Spain traditionally conjures up images of golden sandy beaches, summer holidaymakers, paella, sangria, flamenco dancers and bull fighters strutting their stuff in the bullring. However, although you may see these on your trip to Spain, beyond the clichéd images, a spectacular and possibly unexpected panorama will unfold before you.
‘Haven’ of the Pyrenees
High in the Pyrenees Mountains, bordered by Spain and France you’ll find the small, yet stunning country of Andorra. The delightful Andorra la Vella, is the highest capital city in Europe, being at an elevation of 1023 metres. Whilst here many of you will enjoy the shopping, especially since Andorra has the status of a tax haven, the scenery is also a highlight – there are towering peaks, lush green meadows and deep gorges dotted with remote mountain villages. Our ‘Andorra ‘Haven’ of the Pyrenees’ tour would be a great way to see the area, plus it includes a visit to the Catalan capital of Barcelona.
Cosmopolitan Barcelona
The city of Barcelona ranks as Spain’s most visited city and is well known for the various works of art-nouveau architect, Antoni GaudÃ. He is perhaps best-known for the immense, but still unfinished Sagrada FamÃlia church, which has been under construction since 1882. A popular area of Barcelona is Las Ramblas, a pedestrian street in the centre of the city. It’s the ideal place to people watch and take a stroll, and there are dozens of outdoor cafes. Nearby is Plaça Real, a square in which you can buy traditional Catalan cuisine such as ‘Coques’, a kind of pizza, and ‘Pa amb tomà quet’, bread with tomato and olive oil. If you fancy a full day in Barcelona and visits to other Spanish sights, try our Barcelona and Spectacular Spain tour and if you’re travelling individually but don’t want to be on your own, we have a very similar tour especially for single travellers.
Medieval province of Catalonia
Further up the Catalonian coast and inland, is Girona. The old town stands on the steep hill of the Capuchins, while the more modern section stands on the plains. You’ll get to see the stunning cathedral, which is one of the most important monuments and is an excellent example of Spanish Gothic architecture. The city wall of the old town was an important military construction built in Roman times in the 1st century BC, and today you can walk the entire length of the wall and climb the towers to enjoy panoramic views of Girona and the surrounding countryside.
Sun, sand and sangria
Along the Catalonian coast lies the Costa Brava, a place more for relaxation than city sightseeing. Costa Brava as a holiday destination has a combination of a very good summer climate, nature and excellent beaches. One of the most popular holiday destinations is Lloret de Mar, where you can relax with a glass of sangria in hand, on the main beach which is consistently awarded the Blue Flag for cleanliness.
To chill out on the Costa Brava and Costa Moresme and enjoy some sightseeing our Highlights of the Spanish Coast and Barcelona tour might just be the holiday for you.
Historical Montserrat and Andalucia
Further down the coast we come to Montserrat, which is well-known as the site of the Benedictine monastery, Santa Maria de Montserrat, a very important religious retreat. This is certainly a sight to see as the monastery is set high in the mountains.
In the south of Spain we have the region of Andalucia, and within that, Seville, the artistic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. Here you’ll see the Cathedral of Saint Mary, which is Roman Catholic and the largest Gothic cathedral and third largest church in the world. An equally imposing building for you to visit is the Alcázar of Seville, a royal palace that dates from the 12th Century. If you want to see three Andalucian gems our Seville, Cordoba & Granada by Air tour is the perfect choice.
‘Live in the moment’ Madrid
Right in the centre of Spain is the capital city of Madrid. It is a cosmopolitan city very different from other well known cities around the world, as although the architecture is beautiful there’s no Eiffel Tower, no Colosseum, no Gaudi-inspired buildings to photograph. Madrid is an idea, a way of life that is about ‘living in the moment’, and once you are here it is hard to resist. Madrid has a feast of fine restaurants and tapas bars, exceptional live music and astonishing art galleries, all waiting for you to enjoy. Plus, explore the beautiful muralled buildings which line Plaza Mayor in Old Madrid, and take a leisurely stroll around magnificent Retiro Park. Our Grand Tour of Spain & Portugal is the ideal choice if you want to visit Madrid and many other great cities.
If you would like to discover more of Spain with Leger Holidays you can view our full collection of Spanish breaks here.
Images courtesy of flickr user Moyan Brenn
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