Overview

The Canary Islands are located near the northern coast of Africa and these islands are surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. There are seven large islands – Tenerife, El Hierro, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, La Gomera and La Palma– and these form an autonomous region. In addition there are some smaller islands like Alegranza, Graciosa and Lobos. The population of this autonomous region as on 1st January 2008 was about 2.1 million.

History

Prehistoric animals such as giant lizard, giant rats, etc. inhabited Canary Islands prior to the arrival of the aborigines. Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians visited these islands. First century Roman author cum philosopher Pliny the Elder has stated that there were no inhabitants when Carthaginians visited this place; however they saw ruins of great buildings.

Climate

The Canary Islands are famous for their tropical climate. The maximum and minimum average temperatures in these islands are 28°C in August and 15 °C in January.

Art and Culture

The following museums are popular in these islands:

1.House-Museum Monument to farm workers San Bartolomé – created by César Manrique, Canary Islands sculptor and architect.

2.La Alcogida Eco-museum Puerto del Rosario – designed mainly for educating children.

3.Municipal Museum of Fine Arts Santa Cruz de Tenerife – exhibits works of Ribera (Saint Joseph), Joaquín Sorolla (Portrait of Fernando Viscaí), 16th century Flemish school,(Nava Triptych) and works by Canary painters. 

4.Museum of Natural Sciences Santa Cruz de Tenerife – dedicated mainly for research on Canary Islands’ geology, flora and fauna.

5.Gáldar archaeological site Gáldar – contains remains of the pre-Hispanic culture.

6.Carta Palace Santa Cruz de Tenerife – is an 18th century building combining the Baroque and Neoclassic styles.

Cuisine

The cuisines of Canary Islands consist of traditional Spanish recipes combined with African and Latin-American cuisines.

The following items are popular.

1.Papas Arrugadas - potatoes with their skin are boiled in salt-water and served with Mojo picon, which is hot sauce of oil, chili-peppers, garlic and paprika.

2.Gofio – is the main staple diet. Wheat, Barley and maize are roasted and ground into flour and used in many recipes – soups, desserts, stews, sauces, ice cream, etc.

3.Caldereta and Sancocho Canario – are salted fish in a Mojo sauce.

4.Potaje de Berros – is a hot-pot of chick-peas that is well known.

Sports and Entertainment

The following sports are unique to Canary Islands.

1.Game of the sticks – in this the opponents’ fence using long sticks.

2.Shepard's jump – involves using a long stick in order to vault over an open area.

Shopping

Duty free shopping is quite popular in Canary Islands. You could take advantage of this.

Business

The economy is mainly dependent on tourism that contributes 32% of the GDP. In addition many agricultural items such as tomato, potato, onion, sugarcane, grapes, vines, peaches, almonds, etc. also contribute to the strength of the economy.

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Overview

The city Cazorla is situated in the province of Jaén in Spain. As per the census of 2006 it has been estimated that this city has a population of about 8200 people.

Cazorla is located at 836 M elevation on the western inclination of the Sierra de Cazorla. The second largest river in Spain – the Guadalquivir originates from the mountains in the settlement.

History

The history of Cazorla is two thousand years old. It was called Carcacena when the Romans ruled this place. These settlements were both Iberian and Roman; this was also one of the first bishoprics of ancient Christian Spain. This acted as a strategic stronghold under the Moors and was guarded by a fortress and watchtower. In 1235 there was a bitter struggle between Moors and Christians and the town was used as an outpost by Christian troops.

The two castles in this town indicate the turbulence that this town has undergone during various regimes. These were originally built by Moors but subsequently altered and renovated by their Christian conquerors.

Climate

The maximum and minimum average temperatures in this city are 34°C in July and 2 °C in January.

Art and Culture

There are a number of fascinating places in the old town that can be explored. The streets in this town are very steep and you will find a castle precariously overlooking the surrounding countryside.

The Natural Park of Sierras de Cazorla Segura y las Villas is a vast area of forests and river gorges and these are considered as protected areas. People visiting these areas make Cazorla as their base.

