In the 1700s, looming volcanic cones sprayed Lanzarote with molten lava, redefining the vista into a surreal, jagged environment. To some, bedding down in a valley between two volcanic comes may not sound like a sleep – inducing experience, but British owners Tarnya and Richard Norse-Evans have created a tranquil hideaway here on the island.

Four retro-rustic cottages from an L-shape around a carves swimming pool, an oasis of gleaming white and tropical flora amid a landscape of ash-black lava. Bougainvillea clambers over the ocher rooftops, and palm trees shade the private gardens. The cottage interiors pair old with new: high-tech entertainment systems housed on bare stone shelves; terra-cotta floor tiles splashed with bright rugs; and stylish bathrooms dominated by indoor foliage. At night, the silence is overwhelming. With near-zero light pollution, the razor-sharp sky feels only a stretch away.

The hotel’s relatively isolation certainly does not mean there is nothing to do. Spa treatments and massages are on offer in a stone yoga yurt, sandy beaches are less than 6 miles (10 km) away, and a network of trekking trails for the more adventurous crisscrosses the region. Creative writing, cooking, and painting classes are also arranged on request.

Although self-catering, organic breakfasts featuring home grown fruits are delivered to the secluded terraces. For stocking up the fridge, a local farmers’ market sells cheese, fruit, vegetables, and fresh bread every weekend. For stressed-out suits in need of some ”away-from-it-all” time, coupled seeking the perfect anti-resort, or artists searching for an inspirational retreat.

Location: Lanzarote, Canary Islands. Photos by: Photo#Matt and jim oatway.

The Chocolate Museum is a “delicious” museum in Barcelona, Spain. The museum has been built on the initiative of the Barcelona Confectionery Guild and is located in the very centre of the town. The museum exhibits a large collection of intricately carved sculptures made out of chocolate along with examples of traditional machinery that was formerly used to make chocolate during the past years. There are also activities and visits organized every week (high season only) inside the museum.

The history of chocolate is explained from the discovery of cocoa beans by the New World explorers, all the way through time to its present predominant position in the commercial world. Chocolate has always been seen with different purposes: as a medicinal element, an aphrodisiac product, a nutritional value and element located between a legend and reality.

 Among all sculptures, you can particularly appreciate a four-horse chariot, the Sagrada Familia, Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.

What is a chocolate museum without metal chocolate molds. Replaced by polycarbonate molds today, metal molds still play an important part of chocolate history. The chocolate museum is open from Monday to Saturday from 10am to 7pm and on Sundays 10am to 3pm!

The Electric Ramps at the Old Centre in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, are covered by dramatic envelope that intended to create the improvement of the visual impact in the historic district. The ramps are created due to extreme winter conditions of the historical city. This hilly topography made it possible for the urban structure of the historical centre to remain intact. Nevertheless, it has also led to the creation of ghettos and to isolation from the rest of the city.

In addition to keeping snow and ice off the surface of the ramp, water entrance is reduced. On the exterior, the lines of glass which link the different positions of the porticoes make up a three-dimensional figure of apparent complexity and dynamism. It is, however, a single portico and thus has a simple and rational construction process.

Artificial lighting is incorporated under hand railings, with LED signs at all entrances and exits.The machinery includes an automatic motion detector using photocells on each side of the band, which detects human presence along the ramp and allows a remote control to stop and start the installation without having to verify human presence in situ. There is also an additional CCTV camera system along the entire ramp, connected to a control centre. Photos by: Roberto Ercilla Arquitectura

The eighteenth-century stone farmhouse was lying derelict on a hilltop among the farmers’ fields of northeast Mallorca. Local architect and designer Toni Esteva spotted it and invested many years converting it into one of the island’s most alluring small hotels. Son Gener is now a chic ten-room finca, surrounded by rolling hills of olive groves and orchards. It has its own organic fruit and vegetable gardens, and there are views of the Mediterranean sparkling in the distance.

The nearest day trip is to the historic little town of Arta, where you can wander along stone alleyways to a hilltop chapel. Son Gener is also close to some of the island’s least spoiled beaches.

Inside the hotel, Toni has created a showcase of uncluttered design. Explore the maze of exposed stone walls and old wooden beams, amid plenty of whitewash, limestone floors, and antiques. It is neither fussy nor opulent, just quietly understated with large rooms decorated in pale neutral colors, stone stairways, and the occasional bouquet of fresh flowers to lighten the mood.

Big bedrooms come with private terraces, four-poster beds, high wooden ceilings, and creamy linen-covered armchairs. Bathrooms are swathed in limestone. Some rooms offer roof decks with sea views. The small spa furnished in stone, glass, and dark wood has indoor and outdoor pools, a sauna, steam room, whirpool tub, and massage room. There is no fine cuisine there, though: The food is tasty, fresh, and rural, and you can eat outside among the bougainvillea.

It is very quiet there, sometimes silent. As you lie, totally relaxed on your terrace, occasionally you will hear a goat’s bell jingling in the fields.

Understated luxury in the order of the day at Hospes Palacio del Bailio. Hidden among the narrow backstreets of the ancient city of Cordoba, the beautiful hotel is housed in a sixty-century mansion that has also served as a military headquarters and a stables.

