Salamanca is a Spanish town located 112 miles Northwest of Madrid. The place attracts tourists chiefly because of its museums, Art galleries, places of historical importance and mountains with beautiful natural reserves.
The University of Salamanca was founded in the early 13th century and is regarded as one of the oldest and revered center of learning in the world. You will be startled by its awe-inspiring entrance which was designed to give it a look like a “doorway to heaven”. The 16th century classrooms and a huge library will also draw your interest.
You must visit the two cathedrals of Salamanca where you will find some rare frescos, stonework with incredible artistic perfection and Gothic tombs.
Among the magnificent historical buildings, the famous are Casa de las Conchas, which was built in the 16th century and Convento de las Duenas, which is famous for its cloisters and an array of stone carvings that adorn its upper gallery.
You should also visit Nouveau Art Deco Museum. It has a wide collection of objects like ornaments, furniture, bronze and marble figures, paintings belonging to the late 19th century to the early 20th century.
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Burgos is located in northern Spain and is also the capital city of the Burgos province. Burgos is famous for ancient churches and convents of historical importance. The cathedral of Burgos is the third largest cathedral in Spain. You can observe the excellent Spanish craftsmanship of the cathedral’s Gothic structure and stone carvings.
A visit to Casa del Cordon, a palace built in the 14th century, will also give you the opportunity to see some spectacular stone carvings. In the fifth century, Christopher Columbus was invited to this palace on his return from his voyage to America.
The ancient Castle of Burgos is located at the highest point of the city. You can enter the castle by paying a nominal fee. Because of its height, you get a spectacular view of the city from it.
Arcos de Santa Maria is another medieval castle where you can see the statues of prominent persons from Spain and Burgos in particular.
Cartuja de Miraflores is a monastery of Carthusian monks, located about 4 kms from the center of the city. Though the place suffered damage at the hands of the French soldiers, you can still find the wooden statues of St. Bruno and the mausoleum of King John II and his wife Isabel.
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Pamplona is the capital city of the Navarre region in Spain. It is known for its buildings and museums that are considered of high architectural value.
The Cathedral, which was built in the 14th century on the remains of a Romanesque basilica, is the most prominent site in Pamplona. You will be astonished at the craftsmanship on display at this site. The ancient religious objects in the museum inside the cathedral present insights into the history of the region.
Museo de Navarra is the main museum of Pamplona and is a must see. The collection of Roman artifacts, paintings from the Renaissance period, and the 13th century murals are simply stunning. You can also visit the Royal Palace of Olite, which has an interesting history of its own. The magnificent Gothic palace was built on the ruins of the Roman Praesidium of Oligitum and was renovated several times.
Running of the Bulls is the most famous event in Pamplona. If you plan your trip well in advance, make sure to be there between 6th July and 14th July. You will be joining half a million reveling tourists who witness the frantic running of the bulls down the narrow streets of the city.
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San Sebastian is located on the northern coast of Spain, 20 kms away from the French border. It offers you a wide variety of experiences such as attending events, engaging in water sports like surfing, lazing on the beautiful beach and checking out some great pubs and restaurants.
San Sebastian was earlier encircled by a long wall, which was demolished in the 19th century. Muralla del Puerto is where the remains of the historic wall still stand. The renovated wall serves as a passage between the City Hall and the lower part of Mount Urgull. You can view the activities down at the harbor from this place.
The long distance road race between Behobia and San Sebastian is a unique and popular event in which several thousand runners participate. The local people enthusiastically assemble in large numbers and give the occasion a festive touch.
La Semana Grande, a popular celebration held in the second half of August was introduced to attract tourists and offers week-long musical events, sports, bullfights and firework competitions. You will have a great time if you visit San Sebastian at this time of the year. In San Sebastian, there is a popular ice skating rink also named Palacio del Hielo Txuri Urdin.
If you like traveling, you can take advantage of San Sebastian’s geographical proximity to France and can visit two countries in one trip.
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Bilbao is the capital of the province of Biscay in Spain. It offers a host of interesting places, historical buildings and museums for you to visit.
Casa Consistorial is Bilbao’s town hall which is built on the neo-Baroque architectural pattern. Statues of prominent persons of the city are displayed outside the building. Casco Viejo is another building of historical importance, which is presently housing historical archives, and the library of Bilbao. If you visit the place in summer, you can enjoy open-air musical concerts arranged in its park.
Guggenheim Museum is a major attraction for the tourists. Inside the museum, there is an excellent piece of flower bedecked sculpture called ‘Puppy’. It has derived its name from its shape of a large-sized dog. To make it look lively, the flowers are replaced every season.
Bilbao’s Metro has been designed and developed with the idea of presenting the different facets of the city. With a novel and marvelous architecture, the transparent shell of the Metro will let you have the glimpse of Bilbao at every stop.
Pasarela Zubizuri is a bridge located close to Guggenheim. It is a delightful experience to walk across the bridge and enjoy the astonishing bird’s eye view of Bilbao. A part of the bridge’s walkway is made of glass, which gives you the thrill of ‘walking in air’.
