101 Romantic Weekends in Europe E-Book

Sarah Woods

• Herausgeber: IMM Lifestyle Books
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 287

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Beschreibung

With 101 fabulous ideas for romantic and relaxing weekend breaks, this book provides all the inspiration you need for some truly special weekends away. Featuring a host of romantic activities in European destinations chosen for their charm and interest, you'll never be stuck for ideas again. Each weekend includes the low-down on romantic and relaxing activities in the area and how to contact the companies that provide them, plus fascinating historical background and useful information. Illustrated by stunning photography throughout, this book features many of the classic romantic destinations, such as enjoying an adventure on the Orient Express or sampling world-class chocolate in Belgium. It also includes fresh and unusual ideas for special weekends away, including jousting in Lithuania, salsa dancing in Madrid, staying in an igloo village in Lapland and exploring the medieval castles of Montenegro, plus many more. From Switzerland to Slovenia, and from Luxembourg to Latvia, all of the countries of the continent are included, making for a truly comprehensive guide to romantic European weekends.

Leseprobe

CONTENTS

DESTINATION MAP

PORTUGAL

001 Sintra

Joyous cocoonment at the Palacio dos Seteais (Palace of the Seven Sighs)

002 Algarve

A healing spa by the crashing waves of the Atlantic

003 Madeira

Award-winning botanical gardens against a backdrop of mountains

SPAIN

004 Santander

Opera, ballet and fine orchestral concerts at northern Spain’s great arts festival

005 Madrid

Succumb to the sultry lure of salsa at the city’s steamy dance halls

006 San Sebastian

Dine like royalty on fine Basque food

007 Barcelona

Indulgent luxury at the Hotel Omm

008 Lanzarote

Practise yoga on an island of gorgeous beaches, pretty walks and stunning, unspoilt beauty

009 Cordoba

Experience the raw emotion and intensity of flamenco

010 Mallorca

Enjoy chocolate-infused beauty treatments for a deliciously sweet encounter

011 Alicante

Harmonic yin and yang spa therapies in tranquil, Zen-inspired gardens

012 Granada

Revel in romantic splendour at the Alhambra Palace

FRANCE

013 Paris

Speed through the streets of the capital of romance in a cute, restored 2CV

014 Lyon

Savour the art of culinary seduction with a master chef

015 Bordeaux

Enjoy wine-inspired beauty treatments at a grand old chateau amid rolling vineyards

016 Limoges

Allow a caricaturist to capture your love story in unconventional style

017 Loire

Stroll through Renaissance gardens at the Chateau de Villandry

018 Burgundy

Take a leisurely captained barge cruise along vine-flanked canals

019 Champagne

Take a rowing boat out on the water amidst swans, sunflower fields and popping corks

020 Brittany

Sample seawater spas and local seafood

021 Normandy

Take a romantic stroll through the stunning colours at Monet’s garden at Giverny

022 Pau

Enjoy a dizzying hot-air balloon ride with your beloved

023 Riquewihr

A fortified medieval settlement with cobblestone streets and soaring towers

024 Beaujolais

Old-world romance in a restored 50s-style caravan

025 Languedoc

Gastronomy, love letters and music

026 Nice

A cosy cedarwood treehouse

ITALY

027 Bologna

Saddle up on a ‘bicycle made for two’

028 Rome

A couples’ vespa tour, delicious ice cream and gypsy violins

029 Venice

The Orient Express: the ultimate in romantic rail journeys

030 Florence

Gardens, gondoliers and glasses of delicious limoncello

031 Todi

Stroll open-air galleries and winding cobbled streets

032 Milan

Peruse beautiful floral displays at the Easter markets

033 Pisa

A leisurely journey under the bridges of the Arno, past abbeys and spires

034 Sardinia

Enjoy the magical ambience of a sunset cruise

035 Sicily

Conspire with a loved one and contribute to an art hotel’s inspiring, individual room designs

SWITZERLAND

036 Geneva

Enjoy Alpine-chic seclusion and cosy romance in style

037 Zürich

A heart-shaped hot tub, a wood-fired stove and a starlit ceiling

038 Gstaad

Sip Swiss champagne under a sparkling sky

LUXEMBOURG

039 Ardennes

Cuddle up for love under canvas

BELGIUM

040 Brussels

Enjoy ‘passion’ cocktails and mellow jazz music

041 Bruges

Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate!

