Places of interest in Spain - Casarabonela

Although a small town, it is quite rich in offering more comfort and satisfaction to the tourists. This small village in the Malaga province has great history dating back to the period of Arabs. The Roman Empire also had its say on this village before Christian rulers took control. The village can be reached by car from Malaga. Surrounded by groves of Olive trees and other plants consisting of variety of cereals, the place is abundantly rich in vegetation. This small village has many places of interest for tourists and that is the reason why no tourist misses Casarabonela in his itinerary.

<b>The village: </b>

The village has retained its Moorish influence. The narrow and steep cobbled roads, white colored buildings, etc. which are typical examples of Moorish culture can be seen even to this day. Most of the houses have large terraces. The village has a beautiful mountain as its backdrop. The mountain has rich flora and fauna and that in turn makes Casarabonela rich in vegetation. This has prompted the UNESCO to declare this village as a Biosphere reserve.

</b>Festivals: </b>

The local festivals include ‘Passion play’ celebrated during Easter. Apart from this, in July the festival of the celebrations of the crosses is held. The most famous festival is held on December 12th called the Rondeles. In this festival, the statue of the holy shepherdess is carried in the main streets during the night. This festival is also called ‘Olive festival’.  All these festivals are celebrated with great religious fervor.

</b>Andalusi Garden:</b>

 This most spectacular botanical garden attracts large number of tourists every year. Some of the rarest species of plants from all parts of the world are grown here. This garden in the backdrop of the mountain is something amazing.

</b>Viewpoint:</b>

Located at the Prieta and Alcaparaín Mountain, this is the most ideal place to view the city. From here you will see an unbelievably beautiful picturesque scene of the village below and of other places around the mountain. The viewpoint can be reached by car or even by foot. Some prefer to go by foot because en-route they can see the beautiful picturesque places around.

</b>Arab Castle: </b>

This is yet another place which receives a lot of visitors every day. Built by Arab rulers in the traditional Moorish architecture, it has a vast courtyard with watch towers, etc. and is certainly a place worth visiting.

In addition to this, there are many other pla

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Places of interest in Spain

Barcelona, the pride of Spain is also a place of attraction for tourists. Known for its most spectacular natural beauty, Barcelona has many places of interest to offer the tourists. In addition it is an industrially advanced province of Spain. So, in addition to tourists, there are many visitors who visit Barcelona on business tour. There are many villas and hotels to cater to the needs of these visitors and tourists. Irrespective of the fact whether it is a holiday tour or a business tour, no one misses the opportunity to go round some of the places of interest in Barcelona. Some of the places of interest are briefly introduced here:

La Pedrera:

‘Gaudi’ was a master architect and the pride of Spain. He has designed many buildings in and around Spain and some of his designs are still challenges to the modern architects. La Pedrera is one among the many buildings designed by Gaudi. According to history, this building was built during 1905 – 1910. It has apartments and office blocks as well. The building got its name because of the stones used in the construction of the building. The stones used are grey in color. This grey colored stones around the building give a rippling effect to the building. The chimney is multicolored and a harmoniously lit roof presents a most spectacular look during the night. The floor below the roof is the museum where the works of Gaudi are on display.

Barri Gotic:

This is a residential area where accommodation is available for the business visitors and tourists as well. Barri Gotic has several buildings built in medieval Gothic tradition. This area is very close to La Rambla, the famous shopping area. The dark but cobbled streets and the amazingly beautiful squares would be a pleasant experience for the visitors. Many of these buildings are believed to have been built in the 14th and 15th century. Barri Gotic is considered to be the most economical in terms of rentals in Barcelona. There are also commercial buildings around Barri Gotic. The bars and restaurants serve the tourists with special local recipes.

Tibidabo:

As said earlier, Barcelona is popular for its most imposing natural beauty. The Tibidabo hill which acts as the backdrop of the city is one of the highest wooded hills. One can have the most spectacular view of the Barcelona city from the top of the hill. There are many amusement parks in and around the hill.

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A tour of Spain

A tour of Spain is not as simple as it looks. The itinerary has to be very well planned. Many tour operators are available to guide the tourist. However some tips are offered here so that one can plan his tour most effectively.

Where do you want to spend your holiday?

