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https://all-andorra.com/sights-architecture/

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Roman, Baroque, Gothic and Modern architecture of Europe. Sightseeing in Andorra C hurches and monuments The major architectural sights of Andorra (37)
Being a part of the Pyrenees, Andorra was obviously swayed by the cultures of foreign countries. Alongside with that, in spite of its relatively small territory, this country has got a lot of authentic staff, which is evident in its architecture. Pre-Roman and Romanesque periods lasted here much longer than in other European countries, where the succession of art styles was much more dynamic. Romanesque architecture of Andorra tells us the story of 7 parroquies (provinces), keeping a part of its charming story secret. The oldest churches of Andorra, dated by the XI-XII centuries, are famous for their small sizes and simplicity. Its only decoration is a perfect harmony with nature. You will see that yourself, getting acquainted with the landscapes of Andorra and discovering its architectural monuments.

5. Santa Eulalia Church was built in Romanesque style, as the majority of Andorran churches. The major difference is the highest bell tower in Andorra with 33 meters of height , it was built in the XI century. The majority of the elements were alternated and modernized several times during a relatively long period-from the XVII till XX century. More...

6. Cornell and St. Cerbia Church was built in the Medieval times, but it was significantly reconstructed in the period from the XVI till the XIX century. Inside the church one may find a polychrome wooden sculpture of Holy Mother, dated to the end of the XI century-the beginning of the XII. It is not that easy to find this statue as far as it is the smallest sculpture of the Principality (only 44cm of height). More...

7. Sant Marti de la Cortinada Church-was built in the XII century and as the majority of Andorran churches was added on in the XVII-XVIII centuries. One of the interior sights of the church is its mural paintings, created by an Andorran artist, the citizen of La Cortinada village in the end of the XII century. More...

22. Sant Escle i Santa Victoria church in la Massana.This church was declared a Monument by Act 9/2003 on the Cultural Heritage of Andorra. Built on an old mediaeval church, this is a 17th century parish church. Further changes were carried out on the structure in the 19th and 20th centuries. More...

27. Sant Pere del Tarter church. This church was declared a Monument by Act 9/2003 on the cultural heritage of Andorra. A building of a medieval tradition, erected in 1527. It has a rectangular plan and apse, and a bell-gable. More...

29. Sant Andreu d'Arinsal church. This church was declared a monument by an Act 9/2003 on the Cultural Heritage of Andorra. Erected in the 17th century this building underwent various subsequent changes and it was restored in 1963-1964 by the Catalan architect Cesar Martinell. More...

34. Sant Vicenç d'Enclar (or Sant Vicenç de Montclar) is a fortified church located in the river basin of Enclar in the center of Santa Coloma d'Andorra, Principality of Andorra. It was built most likely in the X century, as its style is similar to usual styles of Catalan and Languedoc architecture of X century and earlier centuries. More...

35. Sant Miquel de Prats, Canillo. Typical rural Romanesque church, built up with rudementary means and rough materials. Towards the end of 13th century, although some elements, as the apse, probably belongs to the full Romanesque period. More...

36. Church of Sant Esteve de Bixessarri. Rectangular church from the 18th century (1701) with a quadrangular heap-post and a choir at the bottom of the nave. The 18th century altarpiece is consecrated to St Stephen. More...
Look here for the full travel guide in Andorra
37. Church of Sant Miquel de Fontaneda. Built up with a rudimentary technique, this Romanesque church has a very simple distribution of its inner space based on a right-angle nave completed with a semicircular apse at the east end. The exterior walls related to 11th century. More...

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Roman, Baroque, Gothic and modern architecture. Sightseeing in Andorra * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Roman, Baroque, Gothic and Modern architecture of Europe. Sightseeing in Andorra C hurches and monuments The major architectural sights of Andorra (37) Being a part of the Pyrenees, Andorra was obviously swayed by the cultures of foreign countries.

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https://all-andorra.com/winter-ski-resorts/

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Ski resorts of Andorra
Andorra ski: PROS and CONS
PROS
1. Andorra is the sunniest ski resort in Europe, which gives it many great advantages over the Alpine resorts, where cloudiness prevails during the entire ski season. The ski season here starts on December 1 and lasts until mid-April, as in the resorts of France, Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland.

At night, in winter, the air temperature is usually below zero, and during the day it rises to + 10C, the snow depth varies from 50 to 300 cm. The Andorran winter feature is that there is snow in the mountains, and below, for example, in the capital Andorra La Vella ( 10 minutes from the ski resorts) at this time flowers bloom.

2. Andorra has the largest territory of ski slopes in the Pyrenees (3100 hectares and about 350 km of slopes) and two ski resorts. Resorts are located in the territories called GRANDVALIRA (Grandvalira) and VALLNORD (Vallnord). Andorra also has a cross-country skiing station called NATURLANDA - la Rabassa (Naturlandia).

According to the World Ski Awards, resorts in Andorra were in the TOP 15 world resorts in the world which are able to accept more than 1 million skiers annually.

Together, the ski resorts of Grandvalira and Vallnord have the highest percentage of ski lift systems per square meter in the world with a capacity of about 160 thousand people per hour.

3. Andorra is one of the safest countries for tourists.
CONS
1. The location of the resort in the Pyrenees (which is significantly further south compared to the Alpine resorts) may also be the reason for the late opening of the slopes due to the lack of snow. If the season 2016-2017 was marked by numerous snowfalls and early opening of the slopes, then, on the contrary, in the season 2018-2019, most of the slopes only started functioning 100% in mid-January due to the lack of snow.

A limited number of open ski slopes led to large concentrations of people near the ski lifts and triggered an increase in accidents. The problem recurred in February - due to the high daytime temperatures and the lack of snow, most ski slopes again became bare. Snow cannons do not work on all the slopes.

Thus, planning a trip to Andorra in advance could lead to coming across bad skiing conditions.

2. The Principality does not have its own airport or railway station and you can only get to Andorra by bus or private transport. This means that, for example, from London, taking into account a two-hour flight, waiting for a bus and a four-hour journey to Andorra, takes a whole day.

At the same time, the price of a bus from Barcelona to Andorra is much higher compared to similar destinations within Europe due to the monopoly the Principality has on these routes. The price for a one-way ticket is almost 35 euros for 200 km, and, for example, the fares of the Spanish Alsa company to travel from Barcelona to Madrid (more than 600 km) is only 16 euros.

Andorra has faced a transport crisis in recent years. Only two roads connect it with the rest of the world: N145 leads from Spain and N22 from France. The road from France is a "serpentine", it has not been modernized for many years, and therefore it is often blocked in winter even when there has only been a few centimetres of snow because of the danger of avalanches. Therefore, the French themselves often prefer to get to Andorra via Spain on the N145.

The increased number of day tourists to Andorra for cheap tobacco and alcohol provokes many kilometers of traffic jams at both borders. During the 2019-2020 season, about 15 serious traffic jams were recorded, some of which stretched out for almost 15 km and led to many hours of downtime at the border. As a result, hundreds of tourists were late for flights from Barcelona airport and local residents complained about the contamination levels due to the increase in the amount of harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

For example, getting to the ski resorts Masella and La Molina (nearest to Barcelona) is only 2 hours by bus, car or train. At the same time, tourists are unlikely to come across traffic jams, since they do not need to cross the border.

Transport inside Andorra is also not to be shouted about. The Skibus only goes to one ski resort - Vallnord (Pal-Arinsal and Ordino-Arcalis) and only three times a day. Along the ski slopes of Grandvalira, there are only regular buses that run at a cost of at least 2 euros (even if you only need to go one stop). At the same time, during the opening and closing hours of the lifts, the number of buses does not increase, they are often overcrowded, which leads to an accumulation of tourists at bus stops waiting for the next bus with empty seats.

There are no electronic boards with information about routes or delays at bus stops. Information about transport is available only via the Internet, however, there is no free wi-fi at the bus stations.

3. Five years ago, prices for ski passes in Andorra were relatively lower than, for example, in the Alps, but now the prices are more or less the same. At the same time, Andorra cannot compete with the ski resorts of the Alps due to the limited number of tracks (about 350 km).

4. Night skiing has not been developed at the Andorran resorts. However, in Masella it has become a major attraction.

In Andorra, there is no nightlife or entertainment events even at the major ski stations. The only après-ski bar in the country closes at 21.00.

5. Shopping in Andorra, which was previously a mandatory part of the tourism program and its great advantage over the Alps has lost its attractiveness in recent years.

Currently, Andorra maintains competitive prices only for tobacco, alcohol, perfume and cosmetics. At the same time, the limits on the export of goods from Andorra are very strict (for example, no more than 1 litre of strong alcohol can be taken across the border).

6. The classification of hotels in Andorra is subject only to its internal rules. In Andorra, the criteria for stars in hotels are overestimated by one to two stars compared with the European system.

In addition, in Andorra, there are practically no five-star hotels near the lifts. The main standard of hotels in Andorra is of two or three stars.

7. Restaurant infrastructure: in Andorra, it is difficult to find many traditional, family restaurants located along the slopes like in the Alps. In the Principality, there are mainly only self-service restaurants with typical dishes available.

In addition, the high cost of supermarket products is the reason for overpricing in restaurants with a low quality of service.

There are no Michelin star restaurants in Andorra.

During the ski season of 2003/2004 Grandvalira Pas de la Casa - Grau Roig and Soldeu - El Tarter resorts signed a commercial agreement to launch a unified ski zone "Grandvalira". Thus, besides the fact that Andorra has got the largest skiing area in the Pyrenees, it is also one of the principal ski resorts in Southern Europe.

Mountain ski resort of Grandvalira is divided into 6 sectors: Pas de la Casa, Grau Roig, Soldeu, El Tarter, Canillo and Encamp, encompassing an area of 1,926 hectares with 112 slopes and with a capacity of 100,700 skiers per hour.

During the ski season of 2004/2005 the resorts Pal - Arinsal and Ordino - Arcalis merged their commercial interests under the name of Vallnord. With a universal ski pass visitors have access to the slopes of both resorts. Today the resort VALLNORD encompasses an area of 67 slopes and has the capacity to hold 55,690 skiers per hour.

In 2015 the World Ski Awards gave the title of the best ski resort in Andorra to Vallnord for the second time.

Naturlandia - La Rabassa: cross-country ski resort. Family ski resort Naturlandia is located in Sant Julia de Loria. It occupies over 100 hectares and is divided into two sectors, which are located at an altitude of 1,600 and 2,000 meters respectively. The themed ecopark offers 15 km of marked slopes and alongside this there are zones for family leisure and activities. The choice of activities is extremely wide: highlands tours, several cycling routes, quad biking, pony riding, mushing.

A new attraction AIR-TREKKwas launched a few years ago. Unifying a sense of thrill and adventure, the construction consists of ten towers and 3 levels of varying height, linked rope elements and wire lines. Air-Trekk is the largest and highest attraction in Europe.

The park also has the longest alpine toboggan in Europe (Tobotronc). Its length is more than 5,300 meters with 400 meters of altitude differences. The system has 1,700m of ascents and 3,600m of descents. The ride takes about 30 minutes.

The Animal Park (Annimalier Parc) was created in Naturlandia to diversify the touristic offer. Here, visitors can enjoy watching bears, wolves and birds.

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Webcams Ski conditions and snow report Skipass prices Slopes and tracks maps Best ski tracks - Àliga SG Àliga SL Buy ski gear: prices and shopping Full Andorra travel guide See here full Pyrenees travel guide
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Ski resorts of Andorra: PROS and CONS * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Ski resorts of Andorra Andorra ski: PROS and CONS PROS 1. Andorra is the sunniest ski resort in Europe, which gives it many great advantages over the Alpine resorts, where cloudiness prevails during the entire ski season. The ski season here starts on December 1 and lasts until mid-April, as in the resorts of France, Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland.

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https://all-andorra.com/spanish-ski-resorts/

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Spanish ski resorts * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Winter ski resorts of Spain Navarre Abodi Salazar with four cross-country tracks Larra-Belagua with 24 km of cross-country skiing Aragon Cerler with 77 km of ski slopes including the longest in Spain (9 km) Aramon Formigal with 180 km of ski slopes Astún with 50 km of ski slopes Candanchú is one the highest ski resort in ...

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https://all-andorra.com/the-way-of-el-cid/

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The Way of El Cid • All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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El Camino del Cid is a cultural tourist itinerary and an approved Long Distance Trail (GR-160) in Spain based on a historical character, Rodrigo Díaz, and a literary work: El Cantar de mí Cid. In both cases they are international references: El Cid, “Castilian hero par excellence, the most exalted k…

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https://all-andorra.com/places-to-visit/

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The Most Beautiful Towns of Spain (Es. Los Pueblos Más Bonitos de España) is a Spanish association created in 2011 to promote, disseminate, encourage and preserve the cultural, natural and rural heritage in geographical areas with a lower level of industrialization and population.

It is a tool for cultural dissemination based on the French model of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France and spread internationally since 1982. Its objective is, according to its statutes:

The association has the following purposes: to promote, disseminate and preserve the cultural, natural and rural heritage, awareness and education towards respecting the values of rural heritage, promotion of cultural tourism, promotion of geographical areas with a lower level of industrialization, reduction of territorial and population imbalances, with respect for the cultural diversity of the different nationalities and their corresponding languages.

This association designed a brand image to help promote the recognition of quality tourist destinations and the exchange of ideas among its members as well as initiatives that could serve to promote the promotion of their municipalities.

Spanish Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism (MINCOTUR): the list is updated as new objects are added.

List in alphabetical order (as of 2022):

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The most beautiful villages of Spain * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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The Most Beautiful Towns of Spain (Es. Los Pueblos Más Bonitos de España) is a Spanish association created in 2011 to promote, disseminate, encourage and preserve the cultural, natural and rural heritage in geographical areas with a lower level of industrialization and population. It is a tool for cultural dissemination based on the French model of ...

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https://all-andorra.com/atlantic-resorts-of-spain/

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Atlantic resorts of Spain
Three different sections can be distinguished on the Spanish coasts bathed by the Atlantic Ocean: the Cantabrian one, which extends from the Bidasoa (Asturias, Cantabria, Basque country) river to the Estaca de Bares point, the Galician (Galicia) one, which includes Estaca de Bares to the Portuguese border, the Andalusian (Andalusia), the one that includes the provinces of Huelva and Cádiz.

Northern mainland Spanish resorts, washed by the Atlantic Ocean, are a less popular destination for summer beach holidays than the well-promoted Spanish resorts on the Mediterranean Sea.

The Spanish Atlantic coast stretch is inferior to the Mediterranean in length only, but the ocean beaches of Spain are in some ways superior to the sea beaches.

There are fewer people, therefore lower prices for holidays, and there are incredibly beautiful places here.

Therefore, the Spaniards themselves prefer to relax in the Atlantic Ocean resorts.

These places are incredibly picturesque: they are cut by cozy bays, and the proud rocky capes go far into the ocean, there are many completely deserted snow-white sandy beaches.

The most popular northern Spain resort regions on the Atlantic Ocean are Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Basque country.

Andalusia is the most popular resort region in the south.
Full list of Costas (from south to north) Andalusia
The Costa de la Luz (Coast of Light) is a section of the coast in Spain facing the Atlantic ocean, Andalusia. It extends from Tarifa in the south, along the coasts of the Province of Cádiz and the Province of Huelva, to the Ayamonte and Isla Canela beach - the westernmost resort (on the Portuguese border).

National tourism stands out and it is also a destination for foreigners, mainly French, English and Germans.

It has a fairly relevant tourist offer of hotel and leisure beds, both sun and beach, rural, gastronomic and cultural, golf courses, water parks and marinas.
Galicia Rias Baixas
Rias Baixas are a part of the coastal area of Galicia, Spain. Its capital is the city of Pontevedra. It occupies almost the entire coast of the province of Pontevedra, from A Guarda (on the Portuguese border) to the Vigo estuary, and part of the west coast of the province of A Coruña.

There are hundreds of beaches. Carnota beach is one of the 100 best in the world.

An especially important industry in Galicia is that of seafood. A large amount of that seafood comes from the Rías Baxias.
Costa da Morte
Costa da Morte (Death Coast) is a part of the Atlantic coast of Galicia, Spain. The Costa da Morte extends from the municipality of Muros, bordering Rías Baixas, to the municipalities, integrated in A Coruña metropolitan area.

It's one of the wildest parts of the Atlantic resorts of Spain.

The Costa da Morte received its name because there have been many shipwrecks along its treacherous rocky shore. The shore of the Costa da Morte is exposed directly to the Atlantic Ocean.

Nearest international airports are in Santiago de Compostela, Vigo, A Coruña.
The Rías Altas
The Rías Altas are a part of the coastal area of northern Galicia. They form the eastern part of the province of A Coruña and the entire coast of the province of Lugo. It extends from Pontedeume in the west to Ribadeo in the east.
Asturias
Costa Verde (Green Coast) is the tourist name assigned to the coast of Asturias, located in the Cantabrian Sea. It includes the coast of the maritime province of Gijón created in 1845, and maritime province of Avilés, created in 2007.

Although August is considered the hottest month of the year, the swimming season begins in June. Many tourists come here not only for beach holidays and sightseeing, but also for surfing, diving and other water sports.

Nearest international airport is in Oviedo.
Cantabria
Costa Cantabria is the tourist name assigned to the coast of Cantabria, located in the Cantabrian Sea.

The most differentiating thing about the Cantabrian coast with respect to the rest of Spain, with the exception of Galicia, is the presence of estuaries, which give it a more convoluted perimeter; Thus, Cantabria has 1 km of coastline for every 509 km² of surface, while the total for Spain is 1 km for every 126 km².

Nearest international airport is in Santander.
Basque country
Costa Vasca (Basque coast) designates the stretch of coastline of the Cantabrian Sea between the cities of Bilbao and Biarritz (France).

It is located at the eastern end of the northern coast of Spain and at the southwestern end of the western coast of France, in Biscay and Guipúzcoa (autonomous community of the Basque Country) and Labort (department of the Pyrenees-Atlantiques in the New Aquitaine region) from the point Covarón (Musques) to the mouth of the Adur River (Chiberta​).

The Basque coast is made up of more than 250 kilometers of beaches, sandbanks, islands, estuaries, marshes, cliffs, fishing villages and unique rock formations in the world.

The Basque coast changed enormously in the 19th century to host the best seaside resorts in France and Spain, as it was a place frequented by the monarchy of both countries during the summer. Since then, its popularity has increased and in the 20th century it began to develop mass tourism, with the advantages and disadvantages that it entails.

Nearest international airports are in Bilbao, San Sebastian, Vitoria-Gasteiz.

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Atlantic resorts of Spain * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Atlantic resorts of Spain Three different sections can be distinguished on the Spanish coasts bathed by the Atlantic Ocean: the Cantabrian one, which extends from the Bidasoa (Asturias, Cantabria, Basque country) river to the Estaca de Bares point, the Galician (Galicia) one, which includes Estaca de Bares to the Portuguese border, the ...

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https://all-andorra.com/costa-blanca/

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The Costa Blanca is the tourist name given to the Mediterranean coast that bathes the province of Alicante, in southeastern Spain (Valencian Community). It ranges from the municipality of Denia in the north, to that of Pilar de la Horadada, in the south. It is made up of 244 km of beaches, coves and cliffs. It limits to the north with the Costa de Valencia and to the south with the Costa Cálida (Region of Murcia).

It is one of the most popular parts of the Mediterranean resorts of Spain.

The towns located on the Costa Blanca (from north to south) are: Denia, Jávea, Benitachell, Teulada-Moraira, Benisa, Calp, Altea, Alfaz del Pi, Benidorm, Finestrat, Villajoyosa, Campello, Alicante, Elche, Santa Pola, Guardamar del Segura, Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa and Pilar de la Horadada.

Its capitals par excellence are the cities of Benidorm and Torrevieja, since these municipalities are the great tourist focus of the Costa Blanca and the entire Levantine coastline.
Transport and how to get to?
There are two ways to get to the Costa Blanca. The first is via the AP-7 motorway, a toll road that connects Valencia and Alicante with La Marina Baja and Benidorm.

This motorway has the European code of E-15 and communicates the coast with France and the United Kingdom. Along with this, the national highway N-332 runs parallel to that of the AP-7. Starting from Alicante, the AP-7 becomes the A-7 motorway and goes to Elche, Murcia and Andalusia. Meanwhile, the N-332 continues along the coast to Pilar de la Horadada.

The second route of transport is the Trenet de la Marina, a historic railway line that runs along the Alicante coast in Denia and is currently operated as a long-distance tram. The other train lines run through the Vinalopó valley and the Hoya de Elche.

El Altet Airport (Alicante and Elche) is the main entrance for the millions of tourists who visit from outside Spain.
Nature
The Costa Blanca has a contrast of landscapes such as the steep cliffs of the Marina Alta, the beaches of the Vega Baja del Segura, the mountains (Montgó, Sierra Helada, etc.), the lagoons and the salt flats. The ecological variety means that we can find up to four natural parks: El Montgó, El Marjal Oliva-Pego, Peñón de Ifach i Lagunas de la Mata and Torrevieja.

The holm oak, the Aleppo pine and the palm heart are the trees that predominate in the coastal mountains of Alicante. The natural vegetation coexists with species for agricultural use such as olive, carob, pomegranate, lemon, medlar and almond trees.

