Granada: "From the Islam to Christianity"

AurigaCrown Car Hire offers their clients ideas on different events and places to visit during their stay in Spain. Providing options for visits that are within easy reach with a rental car, nice routes, places to visit and from where to start. In this article some insights into Granada, walks through the city and its history.

Granada, the last Moorish city in Spain, recaptured by the Christians in 1492 after eight hundred years of Moorish civilization, but off course leaving behind some precious Moorish inheritance like the Alhambra Palace and the Generalife. Over the course of the 16th century, Granada got a more and more Catholic character and many mosques were either completely destroyed or converted into Christian churches. A walk through the city reveals the compelling transformation of Granada.

In the historic centre we find the beautiful Christian cathedral, and the small streets of the Albacín with its ´teterías´ (tearooms) bring us back to the Moorish Granada. Up the hill in the Albacín we find the ¨hippie¨ square ¨plaza San Nicolas¨  where artists perform and from where you have a magnificent view of the Alhambra with the mountains of the Sierra Nevada behind. Further  Granada has many historical monuments and the province is one of the most important cultural and architectural places to visit in Southern Spain.

Visiting Granada you best park your rental car outside the city centre, and explore the city by foot. But apart from visiting Granada City, renting a car gives you the opportunity to visit the typical white villages nearby, the valleys of the Sierra Nevada or the Alpujarras where you can do great hikings. From Granada you can also easily visit other popular Andalusian cities like Malaga, Cordoba or Sevilla, which are relatively close by.

Do you feel enthusiastic to get to know Granada? To get a quote for you car rental, please contact one of our offices or visit AurigaCrown´s website.

The stunning beaches of Formentera

AurigaCrown Car Hire offers their clients ideas on different events and places to visit during your stay in Spain. Giving options for visits that are within easy reach with a rental car, nice routes, places to visit and from where to start. In this article some insights into the Balearic island of Formentera and it fantastic beaches to enjoy.

The beautiful island of Formentera is accessible by ferry from Ibiza, the island has no airport. It is a perfect place to rest and relax. Its mix of hippie culture with a chic touch is lovely. But without a doubt the main attraction of this island are the miles and miles of beautiful white sand beaches and crystalline waters.

The Mediterranean Sea sparkles on the coast of Formentera. You can find rocky cliffs, shallow beaches and hidden caves. Es Calo, Ses Platgetes have very calm waters. The Arenal beach is quite rocky. Es Pujols is sandy and easily accessible. The beach of Migjorn is a popular nudist beach. On these beaches you will find charming old cottages that invite to relaxation.

Formentera's restaurants have recently passed onto the categories of gourmets. This sector has grown considerably, the menus have expanded and the options have increased greatly. On the north side of the island you will find plenty of sophisticated restaurants like among others the Es Moli de Sal and Juan y Andrea.

On the south side you will find restaurants that were quite simple but are now fully renovated. Some of them are: Vista del Sol, Jody, Flipper and Chipper.

Formentera offers its visitors a variety of water sports on its beautiful white beaches, bike trails for cycling and ancient relics.

On the other hand you can also enjoy the history and culture of this island, that have always been related to Ibiza. As they shared the same destiny, the same conquerors and have a singular culture.

When visiting Ibiza, be sure to visit the island of Formentera. Just to enjoy the fabulous beaches and scenery, or explore the depths of its history.

 

Marbella 4Days Walking

AurigaCrown Car Hire offers their clients ideas on different events and places to visit during their stay in Spain. In this article some insights into Marbella and the premier of the ¨Marbella 4 days walking¨ event.

This fall Marbella will fill up with hikers from all around the world, ¨Marbella 4 days walking¨ brings together thousands of people, who will walk 20 km each day. Four different routes around Marbella, passing by the beach, city and countryside.

The event has its origins in the Netherland, where the Annual Four Day Walking Event is organized every year in the city of Nijmegen, an event attended by some 47.000 people each year. A Dutch neighbour in Marbella took the initiative to organize the event in Marbella, this year for the first time. The event has the practical support of the Marbella Town Hall and the Centre for Tourist Initiatives.

The event is scheduled for 9, 10,11 and 12 October and will appeal to Spanish people as people from other countries, thus promoting cultural exchange through sport.

The first day will start from the centre of Marbella and end in Puerto Banús; the second day will pass through the area of Nagüeles; the third day by the Altos de Marbella and the fourth day by the Lago de las tortugas/pantano, below you find the routes more specified.

