This metropolis of 3.2 million (!) inhabitants is a true paradise for art and architecture lovers! There are endless hotspots to be found here. With all the beautiful squares, extraordinary statues, sights and beautiful architecture, Madrid offers you everything your heart desires!

Madrid is so incredibly big! I remember my first time in Madrid. Where to start? I thought. Therefore, I made a list for you of the places where you can find the most interesting architecture that you should not miss!

The square not to be missed is Plaza Puerta del Sol, the heart of the city. And of course the Plaza Mayor, an ancient square where you can relax, designed by Juan de Villanueva. Furthermore, you can visit the impressive train station; Estación de Atocha where you will find, for example, in the waiting hall a tropical garden and the memorial of the 2004 bombings. Then continue to the Palacio Real (royal palace) and take an immediate walk down Gran Vía, as this street is known as the broadway of Spain!

What else should you see?

• Arco de la Victoria, the triumphal arch built in honor of the Spanish army, work of architect Arreguien
• Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales, the dome, courtyard and royal salon are all examples of admirable architecture in this palace
• Faro de Madrid, this modern tower was designed by Salvador Perez Arroyo in honor of the Barcelona Summer Olympics
• Parque Retiro, on Sundays visit the most beautiful park in Madrid, where you will find the only statue in the world honoring the devil.
• Torre Picasso, this is the tallest building in Madrid, designed by the same designer as the Twin Towers in NYC, namely Japan's Minoru Yamasaki.

Puerta de Europa is a good example of how modern Madrid is. Still fairly new (1.5 years old) in this city, it is the largest inner-city park in the world! The huge park full of modern achitecture is built on a highway so that the residents are no longer bothered by the noise. This park is definitely worth a visit when you are in Madrid!

Madrid is the perfect city for a city break! As you may have read, there are many sights to see, but you can also go shopping and find some of the best nightclubs in the country and probably in Europe! But if you want to spend more time in this vibrant city, take a Spanish course! Where better to do this than in the capital of Spain?

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Everyone has heard of it and this trend is becoming more and more popular! I'm talking about Salsa dancing. It is of course a typical feature of Latin American culture, but at the same time it is also an intense sport! It is one of the few trends that has not gone away again after a while and is practiced all over the world.

Salsa is actually a collective name for various Latin American dances and forms of expression such as Son, Mambo, Cha-cha-cha and many more.... Each country has developed its own way of dancing salsa over time.

This dance is done in pairs, starting with 8 counts, divided into 2x4 counts. Every 4th beat is a rest beat. As you keep repeating this pattern, a rhythm develops in which a step is performed on each beat. The more you practice this, the easier it becomes and eventually you don't have to count anymore because then it goes by itself!

The music on which salsa is danced is also called salsa! Salsa music is a mix of many different styles of music. Nice detail: ´salsa´ means ´sauce´ or ´mixture´ in Spanish; it is a whole, a ´music sauce´ made by mixing all kinds of rhythms.

Salsa once originated in Cuba but today it is danced throughout Latin America and Spain! Young and old practice this sport. If you would like to take a salsa course or workshop, the best place to do it is in Latin America.

The best places for a salsa course are:

• Argentina, Córdoba and Mendoza
• Chile, Santiago de Chile
• Cuba, Havana
• Guatamala, Antigua

But you can take salsa lessons not only in Latin America! Also in Spain you can learn to dance salsa! In Málaga, for example, you can also find salsa courses and salsa workshops. During a salsa course you will be totally immersed in Latin American culture. You will learn to salsa dance and of course in South America and Spain you will find many salsa bars where you can put everything you have learned into practice! In these bars there is always a fun, relaxed and especially lively atmosphere!

It is of course great fun to take a salsa course in one of these countries! Through such a course you will also learn a lot about Latin American culture. You can also combine a salsa course with a Spanish course, giving you the best of both worlds! You learn to speak Spanish and dance salsa at the same time!

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Whoever thinks of Spain, often thinks of high temperatures, lying on the beach... And of course you are absolutely right, but this is not always the case! Because in winter (and often also in spring!) you can enjoy winter sports in Spain! In Spain you will find many slopes that are a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts among us.

