1. Pueblos Blancos – Andalucia
The white villages that dot the rugged hillsides in central Andalucia
seem to almost defy gravity in places. Formerly farming villages, many
fell into disrepair as the younger generation headed to the cities in
search of work. Now locals and overseas visitors alike have rediscovered
their charm, and the narrow streets, whitewashed houses, pretty old
churches and flower-strewn squares have been restored. Particularly
lovely villages include Grazalema, Vejer de la Frontera and Arcos de la
Frontera.
2. The Alhambra – Granada
The stunningly ornate Moorish palace, the Alhambra, is one of Spain’s
most visited monuments and it’s not hard to see why. A sprawling complex
of palaces surrounded by ornate gardens perched atop of a hill with the
snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountains behind, it’s in a
spectacular location. The interior is similarly beautiful with romantic
intricate Moorish-style decoration around peaceful courtyards
contrasting with the powerfully simplistic lines of later vast Baroque
additions.
3. Gaudi’s Masterpieces – Barcelona
The proud capital of the Catalunia region, Barcelona
has heaps to offer the visitor – great nightlife, shopping and beaches.
But it’s the phantasmagoric buildings created by legendary architect
Gaudi that are by far the biggest stars of the show. The still
unfinished La Sagrada Familia with its amorphous spindly towers and
oddly shaped buttresses and roof is the most visited of his creations.
Although his residential buildings like the Casa Mila are also wonderful
as are his more playful statues and benches in the popular Park Guell.
4. Stunning natural scenery – Picos de Europa
Spain’s natural scenery – from the sandy coastline to the vast plains –
is constantly surprising, but the lofty peaks of the Picos de Europa
mountain ranges are without doubt the most spectacular. Craggy mountain
peaks, verdant valleys and raging rivers combine to make this chunk of
northern Spain perfect hiking and adventure territory – whitewater
rafting and snowshoeing are particular favourites. There’s heaps of
wildlife too including the endangered Cantabrian Brown Bear and wolves.
5. The Cathedral – Santiago de Compostela
Spain’s many vast Gothic cathedrals are testament to the country’s
long-held Christian traditions. Perhaps the most spellbinding is the
vast one at Santiago de Compostela. It’s a huge building smothered in
Baroque swirls, statues and stalagmites. Possibly the most remarkable
vista is the Western facade which forms the main entrance, accessed by a
magnificent quadruple flight of stairs. The cathedral is also the final
destination of the thousands of pilgrims who walk the Way of St James
trail each year.
6. Volcanic Views – Mount Teide Tenerife
A couple of hours south by plane from the Spanish mainland, the Canary
Islands are far closer to African shores than European ones and their
natural landscape is radically different. Much of the land is volcanic,
with steep slopes and dark grey sands on the beaches. At the centre of
Tenerife – the most popular of the Canary Islands – stands the mighty
Mount Teide a vast snow-capped volcano. It’s great hiking territory and
at this altitude the scenery is almost moon-like. There’s a cable car to
the summit and the views from up here out towards the other Canary
Islands shouldn’t be missed.
7. Beautiful Beaches – Formentera
Spain has over 5000 miles of coastline and bright sunny days for much of
the year, so it’s unsurprising that it’s a beach Mecca. From jam-packed
tourist beaches to deserted stretches of virgin sand there’s a beach
for just about everyone. Some of the most unspoilt and ultra-white are
found on the shores of the Balearic Island of Formentera. The island is
located in the Mediterranean Sea and only a couple of hours by boat from
the mainland. Ses Illetes is a long curve of white sand, backed by soft
dunes with shallow ultramarine seawater lapping its fringes.
8. City of Arts and Sciences – Valencia
Spain has its share of outstanding historical architecture, but it’s
also looking firmly towards the future for many of its building projects
of more recent years. The wonderful curves of the Guggenheim museum
have really put Bilbao on the map, but it’s the City of Arts and
Sciences designed by the wonderfully exuberant Spanish architect
Santiago Calatrava that is the pinnacle of modern architecture in Spain.
His amorphous, buildings in stark white are a feast of odd angles and
unusual shapes at any time of the day, but they look particularly
spectacular when floodlit at night.
9. Plaza de Espana – Seville
The majestic capital of the Andalusia region, Seville is stuffed with
beautiful sights and is wonderfully atmospheric. The Plaza de Espana was
designed by local architect Anibal Gonzalez for the great 1929
Ibero-American Exhibition that was held in the city and virtually
bankrupted it. It’s a feast of ornate colourful towers and colonnades
decorated with tiles and motifs. At its centre there’s a huge fountain
and canals which visitors can float along on on hired pedalos. It’s such
a striking place that it often features in movies – most notably Star
Wars Episode 2 – Attack of the Clones.
10. Roman Remains – Segovia
The Romans ruled Spain for over 700 years and there are reminders of
their presence all over the country. Perhaps the most remarkable, is the
wonderfully preserved aqueduct at Segovia in central Spain. It was used
by the ancient Romans to bring water to the city. A double-height set
of graceful arches, it’s 2950 feet long and it’s held together just by
the weight of gravity on the carefully carved blocks that comprise it.
There is no mortar whatsoever. With its 167 arches, at its highest
point, it reaches almost 900 feet high – an incredible feat of
engineering.
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