When it comes to Spain, there is one person who has to be mentioned, and that is Sanmao. She has not only influenced me, but also a whole generation's attitude towards love, travel and life. The first time I recognized Spain was all from her. It was her love story that gave me the idea to go to the city where she had lived and loved.
13. Toledo Toledo: The Light of Spanish Cities
Toledo Toledo, a famous city in medieval Europe, is the old capital of Spain. Over the centuries, Christianity, Islam and Judaism have been born here, branding the city with their respective marks, and it is known as the "capital of three cultures".
Walking into the ancient city of Toledo is like taking a step back in time. Inside the ancient city, the road is narrow and sloping, and the streets are intertwined, as dense as a spider's web. There is not a single modern building here, all the ancient folk houses, the whole city seems to be quiet and simple.
Walking through the streets of Toledo, you can see churches, mosques, Visigothic or Roman buildings, synagogues, and Renaissance palaces in Mudejar and Gothic styles, which are a blend of Arab and Roman styles. The city itself is a work of art, famous for its colorful culture and its architecture in many different styles.
Itinerary
Puerta Nueva de Bisagra - Cathedral of Toledo - Toledo City Hall Ayia - Toledo City Hall. Ayuntamiento de Toledo - Puerta del sol - Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes - Puerta Nueva de Bisagra - Puerta Nueva de Bisagra - Toledo City Hall Juan de los Reyes - Cristo de la Luz - Cristo de la Luz - Church of San Ildefonso lglesia de san lldefonso- -Puerta del Cambron Gate --Hotel Santa Isbel -- Puente de San Martín
Attractions
Puerta Nueva de Bisagra, is one of the most recognizable medieval city gates of Toledo. The gate is engraved with the coat of arms of Charles V and on the ramparts is engraved the inscription of the master of Spanish literature, Cervantes, to Toledo: "The glory of Spain, the light of the Spanish city".
Before entering Toledo, we may want to take a look at this place to get a feel for what it was like to go through the gates to enter the town in ancient times, to go back in time and experience history.
Cathedral de Toledo, the residence of the Chief Cardinal of Spain and one of the largest Catholic churches in the world, is not only the pinnacle of Gothic art, but also the best witness to history.
A long history, great architecture, and skillful carvings have given this church a high reputation.
The front of the cathedral consists of three gates, the "Gates of Hell", the "Gates of Forgiveness" and the "Gates of Judgment", from left to right.
Toledo City Hall Ayuntamiento de Toledo, full of history, the main building is in the Renaissance style, the tower comes with a baroque spire.
Toledo is a mountain city, the Tahoe River flows through the ancient city of the east, south and west, the river is rapid, forming a natural barrier. There are two city walls in the north of the city, which is a dangerous location, easy to attack and defend, and was a place of great importance to the soldiers in ancient times.
Recommended
I'm glad we booked the Hotel Santa Isbel behind the cathedral (RMB 380, including breakfast, with parking), although it only has two stars and requires a small road in to drive right up to the town hall. It's a small road, but even with the mirrors on both sides, the distance from the wall on either side of the car is no more than two fingers away, and it's thrilling.
The best surprise is that the hotel has a large terrace that can surprise you endlessly. From there, you can see Toledo at its most mesmerizing night.
14. Madrid Madrid: The Incredible Gateway to Europe
"Madrid Unbelievable, suddenly miss you so much." In the pre-trip strategy to do Madrid, ears will always unconsciously ring that familiar lyrics.
In fact, my yearning for Madrid has a long history, as early as when I was in school, Sanmao planted the seed of Madrid in my heart. This time I can finally enter the city where she has lived and loved: Madrid.
Madrid, built in the 9th century AD, can be connected to the Strait of Gibraltar with the continent of Africa to the south; to the north over the Pyrenees can be directly to the European hinterland. Madrid, therefore, became the "Gateway to Europe".
When you open this door, you will be greeted by the ancient culture and art. 1962 old buildings with a history of more than 100 years encompass the history of Madrid from the Roman era to the present day, and the accumulation of culture over the centuries has made this historic city itself evolve into a huge art capital.
