Spain and Portugal are located halfway between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. These two countries were the first to enter the age of navigation. They embarked on a voyage of human exploration and discovered many new continents with a very long history and cultural atmosphere. This is a travel guide to Spain and Portugal.

The great geographical discovery around 1500 AD opened the historical curtain of dialogue and competition between different countries. What opened the curtain of human history was not the economic and cultural center of Europe at that time, but the two small countries of Portugal and Spain living in the southwestern corner of the European continent.

Based on my travel notes, I will take you on an in-depth tour of these two important countries in world history.

The itinerary is as follows:

Beijing-Munich-Lisbon

Cabo Roca-Cascaca-Lisbon-Badajos

Badajoz-Sevilla

Sevilla-Ronda-Mijas-Granada

Granada-Toledo-Madrid

Grand Palace, Madrid

Andrés Segovia

Barcelona

Barcelona: Bartholomew House of Sagrada Familia

Barcelona Rocca Shopping Village

Barcelona-Frankfurt-Beijing

DAY1 Beijing-Munich-Lisbon

This time I took Lufthansa. After a 10-hour flight, I finally arrived at Munich Airport in Germany. Because of my connecting flight, I had to go through security check again at the German airport. After security check, the airport is tax-free.

Looking out the window, all taxis are Mercedes-Benz. Just look at the duty-free shops and you will know what Germany’s “specialties” are.

How come Germany lacks German beer?

For fans, there is no shortage of Bayern souvenirs.

It was another 3 hours of transfer, and it was already past 10pm when we arrived in Lisbon, Portugal. I went to bed quickly, still jet lagged.

DAY2 Cabo da Roca-Cascais-Lisbon-Badajos

It gets dark very late in Portugal, and it doesn’t get bright until 8 o’clock in the morning;

< p>Lisbon is a small city basically made up of seven hills. Walking on the road feels more like a big country. There are basically no sedans on the road, only hatchbacks;

The first stop in Lisbon is the famous Cabo da Roca, which is located at the westernmost tip of Portugal and the westernmost tip of Eurasia. A lighthouse and a cross facing the ocean were built on the cliffs of Cape Roca. There is a famous saying in Portuguese written on the monument: "Onde a terra a caba eomar come" (Onde a terra a caba eomar come). The foothold has been rated as one of the "50 best places to visit in the world" by netizens. Cabo da Roca is close to the Atlantic Ocean and faces the East Coast of the United States across the sea.

Next stop, take a bus to Iss Town, Cascais, the birthplace of the 007 novel. The waves are big, and this is a surfing resort in summer;

During World War II, this was a famous spy nest and a place where spies from various countries exchanged intelligence. This is the holy place in the hearts of "Bond fans", the place where the 007 series of novels was born, and the filming location of the first 007 movie "Casino Royale". It has the best bathing beaches in Portugal and is a resort for tourists from all over the world.

A special and quiet town;

Seabirds are not afraid of people and will just walk beside you;

At noon, we went to the largest shopping mall in Lisbon, with two floors of shopping malls. Lisbon people should come to Beijing to see what a shopping mall is. Had a so-called authentic Portuguese meal. All I can say is that it's true. It tasted pretty good, but the last four egg tarts were really ugly.

How can you not eat the most authentic egg tarts in Portugal? After lunch, we went to a century-old egg tart shop in the center of Lisbon. This store has never opened a branch, and there are long lines every day. This egg tart is very different from delicious and KFC. First, the milk flavor is not that strong, and second, the tart crust is very crispy and much sweeter than the ones in Beijing.

The Cathedral of Lisbon;

I found a car with a high chassis, and finally found out that it was amphibious.

The Beta is a five-story fortification built between 1514 and 1520 during the reign of Manuel I to defend the port of Torre de Belem and the nearby Monastery of Saint Jerome. The Tower of Belem and the monastery are included in the World Cultural Heritage List.

