Spain travel guide. Spain [1] (Spanish: España) is a diverse country sharing the Iberian Peninsula with Portugal at the western end of the Mediterranean Sea. It is the country with the second-largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, after Italy, and the largest number of World Heritage Cities. Understand[edit] With great beaches, fun nightlife, many cultural regions and historic cities, Spain makes a great destination for any kind of trip. A country of large geographic and cultural diversity, Spain is a surprise to those who only know its reputation for great beach holidays.
There is everything from lush meadows and snowy mountains to huge marshes and deserts in the south east. While summer is the peak season because of the beaches, those who wish to avoid the crowds should consider visiting in the winter as attractions such as the Alhambra in Granada and La Gran Mezquita in Cordoba will not be overcrowded. History[edit] Immigration[edit] Regions[edit] Regions of Spain Cities[edit] Other destinations[edit] Barcelona travel guide. View of La Rambla, Barcelona Barcelona is a huge city with several district articles containing sightseeing, restaurant, nightlife and accommodation listings — consider printing them all.
Barcelona is the capital and largest city of Catalonia and Spain's second largest city, with a population of over one and half million people (over five million in the whole province). This city, located directly on the northeastern Mediterranean coast of Spain, has a rich history, having been under Roman, then Frank law before declaring its independence. In 1992, Barcelona gained international recognition by hosting the Olympic games which brought a massive upturn in its tourism industry. This had the effect of changing the city in ways that are still felt today with neighbourhoods renovated (and in some cases leveled) and the intense focus of modern design permeating all aspects of life in Barcelona from public buildings to something as simple as a park bench or an event poster. Districts[edit] at the gate. Pamplona travel guide. In the arena after the Running of the Bulls Pamplona (Basque: Iruña) [1] is a city in Navarra, Spain.
With a population of nearly 200,000 inhabitants and an overall metropolitan population of 320,000 it is the capital of the region of Navarra. Most famous world-wide for its San Fermín festival each year from July 6th to 14th, "The Running of the Bulls" features a daily bull run or "Encierro" in Spanish. This festival was depicted in the writings of Ernest Hemingway (who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954). Pamplona is a green city. There are many interesting things to do and explore in Pamplona for the traveler since it is the first main city on the route of St.
Understand[edit] Get in[edit] By plane[edit] Pamplona has a little airport (Pamplona-Noain Airport) connected with several cities (Iberia fly several times a day from/to Madrid and Barcelona). By train[edit] Daily trains from and to Madrid, Barcelona, Vitoria, Galicia, Asturias and Zaragoza, among other Spanish cities. Seville travel guide. View of the Gothic cathedral and the Moorish bell-tower La Giralda (the former minaret of the mosque), Seville Seville (Spanish: Sevilla) [1] is the capital of Andalucia and the cultural and financial centre of southern Spain. A city of just over 700,000 inhabitants (1.6 million in the metropolitan area, making it Spain's 4th largest city), Seville is Andalucia's top destination, with much to offer the traveler.
Understand[edit] The city is situated on the banks of the smooth, slow Guadalquivir River, which divides the city into two halves: Sevilla and Triana. The Guadalquivir (known as Betis by the Romans and as Betik Wahd-Al-Khabir by the Arabs) has had a major impact in the history of the city. The location of Seville is roughly coincident with the point where the Guadalquivir stops being useful for navigation. In the 19th century Seville gained a reputation for its architecture and culture and was a stop along the Romantic "Grand Tour" of Europe.
Get in[edit] By plane[edit] By car[edit] Bullfights and Bullfighting Schedule for Seville, Spain. There is much to be said of the origins of bullfighting, or corrida, from the history of sacrificing bulls in ancient Greece through Roman times there have been many who point to an evolution of the event to a point where it reached Spain. From the 8th century to the 15th there is a history of the corrida taking place for Kings and royalty, eventually changing from a fight on horseback to one on foot. In later years it was not uncommon for an informal corrida to take place in the towns in Spain in a plaza which was blocked off forming what was to later become the ring. In the late 18th century the town of Ronda constructed the first venue specific to the event and the Plaza de Toros in the town still stands, although bullfights no longer take place there. There are many books and web sites about bullfighting which can do a much better job explaining the interworkings of a corrida.
If you wish to learn the detail and nuances of there is much to read. Below is the 2012 schedule: Granada travel guide. Granada from the Alcazaba, in the Alhambra Rich in history and culture, Granada is arguably the single most worthwhile city in Spain for visitors. Spring and autumn are also both excellent times to visit. With much more cultural interest than other cities like Malaga, Granada is never overcrowded (although you should still book tickets to the Alhambra at least one day in advance). Granada has been continuously inhabited by humans for at least 2500 years, originating as an Ibero-Celtic settlement prior to the establishment of a Greek colony in the area. Under Ancient Roman rule Granada developed as an economic centre of Roman Hispania, with the construction of aqueducts, roads, and other infrastructure. With the fall of the Roman Empire the city was ruled by the Visigoths before being reconquered by the Byzantine Empire, all the time being maintained as a strategic military and economic hub for the region.
Map of Granada Plaza Isabel La Catolica, Granada's central square Alcaiceria. Cordoba travel guide. A Cordoba street under the looming Bell Tower of the Mezquita Very few places in the world can boast of having been the capital of a Roman province (Hispania Ulterior), the capital of an Arab State (Al-Andalus) and a Caliphate. Such splendor is palpable in the intellectual wealth of this city, that has seen the birth of figures like Seneca, Averroes, and Maimonides. The historic quarter of Cordoba is a beautiful network of small streets, alleys, squares and whitewashed courtyards arranged around the Mezquita, which reflects the city's prominent place in the Islamic world during medieval times.
Cordoba also has much to offer in terms of art, culture and leisure, thanks to a myriad of cultural events that are organized here throughout the year: Flamenco festivals, concerts, ballet and other activities. These events are complemented by a number of museums and a good nightlife scene. Map of Cordoba Cordoba's bus station is just across the street from the train station. The outside wall July. Cantabria. Cantabria belongs to Green Spain, the name given to the strip of land between the Bay of Biscay and the Cantabrian Mountains, so called because of its particularly lush vegetation, due to the wet and moderate oceanic climate. The climate is strongly influenced by Atlantic Ocean winds trapped by the mountains; the average precipitation is about 1,200 mm (47 inches).
Cantabria is the richest region in the world for archaeological sites from the Upper Paleolithic period, although the first signs of human occupation date from the Lower Paleolithic. The most significant site for cave paintings is that in the cave of Altamira, dating from about 37,000 BC[3] and declared, along with nine other Cantabrian caves, as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Etymology[edit] Topographical map of Cantabria. Geography[edit] Relief[edit] Cantabria is a mountainous and coastal region, with important natural resources. Coast. Climate[edit] Hydrology[edit] The main rivers of the region, sorted by drainage basin, are: