Italy or Spain in winter

Old Sep 25th, 2015, 01:22 PM
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Italy or Spain in winter

My husband has work in London and France in December. We have family in London and have seen parts of France a few times and although we love France as well as England, we thought we'd go someplace different this time.

So we are thinking of visiting Italy or Spain for the week after Christmas. We both know that the winter days are short, cold and maybe even rain/snow, therefore we are looking to see city areas rather than villages or other places that may require us to drive.

We both love art, museums and food, so are debating between Rome and Florence in Italy or Barcelona and Madrid in Spain ... we plan to do just ONE city, so any help for us to make the decision is welcome. Any suggestions for a different city to see is also very welcome.... but we are not too much for snowy places like Alps as we don't do skiing.

Our dates are Dec 27th to Dec 31st. We plan to be back in London to spend new years eve with family there.

Thank you all in advance.
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Old Sep 25th, 2015, 02:07 PM
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I will toss Napoli into the mix -- a lot more affordable than Rome during the Christmas season and with generally mild weather. Pompeii nearby, and on a sunny day you can have a lunch on the Amalfi coast. On a windless, sunny day, you can have a lunch in Capri. Napoli is a terrifically exciting city for museum, art, history and architecture lovers.

Food in Napoli is fabulous. I believe there are regular flights to London.
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Old Sep 25th, 2015, 11:40 PM
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We have been to Rome and Tuscany over the week after Xmas and had wonderful trips. I am sure Naples would be a fabulous choice as well! Our pics are here

Tuscany https://www.flickr.com/photos/pug_gi...57639164500734

Rome https://www.flickr.com/photos/pug_gi...57637218569466
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Old Sep 26th, 2015, 04:09 AM
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<love art, museums and food>, and add a good chance for nice and sunny weather with temperatures in the 60's, I recommend you take a look at Malaga city. Plenty of direct flights from London.

Within 300 meters in the city centre you'll find a Roman theater just beyond the 8-11 century Moorish Alcazaba, the 16th century cathedral, Picassos birth place, the Picasso museum, the Carmen Thyssen museum, the new Pompidou center, great cafes, tapas bars, restaurants, shopping and nightlife etc. etc. Genuine and laid-back Andalucian atmosphere.

Some recent articles about Malaga city:

- Telegraph, "Malaga - Spain's best kept Secret": http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...pt-secret.html

- Guardian, "The emerging fine food scene in Malaga and around": http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...taurants-tapas

- New York Times: "Málaga, Spain’s Self-Appointed New Arts Hub": http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/25/ar...-hub.html?_r=2

- Guardian, "Málaga holiday guide: what to see plus the best bars, hotels and restaurants": http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...rs-restaurants

Weather statistics for last week of December in Malaga says average highs at 63F and five hours sun pr. day. (wetteronline)
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Old Sep 26th, 2015, 07:57 AM
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About Malaga as "museum city", some 30 museums in town:
http://www.andalucia.com/cities/malaga/museums.htm
http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...-culture-spain
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Old Sep 26th, 2015, 08:19 AM
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It sounds like you've got some great options!

Florence easily has enough magnificent works of art to fill your time; it is, of course, best known for its extensive offerings from the Renaissance.

Madrid has a wealth of museums offering a wide range of art, although the Prado is dominated by the great Spanish artists.

Rome also has a stunning array of art museums, and may have the greatest range of master works of the cities you mention, at least for what one can see in the time you have.

Barcelona has some great art, with depth in a few genres (e.g., Romanesque, Modernisme), but IMO, if has less range in its art offerings than the other three cities.

IME, you'll find great food in all of them. And each of them offers a lot beyond their art museums.

Hope that helps!
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Old Sep 29th, 2015, 08:27 PM
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Thank you so very much for all your inputs sandralist, jamikins, kimhe (... your idea of Malaga is something my husband and I are pondering on now) and kja. Lots to consider and I shall post what we decide soon enough. Thanx!
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Old Sep 29th, 2015, 08:39 PM
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@jamikins ... your pictures of Tuscany & Rome are just stunning! Thank you for sharing them and now I am in a happy confusion with Malaga added to the list!
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Old Sep 29th, 2015, 10:40 PM
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A little more Malaga links:

The Pompidou centre: http://www.andalucia.com/malaga/pompidou-centre.htm
http://centrepompidou-malaga.eu/

The Russian museum: http://www.coleccionmuseoruso.es/

Carmen Thyssen museum: http://www.carmenthyssenmalaga.org/en

Picasso musem and birth house: http://www.museopicassomalaga.org/en
http://fundacionpicasso.malaga.eu/

Contemporary art museum in the so called Malaga Soho: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/mala...art-museum.htm

Wine museum: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/malaga/museums/vino.htm

Highly recommend a lunch in the fabulous Atarazanas food market, right in the heart of the city: http://eastofmalaga.net/2014/07/25/w...ry-perception/
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Old Sep 30th, 2015, 12:29 AM
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As others say, Malaga (often under-rated), Grenada, Seville, Cordoba, Napoli.

Majorca's Palma might be worth a read.
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Old Sep 30th, 2015, 11:24 AM
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Thanks Vasanthi...I hope you have a wonderful trip wherever you choose!
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Old Oct 2nd, 2015, 03:28 PM
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Looks like we may have to do the trip to Barcelona as the flight prices are cheaper and flight time is shorter from London .... we are still looking at options for Malaga because there is so much there to see, but essentially the choice is narrowed down between Barcelona and Malaga.

If no Malaga now, most likely we will go to Malaga in summer when my husband has work in Seville.

Thank you all for your inputs... it's really helped a lot.
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Old Oct 3rd, 2015, 02:30 AM
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Barcelona would be a great alternative. If I should settle down in Spain after decades of intensive travel in the country, it would probably have been in either genuine Malaga or medieval and cutting edge Barcelona.

Barcelona is spectacular modernist architecture, the Gothic quarter, the Roman ruins, a world class food scene, vibrant and very different neighbourhoods and all the museums you could wish for. http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/en/

Some of the finest museums in town are on the Montjuic hill with fabulous views of both the city and the sea from the castle on top. Here are also 1992 Olympic arenas as well as some of the best theaters in town. http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/...-montjuic.html
Perhaps take the Teleferic up to the top of Montjuic: http://www.telefericdemontjuic.cat/en/

Three restaurant tips:
- Gourmet and fun Tickets, tapas from heaven. You still have time to book, must be done 60 days in advance at midnight Barcelona time. Ten mins after midnight, all tables are normally gone. Very affordable for what you get: http://www.barcelonabook.com/tickets...estaurant.html

- Doesn't get more genuine Barcelona than a lunch at La Perla, at the foot of Montjuic: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Catalonia.html

- 7 Portes from 1836 is an institution in town, loads of Barcelona history in the walls and great, traditional Catalan food: http://www.7portes.com/angles/
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