Lonely Planet Spain (Travel Guide)

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Marbella holidays have been a favourite amongst the rich and famous since the 60s. White villas meet the yacht-filled marina, making it look like something straight out of a James Bond film. Many celebs come simply for the nightlife, which bursts into life after dark on the legendary Golden Mile. Enjoy the glamour of the lavish nightclubs, where the party usually starts after midnight, so be prepared to dance until the sun comes up.

Mark Kurlansky's history of the Basque country is a fascinating read. Europe's oldest nation has never been a country of their own. Delve deep into the history of the language, cuisine, religion, economics, and literature while discovering the influences the people of this region have had on modern European culture. If you're looking for great Spanish history books, this is one of them. Whether you’re looking for some history of Spain books, books about specific regions like Catalonia, Basque Country, or Andalusia, novels set in Spain, or more contemporary memoirs about life in Spain, it’s all here! Learning about the culture and history of a place allows you to appreciate it on a much deeper level. There are many books about Spain to devour both before and during your trip, especially if you take advantage of Spain’s stellar high-speed rail system to get around. There is even a book village in Spain if you’re a true bibliophile. Read more in our post: Urueña: Spain’s Book Village in a Castle.

Spanish Civil War Books

Rough Guides' rundown of Barcelona, Madrid, Andalucía and Castilla y León's best sights and top experiences helps to make the most of each trip to Spain, even in a short time. The Last Jew provides a gripping account of the experience of living as a Jew in Spain during the Inquisition. After seeing his father and brother die, Yonah Toledano decides to maintain his religion in their honor. Thus, he sets off on a journey throughout the country, always attempting to stay one step ahead of the Inquisition. He takes on whatever work he can find, never staying too long in one place. As Yonah traverses Spain, the reader is introduced to a variety of individuals, all demonstrating what life was like during this epoch. The Last Queen by C.W. Gortner Granada is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating cities in Spain, with a history influenced by Christians, Muslims, and Jews alike. In this book, Steven Nightingale moves to Granada with his family and settles in the famous Albayzin neighborhood. There, he discovers a passion for both the history and culture of Granada as he seeks to understand his new home. Expats Spain: No Bull Truth about Living in Spain by Mark Shearman

Shopping is almost a national pastime on a Ibiza holiday, and Ibiza Town has plenty of shops where you can spend your holiday Euros. Head to the New Town and you’ll find 21st century shops glittering around squares peppered with outstanding restaurants. In the Old Town, things become far more traditional, with cobbled streets housing quirky boutiques and low-lit bars. The Old Town also acts as host to the region’s famous Hippy Market, which transforms the streets into a colourful carnival of sights, sounds, smells, and bargains! Read More: Spain or Italy: Which Country Should You Visit? Historical fiction books set in Madrid The Time in Between byMaría Dueñas

Government

I told the waiter I was looking for a hotel whose name I didn’t know on a street whose name I didn’t know and could he help me; we both laughed and he said: Aren’t we all.” He also discusses how these events affected and changed the present consciousness and mentality of the Spanish people. This book is definitely a revelatory and insightful read about the ghosts of Spain’s past. Alcudia’s beach is incredibly long, stretching around an idyllic bay all the way to the resort of Ca’n Picafort. The calm, shallow water is perfect for families, while the peaceful area at Playa De Muro is made for quieter holidays to Alcudia. It’s here that you’ll find the piled-up sand dunes and salt water lagoons of S’Albufera Nature Reserve, which is a lovely place to go for a walk or sit and watch the birds. If you do want to explore further afield, a boat trip will give you the best views. You could go to the tiny island of Es Vedra, see the coastline on a sunset cruise or catamaran trip, or, if you’re more of a party animal, take your place on a party boat. Now a successful TV series of the same name, The Time in Between takes place in the 1930s and follows the story of a young Spanish woman who is suddenly abandoned by her lover in Morocco and has to forge a new life and identity for herself there. The Spanish Civil War is about to erupt and she cannot return home, so she begins using her skills as a seamstress to support herself. She soon becomes wrapped up in the politics of the time when she is approached to become a spy for the Allied Forces.

