to live out the history of one of the most distinguished Spanish lin- eages through documents, pictures, sculp- tures, tapestries and other fine items. Those who tour its rooms can feel the impressions left by centuries past and get to know not only the story of one of Spain’s most well known families but also some of the landmark events in the history of the country and the world. The historical art collection was gathered by the Dukes of Berwick and Alba, patrons and collectors for over five hundred years. The origin of the collections at the Liria Pal- ace reflects the refined tastes and cultural leanings of its inhabitants, who sought out objets d’art to decorate their palaces. Paintings, sculptures, tapestries, furniture, engravings, documents and books plus a large collection of porcelain and decorative arts are carefully displayed in the various rooms for the admiration of their owners and visitors, who can enjoy a truly unique collection.

LIRIA PALACE A Different Kind of Palace. An Exclusive Experience. The Liria Palace is not just a museum. It is the only palace in Madrid that is also a home . That makes Liria an exclusive artistic and historical space. A Full-Sense Experience Music, voices, pictures and words immerse visitors in the essence of the building, a place where people have lived, full of history and memories. Visitors feel, imagine and mentally recreate what life was like in each room with the help of musical scores and the voices of the people who lived there, gaining an understanding of the importance of Liria’s extensive picture gallery and marvelling over each detail of the breath taking decorative arts that adorn each room.

For tour information and hours, please visit: www.palaciodeliria.com

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Tenerife is the island of a thousand experiences. You can get lost in nature, relax on the beach, climb Teide, go shopping, see a show, walk the old town cobbles, have fun at a theme park, play golf, or sit on a terrace with sea views and taste the local cuisine. TENERIFE Island of Eternal Spring

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How to get here »

Designed by César Manrique , these spectacular saltwater pools are located on the south coast of Tenerife’s capital, with fabulous views of the Auditorium designed by Santiago Calatrava, the Palm Gardens and the sea. Manrique’s design used natural elements such as volcanic rocks, palm trees and ornamental plants along- side saltwater waterfalls, all decorated with his famous “Wind Toy” sculptures. Parque Marítimo - Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

Photo by José Torres Guillén

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Cosmopolitan Spain Traveler A s the largest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife is a fabulous world of contrasts. The idyllic combination of sun and sand, nature and leisure, has made it one of the most popular vacation destinations in Europe. Its diverse coast offers a wide variety of places to enjoy sunshine and sea. In the north, where the countryside is steep with cliffs, you will find secluded bays, whereas in the south, you will find numerous beaches, most of which are volcanic in origin. You can swim and sunbathe all year round thanks to the abundance of sunny days and moderate temperatures which range between 65 degrees in winter and 78 degrees in summer.

The Roque Cinchado (foreground) is an emblematic 88-foot high rock formation. It appeared on the one-thousand peseta bank note, with Teide in the background.

Image by Thomas Astleitner from Pixabay

hang gliding are just a few activities you can enjoy here. Together with the famous Carnival in early spring, there are many festivals where you will be able to experience popular and tradi- tional customs of the islanders, and the cuisine, such as Orotava Valley wines, seafood dishes, “wrinkled potatoes,” mojo sauces and distinct cheeses. This is, without doubt, the icon of Tenerife. Teide National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. First, it boasts the broad- est sample of supra-Mediterranean vegetation on Earth. Second, it cov- ers one of the world’s most stunning Teide National Park

volcanic landscapes. The park lies right in the middle of Tenerife, at an altitude of 6,500 ft. above sea level, topped by Spain’s highest peak at 12,198 ft. These record-breaking figures add to the fact that it is the most visited na- tional park in Europe, welcoming some three million visitors every year. One of the most exciting experiences in this National Park is a ride on the cable car. The base station stands at an altitude of 7,729 ft. and climbs up to the top station at 11,663 ft. The journey between the two takes roughly 8 minutes and the thrill is electrifying. Once at the top, you will be treated to stunning views from the lookout point. But even if you take the cable car to

Besides hiking in the Teide National Park, diving, cycling, golf, surfing and

Canarian Wrinkled Potatoes

Boiled in copious amounts of sea salt and typically served with legendary red or green mojo sauce. Image by Tom Milanovic

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Cosmopolitan Spain Traveler

Anaga Rural Park

the top station, you still can’t quite say you’ve made it to Spain’s highest point. There is a trail from here that leads you up to the crater on foot. It takes roughly 40 minutes and is a difficult walk, but just think of the pride of telling your friends you have reached the very top of Spain on your own two feet. If you want to live this unforget- table experience, you must apply for a free licence in advance. La Laguna has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 and is consid- ered a unique example of an unwalled colonial city. The original 15th century layout remains almost intact, and was also used as a template for the colonial Historic Quarter of La Laguna

cities founded in America, such as Old Havana, Lima and Cartagena, which is why their houses and streets look so similar. The city center is very well-preserved, dotted with lovely buildings on all of its streets, which are bustling, full of shops, cafés and taverns, making it the perfect opportunity to do some shopping or have a replenishing drink, a snack, or an authentic meal. A list of the buildings you won’t want to miss includes the refurbished Cathedral, the La Concepción church, the Santísimo Cristo de La Laguna Royal Sanctuary – which houses a figure of the Santísimo Cristo (Holy Christ), Plaza del Adelan- tado, the City Hall, Palacio de Nava and Casa de los Capitanes.

