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By most historical accounts, the 14th century was a miserable time to be alive in much of Europe with wars, plagues, epidemics, banditry, insurrections, droughts, and just plain bad government – much like what we are living through today. The exhibit deals with several traumatic events that shook the 14th century: the 100 Years War which ravished Europe; the Black Plague of the years 1348-50, “the deadliest disaster in history,” according to many historians, and the struggles for the consolidation of the Spanish kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. The 14th century also saw a wave of palace intrigues which brought continuous struggles and successive changes of government to both the Muslim-Maghreb world and to al-Andalus – the Arabic name the Muslims gave to the Iberian Peninsula . There they created a rich and vibrant culture – from the seventh to the 14th centuries – when most of Europe was living through a dark age. Iconic figures such as Tamerlane, Boccacio, Dante Aligheri, Marco Polo, Petrarch and the double vizier Ibn al-Khatib figured prominently during their period. Considered the founder of modern historiography, Ibn Khaldun was one of the great Muslim intellectuals. Of Andalusi descent, he spent part of his life in al-Andalus, living at the court of the Nasrid King Muhammad V, where he was named ambassador to the court of Pedro I the Cruel in Seville. A social historian and celebrated author of the Muqqadim, the Introduction to Universal History , Khaldun was concerned with the logic of empires, their expansion and decline, and his reflections on the formation of states are considered seminal. In the “Rise and Fall of Empires,” the curators set out to examine the political, economic and social relationships between West and East, between Europe and the Arab-Maghreb world. Set in and around the Mediterranean, European and Muslim states are represented through their cultures and conflicts, their commercial relations and economic organizations as well as through the artistic legacy which marked this decisive period in history. Through the analytical work of Ibn Khaldun, visitors will learn of the contributions of al-Andalus and the historic role Seville played as an important river port and crossroads in Spain as seen against the events of the 14th century: the rise of the Italian maritime republics of Genoa and Venice, the expansion of the Ottoman Empire and the continued importance of the Egyptian cities of Alexandria and Cairo as major commercial centers. During this period the cultural exchange between the Christian, Muslim and Jewish cultures was at the root of synthesis and experimentation that would go to form the foundations of the Renaissance, alongside a series of scientific advances without precedent in previous centuries. Seville was a melting pot for different artistic influences such as the popular Gothic-Mudejar style and became one of the main European centers for book-printing. Staging the exhibition in the beautiful Mudejar palace of the Real Alcázar – Seville's main focal point, its most outstanding historic complex and the oldest royal palace still used by a European monarch – enhances the works and is particularly appropriate. Ibn Khaldun visited Pedro I the Cruel there between 1363 and 1365. For this once-in-a-lifetime exhibition, the Real Alcázar will offer special evening viewing hours so visitors can also walk through the spectacular gardens, fountains, pavilions and terraces of the royal residence by moonlight. Some of the most important pieces gathered from international collections include: an altar panel from London's Victoria and Albert Museum; the manuscript of Universal History by Ibn Khaldun from France's National Library; a 13th century sultan's helmet (Egypt or Syria) from Brussel's Royal Museum of Art and History; a lectern for the Koran from the National Museum in Damascus, a jewellery chest from Athens' Benaki Museum and a manuscript of “al-Muqqadima” from Istanbul 's Topkapi Palace. Among the most significant Spanish works are: a pendant from the Battle of Salado; a priory chair belonging to the wife of Sancho III, the King of Castile; a 14th century sword probably from Boabdil, the last Moorish king of Granada, a letter from the sultan of Granada to King Jaime II of Aragon, a manuscript containing the “Triumphs” of the Italian poet Petrarch and a selection of numismatic pieces from various kingdoms throughout the 14th century world. “Ibn Khaldun, the Mediterranean in the 14th Century: Rise and Fall of Empires,” will be at the Real Alcázar from May 19 to September 30. Daytime hours are from 9:30 AM to 8 PM Tuesdays to Saturdays and Sundays and holidays from 9:30 AM to 6 PM. Special evening viewings are Mondays to Saturdays from 8 PM to midnight and Sundays and holidays from 6 PM to Midnight. Tickets are about $8.90 or 7 euros for adults and are available at the Real Alcazar and Corte Ingles department stores. Go to: www.legadoandalusi.es or www.elcorteingles.es. Seniors over 65 and children under 12 are admitted free of charge. The dedicated web site www.ibnjaldun.es has extensive background in English about the exhibition, the history of the 14 th century and its notable figures as well as ten high-resolution Jpeg images (Click on: “press office” and then “images.”) Organized by the region of Andalusia 's Presidential and Culture Councils through the Legacy of al-Andalus Foundation, the exhibition is sponsored by the El Monte Foundation, Telefónica and Mapfre. Other collaborators are: Seville City Hall, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, the State Society for Cultural Events Abroad (SEACEX), the Governing Board of the Real Alcazar, the Seville-NODO Foundation, the Tourism and Sports Council of the region, the Education and Science Council, UNESCO, ALECSO, the Three Cultures Foundation, the Euro-Arab Foundation, the Averroes Committee and the ONCE and the Jose Manuel Lara Foundation.
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Starting at the Prado's Central Gallery, the exhibition will present a dialogue between Picasso and the past with La Vie (1902) from the Cleveland Museum of Art; Boy Leading a Horse (1906) from New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA); Bread and Fruit Dish with Fruit on a Table (1908-1909) and L'Aficionado (1912) from Basel's Kunstmuseum; Self-portrait with Palette (1906) and Three Musicians (1942) from the Philadelphia Museum of Art; The Pan Pipes (1923) from the Musée Picasso, Paris; L'Aubade (1942) from Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, and Las Meninas (1957) from Barcelona's Museu Picasso. Offering a different perspective, the Reina Sofía's exhibition focuses on Guernica and its legacy emphasizing the artist's response to modern warfare including: The Charnel House (1945) from MoMA and Massacre in Korea (1951) from the Musée Picasso, Paris. Reinforcing the condemnation of violence, Goya's The Shooting of the Third of May will be shown alongside Guernica offering an inimitable image of the disasters of war. As the director of the Prado during the Spanish Civil War, Picasso refused to have Guernica displayed in Spain during Franco's time. In 1981 the Museum of Modern Art returned the work to the Prado and subsequently the painting was given to the Reina Sofía where it can be viewed today. “Picasso: Tradition and Avant-garde” is being sponsored by Fundación Winterthur and co-produced by the Sociedad Estatat de Conmemoraciones Culturales (SECC). Curated by Carmen Giménez and Francisco Calvo Serraller, the show has an honorary committee whose presidents are Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain and includes government representatives, Picasso's heirs of Picasso and the leading cultural institutions that house Picasso's works. The Prado Museum is located on Paseo del Prado (http://museoprado.mcu.es/) and is open daily, except Mondays, from 9 AM to 8 PM. Tickets are about $7.65 or 6 euros, except Sundays, when it is free. The Reina Sofía's main building, at Calle Santa Isabel, 52, is open six days a week, Mondays to Saturdays from 10 AM to 9 PM and Sundays from 10 AM to 2:30 PM. (Closed Tuesdays.) A ticket costs about $7.65 or 6 euros and admission is free on Saturdays from 2:30 PM to 9 PM and on Sundays from 10 AM to 2:30 PM. (www.museoreinasofia.es) Children under 18 and seniors over 65 are admitted free to both museums. Two other Spanish cities – Malaga and Barcelona – are also commemorating Picasso with year-long programs of exhibitions, operas, ballets, special lectures, workshops and activities for children and families running through February 2007. The Museo Picasso Málaga will present three shows in honor of that city's most famous native son along with film screenings and art workshops for children and Barcelona will host three exhibitions, three ballets and several concerts to celebrate the 100 th anniversary of the artist's return to that city. Go to www.museupicasso.bcn.es and ( www.museopicassomalaga.org ). |
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In announcing the innovative initiative, Javier Piñanes, the director of the Tourist Office of Spain in New York says, “ Spain 's alliance with Virtuoso is truly a unique collaboration. Last year we welcomed over 53 million visitors, with the majority coming from the UK and Germany. We are committed to increasing the number of American visitors and now with Virtuoso – and its upscale clientele – we will have a highly- qualified team of travel professionals equipped with the knowledge and tools to sell Spain effectively,” Piñanes explains. Designed to showcase Spain as one of today's most attractive destinations and increase American arrivals, the partnership comprises a variety of activities including the creation of a dedicated Spain sales team consisting of Virtuoso specialists who are committed to achieving established sales goals. Actively promoting and selling the destination through one-to-one direct marketing activities and training, the Destination LBD program will include:
