Wanderlust: a term that means an impulse to wander or travel.
It is undeniable that nowadays, many people want to travel and explore the world. I was given a chance back then. It was amazing. It was unforgettable. It was another world view. I was in another place- now, a space with meaning.
Maps tell a story. But, in this case, these maps are part of a wider story, a story of being in a foreign land for six months. These were the maps I’ve collected and used for the six months of mobility program while in Southern Europe. These maps are part of my story. When I was in Oviedo, Spain last semester for the exchange program, I managed to tour many cities in Spain, Portugal, and Italy. Before I started wandering around, I intentionally go (went) to the tourist office/center and asked for a free map and asked (for) some tips for my itinerary. Some were given by the hostels and AirBnB hosts where I stayed in, and a few comes (came) from tour agencies and food establishments. A few were from landmarks that I’ve visited. I have done (did) this to (in) the majority of the cities that I’ve visited there and every time I saw these maps, a certain feeling or emotion or memory came up (most probably because of the process of placemaking- evoking a sense of place).
Creating and distributing tourism maps was a praiseworthy practice for local city governments to do so. This was to recognize tourism as an invaluable (and sometimes the main) industry and for people to discover more of their city’s heritage and history. These maps show a glimpse of what their city has to offer for visitors and to promote their local attractions and destinations, either for commercial or tourism purposes. These are also helpful in highlighting available facilities and things to see and do in the area.
It is undeniable that nowadays, many people want to travel and explore the world. I was given a chance back then. It was amazing. It was unforgettable. It was another world view. I was in another place- now, a space with meaning.
Maps tell a story. But, in this case, these maps are part of a wider story, a story of being in a foreign land for six months. These were the maps I’ve collected and used for the six months of mobility program while in Southern Europe. These maps are part of my story. When I was in Oviedo, Spain last semester for the exchange program, I managed to tour many cities in Spain, Portugal, and Italy. Before I started wandering around, I intentionally go (went) to the tourist office/center and asked for a free map and asked (for) some tips for my itinerary. Some were given by the hostels and AirBnB hosts where I stayed in, and a few comes (came) from tour agencies and food establishments. A few were from landmarks that I’ve visited. I have done (did) this to (in) the majority of the cities that I’ve visited there and every time I saw these maps, a certain feeling or emotion or memory came up (most probably because of the process of placemaking- evoking a sense of place).
Creating and distributing tourism maps was a praiseworthy practice for local city governments to do so. This was to recognize tourism as an invaluable (and sometimes the main) industry and for people to discover more of their city’s heritage and history. These maps show a glimpse of what their city has to offer for visitors and to promote their local attractions and destinations, either for commercial or tourism purposes. These are also helpful in highlighting available facilities and things to see and do in the area.
MAP #1: SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, GALICIA, SPAIN
“Santo Adalid, Patrón de las Españas,
Amigo del Señor;
defiende a tus discípulos queridos,
protege a tu nación.”
Santiago de Compostela is the end of the ways on which (the path where) pilgrims or peregrinos, through walking, by bicycle, or by horse-riding, give homage and veneration to the tomb of Santiago El Mayor, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ. This is El Camino de Santiago- the way of Saint James. Thousands and thousands of people from various walks of life, from different continents, participate. However, in the contemporary period, the Camino is not just for religious purposes anymore, some are doing this for leisure, recreation, tourism, and for personal reasons. This city was declared as Patrimonio de la Humanidad - a World Heritage Site. This city was visited by millions of tourists every year. So, there is a need for active tourist management and reception..
“El Sepulcro del Apóstol, meta de la Peregrinación Jacobea.”- The tomb of the Apostle, goal of the Jacobean Pilgrimage.
This city was very dear to me. This was my second favorite city in Spain after Sevilla. I have been here in Santiago de Compostela two times- first, when I ended the Camino after walking for 103 kilometers in the span of four days, and the second one was a week later, when I dropped by before I continued my travel to Porto, Portugal. I was struck by the old charm and uniqueness of this city even though it is relatively small. I was so struck to encounter the remains of the Apostle in the crypt at the Cathedral.
While I am on the Oficina Acogida del Peregrino to get my Compostela or certificate of completion of the Camino, I dropped by the Galician Tourist Office there and asked for inquiries, instead, they gave me a book entitled “Places associated with St. James in Compostela and the surrounding area”. It is produced by Turismo de Galicia of the Xunta de Galicia. Inside, there is a map of Santiago de Compostela.
It is worth noting that there are limited map elements here such as the title, place and street names, landmarks, distances, and the legend. The information provided on the left side highlights the necessary information that the tourist should know for sight-seeing, such as the primary landmarks, the locations of the information center, and of course, the International Pilgrim Reception Center (and its contact details). Moreover, symbols marking main attractions make easier for tourists to roam around and sightsee. In addition, there was no scale (because I don’t think it is needed because the city is small), annotation (because the annotation is in the introductory part of the book), and north arrow (because it is not needed here anymore because the map was convened to the north, and I learned here that people are using the tower of the Cathedral in Praza Obradoiro for direction). However, this might be confusing for some tourists, so, in my opinion, there should be a north arrow.
The color scheme was chosen accordingly. It uses silver/gray to denote areas with buildings and infrastructures (whereas there are grayer areas to distinguish the division of buildings), white for roads, and light green for green or open areas. Dark red is used for the numbering of the landmarks with its white text. When it comes to the names of the streets and some landmarks, the font of text is clear and legible and it doesn’t obstruct the other elements of the map. Other notable landmarks that are not included in the map because if it is included in the map, the data frame will require much more area and may shrink the highlighted area. Therefore, because of its simplicity and clarity, this map was easy to understand. It is elegant, professional, and readable.
Interestingly, the yellow arrow beside the title is the primary symbol of the city alongside the scallop shell- the direction to the city of Compostela, as this was the marker on the directions along the Camino.
Because this was part of a book, the map is not a stand-alone, therefore, it was a very handy tool in exploring, discovering, and appreciating the city more through its history since it was also translated to other languages such as English (in this case), Spanish, Italian, German, and of course, Gallego, the language of the region of Galicia. However, the language used in the data frame of the map is Gallego, because, as I have observed, the street and landmarks signs in the city are written in this language.
There is also a provincial map which provides the cities around Santiago de Compostela which includes other places of interest related to Santiago. The boundaries of cities are in white, the main red de carreteras or expressways are in blue, red and purple to distinguish it from each other. The city names are are labelled in white to differentiate it with the small towns, which are black in text.
“Santo Adalid, Patrón de las Españas,
Amigo del Señor;
defiende a tus discípulos queridos,
protege a tu nación.”
- Himno al Apóstol Santiago
Santiago de Compostela is the end of the ways on which (the path where) pilgrims or peregrinos, through walking, by bicycle, or by horse-riding, give homage and veneration to the tomb of Santiago El Mayor, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ. This is El Camino de Santiago- the way of Saint James. Thousands and thousands of people from various walks of life, from different continents, participate. However, in the contemporary period, the Camino is not just for religious purposes anymore, some are doing this for leisure, recreation, tourism, and for personal reasons. This city was declared as Patrimonio de la Humanidad - a World Heritage Site. This city was visited by millions of tourists every year. So, there is a need for active tourist management and reception..
