News
Elma Saiz interview: Spain’s open-border policies have helped its economy flourish – but there might be a catch
2+ hour, 45+ min ago (322+ words) With its open-borders policies, Spain is bucking the European trend " and the country's growth figures suggest that it's working. However, challenges remain as Elma Saiz, the minister responsible, is all too aware. "Let whoever needs to pay, pay," says Saiz,…...
Your new wine destination: Priorat's revival as a Catalonian cultural treasure
6+ hour, 32+ min ago (345+ words) Wine-lovers and ramblers alike are flocking to the wine region of Priorat " once home to Carthusian monasteries and now one of Spain's most celebrated vineyards. An hour from Tarragona, it has become a destination for visitors drawn by world-class wines,…...
New ideas in the old town: Santo Domingo, a vibrant city quietly gaining new ground
12+ hour, 49+ min ago (1255+ words) New ideas in the old town: Santo Domingo, a vibrant city quietly gaining new ground'Monocle Community meetings can easily devolve into neighbourhood cranks ranting about potholes. But when the setting is the interior courtyard of a lovingly restored 16th-century building…...
Spain 2026 forecast: You may not agree with Pedro Sánchez but his country continues to take a refreshing stance
1+ mon, 2+ week ago (273+ words) One of the things that I get to do as Monocle's Europe editor at large is compile a mental compendium... One of the things that I get to do as Monocle's Europe editor at large is compile a mental compendium…...
The Brazilian telenovela is travelling north for a big break with english-speaking streaming audiences
2+ mon, 1+ week ago (295+ words) Latin American soap operas are being reimagined for an American audience through a cross-border partnership between Globo and MFF & Co. Plus: Three classic telenovelas to watch this winter. The Brazilian telenovela " with its melodrama, suspense and hairspray " will keep a…...
Calonge: The Spanish village given a fairytale ending by bookshops
4+ mon, 4+ day ago (228+ words) Daily inbox intelligence from Monocle A bold idea, a "10,000 offer and hundreds of hopefuls. A once overlooked town near Barcelona sparked an unexpected cultural revival, and other towns are now watching closely. Today, Calonge is home to six bookshops, including…...
Will the Franco-German jet rift overshadow Europe’s rearmament push?
4+ mon, 4+ week ago (146+ words) We discuss the progress and friction of Europe's rearmament drive. As Germany opens its largest munitions plant, Merz and Macron meet in Toulon to rescue a stalled fighter jet project. President Trump issued symbolic pardons for close allies who aided…...
Charming, yes – but the Portugal-Galicia corridor is in need of a paint job
5+ mon, 1+ week ago (122+ words) Daily inbox intelligence from Monocle And before I head back south, a big gracias to Evelyn and David for lunch, a dip and allowing me to perch on their balcony to file this column. There's nothing like an 80th birthday, in…...
We took the long way to Lisbon and the wine made it all worthwhile
6+ mon, 2+ day ago (120+ words) Travelling to Z'rich or Lisbon? For everything that you need to know and everywhere that you need to go, consult our City Guides. First, an apology. For all of those who travelled from near and far for our Merano summer…...
The villages of Spain’s fast-emptying rural heartlands have plenty to teach us
6+ mon, 1+ week ago (683+ words) This week I've been travelling around Arag'n in northeastern Spain, visiting some of the people I wrote about in Monocle three years ago for a piece about the fight against rural depopulation. This ... This week I've been travelling around Arag'n…...