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.
Make it happen:
- Download our new Spanish Offline Translator app. Simply talk or type, and it translates. Available for iPhone, iPad and Andorid.
- Go on a 4-day trip to Cordoba, Seville and Granada
- Discover the hidden valleys and soaring peaks of Spain's Picos de Europa
- Gourmet food and Catalan culture on a tour of Barcelona's famous tapas bars
Last updated: Jan 18, 2012
Tips & articles
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Lapping it up around the world
19 January 2012
Soup: a warming staple the world over – but who knew there were so many fine flavours? The ten below...
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Master the art of cooking like a local
19 January 2012
One of the best souvenirs you can bring back from a trip is some tasty dishes to share with your...
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Seville goes green
4 January 2012
Welcome to the new Seville, a cleaner, greener and more breathable metropolis, where bikes, pedestrians and streamlined electric trams roam....
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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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!…
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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…
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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,…
Hotels & Hostels
Top cities in Spain
Browse more cities in SpainFeatured property
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Fornalutx Petit Hotel
(2 star Hotel)
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Spain
Things to do
- All things to do (3,457)
- Activities (448)
- Entertainment (787)
- Restaurants (872)
- Shopping (363)
- Sights (946)
- Tours (41)
Make it happen
Our Top Picks For Spain
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1 Barcelona
Spain's Mediterranean jewel sparkles with its Gaudí and gourmet delights, a buzzing waterfront scene and 2000 years of history
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2 Balearic Islands
From Menorca's crystal coves and Mallorca's dramatic mountain coast to Ibiza's clubs and Formentera's chilled scene, these islands offer it all
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3 Granada
Eight hundred years of Muslim rule left an indelible mark on this fascinating city, dominated by the magic of the Alhambra
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4 San Sebastián
The elegant old centre of this Basque city, sited on a crescent-shaped beach, is a hive of nocturnal activity
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5 Madrid
With its grand boulevards and art museums and outrageous nightlife till dawn, there’s no time for boredom
Fast Facts about Spain
- Head of government
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
- Highest point in peninsular Spain
Mulhacén at 3479m
- Official languages
Spanish (Castilian or castellano), Catalan, Galician (gallego), Basque (euskera/vasco)
- Area
505, 000 sq km
- Famous for
Bullfighting, Pablo Picasso, jamón, sunshine, Penelope Cruz, Don Quijote, Pedro Almodóvar films, late nights, tapas, Manolo Blahnik
- Capital
- Population
46.6 million
- Captain of Spanish national football team
Iker Casillas
- Foodie fact
Spaniards spend more on food per capita than anyone else in Europe!
- Biggest paella
Made in Valencia in 1992 in a pan 20m in diameter; it was eaten by 100, 000 people
Our favourite Spain Blogs (beta)
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I like big tapas and I cannot lie
Blog: La Tortuga Viajera - 31 January 2012
When I go home to the States and order myself a drink, I half expect a free tapa to magically appear in front of me. Even a measly plate of sad olives. Instead I get a glass of semi-drinkable, expensive wine with a side of nothing. Sigh. But then I return to Spain. To cure [...]
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Small House Nestled in the Pyrenees Mountains in Vall de Boi, Spain
Blog: Everything Everywhere - 31 January 2012
Originally posted on the Everything Everywhere Travel Blog. Discover great travel quotes.
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Malaga in a flash
Blog: photito's blog - 29 January 2012
Malaga is one of those places. It’s definitely not Spain’s most beautiful city, nor can it claim to have great sights that will blow your mind. Still, it has something that makes me return; time and time again. You may have guessed it, Malaga has an international airport! And I, like most other people living [...]