“El Sepulcro del Apóstol, meta de la Peregrinación Jacobea.”- The tomb of the Apostle, goal of the Jacobean Pilgrimage.
This city was very dear to me. This was my second favorite city in Spain after Sevilla. I have been here in Santiago de Compostela two times- first, when I ended the Camino after walking for 103 kilometers in the span of four days, and the second one was a week later, when I dropped by before I continued my travel to Porto, Portugal. I was struck by the old charm and uniqueness of this city even though it is relatively small. I was so struck to encounter the remains of the Apostle in the crypt at the Cathedral.
While I am on the Oficina Acogida del Peregrino to get my Compostela or certificate of completion of the Camino, I dropped by the Galician Tourist Office there and asked for inquiries, instead, they gave me a book entitled “Places associated with St. James in Compostela and the surrounding area”. It is produced by Turismo de Galicia of the Xunta de Galicia. Inside, there is a map of Santiago de Compostela.
It is worth noting that there are limited map elements here such as the title, place and street names, landmarks, distances, and the legend. The information provided on the left side highlights the necessary information that the tourist should know for sight-seeing, such as the primary landmarks, the locations of the information center, and of course, the International Pilgrim Reception Center (and its contact details). Moreover, symbols marking main attractions make easier for tourists to roam around and sightsee. In addition, there was no scale (because I don’t think it is needed because the city is small), annotation (because the annotation is in the introductory part of the book), and north arrow (because it is not needed here anymore because the map was convened to the north, and I learned here that people are using the tower of the Cathedral in Praza Obradoiro for direction). However, this might be confusing for some tourists, so, in my opinion, there should be a north arrow.
The color scheme was chosen accordingly. It uses silver/gray to denote areas with buildings and infrastructures (whereas there are grayer areas to distinguish the division of buildings), white for roads, and light green for green or open areas. Dark red is used for the numbering of the landmarks with its white text. When it comes to the names of the streets and some landmarks, the font of text is clear and legible and it doesn’t obstruct the other elements of the map. Other notable landmarks that are not included in the map because if it is included in the map, the data frame will require much more area and may shrink the highlighted area. Therefore, because of its simplicity and clarity, this map was easy to understand. It is elegant, professional, and readable.
Interestingly, the yellow arrow beside the title is the primary symbol of the city alongside the scallop shell- the direction to the city of Compostela, as this was the marker on the directions along the Camino.
Because this was part of a book, the map is not a stand-alone, therefore, it was a very handy tool in exploring, discovering, and appreciating the city more through its history since it was also translated to other languages such as English (in this case), Spanish, Italian, German, and of course, Gallego, the language of the region of Galicia. However, the language used in the data frame of the map is Gallego, because, as I have observed, the street and landmarks signs in the city are written in this language.
There is also a provincial map which provides the cities around Santiago de Compostela which includes other places of interest related to Santiago. The boundaries of cities are in white, the main red de carreteras or expressways are in blue, red and purple to distinguish it from each other. The city names are are labelled in white to differentiate it with the small towns, which are black in text.
MAP #2: PORTO, PORTUGAL
Porto is the second-largest city in Portugal after the capital Lisboa and one of the major urban areas of the Iberian Peninsula. This city is one of the oldest European centers. "Portugal" originated in the name of this city that means port, based on transliteration and oral evolution from Latin.
Porto has a totally different feels and charm than the other cities I’ve visited because of its “faded grandeur,” especially in the Old Town, near Rio Douro. Its picturesque historic center was proclaimed a World Heritage Site.
Because of being The Best European Destination, as declared by the Best European Destinations Agency in 2014 and 2017, the city has great initiatives for tourists, such as a good tourist center, free wi-fi, free informational materials, and of course a Free Official Tourism Map, which is a multi-lingual map of four languages namely Portuguese, English, Spanish, and Italian. This makes it understandable for the varying nationality of tourists. The map was published and updated very recently by the Porto and North Portugal Tourism Board last April 2018.
The (main) map has essential elements: it has a title, scale, north arrow, grid, legend, logos, graphics, and copyright information. and annotations. It also has additional information for helping tourists beyond this map such as the QR code for mobile applications, contact numbers, and advertisements. Another, the locations and contacts of hotels and accomodations are indicated above. Even though the map maximized the space for all necessary information, it is not highly convoluted. It also has an index of streets and where to find them based on the grid.
The annotation has an insightful disclaimer: that the information here might change without previous notice. The landmarks have its own pictures and symbol, and for some, it has the drawing or the of the landmark or attraction itself. In addition, the landmarks were clustered into areas (with a green sign).
It has a hierarchy of texts. Main streets have larger texts while smaller streets have smaller size. The text size for the attractions depends on the amount of texts and legend/symbol around it. The labels for rivers and some streets are in slant in the direction of the river’s flow or the streer’s plan.
For the color scheme, there are varying colors of water: in Rio Douro it is light blue, the Atlantic Ocean is in darker hue of blue, and the beach is in white . This may be chosen to distinguish the depth. For the streets and the land, light brown was used for urban areas, cream was used for other areas outside the city, green was used for green areas, and dark brown was used for the beach.
It may be worth mentioning that there are 5 maps that exist here: (1) whole city map, (2)enlarged map of the Historical Center , which has an inset map of (3) Porto Wine Cellars, (4) Map of the Porto Metro Network, and (5) Map of Portugal with its main expressways. This is good, because it helps to lessen the overloading of information presented in the map. In the map of the Porto Historical Center, the outline of the buildings were already included and it also includes the actual photos of the main landmarks.
This map was praiseworthy. In my opinion, this map provides all the necessary information that a tourist needs. For me, everything was here. I used this map when my cellphone was dead, it helped me to get to my AirBnB through the street index. This also helped me through direction and planning on where to go around. It also has good graphics and aesthetic.
I explored Porto through this map without the use of my mobile phone. Through this, I tried their famous Francesinha. I drank Port wine, which has 20% volume of alcohol, in the cellars. I enjoyed solo travelling through this map. Now, when I see this, happy memories are evoked.
Porto is the second-largest city in Portugal after the capital Lisboa and one of the major urban areas of the Iberian Peninsula. This city is one of the oldest European centers. "Portugal" originated in the name of this city that means port, based on transliteration and oral evolution from Latin.
Porto has a totally different feels and charm than the other cities I’ve visited because of its “faded grandeur,” especially in the Old Town, near Rio Douro. Its picturesque historic center was proclaimed a World Heritage Site.
Because of being The Best European Destination, as declared by the Best European Destinations Agency in 2014 and 2017, the city has great initiatives for tourists, such as a good tourist center, free wi-fi, free informational materials, and of course a Free Official Tourism Map, which is a multi-lingual map of four languages namely Portuguese, English, Spanish, and Italian. This makes it understandable for the varying nationality of tourists. The map was published and updated very recently by the Porto and North Portugal Tourism Board last April 2018.
The (main) map has essential elements: it has a title, scale, north arrow, grid, legend, logos, graphics, and copyright information. and annotations. It also has additional information for helping tourists beyond this map such as the QR code for mobile applications, contact numbers, and advertisements. Another, the locations and contacts of hotels and accomodations are indicated above. Even though the map maximized the space for all necessary information, it is not highly convoluted. It also has an index of streets and where to find them based on the grid.
