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Focusing on some of the most photogenic
areas of Europe and the United States,
this growing series of books is most
notable for its magnificent photographs
of the lovely villages and towns of the
areas covered in each volume.
With literary and historical references,
these coffeetable books include appendices
listing the most important sites, markets,
festivals, hotels, and restaurants. |
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| The
Most Beautiful Villages of Spain |
 Hugh
Palmer
Traditional architecture and dramatic
natural settings place these Spanish
villages among the most unspoiled and
appealing in Europe. Pretty Romanesque
churches dominate mountain communities
in the Asturias and the Pyrenees; walled
hamlets rise from the high plains of
Castilla; literary and artistic associations
enrich the beautiful remains of Moorish
Andalucía.
More than thirty village gems are
featured here. From Galicia to the
Basque country in the north lie picturesque
fishing villages. Patient exploration
in the heart of the country reveals
such delights as Pedraza's arcaded
square seen against a backdrop of snowcapped
mountains, or La Guardia's mighty defensive
walls towering above the vineyards
of Rioja. In the east, the whitewashed
houses of coastal Cadaqués have
become famous as an artists' colony,
while El Palmar is renowned for its
paella. And in the villages of Andalucía,
like Medina Sidonia, the traces of
Moorish civilization can be found.
From Publishers Weekly:
Aside from Seville's storybook cobblestone streets and Barcelona's fantastical
architecture, Spain is home to countless romantic, vibrant villages.
This pretty volume showcases over 30 of them, from eastern Spain, Andalucia,
northern Spain and central Spain. Rural Spain's riches range from 17th-century
towers (as in the Andalucian village of Medina Sidonia) to walled cities
like Albarracin in the eastern part of the country. Palmer, whose photographs
have enlivened other titles in the Most Beautiful Villages series,
offers impressive shots capturing the villages' allure. Among the highlights
are a photo of Platya S'aranella's sandy inlet, in which a black cat
poses inside a chipped rowboat, and a view of Almonaster la Real, a
secluded town near the Portuguese border which is shown nestled between
woody brush and sweeping mountains. The color photos are accompanied
by captions and brief essays on each village, and a short section on
dining and accommodations in Spain concludes the book.
© 1997-2005 Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. |
$40.00 (hardcover)
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