Like many Andalucian buildings, it is set around a central courtyard in the Moorish style, this one filled with the tangy scent of citrus from the immaculately orange and lemon trees and the soothing trickle of an eighteenth-century stone fountain. As well as being stunning the hotel conceals a rare treasure: the remains of a Roman house, discovered by chance by a previous owner.

Today the remains lie underneath the five-star restaurant’s glass floor and are lit up to spectacular effect at night.

A dip in the infinity pool is the perfect antidote to the effects of the hot southern European sun. The Bodyna spa is a major feature of the hotel, part of it situated in a courtyard flanked by stone columns with a further tree spas on the lower ground floor built around original Roman thermal baths. Just a fifteen-minute walk away you will find the wondrous Cordoba mezquita, the most magnificent mosque built by the Moors and rightly deserving of its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Location: Cordoba, Andalucia, Spain

The MS Lounge is an awesome green spot for celebrations and parties. It is sited in Navarra, Spain. The whole concept is has patterns of micro-structures, more in line with geometric patterns of liquid and / or aerosols that Cartesian structures.

The space is a combination of the existing fence, wrapping it all, but hidden: expressing their new identity, not as constructed element, but as a re-forested. A new plant species grown in the surrounding area … the new scalar similarity between elements of “plant” makes the proposal a new understanding of the link with the existing connection.

La Luna is a cocktail bar and restaurant that manages to unite a little bit of Barcelona history with a thoroughly modern atmosphere and excellent food. The restaurant is located in a dark alley in the Borne area. Great atmosphere, amazing steaks and friendly and beautiful people all round.

With lots of wood and a red decorative scheme, is set against an impressive Gothic interior with stone arches, vaulted ceilings and wrought-iron lanterns.

 For lovers of music a little more Latin, La Luna is a friendly place that specializes in salsa.

Remember to take advantage of the 10% discount on all cocktails for Oh-Barcelona customers and sample one or all of the great concoctions – La Luna.

This is a wonderful project, ever created. The collaborate includes the remodeling of a square of 1,798.76 sq m surface and  the renewal of its pavement with basaltic stone pavers. Under gradient, a gallery of connection between the two tanks, Somero and Fondero, and museum area with a total of 409.56 sq m has been projected.The square name is Torico Teruel or Plaza del Torico.

The renovation of the square, include its pavement, their porches and facades, following a carefully designed lighting. And assumed, in addition, the recovery for the public of the tanks that are placed under the square, elements of great value and artistic heritage.

The remodelling of the Plaza del Torico has included an innovative lighting system consisting of 1.230 luminaries led lamps embedded in the ground that have the ability to change color using a video program, which can generate different textures and rhythms light. The lighting of facades, following the criteria of the European Union, is performed by luminaries based headed to bathe in the same direction from top to bottom, putting them in value.

Location: Teruel, Spain

A spectacular Geometric Park has spring at a barren slope that split two suburbs in Bilbao, Spain. The park square is a vibrant expanse of green space that connects the surrounding neighborhoods and creates a place for people to sit or stroll. 

Sited between the districts of Txurdínaga and Otxarcoaga, the park has improved the urban spaces in the city’s outlying areas, creating connections between different neighborhoods and increasing the quality of life for residents.

The Geometric Park is designed by ACXT, and they chose to preserve the existing rock wherever possible, interspersing it with triangular patches of vegetation and reinforcing weak parts of the slope with sections of of concrete. The project has also renovated an old electricity substation into a children’s play area by tiling the site with sections of grass, flowers, and soft rubber. The new park creates a beautiful connecting space, and its inclined promenade provides stunning views over the city.

In the year 880, a group of shepherd children saw a light descend from the heavens in the mountains of Montserrat and children’s heart were filled with joy. For a month the visitations continued and were traced to a mountain cave. When local priests explored the spot, they found an image of the Virgin Mary. Later, in the eleventh century Aboot Oliba founded a small monastery on the site, and today eighty Benedictine monks still welcome pilgrims to their rocky mountain home. Photo by: Sandro Mancuso

A pilgrim is any person who knocks on the door with the intention of spiritual quest, and the Montserrat monks share their prayers and meals with guests. Visitors can tour the museum and the building was designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch, who created many of Barcelona’s landmark structures. The museum of Montserrat houses more than 1, 300 pieces, from an Egyptian sarcophagus to a twenty-first century sculpture. Photo by: mkpena

The massif at Montserrat is protected as a nature reserve and includes walks, featuring the hike to the peak of Mount Sant Jeroni, which offers spectacular views over the rugged landscape. Many people come to Montserrat on day trips from Barcelona, but those who wish to stay longer can book into the Hotel Abat Cisneros or the Abat Marcet Apartments nearby. The monastery sits in the shadow of Mount Monserrat, in Catalonia, Spain. Photo by: retrorocketrick

Photo by: retrorocketrick

The 4 star Hotel Riu Camp de Mar is situated around 50 metres from the beach in the exclusive resort of Camp de Mar on the south west coast of Majorca. Camp de Mar has its own sheltered, sandy beach and is generally quiet throughout the year. 300 m away is the exclusive “”Golf de Andratx”" golf course.

