Win Tickets to the Grand Opening Party!

After nine months of re-creating Café Sevilla at its new location, reconnecting with our staff and training new ones, and opening our doors to a sold-out weekend of sangria and tapas, we’re finally ready to let loose….and PARTY.


And we want you to party with us! Here’s another chance to win a PAIR OF TICKETS to our grand opening celebration on Wednesday, July 27. Take a scan through our latest blog posts and answer these three questions. We’ll pick a winner from all correct answers on Monday, July 25.

1. Jamón ibérico derives its unique taste from what food the pata negra pigs traditionally gorge on?

2. Manchego cheese is made with the milk of what animal?

3. Where did Flamenco dancing originate?

All Around Spain: Castile y Leon

Known as “the land of the castles,” Castile y Léon is the largest region of Spain, with a population of about 2.5 million. It is the home of much of Spain’s storied history and the land of origin of the pure Spanish language, Castilian.

Many of Spain’s myths and legends are interwoven with its history. The ancient kingdom of Castilla (or Castile) was first united with the neighboring kingdom of Léon in the early 11th century. Its name comes from the many castles built by the Christians as a defense against Moorish invaders in the 8th and 9th centuries. 



Together with the other Christian-ruled Iberian monarchies, the kingdoms of Castile and León participated in the Reconquista, the re-conquest of Spain from the Moors, its medieval Muslim rulers. The most famous champion of the Reconquista was El Cid el Campeador, born in Bivar near the city of Burgos, whose coffin lies in the city’s 13th-century cathedral.


More medieval castles can be found in Castile y Léon than anywhere else in Europe, including the Moorish fortress in Segovia that inspired Walt Disney’s design of Disneyland’s famous Sleeping Beauty castle. The legendary cities of Segovia, Salamanca, and Avila have been granted World Heritage Status, as has the Santiago Way, the famous pilgrim trail that crosses Castile y Léon on the way to Santiago de Compostela.


Visitors to Castile y Léon can find a wealth of historic sites to visit, from medieval villages to Gothic cathedrals and historic cities. Running through Segovia is one of the best-preserved aqueducts in the world, constructed by the Romans from 20,400 stones that have stood for more than 2,000 without a speck of mortar. Segovia’s Moorish Alcazar palace, built in the 12th and 13th centuries, has been replicated in 20th-century Disney cartoons and theme parks.


As for Salamanca, known as the “golden city” because of the sandstone used in the construction of many of its buildings both old and new, is home to Spain's oldest university, founded in 1218 by King Alfonso IX. Encircled by 11th-century walls punctuated with nine gates and more than 80 lookout towers, the fortified medieval town of Avila, the birthplace of Saint Teresa, is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the region.


Going even further back in history, the archaeological site at Atapuerta, near Burgos, is where the 800,000-year-old remains of some of Europe’s earliest inhabitants were discovered. Castile y Léon also boasts some of Spain's loveliest scenery, including dramatic mountain landscapes and protected nature reserves inhabited by the rare Iberian Lynx and brown bears.

The culinary tradition of Castilla y León includes hearty stews and soups, especially Sopa Castellana, a savory soup made with bread, ham, poached egg, and garlic. Another local specialty is Cecina de León, a centuries-old recipe for cured, dried, and smoked beef. Segovia is known for its wood-burning roasting ovens and the high quality and perfect preparation of its Lechazo (baby lamb) and Cochinillo (suckling pig), traditionally roasted until it can be cut with the edge of a plate.


Popular wines from Castile y Léon include Cigales, Bierzo and Ribera del Duero, Rueda, and Toro. As for desserts, there are many traditional recipes, originating in old monasteries and convents, like lazos de San Guillermo (bow-shaped pastries), yemas de Santa Teresa (a sweet made with egg yolk), toscas de la Virgen, bizcochos de San Lorenzo (sponge cakes), and virutas de San José (fritters).

Flamenco: the quintessential Spanish dance

No understanding of Spanish history and culture can be complete without an appreciation of Flamenco, the authentic live music and dance that has been part of the Spanish heart and identity for more than 500 years.

Flamenco is the passionate, sometimes melancholy music of the gypsies of Andalusía in Southern Spain, with the city of Sevilla at its heart. It is heavily influenced by the Moors of North Africa who ruled Spain for more than eight centuries. 

The origins of Flamenco are often a subject of debate because it has only been documented for the past two centuries. The word “Flamenco” did not come into use until the 18th century. Much of its history before this time comes from family stories passed down through the years, as are the Flamenco songs themselves. 

Historic photo of gypsy performers

One certainty about Flamenco is that it originated in Andalusia. From the 8th to the 15th centuries, when Spain was under Arab rule, the Moors’ music and musical instruments were modified and adapted by Spanish Christians and Jews, and later by gypsies, becoming in time a new, hybrid musical form. 

Flamenco’s roots can be found in gatherings around the campfire at night. With their guitars, drums, and castañets, gypsies would spontaneously break into a juerga, an impromptu outburst of guitarra (guitar playing), cante (song), and baile (dance), rhythmically snapping their fingers (pitos), clapping (palmas), and stamping their feet (zapateados). Over the years this evolved into a dance form with its own songs and traditions, including the women’s costumes of long, flared skirts and fringed shawls that accentuate every twirl. 

Between 1765 and 1860, the first Flamenco schools were formed in Cadiz, Jerez de la Frontera, and the Triana sector of Sevilla. The Golden Age of Flamenco (1869-1910) saw a flourishing of cafés cantantes (music cafés) where nightly performances saw dancers perfecting the different forms of Flamenco for enthusiastic audiences. The more serious songs and dances expressing cante jondo (deep feelings and emotion) date from this era. Dancers, guitar players, and singers featured in these cafés cantantes became internationally famous.

Gypsies and their art form suffered during the Spanish Civil War, and were one of the persecuted minorities during the Second World War. It wasn’t until the 1905s that a sort of Flamenco Renaissance was able to take shape. Outstanding dancers and soloists soon made their way out of the small tablaos, successors to the early cafés cantantes, to the great theatres and concert houses. 

Famed guitarist Paco de Lucia

Although mass media has brought Flamenco to the world stage, it has always been and will always remain an intimate kind of music. The relationship between dancer and guitarist makes Flamenco unique as a dance form. Contrary to most dance forms, it is the guitarist who follows the dancer’s prompts. Duende, the baring of one’s soul in all its frank emotion, is another crucial element of Flamenco. Passion, longing, and a deep pride are the feelings most frequently expressed through these dances and songs.

Modern Flamenco is a highly technical dance style requiring years of study. The emphasis for both male and female performers is on lightning-fast footwork performed with absolute precision. The dancers often use props such as castanets, shawls and fans.

Flamenco is currently enjoying an unprecedented popularity around the globe, with professional touring companies spreading the art form to every continent, and schools and studios in major cities worldwide. Students from all over the world travel to study with the best dancers and teachers in Sevilla, still the homeland of Flamenco.