The most beautiful small towns in Spain. Picturesque towns on the Spanish coast. Moving around the country

All cities and resorts in Spain for travel. List of the most famous regions, areas, cities and resorts in Spain: population, codes, distances, best descriptions and reviews from tourists.

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Cities, resorts and regions of Spain on the map and alphabetically

Galicia

This region in the northwestern part of the country attracts a large number of pilgrims and agritourism enthusiasts. Thanks to the fact that at the beginning of the 9th century the burial place of the Apostle James himself was discovered in Santiago de Compostela, this area became an object of religious worship. The most popular holiday destinations in Galicia are the fishing villages with extraordinary beaches in Rias Altas and National parks with nature reserves in Rias Bajas.

Canary Islands

Murcia

Tourists come to this region in the southeast of the country because of the small sandy beaches and beautiful weather. Along the Murcia coast lies the Costa Cálida with the popular resort of La Manga del Map Menor. The sand spit of La Manga separates from Mediterranean Sea a vast but shallow lagoon, the water in which warms up well and has a high concentration of mineral salts and iodine.

Navarre

The pilgrimage Way of St. James, which runs through the territory of northern Navarre, attracts a large number of believers, and the castle-palace in the town of Olite and the ancient fortress walls of Artajona attract history buffs. There are all conditions for hunting, fishing, hiking, mountain climbing and golf. The region is famous not only for its landscapes and attractions, but also for its healing springs. Thermal spa Baños de Fitero was popular back in Ancient Rome.

Rioja

The name of this northern region is associated throughout the world with the wines of Spain. The vineyards produce a good harvest thanks to the special microclimate in the valleys - the mountains protect from cold winds, and the rivers add the necessary humidity. Rioja is home to the largest Wine Museum in the world. There are several national parks and reserves in the region, where there are examples of mountain architecture - grotto-dwellings carved into the rocks.

Extremadura

One of the most unique and least appreciated region by tourists. It is located in the west of the country next to Portugal. The capital of the region is Mérida. The local Museum of Roman Art has a valuable collection of exhibits. National Park Monfrage owns the most extensive forests in the Mediterranean. Black Iberian pigs are bred in this region, and their hams are used to produce the famous local delicacy, Jamón Iberico.

But the country also boasts a variety of cities and towns that most tourists have never seen.

In a country with a long history, the varied landscapes give each city its own unique flavor, distinguishing one city from another. The cities built during the heyday of the Spanish Renaissance are strikingly different from those occupied for centuries by the Moors or Visigoths.

A tour of the most picturesque, but underestimated cities by travelers, provides a unique opportunity to look at Spain's long and glorious past in a different way.

We invite you to evaluate the top 12 most beautiful and underrated Spanish cities that you may include in your must-see list when compiling tourist route for the May holidays.

1. Huesca

A small city located in the Aragon region of north-eastern Spain, the province of Huesca attracts travelers who mainly want to visit the nearby Loarre Castle, or for those who like to ski in the Pyrenees Mountains, but the city still has many interesting attractions that are worth checking out take a look.

Thus, the partially restored Old Quarter boasts the Huesca Cathedral, built in the early 13th century, with stone statues of the twelve apostles.

The main attraction of Huesca is the Church of San Pedro El Viejo with its picturesque Romanesque cloister. “Miguel Servet Park is considered the largest green area in the city, which is also worth seeing with your own eyes. In the center of the city, a park with wide avenues of trees is a stunning oasis, complemented by sculptures and numerous ponds.

2. Santillana del Mar

The city is known for its well-preserved medieval old quarter. Santillana del Mar is located in the Cantabria region of northern Spain. Despite the presence of the particle “Del Mar” in the name, the city is surrounded on all sides by land, not water, although the sea is just a stone’s throw away.

Against the backdrop of hills, farms and fields covered with green grass, the old city, cobbled streets lined with beautiful paving stones, temples and family estates, the city looks the same as it did a hundred years ago.

The Cathedral of St. Juliana, built in the 12th century, houses the remains of the city's patron saint. The prehistoric caves of Altamira on the outskirts of Santillana del Mar are closed to tourists, but you can always admire the amazing rock art at the nearby Altamira Museum.

3. Burgos

Burgos played a significant role in the history of Spain. This is not counting the fact that the city proudly bore the title of capital of the Castilla region for 500 years. As the home and burial place of the medieval Spanish hero El Cid, the city has long attracted tourists interested in the pages of Spain's rich history.

Recently, Burgos was recognized as a city of “European culture,” which has revived the interest of tourists who know a lot about Spanish culture in its attractions.

The wonderful Burgos Cathedral has been restored to its Gothic splendor.

The old quarter is surrounded by green spaces, including beautiful park, located on the banks of the Arlançon River, called Paseo de la Isla.

4. Ourense

Ourense is the provincial capital of the Spanish region of Galicia, located along the banks of the Miño River. The city is famous for its numerous picturesque bridges, some of which were built during the heyday of the Roman Empire.

Despite the fact that the heart of Ourense - the historical center is surrounded by urban development, it has been restored and well preserved, and wandering through the streets of the Old Quarter will make you feel like a time traveler.

10 Best Places to Visit in Spain (video):

And in the Plaza Mayor you can admire the buildings erected in the 18th century during the times of expansion.

Ourense is also interesting for its posas, hot springs that reach the surface throughout the city, including along the banks of the Miño River.

5. Valencia

Valencia has always been one of the most important cities in Spain. Tourists will be indescribably delighted by the futuristic architecture of the city's new arts and sciences complex, while others will be amazed by the unusual atmosphere of the most beautiful part of the city - Barrio del Carmen.

The Museum of Fine Arts in Valencia houses an extraordinary collection of Spanish paintings, including works by Goya, Velazquez and El Greco.

And the Botanical Garden of the University of Valencia, founded in 1567, looks simply breathtaking.

Most tourists come to the Andalusian town of Jerez del Frontera to taste the famous sherry, and leave impressed by all sorts of wonders that this town boasts.

The history of Jerez del Frontera goes back about 3,000 years. The main attraction of the city is the Alcazar Fortress, a Moorish fortress built in 1255. The fortress complex has a mosque, Arab baths and picturesque gardens.

There are several in Jerez de la Frontera thematic museums, including a watch museum, a flamenco museum and one dedicated to the wines of the region.

The old quarter of the city is interesting for the Mudéjar chapels and the Museum of Archaeological Antiquities, the collection of which includes exhibits dating back to the 7th century BC. BC, as well as a Greek helmet from the late 15th century and blown glass ceiling lamps.

7. Pamplona

The capital of the Navarre region, Pamplona is known throughout the world as the site of an annual event called the “Running of the Bulls”, held at the Fiesta de San Fermin.