The Tourist Office of Spain will take part in Virtuoso's meetings and events, and will appear in its publications and directories. Virtuoso's preferred suppliers in Spain – hotels, resorts, tour operators, cruise lines, transportation companies and ground operators – are also eligible to join the activities and can participate in direct mail, training and e-marketing campaigns. The Local Business Development for Spain is the first of Virtuoso's destination-focused LBD programs. “When selecting a region to introduce our first Destination Local Business Development program, Spain was the natural choice,” says Mark Belles, Executive Vice President of Sales and Service for Virtuoso. “Based on agent feedback and increasing market demand, we feel that Spain is poised to become the next hot destination. The dedication demonstrated by the Tourist Office of Spain, combined with the cooperation from our exceptional preferred suppliers, will allow Virtuoso to create another innovative and successful sales program, benefiting both our member agents and their affluent clientele.” First launched in 2005 with the cruise lines, Virtuoso's Local Business Development (LBD) program allows the frontline consultant to grow their business by focusing on a specific product or destination. Virtuoso agents must apply to join the Spain program, and pledge time to develop their Spain product knowledge, sales skills and engage in marketing activities. Over the course of a year, participating LBD agents will concentrate on meeting their established revenue goals. A privately-owned corporation with more than $3 billion annually in travel sales, Virtuoso is a by-invitation-only luxury travel network comprising more than 6,000 elite travel consultants, associated with 301 agencies in 22 countries throughout North and South America, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand. For information about Virtuoso, contact Misty Ewing, director of public relations at 212-588-8242 or email: mewing@virtuoso.com. Consumers can call 800-401-4274 or visit www.virtuoso.com. |
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NEW TERMINAL OPENS AT MADRID AIRPORT MADRID, Spain, April 13, 2006 – The sleek new $7.4- billion Terminal Four at Madrid's Barajas International Airport is now open. The new terminal, its satellite and two new runways will double the airport's capacity, making Barajas the second largest airport in Europe and the world's 10 th largest. More than 54 million people came to Spain last year, making it the world's second most popular destination, and officials are forecasting more visitors will be entering through the new facility this year. Designed by the acclaimed Richard Rogers Partnership in association with Antonio Lamela, the futuristic, state-of-the-art terminal is spacious, with natural light streaming through the undulating wing-like roof and glass walls. Rogers calls the large light-filled courtyards formed as the roofline dives down to the lower levels, “canyons.” Dramatic glass and steel bridges span these canyons. The rippling bamboo-lined roof is supported by giant color-coded y-shaped steel beams. This new construction sets the stage for an array of innovative architectural wonders visitors can now see on their travels throughout Spain. The new terminal comprises two buildings: the main terminal (T4) – from which most domestic and European country flights will operate – and its satellite (T4S) from which long-haul and some European flights will depart. With more than five million square feet of space, the main terminal is equipped to handle 20 million passengers a year with 172 check-in desks and 38 gates. Designed to accommodate 15 million passengers a year, the satellite terminal covers more than three million square feet of floor space and has 26 gates, 16 of them providing double piers. Connecting the two buildings is an automated people mover (APM) that can carry 13,000 passengers an hour over the 1.3-mile distance. One of the facility's many innovations is an automated baggage system electronically tracks 16,500 pieces of baggage an hour. Gates are color coded for easy reference with deep blue for north and deep red for farthest south. The new structures have the usual cafes, restaurants, retail outlets and something new – a Turkish bath and a 2400-square-foot- spa with hydro massage. A 12-lane road leads to the main terminal – Madrid is only eight miles away – and by May 2007 when the metro is completed, travelers will be able to make the journey to the city center in only 15 minutes. Barajas serves as the main hub for Iberia Airlines and now Terminal 4 centralizes all the airline's operations along with those of its oneworld Alliance member airlines. Last year Iberia and those airlines carried 25 million passengers to Spain. “Many world-renowned architects – including Richard Rogers – have anointed Spain as the new center for architectural innovation,” says Javier Piñanes, director of the Tourist Office of Spain in New York . “With this state-of-the-art terminal, visitors will see what the architectural community is raving about,” Piñanes explains. For information about Iberia, go to www.iberia.com. |
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Last December 14, the city of Madrid introduced the Madrid Card for Kids offering free admission to many entertainment venues and cultural institutions geared to children up to age 12 like the Madrid Planetarium, the Natural Science Museum, the Railway Museum, the National Science and Technology Museum, the Wax Museum and the Real Madrid Football Club's Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Discounts at the Hard Rock Cafe and Multicolor Toys are also included. The new 72-hour, 15-euro card (about $18) provides: • free entrance to more than 40 museums, cultural institutions and attractions in Madrid and its environs • unlimited rides on the “Madrid Vision” tour bus • unlimited guided “Discover Madrid ” walking tours • free entrance to the Zoo-Aquarium, the cable car and the Bernabeu Stadium • discounts at the IMAX theatre, Faunia nature theme park and the Children's Museum Cosmocaixa. • discounts at shops, restaurants, parks and children's shows • a guide book “Last year 5.9 million people visited the city of Madrid and more and more are traveling with children. This year travelers will be able to discover more of its artistic, architectural and cultural offerings and save money at the same time,” said Javier Piñanes, director of the Tourist Office of Spain. Travelers can purchase a 24-hour Madrid Culture Card for about $26.40 (22 euros), a 48-hour card for about $31.20 (26 euros) and a 72-hour card for about $36 (30 euros). Right now the Madrid Culture Card is available through tour operators. The 72-hour Madrid Card for Kids costs about $18 (15 euros). The card is sold at the Madrid Tourism Center at the Plaza Mayor; the Regional Office of Tourism at Calle Duque de Medinaceli, 2 and at the Atocha Train Station and at travel agencies. |
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When Picasso received an offer in 1946 to use one of the great rooms in the Grimaldi Castle at Antibes as a studio, he was enthusiastic. “I'm not only going to paint, I'll decorate the museum too.” The resulting series of paintings and drawings reflected the jubilant spirit –the joie de vivre– of a country that was free once more. Later Picasso added sculptures, ceramics and graphic works to this collection, France 's first museum dedicated to Picasso which was inaugurated in 1966. From March 13 to June 11, “The Picassos of Antibes” will showcase 73 works –never before seen in Spain– from the Musée Picasso, Antibes. Some of the outstanding works including drawings, ceramics, paintings like Joie de Vivre, Antipolis and Man Gulping Sea Urchins and the sculpture Head of a Woman with Chignon have never been exhibited outside of Antibes. This exhibition, coinciding with the refurbishment of the Musée Picasso, will travel to the Museu Picasso in Barcelona and later to Venice and Münster. “The Picassos of Antibes” exhibitions in Malaga and Barcelona are being organized by the Musée Picasso, Antibes, the Museo Picasso Málaga and the Museu Picasso in Barcelona. Complimenting the “Picassos of Antibes” and running concurrently is the “Exhibition of Photographs by Michel Sima” also from the Musée Picasso, Antibes. Born in Poland, Sima moved to Paris in 1929 becoming friends with several artists including Picasso. His images portray the context in which Picasso created his art during this period. In fact, it was Sima who suggested a meeting between the Malagan artist and the curator of Grimaldi Castle who subsequently invited him to use part of it as his studio. A third exhibition, “Picasso: The Female Figure,” running from October 2006 to February 2007 will illustrate the important role women played as an artistic subject for Picasso. Seventy rarely-shown paintings, drawings and sculptures will explore the powerful female presence that pervades his opus. Most of the works are portraits and nudes from the first decade of the 20 th century when his muse was Fernande Olivier and from the artist's final years (from the late 1940s to the early 1970s) which he spent with his second wife, Jacqueline Roque. Many of these works from the later period belonged to Roque and are now in private and public collections in France and the U.S. The Museo Picasso opened in 2003 in the heart of Málaga's historic district and is housed in the Buenavista Palace built between 1516 and 1542 by Jewish converts. Restored by Richard Gluckman working with Isabel Camara and Rafael Martin Delgado, the building is a prime example of civilian Andalusian architecture. The original collection of 204 works includes 42 oil paintings, 11 sculptures, 89 sketches, 73 prints and 24 ceramic pieces and represents all stages of Picasso's artistic life. Among them are such masterpieces as: The Girl and Her Doll, Olga Kokhlova with Mantille, Man, Woman and Child, Jacqueline Sitting and Pablo's Portrait with a White Cap . Entrance to the collection of the Museo Picasso Málaga costs about $7, or 6 euros. Tickets to the temporary exhibition are about $5.30, or 4.50 euros and tickets for both are $9.40, or 8 euros. Seniors over 65, children between the ages of 11 and 16, students and groups of more than 20 persons pay 50 percent of the admission. Children 10 years of age and younger are admitted free. Opening hours are Tuesdays to Thursdays and Sundays and holidays from 10 AM to 8 PM and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 AM to 9 PM . Closed Mondays and on December 25 and January 1. The museum is located at Calle San Augustín, 8. Telephone: 011-34-952-12-76-00 or 011-34-902-44-33-77 or go to www.museopicassomalaga.org. For information about the exhibition in Barcelona, check the web site at www.museupicasso.bcn.es TOS #20 11/30/2005