The annotation has an insightful disclaimer: that the information here might change without previous notice. The landmarks have its own pictures and symbol, and for some, it has the drawing or the of the landmark or attraction itself. In addition, the landmarks were clustered into areas (with a green sign).
It has a hierarchy of texts. Main streets have larger texts while smaller streets have smaller size. The text size for the attractions depends on the amount of texts and legend/symbol around it. The labels for rivers and some streets are in slant in the direction of the river’s flow or the streer’s plan.
For the color scheme, there are varying colors of water: in Rio Douro it is light blue, the Atlantic Ocean is in darker hue of blue, and the beach is in white . This may be chosen to distinguish the depth. For the streets and the land, light brown was used for urban areas, cream was used for other areas outside the city, green was used for green areas, and dark brown was used for the beach.
It may be worth mentioning that there are 5 maps that exist here: (1) whole city map, (2)enlarged map of the Historical Center , which has an inset map of (3) Porto Wine Cellars, (4) Map of the Porto Metro Network, and (5) Map of Portugal with its main expressways. This is good, because it helps to lessen the overloading of information presented in the map. In the map of the Porto Historical Center, the outline of the buildings were already included and it also includes the actual photos of the main landmarks.
This map was praiseworthy. In my opinion, this map provides all the necessary information that a tourist needs. For me, everything was here. I used this map when my cellphone was dead, it helped me to get to my AirBnB through the street index. This also helped me through direction and planning on where to go around. It also has good graphics and aesthetic.
I explored Porto through this map without the use of my mobile phone. Through this, I tried their famous Francesinha. I drank Port wine, which has 20% volume of alcohol, in the cellars. I enjoyed solo travelling through this map. Now, when I see this, happy memories are evoked.
MAP #3: MADRID, SPAIN
“Madrid is enjoyed most from the ground, exploring your way through its narrow streets that always lead to some intriguing park, market, tapas bar or street performer. Each night we'd leave our hotel to begin a new adventure in Madrid and nine out of 10 times, we'd walk through the Plaza Mayor.”
Finalmente, la ciudad de Madrid!
Madrid is the capital of Spain, is a city of elegant boulevards and expansive, manicured parks. It is largest city in Spain, and the third in the whole European Union. Madrid is also the political, economic and cultural center of Spain. It has preserved the look and feel of many of its historic neighbourhoods and streets, even though modern infrastructures have been built there.
I have been in Madrid for five times. It has a charm that reminds me of home, it reminds me of Manila, it reminds me of Intramuros. Every time I was there, there was a huge influx of tourists. Madrid is the most visited city of Spain. There are various tourist information booths around the city which caters inquiries and of course, giving supplementary tour materials such as maps. This free map of the Madrid City Centre was commissioned by the Consorcio Regional de Transportes de Madrid last May of 2016.
This map has the following elements: the title, the legend, the scale, the publisher, the labels, and streets and buildings, as well as logos, copyright, and legal deposit. At first, I was stunned by the overload of information given in the map, but later it changed when I further analyzed it. In the data frame, various layers of information are given: landmarks, metro stations, Cercanias railway stations, bus lines, so on and so forth.
However, after carefully analysing the map, I have questions to ask: (1) in the legend, how did they computed that for every 225 meters, it was a 3.30 minutes of walking? (2) In the legend, why there is a difference in the color between the “essential place” and “another interesting places”? What is there criteria for that? (3) What is the criteria for saying that this area is the city center? I know that Madrid is a very large city, but where does the center starts and ends? Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid’s home stadium, is in the center, but is not even included here even though it is visited by hordes of tourists every single day especially when there is a match.
This map was confusing for some because it has various layers of information. It requires further analysis. Maps for the general public, in this case tourists, should be simple, aesthetic, and carefully explained using legends and supporting text. The labels of the street names exceeds the area of the street itself because it may overlap with other feature.. They should have used smaller but legible font. The names of the essential landmarks are in bold letters. Also, for the names of districts, they used peach as the color of the font. They should have used another color. The labels for waterways such as Rio Manzanares are in blue complementary to the color of the water. Metro Stations are in dark blue and parks in green labels. In addition version, the green areas are in green, the river and waterways are in blue, the landmarks in light and dark brown, and the other infrastructures in grey. Furthermore, they should improve and devise a systematic color scheme.
It is a praiseworthy act that the map is both in Spanish and English, so that more tourists will understand the map. In this map, it is very interesting to note that because Sol is considered as the center of Madrid, they placed it in the center. However, it is not clear where the north is. So, a north arrow might be helpful and should be placed even though the map is convened to the north.
At the back, there are various information regarding transportation around the city and its suburbs. In the center, there is a map of the network of the Metro, Light Rail, and Suburban Rail of Madrid, which is very helpful because Madrid has a good and efficient network of railways, and the general public uses that. It also has a list of the Public Transport and its corresponding hours, especially information on the transportation to and from the airport, because the airport is kilometers away from the center. Another, there is a tip on how to reach the museum and essential landmarks through public transportation. In addition, there is an explanation on the tourist tickets. Below, there are various contacts of the Tourist Offices as well as directions on how to go there. Interestingly, they included websites of the institutions mentioned here so that if there are further inquiries not included in the map, people will just browse it online.
So, in my opinion, overall, it is not a tourist map per se, it is the public transport map of Madrid! It focused more on the transportation aspect, because, in the end of the day, it was published by the transportation office of Madrid.
“Madrid is enjoyed most from the ground, exploring your way through its narrow streets that always lead to some intriguing park, market, tapas bar or street performer. Each night we'd leave our hotel to begin a new adventure in Madrid and nine out of 10 times, we'd walk through the Plaza Mayor.”
- Emilio Estevez
Finalmente, la ciudad de Madrid!
Madrid is the capital of Spain, is a city of elegant boulevards and expansive, manicured parks. It is largest city in Spain, and the third in the whole European Union. Madrid is also the political, economic and cultural center of Spain. It has preserved the look and feel of many of its historic neighbourhoods and streets, even though modern infrastructures have been built there.
I have been in Madrid for five times. It has a charm that reminds me of home, it reminds me of Manila, it reminds me of Intramuros. Every time I was there, there was a huge influx of tourists. Madrid is the most visited city of Spain. There are various tourist information booths around the city which caters inquiries and of course, giving supplementary tour materials such as maps. This free map of the Madrid City Centre was commissioned by the Consorcio Regional de Transportes de Madrid last May of 2016.
This map has the following elements: the title, the legend, the scale, the publisher, the labels, and streets and buildings, as well as logos, copyright, and legal deposit. At first, I was stunned by the overload of information given in the map, but later it changed when I further analyzed it. In the data frame, various layers of information are given: landmarks, metro stations, Cercanias railway stations, bus lines, so on and so forth.
However, after carefully analysing the map, I have questions to ask: (1) in the legend, how did they computed that for every 225 meters, it was a 3.30 minutes of walking? (2) In the legend, why there is a difference in the color between the “essential place” and “another interesting places”? What is there criteria for that? (3) What is the criteria for saying that this area is the city center? I know that Madrid is a very large city, but where does the center starts and ends? Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid’s home stadium, is in the center, but is not even included here even though it is visited by hordes of tourists every single day especially when there is a match.
