Visiting Plaza Mayor in Madrid, Spain!

Visiting Plaza Mayor in Madrid, Spain!

Madrid is the capital city of Spain and is full of treasures to explore like Plaza Mayor. It’s one of Madrid’s most famous squares and it is in the central part of the city so it’s a great place to start your visit. Read about the history of this square and the top six things to see and do in this famous Spanish square!

History of Plaza Mayor

Plaza Mayor actually means “oldest square”, but was originally called the “Plaza del Arrabal” and has changed designs multiple times throughout history. Before Madrid was the capital of Spain, this area was used by various traders as a meeting place and a marketplace to trade their goods with others. The Plaza even hosted bullfights, performances, festivals, celebrations, sporting events and even criminals were prosecuted and punished in front of citizens of Madrid and if found guilty, were killed by executions in this public square. 

Read more about Plaza Mayor on the Treasures of Traveling website!

-- Luke Keeler

Top 14 Things to Do and See in Seville, Spain!

Top 14 Things to Do and See in Seville, Spain!

While traveling throughout southern Spain in the Andalusia region, you will not want to miss the city of Seville (or Sevilla in Spanish). Seville is actually the largest city in Southern Spain and is the capital of the Andalusia region. It is full of Spanish culture and treasures of traveling from its Moorish style buildings, historic palaces and churches to the beautiful parks and flamenco dancing that can be seen throughout the city. Maybe you are more interested in the Spanish tapas or sangria, in which there are multiple restaurants to taste the cuisine and beverages of southern Spain. You won’t tire of the Spanish charm of this city, as there is an abundance of things to see and experience so read about the top 14 things to do and see in the southern Spanish city of Sevilla! They are treasures of traveling you won’t regret visiting. 

-- Luke Keeler

A Short History of Seville’s Plaza de España!

Seville’s famous and iconic Plaza de España was built for the Ibero-American Exhibition World Fair of 1929. While the plaza was once the centerpiece of the fair, it is now one of Seville’s biggest tourist attractions which has even been used in the filming of huge Hollywood movies.

While traveling throughout southern Spain in the Andalusia region, you will not want to miss the city of Seville (or Sevilla in Spanish). Seville is actually the capital of the Andalusia region and is full of Spanish culture and treasures of traveling such as the Plaza de España. There are so many interesting places to visit within Seville, like the Cathedral, the Royal Alcazar and the Bull Ring, but the Plaza de España is one spectacular treasure you won’t want to miss. 

A Brief History of Plaza de España

Believe it or not, one of Spain’s most recognizable squares, the Plaza de España is actually less than a hundred years old. It was originally designed and constructed for the Ibero-American Exposition World’s Fair that took place in Seville in 1929 to bring Spain together with its former Latin American colonies by sharing culture and promoting positive relationships among the participating countries. To read more about the history of Plaza de España visit the Treasures Of Traveling website. 

-- Luke Keeler

Visiting the Real Alcazar of Seville!

The Real Alcazar of Seville is a must-see palace you shouldn’t miss while visiting Spain.

While traveling throughout southern Spain in the Andalusia region, you will not want to miss the city of Seville (or Sevilla in Spanish). Seville is actually the capital of the Andalusia region and is full of Spanish culture and Treasures of Traveling such as the Real Alcazar of Seville. There are so many interesting places to visit within Seville and the Royal Alcazar of Seville will top the list for many people. From the royal palace to the exquisite gardens, this should be on anyone’s itinerary when visiting Seville. 

The Alcazar Has Many Names

Depending on who you talk to, this palace might have a different name. Some people call it The Real Alcazar (Royal Palace in English), others say Reales Alcazares (Royal Palaces) and even others while using English will call it the Alcazar Palace or the Alcazar Castle. Let’s face it, most people make up their own names for buildings, but while visiting the Alcazar, I learned the real name. It’s named the Reales Alcazares because this large palace that has extensive gardens is actually made up of many palaces built by different rulers of Spain throughout history.

A Brief History of the Real Alcazar of Seville

Just like so many southern Spanish cities throughout the Andalusia region, Seville has a unique history of being ruled by multiple kings, rulers and empires. During the 1st Century, the area of Seville where the Real Alcazar is located was actually a college. Then a Christian basilica was built on the college’s ruins and when Seville was conquered by the Umayyad Caliphate in 712, they tore down the basilica to build a military fortress. Similar to the history and construction of the Alhambra in Granada.

To read more about the Royal Alcazar of Seville, visit the Treasures of Traveling website!

-- Luke Keeler

Visiting the Seville Cathedral!

Seville Cathedral was registered in 1987 by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Find out the reasons it is historical, along with other interesting facts that make this one of the treasures of traveling in southern Spain.

