Palma de Mallorca
Palma de Mallorca, most commonly known simply as Palma is the largest city and port of the island of Mallorca, and is also the capital city of the Balearic Islands off the coast of Spain. A much smaller center than many of the other cities in Spain, Palma offers all the historical aspects of the larger cities in a much more relaxed environment. As with any seaside resort area, Palma is famous for its beaches and waterfront leisure and recreational areas.
The Cathedral of Palma, Sa Seu, is a remarkable representation of a Gothic type of structure. It is well worth the day off from relaxing on the beach to tour this impressive structure and the view of the city and the waterfront from the Cathedral is spectacular. There are other numerous examples of Roman, Arabian and Gothic architecture in the various palaces, museums, religious buildings and even mansions and houses in the area. (more…)
May 5, 2008
Valencia
Valencia is a city as well as a province located on the eastern coast of Spain. As one of the three primary cities and commerce locations in the country of Spain, Valencia is both a cultural as well as a business hub. The city itself was first founded in 137 BC and has withstood a great many changes throughout its history.
The weather in Valencia is beautiful most of the year with lots of sun and moderate rain levels to keep the area rich and green with vegetation and flowers. The beaches are very popular tourist attractions and bring in visitors from around the world to simply relax and enjoy the sun or participate in the various water activities such as fishing and sailing. In addition the beaches are surrounded by world class restaurants, shopping and art galleries and museums, making a day at the beach a wonderful experience for everyone. (more…)
May 3, 2008
Cordoba
Located in southern Spain in the region of Andalucia, Cordoba is a city with an interesting mix of many different cultures and people. Historically the city has been home to Jewish people, Muslims and Christians and there is a strong representation of these religions and cultures throughout the churches, synagogues and temples located throughout the city. Currently the city of Cordoba is considered a World Historical Site and has an amazing array of attractions for those tourists interested in both the historical and modern aspects of the city.
La Mezquita, the third largest mosque in the world, is located in the city of Cordoba. The mosque, as well as the various additional buildings, cupolas and gardens that were added throughout the centuries, makes a fascinating day trip. Tours of La Mezquita as well as the Cathedral and La Juderia, or the Jewish Quarter, allow visitors to examine buildings dating back to the first settlement of the area. The fully modern bus and train system in both the city of Cordoba and throughout the province provides lots of opportunities for day trips to other smaller cities. As with most Spanish cities, there are a number of festivals, carnivals and markets to explore throughout the countryside and throughout the summer months there is always something to do and see. (more…)
April 25, 2008
San Sebastian
World renowned for its beautiful beaches, San Sebastian, located on the Bay of Biscay in the Basque Region of Spain, is one of the most popular Spanish tourist attractions. In the Basque language San Sebastian is more commonly referred to as Donostia. San Sebastian is also home to one of the largest European film events, the San Sebastian International Film Festival. This film festival attracts artists and film producers from around the world to this lovely resort area.
One of the most celebrated festivals in the city of San Sebastian is Tamborrada or the feast of Saint Sebastian. It is held every year on January 20th and attracts thousands of people to the city. The celebration starts with the people of San Sebastian dressing as cooks and soldiers and marching around the city. At the same time other individuals play drums loudly, providing a festive air to the marching. Throughout the night the marchers stop to eat at special gourmet clubs that serve traditional seafoods and wines of the area. While historically an all-male event the feast of San Sebastian is now enjoyed by both men and women alike. In the morning, the children of San Sebastian wake up and partake in the celebration. The kids also dress as soldiers and march through the city and different schools may wear different uniforms during the event. (more…)
April 21, 2008
Jerez de la Frontera
Jerez, more formally known as Jerez de la Frontera, is located in the province of Cadiz in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Jerez is most famous for its sherry production and the beautiful farms surrounding the city that are world renowned for their production of Andalusian horses. The city of Jerez hosts an annual horse fair that draws international attention to this outstanding foundation breed or horse.
The annual horse fair in Jerez is typically held at the end of April through to the beginning of May. During the week, long events take place as hundreds of Andalusian horses are paraded through the streets of Jerez with riders in traditional costumes and different events highlighting the athletic ability of these magnificent animals. The fair usually starts with a huge firework display and music and dancing and many other different types of horse events occur throughout the week. In addition to the annual horse fair there is also the prestigious Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, where visitors can watch amazing displays of dressage. There are also the traditional Spanish bullfights where matadors and horses pit their skills and athletic ability against the specially bred bulls. (more…)
April 13, 2008
Salamanca
The western Spanish city of Salamanca is known as the University City due to the presence of the prestigious and ancient University of Salamanca that was first established in 1218. The University of Salamanca is an international learning center attracting students from all over the world. The town of Salamanca and the surrounding areas are considered to be the best area to learn the pure and original Spanish language and this makes it a popular spot for language scholars as well as students interested in other academic pursuits.
