Spain Beaches
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. Interesting is the harbour of Almerimar with cosy bars, just south of El Ejido (Almeria).

Very unique architecture can be found in Córdoba, Salamanca, Granada, Toledo, 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.

Spain Countryside
If you would rather get some fresh air, Spain is filled with opportunities to visit wildlife parks as well as trekking. The Pyrenees, especially around the Aragón area, are the best areas for trekking. Andalucía has its Sierra Nevada mountain chain with luxurious skiing resorts near Granada. Ski-sports are possible from November up to May. Between Guadix and Baza (famous horsemarket) one can find cave-dwellings, cave hotels, and beautiful natural parks. North and between these towns still are unexplored desert sceneries, with hamlets not even found on maps! The highway infrastructure in this “wild” part of Andalucia is excellent.

Spain Social culture
Spanish people are very open-hearted and comunicative. You won’t have any problems to get to know someone, especially in the big cities like Madrid or Barcelona. It’s often said that the Spanish living room is the bar where the people usually spend a lot of time in the mornings and in the evenings.

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Evidence of the rich history of Almeria can be found through out the city. There are many historical buildings and monuments well worth a visit in Almeria. For example, Almeria has a 10th-century Moorish castle – the Alcazaba – which is probably the best remaining example of Moorish military building.Built in the 10th Century by Abd-erRahman 111 the fort dominates the city and affords fabulous views of the area. This building has three huge walled enclosures, in the second of which are the remains of a mosque, converted to a chapel by the Reyes Católicos. The Alcazaba is considered to be o­ne of the greatest forts in Andalusia.

The Cathedral of Almeria is also another historical buildings of Almeria. It’s in the old part of the city. This Cathedral is heavily fortified having been built in the 16th century when area was being raided by pirate forces from Turkey and North Africa. Parish Church of Santiago Apóstol is another historical building of Almeria and is in the Calle de las Tiendas. Built in 1559 it’s architecture this church is listed as a national monument. Also of note is Almeria´s cave quarter, the Barrio de la Chanca.

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Two kilometers of medieval walls and nearly ninety stout towers completely encircle the old part of town. This walls were founded in the 11th century to protect the Spanish territories from the Moors. Ávila also has a Romanesque cathedral, a number of medieval churches, and an authentic medieval atmosphere. The city was captured by the Arab Moors in 714 AD, recaptured by the Christians in 1088, and had its protective walls built in the 12th century. Alfonso VI ordered the construction of the Avila walls after his conquest of the town in 1090, using Moorish prisoners for the task.

Winters can be cold here, due in part to the town´s elevation above 1000 meters, but summers in turn are cool and pleasant. In the summer Avila can offer some relief from the intense heat of the south of Spain or even Madrid.

The city of Ávila is also important for the Catholic world because of its association with the great mystic and reformer St. Teresa de Jesus, better known as St. Teresa of Ávila. St. Teresa was a devout mystic whose autobiography has inspired generations in their spiritual searches, she nonetheless played a practical and significant role in reforming convents across Spain. Teresa was a 16th-century Carmelite nun who reformed her order, had many ecstatic visions, and wrote several books. She is the female patron saint of Spain and was the first woman to be named a Doctor of the Church.

You can geat Avila by train from Madrid; there are more than 24 trains leaving daily from Madrid for Avila. The 8am train from Atocha arrives in Avila at 9:26am. Tickets cost 5€ to 14€ ($5.75-$16). The Avila station is at José Antonio Ave. (Phone: 902240202), about a mile east of the Old City. You’ll find taxis lined up in front of Avila’s railway station and at the more central Plaza Santa Teresa.

You will find the Bus station on Madrid at Paseo Florida 11 (Metro: Norte), in front of the Norte railway station. In Avila the bus terminal (Phone: 920256505) is at the corner of Avenida Madrid and Avenida Portugal. A one-way ticket from Madrid costs 6€ ($6.90).

By car, you can reach Avila just driving Madrid from its northwest perimeter. Then, head northwest on highway N-VI (A-6), toward La Coruña, eventually forking southwest to Avila. Driving time is around 1 1/2 hours.

The Tourist Information Office, Plaza Catedral 4 (Phone: 920211387), is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 2pm and 5 to 7pm, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 2pm and 5 to 8pm.

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The Catalan capital’s is a modern, cosmopolitan city, but has inherited many centuries of history. There are monuments of Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance periods or still before, but most characteristic is what has been built during the last 100 years. Though the 1992 Olympics focused the world’s attention on the city, Antoni Gaudi’s wonderfully weird architecture demonstrates how long Barcelona has been at the vanguard of all that is new and different.

