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
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
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.
‘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
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.
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
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
‘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
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
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