This rugged natural enclave is one of the few places on Earth where primor- dial laurel forest still grows. Walking its paths and catching sight of its beautiful landscapes gives you a real idea of the natural, cultural and aesthetic beauty of the area. Anaga Country Park covers much of the mountain range located on the north-west of the Island. With an expanse of almost 35,800 acres, it crosses quite a significant stretch of Tenerife, spanning the municipalities of La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Tegueste.

For more information on Tenerife, visit: www.traveltotenerife.com

Sunset at Playa del Roque de las Bodegas, Anaga Rural Park Image courtesy of Turismo de Islas Canarias

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2020

CARNIVAL Santa Cruz de Tenerife

19 FEBRUARY - 1 MARCH

Happiness and color flow through the streets, making you feel like the star of a great improvised show. There is nothing to stop you from enjoying the moment you’ve been looking forward to all year: Tenerife’s Carnival!

The Island’s most emblematic festival has been putting smiles on people’s faces for centuries, in a whirlwind of rhythm, glitter and madness. Tenerife’s Carnival has become the world’s second most popular carnival after Río de Janeiro in Brazil, thanks to its flamboyance, the quality of its pageants, street parties and concerts, and the authenticity of its street vibe. Carnaval is based around a theme that is chosen each year. The city is decorated accordingly, and the locals rush around in the preceding weeks, choosing their costumes to match. Last year was carribean with “Under the Sea.” This year’s theme is “ The Flirty 50’s .”

More information: www.carnavaldetenerife.com

Photo by Sergio Montesino

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Las Cañadas del Teide Tenerife, Spain P A R A D O R S O F S P A I N

The Parador de Las Cañadas del Teide is a mountain lodge hidden amidst the scenery, with spectacular panoramic views of the volcanic cone, Çhaorra Caldera and Montaña Blanca. Here the air is clean and refreshing, and the sea of clouds makes it an idyllic spot for evening stargazers.

How to arrive

The Parador is located in Las Cañadas del Teide National Park. It is 44 miles from the capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, via the highways from La Orotava, La Laguna, Chio, Los Cristianos and Granadilla.

Address Las Cañadas del Teide 38300 La Orotava, Tenerife Telephone +34 922 386 415

Email canadas@parador.es Fact Sheet Parador de Las Cañadas del Teide (PDF)

More Information: www.parador.es

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B esides amazing views of the peak of Mount Teide and the stargazing sessions offered by the Parador, the out- door swimming pool and terrace will make you feel that you are in a truly exceptional location. Inside, the traditional mountain lodge fireplace heats and lights a spacious room with a variety of atmospheres. The dining room serves local cuisine along with its spectacular vistas. Located in the heart of Teide National Park, from here you can visit archaeological sites, go hiking or marvel at the diverse scenery. If you are a science buff, you will be interested to know that this part of the island has similar environmental and geo- logical conditions to planet Mars. It is common to come across scientific expeditions in the area. In just a short time, you can go from the highest peak on any landmass in the Atlantic to im- mersing yourself in ocean waters, scuba diving or sunbathing on the beaches. The southwestern coast of the island offers boat tours to see cetaceans such as pilot whales and dolphins. And when you re- turn to land, don’t miss the streets dotted with monuments and the atmosphere in the bars of San Cristóbal de la Laguna, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. If you visit during February or March, you won’t want to skip the festivities of Carnival on Tenerife. Can you think of anywhere better than the Parador for your Tenerife experience?

Image courtesy of Paradores de Turismo

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Extremadura, Spain

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.

— Mahatma Gandhi Indian lawyer, politician, social activist, and writer

Image by Chema Snaz from Pixabay

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SPAIN TRAVELER Cosmopolitan

About Us TURESPAÑA is the government tourism agency responsible for marketing Spain around the world, creating value in its tourism industry, and driving the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of Spanish destinations. Its mission is to break new strategic ground in Spanish tourism, coordinating and leading public and private actors. All our activities form part of our tourism brand España Global . Our network of 33 Tourist Offices abroad act both as centers of knowledge and marketing, and as business platforms for the tourism sector. Their role abroad is essential for the execution of our international tourism promotion strategy.

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