A journey through flavors and traditions
Spain invites you to explore the heart of its culture through flavor: every region tells its own story through the food on its tables. From olive groves and vineyards to fishing harbors and mountain pastures, the country’s terrain shape its diverse culinary identity.
Golden Landscapes of Taste
In Jaén (Andalusia), a “sea of olive trees” produces some of the world’s finest olive oils. The UNESCO World Heritage towns of Úbeda and Baeza are gateways to this golden treasure, offering visits to the Olive and Olive Oil Visitor Centre, tastings in tapas bars, and dishes like andrajos and ochío (olive-oil bread).
Extremadura also invites you to savor its olive oil heritage, with tastings and experiences in the historic city of Cáceres.
Small Bites, Big Stories
In the Basque Country, pintxos — small, elaborate bites — are a way of life. Pair them with txakoli, a crisp local white wine, as you hop from bar to bar in Bilbao’s Casco Viejo or San Sebastián’s old town.
For a blend of sea and vineyard, the Wine & Fish Route takes you from coastal fishing villages to inland wineries, combining cultural heritage with gastronomy.
Where the Sea Shapes the Table
Galicia offers immersive seafood experiences: fish for and cook your catch, watch percebeiros (goose-barnacle harvesters), join shellfish-gathering workshops on O Grove, or attend a fish auction in Finisterre.
Across the coast, picturesque fishing villages like Cantabria’s Noja, Galicia’s Muros, and Andalusia’s Conil de la Frontera serve fresh dishes tied to centuries-old maritime traditions.
Asturias: Flavor and Cider
Asturias offers a cuisine that blends sea and mountain in perfect harmony: fabada (bean stew), seafood, game, and over 40 artisanal cheeses such as Cabrales and Afuega’l Pitu. Cider, the region’s signature drink, has held Protected Designation of Origin status since 2002, and its culture — including the ritual of pouring from a height — was recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Mediterranean Flavors of Spain
The Mediterranean diet, a part of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, encompasses traditions from cultivation and fishing to cooking and sharing meals, reflecting community, hospitality, and respect for land and sea. In Spain, you can savor it along the Mediterranean coast — in markets like Barcelona’s La Boqueria or Valencia’s Central Market, at seaside terraces in Altea, or in charming fishing ports in the Balearic Islands—where every setting offers a taste of heritage.
Spain’s flavors are as diverse as its landscapes, and each bite tells a story of tradition and passion. Come taste it for yourself, and let every region surprise you. Find your inspiration and taste Spain!