Some tourists want to spend their holiday in the midst of nature. It could be on the beach or on the top of a hill or mountain or in a reserve forest. Some would prefer visiting some of the historical places. This is important because Spain has so many places that a tourist would be certainly at a loss to decide where to go and what to see. So based on the preferences of the visitor, the itinerary could be finalized.

If one prefers to spend his time near the beach?

Spain has a long coastline of the Mediterranean Sea covering an area of over 250 kilometers. As a matter of fact some of the Hollywood films are filmed on the coast of Spain which speaks of its popularity. The beaches are immaculately clean and perfectly maintained. One can enjoy many water sports and adventure sports like deep sea diving. For example coasts of Costa Blanca, Malaga and Costa del Sol, Madrid are some of the most popular beaches in the world. Many villas and apartments are available along these coasts so that the tourist can be assured of luxurious stay and affordable rates and his holiday would be memorable.

How about hill stations?

There are many hill stations in Spain. Interestingly many of the hills run parallel to the beach. So the visitor can enjoy the beauty of the roaring sea from the top of a hill. On the other hand, those who are on the beach would enjoy the beauty of the majestic mountains staring at the sea. On the top of these mountains are some villages where the tourist can enjoy some of the popular local recipes. Many villas are available on these mountains.

Places of historical importance:

These are available in plenty. Just one piece of information will justify this statement. According to a survey made, there were about 10000 historical buildings like churches, cathedrals and castles which were built centuries ago. Of these, about 2500 structures have been preserved by the government. The rest have either become dilapidated or crumbled due to passage of time.

So plan your visit and take the help of professional tour operators in Spain.


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Famous cathedrals in Spain

Spain is not only famous for its most beautiful beaches and mountains; it is also famous for its historical buildings like cathedrals, churches, forts, etc. As a matter of fact almost every province, city and even a remote village has a cathedral and most of these cathedrals have some history behind it. So a tour on the beach of Spain will be refreshing, and it would be religious in the cathedral. Now let us just take a tour of some of the famous and historical cathedrals in Spain.

Seville Cathedral La Giralda Sevilla:

This cathedral is in Andalusia. History says that a mosque existed at the place where the cathedral is now built. Archaeologists are of the opinion that the cathedral was built during the period 1406 to 1502. They also say that some additions to the structure were made in the 16th century. Thereafter the cathedral was decorated in gold under the stewardship of the master craftsman Pierre Dancart. This World Heritage Structure of UNESCO is rated at the number one position in terms of tourists visiting the Cathedral. The stunningly beautiful structure stands majestically at a prominent location in Seville, Spain.
 
Cathedral of Seville: Famous cathedrals in Spain

Spain is not only famous for its most beautiful beaches and mountains; it is also famous for its historical buildings like cathedrals, churches, forts, etc. As a matter of fact almost every province, city and even a remote village has a cathedral and most of these cathedrals have some history behind it. So a tour on the beach of Spain will be refreshing, and it would be religious in the cathedral. Now let us just take a tour of some of the famous and historical cathedrals in Spain.

Seville Cathedral La Giralda Sevilla:

This cathedral is in Andalusia. History says that a mosque existed at the place where the cathedral is now built. Archaeologists are of the opinion that the cathedral was built during the period 1406 to 1502. They also say that some additions to the structure were made in the 16th century. Thereafter the cathedral was decorated in gold under the stewardship of the master craftsman Pierre Dancart. This World Heritage Structure of UNESCO is rated at the number one position in terms of tourists visiting the Cathedral. The stunningly beautiful structure stands majestically at a prominent location in Seville, Spain.
 
Cathedral of Seville:

Archaeologists say that there is no parallel to the massive structure of the Cathedral of Seville. It is a combination of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture and is certainly the most beautiful architectural work ever created in Europe. The patio consisting of orange trees is one of the main features of this cathedral. It is said that the cathedral is built on a mosque which already existed. Now this cathedral stands majestically in Seville. It attracts a large number of tourists from around the world.

Toledo cathedral:

This is one of the ancient cathedrals of Europe. According to historians, a Visigothic church existed at the place where the present cathedral exists. This was replaced by a mosque and later during 1226 to 1493 another cathedral was built on the mosque and the present Toledo church came into existence. One of the main events attributed to this church is proclamation of Joanna and her husband, Phillips the handsome to Spain’s throne. Both the exterior and the interior of the cathedral is beautifully decorated with masterly works of sculpture, a huge fresco of St. Christopher greets the visitors to the church. The centre of the cathedral has a huge choir. This cathedral also attracts a large number of visitors every day.