For those who don't like thrills and don't want to risk their own life and health dodging bulls on crowded streets, it's worth refraining from visiting the city in early July, just when the week-long festival takes place.

Pamplona is ready to offer its guests a lot of interesting things in the next 51 weeks of the year. For example, the historical quarter of the city with its beautiful park and ancient churches, and the Museum of Navarre is perhaps the most breathtaking place.

Housed in a 16th-century hospital, the museum boasts an impressive collection of Roman artefacts and mosaics, as well as 13th-century frescoes, Renaissance paintings and Goya's portrait of the Marquis de Sant'Adrian.

8. Girona

Located in Spain's northeastern region of Catalonia, Girona is a small medieval city With rich history. For its ability to withstand the attacks of conquerors over the centuries, Girona has been called "the city of a thousand sieges."

The old quarters of the city lead curious tourists past Roman walls, Moorish baths and Gothic churches, and wandering through the labyrinth of narrow streets and stone slabs you can truly get lost in time.

No visit to Girona is complete without tourists visiting the Girona Cathedral, where you can see the “Carpet of Creation” or “tapestry of the universe,” which dates back to the 11th century.

And on the main promenade of Girona, Rambla de la Laberta, there are numerous cafes, shops and restaurants.

9. Logrono

The northern part of the city of Logrono was once a fortified medieval city, and the city's old quarter is its biggest attraction.

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Casco Antiguo has long served as a stopover for pilgrims on their way to the tomb of St. James in Santiago de Compostela.

The Gothic-style church of Santa Maria de Palacio, with its magnificent carvings and statues, is worth a visit, opposite the Romanesque church of St. Bartholomew.

As a wine trade center in the La Rioja region, Logroño is known for its top-notch Spanish wines and cuisine.

And the historic gardens of Paseo del Espolon - the best place to join local residents to “paseo” or evening walks with intimate conversations after a hearty dinner and a glass of good wine.

10. Bilbao

At first glance, Spain largest port city, and Bilbao with its industrial façade, albeit with beautiful name, can hardly do much for tourists. But this is only at first glance…

The city's most prominent landmark is the Guggenheim Museum, an impressive creation by architect Frank Gehry. This building houses more than 100 contemporary art exhibitions.

A short walk from the museum is more futuristic pedestrian bridge Zubizuri takes visitors to the historic Old Quarter, which is home to several important spiritual monasteries.

Refurbished Cathedral Santiago dates back to 1300 years and is an example of the neo-Gothic architectural style.

The nearby 16th-century Basilica de Begogna contains several large-scale paintings by the heyday Italian Baroque artist Luca Giordano.

11. Granada

Situated at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains in Spain, the city of Granada is the capital of the province of Granada in Spanish region Andalusia.

In the legendary citadel-palace of the Alhambra, the city takes visitors on an intriguing journey through Spain's Moorish history, which effectively ended when Ferdinand and Isabella passed through the city gates of the Puerta de Elvira in 1492.

With graceful ornamental architecture, fountains and lush gardens dating back to the 13th century, the Alhambra is an impressive destination. Crowds of tourists gather every evening to view the Alhambra in the light of the setting sun.

12. Salamanca

Situated in central Spain, Salamanca owes its breathtaking beauty to the nearby sandstone quarries from which most of the city's buildings were built. Because of the glowing light that comes from the stone at sunset, Salamanca received the nickname “Golden City”.

A university city since 1218, Salamanca is still home to one of the best European universities. The city is filled with historical architectural structures. And the Plaza Mayor, the main baroque square, is teeming with students at any time of the day, who gather here to eat, drink and sing. Their enthusiasm and confidence ensures that Salamanca's future will be as bright as its golden past.

It is impossible not to passionately fall in love with this country, because it is the homeland and cradle of passion. Almost everything here is saturated with this feeling: from the center, where the sun heats up the air and earth so much that it seems that passion itself is burning the heart of the country, to the outskirts and coasts, where the passion for life overshadows all other feelings. She awakened the passion for painting in Dali and Picasso... A country where passion lives in every word spoken, written or sung in the language of Cervantes. The personification of this passion is people like Montserrat Caballe, Julio Iglesias, Enrique Iglesias, Penelope Cruz, Antonio Banderas, Javier Bardem, Iker Casillas, Rafael Nadal... And this is not a complete list! Here you no longer need to reveal the secrets of the Madrid court to guess that we are talking about Spain.

I started my journey and acquaintance with Spain not with Barcelona, ​​popular among domestic tourists, and its amazing beaches, but with little-known Valencia. It was the choice of a less popular, which does not mean worse, direction that allowed us to better study the country, experience the culture, and finally dispel the stereotype that Spain is just and.

It was after this trip that I realized that coming to Spain once means practically not being there at all. It is impossible to explore this country during a short vacation. And visiting just one resort town allows only a casual acquaintance.

Spain attracts not only its golden beaches, but also its people. Openness, goodwill and friendliness local population capable of liberating even the most shy person. They are always ready to help those who are lost, and along the way they also tell all the most interesting things about their country, traditions and cities.

Of course, they will first start the story in Spanish, but if you don’t speak the language of Cervantes and Lorca, they are happy to switch to English. However, you shouldn’t hope that every Spaniard will be able to understand you in English - you’ll just move away from the tourist meccas and find yourself in the kingdom of Spanish with its local dialects. And I’m not even talking about other languages ​​officially adopted in the country - more on that below.

In general, Spain fell in love with me and lures me almost every year, offering the most unexpected and crazy routes every time, where you can successfully combine sightseeing, seaside holidays, and delicious gastronomic discoveries. In general, there would be a desire! You can swim and look at royal castles, visit ancient monasteries and basilicas, enjoy unusual dishes, and stay on the dance floor until the morning best clubs peace. In other words, there is no limit to imagination in Spain.

Visa and border crossing

The process of applying for a Spanish visa is quite simple. As you know, it is included in the list of Schengen countries, so the rules for receiving it are the same as in most of Europe.

But despite this, the process of issuing a visa to visit the country of bullfighters and flamenco dancers is many times simpler and shorter than, for example, Germany or Czech Republic.

In order to submit an application, you must provide the following documents to the Visa Application Center or the Embassy:

Full list documents can be viewed on the website of the Visa Center, just like you can fill out an application form and sign up for an interview directly at the Consulate (shhh! this is if you want to save money and pay only for a visa, without a fee for the center’s services). If you are going to visit or study, you will need to provide an invitation indicating the host party and contacts.

The cost of obtaining a visa for 2016 is 2,700 rubles, and the Visa Center fee is 1,500 rubles.