This map was confusing for some because it has various layers of information. It requires further analysis. Maps for the general public, in this case tourists, should be simple, aesthetic, and carefully explained using legends and supporting text. The labels of the street names exceeds the area of the street itself because it may overlap with other feature.. They should have used smaller but legible font. The names of the essential landmarks are in bold letters. Also, for the names of districts, they used peach as the color of the font. They should have used another color. The labels for waterways such as Rio Manzanares are in blue complementary to the color of the water. Metro Stations are in dark blue and parks in green labels. In addition version, the green areas are in green, the river and waterways are in blue, the landmarks in light and dark brown, and the other infrastructures in grey. Furthermore, they should improve and devise a systematic color scheme.
It is a praiseworthy act that the map is both in Spanish and English, so that more tourists will understand the map. In this map, it is very interesting to note that because Sol is considered as the center of Madrid, they placed it in the center. However, it is not clear where the north is. So, a north arrow might be helpful and should be placed even though the map is convened to the north.
At the back, there are various information regarding transportation around the city and its suburbs. In the center, there is a map of the network of the Metro, Light Rail, and Suburban Rail of Madrid, which is very helpful because Madrid has a good and efficient network of railways, and the general public uses that. It also has a list of the Public Transport and its corresponding hours, especially information on the transportation to and from the airport, because the airport is kilometers away from the center. Another, there is a tip on how to reach the museum and essential landmarks through public transportation. In addition, there is an explanation on the tourist tickets. Below, there are various contacts of the Tourist Offices as well as directions on how to go there. Interestingly, they included websites of the institutions mentioned here so that if there are further inquiries not included in the map, people will just browse it online.
So, in my opinion, overall, it is not a tourist map per se, it is the public transport map of Madrid! It focused more on the transportation aspect, because, in the end of the day, it was published by the transportation office of Madrid.
MAP #4: BARCELONA, SPAIN
“Blaugrana al vent (Blue and maroon in the wind)
un crit valent (a valiant cry)
tenim un nom el sap tothom: (We have a name that everyone knows)
Barça, Barça, Baaarça!”
Barcelona, the second most famous and most populous city in Spain after Madrid, is the home of the Blaugrana, my favorite football team- Futbol Club (FC) Barcelona. I have so many fond memories of this city- from watching my first FC Barcelona match, touring and shopping in Camp Nou, lining up to enter Sagrada Familia, which is not free of charge, my first Sunday Mass in Catalan language, rushing to the airport before going back to Manila with two large luggages . Memories of yesterday!
When I was in Barcelona last April, the hostel where I was staying gave me a map, which is quite unconventional for a government-issued tourist map, because it is kind of hip. It is not the usual map where there are legend, scale, and other elements . It is an informal map! It is chic, and playful. This is really intended for backpackers and wanderlust travelers who are thirsty for adventure and discovery. Since backpackers and wanderlust travelers stay at hostels, hostels are giving them as a complimentary item for free. They are adapting to the tastes of their customers.
I asked the receptionist of our hostel in Spanish why the map was like that, she replied “Ve a ver por ti mismo,” which roughly translates “Go, and see for yourself.” And as a curious person and a person of adventure, I am in.
So, I used this map while wandering the streets of Barcelona, along with my friend Paiqah, which is also from UP Diliman. We used the recommended suggestions in the map. And the rest is history...
Fast forward, so what now? What’s in the map?
The map was produced by Sponge Life, who are conducting free tours to the networks of hostels in the city. According to their website, they hand picked local businesses in Barcelona so that the tourists can fully enjoy their holiday. It is delivered in an exciting and fun way that will allow them to really get everything they desire out of Barcelona. There are no computer bots or algorithms, just sound information from those who know. This map, and another version, was accessible online at their website.
So, what’s inside?
So, it’s a map filled with tips and suggestions as mini notes. As being said above, this are tips from the locals themselves. Who knows the city more than the locals? There are, of course map elements such as scale, labels, and graphics. It has no title because it is given that this is a map of Barcelona. When it comes to the scale, with a man walking and it is not a numerical scale but a “walking scale” that when you walked that distance, you have walked for five minutes. But how did they compute for that? There are also advertisements of the tours they are offering as well as bike rentals.
The city was divided into the districts which has a very colorful scheme. The area outside the city center are in grey. The map does not focus much on street names but rather on attractions and landmarks. However, they labeled the main streets and not the smaller ones. They used legible font for the street names and a “artsy” font for the tips. The descriptions of these landmarks and attractions are too “millennial” and “hip” with today’s style of the youth. The language use was to cater to the taste of the youth. The graphics of the landmarks are the sketches of the actual landmark which is useful so that it will be identified easily when you got there. Also, it is a good thing that they included the Metro Stations here because Barcelona is a big city with plenty of metro lines and people utilize it so much because it is efficient, has Wi-Fi, and charging ports, not to mention it is PWD friendly.
At the back portion of the map, there is a “zoomed” map of the Historic Center of Barcelona. It has the same elements as the “bigger” city map. However, here, it has very specific tips to businesses. Included at the map were tips and suggestions for gastronomy, nightlife, and sightseeing. It also has the map of the metro network which compliment the two other maps. It has an interactive part, where you may put your tips and send them to Sponge Life so that it may be included soon in the map, if that is reasonable.
However, there is a problem that may arise in here: are the tips here reliable?
The map was tastefully designed and layouted. Very clear of its objectives. It is simple to understand and the detail was so useful to discover what lies beneath the city. Perfect for tourists!
In the end, this map influenced my decisions on where to go around Barcelona, besides going to Camp Nou, which is my ultimate dream and reason of visiting the city.
Update:
Source: http://spongelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Nov-A3-Sponge-Life-Map-Final-Print-303-x-426.compressed.pdf
Now, in the latest version on the web, the division of districts have been removed.
“Blaugrana al vent (Blue and maroon in the wind)
un crit valent (a valiant cry)
tenim un nom el sap tothom: (We have a name that everyone knows)
Barça, Barça, Baaarça!”
- Cant del Barça
Barcelona, the second most famous and most populous city in Spain after Madrid, is the home of the Blaugrana, my favorite football team- Futbol Club (FC) Barcelona. I have so many fond memories of this city- from watching my first FC Barcelona match, touring and shopping in Camp Nou, lining up to enter Sagrada Familia, which is not free of charge, my first Sunday Mass in Catalan language, rushing to the airport before going back to Manila with two large luggages . Memories of yesterday!
When I was in Barcelona last April, the hostel where I was staying gave me a map, which is quite unconventional for a government-issued tourist map, because it is kind of hip. It is not the usual map where there are legend, scale, and other elements . It is an informal map! It is chic, and playful. This is really intended for backpackers and wanderlust travelers who are thirsty for adventure and discovery. Since backpackers and wanderlust travelers stay at hostels, hostels are giving them as a complimentary item for free. They are adapting to the tastes of their customers.
I asked the receptionist of our hostel in Spanish why the map was like that, she replied “Ve a ver por ti mismo,” which roughly translates “Go, and see for yourself.” And as a curious person and a person of adventure, I am in.
So, I used this map while wandering the streets of Barcelona, along with my friend Paiqah, which is also from UP Diliman. We used the recommended suggestions in the map. And the rest is history...
