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Pastéis de Nata: The Portuguese creamy miracle
If you're visiting Portugal, Pastéis de Nata is one of the first sweets you should try. These small, round, creamy pastries are one of the most iconic flavors of Portuguese cuisine, a favorite among locals and tourists alike. The origin of the sweet The origins of Pastéis de Nata can be traced back to the 18th century Jerónimos Monastery near Lisbon . The monks of the monastery used egg whites to starch their clothes after washing, leaving them with plenty of egg yolks, w
Feb 112 min read


Spiritus - A church light show that speaks to the soul in Porto
Spiritus - Videomapping show is one of the most unique cultural experiences in Porto this year, 2025, coming to life in the city's iconic Clérigos Church . This unique performance is not just a spectacular projection, but an audiovisual journey with a deeper, philosophical message, focusing on the relationship between the human soul, time and nature. The baroque interior of the church is completely transformed: pulsating lights appear on the walls and arches, telling the s
Feb 111 min read


Porto attractions - what is worth seeing in one of the most beautiful cities in Portugal?
Porto , a city on the banks of the Douro River, is full of colorful houses, impressive churches, world-famous tile decorations and spectacular viewpoints. Comfortable shoes are definitely recommended - this is where I've seen the most tourists stumble in my life :)) Walking through the steep and cobblestone streets can sometimes be a bit difficult and tiring. In this post, I will show you the must-see attractions in Porto so you can easily plan your trip. Capela das Almas - t
Feb 115 min read


Azulejos: Portugal's colorful history in tiles
If you visit Portugal, you will find them on almost every corner: they decorate walls, churches, palaces, even train stations and restaurants. These are the typical Portuguese azulejos - tiles that serve not only as decoration but also as storytellers. But where does this tradition come from and why has it become one of the most striking symbols of Portuguese culture? What is azulejo? The word “azulejo” comes from the Arabic “al-zillīj,” meaning “polished stone ”. These
Feb 113 min read


The artist who builds hope from trash - Bordalo II and the recycled art of Lisbon
When you first walk through the colorful streets of Lisbon, between the tiled houses, the steep alleys and the clanking trams, you suddenly see a huge animal looking at you from a wall, built from old car parts, tires and broken plastic. The artist's name is Bordalo II - and what he does is more than street art. It is modern eco-art itself, which is beautiful, provocative and thought-provoking at the same time. Bordalo II's art is not born on the white walls of galleries, but
Feb 112 min read


Time travel into disaster: the 1755 Lisbon earthquake at the Earthquake Museum
The Lisbon Earthquake Museum (Museu do Terramoto) is not just an exhibition space - it is more of a modern, experiential time machine that takes you back to the most defining and tragic moment in the city's history, the day of the 1755 earthquake. The museum aims not only to show the devastation of the disaster, but also to make the visitors feel the shock and uncertainty experienced by the residents of the time. On November 1, 1755, the people of Lisbon had no idea that th
Feb 104 min read


Lisbon - Travel guide to iconic attractions
Lisbon was love at first sight for me. I've been here several times, and it has never disappointed me, and I've even been lucky with the weather: although I always brought an umbrella, especially in November, the city still gave me wonderful sunshine most of the time. Lisbon is a place that reveals a new face with every step: old and modern, calm and vibrant, romantic and creative. When exploring the Portuguese capital, it's worth taking time to explore both the historic dist
Feb 107 min read


The story of Parc Güell - Gaudí's unfulfilled residential development in Barcelona
Parc Güell is one of Barcelona’s most famous attractions , yet few people know that the park - filled with colorful mosaics and organic forms - was not originally intended as a tourist attraction. The story of Parc Güell began as an ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful real-estate project which, thanks to the genius of Antoni Gaudí, has since become one of the city’s iconic symbols. The original concept of Parc Güell The history of the park began around 1900 , when Eusebi G
Feb 103 min read


A Catalan holiday song that has become world famous - yet many people completely misunderstand it
"El 25 de desembre fum, fum, fum" is a well-known Catalan Christmas carol, translated into several languages, and even has a Chinese version. December 25th arrives, and the refrain, "fum, fum, fum", comes naturally. Everyone knows it, especially in Barcelona. For decades, the same collective mental image has appeared before people's eyes when they hear this song: a smoking chimney (fum in Catalan) on a cold winter's evening. However, folk etymology has played a trick on us. H
Feb 102 min read


Interesting facts about the Sagrada Familia that you probably didn't know
The Sagrada Familia is undoubtedly Antoni Gaudí's masterpiece and the symbol of Barcelona. It is a treasure trove of secrets, religious symbols and architectural wonders, but it also seems to hide a less mystical and much more mundane story: an architectural error that few people know about. This error resulted in the asymmetry of the bell towers on the facade of the Nativity scene, which Gaudí simply did not care about. Of course, this does not detract from the value, beauty
Feb 102 min read


Two nations, one sense of destiny - the meeting of the Hungarian and Catalan national spirits
Opinion piece, based on facts On the map of Europe, Hungary and Catalonia are far apart. Yet, anyone who knows both places - especially the weight of historical memory - will quickly recognize that there are surprisingly many common features between the Hungarian and Catalan folk souls . It is like as we were listening to stories written in two different languages, but with similar fates. Historical upheavals - in the shadow of great powers The history of both nations is def
Feb 103 min read


Cultural curiosities about Barcelona - the importance of patron saints
In Barcelona’s urban structure and cultural memory, the names of saints appear strikingly often in the form of streets, squares, churches, and festivals. This is not a coincidence, but rather a result of the city’s history and development. The cult of saints in Barcelona is closely intertwined with the development of the medieval city, when religion was not separated from everyday life, but rather provided a natural framework for it. The identity of urban communities was oft
Feb 1010 min read


