How did anarchism lead to charming Casas Viejas village to change its name to ‘Benalup’?
IMAGINE that you’re driving to Cadiz for a holiday from Madrid or Marbella, and you’ve decided to leave the main road, in order to take
Valencia’s legendarily weird and wonderful 1980s nightclub scene comes back to life for one month only
By Brandon Cheevers IMAGINE you’re on your way to a nightclub that bears a striking resemblance to a giant cake – one that is covered
ON THIS DAY: Dali, Buñuel – and Dani Carvajal? A trio of Spanish geniuses have links to this weekend in January
IT’S one of the coldest, darkest weekends around Spain, where traditionally not much happens and nobody has any money or energy left. With the festivities
MICHAEL COY explains how the lives of two Spanish princesses 500 years apart didn’t go to plan – thanks to their choice of husbands
DISNEY princesses never had it easy. Their paths to a happy ending were always strewn with formidable obstacles: evil stepmothers, jealous witches, tentacle-bottomed sea sorceresses
The Andalucia President’s blackface stunt at Three Kings was wrong and insensitive – JOY E GLENN, a black mother in Spain, explains why
By Joy E. Glenn JANUARY in Spain is magical for children. The Cabalgata de Reyes is one of the most anticipated events of the year.
WATCH: Junta president heckled at Three Kings parade in Sevilla as crowd jeer and chant for better public healthcare
THE Junta president should have been the most popular man in Sevilla when he turned up to the Pearl of Andalucia for the city’s traditional
‘A very serious racist act’: Outrage after Junta president appears in blackface for Sevilla’s Three Kings parade
THE president of Andalucia has come under fire after appearing in blackface for a traditional Three Kings parade in Sevilla. Juanma Moreno, the conservative Partido
REYES: The connections to Spain’s top composer and a now extinct rare mountain goat
THREE Kings Day – or ‘Reyes’ in Spanish – is known to Anglosaxons as ‘the Epiphany’. It falls on January 6, and while it’s no
Spain’s oldest Three Kings parade goes ahead despite weather warning
SPAIN’S oldest Three Kings parade will take place in Alcoy from 6pm this Monday- despite the inclement weather. Despite many surrounding Alicante province towns suspending
12 Spanish insults that will make you sound like a native
I’LL never forget the day my Spanish teacher insulted the projector. Not because it was hilarious to threaten a small electronic device with defecating on
Where does Spain’s tradition of gobbling 12 grapes on New Year’s Eve come from? Hint – government scrooges and the year 1882 have something to do with it
THE minute hand on Madrid’s Puerta de Sol clock tower nears midnight. Millions of Spaniards already have a grape in their mouth. Millions of others
FIESTA! The best festivals in Spain for your 2026 travel bucket list
Now Christmas is out of the way, it’s time to look ahead to 2026 and plan your fiestas for the year.
BE LUCKY! Maximise your luck for 2026 by following these New Year traditions from Spain
WE’RE all hoping that 2026 will bring a new start and good fortune but to make sure the New Year gets off in the best
The ancient capitals of Spain – Ten cities that were once seats of Spanish power
EVERY city in Spain has fascinating stories to tell and historic artefacts to show off, but did you know which were once former capitals of
First Christmas in Spain? These are the five most popular – and sometimes bizarre – festive traditions
As an expat in Spain, you might not be familiar with the local Christmas traditions. The country has many that vary from region to region,
Spain doesn’t quite get Christmas as we know it, writes MICHAEL COY – so here’s how to enjoy it the Spanish way
MICHAEL COY discusses some of the rituals associated with the winter festivities. Just like with Hallowe’en, Spain has tended to go off half-cocked over Christmas.
MICHAEL COY introduces us to his hero – George Santayana: A Spanish-American thinker famous for his pithy sayings
Whom should we choose as our heroes? John Wayne? Cristiano Ronaldo? Nigel Farage? Should we have heroes at all? MICHAEL COY introduces us to one
Daring swashbuckle and the restoration of honour: MICHAEL COY on a Spanish theatrical classic -the Mayor of Zalamea
MICHAEL COY has a story for us – a stirring tale of honour, abuse and true nobility. It’s unlikely that you’ve ever visited Zalamea. The
Budding linguists warned to avoid using these phrases while on holiday in Spain
BEFORE setting off to a new destination, it can be helpful to learn some local phrases to use while abroad. Even during the winter season,
LIFE IN SPAIN: Christmas markets are everywhere once again – but what can their subtle differences teach us about Spanish history and culture, asks FIONA GOVAN
At the Christmas markets that pop up across Spain you’ll still find clues to long treasured traditions that are quintessentially Spanish.
Legendary American architect behind Bilbao’s iconic Guggenheim Museum dies aged 96: Here’s how to best enjoy his masterpiece
THE legendary architect who designed Bilbao’s iconic Guggenheim Museum has died aged 96 following a brief respiratory illness, his chief of staff confirmed on Friday.
Heavyweight fan: How Orson Welles swapped Beverly Hills for Ronda’s bullring
THE story of Ronda’s deep connection to Hollywood begins with a local legend: Cayetano Ordoñez (‘El Niño de la Palma’). Born into poverty, the gypsy
THIS WEEK IN SPAIN: Michael Coy has been diving into the Spanish archives again…
Here are FOUR historical byways which make the first week of December significant Hernán Cortés Though his achievements changed the course of world history, it’s
Gold coins among first treasures recovered from €15 billion Spanish galleon dubbed ‘richest shipwreck in history’
THE first treasures of an 18th-century Spanish galleon dubbed the ‘holy grail of shipwrecks’ have been brought to the surface, with over €15 billion of
ON THIS DAY: Spain permitted female nouns, two legendary singers were born – and a Spanish cinematic classic was released, writes MICHAEL COY
THE English language is wholly and entirely democratic. No-one tells English speakers how to use certain words or what we can and can’t ‘officially’ say.
Can AI pick the lucky numbers for Spain’s ‘El Gordo’ Christmas lottery? – Here’s what you need to know and 5 hot tips
WITH just weeks to go until the much-anticipated 2025 Christmas Lottery Draw, AI has entered the game, offering its predictions on the ‘luckiest’ numbers to