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Trips and
Cultural Activities
Co-curricular field trips:
Every
program that the Academic Language Institute offers includes at least one
weekend field trip per month. These trips have been designed to offer
students the opportunity to visit a city in Spain and combine enjoyment with
academic pursuit. Visits are planned to complement course work and expand
each student's knowledge of Spain's history, art, architecture, and
contemporary lifestyle. Below are a list of some of the cities visited each
year and a short list of the major sites to see. Most of these sites have
web pages that can be found using a search engine.
Barcelona: Parque Guël, Palau Cordorniu, La Sagrada Familia,
Monasterio de Pedralbes, Museo de la Historia de la Ciudad, Museo Picasso,
Museo Miró, Montjuic.
Madrid/Toledo: El Escorial, el Senado o Las Cortes (Spanish
Parliamentary buildings), El Palacio Real, Museo de las Descalzas Reales,
Museo del Prado, Museo Nacional de Arte Reina Sofía, Museo Thyssen, La Casa
del Greco, La Sinagoga del Tránsito, la Catedral de Toledo, La Iglesia de
Santo Tomé.
El Generalife, Granada
La Alhambra, Granada
Granada: Guadix, La Santa Fe, La Cartuja, La Capilla Real, la
Catedral, La Alhambra y el Generalife, el Albaycin.
Cuenca: Museo Diocesano, Museo de Arte
Abstracto, Las Casas Colgadas, la Catedral, Museo Catedralicio, Ciudad
Encantada.
Mallorca: Castillo Belver, la Catedral, Palau d'Almudeina, La
Seu, Museo Diocesano, Museo de Mallorca, los Baños Árabes, Basílica de San
Francisco, Valdemossa, Petra (birthplace of Fray Junípero Serra).
Salamanca: La Catedral Antigua, la Catedrál Nueva, Plaza Mayor,
La Casa de las Conchas (The House of Shells), Puente Romano, Universidad de
Salamanca, Archivo de India.
Sevilla: Museo de Bellas Artes, el Alcázar, la Catedral, Plaza
de España, Barrio Santa Cruz, Itálica.
The Camino de Santiago Walk
and Study Tour
This unique experiential learning course
was developed by Dr. Miguélez after his own first experience on the pilgrim
trail over 20 years ago. Hundreds of students and professors have
participated in the more than 40 groups that he has led on their treks along
the Camino. Participants learn about the history, art, music, religion,
architecture and urban development of northern Spain, challenge themselves
physically, have an unparalleled opportunity to commune with nature, and
reap the benefits of interacting with “pilgrims” from all over the
world. The Camino de Santiago Walk and Study Tour is a complete academic and
personal growth experience.
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The Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route runs from the Pyrenees to
the Cathedral of Saint James (Santiago) in the city of Santiago de
Compostela in the northeastern corner of the Iberian Peninsula.
Santiago has been the "Mecca" of Christians in Western Europe since
the 9th century, and for many centuries was considered one of
Christianity's three holy cities along with Rome and Jerusalem.
Millions of pilgrims have walked the trail over the centuries, and
evidence of their journeys can still be found along the way.
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Trip features and highlights:
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Orientation sessions in Alicante
prior to pilgrimage.
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Transportation from Alicante to the
origination point and from Santiago back to Alicante.
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5-7 days or walking along the
pilgrimage trail for a total of 100 - 125 kilometers
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Lodging in pilgrim shelters along
the Camino and sharing of communal meals
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Daily information sessions about
points of interest along the Camino
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2 days in Santiago to visit the
Cathedral and the city
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Pilgrim's passport
Participants must be able to walk 12-15
miles per day.
This course is accepted for credit at
several U.S. universities.
There is an extra fee to cover travel,
lodging and meals.
Cultural Activities and Local
Site Visits:
Site Visits:
Lucentum and La Illeta del Banyets. On-going
archaeological excavation sites with ruins from the Carthaginian and Roman
periods. Remains from the Arab and medieval Christian periods have also been
found within the perimeter of the dig site. These ruins constitute the
origins of what is today the metropolitan area of Alicante and date back to
the 2nd century B.C..
Museo de Bellas Artes (known as the MUBAG). An
extensive collection of mainly Spanish artists from the Renaissance to the
19th century.
Museo Arqueológico de Alicante (known as
the MARQ). A fascinating and very avant-garde approach to an archeological
museum with mixed technology exhibits that greatly enhance the visitor’s
understanding of several important moments in the development of the
province of Alicante. A highly interactive and instructional experience with
a wealth of artifacts from sites from throughout the province representing
the periods from pre-history to the 14th century.