Most of the 412 guest rooms have sea front view or partial sea view. All rooms are equipped with bath/WC, hairdryer, mini-bar, telephone, central air conditioning/heating (according to season), sat-TV, in-room safe, balcony or terrace.

Facilities: Air Conditioning, Internet Access, Bar, Safe, Gymnasium, Heated pool, Sauna, Swimming Pool.

The hotel offers opportunities to participate in aerobics sessions, diving, a game of table tennis, beach volleyball, tennis, squash, bocce, pool and snooker and pedalos as well as a gym.

Fresh fish is popular and excellent, specialities include seabass and lobster.

Gar-Anat Hotel de Peregrinos is located in Granada at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains in the Realejo neighborhood, Andalusia, Spain. Granada is a paradise closed to many and open to few. Furthermore, this is one of preoccupations and convictions which return the harmony with nature and the source of inspiration and sensitivity.

The hotel is dressed like a theatre and you will see that as soon as you step over – you feel like one, promoting talks and workshops with illustrious local figures who are well worth knowing, proposing stories to guests that they can interpret for life, and especially helping them to communicate with and understand.

Each room has heating/air conditioning in the room itself, heating by water in the bathroom, telephone, Internet connection by cable and WiFi, and safe Bathrooms are fitted with shower, bath or hydromassage bath, hairdryer and minibar in the “Amarillos” suite.

Tho hotel also offers access to the hotel entrance, with unloading area for baggage, parking spaces (limited) 70 metres from hotel entrance, reception service 7am-midnight, and 24-hour surveillance and telephone assistance, El Ladron de Agua, 7 minutes away), self-service, buffet breakfast, always included in the room price. This does not mean it is limited. On the other hand, it is most complete: juice, fresh fruit, yoghurt, assorted breads and pastries, cake, omelette, cured meats, cheese… and probably one of the best cups of coffee anywhere in the city.

Colonnaded patio, designed as a garden – this is the hotel’s largest room, but cosy too, lounge-library, for chatting, reading or just to get ready for your day or look back on its activities with a drink by the fire, dining room – open for breakfast and the rest of the day too, tea room - help yourself to tea, herbal tea or coffee with biscuits while you chat with other travellers or check your e-mail, cinema room – to enjoy a good film, a football match or a quality documentary, meeting room – for groups of up to 24 people, with WiFi Internet connection, and HD projector.

The luxury Alva Park Resort is situated in the beautiful area of Girona, Spain. Often described as an oasis, it offers an ideal base from which to explore Barcelona. All of the luxurious rooms feature the highest technology including a Bang & Olufsen 40’ LCD widescreen TV, Jacuzzi hydro-massage, Wi Fi internet connection and private terrace.

For those seeking a relaxation the hotel also offers variety of wellness and beauty centre such as Indian Princess Bath and the Molton Brown Spa. Guests also can relax and enjoy the steam bath, sauna, and spa or go for simulator indoor golf club specially design for left and right handed. The Alva Park Resort and Spa hotel is the perfect choice for those seeking in the ultimate luxury break.

All rooms are non-smoking environment. Official site – http://www.alvapark.com/

The Church of Our Lady of the Pillar is near the River Ebro in the province of Zaragoza, west of Barcelona on the coast of Spain. It is reputed to be the first Church dedicated to Mary in history. The location is considered the birthplace of Christianity in Spain and has been the destination of pilgrims for hundreds of years.

The architecture is of baroque style, and the present building was predominantly built between 1681 and 1872. Zaragoza is some Islamic architectural influence which means there are more mosaics and more colors.

The statue and pillar have been preserved however for almost 2000 years. Numerous healings throughout the ages have been attributed to the Virgin by those visiting the site seeking her help.

According to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared miraculously to Saint James the Great in the 1st century, standing on a pillar.This legend is commemorated by a famous Catholic basilica called Nuestra Señora del Pilar (”Our Lady of the Pillar”). Her feast day is also celebrated every 12th of October.
For centuries, rivers of pilgrims have continued to visit the Shrine of Saragossa.

One of eight provinces in Andalucia, Malaga is home to the prestige holiday resorts of the Costa del Sol. It includes about 300km of the Mediterranean Coast and is one of Spain’s most popular tourist destinations. Due to averaging 300 days of sun shine each year, the Costa del Sol is the Mecca for those seeking sea side funs. The most popular resorts in Costa del Sol is like Benalmadena and Marbella.

This beautiful coast consists of a series of coves half-hidden among cliffs and sports harbors. The Costa del Sol offers an exciting selection of entertainment and relaxation options. The best sports and activities in Malaga are: golf courses, marinas and football. The nightlife is lively offers a huge variety of bars and restaurants. Other attractions include zoos and water parks, casinos, bullfights and amusement parks.

The mild climate is a major factor in enjoying the beaches and a wide variety of outdoor and water activities year round. Evidence of the area’s popularity is the fact that there are more jet skis per capita than anywhere else in Europe.