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ON LINE EUROPEAN TOURIST GUIDESPAIN |
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EUROPE INDEX
ANDALUCIA Malaga ITINERARY IN ANDALUCIA (14 days) ARAGON ASTURIAS Oviedo BALEARES Formentera Ibiza Mallorca CANARIAS Canarias Islands CANTABRIA Santander CASTILLA-LA MANCHA Madrid Toledo CASTILLA-LEON Burgos Salamanca Segovia CATALUNA Barcelona COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA Valencia ESTREMADURA Caceres Merida GALICIA Santiago de Compostela LA RIOJA Logrono MURCIA Murcia NAVARRA Pamplona PAIS VASCO Bilbao San Sebastian
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Tourist Guide and Information about Spain
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The majority of Spain's peninsular region consists of the Meseta Central, a highland plateau rimmed and dissected by mountain ranges. To the north is the Cordillera Cantabrica that comprises the Picos de Europa (2.648 m), this Cordillera forms the northern side of the Meseta. Towards east, the limit of the Meseta is marked from Iberian System, a complex alignment of chains that exceed in several points 2,000 m, touching 2,313 m in the Sierra del Moncayo. At last the southern side of the Meseta, is indicated from the reliefs from the Sierra Morena (1,323 m) beyond which is the Andalusian plains with the river valley of the Guadalquivir that separates the Meseta from Betic System, that touches the highest heights in the Sierra Nevada, with peaks that exceed 3,000 m, here is the maximum summit of the Country (excluded the Canarian Islands), the mount Mulhacén (3,478 m). The Pyrenees reach also elevated altitudes (Pico de Aneto, 3,404 m), this chain forms the natural border in the north-eastern part of Spain for beyond 400 km from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. Other landforms include narrow coastal plains and some lowland river valleys, the most prominent of which is the Andalusian Plain in the southwest. The country can be divided into ten natural regions or subregions: the dominant Meseta Central, the Cordillera Cantabrica and the northwest region, the Ibérico region, the Pyrenees, the Penibético region in the southeast, the Andalusian Plain, the Ebro Basin, the coastal plains, the Balearic Islands, and the Canary Islands. The major rivers flowing westward through the Meseta Central include the Duero, the Tagus, the Guadiana, and the Guadalquivir. Most major rivers rise in the mountains rimming or dissecting the Meseta Central and flow westward across the plateau through Portugal to empty into the Atlantic Ocean. One significant exception is the river with the most abundant flow in Spain, the Ebro, which flows eastward to the Mediterranean. The remaining regions of Spain are the Balearic and the Canary Islands, the former located in the Mediterranean Sea and the latter in the Atlantic Ocean. The Balearic Islands (Maiorca, Minorca, Ibiza, Formentera), encompassing a total area of 4,992 sqkm, 796,400 inhabitants, lie 80 kilometers off Spain's central eastern coast. The archipelago's highest points, which reach 1,400 meters, are in northwestern Majorca. The Canary Islands (Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, Gomera, Hierro), a total area of 7,447 sqkm, 1,630,000 inhabitants, ninety kilometers off the west coast of Africa, are of volcanic origin. The large central islands, Gran Canaria and Tenerife, have the highest peaks; on Gran Canaria they rise to 1,950 meters and on Tenerife there is the highest peak in Spain, the Pico de Teide, a dormant volcano (3,710 meters). | |||||||
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Climate: Spain has a predominantly warm Mediterranean climate, with dry summers and winters with balanced temperatures. Here you can enjoy more than 3,000 hours of sunshine per year. The climate varies tremendously in Spain, due to its large size. Visitors can generally expect a Mediterranean climate, characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. The vast central plateau, or Meseta, has a continental climate with hot, dry summers and cold winters. Rain generally falls in spring and autumn. The mountains surrounding the plateau have a higher rainfall and often experience heavy snowfalls in winter. North of the Cantabrian mountains, the Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia have a maritime climate, with cool summers and mild winters. The weather is often cloudy with frequent rainfall. On the Mediterranean coast, the climate is moderate with rain in spring and autumn. Murcia has an almost African climate and is characterized by numerous palm trees. Rainfall is low and the calina, or heat haze, is common during summer. On the Atlantic coast, the summers are cooler and fairly heavy rainfall occurs during winter. Inland, the summers are hot and the rainfall decreases. The Balearic islands have a maritime climate, with cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers. The Canary Islands have an even warmer climate. The coastal areas are fairly mild, but the interior, especially in arid areas of Tenerife, can get very hot during the day with cold nights. Mount Teide is often snowcapped in winter and the vast