NETHERLANDS

042 Amsterdam

Picnic Amsterdammer-style as a bandastand springs to life

043 Rotterdam

Experience the city from a pretty Dutch houseboat on the Maas

DENMARK

044 Odense

Explore fairytale castles illuminated by fireworks

045 Copenhagen

Savour the traditions of the city’s legendary confectioners

GERMANY

046 Baden Baden

Share a relaxing soak in spring-fed thermal pools

047 Berlin

Discover little-known turrets, ruins, follies and palaces in an open-top Porsche

048 Munich

Meander through snowy streets to feast on roasted chestnuts, candied fruits and warming punch

049 Amorbach

Savour apfelwine in the unspoilt Odenwald countryside

050 Hamburg

A boat trip at nightfall

051 Stuttgart

Experience a luxury private helicopter tour for the ultimate in urban romance

052 Frankfurt

Medieval towns, forests and lakes along Germany’s Romantic Road

AUSTRIA

053 Innsbruck

Cosy up in a traditional horse-drawn carriage

054 Vienna

Enjoy a romantic waltz lesson in an opulent Viennese ballroom

055 Graz

Explore the landscapes of meadows and mountains that inspired the reallife love story of The Sound of Music

056 Salzburg

Share an in-room picnic in a Love Bird suite

CZECH REPUBLIC

057 Prague

A private string quartet could be the perfect backdrop to a romance-filled picnic – or proposal

058 Brno

Revel in dazzling music events at the city’s world-class symphonic orchestral festival

SLOVAKIA

059 Piestany

Succumb to soothing spring waters for the ultimate in relaxation à deux

POLAND

060 Mazuria

Explore Poland’s ‘land of a thousand lakes’ with its enchanting villages and breathtaking scenery

061 Krynica-Zdrój

Share a dip in mineral-rich spa waters deep in the mountains

062 Gdansk

Ride Polish horses along unspoilt coastlines

063 Posnan

Hide yourselves away in a rustic log cabin in the Polish lake district with nothing but woodpeckers and wild deer to disturb you

LITHUANIA

064 Vilnius

Experience the thrill of jousting, the ulitmate chivalrous sport

LATVIA

065 Riga

Hunt for the fern flower – symbol of love and fertility

ESTONIA

066 Voru

Sample a gourmet candlelit dinner followed by a sauna for two

RUSSIA

067 Moscow

Retreat from the urban hubbub to a rustic Russian dacha (cottage) in a flower-filled pine forest

068 St Petersburg

Dance to a backdrop of elegant towers and soaring spires at the annual Pushkin Ball

UKRAINE

069 Odessa

Experience Odessa’s justifiable reputation as an artistic centre in Renaissance- and Baroque-style theatres and opera houses

BULGARIA

070 Sofia

Visit the spa town of Bankya in the lush green foothills of the magnificent Lulin Mountains

071 Veliko Turnovo

Stroll through a flower-filled labyrinth of narrow streets in Bulgaria’s openair museum

ROMANIA

072 Bucharest

Glide down the wide bouvelards of ‘Little Paris’

HUNGARY

073 Budapest

Scour antiques shops for collectables and gorgeous old pieces of jewellery

074 Puszta

Explore vast grassland plains in horse-drawn wagons

SLOVENIA

075 Bohinj

Sample poetry and wine in the only nation with ‘love’ in its name

CROATIA

076 Dubrovnik

Take a romantic stroll, dubbed ‘the lovers’ walk’, to a harbour steeped in legends of love

077 Split

Experience nautical and coastal splendour in a working lighthouse full of cosy nooks

SERBIA

078 Belgrade

Climb aboard the Romantika steam train for a journey along the banks of the Danube

MONTENEGRO

079 Kotor

Explore the age-old romantic charm of Kotor’s medieval castles and historic harbour

GREECE

080 Athens

Pack a twilight picnic for a trip to one of Athen’s much-loved outdoor cinemas

081 Skyros

Magical moonlit walks and sunrise yoga sessions

082 Mykonos

Rejuvenating spa therapies for couples

083 Cyprus

Celebrate the Koilani wine harvest on Aphrodite’s Island of Love

TURKEY

084 Istanbul

Exotic hospitality on the magnificent star-lit waters of the Bosphorus

085 Bodrum

Sail the Turquoise Coast on a traditional wooden boat

UNITED KINGDOM

086 Belfast

Celebrate Culloden Castle’s summer opera season with free-flowing champagne

087 Edinburgh

Luxurious pampering, Scottish-style, with magnificent castle views

088 Cornwall

Bracing Cornish cliffs, fine golden sands and the cosiest of boltholes

089 London

Cocktails, rowing boats and fine champagne

090 Llandudno

A Welsh walled garden featuring secluded trails and a riot of colour

IRELAND

091 Dublin

Be whisked away in a Rolls Royce to the waterfalls and woodlands of Sheen Falls Lodge