Cervantes and Barcelona - why does Don Quixote end in Catalonia?
The name of Miguel de Cervantes is inseparable from Spanish literature, yet there is one city that holds a special place in his oeuvre: Barcelona. This is even more interesting because Cervantes was of Castilian origin and rarely mentioned real cities in his works. Don Quixote, however, is an exception. Cervantes was Castilian - but he treated Barcelona as an exception Cervantes was born in 1547 in Alcalá de Henares, near Madrid, in Castile. His native language was Castilian
Feb 102 min read


The "Three Kings' Day" in Barcelona
If you spend the holidays in Barcelona, you'll quickly notice that neither Santa Claus nor Little Jesus are really stars here . Catalan Christmas is a separate universe all its own, full of strange, funny and centuries-old traditions - things you don't often see anywhere else in the world. For example, Caga Tio and El Caganer, who we've already met in my previous posts. But who brings the presents at Christmas? Many travelers are surprised when there is no crazy gift-opening
Feb 103 min read


Special winter holidays in Barcelona - January
If you are planning to travel to Barcelona sometime in January, you should definitely check out the programs related to the Tres Tombs holiday. Saint Anthony and Tres Tombs celebration One of the winter holidays in Barcelona is dedicated to Saint Anthony the Hermit, whose official feast day is January 17. In Barcelona, the series of events related to it lasts until the end of January and is centered in the Sant Antoni neighborhood named after the saint. But who was Saint An
Feb 94 min read


La Boqueria
Barcelona’s La Boqueria , officially known as Mercat de Sant Josep , is more than just a market, it’s a living testament to the city’s history and gastronomic culture. Its roots go back to the Middle Ages, when Barcelona stood as a city surrounded by walls and vendors would set up shop outside the city gates on the road that is now La Rambla. These early markets were mainly made up of butchers and farmers who would sell their products from temporary stalls, taking advantage o
Feb 93 min read


The Barcelona panot flower - a symbol of the city on the sidewalks
If you walk around Barcelona, you will surely notice that not only the buildings and squares tell stories, but also the pavements. One of the most iconic motifs, which appears in almost every district, is the Barcelona panot flower - a simple, stylized four-petaled flower pattern that has become one of the hidden symbols of the city. What is a panot? The panot is nothing more than the city's characteristic concrete paving slab. At the beginning of the 20th century, during
Feb 92 min read


Tibidabo
If Barcelona has already stolen your heart, then Tibidabo will be the place where this connection will deepen even more. A place where past and present, nature and city, spirituality and entertainment meet in a special harmony. Tibidabo rises 512 meters above sea level, making it the highest point in Barcelona. The journey up there is already an experience: the narrow-cog railway, the Funicular del Tibidabo, starts the trip with a nostalgic atmosphere. As you arrive, two th
Feb 93 min read


Why is Catalan identity so important in Barcelona?
When visiting Barcelona, it quickly becomes visible that this city is "different" from the rest of Spain. Not only in architecture, language or gastronomy, but also in the way people think. Catalan identity here is not folklore or nostalgia, but an everyday reality that deeply determines the self-image, political sensibilities and cultural life of the city's inhabitants. But why is this so important? And where does this strong bond come from? Why is it that if you tell a lo
Feb 93 min read


O Gringo: A modern interpretation of azulejo - Lisbon street art
Walking through the streets of Lisbon, you can see that the cobblestone alleys, worn walls and blue and white azulejo tiles together preserve the stories of the Portuguese capital. There is an artist who translates these stories into a new language: O Gringo or Bastien Tomasini , a French-born street artist who has become one of Lisbon's most exciting visual voices in recent years. In his art traditional Portuguese tiles meet a contemporary, emotional narrative - creating
Nov 24, 20253 min read


Chefchaouen, the blue city in Morocco
Chefchaouen, a small Moroccan town nestled in the Rif Mountains, is perhaps one of the country’s most unique destinations. The city’s narrow streets, houses, and walls are covered in every shade of blue - from sky blue to turquoise to deep, dark indigo. It’s no wonder it has become a favorite photo spot for travelers from all over the world. Getting from Tangier to Chefchaouen by public transport is quite complicated, even though it is the closest big city. Trying to go from
Nov 13, 20255 min read


Tangier's sights and legends - discover Morocco's city steeped in myths
Tangier is one of the most unique cities in Morocco, where the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean meet . The city is not only special because of its beautiful location, but also because of the legends and myths associated with it . If you want to know more about the attractions and secrets of Tangier, read on - you are guaranteed to see this magical destination with different eyes. Hercules Cave - Tangier's best-known legend One of the most popular attractions in Ta
Nov 13, 20253 min read


Hassan II Mosque - Casablanca’s stunning seaside jewel
I arrived in Casablanca by train from Tangier and deliberately looked for accommodation that was close to the magnificent mosque. This worked out so well that I could see the entire building from the balcony of the apartment. The Hassan II Mosque, located on the coast of Casablanca, Morocco, is one of the most significant symbols not only of the city, but also of the entire country. This impressive structure is not only a religious center, but also a masterpiece of modern Mor
Nov 13, 20252 min read


Morocco
Entry requirements Morocco is a safe destination, where usually European citizens can travel without a visa , and registration is not required. The passport must be valid for 3 months from the date of departure from the country of origin. You cannot travel with an ID card. Upon entry, they ask us what our purpose is, where we will be staying, and how long we want to stay in the country. They did not ask me for my outbound flight ticket. We get a stamp in our passport both wh
Nov 13, 20254 min read
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