A Tale of Two Spanish Cities

Alcazar, Segovia

I first visited Spain in 1998 with classmates from my high school Spanish class. It was my first trip out of the country. We visited Madrid, Segovia, Salamanca, San Sebastian and Barcelona over the course of 2 weeks. I returned to Spain in January 2001 as part of a study abroad program and spent 5 months living with a host family and attending classes at the University of Barcelona. You could say that Spain had a hold on me. On my very first visit to the country, I fell in love with the bustling cities, the peaceful countryside, and the unique culture.

So I was thrilled when the timing was just right to take our two kids to such a special place. They’re 13 and 15 and both are learning Spanish in school. We took 1 week over Thanksgiving break and spent 3 nights in both Barcelona and Madrid, which isn’t nearly enough time, but would give them a taste of what Spain has to offer.

Barcelona is known for its incredibly interesting architecture, thanks in no small part to Antoni Gaudi and all those who came after him. His style is unique and distinct and instantly recognizable as you encounter places like La Pedrera, the Sagrada Familia basilica, and Park Guell - just a few of his masterpieces. Inside La Pedrera you can get a better understanding of how Gaudi approached his designs. Our kids loved seeing the inner workings of the building’s attic space that displays how and why Gaudi designed the way he did.

Barcelona is also a seaside town, so while it’s a major metropolitan city, it also exudes a relaxed and laid-back personality. Small shops and restaurants continue the time honored tradition of siesta - the hours around 2pm-4pm when everyone returns home (even school children) for a rest. The evening hours begin again around 5pm when shops reopen and people take to the streets for a drink or appetizer to hold them over until a 9pm, or later, dinner.

Getting from Barcelona to Madrid is fast and easy, thanks to the multiple high speed rail services available at various price points. Board your comfortable train and in just over 2 hours you’ll be making your way into the heart of Spain and its capital city of Madrid.While Barcelona is known for its architecture, Madrid can claim some of the best art in the world. You’ll find world-renowned classical and modern art pieces all on display in the “golden triangle of art” in the Prado, Reina Sofia, and Thyssen art galleries. Madrid also boasts some of the most beautiful green spaces in all of Spain. The city is flanked on the east side of the city by the sprawling Retiro Park, and on the west side of the city, the gardens of the Royal Palace set up your entry to the wide open spaces of Casa de Campo. We all particularly enjoyed a segway tour of Retiro Park. It allowed us to cover a lot of ground in a short time all while having fun.

From both cities, there are plentiful options for day trips. We took advantage of a half-day tour to Segovia from Madrid. Just a 1 hour car ride away, and you’ll find yourself in a living museum. The city of Segovia is a UNESCO world heritage site featuring an ancient Roman aqueduct, a marvelous gothic cathedral, and a royal alcazar (palace). It’s a beautiful escape from a busy city into the heart of Spain, showcasing the country’s love for preserving its unique and wonderful history.

Spain is truly magical and Barcelona and Madrid are great jumping off points to discovering the rest of the country. We will surely be back to see more!