I'm planning a trip to Spain, stopping in Madrid, Sevilla and Cordoba. Which, in your opinion, is the best city for flamenco? Can anyone recommend a very excellent tablao?

Hi. Just got back from a trip. Seville is great for Flamenco. For tablao, I went to Los Gallos (on Plaza de Santa Cruz) and El Arenal (near the bullring). Both were pretty good although I guess I'd go with Los Gallos. My favorite place was a cultural center: Casa de la Memoria de Al-Andalus on Calle Ximénez de Enciso, 28, in Santa Cruz. Also, worth visiting (although not tablao) is Carboneria, a bar on Calle Levies. It has free flamenco at midnight, although both times I went the show was only about half an hour.

I wish I remembered the name, but it's across the street from the Mezquita in Cordoba -- definitely the best I saw on my entire trip.

Just after Semana Santa comes the Feria de Abril, encompassing the last week of April and the first week of May, is the most fantastic time to be in Sevilla, the center of the Flamenco world in Spain. The Feria itself is held just across the river from the main part of the city and is a combination horse show, carnival, flamenco festival and fashion parade, every day all day and night for at least a full week. If it is possible for you to go during these two weeks you will not regret it one bit. Just be sure you have booked your room at least 2 if not 3 months in advance or you WILL NOT be able to find a decent room anywhere for any price. Believe me on this, I do not exaggerate. By the time the Feria begins no rooms at all are available in the city.

Jerez, Cadiz and Seville are supposed to be the 3 best cities for flamenco, the "flamenco triangle".