Cross the square and walk towards the Maritime Monument;

The Portuguese Maritime Monument was built in 1960 and is located near the Belem Tower in Lisbon, standing on the seaside square. It has become a symbol of Portugal. The monument was built to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Prince Henry's death. It looks like a ship with huge sails. The monument features a statue of Henry and 80 other sailors. Henry stood at the bow, followed by his assistant Gama. On both sides were some navigators who set out with them, as well as famous generals, missionaries and scientists in Portuguese history. It is quite impressive to commemorate Portugal's 300 years of glorious history of exploring the ocean. Behind the monument is a large cross. European architecture often combines religious beliefs with art in architectural design, even monuments. Engraved on the ground in front of the monument is a map of the world with the date of the discovery of the New World written on it.

The 4.25 Bridge in Lisbon, Portugal is the sister bridge of the Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco, USA). On the other side of the bridge is the patron saint of navigation that has been established for hundreds of years. A statue of Christ with arms outstretched stands high on the hill. A company-built sister bridge to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Lisbon people call it the 425 Bridge to commemorate the overthrow of the dictatorship on April 25, 1974.

Although it is not as famous as the Golden Gate Bridge, it is not less impressive at all. This bridge used to be called the Salazar Bridge. It was named the day before it was renamed 425 Bridge when the people of Lisbon overthrew his dictatorship.

After leaving the Marine Monument, we will go to the ancient town of évora in Portugal. évora is a historic city founded in the third century AD during the Roman Empire. At that time, it covered an area of ??less than 1 square kilometer and was the headquarters of the Roman army for a long time.

Currently there are Roman temples, thermal baths, Roman wall ruins, Donna Sabel Arch, etc. After the decline of the Roman Empire, Evra was successively occupied by the Visigoths and the Moors. During this period, the city began to expand in size, and its architectural style reflected Gothic and Arabic characteristics.

The most unique thing about the San Francisco Cathedral in évora, a city in south-central Portugal, is the Bone Chapel. As a result of the Black Death in the 14th century and wars in the 15th century, more than 30,000 graves appeared in the city. In the 16th century, priests began bringing bones into churches and piling them into pyramids. Because there were so many bones, some people simply used them as decorative materials, and thus the Bone Church was born.

One of Portugal’s specialties is the oak tree. Everyone uses oak bark to make various cork products. The cork product we are most familiar with is wine cork.

Street scenes in towns;

The streets in Europe are very narrow, so various scratches are common. Along the way, I saw many cars with scratched rearview mirrors, but Europeans are really good. Do you have this ability?

After the first day of the trip, I drove three hours into the Spanish border city of Badajoz, stayed there for one night, and headed to Seville the next day.

DAY3 Seville

Seville is a particularly beautiful city, and every building has its own style. Our first stop was the famous place where Carmen’s story happened – Plaza de Espa?a.

Of course there are no Jews in the Jewish ghetto in Seville now, but various buildings still retain Jewish architectural styles. Nowadays, they are mostly used for commercial purposes. The famous Seville Cathedral can be reached through narrow alleys.

Seville Cathedral is very spectacular. It is said that the remains of Columbus are hidden here;

Seville Street Scene

Good classic cars;

A newlywed couple in Luyu greeted us in a carriage;

It makes me sick, so I don’t want to take a photo.

I did not wait for a beautiful Spanish girl, but I did wait for such a "girl", and many people took photos with him. We all said he must have lost in truth or dare.

Here is a collection of Columbus's original navigation charts;

The Golden Tower of Columbus, which hides gold, is the beginning of Columbus's great voyage from this river.

At the Seville Bullring opposite the Carmen Statue, I met a foreigner with such an advanced camera;

I went shopping at Carrefour in Spain in the evening. There are many famous varieties of Spanish ham, but I can’t bring them back.

At 9pm in Seville, the beautiful sunset ended the day.

Day 4 4 Ronda-Mijas-Granada

As the hometown of bullfighters, Ronda has the oldest bullring in Spain.

