Spain is a beautiful country, but in recent years it has become dominated by mainstream holiday companies and stag weekends. However, there is so much more to Spain than cheap alcohol and overcrowded and sweaty clubs – the catch is you sometimes have to travel a little further in order to see the real Spain, but the good news is that it is completely worth the journey.
Spain’s Beautiful Cuisine
There are a number of fantastic Spanish dishes that many people around the world enjoy daily, and it may come as no surprise to learn that seafood is a very common feature in Spanish cooking. Seafood paella is one very famous example of this, and paella is said to have originated in the mid-19th century in Valencia, a city on the east coast of Spain.
Seafood paella consists of white rice, seafood, such as prawns, squid and other shellfish and seasoning, including saffron and olive oil. Potato omelette or tortilla de patata is also a very popular dish in Spain, as is turron, a type of nougat usually eaten at Christmas time and Gazpacho, a delicious tomato soup that is always served cold.
Spain’s Amazing Attractions
Spain is home to a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as the Human Castles in Catalonia, the Great Mosque of Cordoba and the Roman Temple of Diana in Merida. If you don’t fancy visiting these sites, or you’re just hungry for more Spanish history or knowledge, there are also 1,400 museums in Spain for you to choose from such as the Picasso Museum in Malaga, the Huarte Contemporary Art Centre and the National Theatre Museum in Almagro. You can look at some great example of antique and contemporary Spanish art and culture, or instead choose to learn more about Spain’s colourful history, the choice is yours.
Spain’s Surprising Pastimes
Did you know that you can actually ski in Spain? If you didn’t, you’re probably among a significant majority of people who haven’t experienced all that this country has to offer them. There are 33 ski resorts to be found around Spain, many of which can be found in the Pyrenees Mountains, Sierra Nevada in Andalusia, and the sun still shines on skiers, even in the peak winter months. Tennis is also a very popular sport in Spain, with the Club de Tenis Puente Romano in Marbella being the site of the annual Andalucia Tennis Experince every
April.
There is so much to do on holiday in Spain, so don’t just settle for those same old ‘safe’ Spain holidays, with the same old routes, live dangerously and find out more about this marvellous country, its people, architecture, society and history.