Great Short Breaks

Viva Espana! Spain's tourist board says that the country has something for everyone. This article provides a brief summary of some of top places of interest for holidays in Spain.

Barcelona

The capital of Catalonia is a cosmopolitan city that includes Roman remains, medieval districts and both Modernism and 20th century art. The two buildings by Catalan architects Antoni Gaudí and Luis Doménech i Montaner were declared to be World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

Its rich historic and artistic heritage includes museums, exhibitions, outdoor sculptures and an extensive calendar of music, theatre, and dance.

Madrid

Spain's capital is an urban Metropolis and an an unending maze of plazas or small squares. Admire the art works in the Prado museum or go to the Plaza Mayor for a delicious tapas lunch , then take an evening stroll near Palacio Real and Madrid gardens.

The city has 73 museums including the Prado Museum, one of the world's greatest art galleries, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, with more than 800 paintings, sculptures and tapestries that go from the earliest Dutch masters to the most avant-garde trends, and the Reina Sofía National Art Centre, which is dedicated to Spanish contemporary art, with works by Picasso, Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí and Juan Gris among others.

Granada and Seville

Granada and Seville in Andalucia, Southern Spain are known for their flamenco and bullfighting. The city boasts an great calendar of cultural and leisure events. Music, cinema, theatre and festivals all feature heavily, along with permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Costa del Sol

The Costa del Sol is Spain's playground with beautiful sunshine, a perfect climate and great family beaches. The mild climate with very little rain and a sea breeze is ideal for semitropical vegetation including palm and cypress trees, bougainvillaea, oleander and hibiscus.

Homes, marinas, golf clubs, entertainment centres, nightclubs and other tourist attractions now blend with authentic features of the old Andalusian culture.

Other Great Destinations

This is just a snapshot, also look up Costa Brava, Costa Blanca, Costa Dorada, Costa de la Luz, the Canary Isles, Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca.