Every time he thinks about Jerez his face lights up and a thousand postcards from summers spent with grandparents, brothers and cousins come to mind. Also about the weddings that have taken place the Santiago farmhis refuge in the south, owned by his mother’s family. The most recent, that of his cousin Ana Cristina Portillo; the most present, yours with Adrián Saavedra, held in 2016. “We all had such a good time! Even today, many friends remind me of it,” he says with emotion. the artist and prescriber.
© Lulu FigueroaWhat Jerez means to Lulu Figueroa could be summed up in three words: family, nature and rest. “It is the place where I can be calm and disconnect, where I am in continuous contact with nature, which is what can inspire me the most,” acknowledges the painter, who, without going any further, pays tribute to the city with the exhibition that will open in November, in Madrid, which he has called A summer in Jerez and in which her sons, Ciro and Lucio, act as models, painted by their mother under the light of the Cadiz municipality.
© Lulu Figueroa
© Lulu Figueroa
© Getty Images
© Getty ImagesWith them and her husband she enjoys family plans – her favorites – in which a visit to ‘The city of childhood’a large free recreational park that qualifies as ‘incredible’; an immersion in the monumental complex of the Alcázar – “My children love to investigate and their father and I tell them stories” – or a stop along the way to refuel at Venta Esteban, the restaurant that never disappoints and that, in addition, catch close to home. As evening falls, the route continues along the alleys from the city to stop at the tabancos, old taverns where wine was sold in bulk and, today, obligatory stops to taste local food and enjoy a flamenco show live. “Going to the tabancos is the best plan, starting with El Pasaje and continuing through San Pablo, Las Cuadras…,” Lulu lists.
© Lulu Figueroa
© Lulu Figueroa
© Lulu Figueroa
© Lulu FigueroaAlthough summer makes you evoke memorable memoriesautumn is his favorite season: “The colors change and the countryside is beautiful. It is not so hot and you can visit the city more calmly. Furthermore, it is now possible to access the Dark Chamber of the Alcázar. It is located at the top of the Palace tower and consists of a system of lenses and a mirror through which you can observe the city in great detail. It’s quite an experience!”
© Lulu Figueroa“In autumn the colors change and the countryside is beautiful. It is not so hot and you can visit the city more calmly. “It’s my favorite time of the year.”
© Getty Images
© Getty ImagesTreat yourself
- Where to get lost: Monastery of the Cartuja and Alcázar.
- To eat: La Cruz Blanca (C/Consistorio, 16), typical Jerez cuisine; El Gallo Azul (C/Larga, 2), inspired by tabancos; El Bichero (Ctra. Caulina CA-3107), for fish and seafood; Venta Esteban (Colonia de Caulina C.11-03), spoon stews.
- Wine tasting: In the Fundador wineries (C/Puerta de Rota s/n), Tradición (C/Cordobeses, 3) and El Maestro Sierra (Pza. de Silos, 5).
- Flamenco live: It can be enjoyed at the El Pasaje tobacconist (C/Santa María, 8).
- In the surroundings: Arcos de la Frontera and Sanlúcar de Barrameda.