Archaeologists say that there is no parallel to the massive structure of the Cathedral of Seville. It is a combination of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture and is certainly the most beautiful architectural work ever created in Europe. The patio consisting of orange trees is one of the main features of this cathedral. It is said that the cathedral is built on a mosque which already existed. Now this cathedral stands majestically in Seville. It attracts a large number of tourists from around the world.

Toledo cathedral:

This is one of the ancient cathedrals of Europe. According to historians, a Visigothic church existed at the place where the present cathedral exists. This was replaced by a mosque and later during 1226 to 1493 another cathedral was built on the mosque and the present Toledo church came into existence. One of the main events attributed to this church is proclamation of Joanna and her husband, Phillips the handsome to Spain’s throne. Both the exterior and the interior of the cathedral is beautifully decorated with masterly works of sculpture, a huge fresco of St. Christopher greets the visitors to the church. The centre of the cathedral has a huge choir. This cathedral also attracts a large number of visitors every day.

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Arcos de la Frontera – the town of ten bells
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Overview

The town, Arcos de la Frontera, is located in the Cadiz province in the southern part of Spain. The river Guadalete flows to the Bay of Cadiz and this town is situated on the eastern bank of this river. Since it was the frontier of the battle with the moors in the 13th century, it is named as Arcos de la Frontera. It gives a panoramic view of Guadalete valley and San Cristobal.

History

There is evidence that shows that this city had Stone Age cave dwellers who constructed their living area with rocks. Remains of Roman era also exist in this area.

Alfonso the wise of Castile ruled this town during the period 1252-1284 after expelling the Moors. He built the Gothic Cathedral on the high ridge of this town.

This town is famous for the ten bells that knelled during the war with Moors.

Climate

The maximum and minimum average temperatures in this city are 28 °C in July-August and 12 °C in January.

Art and Culture

The tourists could visit the following monuments and museums in this city:

1.Castillo De Los Arcos – is a castle originally constructed during the 11th century by the Moors. In 1250, Christians captured this town and reconstructed this castle to ensure that the border between Christian and Muslims kingdom was clearly defined. The word Frontera meaning frontier was added to the name of this town in this period. At present this castle is not open to the general public because it is owned by a private person.

2.Parish church of Santa María – is an 18th century monument and has a finely carved Plateresque door on the western side. The design of the interior was carried out by Diego Roldán and contains choir stalls made from ebony, mahogany and cedar.

3.Iglesia De San Pedro – is a church built in the 16th century and is positioned perilously. The paintings of Francisco de Zubarán that detail the life of San Pedro adorn the altarpiece.

4.Palacio De Mayorazgo – is located opposite the San Pedro church and is an OAP social center at present. Architect Herrera designed its exterior façade and interior patios.

5.Convento De La Encarnacion – is a 16th century church and convent that not only served as a chapel but also as a hospital.

6.Mercado – is a market in the town that is located in an 18th century unfinished church; the Jesuits abandoned construction after their expulsion from Spain.

Cuisine

Pork and fish from the nearby sea and mountains are the main ingredients of the local cuisine.

Sports and Entertainment

Cycling, climbing, hiking trails, swimming, rowing, kayaking, adventure sports, windsurfing and Golf are popular.

Shopping

Popular items for shopping are ceramics and local crafts.



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Aranjuez – the Royal city
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Overview

The city of Aranjuez is situated at a distance of about 50 Km from Madrid and Toledo. Its location is at the junction of two rivers – Jarama and Tagus. Its population in 2009 was about 57,000.

There are different theories for the origin of the name Aranjuez. According to the first theory, this name comes from the Basque language wherein Arantza means hawthorn in English - trees or shrubs having

clusters of white or pinkish flowers and reddish fruits. Aran also means valley or plum. This city has a lot of strawberry plants that have reddish fruits.

The second theory states that it has originated from the Latin word – Ara lovia or Ara Jovis which means Jupiter’s alter. However, the first theory is the most accepted theory.