There is a marine reserve off the coast of Cabo Roig and Tabarca Island.
Tourism
The Costa Blanca is one of the most visited places of Spain. Every year, Alicante Airport has a turnover of around 10 million arrivals.

The quality of life and excellent climate attract visitors not only from Spain, but also from outside its borders. Along with other coasts such as the Costa del Sol, "residential tourism" (second residence) is developed here. Along the coast there are settlements of the British, Germans and residents of other Nordic countries. Their number in some municipalities reaches or even exceeds the indigenous population.

Spaniards from Madrid and other central Spanish cities have second homes here. This fact contributed to the improvement of the local economy, but at the same time led to an increase in population density in cities on the coast. There are also many immigrants from Morocco, Romania and Latin America.

The British settlement is the largest foreign colony on the Costa Blanca. They are called expatriates (or ex-patriots) - they have created a network of television and radio stations, newspaper offices and their own associations.
Culture
The musical description of this coastline can be found in the well-known paso doble 'Costa Blanca' by Maestro Manuel Lillo Torregrosa.

The Costa Blanca and its own name have traditionally been related to a very specific tourist product: the so-called sun and beach tourism, that is, the vacation linked to the weather (more than 300 days of full sun and an average temperature of 20ºC).

The Costa Blanca boasts 78 beaches and coves, 54 of which are awarded the Blue Flag quality mark.
Main resorts (from north to south): Elche (inland)
Nearest international airports are in Alicante and Valencia.

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Costa Blanca and its main resorts * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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The Costa Blanca is the tourist name given to the Mediterranean coast that bathes the province of Alicante, in southeastern Spain (Valencian Community). It ranges from the municipality of Denia in the north, to that of Pilar de la Horadada, in the south. It is made up of 244 km of beaches, coves and cliffs.

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https://all-andorra.com/costa-de-valencia/

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Costa de Valencia is the coastal section that belongs to the province of Valencia, forming the Gulf of Valencia, an inlet of the Balearic Sea (western Mediterranean), on the eastern coasts of Spain. It borders the other two coasts of the Valencian Community, to the north with the Costa del Azahar (province of Castellón) and to the south with the Costa Blanca (province of Alicante).

It is one of the most popular parts of the Mediterranean resorts of Spain.

The coastline that comprises the 109-kilometer coast of Valencia has very few geographical features, the most notable being the Cabo del Faro de Cullera, since the coast is generally low and sandy, which favors the presence of abundant sandy areas, such as the from Cullera, Daimuz, Gandía, Miramar, Canet de Berenguer, Sueca and the city of Valencia itself. Swampy areas are also abundant (especially in the central plain) such as the Gandía and Oliva lagoons, the most important being the Valencia lagoon. The marshes such as those of El Puig and Jaraco also stand out.

The rice fields more typical of the central plain are combined with the cultivation of citrus fruits along the entire coast and with the cultivation of vegetables in the north of the province.

With irregular and practically scarce flows at the mouth, the rivers (from north to south) are the Palancia, Turia, Júcar and Serpis.

The towns located on the Valencia Coast (from north to south) are: Canet de Berenguer, Sagunto, Puzol, El Puig, Puebla de Farnals beach, Masamagrell beach, Masalfasar, Albuixech, Albalat dels Sorells beach, Foyos, Meliana , Port Saplaya (Alboraya), Valencia, El Perelló and Playas del Mareny (Sueca), Cullera, Tabernes de Valldigna, Jaraco, Grao de Gandía (Gandía), Daimuz, Guardamar de la Safor, Bellreguard beach, Miramar, Piles and Oliva.

Its main tourist centers are the cities of Valencia, Sagunto, Cullera and Gandía.
How to get to?
The Valencia Coast is structured by the A-7 and AP-7 motorways that connect all the main municipalities and connect them with Castellón de la Plana to the north and Alicante to the south. The N-332 also runs along the parallel coast from Oliva to Valencia and the N-340 from the capital to Sagunto, serving the northern section of the coast.

From the interior it is easily accessible by the A-3 coming from Madrid and by the A-23 coming from Teruel and Zaragoza.

By air, the coast is served by the Valencia Airport.
Nature
Despite the intense "tourist exploitation" of the Valencia coastline, there are corners with wild beaches, pine forests and dunes. In the southern part of the municipality of Valencia is Dehesa del Saler (Mediterranean forest located between the coast and Albufera lake). The Albufera Natural Park and the Marhal de Pego Oliva Natural Park are major natural resources.

Aleppo pine, mastic, myrtle and palm trees have been replaced by fruit trees in many parts of the coast such as orange, lemon, medlar or carob trees.

Its extensive beaches of fine sand are of great quality, 16 of which have the Blue Flag certificate.
Main resorts and tourist destinations (from north to South):

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Costa de Valencia and its main resorts * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Costa de Valencia is the coastal section that belongs to the province of Valencia, forming the Gulf of Valencia, an inlet of the Balearic Sea (western Mediterranean), on the eastern coasts of Spain. It borders the other two coasts of the Valencian Community, to the north with the Costa del Azahar (province of Castellón) and ...

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https://all-andorra.com/costa-del-azahar/

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Costa del Azahar (English "Orange Blossom Coast") or Costa dels Tarongers (English: Orange Tree Coast) is the name for the coast of the province of Castellón in Spain, Valencian Community.

It is one of the most popular parts of the Mediterranean resorts of Spain.

The Costa Azahar is the tourist name given to the coast of the Balearic Sea, in the Mediterranean, consisting of about 120 km of beaches and coves. Its name comes from the orange blossom, the province's quintessential crop. It limits to the north with the Costa Daurada (Catalonia) and to the south with the Costa de Valencia (Valencian community).

The towns located on the Costa del Azahar are: Vinaroz (the northernmost resort), Benicarló, Peñíscola, Alcalá de Chivert, Torreblanca, Cabanes coast, Oropesa del Mar, Benicasim, Castellón de la Plana, Almazora, Burriana, Nules, Moncófar, Chilches, La Llosa and Almenara (the southernmost resort, about 30 km north of Valencia).

Its capitals par excellence are the cities of Benicasim and Peniscola, since these municipalities are the great tourist focus of the coast.
How to get to?
The Costa del Azahar is structured by the A-7 and AP-7 motorways that connect all the main municipalities and connect them with Valencia to the south and Tarragona to the north. The N-340 also runs along the parallel coast.

It is easily accessible by the A-3 coming from Madrid and by the A-23 coming from Teruel and Zaragoza.

By air, the coast is served by the Castellón Airport.
Nature
The Costa del Azahar has as typical natural vegetation the Mediterranean scrub formed among others by the palm heart, (Chamaerops humilis L.) (the only endemic palm tree in Europe); kermes oak, (Quercus coccifera L.); the mastic, (Pistacia lentiscus L.); the juniper of the Miera or broja (Juniperus oxycedrus L. var. macrocarpa); the Albaida, (Anthhylis cytisoides L.); the Black Hawthorn (Crataegus Calpodendron); stone pine, Aleppo pine and fennel, (Foeniculum vulgare).

Currently, the urban development of the coastline has destroyed a large part of this endemic vegetation, replacing it with crops of fruit trees (mainly orange trees) and ornamental specimens of palm.
Main resorts (from north to south):
Nearest international airport is in Valencia.

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Costa del Azahar and its main resorts * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Costa del Azahar (English "Orange Blossom Coast") or Costa dels Tarongers (English: Orange Tree Coast) is the name for the coast of the province of Castellón in Spain, Valencian Community. It is one of the most popular parts of the Mediterranean resorts of Spain.

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Alicante and its attractions • All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Alicante (in Valencian and co-officially Alacant) is a city and a municipality in Spain, capital of the province of the same name, in the Valencian Community. Port city, is located on the Mediterranean coast. It is the second most populated municipality in the autonomous community and the 11th in th…

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https://all-andorra.com/valencia/

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Valencia (in Valencian and officially, València) is a municipality and a city in Spain, capital of the province of the same name and of the Valencian Community. With a population of 801,545 inhabitants (as of 2020), which rises to 1,581,057 inhabitants if its suburban space is included, is the third most populated city and metropolitan area in Spain, behind Madrid and Barcelona.

The city is located on the banks of the River Turia on the Levantine coast of the Iberian Peninsula, right in the center of the Gulf of Valencia. At the time the Romans founded it, it was located on a river island in the Turia, about four miles away from the sea. About ten kilometers south of the city is the Albufera de Valencia, which has been owned by the Valencia City Council since it was bought in 1911 from the Crown of Spain for 1,072,980.41 pesetas.

The Albufera is one of the largest lakes in Spain with about 2,100 hectares of surface and an additional 14,100 hectares of marsh dedicated to rice cultivation. Due to its cultural, historical and ecological value, this natural area was the first natural park declared by the Generalitat Valenciana in 1986.

Its historic center is one of the largest in Spain at approximately 169 hectares, and its historical and monumental heritage and various scenic and cultural spaces make it one of the cities with the greatest influx of national and international tourism in the whole country. Among its most representative monuments are the Miguelete, the Cathedral, the Serranos and Quart Towers, the Lonja de la Seda (declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996), and the City of Arts and Sciences.

Further, Museum of Fine Arts of Valencia is the most important pictorial museum in the Valencian Community and is the second art gallery in Spain, and the Valencian Institute of Modern Art (IVAM) aims to investigate and disseminate the art of the twentieth century.

Due to its long history, this is a city with innumerable festivals and traditions. Of particular note is Falles, declared as a festival of international tourist interest on January 25, 1965 and labeled as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the UNESCO on November 30, 2016. Valencia is also home to the Tribunal de las Aguas, also declared in 2009 as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

In addition to this, Valencia has been and is currently the scene of various world events that have contributed to shaping the city and giving it an international reputation, such as the Regional Exhibition of 1909, the 32nd and the 33rd Copa América de vela, the European Formula 1 Grand Prix, the Open 500 tennis, and the Global Champions Tour of Horse Riding.
Main attractions
The Cathedral of Valencia is dedicated, at the wish of Jaime I in following the tradition of the thirteenth century, to Santa María, being consecrated in 1238 by the first bishop of Valencia Fray Andrés de Albalat after the reconquest. It is located on the old Balansiya mosque, which had been raised on the old Visigothic cathedral. The predominant construction style of this cathedral is Valencian or Mediterranean Gothic, although it also contains elements of Romanesque, French Gothic, and Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical.

A special value of the cathedral is the Holy Grail, one of the main Christian symbols.

The Basilica of the Virgin of the Forsaken. During the seventeenth century, numerous baroque constructions were erected in Valencia, most of them religious, and old Gothic buildings were transformed both internally and externally. The Royal Chapel of the Virgen de los Desamparados, categorized as a Basilica since 1872, was built between 1652 and 1666 by Diego Martínez Ponce de Urrana based on the designs made by the most important architects of the time, approved and very possibly guided by Juan Gómez de Mora, the King's court painter.

The temple dedicated to Santa Catalina Mártir, located in the Plaza Virgen de la Paz, was built on a previous mosque.

In 1245, it had already acquired the rank of parish. It consists of a single nave, with lateral buttresses between which the chapels were placed. It is the only one of the city's Gothic churches with an ambulatory at the head, just like the cathedral.

The primitive church of Santos Juanes was built in the suburb of the city known as La Boatella, where an old mosque was located. The old hermitage was built before 1240 over the mosque. It was located outside the walls of the Arab city, near the gates of Bab al-Qaysariya and La Culebra, and when the Christian wall was built, it already included Valencia.

The church of San Juan del Hospital was the first church built in Valencia, after the Cathedral, as a priory of the knights of the Order of San Juan de Jerusalem. Its founding is due to the concession made by King Jaime I during the conquest of Valencia to the San Juanist knight Hugo de Folcalquier, lieutenant of the Master of his order in the Crown of Aragon.

The Monastery of San Miguel de los Reyes is an important work of the Valencian Renaissance that, according to some authors, can be considered as a precedent of the El Escorial monastery, similar to the Jerónimo monastery, a cultural center and commemorative church of the memory of its founder. The first stone was laid in 1548 by the bishop and Ferdinand of Aragon, Duke of Calabria. The construction of the monastery lasted throughout the 17th century, starting the church of the monastery in 1601.

The Lonja de la Seda building is a Valencian civil Gothic masterpiece located in the historic center of the city. Declared in 1996 as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, it is located in the Plaza del Mercado in front of the Church of the Santos Juanes and the Central Market of Valencia.

The Torres de Serranos are one of the twelve gates that guarded the old wall of the City of Valencia. Their name seems to come from the fact that they are located approximately to the northwest of the old town and, therefore, were the natural entrance that connected with the roads that went to Los Serranos.

The Palace of the Marqués de Dos Aguas, as it is known today, is the product of a radical reform carried out on the old manor house of the Rabassa de Perellós, owners of the Marquis of Dos Aguas, in the 1740s (18th century) in a bold Rococo style.

Palace of Justice of Valencia is another building from this period, originally the Royal Customs House, which was built in the time of Carlos III between 1758 and 1802. When the building was the Royal Customs, all the maritime trade went to Valencia, since it was one of the economic poles of 18th-century Spain.

The Plaza Redonda, with a singular round perimeter, was built in 1840 by the Valencian architect Salvador Escrig and is located next to the Church of Santa Catalina and the Plaza de la Virgen, in the historic center of the city.

Valencia's bullring was built between 1850 and 1860 (19th century) on the site of a previous plaza that, due to budget problems, was never completed. It is neoclassical, inspired by Roman civil architecture, the theater of Flavio Marcelo (Colosseum), and the amphitheater of Nîmes (France). It was built by the Valencian architect Sebastián Monleón Estellés. It is a 48-sided polygonal body, more than 17 meters high and 52 meters in diameter. With these dimensions, it is one of the largest squares in Spain.
Valencian Modernism
The Valencia Town Hall integrates in a slightly trapezoidal block, two well-differentiated period and style buildings: the House of Education, built on the initiative of the Archbishop Don Andrés Mayoral between 1758 and 1763; and the body of the building (the main façade), made between the second and third decades of the twentieth century in a marked modernist style. On March 1, 1962, through decree 474/1962 (BOE 9-03-62), the building was declared an asset of cultural interest (BIC); at the same time, it was declared a national historical-artistic monument.

Another of the most important modernist buildings in Valencia is the Estación del Norte, built between 1906 and 1917, taking advantage of the urban transformations of the city at the end of the 19th century to settle on a huge remaining site. It is one of the monuments most emblematic of the civil architecture of the city. The work, designed by the architect Demetrio Ribes, is framed in the modernist style, where the influences of the European side of the Sezession are appreciated, characterized by a modernism of straight lines in contrast to the most typical sinuous forms of Valencian modernism.

The Central Market building is another Valencian Modernist style construction. The construction began in 1914 by Francesc Guàrdia i Vial and Alexandre Soler i March, both trained at the Barcelona School of Architecture and having worked on the team of collaborators. It was also worked on by Domènech i Montaner, an architect who was characterized by his own style within the lines of modernism.

The Colón Market is another clear example of Valencian modernism from the early 20th century. This market was designed and carried out by the architect Francisco Mora Berenguer between 1914 and 1916. The market was inaugurated on December 24, 1916, Christmas Eve, and according to chronicles in the municipal newspapers, this was a spectacular event.

In the port area, there is another of the most important works of Valencian modernism: the Sheds of the Port of Valencia. The author and promoter was the engineer Federico G. de Membrillera, deputy director of the Port of Valencia at the end of the 19th century. Until the second half of the 19th century, the only existing port infrastructure in the Port of Valencia had been a simple wooden dock, and due to the increase in freight traffic in the port, there was a need to expand the infrastructure; therefore, the construction of six sheds was planned.
Santiago Calatrava Works
The Nueve de Octubre Bridge was built in the 80s of the 20th century by the then-not recognized Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava, being this the first work of the architect in the city. This bridge stands out for the originality of its forms and for the four abstract sculptures that adorn its entrances.

Another work designed by Santiago Calatrava is the ensemble formed by the Bridge of the Exhibition and the Alameda metro station, which is located under the old Turia riverbed to which you have to go down to access the station. These works were inaugurated in 1995. As a curious note, the construction of both elements was simultaneous, with the work of the metro station being carried out in its final location, while that of the bridge was carried out in nearby land.

Finally, we must highlight the complex of the City of Arts and Sciences, one of the most popular areas of the city, designed by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela. This complex was inaugurated over a decade, from April 16, 1998, when the Hemispheric was inaugurated, until October 31, 2009, with the opening of the Agora, although some details of this building are currently still being finalized due to demolition problems on the outskirts of its construction.
Museums
The city of Valencia, rich in monuments and architectural spaces of great interest, has more than fifty museums and exhibition halls, many of which were created thanks to the contributions of individuals through donations and private collections.

The most important plastic arts museums in the city are the San Pío V Museum of Fine Arts and the Institut Valencià d'Art Modern (IVAM), which are spaces where permanent collections and temporary exhibitions can be seen and where different activities are designed for all citizens and visitors who come to the city. They are managed by various public administrations, corporations and private associations.

The González Martí National Museum of Ceramics and Sumptuary Arts, installed in the former Palace of the Marqués de Dos Aguas, an imposing Baroque building, contains the most complete collection of ceramic objects in Spain, and one of the most important in Europe.

There are also several historical museums, such as the Casa de las Rocas, which was built in the 15th century to serve as a museum; the Valencia History Museum, inaugurated on May 7, 2003 in a building that was originally the first deposit de Aguas de Valencia, which was built by Ildefonso Cerdá and Leodegario Marchessaux from an original design by Calixto Santa Cruz; or the Almoina museum, which was inaugurated on December 20, 2007 in the basement of the square of the same name, where numerous archaeological remains dated from the different civilizations that have inhabited the city are exposed-Roman, Visigoth and Islamic remains.

The collections of the paleontological museums are also historical. These have been exhibited since 1908 in the museums such as Almudín Museum; the Natural Sciences Museum; Viveros Gardens, where you can see unique geological and paleontological pieces; the Bullfighting Museum, next to the Plaza de Toros; the Rice Museum; or the Fallero Museum, mainly operating during fallero celebrations.

Others are dedicated to illustrious Valencians, such as the famous writer Blasco Ibáñez in his museum house, located in his old villa on Malvarrosa beach, or the Benlliure House Museum on Blanquerías Street, and the most recent of all, the House Concha Piquer Museum on Ruaya Street.

Avant-garde art finds its oldest space in the Sala Parpalló, dependent on the Diputación de Valencia, which was founded in 1980, being a pioneer in serving contemporary art. The benchmark for modernity is the City of Arts and Sciences, since it brings together several disciplines of art and culture in the same space, including several museums, aquariums, exhibition halls, projection rooms and recreational spaces, both open and in conditioned facilities.

In Valencia, there are also 39 municipal libraries, with more than 300,000 volumes, including the Valencia Public Library and the Valencian Library, whose headquarters are in San Miguel de los Reyes. In addition to this, in the capital of Turia, there is the Archive of the Kingdom of Valencia, which contains six centuries of the history of Valencia, first as a kingdom and currently as an autonomous community. This archive is managed by the Valencian Generalitat, although the state retains ownership of the documentary collections and the building. Another archive is the Municipal Historical Archive of Valencia, which is located in the Palacio de Cervelló and contains the documentary collections of the city.
Shopping Central Market
This modernist construction is a must-see for shopping lovers, given its ample selection of foodie delights and architectural beauty. HOURS: from 7 AM to 3 PM
Poeta Querol Street
This shopping district boasts the city's most exclusive stores, including famous international designers and luxury Spanish brands.
Colón Street and Eixample
Shoppers will find well-known high street brands and exclusive jewellery and interior design stores dotted along Calle Colón and its surrounding streets, as well as around Colón Market.
Ruzafa
The Ruzafa neighbourhood has enjoyed an upsurge in commercial activity in recent years, and its eclectic shopping establishments are certainly worth a visit.

Address: Calle Sueca, Literato Azorín, Cádiz and surrounding streets.
Avenue of France
Avenida de Francia, the extension of Calle Alameda and the exit towards El Saler, comprise a new shopping district which is home to a number of shopping centres, in addition to other stores with interesting offerings.
Cuisine and gastronomy
Valencia is known for its gastronomic culture. The paella (a simmered rice dish with meat (usually chicken, rabbit or seafood) was born in Valencia. Other traditional dishes of Valencian gastronomy include fideuà, arròs a banda, arròs negre (black rice), fartons, bunyols, the Spanish omelette, pinchos (or tapas) and calamares (squid).

Valencia was also the birthplace of the cold xufa beverage known as orxata, popular in many parts of the world, including the Americas.

There are 34 Michelin list restaurants in Valencia. More
Beaches
Valencia, the third largest city in Spain, fascinates with a unique flair, lots of charm and many impressive attractions. The wonderful beaches of Valencia also contribute to the fact that this city has become a really popular spot for city trips in Europe. Along a palm-lined promenade, there are kilometers of velvety-soft, sandy city-beaches; some of them are even awarded with the blue flag. More
Economy
At present, the city's economy focuses on services; in fact, about 84% of the employed workforce belongs to the service sector. However, the city maintains an industrial base with an employed population percentage of 5.5%. On the other hand, agricultural activities, although having relatively minor importance with only 1.9% of the active population employed, survive in the municipal area in a total of 3,973 hectares, which are mostly occupied part by crops of orchard and citrus. More
Transport and how to get to?
Transport system in Valencia is regulated by a municipal ordinance on traffic, which was approved by plenary agreement on May 28, 2010.

