Holiday Destinations - Spain

The uniqueness of Spain lies in the separate kingdoms which made up the original Spanish nation. These regions remain diverse in their language, culture, cuisine and art. They include: Andalucía, Aragon, Asturias, Basque Country, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Cantabria, Castilla La Mancha, Castilla León, Catalonia, Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra and Valencia.Excellent and quiet beaches can be found near Malaga, Huelva and Almería in the south as well as near the coasts of La Manga, Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and Euskadi. If you do enjoy extremely developed resort towns, there are plenty of crowded beaches on the Costa de la Luz and the Costa del Sol. Interesting is the harbour of Almerimar with cosy bars, just south of El Ejido (Almeria). Spain is more than bullfights, flamenco dancers and crowded beaches. It's a spectacular and diverse country, the north resembling the rolling, green hills of Ireland and the south giving you a taste of Moroccan landscapes and architecture. Its tremendous history is reflected in its prehistoric cave paintings, Moorish palaces, crumbling castles, Roman ruins, Gothic and Renaissance cathedrals as well as some very distinctive modern architecture. Very unique architecture can be found in Córdoba, Salamanca, Granada, Toledo, Madrid... The visionary architecture of Antoni Gaudí and the Picasso museum are in Barcelona while Madrid is home to Spain’s top three art museums. There is some incredible, unique accommodation in these cities that is really worth taking a look at. You will no longer simply be visiting the architectural gems, but staying inside them! With hundreds of Barcelona apartments located throughout the city, it really is the best way to experience this enchanting location.
Costa Blanca Holidays

Well known as a cultural centre, Barcelona boasts splendid architecture, monuments, historical sites, natural resources, beaches and much more. It is a very modern, multicultural, cosmopolitan city. Almost 4.5 million people live in the Barcelona metropolitan area. The city enjoys a prime location, bathed by the sea and has excellent transport links with the rest of Europe. Some people say that Barcelona is Spain's most European city because it is always open to new ideas and trends. You can note this in its people, the Catalans. The Catalan capital's is a modern, cosmopolitan city, but has inherited many centuries of history. There are monuments of Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance periods or still before, but most characteristic is what has been built during the last 100 years. Though the 1992 Olympics focused the world’s attention on the city, Antoni Gaudi’s wonderfully weird architecture demonstrates how long Barcelona has been at the vanguard of all that is new and different.Barcelona, a 2,000-year-old master of the art of perpetual novelty, has catapulted to the rank of Spain's most-visited city. In fact, in 2003 nearly four million visitors came to the city, many on charter flights from Northern Europe. Autumn is the perfect time to visit Barcelona with less heat, fewer tourists and the city’s biggest street party, Festes de la Mercè, on September 24. The city continues to evolve as a centre of design, as a gastronomic powerhouse, as an educational and business centre and potentially the coolest city in the world. And one the world never tires of visiting.Although Barcelona is a large city, it is easy to get around on public transport and on foot. You can reach any point in the city by metro, bus and taxi. Also, Barcelona attracts tourists from all over the world. The explosion of low-cost, Internet airlines, plus the good value at hotels and restaurants compared to other European cities, has made Barcelona the European weekender capital.The area around the Catalunya Place, including the city's historical center includes the Passeig de Gracia, the Rambla de Catalunya and the upper half of the Diagonal avenue is the main commercial area of the city. "La Rambla", a pedestrian street, is the best place to watch people go by, to stroll or simply relax. Also, here you can find dozens of outdoor cafes. Nearby is 'Plaça Real', with plenty of bars and restaurants, and 'Palau Guell', built by Antoni Gaudí in his undulating art-nouveau style.Well known as a cultural centre, Barcelona boasts splendid architecture, monuments, historical sites, natural resources, beaches and much more. It is a very modern, multicultural, cosmopolitan city. Almost 4.5 million people live in the Barcelona metropolitan area. The city enjoys a prime location, bathed by the sea and has excellent transport links with the rest of Europe. Some people say that Barcelona is Spain's most European city because it is always open to new ideas and trends. You can note this in its people, the Catalans. The Balearic Islands lie to the east, the Costa Brava to the north, the monastery at Montserrat to the west, and to the south, the Roman city of Tarragona, and the playground resort of Sitges. Barcelona's inhabitants are open and welcoming. The people of Barcelona speak Catalan, their own language, and Spanish. Many of them also understand a little English and French.Barcelona, a 2,000-year-old master of the art of perpetual novelty, has catapulted to the rank of Spain's most-visited city. In fact, in 2003 nearly four million visitors came to the city, many on charter flights from Northern Europe. Autumn is the perfect time to visit Barcelona with less heat, fewer tourists and the city’s biggest street party, Festes de la Mercè, on September 24. The city continues to evolve as a centre of design, as a gastronomic powerhouse, as an educational and business centre and potentially the coolest city in the world. And one the world never tires of visiting.