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WHAT'S OLD IS DEFINITELY NEW... AGAIN
• Son Julia – Scheduled to open next February 2006 in an artfully restored 15th-century mansion, Son Julia is in the Mallorcan countryside close to Palma de Mallorca, two golf courses and the Mediterranean island's white sand beaches. Beautifully restored, the Mallorcan manor house has 24 spacious rooms and suites, indoor and outdoor pools, a gym and a wellness center with hammam. Paintings and hand made furniture by Mallorcan artists and authentic kilim rungs grace the rooms of this peaceful hideaway. • Gran Hotel La Florida – On its vantage point high atop the city's mount Tibidabo, the La Florida was one of Barcelona's leading luxury hotels in the 1920's and 1930's and the meeting spot for the city's movers and shakers. Originally designed by Ramón Raventós in the noucentista Catalan style, the five-star property was restored to its former glory two years ago by the Stein Group which spent more than $42 million. Hemingway stayed here as did James Stewart and Zsa Zsa Gabor. The Gran Hotel La Florida has 52 rooms and 22 suites (many with terraces and Jacuzzi), a 1,000-foot infinity pool, a fitness center and a spa. In a city with no shortage of excellent restaurants, the L'Orangerie Barcelona with chef Daniel Bausà Peris has been heralded as a not-to-miss dining spot. • Duquesa de Cardona – Overlooking Barcelona's waterfront and right on the edge of the Barri Gòtic, the four-star Duquesa de Cardona opened earlier this year. Since the 16th century the property has belonged to the Cardona family and the present building – designed in an eclectic style with neoclassical inspiration – dates from 1850. The intimate 44-room hostelry boasts a roof-top pool and solarium with sweeping views of the city. The vaulted ceilings, towering columns and frescoed walls of the elegant lobby and adjoining restaurant make a grand impression. Original artwork and contemporary furnishings decorate the rooms. • Hacienda La Boticaria – A few miles outside of Seville in the lush countryside of Alcala de Guadaí surrounded by two lakes and more than 40 acres of gardens and lemon trees, this 127-room jewel evokes 19 th century Andalusia. Guests can stroll through cloistered galleries with marble fountains. The world famous Agua de Sevilla equestrian center adjoins the hacienda as does a magnificent collection of antique carriages. A state-of-the-art spa and 18-hole golf course are set to open soon. • Mas Salvi – Tucked away in the green belt area of the Empordà, in the heart of the Costa Brava , this 22-suite luxury property is set amid 17 acres of private woodland. The charmingly restored 17th century manor house has all the latest amenities and features outdoor and heated indoor pools, tennis and a billiards room. • Castillo de Buen Amor – The crenulated walls of this imposing Gothic castle-fortress can be seen across the plains of Castile. Built in the 11th century and extensively refurbished in the 15th century, the 44-room property is in the Mudéjar style and features a lovely two-story cloistered courtyard. Guests will feel like Spanish nobility in the impressive public rooms – with their huge stone fireplaces and beamed ceilings – that are decorated with period antiques, tapestries and handmade carpets. • El Antiguo Convento de Boadilla del Monte – Just 15 minutes from Madrid, in a secluded forest of oak, this 17th century former Carmelita convent is the perfect tranquil escape. Elegantly restored, the 17 rooms feature four poster beds, period paintings and antiques including 17 th century armoires. For a complete list of resorts in Spain and more information about Luxury Lifestyle Hotels, go to www.llhotels.com or call toll free 877-783-4600 or 212-329-7259. TOS #17 – 10/15/05 |
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Later this year, work will begin on a $38-million refurbishment of the Reina Sofía's old building that is expected to take four years. When the collection is re-installed – this time chronologically with special galleries dedicated to individual artists – an additional 200 works will come out of storage and be displayed. Plans also call for more space to be dedicated to video and new media as well as a new section for post-1980's art. In the last 10 years the number of visitors to the Reina Sofía has doubled to 1.5 million and this striking new expansion is sure to attract more art lovers. The museum's collection was inaugurated in 1992 when works from the former Spanish Contemporary Art Museum were joined with purchases and donations from Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró and Julio González. Spanning from 1881 – the year Pablo Picasso was born ( Guernica is displayed here) – up to today, from Cubism to Surrealism to Abstract and beyond, the collection comprises more than 13,000 works including: 3,400 paintings, 2,400 drawings, 1,200 sculptures, 5,500 engravings, 800 photographs. Renowned Spanish artists such as: Miguel Barceló, Eduardo Chillida, Juan Gris , Benjamín Palencia, Gerardo Rueda, Alberto Sánchez, Antonio Saura and Antoni Tàpies are represented here. Paintings and sculptures by other internationally acclaimed artists: Jean Arp, Francis Bacon, Alexander Calder, Max Ernst, Vassily Kandinsky, Le Corbusier, Fernand Léger, Jacques Lipchitz and René Magritte are also included. Exhibitions on view this fall and winter include:
Situated within 10 minutes walk from each other, the Reina Sofía, the Museo del Prado and the Thyssen-Bornemisza are in one of the city's most beautiful areas bordered by the Botanical Gardens, Paseo del Prado and Plaza de Neptuno . With the major expansions for the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza now completed, only the Prado's remains to be finished sometime in the fall of 2007. The Reina Sofía's main building, at Calle Santa Isabel, 52, is open six days a week Mondays to Saturdays from 10 AM to 9 PM and Sundays from 10 AM to 2:30 PM . (Closed Tuesdays and some holidays.) A ticket costs about $3.60 or 3.01 euros. Admission is free to the general public on Saturdays from 2:30 PM to 9 PM and on Sundays from 10 AM to 2:30 PM. Children under 18 and seniors over 65 are admitted free of charge and students are half price. A ticket for all three museums costs $9.15 or 7.66 euros and can be purchased at those institutions. For further information go to www.museoreinasofia.es, call: 011-3 4-99-774-10-00, fax: 011-34-91-774-10-50 or email: direccion.mncars@cars.mcu.es. TOS #15 9/30/05 |
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"We look forward to adding Barcelona to our trans-Atlantic route network and offering travelers something none of our competitors can match -- award winning, year-round service to Barcelona, with quick and easy same-airline, same-terminal connections from cities throughout the Americas," said Jim Summerford, Continental's vice president, Europe, Middle East and India. Barcelona will become the 26th city in Continental's trans-Atlantic route network. The airline has served Madrid since 1992 and currently operates a daily Boeing 777 nonstop service between Madrid and New York/Newark. Flight CO120 will depart Newark Liberty International Airport daily at 8:20 p.m., arriving in Barcelona at 10:20 a.m. the next day. Flight CO121 will depart Barcelona daily at 12 p.m. arriving in New York/Newark at 2:45 p.m. the same day. Flying times will be approximately eight hours traveling east and eight hours and 45 minutes traveling west. Continental's New York/Newark to Barcelona flights will be operated with a 172-seat Boeing 757-200 aircraft carrying 16 passengers in the BusinessFirst cabin and 156 in the economy class. Continental and Air Europa of Spain code-share on Air Europa-operated flights between Madrid and Barcelona, Malaga and Palma de Mallorca and on Continental-operated flights between Madrid and New York/Newark and between New York/Newark and 25 U.S. cities. A marketing agreement provides for frequent flyer program reciprocity between the two airlines. This premium-class cabin features extra-wide electronic sleeper seats with 56-inch pitch, adjustable winged headrests and personal video screens. Other BusinessFirst amenities include gourmet menus and award-winning wines and champagnes. A specially selected and trained corps of concierges provides individualized pre-flight and post-flight services for BusinessFirst customers at 26 key international airports worldwide. The new flights will feature Continental's renowned BusinessFirst service, which has won the Best Executive/Business Class award in the OAG Airline of the Year in each of the past three years (2005, 2004 and 2003), based on voting by frequent flyers worldwide. BusinessFirst was also voted Best Transatlantic Business Class among U.S. airlines in Conde Nast Traveler magazine's Business Travel Awards 2004 -- the seventh year running. Barcelona, with a population of 5.1 million, is one of the 10 largest metropolitan areas in Europe and one of Spain 's largest industrial centers. Major industries include manufacturing, particularly textiles and motor vehicles, consumer electronics, chemical and pharmaceutical research, design, publishing and advertising. Barcelona is also famed for its unique cultural identity, from the architecture of Gaudi to the historic Gothic district with its Roman and Medieval remains. More than 3.8 million tourists visited the city in 2003. Barcelona hosted more than 1,150 conventions and corporate meetings in 2004, bringing in 360,000 visitors. Continental Airlines is the world's sixth-largest airline. Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 3,100 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 150 domestic and 131 international destinations, more than any other carrier in the world. Nearly 400 additional points are served via SkyTeam alliance airlines, which include Aeromexico, Air France/KLM, Alitalia, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Korean Air and Northwest Airlines. With 41,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and together with Continental Express, carries approximately 56 million passengers per year. Continental consistently earns awards and critical acclaim for both its operation and its corporate culture. For the second consecutive year, FORTUNE magazine named Continental the No. 1 Most Admired Global Airline on its 2005 list of Most Admired Global Companies. Continental was also included in the publication's annual "Top 50" list, which ranks all companies, across a wide variety of industries, that appear in the Global Most Admired Companies issue. Continental again won major awards at the 2005 OAG Airline of the Year Awards including "Airline of the Year" and "Best Airline Based in North America " for the second consecutive year, and "Best Executive/Business Class" for the third consecutive year. For more company information, visit continental.com. SOURCE Continental Airlines Corporate Communications of Continental Airlines, 1-713-324-5080, or corpcomm@coair.com http://www.prnewswire.com |
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SPANISH STYLE FUTURISTIC, CASUAL OR ZEN-LIKE COOL NEW DESIGN HOTELS OPEN IN BARCELONA, MADRID
Right in the heart of the city's striking modernist Eixample neighborhood, the Hotel Omm is a study in cutting-edge, Zen-like cool. Guests at the 59-room property can enjoy views of Gaudi's undulating Casa Milà (“La Pedera”) from the roof-top pool and dine on Catalan cuisine at Barcelona's restaurant of the moment, Moo. Designed by architect Juli Capella and interior designers Sandra Tarruella and Isabel Lopez, the Hotel Omm is almost Scandinavian with its simple lines and natural materials. The expansive lobby has oversize leather furniture, hardwood floors and a double-sided fireplace. Diners at Moo Restaurant can gaze into a courtyard filled with a bamboo forest and steel sculptures and put their appetites in the very capable hands of the Roca Brothers who have the two-Michelin starred Cellar de Can Roca in Girona. In addition to the restaurant and pool, the Hotel Omm has a wine bar, the Ommsession Night Club, a reading room, fitness facilities with sauna and Jacuzzi and a business center. In the light-filled guest rooms, a floating screen of polished aluminum separates the bath from the sleeping area. The spacious rooms with king size beds and hardwood oak floors are equipped with TVs and lots of hi-tech gadgetry like CD players and Internet access. Rates for a standard king range from $192 to $378 (150-295 euros) and a superior king from: $352 to $448 (275-350 euros.) The hotel is located at Roselló 265, at the corner of the Passeig de Gràcia, the city's trendiest shopping street. Go to www.hotelomm.es or call 011-34-934-45-40-000. Camper, the trendy footwear company based in Mallorca, has ventured into the hospitality business with the January 2005 opening of its 25-room Casa Camper. Designer Fernando Amat, creator of the city's renowned interior design store Vinçon, and Jordi Tió converted a nineteenth century building into a casually hip boutique hotel with the Camper ethic of good basic design, a bit of color and friendly service. Casa Camper aims to promote “ relaxation and camaraderie,” so it's natural that Tentempié, the self-service cafeteria offers free continental breakfast and hot and cold snacks including salads, sandwiches, fruit and pastries 24 hours a day. The hotel's credo, “the secret to luxury lies in simplicity” is reflected in its no tipping policy, and smoking is only allowed in the outer lobby. Bikes are available free of charge, there's a pillow menu and the roof terrace offers great views of the city. Guest rooms – decorated in the red, white and black Camper colors have sitting rooms and bedrooms (separated by the main corridor that runs along each floor) with extra-wide beds, open-faced wardrobes, slate floors, walk in showers and complimentary jelly slippers. Located in the newly trendy barrio of El Raval and just across the square from the Richard Meier-designed Museum of Contemporary Art, the hotel is steps from the Ramblas, the city's famed pedestrian thoroughfare and some of Barcelona 's hottest clubs and tapas bars. Doubles cost from $241 to $310 (190-245 euros.) Visit www.camper.com or call: 011-34-933-42-67-80. A new concept in hospitality design – a hotel with its own soul” – will be unveiled later this month when the $94 million, 5-star Hotel Puerta América opens in Madrid. Eighteen world renowned architects and designers were invited by the Silken Hotel Group owners to “open guests' minds” and conceive an entire hotel floor. Reading like a who's who of contemporary design, the team included: Jean Nouvel, Javier Mariscal, Richard Gluckman, Sir Norman Foster, Zaha Hadid, John Pawson, Christiane Liaigre, Arata Isozaki, Kathryn Findlay, Marc Newson, Ron Arad, Victorio & Lucchino and Plasma Studio. Designed by Nouvel (who just completed the dramatic expansion of the Reina Sofía), the building's façade – with retractable blinds that change color – is decorated with lines from Paul Eluard's poem “ Liberty.” The 360-room flagship property will feature a restaurant, lounge, bar, café, an indoor swimming pool, fitness center with sauna, business center and meeting rooms. A 26-foot-long marble slab is the bar in Newson's cocktail lounge and the circular couch in Arad's sixth-floor lobby mimics the round beds in his rooms. The décor of the guest rooms range from soothing to stimulating with Hadid's “flowing landscape” of white undulating seamless surfaces and the Zen luxury of Isozaki's chambers with shoji screens and cedar soaking tubs to Plasma Studio's hallway of buckling floors with metal fragments hanging from the ceiling and walls. Each floor will have junior suites comprised of a sitting room, bedroom and two bathrooms and there will be 12 suites on the 12th floor. Rates for a deluxe double start at $270 (214 euros). Visit www.hotelpuertamerica.com or call 011-34-902-36-36-00. TOS #6 – 5/12/2005 |
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Since March, Air Plus Comet has been serving Madrid with non stop flights once a week from Terminal One at John J. Kennedy Airport (JFK) in New York. The airline is flying Airbus 300/310s with two-class service: 12 in Class Plus and 242 in Economy Plus. Air Plus Comet's flight A7 916 departs at 4:00 PM, arriving in Madrid the following morning at 5:30 AM. The return flight A7 917 departs Madrid at 11:25 AM and arrives in New York the same day at 2:30 PM. The airline also offers connecting service to all major Spanish cities including Barcelona and Malaga, the gateway to Andalusia and the fabled cities of Seville, Cordoba and Granada. Go to www.airplususa.com. “ Madrid, Barcelona and Andalusia are the three most popular areas in Spain for our U.S. visitors,” said Javier Piñanes, director of the Tourist Office of Spain. “These new flights on US Airways and Air Plus Comet will make it easier than ever for American travelers to get to their favorite vacation destinations faster.” Iberia, Spain 's national carrier offers non-stop service to Madrid from New York (John J. Kennedy airport), Chicago and Miami (www.iberia.com.) American Airlines has non-stop service from those three gateways as well (www.aa.com.) Delta Airlines has non-stop flights from New York and Atlanta to Madrid and also offers seasonal service to Barcelona from both gateways (www.delta.com.) Continental has a daily non-stop flight from Newark to Madrid (www.continental.com) and Air Europa code shares with Continental on those flights (www.air-europa.com.) TOS #5 – 4/30/2005 |
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By “transposing” the medieval core of Santiago on to the mountainous terrain, architect Peter Eisenman is transforming the 173-acre site into a “magic mountain” of undulating buildings. Linked by five tree-lined thoroughfares that mimic those of the city's old quarter (inverted it looks like a scallop shell) and cut through by an arroyo-like plaza, the structures – clad and roofed in native stone – seemed sculpted out of the terrain. Eisenman describes it as a new kind of urban fabric, furrowed and smooth like a seashell, the symbol of St. James and the city. The six buildings of the City of Culture of Galicia (CCG) are:
