SPAIN - Country SNAPSHOT
If you are coming to Spain for the first time, be warned: this is a country that fast becomes an addiction. You might intend to come just for a beach holiday, or a tour of the major cities, but before you know it you'll find yourself hooked by something quite different - by the celebration of some local fiesta, perhaps, or the amazing nightlife in Madrid, by the Moorish monuments of Andalucia, by Basque cooking, or the wild landscapes and birds of prey of Estremadura. And by then, of course, you will have noticed that there is not just one Spain but many. Indeed, Spaniards often speak of Las Españas (the Spains) and they even talk of the capital in the plural - Los Madriles , the Madrids.
This regionalism is an obsession and perhaps the most significant change to the country over recent decades has been the creation of seventeen autonomías - autonomous regions - with their own governments, budgets and cultural ministries. The old days of a unified nation, governed with a firm hand from Madrid, seem to have gone forever, as the separate kingdoms which made up the original Spanish state reassert themselves. And the differences are evident wherever you look: in language, culture and artistic traditions, in landscapes and cityscapes, and attitudes and politics.
The cities - above all - are compellingly individual. Barcelona, for many, has the edge: for Gaudí's splendid modernista architecture, the lively promenade of Las Ramblas, designer clubs par excellence , and, not least, for Barça - the city's football team. But Madrid, although not as pretty, claims as many devotees. The city and its people, immortalized in the movies of Pedro Almodóvar, have a vibrancy and style that is revealed in a thousand bars and summer terrazas. Not to mention three of the world's finest art museums. Then there's Sevilla, home of flamenco and all the clichés of southern Spain; Valencia, the vibrant Levantine city with an arts scene and nightlife to equal any European rival; and Bilbao, a new entry on Spain's cultural circuit, due to Frank Gehry's astonishing Guggenheim museum.
Monuments range just as widely from one region to another, dependent on their history of control and occupation by Romans and Moors, their role in the "golden age" of Imperial Renaissance Spain, or their twentieth-century fortunes. Touring Castile and León, you confront the classic Spanish images of vast cathedrals and reconsquista castles - literally hundreds of the latter; in the northern mountains of Asturias and the Pyrenees, tiny, almost organic Romanesque churches dot the hillsides and villages; Andalucía has the great mosques and Moorish palaces of Granada, Sevilla and Córdoba; Castile has the superbly preserved medieval capital, Toledo, and the gorgeous Renaissance university city of Salamanca; while the harsh landscape of Estremadura cradles the ornate conquistador towns built with riches from the "New World".
Not that Spain is predominantly about buildings. For most visitors, the landscape holds just as much fascination - and variety. The evergreen estuaries of Galicia could hardly be more different from the high, arid plains of Castile, or the gulch-like desert landscapes of Almería. Agriculture makes its mark in the patterened hillsides of the wine- and olive-growing regions and the rice fields of the Levante. Spain is also one of the most mountainous countries in Europe, and there is superb walking and wildlife in a dozen or more sierras - above all in the Picos de Europa and Pyrenees. Spain's unique fauna boast protected species like brown bears, the Spanish lynx and Mediterranean monk seals as well as more common wild boar, white storks and birds of prey.
One of Spain's greatest draws is undeniably its beaches although with infinitely more variety than you would be led to believe from the sun-and-sand holiday brochures. Long tracts of coastline - along the Costa del Sol, in particular - have been developed into concrete hotel and villa complexes but delightful pockets remain even on the big tourist costas. On the Costa Brava, the string of coves between Palamos and Begur are often overlooked, while in the south there are superb windsurfing waters around Tarifa and some decidedly low-key resorts along the Costa de la Luz. In the north, the cooler Atlantic coastline boasts the surfing sands of Cantabria and the unspoilt coves of Galicia's estuaries. Offshore, the Balearic islands have some superb sands and, if you're up for it, Ibiza also offers one of the most hedonistic backdrops to beachlife in the Mediterranean.
Wherever you are in Spain, you can't help but notice the Spaniards' infectious enthusiasm for life. In the cities there is always something happening - in bars and clubs, on the streets, and especially at fiesta times. Even in out of the way places there's a surprising range of nightlife and entertainment, not to mention the daily pleasures of a round of tapas, moving from bar to bar, having a beer, a glass of wine or a fino (dry sherry) and a bite of the house speciality.
