Spain lies at the crossroads of history, and its cities reflect the comings and goings of great civilizations. Today, the modern cities co-exist with a strong sense of the past. Having coastline on both the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, and borders with Portugal and France, Spain is a popular destination.
Madrid is the capital and largest city in Spain. It is also the highest city in Europe, at 2000 feet above sea level and is centrally located in the middle of the country. Madrid hosts three major museums in the Golden Triangle of Art, including the Prado and has the Royal Theater, including the restored 1850 Opera House. The nightlife in Madrid is undoubtedly one of the city’s main attractions. Tapas bars, cocktail bars, clubs, jazz lounges, live music venues, flamenco theatres and establishments of all kinds cater for all tastes and ages. Retiro Park, formerly the grounds of the palace built for Felipe IV, is Madrid’s largest and most popular park and a major attraction in the city.
Barcelona is Spain’s second largest city and a major port on the Mediterranean Sea. The Gothic Quarter is the center of the old city of Barcelona and has many buildings that date from medieval times, some from as far back as the Roman settlement of Barcelona. A great number of these buildings are World Heritage Sites. The work of architect Antoni Gaudí can be seen throughout the city, but his best known work is the immense but still unfinished church of the Sagrada Família, which has been under construction since 1882, and is still financed by private donations. Shopping on Las Ramblas is a very popular activity. This is a vibrant and lively promenade lined with shops and restaurants to delight most tourists.
Valencia is another port city in Spain revolving around industry and commerce, but with a love of art and music. The Fallas is an internationally recognized festival held in the spring that draws tourists to witness the burning of paper maché art, representing the tradition of local carpenters burning their wood shavings to celebrate the end of winter. The City of Arts and Sciences is a modern complex that houses Europe’s largest aquarium, as well as an interactive science museum, opera house and planetarium, among other things.
Other popular sites in Spain are the Alhambra in Granada, the Mosque in Cordoba and the beaches of Costa del Sol. The countryside is also dotted with palaces and castles, some now used as hotels called Paradores. Enjoying the vibrant culture of Spain in their Flamenco dancing, their music and their cuisine is easy to do on an escorted tour or you might prefer to plan your own itinerary using train transportation or a rental car. Barcelona is a major cruise port for the Mediterranean as well, so you can cruise in and out of Spain.
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