“The CCG complex is designed to preserve our rich centuries-old heritage and reflect our culture today – progressive and outward-looking, creative and cutting-edge and alert to the rhythm demanded by the most modern technologies,” explained Fraga. Legend has it that the body of Christ's apostle James was brought to Galicia after his death in 44 A.D. In 813 upon finding his relics in Santiago, a cathedral was built in his honor. Throughout the Middle Ages millions of pilgrims flocked to the city – as many as two million each year – which after Jerusalem and Rome was Christendom's most important place of pilgrimage. One of the world's most majestic squares, the Praza do Obradoiro is still the meeting point for the 4.5 million tourists who arrive each year. Surrounding this huge praza is an ensemble of historic buildings perhaps unequaled in Europe . Towering over all is Santiago 's majestic 11th century cathedral with an extravagant Baroque facade and its jewel-like Romanesque interior. After housing sick pilgrims for 500 years, the Hostal de los Reyes Católicos with its elaborate Plateresque façade is now one of Spain's paradors. Other sites not to be missed: the 16th century Colegio de San Jerónimo, the 18th century Pazo de Raxoi and the 12th century Pazo de Xelmirez, an unusual example of Romanesque civil architecture. Nearby is the 9th century Convento de San Paio de Antealtares, one of the city's oldest monasteries. Radiating out from the Praza, narrow streets end in charming squares full of cafes, restaurants and tapas bars. There Gallegos and visitors alike can enjoy a cortado or the excellent albariño wine and the glisteningly fresh seafood the region is famous for. “We have been welcoming visitors for twelve hundred years,” explained Galicia's Minister of Culture, Social Communication and Tourism, Jesús Pérez Varela. “The CCG will be a new model of gathering place and communications center where the arts, cultural heritage and advanced technologies may all intersect and we expect that a new generation of traveler will be intrigued enough by this extraordinary project to come visit us here in Galicia.” For information about the City of Culture of Galicia go to www.cidadedacultura.es and for information about Galicia go to www.xunta.es. TOS #4 3/31/05 |
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Surrounded by gigantic reflecting pools and set in 17 acres of lush gardens, the Palau de les Arts resembles a gargantuan knight's helmet. Two symmetrical cut-away shields – 3,000 tons of white concrete – “embrace” the exterior and are crowned by a sweeping 778-foot-long steel sheath, or “plume.” The roofs glisten with trencadís or delicate ceramic tile. The spectacular construction – almost 250 feet high – will provide four venues for opera, theatre and dance all with the world's latest technology:
Since its opening in 1998, the Hemispheric – a dramatic eye-shaped planetarium and IMAX theatre surrounded by a huge rectangle of turquoise water – has become the fourth most visited building in Spain. The only structure in the country with three audio-visual presentations – a laser show runs on a 900-square-foot-screen – it has a state-of-the-art computerized astronomic projection system that shows the entire sky with the planets and stars on an area 78 feet in diameter. One of the most technically advanced venues in the world, visitors can view IMAX documentaries and take 3D virtual voyages through the universe. Beginning in 2000, visitors were able to enter the City of Arts and Sciences through the monumental Umbracle, a dramatic white “portal” of 55 fixed and 54 floating arches measuring 100 feet long and 60 feet high. This “Avenue of Sculpture” is covered by green climbing vines and shields a garden promenade of tropical plants and palm trees. That same year in November, the Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe, (Prince Felipe Museum of the Sciences) opened to much fan fair and 13 million have visited to date. Its vast roof resembles a dinosaur's spine and the 130-foot transparent north façade allows for plenty of natural light. Devoted to science and discovery, the museum has soaring platforms with lasers, holograms, interactive displays and exhibits of “Life and the Genome,” “DNA” and “Memory.” The museum announced this month that it will house the Royal Collection, the largest in the world with 30,000 gems and precious stones. In February 2003, Europe 's largest aquarium – virtually an underwater city – opened. Designed by Mexican architect Félix Candela and spread over 20 acres, the parabolic buildings of the Oceanographic provide a hi-tech tour of the marine habitats of the world's oceans. A series of wooden footbridges – spanning a huge lake that represents one of the world's oceans – provide access to the different zones. Submarine glass walkways connect some areas. A striking subterranean restaurant – the walls are floor-to-ceiling aquariums – serves fresh fish and the region's signature dish, paella. Already the Oceanographic has welcomed three million visitors. While Europeans know Valencia as a culturally vibrant city with wonderful restaurants (it is the birthplace of paella and home to Valencia oranges), an exciting nightlife and long sandy beaches, Americans are just beginning to discover its charms. And in a city long renowned for interesting architecture, the stunning new structures actually compliment older architectural gems. You can see Valencia's first “golden age” of the 14 th and 15 th centuries reflected in the beautiful late-Gothic Silk Exchange, La Lonja de la Sede (1483), the Gothic-Romanesque-Baroque cathedral and a 15th century Gothic palace that is now the seat of the regional government. The fabulous 18th century Palacio del Marques de Dos Aguas – its Baroque façade embellished with ceramic fruits and vegetables – houses the National Ceramics Museum. Valencia has been wealthy since Roman times and the region's cultivated plains are the richest in the country. In fact, one of Europe's largest food markets, the Mercado Centra, a huge Art Nouveau building of cast-iron, glass and tile, dating from 1928, is still where Valencianos shop for fresh seafood and produce from la huerta, the “garden” surrounding the city. The Valencian Institute of Modern Art, or IVAM has the country's most extensive collection of works by Julio González, the father of 20 th century Spanish sculpture. Valencia is also home to the renowned Lladró and shoppers can visit the company's workshops and see firsthand how these beautiful ceramics are created. “Besides the beautiful architecture, interesting museums and delicious food, Valencia is about the sea, above all,” said Javier Piñanes, director of the Tourist Office of Spain. “In 2007 Valencia will host the America's Cup – the first time in 150 years that Europe will host the prestigious sailing event – and since preliminary regattas will get underway in the spring of 2006, we're expecting lots of Americans to visit,” explained Piñanes, Admission to the Hemispheric or the Science Museum starts at about $9.30 (7.20 euros) and there is a ticket for about $14 (10.80 euros) that includes both. A two-day ticket for about $37.30 (28.80 euros) allows entrance to all the venues. There are reduced tickets for seniors above 65 and children between 4 and 12 years of age. Special rates for groups are available. A “Valencia Card” is good for free and reduced admission to museums and other cultural institutions, discounts at shops and restaurants and free local transportation. On sale at hundreds of hotels and retail establishments, the one-day card costs about $7.80 (6 euros), two-day card is about $13 (10 euros) and the three-day card is about $15.60 (12 euros). For more information about the City of Arts and Sciences and details about admission prices, go to www.cac.es and for information about Valencia, go to www.landofvalencia.com. TOS #2 2/16/05 |
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Housed in the Palau Nacional, the emblematic building – designed by Carles Buigas for the 1929 International Fair and later renovated by Gae Aulenti, the architect for the Musée d'Orsay – is situated at the highest point of the city on the mountain of Montjuïc. The museum reopened last December after a $160 million renovation. MNAC is near several other cultural institutions: the Fundació Joan Miró, the Museu d'Arqueològia de Catalunya, the Castell de Montjuïc now housing a military museum, the Mies van der Rohe pavilion and Casaramona, a former Art Nouveau factory which is now Caixaforum, a center for cultural events. Nearby are the Poble Espanyol, or Spanish Village, of 116 houses representing architectural styles from all over the country, and the 1992 Olympic Stadium. Romanesque art was the first medieval artistic movement to spread internationally across Europe and the museum has the world's greatest display of those works. The most emblematic pieces are the mural paintings which are exceptional and considered unique in the world. Some magnificent 12 th century frescos were peeled off the apses of a number of Catalan churches in the Pyrenees and repasted onto replicas of the vaulted ceilings. Wooden altarpieces, stone sculptures and metal and enamel work from the 11th to the 13th centuries are on display. Also impressive is the Gothic collection (13th to 15th centuries) including stone sculptures, wood and ivory carvings, and mural and panel paintings from throughout Spain with Catalan works predominating. The collection shows the apex of Catalonia 's expansion in the context of Mediterranean Europe at that time. Works by such renowned painters as Berruguete, Cranach, Carracci, Goya, El Greco, Fragonard, Ribera, Rubens, Tiepolo, Velázquez, and Zurbarán can be found in the museum's Renaissance and Baroque collections. Soon to open are the 22 rooms of 19 th and 20 th century works – one of the most brilliant periods in the history of Catalan art – which will transport visitors on a journey through Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Realist, Modernisme, Noucentisme, “the generation of 1917” and the Avant-garde. Paintings and sculptures by Damià Campeny, Mariano Fortuny, Ramon Martí Alsina, Santiago Rusiñol, Darío de Regoyas, Joaquim Mir, Joaquim Sunyer and Julio González are being transferred from the Museu d'Art Modern. Additionally, the museum has extensive collections of drawings, prints, posters, photography and coins. Two exhibitions are on view now: “Masterpieces of Romanesque Art; Sculptures from the Boi Valley” runs through March 28 and has been organized with the Musée de Cluny in Paris. Fifteen 12 th century woodcarvings from small churches scattered throughout Catalonia 's western Pyrenees are being presented along with several large mural paintings – several rarely exhibited before. Running through February 2006 is “The Public Image of Rome” which analyzes the iconographic message of Roman coinage from the very first ones issued in the third century B.C. to coins from the 4 th century A.D. The National Museum of Catalan Art (Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, MNAC ) is in the Palau Nacional, Parc de Montjuïc and is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 AM to 7 PM and Sundays and public holidays from 10 AM to 2:30 PM. (Closed Mondays.) Admission to the museum is about $10.90, or 8.50 euros. Students, children between 13 and 21 years of age, families (2 adults and one child) and some groups receive a 30% discount. Seniors over 65 and children under 12 are admitted free. Contact the museum for ticket prices for the temporary exhibitions. Visitors to Barcelona can purchase “Articket BCN” for about $21.85, or 17 euros which covers entrance to six cultural institutions including MNAC, Fundació Joan Miró, Centre Cultural Caixa Catalunya, Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona, Fundació Antoni Tápies and Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona. Go to www.telentrada.com or call 011-34-933-262-946. A one-day Montjuïc Card is available every day except Mondays for $25.70 or 20 euros (children under 12 $12.85, or 10 euros) and allows entrance to all the tourist attractions including transportation to the hill via cable car. Go to www.servicaixa.com or call 011-34-902-33-22-11. For information about the National Museum of Catalan Art (Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, MNAC) go to www.mnac.es or call 011-34-93-622-03-76, fax: 011-34-93-622-03-74 or email: mnac@mnac.es. TOS #1-2005 2/14/2005 |
