Cataluña’s Priorat Wine Region (Spain): Location and history of the region (Part 1)

This is the first in a series of posts about Cataluña’s Priorat wine region. Over the series we will introduce you to this region and wine type, which has been gaining popularity, and then share with you information from our recent visit to a few of the vineyards in the region.

The Priorat wine region is located about 1.5 hours south of Barcelona in the province of Tarragona. It is easily accessed via the motorway AP-7 (toll road) south towards Tarragona. Get off the AP-7 at exit 34 and follow the signs to T-11 towards the town of Reus. Once past Reus look for signs to N-420, which is the smaller, local road that will take you to Falset, which is the capital of the region, and a good place to select as a base for exploring the surrounding villages and wineries.

The wine region received its Denominació d’Origen (DO), which means Designation of Origen, in 1954. But winemaking in the region can be traced back to the 12th C. when the monks from the Carthusian Monastery Scala Dei (Ladder to God) began planting vineyards on the steep terraced hillsides of the region and making wine. The monks ruled over the seven nearby villages for over 600 years, until their land was seized by the state in 1835. The monks fled and the monastery was subsequently ransacked and burned down by the local peasants who revolted against the oppression they had been subjected to by the church. The ruins of the Scala Dei Monastery can still be visited, and this site is a must see for visitors to the region. For more information on the monastery, click here.

Our next post in the series will provide info on how this region was revitalized in 1979 and caught the attention of wine lovers and critics the world over.

As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Sites to See…Royal Equestrian School, Jerez, Spain

 



Be sure to include in your Jerez itinerary a visit to the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, which is comparable to the famous Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria.

Located adjacent to the historic 19th century Palacio de las Cadenas, visitors can watch the world-renowned "dancing stallions" at either one of the riding shows that take place twice a week, or at one of the training sessions held throughout the week. Besides taking in an equestrian show, visitors can also tour the facilities, including the Stables, Harness Shop, Carriage Museum, and Equestrian Art Museum.

• Avda. Duque de Abrantes, s/n
• Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
• Phone: (956) 318-014
• Website: Equestrian School

As usual, thanks for reading.  Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Next Stop…Málaga, Spain

The city of Málaga is located on the southern coast of Spain, on the Costa del Sol. This gateway city is bordered by the Mediterranean to the south, and by mountains to the north, and offers something for every visitor.

A must see for visitors is the Cathedral of Málaga. It was built between the 16th and 18th centuries, and combines a Baroque style façade and a Renaissance style interior. Other must see sites include the Castle of Gibralfaro and the Alcazaba fortress. They are located nearby on a hill within the city.
After taking in these sites, you can relax and take an evening stroll with the locals who crowd the popular pedestrian street, Marqúes de Larios. Do as many do and sit at an outdoor café, or do some shopping in the stores that line the busy streets of the historic city center.

Art lovers and fans of famed artist Pablo Picasso will find plenty to do in the city. Picasso was born in Málaga in 1861, and his birthplace is open to the public. In 2003, the King and Queen of Spain inaugurated the Picasso Museum, which is housed in the 16th C. Palacio de Buenavista. The impressive museum displays nearly 300 of the artist’s works which came from his heirs’ private collection. For more information on the museum:

• Palacio de Buenavista
• San Agustín, 8
• Málaga, Spain
• Phone: (952) 12 76 00
• Website: Museo Picasso Málaga

The latest addition to Málaga’s thriving art scene is the Carmen Thyssen Málaga Museum, which was inaugurated in 2011. The museum houses 230 pieces from the baronesses’ personal collection of primarily 19th C. Spanish paintings. For more information:

• Plaza Carmen Thyssen (C/Compañía, 10)
• Málaga, Spain
• Phone: (902) 30 31 31
• Website: Carmen Thyssen Malaga

As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

On the Menu…Bodegas Campos, Córdoba, Spain

Located in the residential San Pedro neighborhood, just a short walk from the Mezquita, you will find Bodegas Campos. It was founded in 1908 as both a wine cellar and tavern. Today Bodegas Campos offers a number of dining options: La Taberna (tavern), a formal restaurant, a wine cellar, and rooms that are used for catered events.

