Culture & History - Discovering Spain
Parador Córdoba - Parador Granada - Parador Nerja - Spain - Spanish art - spanish culture
Spanish guitar: the story of an emblematic musical instrument
Thursday, 29 October, 2015
Paradores
Parador de Córdoba
Parador de Granada
Parador de Nerja
The guitar, the classic guitar, also known as the Spanish guitar, has become a symbol of Spanish culture. The origins of the
guitar are quite vague. From Paradores, we want to introduce you to this magical musical instrument that represents somehow
our country, Spain, our music and our musical spirit. Shall we get to know a bit more about it?
The creation of the Spanish guitar is the consequence of the mixture of societies and cultures between HispanicChristians and Hispanic-Muslims around the Mediterranean region in the XIV century.
The vihuela, the Moresque guitar as well as the Greek Kithara are said to be the predecessors that finally
originated the Spanish guitar as it is.
In the XVII century, it became a really famous and renowned instrument all over Europe. It experienced several
improvements on the design, the materials, and the technique, which developed the sound and musical style
into a more refined one.
The sixth string was added in the XVIII century and so it became what we know now as a guitar, in shape and
sound. Before, it just had 5 strings.
The XIX century was the period of most development of the Spanish guitar because of the Industrial Revolution
and the advances in society, international relationships and means of transport, which let the guitar and its music to
spread abroad.
The maturing period of the Spanish guitar came in the XX century and so it got consolidated as the musical
instrument it is nowadays, as well as a symbol of Spain, Spanish music and Spanish culture.
In some of our Paradores, you can delight in Flamenco shows from time to time. Especially in the south of Spain, from
where the Spanish guitar is quite representative like in the regions of Extremadura, Andalucía and Murcia. Those ones offering
these shows occasionally are the Parador de Nerja, the Parador de Granada or the Parador de Córdoba. Both of them belong to
a region where the Spanish guitar and Flamenco music is considered a symbol of the culture there. Who does not want to
enjoy an authentic Spanish guitar show, where strength, passion, culture and music join together?