Go winter in Spain and book a winter sports vacation! There are more than 30 winter sports resorts in Spain. It is a pity that many people do not know that Spain is such a good winter sports place. The Spanish slopes are really worth it and in the evening you can eat delicious tapas! They are not inferior to Italy, Austria, Switzerland or other ski resorts. For example, you can go to the Spanish Pyrenees to spend a nice vacation. The Spanish resorts are located on the French border.

During your vacation in the Spanish Pyrenees, you will find 520 meters of ski slopes and usually a lot of sunshine here, too! Things are a little different here than in the ski resorts in Austria, for example. Where in Austria you can apres ski day and night, this is not the case in Spain. Of course there are some entertainment possibilities, but you go to Spain mainly for skiing or snowboarding.

You can also take a different approach. Because did you know that there are ski resorts near Barcelona, Madrid and Salamanca? Take a language course and spend a weekend skiing in between! The most famous Spanish ski resorts are Sierra Nevada, Formigal, Baqueira - Beret - Bonaigua, La Molina, Cerler, Masella, Candanchu and Panticosa.

Feel like skiing in the summer? Then just go to Spain's indoor Snowcenter, located in Madrid! This indoor slope is the only indoor ski facility in Spain, but it is the largest in all of Europe. You can find more information on Madridsnowzone. Note that this website is only available in Spanish, so good to practice!

What you can also do is opt for the best of both worlds! Skiing down the mountains during the day, and in the evening sitting on the terrace 25 degrees warmer and in your summer clothes! It's all possible when you go to Sierra Nevada in the spring. You have views of the sea and Africa from the slopes. The Sierra Nevada, "snowy mountain range" in Spanish, contains 85 km of ski slopes. The mountain range is close to the Costa del Sol, where winter temperatures average 18 degrees! Book now and enjoy a winter sports vacation in Spain in a few months!

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In July it was time again, the 2012 Olympics. This time held in London. Among other things, Spain is known for its successes with soccer, tennis and basketball. But how did Spain really do?

Prior to the Olympics, high expectations were placed on the Spanish soccer team. Because Spain won the European Championship in 2008 and 2012, and the World Cup in 2010, a lot was expected of the team. Three European Championship players were going with the team to London. The team was named the favorite for the gold medal. Unfortunately, they lost in the first round of play against Japan. The game after that unfortunately also ended with a loss for Spain, against Honduras. After these two games, Spain no longer had a chance of winning.

After a somewhat difficult start, Spain eventually achieved great results with a total of 17 medals. This is one less than at the 2008 Games in Beijing, and only three less than the Netherlands this year. The highest number of medals ever won by Spain at the Games is 22. This was in 1992 when the Games were held in Barcelona.

Gold Spain won three golds. Sailor Marina Alabau Neira brought in the first gold victory. Spain won both gold and silver on the first day of the Olympic taekwondo tournament. The gold medal went to Joel González against South Korea. Success team Tamara Echehoyen, Sofía Toro and Angela Pumariega won first place sailing against Australia. During this sailing race, both countries sailed bow to bow until the Australian team lost control after which the helmswoman fell overboard into the water. This allowed Spain to sail on easily.

Silver
The Spanish athletes managed to bag a total of 10 silver medals. The Olympic basketball tournament had the same final as four years ago: Spain against the USA. Unfortunately, the men lost this game 100-107. Nevertheless, an achievement to be proud of! Further silver medals were won by Spain with the following sports; canoeing, synchronized swimming, taekwando, traitlon, water polo and swimming.

Bronze
Third place was achieved four times. This was with canoeing, synchro swimming, wrestling and handball.

Some big sports names from Spain unfortunately could not compete in the Games. One example is tennis player Rafael Nadal. The top tennis player who was actually chosen to carry the flag on July 27 did not feel fit enough to compete at the Games. “It's one of the saddest moments of my life,” he revealed. Nadal is still dealing with the effects of an injury to his left knee.

Because of the crisis in Spain, the country was forced to buy tenues as cheaply as possible. The Russian company Bosco made them for free, donating another eight million euros to the Spanish Olympic Committee. Unfortunately, there were many comments about this tenue. According to many, the tenue would resemble a canaval suit. The director of the Spanish Olympic Committee, Alejandro Blanco, defends the choice: “If you measure the difference between paying one and a half million from taxpayers' money and free tenues, there is no discussion.”