The main highways in Valencia have a radial route, such as the V-21, the V-31, the A-3, the V-15 / CV-500, the CV-35 or the CV-36. But Valencia also has a series of ring roads around it, these are the By-pass, the V-30, which joins the A-7 with the city's port, or the CV-30, which borders the northern area from the city. More
Distance by car from Valencia to the main cities of Spain
From Madrid 3 hr 44 min (355 km) via A-3

From Pamplona 4 hr 58 min (487 km) via A-23

From Santiago de Compostela 9 hr 28 min (959 km) via A-3

From Oviedo 7 hr 53 min (804 km) via A-3

From Santander 7 hr 6 min (710 km) via AP-68 and A-23

From Vitoria-Gasteiz 5 hr 51 min (569 km) via AP-68 and A-23

From Zaragoza 3 hr 7 min (309 km) via A-23

From Barcelona 3 hr 46 min (349 km) via AP-7

From Valladolid 5 hr 54 min (570 km) via A-3

From Toledo 3 hr 47 min (373 km) via A-3

From Logroño 4 hr 51 min (479 km) via AP-68 and A-23

From Mérida 6 hr 26 min (595 km) via N-430, A-43 and A-3

From Murcia 2 hr 24 min (227 km) via A-7

From Seville 6 hr 34 min (654 km) via A-4 and A-3
Education
With regard to regulated education, the Constitution states that there is a distribution of powers in educational matters among the various entities and administrations present in Spain. In this way, the General State Administration reserves the exclusive purpose to regulate the structure of the different educational levels and the conditions for obtaining, issuing and homologating academic and professional qualifications, while the Ministry of Education of the Generalitat Valenciana is responsible for:

The academic organization of early childhood education, primary education, compulsory secondary education, high school education, special regime education and adult education.

The elaboration of the official curricula corresponding to these teachings. More
Main information
Area: 134.6 sq. km (municipality)

Coordinates: 39°28′12″N 00°22′35″W

Population: 801 545 (municipality)

Languages: Spanish, Valencian

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Valencia and its attractions * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Valencia (in Valencian and officially, València) is a municipality and a city in Spain, capital of the province of the same name and of the Valencian Community. With a population of 801,545 inhabitants (as of 2020), which rises to 1,581,057 inhabitants if its suburban space is included, is the third most populated city and metropolitan ...

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https://all-andorra.com/the-valencian-community/

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The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain. It is the fourth most populous autonomous community after Andalusia, Catalonia and Madrid community with more than five million inhabitants. Its homonymous capital Valencia is the third largest city and metropolitan area in Spain.

It is located along the Mediterranean coast on the east side of the Iberian peninsula. It borders with Catalonia to the north, Aragon and Castilla-La Mancha to the west, and Murcia to the south. The Valencian Community consists of three provinces which are Castellón, Valencia and Alicante.
Tourism and main attractions Requena has one of the largest areas of ​​vineyards in Spain Cofrentes and its castle Elche and its Palm Grove Orihuela and its attractions Forcall and its attractions The Monastery of Sant Jeroni de Cotalba The Church of the Archangel Michael The castle-palace of Alacuás Sea resorts Elche (inland) How to get to?
The Valencian Community is served by three international airports: Alicante Airport, Valencia Airport and Castellón-Costa Azahar Airport. Alicante Airport, located in the south, is mainly tourist-oriented and is currently the busiest airport in the Valencian Community.

Valencia Airport is located in the capital and carries more business traffic. The third airport, Castellón-Costa Azahar Airport, is located in the north of the Valencian territory and has several international connections.

This airport was opened in 2011 but its first commercial flight arrived in September 2015, so it has been considered as a white elephant due to its expensive construction and maintenance and relatively less usefulness.

Distance by car from Valencia to the capitals of the Spanish Communities:

To Barcelona () 3 hr 47 min (349 km) via AP-7

The Valencian Community has an extensive rail system which connects the principal cities with the rest of Spain such as the Euromed towards Catalonia and AVE towards Madrid, or northern and southern Spain, both run by the Spanish national rail company RENFE.

In December 2010 the high-speed rail (AVE) Madrid-Valencia opened as part of the Madrid-Levante high-speed rail line. High-speed lines arrive to Valencia-Joaquín Sorolla, a provisional station located south of the city centre. It is expected that in the coming years the high-speed line Madrid-Valencia will reach the main Valencia-Estació del Nord through a tunnel under the new Valencia Parque Central.

High-speed rail Madrid-Alicante opened in 2013.

There are some medium-range plans for further high-speed connections, like the Valencia-Bilbao link via Zaragoza or the Mediterranean high-speed rail corridor.

In addition, the Generalitat Valenciana has planned on building a regional high-speed rail along the coast to connect all major coastal cities like Valencia, Gandia, Dénia, Benidorm, Villajoyosa, Alicante and Torrevieja.

Cercanías (Rodalia in Valencian) is the commuter rail service that serves all three provincial capitals of Valencia and their metropolitan areas. It is operated by Cercanías Renfe, the commuter rail division of RENFE.

While the Valencian-owned company, Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana (FGV) operates a tram-train line between Alicante, Benidorm and Dénia. It also operates the city tram and metro system of Valencia (Valencia Metro) and Alicante (Alicante Tram).
Festivals
The Falles (Valencian: Falles; Spanish: Fallas) is a traditional celebration held annually in commemoration of Saint Joseph. The five main days celebrated are from 15 to 19 March, while the Mascletà, a pyrotechnic spectacle of firecracker detonation and fireworks display, takes place every day from 1 to 19 March. The term Falles refers to both the celebration and the monuments (Falla, singular; Falles, plural) burnt during the celebration. A number of towns in the Valencian Community have similar celebrations inspired by the original Falles de València celebration.

The Falles festival was added to UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage of humanity list on 30 November 2016.

The Bonfires of Saint John are a traditional and popular festival celebrated around the world during Midsummer, which takes place on the evening of 23 June, St. John's Eve. The largest one takes place in Alicante, where it is the most important festival in the city.

The Muixeranga is the collective name given to the performance of ancient street dances and human pyramids or castells, originating in the ancient Kingdom of Valencia, which are still preserved in the town of Algemesí, 30 km southwest from Valencia, and certain other Valencian towns.

The muixeranga is much more than an artistic acrobatic dance. It is a collection of ancient human choreographies of enormous plasticity illustrating various figures and shapes, which are held during the Algemesí town festival (September 7 and 8th), in honor of the Virgin of Health (Mare de Déu de la Salut).
Main information
Area: 23,255 km²

Coordinates: 39°30′N 0°45′W

Population: 5 057 353

Languages: Spanish, Valencian

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

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The Valencian Community - an autonomous community of Spain * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain. It is the fourth most populous autonomous community after Andalusia, Catalonia and Madrid community with more than five million inhabitants. Its homonymous capital Valencia is the third largest city and metropolitan area in Spain. It is located along the Mediterranean coast on the east side of the ...

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https://all-andorra.com/la-manga-del-mar-menor/

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La Manga del Mar Menor is a town-enclave (Sp. localidad) located on a coastline in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula, Spain, in the Region of Murcia and, after its urbanization in the second half of the 20th century, it is a tourist center of great importance. The most important tourist part of the Mar Menor lagoon.

A popular part of Costa Calida of the Mediterranean resorts of Spain.

It belongs to the municipalities of Cartagena in its southern part and San Javier in its northern part, which have formed a consortium to run the area. The part located to the north of the Encañizadas canal, which gives continuity to the coastline, is part of the protected area of the Salinas and Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar and belongs to the municipality of San Pedro del Pinatar.

The coastal cord of La Manga forms a spit of land that is 21 km long and extends from Cabo de Palos to the Salinas and Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar. With a width between 100 and 1200 m it partially separates the Mediterranean Sea from the Mar Menor.

Its maximum elevation is constituted by the volcanic outcrop of Monte Blanco with a height of 46 meters above sea level. Due to its geographical location, in La Manga there are few torrential rains, with an average annual temperature of approximately 18ºC. It has more than 3000 hours of sunshine a year.

The communication by road is carried out by a single road, called Gran Vía, which runs from Cabo de Palos until it ends at Punta de los Guzmanes, north end of La Manga that is located in the area of ​​the encañizadas.

The main economic activity is tourism and the services associated with it, it is also a temporary activity since during the summer months the population can exceed 200,000 inhabitants and yet during the rest of the year it does not usually reach 14 000. It is the tourist destination of the Region of Murcia in which, despite the existence of a large number of second-residence homes, the number of foreign tourists exceeds compared to the whole region.

La Manga offered in 2019 more than one third of the hotel beds in the Community. In the Cartagena municipal area there were 2,734 hotel beds, more than 60%, while in San Javier 1,752 beds were offered, almost the remaining 40%.

The predominant activities are related to leisure activities, and there is a considerable offer of nautical sports and activities, highlighting those of sailing due to the excellent conditions for their practice that the Mar Menor gathers. Other highly sought after activities are scuba diving and therapeutic spas. The great biodiversity that due to the characteristics of this area is concentrated under the sea is an attractive factor for tourists.

The largest open-air lodotherapy area in Europe is also offered. Its sludge is freely taken in Las Charcas de las Salinas de San Pedro, in Lo Pagán. Regarding the thalassotherapy, the waters of the Mar Menor contain a lot of salt and are rich in minerals, and are very effective in combating all kinds of pathologies related to the joints.
Beaches In the municipality of Cartagena

Los Alemanes Beach

Marchamalo Beach

Vivero Beach

Puerto Bello Beach

Cavanna Beach

Deer Beach

Pine Cove

Galúa Beach Cataloged with blue flag

Lost Ship Beach

Las Sirenas Beach

Entremares Beach

Las Amoladeras Beach

Levante Beach Cataloged with Blue Flag

In the municipality of San Javier

Esculls de la Llana y Encañizada

Punta de los Guzmanes Beach

La Veneziola Beach

El Pudrimel Beach

Chica Beach

Ensenada del Esparto Beach

Poniente Breakwater

Levante Breakwater

Mistral Beach

Estacio Beach

Matasgordas Beach

Las Antillas Beach

El Arenal Beach

El Pedruchillo Beach

Lebeche Beach

Alíseos Beach

Banco del Tabal Listed with a blue flag

La Isla Beach

Movies
The promotion of the area led to the filming of several films: in 1969 the film "La vida sigue igual", starring Julio Iglesias and in 1970, En un lugar de La Manga, starring Manolo Escobar and Concha Velasco. In the 1980s, the erotic film Al sur del edén, directed by Ismael González, was shot.
Best restaurants
There is one Michelin list restaurant in the city:

Malvasía, Avenida de Julieta Orbaiceta 6, 35 - 45 EUR * Traditional Cuisine
How to get to?
By air:

The nearest airport is the Aeropuerto Internacional Región de Murcia (Corvera), located 58 km from La Manga.

By car:

From Murcia 52 min (76.7 km) via A-30

From Madrid 4 hr 45 min (471 km) via A-3 and A-30
Main information
Coordinates: 37°43′52″N 0°44′21″W

Population: 13 800

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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La Manga del Mar Menor and its beaches * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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La Manga del Mar Menor is a town-enclave (Sp. localidad) located on a coastline in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula, Spain, in the Region of Murcia and, after its urbanization in the second half of the 20th century, it is a tourist center of great importance.

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https://all-andorra.com/cartagena/

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Cartagena is a city and municipality in Spain located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, in the autonomous community of Murcia. The city, capital of the Campo de Cartagena region and the maritime province of Cartagena, is the seat of the regional parliament of Murcia, the Regional Assembly of Murcia that houses the legislative body of the autonomous community and is headquarters of the Ministry of Tourism of the Region of Murcia. It ranks 22nd on the list of most populated municipalities in Spain and 26th on the list of metropolitan areas in Spain.

From the end of the 19th century and during the 20th century, the economy of Cartagena was based on the excavation of zinc, silver and lead from the mining mountains, whose prosperity manifested with the construction of modernist building and also in the exploitation of the chemical sector (sulfur, phosphate and explosive fertilizers). At present, with the mining seams exhausted, Cartagena lives mainly from shipbuilding and repair, oil refining and the export of olive oil, fruits, citrus fruits, vegetables, esparto grass, wine and metal products.

It is also one of the main naval bases in the country, along with Rota and Ferrol, and an emerging tourist destination thanks to its historical-artistic heritage, which includes vestiges of Carthaginian, Roman, and Byzantine times as well as the modern period. In the cultural sphere, it is known for its major Carthaginian and Roman festivals and the Holy Week processions, both of which have been declared of International Tourist Interest.

It's a popular part of the Costa Calida of the Mediterranean resorts of Spain.
Main attractions
Thanks to its strategic position in the Levantine Mediterranean, Cartagena has been inhabited since ancient times by various civilizations that have left a mark on its rich cultural heritage throughout its history.
Archaeological route
Roman theatre. Its construction began at the end of the 1st century BC. It is the most visited monument and museum space in Murcia. Above the theater stand the ruins of the Cathedral of Santa María la Vieja, destroyed during the Spanish Civil War. It dates from the end of the 13th century. In July 2008, the Museum of the Roman Theater was inaugurated, the work of the architect Rafael Moneo, which shows various details of the theater, its excavation and recovery.

Augusteum. Seat of the College of Priests of Emperor Augustus in the city.

Neighborhood and Museum of the Roman Forum. A set of Roman buildings discovered in 1968. In spring 2021, the new museum of the Roman forum of Cartago Nova was inaugurated.

Punic wall. Built in 227 BC. with the founding of the city, it is one of the few remains of the Carthaginian past of the city and the only Punic wall in European territory.

House of Fortune. A Roman dwelling from the 1st century BC conserves mosaics and mural paintings.

Byzantine wall. Preserved in a basement near the theater and erroneously interpreted as a wall from the VI century, it has recently been identified as part of the closing of the portico of the Roman theater.

Castillo de la Concepción (Cartagena History Interpretation Center). Known as the "Castillo de los Patos," was built in the 13th century. The Torres Park stretches around it, created at the beginning of the 20th century after the demolition of the houses located on the Cerro de la Concepción.

Roman amphitheater. Currently, this area is in the process of archaeological excavation.

Cathedral of Santa María la Vieja or of Our Lady of the Assumption. From the 13th century, it was renovated by Víctor Beltrí in the 19th century and partially destroyed during the Civil War.

Castles and fortresses: Atalaya, Concepción, Despeñaperros, Galeras, Moros and San Julián, among others.

Coast military batteries: Fuerte de Navidad, Santa Ana, Trincabotijas Alta and Baja, Castillitos, Roldán, La Parajola (from where the Castillo de Olite ship sank), among others.

On the outskirts of the city, you can visit the Torre Ciega, a Roman sepulchral monument, the Roman villa of Paturro in Portmán, and the Roman quarries. In the county of El Beal is the monastery of San Ginés de la Jara, built by the Franciscan Order in the 16th century.
Baroque and neoclassical route
The Campus Muralla del Mar, formerly the Marine Hospital, was one of the first works carried out after the transformation of the city into the main Spanish naval base in the Mediterranean. Today, it is the headquarters of the Polytechnic University of Cartagena. Nearby is the Autopsy Pavilion where anatomy classes used to be taught.

Other baroque or neoclassical constructions of military origin are the wall of Carlos III, the School of Midshipmen, Captaincy (made in 1740 and later renovated), the Arsenal and especially its gate, which is the only part the public can see, and the Park of Artillery, headquarters of the Military History Museum.

The Basilica de la Caridad, built in the 19th century, is one of the most important in the city as it is the temple dedicated to the patron saint of the city, the Virgen de la Caridad. Its interior, with a circular plan, is dominated by a large dome and houses a good sample of paintings and sculptures from the Spanish and Italian Baroque, as well as paintings by Manuel Ussel de Guimbarda. There are also baroque and neoclassical churches-Carmen, Santo Domingo and Santa María de Gracia.
Modernist and eclectic route
The large number of modernist buildings that were built in the city place it among the foremost in Spain in this type of art. These modernist buildings date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when the bourgeoisie settled in the city due to the growth of the local mining industry. Those built by the modernist architect Víctor Beltrí are particularly noteworthy, among which are:

* The Grand Hotel
* The Aguirre Palace, headquarters of the Regional Museum of Modern Art (MURAM)
* The Maestre House
* The Llagostera House
* The Consistorial Palace (Town Hall)
* The casino
* The Casa Cervantes

Other outstanding works of modernism in Cartagena are the Casa Clares, the Pedreño Palace, the Casa Dorda or the Casa Zapata, and the Railway Station, which contains outstanding iron doors and columns on the façade.
Contemporary route
These are some constructions made in the 19th and 20th centuries with cultural relevance:

The El Batel auditorium and conference center. As the work of José Selgas and Lucía Cano, it is a cultural infrastructure located on the edge of the port and awarded at the XII Spanish Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism in the category of Civic Symbols.

The Refuge-Museum of the Civil War. It is a bomb shelter with a capacity of more than 5000 people, recovered as an interpretation center from the Spanish Civil War.

The Peral Submarine. This is the first self-propelled submarine.

The Monument to the Heroes of Cavite and Santiago de Cuba. In 1923, it was erected in honor of the Spanish sailors who died in 1898 during the wars in Cuba and the Philippines.

The Panoramic-Elevator. This location allows access to Torres Park and the Civil War Refuge-Museum.
The headquarters of the Regional Assembly of Murcia.
Museums
Cartagena's museum offer is diverse, although among them are those that reflect various aspects of the city's history predominate. The main museums in Cartagena are:

Municipal Archaeological Museum "Enrique Escudero de Castro." It is located in the expansion of the city and stands on a late Roman necropolis.

National Museum of Underwater Archeology (ARQUA). Located on the Alfonso XII dock, the new headquarters was inaugurated in November 2008. It is dedicated to the conservation and research of Spanish underwater heritage.

Regional Museum of Modern Art (MURAM), based in the Aguirre Palace and inaugurated in 2009.

Naval Museum. It dedicates its facilities to preserving and displaying the most remarkable events of the Spanish Navy in the Mediterranean Sea. It is based in the CIM building, also the headquarters of the Faculty of Business Sciences of the UPCT.

Cartagena Artillery Museum. It shares the space of the old Artillery Park with the Municipal Archive.

Carmen Conde Museum - Antonio Oliver. Located in the Cultural Center of the city, inside, in addition to the work of this couple of writers, there are numerous objects from their private collection.

Ethnographic Museum of the Campo de Cartagena. It is located in the county of Los Puertos de Santa Bárbara.

Palacio de Molina. Site of a municipal exhibition hall and municipal restoration workshop.

Likewise, every year, the cultural activity of the Night of the Museums is held, where they remain open to the public until late.
Festivals
The following more traditional festivals and the most recently implemented festivals are celebrated in this municipality:

Easter in Cartagena. Declared of International Tourist Interest. The oldest of Cartagena's celebrations and the one with the greatest number of visitors takes place every year during the ten days between Friday of Dolores and Easter Sunday. Four brotherhoods put their processions in the street, characterized by the order of their participants, the light, the color and the spectacular nature of the Cartagena thrones.

Carthaginians and Romans. Declared of International Tourist Interest. They are celebrated during the second half of September to commemorate the conquest of the ancient Carthaginian city of Qart Hadasht by the Romans. For ten days, you can fully see the history of old Cartagena.

Carnival of Cartagena. Declared of Regional Tourist Interest. It is celebrated, as is traditional in the carnivals of the Spanish geography, in February, the weekend before Ash Wednesday.

The Sea of Music. Festival of world music that has been held every July since 1995.

Jazz Festival. It has been celebrated during November since 1980.

Cartagena International Film Festival (FICC). It is celebrated during December and is formerly known as the International Naval and Sea Film Week.

Much More May (M + M). Art festival held during May.

Trovalia. International improvised oral poetry festival held in August. It replaces the National Trovo Contest.
Cuisine and restaurants
The best-known dishes in Cartagena are, without a doubt, the caldero, a rice made by fishermen prepared with rock fish, and the michirones, a stew made with dried broad beans. Both can be found anywhere in the region.

Other typical dishes are rice and rabbit, rabbit with cabañil garlic, salted fish (dried fish) and desserts such as syrup (a sweet made with dried figs), sky bacon and Calatrava bread.

Among the drinks, the Asiático stands out, whose ingredients are coffee with liquor, brandy and condensed milk; the láguena, a mixture of anise and sweet wine in equal parts; and the reparo, brandy and sweet wine in equal parts.
Liquor 43 brand has been manufactured in the city since its invention in 1946.

In bakeries, there are crepillos, a round-shaped crunchy salty wheat flour dough, as well as pasties. The most popular are those with tuna and egg and fried ones. Also well known are fried meat patties sprinkled with powdered sugar.

