In old Madrid a new wine experiences center, Vinotium, has opened with the latest audiovisual equipment offering a light-hearted yet instructive view of the various phases and techniques of wine making, for which Spain is world famous. Possibilities include a virtual harvesting simulator, virtual stomping winery and the wine flavors game. Tasting courses are available with wine and/or extra virgin olive oil being combined with Spanish ham and cheese. This could be followed up by a wine or gastronomic tour in one or two of Spain’s prestigious ‘denomination of origin’ wine regions, visiting bodegas (wineries) and tasting their products in situ. Contact Valesa Cultural Services to arrange a tour with the full flavors of Spain.

Several of Spain’s well-loved classic hotels are planning temporary closure for extensive refurbishment during the next two years. One is Seville’s Alfonso XIII Hotel (operated by Starwood), which is aiming to reopen in March 2012 in time for Holy Week and the Spring Fair.  In Granada, the Alhambra Palace Hotel will be closing for its face-lift in November 2011. Finally, we report that San Sebastian’s emblematic Hotel Maria Cristina (run by Starwood) is also about to close doors temporarily for extensive renovation, from October 9, 2011 through June 30, 2012. Several other celebrated hotels are also due for temporary closure at dates still to be announced. Valesa Cultural Services can keep you up-to-date with these developments.

  Two new high quality services are now available at the airports of Madrid and Barcelona. Meet and Assist for arrivals means the passengers are met at the bridge gate, escorted through Immigration, Customs and baggage collection, and then assisted to their ground transport or driver. On departure, clients are assisted at check-in and with baggage drop-off, escorted to a VIP lounge (optional) and then on to the boarding gate.

The Fast Track service (only available in Madrid’s Terminal 4 at present) provides for meeting arrival passengers at bridge gate, passing through an exclusive independent security control (x-rays), and driving them to the Sala Premium Lounge where they wait comfortably while the staff collect their luggage. The lounge offers full facilities including showers, wi-fi and refreshments. Passport control and Customs formalities take place in the same lounge, and finally the clients are escorted to their transport in a private parking lot. On departure, passengers can be picked up from the  hotel or elsewhere, or met at the airport, and escorted to the Sala Premium Lounge. They are assisted with check-in and baggage drop-off, and again passport control and Customs formalities take place in the lounge. Clients pass through an exclusive independent security control (x-rays) and then are transported by van to board the plane by the bridge stairway. Check with Valesa if you would like to book this new service.

Toledo is one of Spain’s most historic cities and is less than a one-hour journey from Madrid. For those already familiar with its main sites, Valesa Cultural Services can now offer more visits to previously unexplored sites. Among the newly opened sites are the fascinating archaeological remains of Roman baths, the so-called ‘Caves of Hercules’ that figure in legends associated with Toledo’s foundation and early history, the Jewish House (with an area possibly used long ago for ritual purification baths), the Church of El Salvador with remains from an earlier mosque, and preserved architectural and archaeological remains of Islamic baths.  Another possibility is to climb a recently-restored Mudéjar church towers in order to appreciate their construction techniques, as well as the view when you reach the top!

We are excited to hear that researchers at Madrid’s Prado Museum have announced the discovery of a previously unknown work by the master Pieter Bruegel the Elder, a sprawling, 5-by-9-foot tempera-on-linen peasant scene called “The Wine of St. Martin’s Day.”

“The discovery of the painting is fantastic news for the history of art,” Prado director Miguel Zugaza said.

Spain’s El Pais newspaper said the museum was prepared to pay about €7 million ($9.33 million), but that the painting could fetch as much as €25 million if sold in the private sector.

The owners of the painting had wanted to sell it and had unaware that it was a Bruegel. Sotheby’s of Madrid then asked the Prado to study the much-deteriorated work and investigations gradually brought to light that it was a Bruegel.

Pieter Bruegel the Elder, the patriarch of a prolific Flemish painting dynasty, is known for his landscapes and depictions of peasant life.

Prior knowledge of the painting’s image was known from an ancient engraving, but the work itself “had been taken for lost,” Zugaza said. The painting was brought to Spain from Italy by the ninth Duke of Medinaceli in the 17th century and remained in the family’s hands up until recently, he said. Its current owners were private collectors who did not want to be named.

The minister said the owners had indicated they would prefer it went to a national museum rather than into private hands.

It’s a remarkable event, it’s unlikely that there will ever be another Bruegel discovered again in such an unexpected manner. There are barely 40 Bruegels in the world,” said Culture Minister Angeles Gonzalez-Sinde.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pieter_Bruegel_the_Elder

http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/35860/spain-discovers-a-bawdy-unknown-work-by-pieter-bruegel-the-elder/

http://dailycaller.com/2010/09/23/spain-ids-previously-unknown-bruegel-masterpiece/

http://www.artmarketmonitor.com/2010/09/24/prado-discovers-a-breugel/

http://www.barcelonareporter.com/index.php?/news/comments/spains_prado_museum_restorers_find_unknown_bruegel_masterpiece/

Other works by Bruegel

http://www.abcgallery.com/B/bruegel/bruegel.html

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