La Cultura News - The Olive Press Spanish Newspaper

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

20 Dec, 2025 @ 14:33

La Cultura·Lead·National News

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

20 Dec, 2025 @ 08:19

La Cultura·Lead·National News

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,

16 Dec, 2025 @ 13:45

La Cultura·Lead·Olive Press Travel

paula soler-moya, con licencia como CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

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.

9 Dec, 2025 @ 14:00

Exploring Spain·La Cultura·Lead·Must Read·Olive Press Travel·Opinion·Other News·Travel News

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.

8 Dec, 2025 @ 15:00

Basque Country·Bilbao·La Cultura·Lead·Travel News

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

7 Dec, 2025 @ 11:59

La Cultura·Lead·Other News·Travel News

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

6 Dec, 2025 @ 09:00

La Cultura·Lead·Other News

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

5 Dec, 2025 @ 11:13

La Cultura·Lead

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.

5 Dec, 2025 @ 10:30

La Cultura·Lead

What is El Gordo? Spain’s national Christmas lottery takes place this weekend

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

5 Dec, 2025 @ 10:15

Business & Finance·La Cultura·Lead

BREAKING: Spain boycotts next year’s Eurovision Song Contest after Israel allowed to compete

SPAIN will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest after Israel was allowed to compete. Earlier this year, Spain’s national broadcaster RTVE said

4 Dec, 2025 @ 19:27

La Cultura·Lead·Politics

Shock as two nuns are arrested for flogging priceless works of art from their monastery in northern Spain

TWO former nuns have been arrested in northern Spain after priceless works of art from their rebel monastery were spotted on-sale in an antiques market.

1 Dec, 2025 @ 14:31

Crime & Law·La Cultura·Lead

‘Violent, racist, authoritarian’: Acclaimed British historian reminds Spain who Franco really was amid surge in popularity for the dictator

FIFTY years ago this week, Francisco Franco died and Spain’s transition to democracy finally began. But half a century on from his death, is the

23 Nov, 2025 @ 15:00

La Cultura·Lead·Politics

Linking the opera Carmen to the Sevilla tobacco factory and a French author

We all have heard of Carmen, the sexy heroine of the opera set in Sevilla. But what’s her connection with nicotine? Michael Coy informs us.

23 Nov, 2025 @ 10:27

La Cultura·Lead

LIFE IN SPAIN: The Deceiver of Seville, Mozart and the modern bullring

WHAT thread connects the Spanish theatre of the 17th century, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and the modern bullring? Let’s start with the bullring. If you ever

22 Nov, 2025 @ 10:07

La Cultura·Lead

Spanish Surges to 636 Million Speakers Worldwide – and “One in Three People” Will Speak it if Growth Continues

The number of Spanish speakers around the world has now reached 636 million, according to the newly published November 2025 annual report by Spain’s Instituto

16 Nov, 2025 @ 16:57

Education·La Cultura·National News

‘Rosalia mania’: Spain’s biggest music star smashes records with ‘exquisite’ new album – with Pedro Sanchez and Catholic bishops among her biggest fans

AN 18-track amalgamation of flamenco, rumba and opera with lyrics in 14 different languages, featuring collaborations with music greats including Björk, Estrella Morente and even

13 Nov, 2025 @ 20:39

La Cultura·Lead

Santiago Calatrava’s futuristic City of Arts and Sciencesin Valencia celebrates its 25th anniversary

VALENCIA’s futuristic City of Arts and Sciences is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Museo de les Ciencies – and it’s still one of Europe’s

9 Nov, 2025 @ 13:49

La Cultura·Lead·Property·Valencia

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

9 Nov, 2025 @ 10:36

La Cultura·Lead

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

8 Nov, 2025 @ 16:39

La Cultura·Lead

Madrid’s regional government hands controversial director Woody Allen €1.5 million for new film – but with strings attached

MADRID’S regional government has agreed to invest €1.5 million of taxpayer money into an upcoming film directed by Woody Allen – but the new flick

7 Nov, 2025 @ 16:16

La Cultura·Lead·Madrid

El Gordo could get even fatter: Ticket sellers for Spain’s Christmas lottery urge government to up prize in line with inflation

SPAIN’S annual Christmas lottery could get even fatter after ticket sellers for El Gordo called on the government to increase the draw’s top prize in

6 Nov, 2025 @ 15:30

La Cultura·Lead

BY DESIGN: From Mallorca’s brutalist concrete bunker to Venice’s frescoed masterpiece, where buying your groceries feels more like visiting an art gallery

THINK all supermarkets look the same? Think again. Across the globe, a handful of architects are turning the humble weekly shop into something extraordinary –

6 Nov, 2025 @ 14:19

La Cultura·Lead·Other News·Property

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.

