Monday, February 23, 2009

Vacation Spain - Heaps To Do For A Week Or A Weekend

By Adrian Fletcher

Spain remains a popular destination for people that will often spend their summer holidays on the Mediterranean coast as it has a high number of sunny days per year than most places in Europe. Spain is also popular for weekends away or short breaks. These sorts of weekends away generally involve city breaks, with places like Madrid and Barcelona being the destinations of choice.

Whilst many people might stop in Spain for the good weather and the chance to relax on the beaches, there is much more to Spain than that.

Many Things To Do And See

Moorish culture dominated Spain in the middle ages until Christian kings removed much of their influence. Two of the principal monuments that have survived are the Alhambra and the mosque in Cordoba. These are must see sites if you are interested in Moorish style and architecture (or even if you just like looking at old castles)

Madrid is the capital of Spain. It is located in the center of the country and has many famous attractions. Notably the Museo Prado which features some of the most famous painting you could wish to see. You can spend a whole day and even longer viewing paintings from Goya, Velzquez and Bosch. The Retiro park is another popular spot. The Plaza major is also popular with tourists. If you like football then a visit to the Bernabeu stadium is recommended.

A short train ride from Madrid is the old city of Toledo. This was famous for making swords and armor during the middle ages. It has a large castle and fortified town that is well worth a day trip if you are based in Madrid.

Barcelona is the second biggest city in Spain. It is the regional capital of the Catalan region and has many distinct differences from other parts of Spain. Although Castilian Spanish is the official language, Catalan is widely spoken in Barcelona.

The most eye catching aspect of Barcelona is the weird architecture. It is often described as surreal as the structures appear to be melting or comprise odd shapes. The Sagrada Familia church and the park Guell created by Gaudi are the signature pieces of this style of architecture. They attract many people, both local and tourists. La Rambla is another popular focal point. It is a long pedestrianized street that caters to tourists. There are many restaurants and bars on the street or in adjoining streets. There are many street performers and other entertainers to catch your attention.

Other places worth visiting in Spain include Andalusia, the biggest Spanish province and the coast of this part of the country that comprises places such as Cadiz and Malaga as well as Huelva and Almeria and even Granada are truly spectacular.

Spain also has many island retreats that have carved out some interesting identities for themselves. The Balearic islands are the party capital for many Europeans in the summer, particularly Ibiza, where many branded nightclubs started out and feature headline DJ's. The Canary Islands are also popular for people keen to get a bit of sun and relax for a week or two.

No matter what you plan to do in Spain, learning a bit of the language can make your stay in Spain so much better.

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