Bullring tickets are 6.5 euros each to enter the bullring;

Because I did not catch up with the bullfighting performance, I had to miss it;

The birth of the town of Ronda In the Roman Empire, it was built on a cliff.

Is it Landlords?

In the afternoon, we drove to Mijas, a small town on the Mediterranean Sea. It has a history of thousands of years. The ancient white building stands on a Mediterranean mountain about 428 meters above sea level. Standing on the heights of the town, you look down. Not only can you see the entire Mediterranean Sea, but you can also look across the sea to the African continent. Unfortunately, it wasn’t particularly sunny and I couldn’t see the Mediterranean Sea in the distance.

Compared with other cities in Spain, the architecture of Mijas Town is closer to the Greek style.

Arrive in Granada in the evening. Granada is a famous tourist city in Spain that combines many Renaissance buildings and Islamic-style palaces. The long history of towns and villages, music and theater festivals, and strong local traditional culture are perfectly reflected in the streets and monuments throughout the city;

This picture does not and cannot explain it. I saw it by chance;

DAY5 Granada-Toledo-Madrid

Recuerdos de la Alhambra, as Spanish classical guitar music, can be described as a classic among classics. You might as well follow me around here.

Requeldos de la Alhambra

Andres Segovia; Laurindo Almeida - Summer Guitar Series

< p>The famous royal palace in Spain, the Albula Palace, was the royal palace of the Kingdom of Granada established by the Spanish Moors in the Middle Ages. "Alhambra" means "Red Fort" in Arabic. It is the essence of all the monuments preserved by the Spanish Moors and is known as the "Palace City" and "Wonder of the World". It was built in the 13th century during the reign of King Achmal and his successors. After the Moors were expelled from Spain in 492, the buildings began to be abandoned.

In 1828, with the support of Ferdinand VII, the architect Jose Contreras and his sons and grandsons carried out long-term repairs and reconstructions, followed by The original style was restored. Granada's Alhambra, Generalife and Albécín districts were founded in the 8th century AD. They are historical political and cultural centers and the provincial capital of Granada.

A corner of the palace overlooks the city;

Toledo is located on a hill 71 kilometers southwest of Madrid, Spain.

You have to take a long elevator to enter this ancient city;

The urban roads are narrow and sloping, and the streets are crisscrossed and dense like a spider web. There are no modern buildings here, only antique houses. The whole city looks elegant and simple.

The famous specialties here include Spanish elegant porcelain and hand-made 24k gold inlaid jewelry;

It has more than 2,000 years of history and culture, especially Gothic, Moorish, and Baroque. and more than 70 large-scale ancient buildings such as neoclassical churches, monasteries, palaces, city walls, and museums. It has been well preserved for nearly 400 years.

This is a mountain city. The Tahoe River meanders through the east, south, and west sides of the Old City. The river is fast and forms a natural barrier. There are two walls in the north of the city. The geographical location is superior and it is easy to attack but difficult to defend. It was a battleground for ancient military strategists.

DAY6 Madrid

Toledo’s next stop is Madrid, the capital of Spain. Madrid is not only the largest city and economic center in China, but also a famous historical city in Europe. For fans, this is the home of their beloved Real Madrid.

When we arrived in Madrid, our first meal was the famous paella from the local Ham Museum.

Locals often just order a glass of beer and a few slices of ham, and sit at the bar to eat and chat;

We went to the second floor, a table for four, to taste the most authentic seafood Rice;

Dessert is this baked apple. It was the first time I ate an apple like this and it felt weird.

No, look at the picture. The orderlies walked and sang, very happy;

Plaza de Espa?a, built in 1815, commemorates the great writer Cervantes. There is a statue of Cervantes in the center of the monument. Under the statue, Don Quixote is riding a tall and thin horse, waving a spear in front of him.

Next to him, his loyal admirer Sancho rides a donkey, his master and apprentice walking into the sunset

The building behind the statue has been acquired by Wanda Group. I wonder if it will be renamed Wanda Plaza in the future?