Fast forward, so what now? What’s in the map?
The map was produced by Sponge Life, who are conducting free tours to the networks of hostels in the city. According to their website, they hand picked local businesses in Barcelona so that the tourists can fully enjoy their holiday. It is delivered in an exciting and fun way that will allow them to really get everything they desire out of Barcelona. There are no computer bots or algorithms, just sound information from those who know. This map, and another version, was accessible online at their website.
So, what’s inside?
So, it’s a map filled with tips and suggestions as mini notes. As being said above, this are tips from the locals themselves. Who knows the city more than the locals? There are, of course map elements such as scale, labels, and graphics. It has no title because it is given that this is a map of Barcelona. When it comes to the scale, with a man walking and it is not a numerical scale but a “walking scale” that when you walked that distance, you have walked for five minutes. But how did they compute for that? There are also advertisements of the tours they are offering as well as bike rentals.
The city was divided into the districts which has a very colorful scheme. The area outside the city center are in grey. The map does not focus much on street names but rather on attractions and landmarks. However, they labeled the main streets and not the smaller ones. They used legible font for the street names and a “artsy” font for the tips. The descriptions of these landmarks and attractions are too “millennial” and “hip” with today’s style of the youth. The language use was to cater to the taste of the youth. The graphics of the landmarks are the sketches of the actual landmark which is useful so that it will be identified easily when you got there. Also, it is a good thing that they included the Metro Stations here because Barcelona is a big city with plenty of metro lines and people utilize it so much because it is efficient, has Wi-Fi, and charging ports, not to mention it is PWD friendly.
At the back portion of the map, there is a “zoomed” map of the Historic Center of Barcelona. It has the same elements as the “bigger” city map. However, here, it has very specific tips to businesses. Included at the map were tips and suggestions for gastronomy, nightlife, and sightseeing. It also has the map of the metro network which compliment the two other maps. It has an interactive part, where you may put your tips and send them to Sponge Life so that it may be included soon in the map, if that is reasonable.
However, there is a problem that may arise in here: are the tips here reliable?
The map was tastefully designed and layouted. Very clear of its objectives. It is simple to understand and the detail was so useful to discover what lies beneath the city. Perfect for tourists!
In the end, this map influenced my decisions on where to go around Barcelona, besides going to Camp Nou, which is my ultimate dream and reason of visiting the city.
Update:
Source: http://spongelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Nov-A3-Sponge-Life-Map-Final-Print-303-x-426.compressed.pdf
Now, in the latest version on the web, the division of districts have been removed.
MAP #5: FÁTIMA, PORTUGAL
Located between Lisbon and Porto, Fátima is a relatively small town within the city where one of the most important shrines of the world dedicated to the Virgin Mary was located . The Sanctuary of Fatima welcomes millions of pilgrims and tourists from all over the world. The fame of this city is the result of the Apparitions of Our Lady of the Rosary to three shepherd children on 1917.
Fátima is very close to my heart. It was my dream since I was a kid to go here and have a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary. Now it is being fulfilled. Special mention to my AirBnB host Joe Guerra, who, through his amazing hospitality, made me love Fátima even more. He gave me a paper map of Fátima and recommended me to download a mobile application called Fátima City Tour.
This application was commissioned by the Turismo Centro Portugal through Just In Time Tourist (JiTT). Map Data was from OpenStreetMap contributors. It was an interactive map.
This map is simple, aesthetically pleasing, and carefully explained using legends and supporting text. However, this application will only be accessible for to only those who have mobile phones with touch screen.
You may choose the time frame on how much time you will be there on the city.
This application have features to help users view and customize the map. This application works offline. Also, this app generates the tour based on the location and the available time for tour. It does not just tell the city’s stories through time, but it takes into consideration one’s available time because it will match available time and interests. There is an option to delete or add a particular landmark. You may also sort the landmarks alphabetically, its relevance or distance from own location.
Because it is already in an application, there is no need for a title. The map is convened to the north so there is no need for a north arrow. However, there is no scale present. In order to know the meaning of the symbol, you may just press it. The data sources, copyright, and legal deposit was included in the Credits section.
When it comes to the color scheme, they used orange for pin markers for landmarks, blir for public facilities such as banks and police station. The map itself resembles the “default” color in maps, light brown for the land, white for roads like in Google Maps. There are outline of buildings and infrastructures here, which are filled with light brown. There was also a visual hierarchy of labels: bigger texts for names of towns, and smaller ones for streets, which also curves/slants depending on the shape of the street. In order to see the name of the attraction, just click the pin.
As mentioned, this application will plan your route based on the available time. When the pin or number is clicked, the information regarding the landmark will appear including its history, description, address, opening hours, and contact details. You can also opt to enable public places to appear in the map. However, in my opinion, it will be better if the history will have an audio guide and the texts can be resized for people with poor eyesight. Overall, this application and its map is a very handy tool for pilgrims and tourists alike. It improves the visitors’ experience, as well as it provides information, maps and timetables for visitors. The tourists will have real time access to relevant information and can therefore rearrange or reorganize their travelling plans. Finally, this app can be improved through direct feedback from your the users as they reveal difficulties, ask questions or need information.
Located between Lisbon and Porto, Fátima is a relatively small town within the city where one of the most important shrines of the world dedicated to the Virgin Mary was located . The Sanctuary of Fatima welcomes millions of pilgrims and tourists from all over the world. The fame of this city is the result of the Apparitions of Our Lady of the Rosary to three shepherd children on 1917.
Fátima is very close to my heart. It was my dream since I was a kid to go here and have a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary. Now it is being fulfilled. Special mention to my AirBnB host Joe Guerra, who, through his amazing hospitality, made me love Fátima even more. He gave me a paper map of Fátima and recommended me to download a mobile application called Fátima City Tour.
This application was commissioned by the Turismo Centro Portugal through Just In Time Tourist (JiTT). Map Data was from OpenStreetMap contributors. It was an interactive map.
This map is simple, aesthetically pleasing, and carefully explained using legends and supporting text. However, this application will only be accessible for to only those who have mobile phones with touch screen.
You may choose the time frame on how much time you will be there on the city.
This application have features to help users view and customize the map. This application works offline. Also, this app generates the tour based on the location and the available time for tour. It does not just tell the city’s stories through time, but it takes into consideration one’s available time because it will match available time and interests. There is an option to delete or add a particular landmark. You may also sort the landmarks alphabetically, its relevance or distance from own location.
Because it is already in an application, there is no need for a title. The map is convened to the north so there is no need for a north arrow. However, there is no scale present. In order to know the meaning of the symbol, you may just press it. The data sources, copyright, and legal deposit was included in the Credits section.
When it comes to the color scheme, they used orange for pin markers for landmarks, blir for public facilities such as banks and police station. The map itself resembles the “default” color in maps, light brown for the land, white for roads like in Google Maps. There are outline of buildings and infrastructures here, which are filled with light brown. There was also a visual hierarchy of labels: bigger texts for names of towns, and smaller ones for streets, which also curves/slants depending on the shape of the street. In order to see the name of the attraction, just click the pin.
