If you are planning to go on holiday to Spain, and if this is your first time in Spain, then Madrid should definitely be your first stop! It is the capital of Spain, the largest city in Spain - and enjoys more than 2, 700 hours of sun a year - that works out to about 250 days!  No wonder over 6 million tourists visit Madrid each year. Madrid is well known for being a centre of art and culture.

Best time to Visit

Spring is definitely the best time to visit Madrid, especially in April, May, and June or even in October, when the Festival de Otono (Autumn Festival) takes place. The Festival is hosted by the province of Madrid every year and is the best music, theatre and dance festival in Spain.

Famous Art Galleries

Art lovers will enjoy visiting Madrid, because you can find many well known museums, art galleries and castles with outstanding art collections. There are about 150 private art galleries. One of the most famous art galleries is the El Prado Museum, which has more than 1 500 great works of art. The Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza is also well known, and here you can find a collection of European paintings from the 13th Century to modern times. The Museo de America has the finest collection of pre-Columbian art.

Other Tourist Attractions

The top attraction in Madrid is the Puerta Del Sol which is the center of Spain. Other tourist attractions are the 3,000 room Royal Palace ( Palacio Real ) and a number of beautiful churches, such as The Almudena Cathedral, The Basilica de San Isidro (The Basilica was designed as a twin-towered Baroque church by the Jesuit architect, Pedro Sanchez),  The Real Ermita San Antonio de la Florida.  The Panteon de Goya is the tomb of the famous Spanish artist, Goya.  In addition, visitors would like to see The House of Seven Chimneys which now houses the Ministry of Culture and The Palacio de Cristal (Crystal Palace) Warner Brothers Movie World is another attraction not to be missed!

For the kids there are so many places which the kids will love visiting. Some of them are The Aquapolis-Villanueva, one of the largest open-air water parks in Europe. The most popular place is The Zoo Aquarium De Madrid, where you can see more than 3,000 animals, and children can also enjoy The Marine Aquarium, The Parrot Club and The Dolphinarium.

Restaurants and Shopping

There are so many restaurants in Madrid offering food from different parts of the world.  Apart from Spanish food, you can also eat Italian, American, Japanese, and Thai, Middle Eastern dishes, Mediterranean and French food. You can also find vegetarian restaurants. You can shop to your heart’s content in the various malls and shopping centers in Madrid.Various agencies in Madrid organize sight-seeing tours both inside and outside of Madrid. It is definitely a place worth visiting, so plan your trip with your family as soon as possible and enjoy a lovely holiday.


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Spain is among the most favorite tourist destinations in Europe on account of its historical background and enriched natural treasures. Spain is the largest country in Europe after France and this country is located on the southwest side of Europe. Spain has the borders of the Mediterranean Sea on both the west and south parts. Tourists, not only from entire Europe but also from the rest of the world love visiting Spain because of the presence of variety of holiday activities.Spain is the focus of visitors from the whole world during the whole year but summer is the best time to visit Spain.

The most interesting reason for choosing Spain for summer vacations is the availability of variety of beaches in Spain. All these beaches are well developed and well equipped with interesting tourist activities. You can do clubbing, diving, fishing and rest of the water sport activities on almost all of the beaches present in Spain.Spain is among the most historically enriched nations and Spanish government has preserved the history well in the form of monuments.There are number of places in Spain which are ranked as World Heritage by the UNESCO and visiting these places is a must. All these places and monuments are unique and enriched with the cultural and religious backgrounds of the past years.Among the many tourist attractions in Spain, Sierra Nevada is the best place to visit.

This area is snowy and located in the province of Andalusia.The top peak in this area has a height of three thousand four hundred and seventy eight meters. This area is a wonderful place for the visitors.The nightlife in Spain has its own charm and specialty. No matter in what part of the country you are, you have plenty of activities to do at night. The bars and clubs remain open till very late at night.Spain is the country with many wonderful tourist attractions. You will surely love the monuments, museums, churches, mosques, shopping areas, parks and rest of the places in Spain. The weather in Spain is generally believed to be most conducive for tourist activity. There is no problem of accommodations as well. So, if you are looking for a very good destination to spend vacations this season, then Spain is the right choice. You will surely remember this season throughout your life.