As the capital and largest city of Spain, Madrid has floated for millennia on the gently flowing Manzanares River.
As one of Europe's leading centers of the arts, Madrid is where classic meets modern, where trends meet history.
Recommendations
The biggest surprise was when we arrived at the Bernabeu stadium, and undeterred, ran to the ticket office and found out that there was a Copa del Rey match that very night, for 35 euros a ticket. Without hesitation, we were able to get our hands on a ticket and wait for the evening's soccer dinner.
Tickets to the Royal Palace of Madrid can be purchased and exchanged one hour in advance. Considering our tight schedule in Madrid, we pre-purchased the queue-free tickets in advance on Hornet's Nest for 210 RMB for 2 people, which felt like a good deal compared to the high ticket prices at home. Unfortunately, there are many places where photos are not allowed.
In addition, since the Royal Palace is still holding some official events, so it may be closed at any time. The easiest way is to look at the flag on the flagpole, if two flags are raised, it means that the king is in the palace, and there will be a state event in a while to stop the visit; on the contrary, if only one flag is raised, you can rest assured that you can visit.
Itinerary
Bernabéu Stadium El Estadio Santiago Bernabéu (visit) -Palacio Real de Madrid, the Royal Palace of Madrid-. -El Estadio Santiago Bernabéu (match) -Plaza de Espa?a -Puerta del Sol- -Plaza Mayor -Market of San Miguel -Basilica de San Miguel --Parque del Retiro - Palacio de Cristal
Attractions
In the world of soccer, Madrid has not only opened its doors, it has also opened its doors to the world of the world's best soccer players. In the world of soccer, Madrid has not only knocked on the "door of Europe", but also on the top of the world. Soccer has not only become the symbol of the city, but has also opened the door to its centuries-long glory.
Among the many soccer stadiums is the world-famous El Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, a majestic silver and white stadium with a capacity of 80,000 spectators, which is Madrid's landmark in the world of sports and Spain's undisputed soccer mecca.
At the Bernabeu, we are pilgrims, witnessing every moment of history as it unfolds.
The Bernabeu is the home of Real Madrid, and it's every fan's dream to see a game live. That night, we will go into the Bernabeu again to fulfill our husband's dream.
Palacio Real de Madrid, the third largest palace in Europe. Built in 1738, it took 26 years to complete and is one of the best preserved and most beautiful palaces in the world.
The exterior of the palace is a square structure, and the interior has 3418 rooms, each of which is unique and magnificent.
The entire palace is magnificent, decorated in the Romanesque style, built entirely of marble, with heavy marble staircases, smooth alabaster statues, and rounded curved vaults. The frescoes on the roof of the Royal Palace of Madrid and the design and decoration of each room are quite exquisite and truly breathtaking.
Puerta del Sol, the heart of Madrid.
The most famous sculpture here is the "Bear and Raspberry". The most famous sculpture here is the "Bear and Raspberry" sculpture, which is said to be the symbol of Madrid because of its association with the city's name.
The Plaza is a semicircular square with 10 streets radiating outwards, and is the center of political activity and commerce in Madrid.
On the south side of the square, in front of the post office building, there is the "Kilometer Zero" landmark, from which all the highway milestones in Spain are counted outward, and the city of Madrid's house numbers start from here.
Ritz Park Parque del Retiro, Madrid's central park and the largest green lung in the city, was once a palace built by the Spanish royal family, and after the 19th century was opened to the public as a park free of charge, and is also the place where the love story of Sanmao and José began.
Palacio de Cristal, the Crystal Palace, is undoubtedly the most beautiful view in Ritz Park.
15. Zaragoza: A Sacred Place of Miracles
In the third century B.C., the Romans came to this area and fought a 300-year war with the Carthaginians. The Romans eventually built a thriving city and gave it the name Zaragoza, which it bears to this day.
Today, the home of the famous court painter Francisco Goya, the city of Zaragoza is a place where three distinct and heterogeneous cultures, indigenous, Muslim, and Christian, have been brought together in a quiet way. The city of Zaragoza is now the home of the famous court painter Francisco Goya, who has infused indigenous, Muslim and Christian cultures, three distinct and heterogeneous cultures, into every corner of the city. Numerous historical monuments still seem to guard the secret of the Moorish royal family that lived here for more than 400 years.