Among tourists, Spain rightfully bears the title of one of the kindest and most generous countries in issuing entry documents. Firstly, as practice shows, visas are prepared in 3-5 days. However, employees of the Visa Center or Consulate always warn that 10 working days may still pass from the moment of application to issuance. In order to know exactly when you can pick up documents or at what stage the process is, you can activate an SMS notification. Secondly, the probability of obtaining a visa for more than six months is at least 70%.

How to get there

Getting to Spain is not difficult. Fortunately, the country is located on the same continent as ours, and there will be no need to make huge transfers and long flights.

Thus, the choice of travel method is limited only by the capabilities and desires of our tourist.

By plane, undoubtedly, getting there is faster and more comfortable.

The only question is the means. If you need to save money, you can think about the option with transfers.

Russia does not have direct train or bus connections with the kingdom. Here you will have to think through the route in more detail, since along the way you will need to make more than one transfer. And it’s unlikely that it will be cheaper than by plane.

For lovers and owners of a personal car, a trip to Spain will soon turn into a trip throughout almost the whole of Europe.

However, it becomes possible to see not just one country, but several at once. And here, right away, as if from a cornucopia, a variety of path options pour in - choice transit countries truly huge!

By plane

The easiest way to get to Spain is by plane. Fast, comfortable and inexpensive if you buy tickets in advance.

To Barcelona

From our main cities - Moscow and St. Petersburg - to tourist capital kingdom - Barcelona - you can fly directly. In addition, non-stop flights are also available from another major Russian city - Yekaterinburg. Unfortunately, you can only fly from other populated areas of Russia, both large and small, with transfers in Moscow.

To Madrid

By train

Unfortunately, as I said earlier, Russia does not have a direct railway connection with Spain. But this does not mean that it is impossible to get there by train. If you like to hear the sound of wheels and enjoy the landscapes of European nature with a glass of tea in an iron cup holder in your hand, you can find several options.

You can get to Spain with transfers in Paris or Milan, as well as in other European cities. For example, 2 trains run from Moscow from the Belorussky station - and -. The first one departs 3 times a week (on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays), the second one once a week (on Thursdays). You can find out more accurate schedules, prices, and also purchase tickets on the Russian Railways website. From Paris there are direct trains from the Spanish company Renfe and the French company SNCF to both Madrid and Barcelona. On the Moscow-Nice route, you can get off in Milan and change trains to Barcelona.

A more difficult route would be moving from Russia to Spain via Switzerland, since there is a Zurich-Barcelona train via Geneva and. True, from Moscow to Zurich you need to go, again, with a transfer in Basel.

However, it is worth considering that this type of travel may not only take longer, but also be more expensive. For example, a train ticket to Milan alone costs about 15 thousand rubles one way, and in the city itself you will still have to move from Milano Rogoredo station to Milano station Centrale. And to Paris it’s already about 20 thousand rubles one way.

Which path to choose depends only on the tourist, however, you should be prepared for the fact that the journey will take about two days, and maybe more. So it takes about 40 hours to get to Milan, and through Switzerland it’s only a day and another 13 hours before the first transfer in Basel.

By bus

A trip to Spain by bus is quite an adventurous affair and is designed for the strongest, most seasoned and patient tourists. But the most important thing is to be diligent. The fact is that you will have to spend three days on the bus. Of course, the flight makes stops along the way, but only for utilitarian purposes.

Buses travel from Moscow to Madrid and Barcelona. Flights operate once a week - to Madrid on Fridays and to Barcelona on Tuesdays.

These routes cannot be found in the schedule grid of official bus stations, because their departure point is one of shopping centers on Leningradsky Prospekt.

The ticket price does not change depending on the season. Fixed fare – 23,250 rubles one way per passenger. You can view the schedule, departure and arrival stations, and purchase tickets online.

By car

If you are the happy owner of a personal car, then a trip to sunny Spain can turn into an unforgettable journey through almost all European countries. Unfortunately, I’m not one of those, but let me suggest several routes that can be easily combined depending on the circumstances and your desires. The main cities that can be reached by car are, of course, Madrid and.

To Barcelona

If you are traveling from Northern capital, then the path will undergo some changes, namely: instead of Belarus, the road will run through Latvia and Lithuania.

To Madrid

If you choose Madrid as the final destination of the route (4240 km, travel time - 41 hours), then the picturesque views along the road will be more modest. The beginning will be made through Belarus, if you are traveling from Moscow, or Latvia or Lithuania, if you are traveling from St. Petersburg, through the mysterious and mysterious Prague, and then with a stop at wine tasting in French Bordeaux. And finally, through the Basque Country - and you are already in dazzling Madrid.

These are just a few suggested options that you can visit during your journey, but with a card in hand, you can shuffle all the options like a deck.

By ferry

The ferry, in my opinion, is the most exotic way to get to Spain (I have never tried it, but the considerations that I give here still exist). Ships ply both in the Mediterranean Sea and in the Bay of Biscay, and also through Gibraltar.

In general, the journey through the Strait of Gibraltar seems more interesting to me, since on this route you move from Africa to Spain. Ferries depart from Moroccan Tangier several times a day to spanish cities and Algeciras, and every day. In addition, a ferry runs from the autonomous city of Melilla, which is in the territory, to Malaga.

Spain has the most frequent ferry connection with Italy, especially the largest seaport- Genoa. But there are other routes if you look.

Oddly enough, Spain's ferry connections with neighboring France are quite poor. It was never possible to connect directly, for example, with Spain. However, do not despair - there is a ferry, but from the French Roscoff to, which is in the north of the country.

These are the routes for independent travel by ferry. But there is always the chance to go to Spain on a cruise ship.

Tourist regions

There is no country in Europe more interesting and diverse than Spain. It is divided into 50 provinces, united into 17 autonomous communities with their own cultural, linguistic and religious traditions.

They are all so different, but still part of the same country. Every community has its own reasons to be proud. But still, I would conditionally divide it into several tourist and thematic areas.