The weather in both the city and province of Salamanca is very seasonal with cold and snow covered landscapes in the winter and hot and dry days in the summer months. This change in temperature makes it a popular spot in the winter and summer for outdoor enthusiasts, hikers and trekkers. There are many outdoor festivals, markets and events year round in the city and surrounding areas, and outdoor restaurants and cafes that serve an outstanding variety of local and international cuisines make Salamanca a wonderful place to visit. (more…)
April 5, 2008
Seville
Seville is the fourth largest city area is Spain and is considered by many to be the cultural and artistic focus for the southern part of the country. Seville is a very old city with many different influences from other areas and cultures providing visitors with a wide array of architectural and historical sites to see and visit. The warm year-round weather of Seville ensures that tourism is a year-round enterprise with the hot summers still being the busiest and most popular time for tourists. In the summer months of July and August the temperature is in the high 90’s most days, but with the ocean just a short distance away there are lots of ways to relax and stay cool.
The historical buildings in Seville are everywhere and the downtown center has unlimited historical sites to see and view. The Cathedral in the city, built over an ancient mosque, is the largest existing Cathedral built in the Gothic style. The Cathedral is famous throughout Europe and many tourists view the magnificent structure and the surrounding gardens on a daily basis. There are many different, beautifully maintained gardens and parks throughout the city and most are bordered by open air cafes and restaurants that allow patrons to enjoy the beauty of the gardens while sampling some of the local delicacies and foods. Some of the most famous gardens to visit include the Gardens of the Alcázar that back onto the palace. These gardens are terraced and have been planted and maintained for many centuries, providing a truly international exhibition of plants and landscaping techniques. (more…)
March 18, 2008
Toledo
Located very close to the geographical center of the country of Spain, the city of Toledo is a historical treasure to visit. The many different cultures that have lived in and inhibited the city at various times in history have all left their unique mark through architecture, cultural impact as well as art and music in the area. Christian, Moorish and Jewish cultures have all existed within the city and the evidence of their influence is noted in the buildings, artwork and even the decoration and traditions within the historical center of Toledo.
Historically, Toledo was famous for the outstanding swords and knives it produced that were both of the highest quality as well as beautifully made. That tradition still continues with steelwork in knives as one of the major traditional industries. Toledo also has fully modern types of industry as well, although the historical areas tend to remain almost as if time has stood still. For the rich cultural and historical heritage evident through this diverse city, Toledo has been declared a World Heritage site. (more…)
February 29, 2008
Granada
Granada is a beautiful Spanish city that is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains where the Genil and Darro Rivers converge. The breathtaking natural scenery around the city of Granada is combined with the amazing architecture seen within the city to make it a popular tourist destination for national as well as international travelers.
One of the most popular tourist areas in Granada is the ancient palace and citadel of the Alhambra. This is actually a small city unto itself with a huge garden area known as the Generalife as well as a fortress called the Alcazaba and a government area known as the Medina. The Alhambra overlooks the actual city of Granada and provides a spectacular view from the city, as well as providing an impressive view of the city from its buildings. (more…)
February 11, 2008
Santiago de Compostela
This picturesque town located in Galicia, Spain, is actually named after Saint James, also known as Santiago. The town cathedral is the ending spot for the medieval pilgrimage of St. James, known in the local dialect as the Camiño de Santiago. Santiago de Compostela is a World Heritage Site as designated by UNESCO, and continues to draw tourists and students to the beautiful buildings, historical sites as well as the famous University located within the city.
The Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela is considered to be one of the most influential and well preserved representations of medieval and Romanesque styles of architecture found in all of Spain. The building dates back to its first development in 1075 and the progressive adding on to the original construction provides an interesting view of how buildings changed throughout history. Besides the Cathedral there are also a variety of museums and palaces to tour and explore. Each year pilgrims dress in the traditional clothing of the saints and travel the long path to Santiago de Compostela, most holding a traditional staff topped with a clam or scallop shell. This provides tourists with a historical perspective on the ancient buildings and structures found throughout the area. (more…)