LE MAG by AMARANTE LVA

Thira, colloquially-called Santorini, a contraction of Santa Irini (Saint Irene) whose cathedral is located in the village of Perissa, is a Greek group of islands in the Aegean sea situated circa 200 km from the mainland. It includes Thira, Thirassia, Aspronissi, Palea and Nea Kameni. The island complex is an active volcano and all the islands actually were born only thanks to the volcanic activity that has defined their romantic nature.

Santorini island, Greece

Satorini island, Greece

When planning a trip to Santorini, most travellers ask themselves where to go: Fira or Oia?
Here are some tips for this choice to be easier.

Fira, Santorini, Greece

Both Fira and Oia are perched over the sea and caldera and offer fantastic views from different angles. They tend to say Oia is a more romantic option though all Santorini is known to be the place to be for couples for its stunning sunsets. The towns are pretty much the same in terms of architecture and general facilities.

Fira, Santorini, Greece

Both villages have some options for eating out but Fira as the capital has more easy places suitable for any wallet. Both Oia and Fira have grocery stores and small markets.

Oia, Santorini, Greece

Fira, again being the capital, offers easier car-renting and more options for public transportation having a bus station. The trip from the airport and the port is slightly shorter to Fira rather than to Oia, though the difference is only about 10 minutes. As a matter of fact, there are plenty of hiking tours from Fira to Oia.

Oia, Santorini, Greece

For luxury villas on Santorini, both Fira and Oia offer you wonderful places, you just have to be fast and not to wait for too long. There are more travellers wishing to visit Santorini than it can get!

If you are planning to come to Barcelona shortly, you must have planned your trip to a dot and know perfectly well by now where to go, what to do, how to avoid pickpockets and get the best event admissions, you must have your flights booked as well as luxury apartment in Barcelona by now, you might even know what to try out of the Catalan cuisine. Or you might be thinking you know? No, we are not going to talk here neither about the famous paella, pa amb tomaquèt, cocas, truita de patata nor calçots that everyone who has ever been to any spot in Catalonia or have read any tourist guide about this beautiful region knows. We will try to show you the dishes you might have missed.

Winter selection

Escudella i carn d´olla. A traditional Catalan soup and stew with meatballs, seasonal vegetables, bones, sausages, meats, garlic, parsley, pasta or sometimes rice. The broth with the pasta or rice is called escudella, while the meats with the vegetables are named carn d´olla and are served after the soup. When served togeter, the dish gets the name of escudella barrejada.

Escudella barrejada

Faves Ofegades. Aka faves sacsades is a traditional pot made of broad beans, sausages, bacon, mint and herbs stewed for a long time. Sometimes garlic, sobrassada, pork ribs, chorizo and onion are used, peas can replace broad beans.

Faves ofegades

Botifarra amb mongetes. Boiled white beans sautéed with a traditional sausage.

Botifarra amb mongetes

Suquet de peix. A traditional fish soup originally made by the fishers with fishes that were the hardest to sell. Nowadays it is cooked with the best fishes and seafood on the market including monkfish and bream.

Suquet de peix

Impossible to imagine anyone who has marked the architecture of Barcelona more than the brilliant Antoni Gaudí nicknamed God´s Architect. Born in 1852 in Reus, a town not far from Barcelona, the future architect went to school in Barcelona and became a practitioner of Catalan Modernism. Easily distinguishable, his organic style was influenced by natural forms and religion, neo-Gothic art and Oriental techniques. In search of perfection, Gaudi has left an impressive imprint on architecture, but also worked with ceramics, stained glass, wrought iron and wood. His works are mostly located in Barcelona and its surroundings and are admired by architects all over the world for their peculiarity. The fairy-tale Casa Batllo, majestic La Pedrera, stunning Sagrada Familia, impressive Casa Figueras, furniture and forged pieces, you won´t help being surprised.

Sagrada Familia Inside, Barcelona

Sagrada Familia Inside, Barcelona

Sagrada Familia Facade, Barcelona

Park Guell, Barcelona