There are three Michelin list restaurants in the city:

Magoga, Plaza Doctor Vicente García Marcos 5, 45 - 85 EUR * Regional Cuisine, Contemporary Cuisine (One star)

El Barrio de San Roque, Jabonerías 30, 25 - 53 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

La Marquesita, Plaza de Alcolea 6, 25 - 50 EUR * Traditional Cuisine
Shopping
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is the start of Calle Mayor, a main retail district of Cartagena. Your window shopping options include department stores, fashion boutiques and jewelry stores.
Beaches
Cartagena's coastline is one of the least urbanized in the entire Spanish Mediterranean, with only 0.67% of the coastline that can be developed. As the city is located on a very steep coastline, only two beaches are within the vicinity of the network: Cala Cortina and La Algameca Chica.

In natural settings, you can visit its two protected areas: to the west, the beaches of Cabo Tiñoso, among which are the beach of El Portús that is equipped with a nudist tourist complex, while the rest of protected beaches are more wild, including the beach of Fatares. To the east the beaches that are located in the regional park of Calblanque and Cala Reona.

In urban environments we find towards the west coast on the Mediterranean Sea the towns of La Azohía and Isla Plana. Towards the east, on the shores of the Mar Menor, are Los Urrutias, Los Nietos, Islas Menores, Mar de Cristal, Playa Honda, Playa Paraiso (with a campsite), part of La Manga del Mar Menor, which bathed by the Mediterranean Sea and finally Cabo de Palos.

Cartagena is well known for its diving. The beauty and good conservation of the seabed has made it a favorite destination for scuba diving in Spain. Places such as the marine reserve of Cabo de Palos and Islas Hormigas stand out, along with the area of Cabo Tiñoso (west of the city). The area is characterized by its great biological diversity and the good state of conservation of its bottoms. The large Posidonia meadows are remarkable as well as the coral colonies that make up the habitat of numerous plant and animal species. Likewise, you can find vestiges of the past, from Roman wrecks to ships sunk from the Civil War.
How to get to?
In Cartagena there are two railway stations, a conventional one and a narrow-gauge railway station, which connects the city with the town of Los Nietos on the Mar Menor.

In the first one, Renfe Operadora currently has only two national long-distance destinations established: Madrid, with Altaria and Alvia trains, and Barcelona, with Talgo trains. There are also Regional services that connect the city with Murcia, and Media Distancia with Valencia and Zaragoza.

The following highways have part of their route in the municipality:

A-30 Autovía de Murcia (old national road N-301): runs between Cartagena, Murcia and Albacete in the direction of Madrid and connects with the A-7 E-15 Autovía del Mediterráneo in Murcia.

AP-7 Autopista del Mediterráneo: runs between Crevillente-Cartagena-Vera.

CT-31. Urban Highway. West access from AP-7 E-15 Autopista del Mediterráneo.

CT-32. Urban Highway. East access from Los Beatos, AP-7 E-15 and RM-12.

CT-33. Urban Highway. Access to the Cartagena Dock, from A-30.

CT-34. Urban Highway. Access to the Escombreras Dock, from A-30 and CT-32.

From Murcia 35 min (49.5 km) via A-30

From Madrid 4 hr 28 min (449 km) via A-3 and A-30
Main information
Area: 558 sq. km

GPS coordinates: 37°36′N 0°59′W

Population: 216 108

Language: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1, in summer +2

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Cartagena and its heritage * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Cartagena is a city and municipality in Spain located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, in the autonomous community of Murcia. The city, capital of the Campo de Cartagena region and the maritime province of Cartagena, is the seat of the regional parliament of Murcia, the Regional Assembly of Murcia that houses the legislative ...

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https://all-andorra.com/costa-calida/

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Costa Cálida is the tourist name for the approximately 250 km of Mediterranean coastline in the Region of Murcia, Spain. This region has a microclimate that is characterized by an average annual temperature of 18 degrees and a relative degree of aridity, with average rainfall of less than 340 mm and more than 3,000 hours of sunshine per year.

It is one of the most popular parts of the Mediterranean resorts of Spain.

The Costa Cálida stretches from El Mojón in the north, near the province of Alicante, to the Cuatro Calas in Águilas in the south. It covers the most popular coastal towns such as:

The northern end of this coast includes the Mar Menor, a coastal saltwater lagoon that, at about 170 km², is the largest in Europe. The Mar Menor is separated from the Mediterranean by a 22 km stretch of sand called La Manga, on which most of the region's tourist development has been built.

Cartagena and Águilas are the two largest and most important coastal cities in the region.

The Costa Cálida is a home to a wide range of nautical activities such as canoeing, sailing, windsurfing, scuba diving, water skiing or rowing.

Golf is a popular pastime for visitors and residents. There are many PGA championship courses, such as El Valle, which hosted the PGA European Seniors Tour in June 2011, Hacienda del Álamo, which is the longest golf course in Spain, and the famous La Manga Club.

El Portús, near Cartagena, has a naturist campsite, as well as protected natural areas such as Cabo Cope Regional Park and Calblanque Park.

The nearest international airport is in Murcia.

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Costa Cálida and its resorts * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Costa Cálida is the tourist name for the approximately 250 km of Mediterranean coastline in the Region of Murcia, Spain. This region has a microclimate that is characterized by an average annual temperature of 18 degrees and a relative degree of aridity, with average rainfall of less than 340 mm and more than 3,000 hours ...

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https://all-andorra.com/caravaca-de-la-cruz/

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Caravaca de la Cruz, often shortened to Caravaca, is a town and municipality of southeastern Spain in the region of Murcia, near the left bank of the River Argos, a tributary of the Segura. It is the capital of the northwest Region of Murcia.

Besides being known by the Christian relic, it also has a festival in its honor between 1 and 5 May of each year, declared of International Tourist Interest in 2004. Along with processions and parades of Moors and Christians, the celebration of Horses of Wine is especially relevant, which now aspires to be the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

The Neoclassical painter Rafael Tejeo was born in Caravaca.

A gigantic archeological site was found in January 2009. It is composed of 1300 graves from 2400 to 1950 BC.
Main attractions
The Basilica of the Vera Cruz from the 17th century, designed by the important architect Fray Alberto de la Madre de Dios, with an 18th century façade, where the famous Caravaca Cross is venerated. Located inside the Real Alcázar, of Islamic origins (X-XI century);

The Parish Church of El Salvador, one of the best examples of Renaissance architecture in the Region of Murcia, within the so-called columnar churches (16th century);

The Parish Church of La Concepción, whose bell tower is known as the Tower of the Shepherds. In its interior, the Mudejar polychrome wood coffered ceiling (16th century) as well as the altarpiece of the main altar that houses the image of the owner, the Immaculate Conception, the work of the Caravacan sculptor Francisco Fernández Caro (1792) stands out.

The Church of the Society of Jesus, completed in the 18th century, was owned by the Jesuits together with the annexed convent until its expulsion in 1767. From then on it went from a hostel to a garage. At present, the church is used as a municipal cultural center.

La Iglesia de la Soledad: Caravaca's first church, currently an archaeological museum (16th century).

The Convent of Madres Carmelitas Descalzas and Iglesia de San José, founded by Santa Teresa de Jesús in 1576, has a Rococo-style convent church. The town is part of the Footprints of Santa Teresa, a pilgrimage, tourist, cultural and patrimonial route that brings together the 17 cities where Santa Teresa de Jesús left her "footprint".

The Carmelite Fathers Convent of Caravaca de la Cruz, founded by San Juan de la Cruz in 1586, although built in the 17th century with a project by the architect Fray Alberto de la Madre de Dios.

The Convent and Church of Santa Clara, founded in 1609 by Mrs. Catalina de Robles and Mr. Ginés de Perea, Mayor and Notary of the Holy Office of the Kingdom of Murcia. It has two clearly differentiated buildings: Church and Convent that were built in what was once the Hermitage of the Apostle San Bartolomé and the first site of the Society of Jesus in the City. The church, with very sober lines as corresponds to the Franciscan spirit, was completed around 1718.

The Town Hall, in baroque style, and whose original layout corresponds to Jaime Bort.

El Templete or Bañadero, a baroque-style building with a hexagonal plan inscribed in a circumference, in which the bath of the Santísima and Vera Cruz de Caravaca is celebrated every May 3, a ritual act that has been held since 1384.

The Plaza de Toros, built on an old Franciscan convent, which was inaugurated in 1880 and a neo-Mudejar façade was added to it, with the remodeling of 1926.

Around the Cerro del Castillo is the oldest neighborhood of Caravaca, the medieval quarter. From the 12th and 13th centuries is when a fortified nucleus of relative importance begins to form. The town used the north, east and west slopes of the hill for its situation, taking advantage of the softer part of the natural slope. The neighborhood has the typical irregular and disorderly structure in which narrow streets intersect, small squares open and dead ends appear. It was surrounded by a wall of which remains are preserved in some streets.

Around the streets Puentecilla, Mayor, De las Monjas, Rafael Tejeo, Gregorio Javier and the Plaza de los Caballos del Vino are located numerous emblazoned mansions (Palacio de los Uribe from the 16th century, Palacio de la Encomienda, etc.), of the time when Caravaca left its walls and expanded across the plain after the end of the border with Granada.

Hermitages of Santa Elena, San Sebastián and de la Reja: The first is located in the Plaza de los Caballos del Vino or del Hoyo presided over by a commemorative sculpture of this very particular festival. The last one has a magnificent viewpoint of the city.

Several monuments by the Valencian sculptor Rafael Pi Belda: A San Juan de la Cruz (1986), Al Moro y al Cristiano (1983), Via Crucis (2000, Real Basilica Sanctuary of the Vera Cruz de Caravaca), Commemorative work of the concession from the Holy See of perpetual Jubilee Year to the Basilica Sanctuary of the Vera Cruz de Caravaca (2001) and A los Caballos del Vino (2007). As well as works by other sculptors such as Antonio Campillo Párraga and José Carrilero Gil (Caravaca de la Cruz, 1928).

Torre de los Templarios, in the area of ​​Fuentes del Marqués, from the 16th-17th century, where the Cueva del Marqués is also located, some caves excavated by the Arab settlers for tanning skins or distilling aromatic plants.

Former Murcia train station (currently converted into a hostel and center of the Vía Verde del Noroeste consortium).
Museums
Festival Museum. Located in the old Casa de los Uribe, in C / De las Monjas 19. The costumes of the Christian groups and the Moorish cabal that parade in the festivities that, in honor of the Stma. and Vera Cruz, are celebrated from May 1 to 5, as well as the atalajes with which the Caballos del Vino are harnessed on the morning of May 2.

Museum of the Sanctuary of the Vera Cruz. Located in the Basilica of the Vera Cruz, it exhibits the various instruments with which the rituals around the Cross of Caravaca are performed, as well as the chasuble of the priest Chirinos at the time of the appearance or various paintings such as the pictorial cycle on the Miracle of the Vera Cruz by Hernando de los Llanos. In the museum there is also the chapel of the appearance of the Cross.

Municipal archaeological museum. Located on the Cuesta del Castillo, in the historic center and within a building of great heritage value, such as the old church of Ntra. Sra. De la Soledad. It collects pieces of great value, the result of the numerous finds made in the excavations carried out in various archaeological sites, especially those carried out in the Iberian-Roman complex of "La Encarnación".

Barranda Museum of Ethnic Music. Located in the hamlet of Barranda. It houses one of the world's most important collections of musical instruments, it contains artisan instruments from the five continents, manufactured, in most cases, by the instrumentalists themselves.

Carrilero Museum. Dedicated to the Caravacan sculptor José Carrilero Gil, National Sculpture Prize and Medal of the University of Rome. In various floors and rooms you can see the evolution of his artistic work. Outside the Museum, in front of the entrance, you can also see three figures of the sculptor.

Fuentes del Marqués Nature Interpretation Center: located in the Templarios tower in the Fuentes del Marqués area.

Wine Horse Museum. Installed in the old Muñoz Melgarejo palace from the 18th century, on Calle Gregorio Javier 21, through its various rooms and audiovisuals, the roots of the celebration of the Wine Horses, candidate for Intangible Heritage of Humanity, are disseminated.
Theaters and culture
Thuiller Theatre, built in 1843 on the old "Court of Comedy". In 2006, after being closed several months, completed the last renovation of the building, reopening to the public in April of that year with the play El hombre de Central Park, by Carlos Larrañaga.

Besides this theater, the Culture House and the cultural center built in the Church of the Society of Jesus are the places where cultural activity centers, film and artistic community.

One of the most established cultural events is the Theatre Week Caravaca de la Cruz, who in 2010 reached its thirtieth edition. It is now done at the end of July each year in the Plaza de Toros in the town.

Since December 2010 is being carried out work on the Multifunctional Center and Auditorium of Caravaca de la Cruz, which has been controversial for its potential visual impact on the Old Town area, although from the drivers of argues that this work will be minimal and that the building itself will be a new attraction for the municipality.
Gastronomy and restaurants
Caravaca's cuisine is very varied and similar to the entire natural region that surrounds it, from Santiago de la Espada (Jaén), Nerpio (Albacete), Topares (Almería), La Puebla de Don Fadrique (Granada), and within the province of Murcia, towns such as Avilés and Coy in the municipality of Lorca, Moratalla, and Cehegín. The dishes and the way they are cooked find many similarities. These common elements have made foods such as flour crumbs, called migas ruleras in Caravaca, to be prepared in the same way. Common are the numerous types of stews, the rags, gurullos, roasts of lamb, sausages of the slaughter, etc.

Particularly in Caravaca de la Cruz are typical the tartera (roast lamb in the oven, with potatoes, onion and pine nuts), the cobblestone (possibly the most typical dish of Caravaca made with rice, white beans and dried cod) or rice with rabbit and typical Murcian snails. Also typical is the country chicken rice, the marrana death pot (with beans, potatoes, chickpeas, turnips, blood sausages, ear, back bone and tail), rags (also very typical, it is made over low heat with flour, water , oil, black pudding, garlic, paprika and saffron), ajopatata (with potatoes, garlic, dry red pepper, salt and olive oil), numerous stews (the most typical are spinach, celery, gypsy, rice, etc. ) and migas (the best-known dish in Caravaca and throughout this area prepared with flour, water and olive oil).

The traditional sweets are the Caravaca yolks, an exquisite snack made with fresh egg yolks and sugar, this mixture is cooked, once cold it is divided into small balls, which are dipped in caramel or chocolate. The alfajor, sweet of Arab origin, made of honey, almonds, hazelnuts and wafers.

There are no Michelin list restaurants in the city.
How to get to?
By car:

From Murcia 49 min (76.4 km) via RM-15

From Madrid 3 hr 55 min (395 km) via A-3
Main information
Area: 858 sq. km (municipality)

Coordinates: 38°6′27″N 1°51′36″W

Population: 25 700

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Caravaca de la Cruz and its heritage * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Caravaca de la Cruz, often shortened to Caravaca, is a town and municipality of southeastern Spain in the region of Murcia, near the left bank of the River Argos, a tributary of the Segura. It is the capital of the northwest Region of Murcia.

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Mula and its Tamborada festival • All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Mula (Sp. Mula) is a town and municipality in Spain belonging to the Murcia Region, located in the Mula River Region, of which it is a capital. The municipality is famous for the Fiestas del Niño Jesús de Mula and La Tamborada, declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Main attra…

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https://all-andorra.com/moratalla/

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Moratalla has the largest set of Mediterranean rock art in the Region of Murcia • All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Moratalla is a small town and the center of a large municipality of the same name in the Autonomous Community of the Region of Murcia in southeastern Spain.
The municipality has the largest set of Mediterranean rock art in the Region of Murcia, declared a World Heritage Site. Likewise, the Tamborada…

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Murcia (Sp. Murcia) is a city in southeastern Spain, the capital and most populous city of the autonomous community of the Region of Murcia, and the seventh largest city in the country.

It is an important service center wherein the tertiary sector has superseded its status as the quintessential agricultural exporter, thanks to its famous and fertile garden known as the Huerta de Europa. Among its most prominent industries are food, textiles, chemicals, distillation and the manufacturing of furniture and construction materials, many of which are located in the West Industrial Park, considered one of the largest on the peninsula and shared with the municipality of Alcantarilla.

It is also a vital center with a strong university tradition since the first university was founded in 1272. It is currently home to two universities: the public University of Murcia and the private San Antonio Catholic University, with around 50,000 students between the two.

The city is of uncertain origins; however, there is evidence that it was founded in 825 by Order of Abderramán II, probably on a previous Roman settlement. During the Middle Ages, Murcia became the capital and heart of Tudmir. Later, it was the head of different taifa kingdoms of increasing importance in the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries. Between 1243-1266, it was incorporated into the Crown of Castile as capital of the Kingdom of Murcia, becoming a city with a vote in courts and episcopal seats in 1291.

Its historical-artistic heritage include a famous Cathedral with a baroque façade and mainly Gothic interior, the famous Casino with sumptuous interiors, the dense sculptural heritage of Francisco Salzillo, and a large group of Baroque buildings.

In the cultural sphere, the city is known for its rich folklore, especially colorful during the Spring Festivities and the Holy Week processions, which was declared of an International Tourist Interest. The Council of Good Men of the Huerta de Murcia, an example of a customary court of irrigators of the Spanish Mediterranean, has been declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
Tourism and main attractions Religious architecture
Throughout the old town are numerous churches or monastic complexes of great value. In addition to the Gothic constructions already mentioned, such as the Cathedral or the Monastery of Santa Clara, the old Church of Santiago stands out with its Mudejar coffered ceiling.

From the Renaissance, in addition to the Chapel of the Rosary, the Colegio de San Esteban stands out. It was the first Jesuit school in Spain beginning in 1555 and is the current seat of the regional government under the name of the Palacio de San Esteban. From the early 17th century in the area, we find the church of San Pedro and the cloister of the old convent of La Merced. From the same century are the Church of Jesus, headquarters of the Confraternity of Los Salzillos, the church of the aforementioned Monastery of Santa Clara, the old Convent of San Antonio and the Chapel of the Arrixaca of the church of San Andrés.

While the Murcian baroque developed mainly during the mid-to late-18th century, it is necessary to review the first examples from the end of the 17th and the beginning of 18th century, such as the church of San Miguel and the convent of the Agustinas del Corpus Christi or the churches; convents of La Merced, Santo Domingo or Santa Ana; and the later churches of Rococo influence (after the impact that the works of the cathedral's main façade had on the city) such as Carmen, San Nicolás de Bari, Santa Eulalia and San Juan de Dios (or also the Hospicio de Santa Florentina, the Major Seminary of San Fulgencio, the Minor Seminary of San Leandro, the façade and cloister of the Colegio de la Anunciata-poster Real Fábrica de Seda-or the Old College of Theologians of San Isidoro).

Neoclassical trends came to the city at the hands of the Church of San Juan Bautista, in addition to the churches of San Lorenzo and San Bartolomé, the latter two entering in the 19th century, completing San Bartolomé with a historicist facade and nave.
Civil architecture
From the Muslim period in Murcia, in addition to the vestiges of the Alcázar Siga, we find the remains of the oratory and royal pantheon of the Alcázar Mayor from the 12th century. It also has different sections of the Arab wall, highlighting the section of the wall de Verónicas and the one that is conserved within the Interpretation Center of the Santa Eulalia wall. Also noteworthy is the recent discovery of the Arrixaca suburb in the old garden of San Esteban from the 12th and 13th centuries.

Among the buildings of the city, as examples of the Renaissance, the Pacheco Palace and the facades of the ruined Riquelme Palace stand out. Due to the silk boom that Murcia experienced at the beginning of the 17th century, along with the Almodóvar Palace, there are examples of the Almudí Palace, a former municipal granary that is now an exhibition hall, and the covers of the ruined Contraste de la Seda. Late in the century, the Palace of the Saavedra, currently Colegio Mayor Azarbe, was built.

From the 18th century in Murcia, it is worth highlighting from the initial Baroque typology of the Palacio de los Pérez-Calvillo to the subsequent Rococo evolution of the Episcopal Palace, the Fontes Palace (headquarters of the Segura Hydrographic Confederation) and the Vinader Palace. From the end of the century, we find the Floridablanca Palace, currently the Hotel Arco de San Juan, the Campuzano Palace, and the Palace of the Inquisition, headquarters of the College of Architects, already from the 19th century.

From the eclecticism of the 19th century, the city has the Real Casino de Murcia, the Romea Theater. The building was inaugurated in 1862 but rebuilt by Justo Millán Espinosa after several fires, with the exterior from 1880 and the interior from 1899. Also of note are the Carmen de José Almazán station (1863), the old Hotel Victoria (1885) and the Plaza de toros de La Condomina, inaugurated in 1887 (also by Justo Millán).

Among the modernist trends that arrived in the city at the beginning of the 20th century, we should mention the Casa Díaz-Cassou (1900-1906), the Casa Almansa (1903-1908) that is currently headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce, the Mercado de Verónicas (1912-1916), and the later Casa Guillamón (1920-24), works by the architects Pedro Cerdán-author of the main facade of the Casino (1902)-and José Antonio Rodríguez. However, eclecticism continued to have a presence after turn of the century with La Convalecencia (1909-1915), Alegría de la Huerta (1919-21), the Artillery Barracks (1921-26), the Society of Hunters (1927), the Zaraiche station (1921-1930) and the Casa Cerdá (1934-36), as well as examples of New York inspiration such as the Nine-Story House (1914-41).