092 Dingle

Saddle up together to discover a rugged coastline with pure romantic charm

ICELAND

093 Reykjavik

Share restorative dips in gin-clear geothermal waters

094 Lake Myvatn

Experience the wonder of the Northern Lights from bubbling volcanic pools

NORWAY

095 Oslo

Stroll through Vigeland Park and view sculptures dedicated to the many aspects of love

096 Bergen

A romantic cruise through Hardangerfjord

SWEDEN

097 Gothenburg

Saunas and bubbling hot tubs in the lantern-lit parkland of Sweden’s very own Sleeping Beauty castle

098 Kiruna

Snuggle up in the original Ice Hotel, deep in Sweden’s Lapland

099 Stockholm

Enjoy a cocktail in the ‘white nights’ of the midnight sun

FINLAND

100 Lapland

Cuddle down in a snow-covered igloo village

101 Paijanne

Scenic lakeside tranquility: log cabins, wood-fired saunas and traditional Finnish sahti

PORTUGAL

TIME DIFFERENCE GMT +1

TELEPHONE CODE +351

CURRENCY Euro

LANGUAGE Portuguese

POPULATION 10 million

SIZE OF COUNTRY 88,889 sq km (34,667 sq miles)

CAPITAL Lisbon

WHEN TO GO Mainland Portugal’s winters are exceptionally mild, especially in the Algarve region. Cooler inland temperatures typify inland provinces, with snowfall in the Serra da Estrela mountains. Autumns are pleasantly warm, turning steadily cooler into December. Islands offer year-round temperate conditions – 18ºC (64ºF) in winter and 22ºC (72ºF) in summer.

TOURIST INFORMATIONPortuguese National Tourist OfficeTel: 0845 355 1212Fax: [phone]Email: [email protected]

On the west of the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal’s 830 km (515 mile) Atlantic coastline flanks the nation to the south and west with the Spanish border to the north and east. The River Tejo provides a neat division across the country, stretching out to meet the waters of the Atlantic in Lisbon. Portugal’s 17 islands and atolls include the archipelagos of Azores and Madeira. Many of Portugal’s sleepy fishing villages of brightly painted sardine boats, cobbled streets and whitewashed houses sit alongside pristine beaches. Rugged, windswept coastal enclaves evoke the nostalgia of Old Iberia and are blessed with over 300 days of golden sunshine each year.

001 SINTRA

HOW TO GET THEREThe Tivoli Palácio de Seteais is a 40-minute transfer from Lisbon by taxi or hire car

CONTACTTivoli Palácio de SetaisTel: [phone]Email: [email protected]

Sintra has long revelled in a reputation as an idyllic love-bird retreat, just a 40-minute drive from Lisbon and edged by beautiful, sheltered rocky coves. Stroll charming narrow streets, enjoy an enchanting journey through the town’s historic centre in a horse-drawn carriage or picnic in the sweet-smelling gardens of Monserrate and the stunning park of Palácio da Pena. Described by Lord Byron as “Glorious Eden”, Sintra’s charms have been praised by writers ever since. Portugal’s national poet, Luís Vaz de Camões, proclaimed Sintra’s glory in his epic works Os Lusíadas (The Lusiads), drawing nobility and aristocrats to its historic architecture and lush flowers. Today, visitors keen to treat their loved ones like royalty should consider a romantic weekend in Sintra’s handsome Tivoli Palácio de Seteais (Palace of the Seven Sighs), a distinguished late 18th-century castle built by the then Dutch Consul. If your idea of romance is to be joyously cocooned in cosseted luxury, then the Palacio de Seteais is your Shangri-la. Named in honour of a 12th century love story centred on an Arabian princess, the Tivoli Palácio de Seteais enjoys seductive seclusion in a quintessentially romantic niche amidst Gothic, Egyptian, Moorish and Renaissance art.

Expect opulent grandeur, tasteful dignity and every modern comfort in this perfect place for couples where romantic period elegance reigns. As befits its true neo-classical glamour, the Tivoli Palácio de Seteais is beautifully refined with lots of special touches for the romantic at heart. An impressive triumphal arch commemorates a royal visit while striking interiors are sumptuously appointed with fine antiques, tapestry, chandeliers and art. Marvel at fresco paintings, flowing drapes, polished woods, dazzling crystal, pewter, gilded motifs and towering floral displays. Lush, green gardens tumble down to a beautiful pool in a blissful romantic scene shielded by an exotic array of colourful pink and purple bougainvillea over garden trelliswork, red geraniums, eucalyptus, lemon trees and sweet mimosa. Choose from one of 30 rooms, each individually furnished in Baroque style with Champagne, heart-shaped pastries and hand-tied posies of romantic camellias on request.

