Entries Tagged 'Spain' ↓

Barcelona is one of the best places in the world to appreciate the Mediterranean atmosphere. It is a city to be found on the northeast coast of the Iberian Peninsula.

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain and the capital city of Catalonia. This place has won the esteemed 1999 RIBA Royal Gold Medal, mainly because of the structural designs of edifices. Not all cities have had the prestige of having that award. It used to be just architects who win awards like these, but Barcelona has pretty much done it as a city. That’s how beautiful this city is as far as architecture is concerned. Add the fact that Barcelona is included in the top 10 list by a Travel Magazine under the category of must-visit places in Europe

The early 20th century structural designs of Catalan were developed here in Barcelona between 1885 and 1950. True enough, it has left a vital heritage in the city. Group of these creations are now known as World Heritage Sites. Part of these sites are works of the celebrated architect Antoni Gaudí, responsible for the great but still-in-progress temple of the Sagrada Família (construction of this started in year 1882 and is due for completion in 2026).

Another renowned architect was Lluís Domènech i Montaner, who was responsible for the design of the Palau de la Música Catalana.

Barcelona is a great destination for historical pieces as it a convergence of a good number of museums, one of which is The City History Museum that used to be a royal residence. Works of Joan Miró can be found in the museum of the Fundació Joan Miró. The Picasso Museum can also be found in Barcelona, which features early works by Pablo Picasso.

Barcelona also now has a revitalized coastline which is always picture-worthy nowadays.

Taste for yourself the gastronomical delights of this city. Pan con tomate with tapas are some of the originals of Barcelona, and these can very much go well with your choice of wine.

Come and visit this majestic city…Barcelona!

Seville (Sevilla) is one beautiful part of Spain, and is home to many magnificent citadels and cathedrals. Regardless of its many historical sites, it is also a place where you can find several of the modern destinations. The great balance of old and new is what attracts a lot of in this part of the planet…especially during the summer season.

Seville has long, dry and hot summers and even warm winters. Annual average temperature is 18.2C and can go up as high as 26.6. No wonder, it is known to be one of the hottest places in Europe. But the hot weather is not a hindrance for people to enjoy Seville’s wonderful tourist spots

Seville is proud to have the tallest tower in Spain, which is attached to its cathedral. The La Giralda (Moorish Tower) is 319 feet high and is an ancient minaret of the Islamic Mosque. Another one of its pride is the Torre del Oro or Golden Tower (made of golden tiles that reflect the sun) built at the end of the reign of the Taifa Kings.

There are lots of other visit-worthy places in Seville and can easily be seen with any City Bus tours with English-speaking guides. There are also hop on / hop off Seville guided bus tours which give an easy way of sightseeing.

For sheer Andalucian culture, Seville is the place to be.

Seville Information / Fast Facts and Orientation

• Country: Spain / España
• Status: city / capital of Andalusia
• Population: 720,000 in the city, 41 million in Spain
• Language: Castilian Spanish
• Currency: Euro (EUR)
• Time zone: 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
• Country dialling code: +34
• Telephone area code: 95
• Religion: Roman Catholic
• Electricity: 220 volts, 50 Hz - round two-pin plugs are used

The City of Murcia is dubbed as one of the most beautiful in the country of Spain and is without doubt also a tourist-prone spot. It is located at the south of Valencia and it has about only 300,000 inhabitants. This place is entrenched in the mountains of Sierra de Orihuela and Cresto de Gallo. Its huge and urbane watering system made it very famous as a vegetable-producing place. It is also irrigated by the Rivers Segura, Murdo and Sangonera. However, there are also areas in which it has dry span that serve as thriving area for olives and vines.

Murcia was a Moor-founded city way back in 825 AD. During those times, the Moors (Arab) named it Mursiya. The Caliph of Cordoba, Abd ar-Rahman II, founded it on the site of a Roman colony.

Murcia has sunshine all throughout the year, and it can get really hot during the summer. The city has evident Moorish influence showcased in their extraordinary city walls. It has its own university and it’s well-known to host many conventions.

There are 23 diverse chapels in the city, although, The Cathedral is the most valued building in Murcia (first foundation was built in 1388 by Bishop Pedrosa).

Murcia exemplifies loaded history of commerce and agriculture. In fact, its original populace, the Iberian tribes, forged money-making relations with Phoenicians and Greeks. Later on, the place became first a Carthaginean colony, then a Roman colony. The Moors left the legacy of effectual and contemporary agricultural production, which is still being used up to these days.

Tarragona is to be found on the Mediterranean shoreline, about 60 miles southwest of Barcelona, Spain, in the area of Catalonia. Tarragona has about 110,000 people and it is the main city on the Costa Dorada. The coastal area of Tarragona reaches up to 212 km, whereby you can witness its unruffled blue waters. On the other hand, the domestic landscape is enhanced by the powerful luster of sunbeams. The sight of vineyards, hazel, almond, and olive trees give an atmosphere of charm and splendor.

