Cities of Spain

Spanish cities are places of elegance, vitality, romance, and power. In this exquisite book David Gilmour has chosen nine of them—Toledo, Cordoba, Santiago de Compostela, Seville, Salamanca, Cadiz, Barcelona, San Sebastian, and Madrid—and has captured their atmosphere and culture in handsome prose. The regions of Spain, Mr. Gilmour points out, have held to a stronger sense of identity than other parts of Europe. Spain's great cities reflect this aspiration toward autonomy and mirror the innumerable paradoxes of Spanish life. Because they have never known the domination of a major capital as in France or England, the roles of the cities have fluctuated with circumstances, each enjoying moments of supremacy. Drawing upon a thorough knowledge of Spanish history, Mr. Gilmour sets authentic scenes and offers enlightening glimpses into the Spanish character. Cities of Spain is not only a chronicle of the nation as seen through its cities; it also provides admirable background for travelers, real or armchair.