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Names in Teal indicates regions
of the country.
Places in Bold are unusually attractive destinations.
Places in plain text are of significant interest to many travelers.
If you are interested in finding out more about
Spain, its people, history, economy and geography, visit our section
Spain Country Facts
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If you plan to travel in
Spain,
read the information you need to know about
driving, health care, and more in our section
Spain Travel Information |
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Catalonia has a different feel than
the rest of Spain and Barcelona is unique in Catalonia. Perhaps it is the uplifting contribution of Gaudi's
architecture or the Catalonian people; whatever it is, Barcelona is one of the
best places to visit in Spain. Start your visit with a walk down La
Rambla, then, see the Sagrada Familia, and the Barcelona Cathedral. Take
in as much of the city and as many of Gaudi's monuments as possible.
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Madrid is a remarkable city.
The "must sees" of the city are Old Madrid, the Museo del Prado, and the
Palacio Real. Make no mistake, the museums, architecture, dining, and
entertainment in Madrid are spectacular.
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Andalusia
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If you have to choose one town to
visit in Andalusia, make it Granada. The
Moorish Alhambra
is
beautiful, taking advantage of its glorious setting in the foothills
of the Sierra Nevada. The Alhambra's architecture is intricate,
purposeful, and important. Budget your time to spend the better part
of a day, just in the Alhambra. Of course, the rest of the Granada
provides many attractive areas to explore, including the Albaicín and the
Old City.
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Costa del Sol
- Many complain that Costa del Sol has become a continuous set of high
rise apartments, blighting the landscape. The observation may be true
but the majority of vacationers who visit Spain come to the Costa del Sol to
sunbathe and escape the hot and cold seasons in the rest of Europe. Concrete
aside, there is a lot to like about the area, as the scenery is great and some of
towns are quite striking, especially Malaga and its striking Alcazaba, a
palace from Moorish times.
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Toledo
- Toledo, once the capital of Spain, is dramatically
situated on a hill above the River Tagus, which is traveling to the Atlantic
via Lisbon. Toledo is a noted UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Cathedral
(Catedral de Toledo), which has an interesting and long running history,
the Alcazar, the Mezquita del Cristo (mosque), and the Casa-Museo de El Greco (containing twenty of the Artist's
best-known paintings). Toledo was occupied by the Romans, Visigoths, Moors and
Christians. Its architecture and essence reflect the mixing of Islam,
Judaism and Christianity.
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Castilla y Léon
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Salamanca
- Its old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Salamanca is a
historic university town known for its outstanding and well-preserved architecture.
Most visitors spend considerable time in the Plaza Mayor
, the social
center of the city, known for its fine shops and good food. Many
travelers visit both the New (Catedral Nueva) and Old (Catedral Vieja)
Cathedrals, which are joined and offer interesting contrasts in
architecture. Salamanca University is one of the oldest centers for
learning in Europe and the oldest university in Spain.
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Avila
- Avila is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its famous medieval walls
(considered among the best preserved in Europe) and interesting old town. Avila offers good food,
great shopping and fine walking. The Catedral de Avila and its museum
(known for its religious art) are worth a look. In addition, Avila was
the birthplace of St. Theresa of Avila and several relics can be viewed at
the
Convento de San Jose.
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Segovia
- Yet another of Spain's cities awarded UNESCO World Heritage status,
Segovia's well-preserved, tiered Roman Aqueduct is a world famous attraction.
The Alcazar of Segovia is a stunning, almost picture perfect fortress that
dates from the 13th century, although its design was tinkered with until the
16th century. Be sure to see the La Dama de las Catedrales (the Lady of
Cathedrals), which is known for its gothic design and interesting
ornamentation.
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Valencia
- Valencia is the gateway to the Costa Blanca, another of Spain's noted
beach areas. Valencia has some excellent beaches and it Cathedral is worth a
visit. The city's most popular attraction, however, is the La Lonja de la
Seda, the Silk Exchange, that dates from 15th century. The Silk
Exchange, is a series of impressive Gothic-style buildings that marked the
center of commerce in Valencia, Spain's major Mediterranean port
during the 15th and 16th centuries.
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Bilbao
- Bilbao makes the list based, mainly, on the Guggenheim Museum designed
by Frank Gehry. Bilbao's Old Town is interesting and should be toured
if the Guggenheim's pull is enough to lure you to the city. For information
about the Guggenheim, click this
link.
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Balearic Isles
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Reachable by ferry, Mallorca
(Majorca)
is an exotic destination. Palma, the main city, has two fine cathedrals,
interesting shopping, and is a great place to wander. For a great view
of Palma, visit the hilltop
castle (Castell del Bellver), which now serves as a
historical/archaeological museum
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Many "party animals" prefer the island of Ibiza,
an island known
for its active club scene, great weather and beautiful beaches.
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Still others prefer to visit the island
of Menorca,
especially for Maó (Mahon), known as the setting for the initial novel
in the Hornblower Saga, as well as the invention of Mayonnaise. The
island has numerous mysterious, historic mounds and dolmens, and is a
delightful, peaceful place to spend some time. The landscape is hilly
and forested. Small villages dot the island, as do developments
for vacation homes.
If you need information about another travel destination, try Googling our site or the Web
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