As mentioned, this application will plan your route based on the available time. When the pin or number is clicked, the information regarding the landmark will appear including its history, description, address, opening hours, and contact details. You can also opt to enable public places to appear in the map. However, in my opinion, it will be better if the history will have an audio guide and the texts can be resized for people with poor eyesight. Overall, this application and its map is a very handy tool for pilgrims and tourists alike. It improves the visitors’ experience, as well as it provides information, maps and timetables for visitors. The tourists will have real time access to relevant information and can therefore rearrange or reorganize their travelling plans. Finally, this app can be improved through direct feedback from your the users as they reveal difficulties, ask questions or need information.
MAP #6: PISA, ITALY
The City of Pisa, the home of the infamous Leaning Tower, is located in the Region of Tuscany. It is two hours from the City of Art, Florence. The City of Pisa is also known as the birthplace of Galileo Galilei.
As multitudes of tourists visit this small and quiet city every day, and take quirky poses with the leaning tower (like me!), there is a need for them to explore this city more because the only well-known parts of this city are located in the Piazza dei Miracoli. Tourists don’t visit these other attractions, just the Battistero, the Duomo, and the Torre Pendente, after which they head to the restaurants around it. Thus, maps are a solution! So, last July of 2018, because I came from Rome and was so tired after touring for days and after completing a four-hour bus ride to get there, I do did not want to search online about the different sights in this city because I was just passing through before going to Aeroporto Galileo Galilei of Pisa to go back to Spain. So, I just searched for the Tourist Office was and Alas! They had a free city map, of which I was pleased.
The map was published by the Tourist Office of the government of Comune di Pisa. The map and the design was by CreativikLab.com. However, it was not stated when the map was published. The map has the essential elements: title, data frame, legend logos, but no grid, north arrow, and annotations.
The color scheme chosen for the data frame was good because they used natural colors- grey for the areas with infrastructures (such as houses and buildings), green for open areas (with greeneries), and blue for waterways (in this case the river). The map was legible as it used a easily readable font style and size. Red was used in the other parts of the map because red is color of the emblem of the Commune. The color of the texts is in contrast with the background color: light colored texts for a dark background (i.e. red) and black texts for a lighter background.
What is interesting in the maps is the inclusion of the itinerary routes and the photos (inside pop-up pins) of the landmarks for a walking tour! It will surely help the tourists decide what attractions will they include in their trip, and what other attractions will they encounter along the way. The color of the routes are distinguishable enough, because in the lists on the both sides of the map, the color of the heading of the route corresponds to the color of the route. Listed there are the various landmarks that can be found inside the city. The texts inside the data frame are legible. The visual hierarchy and contrast of the elements are well-organized. The symbols used are easily to understand; the colors of these symbols also vary in color and symbolism. The legend is also in Italian and English, which is understandable for the majority of tourists who are coming to this city.
However, what I will suggest is that the numbering of the landmarks on the list of routes should start from 1 because it is confusing (as it starts at number 102).
Overall, I think, that as a tourist map, it will really guide the tourist in exploring the city. Someone can’t be confused because it is very clear, it is not convoluted. Also, the photos of the landmarks are already included. Other pertinent details such as the contact details of the Office of Tourism was also included. This map really helped me when I was in Pisa. It also had good aesthetics and design.
The City of Pisa, the home of the infamous Leaning Tower, is located in the Region of Tuscany. It is two hours from the City of Art, Florence. The City of Pisa is also known as the birthplace of Galileo Galilei.
As multitudes of tourists visit this small and quiet city every day, and take quirky poses with the leaning tower (like me!), there is a need for them to explore this city more because the only well-known parts of this city are located in the Piazza dei Miracoli. Tourists don’t visit these other attractions, just the Battistero, the Duomo, and the Torre Pendente, after which they head to the restaurants around it. Thus, maps are a solution! So, last July of 2018, because I came from Rome and was so tired after touring for days and after completing a four-hour bus ride to get there, I do did not want to search online about the different sights in this city because I was just passing through before going to Aeroporto Galileo Galilei of Pisa to go back to Spain. So, I just searched for the Tourist Office was and Alas! They had a free city map, of which I was pleased.
The map was published by the Tourist Office of the government of Comune di Pisa. The map and the design was by CreativikLab.com. However, it was not stated when the map was published. The map has the essential elements: title, data frame, legend logos, but no grid, north arrow, and annotations.
The color scheme chosen for the data frame was good because they used natural colors- grey for the areas with infrastructures (such as houses and buildings), green for open areas (with greeneries), and blue for waterways (in this case the river). The map was legible as it used a easily readable font style and size. Red was used in the other parts of the map because red is color of the emblem of the Commune. The color of the texts is in contrast with the background color: light colored texts for a dark background (i.e. red) and black texts for a lighter background.
What is interesting in the maps is the inclusion of the itinerary routes and the photos (inside pop-up pins) of the landmarks for a walking tour! It will surely help the tourists decide what attractions will they include in their trip, and what other attractions will they encounter along the way. The color of the routes are distinguishable enough, because in the lists on the both sides of the map, the color of the heading of the route corresponds to the color of the route. Listed there are the various landmarks that can be found inside the city. The texts inside the data frame are legible. The visual hierarchy and contrast of the elements are well-organized. The symbols used are easily to understand; the colors of these symbols also vary in color and symbolism. The legend is also in Italian and English, which is understandable for the majority of tourists who are coming to this city.
However, what I will suggest is that the numbering of the landmarks on the list of routes should start from 1 because it is confusing (as it starts at number 102).
Overall, I think, that as a tourist map, it will really guide the tourist in exploring the city. Someone can’t be confused because it is very clear, it is not convoluted. Also, the photos of the landmarks are already included. Other pertinent details such as the contact details of the Office of Tourism was also included. This map really helped me when I was in Pisa. It also had good aesthetics and design.
MAP #7: CÁCERES, ESPAÑA
I visited this little city in the early hours of Holy Thursday before heading to Seville for the famous Paschal Triduum and Holy Week Celebrations. The city of Caceres is the capital of the province of its namesake, in the region of Extremadura, near the border of Spain and Portugal. The charm of this city, especially the historic quarter (which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site), really struck me: the influence and remains of various cultures can be observed in the walled old town of Cáceres. The architecture is a mix of Roman, Islamic, Gothic and Renaissance styles. Religious buildings are also located intra muros such as churches, hermitages and convents. It is like a two-in one city: a medieval and a modern one. It is praiseworthy that they preserved the old city very well, especially its stone roads.
We arrived in Cáceres around 4 AM and everything was closed. The bus station was far from the old town. Along the way we dropped by to a local café and had breakfast. We continued our walk to the old town and we were surprised that it was very beautiful at night time! The chills are true about the “feels” of this quiet city. As customary in every European city I visited, the first thing to do in the morning was to go the tourism office to ask for the best itinerary as well as to request for a map, which they cheerfully gave.
The map was produced by the Ayuntamiento de Caceres at an unknown date. The Map has the following elements: title, data frame, logos, inset map (on the back), and additional information such as the list of attractions and hotels. It has no title because it is already assumed that the map is of the Ayuntamiento de Caceres.
My issue with this map is that there is no legend, one of the most important elements in a tourist map. The legend is important in explaining the data and symbols included in the layers of the map. It can confuse the user who might come to a different interpretation of the symbols.