The perfectly manicured grounds of the Palácio de Seteais, Sintra.

002 ALGARVE

HOW TO GET THEREThe resort is a 20 minute transfer from Faro International Airport by taxi or hire car

CONTACTRoyal SpaTel: [phone]Fax: [phone]Email: [email protected]

Since early times, fables and folktales have referenced salt in their fairytales. Salt has also been used in pottery production, was a source of medieval currency and, 4,700 years ago, was a pharmacological power. Salt has also played a vital role in religious ritual across many cultures, symbolizing immutable, incorruptible purity. There are more than 30 references to salt in the Bible, using expressions like “salt of the earth”. A salt tax was a significant cause of the French Revolution; it also motivated American pioneers and is essential for the maintenance of human life. Since time immemorial, salt has been honoured for its health-giving properties and is used to treat asthma, eliminate toxins, boost metabolism, enhance circulation, soften skin and improve well-being – and more. Little wonder that the Algarve’s prestigious Royal Spa pays homage to Portugal’s 2,700-metre rock-salt caverns at Loulé. Formed by the geological separation of Europe and Africa before the Jurassic era, the salt vein stretches as far as Barcelona and is one of Europe’s richest natural therapeutic salt sources.

Sitting within the Vale do Lobo resort, the Royal Spa applies ‘healing through water’ (Latin: sanus per aquum) from which the SPA acronym derives. Based on the principle that water is the very origin of life and possesses special healing powers, the sanctum of water is honoured in the prevailing influences of Vale do Lobo´s environment: the Atlantic Ocean and the lagoon-system and dunes of the Natural Reserve of the Ria Formosa. From the sandy beaches of Ancão to the charming village of Cacela Velha, the natural inlets of the Ria Formosa offer wildlife-rich wetlands, peaceful waters and deserted isles. Gushing fountains, trickling waterfalls and stunning cascades are evident in the spa’s design and play an important role in mind, body and soul therapies, from hydrotherapy showers and hydro-massage treatments to steam therapies – many using health-giving salt. Treatments focus on organic plant extracts, sea algae and natural essence oils. Generous use of stone, wood and plants throughout provide a mirror on the surrounding natural world.

The palatial Royal Spa may be ultramodern in construction but this 4,000 sq metre (43,000 sq ft) purpose-built wellness sanctuary draws inspiration from ancient health philosophies. Oriental and western techniques run side-by-side with traditional Chinese medicine complemented by aqua-therapies. Nutritional advice and minor cosmetic surgery are also available, in conjunction with Dr Thomas Kaiser, Director of the Vale do Lobo Medical Centre. The mood is mellow, the setting upmarket but not stuffy, and free from boot-camp deprivation. Physiological assessments help to identify individual health objectives using a holistic approach, from mud baths, hot stones, Reiki and ice therapies to weight loss and stress management. Ten therapy suites each bear the names of flowers indigenous to the local area together with two wooden spa pavilions set in quiet Oriental-style gardens around a white pebble waterfall and lily pond. Choose from saunas, a Turkish bath and steam rooms infused with local essential oils. Gentle water jets sooth fatigued limbs while salt peels soften, and deep, iced curative pools rejuvenate. Age-old touch therapies rid stressed joints of gnarls and knots while muscles are eased and vitality is restored.

In keeping with the royal theme, the Royal Spa menu is fit for a king, with specially created dishes by Chef Maurice Belhaj in collaboration with British diet and fitness expert Rosemary Conley. A mouth-watering array of dishes centres on simple fresh local produce and organic salads and vegetables together with a menu of health-giving juice drinks using energy-boosting ingredients blended to help brighten skin, heighten mood and enhance libido. Choose a refreshing pineapple, mint and ginger melange for a tasty mid-morning pick-me-up to experience an uplifting zingy surge that lasts well into the afternoon.

Long, uninterrupted sleep is a common theme of folkloric culture in Portugal with myths centring on the therapeutic powers of local nuts, fruits and berries. In the Royal Spa, undisturbed restfulness is aided by soothing massages that help to nurture quality sleep. Gentle pressure applied to the head, neck, shoulders and spine can ease areas of tension that lead to the build-up of stress. Sweet-smelling blends of warmed essential oils induce a deep state of relaxation and calm with the Royal Spa’s soothing thyme herbal tea infusion – the perfect aid to restful slumber.

From the moment you enter the Royal Spa, you can immerse yourself in a haven far from the stresses of daily life.

