The land of literary figures like Don Quixote, famous painters like Picasso, and the launching point for monumental explorers like Christopher Columbus all prove that Spain is a big deal in Europe. The variety of its landscapes extends to the diversity of its languages, cuisines, art and culture. Roman ruins settle into the country next to Muslim palaces. Castles and medieval towns weave in and out of modern cities. Green mountains blend with blue ocean waters and the sparkling Mediterranean Sea. Yes, that’s Spain for you, incredibly diverse on all levels.
As many venture to Spain, they join a laundry list of settlers that have passed through its lands. The oldest settlers left behind a few items, indicating civilizations started coming to Spain from 30,000 B.C. to 50,000 B.C. The Iberians, Celts, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Goths, Muslims and Christians all came to Spain, perhaps looking for all that rain on the plains. The list keeps on going with Phoenicians, Jews and Arabs all venturing to Spain for its key geographic location in Europe.
Spain hosts some of the most famed cities in the entire world. These cities are not just famous for any old reason. They all speak loudly and clearly for themselves, showing off their art, architecture, and culture down every street. Madrid is just one of those cities, priding itself on being the capital of Spain. It is in Madrid that the economic and political heart of Spain beats. Situated in the Iberian Peninsula, Madrid is home to some of the greatest works of Spanish art. The Prado Museum and Museo Nacional Centro de’ Arte Reina Sofía play the name game with their collections. Picasso, Murillo, Velazquez, and Dali’s works of art can all be found in the city. Aside from museums and attractions, Madrid is home to a thriving cultural scene, covered in cafes, nightclubs, and theaters.
Forgetting Barcelona in Spain’s roundup of great cities would be like forgetting to visit the Eiffel Tower while in Paris. The showstopper in this Spanish city is without a doubt its architecture. Antoni Gaudi’s art nouveau style infiltrates the city, especially at Palau Guell. Barcelona is also a standout for monuments and historical sites as it is the Catalan capital. All of the others are envious of Barcelona for it is the most visited of the country’s cities. Vehemently, the city of Valencia makes a case to stop here post Barcelona indulgence. It is the third largest city in Spain. Valencia boasts the birthplace of one famous Spanish item, paella. The rich rice dish originated along the plazas and tree-lined avenues of Valencia.
Spain is just naturally gifted. The country rests in an ideal location, hugging the Mediterranean coastline while embracing the Atlantic Ocean at the same time. Travelers will find the natural aspects to Spain as plentiful as the many tapas restaurants in every city. The Pyrenees Mountains are a popular hiking spot, especially around Aragón. The sections of mountains around Andalucía satisfy skiers with a number of ski resorts. The Sierra Nevada Mountain range is a little rougher around the edges, lending Spain’s raw natural appeals. The country covers in national parks, including Coto de Ponana. This wildlife refuge and national park falls in southwestern Spain and has been deemed one of the world’s most valuable wetlands.
The country continues in natural attractions by keeping in close contact with water of any kind. Sea or ocean, Spain does not discriminate when it comes to beautiful beaches. In the south of the country, those with suntan oil will find quiet and secluded beaches around Huelva, Almería, and Malaga. For those that love a good beach scene, Spain offers more resort style beaches where that patch of golden sand is shared with a few hundred others looking to get tan. Popular resort towns spread out along the Costa de la Luz and the Costa del Sol.
There are those calm moments in a tiny medieval village in Spain and then there is the club scene, blaring techno to be heard for miles around. That party scene is notoriously embodied off of the main land of Spain in Ibiza. Ibiza is just one of the Balearic Islands. Its two specialties are beaches and nightlife. Ibiza is also remarkably beautiful, covered in picturesque white houses and ancient ruins.
The country of bullfights and flamenco dancing is so much more than just that. Spain’s diversity could be intentional. The country satisfies all types of travelers, offering the old with a little dash of the new, mountains blending with the sea, and a rich culture in every destination that can never go out of style. Clichés hold true here for there are those paradoxes of rains and plains falling in Spain.