History

This town had been in existence from the period of Romans and was Knights of Santiago’s headquarters. Philip II was instrumental in developing this city in the 16th century and he called it the Royal city.
 
Art and Culture

The Royal Palace – was designed by the architect Juan Bautista de Toledo in the year 1560 on instructions from King Philip II. This palace got destroyed by fire twice and was completed only in 1778.


Aranjuez Gardens – the popularity of the Aranjuez palace is more due to the gardens than due to collections in the palace.

Bullfighting Museum – is one of the oldest and most beautiful bullrings in Spain, Portugal, France and Latin America.

Cuisine

This city has a good micro-climate and its fields are fertile. Its gastronomy centers around asparagus, broad beans and artichokes and these are extensively used in the local cuisine. This place is also

popular for growing juicy and sweet strawberries.

Sports and Entertainment

Water sports such as canoeing and rowing are popular in this city because of the connection with the river Tagus. Madrid bid for 2012 Olympics and they planned to hold the above water sports in Aranjuez.

Football is a very popular game in this city. In addition, facilities are available for skydiving and gliding.Shopping

There are souvenir shops inside the Royal Palace that sell items from the Aranjuez and other palaces in Spain. Handkerchiefs, mugs, pencils, chocolates, postcards, books, umbrellas, etc. can be bought in

these shops. Business

The economy of this city depends mainly on hotels and tourism. It attracts the tourists because of the Royal Palace, gardens, river Tagus and various landscapes. This city was designated by UNESCO as

the World Heritage Cultural Landscape In 2001; from this time onwards the tourist population has gone up considerably. A Pub was opened in 2005.

This city is situated in the fertile plains of river Tagus and hence suitable for growing various items such as cereals, wheat, strawberries, asparagus, melons, vines, etc.

Since this city is located very near to Madrid, its road and rail communications with Madrid are good and it is better suited for industries.


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Aracena – the town with the cave of the marvels
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Overview

The town, Aracena, is located in the north east part of Huelva province and is a municipality. Its population was about 7400 in the year 2007. This town is quiet with attractive white houses that form a semi circle under the church and castle. It is one of the popular tourist spots in this region. History

The first known human settlements in this town were from prehistoric times. Archaeological remains have been found in the village of Umbria which date back to III millennium BC. Since this place was rich in minerals, settlements were found both in the Bronze Age and Iron Age. The main cause for Roman settlements in the 3rd century was the mines and they created support for agricultural settlements which could have resulted in the origination of Aracena as well as other towns.

Climate

The maximum and minimum temperatures in this city are 35°C in July-August and 4 °C in January. Since this town is located on a mountain, it has frequent rains, moderate summer and cold winter.

Art and Culture

The following monuments are popular:

Cave of the Marvels – this is a hidden treasure and the most important national monument. This cave is inside the hill below the castle and was formed by water filtering through the calcareous rock for ages. According to a legend this cave was found by a boy who was in search of his pig.

Aracena Castle – was built in the 13th century on the site of the Muslim fortress and you can see the views of the entire range of mountain from here.

Templar Church – is located next to the castle and was built between the 13th and 14th centuries; this is the oldest church and also a national monument.

Geology and Minerals Museum – is located at the cave’s entrance and was formed in the year 1983.

Town Hall – was designed in the year 1911 by the architect Aníbal González and is a red brick building.

Contemporary open air Sculpture Museum.

Cuisine

The most famous food item in this city is jamón ibérico which basically is a cured ham from pigs fed with acorn. This town is also famous for seta mushrooms. Other popular food items are sausages, pork loin and blood sausage.

Sports and Entertainment

There are facilities for various sports - basketball, volley ball, chess, mountain biking, canoeing, football and soccer and martial arts.

Business

The economy of this town is mainly dependent on Agriculture, Livestock and Tourism.


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Antequera – the heart of Andalusia
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Overview

The city of Antequera is located in the Malaga province and is a municipality. It is also known by the name – the heart of Andalusia because it is central to Granada, Cordoba, Seville and Malaga. It is situated at a height of 57 m above sea level and has a population of 42,000.

History

Two Bronze Age burial mounds exist in the city’s northern outskirts - Dólmen de Viera and Dólmen de Menga and they date back to 3rd millennium BC. The structures of these mounds are the largest in Europe.