003 MADEIRA

CONTACTSMadeira Botanical GardensTel: + 351 291 211 200Fax: + 351 291 211 206Email: [email protected]

Madeira’s treasured 80,000-sq metre (861,120 sq ft) botanical amphitheatre not only contains a dazzling array of over 2,500 plant species but also offers spectacular panoramic views across mountains, bay waters and the city below. Look out across glorious, ramshackle rooftops to dramatic peaks and the deep blue Atlantic from Madeira’s cool leafy enclave where Japanese pagodas and romantic follies lie tucked amidst soaring ferns. Stroll along pebble-dotted pathways past ponds straddled by delicate wooden bridges. Discover handkerchief-sized plazas, boulder-strewn rockeries and crashing waterfall cascades fanned by giant creeper-clad palms. Or hike the orchid-rich leafy trails amongst a kaleidoscope of velvety pink and yellow blooms.

A romantic notion conjured up the Reid family in 1881, the Madeira Botanical Garden boasts a privileged location on the south side of a valley. At an altitude of between 200 and 350 metres (660–1,155 ft), conditions are perfect to support a spectacular array of exuberant vegetation. Nourished by nutrient-rich soils, the gardens are lush, vibrant and breathtakingly beautiful – just as the founders had dreamed. Revel in the fragrances of sprouting herbs, sub-tropical fruits and slender pine trees or discover semi-arid succulents and the dragon tree with its cylindrical trunk. A pattern of harmonious shapes and contrasting colours uses the vivid hues of Funchal Bay as a backdrop to create a tapestry-like floral carpet. Exotic plants from all continents combine to produce a glorious celebration of colour, from lilies, birds of paradise, magnolias and azaleas to bromeliads, cacti and hibiscuses.

For a truly romantic voyage through the gardens and beyond, take the Botanical Garden’s cable car up to the historic village of Monte with its beautiful church, gardens and wicker sledges. Savour expansive vistas of stunning tropical splendour, romantic Oriental tea-gardens and secluded love-seats tucked amongst the palms. Gaze out across the Atlantic Ocean as you cosy up in silent wonderment to the gentle sounds of seabirds and lapping waves. Monte’s fairytale aura once captivated Europe’s high society; today it is synonymous with miracles and centuries-old romantic legends. Since 1850, couples have observed the tradition of sliding at high speed on two-seater toboggans along Monte’s narrow, winding streets down to Funchal. Steered by two men dressed in traditional white cotton clothing and straw hats, the sledges glide on wooden runners. Poles are used for propulsion and rubber-soled boots as brakes, so lock hands and close your eyes for this romantic leap of faith.

The Madeira Botanical Gardens are lush, vibrant and breathtakingly beautiful.

SPAIN

TIME DIFFERENCE GMT +1

TELEPHONE CODE +34

CURRENCY Euro

LANGUAGE Spanish

POPULATION 40.4 million

SIZE OF COUNTRY 504,782 sq km (196,865 sq miles)

CAPITAL Madrid

WHEN TO GO Spain is generally divided into a temperate north and a hot, dry south, with April to October the most popular time to visit. In the height of summer (July to August) temperatures soar to scorching highs inland. Coastal regions remain pleasant year-round but are prone to wet weather in winter.

TOURIST INFORMATIONSpanish Tourist OfficeTel: 020 7317 2010Fax : [phone]Email: [email protected]

Spain has at least a dozen personalities, from the desert-style plains of Almeria and silver-sand beaches of Formentera to the curvaceous hills of Catalonia and the deep ravines, stalagmites and caverns of the Balearics. Vast highland plateaus are segmented by spiny mountains while narrow, low-lying coastal plains run like ribbons throughout the south-west. Dramatic cliffs are home to hook-clawed raptors while bears, lynx, and wolves roam mountain woods and streams. Vines, olives, figs and orange groves flourish in the fertile soil of the foothills while beautiful domed Moorish palaces sit in resplendent gardens amidst mosaics, frescoes and archways.

004 SANTANDER

CONTACTSSantander International Music FestivalTel: [phone] / 942 314 853Fax: [phone]www.festivalsantander.com

August in Santander is set to a romantic musical score as breathtaking, rapturous symphonies and stirring concertos fill the city with wisps of harmonic joy. Moving orchestral drama evokes the passion of heart-rending tragedy while soulful sonatas and concerto ritornelli whirl through Santander like a melodic virtuosic cyclone. From sweet piano refrains and dancing violins to cello solos and full orchestral might, the city plays host to umpteen renditions and repertoires from every classical genre. Delight in moody modernisti movements and the delicate Romantic era’s lyrical touch during Northern Spain’s month-long celebration of music that culminates in a rousing performance by the National Orchestra of Spain.

