Why Visit Spain?

Why Visit Spain?

Spain receives more than 50 million visitors from across the globe each year. What do they go to see?

Of course there are beaches: lots of them and good ones too. From Andalusia in the south of Spain right around to Catalonia in the northeast there are many good beaches which have something for everyone. There are also the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands; both famous destinations for holidaymakers. The northern of Spain also has stunning coastal areas and good beaches but are traditionally less frequented by those wanting a suntan. Many of us have only visited Spain for a "beach holiday", but this part of the world has a great deal more to offer.

There are several mountainous areas suited to those who enjoy the great outdoors. Between Spain and France are the Pyrenees. In northern Spain there are the Cantabrian Mountains and the Picos de Europa National Park. Southern Spain has the Sierra Morena and Sierra Nevada. These areas offer a variety of activities including walking, climbing and skiing.

Spain has a very interesting history which has resulted in many sites of archeological note. All over Spain, but particularly in the southern region of Andalusia, there are many fine examples of Moorish architecture as a result of the Arabic conquest of Spain between the 8th - 15th centuries. Good examples of Moorish building styles can be found in Seville (the Giralda) and Cordoba (the Mezquita). Without doubt though, the best and most lauded Arabic remains are located in Granada (the Alhambra).

Spanish culture is comprised of various diverse regional cultures. There are 17 regions of Spain, known as the Autonomous Communities, which have varying degrees of self government. Did you know that there are four officially recognized languages of Spain, which are distinct from each other? The official language of Spain, Castillian Spanish, co-exists with the regional languages of the Basque Country, Catalonia and Galicia: whose languages have co-official status. Many other regions have dialects of Spanish, the users of which will tell you are languages in themselves! On top of this, every region in Spain has its own set of customs, traditions and cooking styles all of which they are fiercely proud of.

Spain has provided the art world with the likes of Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí and Joan Miró, perhaps the most famous contemporary names. Their works, along with those of other masters, can be found in the various major art galleries throughout Spain: the Prado, Reina Sofia and Thyssen Bornemisza Museums (Madrid), the Guggenheim Museum (Bilbao) and Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (Barcelona) house many important examples of art forms from all periods.

Perhaps the best reasons to visit Spain are the people themselves. Wherever you go in Spain, you will generally be welcomed with opened arms. If you can make a little effort to learn some Spanish vocabulary and/or a few Spanish phrases, people will warm to you even more.

So the next time thinking of visiting Spain, it is worth considering a venture inland from any coastal resort that you have in mind. If you want to experience some of the more culturally significant areas, you could have a city break for a different type of Spanish holiday.