Barcelona, a 2,000-year-old master of the art of perpetual novelty, has catapulted to the rank of Spain’s most-visited city. In fact, in 2003 nearly four million visitors came to the city, many on charter flights from Northern Europe. Autumn is the perfect time to visit Barcelona with less heat, fewer tourists and the city’s biggest street party, Festes de la Mercè, on September 24. The city continues to evolve as a centre of design, as a gastronomic powerhouse, as an educational and business centre and potentially the coolest city in the world. And one the world never tires of visiting.

Although Barcelona is a large city, it is easy to get around on public transport and on foot. You can reach any point in the city by metro, bus and taxi. Also, Barcelona attracts tourists from all over the world. The explosion of low-cost, Internet airlines, plus the good value at hotels and restaurants compared to other European cities, has made Barcelona the European weekender capital.

The area around the Catalunya Place, including the city’s historical center includes the Passeig de Gracia, the Rambla de Catalunya and the upper half of the Diagonal avenue is the main commercial area of the city. “La Rambla”, a pedestrian street, is the best place to watch people go by, to stroll or simply relax. Also, here you can find dozens of outdoor cafes. Nearby is ‘Plaça Real’, with plenty of bars and restaurants, and ‘Palau Guell’, built by Antoni Gaudí in his undulating art-nouveau style.

The Balearic Islands lie to the east, the Costa Brava to the north, the monastery at Montserrat to the west, and to the south, the Roman city of Tarragona, and the playground resort of Sitges. Barcelona’s inhabitants are open and welcoming. The people of Barcelona speak Catalan, their own language, and Spanish. Many of them also understand a little English and French.

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Cadiz was founded about 1100 BC by the Phoenicians and is among the oldest settlements in Spain. In 501 the conquering Carthaginians landed. They were followed by the Romans in 206 B.C. Cadiz was to see other conquerors, notably the Visigoths and the Muslims.

Fishing, commerce and tourism provide Cadiz with its main resources. It’s main ports are Cadiz, San Fernando, Puerto Real, Puerto de Santa María, Chiclana and Algeciras. Cadiz is also a big fishing center, and also a major departure point for ships sailing to the Canary Islands, a Spanish possession. There is also an American air and nuclear submarine base on the north side of the bay, called “Rota”. Cadiz has an exceptional geographical position and it has many beautiful places like: Costa de la Luz, El Puerto de Santa María, Puerto Real or Chiclana de la Frontera, Sanlúcar de Barrameda (one of the entrances to the Doñana Natural Park, a World Heritage Site). Furthermore, Cadiz has beautiful beaches as well, like: “Playa de la Caleta”, “Playa de la Victoria”, “Playa de Santa María del Mar” or “Playita de las Mujeres”, and so on.

Today, Cadiz is a melting pot of Americans, Africans, and Europeans who are docking or passing through. What the visitor confronts today is an industrial hub of activity with one of the busiest ports in Spain. Despite its vibrancy and diverse influences, however, Cadiz isn’t of major interest for most visitors.

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The tourism is very important for the future of the city, and so great care is taken in maintaining both monuments and Andlusian traditions to ensure it. Surviving Renaissance monuments in Córdoba include the Palace of Viana, the city’s Ducal Palace and la Mezquita, which is, without doubt, the most beautiful and original building of all Spain. As well as the unique mosque-cathedral, Cordoba’s treasures include the Alcazar, the Calahorra Fort, etc. Córdoba is famous for its floral patio arrangements as well. In the same way, the Andalusian tradition of Flamenco dancing is still trying to maintain a strong presence in Córdoba today; with a rich history of famous Flamenco figures and several shows and competitions.

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Girona covers an area of 5,886km2 and has a population of 598,112 inhabitants (2002). Its capital is Girona, and the entire province is divided up into six judicial districts, eight regions (El Gironés, La Garrotxa, El Baix Empordá, El Alt Empordá, Pla de I’Estany, Selva, Ripollés and Cerdanya), and 235 municipal districts. Part of the territory of Girona, the municipality of Llívia, is an exclave separate from the rest of Spain and surrounded by France. Some towns in Girona province include Figueres, Puigcerdà, Olot, Banyoles, Blanes, Ripoll, Camprodon.

