Finca El quejigo, Santa Maria de Trassierra, Córdoba, Andalucía by Toprural

Andalucía

Andalucía is often praised as one of Spain’s most vibrant regions with its white washed hill towns, city carnivals and flamenco dancers. This is the destination for you if you want to soak up the Mediterranean attitude and have the choice between sandy beaches and mountains.

Andalucía is famed for its tapas. The Spanish national dish has originated in the provinces’ city of Seville. A trip to this region simply wouldn’t be complete without eating at a traditional local tapas bar. Just as eating a croissant in Paris it’s simply part of everyday life. Try a bar like La Giralda in Seville to get a real taste of the areas culture.

If you want to soak up some sun, head to the region of Costa De La Luz. Translating to the ‘coast of light’, there’s no better place to catch some rays. The area is home to an almost continual beach with white sands stretching for miles.

Alhambra and Sierra Nevada mountain by Adam Jones

Alternatively, you could head for the Sierra Nevada. Its towering snow-topped mountains couldn’t be in greater contrast to the regions’ coastal areas. In winter skiing is available and there are mini bus trips along Europe’s highest road. The city of Grenada also boasts one of Andalucía’s most impressive monuments the Moorish palace and gardens of the Alhambra.

Catalonia

Catalonia is home to one of Spain’s biggest tourist draws – Barcelona. Famed for its architecture and lively Mediterranean vibe, the city is well worth a visit. Park Guell is a beautiful spot not to be missed. Designed by the famous Gaudi it’s jam-packed with colourful modernist works, and has stunning panoramic views of the city.

Park Guell, Barcelona by Emma

Barcelona’s star attraction is another of Gaudi’s works, the Sagrada Familia. It’s difficult not to be impressed by this giant basilica that has been under construction since 1882. Covered in intricate details it is an ambitious project to say the least.

Make sure to head to one of the city’s famous flamenco shows during your stay. The traditional Spanish dance is particularly popular in Barcelona and makes for a great night out.

Sagrada Familia, Barcelona by thecrypt

However, there is more to Catalonia than its most famous city. When you’ve had enough of the bright lights, head to the rural areas where you’ll find Catalan spoken and traditional Catalan food. The coastal areas north and south of Barcelona are well worth a trip, as are the regional towns such as Girona, Tarragona and Lleida.

If you’re more of the adventurous type, the Catalan Pyrenees offer a perfect isolated setting for skiing and hiking. The rivers in the areas’ Noguera Pallaresa valley also cater for adrenaline junkies and provide the ideal conditions for white water rafting.

Camarasa reservoir in the Noguera Pallaresa river by El monty

Galicia

Galicia offers an alternative experience for travellers to Spain. It is much less touristy than other regions, but still has plenty to offer. Characterised by rolling green hills, this is the area to head to, if you’re looking for peace and quiet.

Like many of the more popular regions of Spain, Galicia has no shortage of beaches. The beach of As Catedrais in the Rias Altas, near Ribadeo was recently voted as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. It certainly lives up to its title with white sand, towering arches, and unusual rock formations.

As Catedrais Beach by Linda Hartley

Galicia is a foodies heaven, famed as having the best wine and sea food in Spain. The city of Vigo is the place to head if you’re looking for top quality, freshly caught produce. You’ll be spoilt for choice by the endless array of tapas bars and restaurants serving delicious mussels, oysters, and fish.

An internationally renowned wine-producer, a trip to Galicia has to include a tasting of one of the regions wines. The area is best known for its Rias Baixas which is a crisp, aromatic white.

Spain’s varied landscape of rolling hills, mountains, beaches, and arid plains has something for everyone. If you shop around you can find lots of Spanish hotels, at good prices, outside of the major resorts. For your next holiday try one of these hidden gems.

Gavin Harvey is a fitness instructor who loves travelling. He currently lives in Bristol with his partner.

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The Main Attractions of Girona, Spain

Girona is a major tourist destination for travellers from all over Europe and a lovely day trip from Barcelona. Take the train from Barcelona and enjoy the lovely Catalan scenery on your way. Old town Girona sits atop a steep hill of the Capuchins and is beside the river, while the modern city is located in the plains. The architecture influenced by various cultural influences over hundreds of years will astonish and amaze.

The Cathedral

Girona’s Cathedral was used by the Moors in ancient times as a mosque. The Girona Cathedral is located in the heart of the city and you must walk up a large staircase to reach the entrance. The original cathedral was originally built on the same site as the present Girona Cathedral. It has a magnificent approach of 86 steps and contains beautiful chapels and gorgeous interior decorations designed by renowned Valencian Pere Bernec. The sheer size of the structure will leave you in awe. Be sure to take the audio tour to learn about the history of the cathedral and its collection of treasures.