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These hotel developments are just in time to accommodate visitors to exciting cultural events throughout Madrid this winter, especially in its three outstanding, world-class museums: the Museo del Prado, the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia. Often featured in international 'Best' lists, the Hotel Ritz prides itself on not changing, except for the better. General Manager Anton Küng wanted the sumptuous décor kept intact, but in the hotel's most recent $33 million renovation, he directed that the public rooms, the dining terrace, conference rooms and the spa be updated. The neo-classical building, designed in 1910, is the polished Grande Dame of Madrid's hotels and has earned its place as one of the world's top hotels. Located within minutes of Madrid's three famed museums, the Ritz offers an “Art in Madrid” package for two persons which includes a three night stay, private limousine transfers, daily breakfast, an afternoon tea and a five course dinner at the restaurant “Goya” and entrance to all three museums starting at $1,670 not including VAT. Private guided visits to the Prado on days when it is closed can also be arranged. Personal service is exceptional. Guests are greeted with flowers and chocolate, the exquisite carpets are hand-made at the Royal Tapestries Factory and the bed sheets are of the finest linen. An Orient-Express hotel, The Ritz has 137 elegant rooms and 30 patrician suites with regular rates ranging from $480 for a classic double room to $4500 for the Royal Suite. The Ritz is located at Plaza de la Lealtad, 5 – 28014 Madrid , Spain. Phone: 011-34-91-701-67-67, fax: 011-34-91-701-67-76 or email: reservations@ritz.es. For information and reservations, contact Crown International Marketing. Go to www.crownluxurytravel.com or call: 1-201-265-5151 or 1-800-628-8929. With the last word in architecture, a swimming pool open to the sky, and a spectacular patio, the innovative Hotel Urban opened its doors in October. This new gem of a hotel also possesses a comprehensive collection of Egyptian, African and Asian art on loan from the Clos Archaeologic Foundation. The Urban has three restaurants two of which are open now. Opening soon, East 47 – with an innovative Mediterranean menu – is a branch of the award-winning East 47 at the Urban's sister property, the Villa Real. The Bar-Restaurant and the Summer restaurant on the terrace will serve Spanish and international dishes. The Urban offers every modern amenity including 24 hour room service, a sauna and a gym. Its 96 sound-proofed rooms and suites come equipped with flat screen Plasma TV, in-room modem/fax connection and CD player. The Urban is offering an introductory package for two for $415 which includes one-day entrance to all museums and a guided tour of the Villa Real's art collection, daily buffet breakfast, a bottle of champagne, half-day use of a Mercedes smart car. Room rates range from $187 for a double to $602 for a suite. One of the Derby Hotels Collection, The Urban is located at Carrera de San Jerónimo, 34, Madrid 28014, Spain. Go to www.derbyhotels.es or call: 011-34-93-366-8805 or fax: 011-34-93-366-8809. The newly restored Gran Hotel Canarias was built on the site of a 1904 palace, right on the Paseo del Prado and two blocks from Retiro Park . Decorated in a contemporary style with dramatic colors, handmade carpets and artwork throughout the public rooms, the Gran Hotel Canarias has a choice of two restaurants within the hotel. The Galdós serves Spanish and international specialties in a relaxed setting, while the Miró Brasserie allows for more informal dining. The 109 rooms and five suites all with marble bathrooms are equipped with the latest enhancements such as Bang & Olufsen flat screen satellite TVs, Bang & Olufsen telephones and high speed internet access. Suites also have jacuzzis and DVD and CD players. Rates range from $182 for an Executive Room to $456 for the hotel's most luxurious suite. The Gran Hotel Canarias is located at Plaza Cánovas del Castillo, 4, Madrid. Go to www.granhotelcanarias.com, or call: 011-34-90-230-3132, fax: 011-34-91-360-0798 or email reservas@granhotelcanarias.com. Since opening in October, several exhibitions at Madrid 's three leading cultural institutions have been drawing record crowds. The museums are situated less than 10 minutes from each other in the city's cultural enclave, Paseo del Arte, or “Art Walk” bordered by the Botanical Gardens, Paseo del Prado and Plaza de Neptuno, and just minutes away from the three hotels. The Museo del Prado's “The Spanish Portrait: from El Greco to Picasso” runs through February 6, 2005 and covers the 500-year history of the Spanish portrait from the 15 th to the 20 th century On display are about 80 works by Pedro Berruguete, Juan de Flandes, El Greco, Goya, Juan Gris, Miró, Murillo, Picasso, Ribera, Sorolla, Velázquez and Zurbarán. Also at the Prado: “A Century of Italian Drawings, “ including two by Michelangelo displayed for the first time (through February 6, 2005 ); “Rubens, The Adoration of the Magi” (through February 27, 2005 ). Information is available on the website: http://museoprado.mcu.es. The Prado offers advanced booking online. From now to January 9, 2005, the Thyssen-Bornemisza is showing “Gauguin and the Origin of Symbolism” with 186 works by Pissarro, Cezanne, Degas, Bonnard, Vuillard and Picasso. For the first time, The Thyssen will be allowing advance booking; reservations are available at www.elcorteingles.es/entradas. This exhibit is also scheduled to be open every day of the week, another unusual practice for the museum. (www.museothyssen.org ) The Reina Sofia Art Center is currently presenting several exhibitions of note. The Taschen Collection in its first public showing ever – includes works by Albert Oehlen, Martin Kippenberger, Jeff Koons and Mike Kelley and runs through January 10. Through January 17, “Tierras,” is a selection of terracotta sculptures by the acclaimed Spanish painter Tàpies and a show of 100 oil paintings by Andalusian artist Vázquez Díaz, is running until January 10. Go to: http://museoreinasofia.mcu.es |
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Arguably the most important novel in Spanish literature, Don Quixote was written by Miguel de Cervantes in 1605. The main character, a country gentleman and retired scholar, becomes so obsessed with tales of chivalry he goes “completely out of his mind” and becomes a knight errant himself. The novel recounts his adventures: fighting giants who are really windmills, mistaking sheep for an evil army and rescuing a damsel in distress. Finally, Don Quixote regains his mental faculties only to pass away, but not without leaving a defining imprint on world literature. In 2005, Castile-La Mancha brings the exploits of this legendary knight to life through some 2,000 sites of cultural interest and 20 nature reserves that are along the route. The Route of Don Quixote starts in the region's capital of Toledo – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the capital of Spain until the 16th century – and continues through ten provinces. Home to the world-famous windmills which Don Quixote attempted to fight, Toledo is quintessential Spain – a melting pot of Christian, Muslim and Jewish cultures – with its castles, 13th century cathedral, 12th century sinagoga and monumental alcázar. Of all the villages in the region, El Toboso may have the clearest ties. Birthplace of Don Quixote's love Dulcinea it is home to the Cervantes Museum, displaying many editions of the epic work. Other picturesque areas mentioned in Don Quixote include: Campo de Criptana and its 10 remaining windmills, the Medrano Caves, where Cervantes was once held prisoner and Las Lagunas de Ruidera Natural Park, 16 interconnected lakes once nicknamed the “Mirrors of La Mancha.” In Ossa de Montiel, the magical Montesinos Cave and Rochafrida Castle were among Don Quixote's illusions. Some of Spain 's best preserved medieval ruins are found at Carrión de Calatrava as well as an important wetlands and bird lovers' haven, Las Tablas de Daimiel National Park. La Batanera cave paintings are testaments to the region's earliest inhabitants. Consuegra's 11 windmills and ruined castle overlook the plains of La Mancha. In Puerto Lápice, an old restaurant claims to be the inn where Don Quixote was knighted by an indulgent innkeeper Picturesque Cuenca's mixture of Gothic and Renaissance monuments was built along the narrow, winding streets of the old Moorish town. One of Spain's castles, now a parador, dominates the lovely Sigüenza which has a splendid Romanesque-Gothic-Renaissance cathedral. This region has one of the world's largest expanses of vineyards and in Valdepeñas visitors can see the Bodega Museo where wine is still stored in earthen jars. Impressive castles in Belmonte and Alarcón (now a parador) are among the best preserved in the region. And the ruins of the 13th century castle-monastery of Calatrava la Nueva dominate the Manchego landscape. In Albacete, the Provincial Museum has a good collection of Iberian and Roman works. In Esquivias visitors can see the house where Miguel de Cervantes lived with his wife in the late 1500s, now a museum. Nearby in Illescas, the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción displays an altarpiece and five works by El Greco. The last part of the Route ends in the “historic ensemble” of Atienza, with its ruined 12th-century castle. The 620-mile Route of Don Quixote links historic towns and natural preserves, with 4,000 markers to lead the way. Designated a green, sustainable and ecological tour, the ruta can be done on foot, by bicycle or by car. Visitors can stay at more than 50 hotels, inns, agrotourism lodgings and paradors. Seventy percent of the Route is adapted for disabled travelers. For more information about the new 2005 Don Quixote Route, email donquijote2005@jccm.es, or go to www.donquijotedelamancha2005.com. TOS# 22 – 11/30/04 |