Climate

The maximum and minimum average temperatures in this city are 26 °C in July-August and 9 °C in February.

Art and Culture

The monuments in this city are as follows:

Roman baths – excavated recently.

Arch of the Giants, built in 1585.

Church of Santa Maria la Mayor.

Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen.

13th century Moorish castle.

19th century bullring.

Barefoot Carmelitas.

Megalithic mass tombs.

The following museums are popular:

Municipal museum – is an 18th century museum situated in the Nájera Palace; contains Roman remains and paintings of Cristóbal Toral.

Museum House of the provincial government – is housed in the 18th Century mansion.

Bullfighting Museum – is situated in the bullring.

Convent museum – exhibits local culture artworks.

San Benito Folklore Museum – displays local history using artifacts, vintage items, etc.

Hojiblanca - is an olive co-operative where you can learn about the production of olive oil.

Cuisine

Popular food items are:

Porra Antequerana – a cold thick Spanish soup.

Molletes – a kind of bun.

Sports and Entertainment

Popular sports in this city are Golf, trekking and horse riding. There are plenty of opportunities to practice team games as well as individual sports. There are many Gyms that you can make use of for your workouts. Paddle tennis and tennis are other popular games.

The following parks are useful for enjoying your time:

Paraje Natural del Torcal – is a protected area that has rock formations because of erosion over a period of years. You can practice trekking, horse riding or mountain biking in this place. A number of birds from Europe and Africa migrate to this place.

El Chorro – is the Lake District.

Jardín de la Plaza de Toros – has play areas for children.

Jardines del Rey – is a new park inaugurated in 1998. Can get a view of the city from this park.

Río de la Villa – has an artificial lake as well as recreational area.

Shopping

There are many family run small shops in this city; in addition there are many shopping centers. Hipermarket in the outskirts is popular. Some of the items that you could shop are furniture, items required for home improvement, gold works, etc.


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Almuñécar – the city of British Tourists
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Overview

The town of Almuñécar is a municipality in Andalusia on the coast between Motril and Neria. The climate here is subtropical. This town is located in the Granada province and its population in the year 2006 was 26,000. It has become one of the popular tourist towns in Granada after the death of the Military General, Francisco Franco in the year 1975.  It lies in Costa Tropical part of the Spanish coast. This town is well connected by various transport facilities.

The coat of arms of Almuñécar displays the Berber pirates’ turbaned heads that are floating in the sea; King Carlos I granted this to this town in the year 1526 for destroying the Berber raiding force.

This town is located at a distance of 75 Km from the airport of Malaga and 40 Km from Granada. The name Costa Tropical is coined because of the larger number of sunny days than in any other area in Spain. It also has many sandy beaches. In the olden days only Spanish people visited this place for spending their holidays; however nowadays it has also become popular with British tourists.

History

This was originally a colony of Phoenicians and was named Sexi; even today some people call themselves Sexitanos. It became a fishing town under the rule of Moors.

Climate

The city has long hot summers with mild winters. The maximum and minimum average temperatures in this city are 29 °C in July-August and 13 °C in February.

Art and Culture

1.Seven Cave Palacios – is a Municipal Archaeological Museum and is a monument from the 1st century AD. This is located on San Miguel hill.

2.Roman Aqueduct and hot springs – built in the 1st century AD.

3.Phoenician Necropolis Bridge – built in the 7th Century.

4.Parish Church of the ENCARNACION – was designed by Juan de Herrera and built between 16th and 17th centuries.

Cuisine

The following food items are popular in this city:

1.Fresh fish and Seafood.

2.Sardines on the grill.

3.Traditional local dishes – paella, tapas, tortillas and chorizo.

4.Spanish wines.

Since this is a tourist city, it has international restaurants serving Italian, French and Argentine foods.

Sports and Entertainment

The following are some of the things you could enjoy in this city:

Beaches – where the temperatures are enjoyable.

Parque Botanico

Ornitológico – bird watching.

Trekking

Scuba diving, mountain climbing, kayaking, windsurfing, parapenting

Horse riding

Cycling

Golf

Shopping

There are supermarkets that sell holiday essentials and souvenir and gift shops. You can purchase various items at bargain prices from the open air market on Friday or the flea market on the first Saturday of each month.


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