Resorts and Excursions
Being one of the biggest countries of Europe, there is never a dearth of good holiday resorts in the country for chilled out excursions. Both islands as well as the mainland of Spain boasts some finest resorts and excursion places around the world.
The Mediterranean beach resorts of Costa de Sol, Costa Blanca, and Costa Brava immediately come to mind while thinking about Spanish holiday resorts. But you may be missing out on some serious fun by not exploring the mainland country filled with picturesque landscapes.
The country has deciduous and coniferous forests, which host exquisite flora and fauna amidst rocky bays and coves, arid plains, salty marshes, and mountain streams. A visit to one of the many National Parks in Spain will be an eye-opener for any tourist in the country.
Nature is at its best in these vast lands of Spain with abundant wildlife, huge marshes and wetlands, isolated mountain peaks, and coastal dunes. Some of the National Parks worth visiting in Spain include, Aigües Tortes (Lleida), Coto de Donana (provinces of Seville and Huelva), Montana de Covadonga (Picos de Europa), Ordesa (Huesca Pyrenees), and Tablas de Daimiel (La Mancha). Spain's indigenous people have a treasure trove of heritage to showcase to the world. These include temples, Romanesque Churches, Mosques, Cathedrals, Castles, Fortresses, Renaissance and Baroque palaces, Cromlechs and ancient Cave Paintings.
This section is divided into 9 different regions (not necessarily political or cultural) for the sake of brevity.
1. The Capital City of Madrid
Madrid is a judicious blend of modern and ancient architecture, with its three museums perching right on top of the visitors' list. The Prado Museum has an exquisite collection of major Spanish and European artists from Renaissance onwards period. For a massive collection of over 800 western paintings from the Italian Renaissance to the 20th-century avant-garde, you should visit The Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza. The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia consists mostly Spanish artwork, including the works from Dali, Miro, Juan Gris, and Picasso.
The 18th Century Royal Palace, which has more than 20 rooms open for public viewing, is decked up with choicest paintings, carpets, furniture, silverware etc. The historic 17th Plaza Mayor has a variety of craft shops, restaurants, and tapas bars. The central Madrid comprises of Puerta del Sol, which is essentially a shopping district and the hub of city's nightlife.
The Retiro Park is the most visited open space in Madrid comprising a boating lake and summer concerts. The Botanical Garden, a small distance from The Prado Museum, is another favourite jaunt for nature lovers. The adventure seekers flock to The Casa de Campo, with attractions like swimming pool, a jogging track, tennis courts, and a zoo with aquarium. Kids would just love the adjoining adventure park, is the Parque de Atracciones.
A new theme park on bio-diversity in the southeast of Madrid, Parque Biologico, is also a delight for nature lovers. A 250-hectare Warner Brothers theme park in San Martin de la Vega is also one of the top hotspots in the city. If you are lucky enough, watch the top superstars of Real Madrid Football Club practice at the Bernabeu Stadium.
EXCURSIONS: There are several places of interest from the excursions' point of view in and around the capital city of Madrid. First up is the Monastery of San Lorenzo del Escorial, which was commissioned by Philip II as a mausoleum for Spanish rulers. The other highlights of the Monastery include the art museum, the palace, the library, and the basilica. Around 9 km (6 miles) from Escorial is the Valle de los Caidos (Valley of the Fallen), which is a massive crypt cut into the mountainside and surmounted by a stone cross of 152m (500ft). Infamous dictator, General Franco is buried here.
Close by, there is the birthplace of writer Miguel de Cervantes and the English queen, Catherine of Aragon, Alcala de Henares, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This site includes a 16th Century University, the 17th Century convent of San Bernardo, and the oldest surviving public theatre in Europe. Aranjuez is another place near Madrid, which is famous for its gardens, an 18th-century Summer Palace, strawberries and asparagus. Another attraction of this place is steam engine driven The Strawberry Train (Tren de la Fresa), which operates between Madrid and Aranjuez between mid-April to July, and September to mid-October.
The resorts of Puerto de Navacerrada and Valdesqui on the Sierra de Guadarrama Mountains, near Madrid, are oft-visited spots popular among winter sports' enthusiasts.
2. Andalucia
The mountainous region of Andalucia in the far south of Spain is vital from an economic point of view, with minerals, limes, grapes, lemons, and oranges from this region forming the backbone of Spanish economy.
Andalucia has a strong historical significance in Spain because this region was the last stronghold of Moors in the country. The most visible cities of this region include Seville, Granada, and Cordoba.
Seville is one the largest cities of Spain and is also known as the romantic heart of the country, and the city of Carmen & Don Juan. It is also home to the largest Gothic building in the world, and the famous explorer Christopher Columbus is also buried here. Other highlights of Seville include The Cathedral Bell Tower, the Alcazar (the palace-fortress of the Arab kings), Alcazar gardens, The Torre de Oro (part of the Arab fortifications and later said to have been covered with gold leaf imported from the Americas), Holy Week, April Fair (famous for drinking, eating, song and dance for the whole week).
