Brussels has a heady cultural agenda where exhibitions andvernissagesare common fare. Some especially interesting spaces have been unveiled there in recent times, augmenting the established ones. Thus, art enthusiasts and culture devotees in general would do well to visit them on a brief getaway.

The first of these is the ADAM (Art & Design Atomium Museum), located in the Atomium, an iconic construction in the Brussels district of Heysel which was built for the 1958 World Fair. ADAM is an art and design centre which showcases a unique collection of plastic furniture and other objects owned by the Belgian artist, Philippe Decelle, who has been collecting these artefacts since the 1970s. And, while you’re in the vicinity of the Atomium, you should make a point of dropping in on the light and sound installation, ID#2016, which runs until 13 November 2016 and forms part of the ID (Innovative Display) programme, a digital art festival which has been operating since 2013.

Another major cultural landmark in Brussels is MIMA (Millennium Iconoclast Museum of Art), located in the enduringly interesting district of Molenbeek. This space revolves around the highly specific, innovative theme of the evolution of contemporary art following the advent of Internet and the emergence of Culture 2.0.

Another highly edifying cultural landmark in Brussels is the Museum of Natural Sciences, famed for its Dinosaur Gallery, and particularly its iguanodons, the skeletons of which were unearthed in 1878 at a mine in Bernissart in southern Belgium. Be sure to also visit the Gallery of Humankind, a unique exhibition unveiled just a year ago which traces the evolution of man and the human body.

It is always a good time to visit the Bozar Centre for Fine Arts, not only because it is one of Belgium’s most dynamic art hubs (it receives an impressive 1 million visitors each year), but for the building itself. Designed by the acclaimed Belgian Art Deco architect, Victor Horta, it is a magnificent specimen of the country’s architectural heritage. An exhibition showcasing 80 sculptures by Pablo Picasso entitled Picasso. Sculptures is due to run here in the next few months – specifically, from 26 October 2016 to 5 March 2017. Organised in conjunction with the Musée Picasso of Paris, the exhibition will feature works expressing the creative power of the innovative Malaga art genius, who used a host of materials and numerous techniques in his sculptures.

Lastly, an area well worth strolling about and which always throws up some novelty is the Parc du Cinquantenaire (“Quincentenary Park”). Located in this park, a case in point is the Horta-Lambeaux Pavilion which showcases the stunning bas-relief known as Human Passions, the crowning work of Jef Lambeaux, sculpted in white Carrara marble. Another interesting venue is Autoworld, featuring the world’s most important automobile collection which this year marks its 30th anniversary.

Ready to discover these offerings in Brussels? Book your Vueling to Brussels here.

Text by Tusdestinos.net

Images by Tusdestinos.net, IRScNB-KBINTh.Hubin (Museum of Natural Sciences) and Visit Brussels (Olivier van de Kerchove)

There are lots of clichés about travelling in autumn: that it's low season, the weather's still mild, cities look nicer... But the truth is that it's an ideal time of year to take a break from your routine. Besides, there's a bank holiday weekend at the beginning of November, which means you can enjoy these wonderful places even more. Let us guide you with a few recommendations on places that are particularly charming at this time of year.

Round off your summer with a getaway! Travelling in September is cheaper, and cities are less crowded. What could be better than a trip to recharge your batteries before getting back into the routine?

Distributed across the provinces of Huelva, Seville and Cádiz stretches one of the most emblematic national parks in both Spain and Europe. The Doñana National Park and Nature Reserve, made up of 108,086 hectares of National Park and 53,835 hectares of Nature Reserve, is a jewel coveted by nature enthusiasts, ecosystem devotees and even lovers of outdoor activities. In the following we reveal the secrets to an in-depth encounter with this vast and wonderful natural enclave.

An Ecotourist Paradise

You enjoy roaming through natural surroundings and soaking up their charms? Here you will find a variety of ecosystems to indulge in –preserves, pine groves, lagoons, marshes, wetlands, beaches and dunes will escort you on your journey through Doñana, and in them a rich variety of fauna and flora.

The park’s flora includes over 900 different species, prominent being the large-fruited juniper, cork oak, stone pine, oleander, broom, thyme, rosemary, brambleand a long list of others. Noteworthy among the fauna of Doñana, of which there are over 500 species, is the Iberian lynx, one of the most strictly protected species in the park, as well as a plethora of bird life, which we deal with below.

Birds, Birds and More Birds

While the fauna of Doñana is not limited to its bird life, birds are undoubtedly the leading lights of the park’s fauna, the lynx notwithstanding. They are also the reason most visitors come to this nature reserve. This national park is a longstanding favourite among ornithologists as a huge variety of migratory birds make a stopover at Doñana en route to warmer climes. Large numbers of birds also spend the winter in the park’s wetlands. Visiting the park in autumn or winter will bring you within sight of birds from northern Europe, while doing so in spring will afford views of those coming from Africa.

Planning Your Visit

There are various ways of touring Doñana, although you should take into account at all times that there are certain restrictions on moving about. The first thing to remember is that the nature reserve has fewer restrictions and is more accessible than the national park, to which access is more limited. The easiest and most popular means is to take an all-terrain minibus with a guide, as this is a way of seeing large areas of the park in comfort. A second option is by boat, which you get in Sanlúcar de Barrameda and which takes you along the Guadalquivir, with stops at various points along the river.

Lastly, there are other options that require more of an effort but which are bound to bring you into closer contact with nature, like hiking along the trails on foot or by bicycle. However, you are advised to first enquire at one of the visitor’s centres dotted around the park where you can get information on the various routes.

From Autumn To Spring

The best period to visit Doñana ranges from autumn – when the dry summer season comes to an end and the first migratory birds start flying in – until spring. In summer the park is rather too arid as most of the wetlands dry out during that season.

A Stopover at El Rocío

Whether or not it is time for the shrine pilgrimage, you should not fail to visit El Rocío on your Doñana route. The village is famous for its vastly popular shrine pilgrimage in honour of the Virgin Mary, which takes place at the Pentecost weekend and attracts throngs of people each year. Except when the festivity is in full swing, this village is a backwater of peace and quiet. There you should visit El Rocío shrine and take in the splendid views of the lagoon.

Book your Vueling to Jerez de la Frontera, located 35 kilometres from the Doñana National Park, and discover all the charm of this magnificent nature reserve.

Text by Los Viajes de ISABELYLUIS

Images by Nacho Pintos, Calvin Smith, Mr. Theklan, Porphyrio, Vince Smith