Routes

Day 1 - Centrum - Puerto Banús:
1. Start – Avenida del Mar. 2. Paseo Marítimo.  3. Runway. 4. Puerto Banús. 5. San Pedro. 6. Back to the Paseo Marítimo.  7. Up to hotel Puente Romano. 8. CN-340. 9. Final/Avenida del Mar

Day 2 - Nagüeles:
1. Start – Avenida del Mar 2. Calle Huerta Chica. 3. Mercado 4. Calle Jacinto Benavente. 5. Parque. 6. Polideportivo. 7. Avenida las Palmeras. 8. Campamento Vígil de Quiñones.  9. Urbanization Sierra Blanca. 10. Pinar. 11. Cantera. 12. Camino forestal. 13. Urbanization Terrazas de Marbella. 14. park 15. Southern part of the urbanization Sierra Blanca. 16. By the waterfall of Camojan. 17. Vereda. 18. Urbanization Aaltos de Xarblanca. (vereda de los monjes) 19. hotel Don Miguel. (northern part) 20. Bus station. 21. courts 22. mercado. 23. Leganitos 24. Calle Peral. 25. final / Avenida del Mar

Day 3 - Altos de Marbella
1. Start - Avenida del Mar. 2. Paseo Marítimo.3. Puerto Pesquero.4. CN -340. 5. Arco de Marbella 6. urbanization Panorama. 7. Underneath the highway.8. urbanizaction Altos de Marbella. 9. urbanization Bahía Marbella. 10. urbanization Las Dunas.
11. río Real beach. 12. arco de Marbella. 13. Puerto Pesquero. 14. Marbella old town. 15. Calle ancha/peral. 16. Alameda Park. 17. Final – Avenida del Mar

Day 4 - Lago de las tortugas/pantano
1. Start – Avenida del Mar 2. Paseo marítimo.  3. Puente Romano. 4. Bridge.
5. Istán road. 6. Desalination.7. Direction el Angel. (botannic park) 8. Golf Aloha.
9. Marbella green route (direction Ronda) 10. Istán dam.11. Underneath the highway (tunnel)12. Lago de las tortugas. 13. Nueva Andalucía. 14. Horse riding centre. 15. Urbanization Aloha. 16. Roundabout supermanzana. 17. Bullring. 18. Plaza Antonio Banderas. 19. Paseo marítimo. 20. Runway. 21. Puente romano. 22. CN-340. 23. Final – Avenida del Mar

Like many other sporting events, the Marbella four days also has rewards. Anyone who has mastered the 4 days regulatory, is eligible for a Marbella 4Days Walking medal.

For more information on the event or to subscribe, please visit Marbella 4Days Walking.

Apart from the event, Marbella has of course much more to offer, luxury hotels, spa´s, restaurants and bars to enjoy and relax, great shopping possibilities, the super marina, many magnificent golf courses and perfect temperatures. With your rental car, you have all options within easy reach. AurigaCrown has an office in Marbella or at Malaga airport so you can pick up your car directly upon arrival. For more information on car rentals, fleet, offices and/or prices, please visit AurigaCrown´s website.

Cirque du Soleil with "Corteo" in Seville

AurigaCrown Car Hire offers their clients ideas on different events and places to visit during their stay in Spain. In this article some insights into Seville and the spectacular circus performances of Cirque du Soleil.

The famous Cirque du Soleil is back in Seville with "Corteo" for the month of September and October. Held at Charco de la Pava (Triana) from September 7th till October 16th 2011.

Cirque du Soleil is a company from Quebec and is recognized worldwide for its high quality artistic productions. Since its inception in 1984, Cirque du Soleil has constantly sought to seduce the imagination, stimulate the senses and appeal to the emotions of viewers around the world.

In 1984, there were 73 people working for Cirque du Soleil. Today, the company has about 5.000 employees around the world, including about 1.300 artists. Only in the international headquarters in Montreal they have 2.000 employees working and the employees are a mix of 50 different nationalities and speak 25 different languages. Since 1984 more than 100 million spectators have attended Cirque du Soleil performances. Already about 15 million people saw a Cirque du Soleil performance in 2011.

This year’s performance held in Seville is called Corteo, "cortege" in Italian, a joyful, festive procession from the imagination of a clown. The show combines the passion of the actors with the elegance and power of the acrobats to plunge viewers into a mysterious world of theatre, somewhere between heaven and earth, mixing fun, comedy and spontaneity.

