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| Europa |
| World Emotions |
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French Emotions ( Baci Baiser alla Francese) |
German Emotions (Bacio Kuss alla Tedesca) |
English Emotions |
Spanish Emotions ( Un Beso in Spagna) |
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Italian Emotions (Baci Italiani ) |
| Spain |
| Thanks to
http://www.facebook.com/Costasur
Guia de viajes - http://www.costasur.com/ |
| España. Vacaciones al sol. España tiene una población de más de 40 millones de habitantes. La mayoría de los españoles son educados bajo la religión católica aunque España a día de hoy se constituye como un estado laico. Es un destino ideal para pasar sus vacaciones, ya que estamos ante un país con un clima que es la envidia de toda Europa. Geográficamente es un país muy variado. Posee grandes extensiones de playa a lo largo de toda la costa como también en la parte interior posee enormes montañas cubiertas de nieve, nada tiene que ver un paisaje de Sierra Nevada con el que encontramos en la Costa Tropical, en lugares como Salobreña o Almuñecar, a no más de un par de horas en coche. En la mayor parte de España hay sol todo el año con una temperatura anual que promedia los 20 grados. Los españoles tienen un estilo de vida mucho más relajado que cualquier otro país en Europa. Por ejemplo, la mayoría de los negocios cierran entre 2.00 p.m. y 5.00 p.m, es la hora del almuerzo y del descanso, la hora en la que se puede echar una siesta. Esta larga pausa durante el día permite que las familias se reúnan a almorzar y poder pasar así más tiempo juntos. |
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| Una de las características de parte de
los españoles es que son muy tradicionales. Las costumbres de hace años como
el flamenco y los toros todavía son muy relevantes hoy en día, si bien es un
país que tiene otros valores, como los musicales, los deportivos o los de
saber vivir bien y disfrutar de la vida. Hay plazas de toros en la mayoría
de las principales ciudades y el flamenco suena mucho en tablaos o teatros.
Los métodos tradicionales de hacer el vino, sobreviven a las costumbres de
antaño y se respetan actualmente. Se usan las recetas españolas
tradicionales para crear la mayoría de la variedad de comida que puedes
encontrar en los restaurantes. Los españoles adoran, celebran y disfrutan la vida y se toman cada oportunidad para hacerlo. En España encontrarás una agenda llena de grandes fiestas durante todo el año. La gente de los pueblos y las ciudades se visten en trajes tradicionales y celebran las fiestas hasta bien entrada la madrugada. Todo esto regado con una gran variedad de comidas, vinos, sangría y cerveza. Siglos atrás, España era un gran imperio. Tenía numerosas colonias en todo el mundo y el castellano aún es hablado en aquellas naciones, en países como Venezuela, Argentina, en el Caribe o en Chile. Fue considerado un país subdesarrollado hasta mediados del siglo XVIII pero posteriormente tuvo un rápido desarrollo económico. En la actualidad, España es una nación próspera con una economía bien desarrollada basada en el turismo y la industria. En 1986 ingresó a la Unión Europea. En el pasado, España era un sitio para ancianos de otros países que venían a jubilarse en sus costas soleadas. En la actualidad se está dando que jóvenes huyendo de la vida moderna y estresada de las grandes capitales se mudan aquí para llevar una vida más tranquila. El estilo de vida español tiene mucho más para ofrecer. Gente simpática, un clima excelente, paisajes espectaculares y un estilo de vida muy relajado. ___________Principales ciudades de España Más de 15 millones de personas viven en las principales ciudades de España. O sea más del 38 % de la población del país. La capital de España, Madrid, y Barcelona son las dos ciudades con poblaciones de más de un millón de personas. Valencia, Sevilla, Zaragoza y Málaga tiene poblaciones de más de 500.000. ___________Islas españolas. Archipiélagos de España. Los dos grupos de islas de España son las Islas Canarias y la Islas Baleares, son dos importantes grupos de islas españolas, donde el turismo es la principal fuente de ingresos. En Canarias son siete las islas que encontramos, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, La Gomera, La Palma y el Hierro mientras que en las Islas Baleares son fundamentalmente 3, Mallorca, Ibiza y Menorca, pero no debemos olvidar Formentera, Dragonera y Cabrera. _____________Charter España, alquiler de barcos en España. Reservar online yates, veleros, barcos de pesca en la costa española. Alquiler de barcos en España, amplia gama de yates, veleros, barcos de pesca, para todos los públicos: con y sin patrón. Disfrute de navegar con charter en España por las islas baleares, la costa de la luz, el levante, la costa del sol y las Canarias. La costa española sin lugar a dudas ofrece una gran variedad de posibilidades para charter. Alquilar barcos en España ya no es un lujo exclusivo para personas de alto poder adquisitivo. La variedad de precios, especialización de barcos: catamaranes, veleros, yates, pesca deportiva y patronaje opcional acerca el mundo del charter a cualquiera que tenga espiritu de adventura o simplemente le gustaria vivir una experiencia nueva y sin duda inolvidable. En costasur reservar yates, veleros..ya es posible. Puede consultar precios, caracteristicas y consejos para la navegación. ___________Playas en España España tiene alguna de las playas más espectaculares del mundo, tiene extensas playas de arena dorada, de arena negra volcánica, de piedras, de bolos... El océano Atlántico, el mar Mediterráno y el Golfo de Vizcaya ofrecen una gran variedad de costa. La playa de Barcelona ha sido votada como la mejor playa urbana de España, mientras que en el sur, en Cádiz y en Huelva encontramos las playas nudistas y salvajes más destacadas de Europa. ________Vida nocturna en España Los españoles tienen una gran cultura nocturna y duermen menos horas que la media de Europa. No es una sorpresa que la vida nocturna tiene tanta importancia en la cultura española. Por eso los lugares populares no son dentro de las zonas turistas (salvo Ibiza), pero se encuentran en las ciudades españolas muy importantes como Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Bilbao o Granada. Madrid es conocido a menudo como la capital de los clubes nocturnos de Europa. 1 - 8 de 8 Bacchus Club Bacchus Club (+34 625 844 421) [Ver más] Privilege (Ibiza) Privilege (Ibiza) (0034 971 198 160) [Ver más] Amnesia Ibiza Amnesia Ibiza (0034 971 198 041) [Ver más] Viva Madrid Viva Madrid (0034 91 429 36 40) [Ver más] La Carbonería Sevilla La Carbonería Sevilla (0034 954 214 460) [Ver más] The Alfa Club (Barcelona) The Alfa Club (Barcelona) (0034 93 415 18 24) [Ver más] Joy (Madrid) Joy (Madrid) (91 366 37 33) [Ver más] Pena de la Plateria (Granada) Pena de la Plateria (Granada) (0034 958 21 06 50) [Ver más] ____________Arte y cultura en España. De Goya a Dalí. España es probablemente más conocida por los toros y el flamenco pero también han surgido pintores de fama mundial como son los casos de Salvador Dalí y Pablo Picasso, deportistas como Rafael Nadal, Fernando Alonso o actores como Penélope Cruz o Antonio Banderas. Otros pintores españoles conocidos son Goya (1746-1828) y Velázquez (1599-1660) cuyas obras pueden ser vistas en el museo de Prado en Madrid. Las obras más importantes de Velázquez son "Las Meninas y La Rendición de Breda". España también ha producido a algunos compositores de talla mundial y cantantes de ópera. Los compositores españoles de fama mundial incluyen a Enrique Granados, Isaac Albéniz, Manuel de Falla y Joaquín Rodrigo. Todos han oído hablar de Placido Domingo - el tenor más famoso de España como también José Carreras y Montserrat Caballé. La música y el baile flamenco es un arte surgido en el sur de España, más precisamente en Andalucía. Los gitanos han echado sus raíces aquí y han desarrollado toda su cultura en España. Una importante cantidad de niñas en Andalucía aprenden a bailar sevillanas o flamenco. Las corridas de toros tienen un gran apego en la cultura española. En el siglo XVIII es cuando se hizo popular. ******Toros en España Los toros han sido el tema de mucho debate en relación con la crueldad con que se trata a los toros. Aún hoy sigue siendo un