Within the avant-garde architecture developed in the 1930s, it is also necessary to highlight the five-story building on Calle Trapería, designed by the famous architect Pedro Muguruza, built in 1935 in a line of traditional regionalism of Muguruza's previous work such as the old Post Office Building (1928-1931). Within rationalism, there is also the six-story house on Calle Trapería by José Luis de León y Díaz-Capilla (1934-1941)-which is also the building called "El Acorazado" in Plaza Santo Domingo (1934-35 )-and the Coy Building by Gaspar Blein (1935).
Bridges
Several bridges of various styles cross the river Segura as it passes through Murcia, from the oldest (from the 18th century) to several recently created by famous contemporary architects.

The Puente de los Peligros (or Old Bridge) (1742) is a stone construction from the early 18th century with an attached neoclassical chapel dedicated to the Virgen de los Peligros. It is the oldest bridge in the city and the first in Murcian history to overcome all the floods of the Segura.

The New Bridge (or Iron Bridge) (1903) is a metal bridge from the late 19th and early 20th centuries that receives the name "new" despite being the second oldest in the city.

The Puente de la Fica (1967-1969) connects the Polígono Infante Juan Manuel in Murcia (right bank of the Segura) with the Vistabella neighborhood, being one of the bridges with the highest road capacity.

The Miguel Caballero Walkway (or Puente del Martillo) (1970-1971) was the third bridge built that connects the Barrio del Carmen with the historic center of the city.

The Hospital Bridge (1973) was renovated in 1999 by Santiago Calatrava, who expanded it and gave it its current image.

La Pasarela del Malecón (1997) by Javier Manterola is a cable-stayed pedestrian bridge supported by a mast that is more than 15 meters high and located on an island in the river.

The Vistabella Bridge (or Jorge Manrique Footbridge) (1995-1997), also designed by Santiago Calatrava, is another pedestrian bridge similar to several of the architect's footbridges.

The Los Dolores Bridge, which connects two high-capacity avenues Miguel Induráin and Los Dolores, is the last bridge downstream. Territorially, it is already outside the city district.

Also of special interest as an architectural element related to the Segura River is the popular Paseo del Malecón, an old defense wall against floods and avenues of water, of medieval origin but converted into a promenade during the 18th century.
Museums
Murcia has a large number of museums, many of them recently renovated, such as the Salzillo, the Bellas Artes or the Archaeological Museum. A highlight is the Museum of Santa Clara, inaugurated in 2005 inside the monumental complex of the Monastery of the same name.

The main museums in the city of Murcia are:

The Archaeological Museum of Murcia, which has its origin in the old Provincial Museum that was created by the Royal Order of the Ministry of Public Works on July 6, 1864 thanks to the contributions from the Provincial Monuments Commission. Its first venues were the Teatro de los Infantes (1864), the Contrast de la Seda building (1866) and the current Museum of Fine Arts of Murcia (1910).

The Museum of Fine Arts of Murcia (MUBAM), a museum institution whose origin dates back to 1864, when the Provincial Museum was created at the request of the Provincial Monuments Commission. In 1953, the archeology section was transferred to the current Murcia Archaeological Museum, giving rise to the Museum of Fine Arts that exists today as the pictorial and sculptural collections remain in this institution.

The Salzillo Museum, a museum space dedicated monographically to the works made by the Murcian Baroque sculptor Francisco Salzillo.

The Murcia Cathedral Museum, part of the cathedral building. It was created at the wish of Bishop Miguel de los Santos and inaugurated in 1956. It has the Tourist Quality Commitment.

The Museum of the City of Murcia, a museum institution that depends on the Murcia City Council and was inaugurated in 1999. It located in the old house of the López Ferrer family in the Plaza de las Agustinas opposite the Convent of the Agustinas del Corpus Christi.

The Monastery of Santa Clara la Real, a monastic complex of the Order of the Poor Clares. It has its origin in the 14th century, occupying what was the old Muslim Alcázar Siga (a minor fortress) from the 13th century. It is one of the most important historical buildings in the city as it has remains of the Arab palace (the most important of the Murcian Islamic art). The monastery also has a Gothic cloister and choir and a Baroque church.

The Arab wall of Murcia, the old defensive structure of the city, built during the Andalusian period.

The Hydraulic Museum of the Segura River Mills, located on the right bank of the Segura River next to the Puente de los Peligros, in the Carmen neighborhood.

The Museum of the Church of San Juan de Dios de Murcia, one of the headquarters of the Museum of Fine Arts of Murcia (MUBAM) that houses an important collection of religious imagery since the XV to XX centuries. The old church, dating from the 18th century, is located near the Cathedral in a traditional square in the old part of the city.
Parks
Among the main parks and gardens of the city, the following stand out:

Floridablanca Garden: Created in the mid-19th century on the previous 18th century venues of the city, it is the oldest park in Murcia. Located in the Barrio del Carmen, it is dedicated to the figure the Count of Floridablanca. It has several commemorative monuments (including to the Count of Floridablanca and the poets Pedro Jara Carrillo and José Selgas.) and lush centenary trees.

Jardín de la Seda: Located in the central neighborhood of San Antón, it is where the former Convent of the Diegos and later a silk factory-of which a chimney is preserved still today-was transformed into garden in 1990, undergoing a remodeling in 1999. It has sports areas and a central auditorium.

Garden of the Malecón: Located where formerly the orchards of the disentailed Franciscan Convent were, this park later served as the botanical garden of the Provincial Institute since 1845 and is situated right next to the Malecón promenade that gives it its name. Inside there are numerous sculptures in addition to the cover of the demolished 18th century house of the Huerto de las Bombas.

Jardín del Salitre or de la Pólvora: Located on the grounds of what was the Real Fábrica del Salitre de Murcia, this park was founded in 1654. Between 1816 and 1849, it was leased to private companies, passing into military hands until 1964 when it was taken over by the Santa Bárbara National Company. In 1987, the land transfer agreement for the municipality was obtained, making it a public garden in 1994 and generating a large green space in the center of the city.

Fofó Park: A garden built in the north part of the city in 1971, specifically in the Santa María de Gracia district, the initial project was the work of the architect Eugenio Bañón Saura. This project envisaged the creation of an auditorium, meadow areas and children's play areas, including a small skating rink. At the beginning of 1972, the plantations were made, and in June of that year, it was opened to the public.

Isaac Peral or Three Cups Park: This is a park with a fountain in the center in the shape of three cups from which water falls from the top. It is located in the La Flota neighborhood and is one of the largest in the city. It has gardens, walks, a canine area, sports facilities (basketball/football courts), a stage for events and large children's areas.
Festivals and culture
Murcia hosts celebrations of several festivals from different cultural backgrounds:

International Folklore Festival of the Mediterranean.

Murcia Tres Culturas International Festival: Takes place in May and was created with the idea of overcoming the barrier of racism and xenophobia, seeking the meeting, understanding and reconciliation between cultures and peoples. The denotation of three cultures alludes to the coexistence between the Christian, Jewish and Muslim cultures in the Iberian Peninsula during some periods of the Middle Ages. Every year, the festival has a guest country, and although it revolves mainly around music, it also includes exhibitions, colloquia and conferences.

Warm Up: Formerly called SOS 4.8, a festival created by the Ministry of Culture of the Autonomous Community to project a more modern image of the city and place it on the national scene of festivals, which has been done successfully. Since 2008, editions have been held, which take place the first weekend of May at the Fica Fairgrounds, in the Vistabella neighborhood.

Animal Sound: A festival of electronic and urban music that takes place every year at the Fica Fairgrounds for two days in June. Every year, it has important national and international artists.

Lemon Pop Festival: An indie music festival held during September. It has almost 20 years of history, and important artists such as Vetusta Morla and Nacha Pop have passed through its stages.

Holy Week: Processions that are famous for the images of Salzillo and their unique character. In the traditional-style processions, the Nazarenes wear a Huerta attire and give candies, monas and beans to the people who attend the processions. It has been declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest.

Spring Festivities: Celebrated the week following Easter Sunday. Concerts and parades take place throughout the week and the peñas huertanas install in the gardens of the city the so-called "barracas" where you can taste the local cuisine. Among the many events, on Tuesday, the Bando de la Huerta and on Saturday the Burial of the Sardine stand out, both declared of International Tourist Interest.

September Fair: Takes place during the first fortnight of September. It includes numerous festive events and culminates in the pilgrimage of the Virgen de la Fuensanta. On these dates, the Moors and Christians Festivities are celebrated, which commemorate the Muslim foundation of the city and the Christian conquest.
Cuisine and restaurants
Murcian cuisine has influences from neighboring La Mancha, Valencian and Granada cuisine. However, the region of Murcia belongs to the Spanish Levant, and this can be seen in the marine character of some dishes, its distinguishing ingredients being rice and some salted fish preparations called mojamas.

In the case of Murcia, there is an abundant orchard in the interior (representing the riverside and gardener cuisine), an attachment to pork products identified with the slaughter of the pig (La Mancha cuisine) and an abundant cuisine of fish and seafood. It should be noted that the basic elements of Murcian cuisine are peppers and tomatoes. One of the most unique preparations is Murcian meat pie.

There are seven Michelin list restaurants in the city:

Odiseo, Avenida Juan de Borbón 224 - 2º, 65 - 120 EUR * Modern Cuisine (One star)

Barrigaverde, Maestro Salvador Ortiz 6, 30 - 60 EUR * Regional Cuisine, Market Cuisine

La Pequeña Taberna, Plaza San Juan 7, 20 - 40 EUR * Regional Cuisine

Local de Ensayo, Policía Angel García 20, 45 - 60 EUR * Creative, Contemporary

Alborada, Andrés Baquero 15, 20 - 45 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Pura Cepa, Plaza Cristo del Rescate 8, 19 - 30 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Keki, Fuensanta 4, 18 - 37 EUR * Modern Cuisine

Shopping
The centre of Murcia is an ideal place to go shopping, as well as to stop along the way and enjoy a break in any of the dining establishments.

The names of the streets Platería, Trapería, Jabonerías, tell us about the artisanal trade activity and an important commercial tradition that goes back to the Middle Ages.

Food market Mercado Veronica is a must visit as the Murcia region is known for its fresh and tasty produce.

Bargains can be made at the souvenir and flea market on Jeronimo de Roda behind the El Corte Inglés department store.
How to get to?
Region of Murcia International Airport (RMU) is located 17 km from the city centre, in the suburban district of Corvera. The airport operates several international and domestic routes. It was opened 15 January, 2019.

From Madrid 3 hr 54 min (402 km) via A-30 and A-3

From Pamplona 7 hr 13 min (722 km) via A-23

From Santiago de Compostela 9 hr 35 min (1,005 km) via A-52

From Oviedo 8 hr 5 min (850 km) via A-6

From Santander 8 hr 3 min (841 km) via A-1

From Vitoria-Gasteiz 7 hr 6 min (740 km) via A-1

From Zaragoza 5 hr 25 min (545 km) via A-23

From Barcelona 5 hr 52 min (584 km) via AP-7

From Valladolid 5 hr 53 min (594 km) via AP-36

From Toledo 3 hr 50 min (400 km) via CM-42 and A-30

From Valencia 2 hr 25 min (227 km) via A-7

From Mérida 6 hr 23 min (606 km) via N-430

From Logroño 6 hr 53 min (715 km) via A-23

From Seville 5 hr 8 min (523 km) via A-92
Main information
Area: 881 sq. km (municipality)

Coordinates: 37°59′10″N 1°7′49″W

Population: 459 400

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Murcia and its attractions * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Murcia (Sp. Murcia) is a city in southeastern Spain, the capital and most populous city of the autonomous community of the Region of Murcia, and the seventh largest city in the country. It is an important service center wherein the tertiary sector has superseded its status as the quintessential agricultural exporter, thanks to its famous and ...

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The Region of Murcia • All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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The Region of Murcia is an autonomous community of Spain located in the southeast part of the Iberian Peninsula, on the Mediterranean coast. The region is centered on a historical region of the same name in what is now southeastern Spain. It is heir to the ancient Kingdom of Murcia, which traditiona…

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Pamplona and its running of the bulls • All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Pamplona (coofficially in Basque: Iruña) is a municipality and city, capital of Navarre, Spain.
It is the financial and commercial center of Navarre, as well as being the administrative center of the community because it is the seat of the institutions of the regional administration and the territor…

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Navarre (Spanish: Navarra), officially the Chartered Community of Navarre, is a foral autonomous community and province in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Autonomous Community, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Nouvelle-Aquitaine in France. The capital city is Pamplona (Basque: Iruña).

Navarre is one of the wealthiest regions in Spain per capita, with a diversified economy primarily focused on the energy sector, healthcare services and manufacturing. The gross domestic product (GDP) of the autonomous community was 20.3 billion euros in 2018, accounting for 1.7% of Spanish economic output.
Activities
The San Fermín festivities are celebrated in Pamplona every year for a week starting at noon on the eve of July 7, with bullfights as the main reason. It is an internationally known celebration, especially since it was popularized by the American writer Ernest Hemingway, fan of it. Every year, thousands of people visit the city during the festival.

The Navarrese Pyrenees is another area of active tourism in the community. Also within rural tourism, the Irati Forest stands out. In that same area are the Zugarramurdi caves and the museum of witches.

As cultural tourism, the different routes of the Camino de Santiago in Navarre stand out, especially the most popular and well-known one that begins in Roncesvalles and runs through the community through towns such as Puente la Reina where it joins the one brought from Sangüesa for those who decide to follow the Aragonese road. The Jacobean route of the Ebro crosses the Ribera Navarre.
What to see (in alphabetical order) Abbey of Santa María la Real de la Oliva Arantza and its attractions Arazuri castle dates back to the 15th century Artajona and its walled enclosure Bera and its attractions Castle of Xavier and art collection Elizondo and its noble houses Estella-Lizarra and its attractions Etxalar has a National Tourism Award for beautification of the town Lesaka and its architecture Monastery of Leyre - a Benedictine monastery Monastery of Santa Maria de Irache and its winery Pamplona - the capital of Navarre Puente la Reina and its Roman bridge Roncal - Erronkari and its Church of San Esteban Roncesvalles and the legend for the death of Roland Sangüesa and its attractions Tudela and its attractions Ujué and its church-fortress of Santa Maria
In winter ski resorts are available:
Abodi Salazar with four cross-country tracks Larra-Belagua with 24 km of cross-country skiing Transport and how to get to? By air
Pamplona Airport is a Spanish Aena airport located 6 kilometers from the city of Pamplona, within the municipalities of Noáin and Esquíroz. It is a public airport owned by the Aena company. In 2019, it registered 242,520 passengers (18% growth compared to the previous year) and 6,135 operations (4.5% less than the previous year).
By trains
Navarra has three railway lines totaling a network of 175 km. The lines are: Madrid-Irún/Hendaya, Alsasua-Zaragoza and Bilbao-Castejón. The entire network is electrified but only a small fraction -the Madrid-Irún sections and from Castejón to the Navarro-Aragonese border- have double track.

Renfe Operadora provides two types of service in the Autonomous Community. The most frequented in terms of number of passengers transported are those of Media Distancia. The busiest route is Logroño-Castejón-Zaragoza. In fact, between Castejón and Zaragoza there may be seven Regional Exprés circulations per day and direction.

In second place comes the Castejón-Pamplona-Vitoria, in which 4 or 5 trains run every day between the first two terminals, and three trains between the capital and Vitoria. A third route tangentially serves Navarra, specifically Burunda, with Regional Express trains in the Irún-Vitoria corridor, at a rate of three daily frequencies in each direction. All these services are managed by the North and Center Managements of the Media Distancia business unit.

However, the star service is the Talgo Altaria, inaugurated in 2003, which connects Pamplona with Madrid-Puerta de Atocha four times every working day. Of these, two end in the Navarran capital, while a third continues to Irún and the fourth to Vitoria. All the trains make the journey between Pamplona and Madrid in less than 4 hours, using the AVE route from Ricla to Madrid, where they reach speeds of 220 km/h.
Distance by car from the capital Pamplona to the main cities of Spain
From Madrid 4 hr 6 min (397 km) via A-2

From Logroño 58 min (85.1 km) via A-12

From Santiago de Compostela 6 hr 33 min (693 km) via A-6

From Oviedo 4 hr 18 min (436 km) via A-8

From Santander 1 hr 38 min (156 km) via A-1

From Vitoria-Gasteiz 1 hr 6 min (96.9 km) via A-1 and A-10

From Zaragoza 1 hr 48 min (178 km) via AP-68 and AP-15

From Barcelona 4 hr 32 min (482 km) via AP-2

From Valladolid 3 hr 12 min (333 km) via A-62

From Toledo 4 hr 35 min (459 km) via A-2

From Valencia 4 hr 37 min (487 km) via A-23

From Mérida 6 hr 29 min (723 km) via A-66 and A-62

From Murcia 6 hr 44 min (722 km) via A-23

From Seville 8 hr 15 min (915 km) via A-66 and A-62
Main information
Area: 10 391 km²

Coordinates: 42°49′00″N 1°39′00″W

Population: 661 197

Languages: Spanish, Basque

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Navarre and its attractions * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Navarre (Spanish: Navarra), officially the Chartered Community of Navarre, is a foral autonomous community and province in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Autonomous Community, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Nouvelle-Aquitaine in France. The capital city is Pamplona (Basque: Iruña). Navarre is one of the wealthiest regions in Spain per capita, with a diversified economy ...

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Logroño is a city and municipality located in the north of Spain, capital of the autonomous community of La Rioja. With 152,485 inhabitants, it is also its most populous town, concentrating almost half of the total, as well as its economic, cultural and service center.

Being crossed in its northern part by the river Ebro, Logroño has historically been a place of passage and crossroads, such as the Camino de Santiago, and borders, disputed between the ancient Hispanic kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages.

In the last century, the city has experienced a slow but significant demographic growth with respect to nearby towns, caused mainly by migratory movements from other regions of the province.

In 1997 it was the first Commercial City in Spain, as well as the first Spanish Gastronomic Capital in 2012 and also the European City of Sports in 2014.
Tourism and main attractions Religious architecture
The Co-cathedral of Santa María de la Redonda belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calahorra y La Calzada-Logroño. It was declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 1931.

The church has two elaborately decorated towers, each containing a set of bells. The sidewall of the church has a clock split into three faces : one each for the hour, minute and second. The entrance to the church is protected by high iron gates and netting to prevent people or birds entering. The towers are similarly netted but the famous storks which inhabit Logroño can still nest on the highest ledges.

The Flemish panels by Gillis Coignet: Gillis Coignet, born in 1535 in Antwerp and died in 1599 in Hamburg, painted those panels in Antwerp in 1584, according to the wooden footnote of the painting Anunciation. The panels arrived at this church from the chapel of the Lordship of Somalo near Nájera. Their owners acquired them in Paris at the beginning of the 20th century and placed them in the chapel.

The Church of San Bartolomé is the oldest church of Logroño. Its construction dates back to the 12th century, so partly preserves Romanesque style in the head and in the initial part of the tower, and continues during the 13th century, with the Gothic style development, building the magnificent arched cover, which contains some Romanesque sculptures that tell the life of the saint and other Bible passages. The Church of San Bartholomé is located in the Landmark No. 9 in the Camino de Santiago. It is located 612 km from Santiago de Compostela. It was declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 1866.

The Church of Santiago el Real. It has been filed as an Asset of Cultural Interest in the Monument category since May 28, 1981. Built in the 16th century on a medieval temple, it belongs to the style called Reyes Católicos. In the 17th century it acquired its current appearance, with the addition of a Baroque façade topped with an enormous figure of Santiago Matamoros.

Imperial Church of Santa María de Palacio. Declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in the Monument category on September 27, 1943. Its pyramidal "Gothic needle" from the 13th century stands out. It underwent numerous reforms in the following centuries.

Convent of Mercy. Declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in the Monument category on March 16, 1983. It is currently the seat of the Parliament of La Rioja.
Civil architecture

The fortification of Revellín are the remains of the fortifications of the city of Logroño, whose west-facing gate is preserved. The most important part of the fortification process took place between 1498 and 1540, reinforcing the old middle age wall.

After the revolt of the Comuneros, the troops of Francis I of France led by general Asparrot sieged the city on May 25, 1521. The captain Vélez de Guevara was responsible of its defense. But the construction of the wall and the gate which are visible today started in 1522, one year after the siege.

After the second half of the 16th century, its role in the city defense started to decline, which resulted in a noticeable deterioration of the walls. Private buildings were built against its walls, which did not prevent its conservation to our days.

Stone Bridge is also called San Juan de Ortega Bridge, in reference to the one believed to be the builder of the original bridge.

Post office building is Neo-baroque architecture building

Práxedes Mateo Sagasta Secondary School

The Theatre of Bretón de los Herreros is a nineteenth-century theatre. The theatre has had its present name since 1902 when it was renamed in honour of Manuel Bretón de los Herreros. It was declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 1983.

Museums

Museum of La Rioja is located in the palace house where General Espartero lived until his death in 1879.

House of Sciences was inaugurated on April 22, 1999 and is located in the building of the old Municipal Slaughterhouse.

Würth La Rioja Museum of contemporary art inaugurated on September 7, 2007 in the El Sequero Industrial Estate in the municipality of Agoncillo.