Zaragoza, a place of miracles.
Itinerary
Catedral del Salvado - Plaza del Pilar - Lonja - La Lonja. Exchange Lonja - Basilica del Pilar - Torreon de la Zuda - Sta. Zaragoza Zaragoza
Attractions
Plaza del Pilar Plaza del Pilar, the big square in Zaragoza's old town, is known as the city's living room. On weekends and important days, the square comes alive with the sound of tambourines and onlookers dancing in harmony.
Basilica del Pilar, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Pilar, which enshrines Stonehenge, was built in 1681, the Baroque style church, after 2000 years of remodeling one by one, to form the present magnificent, spectacular, majestic 11 domes and 4 towers, is a treasure of Baroque art.
Inside the church, there is still a stone pillar from the apparition of the Virgin Mary in 40 AD, which makes it a sacred place for the cult of the Virgin Mary in Spain.
If Barcelona belonged to Gaudi, then Zaragoza undoubtedly belonged to Goya Goya.
In the center of the Plaza de la Pilar, on a red marble floor, stands a tall white marble pedestal with a bronze statue of Goya, the Cloister of Goya. The front of the stone base does not have any complicated text title, only "GOYA" four capital letters, enough.
At night in Zaragoza, the night sky is as blue as ink, clear and fantastic. The cathedral is brightly lit, the dome and the spire echo each other, looking brilliant and magnificent. The streets are a bit empty, more and more set off the church's quiet and solemn.
16. Barcelona Barcelona: Gaudi's dream world
One man's seven works of art are listed on the World Heritage List, which is a miracle unique in the world. Barcelona is the dream world of Gaudi, the genius architect of modernism.
Gaudi's architecture makes the second largest city in Spain, shine, Barcelona is Gaudi built a fairy tale world for adults. There is the stained glass of the Sagrada Familia, the glass collage of the House of Batlló, the unique promenade rooftop of the Park of Quirrell, and the passionate beach, more stunning than Dali, Picasso, contemporary art, deserves to be called the stunning "flower of Europe".
Recommended
Parque Güell, the Sagrada Familia, is a must-visit for all who come to Barcelona to play, so every day to visit the tourists are very many, we recommend that you book tickets online in advance, otherwise you have to be ready to line up outside the church for more than a few hours of mental preparation.
I booked the 9am tour + tower ticket on Hornet's Nest, which was not as expensive as I thought it would be, for 2 people, 358 RMB.
Itinerary
Camp Nou Stadium Camp Nou - Olympic Park Anella Olímpica - Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya - Placa d'Espanya - Sagrada Familia Cathedral Parque Güell- -Mirador de Colón - Port Olímpic de Barcelona - Gothic Quarter El - -Palau Güell - Picasso Museum Museu Picasso - Catedral de Barcelona -- Wall of Love Kiss -- Palau de la Música Catalana -- Arc de Triomf -- Parque Güell -- Illa de la Discordia -- Casa Milà --Casa Batlló
Attractions
The Sagrada Familia Parque Güell, the main work of Gaudí's life, the greatest building, and the crystallization of his heart and soul, the symbol of honor.
This can be called the world's slowest modern building in the history of architecture, but does not affect it in any way to become a world-famous building, all the people who study architecture must learn the building. The design of the church is not at all linear and flat, but rather a combination of spirals, cones, hyperbolas, parabolas, and all kinds of variations to form a sacred building full of rhythmic dynamics.
Entering the Sagrada Familia, it is hard not to be attracted by the columns and the high dome, which look as if they were trees in the sky, as if we were in a scene from the movie "The Lord of the Rings" or "Star Wars". The natural light coming in through the skylights is truly awe-inspiring, as if the heavens had descended.
El Gòtic, the Gothic Quarter, the center of Barcelona's old town and the birthplace of Barcelona.
Except for some changes in the 19th and early 20th centuries, many of the buildings were built in the Middle Ages, and some of them even date back to Roman times. The intricate street plan of the Gothic Quarter still exists today, and a walk through it is like stepping back in time to the Middle Ages.