Cuisine

You can drink and eat in the spit-and-sawdust bars that are available in large numbers. They serve good tapas in addition to the popular drinks. You must go in for eating local food cooked on a wood fired range. One item that is popular is the conejo – made from rabbit but it could deteriorate during high seasons.

Sports and Entertainment

Some of the popular sports played in this town are – Fishing, Bowling, Rafting, Canoeing, Horseback Riding, Snow Skiing and Swimming. Adventure sports such as trekking, speleology; paragliding and hang-gliding are popular in the natural parks.

Shopping

Cazalla is considered as a shopper's paradise. You can shop items such as ceramics, leather goods, flamenco costumes, embroidery, fans, pottery, straw hats, olive oil and local cheeses.

Business

The economy of Cazorla is highly dependent on tourism; it hosts events in July like Cazorla Blues. Olive oil is produced in large quantities which add up to the revenue.

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Overview

Cazalla De La Sierra is located at a distance of 90 kms north of Seville; this is the second largest town in Sierra Norte Natural Park. This has one of the best churches in the mountain range – Sierra Morena and has beautiful churches and grand mansions. At the outskirts there is a hotel that has been converted from a 15th-century monastery.

History

Cazalla De La Sierra is a regional Sierra capital; this town looks like a metropolis and has good infrastructure. The origin of this town dates back to Roman times; originally it was called Callentum and this name was changed by Moors to Kazalla meaning fortified city.

Climate

The maximum and minimum average temperatures in this city are 28°C in July-August and 11 °C in December-January.

Art and Culture

One of the important monuments in this town is the church of Nuestra Señora de la Consolación located in the southern part of the town. This church is one of the best examples of mix and match architecture followed by Andaluz. The construction of this building began in the 14th century followed by some good Renaissance touches; this was finally completed in the 18th century. 

Another 18th century church – Ermita del Monte is located above the Rivera de Huesna on a wooded hill and the distance from the town is only 5 kms; you can easily walk to this place.

Cuisine

The cherry brandy – Guinda and the aniseed-based liqueur – anis are produced in Cazalla and these are popular all over the world. The local bars and restaurants serve these drinks in conjunction with cured or spicy sausages (salchichon or chorizo).

Some of the specialty food items in this place are – Gazpacho Blanco that is made using fried egg, rabbit liver, garlic, olive oil, bread, mint and vinegar. Cazalla is also famous for its aniseed cakes as well as its Iberian pork products.

Sports and Entertainment

Plenty of bars and eating places are available in this town. You can also get simple hearty meals in the casino located at the central La Plazuela. One can drink and relax in the casino quietly and comfortably as compared to the bars because the casino is more of a club.

Shopping

Popular items for shopping are – ceramics, leather goods, embroidery, flamenco costumes and fans.

Business

This place is popular throughout the world for Anis and Guinda which are aniseed-based liqueur and cherry brandy respectively. Hence all the industries in Cazalla are connected either with production or marketing or export of these products.

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Overview

Carmona is in the province of Seville in south-western Spain and it is a picturesque, small town located on a low hill 43 km from Seville. The population in 2008 was 29,750. The citadel of Carmona is in ruins at present; it was originally the principal fortress of Pedro of Castile wherein a spacious palace was built. The main entrance to the town is a Moorish gateway.

History

Carmona is located nearer to Seville and hence its history is more or less similar to that of Seville. It has a 15th century tower which is similar to the tower Giralda in Seville. This was one of the most important Roman cities and was governed by the brother of the Sevillan ruler under Moors. Pedro the Cruel later on built a palace inside the castle and used it as his royal residence.

Puerto de Sevilla is a grand fortified gateway that is in ruins and is at the entrance to the town; this leads you to the historic part of the town.

Culture

The popular monuments in Carmona are – Church of the Convent of Santa Ana, Church of El Salvador, Church of Santa Maria de la Asunción, Convent of the Immaculate Conception, Convent of the Trinidad, Hermitage of Our Lady of Real or San Antón, Hermitage of San Mateo, House-Palace Marquess of Torres, House-Palace of Rueda, Palace of King Don Pedro, Roman Bridge and The Church of San Pedro.