1. I would put in first place...No, not the capital and the province of the same name, Madrid, but Andalusia.
   This community can rightfully compete with Madrid for the right to be called the birthplace of the state of Spain, because it is from here that such integral parts of Spanish culture as flamenco and bullfighting originated. In addition, the most famous cities are located on the territory of Andalusia: Cadiz. They contain famous historical buildings in the unique Mudejar style - the Alhambra, the Giralda or the Cordoba Mosque. It can also be proud of its province, where some of the cleanest and warmest beaches are, as well as the capital of the same name, where you can go to the Picasso Museum, while walking along the promenade named after him and the Antonio Banderas promenade.
2. To understand Spain, you need to understand its heart, namely Madrid and its neighboring province of Castile La Mancha. You can write a lot about Madrid, but it takes a long time to read, so I will say one thing - it is a capital that is worth visiting. Ancient narrow streets combined with sunny squares, royal palaces and temples, museums - all this wealth is located here. Madrid is so beautiful that it was mentioned in a Spanish proverb - “Madrid can only be exchanged for heaven, but on condition that there is an opportunity to spy on it.”
   Go to the province of Castile-la-Mancha to follow the path of the real Spaniard - Don Quixote of La Mancha, and maybe even overcome the famous white mills, as well as visit one of the most beautiful museums under open air- city .
3. Third on the list, but by no means in order, is Catalonia.
   This community, led by one of famous cities world - Barcelona - is one of the hallmarks of Spain. The landscapes of Catalonia are varied: the ridges of the Pyrenees mountains, wooded valleys, many lakes, a hilly central part, canals and lagoons of the Ebro River, a wide, long line of sandy beaches. beckons Gaudi with his masterpieces, invites you to look at his churches, and opens the doors of the Pablo Picasso Museum.
4. Another notable tourist region is. A unique area with the greatest autonomy among all regions of Spain. The Basque Country, like all other regions of Spain, has a huge number of architectural monuments, and among other things, there is a delightful Guggenheim Museum.
   However, I would recommend visiting this area for gastronomic reasons. The fact is that the cuisine of the Basque Country is considered one of the richest in all of Spain. The traditions of this place are also a good example of a mixture of two cultures - Spanish and French.
5. Of course, it is impossible to imagine Spain without beach areas.
   All resorts scattered along the coasts of the kingdom begin with the word “costa”, so if you see it, you can safely take tickets or a tour in the intended direction. It makes no difference what continuation the name will have - almost all resorts with dignity justify the status of the most environmentally friendly areas, flying in the wind blue flags The EU (this is the highest rating for the purity of water and sand) is the envy of other countries. The areas in which the word "costa" is common are: Catalonia, Valencia, Galicia, .
6. Surprisingly, Spain has perhaps the only club district in the world. This is the well-known Balearic island - Ibiza.
   lovers of nightclubs and electronic music. An island that lives around the clock according to its own special rules, the main one of which is no rules. Fifty beaches are mixed with a variety of clubs, among which the most famous is Pacha. Music is everywhere here, living in a single dance, the rhythm of which unites both students crawling from one disco to another, and young European pensioners, at the end of their lives, basking on painted loungers with glasses of whiskey in their hands.
7. I cannot help but combine the following provinces into one very important tourist area: Navarre, Castile and Galicia. The famous pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James, runs through all these areas.
   It is advisable for every believer to walk along this path once in his life. The pilgrimage is considered valid if the entire route is covered on foot.

You can find your way around prices for tours to different regions of Spain.

Top cities

There is an amazing feature of Spanish cities... Whether it is big or small, the city knows how to surprise and sink into the soul so deeply that it will emerge in memory for many years to come.

Personally, I am fascinated by the houses, unlike ours, with luxurious bas-reliefs and other external decorations, bell towers and basil roses, narrow cobbled streets with elegant wrought-iron balconies above them. But I love them even more for their unique atmosphere, because everyone locality, like a living organism, has its own character.

My list of character cities worth exploring is quite extensive, but for now I will present only five.

You can book a hotel in any of the Spanish cities on Booking. You can find prices on different sites conveniently in the Travelask section. If you want to live in an apartment or a private apartment, you can look at the options and prices.

Islands

Holidays on the Spanish islands are always associated with prosperity, and the names spoken out loud (Canaries, or), make a good half of the population of our country a little jealous.

All these names refer to two Spanish archipelagos - the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands.

Canary Islands

This is a year-round paradise for lovers of warm sun and sea. The beach season here never stops for a minute.

• Tenerife is worth choosing for lovers of comfortable and sufficient active rest;
• Gran Canaria - for a more secluded and quiet place;
• – a paradise for surfing;
• La Gomera – National Park with relict vegetation;
• Lanzarote – biosphere reserve volcanic activity.

Balearic Islands

The Balearic Islands, and in particular, are known throughout the world. The biggest partygoers come here to relax. A clean beaches and warm water are pleasant bonuses for the club summer.

How to get to the islands, read the section above.

Top attractions

Spain is one of the leaders in the number of objects located on its territory World Heritage UNESCO. The total number of monuments, both natural and man-made, is 44, which is 4% of the total, and puts the kingdom in third place immediately after Italy and China.

Each autonomous region has at least one, if not several objects. These are the sights that every self-respecting tourist who is planning to visit Spain should see at least once in his life. Of course, it is impossible to make such a large-scale trip across the entire country in order to see them all, but allow me to present my must see list, in which I include not only World Heritage sites, but also those attractions without which I cannot imagine Spain . Perhaps this will allow us to embrace the immensity a little.

• Plaza Mayor(Plaza Mayor) - “Main Square”.
  The name speaks for itself. This is a key Spanish square. In no other city in Spain will you find something similar and with a similar name, unlike, for example, Plaza de España. It is the “navel of Spain,” as Lope de Vega once called it, that personifies all the chic and brilliance, arrogance, splendor and true spirit of the royal capital.
• Parque del Buen Retiro(Parque Buen Retiro).
  The most important and largest park in Madrid. Favorite place recreation for all city residents - madrileños. The park has many sports fields with exercise equipment, jogging tracks and tennis courts. Retiro's calling card is architectural ensemble with a monument to King Alfonso XII and a pond where a huge amount of fish lives and you can go boating. In addition, it is worth noting the magnificent crystal palace, built specifically for international exhibitions, and one of the few monuments to the devil - El ángel caído (Fountain of the Fallen Angel).
• Museo Nacional del Prado(Prado Museum).
  Coming to Madrid and not visiting the Prado Museum is blasphemy. This is one of the twenty most visited museums in the world! And it rightfully takes its place in this top list, because it is here that the most complete collection of paintings by Bosch, Velazquez, Goya and El Greco, paintings by Raphael, Titian, Rubens, Bruegel and Caravaggio are located. This is a real paradise for art lovers.
• Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias(City of Arts and Sciences).
  The Valencian City of Arts and Sciences is undoubtedly a masterpiece of modern architecture, but not only Spanish, but, in my opinion, worldwide. The museum and exhibition complex, built by Santiago Calatrava, has such an unusual appearance that it makes you wonder if these buildings are of alien origin or if they came from the future to then float above the sky-blue surface of the water?
• Catedral of Santa Maria de Valencia(Valencia Cathedral).
  Perhaps this is not the most outstanding work of Spanish architects. The Valencia Cathedral, of course, is inferior both in size and beauty to the majestic cathedrals of Madrid, Barcelona or Seville. But what is important here is not the external beauty, but the treasure that the cathedral keeps inside - the Holy Grail, recognized by the Vatican as authentic.
• Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia(Sagrada Familia).
  The great creation of Antoni Gaudi, which cannot be imagined torn from the chain Spain-Barcelona-Sagrada Familia-Gaudi. You can change places, but you can’t tear them out. The Sagrada Familia is most often depicted on all souvenirs that tourists bring from Spain. Look at the most famous long-term construction worth it live. And don’t let the huge queue at the entrance scare you – the beauty of the interior and exterior decoration outshines everything, leaving in your memory the vivid images of the Magi and the colors of the stained glass windows.
• Plaza d'Espanya(Plaza di Spagna in Barcelona) and Montjuic hill.
  In my opinion, this is the most beautiful and delightful square in the world. The path from the square to Montjuic hill and National Museum The art of Catalonia is decorated with two bell towers, copies of similar buildings in St. Mark's Square in Venice, a huge number of fountains, and the whole composition is completed by the singing Magic Fountain of Montjuic, which in the evenings not only reproduces popular musical compositions, but also shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow. It is especially impressive if you find yourself here in the evening while the song “Barcelona” performed by Montserrat Caballe and Freddie Mercury is playing.
• Catedral de Sevilla(Seville Cathedral).
  The largest Gothic cathedral in all of Europe. In some respects, it even argues with the Holy Council in the Vatican. The temple is not only a treasure in itself, but also stores a lot of valuables inside. At every step you can admire paintings by Goya and Velazquez, but the most valuable thing is a cross made from the first gold brought by Columbus, an iconostasis that took about 3 tons of gold, and a treasury with a huge amount of jewelry.
• Santiago de Compostela(Santiago de Compostela).
  This city itself is already a landmark, as it was built around largest center pilgrimage - Santiago Cathedral. This is the third holiest city of the Catholic world after Jerusalem and Rome, the “Christian Mecca”, the final destination of the Way of St. James. “The place marked by the star” - the cathedral - contains the relics of the Holy Apostle James, which were discovered here.
• Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar(Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar).
  An incredible temple that made me fall in love with its scale and unusually large number of domes. The colored roof, made in the Azulejo style, makes it stand out from the huge number of baroque temples. The basilica is located in Zaragoza and is considered one of the first shrines in history dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Weather

If we talk about the weather, or more precisely, about the air temperature, then compared to Russia, Spain is a country of fire. After all, for example, in winter throughout the country the thermometer does not drop below +5 degrees Celsius. What about in the summer? In summer, the possible maximum temperature can be indicated by the number 44. But do not be alarmed, this is not the case throughout the country. It all depends on the chosen region and time of year.

Coastal areas, such as the Canary and Balearic Islands, Valencia, the Basque Country, and Galicia have a fairly comfortable and warm climate throughout the year due to their location.

Hot summer, suitable for beach holiday, from mid-May to late September and warm autumn and winter – best time for a sightseeing holiday.

The weather in mainland Spain, and in particular in its central part, can be compared to a capricious woman. Here she is not influenced by the moods of the Mediterranean or Atlantic Ocean– in summer you can roast under the scorching sun of Aragon or Andalusia, and in winter you can almost become numb by the standards of the local population from the Madrid cold, equal to five degrees above zero.

If you don’t want to ruin your trip, the purpose of which, for example, is to get acquainted with architectural masterpieces and monuments, then believe me: you shouldn’t go sightseeing in July - the hot wind, temperature +44 and the inability to plunge into any body of water except the hotel pool discourage any desire to touch the beautiful.

Thus, you should plan the purpose of your trip based on weather in the season of your choice.

Summer, ah, summer!

Spain can be called the land of eternal summer. The beach season begins at the end of May on the islands (Mallorca and Ibiza), and from mid-June on the mainland - in Barcelona, ​​Valencia, and other cities of the Mediterranean and Atlantic coast. All summer, the water temperature does not drop below +22 degrees, and the air temperature – +26 degrees. The hottest month is undoubtedly July. This applies to both maritime regions and the central part of the country.

If your vacation falls precisely in this month, then it is better to while away the hot hours of the day by the sea. The number 44 is not a fictional horror story, but a completely ordinary reality for residents of areas such as Castile, Aragon, etc. There is no point in reassuring yourself that you can adapt - when traveling for the first time, an unaccustomed tourist may feel unwell from both sunstroke and the heat, coupled with a hot wind.

The Velvet season begins in September and lasts until mid-October. The weather in the first half of September is close to summer - there is still warmth in the air at +30 degrees, and the water remains at +26...+27. But by the end of the month, autumn is creeping up quietly - cloudy days begin, the temperature gradually drops, but globally it is still warm. However, in September the weather can be bad when it rains for several days. October closes in most parts of Spain beach season– the water temperature drops to +20 degrees, and the air temperature is slightly higher. But don’t despair – the beaches of the Canary and Balearic Islands are still open. Fortunately, the temperature allows: air +26, water +22.

Meanwhile in the fall...

Autumn in Spain is the best time for travel and sightseeing.

The absence of heat and scorching rays of the sun will encourage long journeys between cities and long excursions to local attractions. Late autumn is an unstable time: it may be cloudy, or it may even rain, but it will definitely be warmer and more pleasant than in Russia - +15 during the day is quite common for Spain.

No matter how it’s winter, it’s always summer

The country is very comfortable in winter. Of course not everyone's favorite Russian tourists Egypt, but compared to our winter, it is an oasis of warmth. The average temperature in Spain at this time of year is around +14 degrees, it rains periodically, and it can sometimes snow in the north.

The difference in December temperatures varies depending on the region - in the southern regions it is about +17 degrees Celsius, in the northern regions it is about +13...+15. But if the soul requires “heat”, then the Canaries await you - the water temperature in December here is +16...+18, and the air temperature is on average +20. In January, the weather in the northern regions is mild but rainy: +8...+14. In central Spain it is several degrees lower: +5...+12. On east coast winter is even milder and the temperature does not drop below +12. In February, the weather in the country is rainy - up to several days a month, and snow is also possible. This situation is observed especially in northern and central Spain.

It smelled like spring...

The first month of spring is the rainy season.

Nature is preparing for a fairly dry and sunny summer. For the most part, the weather resembles autumn, but in terms of temperature it’s exactly the opposite – it’s rising. April looks more and more like spring - less intense rain, temperatures reach +20 during the day and +10 at night. And in the north of Spain it is 3-4 degrees cooler.

In general, no matter what time you choose – Spain is always beautiful.

Money

Spain is a member country of the European Union, and a full member, without any preferences or special conditions. This means that it has the same currency as all countries – the euro.

With the exchange of money, things in the country are not as good as we would like, so it is better to convert some part needed for everyday needs into euros before the trip. Firstly, it is impossible to find an “exchanger” in Spain; only banks deal with such currency transactions.

