Popular places of Spain

Barcelona

Catalonia has a different feel than the rest of Spain and Barcelona is unique in Catalonia. Perhaps it is the uplifting contribution of Gaudi's architecture or the Catalonian people; whatever it is, Barcelona is one of the best places to visit in Spain. Start your visit with a walk down La Rambla, then, see the Sagrada Familia, and the Barcelona Cathedral. Take in as much of the city and as many of Gaudi's monuments as possible.

Madrid
Madrid is a remarkable city. The "must sees" of the city are Old Madrid, the Museo del Prado, and the Palacio Real. Make no mistake, the museums, architecture, dining, and entertainment in Madrid are spectacular.

Andalusia
Much of Andalusia is synonymous with "Moorish Spain". The following towns are well worth visiting:

Seville
One of the grand cities of Spain, Seville attracts many tourists due to its splendid architecture and interesting attractions. Seville's Cathedral is popular due to its architecture, its tomb of Christopher Columbus and the attractiveness of its noted bell tower (the Giralda). Cross the square and visit the Alcazar, a stunning, well preserved, medieval, Islamic palace. Follow-up with a visit to the grand Plaza de Espana.

Cordoba
Cordoba was the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate that controlled Andalusia and a large portion of what is now Spain between the 8th and 11th centuries. Cordoba is considered by many travelers to be one of the most beautiful destinations in southern Spain.

The historic center of Cordoba is a UNESCO World Heritage site that is best known for its Moorish extravaganza, the Mezquita (Mosque, which is a visual treasure. During the Reconquest of Spain by the Catholics in the 13th century (Reconquista), a baroque cathedral known as Santa Maria Mayor was built within the Mezquita.
In addition, be sure to see the Alcazar de los Reyes Christianos and the Tower Fortress Calahora.

Granada
If you have to choose one town to visit in Andalusia, make it Granada. The Moorish Alhambra is beautiful, taking advantage of its glorious setting in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. The Alhambra's architecture is intricate, purposeful, and important. Budget your time to spend the better part of a day, just in the Alhambra. Of course, the rest of the Granada provides many attractive areas to explore, including the Albaicín and the Old City.

Costa del Sol
Many complain that Costa del Sol has become a continuous set of high rise apartments, blighting the landscape. The observation may be true but the majority of vacationers who visit Spain come to the Costa del Sol to sunbathe and escape the hot and cold seasons in the rest of Europe. Concrete aside, there is a lot to like about the area, as the scenery is great and some of towns are quite striking, especially Malaga and its striking Alcazaba, a palace from Moorish times.

Toledo
Toledo, once the capital of Spain, is dramatically situated on a hill above the River Tagus, which is traveling to the Atlantic via Lisbon. Toledo is a noted UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Cathedral (Catedral de Toledo), which has an interesting and long running history, the Alcazar, the Mezquita del Cristo (mosque), and the Casa-Museo de El Greco (containing twenty of the Artist's best-known paintings). Toledo was occupied by the Romans, Visigoths, Moors and Christians. Its architecture and essence reflect the mixing of Islam, Judaism and Christianity.

Castilla y Léon

Salamanca

Its old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Salamanca is a historic university town known for its outstanding and well-preserved architecture. Most visitors spend considerable time in the Plaza Mayor

the social center of the city, known for its fine shops and good food. Many travelers visit both the New (Catedral Nueva) and Old (Catedral Vieja) Cathedrals, which are joined and offer interesting contrasts in architecture. Salamanca University is one of the oldest centers for learning in Europe and the oldest university in Spain.

Avila
Avila is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its famous medieval walls (considered among the best preserved in Europe) and interesting old town. Avila offers good food, great shopping and fine walking. The Catedral de Avila and its museum (known for its religious art) are worth a look. In addition, Avila was the birthplace of St. Theresa of Avila and several relics can be viewed at theConvento de San Jose.

Segovia
Yet another of Spain's cities awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, Segovia's well-preserved, tiered Roman Aqueduct is a world famous attraction.

The Alcazar of Segovia is a stunning, almost picture perfect fortress that dates from the 13th century, although its design was tinkered with until the 16th century. Be sure to see the La Dama de las Catedrales (the Lady of Cathedrals), which is known for its gothic design and interesting ornamentation.

Valencia
Valencia is the gateway to the Costa Blanca, another of Spain's noted beach areas. Valencia has some excellent beaches and it Cathedral is worth a visit. The city's most popular attraction, however, is the La Lonja de la Seda, the Silk Exchange, that dates from 15th century. The Silk Exchange, is a series of impressive Gothic-style buildings that marked the center of commerce in Valencia, Spain's major Mediterranean port during the 15th and 16th centuries.

Bilbao
Bilbao makes the list based, mainly, on the Guggenheim Museum designed by Frank Gehry. Bilbao's Old Town is interesting and should be toured if the Guggenheim's pull is enough to lure you to the city.

Balearic Isles
Reachable by ferry, Mallorca (Majorca) is an exotic destination. Palma, the main city, has two fine cathedrals, interesting shopping, and is a great place to wander. For a great view of Palma, visit the hilltop castle (Castell del Bellver), which now serves as a historical/archaeological museum
Many "party animals" prefer the island of Ibiza, an island known for its active club scene, great weather and beautiful beaches.

Still others prefer to visit the island of Menorca, especially for Maó (Mahon), known as the setting for the initial novel in the Hornblower Saga, as well as the invention of Mayonnaise. The island has numerous mysterious, historic mounds and dolmens, and is a delightful, peaceful place to spend some time. The landscape is hilly and forested. Small villages dot the island, as do developments for vacation homes.