Spain Country Guide | Guide to Spain
Country Guide Spain
Spain is more than bullfights, flamenco dancers and crowded beaches. It's a spectacular and diverse country with 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.
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.
Spain can be enjoyable any time of year. The ideal months to visit are May, June and September (April or October in the south). At these times you can rely on excellent weather, yet avoid the heat of July and August. An alternative idea to insufferable the heat of the south in summer is to head north. Asturias, Galicia and Cantabria are all cooler than the south.
But there's decent weather in some parts of Spain virtually all year round. Winter along the Mediterranean coasts is mild, while in the height of summer you can retreat to the northwest, to beaches or mountains - anywhere to escape the heat.
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. Of interest to many is the harbour of Almerimar with cosy bars, just south of El Ejido (Almeria).
Some of Spain's most unique architecture can be found in Córdoba, Salamanca, Granada, Toledo, Barcelona and 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.
If you would rather get some fresh air, Spain is filled with opportunities to visit wildlife parks and get in some trekking. The Pyrenees, especially around the Aragón area, are some of the best areas for taking a wander. Andalucía has its Sierra Nevada mountain chain with luxurious skiing resorts near Granada. Winter sports are possible from November through May. Between Guadix and Baza (with its famous horse market) one can find cave-dwellings, cave hotels, and beautiful natural parks.
Spanish people are very open-hearted and comunicative. You won't have any problems getting to know the locals, especially in the big cities like Madrid or Barcelona. Buen viaje!
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Spain Facts
Festivals in Spain
San Fermin [article] Flamenco [article] Running of the Nudes [snippet] Ibiza Closing Parties [snippet] La Tomatina - Tomato Fight [photo gallery] Las Fallas - Valencia [photo gallery] Running of the Nudes [video] Ibiza Closing Parties [video] Tenerife International Film festival [web site] Festival Mozart [web site]Spain Accommodation
Hotels in SpainSpain Flights
Spain Tours
Tours in SpainSpanish Reading
Spectacular hill-top villages, shady olive groves, sun-drenched beaches, hip cities and the wildest nightlife in Europe - discover the exquisite passions of Spain with this essential guide.
- accommodation options for all - from pretty pensiones to palatial paradors
- savvy entertainment reviews show you where to sip sangria or dance till dawn
- the best of Spanish culture from Picasso and Dali to the Alhambra
- handy language guide to Castilian, Basque, Catalan and Galician Spanish
- more than 146 detailed maps
Purchase from: Amazon.com
Purchase from: Amazon.co.uk
Spain DVD
As seen on TV and formally known as Lonely Planet the Pilot Guides are undoubtedly champions of the travel world.
Situated in South Western Europe, Spain is one of the most beautiful and diverse countries in Europe, both in its landscape and its culture.
Traveller Shilpa Mehta explores Northern Spain during the Fiesta season, while Christina Chang, goes beyond the tourist hotspots of the Costa del Sol and travels inland to discover the real Southern Spain.
Along the way
- Visit the beautiful cities of Barcelona, Madrid, Seville and Grenada
- Attend the Pamplona fiesta and its famous running of the bull
- Walk the Pilgrim Trail, a religious journey to Santiago de Compostella
- Explore Cazorla National Park
- Admire the lunar landscape around Tabernas, the spaghetti western territory
- Take part in a re-enactment of the battle of the Moors and the Christians at the Alcoy festival
Purchase from: Amazon.com
Purchase from: Amazon.co.uk
Further Spain Resources
Travel Spain [web site] Tourism Spain [web site]Click here for the full range of Spain web resources