While traveling throughout southern Spain in the Andalusia region, you will not want to miss Seville (or Sevilla in Spanish). The city is actually the capital of the Andalusia region and is full of Spanish culture and Treasures of Traveling such as the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See, better known as Seville Cathedral. 

It is considered the third largest church in the world and since it is also the seat of a bishop, it’s actually the largest cathedral in the world. It has a fascinating history because originally it was a mosque that was converted into a church, as was so common in the southern part of Spain during the reconquest by the Spanish Monarchs. 

Read more about visiting the the Seville Cathedral on the Treasures of Traveling website. 

-- Luke Keeler

Experiencing a Bullfight in Seville Spain!

Bullfighting is a traditional Spanish sport that is still popular in Seville. It might not be for everyone, but it is definitely one of the many Treasures of Traveling throughout southern Spain. See what it’s like to experience a Spanish bullfight.

When people think about Spain, one of the first things that comes to mind for many people is a Spanish bullfight. It has a rich history in the southern part of Spain known as Andalusia and one of the most famous bullrings in the world is located in Seville. Bullfighting is not only a tradition in Spain, but also in neighboring countries like Portugal and France and much further away in Peru, Colombia and other countries throughout Latin America, as this sport was exported to the new world. In many of these other countries, the bulls are not actually killed like they are in Spain. To read more about bullfighting in Spain, check out the Treasures of Traveling website. 

— Luke Keeler

11 Places to Visit in Peru!

Peru is a fantastic country to visit and is full of different treasures of traveling to explore and these are the 11 places I recommend to visit on any trip to Peru.

Peru is a county located in western South America. The countries Ecuador and Colombia border it to the north while Brazil surrounds it to the east and along the southern border is Bolivia and Chile. To the west, is the Pacific Ocean that allows for lots of trade in and out of the country. Peru is a country of many contrasts and is a wonderful place to visit on any trip through South America. When most people think of Peru, the Andes Mountains are generally the first thing that comes to most people’s minds, but Peru’s western coast is in stark contrast with its dry and arid desert, while to the east of the Andes is the Amazon jungle, steaming with wildlife.

Not only does Peru have stunning beauty and varied landscapes throughout the country, but the many different ancient civilizations and cultures have given Peru some of the most interesting archaeological sites in South America from the Inca Empire in the Andes to the Chimu Empire on the north west coast. Peru is filled with an immense quantity of treasures, so continue reading below and start exploring some of those 11 unique places to visit in Peru on the Treasures of Traveling website!

-- Luke Keeler

5 Places to Visit in Bolivia!

Bolivia is a fantastic country to visit and is full of different treasures of traveling to explore and these are the five places I recommend to visit on any trip to Bolivia.

Bolivia is a country of many contrasts and is a wonderful place to visit on any trip through South America. This land locked country may be one of the poorest in South America, but from the exquisite natural beauty to the stunning and varied landscapes throughout the country that might be a detail you don’t even notice. What type of landscapes you ask? Well, from the Atacama Desert in the west to the high Andes mountains and finally to the jungles of the Amazon in the east, there is an immense amount of natural beauty and diversity throughout the entire country.

This diversity not only includes mother nature, but also the many different cultures that developed in those very diverse regions of the country. Bolivia is one of the highest countries on Earth and even its very own capital, La Paz, has the designation of being the highest capital in the world! From the highest capital city in the world, to the unworldly landscape of the largest salt flats in the world, to the Island of the Sun located on Lake Titicaca, which happens to be the highest navigable lake in the world, there is some type of record setting natural wonder to explore or adventure to experience in Bolivia.

Read more about the different places to visit in Bolivia on the Treasures of Traveling website!

-- Luke Keeler

4 Cities to Visit in Denmark!

Denmark is a fantastic country to visit and is full of different treasures of traveling to explore and these are the four cities I recommend to visit on any trip to Denmark.

Denmark is located in northern Europe and is part of the region known as Scandinavia. It primarily consists of Jutland, the peninsula that extends north of Germany and western Europe, along with more than 400 different islands in both the North and Baltic Seas. Because Denmark primarily consists of islands you are never more than 50 km from any ocean. It’s relatively flat, but is so clean and eco-friendly and has lots of green spaces to visit throughout the country. It’s a country with a history of Vikings exploring the world and Denmark’s Kingdom actually consists of the Faroe Islands and the Island of Greenland, which are both located in the North Atlantic Ocean and both islands have a history of Viking exploration. 