Secondly, rubles, in principle, cannot be exchanged anywhere due to their lack of demand in the country, and if we are talking about dollars, then in this case you will still have to find a bank that will provide this service not to the client, and, moreover, not yet a resident of the country. In addition, it is better to ask to calculate before the exchange what amount you will ultimately have on hand, since different banks have different commissions for this type of transaction.

A credit card can be a lifesaver in this situation. They are accepted everywhere. The only exception may be grocery stores that are open on Sunday. Plastic cards also have their own problems, but not as big a problem as with currency exchange offices. There are 2 payment systems Visa and MasterCard. Be careful when choosing which card to take abroad for cashless payments. Since salaries in our state can only be received in rubles, when paying abroad from a ruble account, conversion must be made into local units of payment. For Europe, in particular for Spain, take a MasterCard card, since from it the conversion takes place directly from rubles to euros, bypassing dollars, as would be the case with a Visa card. And recently, it has increasingly become possible to make payments by card in your own currency, that is, in rubles. If you need to withdraw money from the card, then this can be done using any ATM, but for this they will additionally charge a commission of 1% or slightly more of the amount, which at the same time, depending on the bank, cannot be less than the amount established by the bank .

Moving around the country

Spain's transport infrastructure, in my opinion, is one of the best in the world. The quality of roads and railways, as in all EU countries, is at top level. So you can move around the country between cities with incredible comfort, either by car or bus, or by train.

By personal car

For Russians who own a personal car, traveling along the highways of Spain will bring special pleasure - there are not as many cars on the roads as in the Russian Federation, and for obvious reasons, the risk of damaging your personal car is minimized. But, as they say, free cheese is only in a mousetrap; you have to pay for such pleasure - travel on most roads and tunnels in Spain is paid.

You can familiarize yourself with prices and related conditions. The road toll system depends on several parameters: distance traveled, category vehicle, season and even depending on the time of day.

To travel around the country, many people prefer to rent a car; prices and cars can be found here.

By bus

An alternative to traveling by car is traveling by bus. In Spain there are a huge number of bus carrier companies, both small, suburban, and large ones like ALSA. Buses can deliver to any city both in Spain and abroad.

A diagram of ALSA's internal routes is shown in the photo above.

Every city definitely has one, and in larger cities several bus stations. The journey can be very long, such as the journey from Madrid to Seville, which is approximately 15 hours, or from Madrid to Barcelona - 7-8 hours, but it is very comfortable: all buses have air conditioning and Wi-Fi, and In addition, on such long journeys they can treat you to all kinds of snacks and water. The prices are quite affordable, and you can choose a route and purchase tickets online on the website or buy directly at the stations.

Largest bus stations:

• Estación Sur (),
• Barcelona Sants and Barcelona Nord (),
• Estación de autobuses de Valencia (Valencia),
• Estación del Prado de San Sebastián y Estación de Plaza de Armas (),
• Estación de autobuses de Málaga and Estación de Muelle Heredia (),
• termibus(),
• Estación Intermodal de Zaragoza-Delicias ().

On high-speed trains

But my heart still belongs to another type of transport - Spanish birds. No, it’s not possible to travel far on birds, but on the means of transportation that I like, on trains, it is possible. Especially on high-speed AVE (Alta Velocidad Española), which in Spanish means “bird”.

System railway transport in Spain is the most successful example of value for money. The cost of tickets is one of the cheapest in Europe, but, surprisingly for our citizens, this does not affect the level of comfort. The road network connects everything big cities Spain, and as for the suburbs, you can use the appropriate trains for travel.

If the journey promises to be long and over long distances, then it is best, no matter what, to choose railway. On Spanish tracks, which are about 15,000 kilometers long, there are trains that can be divided into 2 types - high-speed Talgo and high-speed Alvia, Avant and AVE. Talgo trains are more like our usual trains with compartment cars, and AVE are seated express trains.

AVE achieve very high speed- on average 300 km/h, thus, for example, the journey from Madrid to Seville - about 470 kilometers - takes about two and a half hours. In addition, you won’t be bored during the trip - films in Spanish and English languages.

There are several classes of passenger service:

• Turista,
• Turista Plus,
• Preferente.

In my opinion, you should choose the latter only if the trip will last more than 3 hours, and you did not have time to have a snack before it started, because, in fact, the difference between Turista Plus and Preferente is only in the upholstery of the seats and the possibility of refreshment on the road.

Like us, in Spain there is also a state-owned carrier company called RENFE. She also manages the Cercanías commuter services. You can select a route, type of train and service, view the schedule and buy tickets, and view special offers on the RENFE website.

Main railway stations in the country:

• Puerta de Atocha and Chamartín (Madrid),
• Barcelona Sants and Estación de Francia (),
• Estación del Norte and Estación Joaquín Sorolla (Valencia),
• Estación de trenes de Santa Justa (),
• Estación María Zambrano (),
• Estación de La Concordia and Estación de Abando Indalecio Prieto (),
• Estación Intermodal Delicias ().

Transport in the city

Public transport directly in cities it is most represented by buses and trams. They run strictly according to a schedule, and the information board at the stops allows you to find out how long it will take for the desired route to arrive.

Some cities, particularly Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Valencia, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, have a metro.

However, you should not think that it is the same as ours. Be prepared that intervals between trains can be up to 15 minutes.

Taxis in Spain are inexpensive. It can and should be caught in special places indicated by taxi stop signs on the road.

Most of all, the Spaniards love cycling. And for tourists, this type of transport is quite convenient for movement: specially designated lanes are laid throughout the city, and there are bicycle rental stations every 200-300 meters.

Connection

When you travel abroad, in this case, to Spain, a reasonable question arises - how to keep in touch with your homeland? How can you tell all your friends how beautiful the sea is today, or how interesting the sunlit stained glass windows in the Sagrada Familia looked?

Connected with the whole world

You can always stay within the coverage area of ​​your home network, but it’s quite expensive. As soon as you cross the border, you receive an SMS message saying that your phone will be serviced by one of the local companies with which we have an agreement. For the provided communication services, money will be withdrawn on a daily basis - both for calls and SMS, and for mobile Internet. In addition, if a service such as preferential communication in roaming is not activated, then there is a risk of being left without funds after the first SMS sent to Russia or an incoming call. Best advice in this situation, check out the cost of communication in roaming of your operator and activate all services for calls abroad. In addition, every year at the height of the season, the tariff policy of mobile operators changes.

Subscriber in the coverage area of ​​a foreign network

But a more profitable and convenient option, in my opinion and experience, is to purchase a SIM card from local operators. There are a huge number of virtual operators in Spain, but since they work on the basis of 4 main cellular companies - Vodafone, Movistar, and Yoigo, it is better to use their services right away.

