Spain
Travel, vacations, tours and tourism

Travel, Vacations, Tours and Tourism information for Spain. Our topics inlcude Restaurants, Overviews, Attractions, Common events, Recreation, Tipical weather, Activities and more.

Dressed in blue, gold, green red and tan, sun-drenched Spain is like a mosaic created from unique, brightly colored tiles place together in perfect harmony.

The cities of Madrid, Barcelona and Seville are rich with history and culture. Monuments, architecture and museums are plentiful. When the lights do down, there are countless opportunities to experience Spain's beloved nightlife.

The Costa del Sol leaves the old behind in favor of exciting seaside fun and a youthful aura. It is the premier place in Spain for resort-style sun worshipping.

Small towns have a lot to offer, too. See Stone Age caves and drawings in Altamira, and the legendary Moorish palace, the Alhambra, in Granada. Segovia has moats, a castle and largely intact remains of a Roman aqueduct. Visit Toledo to see the Alcazar and home of El Greco.

No matter where you go in Spain, the warm hospitality of the people and the festive atmosphere will add vibrant colors to your own mosaic of memories.

Destinations in Spain

Barcelona, Spain

At a time when Madrid was still an inconsequential Moorish outpost, Barcelona was the center of a powerful commercial empire. The city was established in the time of Augustus as a Roman colony, and was alternately conquered and retaken by Carthage, Rome, and France, each of which left an indelible mark on its identity. As a result, Barcelona often seems to have more in common with Marseille or Milan than with any Spanish city. The Catalan people have clung fiercely to their unique culture and language -- a hybrid of French and Spanish with a character of its own -- which was nearly eradicated by the Dictator Franco. "The Great Enchantress," as the city is known, lures visitors with the bustle of the world's busiest seaport, the medieval romance of its Gothic Quarter, and a flurry of Art Nouveau buildings topped by the fanciful creations of Antonio Gaudí. In addition to its architecture, the city is a cradle of art, housing seminal works by Picasso, Miró, and Dalí.

Cordoba, Spain

Set in Spain's historic Andalusia region, Córdoba was once the largest and most impressive city in Europe. Today, Córdoba retains traces of its former glory, especially in the old Arab and Jewish Quarters, with their narrow, winding streets, lovely whitewashed homes, and balconies overflowing with colorful blooms. The old quarter is also home to the world-famous Moorish Mezquita (mosque), which dates from the 8th through the 10th centuries, as well as one of the few synagogues that survived the expulsion of the Jews in 1492.

Costa del Sol, Spain

Europe's "sun coast" isn't a modern fabrication of the tourism industry like some other beach resorts. The Costa del Sol has been inevitably luring people to its perpetually sunny shores since Paleolithic man migrated there and settled into its caves. Once discovered, the fascination has never stopped and everyone from the Carthaginians to the Romans, Moors, French and, of course, Spaniards, have competed to call this place home. Happily, the days of battling empires are long gone and everyone can enjoy this marvelous place! Visitors soak in the year-round sunshine, indulge in luxurious hotels, feast on ocean-fresh delicacies, mix with celebrities on a dance floor till dawn, browse the hillside markets, golf on 30 oceanview courses, wreck-dive off of Gibraltar, and whatever other Mediterranean pleasures they dream up.

Granada, Spain

Situated in the eastern part of Andalusia, Granada is the capital of the province. This refined city was home to the Moors in the 8th century. In fact, one of the country's most famous monuments - the palace-fortress of Alhambra - remains as evidence of the impressive Moorish architecture and craftsmanship. The Christian Renaissance left its mark here as well, in the form of beautiful cathedrals and statues.

Madrid, Spain

Before you plunge into the kinetic life of this cultured party-town, take a deep breath and look up at the piercing blue sky immortalized by the master painter Velazquez. Madrid has gone through many changes since the Hapsburgs made it the new capital of Spain in the Middle Ages. The clear sky, the energy of its people, and its historic place as an epicenter of refined civilization, however, have remained steadfast. Many structures look more French than Spanish, a direct result of the marriages of alliance between the French and Spanish royals. This is mostly the case in the section known as Bourbon Madrid. Beyond the city there are more examples, like the massive and ornate Palacio Real de la Granja built by in 1719 as a royal country home akin to the French royal châteaus. Old Madrid is the other main section of the city, characterized more by the reign of the Moors, the subsequent re-conquest by Catholic Spaniards, and a good dose of Hapsburg influence.

Seville, Spain

The capital of Andalusia is famous mostly for its romantic beauty, as well as its well-deserved reputation for theatricality and intensity. Of all the places in Spain, this comes closest to the quintessential image of a place filled with passionate bullfighters, coy ladies smiling from behind black lace veils, orange trees, flowery patios, and gypsies dancing the flamenco with castanets at their fingertips. In fact, though the exact origins of flamenco are hard to trace, it is fairly established that it began with Andalusian gypsies who mixed their indigenous culture with that of their Moorish rulers, and Christian music.

Back to Europe index Back to Travel-On-Vacations index