The map used a natural color scheme: brown for the structures, green for open areas, blue for the waterways, light grey for the roads, dark gray for rotundas, and cream for the background. It is legible. However, the dashed lines used to highlight the Old Town must be highlighted more because the color used has the same hue as the surrounding colors. Only the main roads have labels.
At the back was an inset map of the Old Town and some of its surrounding landmarks. The illustrations of some landmarks are also depicted as markers. However, I would suggest that the color scheme be changed because the dark part is more observable and eye-catching than the Old Town, which is the focus of this map. . In addition, tourists will have a hard time seeing what landmarks correspond to the number because it is on the opposite side of the map. I suggest that the list of landmarks be transferred beside the inset map.
I visited this little city in the early hours of Holy Thursday before heading to Seville for the famous Paschal Triduum and Holy Week Celebrations. The city of Caceres is the capital of the province of its namesake, in the region of Extremadura, near the border of Spain and Portugal. The charm of this city, especially the historic quarter (which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site), really struck me: the influence and remains of various cultures can be observed in the walled old town of Cáceres. The architecture is a mix of Roman, Islamic, Gothic and Renaissance styles. Religious buildings are also located intra muros such as churches, hermitages and convents. It is like a two-in one city: a medieval and a modern one. It is praiseworthy that they preserved the old city very well, especially its stone roads.
We arrived in Cáceres around 4 AM and everything was closed. The bus station was far from the old town. Along the way we dropped by to a local café and had breakfast. We continued our walk to the old town and we were surprised that it was very beautiful at night time! The chills are true about the “feels” of this quiet city. As customary in every European city I visited, the first thing to do in the morning was to go the tourism office to ask for the best itinerary as well as to request for a map, which they cheerfully gave.
The map was produced by the Ayuntamiento de Caceres at an unknown date. The Map has the following elements: title, data frame, logos, inset map (on the back), and additional information such as the list of attractions and hotels. It has no title because it is already assumed that the map is of the Ayuntamiento de Caceres.
My issue with this map is that there is no legend, one of the most important elements in a tourist map. The legend is important in explaining the data and symbols included in the layers of the map. It can confuse the user who might come to a different interpretation of the symbols.
The map used a natural color scheme: brown for the structures, green for open areas, blue for the waterways, light grey for the roads, dark gray for rotundas, and cream for the background. It is legible. However, the dashed lines used to highlight the Old Town must be highlighted more because the color used has the same hue as the surrounding colors. Only the main roads have labels.
At the back was an inset map of the Old Town and some of its surrounding landmarks. The illustrations of some landmarks are also depicted as markers. However, I would suggest that the color scheme be changed because the dark part is more observable and eye-catching than the Old Town, which is the focus of this map. . In addition, tourists will have a hard time seeing what landmarks correspond to the number because it is on the opposite side of the map. I suggest that the list of landmarks be transferred beside the inset map.
MAP #8: SEVILLA, ESPAÑA
My favorite city in the whole of Spain: Sevilla! The city is the capital and the largest city in the Region of Andalusia in the southern part of Spain. In this city, Ferdinand Magellan departed for the expedition to explore a westward route to Asia, which concluded (without him) as the first circumnavigation of the Earth, and the “discovery” of the Philippines. In the Cathedral of this city, the remains of Christopher Columbus are interred.
This beautiful city is filled with things to do: from kayaking in the river, exploring various old structures and buildings, flamenco shows, and a lot more! My favorite? Boat rides in the Plaza de España, in which I was filled with awe because of its beauty and grandeur!
I visited the city twice: first on March during Jueves and Viernes Santo with Paiqah, my fellow UP exchange student. Seville is known for its celebrations of the Semana Santa and the long processions, particularly on the large-sized statues of the Passion. Sevillanos are fond of the El Cachorro, La Macarena, Gran Poder, Esperanza de Triana, to name a few statues. The next instance was on May, now with my friends from Turkey and Italy.
I have a map of the city which was given to me by our AirBnb host during the Holy Week. The map was produced by the Consejeria de Turismo y Deporte of the Junta de Andalucia. It was published September of 2016.
The map has the necessary elements: Title, Legend, Grid, North Arrow, Inset Map, Scale, and the Copyright.
The color scheme used for the data frame of the map used natural colors - cream for the areas with infrastructures, green for open areas and parks, and blue for water bodies, white for the roads, and cream or the background. The texts are clear and readable. Bigger font size means that these roads are bigger than the others. The color of the texts is in contrast with the background color. Labels of the division of the city is in maroon, roads in black, parks, open areas in green, and the grid in blue. The landmarks are indicated with encircled numbers, which, in my opinion, should have a different color because it has the same color with the outline of the buildings.
The map is legible and very organized through its visual hierarchy and the elements’ contrasting colors. The symbols used are easy to understand; the colors of these symbols also vary in color and symbolism. The layout is well-thought. The inset map in the left-hand corner shows the access to the city, which is through various expression passing through the big radial road that surrounds it..
At the back, there is various information regarding the history, geography, landmarks, culture, festivals and gastronomy. It gives an impression of what to expect in this city. In the landmarks section, numbers are indicated in some parts of the text pertaining to names of landmarks (in maroon) which alludes to the big map. Various photos of the famous landmarks are included. The map is also available in other languages.
This map was praiseworthy. The map used recycled paper(as indicated in the contact information part), which is eco-friendly! For me, this map provides all the necessary information that a tourist needs, from history, the landmarks, pertinent contact details. I used this map when my cellphone was dead during the procession in the night of Jueves Santo. It helped me navigate the narrow streets of Seville to reach my AirBnB. This also helped me through direction and planning on where to go around. The map also has good graphics and design, and is aesthetically-pleasing!
Whenever I see this map, memories emerge. I love this city very much. I love the culture, the architecture, the people, the religiosity. My beloved Seville, I hope to see you soon!
My favorite city in the whole of Spain: Sevilla! The city is the capital and the largest city in the Region of Andalusia in the southern part of Spain. In this city, Ferdinand Magellan departed for the expedition to explore a westward route to Asia, which concluded (without him) as the first circumnavigation of the Earth, and the “discovery” of the Philippines. In the Cathedral of this city, the remains of Christopher Columbus are interred.
This beautiful city is filled with things to do: from kayaking in the river, exploring various old structures and buildings, flamenco shows, and a lot more! My favorite? Boat rides in the Plaza de España, in which I was filled with awe because of its beauty and grandeur!
I visited the city twice: first on March during Jueves and Viernes Santo with Paiqah, my fellow UP exchange student. Seville is known for its celebrations of the Semana Santa and the long processions, particularly on the large-sized statues of the Passion. Sevillanos are fond of the El Cachorro, La Macarena, Gran Poder, Esperanza de Triana, to name a few statues. The next instance was on May, now with my friends from Turkey and Italy.
I have a map of the city which was given to me by our AirBnb host during the Holy Week. The map was produced by the Consejeria de Turismo y Deporte of the Junta de Andalucia. It was published September of 2016.
The map has the necessary elements: Title, Legend, Grid, North Arrow, Inset Map, Scale, and the Copyright.
The color scheme used for the data frame of the map used natural colors - cream for the areas with infrastructures, green for open areas and parks, and blue for water bodies, white for the roads, and cream or the background. The texts are clear and readable. Bigger font size means that these roads are bigger than the others. The color of the texts is in contrast with the background color. Labels of the division of the city is in maroon, roads in black, parks, open areas in green, and the grid in blue. The landmarks are indicated with encircled numbers, which, in my opinion, should have a different color because it has the same color with the outline of the buildings.