Sport is very important in Spain. Therefore, the Spaniards can certainly be proud of the results achieved by the athletes at the 2012 Olympics!

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Bullfighting in Spain. Some consider it a wonderful Spanish tradition, and others abhor it. Bullfighting is very popular in Spain, and for many Spaniards it is a cultural activity. They see it as a kind of artistic expression and are proud of it.

Bullfighting is one of the oldest Spanish traditions. Centuries ago, the first fight already took place. The bulls are first put in a pasture for 6 to 7 years so they can eat a lot. They have (usually) had a nice life, unlike other animals. This bull meat is therefore considered the best of the best. When they are ready, they are taken from the pasture and have to perform.

A fight takes place between bullfighters, also called toreros, and a bull. This fight is made up of several phases, with each torero having his own phase. It begins with chasing the bull so that it becomes wild. Next, riders on horses enter the arena and stab the bull a few times. What follows is the matador who carries 2 sticks and uses them to poke the bull in the neck.

Then you hear a trumpet and the torero gets a knife. The idea is that he stabs the knife between the shoulders of the bull straight into the heart, otherwise he dies immediately. If this does not happen, he will continue to live and thus suffer for several minutes.

Basically, it's very simple. The one who stays alive wins. It is a matter of life or death where the toreros are given the task of making it a spectacular show. The torero who kills the bull is also called matador. If the audience thinks the matador did a good job, he gets loud applause and "olé!" is shouted. And, if it was really very good, the audience waves white scarves or other items. If the audience is dissatisfied, they stay frosty quiet or they start shouting.

In Seville you will find one of the oldest bullrings built specifically for bullfighting, the Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza. The beginning of the construction of this bullring was made in 1758. Therefore, Seville is known as the best place to watch a bullfight.

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Walk the Spanish streets and the first thing you see are the colorful, well-groomed and, of course, busy talking people. Spanish fashion means being groomed and dressed for the occasion. If you are going to a wedding, then as a woman you put on a beautiful dress. In Spain there is still a lot of emphasis on the male and female forms. Spanish fashion is appropriate, but with creative outliers.

People are concerned with their appearance. They want to look good. That's what's great about Spanish fashion; Spaniards like to look well-groomed. Of course, you know Spanish fashion from the big store chains like Zara, Mango, Pull & Bear, Bershka, Stradivarius and Blanco. These stores are all known for their beautiful clothes at reasonable prices. All of them stores that I love to walk into... And also one of the reasons that make living in Spain even more fun.

But Spain has more. Successful and internationally known Spanish designers include Aldolfo Dominguez, Amaya Arzuaga, Antonio Miró and Paco Rabanne.

During fashion week, they and many others show a taste of their latest creations. The biggest fashion spectacle in Spain is Madrid Fashion Week. Or Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid, as Mercedes is the main sponsor of this event. Twice a year, designers from all over the world gather here to showcase their designs. The models walk in colorful creations from which the passion radiates. The clothes are draped around their bodies as if each show is their last.

During Madrid Fashion Week, new talent also gets a chance to show their faces! This is possible during the EGO shows. A way of self-expression is shown where there is a continuous search for new styles and innovative trends.

With Madrid being the fashion capital of Spain, this fashion week is among one of the most important in the world. This, of course, includes big sisters New York, London, Paris and Milan. Other major fashion events in Spain are 080 Barcelona Fashion and Valencia Fashion Week.

Spain has many successful brands, but the big Spanish success story is Zara. Originally started in Barcelona, Zara has grown into one of the world's biggest fashion brands. And with 1,659 stores, Zara continues to grow. Today, Zara also sells furniture and other accessories to decorate your home, or Zara Home.

Zara stores are full of the latest fashions. Zara participates in bold trends (like now the gothic influence and many different materials!) and is not afraid to show its creativity. This is one of the many reasons why we love Zara so much. Zara is unique and the clothes can be combined endlessly. The Spanish Zara stores are all equipped with beautiful design which makes for great shopping!

