Travel & Tourism in Spain
Famous for bullfighting, Pablo Picasso, sunshine, tapas, mountain climbing, siestas and late-night partying, Spain offers travelers a destination that appeals to all tastes and preferences. When you're planning a trip to Spain, the regions and all their offerings can become overwhelming. To start out with, choose a few activities or locations you know you are interested in and base your trip around those.
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History
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Cordoba's ancient architecture lures tourists. In Cordoba, an old city in Andalusia in southern Spain, tourists admire the preserved 14th-century Tower of La Calahorra, a fortification built to protect the Roman bridge. Erected by Enrique II of Trastamana in 1369, the tower defended the city from attack by his brother Pedro I the Cruel from the south of Spain.
Tourists to Segovia, the capital of the province of Segovia and about a half hour north of Madrid, enjoy one of the most prized monuments on the Iberian Peninsula. The Segovia Aqueduct, built around A.D. 50, is an immense masterpiece of Roman engineering. Visitors marvel that the 20,400 stone blocks are not adhered by mortar or concrete.
Major Cities
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Madrid mixes its classic architecture with modern buildings, attitudes and attractions. Since 1562, Madrid has been the capital and crown jewel of Spain. Major attractions are the Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral, and visitors enjoy the rowdy summertime streets lined with pubs and cafes, as well as nightlife that doesn't end until daybreak.
As Spain's Mediterranean port city, Barcelona buzzes with contemporary Spanish culture and waterfront traditions. The city's modern harbor includes a shopping center, IMAX theater and aquarium. Tourists also delight in, or at least comment upon, the fanciful monolithic architecture of Antoni Gaudi, whose landmark Modernist buildings and parks decorate the city.
Strolling through Valencia, travelers take in modern, futuristic architecture juxtaposed with Gothic, baroque and classical structures. Two of Valencia's perennial tourist draws are the Serranos Towers, constructed for fortification in the 14th century, and San Juan del Hospital, built in the 13th century, which features Gothic murals that were discovered only recently.
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Islands and Beaches
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In the Balearic Islands, visitors can select from a variety of beach destinations, for example Menorca with its crystal coves, Mallorca with its mountains, Ibiza with its dance and party scene or Formentera with its peaceful Mediterranean mood. Ibiza and Mallorca especially draw young and party-loving travelers each season. According to Lonely Planet, Mallorca is the senior Balearic island, combining sea, mountains and hiking with trendy bars and nightclubs. Tourists travel by plane or ferry to these islands.
Wine Tourism
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Wine lovers identify Spain as a wine capital. According to winetourismspain.com, Spain has the biggest vineyard surface in the world. Visitors to the nation's vineyards and wineries can sample fine wines against a backdrop of splendid mountain landscapes and hardy forests.
Travelers can choose to go by car, on foot or by bike to tour wineries and vineyards. Wine tours in La Rioja offer a glimpse into one of the country's oldest wine-making regions. A tour through La Ribera del Duero showcases a small vineyard that exports wines around the world.
Countryside
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In the Pyrenees, especially in Aragon in northeastern Spain, tourists look forward to strenuous mountain climbs with extraordinary views. In Andalucia's Sierra Nevada mountain chain are many upscale ski resorts, typically open from November through May, near Granada. Between Guadix and Baza in southern Spain, where many people live in man-made caves, tourists can dine in cave restaurants and stay in cave hotels; this area also has many wildlife preservation parks.
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References
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- Photo Credit travelling - spain image by bright from Fotolia.com Cordoba view image by nw7.eu from Fotolia.com madrid image by Stanisa Martinovic from Fotolia.com