As the capital of Spain, Madrid is the political, cultural and economic center. Modern high-rise buildings and ancient buildings in the city complement each other. The medieval buildings on both sides of Granbia Street are still well preserved, and you can vaguely see the scene called "The Empire Never Falles" at that time;

At the same time, Granbia Street is also the busiest commercial center in Madrid. Street;

LOEWE is a famous Spanish luxury brand that you must not miss when you come to Spain.

The local telecommunications building in Spain is equivalent to China Mobile or China Unicom;

Columbus Square is located in the center of Madrid. The most important building in the square is the Columbus Monument built in 1886.

Driving past Atletico Madrid’s home stadium;

The following is Real Madrid’s most exciting home stadium - the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. When I went that day, there happened to be a football match. One of the group members is a fan and has friends locally. I calculated the time in advance, bought the tickets, and was fortunate enough to watch a wonderful game.

Look at your friends’ pictures to get a feel for it. It is said that it was a 7:1 victory that day;

Last year, when my mother went to Spain, she had a lunch at the stadium. Let's take a good look at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The British department store opposite the Bernabeu is not to be missed and refunds are available;

The Grand Palace in Madrid is the third largest palace in Europe after Versailles and Sch?nbrunn Palace in Vienna. Built in 1738 and taking 26 years to complete, it is one of the most complete and exquisite palaces in the world. Unfortunately, photography is not allowed inside, so you can have a chance to see the style for yourself.

The weather is great. Against the backdrop of the blue sky and white clouds, the grandeur of the palace is even more apparent;

The artist at the door is quite fun; of course, there is a charge for taking photos;

The Chinese food I had at a restaurant owned by Shandong people was particularly delicious. Huaer and the Youth Team also dined here in the first season; many celebrities visited it, so it is probably a famous local Chinese restaurant;

DAY7 Segovia

Segovia, located 100 kilometers northwest of Madrid, is the most spectacular World Heritage city in Spain, including the ancient Roman Aqueduct and Snow White's Castle. The prototype and famous roast suckling pig.

The Roman Aqueduct in Segovia is one of the largest Roman ruins in Spain. In the days before cranes, the canals were built by hand, using only the most primitive stones. Blocks of granite are piled up to form the world-famous aqueduct, which is 28 meters high and 813 meters long. It is composed of 128 double arch columns. It has stood here for two thousand years and is still well preserved. I have to admire the wisdom of the ancient Romans.

Segovia is nicknamed "Stone Boat". The name comes from a castle. Everyone who comes to Segovia with a childlike heart will run to see the castle standing on the edge of the cliff. This is the prototype of Snow White’s castle.

The Cathedral of Segovia, known as the "Lady of the Cathedral", is the last Gothic cathedral built in Spain. This bell tower is 88 meters high and is the tallest bell tower in Spain. The greatest queen in Spanish history, Isabella I of Castile, was crowned here.

Walking around the ancient city, there are traces of history everywhere;

There are many interesting handmade products in the small shops on the street;

Back in the water area, there is this The most important dinner of roast suckling pig. Segovia is the birthplace of Spanish suckling pig. Tasting this famous dish from Segovia is a must on your travel list.

If you want to eat the most authentic roast suckling pig in Segovia, you must go to the famous local restaurant Candido Mesende. This restaurant has been in business since 1786 and has been in business for 200 years. Years of history. It uses a unique recipe to make roast suckling pig, which is famous in Spain for its delicious taste.

Our guests have included King Carlos and Queen of Spain, as well as many big-name stars and celebrities. The restaurant is easy to find, right next to the ancient Roman aqueduct.

In addition to the fragrant fresh roasted suckling pig, another important item that attracted us the most was watching the ancient and grand pig cutting ceremony.

Of course, not every diner is so lucky to witness this interesting ceremony.

