The Royal Palace of La Magdalena is the most emblematic building of Santander, does not have a definite style, but a mixture of English and French styles with incorporation of typical elements of the highland architecture. One finds placed in the peninsula of the same name, which has an extension of 28 hectares.
Built at the beginning of the 19th century in a charming area, the Real Palace of Magdalena had integrated with the natural landscape and had converted into the symbol of the city. Originally used as summer residence of the kings, at present it hosts the academic activities of the International University Menéndez y Pelayo. The works started in 1909 and finished in 1911, but the interior was finished only in 1913. Between this year and 1930 the palace was used as summer residence of the Real Family. The building has a rectangular plan, with a part which tends to the North. The monument is constituted by a basement, a ground floor, a second floor and an attic. In the ground floor there were a pavilion for guests, bedrooms, servants’ rooms, a big terrace, a ballroom, dining rooms and a room for the audience with His Majesty. In the second floor, you could find some bedrooms with studies and lounges, the real bedrooms and the bedrooms for the king’s personal servants as well as the king’s study. This complex includes also the stables, created in the low part of the peninsula in 1918, because of the strong interest of the king in horse riding.
The Verdiales are a folk form of art of rural origins, constituted by a particularstyle of dance and music. They are performed by a group of musicians known as a Panda de Verdiales, who use a variety of instruments including from two to four guitars, violins, drums, tambourines and two or more cymbals. Its lyrics are very simple and cheerful and its music possesses a vibrating rhythm which represents its primitive origin. The Verdiales are certainly very old, they are believed to be the oldest surviving style of fandango and are typical of an olive-farming region of Málaga, Andalusia. This artistic tradition has developed and has differenced into three styles according to the zone: Almogía, Montes and Comares. The first is the most spread from a geographical point of view, it has the fastest rhythm and it is characterized by the peal of its cymbals; the Montes style is considered to be the oldest and best preserved, because of its genuine and pure form; and the last one, Comares style, is surely the most rich from a musical point of view.
The Orphanage (El Orfanato) is a 2007 Spanish movie. It’s a thriller interpreted by Belén Rueda and directed by the debutant director Juan Antonio Bayona. This movie was chosen to represent Spain at the 80th Annual Academy Awards. The Orphanage centers on a woman, Laura, who purchases her beloved childhood orphanage with dreams of restoring and reopening the long abandoned facility as a home for disabled children. Once there with her husband and her son Simon, who’s disabled, Laura discovers that the new environment awakens her son’s imagination, but the ongoing fantasy games he plays quickly turn into something more disturbing. Laura tries to investigate about this building to explain this strange and terrifying happenings. But the history about her old orphanage is quite more dramatic and gruesome than she thought……..
The Alcázar of Seville is a royal palace, originally a Moorish fort, which has been expanded several times so it embodies a series of palatial rooms and spaces in various styles and from various ages. The Origin of the Alcázar can be situated into the era of Abd Al-Rahman III, the first Caliph of Andalucia, who decided to build his alcázar in 913. In the following centuries it suffered many transformation, and in the 12th century, when the Almohades turned Seville into the Capital of the new Maghreb Empire, new parts were added to the original construction. Then in 1254, Alfonso X El Sabio, gives orders to build his palace in Gothic style and in the following century Pedro I, known as “the Cruel” or “the Just”, built his Mudéjar palace. The Palace of Pedro I is considered to be the most complete example of this so-called Mudéjar architecture in Spain. This Alcázar is still used by the royal family as the official Seville residence and is administered by the Patrimonio Nacional. The visit to this enchanting monument gives you the possibility to appreciate the perfect harmony between building, nature and water. Here you can admire the Puerta del León into the Patio de la Montería; the vast galleries and halls decorated in tiles and Mudéjar ceilings which lead you to the Patio de las Doncellas, which is the main courtyard and where the Hall of the Kings, the Hall of Charles V and the Hall of the Ambassadors all open to this patio. Moreover its marvelous gardens are worth a visit: moorish touches are everywhere among these tranquil pathways. Fountains, pools, lemon and orange groves, palms and hedgerows extend in all directions; a curious blend of different gardening styles (Arab, French and Renaissance style) can be admired here and you will fell in a sort of paradise on earth.