majority of rain falls in winter. When talking of weather, special mention should be made of the Canary Islands. Their special location, facing the coast of Africa, gives them a benign climate with mild temperatures (22ºC year-round average on the coasts), with only small temperature differences between day and night, whatever the season. Nevertheless, variety is the main characteristic of the climate here, due to Spain’s immense geographical diversity. So that if you travel to the north, to the Cantabrian coast, you will find a mild climate with high rainfall. Winters are mild and in summer temperatures rarely exceed 25ºC. However, in the higher parts of the country, the climate is harsher and it is common to see snow from the beginning of winter to the end of spring. This is the case of the Pyrenees, the mountains of Sierra Nevada, the Central and Iberian ranges, and the Cantabrian Mountains, amongst others. Tourist attractions: Spain is the second state in the World, after France, for number of tourists arrivals. There are 39 Spanish places in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites: Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín, Granada (1984); Altamira Cave (1985); Aranjuez Cultural Landscape (2001); Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida (1993); Archaeological Ensemble of Tárraco (2000); Archaeological Site of Atapuerca (2000); Burgos Cathedral (1984); Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí (2000); Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Seville (1987); Historic Centre of Cordoba (1984); Historic City of Toledo (1986); Historic Walled Town of Cuenca (1996); La Lonja de la Seda de Valencia (1996); Las Médulas (1997); Monastery and Site of the Escurial, Madrid (1984); Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias (1985); Mudejar Architecture of Aragon (1986); Old City of Salamanca (1988); Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches (1985); Old Town of Cáceres (1986); Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct (1985); Palau de la Música Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona (1997); Palmeral of Elche (2000); Poblet Monastery (1991); Renaissance Monumental Ensembles of Úbeda and Baeza (2003); Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula (1998); Roman Walls of Lugo (2000); Route of Santiago de Compostela (1993); Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe (1993); San Cristóbal de La Laguna (1999); San Millán Yuso and Suso Monasteries (1997); Santiago de Compostela (Old Town) (1985); University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares (1998); Vizcaya Bridge (2006); Works of Antoni Gaudí (1984); Doñana National Park (1984); Garajonay National Park (1986); Ibiza, Biodiversity and Culture (1999); Pyrénées - Mont Perdu (1997). Between the properties submitted on the Tentative List are: Teide National Park (1998); Arte rupestre paleolitico de la cornisa Cantábrica (ampliación de Altamira) (1998); El Románico Notre de Castilla y Leon y Sur de Cantabria (1998); Bulwarked Border Fortifications (1998); Via de la Plata, Extremadura (1998); Ampliación del Monasterio y Sitio de El Escorial a su entorno natural (1998); Molinos de vela del Maditerraneo (1998); La arquitectura de piedra en seco (1998); Industrial Mining Routes (1998); Conjunto arqueológico griego de Empúries, l'Escala, Girona (2002); Dinosaur Tracks in the Iberian Peninsula (#) (2002); Cultural Route of the Vine and Wine in the Towns of the Mediterranean (1998); Ribeira Sacra, Lugo y Orense (1996); Paisaje pintoresco da la sierra norte de Mallorca (1996); Universal Itinerary of St. Francis Xavier (2001); Granada (extension of the Site previously declared in 1984-1994: the Alhambra, the Generalife and the Albayzin) (2004); La vertiente mediterránea de los Pirineos (2004); Rupestrian Art of Siega Verde (2007); Ancares – Somiedo (2007). | ||||||||
Travel Documents: If you are a citizen of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein: you need a valid passport or ID card. Under 16s can be included on the passport of their father, mother or tutor, as long as they have the same nationality as the passport holder and are travelling with him/her. Furthermore, if the young person is travelling with an ID card, this should be accompanied by parental authorisation. If you are travelling from one of the following countries (Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, the USA, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Republic of Korea, San Marino, the Vatican, Singapore, Uruguay or Venezuela): you must present a valid passport, which will allow you to remain in Spain for a maximum period of 90 days. If you come from another country, you should apply for a visa from the Spanish Consulate in your place of residence, subject to criteria established by the EU. You will also require a valid passport. You may be required to specify the reason for your application for entrance to Spain. Furthermore, if considered opportune, the Spanish authorities may require a document showing the establishment of accommodation in Spain, confirmation of booking on an organised tour, a return ticket or ticket for a tourist itinerary, or an