La Merced exhibition hall is located in the former palace of General Espartero's adjutant, the Marquis of Covarrubias.

Amos Salvador Room is located in the heart of Logroño, in one of the buildings that formed the old tobacco factory, where temporary exhibitions of contemporary art are usually held.

City Council of Logroño with its own showroom

Rioja wines
Rioja is a wine region in Spain, with denominación de origen calificada (D.O.Ca., "Qualified Designation of Origin," the highest category in Spanish wine regulation). Rioja wine is made from grapes grown in the autonomous communities of La Rioja and Navarre, and the province of Álava (Basque community).

Rioja is further subdivided into three zones: Rioja Alta, Rioja Oriental and Rioja Alavesa.
Best restaurants
There are nine Michelin list restaurants in the city:

Ikaro, Avenida de Portugal 3, 55 - 75 EUR * Creative Cuisine (one star)

Kiro Sushi, María Teresa Gil de Gárate 24, 110 EUR * Japanese Cuisine

Tastavin, San Juan 25, 30 - 40 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Tondeluna, Muro de la Mata 9, 30 - 50 EUR * Modern Cuisine

Umm No Solo Tapas, San Juán 1, Traditional Cuisine

Ajonegro, Hermanos Moroy 1, 45 - 55 EUR * Fusion

La Cocina de Ramón, Portales 30, 30 - 45 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Txebiko Cachetero, Laurel 3, 40 - 50 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Juan Carlos Ferrando, María Teresa Gil de Gárate 7, 50 - 70 EUR * Contemporary Cuisine

Transport and how to get to?
Logroño-Agoncillo Airport (IATA: RJL, ICAO: LERJ) is the airport serving Logroño in the autonomous community of La Rioja. However, as of 2021, there are no longer any scheduled services at the airport after Iberia Regional terminated the sole route to Madrid.

Regional services are offered to Zaragoza and Valladolid, with intermediate stops such as Calahorra, Haro, Alfaro, Tudela, Castejón, Miranda de Ebro, Burgos, etc. There are also services from Grandes Líneas to Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Salamanca, Asturias and Galicia, among others.
Distance by car from Logroño to the main cities of Spain
From Madrid 3 hr 42 min (335 km) via A-2 and N-111

From Pamplona 56 min (85.3 km) via Autovía Camino de Santiago/A-12

From Santiago de Compostela 5 hr 54 min (616 km) via A-6 and A-231

From Oviedo 4 hr 2 min (424 km) via A-231

From Santander 2 hr 25 min (234 km) via A-8 and AP-68

From Vitoria-Gasteiz 1 hr 6 min (94.1 km) via AP-68

From Zaragoza 1 hr 40 min (170 km) via AP-68

From Barcelona 4 hr 29 min (472 km) via AP-2 and AP-68

From Valladolid 2 hr 38 min (256 km) via A-62

From Toledo 4 hr 6 min (397 km) via A-2

From Valencia 4 hr 31 min (479 km) via A-23 and AP-68

From Mérida 5 hr 54 min (646 km) via A-66 and A-62

From Murcia 6 hr 36 min (701 km) via A-3

From Seville 7 hr 42 min (838 km) via A-66 and A-62
Main information
Area: 79 km²

Coordinates: 42°28′12″N 2°26′44″W

Population: 150 808

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Logroño and its attractions * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Logroño is a city and municipality located in the north of Spain, capital of the autonomous community of La Rioja. With 152,485 inhabitants, it is also its most populous town, concentrating almost half of the total, as well as its economic, cultural and service center.

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https://all-andorra.com/la-rioja/

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La Rioja is an autonomous community and province in Spain, in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. Its capital is Logroño.

It covers part of the Ebro valley towards its north and the Iberian Range in the south.

The community is a single province, so there is no County Council, and it is organized into 174 municipalities. It borders the Basque community to the north, Navarre to the northeast, Aragón to the southeast, and Castile and León to the west and south.

This autonomous community is historically linked to the Diocese of Calahorra and the Kingdom of Najera. The first documentary reference to La Rioja as Rioga is written in the jurisdiction of Miranda de Ebro, in the year 1099. The Statute of Autonomy of La Rioja, also called the Statute of San Millán, was approved in 1982.

The region is well known for its wines under the brand Denominación de Origen Calificada Rioja. Rioja wine is made from grapes grown in the autonomous communities of La Rioja and Navarre, and the Basque province of Álava. Rioja is further subdivided into three zones: Rioja Alta, Rioja Oriental and Rioja Alavesa. Many wines have traditionally blended fruit from all three regions, though there is a slow growth in single-zone wines.

It is also one of the most important paleontological territories in the world in terms of ichnites (dinosaur footprints) deposits, which stand out for their number and conservation. Among its monuments are the monasteries of San Millán de la Cogolla, considered medieval centers of culture and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997.
Camino de Santiago
The Camino de Santiago has had great importance over the years in these territories, with two routes running through them. The French way, the most popular, which, starting from Roncesvalles, passes through Pamplona, ​​Estella, Los Arcos and once inside La Rioja, through Logroño and Nájera to reach Santo Domingo de la Calzada where it will converge with the other way called the Interior or Basque - French, which coming from France through Irún, passes through Andoain, Beasain, Zalduendo de Álava, Vitoria, La Puebla de Arganzón, entering La Rioja through the Conchas de Haro towards Briñas, Haro, Zarratón, Cidamón, San Torcuato, Bañares and finally Santo Domingo de la Calzada, from where it will continue towards Belorado on the way to Santiago de Compostela, ending its Rioja route in Grañón.

Another of the Caminos de Santiago that passes through La Rioja is the Camino Jacobeo del Ebro. Pilgrims from the Mediterranean and the eastern Pyrenees consolidated this Camino del Ebro from Tortosa to Logroño passing through Gandesa, Caspe, Zaragoza, Tudela, Alfaro and Calahorra. It is the Roman road that has linked Tarraco with Astorga for more than two thousand years, a historic axis of communications that discovers the lands and peoples of Catalonia, Aragon, Navarre and La Rioja.

Many of the municipalities through which the road passes have hostels, so that pilgrims can spend the night.
Main attractions
La Rioja currently has 118 declared Assets of Cultural Interest (BIC), as an example we can cite the following:

Churches and cathedrals: Cathedral of Santa María (Calahorra), Co-Cathedral of Santa María de la Redonda (Logroño), Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada, Church of Santiago el Mayor (Calahorra), Church of San Andrés (Calahorra), Church of San Bartolomé (Logroño), Collegiate Church of Santo Tomás (Haro), Parish Church of Santa María la Mayor (Ezcaray), Parish Church of Santa María la Mayor (San Vicente de la Sonsierra), Church of Our Lady of the Assumption (Briones ) and church of Santa María de la Asunción (Navarrete).

Monasteries: Monastery of San José (Calahorra), Monastery of Ntra. Sra. de la Piedad (Casalarreina), Cistercian Monastery of Santa María (Cañas), Monastery of Nuestra Señora de Valvanera (Anguiano), Monastery of Santa María la Real de Nájera and Monasteries of San Millán de la Cogolla.

Castles: Sajazarra Castle, Clavijo Castle, Arnedo Castle, Cornago Castle, Cuzcurrita Castle.

Houses and palaces: Palace of the Marquis of Casa Torre (Igea), Palace of the Salazar (Haro).

Archaeological remains: Roman ruins of Calahorra, Roman Nifeo (Alfaro) and Contrebia Leukade (Aguilar del Río Alhama).

Paleontological deposits: Enciso deposit, Hornillos deposit, San Vicente deposit (Munilla) and the Paleontological deposit of Icnitas de las Hoyas (Arnedillo).

Historical-Artistic Complex: The Camino de Santiago in La Rioja, Historical-Artistic Complex of Casalarreina, Historical-Artistic Complex of Briones, Canals de la Sierra Historical Complex and the Historical-Artistic Complex of Ortigosa de Cameros.

Assets of intangible cultural interest: La Jota Rioja, The Kingdom of Nájera (Theatrical representation of historical events), The miracle of the hen and the rooster of Santo Domingo de la Calzada.
What to see (in alphabetical order) Briones and its attractions Casalarreina and its monastery of Our Lady of Mercy Enciso and its dinosaurs Haro - capital of La Rioja wines Logroño - capital of La Rioja Monastery of Nuestra Señora de Valvanera Monasteries of San Millán de Suso and San Millán de Yuso - UNESCO sites Monastery of Santa María de San Salvador de Cañas - Cistercian abbey Nájera and its monastery Sajazarra and its castle Santo Domingo de la Calzada and its Cathedral Villoslada de Cameros and its attractions Viniegra de Abajo and its attractions Viniegra de Arriba and its attractions Vivanco Museum of Wine Culture - world best museum devoted to wines by UNESCO UNESCO heritage
On December 4, 1997, the monasteries of San Millán de Yuso and Suso were declared a World Heritage Site in Europe by UNESCO. Both are located in the Rioja town of San Millán de la Cogolla, and are famous because the Glosas Emilianenses were found there.

The Camino Frances de Santiago is also a World Heritage Site, which passes through several communities, including La Rioja, and 35 dinosaurs footprints sites on the Iberian Peninsula are in the process of becoming so, of which 13 are in La Rioja.

In 2013, the cultural landscape of wine and vineyards in La Rioja and Rioja Alavesa was included in the list of candidate assets for World Heritage.
Transport and how to get to?
Logroño-Agoncillo Airport (IATA: RJL, ICAO: LERJ) is the airport serving Logroño in the autonomous community of La Rioja. However, as of 2021, there are no longer any scheduled services at the airport after Iberia Regional terminated the sole route to Madrid.

Regional services are offered to Zaragoza and Valladolid, with intermediate stops such as Calahorra, Haro, Alfaro, Tudela, Castejón, Miranda de Ebro, Burgos, etc. There are also services from Grandes Líneas to Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Salamanca, Asturias and Galicia, among others.
Distance by car from Logroño to the main cities of Spain
From Madrid 3 hr 42 min (335 km) via A-2 and N-111

From Pamplona 56 min (85.3 km) via Autovía Camino de Santiago/A-12

From Santiago de Compostela 5 hr 54 min (616 km) via A-6 and A-231

From Oviedo 4 hr 2 min (424 km) via A-231

From Santander 2 hr 25 min (234 km) via A-8 and AP-68

From Vitoria-Gasteiz 1 hr 6 min (94.1 km) via AP-68

From Zaragoza 1 hr 40 min (170 km) via AP-68

From Barcelona 4 hr 29 min (472 km) via AP-2 and AP-68

From Valladolid 2 hr 38 min (256 km) via A-62

From Toledo 4 hr 6 min (397 km) via A-2

From Valencia 4 hr 31 min (479 km) via A-23 and AP-68

From Mérida 5 hr 54 min (646 km) via A-66 and A-62

From Murcia 6 hr 36 min (701 km) via A-3

From Seville 7 hr 42 min (838 km) via A-66 and A-62
Main information
Area: 5045 km²

Coordinates: 42°15′N 2°30′W

Population: 319 914

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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La Rioja and its attractions * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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La Rioja is an autonomous community and province in Spain, in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. Its capital is Logroño. It covers part of the Ebro valley towards its north and the Iberian Range in the south. The community is a single province, so there is no County Council, and it is organized into 174 municipalities.

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https://all-andorra.com/rias-baixas/

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Rías Baixas and its resorts • All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Rias Baixas (Sp. Rías Bajas) are a part of the coastal area of Galicia, Spain. Its capital is the city of Pontevedra. They occupy almost the entire coast of the province of Pontevedra, from Punta Carreiro to the Vigo estuary, and part of the west coast of the province of A Coruña.
It’s one of the ..…

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https://all-andorra.com/death-coast/

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Costa da Morte (Death Coast) is part of the Atlantic coast of Galicia, Spain. The Costa da Morte extends from the municipality of Muros, bordering Rías Baixas, to the municipalities, integrated in A Coruña metropolitan area. Further north are the Rías Altas.

It's one of the wildest parts of the Atlantic resorts of Spain.

The Costa da Morte received its name because there have been many shipwrecks along its treacherous rocky shore. The shore of the Costa da Morte is exposed directly to the Atlantic Ocean.

It is one of the most forgotten areas of Atlantic resorts of Spain in terms of tourism although it seems to be a perfect place to see something new and wild. Costa da Morte is a windy and rainy place during all year but also a sunny destination during summer.

The coast consists of the beautiful landscapes such as the beaches of Trece, Reira or Ariño (Camariñas), Lage, Traba and Soesto (Lage), Mar de Fóra and O Rostro (Finisterre), the penedos of Pasarela and Traba, the Costa de Cabo Villain and the coast that connects Camelle with Traba.

It is declared a special conservation area.
Main tourist sites (from north to south) Malpica - a northernmost part of the Costa da Morte Corme-Puerto and its beaches Laxe and its famous city beach Camariñas and its attractions Muxía and its attractions Cape of Touriñán - the westernmost point of inland Spain Fisterra and its lighthouse Corcubión - a Historic-Artistic Site Cee and its attractions History
Eugenio Carré Aldao, towards the end of the 1920s, was one of the first to refer to the name "Coast of Death", which, he claims, comes from an ancient legend documented in the middle of the century XVI, dramatizing everything geographically understood to the right of Finisterre, due to its lack of constancy of navigability.

Taking into account that the name of this region refers to the number of marine catastrophes due to the danger of its cliffs and frequent storms, it is possible to delimit it between Punta Roncudo and Cape Finisterre.

This delimitation (Cape Roncudo-Finisterre) was set by English sailors more than two centuries ago, considering the Finisterran arch the most dangerous stretch of coast due to the amount of shallows or lakes that were hidden a few meters from the surface away from the coast, the strong currents, storms, sudden closures of fog and multiple shipwrecks.
How to get to?
Nearest airports are in Santiago de Compostela (SCQ) and in A Coruña (LCG).

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Costa da Morte and its resorts * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Costa da Morte (Death Coast) is part of the Atlantic coast of Galicia, Spain. The Costa da Morte extends from the municipality of Muros, bordering Rías Baixas, to the municipalities, integrated in A Coruña metropolitan area. Further north are the Rías Altas. It's one of the wildest parts of the Atlantic resorts of Spain.

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https://all-andorra.com/rias-altas/

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The Rías Altas and its resorts • All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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The Rías Altas are a part of the coastal area of Galicia, in the north of Spain. They form the eastern part of the province of A Coruña and the entire coast of the province of Lugo, bordering Costa Verde (Asturias) to the east and Costa da Morte, A Coruña (Galicia) to the west. It’s one ...

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https://all-andorra.com/way-of-st-james/

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The Camino de Santiago, known in English as the Way of St. James, is a network of pilgrims' ways or pilgrimages leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition holds that the remains of the apostle are buried.
The shell and its legend
The scallop shell, often found on the shores in Galicia, has long been the symbol of the Camino de Santiago. Over the centuries the scallop shell has taken on a variety of meanings, metaphorical, practical, and mythical, even if its relevance may have actually derived from the desire of pilgrims to take home a souvenir.

According to Spanish legends, Saint James had spent time preaching the gospel in Spain, but returned to Judaea upon seeing a vision of the Virgin Mary on the bank of the Ebro River. Two versions of the most common myth about the origin of the symbol concern the death of Saint James, who was martyred by beheading in Jerusalem in 44 AD.
Main routes
The Camino de Santiago extends from different countries of Europe, and even North Africa, on its way to Santiago de Compostela and Finisterre.

The Routes of Northern Spain and the French Way (Camino Francés) are the ones listed in the World Heritage List by UNESCO.

The Camino Primitivo, or Original Way, is the oldest route to Santiago de Compostela, first taken in the 9th century and which begins in Oviedo.

The French Way is the GR 65 and the most popular of the routes of the Way of St. James. It runs from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French side of the Pyrenees to Roncesvalles on the Spanish side and then another 780 km on to Santiago de Compostela through the major cities of Pamplona, Logroño, Burgos and . A typical walk on the Camino francés takes at least four weeks, allowing for one or two rest days on the way. Some travel the Camino on bicycle or on horseback.

Paths from the cities of Tours, Vézelay, and Le Puy-en-Velay meet at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. A fourth French route originates in Arles, in Provence, and crosses the French-Spanish frontier at a different point, between the Pyrenees towns of Somport and Canfranc. This fourth route follows the Aragonese Way and joins the French Way at Puente la Reina, south of Pamplona, in Navarre, about 700 kilometres from Santiago de Compostela.

In 2017 roughly 60% of pilgrims traveled to Santiago de Compostela via the French Way according to statistics gathered by the Pilgrim's Office in Santiago. In 1993, the French Way, along with the Spanish route of the Camino de Santiago was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its historical importance in Christianity as a major pilgrimage route and its testimony to the exchange of ideas and cultures across its length.

The Portuguese Way is the name of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage routes starting in Portugal. It begins at Porto or Lisbon. From Porto, along the Douro River, pilgrims travel north crossing the five main rivers-the Ave, Cávado, Neiva, Lima and Minho-before entering Spain and passing through Pontevedra on the way to Santiago de Compostela.

The Portuguese way is the second most popular route after the French Way and the Portuguese coastal way is the seventh most popular route in Galicia, with 19.9% and 4.41%, respectively. The Portuguese way is 260 km long starting in Porto or 610 km long starting in Lisbon. The way from Porto was historically used by the local populations and by those who arrived in the local ports. In the contemporary period, most pilgrims are foreigners, and of the total number reaching Galicia between January 1 and October 6, 2017, only 4.27% were Portuguese. Roughly 30,000 pilgrims per year walk this path. It is growing in popularity, and 81,000 walked the Portuguese way in 2018.

The Northern Way is an 817 km, five-week coastal route from Basque Country at Irún, near the French border, and follows the northern coastline of Spain to Galicia where it heads inland towards Santiago joining the Camino Francés at Arzúa. This route follows the old Roman road, the Via Agrippa, for some of its way and is part of the Coastal Route. This route was used by Christian pilgrims when Muslim domination had extended northwards and was making travel along the Camino francés dangerous.

The route passes through San Sebastian, Gernika, Bilbao, and Oviedo. It is less populated, lesser known and generally more difficult hiking. Shelters are 20 to 35 kilometers apart, rather than there being hostels or monasteries every four to ten kilometers as on the Camino Francés.

The Aragonese Way is a route of the Way of St. James beginning at the French-Spanish border at the pass of Somport and joining the French Way (or Camino Francés) at Puente la Reina in Navarre. It is the continuation of the Arles Way which begins in Arles and crosses the Pyrenees into Spain at Somport.

The route covers approximately 170 km and travels through a variety of landscapes, ranging from mountainous to gently rolling and sometimes nearly flat river valleys. For the most part it follows the River Aragon.

The English Way is one of the paths of the Camino de Santiago. It begins in the Galician port cities of Ferrol (118 km) or A Coruña (75 km) and runs south to Santiago de Compostela.

The Via de La Plata Way starts in Seville from where it goes north to Zamora via Zafra, Cáceres and Salamanca. It is much less frequented than the French Way or even the Northern Way - in 2019, of the 213,000 pilgrims being granted the compostela in Santiago, 4.2% traveled on the Via de la Plata, compared to 70.3% on the Camino Francés. After Zamora there are three options. The first route, or Camino Sanabrés heads west and reaches Santiago via Ourense. Another route continues north to Astorga, from where pilgrims can continue west along the Camino Francés to Santiago. A third, seldom traveled route, crosses into Portugal and passes through Bragança, rejoining the Camino Sanabrés near Ourense.

The Camino Mozárabe route, from Almeria, Granada or Málaga, passes through Córdoba and later joins up with the Via de La Plata at Mérida.

The Camino del Ebro starts in Catalonia at Sant Jaume d'Enveja near Deltebre, where Saint James is traditionally supposed to have left Spain on his way home to martyrdom in Palestine, and follows the River Ebro past Tortosa and Zaragoza, joining the Camino Francés at Logroño.

Camino de Santiago de Soria, known as the Camino Castellano-Aragonés, this camino leaves the Camino del Ebro at Gallur and goes past Soria to Almonacid de Zorita, where it joins the Camino de la Lana.

The Camino de la Lana (sometimes Ruta de la Lana), or wool road, leaves Alicante and heads mainly northwards for 670 km, joining the Camino Francés at Burgos.

The Camino de Levante starts at Valencia and crosses Castille-La Mancha, passing through towns and cities including Toledo, El Toboso, Ávila and Medina del Campo, joining the Via de la Plata at Zamora.

The Camino del Sureste starts at Alicante and follows a broadly similar route as the Camino del Levante from Albacete until Medina del Campo, where the routes bifurcate, with the Sureste heading northwards to Tordesillas, joining the Via de la Plata at Benavente, while the Levante goes westwards to Toro and Zamora.
Accommodation and hotels
In Spain, France, and Portugal, pilgrim's hostels with beds in dormitories provide overnight accommodation for pilgrims who hold a credencial. In Spain this type of accommodation is called a refugio or albergue, both of which are similar to youth hostels or hostelries in the French system of gîtes d'étape.

Hostels may be run by a local parish, the local council, private owners, or pilgrims' associations. Occasionally, these refugios are located in monasteries, such as the one in the Monastery of San Xulián de Samos that is run by monks, and the one in Santiago de Compostela.

