Spain

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Entry posted by korver · November 30, 2020

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Spain, a country of 46 million on Europe’s Iberian Peninsula, includes 17 autonomous regions with diverse geography and cultures. Capital city Madrid is home to the Royal Palace and Prado museum, housing works by European masters. Catalonia’s capital, Barcelona, is defined by Antoni Gaudí’s whimsical modernist landmarks like the Sagrada Família church. Spain is a storied country of stone castles, snowcapped mountains, vast monuments, and sophisticated cities, all of which have made it a favored travel destination. The country is geographically and culturally diverse. Its heartland is the Meseta, a broad central plateau half a mile above sea level - and the countryside here is quaint, speckled with castles, aqueducts, and ancient ruins, but its cities are resoundingly modern. Today, we'll be make a trip to this beautiful, iconic country in southwest Europe and see all it has to offer.

Our trip to Spain begins in the northern port city of Bilbao, which is located near the country's border with France along the Pyrenees Mountains. The city center is a maze of historic architecture and modern structures like the Guggenheim Museum - it's certain worth a visit if you're in the region.

We travel further into Northern Spain, and along the country's Pyrenees Foothills is the city of Pamplona. It's best known for it's iconic festival every year where people run for their lives through the narrow city streets, avoiding a herd of stampeding bulls - the "Running of the Bulls".

The Pyrenees are truly one of Spain's and one of Europe's most picturesque regions. Here we see some typical farmland in the region.

We travel further east and through the Pyrenees until we reach Catalonia, one of Spain's most famed regions. The capital city of Catalonia, Barcelona, is also one of Europe's most iconic cities and is filled with all sorts of impressive architecture like the legendary Sagrada Familia. Construction started in 1882 under the plan of famed architect Antoni Gaudí - and it's still going on to this day. This UNESCO World Heritage sight is slated to be completed in 2026, and it will truly be the sight to see.

Spain's beautiful coastline is home to many popular resort towns and seaside destinations. Benidorm is one of the region's most popular cities to vacation in, and while the city itself may be small, its impressive waterfront more than makes up for it.

Spain and the Iberian Peninsula as a whole is well known for its great weather and continuous sunshine in every season of the year. Popular activities here include golfing - and the Catalunya Golf Course is one of the region's premier destinations.

The beaches here are also world class as well, and attract tourists from all across the globe. The island of Mallorca in particular has gained a reputation as a major tourist hub and its beaches are some of the world's best.

We catch a flight back for the mainland, and the next city we'll be exploring is Seville, a Spanish town known for its famous oranges. The architecture here is a traditional mix of Spanish, Moorish, Arabian, and even Gothic elements - combined with modern structures as well, making for plenty of diversity. Here we see a typical scene from the city's suburbs.

The landscapes surrounding Seville and in southwest Spain are dry and arid - making them perfect for growing olives. Here we see a typical grove in a dry, dusty, barren region of Spain.

Southern Spain is a region that's dominated by the mighty Sierra Nevada mountain range - and a plane ride over these majestic mountains is one that you'll remember for a lifetime.

Not too far away is another one of Spain's most amazing cities, Ronda. The city's old town is separated into two by a massive gorge and the impressive Puente Nuevo bridge - this historic city is truly one of a kind.

Southern Spain and the Andalucia region is home to countless small, quaint villages that hug the hillsides. Casares is one of the country's most beautiful and the perfect place to visit to get away from it all.

We travel further north for the last leg of our journey, reaching another one of Spain's most impressive landmarks - the legendary El Escorial Palace. Located in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, it's the historical residence of the King of Spain and today is a huge draw for tourists in the area.

We now move into Spain's iconic capital city of Madrid for the last couple of sights - and the city's historic center is dominated by the impressive towers of the Cuatro Torres Business Area. At nighttime, they truly come to life.

We finally venture into the heart of Madrid, our last destination on our journey across Spain. The Spanish capital is filled with narrow streets, historic architecture, and grand parks - and its epic layout can be fully appreciated from above.