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Cuenca is the capital of the same-named province that is the largest province in Spain. This medieval fortified city is located on the delta of rivers Jucar and Huecar and it consists of the new town and the old town. The exact meaning of the name Cuenca is unknown. On the other hand, it may have a Roman origin and therefore it can mean “river basin”. However, there are some speculations that its name is a derivation from Arabic fortress-Kunka.UNESCO declared this city as a World Heritage Site in 1996 due to its spectacular historical and cultural heritage.

History of Cuenca

Cuenca is located on the Iberian Peninsula; this area was under the Roman rule and in that period of time, this city did not exist.When Arabs came to this territory, they realized a good strategic location between two rivers and built the fortress Kunka whose remains still stand in Cuenca. Christians entered the city for the first time in the 11th century when the Castillians conquered it.

City Attractions

Cuenca has many interesting historical and archaeological sites.St.Peter’s church has Romanesque origins but it was rebuilt in the 18th century. Today it is a typical example of baroque style. This church is easy to find-you have to go from Plaza de Major through San Pedro Street and you will see it. Our Lady of Grace Cathedral was made during the 12th and the 13th centuries. It is interesting that it is the first Gothic Cathedral in Spain. Concerts of classical music are held in St.Michael’s church there. The Iglesia del Salvador is one of younger churches in Cuenca - it was built in the 18th century in the Neo-gothic style.The Seminario is a triangular shaped building that serves as a library and books from the 16th century can be found there.

Inside this building is a meeting room made in a rococo style; it is not allowed to be seen by tourists. The Old Saint Paul Convent was founded by the Dominican order in the 18th century. This building is in the Rococo style.The Arab fortress is called “El Castillo”; not much of it is left due to its destruction in the 19th century (during the Spanish War of Independence). In Cuenca, you will also see The Town hall, hanging houses, St. Felipe Neri church and many other historical monuments.Cuenca is an idyllic spot for those who are looking for a quiet and  a soothing holiday destination!


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About the Island

Tenerife is located in the heart of the Canary Islands archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. This island is also known as 'Island of eternal spring' since it is a true oasis. Its landscapes are very diverse, with a high contrast.In Tenerife, Mother Nature has shown its tenderness and brutality. It has large climatic contrasts, especially during the winter. Therefore, you can be at the beach and enjoy the warm weather and on the other hand, just a few kilometers away it will snow.
 

Volcano

The island is dominated by the volcano El Teide, which is 3718 meters above the sea level. The region around the crater resembles the scenery from a science fiction movie. You will have the impression that you are actually on another planet since the volcanic rocks, stones and wastelands seem ghostly and unreal in earthly terms. It is a special adventure to climb to the summit. Moreover, you can reach there by a local public bus or by a cable car. Of course the volcano is just one of the many attractions of this island.


Coastline

Riparian zones of Tenerife are 350 kilometers long. The coastline is cut by numerous bays and lagoons. Lush and diverse flora of this place, combined with sandy beaches (white, black and red sand) will take your breath away. With the Volcano above you and the ocean under your feet, you will experience an extraordinary feeling of fire and water or heaven and hell.

Tourist attractions

La Orotava, 'jewel of the north' is a small town in the hills which contains 350 buildings protected by UNESCO. These magnificent buildings were built in the hills, not on the coast, for several very practical reasons. The inhabitants of the island were rich due to the good climate. Thus they were the target of pirates. However, from the hills the inhabitants were able to see pirate ships that were coming to the island.Museo De La Naturaleza y El Hombre is a formidable museum which offers impressive archaeological and bio-anthropological collections. If you like mummies, then you have to visit this museum.