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In February, the 65-room four-star Parador de Limpias opened in the northern region of Cantabria. Originally the 19 th century Palace of Equilior was where King Alfonso XIII held his ministers' councils, now guests can stroll the grounds with stands of 100-year-old laurels that have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Prices for a double room range from $150 to $170. The renovation of the five-star Parador de Leon Hostal de San Marcos in the city of Leon in the province of Castile and Leon has been completed. Founded in the 12 th century, this monastery and pilgrim's hospital provided “lodging for the poor of Christ” making their pilgrimage to Santiago. Later it became the headquarters of the soldiers of the Order of St. James. Construction of the present building on the original site – called one of the most beautiful Renaissance buildings in Spain – began in 1515. The carvings on the striking 328-feet Plateresque façade depict religious and historical events. The magnificent cloisters added between the 16 th and 18 th centuries overlook beautiful gardens. Today's visitors will find authentic antiques, tapestries and intricate carvings along with all modern conveniences. Prices for a double room range from $154 to $175. In August, the four-star Parador de Santo Estevo in Noguiera de Ramuín, near the city of Ourense in the northern region of Galicia opened. This former Benedictine monastery is nestled in the Ribeira Sacra, or Sacred Bank, a major monastic center. Probably dating from the 10th century, the Romanesque-Baroque building contains three striking cloisters in Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance styles. Declared a Historical Artistic Monument in 1923, the 74-room parador has several restaurants and a charming garden. Prices for a double range from $117 to $137. Other paradors coming on line in 2005 include the Parador de Lorca in Murcia built near an old Moorish fortress. The 80-room parador will retain the emblematic Alfonsina Tower as part of the property. Another former monastery, the Parador de Morella in Castellon will have 74 rooms situated in the 15 th century Convent of San Francisco, its church and the adjoining Pavilion of the Military Governor. The 82-room Parador de la Granja in Segovia will be housed in both the 18 th century Casa de los Infantes and the military barracks. Situated on the grounds of the royal summer residence of La Granja, their construction was ordered by Carlos III and by Isabel de Farnesio respectively. The Parador de Alcala de Hernares in Madrid, formerly a women's prison, the Parador de la Cruz de Tejeda on Grand Canary Island, Parador de Costa da Morte in Galicia and Parador de Cadiz in Cadiz in the southern region of Andalusia will also open next year. Spain's parador system was born in 1928 when King Alfonso XIII inaugurated a former royal hunting lodge in the Gredos Mountains. The Spanish government began to identify and convert many of its historic buildings castles, convents and monasteries to lodgings, in part to preserve them, but also to encourage travel to less-visited parts of the country. The current 2004/2005 expansion – the most ambitious in over 75 years – means an increase of 12 percent in the network, one of the world's most successful state-operated hotel chains. For further information about the Paradors of Spain, call your travel agent or contact: Marketing Ahead at 1-800-223-1356 or go to www.marketingahead.com. TOS #18 – 8-25-04 |
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For more than 200 years beginning about 1765, craftspeople from all over the world created toy miniatures to accurately reflect society as well as their imagination. The American toys open a window into the culture and history of the U.S. during those years. Gunslingers, cowboys and Indians from the Wild West, “dime store” tin soldiers popular during the Great Depression, jockeys, movie stars, baseball and football greats, even old cartoon characters are included. It was not until 1960 that toymakers changed from using metal to plastic. “These figures reflect the tastes and social atmosphere of the countries and periods in which they were created,” explained Ambassador José Manuel Allendesalazar, founder of the museum and a former consul general of Spain in New York. Bullfighters, circus performers, soldiers on horseback, notable historical personages as well as figures from everyday life like tennis players in action on a court and a couple in a horse and carriage were collected from Spain, Switzerland and over 40 other countries. Visitors can see formations of hundreds of Russian Cossacks, Mexican banditos, British Redcoats and French Foreign Legionnaires. Sixty percent of FIJA's pieces are currently on display and the others will be exhibited on a rotating basis. The cornerstone for this unusual museum was Allendesalazar's own collection. Over the years, he acquired pieces while traveling around the world. “I wanted to offer visitors an encyclopedic view of this pre-industrial craft,” Allendesalazar said. The historic building that houses the museum is famous in its own right having been featured in “Vista de Sepúlveda,” by Ignacio Zuloaga – one of Spain 's renowned modern painters who spent time in the region near Segovia. Situated above the Río Duratón, the picturesque town of Sepúlveda offers visitors other attractions, such as the remains of its medieval city walls and its castle and several Romanesque churches, including the 11 th century Church of El Salvador. The Duratón winds through a striking natural park, the Parque Natural de Las Hoces de Duratón home to golden eagles, griffon vultures and peregrine falcons. And Segovia – one of Spain 's most spectacularly sited towns – has a Roman aqueduct from the 1 st century AD that was still in use in the late 19 th century, the last great Gothic cathedral built in Spain (1525) and the Alcázar, a classic fairy tale castle that might have inspired Disney. The FIJA Collection is located at 24 Sancho García Street and is open the first two Saturdays and Sundays of the month from 11 AM to 2 PM and 5 PM to 7 PM. It is closed in February. Weekday and group visits can be arranged by appointment. Admission is about $3 or 2.5 euros. For information on the museum, visit www.toyfigurespain.com or call 011-34-921-540-417 and for information on the region of Segovia, go to www.infosegovia.com. TOS # 5 4/25/04 |
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Integrated into the walls of a 17 th century fortress called the es Baluard de Sant Pere , or bastion of Saint Peter, the Es Baluard Museum offers spectacular views of the bay and the city of Palma de Mallorca. Using glass, high grade steel and white concrete in a striking contemporary design, a team of architects including Luis and Jaime García-Ruiz, Vicente Tomás and Ángel Sánchez-Cantalejo has created 26,900 square feet of exhibition space. At the same time, the architects have conserved a part of the city's heritage and allowed the incomparable Mediterranean light to pour in the historic Renaissance fortress through the innovative use of skylights, interior balconies and terraces. The cornerstone of the collection – donated by Balearic businessman Pere A. Serra – has about $5.7 million of artworks dominated by artists who have had some kind of relationship with Mallorca, painters either born here or who visited the island. These works joined institutional collections from the Balearic government, particularly strong in international artists who painted in Mallorca, the Mallorca Island Council's early 20 th century Mallorcan paintings and the Palma City Council's group of works by contemporary Mallorcan artists. Presenting the artistic output in Mallorca through the 20 th century, the museum's permanent collection, is organized around seven themes. On the main floor, Room I contains a number of late 19 th century and early 20 th century landscapes by Mallorcan and Catalan painters. The works have a particular sentimental importance as many were painted by friends of Pere Serra's grandfather. He was the doctor in Soller, a small village on Mallorca 's north coast which drew many artists for the renowned quality of its light and its scenic landscapes. Some of the artists represented in this first thematic section Mediterranean Landscape and the Female Form: Nudes and Portraits are: Joan Miró and Mallorcan artists such as Joaquim Rusiñol, Hermén Anglada Camarasa, Joaquim Mir, Eliseu Meifrén, Pilar Montaner de Sureda and Antoni Gelabert. Portraits and nude studies by Picasso, Kees Van Dongen, Rene Magritte, Francis Picabia and Mallorcan artist Juli Ramis are also presented here.