Named for the Latin Sancti Emeterii, Santander is characterised by fine historic buildings on handsome, Roman-built streets lined with trees and shrubs. At the heart of the city, the garden-filled Paseo de Pereda boulevard splits the old quarter from Santander’s sandy, coastal strip. One of the city’s earliest constructions, a 13th-century cathedral, sits atop catacombs, underground sculpture and sombre, vaulted chambers close to the grand bourgeois mansion houses overlooking the Bay of Biscay. Here, the Palacio de Festivales (Festival Palace), built by Francisco Javier Sáenz de Oiza, is the venue of the prestigious Santander International Festival, one of Spain’s oldest musical celebrations. Though smaller performances can be enjoyed in the intimate setting of over 40 historic cloisters and gardens across the city, it is the Festival Palace that embodies the spirit of the occasion from a full-on symphonic extravaganza that sets the tone of the many dozens of operatic and choral concerts that follow. Inaugurated in 1991 with Handel’s oratorio, Joshua, a stirring piece from the height of his late creative period, the Festival Palace is in its element with big-stage productions mixing historic, ecclesiastic and aristocratic elements with a flavour of the mountains and the sea. The venue’s haunting acoustics blend with a stunning stage set – a large window that frames the Bay of Biscay provides the backdrop. To the sound of rapturous applause, the scenery takes on a romantic fervour at the climax of the festival when showered with thousands of single-stem roses from the stalls.

Cuban dancer Lorna Feijoo, of the Boston Ballet, performs during a rehearsal of Les Sylphydes for the Santander International Festival.

005 MADRID

CONTACTMadrid Tourist OfficeTel: [phone]Email: [email protected]

Madrid’s sultry salsa scene revels in sensual seduction, in which simmering physical chemistry and overtly sexual rhythms collide in a full-on sensory assault. Meaning ‘sauce’ in Spanish, the salsa is anything but sweet in style. Yet a fiery chilli has soft flesh and the salsa is no stranger to tender sentiment, albeit wrapped in raw, heartfelt desire. With bodies pressed tightly together in rhythmic unison, Madrid’s spellbinding musical love potion adds an extra frisson to the dance-floor. ‘I’m drowning and I can’t live without you’ resonates the ultimate salsa love cry of Mi Todo (My All): an intimate cocktail of intoxicating lyrics and irrepressible, sweat-drenched beats.

In recent years salsa musicians from such places as Havana, Panama, Colombia and Argentina have made their home in the Spanish capital, joining forces with Spanish musicians to create various hybrid forms of salsa fused with African and Middle Eastern sounds. In Madrid, this melting pot of vibrant musical influences is easy to discover, from Cuban folk and Puerto Rican peasant dances to the tribal drumming of the Western Sahara. Visitors keen to experience Madrid’s sassiest dance form will need to wait until at least midnight when restaurants begin clearing the last dinner plates and city’s salsatecos begin to fill. Entering a salsa bar can be like joining a theatrical production where the dance floor is the stage and the salseros the actors. To the 1-2-3-touch, 5-6-7-touch of a pulsating, syncopated beat a moving sea of dancers revels in physical, musical and philosophical synch. Through shifting moods and tempos, couples sustain an intense level of inter-body communication as tendrils of salsa passion ignite.

Pick up a Guía del Ocio from any street corner kiosk for a comprehensive list of salsa lessons, venues and festivals, plus upcoming events. Madrid’s premier salsa joints include the trendy Barnon (17 Santa Engracia), tropical Azúcar (Pº Reina Cristina, 7, near Atocha Railway Station) and the fiesta-loving El Son (Victoria 6, Metro Sol, near Puerta del Sol). The city’s oldest salsateca, O’zona (Av. Mediterráneo, 12 Metro Conde de Casal o Menéndez Pelayo), may boast a pocket-sized dance-floor, but for a shock of sensual energy few can compare. A blaze of fast-paced spins and turns ensure a night of tight-fit dances among the salsa throng. Once the triple-twirls fade into a dreamy, slow-tempo salsa romántica, you’ll know daybreak has arrived.

Dance a fiery salsa for a burst of sensual energy.