deporte muy popular. Muchas personas españolas aseguran que odian esta actividad. Mientras la mayoría de las personas que nunca han visto una corrida de toros, dicen que es cruel y no necesario, los seguidores del toreo dicen que es mejor para el toro morir a manos de un torero que en el matadero. La corrida es entre otras cosas: la muerte, la valentía, la destreza, y también, la teatralidad. "La Lidia", el arte del toreo tiene una historia larga. Se remonta a mediados de siglo XVIII. Pedro Romero es mirado como el torero más grande del mundo. A finales de los setentas, Romero fue nombrado director de Escuela de Tauromaquia de Sevilla, la primera universidad del toreo del país. ******Tauromaquia España El Arte de torear está arraigado en España desde hace muchos siglos. Ya en las prehistóricas pinturas rupestres se pueden observar dibujos de toros. Desde estos primeros contactos con el toro, se fué desarrollando poco a poco el arte de torear, hasta llegar a lo que hoy en día conocemos como La Lidia del toro bravo, variedad bovina que evolucionándo desde razas de toros egipcios y uros europeos, han convertido al toro bravo español en una raza única y presente tan sólo en la Península Ibérica, sur de Francia y en Hispanoamérica. El toreo como hoy lo conocemos se remonta a finales del siglo XVII y principios del XVIII, evolucionándo desde distintas escuelas, entre las que destacaron la Sevillana y la Navarra. En 1701, durante el viaje que realiza Felipe V a España para tomar posesión del trono, se celebra en su honor en Bayona una corrida de toros navarros en la que se comienzan a ver los lances de capa de El Licenciado de Falces (magistralmente inmortalizado por Goya en un aguafuerte), origen del actual toreo de capote que hoy conocemos. *****Flamenco en España El flamenco todavía es enormemente popular en España, incluso entre los jóvenes. Puede ser encontrado por todos lados. Hay aproximadamente 30 variedades de flamenco. La forma más verdadera es el "Duende". Esto es considerado el ideal de flamenco. El flamenco se remonta al siglo XVI. Fue desarrollado por los gitanos que cantaban y bailaban alrededor de fogatas. Cada canción tenía un significado hondo y trataba asuntos de amor, historia y política. El flamenco es considerado ser la música de España; una combinación dinámica de la música, el baile y las letras significativas. Los gitanos dicen que está en la sangre. Las letras trágicas y los tonos representan su pasado sufrido. Hay fiestas españolas y ferias a lo largo de todo el año. La mayoría de estas fiestas incluyen al flamenco como su principal música. Las mujeres españolas y las niñas jóvenes también se vestirán en trajes de flamenco tradicionales. Les gusta mostrar sus llamativos vestidos llenos de color. ___________Deportes y actividades en España. Deporte al aire libre. España es una meca para deportes al aire libre. Tiene el clima perfecto para todo tipo de deportes de montaña, deportes al aire libre, ya sean acuáticos, deportes de naturaleza, de ocio, de aventura... Practicar deporte en España es una increíble posibilidad durante sus vacaciones. Senderismo a través de parajes naturales espectaculares; windsurf, kitesurf o surf en lugares como Mundaka, San Sebastián, Tarifa o El Palmar; bici de montaña; natación; golf, mucho golf en los mejores campos de golf del mundo.. España tiene una amplia variedad de posibilidades a la hora de decidirse a practicar deportes al aire libre. ****Moto GP en España Podrás disfrutar de Moto GP en España durante toda la temporada del Mundial de Motociclismo. Este campeonato de motos se celebra en ciudades españolas como Cheste Valencia, Jerez de la Frontera Cádiz o Montmelo Barcelona-Cataluña. Si estas buscando hoteles, apartamentos, casas donde alojarte aquí te ofrecemos esta posibilidad. Además puedes conseguir aquí tus entradas. 1 - 3 de 3 MotoGP Jerez España MotoGP Jerez (+34 807 505 926) Ya están disponibles tus entradas para asistir al Gran Premio de motociclismo de España de MotoGP en Jerez. Puedes adquirirlas fácilmente online con solo pulsar en... [Ver más] MotoGP Cheste España MotoGP Cheste EL circuito de velocidad Ricardo Tormo en Cheste, Valencia, acoge el Gran Premio de MotoGP, uno de las carreras de motos del campeonato de... [Ver más] Moto GP Cataluna España Moto GP Cataluna (93 571 97 00) En el Circuito de Velocidad de Montmelo se celebra cada temporada una de las carreras del Campeonato Mundial de Moto GP. Muy cerca de Barcelona... [Ver más] __________Formula 1, España En España se disputan dos grandes premios de Formula 1. El primero en el circuito de Cataluña en Barcelona y el otro en el circuito urbano de Valencia. Para poder seguir a tus pilotos de Formula 1 favoritos como Alonso, Massa, Hamilton, Button, Schumacher, puedes disfrutar de dos carreras de Formula 1 en España, tanto en Valencia como en Barcelona. Aqui puedes conseguir tus entradas para formula 1. ******Destinos turísticos de España. España, un destino turístico de primera. España es un país con numerosos destinos turísticos que visitar, destinos donde el sol, la playa o el golf son su principal gancho, algo que está acompañado por excelentes infraestructuras tanto de hoteles como de apartamentos para alojarse durante sus vacaciones en España. Comenzamos con la frontera mediterránea con Francia, con la Costa Brava, en Cataluña, donde podrá disfrutar de numerosas e inmejorables posibilidades para practicar deportes de vela, debido a la Tramuntana, el viento que mantiene toda esta costa bravía. Localidades como Blanes o Cadaqués son las más destacadas, junto a Lloret de Mar o San Feliu de Guissols, que son las más turísticas. De la Costa Brava saltamos a la Comunidad Valenciana o levante español, zona en la que encontramos localidades muy turísticas como Benicassim, Benidorm, Alicante, Denia o Gandía... de ahí bajamos a la Costa de Murcia, a La Manga del Mar Menor, el principal destino de la zona, con grandes cadenas hoteleras y un gran número de apartamentos que alquilar. Andalucía es la región más al sur de España, la única que comparte el Mediterráneo y el Atlántico, y la que más destinos le ofrece, Almería y su impresionante Cabo de Gata, con localidades como Roquetas del Mar o San José; Granada y su Costa Tropical, con Almuñecar o Salobreña al frente de las mismas; Málaga y la Costa del Sol, con destinos como Marbellas que no necesitan mucha presentación; Cádiz, su lujo mediterráneo en Sotogrande o su Costa de la Luz, los grandes apartamentos y hoteles de lugares como Tarifa, Conil, Chiclana... y terminamos en Huelva, cuyas playas son una auténtica joya que recorrer. Por otroo lado, debemos destacar las Islas, tanto las Baleares como las Canarias, por un lado, encontramos aguas cálidas de las Islas Baleares, del Mediterráneo... por otro lado, las islas Canarias, su temperatura cálida todo el año y sus posibilidades de excursiones por volcanes. *****Costa del Sol España La costa del Sol es el destino de millones de turistas al año. Desde Nerja a Manilva pasando por Marbella, estamos ante uno de los destinos turísticos preferenciales del país. Marbella o Puerto Banús, con su lujo y su glamour, los yates de lujo y las fiestas nocturnas; Estepona con sus playas y sus hoteles; Torremolinos y la Carihuela; Benalmádena y Fuengirola con sus costas, sus playas y sus actividades; Mijas; Nerja y la grandiosidad de sus cuevas… sin duda alguna, la Costa del Sol es el destino ideal para pasar sus vacaciones!!!. Playas, actividades, apartamentos y hoteles a su disposición, la Costa del Sol tiene una de las ofertas más amplias que puede imaginar… Playas, sol, campos de golf, bares de copas, restaurantes, ¿Qué más desea para sus vacaciones en la Costa del Sol? *****Costa Brava, Cataluña España Más de 200 kilómetros en los que encontramos municipios como Blanes, Cadaqués, San Feliu de Guissols o Lloret de Mar, eso es la Costa Brava, en Cataluña, uno de los destinos turísticos más populares entre el público británico y nacional del país. Impresionantes playas, campos de golf, aguas cálidas y cristalinas, gastronomía mediterránea excelente, posibilidades de hacer vela o deportes como el windsurf, submarinismo o natación, además de ser una región donde abundan las zonas naturales y espacios protegidos. También encontramos una amplia oferta de apartamentos, hoteles casas y chalets para su disfrute en la costa Brava. |