The original name of the city was Tarraco. Previous settlers may have occupied the area, however the first Tarragona inhabitants were led by Gneus Scipio, who established a Roman military camp in 218 B.C. The force developed quickly and the place was declared a colony of Rome in 45 B.C. by Julius Ceasar. Tarragona was then considered as the key Roman town in Spain.

Tarragona , being situated in a very coastal spot, there is no doubt that the main menus will capitalize on SEAFOODS. The local cooking has FISH as core ingredient. One ver famous Tarragonian food product is the Romesco sauce (the first-rate olive oil from El Camp and the peppers grown in the vicinity, as well as the clandestine ingredient handed down from generation to generation of fishermen, are the indispensable components of this sauce).

The Tarragonians are honest, penny-wise, and generally hospitable even if they have certain reservations towards strangers…quite a universal behavior.

Mondays are hushed days in Tarragona. Shops and amusements are closed on Mondays. So never schedule a vacation in Tarragona on a Monday, unless you just want a relaxing escape form the jostle of the metropolis.

Today, Tarragona has gone a long way from its Roman history and is now comparable to other modernized cities. Still, it is an enriching hub for historians and archaeologists who persist on unearthing ancient Roman relics. Wine trade is also a major industry in this place.

Spanair S.A., a Spanish airline “Member of the SAS Group”, (and serving the public for two decades now by offering international, domestic, and chartered flights) announced their cheap flight promos. Now, from Spain, off we go to other parts of Spain and European destinations. HELLOWW SPAIN! HELLOWW EUROPE!

Bilbao - Munich 49 € Until the 1st of September
Madrid - Frankfurt 49 € Until the 1st of September
Madrid - Vienna 99 € Until the 1st of September
Zurich - Barcelona 45 € Until the 1st of September
Frankfurt - Madrid 49 € Until the 1st of September
Stuttgart - Madrid 49 € Until the 1st of September
Zurich - Madrid 53 € Until the 1st of September
Madrid - Granada Jaen 25 € Until the 30th of June
Barcelona - Majorca 25 € Until the 30th of June
Madrid - Majorca 25 € Until the 30th of June
Barcelona - A Coruña 25 € Until the 30th of June
Barcelona - Jerez 25 € Until the 30th of June
Barcelona - Vigo 25 € Until the 30th of June
Barcelona - Santiago 25 € Until the 30th of June
Barcelona - Asturias 25 € Until the 30th of June
Madrid - Vigo 25 € Until the 30th of June
Madrid - Pamplona 25 € Until the 30th of June
Madrid - Asturias 25 € Until the 30th of June
Almeria - Madrid 25 € Until the 30th of June
A Coruña - Madrid 25 € Until the 30th of June
Bilbao - Madrid 25 € Until the 30th of June
Malaga - Madrid 25 € Until the 30th of June

*One way prices, buying round trip. All INCLUDED.

http://www.spanair.com/

Cadiz (pronounced as Cadith) is a marvelous town that has once served as home to bona fide voyagers like Ferdinand Magellan and Amerigo Vespucci. This place is often visited by tourists, as it is so close to another tourist favorite, Seville, which is another beautiful city of Spain. Cadiz is a preferred harbor amongst chic cruise ships.

Cadiz is located in Southern Spain in close proximity to the Rock of Gibraltar. The old city is small and very much echoes the Moorish era. The narrow streets are made up of cobblestones, well-preserved up to now. Their most favorite structure to flaunt? The twin-towered Cathedral, which is just a stone’s throw away from the harbor.

The Landward Gate, one of the city’s few 18th century walls, is still in place. Several of the aged buildings tell a rich association of Cadiz to other countries. Santa Cruz and San Felipe Neri, which were historically instrumental places for the changes of Spain’s Constitution, are the must-see churches of Cadiz are the churches of. The La Santa Cueva( home to quite a lot of paintings by Goya), and majestic mansions such as the Casa del Almirante and Casa de las Cadenas are other landmarks that are worth visiting.

Almería has centuries of history and it will surely be evident on the structures that you will see around. One good image is the Arab citadel that watches over the entire city. Almeria’s history is not just contributed by the Moorish occupation. This place also holds numerous archaeological indications of the various ancient cultures, including the Tartessos , Phoenicians , Romans, and Visigoths, who were drawn here by the natural beauty and useful maritime geographic location even before the Arabs came.

In 1522, Almeria was distressed by a seismic activity. Reconstruction and recovery did not arrive in Almeria’s favor until the 19th century.

With its interesting medieval architecture, Almeria’s old town is a delight to stroll through with its tranquil squares, archways and colonnades. The city also has a fascinating archaeological museum and unique cave dwellings in the hillside above the old gypsy quarter.

WEATHER

This is mainland Europe’s warmest and sunniest region, with over 3000 hours of sunshine a year. Until recently Almeria was less accessible than some other Spanish destinations, a fact which has undoubtedly helped to shield it from the excess of tourism and let it to become the unspoiled, peaceful place it is today.