Since they operate on the territory of their country, their tariffs are several times lower both for calls and, especially, for mobile Internet.

An increasing number of the population is switching to communicating via the Internet using their smartphones, so all of the listed mobile operators have special tariffs only for using the Internet. The number of minutes of calls and SMS has been reduced to a minimum in favor of more gigabyte.

All tariffs are divided into 2 types:

• Contrato. To purchase, you must have at least a residence permit and a bank account from which the subscription fee will be debited.
• Tarjeta prepago. For tourists, this option will be the most convenient. Tarjeta prepago is an analogue of our prepaid system. To purchase, you will only need a passport, a certain amount stated in the tariff is already transferred to your account, and you can top up your account at any office.

You can get acquainted with the cost on the companies' websites.

If you need the Internet occasionally, but you can’t go without it at all, then not only free hotel Wi-Fi, but also access points at airports, stations, cafes and popular tourist places come to the rescue. But you shouldn’t count on great generosity - the Internet can be provided for free only for the first 15 minutes, then you have to pay for the whole package. The internet in the cafe is free, but you need to order something there, and then you can safely ask for the Wi-Fi password. For those who want to eat the fish and not go into the pond, there are public access points on the street, in popular tourist places, but you will have to register.

Language and communication

Before the familiar state of Spain appeared, a huge number of peoples lived on the territory of the Iberian Peninsula. More than one generation of Spanish monarchs tried to either conquer them or unite them in the face of a common enemy called the Moors. When the danger had passed, and all the dynastic marriages had been concluded, the influence of the centralized monarchy strengthened and, finally, the state of Spain was formed on the territory already known to us.

Tower of Babel in Spanish

However, the united peoples always had their own culture and their own language, which they were not going to forget no matter what.

Therefore, when I arrived in Spain for the first time, it was a surprise to me that some people literally do not speak Spanish. The thing is, as was said earlier, Spain is a multicultural country, therefore, in addition to the main state language, which is usually called castellano (Casteiano, Castilian), there are regional ones that have official and semi-official status. So don’t be surprised that when you find yourself, for example, in the Basque Country, not every local native will be able to answer your questions.

In Spain, Catalan is spoken directly in Catalonia, as well as in Valencia and the famous Balearic Islands, Basque and Galician in the autonomous regions of the same name. Also, do not forget about dialects with their own pronunciation features.

In terms of international languages, for example, English is spoken predominantly in more tourist areas such as or, and in the rest of the country only by people working with foreigners. But you shouldn’t be afraid of misunderstandings - in every city there is a tourist center where they can help and happily explain everything.

The Spaniards are very sociable people who love to chat.

If they do not understand the language in which they are addressed, they will certainly find someone who can translate and help. Additionally, you can try using a few phrases in their native language.

Useful phrases

So, a few of the popular ones that will help when communicating in Spain:

• Buenos días! - Buenas Dias! - Good afternoon!
• Hola! - Ola! - Hello!
• Usted puede ayudarme? – Usted puede ayudarme? - Can you help me?
• Dónde está...? – Donde esta...? - Where is...?
• Dame, por favor,... - Dame por favor... - Give me, please...
• Muchas gracias - Muchas gracias - Thank you very much.
• No entiendo / No comprendo. Usted puede hablar más lento/despacio – But entiendo/But comprendo. Usted puede ablar mas lento/despacio – I don’t understand. You can speak more slowly.
• Perdoname - Perdoneme - Sorry.
• Como puedo llegar a...? – puedo yegar a...? – How can I get to...?
• Sí/No – Si/No – Yes/No.

Features of mentality

You should not think that all the people living in Spain are Spaniards. Surprisingly, all residents consider themselves to be of one nationality or another. So we are not amazed, as I once was, that the Catalans or Basques are in no way Spaniards and never were and never will be.

In Spain itself, a citizen of the state is called a Spaniard, but the inhabitants of the country themselves do not consider themselves a single whole. Here everything is subordinated to regional identity, moreover, not only among the Galicians, Catalans and Basques, who are considered independent peoples, but also among others. They call themselves Valencians, Aragonese, Canarians, Castilians, Asturians and further by autonomy. So the concept of “Spaniards” is quite stretched.

They are separated not only by languages ​​and dialects, but also by traditions and holidays. There are national ones that rule the whole country, and there are local ones. However, there is a catch here too.

Each nationality tries to bring something of its own, such as the Catalans in the celebration of Christmas. Like all Catholics, which is the entire population of Spain, they celebrate this holiday on December 25, but here children expect gifts not from Santa Claus, but from Tio de Nadal.

Very strange creature, which has no analogues in the world. It looks like a flame with a painted face and two legs. In order for the children to receive gifts, they must beat him with sticks, and this subject must then “give out” the gifts under the blanket that covers his “loin” part.

However, despite such differences in national identity, traditions and languages, the inhabitants of the country have many things in common and can be called in one word - Spaniards. They are very cheerful. The holiday is in their blood - after all, they were the ones who came up with the word “fiesta”. There’s no point in talking about temperament: they talk loudly and passionately, energetically waving their arms and not forgetting to use strong words. They are very loving and romantic, and this is not only about men. In this they, perhaps, can only compete with the Italians. In addition, the Spaniards, despite their temperament, lead a very measured and calm life - they do not like to rush. One of the most favorite expressions is “mañana”, which means “tomorrow” - they always like to do everything slowly and put it off until later, unless it is extremely important.

Food and drink

The diversity of Spanish cuisine is directly proportional to the number of provinces and nationalities in the country. In addition, you don’t have to be a detective to discover such a pattern - the closer to the coast, the more seafood dishes are found.

About central regions we can say that they dominate there meat dishes– beef or veal, pork, lamb, poultry. Among the side dishes, the leaders are potatoes, various kinds of peppers and, in particular, legumes, namely beans. However, there is something that unites all 17 national cuisines, besides its calorie content: olive oil, garlic, aromatic herbs and wine. In addition, they are most often accompanied by lemon, tomatoes and rice.

But there are dishes in Spain - Business Cards, which personify the entire cuisine of the Iberian Peninsula. More about them below.

5 dishes worth trying

It seems to me that we should talk about the most important dishes of Spanish cuisine, as when eating in a restaurant, starting with appetizers.

Snacks

In Spain they are held under a more noble, in our opinion, name - tapas.

Tapas is a traditional snack for beer or any other alcoholic drink. This is partly why it is called that - historically, the drink should have been covered (Spanish: tapar - to cover) from flies and dust with a snack: a piece of bread, jamon, or whatever the establishment serves. The dish consists of sandwiches with a variety of fillings. Nowadays, every self-respecting bar or restaurant has its own signature tapas. Among other things, there are entire tapas bars where this type snacks make up the entire menu. The most popular tapas are with jamon in combination with any other product. The most interesting tapas that I found were with lamb, and also, surprisingly, with Olivier. True, in Spain it is called “Russian salad”.