Cordoba is famous for the First Century Great Mosque, which boasts of the Great Hall, the Patio de Los Naranjas, the Ablutions Courtyard, and the Mihrab (prayer niche). Just outside the town, you can have a closer glimpse of the ruined palace of Medina Azaha.
Granada's date with history is significant since it was the last city to fall to the Christians. Alhambra, one of the greatest monuments of Spain and numero uno tourist attraction, caps the beauty of the city with the Palacios Nazaries, its halls, courtyards, the Alcazaba (11th-century hilltop fortress), and the Generalife (gardens of the summer palace). Some of the other hotspots of Granada include the Arab baths, the Church of San Nicolas, and the Renaissance Casa de Castril.
The mountain range of Sierra Nevada is just 40 km south of Granada with a range of features, like the highest peaks in Iberia such as Pico de Veleta (3400 m or 11,155 ft). The mountain range hosts some exquisite resorts like Capileira, Pradollano, and Borreguiles. You can also hire coach excursions from Granada to beautiful and isolated villages of the Alpujarra on the southern Sierra Nevada. The entire mountain range has some interesting places and towns to visit.
Costa de la Luz is a beautiful coastal region extending from the Portuguese border in the west to Tarifa in the east. The special attractions in the main town of Cadiz include cathedrals, beaches, Torre Tavira, sherry town of Jerez de la Frontera, a restored 11th-century Moorish Alcazar with baths, Sierra de Grazalema National Park. Other attractions include the beautiful stalactite caves of Gruta de las Maravillas in Aracena in the north of Huelva province and the Coto de Donana National Park.
Costa del Sol has some of the finest beaches in Spain. Malaga is the feature town in this region, being the birthplace of Pablo Picasso. Many places relating to Picasso are thrown open to public viewing. Moorish, castles, cathedrals, and Tropical Gardens are some of the other hotspots in the region. The 'Balcony of Europe', Neria, is also situated in this region offering commanding views of the Mediterranean.
Costa de Almeria has some great attractions, like 16th century Cathedral and Church of Santiago el Viejo.
3. The African Enclaves
Ceuta is situated on the North Coast of Africa, but a part of Spanish African Enclaves. It is a free port dominated by the Plaza de Africa in the centre and a Cathedral in the city. The place is well connected by bus service from Morocco and car-ferry sailings from Algeciras.
Melilla is also situated on the North Coast of Africa, but a part of Spanish African Enclaves. It's also a free port and well connected by car ferries from Malaga and Almeria. The place has some very good historical and modern buildings to admire.
4. Castile/La Mancha & Extremadura
Situated between Madrid and Andalucia, this inland region is bordered by mountains to the north, east and south, and fed by two major rivers of Spain – Guadiana and the Tajo. Castile /La Mancha (Castilla La Nueva or New Castle) is the ancient Spanish capital of Toledo.
The highlights of the region include a magnificent Cathedral, Alcazar, home of the great Spanish painter, El Greco, Burial of the Count of Orgaz preserved in the Santo Tome Church, paintings by top artists at Hospital y Museo de Santa Cruz, a splendid Renaissance building with a Plateresque façade, its two medieval synagogues, a 10th-century mosque, hometown of Don Quixote, exquisite medieval towns, lakes, mountains, valleys etc.
Extremadura consists of the provinces of Caceres and Badajoz. This is a historic region highlighting ancient buildings dating from Caceres' Golden Age during the 16th century, Trujillo (the birthplace of the conquistador, Francisco Pizarro), old churches, ruins of a massive castle in Badajoz, ancient Roman ruins in the town of Merida, and the birthplace of Cortes, Medellin.
5. Castile/Leon & La Rioja
This region lies to the north and northwest of Madrid and forms part of the northern Meseta Central, and is bordered by high mountains to the north, east and south and fed by one of the biggest rivers of Spain, the Douro. This region is rich in agricultural produce.
Castile la Vieja has the pride of place in the form of Sierra de Gredos, Avila, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its perfectly preserved 11th-century walls and as the birthplace of the 16th century mystic, St Teresa. The site constitutes a cathedral, the Convento de la Encarnacion, 800m-long Roman aqueduct, Segovia, 18 exquisite Romanesque churches, and Gothic cathedral of Arab Alcazar.
Other highlights of the region include 18th century Summer Palace and gardens of La Granja, 13th-century Church of San Juan de Duero and cathedral of San Pedro in the town of Soria, and plenty of other historically relevant places.
Leon is a vibrant city and also a historical place occupying an important place in the history of Spain. The Cathedral occupies the principal place of interest in the city with some outstanding 13th century stained glass. Some of the other highlights of the city include the Pantheon in the Church of San Isidoro that contains the tombs of the medieval kings of Castile and Leon, 'European City of Culture' of 2002, Salamanca, is the Museo Art Nouveau y Art Deco, and several other religious places.