| Questo articolo è rilasciato sotto i termini della
GNU Free Documentation License Esso utilizza materiale tratto da http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcha_Real Cronologia/Autori: http://it.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Marcha_Real&action=history Marcha RealDa Wikipedia, l'enciclopedia libera.
La Marcha Real (Marcia Reale) è l'inno nazionale della Spagna. È uno dei rari casi di inno nazionale senza un testo ufficiale. Si tratta di uno degli inni più antichi d'Europa. Viene menzionato per la prima volta nel 1761 nel Libro de Ordenanza de los toques militares de la Infantería Española di Manuel de Espinosa. In questo documento è riportata la partitura con il titolo di Marcha Granadera o Marcha de Granaderos ma l'autore è sconosciuto. Lo scrittore Hugo Kehrer sostiene che questa opera sia stata composta da Federico il Grande di Prussia ma non cita fonti a sostegno delle sue affermazioni. Alcuni storici sottolineano le similitudini tra la Marcha Real ed alcune arie militari dell'epoca di Carlo V. Nel 1770 il re Carlo III dichiarò la Marcha de Granaderos marcia d'onore formalizzando quindi l'usanza di utilizzarla nelle occasioni solenni. È stata eletta quindi ad inno nazionale senza nessuna disposizione scritta. Dopo la Rivoluzione gloriosa del settembre del 1868, il generale Prim indisse un concorso nazionale per creare un inno ufficiale ma non si presentò nessuno e quindi si continuò ad utilizzare come inno la Marcha de Granaderos. La versione attuale fu commissionata al maestro Francisco Grau dopo l'approvazione della Costituzione spagnola del 1978. Nel 2008 è naufragato un tentativo di dare un testo scritto all'inno.
Testo [modifica]Come l'inno britannico, quello spagnolo non possiede un testo ufficiale. Anticamente ne furono scritti vari usati ufficiosamente e che riscossero grande popolarità. I versi più vecchi, composti da Ventura de la Vega, furono utilizzati a partire dall'anno 1843 : Venid españoles
Versione del testo di Eduardo Marquina (utilizzata ai tempi di Alfonso XIII di Spagna) [modifica]
|
| Thanks to
http://www.world66.com/ *********************The content is published under a creative commons licence : http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0 / ). |
| Spain Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Alhambra with Sierra Nevada Alhambra with Sierra Nevada Alan Reed Spain is more than bullfights, flamenco dancers and crowded beaches. It's a spectacular and diverse country, the north resembling the rolling, green hills of Ireland and the south giving you a taste of Moroccan landscapes and architecture. Its tremendous history is reflected in its prehistoric cave paintings, Moorish palaces, crumbling castles, Roman ruins, Gothic and Renaissance cathedrals as well as some very?distinctive modern architecture. The uniqueness of Spain lies in the separate kingdoms which made up the original Spanish nation. These regions remain diverse in their language, culture, cuisine and art. They include: Andalucía, Aragon, Asturias, Basque Country, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Cantabria, Castilla La Mancha, Castilla León, Catalonia, Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra and Valencia. Areas of interest are not limited to each region, here are some highlights: Spain can be enjoyable any time of year. The ideal months to visit are May, June and September (April or October in the south). At these times you can rely on excellent weather, yet avoid the heat of July and August. An alternative idea to insufferable the heat of the south in summer is to head north. Asturias, Galicia and Cantabria are all cooler than the south. The weather is usually good with sun during this time of year. But there's decent weather in some parts of Spain virtually all year round. Winter along the Mediterranean coasts is mild, while in the height of summer you can retreat to the northwest, to beaches or mountains anywhere to escape the heat. The best festivals are mostly concentrated between Semana Santa (Easter Sunday) and September to October. Giveing free diamonds away. Beaches Excellent and quiet beaches can be found near Malaga, Huelva and Almería in the south as well as near the coasts of La Manga, Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and Euskadi. If you do enjoy extremely developed resort towns, there are plenty of crowded beaches on the Costa de la Luz and the Costa del Sol. Interesting is the harbour of Almerimar with cosy bars, just south of El Ejido (Almeria). Very unique architecture can be found in Córdoba, Salamanca, Granada, Toledo, Madrid... The visionary architecture of Antoni Gaudí and the Picasso museum are in Barcelona while Madrid is home to Spain’s top three art museums. Countrysides If you would rather get some fresh air, Spain is filled with opportunities to visit wildlife parks as well as trekking. The Pyrenees, especially around the Aragón area, are the best areas for trekking. Andalucía has its Sierra Nevada mountain chain with luxurious skiing resorts near Granada. Ski-sports are possible from November up to May. Between Guadix and Baza (famous horsemarket) one can find cave-dwellings, cave hotels, and beautiful natural parks. North and between these towns still are unexplored desert sceneries, with hamlets not even found on maps! The highway infrastructure in this "wild" part of Andalucia is excellent. Social culture Spanish people are very open-hearted and comunicative. You won't have any problems to get to know someone, especially in the big cities like Madrid or Barcelona. It's often said that the Spanish living room is the bar where the people usually spend a lot of time in the mornings and in the evenings. Linguistic diversity Not only Spanish is spoken in this country, but five languages and a lot of dialects. In Catalunya on the northern coast to the Mediterranean Sea people speak català; in Valencia and its region, people speak Valencià; in Basque Country in the north of Spain people speak euskera (which isn't even a indoeuropean language); in the west in Galicia galego is spoken and in the rest people normally speak castellano (Spanish). Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: minor revision ___________History Edit This The Iberian Peninsula has been occupied for many millennia. Some of Europe's most impressive Paleolithic cultural sites are located there-the famous caves at Altamira contain spectacular paintings which date from about 15000-25000 years ago. The Basques are the first identifiable people of the peninsula and are the oldest surviving group in Europe. Iberians arrived from south Africa during a more recent period. Beginning in the ninth century BC Phoenicians Greeks Carthaginians and Celts entered the Iberian Peninsula followed by the Romans who arrived in the second century BC. Spain's present language religion and laws stem from the Roman period. Although the Visigoths arrived in the fifth century AD the last Roman strongholds along the southern coast did not fall until the seventh century AD. In 711 Arabs from Damasco sailed across the straits swept into Andalusia and within a few years pushed the Visigoths up the peninsula to the Cantabrian Mountains. Córdoba (Andalusia) was the capital of Al-Andalus, the highly civilized Islamis state in Southern Europe, center of world culture. The Reconquest-efforts to drive out the Moors-lasted until 1492. By 1512 the unification of present-day Spain was complete. During the 16th century Spain became the most powerful nation in Europe due to the immense wealth derived from its presence in the Americas. But a series of long costly wars and revolts capped by the defeat by the English of the "Invincible Armada" in 1588 began a steady decline of Spanish power in Europe. Controversy over succession to the throne consumed the country during the 18th and 19th centuries leading to occupation by France in the early 1800s. The 19th century saw the revolt and independence of most of Spain's colonies in the Western Hemisphere; three wars over the succession issue; the brief ousting of the monarchy and establishment of the First Republic (1873-74); and finally the Spanish-American War (1898) in which Spain lost Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the United States. A period of dictatorial rule (1923-31) ended