Girona Cathedral, Spain by Craig Wyzik

The Old Fortifications

The Old Fortifications are located in the Old City of Girona and can be reached by foot once you are in Girona. Wear some hiking shoes, because you will have to walk up a steep hill to reach them. These fortifications are some of the most popular tourist attractions in Girona. They were originally built for the protection of the city from invaders hundreds of years ago. The city walls were originally built by the Romans around 1^st century BC. The walls were rebuilt around 14^th century with the original Roman walls used for foundations. From the start of the 16^th century, the wall was eventually absorbed into the city of Girona. You can walk the entire expanse of the walls and climb the lookout towers to see the 360 degree views of Girona and the beautiful countryside. Wander the alleyways to see the monks wander around the historic old town and the exquisite wrought ironworks, archways, and brightly coloured antique doors.

Tossa de Mar near Girona, Spain by Freebird

Visit the Beaches

Take a trip from Girona to the beaches which are known for their lush beauty and gorgeous turquoise waters. The village of Tossa de Mar is another medieval marvel with amazing turreted towers and protective walls. It is a stone’s throw from Girona and is located on the coast. You can reach this destination by car or from the airport located northwest of the village. You can see the village fisherman out on their fishing boats bringing in the day’s fresh catch. The main beach in this area is Platja Gran featuring an otherworldly blend of golden pebbles and sand which sparkle in the sunlight. For a quiet beach picnic, visit the Platja del Reig and the Platja Mar Menuda which have a much more secluded and quiet atmosphere.

About the Author: Alyssa is the author of this article, she is the chief writer of the Discount Attractions website, visit this site for getting discounts on Los Angeles attractions.

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Muntanya Russa – Parc d’Atraccions del Tibidabo, Barcelona / By Jordiferrer (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Costa Brava

Lying on the north east of Catalonia, Costa Brava’s coastal location is a haven for holiday makers. The lure of crisp beaches and stunning coastline makes it irresistible for those who enjoy soaking up the sun. The name itself comes from ‘costa’, meaning ‘coast’ and ‘brava’ meaning ‘wild’. While the Costa Brava attracts those who just want to lie in the sun, it has many other parts to explore.

Even if you book into a family friendly resort, there’s a lot to explore. There are towns such as the picturesque Begur, which is visited for its rustic charm and history. There are still remnants of the town’s intriguing past history, especially at Begur’s castle, which was completed in the 17th century. As a family, the municipality is full of great opportunities to explore the rugged side of Spain.

Barcelona

Barcelona is Catalonia’s capital, and second only to Madrid for size in Spain. This is a thriving, cosmopolitan city that boasts a rich, cultural heritage. It is made up of a busy collection of restaurants, galleries and events that are perfect for adults and children. The city itself is very kid friendly, and it’s not hard to find something to keep them entertained.

Along with the must-see attractions such as Gaudi’s Sacred Family Church and the Dali Museum, there are other activities such as theme parks, zoos and more. Tibidabo Amusement Park is located atop Mount Tibidabo, which is the highest point of the lush, verdant Collserola Ridge nature park. The amusement park itself is 512m above sea level, which lends itself to some dramatic, and exhilarating rides.

Valencia

The history of Valencia dates back to 138 BC, where it began life as a Roman colony. Since then it has developed into a very modern city without sacrificing many of the historical connections that formed its foundation. Valencia lies on the banks of the river Turia, which offers incredible scenery and breathtaking views.

When visiting Valencia, its essential to visit the Bioparc. Not so much a run of the mill zoo, the Bioparc has been designed to give animals more freedom, replicating their natural habitats as accurately as possible. You really do feel as though you are (safely) exploring the animal’s environments, instead of finding them caged in ours.

I Dream Elephants brings a great choice of kids clothes, including Spanish brand Bobo Choses.

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The place is located close to Barcelona. Montserrat literally means “jagged mountain” and when you take a look at the pinkish rock, which is above the monastery and visible already from afar, you are immediately clear why. Although the mountain alone attracts many rock climbers, most people come here to visit the Benedictine monastery and see the statue of the Virgin Mary and infant Christ, also known as “la Moreneta”. The Black Madonna is made of wood and was created sometimes between the 12th and 13th century. Just like in many similar cases, even here a lot of people believe that the statue has supernatural abilities, such as cure or fulfil wishes. She was declared the saint patron of Catalonia by Pope Leo XIII in 1844.

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But Montserrat Monastery is even older coming from the 8th or 9th century, however since then it has undergone many alterations and was almost destroyed during Napoleonic wars. Today’s appearance is from the late 19th century.

Some of you who knows the music much better than just from radios would certainly be familiar with a local boys’ choir of sopranos and altos called L’Escolania, existing since the 13th century. It is the oldest institution of its kind in Europe.

The monastery also includes an extensive library with more than 200,000 volumes. But it is still not everything. The legend says that this site was a place of the castle of the Holy Grail (often identified with the dish, plate, or cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper and said to possess miraculous powers).

Montserrat monastery is situated in the mountain at an altitude of 750 meters above sea level and formerly was very hard accessible. However now it is very easy to get there, so be prepared for crowds. You can use road, but also a steep lift built in 1930 (Aerie de Montserrat) or cog-railway from 1892.

Due to a huge number of visitors (almost 750,000 people a year), there are lots of car parks, restaurants, refreshments with ice cream, souvenir shops, two museums and even a hotel.

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