006 SAN SEBASTIAN

CONTACTCantabria Tourist DepartmentTel: [phone]Fax: [phone]www.turismodecantabria.com

Romance in Spain conjures up visions of delicious tapas and free-flowing sangria overlooking the sea. Sharing mouth-watering regional delicacies in a warm sea breeze epitomises the beguiling romantic mellowness of the Spanish coastline where exquisite seafood dining wows gastronomes from around the world, especially in San Sebastian in the north. Chefs throughout Spain speak of San Sebastian in gushing superlatives; this gastronomic stomping ground boasts extraordinary acclaim. Blessed by food-rich geography, San Sebastian (or Donostia in Basque) is the nation’s gourmand capital: an epicurean epicentre that boasts the highest concentrations of Michelin stars on the planet. Gourmet dining is a way of life in San Sebastian where menus deserving of rapturous applause are tantamount to the city’s daily bread. Stroll around San Sebastian’s scallop-shaped bay to discover rich and sumptuous culinary genius, be it a cosy, family-run cafe or a seductive candle-lit bistro. Everyone is a connoisseur in this gastronomic heaven where food is exalted with near-religious fervour and wine consumed with devout zeal. Dubbed ‘The Best Place to Eat on Earth’, San Sebastian draws on some outstanding regional ingredients, from succulent sardines, squid and tuna to tangy sheep’s-milk cheeses and juicy berries.

In centuries past, San Sebastian’s quaint belle époque coastal location provided a fashionable summer getaway where the affluent elite could escape the overpowering heat of the city. Today, the city continues to attract a moneyed mix of haughty aristocracy and blue blood together with a legion of foodie pilgrims seeking the ultimate gourmet experience. On the basis of its unforgettable gastronomic heights, San Sebastian is synonymous with romantic proposals and amorous rendezvous where wine and food play a starring role. Fine 19th-century grandeur fans out from wide promenades to cobblestone streets and plazas perfectly framed by mountainous countryside and the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean. On the Paseo de la Muelle, fishing boats can be seen unloading their catch straight to the restaurants on the dock. For just-caught freshness, grab a rustic table on the harbour-side at lunchtime and ask to sample the latest haul cooked with olive oil and lemon. You don’t need to locate a French accolade in order to dine like a king in San Sebastian. Pop open a bottle of citrus-rich, semi-sparkling Txakoli, San Sebastian’s socalled ‘romance in a glass’ to witness show-offy waiters pour this light and fragrant white wine from great heights to give it extra fizz.

Food is exaulted with near-religious fervour in San Sebastian.

007 BARCELONA

CONTACTHotel OmmTel: [phone]Fax: [phone]www.hotelomm.es

Catalonia Tourist OfficeEmail: [email protected]: [phone]Fax: [phone]www.gencat.net

Sharing a few intimate moments of peaceful ‘togetherness’ amidst Barcelona’s urban melee requires calculated planning. Noise permeates every stratum in a glorious metropolitan chorus of roaring traffic and blaring horns. Seductive and inviting, Barcelona’s buzzing vibe lures you in before delivering a mind-blowing sensory assault. Streetwise and stylish, it mixes contemporary architecture with wild imagination, adding tradition, style, neon-lit nightlife and primary hues to the blend. Bag-laden shoppers vie for curb space with street jugglers and vendors. Zen-inspired Hotel Omm offers a chance to flee the chaos of Gaudi and Gucci, offering a sanctuary of peacefulness where stepping into the ultra-chic lobby is to enter a meditative state.

Designed by architect Juli Capella to offer sleek and ambient city space, the Hotel Omm attracts a cool clientele who are hell-bent on chilling out. High above Barcelona’s madding crowds in trendy Paseo de Gracia, a funky rooftop pool provides awesome views. Its Michelin-starred restaurant Moo and hip bar Moodern may be permanently full but this shouldn’t put you off. Style is paramount at Hotel Omm where a clever jigsaw design pays homage to clutter-and-noise-free innovation. Even the rowdiest fashion-forward crowd is barely audible, such are the acoustics. Vast swathes of natural light flood the building, circumnavigating snug enclaves illuminated by mellow lamp glow. Muted earth tones are beautifully contrasted with lacquered crimson detail in a quirky twist on minimalist Asian chic.

In the sweet-smelling Spaciomm Spa, all stresses and strains are banished as you are swaddled in super-soft kimonos and serenaded by tumbling waterfall cascades close to to Jacuzzis, pools, Turkish baths, a steam room, sauna, ice fountain and gravity room. Perfect-pitch wind chimes are suitably soporific and have helped to sooth the furrowed brows of an A-list jet-set crowd that includes Natalie Portman, Joan Branson and numerous faces from Barcelona’s arts elite. An à la carte menu of therapies reads like an upscale Manhattan cocktail bar. As befitting an Asian-styled spa, several treatments centre on ancient Eastern health philosophies such as shiatsu and Ayurvedic massage. Keen to simply lounge around? Then cosy up in the Spaciomm’s stylish relaxation area where reclined steel Jacuzzi chairs offer the decadence of sleepy peacefulness close to a fizzing Champagne fountain.

