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Spain has a number of wonderful tourist
destinations worth exploring. It is a country not to be missed, either
as a direct destination, or as part of your European excursion.
Popular destinations in
Spain:
Barcelona
Barcelona is a uniqe city in that it offers an opportunity for
tourists to walk from Roman remains to the medieval city, and
then on to the modern part of the city with open thoroughfares and
streets. The historic city center is flat, while the modern city
stretches out towards the surrounding hills, bordered by steep streets.
In the modern portion of the city, there are several avenues
where most of the international merchants selling clothing, jewelry,
leather goods and other items have their stores. Arguably, the
most elegant avenue is the Passeig de Gràcia, where two
Gaudí buildings are situated, the Casa Milà and the Casa
Batlló, along with buildings by other famous modernist
architects: Casa Ametller by Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Casa
Lleó Morera by Domènech i Montaner.
Barcelona was the host city for the 1992 Olympic summer games.
Alicante
Alicante is one of the fastest growing cities in Spain. The
economy of Alicante is based primarily on tourism, however wine
production, services and administration are also economic factors. The
region exports wine, olive oil, and fruit, and has light industries,
including food-processing, leather, textiles, and pottery.
There is regular ferry service to the Balearic Islands, and an
airport is nearby. One of the most notable features of the city is the
castle, "Castillo de Santa Barbara", which is situated high above the
city upon a cliff. An important festival, the Bonfires of Saint John,
takes place in June, around the time of the summer solstice.
Marbella
Marbella is a beach resort town in the Costa del
Sol, and a large part of the year it is very sunny there. Many hotels
and tourist accomodations have been built in the area surrounding
Marbella, and it has become a haven for wealthy tourists to spend their
holidays.
There is a bullring in downtown Marbella, where there are daily
bullfights during the summer months. The first fortnight of June, the
San Bernabe Fair is celebrated. The most important day during the
summer is June 11th, which features the Commemoration of the Christian
Conquest. From noon 'till early evening, the City center is packed with
thousands of people who fill the streets and bars to dance and enjoy
themselves.
Bilbao
Bilbao is a city in northern Spain, and is
the largest city in the Pais Vasco. Bilbao is the capital of the
province of Vizcaya, and is also a major seaport. It has recently
undergone a major urban renewal project, which includes a subway
system, and the opening of a Guggenheim Museum.
Other new landmarks worth visiting include the Euskalduna Palace
and the Zubi-Zuri Bridge. A major landmark tower, being built to
house the Basque government is being planned, and there are also plans
to update the peninsula on the river Zorrozaurre.
Pamplona
Pamplona is the capital city of Navarre, Spain. Pamplona is
probably most famous for the San Fermín Festival, on July 7,
also known as The Running of the Bulls.
Located on a hill overlooking the Arga River and the surrounding
valley, Pamplona was populated from very early times. In the winter of
74-75 B.C., the area was a camp for the Roman general Pompey. He is
considered to be the founder of "Pompaelo," or Pamplona.
Pamplona has maintained the original medieval design of the
town, but has expanded to include suburbs over the past century. The
city is home to two universities: the Universidad de Navarra and the
Universidad Pública de Navarra.
Madrid
Madrid is the capital of Spain and an important link
between the European Union and Latin America. This modern city is home
to over 3,000,000 people.
Important tourist attractions not to be missed are mostly
contained in the Golden Triangle of
Art, which is located along the Paseo del Prado and comprises
the famous Prado Museum, the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum, and the Reina
Sofia Museum. This area is also home to the Plaza Mayor, the Gran Via,
the Palacio Real, and the Parque del Buen Retiro, among others.
Madrid is also well known for its nightlife and discotheques.
Younger Madrid resisdents sometimes dance all night, stop off for a
snack, like churros y chocolate at dawn, go home, shower, get
dressed, and go to work. This nightlife, called la movida or la marcha was initially focussed
around the Plaza del Dos de Mayo, and began to grow in the mid 1980s.
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