Usually only when celebrities are present, the boss will perform in person to welcome him. Our host is the owner's son.

The welcome ceremony uses the white porcelain plate containing vegetables in a traditional restaurant as a "tool" for cutting suckling pigs. After cutting it, the boss will throw the porcelain plate out. The crackling sound of the porcelain plate on the ground proves that the roasted suckling pig is genuine.

The sound of smashing plates replaced the boss's "welcome" sound, and the whole process was completed within 30 seconds. This is Segovia's unique welcome ceremony before tasting roast suckling pig. This is very interesting. Such an interesting ceremony must be recorded on video.

At that time, the pieces of the porcelain plate flew out of my pants. I thought they would scratch my pants. I asked the tour guide, are they not worried about the porcelain plate scratching tourists? The tour guide said that overall there were no problems, but there was one weird time and the only scratch. The team leader is a Hui and should not come in. Because he was the team leader, he joined the team. After watching this ceremony, the porcelain plate broke and passed through his pants.

Every meal in Spain requires red wine. Enjoy roast suckling pig from a century-old restaurant.

After enjoying the perfect taste, we returned to Madrid and took the high-speed train to Barcelona, ??the last stop of our trip. It is more than 600 kilometers from Madrid to Barcelona. It takes at least a day to drive, but it only takes 3 hours by high-speed rail. This train station is simply decorated as a tropical greenhouse;

DAY8 Barcelona-Looking for Gaudí

Barcelona is located in the northeastern part of the Iberian Peninsula, on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea. It is the second largest city in Spain and has an important economic position in Spain. Barcelona is a port city in Catalonia, a world-famous Mediterranean scenic tourist destination, and a world-famous historical and cultural city. Known as the "Pearl of the Iberian Peninsula" due to its pleasant climate, beautiful scenery and numerous historical sites, Barcelona is the most famous tourist destination in Spain. Barcelona is the only highly autonomous region in Spain, with its own laws, license plates, etc. One of the more popular events in recent years has been the Catalan referendum, so you will see the Catalan regional flag on the streets.

When it comes to Barcelona, ??you have to mention the famous architect Gaudí, so today is Gaudí’s day;

[1] Bartholomew’s House

< p> Casa Batllo (1904-1906), which is world-famous for its unique shape, is one of the classics in the history of architectural design. Designed by Spanish architect Gaudí. This apartment is located in Barcelona, ??Spain and has 6 floors.

Tickets are 21 euros;

The interior design of the house adheres to Gaudí’s consistent style, with no edges and corners, but soft wavy shapes. Gao Zeng said, "Art must come from nature, because nature creates the most unique and beautiful shapes for people." He believes that there are no straight lines in nature. Straight lines belong to humans, curves belong to God.

The main hall on the first floor is the best part of the house, and it is also where the Bertrillo family lives. It has a separate entrance and staircase - in typical Gaudí style. Modern handicrafts can be seen everywhere in the hall. The top of the room is a huge spiral shape, like a whirlpool in the sea, with an anemone-shaped ceiling light in the center.

Go up layer by layer, and as you get closer to the top layer, the color of the tiles will gradually deepen, from light blue to dark blue. It's hard to spot its changes without looking carefully. The water-textured glass on one side of the stairs reflects the blue color of the wall, making the house look like it's in the sea again.

And when you look up one floor at a time, you will find that the doors, windows, and stairs on each floor of the building have different shapes. Even the walls will be selected and designed to match the shapes of the doors and windows. Lots of fun.

The "dragon belly" on the roof is the attic, inside the dragon's spine. The main color of the interior is tooth white, with exquisite catenary arches.

This fully reflects Gaudí’s naturalistic tendency. ——The arch is a bionic structure. Interestingly, this structure mimics the giant reptilian dinosaurs that once lived in the Mesozoic Era.

Use a video to explain Gaudí’s architectural ideas;

If you like Gaudí’s works, you can buy a souvenir to take home;

Interruption: Barcelona There is also a Loewe flagship store next to Miu Apartment;

[2] Park Guell

Park Guell is also Gaudí’s masterpiece. It was built between 1900-1914 and is listed as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.