The 30-foot-high, 4,140-square-foot cistern, or Aljub that dates from the 17 th century, was the setting for an installation, “Light Imprisoned in the Belly of the Whale” by acclaimed German contemporary artist Rebecca Horn which ended yesterday. Mallorca 's tourism officials expect up to 200,000 will visit the new museum in its first year. From October 1 through May 31, the Es Baluard Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Palma (Museu d'Art Modern i Contemporani de Palma) is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 AM to 8 PM. Closed on Mondays. In the summer (June 1 to September 30), the museum is open daily from 10 AM to 12 Midnight. Guided tours are offered every Wednesday at 6:00 PM and must be arranged one week in advance. Admission is about $7.20 or 6 euros and for students, seniors and cultural and educational groups the cost is about $5.40 or 4.50 euros. The museum is located at Plaça Porta de Santa Catalina, 07012 Palma. For more information go to www.esbaluard.org, call 011-34-971-908-200, fax: 011-34-971-908-203 or email: museu@esbaluard.org. TOS #4-2004 4/30/04 |
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When the Spanish government paid $350 million in 1993 for the 775 works of The Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection – considered the world's most important private art collection – it solidified Madrid 's reputation as a leading cultural capital. Spanning the history of painting from the beginning of the 13 th century to the late 20 th century, its outstanding Old Masters – including works by Duccio, Dürer, Caravaggio, Van Eyck, Holbein and Hals, as well as paintings by Gauguin, Van Gogh, Klee, Mondrian and Rauschenberg – compliment the Prado's Old Masters collection and the Reina Sofia's modern works. The collection comprises Dutch and Italian Primitives, German Expressionism, Russian Constructivism, Geometric Abstraction, Pop Art and American 19 th century painting – rarely seen in other European museums. Similar in content to the original Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection , the Carmen Thyssen Bornemisza Collection has significant holdings of 17 th century Dutch paintings and of 18 th century artists such as Canaletto, Guardi and Fragonard, little represented in other Spanish museums. Perhaps the most important part of the collection is made up of 19 th century paintings from John Constable and Caspar David Friedrich to the Impressionists including works by such artists as Corot and Daubigny. The Impressionist and Post-Impressionist holdings are the richest and most impressive area of the collection featuring works by Degas, Gauguin, Manet, Monet, Picasso, Pissarro, Renoir, Sisley and Van Gogh. The early 20-the century avant-garde movements are also represented by the Fauves (Braque, Derain, Matisse) and the German Expressionists. Upcoming exhibitions include:
Madrid 's two other world class cultural institutions: the Museo Nacional del Prado and the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (MNCARS) are undergoing extensive expansions also. The three museums – all housed in 18 th century secular buildings – were built as part of Carlos III's campaign to transform the modest town of Madrid into the country's modern capital. Later this year, all three will be connected in a grand Paseo del Arte, or Art Walk. The Spanish Government will have invested $185 million (147 million euros) and the museums will gain an additional 700,000 square feet, adding up to a total of over 1.7 million square feet of exhibition space. Also on Paseo del Prado, a new $35.6 million cultural center, the Caixa Forum-Madrid, is being created by Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron known for their award-winning Tate Modern design. Credited with introducing contemporary art to Spain in the 1980's, the Caixa Foundation is quadrupling the space of this former coal-burning electrical station dating from 1900. Music, film, literature and educational programs will be offered. All of these projects transforming Madrid will certainly draw more visitors – Minister of Education, Culture and Sports, Pilar del Castillo forecasts an additional three million – and make the city an excellent choice to host the Olympic Games in 2012. The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is located at Paseo del Prado, 8 and is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 AM to 7 PM (Closed Mondays). Admission to the permanent collection is about $6.10 or 4.80 euros (seniors and students: $3.80 or 3 euros) and $4.60 or 3.60 euros for the temporary exhibitions (seniors and students: $3.05 or 2.40). A combined ticket is $8.35 or 6.60 euros ($4.55 or 3.60). Children under 12 are admitted free. An “Art Walk” or Paseo del Arte ticket for $9.80 or 7.66 euros can be purchased at the museums and covers entrance to all three. For information go to www.museothyssen.org, call 011-34-01-369-01-51, fax: 011-34-91-420-27-80 or email: inform@museuothyssen.org. (This is the third in a series of three releases.) TOS #3-2004 2/8/03 |
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Originally designed by Francisco Sabatini and Juan de Hermosilla as the city's General Hospital in 1781, the building was converted to an art center in 1980 under Antonio Fernández Alba. Later in 1988, two striking glass towers (enclosing elevators) were added by architects Antonio Vázques de Castro and José Luis Iñíguez de Onzoño working with Ian Ritchie. In 1992 the permanent collection of the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (MNCARS) was inaugurated incorporating the collection of the old Spanish Contemporary Art Museum with new purchases and substantial donations of works from Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró and Julio González. Today it is one of the foremost collections of 20 th century art spanning Cubism to Surrealism to Abstract and represented by important Spanish artists such as Pablo Picasso (Guernica is displayed here), Eduardo Arroyo, Eduardo Chillida, Pablo Gargallo, Juan Gris, Antonio López, Antonio Saura, Gutiérrez Solana and Antoni Tàpies. Reflecting the evolution of Spanish art from the end of the 19 th century to the years following World War II up to today, the museum presents such artists as. Andreu Alfaro. Miguel Barceló, Luis Buñuel, Juan Manuel Díaz Caneja, Martín Chirino, Luis Fernández, Susy Gómez, Eugenio Granell, Benjamín Palencia, Gerardo Rueda and Alberto Sánchez. The collection comprises more than 13,000 works including: 3,400 paintings, 2,400 drawings, 1,200 sculptures, 5,500 engravings, 800 photographs and includes paintings and sculptures by Jean Arp, Francis Bacon, Alexander Calder, Max Ernst, Vassily Kandinsky, Le Corbusier, Fernand Léger, Jacques Lipchitz and René Magritte. |