Aperitif

After the appetizers comes a drink that you'll be sipping on throughout your meal. Sangr occupies a place of honor on the Spanish menu.

This is a low-alcohol drink that easily cools under the hot Spanish sun. Sangria is prepared on the basis of red, less often white wine with the addition of a small amount of brandy or dry liqueur and a huge amount of fruit. Red as blood - sangre - sangria is served only chilled and perfectly quenches thirst, preparing the taste buds for, in my opinion, the most important dish in Spain.

Main course

The central place in my menu is occupied by the most beautiful, most delicious and delightful jasper, the aromas of which make the stomach joyfully clap its non-existent hands and the mouth fill with saliva - PAELLA.

This is the best thing ever a traditional dish Spain, famous all over the world. There are a huge number of options and recipes for preparing paella with meat, seafood, and cuttlefish ink, even vegetable paella and so on, but Valencian paella is considered the most traditional, because it is the original dish of this autonomy. The main ingredient is rice, colored with saffron during cooking. Valencian paella also contains rabbit meat, white beans and snails. The cooking process is quite complicated for an inexperienced person, so you need to try it in restaurants, but in no case in the most tourist places - they cook it from a semi-finished product, which does not allow you to taste every note of taste. The dish is served in a large frying pan, often called a payera. Before eating, be sure to sprinkle with lemon juice.

Cooling soups

Another must-have on the Spanish cuisine tasting list is gazpacho, a cold tomato soup.

Traditionally, as I said, it is prepared from tomatoes, but also with the addition of cucumbers, bread and olive oil. More like tomato juice with additional ingredients, but such an unusual soup is very tasty due to its temperature - as I already said, it is served cold, and even in such heat as in Spain, it is one of the lightest and at the same time satisfying dishes.

Dessert

As a dessert, we offer you churros with chocolate.

Those with a real sweet tooth will love it, as churros are sweet pastries fried in oil and eaten by dipping them in chocolate.

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If you want to admire the alluring shine of Spanish gold and silver items decorated with national ornaments, then you should go to Cordoba and Salamanca.

Here you can not only taste local alcohol, but also look at the first projects of Gustave Eiffel, climb the tallest tower in Portugal - Clérigos. Unfortunately, for those who do not have a personal car, it is impossible to travel by train along this route - only by car or by plane.

Getting to Lisbon from the south is much easier and more pleasant. Starting your journey from Seville by bus, you first find yourself in the most pleasant area of ​​Portugal - the Faro district, located on the warmest coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Here you can stay for a while in the resort town of Albufeira, one of them favorite places holidays for German and English tourists.

Afterwards, you can continue your journey by train, however, from a neighboring city, which you need to get to by taxi. The cost of travel on such a trip will not be more than 60 euros.

Travel to France

However, if you are more attracted, then after visiting Spain you can go in two ways - through the north from towards Nantes or from the south from Barcelona to. Both of these routes have their own charm. If you decide to go through Nantes to, then you should definitely stop by Bordeaux to try some of the best French wines, and also get to La Rochelle along the way, where Louis XIII fought so famously against the Huguenots, which Dumas described.

If your path lies through the south from Barcelona, ​​then the phrase “ Cote d'Azur"does not require any more comments for description. You can only add a few names of cities - St. Tropez, Cannes, .

Have you already visited Barcelona, ​​Valencia and Seville? Have you sunbathed on the Spanish beaches, tried paella, sangria, gazpacho and all the local seafood? Spain, besides this, has something else to surprise you with! The editors of Our Spain have compiled for you a rating of the five most unusual Spanish cities that will not leave the most demanding tourists indifferent.

5th place

In 5th place is the town (Castellfullit de la Roca) in the province of Girona.
The town is located on the edge of a basalt cliff formed by lava flows many thousands of years ago. The height of the cliff on which the houses stand is about 50 meters.

Most of the buildings in this town are built from the same volcanic rock as the rock itself. The population of Castellfuglit de la Roca is only 1,000 people, but at the same time, this city is considered one of the most photographed attractions in Catalonia.

4th place

In 4th place in our ranking we placed the city (Ronda), the old part of which was built over a 100-meter gorge. Ronda is located 100 km northeast of Malaga. The city is located on two high mountain plateaus at an altitude of 750 m above sea level. These two plateaus are connected by the amazing New Bridge (Puneto Nuevo), which is built over the El Tajo gorge, its depth is 100 meters. The Guadalevin River flows at the bottom of the gorge.

It is impossible to convey in words the beauty of the landscapes opening from the bridge. In addition to the landscapes and the bridge, Ronda has plenty of ancient attractions, such as the 12th-century Arab baths or the cathedral, rebuilt from an Arab mosque.

3rd place

In third place was the amazing town (Setenil de las Bodegas) next to Rhonda. It, unlike Ronda, is located not on top of the gorge, but right in it. This “white town” lies in the mountains of Andalusia and surprises everyone with its architecture.

Rocky vaults hang over the streets and alleys, protecting them from strong winds in winter and stifling heat in summer. The houses seem to be cut into the basalt rocks and look like extensions of the caves. It seems as if the rocks are about to collapse, however, in the entire history of the town, which exceeds eight centuries, not a single building has collapsed.

2nd place

The city of “Spanish troglodytes” took second place. (Guadix) can be called one of the most extraordinary cities in Spain.
The word “troglodyte” sounds creepy to an ignorant person. But once you delve into the history of this word, it immediately becomes clear that there is nothing frightening about it. Translated from Greek, it means “living in a cave.” Several urban areas are a tangle of cave houses, roads and chimneys sticking straight out of the ground.

It should be noted that due to their location in the mountainous area, all “cave houses” were built at different heights. That is why, when walking through the cave district, people almost always walk on the roofs of houses.

This place is located near the Sierra Nevada mountains, and therefore here at any time of the year observation platforms you can admire amazing view cities with snow mountain peaks on the background.

1 place

Well, the top spot in the ranking of the most unusual towns in Spain is, of course, the blue town (Juzcar). Júzcar is also known as Pueblo Pitufo. Previously, this place was an ordinary white village in the province Malaga. However, in 2011, everything changed after Sony Pictures offered to temporarily repaint the entire village blue, of course, for a fee for each resident.

Perhaps it is not surprising that after the agreement of the first Smurf village with Sony Pictures expired, a vote was held among the residents, according to the results of which (149 “for”, 36 “against”) it was decided to leave the houses blue. Thus, an ordinary village has gained popularity among tourists.