Cuisine

The restaurants and bars in Carmona offer a variety of tapas and dishes. Some of the popular dishes in this place are – soup picadillo, chickpeas snails, cooked rural tagarninas, Crumb salmorejospinach chickpeas, pringá, etc. Popular sweets are – English cakes, rice with milk, rolls milk, almond cakes, pastries, puffs, etc.

Entertainment

Popular sports in Carmona are – court sports, golf, boating, horse riding, snowboarding, cycling, water skiing, windsurfing, scuba diving, snorkeling and rafting.

A 28km-long greenway from Carmona to Alcalá de Guadaíra exists through Verde of the Hills and one can walk or bike or go on horseback on this greenway.

Shopping

Plenty of shopping opportunities exist in this town; you can shop in the shopping centers, malls, specialist shops and markets that are held often in the town as well as surrounding areas. 

Business

In Carmona plenty of trading takes place in cattle, wine, olive oil and grain; every year in April, an annual fair is held which gives everyone an opportunity for observing the costumes and customs of southern Spain.

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Certainly it is very difficult to make a list of all the places of interest in Spain. This is because the number of places which are of interest for tourists in Spain runs into thousands. Every province, town and village on the top of mountains or on the coastline has something interesting to offer for a tourist. It could be churches, cathedrals, museums, coves on the beach; there is something or the other a tourist would find interesting while on his visit to Spain. Let us try to find out some of the most interesting places in Spain.

The Casa De Pilatos:

This palace which is envyingly beautiful is the home of the Dukes of Medinaceli. The royal family is still residing in this palace. This is one of the most visited places in Seville. The palace is believed to have been built in 1518. In the year 1829 a marble portal crafted by master craftsmen from Genoan was also commissioned. The entire palace has a happy combination of Gothic architecture and the courtyard is built in typical Mudejar. The interior of the palace is most popular for its spellbounding decorative works of art. It also has most delicate plaster work. The arches resemble typical Gothic architecture. The stunningly beautiful statues dancing muse and Ceres, statue of Minerva and the Athena of Greek which is believed to belong to 5th century BC find their place here. These statues are immensely beautiful. There is a museum which depicts some of the popular art works dating back to the Roman period and other works of art.

Razon Valley:

All that this place requires from you is a bit of adventurous spirit. Located in the north of Spain, this rocky area is most ideal for those who have fascination for trekking and adventure. As you climb this rocky area, you see a giant rock which is believed to be about 5000 years old. You will come across beautiful natural sceneries around, the Lobos Natural Park and also a canyon wall which is about 200 meters in height. In fact, the Canyon wall is the abode for some of the vultures. Stunningly beautiful rock formations can also be seen here. On the top of the hill, you will just get into a village which is believed to have been in existence since the medieval period. The village has narrow roads, conical chimney and traditional buildings which present a beautiful view. There is a museum and abutting the museum is the archaeological place dating back to the Celts civilization.

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Barcelona is the capital and biggest city of Spain and this is not the only reason behind its popularity among the tourists. There are several other reasons too which attract the tourists to this wonderful city throughout the year. If you are looking for a good and wonderful place to spend your summer holidays this summer, then Barcelona in Spain is the right destination for you. This wonderful city is situated along the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea and this is the reason behind the perfect climate and temperature of the city as you will find the climate neither very cold during winter nor very hot during summer. Being the capital city of Spain, all major industrial activities are focused in Barcelona.

If you are the one who loves seeing art work, then you will find many great cultural places in Barcelona. Among these you can visit Museum, Opera Theater, Palau de la Musica, Concert Hall, Gran Teatre del Liceu and National Museum in Catalonia. You will also find a variety of good architectural works when you visit the Churches as the monuments here depict the Roman culture.

Along with many art and culture places, Barcelona city is also famous among the tourists for its beaches. There are seven beaches in the city and you can enjoy your time at any beach with a variety of sports and fun activities.

Barcelona has also a lot to offer in terms of variety of food. The famous Barcelona cuisine includes the bread and tomato, many different sausages with the topping of beans and Catalan Stew. Sweet Crème Catalana is the famous dessert of Barcelona food.

