Spain from A to Z

The City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia.

the Huelva Ibero-American Film Festival in the province of Cádiz. EXHIBITIONS AND CONFERENCES Spain now has one of the largest networks of exhibition centres worldwide. The fairgrounds of numerous cities, including Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Bilbao, Seville, Silleda (Pontevedra) and Elche (Alicante) have been enlarged and optimised. Trade fairs and exhibitions cover sectors ranging from tourism, construction, food, cars, fashion, textiles, shoes and leisure, with the highest number of exhibitors and visitors. Over 20% of the events can be grouped within the tourism, sports and leisure sector. Of particular note is

FITUR, one of the three most important tourist fairs in the world, held annually in Madrid.

Granada and Valencia boast their decorative azulejos , floor and wall tiles whose production dates back to the Middle Ages. Artisanal leather processing is another well-known craft. Cordobán , which is embossed Córdoba leather often decorated with gold for embellishment, has been made in Córdoba for centuries. The interested shopper will also find top-of-the-line designer clothing, footwear, bags and accessories, with production done mainly in the regions of Andalusia and the Levant. The prestige and popularity of Spanish designers have launched the fashion sector onto the international stage. Events such as the Gaudí fashion label in Barcelona and the Cibeles fashion show in Madrid

www.scb.es

ARTWORK AND FASHION Tradition and creativity unite under a quality seal which gives Spanish products recognition

worldwide. Thanks to the prestige acquired over the

centuries, as well as to its varied designs, Spain’s craftsmanship is represented by practically all of its regions. Ceramics from Talavera de la Reina, Puente del Arzobispo (Toledo) or Sargadelos (Galicia) and many other workshops are known all over the world, and the Manises school (Valencia) is famous for its exclusive creations. Castellón de la Plana, Toledo, Seville,

Art & culture   23