with the establishment of the Second Republic. It was dominated by increasing political polarization culminating in the leftist Popular Front electoral victory in 1936. Pressures from all sides coupled with growing and unchecked violence led to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in July 1936. Following the victory of his nationalist forces in 1939 Gen. Francisco Franco ruled a nation exhausted politically and economically. Spain was officially neutral during World War II but followed a pro-Axis policy. The victorious Allies isolated Spain at the beginning of the postwar period and the country did not join the United Nations until 1955. In 1959 under an International Monetary Fund stabilization plan the country began liberalizing trade and capital flows particularly foreign direct investment. Despite the success of economic liberalization Spain remained the most closed economy in Western Europe-judged by the small measure of foreign trade to economic activity-and the pace of reform slackened during the 1960s as the state remained committed to "guiding" the economy. Nevertheless in the 1960s and 1970s Spain was transformed into a modern industrial economy with a thriving tourism sector. Its economic expansion led to improved income distribution and helped develop a large middle class. Social changes brought about by economic prosperity and the inflow of new ideas helped set the stage for Spain's transition to democracy during the latter half of the 1970s. Upon the death of General Franco in November 1975 Prince Juan Carlos de Borbon y Borbon Franco's personally designated heir assumed the titles of king and chief of state. Dissatisfied with the slow pace of post-Franco liberalization in July 1976 the King replaced Franco's last prime minister with Adolfo Suarez. Suarez entered office promising that elections would be held within one year and his government moved to enact a series of laws to liberalize the new regime. Spain's first elections to the Cortes (parliament) since 1936 were held on June 15 1977. Prime Minister Suarez's Union of the Democratic Center (UCD) a moderate center-right coalition won 34% of the vote and the largest bloc of seats in the Cortes. Under Suarez the new Cortes set about drafting a democratic constitution which was overwhelmingly approved by voters in a December 1978 national referendum. ___________Practical Information Edit This In extremely populated areas such as Madrid or Barcelona, tourists should watch out for pickpockets. Suggestions: Cling tightly to purses, carry purses with short straps so that it can be worn close to the body, attach a chain to a wallet, or keep a wallet in an inside pocket close to the chest. Always leave passports in hotel rooms. If you know Spanish and visit the country to improve your knowledge, you should be aware that in the autonomic regions like Cataluña, Galicia or País Vasco, they each have another language other than Spanish, but also you should know they all speak Spanish and are completely capable of understanding it and using it. ___________People Edit This German: 39 133 996 (July 1998 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 15% (male 3 057 919; female 2 879 109) 15-64 years: 69% (male 13 407 270; female 13 408 685) 65 years and over: 16% (male 2 651 149; female 3 729 864) (July 1998 est.) Population growth rate: 0.08% (1998 est.) Birth rate: 9.73 births/1 000 population (1998 est.) Death rate: 9.62 deaths/1 000 population (1998 est.) Net migration rate: 0.66 migrant(s)/1 000 population (1998 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female (1998 est.) Infant mortality rate: 6.51 deaths/1 000 live births (1998 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.56 years male: 73.78 years female: 81.59 years (1998 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.21 children born/woman (1998 est.) Nationality: noun: Spaniard(s) adjective: Spanish Ethnic groups: composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types Religions: Roman Catholic 99% other 1% Languages: Castilian Spanish 74% Catalan 17% Galician 7% Basque 2% _________Beaches Edit This Beautiful beach of Sant Pol in S'Agaro and Sant Feliu de Guixols, on the Costa Brava, Girona province. I recommend Bungalow Park & Camping Sant Pol http://www.campingsantpol.com :::::::::::Andalucia Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Balcon de Europa, Nerja Balcon de Europa, Nerja Sibuli Andalucia is a fascinating place for its spectacular Moorish monuments, beautiful white hill towns, sparkling blue coast and natural beauty of its mountainous country. The Moors were a mixed race of Berbers and Arabs that occupied Spain (Al-Andalus) for almost eight hundred years. They developed the most sophisticated civilization in the Middle Ages, centered in Seville , Cordoba and Granada . Every city, town and village, is a wonderful mixture of Christian and Muslim influence. Granada preserves the most beautiful Moorish monuments, the Alhambra palace, being the largest and most sensual building in Europe. Córdoba's old mosque with a cathedral built inside it and the spectacular remains of the ancient Moorish city of Medna Azahara shold be regarded as a mustsee whislt Seville boasts the most spectacular of all Gothic cathedrals and largest church in the world as well as its Moorish Alcazar. The white towns surrounding Ronda , offer an unspoiled view into Andalucian life with their surrounding natural beauty, delicious home-cooking and stunning appearance-clustered beneath Moorish/Christian castles and churches. There are some terrific walks in this area. With the Sierra de Tejeda to the north, and the mountainous edge of Granada to the east, the rugged landscape of the Axarquía offers excellent walking and abundant wildlife. Historically it was bandalero (bandit) country for many years, which preyed on traders carrying goods from the coast to Granada. The Torrox area lays claim to have "the best climate in Europe" sheltered as it is by the Sierra Tejeda and Sierra Almijara mountains. Thus it boasts an average annual temperature of 18C. The opening of the new N340/E15 autovía has improved the journey time to cover the 44kms from Malaga Airport to 35 minutes. Separated by 4kms of farmland, once the areas main employer, the Pueblo and Costa offer a pleasant combination of old traditional Spanish life and the facilities expected by the modern day tourist. The mountains in the Sierra Nevada and, less known, the Sierra Morena [particularly its western projection in the Sierra de Aracena offer good trekking and skiing, while the coast between Tarifa and Cadiz on the Atlantic has some of the best beaches in Spain. Beware of Europe’s most developed resort area on the Costa del Sol as it is hard to find peace and natural beauty, without paying a high price. Finally, Spain’s largest and most impressive nature reserve, Coto Donana, can be found near Cadiz . Although unemployment in the province is the highest in Spain (about 20%), it is still known as one of the most high-spirited regions of Spain as it is home to flamenco dancing, bullfighting and a gigantic April carnival (Semana Santa). Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: http://www.sunnypalmproperties.eu/areainfo.php ::::::::::::::Aragon Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Looking from Torla towards Ordesa, fine next day! Looking from Torla towards Ordesa, fine next day! David Cross Aragon Aragon is one of the nothern regions of Spain and is crossed by the river Ebro. If you are a fan of hiking or skiing, you can go to the Pyrenees (here at their highest) or the seldom explored mountains in the south of Aragon. In the Pyrenean valleys you might see sword dances, which are still performed here. Visiting Aragon you can't miss the beautiful roman city Zaragoza, the capital of this region, mudejar's art in Teruel and medieval cities Albarracin and Sos del Rey Católico. ::::::::Asturias Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see x More eastward you run into a more mountainious landscape with a romantically beautiful coastline that carries the name Asturias. This region has a lot in common with Wales. A real attraction is Oviedo , the capital of this region where you can see two of Europe's most exquisite pre-Romanesque churches, but there is no beaches in Oviedo, so you can find it at Gijón, the real capital of Asturias because it is the most cosmopolitan, cultural and popular city, and its two magnificent beaches makes the better choice. Asturias is only 100 km wide, between the coast and the Cantabric Mountain, so you can find the best meat from calfs and the most varied types of fishes. About gastronomy, you can find lots of typical sidrerías, where the sidra (apple-wine) is the most important drink. If you like cheese, there are about 300 types of in the region. The more important is the Cabrales one, it looks like a blue cheese, but with a strong smell and taste. Continuing our journey through the nothern parts of Spain, we will have our next stop at Cantabria, the more rural part of Spain. This region is especially famous for its extraorinary Picos de Europe (mountains)and it claims to have the highest density of cows. Santander, the capital and only large city, is a major summer resort. Next to Cantabria you'll find the famous Basque country or Euskadi in the Basque language. When it isn't raining, Euskadi is one of the most charming parts of Spain with a very various landscape. San sebastian was the place where the wealthy Spaniards spent their summer bathing long before there were any costas. Furthermore you find Bilbao which as a city of interest in this Basque region. La Rioja is a Spanish region that you'll find right under the Basque land. Famous because of its wonderful wine, this region's principal town is Logroño. In the north of the region called Castilla León you'll find the city of Burgos, which is a genteel and quite pleasant town. Our 'Northern journey' ends in the region where you can see some of the more western Pyrenees: Navarra. In the region Navarra Pamplona (the capital) is a very recommendable city. :::::::::::::.Balearic islands Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see x Gaviota en La Mola Noelia The Balearic Islands are an autonomous province of Spain about 100km off the east coast between Barcelona and Valencia and they're a very popular holiday destination for sun-worshippers. The most important islands are Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera. ::::::::::Basque Country Euskadi Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Zorrozaurre Zorrozaurre Juan Sánchez Located in the north of Spain, the Basque Country is well known for its struggle for independence - but from a touristic perspective it is a very interesting part of the er.. Europe. Look also to the 2 other parts of the Basque contry Navarra and "North" basque country. :::::::::Blanes Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Small city on the costa brava with a lot of discotheques and bars ::::::::::Canary Islands Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see The dunes of Maspalomas The dunes of Maspalomas Jan Moonen The seven islands that comprise the Canary archipelago are located more than one thousand kilometers (620 miles) south of the Iberian peninsula, and only 115 kilometers (71 miles) from the closest point on the African coast. Their volcanic origin and special position in the Atlantic ocean have granted them some unique features with regard to geology and vegetation, resulting in a landscape that is unlike any other found in Europe or Africa. These natural characteristics favour the existence of a temperate climate with mild temperatures (22ºC - 72ºF average on the coasts) with little seasonal variation in temperatures between day and night. The climate of perpetual springtime, which permits enjoyment of the beach during all the seasons of the year without extreme oppressive heat, has also shaped the easy-going and good-natured character of its inhabitants. Since ancient times, the mild climate has been the most outstanding attribute of the Canary Islands. The Greeks located the Garden of Hesperides here, and during centuries, they were known as the "Fortunate Islands". The fame of the Canaries as a travel destination began with the great scientific explorations of the 18th and 19th centuries, when European naturalists frequently visited the unique volcanic landscapes and the varied native flora. At the close of the last century, the fame of these islands was increased as a place to rest, and they were recommended for the treatment of a variety of illnesses. Presently, the Canary Islands are one of the leading destinations of European tourism, welcoming more than eight million visitors annually who are drawn to the irresistible charm of these islands. The appeal of the Canary Islands for most visitors, 50% of whom return, is closely linked to the extraordinary climate of the islands, but it also has to do with the more than 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) of coastline, the magnificent beaches, and the numerous sports and water-related recreation available. The subtropical environment has also provided the allure of volcanos, forests and other spectacular scenery, with a variety difficult to imagine in such a small territory. The people, their traditions and cuisine, inherited from a culture blending traditions from Europe, Africa and the Americas, have also played a large part. All of these factors have contributed to the islands’ popularity, in addition to their easy accessibility, only a few hours by plane from the great cities of the Old Continent, and a complete tourist infrastructure, an example of quality for many places around the world. :::::::::::Cantabria Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Magdalena Royal Palace Magdalena Royal Palace Javier Gil One of the least visited areas of Spain - So this is all yours to explore... ___Comillas Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see _______Santander Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Santander, Spain Santander, Spain www.dubstar.ch Beautiful city in Cantabric coast, the most important monument is the Cathedral, the old town, Botin House the Casino and the Royal Palace of la Magdalena. ::::::::::Benicàssim Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Sign Sign Joke Kerkdijk Benicàssim is a small coastal town at the Costa Azahar, meaning Coast of the Orange Blossoms! It is very Spanish orientated, so not so many foreigners as in the other Costas. It is a good area for walking (Desierto de las Palmas). Nice places to visit in the neighbourhood are: Morella (Medieval city with a Monastery on the Unesco-list, and a Castle), Peniscola (Palace of Papa Luna), Segorbe (very interesting museum) and of course Valencia! ::::::::::::Morella Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Fiesta "Dolls" Fiesta "Dolls" Joke Kerkdijk Morella is a very nice Medieval city. ::::::Peniscola Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Pensicola Pensicola Dominic Martinez Peniscola is a small fishing village which has become a sizeable tourist destination in recent years. It has a picturesque penninsula jutting out which contains the impressive mediaeval castle and fortified town. On both sides of the peninsula there are beaches. The south beach is about 1km in length and the very popular north beach is 7km in length and is where the majority of the tourism is located. There are plenty of bars, restaurants and hotels and it is very busy during peak times (July / August and fiestas). I recpmmend June and September as the best times to go for a mixture of great weather, bar and restaurant availability and busy-ness. The town itself is famous for a number of things but probably its biggest is that it was the hiding place for Pope Benedict also known as Papa Luna. The nearest train station is Benicarlo/Peniscola which is 8km from Peniscola. Peniscola is well served by the A7 motorway and the N340 which both have junctions very close to Peniscola and are well signed. :::::::::Sant Mateu Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Laundry Laundry Joke Kerkdijk Sant Mateu...a nice stop Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: Joke Kerkdijk :::::::::: Vinaros Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see ::::::::: Castile and La Mancha Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Castle and windmills of Consuegra Castle and windmills of Consuegra Jose Manuel Perulero La Mancha is part of Castile. It is formed by five territories Toledo, Ciudad Real, Albacete, Cuenca