The final hostel on the route is the famous Hostal de los Reyes Católicos, which lies in the Plaza do Obradoiro across the Cathedral. It was originally constructed as hospice and hospital for pilgrims by Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon, the Catholic Monarchs. Today it is a luxury 5-star Parador hotel, which still provides services to a limited number of pilgrims.

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The Camino de Santiago * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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The Camino de Santiago, known in English as the Way of St. James, is a network of pilgrims' ways or pilgrimages leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition holds that the remains of the apostle are buried.

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https://all-andorra.com/pontevedra/

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Pontevedra is a city in Galicia, Spain. It is the capital of both the Comarca (County) and Province of Pontevedra, and of the Rias Baixas in Galicia. It is also the capital of its own municipality.

The old town of Pontevedra was the second site in Galicia to be declared in its entirety a Historic-Artistic Site (only 11 years after Santiago de Compostela), by decree of February 23, 1951.

The city is best known for its urban planning, pedestrianisation and the charm of its old town.

Pontevedra's car-free center helped transform it into one of the most accessible European cities, leading to various European and American studies of its exemplary urban planning being carried out in recent years.
Tourism and main attractions
Pontevedra is the second city in Galicia for its rich heritage, only after Santiago de Compostela. A city of art and history, the city is known as The Good City (name attributed by the French author Jean Froissart in his Chronicles in the 14th century) or The City of the Lérez.

The city is also an important stopover on the Portuguese Way of the Camino de Santiago.
Religious buildings
The church of the Pilgrim Virgin is a scallop-shaped chapel located along the route of the Portuguese Way of St. James. Construction began in 1778 and it is one of the most symbolic and important buildings in the city of Pontevedra. It is dedicated to the Virgin who, according to tradition, guided pilgrims from Baiona, in the south-west of the province of Pontevedra, to Santiago de Compostela.

The Basilica of Saint Mary Major is a catholic church, dating from the 16th century, and consecrated as a basilica on January 10, 1962, by decree of Pope John XXIII. It is currently considered a BIC (Good of Cultural Interest in Spain, with the identification number RI-51-0000828). It was declared a historic-artistic monument belonging to the National Artistic Treasure by decree of 3 June 1931.

The Convent and church of San Francisco (in Galician: Convento e Igrexa de San Francisco) is a church declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 1896.

The ruins of San Domingos was a convent declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 1895.

The Church of Saint Bartholomew is a Catholic religious building designed in the late 17th century in the Baroque style as a place of worship and pastoral activities for the adjoining Jesuit college. The church was dedicated to Saint Bartholomew when it became a parish church in 1836.

The Convent of St. Clare is a former convent of the Order of Poor Clares, located in Santa Clara Street, near the old St. Clare Gate of the old city walls.
Civil buildings
The walls of Pontevedra were a fortification, which disappeared for the most part towards the end of the 19th century, although some remains are still visible, the most important being the crenellated section in Arzobispo Malvar Street. This complete section, approximately 40 metres long, can be accessed from the gardens of the two buildings on the west side of Santa María Avenue.

There are also sections of the walls that are part of more recent buildings and have been highlighted during the renovation of these buildings, such as the section next to the old Trabancas gate, which was incorporated and highlighted in the renovation of the Savoy café.

The Palace of the Counts of Maceda, or Casa del Barón in Pontevedra, Spain, is an original Renaissance pazo dating from the 16th century. It is currently a four-star hotel belonging to the Spanish Tourism Paradors Network.

The Casa de las Campanas (House of the Bells) is one of the three oldest buildings in the city of Pontevedra in Spain, and perhaps the oldest civil building. It is located in Don Filiberto street, at number 11, in the old town.

The Casa de las Caras (House of the Heads), also known as the Pazo de Barbeito y Padrón, is a 16th-century building in the heart of the historic centre. It is known as the House of the Heads because of the Renaissance busts that decorate its façade on the upper floor.

The Palace of Mugartegui, or Palace of the Counts of Fefiñáns in Pontevedra, Spain, is a Baroque pazo dating from the 18th century. It currently houses the headquarters of the Regulatory Council of the Rías Baixas Designation of Origin.

The Pazo de Castro Monteagudo, is an 18th-century baroque pazo in Pasantería Street, next to the Plaza de la Leña, built in 1760, as indicated in a Latin document found during its renovation. Its promoter and owner was José de Castro Monteagudo, the first auditor of the maritime province of Pontevedra.

The Pazo de García Flórez is an 18th century baroque pazo located between Sarmiento Street and Plaza de la Leña, in the heart of the old town. In the 1940s, the interior of the pazo was completely remodelled by the architect Robustiano Fernández Cochón to house the Pontevedra Museum. Its baroque exterior was preserved, an arch and a stone bridge were built to connect it to the pazo Castro Monteagudo and two stone statues of the Fortress and Hope were placed on the corners of the roof. On 15 August 1943, the Pazo García Flórez was inaugurated as the headquarters of the Pontevedra Museum.

The Principal Theatre of Pontevedra has neoclassical architecture. The theatre is spread over five floors and two basements, in which it houses two exhibition rooms and an auditorium with a total capacity of 434 seats. Its stage, which occupies 52 square metres, is equipped with a mobile platform.

The interior space has a false ceiling which helps to improve acoustics, as well as hiding the lighting installation. Its decorative style sought to combine the look of 19th century theatres with a more contemporary interior.

The Pontevedra City Hall is the seat of the City council of this Galician city. It is located at the eastern end of the Alameda de Pontevedra, on the edge of the old town. To the west it opens onto the pedestrian Square of Spain. The building belongs to the eclectic style that prevailed at the end of the 19th century with elements and concepts inspired by French architecture.

The Town Hall was one of Alejandro Sesmero's first major projects, setting many of the guidelines for what would be his style, an eclecticism with a French flavour, giving the severity required by a public building, while its refined decoration underlines the building's political-administrative significance.

The Palace of the Deputation of Pontevedra, designed by Alejandro Sesmero, belongs to the eclectic style with elements and concepts inspired by French architecture. It is made of stone, has a square plan and two floors. The facade is symmetrically organised, with a central body and two other lateral bodies slightly advanced with Ashlars with Bossages. A large staircase leads to the main entrance, which is inspired by a triumphal arch, with semicircular arches framed by fluted columns with Ionic capitals.

The Plaza de Toros is the bullring of the Spanish city of Pontevedra and the only one in the autonomous community of Galicia. It has a capacity of 7,800 spectators and is classified as the second category of Spanish bullring. The current bullring replaced a wooden one dating from 1892, although the tradition of bullfighting in Pontevedra dates back to the 17th century.
Beaches
The municipality has three main beaches: the Lérez Beach, the Placeres Beach and the Fontaíña Beach. The Lérez Beach is opposite the Island of Sculptures park.

In the neighbouring municipalities, a few kilometres away, there are numerous Blue Flag beaches on both banks of the Ria de Pontevedra. On the southern shore are the beaches of Portocelo, Mogor or Aguete, as well as Lapamán. On the northern shore, Cabeceira is the closest, three kilometres from the city centre, and a little further away are the beautiful beaches of Raxó, Areas, Canelas, Montalvo, Pragueira and especially the famous La Lanzada, not far from La Toja Island and its luxury hotels and casino.
Best restaurants
There are three Michelin list restaurants in the city:

Eirado, Plaza da Leña 3, 45 - 72 EUR * Modern Cuisine (one star)

La Ultramar, Padre Amoedo Carballo 3, 31 - 47 EUR * Fusion

Loaira, Plaza de Leña 2, 40 - 60 - 47 EUR * Modern Cuisine
How to get to?
The nearest airport to Pontevedra is Vigo (VGO) Airport which is 22.8 km away. Other nearby airports include Santiago de Compostela (SCQ) (54.9 km), A Coruña (LCG) (99.2 km) and Porto (OPO) (132.8 km).

There are daily trains to various parts of Spain such as Madrid (Talgo), Barcelona and Alicante as well as regional connections to the rest of Galicia.

Distances by car:

From Santiago de Compostela 50 min (62.1 km) via AP-9

From Madrid 5 hr 51 min (613 km) via A-6 and A-52
Main information
Area: 118 sq. km

GPS coordinates: 42°26′01″N 8°38′51″W

Language: Spanish, Galician

Population: 83 260

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1, in summer +2

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Pontevedra - a Historic-Artistic Site * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Pontevedra is a city in Galicia, Spain. It is the capital of both the Comarca (County) and Province of Pontevedra, and of the Rias Baixas in Galicia. It is also the capital of its own municipality. The old town of Pontevedra was the second site in Galicia to be declared in its entirety a Historic-Artistic Site ...

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Ourense - one of the European cities with the greatest thermal heritage • All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Ourense (Sp. Orense) is a city and municipality located in the southeast of Galicia, Spain. It is the capital of the province of Ourense and of the homonymous region. It is the third Galician municipality by population after Vigo and A Coruña, and the most populated in the interior of Galicia. It i…

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Lugo is a city and a municipality in northwestern Spain in the autonomous community of Galicia. It is the capital of the province of Lugo. The municipality had a population of about 100,000, making it the fourth most populous city in Galicia.

Of Roman origin, it was founded in the year 25 AC. by Paulo Fabio Máximo and it is the oldest in Galicia. Built near a fort, in Roman times it received the name of Lucus Augusti.

Numerous Roman remains, many of them preserved in the Provincial Museum, are testimony to its first years of history, especially its Roman wall, unique in the world, which preserves its entire perimeter, and which was declared a World Heritage Site in 2000.

It stands along the Camino Primitivo path of the Camino de Santiago.
Main attractions
The city of Lugo is one of the few Spanish cities that have three assets inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List: The primitive road to Santiago that runs through the city, The Cathedral of Santa María and the Roman Wall itself.

The Roman wall of Lugo is the main monument of the city. It is the only Roman wall in the world that preserves its entire original perimeter, of the innumerable that existed in the ancient Roman Empire.

It is more than two kilometers long and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on November 30, 2000. Since October 6, 2007, it has been twinned with the Great Wall of China of Qinhuangdao.

Other Roman buildings: Lugo has Roman baths and a Roman bridge. It is known that a Roman road linked the city with these last two mentioned monuments, but its exact layout is unknown. A medieval road that probably followed the Roman road was demolished in the 1990s.

Construction of the Cathedral of Santa María begun in 1129, in Romanesque style, with additions in later centuries such as the north door portico, the clock tower, the cloister, and the neoclassical façade that it boasts today. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 2015.

The church of San Pedro was formerly part of the convent of San Francisco. With its dome and the wooden ceiling of the main nave, it is one of the rare if not the only example of Mudejar art in Galicia.

The O Carme neighborhood preserves remarkable buildings that in recent years have been mostly restored by various institutions, such as the Instituto Galego da Vivenda e Solo, the council and private entities. The primitive way of Santiago crosses this area, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2015.

The façade of the town hall, from the early 18th century, the work of Ferro Caveiro, stands out for being an archetypal example of Galician Baroque, with its stone decorations.

The clock tower is later and, according to some experts, breaks the harmony of the construction.

19th century architecture: Precisely, two emblematic buildings in Lugo, such as the old Monterrey cafe on Rúa Doutor Castro and the old Casino or La Voz de la Verdad on Rúa Conde Pallares, suffered unfortunate restorations during the last year.

The Provincial Museum stands out for its collection of Celtic jewelry, its Roman mosaics and interesting collections by Galician artists such as Castelao, Julia Minguillón, Castro Gil and Asorey.

Museo Interactivo de Historia de Lugo (MIHL), an interactive museum about the history of the city, made by Nieto Sobejano arquitectos.
Festivals
Two important festivals take place in Lugo:

Saint Froilan festivity, which lasts from 4-12 October, dedicated to the city's patron saint. It's a Fiesta of National Tourist Interest and it's very popular to eat polbo á feira in one of the many stands near Rosalía de Castro park.

Arde Lucus, festival celebrated in the last weeks of June which revives the Roman and castro past of the city, and which emerged to commemorate the declaration of the city's Roman wall as a World Heritage Site in 2000. In its latest editions it has reached nearly half a million visitors.
Best restaurants
There are two Michelin list restaurants in the city:

Os Cachivaches, Campos Novos 26, 40 - 55 EUR * Traditional Cuisine, Rice Dishes

Paprica, Nóreas 10, 35 - 64 EUR * Contemporary Cuisine
How to get to? Railway
Lugo is crossed by the León - A Coruña railway line and has two stations, one for passengers in the Sagrado Corazón neighborhood, and a freight terminal between the industrial estates of O Ceao and As Gándaras.

The passenger station has a direct long-distance service to Madrid and medium-distance services to A Coruña, Monforte de Lemos and Ourense. These services also allow linking with other Alvia trains to the Spanish capital and Barcelona.
Air Transport
The closest aerodrome to Lugo is the Rozas aerodrome, located just 9 kilometers away, in the neighboring municipality of Castro de Rey, accessible through the N-640.

For domestic and international flights, just over an hour from the city are the airports of A Coruña (96 km) and Santiago de Compostela (92 km).

By car:

From Santiago de Compostela 1 hr 31 min (104 km) via N-547 and A-54

From Madrid 4 hr 52 min (502 km) via A-6
Shopping
There is a shopping center on the outskirts of the city (As Termas), with an Eroski hypermarket, cinemas, clothing stores like H&M, NewYorker or Cortefiel and many restaurants and fast food chains like McDonald's.

A new shopping center (Abella) has opened in late 2015 and hosts an E.Leclerc hypermarket, a bowling court, cinemas and a McFit fitness center.
University
The University of Santiago de Compostela has several faculties at its Lugo Campus, one of the most important being the Faculty of Veterinary sciences, one of the leading in its field in Spain.
Main information
Area: 329 sq. km

GPS coordinates: 43°00′42″N 7°33′26″W

Language: Spanish, Galician

Population: 98 519

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1, in summer +2

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Lugo and its UNESCO heritage * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Lugo is a city and a municipality in northwestern Spain in the autonomous community of Galicia. It is the capital of the province of Lugo. The municipality had a population of about 100,000, making it the fourth most populous city in Galicia. Of Roman origin, it was founded in the year 25 AC.

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A Coruña (Sp. La Coruña) is a city and municipality in Galicia, Spain. A Coruña is the most populated city in Galicia and the second most populated municipality in the autonomous community and seventeenth overall in the country. The city is the provincial capital of the province of the same name, having also served as political capital of the Kingdom of Galicia from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

An important historical port, it is located on the northwest coast of the Iberian Peninsula, in the middle between Rías Altas and Costa da Morte resorts. The city center extends over a peninsula connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus, so it has two different maritime facades: the port one (towards the La Coruña estuary) and the other of the open sea, towards the Orzán cove and on which the main urban beaches (Riazor and Orzán) are located.

A Coruña is nowadays the richest region of Galicia and its economic engine, generating 43% of Galician GDP and 58.9 of GVA, well ahead of the metropolitan area of Vigo, which generates 20% of Galician GDP and 12.97 for the Galician GVA.

The city is also located on the English Way a path of the Camino de Santiago. Tourism in A Coruña has increased in recent years to the point of receiving 62 cruise ships a year.

A popular part of the Atlantic resorts of Spain.

The glass galleries and balconies of A Coruña gave a name - the city of glass.
Tourism and main attractions
The city is the site of the Roman Tower of Hercules, a lighthouse which has been in continuous operation since possibly the 2nd century AD. It has been declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It is surrounded by a large public park with a golf course and the so-called Moor's Graveyard (Cemiterio do Moro in Galician, Cementerio del Moro in Spanish) a building where in fact there were never burials, Muslim or not, which now houses the Casa das Palabras (Galician for House of Words) museum.

The lighthouse features as the main emblem of the city's flag and coat of arms.

The castle of San Antón is located in the port area, next to La Solana. It was built on what was then a small islet in the middle of the Coruña bay, where there was a small hermitage dedicated to San Antón. Its purpose was to defend the city from attacks from the sea. Its construction began in 1587, according to an inscription on the front of the fortress.

During the English attack of 1589 by the English Navy, the castle contributed effectively to the defense of the city, despite being unfinished. After the attack, its construction was continued until the completion of the works in 1590.

Within the Old City, the Collegiate Church of Santa María (also called Santa María del Campo) stands out for its antiquity and beauty. It is a late Romanesque style church (12th-13th centuries), classified as a collegiate church since 1441. It was completed in 1302, according to the inscription.

It has three naves and a single semicircular apse (typical of the Galician Romanesque of the 12th century); modernly elongated towards the feet; At its head there is a square and massive tower; it conserves a pair of statues of a Gothic Annunciation, although of Romanesque tradition, and a polychrome Maria Magdalena, by Pedro de Mena.

The Church of Santiago (12th-13th centuries), of Romanesque tradition, has a wide nave covered with wood and a chevet with three apses, modified in the 15th and 16th centuries. Ruins belonging to the convent of San Francisco are preserved, founded around 1214 and partly destroyed in the mid-16th century; later rebuilt in 1651, it was again destroyed by the explosion of a powder magazine.

It is in the Gothic style, with a single nave, a transept and three apses, pentagonal in the center and square on the sides; the naves are covered with wood and the apses by ribbed vaults. A great chapel nestled in the transept and an interesting doorway of Romanesque tradition stand out.

The St. George's Church, Baroque in style, it is a temple with three naves, with exuberant decoration inside. The façade is clearly influenced by Compostela, with giant columns, and its outlines were given by the brilliant Baroque architect Fernando de Casas Novoa. A large rectangular hole presides over the composition, while the flanges recall the Jesuit origin of this architecture. In addition, the first attempt at homosexual marriage in Spain of which there is record evidence took place, in 1901.

Remains of defensive walls are preserved as well as three gates that opened the city to the sea along the Paseo del Parrote, facing the bay. The bastion known as the Old Fortress is also preserved, which is the current Garden of San Carlos. It is under the protection of the generic Declaration of the Decree of April 22, 1949, and Law 16/1985 on Spanish Historical Heritage.

The Old Town (Sp. Ciudad Vieja) is the name given to the oldest part of A Coruña. During the ninth and tenth centuries, the inhabitants of what was then called Faro Island (peninsula where the Tower of Hercules stands) were leaving the area due to constant attacks by the Viking fleet and settled in the area of Betanzos.

The Old City of A Coruña kept streets and squares that revive the city's history and noble mansions and residences such as Rosalia de Castro's house, located on Prince Street. Notable buildings are the Royal Galician Academy, the institution dedicated to the study of Galician culture and especially the Galician language, the Romanesque churches of Santiago and Saint Mary, As Bárbaras Monastery (Romanesque and Baroque) and the headquarters of the Operational Logistics Force of the Spanish Army. In July, a Medieval Fair takes place in the streets of the Old City.

The architectural complex of the Plaza de María Pita, presided over by the municipal palace of the same name, which dates from 1897 and is modernist in style. The Alfonso kiosk stands out in this area, also of a modernist character that dates from 1913 and is dedicated to King Alfonso XIII. Another building that stands out is the second Terrace, current headquarters of RTVE, which was built between 1921 and 1922, after dismantling the previous wooden building of La Terraza, which was transferred by boat to its current location in Sada.

The promenade (Paseo Marítimo) is nine kilometres long, one of the largest in Europe. It runs around the city's headland, passing sights such as its Aquarium, the Estadio Riazor and the Tower of Hercules. There used to be a functioning touristic tramway, opened between 1997 and 2002, which ceased operations after a derailment in 2011.

Other buildings of great importance are the Port Authority and the Post Office, both from the 1950s, the Colón Theater from the 1940s and the Banco Pastor building, a design by Antonio Tenreiro Rodríguez, a local architect, together with Peregrín Estellés from in 1922.

The galleries of A Coruña, which have their best representation in the district of La Marina, but there are also many examples in the city and the whole region. These galleries are the ones that gave rise to the name of A Coruña as the city of glass. They are closed balconies with white painted wooden carpentry and a large glass surface that function as viewing points and are characteristic of the homes on Avenida de la Marina in La Coruña. The galleries are, in truth, the rear facades of the houses. They date back to the 19th century and have their origin in the appearance of the flat and cut glass market, initially manufactured in La Granja de San Ildefonso (Segovia).

The purpose was to allow sunlight to enter the interior of the houses avoiding rain. There are also wrought iron and cast iron balconies.
Museums
The Museum of Fine Arts: Museum contains works by great national and international painters of the centuries between XV and XIX. Its collections include Sketches by Rubens, a large exhibition of Impressionist painting, and religious paintings.

The Archaeological Museum: Located in the Castillo de San Antón, it was created in 1964 after the defense ministry ceded the castle to the City Council. It contains pieces of treasures from civilizations prior to the 10th century, as well as an exhibition on the life of the Spanish army from the war of independence to the reign of Alfonso XIII.

The House of Man, known as Domus: It belongs to one of the interactive museums of the city and allows us to see up close the workings of the human body.

The House of Sciences: General scientific museum in whose facilities the Planetarium is also located.

Aquarium Finisterrae, the House of Fish: There are typical marine species of the Atlantic Ocean, as well as exhibitions on tropical species, seals and a botanical garden.