La Rioja is renowned for its vineyards. It is a great historical and cultural centre being home to the origins of poetry in the Castilian language. It also contains the channel of a European stream of culture, the Road to Santiago.
6. The Northern Region
We have divided this region into northwestern Spain and the northern coast stretching up to the French frontier. Galicia is a hilly region with plenty of natural features like gorges, rivers, canyons etc.
Other highlights include deep fjord-like estuaries (rias), forests of fir and eucalyptus, the Ciudad Vieja (old quarter) in La Coruna, the pilgrimage of Santiago de Compostela (The Way of St James, a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Roman Walls in Lugo, and lots of other historical, cultural, and religious places. Asturias is a small historical mountainous town with the major highlight of a 12th-century Gothic Cathedral.
The other highlights include Romanesque churches, beaches, and lots of other religious places. Cantabria is famous for its resorts and is one of the principal skiing destinations of Spain. Some of the other highlights include a Gothic Cathedra, the Municipal Museum containing rare collection of paintings by many 17th and 18th century artists, beaches, music festival in August at Santander, The Caves of Altamira, historic town of Santillana del Mar with buildings dating from the 12th to 18th centuries, and the therapeutic mineral waters of Solares.
The Basque Country (Pais Vasco) constitutes the cities of Guipúzcoa, Vizcaya and Alava. This is mainly an agricultural area and the epicentre of an ongoing separatist movement. The region has a lot of historical significance with features like Gothic Cathedrals, famous Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum, and some pristine beaches ad coastal resorts.
7. Navarre & Aragon
These kingdoms are situated in the southwest of the French border, with the Pyrenees to the northeast. Ernest Hemmingway made Pamplona in Navarre famous in his novel The Sun Also Rises (1927). The place is famous for the Festival of Fermin (Jul 6-14), the 'Running of the Bulls'. Other attractions include Renaissance Cathedral, Old Walled Quarter, and a huge Citadel.
Aragon is a university town with main features including, a medieval Cathedral, an ancient Moorish Palace, a 17th century Basilica dedicated to the Virgin of Pilar, The Museo de Zaragoza, wine areas of Borja and Carinena, historic castles, Ordesa National Park, spa town of Balneario de Panticosa, and several remnants of Islamic culture.
8. Valencia & Murcia
Valencia is Spain's third largest city renowned for its orange groves, vibrant nightlife, football club, and one of the largest fruit and vegetable markets in Europe. Other major attractions include, pristine beaches, magnificent resorts, Santiago Calatrava's City of Arts and Science Park, The Hemispheric (a marvellous glass structure) housing a planetarium, IMAX dome and Laserium, Oceanarium at The Palace of Arts, the Holy Grail in Valencia's Cathedral, and the festival of The Fallas (Mar 15-19) which culminates in the burning of papier-mache effigies satirising famous Spanish personalities and splendid fireworks.
Murcia's major attraction is a cathedral, a university, and a small old quarter. Other highlights include, the salt water lagoon at Mar Menor, tennis, golf and other sports at La Manga, Cartegna Museum housing a rare collection of Roman and pre-Roman artefacts, Moorish castle of Santa Barbara in Alicante, beaches of Costa Brava, and several other historical towns, places and sites.
The coastal region of Costa del Azahar also boasts of some pristine beaches and a medieval fortress town of Peniscola. Other highlights include the ruined castle of Chisvert, 16th century Torre del Rey at Oropesa, and the Carmelite monastery at the Desierto de las Palmas.
9. Catalonia or Catalunya
Catalonia is the eastern coastal region of Spain bordering France, having Catalan as its principal language. Catalonian economy is heavily dependent on industry and commerce, though agriculture also plays an important role with olive oil, almonds, and wine as main produce.
Barcelona, the second largest city of Spain, is the major place of interest in this region. The city is an industrial powerhouse and a vital Mediterranean port.
Other highlights include the Episcopal Palace, the Plaça del Rei, the Seu (old cathedral), the Palau de la Generalitat, the Museo Picasso, Barcelona's main thoroughfare - Las Ramblas, Antoni Gaudi's still incomplete church of the Sagrada Familia (Holy Family), the cable car to Montjuic in the southern suburbs, The funicular to the highest of Barcelona's hills - Tibidabo, the Monastery of Peldralbes housing part of the Thyssen-Bornemisza art collection, and plenty of museums, art houses, and monasteries.
The Costa Dorada has some of the finest beaches in Spain. Other highlights include amphitheatre, aqueduct, fortified walls, the town of Mont Blanc having a Gothic church and the ruins of 12th century Cistercian monastery at Poblet, resorts, and theme parks.
The Costa Brava has Spain's best pine-clad rocks, sandy bays and package resorts. Other highlights include the eye-catching mountain scenery of the province of Lleida, Gothic Cathedral, the birthplace of the artist Salvador Dali – Figueres, medieval village of Pals, and plenty of beaches and resorts.
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