Gerona was founded by the Iberians, probably in the period of the first Greek settlements, and has preserved remains of its Iberian walls. Strategically situated on the most important road through the Pyrenees, it was frequently fought over and became known as the “town of a thousand sieges”. In fact, by the eighteenth century, Girona had been besieged on 21 occasions, and in the nineteenth century it survived five attacks, being the longest a seven-month assault by the French in 1809.

The province of Gerona is spectacular. One of the most important characteristics about of the province, is its diversity. On one side, the coast, the internationally recognised Costa Brava, is breathtaking. And by the other side, Gerona has a fine mountain region, which is ideal for both tourism and the practice of a wide variety of sports. So, as you can see, tourism opportunities abound.

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In fact, the Alhambra is one of the most famous items of the Muslim, Jewish, and Christian historical legacy that makes Granada one of the most historic cities in Spain. Granada came to prominence in the 1200s at the peak of Muslim power. Even after Seville and Córdoba had fallen to the Catholic monarchs, Granada stood as the last surviving Islamic capital in Spain. It’s where the sultans took their last stand against the Catholic invaders.

Granada is also well-known within Spain due to the prestigious University of Granada which, is said, that it is one of the three best cities for college students (the other two are Salamanca and Santiago de Compostela). An important cultural centre for centuries, both during Muslim and Christian rule, nowadays the city boasts an enviable calendar of cultural and leisure events. Music, cinema and theatre seasons and festivals are listed, along with permanent and temporary exhibitions ranging over all fields of knowledge.

However, you’ll find in Granada not only the Alhambra. The Generalife summer palace, on the same Granadian hill, is known for its lush gardens with beautiful fountains and tranquil ponds. Also, the Sierra Nevada mountain range rises to the south of Granada and contains a ski resort with the highest peak in continental Spain, Mulhacén (3482 m).

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Subsequently, tThe powerful Mendoza family, who gained possession of Guadalajara in the 14th century, left their mark on the town. They received the lordship of Guadalajara and made the city splendid for centuries. Finally, Guadalajara was reconquered in 1085 by Alvar Fanies de Manaya. During the Spanish Civil War (in March 1937), the “battle of Guadalajara” between Republican and Italian forces was fought at Brihuega, northeast of the town.

The rich history of the capital of La Alcarria has left an important architectural legacy in its old town. The most characteristic building is the “Palacio de los Duques del Infanto”, build in 1461 by Juan Guias and considered a real symbol of the city. Another Renaissance construction is the “Palacio de los Mendoza”, with two Plateresque doorways. Among the noteworthy religious buildings are:”Santa Maria de la Fuente”, which was build using the remains of a mosque, the church of Santiago, the convent of Santa Clara (XIV Century), the Baroque Jesuit church of San Nicolás el Real, the Renaissance-style church of San Gines, the church of San Francisco (XV Century), etc.

Other areas of interest and beautiful sights are: The pedestrianised Calle Mayor, which is the spine of the historic part of the provincial capital. In the Calle Mayor you’ll find several historic buildings like with buildings of great historic value like the City Hall, the great houses of the Plaza de los Dávalos or the old palace of the Mendozas.

Province: Guadalajara / Autonomous Region: Castile-La Mancha
Tourist Office: Plaza de los Caídos, 6 – 19071 Guadalajara (Guadalajara)
Tel. +34 949211626 Fax +34 949211626

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The city of Huelva is located along the Gulf of Cadiz coast, at the confluence of the Odiel and Rio Tinto river. Of great importance as a fishing port as well as for its industry, Huelva is mainly an industrial city. Also it’s the center of one of the largest concentrations of beaches in Spain.

The province contains Palos de la Frontera, and Moguer, where Christopher Columbus sailed out of on his first voyage in 1492, and shares the Parque Nacional de Doñana with Sevilla province. In fact, Christopher Columbus started his travel to America from the nearby Palos de la Frontera. There you may still visit the monastery where he prepared his travel, alongside with a reconstruction of the port and the three famous ships.

The commercial harbor of Huelva is one of the leading ports in Spain in terms of traffic handled, mainly due to the shipment of ore from the Río Tinto and Tharsis. The tunny and sardine fisheries and the associated fish canning industry also make important contributions to the town’s economy. Unfortunately, the establishment of oil refineries and other petro-chemical industries, with a consequent uncontrolled building boom, has led to a dramatic deterioration in the local environment. Huelva is, these days, a busy port with copper, sulfur, and cork exports. It also has fishing, shipbuilding, oil refining, and summer resort industries.

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