Their interior design and decor are clearly aimed at newcomers and avant-garde visitors, but they retain the traditional flavours of their cuisine through formulas cherished for their long-standing success. I am referring to Bodega La Cigaleña and Bodega del Riojano, two beacons of Santander whose labour reminds us that wholesome traditional cuisine based on no-frills quality produce is the secret of their permanence over time.

Bodega La Cigaleña

Wine, wine, wine; produce, produce, produce; history, history, history – that’s what makes Bodega La Cigaleña the epitome of classics in downtown Santander, a place well worth visiting, particularly to savour their food and drink. Simple dishes based on the finest ingredients is the perfect excuse to try the best wines – especially the natural ones – a trend picked up on some years back like some visionary pioneer by the manager of the establishment, Andrés Conde Laya, the third generation of business owners here since it opened in 1949. An eatery with the atmosphere of a rustic inn and a museum of myriad curiosities.

And, if they are not natural wines, don’t fret, as their wine cellar, with some 10,000 items, can count itself among the finest in Spain. You need only to look up to discover a ceiling crammed with bottles – they have, for instance, a Madeira wine from 1830.

Not-to-be-missed dishes include a sauté of 18 vegetables (a tribute to a creation by Michelle Bras), and grilled octopus and Norway lobster covered in a thick sauce of lobster heads. A word of advice – let yourself be guided by Andrés when it comes to choosing a wine.

Bodega del Riojano

Bodega del Riojano, which celebrates its platinum anniversary this year, is one of the quaintest eateries in town on account of its wine casks decorated by artists. Most of them are located above the heads of the guests. This restaurant-gallery features snapshots of Woody Allen, and works by Ramon Calderón, Antoni Clavé, Oswaldo Guayasamil, Eduardo Gruber, Manuel Viola, Miguel Ibarz and even the comedians, Andreu Buenafuente and Moncho Borrajo.

Their culinary offerings could be described as homemade, with a prevalence of traditional recipes  and stews, like their leading performers – red beans, peppers stuffed with beef, and pork and codfish with tomato. Also noteworthy are their mussels and prawn croquettes and their scrambled eggs with ham and baby broad beans.

Text and photos by Ferran Imedio of Gastronomistas.com

After more than four decades, the influence and sheer enormity of the Beatles is still present in many cities around the world , with streets, squares or monuments named after the Liverpudlian quartet that changed the history of rock for ever.

One of the most interesting tributes can be found in the Méndez Núñez Gardens in La Coruña and consists of a statue dedicated to John Lennon, who is depicted wearing his trademark glasses, grasping his guitar. An emotive memorial to the singer and composer who, together with Paul McCartney, wrote some of the most famous songs of all times and who now has a privileged place in this Galician city. It’s no surprise that every 8 December, the monument is covered in flowers to commemorate his death and to remember one of the most important artists of the 20th Century.

By David Moreu

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This large square was made famous around the world when television channels broadcast the final moments in power of Rumanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu on 21 December 1989. 
It was here, on the balcony of the old Communist Party Headquarters, that Nicolae Ceausescu looked out in amazement on how the people gathered in the square turned against him and he fled the angry crowd in his white helicopter, only to be captured outside of the city a few hours later.

The importance of the square dates much further back than the dramatic events of the 1989 Revolution. It is a central location where a bit of all the city’s history can be found. On the other side of the square is the oldRoyal Palace, now the headquarters of the National Art Museum, the impressive Romanian Athenaeumand the historic Athenee Palace Hotel. The small and beautiful Kretzulescu Church can be visited at the southern end of the square.

Picture by CristianChirita

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The Rialto Bridge is one of the architectural icons of Venice and the oldest of the four bridges that cross the Gran Canal.

It was built between 1588 and 1591 with a design by the architect Antonio da Ponte made in stone to replace one that previously existed in wood that was destroyed in a fire.

The main feature of this bridge is that it seems to break from the architectural tradition of building Roman-style bridges based on medium-height arches towards a new type of lower arch constructions.

However, its five hundred years of history are taking their toll and, like so many other monuments in Venice, it is suffering from serious degradation – especially on its columns.

Numerous little shops and market stalls can be found near the bridge.

Picture: Rüdiger Wölk

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