Icod los Vinos

Icod de los Vinos is a historic town in Tenerife which you must visit. In addition to many historic churches and squares, this place has an incredibly unique wood. Famous dragon tree (Dracaena draco canariensis) is a symbol of the city and part of its history. The natives say that it is thousand years old. 



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Cadiz is considered to be one of the most strategic areas of Spain which actually intersects Europe and Africa. Historians are also of the opinion that the earliest settlement of Cadiz could be traced to 1000 BC which is believed to be a Fenecian settlement. This was also a trade route for the Fenecian. Other settlements traced to Cadiz include Greeks, Romans, Cartagens, Moors and Christians. According to records available with historians, it was from Cadiz that Christopher Columbus set on his mission to discover the route to America.Places of interest in Cadiz include beautiful parks, historical buildings, beautiful sea, town hall, market place, museums, etc. Tour operators are of the opinion that it would take at least about four to five days to cover all the places of importance in this beautiful city. Now let us commence our tour visiting some of the important churches.

Church Nuestra Senora del Rosario:

 According to history, this church was built by Barolome Ruiz and Anton Maria in the 17th century. History also says that the church was renovated in 1666. The building is so attractive that every visitor makes it a point to visit this church not only as a place of worship, but also as a masterpiece work of sculpture. The altar made of marble is something unique and simply beautiful.

Church Oratoria de San Felipe:

This is believed to have been built in the 17th Century. This church has a history of its own. It is believed that when the French occupied Cadiz, they conducted the parliamentary meeting in this church. When Spain took over Cadiz, it was here in the year 1812 that the first constitution of Spain was written. The writings on the wall bear testimony to this. The names of those who took part in the writing of the constitution are inscribed on the walls of the church. Interestingly some of the members of parliament of Cadiz are buried here. Paintings by one of the most renowned painters by name Murillo are on display here.  

Cathedral:

This is also called the old Cathedral of Cadiz and is believed to have been built in the year 1838. According to historians, a mosque actually existed in the place where the Cathedral exists now. Unfortunately the Cathedral was the target every time there was a war. Most of the parts of the Cathedral have been destroyed and now only the vault and part of the main entrance to the cathedral remain intact.



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About Segovia

Segovia is a city in the province of Castile and Leon. The city is in the Iberian Peninsula and it has continental Mediterranean climate. Therefore, it has cold winters and hot summers.It has 56,000 residents. The city is only an hour’s drive away from Madrid.It is also very attractive due to large number of cafes and bars, which are placed on the street.However, main symbols of the city are numerous churches in the Romanesque style, zone for walking where vehicles are prohibited, famous Alcazar castle and Roman aqueduct. Its historic sites are under protection of UNESCO since 1985.

Roman Aqueduct

Roman aqueduct is actually an old bridge that was constructed by Vitruvius in 1 BC. This amazing bridge has great number of arches which are placed into two levels. It is made of granite bricks like all Roman architectural facilities from the period. It was used for delivering water to Segovia from the river Fuente Fria.

Alcazar

Alcazar is Segovia’s famous castle that is located in the north-west of the city. It is interesting to know that this castle was the inspiration to Walt Disney.The castle is situated on the rock and in its foot hills are two rivers. Its usage changed over the time; it served as a fortress, royal palace, prison and even a military college.This is a really attractive historical site and it attracts large number of tourists all year round.

Economy

Segovia was an important place during the Romans. In the fifteenth century it started producing wool. However, today its citizens live from agriculture and tourism.The tourism started to be popular when UNESCO announced it as Heritage of Mankind.

Castillo de Coca

Costillo de Coca is a castle near Segovia. If you are in the neighborhood, you definitely should visit this incredible castle. The castle of Coca is considered one of the most beautiful examples of Gothic-Mudejar style. Its construction is amazing and everybody falls in love with it at the first sight. Although it is made of brick, from an archaeological point of view it is an original and imaginative building. It emphasizes the unique beauty of its divisions. Since it is in Mudejar style, you can find many interesting paintings there. Another special feature lies in its foundation. This castle is not built on the hill, as is the case with all other castles. It uses the escarpments of the land for defending itself from the enemy.




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Altea is located in the North of Benidorm about seven kilometers along the road N-332. It is also called Costa Blanca’s capital by some artists. Altea is an old town with thin streets filled with art galleries and pottery workshops. Many artists and potters found Altea an ideal location to reside due to its isolation and tranquility. Altea is a place for people related to arts and it receives large number of tourist visits by nature lovers.The symbolic images of the Costa Blanca on the blue and white dome of the church make the town of Altea extremely picturesque. The town is an ideal location to begin the journey to Altea due to its hilly location.

Attractions:

Altea has one of the finest white sand beaches and clear water. Altea has beautiful parks e.g.Terra mittica and forts like the Bernia fort constructed by the Moors. Even in summers Altea has a mild climate which is good enough to enjoy.

Places to visit in Altea:

The Altea Golf Course is situated southwards in the Costa Blanca golf courses. It is in the area of Old Altea. The parochial church is a dedication to the Virgin del Consuelo built in the last century. There is a fine plaza ositioned at the peak of Altea adjacent to the parochial church. It is an interesting place for adventurous people and they can enjoy marvelous views of the Mediterranean Sea and the town below. Altea has the largest shopping markets and remains open till late at night. The town of Altea has great history to offer, it is said to have been occupied by the Muslims and later in 1244 it was subjugated by Jaime I. The Altea natives at that time, who migrated, were sheltered under the castle and they later built their houses on the head of the hill.

The old town undoubtedly offers a great glance of ancient history.The beaches of Altea are located within 6 km of the cliffs. Located in the South; Playa de Cap Blanch is the main beach. The foreign animal parks and natural parks in Altea are also great locations to see.  At the point of Mascarat, there is more on offer but Altea ends there.Many locations can be visited while you are in Altea like Calpe and Peñon de Ifach formatted rocks, the village of Moraira, Denia, medieval Castell de Guadalest, the beautiful Gallinera vale and Fuentes de Algar.

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Spain, a country which has a rich heritage inherited since the era of some of the most popular civilizations like the Celts, Romans, Moors, etc. is also rich in beautiful nature. The civilizations which ruled Spain built some of the epic buildings which are preserved by the government of Spain even to this day. Some of these ancient buildings are a challenge to modern architects. It exemplifies the engineering and architectural marvel of the people belonging to these civilizations. These have made Spain one of the most preferred tourist spots of the world.

What are the places to visit in Spain?

It is very difficult to make a list of places of interest in Spain. As a matter of fact, it is said that there are more than 20,000 monumental buildings like churches, castles, cathedrals, etc. built centuries ago and these buildings have been preserved as places of importance for tourists. Every city has park and museums. Interestingly, most of these parks were developed centuries ago. The museums give a vivid view of the city which the tourist is visiting and most of the museums have collections of works of art and artifacts from some of the most popular artists of Spain who lived there centuries ago. Interestingly some of the caves in Spain have wall paintings which are believed to have been done in the 5th century. These paintings remain so fresh even to this day that one seldom believes that these are paintings done centuries ago.

Spain has one of longest beaches in Europe spreading over 220 kms. Along this entire stretch of the beach, there are many villages and small townships. Most of these villages and towns have some of the ancient buildings. The tourist will be mesmerized by the beauty of these buildings. Added to this is the beauty of the sea which has made the place all the more interesting.The beaches are so perfectly maintained that the tourist will find the water in the sea crystal clear. It is no surprise that some of the beaches have won the ‘blue flag’ which indicates how perfectly the beach is maintained.Although Spain receives millions of tourists every year, there are no complaints of lack of accommodation. The villas, hotels and apartments are available at the most economical rentals. Self catering villas are also available. The hotels and restaurants serve the most traditional food and wine at the most economical rate.