If you really want to keep up with the latest fashion news during your visit to Spain, read the ¡Hola! This magazine will keep you updated weekly on all the news from Spanish fashion land (and practice your Spanish with it!) You will also discover all kinds of lesser known stores during your visit to Spain. After all, Spain is full of such treasures. Walk down a side street or two and you've already found another one. After all, the Spanish do know what is beautiful!

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As we all know, one of the things Spain is known for are its famous painters and beautiful art. The most famous Spanish painter is Diego Velázquez. He is one of the greatest painters ever! With his individual style and technique, Diego Velázquez had a huge influence on European art. The young Velázquez once said, "I would rather be the best painter in normal everyday things than the second best in higher art." For those who like a bit of culture, this interesting painter is definitely worth knowing more about!

Diego Velázquez had a pretty impressive life. The painter was born in Seville June 6, 1599. In 1611 he starts painting with Fransico Pacheco. This is not a great painter, but he does teach Diego Velázquez the intricacies of the trade. It is also through this man that he meets the woman he will marry in 1617. This, in fact, is Pacheco's daughter. That same year, Diego Velázquez also became a member of a painters' guild, allowing him to start his own studio.

Philip IV: 5 years later, in 1622 Diego Velázquez leaves for Madrid for the first time. There, in 1623, he receives his first commission to paint a portrait of King Philip IV. This is a great success and he is appointed court painter and the only person allowed to paint the king.

Surrender of Breda: Later in 1634 and 1635, Diego Velázquez collaborated on the decoration of a new palace called Buen Retiro. One of its most important works is ´The Surrender of Breda´. This work of art, which consists of 12 paintings, is considered the best historical work in the history of Western Europe. It was created by several painters. This painting shows battles. After 12 months, the besieged Breda gives up the siege. The 12th painting shows the taking over ceremony in which the keys of the city gates are handed over.

The Pope and ´Las Meninas´: Velázquez also paid occasional visits to Italy. On his second visit, he was allowed to paint a portrait of the Pope. This famous portrait is called ´Pope Innocent X´. However, the Pope himself considered it too ´truthful´. Once back in Spain, Diego Velázquez painted his most important painting: ´Las Meninas´ a portrait featuring members of the royal family and court. The central figure in this portrait is Infanta Margarit with her ladies-in-waiting, and dog. The actual main figures, the royal couple, is depicted only in a mirror.

Style: Diego Velázquez is also called the ´painter of painters´. This is because he paid attention to light, space, lines and color in such a way. He mainly painted landscapes, scenes of ordinary life, religious paintings, genre pieces and portraits of the royal family. He influenced many other painters such as Corot, Manet, Goya, Courbet and Whistler. Spain should be very proud of this piece of history!

In Spain, you can admire his work in Madrid and Seville. Highly recommended viewing!

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The landmark of Barcelona... Who doesn't know it? La Sagrada Familia. The gigantic church is the showpiece of Barcelona due to its unique appearance. The church is admired by thousands of tourists every day. La Sagrada Familia literally means "The Holy Family. The church, which has been under construction for 130 years and is still unfinished, is definitely worth seeing if you are in Barcelona!

The church is shaped like a cross and is located in the middle of the city. La Sagrada Familia contains a total of 18 towers. Twelve of these towers represent the appostles, four represent the evangelists, and the other two towers represent the Blessed Virgin Mary and Christ. Furthermore, there are three facades, depicting the life of Jesus Christ. To get the best picture of this church, the map of the Sagrada Familia can be viewed. This floor plan shows exactly what the original plans were for this church. But not only the outside is impressive! Inside, the church is at least as special. With its unique shapes and renewed Gothic style, the church is beautiful to see.

The first stone was laid in 1882. La Sagrada Familia was commissioned by the Roman Catholic Church in honor of the Holy Family. At first, Francisco de Paula del Villar was the architect of the church, but he soon called it quits due to religious disagreements. The project was taken over by the architect Antoni Gaudí. For 40 years he worked on this impressive church. Unfortunately, he died in 1926. During the last years of his life, he worked exclusively on the church. Designing this church was the biggest project of his life. Gaudi was very dedicated. In fact, he was so dedicated that at one point he went to live on the construction site! In the crypt inside the church is the tomb in which the world-famous architect Gaudí is buried. After his death, several architects continued Gaudí's work following his original ideas.