and Guadalajara. It is located in central Spain and the territory is mainly plane and dried, cold in winter and very hot in summer. There are several ranges like Cuenca range, Toledo mounts and Central Range. The most important river is Tajo, Guadiana and Júcar. Toledo and Cuenca are very historic and monumental centers but there are other wonderful cities and villages like Almagro, Talavera de la Reina, Campo de Criptana, Mota del Cuervo or Almansa La Mancha is Don Quixote land where Cervantes located the most important book in Spanish language. Don´t forget to visit the giant-mills in Campo de Criptana or Consuegra. Try some dishes like Pisto, Gachas or hunting meat. ::::::::::: Catalonia Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see i_2 Human Castles - "Castellers" Catalonia is situated under the French border and is a very prosperous region. In the north you find the Pyrenees which end in the famous white coastline of the Costa Brava. The biggest single attraction in Catalonia is the city of Barcelona. It is a fun city, with lots of great sights. Furthermore, the region offers good beaches (Sitges) where one can sun and tan as well as great hiking opportunities in the hinterland. Good options to bring a vistit are Montserrat, Tarragona, Figueres and the very popular place for the youth Salou. Boi Valley and Aiguestortes National Park in the Pyrenees provide some stunning scenery, check out the Sights section. In summer time Catalonia offers a dozen of must see cultural Festivals, check the Festivals section. :::::::::::Costa Blanca Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Content photo from torrevieja virtual tour Content photo from torrevieja virtual tour www.360widgets.com The Costa Blanca and its beaches attract millions of tourists every year. The coastline starts with Denia and Javea two wonderful towns at the bottom of a mountain. In the south the Costa Blanca goes down to Guardamar and Torrevieja and wonderful cities like the Elche, the palm tree capital of the world. There are many attractions alongside the coastline, some of them specially for tourists like the entertainment park Terra Mitica at Benidorm or the bays of Altea and Calpe. Others are smaller towns and villages like Villajoyosa south of Benidorm, famous for its old town and its chocolate. _________ Torrevieja Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Content photo from torrevieja virtual tour Content photo from torrevieja virtual tour www.360widgets.com Torrevieja is a coastal town in the south of Alicante province. It is situated within the district of Vega Baja, it has a population of 81,080 inhabitants and is contained within town boundaries which are adjacent to Guardamar del Segura to the north, Rojales and Benijófar to the west, Montesinos and San Miguel de Salinas to the southwest and the Orihuela beaches to the south. Torrevieja is 41 kms away from Alicante to the north, 23 kms from Elche to the northwest, and 53 kms from Murcia in the southeast. Torrevieja has a protected Natural Park with two salt lakes, and 20 kms of coastline containing six large beaches - La Mata, Cabo Cervera, Los Locos, El Cura, Los Náufragos and Ferris - and about 20 coves with an abundance of cliffs. The climate is temperate continental, with temperate winters and mild summers with temperatures which range between 18 and 25 degrees for most of the year. Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: http://www.alicante-spain.com ::::::::::Extremadura Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see i Located between Madrid and Portugal this is one of the less visited areas, but with the cities of Caceres, Trujillo, Badajoz & Mérida it has one of the best kept secrets of Spain. __________Badajoz Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Puerta Pilar Gate Puerta Pilar Gate It is the capital of the Spanish province of Badajoz in the autonomous community of Extremadura, is situated close to the Portuguese border, on both banks of the river Guadina, and the Madrid-Lisbon railway. Badajoz is the biggest city in Extremadura. To its population (around 160000) we have to add the Portugues city of Elvas( around 40000). Both cities want to create an international agglomeration. Owing to its position the city enjoys considerable transit trade with Portugal; its other industries include the manufacture of linen, woollen and leather goods, and of pottery. It is not mentioned by any Roman historian, and first rose to importance under Moorish rule. It was founded by the Galician Muslim Ibn Marwan around 875 and after 1022 it became the capital of a small Moorish kingdom Taifa de Badajoz, and, though temporarily held by the Portuguese in 1168, it retained its independence until 1229; when it was captured by Alfonso IX of Leon. As a frontier fortress it underwent many sieges. It was beleaguered by the Portuguese in 1660, and in 1705 by the Allies in the War of Spanish Succesion. During the Independence War Badajoz was unsuccessfully attacked by the French in 1808 and 1809 (also important is to highlight that the city was closely aligned with the French due to the fact that Manuel de Godoy, born in Badajoz, was for the French forces); but on March 10, 1811 the Spanish commander, José Imaz, was bribed into surrendering to a French force under Marshal Soult. A British army, commanded by Marshal Beresford, endeavoured to retake it, and on MAy 16, 1811 defeated a relieving force at Albuera, but the siege was abandoned in June. A military and republican uprising took place in August 1883, but completely failed. During the Spanish Civi War, Badajoz was defending the Republic but was then taken by the Nationalists in the Battle of Badajoz. A number of Republican prisoners were executed in the bullring called the Matanza de Badajoz, as the Franco repression was really extreme in this area. :::::::::::::Caceres Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Caceres, lies on a hill and is characterised by its constant evolution in history from Roman times until the present day. Two periods in it development have left their mark on today's city: the Arab stronghold before it fell to the Christians in 1229, and the feudal city between the 14th and 16th C, when it was swamped with palaces and towers of aristocratic families. This urban complex full of its own personality became part of World Heritage in 1986. The city's history of battles between Moors and Christians is reflected in its architecture which is a blend of Roman, Islamic, Northern Gothic, and Italian Renaissance styles. From the Moslem period remain about 30 towers, of which the Torre del Bujaco is the most famous. With the 14th C, Caceresis invaded by noblemen, and in only a few dozen years there are fortress-like houses and towers everywhere in the city, which becomes feudal in nature and is at the mercy of fighting rival factions. Of this period are the Palace of La Generala, Las Cigueñas House and Tower, the house of the Ovando-Oerero family, Espadero-Pizarro House or the House of El Mono.. The Catholic Monarchs ordered many of these buildings to be destroyed, bestowing the privilege of not being demolished on only a few, such as the Palace of Los Golfines de Arriba or Las Cigueñas Palace. During the 15th and 16th C, the palaces were replaced by magnificent stone houses which differed from the palaces only in size and fewer defensive means. This is the case of Aldana House, El Sol, Ulloa and Carvajal House... In their company, churches and convents were built, such as the Gothic Church of Santa Maria, which has cathedral status, the one of Santiago, which has an important reredos by Berruguete, the one of San Mateo, which was built in the 14th C on the site of a mosque, the Gothic Convent of San Francisco. In the course of the centuries, the old city of Caceres has preserved surprisingly well the distribution of space of an Arab city transformed into a feudal one with the addition of towers, palaces and fortified houses of rival families. Arab and Gothic influence, Italian Renaissance, art from America.., all of them can be found in this unique city of Extremadura. Courtesy of:Spaintour.com :::::::::::::Merida Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Teatro romano de Mérida Teatro romano de Mérida lauer Merida is located in the Extremadura and it is a