1 Nov, 2025 @ 10:01

Andalucia·La Cultura·Lead·Malaga·Other News

The curious history of Halloween in Spain: How today’s traditions come from ancient Celtic rituals

DID you know the curious history of spooky Spain? Learn all about the origins of Halloween’s Celtic origins. Though most souls associate Halloween with glowing

31 Oct, 2025 @ 16:30

La Cultura·Lead

Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia becomes world’s tallest ever church

BARCELONA’S iconic Sagrada Familia has officially become the world’s tallest ever church – almost a century since the death of its master architect. Construction workers

31 Oct, 2025 @ 13:08

Barcelona·Catalunya·La Cultura·Lead

La Cultura- Page 3

MICHAEL COY introduces us to his hero – George Santayana: A Spanish-American thinker famous for his pithy sayings

Daring swashbuckle and the restoration of honour: MICHAEL COY on a Spanish theatrical classic -the Mayor of Zalamea

Budding linguists warned to avoid using these phrases while on holiday in Spain

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

Legendary American architect behind Bilbao’s iconic Guggenheim Museum dies aged 96: Here’s how to best enjoy his masterpiece

Heavyweight fan: How Orson Welles swapped Beverly Hills for Ronda’s bullring

THIS WEEK IN SPAIN: Michael Coy has been diving into the Spanish archives again…

Gold coins among first treasures recovered from €15 billion Spanish galleon dubbed ‘richest shipwreck in history’

ON THIS DAY: Spain permitted female nouns, two legendary singers were born – and a Spanish cinematic classic was released, writes MICHAEL COY

Can AI pick the lucky numbers for Spain’s ‘El Gordo’ Christmas lottery? – Here’s what you need to know and 5 hot tips

BREAKING: Spain boycotts next year’s Eurovision Song Contest after Israel allowed to compete

Shock as two nuns are arrested for flogging priceless works of art from their monastery in northern Spain

‘Violent, racist, authoritarian’: Acclaimed British historian reminds Spain who Franco really was amid surge in popularity for the dictator

Linking the opera Carmen to the Sevilla tobacco factory and a French author

LIFE IN SPAIN: The Deceiver of Seville, Mozart and the modern bullring

Spanish Surges to 636 Million Speakers Worldwide – and “One in Three People” Will Speak it if Growth Continues

‘Rosalia mania’: Spain’s biggest music star smashes records with ‘exquisite’ new album – with Pedro Sanchez and Catholic bishops among her biggest fans

Santiago Calatrava’s futuristic City of Arts and Sciencesin Valencia celebrates its 25th anniversary

MOMENTS IN SPANISH HISTORY: The Siege of Toledo

MOMENTS IN SPANISH HISTORY: The Battle of Trafalgar

Madrid’s regional government hands controversial director Woody Allen €1.5 million for new film – but with strings attached

El Gordo could get even fatter: Ticket sellers for Spain’s Christmas lottery urge government to up prize in line with inflation

BY DESIGN: From Mallorca’s brutalist concrete bunker to Venice’s frescoed masterpiece, where buying your groceries feels more like visiting an art gallery

LIFE IN SPAIN: The Frank Sinatra incident in Malaga

The curious history of Halloween in Spain: How today’s traditions come from ancient Celtic rituals

Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia becomes world’s tallest ever church

Urgent health warning in Madrid after dozens infected in measles outbreak: Here’s how to stay safe against the disease

Machete-wielding man shot dead by police in the Canary Islands after ‘murdering 10-year-old son and seriously injuring the boy’s mother’

Ryanair threatens more cuts in Spain if government does not block proposed 21% airport tax hike

WATCH: Historic moment Oriol Cardona becomes Spain’s first Winter Olympics gold medallist in over 50 years after gruelling ski mountaineering triumph