The clown represents his own funeral taking place in a carnival atmosphere, while some guardian angels are watching in silence. Through a mixture of large and small, the ridiculous and tragic, the magic of perfection and charm of imperfection, the show highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the clown and his wisdom and sensitivity to illustrate that portion of humanity that resides within us all. The music, lyrical and playful turn, carries Corteo through a timeless celebration in which illusion teases reality.

A true spectacle, starting September 7th at the Charco de la Pava in Seville. Price start at €35 for adults and €24,50 for children from 2-12 years old. Tickets will be going quickly and can be purchased through El Corte Ingles among other places.

Auriga Crown Car Hire has an office in the city of Seville and at Seville Airport, if you're looking to rent a vehicle please contact us and do not miss this fantastic show.

Exhibition: Brushstrokes from the past. Villanueva del Río recovers its heritage. Murcia Museum of Fine Arts

AurigaCrown Car Hire offers their clients ideas on different events and places to visit during their stay in Spain. Providing options for visits that are within easy reach with a rental car, nice routes, places to visit and from where to start. In this article some tips when visiting Murcia and its surroundings.

The MUBAM, Murcia Museum of Fine Arts, exhibits part of the collection of works nowadays owned by the Board of the Santa Isabel Foundation in Villanueva del Río Segura, that has been the subject of study, analysis and restoration during the past two years. The works of art in this exhibition belong mainly to the collection of García de León Pizarro de Madrid, probably gathered in the eighteenth century in Andalusia, Madrid and Latin America, and continued by his direct descendents, to be dismembered in the nineteenth century. Its last owner Ms Maria Isabel Baltasara Lopez Lopez gave them by testament to the Hospital Asilio de Villanueva del Segura. Along with the works of the Foundation, that include paintings and other artistic and musical objects, the exhibition also features five emblematic works from the MUBAM collection.

The exhibition can be visited until November 27th 2011.

Location
Museo de Bellas Artes de Murcia
Calle Obispo Frutos, 12
30003 Murcia (Murcia)contacto@museobellasartesmurcia.com
http://www.museosdemurcia.com/mubam
Tel.:+34 968239346
Fax.:+34 968272792
* Information may be subject to modifications

Apart from the exhibition  there is of course much more to see and do in and around Murcia:  Murcia´s beaches, nature, the city of Murcía and the salty lagoon at Mar Menor are all within easy range with a rental car. You can rent your car conveniently upon arrival at Murcía airport. If you would like more information on car rentals and prices in Murcia, please visit AurigaCrown´s website.

X International Opera Festival Marbella

The tenth Marbella Opera Festival has been presented by the Delegate of Culture and Education, Carmen Diaz, the president of the José Banús Masdeu Foundation, Pilar Calvo and Sanchez de Leon, Candido Fernandez, and will be held in the Theatre Ciudad de Marbella ¨City of Marbella¨ from August 3rd to 6th. The direction and artistic realization is in charge of the International Opera Company Concerlirica. The Delegate of Culture and Education emphasized that "the festival is the highlight of the summer's cultural agenda" and that "after nine years of success in Marbella the festival has become one of the most important in the province, which also bodes well for this tenth edition. "

The X Festival has a very special programming that has been achieved through the involvement and efforts of the Banús Foundation. It is also noteworthy that all previous editions had always been sold out, furthermore this year's Opera Festival will feature three top-level performances and a lyrical gala with internationally recognized tenors, sopranos and baritones. Candido Fernandez, meanwhile, thanked the cooperation provided by the city of Marbella and also recalled that since the launch of the first Opera Festival in 2000, they have already organized a total of 46 operas, and with this acquired experience, which has led to once again offering the best operas in the Teatro de la Ciudad de Marbella.

The program, the performaces will take place at 22:00 hours and will include:
• Wednesday, August 3rd: "Aida" by Giuseppe Verdi.
• Thursday, August 4th: "La Bohème" by Giacomo Puccini.
• Friday, August 5th: "Turandot" by Giacomo Puccini.
• Saturday, August 6th: "Lyrical Gala Tenth Anniversary" presented by Laura Valenzuela and Jose Luis Uribarri.

The ticket prices range from 20 to 25 euros for the Lyrical Gala and from 30 to 40 euros for the opera performances, you can purchase tickets at El Corte Ingles ticket sales, or at the box office up to 5 minutes before start of the performances.

Car Hire AurigaCrown recommends this musical event you can enjoy apart from so many other visits in and around Marbella. All sites are within easy reach with you rental car: for more information, prices or to book your car directly, please visit our website. We have offices at Malaga airport and in Marbella.