Gaudí did not design the church according to a set pattern. He wanted to create a new architecture, with balanced and self-sustaining structures. These innovative ideas can all be seen in the church. While building the church, Gaudí often changed his ideas. This was one of the reasons why the building of the church was delayed. Furthermore, there was also a lack of financial resources. La Sagrada Familia was only allowed to be financed through donations. In fact, the church was originally planned as a "cathedral of the poor.Tegenwoordig wordt er nog steeds aan la Sagrada Familia gewerkt. De verwachting is dat de kerk in 2026, precies 100 jaar na de dood van Gaudi, af zal zijn. Of dit gaat lukken kan niet met zekerheid worden gezegd. Wat we wel zeker weten is dat deze kerk, ondanks dat er nog aan wordt gewerkt, prachtig is om te bezichtigen!

Visits: You can also visit La Sagrada Familia! The address of la Sagrada Familia is Calle Mallorca, 401. Barcelona 08013. During the summer months (April to September), the church is open daily from 9am-8pm. During the other months, the church is open daily from 09.00-18.00h. The normal entrance fee to this admirable church is €13,00. But please note! Students, persons under 18 and pensioners pay €11.00. The church is funded by donations. In the past, those generous enough to donate were promised to enter heaven. The entrance fee is also considered a kind of donation. So who knows, it may also bring you good luck when you visit the church....

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Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes (1547 - 1616) is world famous for his novel ´don Quichote de la Mancha´ or "The ingenious nobleman don Quichote of La Mancha. The first part of the book was published in 1605 and the second part in 1615.

By reading many chivalric novels, the ingenious nobleman becomes under the delusion that he is the chosen one to confront evil in the world. He experienced the first failure of his imagined mission after being knighted. After being beaten black and blue at an inn, he was brought back home by a peasant. However, he did not let himself be known and found a farmhand ´Sancho Panza´ willing to go with him, together with his horse ´Rocinant´. Together they experienced many imaginary adventures and became involved in one battle after another, including the fight against windmills. We all know the story of don Quixote mistaking windmills and their sails for soldiers waving weapons in their hands.

Love in a knight's novel cannot be missing, of course, and don Quixote makes the peasant girl ´Dulcinea´ his lover. When the knight and his servant return to their native village after many travels, don Quixote is felled by fever and dies.

This book by Miguel Cervantes is the most widely read book in the world after the Bible. Think before you begin because it has 1117 pages. Not surprisingly, even stamps with the image of don Quijote were issued (1998) and there are many drawings, posters, figurines, etc.

Like many other artists, Miguel Cervantes became famous and loved for his work after his death and you can find his image on the Euro coins of 10, 20 and 50 cents, for example.

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Do you love music and art? Then the Sónar Music Festival in Barcelona is definitely for you! Ever since 1994, this 3-day festival has taken place in the third week of June at various locations in Barcelona and attracts more than 80,000 visitors every year. 

Sónar is a unique festival, especially in form and content. An intriguing mix of performances and events that blur and sometimes eliminate the boundaries between music, technology and art. To cite one example: The highlight of last year's Sónar Festival was the performance by Daito Manabe. A Japanese artist who creates music by moving the muscles of his face in certain ways.

The program consists of Sónar by Day and by Night. Sónar by Day is dedicated to the search for new talent. There are concerts, exhibitions and performances by professional artists. During Sónar by Night, as the name suggests, the party really gets going and you can enjoy great shows with performances by famous artists from the international music world. An example: Deadmau5, Lana del Rey, The Roots, Hot Chip and Fatboy Slim, are part of this spectacle.

Tickets for this festival sell out in no time every year, so that indicates its popularity. If you will be in Barcelona on June 14, 15 or 16, 2013, try to get tickets through the official website and be sure to check it out and enjoy the atmosphere and creativity around you! Various clubs and bars in the Barcelona area also host parties and performances by well-known international DJs throughout the week.

Not in Spain around that time? Since 2002, this festival has also been held in other countries. In recent years, the Sónar festival has also taken place in London, New York, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Chicago and many other world cities, among others.

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