1. Palacio Real
Say hello to the Versailles of Spain. Palacio Real is the official palace of the royal King of Spain. Built in 1783, this palace represents nothing but magnificence and supremacy. It is one of the largest palaces in Europe with 2000 eminent rooms, out of which visitors are allowed to visit 50. The palace also has a room where collections of armor are displayed. All in all, this palace deserves a visit from art and architecture loving tourists.
2. La Concha
La Concha has reserved its place in Europe as being one of the finest beaches in the continent. It is situated in San Sebestian. There are good restaurants along the beach where you can dine and watch the sunset with your partner. You’ll also spot sand sculptures on this beach producing their fine sand art. It’s a fantastic beach for swimming, surfing, or simply walking along its coast.
3. Cuenca
There’s way more history and culture than you can imagine in Spain. Cuenca is one of the medieval towns of Spain showing an example of old Spanish heritage. It’s between Valencia and Madrid on the steep sides of a mountain. The location itself is so breathtaking that your eyes will get glued to it. The hanging houses add more to the feeling of being in some unique part of the world.
4. Sagrada Familia
Many religions have thrived in Spain, hence there are several religious landmarks across the country. The Sagrada Familia is a Catholic church designed by Antoni Gaudi who worked on it for 40 years. Its construction is still not finished yet it remains to be the most visited tourist site in Barcelona.
5. Alhambra
Alhambra is a fort in Grenada which also features a garden. This fort was built by Nasrid Sultans in the 14th century. It’s a mixture of Spanish and Arab architecture. It is wise to get tickets from its website in advance since people line up from early morning to get tickets for this site, so to avoid all that work, just get tickets before coming. You need at least 3 hours to explore the fortress and the gardens
6. El Encierro Festival
If you visit Spain, you must visit in the month of July and plan a trip between 6-14th July to the Pamplona for its El Encierro festival which is a ‘Running of the bulls’ festival. This festival has been featured so many times in Hollywood films that everyone knows what it is about. It is one of the most interesting thing to do in Spain. Bulls are let loose in the streets and people run as fast as they can like they’re in a marathon. It is exciting and fun even if you just witness it and not run with them.
7. Aqueduct of Segovia
Romans have left their mark on Spain in the shape of the Aqueduct of Segovia which was used to transport water from Frio River to Segovia till the 20th century. It is one of the supreme examples of architecture and fine use of intellect by the Romans.
Have you been to Spain? Feel free to share your tips and recommendations.
Photo Credits (Flickr CC): Palacio Real by jsogo/ La Playa by vxla/ Cuenca by M.Peinado/ Sagrada de Familia by Sarah_Ackerman/ Alhambra by amerune/ Running with Bulls by Michael K Donnelly/ Aqueduct of Segovia by Alaskan Dude