Cordoba is a city in Andalusia; it is also the capital of the province of Cordoba, it is located in southern Spain. This city has a rich history, and its importance has shifted many times through the epochs, for example:
During the time of the Roman Republic it was named Corduba and it was the capital of Hispania Ulterior.
When if became the Roman Empire, "Corduba" became the capital of Hispania Beatica.
Under the control of the Caliphate of Cordoba, they called it Qurtuba and it was the capital of the region.
In the 11th century, it was the most populous city in the globe and it was known as the world's intellectual capital.
Nowadays you can still see traces of the constructions of these days in the city. You can visit the attractions of the city, such as:the roman mausoleum, the great mosque of Cordoba, the church "Santa Marina de Aguas Santas," etc.

But Madrid is not just a cultural destination. It is also a lively metropolis with many pubs, cafes, discotheques and nightclubs open late into the night (nobody is really sure when the Madrileños sleep). It may be the afternoon siesta that gives them the endurance to keep things going well into the night. In fact, on weekends, Madrilenian youth are famous for dancing all night long, stopping off only for having some chocolate y churros at dawn, go home, take a shower, shave, and go to work. Madrid has an amazing quantity of dance halls, tascas, cafes, theaters, movie houses, music halls, and nightclubs. However, many of these offerings are strictly for residents or for Spanish-speakers.After spending much of the 20th century sequestered at the center of a totalitarian regime, Madrid has burst back onto the world stage with an energy redolent of its 16th-century golden age. Beginning in the early 20th century, Madrid grew to be an important industrial centre. Its commercial and industrial life developed very rapidly after the 1890s and is rivalled in Spain only by that of Barcelona. The city's major industrial products include motor vehicles, aircraft, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, processed food, printed materials, and leather goods. Besides its many manufacturing industries. Most of its industry is located in the Southern fringe of the city, where important textile, food and metal working factories are clustered.Especially around Puerta del Sol, you'll find a high concentration of everything relating to food, drinking, entertainment and staying away from your hotels as long as possible. Madrid, during the summer, becomes a virtual free festival because the city sponsors a series of plays, concerts, and films. If you're in Madrid during the second half of May be sure to join Madrileños in celebrating the Feria de San Isidro, which has music, operas, concerts, bullfighting and dancing. In the same way, mid August is when the city celebrates the Verbena de la Paloma. Compare hotels in Madrid.Madrid is the capital of Spain since 1562. Madrid is located on the geographic center of the Iberian Peninsula. Due to this central location and high altitude, the climate of Madrid is characterized by warm dry summers and cool winters. Madrid is the political center of Spain. This is also a cosmopolitan city with cultural and political importance. Its position as a centre for economics, finance, administration and services combines the most modern infrastructure with an important cultural and artistic heritage, the legacy of centuries of fascinating history. So, while Madrid possesses a modern infrastructure, it has preserved the look and feel of many of its historic neighborhoods and streets. For instance, some of its main historic places are the huge Royal Palace of Madrid; the Teatro Real (Royal theatre); the Buen Retiro park; the imposing 19th-century National Library building (founded in 1712); an archaeological museum of international reputation; and three superb art museums: Prado Museum, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, housed in the renovated Villahermosa Palace.

