Spain

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Palacio de Cristal , Madrid

Introducing Spain

Stretching sun-drenched and untamed to the south of the wild and majestic Pyrenees, this passionate nation works a mysterious magic. Spain is littered with hundreds of glittering beaches; flamenco bailaors (dancers) swirl in flounces of colour; and toreros (bullfighters) strut their stuff in the bullrings. Summer holidaymakers gather around great pans of steaming paella (at its tasty best in Valencia) and pitchers of sangria…

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Beyond these clichéd images, a vast, unexpected panorama unfolds before you. Emerald green mountains seem to slide into the wild blue Atlantic in the north. Proud, solitary castles and medieval towns are strewn across the interior. White villages glitter in inland Andalucía. Rugged mountain ranges such as the Sierra Nevada (Europe’s most southerly ski resort) are draped across the country. The Celtic music of Cantabria, Asturias & Galicia reminds one of the misty lands of Brittany, Scotland and Ireland.

From its Roman relics to Muslim palaces, from baroque cathedrals and Modernista constructions, the country is a treasure chest of artistic and architectural marvels across a matchless cultural palette. More than 30 years of democracy and rapid economic development have spurred Spain’s cities to bedeck themselves with sparkling new ornaments. An army of local and international architects has left a slew of daring signature buildings in Barcelona, Bilbao and Madrid, to name a few.

Up and down the country, a zest for life creates an intense, hedonistic vibe in its effervescent cities. Indeed, if there is one thing Spaniards love, it is to eat, drink and be merry, whether gobbling up tapas over fine wine in Madrid and the south, or its elaborate Basque Country equivalent, pintxos, over cider in the north.

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Last updated: Jan 18, 2012

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Thorn Tree forum discussion

Recent posts

  1. gawkabout avatar
    RE: Navigating Oktoberfest- final weekend

    by gawkabout 14 September 2011

    So are you a professional American bragart who wants to glorify us? As a Texan expat in Spain yI see you greenhorns a lot. Sickening!…
  2. PhiMeow avatar
    RE: Went to La Rambla Did Not Get Pickpocketed

    by PhiMeow 14 September 2011

    @JoannF..LoL..I just returned from Spain (Barcelona included) and I, for one, definitely enjoyed MY siestas! With respect to not being…
  3. anillos_de_saturno avatar
    RE: Camping in Spain: November

    by anillos_de_saturno 14 September 2011

    moonflower78 said on #2: +There is also (if you read Spanish) an online guide to official freecamping sites where you can empty waste,…

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