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo (known as
MACA or the Casa de la Asegurada). Considered to be a small version
of the famous Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid because of its well selected
representation of works by major 20th century artists including Picasso,
Dalí, Miró, González, Chillida, Mompó, Millares, Braque, Calder and Tápies
to name but a few.
El Castillo de Santa Bárbara. Sitting high
upon a hill overlooking the harbor, the Castillo de Santa Barbara was
originally built by the Moors as a fortress and used to protect the city
throughout its 1000 years of existence. Today it is home to the CAPA
Collection of 20th century sculptures which are displayed throughout the
citadel, with works by Dalí, Alberto Sánchez, Comendador, Oteiza, among
others.
Monuments: La Iglesia Santa María and the Co-Catedral
de San Nicolás. Two of the most important early Christian
constructions from the 16th and 17th centuries. These churches house an
important collection of religious art from this period and have been
selected to host the La Luz de las Imágenes exhibit in the
near future.
El Ayuntamiento and Historic Quarter.
The City Hall building (el Ayuntamiento)
is one of the most important civic buildings from the Spanish Baroque
period. Directly behind the City Hall, we find the historical quarter, with
its Christian, Moorish and Jewish influences.
Ruta de los Castillos. An afternoon
excursion throughout the province to visit the chain of castles and
fortifications that marked the borders between different ruling factions.
Many of these castles are still in excellent condition and can be visited.
Sites visited include the castles in Villena, Sax, Novelda, Banyeres, and
Biar.
Palmeral de Elche. An
educational walk through one of the world’s largest palm groves and
botanical gardens recently designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This
field trip also includes a tour of the city of Elche, including a stop at
the Iglesia Santa María, home of the centuries old Misteri d’Elx, and
a visit to the Alcudia archeological dig, where the famous Dama de Elche
was found.
Fiestas and Popular Festivals:
Moros y Cristianos Festival. Recreations of
the Christian’s struggle to reconquer Spain from the Moors; local
renaissance festivals with parades, proclamations, and music. A visually
impressive event that is unique to this part of Spain.
Carnaval and the Entierro de la Sardina.
One of the oldest
  celebrations in Europe takes on
special characteristics in Alicante and southern Spain in general.
Celebrated the weekend before the beginning of Lent, it is Spain's version
of Mardi Gras. The Burial of the Sardine is a unique allegorical satire of
the battle between abstinence and indulgence.
Semana Santa. Holy
Week celebrations in Spain are famous throughout the world. The cities of
Alicante, Elche, Orihuela and Crevillente each offer a full week of
activities including processions, concerts, and theatre beginning on Palm
Sunday and continuing through to Easter Monday.
Las Hogueras de San Juan. Alicante's annual
festival celebrating St. John's Day on the 24th of June, commemorating
age-old traditions related to the summer solstice. Each district throughout
the city fills its plazas with "niñots" (papier mâché representations which
poke fun at current political and social issues) that are offered up in
flame at midnight on the 24th.
Cultural Festivals:
Festival of Contemporary Classical Music. An
annual festival featuring the work of the most innovative of contemporary
composers. Held in late September, early October.
Encuentro de Teatro Contemporáneo de Autor. First
time productions of original, experimental theatre written by the most
promising of young, Spanish dramatists. Held each year in late October and
early November.
Festival de Teatro Medieval. In
conjunction with the annual Fall production of the Misteri d'Elx, the city
of Elche offers a week of street theatre, morality plays and conferences and
symposia all dealing with Medieval and Renaissance drama.
The Miguel Hernández Commemorative Walk.
This three day walk from Orihuela, birthplace of one of Spain's most
important 20th century poets, to Alicante includes readings and reenactments
of his life and poetry. Held each year in late March on the anniversary of
his birth.
Romería de Santa Faz.
Alicante's signature celebration. Held each year on
the second Thursday after Easter Sunday, this popular walk from downtown
Alicante to the Santa Faz Monastery, approximately four miles outside of the
city proper, gives thousands of Alicante residents and visitors the
opportunity to spend a day of leisurely walking and friendly interaction
with other Alicantinos as they make their way to the church which is
believed to house the shroud of the Holy Face of Jesus.
El Mercado Medieval. A yearly recreation
of a typical medieval country fair which highlights the work of artisans
using methods and techniques that have endured over the centuries. Held
yearly in late June.
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