The Province of Málaga is situated on the southern coast of Spain, in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the South, and by the provinces of Cádiz, Sevilla, Córdoba and Granada. Málaga contains 100 municipalities and 6 regions. Besides the capital, its main cities are Marbella, Vélez-Málaga, Antequera and Ronda. The regions are: La Axarquía, Valle del Guadalhorce, Serranía de Ronda, Comarca de Antequera, Costa del Sol Occidental and Vega de Málaga.
Birthplace of Picasso, the attractive, cosmopolitan city of Málaga is the capital city of the Costa del Sol and lies on a beautiful sweep of bay in Andalucia. Málaga is surrounded by mountains, lying in the southern base of the Axarquía hills, and two rivers, the Guadalmedina and the Guadalhorce. The climate here is mild and equable, the mean annual temperature being about 19 °C (66 °F). Málaga has an International Airport, Pablo Ruiz Picasso Málaga International Airport, that provides the gateway to all of the other Andalusian towns. There are a lot of hotels and tourist facilities to support the number of visitors the surrounding villages and beaches attract each year.

Palma is located in the centre of Palma Bay, 13 meters over the sea level. Due to its location, it has an exceptional weather; it is sunny all year long. In summer, the highest temperature is 26°C while in winter the average temperature is around 16°C. For this reason, beaches are its major touristic attraction. It has more than 400 thousand inhabitants and the majority of them work in a field related to tourism.
As it was mentioned above, the beaches in Palma are a truly paradise. The ideal weather, the quiet and clear ocean as well as the beautiful landscapes make the perfect combination for its visitors. The beaches of the island are: Cala Estancia, Playa de Palma (it's the biggest one), Ciudad Jardín, Ca'n Pere Antoni and Cala Mayor. In all of them, there are businesses such as shops or restaurants, where you can buy and eat while you sunbathe.
But Palma does not only have beautiful beaches; it also has lots of places to see and visit, for example: Museums: The most popular ones are: Catedralicio Museum, Historico-Militar Castillo de San Carlos museum, Municipal de Historia Museum, Diocesà Museum, etc.
Churches: Catedral de Santa María de Palma de Mallorca (commonly known as La seu), Montesion, San Francisco, San Miguel, Santa Eulalia, etc. And important buildings that are part of the Palma's culture due to their significant meaning. Some of these most important and representative buildings are: The Baños Arabes, Consolat de la Mar, El Palacio de la Almudaina, La Lonja, La Plaza Mayor, El Pueblo Español, El Gran Hotel, El Castillo Bellver, etc.
Several festivals are celebrated during the year. During these celebrations, all the cultural backgrounds and traditions are shown in parties, concerts, parades, ceremonies, presentations, etc. These are only a few of the most important celebrations:

