 |
Spain |
|
 |
Language(s) | Spanish |
 |
Currency | Euro (€) |
 |
Phone Code | +34 |
 |
Population | 45,200,737 |
 |
Area | 504,030 sq km |
 |
Capital | Madrid |
 |
GDP | $1.44 trillion |
|
Spain |
|
|
Language(s) | Spanish |
|
Currency | Euro (€) |
|
Phone Code | +34 |
|
Population | 45,200,737 |
|
Area | 504,030 sq km |
|
Capital | Madrid |
|
GDP | $1.44 trillion |
Top 10 Attractions in Spain: Sights and Sensations
Architectural Wonders of Gaud۪̉s Barcelona
At the forefront of 19th-century Modernisme was Anton GaudÃ, an architect who used the city of Barcelona as the medium for his creations. Start at the undulating Casa Mila, GaudÃ’s former home and now a museum of his work. Follow the walking tour throughout GaudÃ’s Barcelona, which includes the whimsical Parc Güell and the artist’s most famous work, the Sagrada Familia.
The Alhambra and AlbaicÃn of Granada
No trip to Spain is complete without a trek to Granada’s Moorish marvel, the Alhambra. An earthen-colored castle of palaces and gardens built under the Nazari Dynasty in the 14th century, the Alhambra was the site of the Moors’ final stand in 1492 when this, the last Arab city, fell to the Christians.
The Guggenheim of Bilbao
Architect Frank Gehry’s daring and controversial titanium masterpiece straddles the Nervion River in the industrial city of Bilbao and is home to a revolving collection of notable 20th-century avant-garde art, including works by Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Cezanne, Picasso, Warhol and Pollock.
Disco in Ibiza
Uninhibited is the first word that comes to mind when contemplating a trip to the Balearic Island of Ibiza. There is a reason why E! and MTV have shot so many exploitative features on this place. The good times, though, don’t come cheap.
The Museo Del Prado in Madrid
Renowned as the largest art gallery in the world, with over 8,600 paintings and sculptures (of which there is room to show only a fraction).
El Greco’s Toledo
Formerly Spain’s capital during the rule of the Visigoths, many proclaim Toledo as El Greco’s city. His most famous paintings, Burial of the Count Orgaz and View and Plan of Toledo, pay homage to his adopted home. Few Spanish towns are so well preserved in their historical architecture.
Flamenco Music in AndalucÃa
Avoid the touristy, staged flamenco shows and flamenco cafés that lack what the Spanish call duende. Real flamenco echoes throughout the cities of AndalucÃa in places, and at times, you would least expect it. The best opportunities to see good flamenco are in the caves of Granada and at flamenco festivals during the summer, as well as at fairs (ferias) held during the spring, summer and early fall. Or just follow the sounds of Spanish guitar, rhythmic clapping, and soulful melodies that ring in your ears around midnight.
Dal۪̉s Mind-Bending Work in Figueres
Figueres is full of illusions and surprises, the legacy of its late native son, artist Salvador DalÃ. Interpret his surrealistic art and maybe even lose your mind at The Dalà Theatre Museum, the self-proclaimed “largest surrealist object in the world."
La Mezquita of Córdoba
All streets in Córdoba seem to converge on La Mezquita, an eighth-century Moorish mosque that, after several additions, now stands as one of the largest in the Islamic world.
Arabic Baths
The centuries-old Baños Arabes just below the Alhambra in Granada are some of the last operating baths in Spain. Amidst mesmerizing Arabic melodies and spicy incense, tourists and Spaniards alike indulge their senses with warm mineral baths, chilling mountain pools and sedating massages. A typical treatment costs about 8 euros and could last as long as two hours.