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Zaragoza is the populous capital of Zaragoza province in Spain, situated on the river Ebro.
You will find a number of palaces, museums and monuments in Zaragoza. The Moorish Palace of Aliaferia is one of the major tourist attractions. It is a magnificent castle built in the 11th century, with a spacious complex accommodating inner courtyard, mosque, pools and fountains.
The 16th century Basilica de Nuestra Senora del Piler also attracts a large number of tourists. There is a beautiful statue of Virgin Mary inside the basilica. The frescos done by eminent Spanish artists have added to the beauty of its interiors. A 7-day festival is held every year with great fanfare to celebrate the Virgin Mary’s appearance before Saint James. The occasion draws a large number of people who take part in singing and dancing in bars and night clubs.
Fusion of various architectural styles reached their peak in The Seo del Salvador cathedral. It has an imposing museum where you will find an interesting range of tapestries of French and Flemish varieties.
In the ancient times, the city of Zaragoza was encircled by the Roman walls. You will have an enriching experience visiting the city’s museums where excavated remains of the Roman walls have been preserved.
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The Navarra region of Spain shares borders with France, Castile, Aragon and Baskland. The beautiful towns of Navarra, namely Artajona and Roncesvalles are chief tourist attractions. If you visit Navarra in the month July, you will have an opportunity to witness “Running of Bulls” held in Pamplona, the capital of Navarra.
Navarra’s numerous natural preserves have added to the area’s tourist attraction. You can have an adventurous experience rock climbing and hiking in Reserva Integral de Lizardoia and Parque Natural de Senorio de Bertiz.
Among religious sites, you should visit Pamplona Cathedral. The architectural craftsmanship inside the church is simply spellbinding. The tomb of Carlos III and his wife Dona Leonor is also very popular with the tourists.
Navarra’s Tajera Park is another place frequented by the tourists. You can visit towers of the town inside the park. From there can further walk down to Puerta de Zumalacarregui, one the six old doors of the town. You should also go to Taconera Park to see the beautiful monuments and the Fountain of Neptune.
For those of you who think holidaying is not complete without some shopping, you can find several kiosk shops in all parts of Navarra where you can pick some interesting tit-bits. Handicraft items like hats, vests, woodcarvings are very popular with the tourists. You can also shop for fashion apparel and accessories in the boutiques of Navarra.
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A populous port city of Spain, Algeciras is situated 20 km north of Tarifa. It is the chief embarkation point on the way to Tangier and Morocco.
The city has a rich historical background. You will find buildings with old architecture in the Sal Isidro Quarter. You can admire the beautiful architecture of the 18th century at the church of Nuestra Senora. The church compound is a peaceful place, where you can sit or take a stroll. Algeciras has grown into a place of tourist interest only in the past few years.
You should take a trip to Tarifa from here to watch the migratory birds. Whale watching in the Bay of Gibralter is another delightful experience you can not afford to miss.
The coastal route along Algeciras is of great scenic beauty. A guided tour from the port of Algeciras to Morocco should be a ‘must do’ on your agenda.
Another place in Algeciras that fascinates the tourists is its park. The trees and fountains inside the park create a charming atmosphere that gives you a nice break from the din and bustle of the city.
You may also spare sometime to visit the local market and experience the frenzied selling of consumable items there.
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Girona is a popular province in Spain and is a part of the Catalonian region. It is in the eastern part of Spain and it is bordered by Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea. The capital of the region is the city of Girona. The province draws a lot of tourists who have a keen eye for architecture.
There are several places of interest in Girona. Saint Mary’s cathedral is one of the oldest churches in the city. The architecture in the church gives an idea of the different eras that the church was built and modified in. The church also has the widest arched span in the world.
Another place of interest is the Arab baths. These are Muslim architectural structures that are inspired by the Roman public bath system. The stone houses built along the Onyar River are also a spectacular site to visit. The brightly colored houses are unique in structure and design.
One of the remarkable parts of Girona is the Jewish Quarters. The neighborhood is characterized by its alleys and narrow winding roads, along with the beautiful architecture in medieval stone.
Yet another landmark that you must visit when you are in Girona is the Sant Dome, which is a Gothic construction. The site is now used by the University of Girona, but continues to draw visitors.
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The Pyrenees are a mountain range in south west Europe. They lie on the border of France and Spain. Pyrenees are often considered a popular alternative to the Alps in Europe for hillside tourism.
Spanish and French are the two major languages of the region though you may also hear a few people speaking Catalan and Basque.
The popular regions for travel in the Pyrenees include the Gavarnie, Andorra, Catalonia Pyrenees, Aragon, Basque Country, Midi Pyrenees and Navarra. The area around is beautiful and picture perfect for photography. The mineral springs and the hot springs are abundant in the region.
Skiing is a popular sport in this area and both sides of this mountain range are used for this activity. Mountaineering, hiking and biking are other popular leisure and sport activities. During summers, the region is host to a number of cross country marathons and walking tours.
You could also be a spectator at the Tour De France if you are visiting the region between July and September. This event draws thousands of fans from around the world.
The region also has dog mushing competitions and one of the most popular annual events is held at Pirena.
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