The identity and appeal of each of the regions is explored in the introductions, where you'll find a rundown on their highlights.
SPAIN - Mérida - The old roman health resort
The sparsely-populated region of Extremadura in southwestern Spain has one principal places of interest, Mérida The city of Cáceres has a walled old quarter full of Renaissance churches, palaces, and other roman buildings. Mérida was once an important city under the Romans and today retains a wide selection of monuments from that era, including a well-preserved theater, a temple, an amphitheater, villas, a triumphal arch, and an aqueduct. Mérida city (1990 pop. 53,732), Badajoz prov., SW Spain, in Extremadura, on the Guadiana River. It is a rail hub and agricultural center producing textiles, leather, and cork. The colony Emerita Augusta, founded by the Romans in the 1st cent. B.C., it became the capital of Lusitania. Its Roman remains, among the most important in Spain, include a magnificent bridge, a triumphal arch, a theater with marble columns, an aqueduct, a temple, an imposing circus, and an amphitheater. Mérida was later the chief city of Visigothic Lusitania. It fell (713) to the Moors, under whom it prospered. Conquered (1228) by Alfonso IX of León, it was given to the Knights of Santiago but quickly declined.
Established by the Romans in 25 BC, Merida retains an extensive collection of Roman ruins and has a fabulous museum devoted to Roman history. Merida was the first strong hold of the Roman Empire in Spain. The aqueducts, bridges, amphitheater and theater still stand after being built around 250 B.C. I found Mérida during one of my business trips in Spain in 1998 and I felt me really impressed of this small city with all these roman buildings.
SPAIN - Salamanca - a human heritage of the UNESCO
Salamanca: The last destination of every Spanish travel. Salamanca is one the coldest towns of Spain in the winter. But the summer can be very hot and sultry. Salamanca, city in Spain, capital of the province with the same name, at the Tormes. Foods, chemicals, pottery, leathers, jewellery and furniture are set up here. Center of the city is formed the Plaza Mayor, the 1729 to the 1755 of Alberto DE Churriguera was. The university (set up 1218) would make centers of Europe academic Salamanca to one of the leading one. The papal university became 1134 set up. The UNESCO explained the old town Salamancas to the world cultural heritage. It offers numerous historical buildings, included the old cathedral and the new cathedral (12.13 century and/or 16.17 century), the church San Esteban with an altar (1693-1700) of José Benito Churriguera and a roman bridge over the Tormes. The antique city became occupied from the karthagischen military leader Hannibal. The name of the settlement Salmantica was at roman time. Salamanca was under domination of the Arabs to 1085. The city became bishop's see in the 12th century. The foundation of the university through Alfons IX. verhalf Salamanca to an early blossom. She was one of the most important universities of the occident with Oxford, Paris and Bologna. The number of inhabitants is about 358 000.
SPAIN - Toledo - a human heritage of the UNESCO
Toledo (Spain), city in Spain, administrative seat of the area Kastilien-La Mancha and the province Toledo, at the river Tajo. Toldeo was constructed on a hill which declines steeply on three sides to the valley of the Tajo. Swords of Toledostahl which are set up both from private enterprises and from government factories are the most famous product Toledos.
The old town Toledos, explained by the UNESCO to the world cultural heritage, is surrounded by a high city wall with big city gates (13.14 century). Narrow, engulfed lanes and massive houses in the Moorish pin list emboss the picture of the medieval city. In the centre raises for itself that out jutting out building, the Gothic cathedral with their numerous bands (1227-1493). She is designated as one of the most beautiful cathedrals Spain. Sight value are also the Gothic church San Juan DE loose Reyes and the bordering cloister and the Sinagoga electroluminescent display Tránsito (1366) that was converted after eviction of Jews 1492 into a church. The churches Toledos contain some of most splendid Spanish works of art, of the painter especially that electroluminescent display Greco. In the highest place of the city queues up the attached one Alkazar, a square building with four towers in that today a military academy is put. The Plaza DE Zocodover was reshaped put on in the 7th century and later by Moorish conquerors. She was long time the place on which the sacrifices of the Inquisition were burned.