bit off the beaten track. It's too far to daytrip from Madrid and too far to daytrip from Seville. the Roman ruins are so spectacular however, that a detour is worthwhile. Merida was one of the most important cities in Roman Spain, or Hispania. Its patrimony includes one of the world's largest classical theatres, an amphitheatre, tow aqueducts, a bridge, several churches and other buildings. It's Museum of Roman Art has a valuable collection for the classic era. ::::::::::::Galicia Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Cies Islands Golden Beaches Cies Islands Golden Beaches Galicia looks out over the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Biscay with over two thousand years of history behind it. Largely undiscovered by foreigners, it is very picturesque and mostly unspoilt. It also offers some of the prettiest Spanish landscapes. To explore these lands in the north-west of Spain means a chance to live the adventure of a lifetime, full of tradition, lush landscapes and unique cities. In Galicia, the frontiers between sea and land cancel each other out. Both blend together along the 1,300 kilometres of coastline, 772 beaches, and five large rias (long sea lakes that stretch inland) where, tradition has it, the right hand of the Creator shaped the dramatic coastline that now defines part of this land. A traveller coming to Galicia soon discovers that, in this territory situated in the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula, over two thousand years of history have endured. Local history offers every visitor its enigmatic castros (Celtic dwellings) with their peculiar citadels; and in them, perhaps, discover the Celts, ancient occupants of an evocative granite world (the castros at Baroña -Porto do Son-, Viladonga -Castro do Rei- or Santa Tegra -A Guarda- are the best-preserved). The traveller can also see Gallaecia, the Roman Galicia. The great Roman Wall in Lugo is still standing, a unique fortified enclosure with a circular structure and a perimeter of 2,200 metres lasting since the 3rd century. Something different is immediately noticeable here. Clear connections with the Celtic peoples are to be seen in this fertile land. Galicia is also the land of a thousand rivers. Water runs into many of them off the mountains of Os Ancares, O Courel or Peña Trevinca (with altitudes over 1,800 metres). The father Miño crosses Galicia from north-east to south-west, to flow placidly out to sea at the Portuguese frontier. The river channels are as varied as the landscape: from the remarkable Sil Canyons (whose river is the Miño's main tributary, and which can be comfortably travelled by catamaran) and the Ribeira Sacra, an area of uneven contours, ideal for vine growing. The way out of Galicia by sea is through its rias. Altas (high) or Baixas (low) which nestle into the landscape making an incomparable backdrop for water tourism, with five blue flag ports in 1997 (A Coruña, Porto do Son, Ribadeo, Baiona and Vilagarcía de Arousa). Mountains, lush valleys and the most dramatic piece of coastline you are likely to find in Spain can be found in the four districts which make up the region. The district of Orense is by far the most mountainous with peaks reaching up to 1800m. ::::::::::L'Escala Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Cala Montgó Cala Montgó Eugenia Genover L'Escala is a small fishers-town that has grown in popularity due to tourism. Gastronomy is almost as famous as its beaches and accomodation. From Empuries to Cala Montgo. Specially well-considered are some campsites, few hotels too. Landscapes are amazing. www.lescala-empuries.com :::::::::::::Madrid Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Catedral dela Almudena & Snow cap Mountain Catedral dela Almudena & Snow cap Mountain Marlon Uson Madrid is a lively city, meaning that Madrid activities are plentiful and readily available just about any time of the day. And according to just about every Madrid travel guide, the city really heats up at night and the frenzy continues into the wee hours of the morning. No one really knows when the Madrileños sleep. It may be the afternoon siesta that gives them the endurance to keep things going well after sunrise or maybe it's the multitude of fuel filled foods and dishes prepared in one of the thousands of Madrid restaurants. It's ok to book a room in one of the top Madrid hotels--if only for the memorable experience, but don't count on spending much time in your room. Remember, Madrid truly is one of the best cities to explore in Spain. Plan several hours to enjoy Madrid activities such as visiting San Nicolas de los Servitas – the oldest church in Madrid. Visit the Victory Arch, the Palacio Real, and the Plaza de las Cibeles and Puerta del Sol- And no Madrid activities list is complete without a visit to a Madrid flea market. Plan on leaving your Madrid hotel early one Sunday morning to head to El Rastro Flea Market. Located in La Latina, this is where you will find the Madrileño's real essence! And don't worry about running out of fuel. La Latina has a wide variety of tasty Madrid restaurants to choose from suited to just about any budget. Skim through any Madrid travel guide and you will also come across dozens of museums that shouldn’t be missed. Including the Royal Palace, Madrid has 15 significant museums, dozens of galleries, and several private collections. The three most famous Madrid museums are: the Prado, the Thyssen-Bornemisza, and the Reina Sofia museum. You might end up spending more than just one day just exploring museums. In fact, you could spend days in the halls of the Prado alone. While this Mardrid activity is well deserving of a top spot on your to do list, it is, however, quite possible to grow tired of all the museums in the city. If this happens, take a break, sit down at a terraza (outdoor cafe), and watch the world go by. You can even visit one of the many beautiful parks and lakes in the city. One of the nicest parks in Madrid is Retiro Park near the Prado. For a panoramic view of Madrid take the elevator to the bar on the 26th floor of the Edificio de Espana, which faces the Plaza de Espana. Madrid is a city that never seems to close down. Madrid restaurants and bars are open very late and the city's Santa Ana district, in fact, never does close down. Dinner typically begins after 10 p.m., and with dinner out of the way, revelers usually head off to their favorite disco show, jazz club, or late-night cafe to party until dawn. Those who love traditional performing arts will want to go to the Teatro Real for Spanish light opera known as zarzuela. You can also find good flamenco shows in several nightclubs including Cafe Chinitas – a popular Madrid restaurant and flamenco club. If you're in Madrid during the second half of May be sure to book your Madrid hotel early so you can join Madrileños in celebrating the Feria de San Isidro. Feria de San Isidro features music, operas, concerts, bullfighting, dancing, and all-night entertainment. Also, in mid-August, Madrid celebrates the Verbena de la Paloma. Madrid hotels are stylish, plentiful, and downright cozy, but don’t be afraid to check out and leave the city for a night or two – especially if you’re planning to stay for two weeks or more. Outside of Madrid, day trips can be made to Avila, El Escorial, Guadalajara, Segovia, and Toledo. Top Ten Things to Do in Madrid Bullfighting Performances at Las Ventas – Not for the faint of heart, bullfighting is considered a form of art in Spain, not a sport. The bullfighting season runs from March-October and bullfighting performances are held every Sunday afternoon. Las Ventas is the largest bullring in Spain and it is located at Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, c/Alcala, 237, Ph: 91 356 22 00, www.las-ventas.com . Art Walk: The art walk covers the three most famous Madrid museums the Prado, the Thyssen- Bornemisza, and the Reina Sofia Museum. The Prado is located at Calle Ruiz de Alarcon 23, Ph: +34 91 330 2800, www.museodelprado.es . Thyssen-Bornemisza is located at Prado 8, +34 91 369 01 51, www.museothyssen.org , e-mail mtb@museothyssen.org . Reina Sofia Museum, Calle Santa Isabel, 52, Ph: +34-91-774-10-00, www.museoreinasofia.es. San Nicolas de los Servitas – San Nicolas de los Servitas is the oldest church in Madrid. The