LIFE IN SPAIN: Spanish surnames – why do they have two?
HAVE you ever experienced – or more likely, caused – confusion over your use of surnames? If you’re not Spanish, you know the rule. Two
How Hernan Cortes and his Spanish Conquistadores took on the mighty Inca empire
ON April 22, 1519, a Spanish man and his 200 or so followers built a camp on the Mexican coast which they called “Villa Rica
ON THIS DAY: The Holy Saturday Storm that devastated northern Spain
THE Holy Saturday Storm was an extreme meteorological phenomenon that occurred on April 20, 1878, off the northern coast of Spain in the Cantabrian Sea.
From coal to culture: Barcelona’s forgotten power plant Tres Xemeneies to get epic makeover
ONCE a towering titan of industry, the iconic Tres Xemeneies power plant is set to become the beating heart of Barcelona’s cultural future. The 1970s
Two brothers convicted of ‘crimes against public health’ freed in Spain’s Malaga: What’s behind the bizarre Semana Santa tradition?
BROTHERS convicted of drug offences in southern Spain have been granted a royal pardon and released from prison – just in time to take part
What links Andalucia’s Easter processions to the fascist Millán Astray?
MANY readers will know about the Spanish ‘Legion’, the crack unit of the Spanish Army, based in Ronda and Almeria. You are likely to see
Easter in Mallorca: Holy Week takes a theatrical turn with music, musicals, and a dash of Disney magic
MALLORCA’S Holy Week might be best known for solemn processions and spiritual reflection – but this long weekend, the island is bursting with music, musicals,
ON THIS DAY IN SPAIN: A dodgy deal and a dynamite girl that created a country and then blew it up
THERE are two reasons why Spaniards keep April 17 in mind. The first is a strange business deal between a ‘power couple’ and an Italian
Where and when to catch the Semana Santa processions in Mijas on the Costa del Sol
THE Costa del Sol town of Mijas is set to mark Semana Santa (Holy Week) with a series of traditional processions taking place between April
LIFE IN SPAIN: It’s romeria time again!
HARVEST festivals are as old as time – but the communities of Andalucía do harvest festival in their own special way. First of all, in
Bulls, Blood & VR: Malaga’s La Malagueta rings in the future of bullfighting
ONE of Spain’s most iconic bullrings has just had a high-tech facelift — and it’s nothing like you’ve seen before. The Immersive Exhibition Centre of
Spain’s famous Easter processions kick off in Malaga’s Ronda amid the threat of rain
The opening of Holy Week 2025 was a big success in Ronda. Three processions took to the streets and nothing was marred by the predicted
Spending Semana Santa in Spain? This is how to wish locals a happy Easter in Spanish
THIS is how to wish Spaniards a Happy Easter if you’re spending Semana Santa in Spain. With Easter just around the corner, you may be
Unearthed: Fascinating 1960s drawings of Sevilla’s ‘Semana Santa’ by famed British cartoonist William ‘Bill’ Papas
A REMARKABLE discovery has brought to light two 1968 illustrations of Sevilla’s Semana Santa and gives an insight to the British perspective on Spain’s version
Why are the hats from Spain’s Semana Santa processions conical and are they linked to the KKK?
VISITORS to Spain during Easter week might gasp in horror when they see people in conical white hoods parading through the streets. But while these
What is ‘la torrija’? The delicious treat that’s traditionally eaten during Semana Santa in Spain
SEMANA Santa has taken over Spain this week and you may be seeing ‘torrijas’ everywhere, but what are these sweet treats? READ MORE: Why are
TEORIA DEL ARTE: The personal approach is the key to finding the perfect artwork
Teoria del Arte is a project based on curating exhibitions, advising and selling works of art and representing artists. Boss Ana Melo’s experience has allowed
Starter pack for ‘guiris’ in Spain: Spanish make lighthearted fun of tourists – but is it accurate?
A SPANISH social media outlet has made fun of tourists in Spain through a satirical ‘Guiri en España Starter Pack’. Spainsays is an Instagram account
Spain’s efforts to ‘rebrand’ world’s tallest cross and Franco-era monument in Madrid meet howls of protest from the far-right
THE far-right Vox party and other radical groups say they will oppose the government’s plans to ‘resignify’ the Valley of the Fallen mausoleum with its
VAN GOGH’S Greatest Hits: Immersive art show set to wow crowds in Spain’s Estepona this summer
ART lovers, get ready for a spectacular Van Gogh extravaganza which is set to take over Estepona this summer. The Van Gogh: Greatest Hits (
Costa del Sol’s Estepona breaks record for numbers of entries to its international poetry competition
INTERNATIONAL poetry competition Ciudad de Estepona has smashed records in its fifth edition, with 2,321 entries – nearly 300 more than last year. In just
ON THIS DAY: Why April 1 is important in Spain – and it isn’t a joke
‘April Fool’s Day’ marks some significant Spanish anniversaries. If you mention ‘Christopher Columbus’ to your Spanish friends, they won’t understand what you’re even talking about.
LIFE IN SPAIN: Fuente Ovejuna, is it a town? Is it a drama? Is it an idea?
Fuente Ovejuna means a lot to Spanish people. It’s a bit like “Hamlet” for native British folks – something you read in school, and which
Marbella: the cradle of human art?
A NEW discovery in Marbella may reshape our understanding of human communication. Archaeologists digging at the the Coto Correa archaeological site the Las Chapas neighbourhood
ALICANTE GOLDEST PRESENTS WELSH LEGEND: TOM JONES ON AUGUST 13, 2025 AT THE PLAZA DE TOROS DE ALICANTE
LEGENDARY Welsh singer and performer Tom Jones continues to maintain his popularity around the world, captivating audiences with his timeless record of hit songs and
Who was Washington Irving? What connects the American author to Andalucia in Spain?
Let’s answer the first question first. Washington Irving was an American writer. He lived in interesting times. In the week that he was born (April