MOMENTS IN SPANISH HISTORY: The Siege of Toledo
FOR 68 desperate days in the summer of 1936, around 1,500 people found themselves trapped inside Toledo’s ancient fortress, the Alcazar. How they held out
MOMENTS IN SPANISH HISTORY: The Battle of Trafalgar
IT was one of the most pivotal events in world history unfolded—a moment whose 220th anniversary has just passed. The Battle of Trafalgar, fought between
LIFE IN SPAIN: The Frank Sinatra incident in Malaga
ON September 19, 1964, Malaga police slapped Frank Sinatra with a 25,000 peseta fine – around $175 – after the singer sparked a barroom brawl.
LIFE IN SPAIN: A work of art that offers a glimpse into some ancient Spanish traditions.
THE canvas was painted by Bartolome Esteban Murillo in 1675, in Sevilla. Today it hangs in the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC. Its
SPOTLIGHT ON: Pedro Almodóvar Spain’s greatest-ever film director?
PEDRO Almodóvar Caballero has made a career out of being an outsider. He is obviously – even flamboyantly – gay, and his films go out
A National Hero: This week in 2006, Fernando Alonso won his second consecutive Formula One World Championship. MICHAEL COY ponders the importance of professional sport in our lives.
AN era is coming to a close in Spain. We’ve lived through a generation of world-beaters – but sport being sport, these heroes must eventually
LIFE IN SPAIN: A tale of three Spanish exiles
THE date November 6 may seem to be just another day, but in Spanish minds it is associate with tales of exile. Of the three
ON THIS DAY: When Spain’s dictator Franco met Adolph Hitler
THE little town of Hendaye lies literally on the border. The Basques – known in Spain as vascos – occupy a region that long predates
LIFE IN SPAIN: If you see parades and military displays today, and if on Monday you find shops and offices closed, it’s because the people of Spain are celebrating their ethnicity. MICHAEL COY explains.
TO non-Spaniards, it sounds slightly odd – “El Día de la Hispanidad” (‘The Day of Spanishness’), but October 12 is an important landmark on the
LIFE IN SPAIN: How Spain’s Christopher Columbus, the world’s greatest explorer, was clapped in chains 525 years ago this week
EVERYONE knows the story of Christopher Columbus – the man who sailed west and opened the door to the New World. But fewer know the
AN EXPAT IN SPAIN: Jackie Trent, the British singing star who made Menorca her home
WHAT connects Menorca, Stoke City Football Club, Swinging London, and the theme song from the soap opera Neighbours? The two-word answer is Jackie Trent, the
LOOK BACK IN TIME: Handsome Spanish matador Paquirri torn down by bull Avispero in 1984
MAYBE you find bullfighting offensive. Perhaps you’re intrigued by its pomp and colour. Most likely of all, you’re utterly indifferent to it. If so, you’re
Last of a dying breed – Spanish youngsters hate bullfighting but Morante de la Puebla is a great matador
IN some ways, he’s ridiculous. He’s short, overweight and far too old to be practising such an athletic profession. He has odd traits that belong
LIFE IN SPAIN: The story of Ferdinand Magellan, the true hero of the Spanish age of exploration
WHEN we think of sixteenth-century explorers, Christopher Columbus typically comes to mind. The media love to celebrate the businessman from Genoa, who, in his day,
Spain’s Julio Iglesias turns 81: from football dreams to global stardom and a surprising family twist
THIS week (Tuesday to be exact), Julio Iglesias will celebrate his 81st birthday. With over half a century of fame, countless albums, awards, and sellout
CERVANTES: One of Spain’s greatest writers, he led a life as dramatic as his novels. Michael Coy takes a look at the man behind Don Quijote
EVERYONE knows Don Quijote, the world’s most famous novel. Most can even name its author – Miguel de Cervantes. But did you know that September
Victoria Kent and Pastor Soler: Two remarkable women from Spain’s Andalucia
IT’S late September, and we’re reminded of two remarkable women from Andalucía whose anniversaries fall close together. First, we celebrate the life of Victoria Kent
Three Key Dates in Spanish History You Should Know
If you’re a history enthusiast and curious about Spain’s rich and complex past, three significant anniversaries are just around the corner. Here’s a closer look
LIFE IN SPAIN: I Finally Got My Spanish Pension – But What a Long, Sad Tale…
September 2025 marks a personal landmark: after literally years of chasing it, I’ve finally secured my Spanish retirement pension. If you’re hoping your journey will
The Strange Afterlife of Eva Peron: A Love Story Like No Other
IN September 1971, just before his 76th birthday, a man stood on the tarmac at Madrid Airport watching a coffin being unloaded from an Argentinian
During this month in Spain: Indians revolt in Argentina, volcano erupts in the Canaries and much more
September 1529 – Destruction of ‘Spiritu Santo’ The native Indians who inhabited what is now Argentina destroyed the Spanish settlement named Spiritu Santo. In other
Happy birthday for Monday, Letizia, Queen of Spain
On Monday, September 15, a woman from Oviedo in the north of Spain will celebrate her 53rd birthday. Her name is Letizia Ortiz. Why should
The matador and the movie king: How Orson Welles swapped Beverly Hills for bullrings – and chose Ronda as his eternal home
WHEN Cayetano Ordoñez (‘El Niño de la Palma’) hit the big time as a bullfighter, he bought himself a finca. Cayetano was a gypsy, and
ON THIS DAY IN SPAIN: Flamenco legend Antonio Gades died
Spain lost a treasure on July 20, 2004, when Antonio Gades died of lung cancer. Gades was a flamenco dancer and choreographer. A native of
ON THIS DAY: Two murders in Spain that changed the country
IN recent Spanish history, there have been a lot of assassinations. The date July 13 is associated with two of the most egregious of them.The
LIFE IN SPAIN: Timeless wisdom with a Spanish twist -10 everyday proverbs to know
EVERY culture has its tradition of proverbs. Spain is no exception. Here are ten examples of proverbs that you are likely to hear every day.