Denmark is considered as one of the world’s safest place to live and visit based on its extremely low rate of violent crime and theft. Danes are very welcoming and friendly people and the majority of the country speaks English so if you find yourself in need of help, you can easily find someone who is willing to speak to you in English and answer your question or help you out in any way they can. Even though English is widely spoken it’s important to learn basic Danish phrases to communicate some of your needs, as Danes love it when you have taken an interest in their language and tried learning to communicate. 

You can visit Denmark anytime throughout the year, it is important to remember the best times based on the seasons. The best time is during the summer when Denmark experiences warmer weather with longer daylight hours, but that also generally brings higher prices and more crowds. The low season is during the winter season and this is generally when Denmark experiences wet and colder weather with very short hours of daylight. 

You can easily travel around Denmark on public transportation and I seriously think their favorite type of transportation is cycling. Every city has bike lanes along the roadways and you will see bikes parked everywhere. Denmark is a fantastic country to visit and is full of different treasures of traveling to explore! Visit the treasures of traveling website to see the four cities I recommend to visit on any trip to Denmark. 

-- Luke Keeler

13 Things to do in Granada Spain!

No visit to the south of Spain is complete until you have visited Granada, one of Andalusia’s most unique cities. It has such an interesting history with many years of Arabic and Muslim influence, that you just can’t help but fall in love with it. Here are 13 things to do in and around Granada. There is just no other city like it and that’s why it’s one of the many treasures of traveling through Andalusia and southern Spain.

The city of Granada is truly one of the treasures of traveling through Spain so make sure to add it to the Spanish itinerary you are creating! Granada’s Arabic influence, Spanish charm, historical sites and scenic landscape draw tons of tourists every year. If you are visiting Andalusia, the southern state of Spain, there are many fantastic cities to visit that are also filled with lots of history and culture, such as Seville and Cadiz, just to name a few, but you will definitely want to add Granada to your list of must visit Spanish cities. Granada has an abundance of historical sites and neighborhoods to visit and activities to keep you busy for multiple days.

The Moors ruled over Andalusia for years so their presence is still visible today and can be felt throughout the city with the Arabic culture, Islamic architecture and multiple mosques converted into churches scattered throughout the Albicín. Granada sits at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in the south eastern part of Spain, which is a picturesque region with miles of olive groves sprawling over the hillsides and foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. From the Alhambra, a Moorish palace with courtyards and gardens to the old Moorish city, the Albaicín, which hasn’t changed too much from the Medieval times in which it was built, to the cave dwellings of the historic gypsy neighborhood, well known for its flamenco shows, there is an abundance of things to do in Granada.

Visit the Treasures of Traveling website to read about the top 13 things to do if you are visiting Granada, Spain.

-- Luke Keeler

Visiting the Albaicín in Granada Spain!

No visit to the south of Spain is complete until you have visited one of Andalusia’s most unique neighborhoods, the charming Arabic quarter filled with Muslim influence. The Albaicín, is located in the city of Granada, across the Darro River from the Alhambra fortress and palace. This Moorish “barrio” is just one of the many treasures of traveling through Andalusia and southern Spain.

The Albaicín is filled with history and charm.

No visit to the south of Spain is complete until you have visited one of Andalusia’s most unique neighborhoods, the charming Albaicín, located in the city of Granada, across the Darro River from the Alhambra fortress and palace. This Moorish “barrio” (Spanish for neighborhood), is just one of the many treasures of traveling through Andalusia and southern Spain.

Even though the Albaicín is located within the city of Granada, it is like a totally different world due to the strong Muslim influence over the centuries. The Albaicín is Granada’s oldest neighborhood and is the former Arabic quarter. This compact network of whitewashed houses and winding cobbled streets is Granada’s bohemian and artistic centre filled with art, live music and beautiful squares that are just calling out to be explored. The best way to get to know this lovely and iconic neighborhood is to get lost and just explore on foot.

Read more about the Albaicín on the Treasures of Traveling website.

— Luke Keeler

Visiting the Alhambra in Granada Spain!

Looking up from the beautiful Arabic barrio called the Albaicín, you can see the majestic walls of the Alhambra on top of the cliff! This part of the palace and fortress complex is the Alcazaba, which is one of the oldest parts of the Alhambra, which is located in Granada, Spain. The fortress has the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the background!

No visit to the south of Spain is complete until you have visited one of Andalusia’s most iconic sites, the exquisite Alhambra fortress, which has been both an Islamic Palace during southern Spain’s 800 years under Moorish rule and a Christian Palace during the Roman Catholic rule. The fortress and the city of Granada really has such a fascinating history and is definitely worth a visit. This is just one of the many treasures of traveling through Andalusia and the south of Spain. It was originally constructed as a small fortress in AD 889 on the remains of Roman fortifications. Read more about the Alhambra on the Treasures of Traveling website. 

-- Luke Keeler