Once away from the holiday costas, you could only be in Spain. In the cities, narrow twisting old streets suddenly open out to views of daring modern architecture, while spit-and-sawdust bars serving wine from the barrel rub shoulders with vibrant nightlife.
Travel is easy, the climate benign, the people relaxed, the beaches long and sandy, the food and drink easy to come by and full of regional variety. Cultural influences in Spain are equally diverse - Greeks and Romans, Arabs (Moors), Gypsies, Jews, Basques and Celts have all left an indelible imprint on the art, architecture, music and gastronomy of Spain.
Whether you have only enough time to visit the easily accessed cities of Barcelona and Madrid or you take advantage of an opportunity to go off the beaten track to visit the smaller towns, Spain will not disappoint.
For many travellers, the paradors of Spain rank among the finest and most characterful places to stay in the world. This unique concept, of luxury hotels within castles, palaces, fortresses, convents, monasteries and other buildings of historic interest, offers visitors the most romantic short breaks or self-drive tours from property to property, discovering the best of Spain as you go.
Spanish Highlights
• Built on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, Seville is heir to a rich Arab legacy and has a fascinating collection of historic buildings, many of which have been declared World Heritage buildings.
• Founded by the Romans, Cordoba became a port city of great importance used to ship olive oil, wine and wheat back to Ancient Rome. Now a peaceful town of leafy squares, cobbled streets and stunning Moorish architecture, Cordoba will undoubtedly charm.
• At the foot of Sierra Nevada, between the Darro and Genil rivers, is Granada one of the most interesting cities in eastern Andalucia. An impressive Andalucian legacy meets architectural gems from the Renaissance and the most modern facilities, typical of the 21st Century.
• The Catalonian capital, Barcelona, is a cosmopolitan city that incorporates Roman remains, medieval districts and the most beautiful examples of Modernism and 20th Century avant-garde art.
• The old town of Spain’s capital Madrid is exemplary among major European cities, and blends harmoniously with the most modern and convenient of urban infrastructure.
• Located in the northern Basque Country is the town and municipality of Elciego, a picture postcard setting amongst the world-famous Rioja producing wine region.
• The largest of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca has a wonderfully warm climate which has long attracted outsiders, whose influence can still be felt; Romans, Arabs and Europeans have all left their mark on the island’s landscape and culture but what has not changed are the enduring values of the island’s people; courteous, proud and self sufficient.