Barcelona has a variety of shopping places for the visitor as shopping is the most important part of vacations. There are many art works and monuments along with different kinds of interior and you can buy these either from the big stores or from the street bazaars. Espanyol de Montjuic is the place where you can spend hours as this place has a variety of things which makes choice difficult. Barcelona is also famous for its fashion and you can buy the stylish items from the place called Barcelona Centro. There are many shopping centers which have luxury items as well.

So, these are some of the reasons among many for you to spend your summer vacation in Barcelona. You will surely remember your vacation in Barcelona for different reasons.

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Spain is a wonderful country to visit for different reasons and these reasons include the great climate of the country, variety of cultural heritage and activities, wonderful and helpful residents and most importantly the delicious food. There is much to write about the Spanish food but the main reasons for the popularity of the food are the food aroma and the bizarre combination of the ingredients. While cooking the food, more emphasis is laid on the flavor and the taste of the food rather than the presentation or garnishing.

Almost in every part of the world, experimentation while cooking is the key and so it is in Spain. The food recipes are made with the experimentation of the traditional and current styles which makes the recipes more delicious and mouthwatering. The modern day Spanish food is also cooked by using the ingredients of Greek, Roman and Moorish food. The typical Spanish dishes are spicy and rich in flavor while the most commonly used ingredients in the Spanish food are beans, tomatoes, citrus fruit, chilies and potatoes.

The cuisines in Spain are very much adopted and influenced by cuisines from other regions. The most generously used ingredients in the Spanish cuisines are cumin and honey which is similar to the Arabic cuisines. There are some Spanish cuisines which are influenced from the American food like the combination of chocolate and meat.

The most famous dishes in Spain include salted cod which is called Bacalo in the local language and sausages like Choriza and Butifarra. Among other popular food items, shell fish and chicken are most common. Rice is also the main food item in Spain and there are many dishes which are made with rice and rich flavoring of saffron. Spanish people love eating rice dishes.

If you are visiting Spain, then you must visit the Tapas bar for a complete and great dining experience and you will surely remember it. The Tapas dining will offer you with plenty of small starters like cheese, dips and vegetables. Spanish people consider dining incomplete without the local wine. In Tapas the food is served with the best wine of Spain. The most popular wines produced in Spain include Sherry and Tempranillo.

Spanish food is a great reason to plan a visit to Spain and you will surely love dining at different famous places of Spain along with the rest of the holiday activities.

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Summer is here and this is the time for sun, sand and surf. Those of you who are planning an exotic getaway vacation far from the madding crowd, brace yourself for a Spanish summer.

If you love the sea, then you will love the Mediterranean beaches. The long coastline and the blue water make the beaches seem like heaven on earth. You can get a tan, take a dip in the water and those who want more adventure can go for scuba diving. Some of the best beaches are Playa de Estorde, Playa de Conil de la Frontera, Playa de Bayas, etc. Each of these beaches has its own natural beauty. Some have wonderful white sand whereas some are surrounded by natural forests. All of the beaches are clean and a good time is guaranteed.

Beaches are just one of the many attractions of Spain. There is no way you can leave without visiting the largest city in Spain, Barcelona. And if you are there and happen to miss visiting Sagrada Familia, that will be considered as a crime. Just kidding. Sagrada Familia is one of the prominent symbols in the city. Designed by famous architect Antoni Gaudi, this place is visited by a large number of visitors from far and wide. This is a unique structure and each part of it has a symbolic meaning.

If you wish to see more of Gaudi, then Le Pedrera is the place to go. Some say it is indeed his finest creation. Le Pedrera is a tall building with numerous arches and roves that has strange shaped chimneys. The roof and the attic of the building are open for visitors where they can see other works of Gaudi. You can get a great look of the city from the roof. Both Le Pedrera and Sagrada Familia have been declared as world heritage sites by the UNESCO.

Now who can miss the great museum of Picasso? This is another must visit place in Spain. Located in one of the oldest streets of Barcelona, this museum interlinks at least five urban areas of the city. Here you will find many of the early works of the renowned artist along with some of his masterpieces.