Take in pre-roman time defaulted it in the place of the contemporary city a settlement, the 193 V Chr. mentioned from the Romans conquered and Toletum was. Chr nth from 534 to 712. was meaning she capital of the western Goth empire and developed ones itself to one church centre. The Arabs occupied the city in year 711. In the 11th century, Toledo became residence king Alfons' VI. from Kastilien and Léon Toledo (1087-1560). Rebel troops in the Alkazar were besieged by July by September 1936, during the Spanish civil war, for a long time 70 days from the Loyalisten (republicans). The number of inhabitants is about 60 000.
SPAIN - Burgos - a historical heritage
Burgos was founded in 884, and its historical heritage is always evident to the visitor. It is a monumental town, charming for that so typical medieval northern castilian ambience. The gothic cathedral is all dominant, but there are many more important monuments such as the Cartuja de Miraflores or the Monastery of Las Huelgas. Generally the town is quiet and clean, and after your sightseeing-tour or a walk through one of the parks you may want to try out Burgos' exquisite cuisine. You shouldn't miss to visit as well the surroundings of the town, where you will find many villages of extraordinary historical-artistical value.
SPAIN - The region Castilla and La Mancha - the largest in Spain
The region of La Mancha - the largest in Spain - covers an area of almost 80,000 kmsq. and comprises of a wide range of different landscapes. These include the undulating plain, with its windmills and other elements that bring to mind the adventures of Don Quixote, and the wild beauty of the areas of Alcaraz, Montes de Toledo, Guadalajara and Cuenca. The latter are the home of wild boar, bears, stags and deer, all of which live in perfect harmony in these privileged natural sites. The great diversity of magnificent scenery and exceptional areas of natural beauty are enhanced by the Ruidera Lagoons, constituting a small 'inland sea', with a shore-line that stretched over 30 km. In addition, there is the outstanding ecological National Park of Las Tablas de Daimiel, an important stopping-off place for migratory waterfowl and a paradise for those visitors who consider themselves true nature lovers. A large part of the Autonous Community of Castile-La Mancha is still fairly unknown, yet the five provinces that it takes in (Toledo, Ciudad Real, Careses, Cuenca, Guadalajara and Albacete) have helped enormously to create what has come to be known as the Spanish identity. Numerous castles and other important monuments can be found scattered throughout its geography, and go to show the region's immense historical heritage. This is characterised by the timeless personality of its scenery, its artistic beauty and the universal appeal of its literature. The frank and hospitable nature of its people, the many traditions and folklore in general, the possibilities of good hunting and fishing, the pleasures of good eating and relaxation, in addition to the chance ofencountering some magnificent scenery, all help to make a journey through Castile-La Mancha and unforgettable experience that will fill one with the desire to return many a time again. Castilla-La Mancha, located at the very center of the Iberian peninsula, is dominated by an extense tableland, although there are mountainous landscapes too. Of major interest to the visitor are of course the monumental cities and towns of great historical importance, like Toledo, the enchanting Cuenca and Albacete, but one should take as well several interesting alternative routes into consideration, among them: Ruta de los Pueblos Negros ("Route of the Black Villages"), having their name from the use of slate in their traditional architecture, the "Route of the Saffron Fields", "Route of the Castles", and the "Route of Don Quijote", named after Cervante's legendary "Man from La Mancha". Still today you will see many of those characteristical windmills Don Quijote was fighting with in all the land. Traditional gastronomy is simple but tasteful, with stews, game, sausages and the famous Manchego cheese. The region's excellent wines are a perfect match. Artisany is varied, from ceramics and embroiderings to the famous Swords of Toledo and Knives of Albacete. Some of the cities: Cuenca - This enchanting medieval city, declared Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO, is surrounded by landscapes of incredible beauty. Among the town's most remarkable sights are the famous "Hanging Houses", the Gothic cathedral and the Museum of Abstract Art. In its surroundings there are several fantastic natural preserves, among them Ciudad Encantada, the "enchanted city", where erosion has created most bizarre forms. Guadalajara - Major attractions are the Mudejar style church Santa Maria la Mayor, the 15th century palace Duque del Infantado, the Moorish town-walls and bridge over Henares river, from 10th century. In the province of Guadalajara the medieval town Siguenza, with its great fortress and cathedral, is worth a visit. Ciudad Real - This city is marked by the history of Don Quijote who is said to have fought against the windmills at the nearby Campo de Criptana. The nearby Lagunas de Ruidera, consisting of 17 lagoons, offer splendid landscapes.