You’ve undoubtedly heard of Don Quixote, but have you ever thought about giving it a read? As the most notable piece of literature and “the first modern novel”, you may want to consider it! Don Quixote is a middle-aged noble from La Mancha who is inspired by books on knights performing brave deeds. Thus, he decides to embark on his own adventure with his faithful squire, Sancho, by his side. In an often comedic way, Don Quixote uses his imagination to involve himself in matters that he shouldn’t on his quest for honor. Sancho attempts to act as a guiding force, setting his master on the correct path. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway In a witty combination of travel, food, and cultural knowledge, Goulding takes readers on a journey through the culinary landscape of Spain. This book is a wonderful place to start if you already have a trip to Spain planned. Even if you don’t, Grape, Olive, Pigwill have you looking into flights to Barcelona ASAP! Goulding is a passionate lover of cuisine, making this book an enjoyable read for anyone–even if you don’t normally read within the food genre. Ghosts of Spain: Travels Through Spain and Its Silent Past by Giles Tremlett While the first part of the book doesn’t take place during Spain, it’s a different perspective of the Spanish Civil War, written by a female Spanish author as opposed to an expat man. You can even visit his home in Alcalá de Henares, a small city located about an hour away from Madrid. Every year in the autumn, the town has a Cervantes medieval festival celebrating his life and work.Written by Rough Guides' expert authors with a trademark blend of humour, honesty and expertise, to help to find the best places in Spain, matching different needs. If you’re new to Spanish history, you may not be familiar with its relationship with Islam. In fact, large portions of the Iberian Peninsula were once a Muslim kingdom. Even today, Spain carries traces of al-Andalus in its culture, architecture, and even languages. This book is an overall interesting read on a fascinating civilization. Barcelona by Robert Hughes While George Orwell is probably known for his famous speculative fiction novel, 1984, like Hemingway, he also wrote of his experiences in the Spanish Civil War. However, while Hemingway’s books are fiction, Orwell’s Homage to Catalonia is a personal account of his time in Spain serving in the military. For many, Orwell’s book is their first introduction to the Spanish Civil War, as it isn’t covered too much in history classes across the pond. If you like to learn history in memoir format, definitely give this a read.

the military is organized into commands for aerospace, cyberspace, joint, land, and maritime operations; it also has a separate Emergency Response Unit, a permanent joint service force designed to respond to catastrophes and emergencies in both domestic and overseas environments; the Army is the largest service and has two divisional headquarters with several subordinate brigades of mechanized infantry and one of paratroopers; there are also separate commands for air defense, artillery, aviation, mountain troops, and special operations forces, as well as for the garrison units in the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla Spanish for "Coast of the Sun", Costa del Sol holidays offer 325 days of warm weather and 95 miles of coastline. But there's plenty more to the sun coast than soft sands and blue waters. On holidays to Costa del Sol, you'll find sleepy villages amongst the hills and mountains that are beautiful to drive through, vibrant nightlife, and rich history and culture. Perhaps there never was a monument more characteristic of an age and people than the Alhambra; a rugged fortress without, a voluptuous palace within; war frowning from its battlements; poetry breathing throughout the fairy architecture of its halls.” There’s nothing better after a do-nothing day at the beach than getting ready for a night out. And as night time in Ibiza isn’t only about clubbing, you’ll be able to find the perfect place for you to enjoy yourself; whether you want to unwind with a quiet drink and a nice view or make the most of the famous DJs playing at the superclubs. If you don’t know much about the Spanish Civil War, this book is the perfect place to start. Beevor, a military historian, covers the events that led up to this major conflict, the actors at play, and the timeline for the course of the war. He mainly focuses on the military side of events, providing a record of the armies, battles, and strategies implemented. Spain in Our Hearts: Americans in the Spanish Civil War, 1936–1939 by Adam HochschildSemana Santa: Easter brings celebrations all over Spain during Semana Santa (or Holy Week). For seven days, thousands of people take to the streets to join the religious processions.