To enjoy some of the old architectural beauties, you have to go to Salamanca. The old Romanesque and the new cathedrals there are simply marvelous. Here you will also be able to visit the oldest University of Europe, the University of Salamanca.

All in all Spain is an amazing place to have a wonderful vacation. The weather, the people – all are very welcoming. It is indeed cielo en la tierra. That is heaven on earth in Spanish.

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Perhaps Spain is one of the very few countries in the world which has a palace in each of its major provinces. These palaces which are believed to have been constructed by earlier civilizations like the Romans, Moors have been preserved carefully by the government of Spain. Some of the palaces and other monuments have been declared as Heritage buildings by the UNESCO. In fact these palaces have been attracting large number of visitors throughout the year. Some of the palaces worth visiting are described below:

Generalife:

This palace located in Granada was used as a summer resort by the Emirate of Granada which is now a part of the Andalusia province. The palace is believed to have been constructed during 1302 and it was Abu I Walid Ismail who redecorated it in 1313. The palace is known for its beautiful structure. The spacious courtyard (also called courtyard of Water Garden), beautifully designed swimming pool with imposing Moorish garden, fountains, pavilions, special garden for the king are some of the features of the luxuries inside the palace. Apart from this, the palace is beautifully decorated with many works of art and artifacts, monuments, etc. The pillars are also decorated with intricate works of art. It is also said that the palace had a walk way which actually linked Alhambra and the entire walk way was fully covered. Historians say that the garden in this palace is one of the very few well preserved Moorish Gardens in Europe. The entire palace is luxuriously furnished to the taste of the king.

Palace of San Telmo:

This is one of the oldest palaces of Spain which is believed to have been built in the year 1682. According to historians, the palace was built by one of the most influential families of the time called ‘Figuero family’. The family is believed to have spent about 50000 Pesos for its construction. The entrance to the palace is through a huge door which is supported by three columns. There are many works of nautical art. There are also many works of great sculptors. Some of the famous works of art include Saint Telmo, Saint Ferdinad and many works of the renowned artist Leonardo de Figueroa. Every portion of the palace has been restored to its original glory. Many of the renowned sculptors of the day have toiled their way to make this palace as one of the sought after tourist spots of Europe.

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Like many other places in Spain, A Coruna, a city in the province of Galicia located in the North West of Spain has been the place frequently visited by many tourists throughout the year. The place has become so popular that nowadays the number of tourists has swelled many folds. There are enough villas and hotels to meet the increase in the number of tourists. Enough arrangements are made so that the tourist feels comfortable throughout his stay in A Coruna.

Like any other places in Spain, a tour in and around A Coruna should be planned properly so that the tourist can visit maximum number of places. It is therefore advisable to take the help of professional tour organizers. These tour organizers have enough experience and would arrange for the tour at a reasonable rate. The city is very well connected by road. It is also connected by tram and can be accessed by sea route as well.

The places normally visited by the tourists in A Coruna are:

The beach:

A Coruna’s beach is very busy because it is one of the places from where imports and exports take place. So for the convenience of the tourists, a separate place has been earmarked so that they can enjoy and play water sports safely. Like many other beaches, A Coruna’s beach is maintained to the best standards. The water in A Coruna beach is just crystal clear. Orzan and Riazor are the other beaches which are quite nearby and these beaches are less crowded as compared to A Coruna’s beach.

Tower of Hercules:

This light house is believed to have been constructed about 2000 years back and it is going strong even to this day. The lighthouse continues to guide the ships and is in full use even to this day. This great work is now declared as a Human heritage by UNESCO.

Museums:

The aquarium and the archeological museums are the other places of interest for the tourist. Particularly the aquarium museum is quite interesting for those who are interested in marine life. These museums also receive the maximum number of tourists every day.

Where to stay?

A Coruna has many villas and hotels which are located at most convenient places. The rental is quite reasonable. The shopping area, recreational areas are available at a short distance from the villas. The villas are available to suit every class of visitors.

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