The interiors are rustic and classic Andalusian in design, with terracotta tile floors, wrought iron accents, and wood-beamed ceilings. The Sala Célebres room features pictures of 30 famous locals, including painters, dancers and mayors. Be sure to stop and look at the oak barrels that line the rooms and corridors, as they are signed by many of the famous people who have dined at Bodegas Campos, including members of the Royal family, celebrities, and foreign dignitaries.

The restaurant menu features classic Córdoba cuisine. Ingredients are from high quality local vendors, and the fresh fruits and vegetables come from the restaurant’s own orchard. Some signature dishes include the Ensalada de Bacalao y Naranja (a salt cod salad with orange dressing), Paté de Perdiz Casero y Aceite de Trufa (homemade partridge paté with truffle oil), and Solomillo de Ternera con Migas al Vino Tinto (sirloin with red wine sauce). There is also a wide selection of wines to choose from, and be sure to leave room for dessert.

La Taberna menu features a nice selection of traditional tapas, including the local favorite Salmorejo soup, traditional Gazpacho, Boquerones en Vinagre (anchovies in vinegar), and Habitas con Huevo y Jamón (beans with egg and ham). There is also a selection of main dishes, including Rabo de Toro Deshuesado (oxtail stew), Arroz de Verduras (rice with vegetables), and Puntas de Solomillo con Verduritas (sirloin tips with vegetables). For dessert try the Flan Casero (homemade caramel custard), Pastel Cordobés (local cake), or the Leche Frita con Helado de Lima (fried milk with lime ice cream).

• Calle de los Lineros, 32
• Córdoba, Spain
• Phone: (957) 49 75 00
• Website: Bodegas Campos

As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Checking In…Hotel Roger de Llúria, Barcelona (Spain)

Barcelona is one of those cities that you can visit over and over again, and discover something new each time. It is a truly cosmopolitan city that embraces the old and the new, as well as the classic and the contemporary, whether it be in art, architecture or even food.

The city has an extensive metro system that can get you just about anywhere, and taxis are readily available. But the best way to see the city is on foot, as most sites are just a short walk from the city center.

The Roger de Llúria is a 4-star boutique hotel that is located in the heart of the city, near the Plaza Cataluña, and just 2 blocks from the Paseo de Gracia, the city’s main shopping thoroughfare. The hotel is housed in a traditional 19th C. building that previously formed part of César Ritz’s original landmark hotel.

The classic styling of the hotel gives it a timeless elegance, and with just 48 guest rooms, guests can feel at home in an environment that is intimate and welcoming. The hotel offers Classic rooms and larger Deluxe rooms. The Classic Family rooms are a rare find in European hotels, in that they are large enough to fit 2 full size beds and can accommodate a family of 4 people comfortably. The two Junior Suites in the hotel are truly special, in that they offer a living room with a wood-paneled ceiling, and a separate bedroom with either a king size bed or 2 queen beds. The Junior Suites can also be combined to create a large Suite with a large living room, 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.

Happy New Year, Feliz Año Nuevo, Feliz Ano Novo

International Lodging wants to wish everyone a very Happy New Year. We are starting 2012, as we ended 2011, with a poem.

The poem we chose was written by Lord Alfred Tennyson, who was born on August 6, 1809, in Lincolnshire, England. He was a popular poet and was admired by Queen Victoria. For those who would like some more information on Lord Tennyson, visit Poets.org by clicking here.

We hope you enjoy our selection to ring in the New Year.

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light:
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind
For those that here we see no more;
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes
But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease;
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

As usual, thanks for reading. Please visit International Lodging Corporation at our home page.