Seville is one of the most beautiful cities in Spain. It is considered as the historic, financial, artistic and cultural capital of southern Spain. It is also the capital of the province of Seville and of the Autonomous community of Andalusia. It is located on the Plain of the Guadalquivir River. The City of Seville has around 750,000 inhabitants since 2010, so it is the fourth largest city in all Spain, and its metropolitan area has around 1,500,000 inhabitants since 2010. The inhabitants of Seville are known as Sevillanos (Sevillanas to women), or Hispalences due to Romans called the city as Hispalis.
Seville has a fascinating history, because this city played an important role in commerce between the Americas and Spain in the past and it is more than 2,000 years old. Seville has gone through many stages, Moorish Era, Castilian Rule, the Golden Age and Civil War. The greatest time was during the discovery and conquest of America, and it had a period of artistic splendor in the 17th century. Sculptors such as Martinez Montañes, and painters such as Murillo, Valdes Leal and Velazquez were born in Seville.
Seville has several important and attractive buildings, monuments and parks, such as the Cathedral, the Alcazar, the University, the Torre de Oro, the Plaza de España, the Town Hall, the Metropol Parasol, the Palace of San Telmo, the Museum of Fine Arts of Seville, the Museum of Arts and Traditions, the Archaeological Museum, Naval Museum, Carriages Museum, Parque de Maria Luisa, the Gardens of Murillo and the Gardens of Catalina de Ribera.
Despite all monuments, museums and beautiful places, Seville is famous for being a joyous town. Seville itself is striking for its vitality and Sevillians are known for their sparkle and wit. Sevillan people has many important holidays such as the famous Semana Santa that is one of the most traditional holidays in all Spain, it boasts a large number of people in processions that consists of reenact scenes from the Christ's Passion; and the annual Feria de Abril, a long party-week of dance, drink and food, you can see beautiful and fine horses, and women dancing with brightly colored dresses.
If you are thinking to travel to Seville, you shouldn’t forget to taste the Tapas, one of the most famous dishes of Spain, and it is considered as one of its main cultural attractions. This city is a gastronomic center; its cuisine is based on olive oil, sea food, and sherry. You can find several typical sweet cakes such as tortas de aceite, pestiños, torrijas, roscos fritos, yemas de San Leandro, and mantecados. There are a large number of bars where you can find all kinds of dishes and cakes

Valencia is the third largest city in Spain, and the birthplace of the most traditional of Spanish dishes (paella) Valencia Spain is the perfect base from which to explore any number of Mediterranean beaches along the Costa Blanca, catch a ferry for Ibiza, or just wander through the city’s open air markets and explore its Gothic architecture. Around Valencia travel can sometimes be congested, yet the city itself has managed to retain the feeling of a small town. This is due to the serene plazas and tree lined avenues that make Valencia in Spain one of the most picturesque and easily maneuverable cities in Europe. More than the layout, however, it is the friendly and fun loving Valencianos that make tourists and tired travelers feel welcome. And though little English or French is spoken in the city (as compared with Barcelona and Madrid), the street vendors, hotel managers, and waiters are invariably eager to help you practice your stumbling Spanish. Valencia Spain is located in the eastern Levante region. This area boasts some of the most fertile soil in Europe. This soil, or huerta, produces oranges in abundance, and the best rice in Spain. It is no wonder, then, that paella—a richly seasoned, rice-based dish traditionally cooked in flat pans the size of bicycle tires over open fires—originated at Valencia in Spain. During your stay in Valencia travel through the maze-like Bario del Carme ocated between the Calle de Caballeros and the Rio Turia, or visit any of the happening night spots or sidewalk cafes that provide a perfect place to enjoy a cup of the super-sweet Valencian hot chocolate. Valencia is at its best during the festival season. And the best festival of the season is the Fiestas de Las Fallas. From March 12 to 19 the city erupts in a blaze of fireworks, music, bullfighting and general madness. According to tradition, each of Valencia’s barrios, or neighborhoods, builds a satirical effigy of papier mache. These giant caricatures are then paraded through the streets, judged, and set afire at midnight on March 19. Throughout the week the city is a wonderfully chaotic mix of fireworks—seemingly exploding at your feet with every step—paella eating, and afternoon bullfights. During the week you can check the Valencia tourist information kiosks around town for a daily schedule of events. Cheap flights to Valencia are available in the off season (November through April excluding weekends). Check the internet for off season specials and up-to-date Valencia tourist information. Also keep your eyes peeled for last minute flights during the festival season, as airlines will drastically reduce fares for travelers willing to depart at the last minute during the holiday season. Otherwise, cheap flights to Valencia are available if you book early. If you are traveling from France or Italy, however, the best and most scenic option is to catch a high speed train.
Awash in year-round Mediterranean sun, the weather in Valencia remains warm and dry during the summer and mild in the winter. Because of the temperate weather in Valencia, and the seemingly endless festival season, it is always a good time to visit this wonderful and welcoming city