The Palau de la Música Catalana, built between 1905 and 1908, is the work of modernist architect Montaner and is one of Barcelona's most striking modernist buildings.
The exterior walls of the Palace of Music are decorated with group carvings based on folk songs, encompassing traditional Catalan and Arabic elements, colorful and eye-catching, and the whole building is like an exquisite work of art.
Parque Güell is a paradise designed by Gaudí, who succeeded in combining nature and architecture into a perfect whole.
Here, Gaudi's artistic interest and architectural style can be fully realized. Everything here - bridges, roads and benches inlaid with colorful porcelain tiles - is sinuous, as if floating and flowing, constituting a poetic mood. Whether it is the shape of the space, or light and color, from the whole to the details, are done in a fun, beautiful, beautiful, everywhere to surprise people.
Discordia neighborhood Illa de la Discordia, Gracia Avenue is distributed with a large number of modernist style buildings, especially in the section between 35-43, the distribution of several outstanding centuries-old buildings, which form their own school, each with a huge contrast in style was jokingly referred to as "discordia neighborhood". Discordant Neighborhood".
Casa Milà, the last private residence designed by Gaudi. It is considered the most iconic and original of all modern buildings and is one of the most important buildings in the world in the 20th century.
With its wavy exterior, the entire building resembles the surface of a rough sea, and the oddly shaped chimneys and ventilation ducts on the roof are its most striking feature.
Casa Batlló, an apartment building with an unusual form, is representative of Gaudí's creative maturity. The house was built more than 100 years ago and has undergone several renovations. The exterior walls are covered with colorful mosaics, the roof looks like dragon scales, and the building is full of magical colors. Especially the balcony looks like an alien's eyes, which makes me feel cool.
We dedicated this special European driving trip to the wild, exuberant land of West Portugal. 10 days, single car, double, through 16 cities, traveled more than 5,000 kilometers, wonderful, and let us can not help but with this piece of free, passionate, literary land **** love.
Come to think of it, this journey has been over for almost two years. The reason for the delay in writing, I always want to avoid the cold gallop "two teeth" travelogue, left that disperses the mist after the winter warm sun. The first time I saw the movie, I was able to get a good look at the movie.
Although there has been a lapse of nearly two years, but today to reminisce about every detail of the road, still vivid. Along the way, we felt the intertwining of the deep Christian atmosphere and the classic Islamic culture; the strong collision of many civilizations, cultures, religions and arts.
We crossed again and again, from the magnificent ancient Rome, to the magnificent age of navigation; from the deep secluded medieval times, to the shoulder-to-shoulder bustling city; from the shock of the ancient Roman Colosseum, to the frenzied modern civilization of the soccer game -----
Walking here, as if it were in the intertwined space and time, one step in the middle of the millennium.
In the Iberian Peninsula, although we only stayed a short 10 days, is not enough to fully appreciate her wonderful, but the first Roman city of Tarragona, through the mix of ancient and modern Valencia, the Thousand and One Nights like Granada, with Picasso's Málaga, the Smurfs town of Huesca, standing on top of the cliffs of the Ronda, the sunny coast of Cádiz, the multiple halo of the Seville, the mysterious Evora, the westernmost tip of the Eurasian continent, Cape Roca, the traces of the great voyage of Lisbon, the medieval Toledo, the incredible Madrid, the miracle of the shrine of Zaragoza, the splendor of Barcelona ...... each city has her unique flavor.
This is the "two teeth" of my heart, where there is not only Iberian ham, and paella; not only soccer, and flamenco, matadors; not only Gaudi, and Picasso; not only the great voyage, and the Renaissance; not only the brilliant yesterday, and the bright today! Today ......
I remember what San Mao once said: life is not about length, but about whether you have lived it painfully ------
Just this article to commemorate a journey that took place at a special time. Subsequently, I will tell you the highlights of each city one by one.
Winter warm sun pulling "teeth" record (3) 10 days 5000 kilometers of the incredible city (in)
Winter warm sun pulling "teeth" record (2) 10 days 5000 kilometers of the incredible city (on)