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In the southern part of the province of Salamanca and only 77 kilometers from the capital of this region (which is also called Salamanca) lies a town of 1,100 inhabitants. Its name is La Alberca. It used to be called Valdelaguna; today's name originates from the Hebrew word “baraka” and the Arab word “la”, so the name of this town probably means "place of waters."

History of the city

The first people lived in this region since prehistory. Furthermore, there are many paintings from the Neolithic Age in rocks and caves of the valley around La Alberca. During the 12th and the 13th centuries, this town was re-populated. The decision of French King Alfonso IX made many noble French families come to La Alberca. Many French names appear in La Alberca.  Frances el Rio and La Sierra de Francia are typical examples of that fashion. La Alberca is situated on this French river and French mountain.  

The road to Santiago includes La Alberca and many pilgrims pass through this city

Virgen de la Perla de Francia is an image that was discovered in the 15th century. It is a relic that became a mandatory part of Santiago pilgrimage. Each year, on the second day of Easter, this town celebrates an event that happened in the 15th century. One woman, according to the legend, won against the Portuguese army in 1465. La Alberca had not got its independence until 1515.

The architecture of this town is dominated by stone, wood and granite.  

The most famous historical monument is the parish church Our Lady of Assumption. This church was built in the 18th century. However, there are many interesting historical sites. Furthermore, you should not miss The Shrine of Our Lady in the Romanesque style and the Sanctuary of the Virgin from the 15th century. The Dominican monastery is situated at an altitude of 1723 meters and it is near the town. All houses and buildings in La Alberca have some kind of religious symbols; this is a religious town in which three religions exist - Christian, Islamic and Jewish.

Fiestas of La Alberca  

The biggest fiesta in La Alberca lasts for three days and it is held in honor of Our Lady of Assumption. Every August, residents of this town put on their baroque costumes and come to the square in order to celebrate the existence of La Alberca.

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Cadiz is considered to be one of the most strategic areas of Spain which actually intersects Europe and Africa. Historians are also of the opinion that the earliest settlement of Cadiz could be traced to 1000 BC which is believed to be a Fenecian settlement. This was also a trade route for the Fenecian. Other settlements traced to Cadiz include Greeks, Romans, Cartagens, Moors and Christians. According to records available with historians, it was from Cadiz that Christopher Columbus set on his mission to discover the route to America.Places of interest in Cadiz include beautiful parks, historical buildings, beautiful sea, town hall, market place, museums, etc. Tour operators are of the opinion that it would take at least about four to five days to cover all the places of importance in this beautiful city. Now let us commence our tour visiting some of the important churches.

Church Nuestra Senora del Rosario:

According to history, this church was built by Barolome Ruiz and Anton Maria in the 17th century. History also says that the church was renovated in 1666. The building is so attractive that every visitor makes it a point to visit this church not only as a place of worship, but also as a masterpiece work of sculpture. The altar made of marble is something unique and simply beautiful.

Church Oratoria de San Felipe:

This is believed to have been built in the 17th Century. This church has a history of its own. It is believed that when the French occupied Cadiz, they conducted the parliamentary meeting in this church. When Spain took over Cadiz, it was here in the year 1812 that the first constitution of Spain was written. The writings on the wall bear testimony to this. The names of those who took part in the writing of the constitution are inscribed on the walls of the church. Interestingly some of the members of parliament of Cadiz are buried here. Paintings by one of the most renowned painters by name Murillo are on display here.  

Cathedral:

This is also called the old Cathedral of Cadiz and is believed to have been built in the year 1838. According to historians, a mosque actually existed in the place where the Cathedral exists now. Unfortunately the Cathedral was the target every time there was a war. Most of the parts of the Cathedral have been destroyed and now only the vault and part of the main entrance to the cathedral remain intact.




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