Andrew Ferren, Freelance Journalist Profile

Articles

Who cares if Madrid is landlocked? The maritime vibe is everywhere.

1 week ago | spokesman.com | Andrew Ferren

More than 450 years ago, King Philip II of Spain decreed Madrid – a somewhat sleepy mountain town in the middle of the Iberian Peninsula – the capital of his empire. Many historians consider it an odd decision for a ruler whose maritime empire extended across three oceans and five continents and was connected by the largest navy the world had ever seen. Not only is Madrid 220 miles from the nearest Spanish port in Valencia on the Mediterranean, but it’s also 2,000 feet above sea level.
La eterna fascinación de Madrid con el mar

2 weeks ago | infobae.com | Andrew Ferren |Gianfranco Tripodo

MuseumsArtTravel and VacationsSeafoodMonuments and Memorials (Structures)Palaces and CastlesMadrid (Spain)Oceans and SeasHace más de 450 años, el rey Felipe II de España decretó que Madrid --una ciudad montañosa algo adormilada en medio de la península ibérica-- sería la capital de su imperio.
A Guide to Madrid's Maritime Treasures

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Andrew Ferren |Gianfranco Tripodo

The capital of Spain may not be on the coast, but that doesn't keep it from celebrating its ties to the sea with museums, fountains, the occasional massive anchor and even the city's favorite sandwich. In Madrid, a galleon once floated in a reservoir that was part of King Philip IV's pleasure gardens. Now, the Estanque Grande (large pond), in Retiro Park, is a popular recreation spot for locals and visitors. Credit...
Who Cares If Madrid is Landlocked? The Maritime Vibe is Everywhere.

3 weeks ago | flipboard.com | Andrew Ferren

As Barcelona fights for its F1 race, how is the 2026 calendar shaping up? Next year's F1 race at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is set to be the last under the current deal as Madrid receives the Spanish GP Barcelona may …
A Savvy Travelers Guide to Italy’s Other Great Art City

4 weeks ago | wsj.com | Andrew Ferren

Think Naples is just a place to grab a ferry to Capri or gorge on pizza? Think again. This vibrant Mediterranean port has been a cultural mecca for millennia. | Photographs by Alexander Rotondo for WSJ Art-loving visitors to Italy tend to follow a well-trodden path through Rome and Florence. But during high season, lines at the Vatican and the Uffizi Galleries can be punishingly long. By the time you finally catch a glimpse of Caravaggio’s “Bacchus,” you might be in need of a drink yourself.
Groene oases, pinchos en paella: Valencia in 36 uur

2 months ago | demorgen.be | Andrew Ferren

De derde grootste stad van Spanje werd in 138 voor Christus gesticht door de Romeinen en stond lang vooral bekend als de geboorteplek van de paella. Maar daar zijn in het recente verleden nog wat titels bij gekomen. In 2022 was Valencia de Wereldhoofdstad van het Design, in 2024 de Europese Groene Hoofdstad vanwege zijn uitgebreide ruimtes met groen in de stad en zijn vele fiets- en voetgangerszones.
De beste paella, pinchos en zonovergoten stranden: Valencia heeft alles in huis voor een ontspannen weekendje weg

2 months ago | demorgen.be | Andrew Ferren

De derde grootste stad van Spanje werd in 138 voor Christus gesticht door de Romeinen en stond lang vooral bekend als de geboorteplek van de paella. Maar daar zijn in het recente verleden nog wat titels bij gekomen. In 2022 was Valencia de Wereldhoofdstad van het Design, in 2024 de Europese Groene Hoofdstad vanwege zijn uitgebreide ruimtes met groen in de stad en zijn vele fiets- en voetgangerszones.
36 hours in Valencia, Spain

Mar 17, 2025 | sanjuandailystar.com | Andrew Ferren

By ANDREW FERRENFounded by the Romans in 138 B.C. and long famous as the birthplace of paella, Spain’s third-largest city has recently garnered other titles – it was 2022’s World Design Capital and 2024’s European Green Capital for its vast swaths of urban green spaces and bike and pedestrian zones. In October, Valencia made international news for devastating floods, which spared the city but tore violently through neighboring towns and villages.
Things to Do and See

Mar 6, 2025 | nytimes.com | Andrew Ferren

Founded by the Romans in 138 B.C. and long famous as the birthplace of paella, Spain's third largest city has recently garnered other titles - it was 2022's World Design Capital and 2024's European Green Capital for its vast swaths of urban green spaces and bike and pedestrian zones. Last October Valencia made international news for devastating floods, which spared the city but tore violently through neighboring towns and villages.
How to navigate London’s vast, wondrous Victoria and Albert Museum

Nov 10, 2024 | sandiegouniontribune.com | Andrew Ferren

By Andrew FerrenFor The New York TimesEven for someone who loves getting lost in museums — especially “everything museums” like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York — London’s Victoria and Albert Museum might have been my Waterloo. The statistics are daunting: 5,000 years of artistic production with more than 60,000 works on view (from a collection of some 2.8 million) in about 150 galleries beneath 21 acres of roof.