The map is legible and very organized through its visual hierarchy and the elements’ contrasting colors. The symbols used are easy to understand; the colors of these symbols also vary in color and symbolism. The layout is well-thought. The inset map in the left-hand corner shows the access to the city, which is through various expression passing through the big radial road that surrounds it..
At the back, there is various information regarding the history, geography, landmarks, culture, festivals and gastronomy. It gives an impression of what to expect in this city. In the landmarks section, numbers are indicated in some parts of the text pertaining to names of landmarks (in maroon) which alludes to the big map. Various photos of the famous landmarks are included. The map is also available in other languages.
This map was praiseworthy. The map used recycled paper(as indicated in the contact information part), which is eco-friendly! For me, this map provides all the necessary information that a tourist needs, from history, the landmarks, pertinent contact details. I used this map when my cellphone was dead during the procession in the night of Jueves Santo. It helped me navigate the narrow streets of Seville to reach my AirBnB. This also helped me through direction and planning on where to go around. The map also has good graphics and design, and is aesthetically-pleasing!
Whenever I see this map, memories emerge. I love this city very much. I love the culture, the architecture, the people, the religiosity. My beloved Seville, I hope to see you soon!
MAP #9: VALLADOLID, SPAIN
Valladolid is the capital of the Castilla y León, one of the largest regions in Spain. The city has a significant historical-artistic heritage, and has one of the more important museums of sculptures in Europe. Trivia: one of the streets in this city is named Paseo de Filipinos, located outside the Campo Grande.
I obtained this map while my friends and I were touring the city quickly as we passed by to go to the airport to travel to Seville last May.
The map has the title, a well-defined legend, and a grid. It used a simple color scheme: light brown for the background, peach for the buildings, blue for the river, green for open areas and parks, black for the texts, and white for the roads. However, it used blue for the landmarks. Number indicating landmarks are in white, but is enclosed in a blue circle. They should have used another color for this because it is confusing and it does not highlight the landmarks.
At the back, there is a provincial map of Valladolid with its provinces in different colors. Various contact details of the tourist offices as well as of the attractions are indicated. There are also short descriptions of landmarks which are in Spanish, English, and French. In the front face, there are also two maps. There is a map of Europe where it highlights where Castilla y Leon is, and next is the whole region of Castilla y Leon where the province of Valladolid is. Therefore, there are four maps in this document.
The map is useful for tourists, especially that it provides the location, description, and the contacts of the attractions. Although modifications in the colors in some of the elements are suggested. Overall, it has a good lay-out, is legible, and is aesthetically-pleasing.
Valladolid is the capital of the Castilla y León, one of the largest regions in Spain. The city has a significant historical-artistic heritage, and has one of the more important museums of sculptures in Europe. Trivia: one of the streets in this city is named Paseo de Filipinos, located outside the Campo Grande.
I obtained this map while my friends and I were touring the city quickly as we passed by to go to the airport to travel to Seville last May.
The map has the title, a well-defined legend, and a grid. It used a simple color scheme: light brown for the background, peach for the buildings, blue for the river, green for open areas and parks, black for the texts, and white for the roads. However, it used blue for the landmarks. Number indicating landmarks are in white, but is enclosed in a blue circle. They should have used another color for this because it is confusing and it does not highlight the landmarks.
At the back, there is a provincial map of Valladolid with its provinces in different colors. Various contact details of the tourist offices as well as of the attractions are indicated. There are also short descriptions of landmarks which are in Spanish, English, and French. In the front face, there are also two maps. There is a map of Europe where it highlights where Castilla y Leon is, and next is the whole region of Castilla y Leon where the province of Valladolid is. Therefore, there are four maps in this document.
The map is useful for tourists, especially that it provides the location, description, and the contacts of the attractions. Although modifications in the colors in some of the elements are suggested. Overall, it has a good lay-out, is legible, and is aesthetically-pleasing.
MAP #10: STEREOTYPICAL MAP OF EUROPE
Source: http://www.itchyfeetcomic.com/2018/10/omnimappus-europeus.html#.XBb7xhMzZsM
The final map is entitled Omnimappus Europeus. It is a map created by Malachi Ray Rempen included in Itchy Feet: the travel and language comic. It is a stereotypical map of every city in Europe.
It exemplifies the majority of the major cities of Europe! I personally agree with it. It entails humor, it is funny, but at the same time it was informative. I was actually agreeing with it. I think the accuracy of this is reflected in the fact that everyone instantly thought of a European city. Personally, I immediately thought of Seville! The descriptions are so true! I thought of every European City I visited and if they correlate. I lived in Oviedo and it is true! This is the tourist map! This is a tourist-perceived map!
This is a perfect observation of European Cities. However, it only forgot one important detail. Many historic city centers are enclosed by a ring road (like the cities I visited i.e. Milan, Seville, Leon, Caceres, etc.) and depicted by some maps I featured. They were the replacement of the old city walls, which some exists until today. Love locks on Old City Bridges are forgotten. Industrial areas outside the city are forgotten. In addition, drug dealer parks are kind of “derogatory” for me as this is not true for all.
This is what European cities are like today because of various stages of the development of cities throughout the centuries. It became a “melting-pot” of various eras and influences. Areas have become identifiers of where people congregate, as well as the activity happening there.
The map has a good color scheme, even though it is a comic. It has good illustrations of example landmarks as well.
This map is like the summary of all the tourist maps from various European Cities I featured in this portfolio, but remember, it is stereotypical, it represents the entirety but sometimes the reality is different.
Source: http://www.itchyfeetcomic.com/2018/10/omnimappus-europeus.html#.XBb7xhMzZsM
The final map is entitled Omnimappus Europeus. It is a map created by Malachi Ray Rempen included in Itchy Feet: the travel and language comic. It is a stereotypical map of every city in Europe.
It exemplifies the majority of the major cities of Europe! I personally agree with it. It entails humor, it is funny, but at the same time it was informative. I was actually agreeing with it. I think the accuracy of this is reflected in the fact that everyone instantly thought of a European city. Personally, I immediately thought of Seville! The descriptions are so true! I thought of every European City I visited and if they correlate. I lived in Oviedo and it is true! This is the tourist map! This is a tourist-perceived map!
This is a perfect observation of European Cities. However, it only forgot one important detail. Many historic city centers are enclosed by a ring road (like the cities I visited i.e. Milan, Seville, Leon, Caceres, etc.) and depicted by some maps I featured. They were the replacement of the old city walls, which some exists until today. Love locks on Old City Bridges are forgotten. Industrial areas outside the city are forgotten. In addition, drug dealer parks are kind of “derogatory” for me as this is not true for all.
This is what European cities are like today because of various stages of the development of cities throughout the centuries. It became a “melting-pot” of various eras and influences. Areas have become identifiers of where people congregate, as well as the activity happening there.
The map has a good color scheme, even though it is a comic. It has good illustrations of example landmarks as well.
This map is like the summary of all the tourist maps from various European Cities I featured in this portfolio, but remember, it is stereotypical, it represents the entirety but sometimes the reality is different.