You may have seen photos of Park Guell countless times, but only by actually walking here can you be moved and amazed;

[3] Sagrada Familia Cathedral

The Family Cathedral is The masterpiece of Spanish architect Antonio Gaudí. It is located in the center of Barcelona, ??Catalonia, Spain. It was built in 1882 and is still under construction. It is expected to be officially completed in 2026. Although it is an unfinished building, it has become one of the most famous attractions in the world.

Gao arranged the "birth facade" on the east side of the church. Every morning, the sun rising from the east illuminates the "Birth Facade", representing endless wonders.

Whether you are familiar with biblical stories or not, the lifelike sculptures and intricate details on the door will amaze you. It is said that Gaudí studied human bones in order to ensure that the poses and rhythms of the statues were exactly the same as those of real people.

The internal structure of the family cathedral is more spectacular, and the overall design is inspired by nature such as caves, mountains, flowers, and animals.

The "Resurrection Facade" depicting the Last Supper of Jesus and the Twelve Apostles, and a monumental sculpture with clean lines, was completed in 1990 by Joseph Sabalakis.

Unfortunately I don’t have time to go to Barcelona.

Monserrat Monastery

Monserrat Mountain, located on the outskirts of Barcelona, ??Spain, is the holy mountain of Catalonia, with the famous Black Madonna Church and Montserrat Special monastery.

The height difference between the Montserrat Monastery and the valley floor is 1236 meters, making it the highest point in the Catalan lowlands. The Monastery of Montserrat is the most important religious site in Catalonia and plays an important role in the cultural and spiritual life of Catalonia.

It is said that Gaudí often sat in the first row of the monastery to pray. It was after seeing the beautiful silhouette of the mountains here that he was inspired to build the spire of the Sagrada Familia. If you think about it carefully, the two are really similar!

It is said that if you touch the ball in the hands of the Black-faced Virgin and make a wish, your wish will soon come true;

Sitting in the front row of the monastery, quietly listening to the chants of the organ, maybe I'm sitting where Gaudí once sat.

When you come to Barcelona, ??you must try seafood. In the evening, I went online and introduced a lot of iron pot seafood buffets. It is said that they are Japanese-style seafood buffets opened by Chinese people. The shop assistants inside are all from China, and communication is completely barrier-free. It seems to be 9.5 euros per person at noon and 14.5 euros per person in the evening.

DAY9 Barcelona Ole - Boqueria Market - Sitges

Hurry up while Ole opens and there are few people; Nike and Burberry are very cheap;

La Rambla is the most famous flower market in Barcelona and has now become a commercial street for tourists to visit and shop.

The person opposite upstairs has been imitating Marilyn Monroe, posing frequently and blowing kisses;

Ticket sales in Barcelona are not cheap;

Come here Barcelona – Boglia Market is an absolute must! I mentioned it before when I introduced the Sanyuanli Vegetable Market, so let’s take a good look at it today.

The Gallia Food Market, which is as famous as Gaudi, Soul of Barcelona and other buildings, is the main "vegetable basket" for Barcelona people and a holy place for tourists to enjoy delicious food.

It is located on La Rambla in Barcelona, ??in the downtown area, attracting countless tourists every day.

Gallia Market is the largest and most popular market in Europe. There are all kinds of fruits, the freshest vegetables, food from all over the world, seafood fresh from the sea, Spanish ham and so on.

After spending half a day shopping in the Bogelia Market, I believe you will still have more to say!

The most distinctive olive variety in Spain;

The seafood is extremely rich and fresh;

1 cup of freshly squeezed juice, you must drink it;

This looks a bit scary;

Piazza da Lunia next to Flower Street;

Sitges

In the afternoon I went to the town of Sitges near Barcelona , here is called the "city of art", the middle class who loves art