This is a typical Asturian dish. The preparation is not so simple and it takes 45 minutes, but you will enjoy a very delicious meal. Ingredients 2 onions 6 tomatoes 50 gr. of lard 1/5 dl. of cider 4 pork chops Salt Pepper
Preparation
Heat up the oven. Peel and cut up the onions and the tomatoes. Heat up the lard in a clay pot. When it’s quite hot, put the chops in to brown them completely. Take them away and in the same fat, put the onions and add the tomatoes. Spice it and let it cook some minutes. Then add the chops and the cider sauce and let it cook 30 minutes over a low heat. Serve it with potatoes cooked in their skin.
The Chotis is a traditional music and dance which originated in Scotland. It later become a French and a German tradition. It became popular in Spain in the XIX century and at first it was known as Polca Alemana. The word Chotis comes from the German word Schottisch. It gradually became a symbol of Madrid and it was largely danced in the working class neighbourhoods. It is considered the most typical dance of the city since the XIX century and it is danced in all the traditional festivals, especially during San Isidro’s Day. The Chotis is usually danced with the accompaniment of an organillo. It is danced in pairs, cheek to cheek. While dancing the woman turns around the man. Women usually wear the traditional mantón de Manila and men usually wear a hat which is called parpusa.
Goya immortalized the madrileños dancing Chotis in several paintings which are part of Prado Museum collection.
Goya in Bordeaux is a 1999 Spanish film directed by Carlos Saura. It deals with the last years of Francisco Goya’s life in Bordeaux. Goya is deaf and ill and he is in voluntary exile in Bordeaux, protesting against the oppressive rules of Ferdinand VII. He lives with his young wife Leocadia and their daughter Rosario. Goya suffers from strange visions and nightmares. He continues to paint at night. While his young daughter cares for him, Goya reflects on his tumultuous career. He relives key times in his life, particularly his passionate love affair with the Duchess of Alba, his discovery of how he wanted to paint, provided by Velázquez’s work, and his lifelong celebration of art and imagination.
It is a fascinating and evocative study of one of the best artist ever and it gives a wonderful portrait of Goya in his last days. The film also provides some interesting information about the historical and political setting.
Muñeira is a typical Galician dance. Muñeira refers to the word molino (muiño in the Galician language) that means mill. Muñeira was originally danced inside and outside the mills, to pass the time during the grinding.
Its origin is not clear, but it was danced during the XV century. Someone said that Muñeira dates back to the Celts, although there is no evidence. Muñeira has not changes during the centuries and it became one the most traditional expressions of Galician folklore. Muñeira is usually danced and sung with the accompaniment of bagpipes and drums. You can dance Muñeira in pair but it can also be a circle dance opened to a variable number of dancers.
There are different kinds of Muñeira and they owe their names to the places where they are danced. Muñeira de Chantada probably is the most famous one.
In Galicia you can see lots of groups performing this traditional dance during local celebrations or festivities.
This a typical dish of Extremadura. It is very easy to cook but it is really delicious.
Ingredients
1/2 kg rice
1/2 kg potatoes
1/2 kg cod
2 tomatoes
1 onion
garlic
salt
oil
Chop onion, garlic and tomatoes and fry them in oil. Peel and cut the potatoes. Add rice and potatoes to the lightly fried onion, garlic and tomatoes. Add three cups of water and let it boil for some minutes. Add cod and let it boil for about 10/15 minutes.
Tesis is a 1996 Spanish film directed by Alejandro Amenábar. Angela (Ana Torrent) is a film student at the University of Madrid. She is doing a research for her thesis about audio-visual violence. Her professor (Miguel Picazo) helps her to find some material. She finds him dead while he is watching a videotape. Angela discovers that it is a snuff film where a missing girl of the university is killed. Angela thinks that there is a an illegal traffic of violent films where you can see real murders. She wants to investigate and a chilling adventure begins. Tesis is the first great work of Alejandro Amenábar, one of the best Spanish director. It is an exciting and fascinating film, full of suspense and it won seven Goya prize in 1997.