Cuddle up by a very modern fireside in the Hotel Omm.

008 LANZAROTE

CONTACTSHolistic Holidays at Villa IrisTel: [phone] (UK)Tel: [phone]www.hoho.co.uk

Derived from the Sanskrit root ‘yuj’, meaning ‘to join’, yoga has important connotations when it comes to strengthening romantic ties. As a couple, yoga needn’t purely be enjoyed as two separate individuals – but can be practised together, adding a new dimension to a relationship’s depth and spiritual growth. Couples seeking ways to enjoy a greater bond can use yoga to feel closer to each other, physically and mentally. If all this sounds a bit New Age then fear not. Rather than a far-fetched hippy fad, so-called Couples Yoga is a healthy, new and fun way to spend time with your partner. Based on the ethos that all things are interdependent, exercise and rest are viewed as essential for vibrant health. Laughter and play are life’s fountains of youth, so sessions are suitably packed with giggles, while trust and communication are focused on through touch. ‘Somebody becomes closer and dearer to you as you understand them better’, explains yoga guru Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev. ‘Then you enjoy the greater closeness.’

As a core component of all romantic relationships, touch is a binding force. It exchanges energy, allows auras to blend together and unite. Couples Yoga uses prolonged touch with locked eyes to maximise that vital ‘connection’. Deep-breath inhalation, linked hands and bodies positioned just a breath apart preempt a series of slow yoga poses (asanas). Then there is a deep embrace. Many yogic teachings fuse feng shui principals into their couple programmes to strengthen energy fields, emotions and attraction. Love, it is taught, adjusts its strength according to an environment – driving Cupid away in cluttered surroundings where negative colours prevail.

At the Villa Iris Yoga Retreat on the island of Lanzarote warm rose-pinks, salmon-reds and soft coral tones mix with towering plants, ferns and flowers, an auspicious mix that offers lasting love, according to Feng Shui. Curved pebble pathways allow positive Ch’i to flow more easily with an open front garden (Yang) and a private rear green space (Yin) dotted with stone sundials, carved rock statues, stepping-stones, flickering fibre-optic lanterns and melodic wind chimes. Reiki, massage, meditation and shiatsu are all close at hand as is a fine organic menu using local produce. Villa Iris also manages to achieve that delicate balance of personal space and kindred company – and a finer setting in which to achieve a conspicuous transformation in togetherness is hard to imagine.

Practising yoga as a couple can enhance trust and communication.

009 CORDOBA

CONTACTTablao CardenalTel: [phone]www.tablocardenal.com

La BuleriaTel: [phone]

Mesón Flamenco La BuleríaTel: [phone]

Dubbed Spain’s City of Romance on account of its sensual music and dance tradition, Cordoba’s flamenco scene is firmly entrenched in the city’s cobblestone old quarter, Juderia. Daytime Cordoba is a relaxed affair of pigeon-scattered plazas, pavement cafes and snoozing street-corner traders. It is after dark that the city truly bursts into life as restaurants and bars fill and music begins to flow as freely as the wine. Vibrant, passionate, intense and flamboyant Cordoba celebrates the riches of everyday life with the evocative flavours of food, dance, art, rhythm and song. As befits a city of romance, lyrics of lost love – the heart of Cordoba’s spirit – emanate from dozens of cosy bars, cafes and terrazas to tug at the heartstrings. Conversation and dance are both engaged in with passion, but rarely without liquid accompaniment in the tabernas (traditional style taverns), cervecerías (speciality beer bars), cocterlerías (cocktail bars) and bares de copas (serving speciality spirits) city-wide. Unassuming, dimly lit doorways reveal stunning traditional tile-work, boldly painted ceramic murals, scrubbed wooden floors and lime-washed walls.

There is a joke in Cordoba that the day begins at 10pm when the lights dim, clubs open and crowds swell into the city. Traditional flamenco has its time now, stirring Cordoba with an intoxicating energy of whirling colour and the firecracker sound of heels on tile. Young and old radiate to the short, sharp claps as soulful cries rise above the music with a resonance that burrows deep into night. A dance of exuberance and intensity, the gypsy-originated flamenco rejects formality, preferring the freedom of improvised movements to mirror the mood of the moment. A strumming guitar follows the rhythms as dancers take to the floor with chins perfectly poised and arms aloft. A dance genre characterized by rapid passages and audible footwork, flamenco is thought to derive from the Arabic music traditions of Moorish times. In Cordoba, flamenco is the dance of the people with visitor participation welcomed by encouraging stamps and shouts. Simply allow your body to feel the compás