bell tower, built in the 12 th century, is one of the oldest structures in Madrid. Inside the church you will find sculptures by Nicolas Busi and paintings by Pedro de Mena as well as exhibits, which detail Islamic history. San Nicolas de los Servitas is located at Plaza San Nicolas, Ph: 91-559-40-64. Admission is free. El Rastro Flea Market - Located in La Latina, El Rastro Flea Market helps you get up close and personal with Madrileño's real essence! El Rastro takes place every Sunday from 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m., and it is located between Plaza Mayor, La Latina, and Puerta de Toledo. Tip: Prices are not set in stone so remember this phrase: cuanto cuesta? (kwan-to kwes-tah) – This means “How much is it?” Retiro Park – Located behind the Prado Museum (Calle Ruiz de Alarcon 23), Retiro Park is one of the nicest and most popular parks in Madrid. Highlights include: a Victorian greenhouse, Crystal Palace, and a small swan filled man-made lake. Rent a rowboat to explore the surroundings or for a panoramic view of Madrid take the elevator to the bar on the 26th floor of the Edificio de Espana , which faces the Plaza de Espana. Teatro Real - Perfect for those who love traditional performing arts, Teatro Real features Spanish light opera performances known as zarzuela. If you feel like a late bite or a vodka drink just pop into 1917 Blinis & Vodkas, a few meters from the theatre. Teatro Real is located Plaza de Oriente, Ph: 91-516-06-96, www.teatro-real.es , e-mail: info@teatro-real.com. Palacio Real (The Royal Palace) – The Royal Palace features 2,800 magnificent rooms. Highlights include: Salon del Trono (throne room), the Royal Library (Biblioteca Real), the Banquet Hall, and Salon de Gasparini -- King Carlos III’s private apartments. The Royal Palace is located at Calle Balien, Ph: 91-454-8800. A two-hour, one-mile guided tour is available. :::::::::::::Melilla Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Melilla is one of the two Spanish enclaves that lies on the coast of Morocco. It has been in Spanish hands since the late 15th century. There is not a lot to see but is is a convenient entry point into Morocco, there are ferries to Malaga and Merida. Among the major sights are the Medina Sidonia and the municipal museum. ::::::::::Murcia Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see 2003-08-09 Los Alcazares - Murcia - Spain 2003-08-09 Los Alcazares - Murcia - Spain Jesus Fernandez Espinosa - www.Murcia4U.net The region of Murcia, located between the Community of Valencia and Andalucia, was the site of powerful Carthaginian and roman settlements in antiquity, while the long presence of the Moors deetermined its history throughot the Middle Ages. Famous today for its excellent fruit and vegetables, its coast is another major Spanish tourist zone. Murcia, the capital of the region, is located inland. Cartagena is the leading port in Murcia. Founded by the Carthaginians in 221 BC and oriinally named Carthago Nova, Cartagena has maintained its importance through the centuries. Its museum has excellent pre-Roman and Roman collections that testify to the transcendence of the great historical role played by the city. La Costa Calida (The Warm Coast) rims the region of Murcia. Its climate is particularly temperate and it has fine-sand beaches. Of special interest are the Mar Menor, a salt-water lagoon that is part of the Mediterranean and is especially apt for certain water sports. Its most important tourist centres are: Santiago de la Ribera, La Manga del Mar Menor, Puerto de Mazarron, Aguilas and Cartagena. :::::::::Navarre Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Pamplona City Hall Pamplona City Hall Kamal H Karim First of the kingdoms of Spain, and almost the only one in Europe not created by germanic warriors, it has many interesting historic towns. Its kings had great influence on Spain and France. :::::::::Soria Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see The province of Soria is a plateau in North Central Spain, lying on the most easterly limits of the autonomous region of Castilla y Leon. Soria has over 10,000 sq km (3861 miles) of beautiful landscapes and diverse geography, which act as a backdrop to the large concentration of medieval castles, Romanesque churches and timeless villages. All of which lie in close proximity to each other. The province sits at an average height of 1000 meters (3280 feet) above sea level. Soria is known for its pure clean air, due to its expanse of forests, nature parks, grazing lands and lack of heavy industry. And is an excellent base for walking and hiking holidays. The province of Soria has a population of approx 93,000, of which 40% live in its capital, also called Soria. The rural exodus of the 1960’s resulted in a loss in the subsequent years of around 42% of the population. Currently Soria has 8.8 inhabitants per sq km compared with an average in Spain of 87.2 and 116 in Europe . This makes Soria one of the least populated areas of Europe and the perfect place to unwind. With its abundance of charm and tranquillity, Soria beckons you to explore its nature, medieval castles, forests, history and gastronomy. Valencia Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see City of arts and sciences City of arts and sciences Fred Valencia is the third largest city in Spain, but one of the least visited by tourists. This is mainly due to it being more of a working city. However,during the summer, Valencia is known for its beach during the day and the clubs and bars at night. One key thing to remember though if you want to partake in the night life is that it doesn't start until really late. If you get there too early (before about 1am) you will think that Valencia has the worst night life ever, as you will be the only one there. As for the dining experience in Valencia, a visitor must be sure to try the most famous Spanish dish, Paella. The Valencia regions is the home of Paella and makes the dish like no other place. Paella is a rice dish that does not compare to anything else, but if one must describe it in comparison to something it would be a stir fry similar to fried rice with a wide variety of seafood, chicken, rabbit and vegetables. Es deliciosa! Another absolutely amazing culturally rich experience of the Valenica Region is Las Fallas, "the fires." Las Fallas is a 5-day celebration of St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters. This is an absolutely fascinating and overwhelming experience. You have constant firecrackers, flowers, parties, crowded street and much much more! If you are in town on the last day of the celebration, you can join in on the many block parties throughout the city. All the neighboorhood's cooks make their special paella, and don't be surprised if they ask you to "prueba," to try, their dish and comment on who's is the best. Be carefull if you take the challenge, Valencianos take pride in their paella. Durning Las Fallas the city glows with lighted streets and colorful ninots around every corner. The ninots, paper mache statues made of wood, cardboard, and plaster, are as tall as buildings. One way to grasp the local humor is to read (or have a Valenciano translate for you) the satirical inscriptions on the ninots. At the end of the festival, these statues are burned down at midnight in what is called "la Crema." As the beautiful statues are lit ablaze, the massive crowd stares in awe. Be careful you don't get singed with falling debris. While most of the statues go up in flames, the ones chosen as the very best in both the open and children's sections are reprieved and kept in the excellent Fallas museum. Anyone in search of the Holy Grail need not look any further than the Catedral de Valencia located on Plaza de la Renia, near the city center. Vistors can view the infamous chalice encased within the cathedral's gothic structure. If you are taking a day trip to the cathedral, make a stop at the Mercado Central nearby. One of the oldest in Europe, The mercado is 25,000 square feet of shopping heaven. You can find everything from Jamon Serrano (cured ham) to live eels. The creation of La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias with its magical 21st century architecture is intended to help the city attract tourists outside of fallas time in March. |