invitation by a third party. In addition, they may also require you to show that you are in possession of sufficient funds for maintenance during your stay in Spain. Health: The Spanish National Health Service has an extensive network of health centres and hospitals throughout the country. The health centres offer primary health care services (family/GP services, paediatrics and nursing, with availability of midwives, physiotherapists and social workers). Hospitals offer specialised attention, with access via referral from primary healthcare services. There are also Accident and Emergency services available at hospitals and some health centres. A citizen of EU member state with the European Health Card (EHC) will receive the same temporary healthcare services as any other Spanish citizen. Countries that follow European Community rules: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. They enjoy the same health care benefits as member countries. Countries with which Spain has bilateral agreements: Andorra, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru. You will receive free medical care and hospitalisation in the case of a medical emergency, or accident, by showing the corresponding certificate from your country of origin. Other countries: Although you will be treated in case of emergency, you will need to pay for medical attention, so you are advised to purchase health insurance. Pharmacies open from 9.30 to 13.30 h, and from 16.30 to 20.00 h. In all major cities you can find pharmacies that open 24 hours. Pharmacies follow a rolling late-hour schedule, which is published in the newspapers, and is posted at all pharmacies. Shopping hours: The most common business hours are Monday through Saturday, from 9.30 h to 13.30 h, and from 16.30 to 20.00 h. Big shopping centres and department stores open from 10.00 h to 21.00 or 22.00 h uninterruptedly. These big stores open sometimes on Sunday. In coastal cities, in high season, shops are usually open passed 22.00 h. Electricity: 220V, 50Hz service is standard, although 110V service persists in some remote areas. The Continental two-round-pin plug is standard. Cuisine: Spanish cuisine consists of a great variety of dishes which stem from differences in geography, culture and climate. It is heavily influenced by seafood available from the waters that surround the country, and reflects the country's deep Mediterranean roots. Among the multitude of recipes that make up the varied cuisines of Spain, a few can be considered common to all or almost all of Spain's regions, even though some of them have an origin known and associated with specific places. Examples include the potato omelette ("tortilla de patata", "tortilla espagnol" or just "tortilla"), gazpacho, paella, stews, migas, sausages (such as embutidos, chorizo, and morcilla), jamón serrano, and cheeses. There are also many dishes based on beans (chickpeas, lentils, green beans); soups, with many regional variations; and bread, that has numerous forms, with distinct varieties in each region. The regional variations are less pronounced in Spanish desserts and cakes: flan, custard, rice pudding (arroz con leche), torrijas, churros, and madeleines are some of the most representative examples. Many of the specialities of Spanish cuisine are based on seafood, although regional specialities are easier to find inland than along the coast. In the northern Basque provinces, there is cod vizcaina or cod pil-pil; angulas, the tasty baby eels from Aguinaga; bream and squid. Asturias has its bean soup, fabada, cheeses and the best cider in Spain, and in Galicia there is shellfish, especially good in casseroles, and a number of regional seafood dishes such as hake à la Gallega. In the eastern regions the paella has a well-deserved reputation. It can be prepared in many ways, based on meat or seafood. Catalonia offers, among its outstanding specialities, lobster Catalan, butifarra sausage stewed with beans, and partridge with cabbage. Pan amb tomaquet, bread rubbed with olive oil and tomato, is a delicious accompaniment to local ham and cheese. The Castile area specialises in roast meats, mainly lamb, beef, veal and suckling pig, but there are also stews, sausages, country ham and partridges. Andalucía is noted for its cooking (which shows a strong Arab influence), especially gazpacho, a delicious cold vegetable soup, a variety of fried fish including fresh anchovies, jabugo ham from Huelva and many dishes based on the fish which the coast provides in such abundance. SPANISH CUISINE RECIPES. WHERE TO STAY: Accommodations in Spain: Search for Hotels and Accommodation in Spain. Search for Budget Hotels and Hostels in Spain.
Airports and Flights: The main international airport in Spain is Madrid airport, but a large number of intercontinental flights also land at Barcelona. Spain has a number of international airports, including Almeria, Bilbao, Santiago de Compostela, Seville, Granada, Malaga, Alicante, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza and Mahon. Spain has flight connections to the majority of European countries, the United States of America, Canada, Australia and all continents.
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