Towns of Costa Almeria:

Adra, Agua Amarga, Aguadulce, Alba, Albox, Alcolea, Alhama de Almeria , Almanzora , Almeria, Almerimar, Antas, Arboleas, Bayarcal, Bedar, Berja, Cabo de Gata, Cabrera, Canjayar, Cantoria, Carboneras, Chirivel, Cuevas del Almanzora, Dalias, El Ejido, Finana, Gador,Garrucha,Gergal,Huercal Overa ,La Alfoquia, Laujar de Andarax, Los Gallardos , Los Lobos ,Lubrin, Lucainena de las Torres , Maria, Mojacar Playa, Mojacar Pueblo,Mojacar pueblo,Nijar,Olula del Rio, Oria, Palomares , Puerto Rey, Pulpi, Retamar, Roquetas de Mar, San Jose, San Juan de Terreros, Seron, Sorbas, Tabernas, Taberno, Tijola, Turre, Velez Blanco, Velez Rubio, Vera, Vera Playa, Vicar,Villaricos, Zurgena

Bilbao, capital of Provincia de Vizcaya is situated in Northern Spain. It is made up of aged and contemporary segments linked by several bridges spanning the Rio Nervion.

The oldest component of the city is the Old City (known as the Seven Streets) has been under local security since 1972 due to its historical value. In here are the most imperative shops of the city, and it has a continual chain of bars and restaurants which bestows an extraordinary ambience.

At the very core of the Seven Streets is the Santiago Cathedral , which is the oldest sight that you can see in the vicinity. It has Gothic architecture and is definitely classified as a national integral piece in the history of art and architecture.

Bilbao lies within a huge iron ore mining expanse, near the Bay of Biscay, making it one of the major industrial centers of Spain and also an important seaport.

Bilbaínos are noted to be passionate with their ball games. They are also renowned for their warmth; a visitor to their territory is made to feel at home.

It is now a vibrant city of around 360,000 inhabitants. It forms the hub of the Greater Bilbao metropolis, which is habitat to almost one million people. The City of Bilbao is the Basque Country’s monetary and artistic centre. It is linked to the rest of Spain and Europe by an urbane highway network. It is also the permanent site of the International Samples Trade Fair . Bilbao is now considered one of the most exciting destinations in Europe.

For a long period of time, Bilbao was a very industrial area, one could see, even from miles away, the oven flames that were transforming iron into steel. Tourism was definitely not a foremost scheme of commerce, even if the inhabitants were mostly local tourists from other parts of Spain.

Bilbao, as industrialized as it is, has constantly comprised a unique appeal made possible by traces of earlier times, such as their old theaters, hospitals, mansions, and palaces.

With much gratitude to the construction of the famous Guggenheim Museum designed by the well-renowned Frank O. Gehry, people are now seeing Bilbao in a whole new light. More and more tourists are looking forward to visit Bilbao. Major developments such as metropolitan bridges, luxury hotels, sanitation moves, contemporary metro lines are now much anticipated, making the Bilbainos much more optimistic with reference to their homeland.

Located in the middle of the West Mediterranean and about 60 miles off the coast of Spain, Mallorca (also spelled Majorca and read as MaYorKa) is said to be the largest of the 16 Balearic Islands. It measures 96 km at its widest point and 78 km long. This island covers an area of 3.640 km2, of which 554 km are made up of coastline. It owns varied scenery, and it has been a home to sundry cultures since olden times. Today, it has been a magnet to millions of tourists because of the mostly sunny weather and undeniably beautiful landscape. The continued visits of tourists even led to the birth of different lucrative businesses and became the main source of income for the island’s inhabitants.

Famous (and not-so-famous) European geniuses like Archiduke Louis Salvador of Austria, Chopin and Georges Sands, Robert Graves, Joan Miró are just some of the few who introduced themselves to the region. Many have spent their lives in the island. At present, Mallorca is slowly becoming a favorite destination to visit by some 7million tourists every year. Some opt to live permanently in the island (adding to the almost 600,000 population), making it a mixture of various people of different descents, mostly European.

Mallorca enjoys all the 4 seasons in a year although the typical weather is moderate and comparatively dry. Spring is a magnificent time to enjoy Mallorca’s natural reserves. It is a rather quiet season. Summer (from June to September) is definitely the unbeatable season that makes Mallorca famous to tourists. It is during this season that the sun fanatics flock the island. Autumn means the return of the perfect weather for walkers and nature-trippers. It is in this time of the year that the locals can show off their different home grown produce in the dynamic village markets. Winter season in Mallorca is to some extent subdued compared to the other seasons.

Mallorca does have first class hotels, shopping places, gambling locations, night spots, restaurants, top rated golf courses, museums, nature parks, fabulous beaches, and horse-riding clubs which are really a favorite among tourists.