The Museum of Sacred Art: Small museum whose headquarters is a modern building (Arch. Manuel Gallego) that integrates perfectly into the surroundings of the old city in which it is located. It has interesting pieces of silver religious jewelry from various schools, eras and countries.

The Military Museum: Contains models of the city's defensive systems, as well as uniforms and weapons of the Spanish army from the 15th century to the present day. Related to the Canyons of San Pedro.

María Pita House Museum: The Life of the Coruña Heroine María Mayor Fernández de la Cámara Pita.

Picasso House Museum: The life of the famous painter, located in his old home, where he spent his childhood and studies, and grew up as an artist.

Clock Museum: Located in the municipal palace (La Coruña City Council).

Electricity Museum: Unión Fenosa Museum that occupies the same building as the Contemporary Art building.

Museum of Emilia Pardo Bazán: Former home of the Countess, today the headquarters of the Royal Galician Academy. It exposes elements of the life and work of the writer.

National Museum of Science and Technology of Spain.

Castro de Elviña: Protohistoric town located in the municipality of La Coruña, one of the largest in northern Galicia.
Beaches
La Coruña has several kilometers of beaches in the city. The main ones are:

Riazor Beach: Located in the heart of the city and with a length of 610 m, with white and coarse sand, at the foot of the city's promenade. Windy and with strong waves. Suitable for surfing and all kinds of beach sports. It is part of the complex made up of the Orzán and Riazor beaches, separated by the "La Coraza" breakwater, the rest of the old wall.

Orzán Beach: In the urban center, with similar characteristics to Riazor Beach, since they are located together. Also white sand, although finer. It has a length of 700 m. Blue flag.

Matadero Beach: In the urban center, next to that of Riazor and Orzán, it has very fine white sand, 80 m long.

Las Lapas Beach: At the foot of the Tower of Hercules, and 70 m long, quieter, with fine white sand.

San Amaro Beach: In the Poppy neighborhood, next to the Tower of Hercules and the promenade. 105 m long and fine white sand.

Oza Beach: Sheltered from the wind, with calm waves, it has fine white sand, and a length of 200 m.

Bens Beach: Located on the border with the Arteixo Town Hall. It is rarely used, given its proximity to the refinery, the WWTP and the Nostián waste plant.

There are also numerous small beaches and coves, such as Playa de San Roque or Cala de Adormideras.
Best restaurants
There are 15 Michelin list restaurants in the city:

Árbore da Veira, Parque Monte San Pedro, 50 - 80 EUR * Creative Cuisine (one star)

Salitre, Paseo Marítimo Alcalde Francisco Vázquez 25, 45 - 70 EUR * Galician Cuisine, Traditional Cuisine

La Taberna de Miga, Plaza de España 7, 18 - 35 EUR * Traditional Cuisine, Modern Cuisine

Eclectic, Oliva 3, 65 - 75 EUR * Creative Cuisine

NaDo, Callejón de la Estacada 9, 40 - 65 EUR * Creative Cuisine

Hünico, Zalaeta 12, 48 - 80 EUR * Traditional Cuisine, Modern Cuisine

A Mundiña, Real 77, 40 - 85 EUR * Galician Cuisine

Taberna A Mundiña, Estrella 10, Traditional Cuisine

Comarea, Carlos Martínez Barbeito y Morás 4, 30 - 50 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Terreo, San Andrés 109, 31 - 45 EUR * Contemporary Cuisine

El de Alberto, Comandante Fontanes 1, 30 - 50 EUR * Modern Cuisine

Bido, Marcial del Adalid 2, 40 - 70 EUR * Modern Cuisine

Culuca, Avenida Arteixo 10, 40 - 85 EUR * Modern Cuisine

Asador Coruña, Alcalde José Crespo López Mora 4, 40 - 50 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Artabria, Fernando Macías 28, 34 - 45 EUR * International Cuisine

Shopping
The shopping centres in A Coruña are split into zones, and the Obelisk zone is the biggest of the shopping malls where all the usual designer clothes, sunglasses and everything else under the sun are available. Other malls include the Picasso district and Calle Barcelona.
Transport and how to get to?
A Coruña Airport, formerly known as Alvedro Airport, is located in the municipality of Culleredo, approximately 7 kilometres from the city centre. It serves mainly Spanish destinations, although there are regular services to London and Lisbon and, in the summer season, to Amsterdam and Paris.

Railway services depart from San Cristovo Station. The city will be connected with Madrid and Vigo by high-speed rail in coming years. Regional lines connect the city with Vigo through Santiago de Compostela and Pontevedra, Lugo and Monforte de Lemos. Intercity trains depart to Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao, passing through many other important northern Spanish cities. There is a freight train station that serves the port.

Distance by car:

From Santiago de Compostela 50 min (74.6 km) via AP-9

From Madrid 5 hr 25 min (593 km) via A-6
Main information
Area: 37 km² (municipality)

Coordinates: 43°22′00″N 8°23′00″W

Population: 247 604

Languages: Spanish, Galician

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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A Coruña - the city of glass * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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A Coruña (Sp. La Coruña) is a city and municipality in Galicia, Spain. A Coruña is the most populated city in Galicia and the second most populated municipality in the autonomous community and seventeenth overall in the country. The city is the provincial capital of the province of the same name, having also served as ...

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Santiago de Compostela - a UNESCO World Heritage Site • All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Santiago de Compostela (Sp. Santiago de Compostela) or Santiago is a city and municipality, capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain. It belongs to the province of La Coruña. The Galician regional government and the Parliament of Galicia have their headquarters there.
The ancient city o…

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Galicia is an autonomous community of Spain. The capital is Santiago de Compostela.

Located in the northwest Iberian Peninsula, it includes the provinces of A Coruña, Lugo, Ourense and Pontevedra with the capitals of the same name.
Geography
Galicia is located in Atlantic Europe. It is bordered by Portugal to the south, the Spanish autonomous communities of Castile and León and Asturias to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the Cantabrian Sea to the north.

Galicia has a surface area of 29,574 square kilometres. Its northernmost point, at 43°47′N, is Estaca de Bares (also the northernmost point of inland Spain); its southernmost, at 41°49′N, is on the Portuguese border in the Baixa Limia-Serra do Xurés Natural Park. The easternmost longitude is at 6°42′W on the border between the province of Ourense and the Castilian-Leonese province of ) its westernmost at 9°18′W Cape Touriñán (also the westernmost point of inland Spain).
Main attractions. TOP 3
Santiago de Compostela or Santiago is a city and municipality, capital of the autonomous community of Galicia. The Galician regional government and the Parliament of Galicia have their headquarters there. The ancient city of Santiago has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. It stands out for being one of the three great pilgrimage centers of Christianity, along with Jerusalem and Rome, by pointing out the tradition that the Saint James the Greater was buried there.

A Coruña is the most populated city in Galicia and the second most populated municipality in the autonomous community and seventeenth overall in the country. The city is the provincial capital of the province of the same name, having also served as political capital of the Kingdom of Galicia from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

Fisterra is a city and a municipality in the province of A Coruña. Fisterra stands on Cape Finisterre, the final destination for many pilgrims on the Way of St. James. In Roman times it was believed to be an end of the known world.
Full travel guide (by provinces) A Coruña province A Coruña - the city of glass A Ponte Maceira and its bridge Betanzos - the capital of Galician Gothic Camariñas and its attractions Cape of Touriñán - the westernmost point of inland Spain Cee and its attractions Cedeira and its lighthouses Corcubión - a Historic-Artistic Site Corme-Puerto and its beaches Estaca de Bares lighthouse - the northernmost point of inland Spain Ferrol - the capital of the Spanish Navy's Maritime Department of the North Fisterra and its lighthouse Laxe and its famous city beach Malpica - a northernmost part of the Costa da Morte Muros and its historic center Muxía and its attractions Noia and its historic center Ortigueira and its beaches O Porto de Bares - the northernmost resort of mainland Spain Pontedeume - the gate to the Fragas del Eumenota Natural Park Porto do Son and its beaches Santiago de Compostela - a UNESCO World Heritage Site Rianxo is famous for its mussels cultivation Ribeira is famous for its archaeological heritage Lugo province Cebrero and its architecture Lugo and its UNESCO heritage Monastery of San Vicente del Pino Monastery of San Xulián de Samos Monastery of San Salvador de Ferreira Mondoñedo and its Cathedral Monforte de Lemos and its attractions Ribadeo - the easternmost resort of the Rías Altas O Vicedo and its beaches Vilalba and its La Pravia Viveiro and its attractions Ourense province Castro Caldelas and its castle Celanova and its Monastery of San Salvador Monastery of San Esteban de Ribas del Sil Monastery of Santa María de Melón Monastery of Santa María de Oseira Ourense - one of the European cities with the greatest thermal heritage Ribadavia - a Historical Artistic Site since 1947 Pontevedra province A Guarda - a southernmost part of the Rías Baixas resorts Aldán and its San Cibrán beach Baiona was the first city in Europe to receive news of the discovery of America Cambados is famous for its Albariño wine Hórreos de Combarro - a Historic Site famous for its stone granaries Monastery of Armentera Monastery of San Salvador de Lérez Monastery of the Benedictine Mothers in Cuntis Monastery of San Lourenzo de Carboeiro O Porriño known for its granite production Pontevedra - a Historic-Artistic Site Pontillón de Castro reservoir Portonovo and its beaches Sanctuary of Nosa Señora do Corpiño Sanxenxo with its 36 km of beaches Tui and its Cathedral of Santa María Vigo - one of the economic engines of Galicia Vilagarcía de Arousa and its beaches Sea resorts
Galicia has over 1,660 km of coastline, including its offshore islands and islets, among them Cíes Islands, Ons, Sálvora, Cortegada Island, which together form the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park, and the largest and most populated, A Illa de Arousa.

From north to south:
Camino de Santiago
The Camino de Santiago, known in English as the Way of St. James, is a network of pilgrims' ways or pilgrimages leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition holds that the remains of the apostle are buried.
Economy
A major economic sector of Galicia is its fishing Industry; the main ports are A Coruña, Marín-Pontevedra, Vigo and Ferrol. Related to this fact, the European Fisheries Control Agency, which coordinates fishing controls in European Union waters, is based in Vigo.
Transport and how to get to?
Galicia's main airport is Santiago de Compostela Airport (Santiago-Rosalía de Castro Airport, SCQ). It connects the Galician capital with cities in Spain as well as several major European cities. There are two other domestic airports in Galicia: A Coruña Airport - Alvedro and Vigo-Peinador Airport.

The most important Galician fishing port is the Port of Vigo; It is one of the European's leading fishing ports, with an annual catch worth 1,500 million euros.

Galicia today has roughly 1,100 km of rail lines. Several 1,668 mm Iberian gauge lines operated by Adif and Renfe Operadora connect all the important Galician cities. A 1,000 mm metre gauge line operated by FEVE connects Ferrol to Ribadeo and Oviedo. An electrified line is the Ponferrada-Monforte de Lemos-Ourense-Vigo line.

Several high-speed rail lines are under construction. Among these are the Olmedo-Zamora-Galicia high-speed rail line that opened partly in 2011, and the AVE Atlantic Axis route, which will connect all of the major Galician Atlantic coast cities A Coruña, Santiago de Compostela, Pontevedra and Vigo to Portugal. Another projected AVE line will connect Ourense to Pontevedra and Vigo.

Distances by car from Santiago de Compostela to the main cities of Spain:

From Madrid 5 hr 45 min (601 km) via A-6 and A-52

From Oviedo 3 hr 19 min (326 km) via A-8

From Santander 4 hr 52 min (492 km) via A-8

From Vitoria-Gasteiz 6 hr 4 min (599 km) via A-231 and A-6

From Pamplona 6 hr 56 min (695 km) via A-231

From Zaragoza 7 hr 41 min (783 km) via AP-68

From Barcelona 10 hr 33 min (1,087 km) via AP-2

From Valladolid 4 hr 23 min (449 km) via A-52

From Toledo 6 hr 18 min (668 km) via A-6 and A-52

From Valencia 9 hr 10 min (959 km) via A-3

From Mérida 6 hr 37 min (697 km) via A-66 and A-52

From Murcia 9 hr 10 min (1,005 km) via A-52

From Seville 8 hr 26 min (890 km) via A-66

From Logroño 6 hr 24 min (616 km) via A-6 and A-231
Languages
Two languages are official and widely used today in Galicia: the native Galician, a Romance language closely related to Portuguese with which it shares the Galician-Portuguese medieval literature; and Spanish, usually called Castilian. While most Galicians are bilingual, a 2019 survey reported that 52% of the Galician population spoke Galician most often on a day-to-day basis, while 48% most often used Spanish.
Main information
Area: 29 575 sq. km

Coordinates: 42°45′18″N 7°51′58″W

Population: 2 701 819

Languages: Spanish, Galician

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Galicia and its attractions * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Galicia is an autonomous community of Spain. The capital is Santiago de Compostela. Located in the northwest Iberian Peninsula, it includes the provinces of A Coruña, Lugo, Ourense and Pontevedra with the capitals of the same name. Geography Galicia is located in Atlantic Europe.

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https://all-andorra.com/badajoz/

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Badajoz is the capital of the Province of Badajoz in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain. It is situated close to the Portuguese border, on the left bank of the river Guadiana.

Its geostrategic and border importance conditioned its history as a fortress and walled city, being the axis of diplomatic relations between Spain and Portugal, and royal treaties or weddings were celebrated in the city.

In 1580, Felipe II moved the entire Court to Badajoz, while the Lusitanian occupation campaign was being developed. At present, its good cross-border relations with the Portuguese and neighboring Elvas have led to an agreement, since 2013, as Eurocity, to promote joint growth.

The Old Town, also known as the historic neighborhood, makes up the oldest sector of Badajoz. Despite having been heavily affected by numerous wars, it preserves a multitude of buildings in its Historic-Artistic Complex declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, with an important historical and archaeological complex in its monumental part.

The Alcazaba of Badajoz, the Metropolitan-Cathedral of San Juan Bautista de Badajoz, the Plaza Alta and the old Town Hall, the walls and various fortifications of its bastioned Vaubán-style enclosure, the Torre de la Atalaya or Espantaperros, the Puerta de Palmas, the Bridge of Palmas over the Guadiana, the Godoy Palace, the Convent of Las Carmelitas, the Puerta del Pilar, the Puerta de la Trinidad, the Church of Santo Domingo, the Church of the Conception, the Church of Santa Catalina, the Church of San Agustín and the Royal Monastery of Santa Ana (where Ana de Austria, queen consort of Felipe II, was buried), among many other buildings and historical vestiges of different styles, periods and functionalities.

The walled enclosure of Badajoz is the longest in Spain and the city's Arab fortress is the largest in Europe and one of the largest in the world in terms of its perimeter and extension.

Recently positioned as "Cultural Capital of the Iberian Southwest".
Tourism and main attractions
The city is studded with Moorish and medieval architecture, although its remnants of Roman and Visgothic architecture are not as prominent as in nearby Mérida. The Alcazaba fortress is the most notable structure in the city which attests to the Moorish culture in Badajoz. It was the only important fort on the southern Portuguese frontier during the 17th and 18th centuries and controlled the routes of southern Portugal and Andalusia and was a staging point for invasions against Portugal.

Many of Badajoz's historical monuments which were in ruins have been refurbished. Its restaurants, pubs and nightlife are a major attraction for the Portuguese across the border. The 13th-century Badajoz Cathedral (converted from a mosque in 1238) is in the old city and its architecture is indicative of the tempestuous history of Badajoz, resembling a fortress, with its massive walls. Three of the cathedral's windows are unique - one is in Gothic style, the second is Renaissance style and the third is in Platersque style.
List of the monuments:
Spain Square. It constitutes the main nucleus, whose current layout was projected by the municipal architect Rodolfo Martínez, during the year 1918 and within it the great cathedral mass that centers the historical-artistic interest of the entire area.

City Hall. This was not the usual location of the House-Town Hall, since it was previously installed in other areas that made up the urban area in previous centuries.

Cathedral of San Juan Bautista. Its construction began in 1232, shortly after the arrival of the Christians in Badajoz. Its location is curious, far from the walled enclosure although, perhaps, it was built on a small Visigothic or Mozarabic church.

Monument to Morales. Located in the Plaza de San Juan, in front of the Town Hall, and made by the Extremaduran sculptor Gabino Amaya. It was conceived with a large pedestal on which is placed the seated portrait of the painter Luis de Morales who carries his palette and brushes.

Buiza House. An attractive work in a regionalist style, since the beginning of the 20th century the north side of the square has been secularized. The architects Curro Franco and Adel Pinna worked between the years 1918 and 1921.

Cristóbal Oudrid's birthplace. Remade by Benito Escoriaza in 1894, it was the musician's birthplace in 1825.

Casa del Cordón. It is a private home that deserves to be highlighted for its façade, which contains the cord that gives it its name. Stylistically it belongs to the late Gothic of the early 16th century. It is currently the seat of the Archbishopric.

Royal Economic Society of Friends of the Country. Founded in 1816, it settled on Calle Hernán Cortés in 1837, becoming from that moment on an important cultural center of the city.

Cervantes Square. Preserves its 19th-century flavor. All the chroniclers cite it as an important place throughout the history of Badajoz. Part of what today occupies the space of the square was an area belonging to the church of San Andrés and its attached cemetery, a fact that was frequent until the 19th century.

Puebla House. This building is one of the works of Adel Pinna, author of numerous buildings scattered throughout the historic center of Badajoz. The project was signed by the architect Manuel Martínez in 1921. The Casa Puebla is one of the examples of regionalist architecture of Andalusian influence in which an eclectic style is used.
Museums
Extremadura and Ibero-American Museum of Contemporary Art, MEIAC. It brings together collections of Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American artists. It was inaugurated on May 9, 1995. The building is located on the site of the old Preventive and Correctional Prison of Badajoz.

Provincial Museum of Fine Arts. Located in two palatial houses from the 19th century, next to the Plaza de la Soledad, it has 2000 square meters in which more than 1200 pieces of painting and sculpture are exhibited, representing more than 350 artists such as Zurbarán, Luis de Morales, Flemish painters, Francisco de Goya, Felipe Checa, Torre-Isunza, Eugenio Hermoso, Adelardo Covarsí, Antonio Juez Nieto, Francisco Pedraja Muñoz, Picasso and Dalí, among others.

Museum of the City "Luis de Morales". Built in the supposed house of the Renaissance painter Luis de Morales, better known as "El Divino Morales", it goes over the history of the city from its origins in an entertaining way. In addition, it is an Interpretation Center of the History of Badajoz.

Provincial Archaeological Museum. Located within the largest fortress in Europe, the Archaeological Museum contains pieces of undoubted interest, from all corners of the province of Badajoz. The building that houses it, the Palace of the Dukes of Feria, is a Mudejar jewel from the 16th century. Its collection is organized into six major areas: Prehistory, Protohistory, Roman, Visigothic, Islam and Medieval Christian.

Metropolitan Museum of the Cathedral of Badajoz. It is located in the premises of the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Juan Bautista, one of the most important cathedrals in the region and seat of the Archbishopric of Mérida-Badajoz.

Bullfighting Museum of Badajoz. The main bullfighting museum in the region, located in the center of the city, collects posters, photographs and objects from the bullfighting world, which make its historical collection one of the best bullfighting museums in Spain to learn about its history.

Badajoz Carnival Museum. Inaugurated at the 2007 carnival in the so-called "Poterna de Menacho", in the Baluarte de Santiago, it has a journey through the history of the Badajoz carnival. In 2008 it became part of the Extremadura Museum Network.

Interpretation Center of Border Fortifications (Fort of San Cristóbal).

Badajoz Veterinary Museum. It is the Veterinary History Museum of the Illustrious College of Veterinarians of the Province of Badajoz, inaugurated in 2018.
Extremadura Sports Museum.
Museum of Military History, in the Capitanía Palace (a 16th century building remodeled in the 19th century).

Science Museum (Museum of Sciences, Technologies and Innovation of the Iberian Southwest).
Cuisine and restaurants
As for gastronomy, the typical dishes of Badajoz are made with farm products such as wild asparagus, mushrooms and Extremadura gazpacho.

Dishes made with the typical meat of the area such as partridge, rabbits, pigeons, turtledoves and deer. Highlight the slaughter of the pig, from which all its organs are used, giving rise to sausages, blood sausages, hams and many other cold meats.

Other typical meat-based dishes are lamb liver with onion, roast lamb. Cod and fried tench are also very typical of Badajoz.

In wines, highlight the Ribera del Guadiana Denomination of Origin for white, rosé and red wines. Cheese is another highly requested product in this land, such as Goat Cheese and Torta de La Serena (Sheep Cheese).

There are two Michelin list restaurants in the city:

Drómo, Plaza La Molineta 8, 35 - 72 EUR * Modern Cuisine

Lugaris, Avenida Adolfo Díaz Ambrona 44, 30 - 45 EUR * Traditional Cuisine, Regional European
Transport and how to get to?
Badajoz railway station, situated in the north of the city, is the only railway station at Badajoz. The station accommodates long-distance and medium-distance trains, both operated by the public company RENFE. It is the last Spanish railway station before the Portuguese railway system.

Badajoz Airport is located 13 km east of the city centre. The airport currently caters for two civil routes, one to Barcelona and the other to Madrid, both operated by Air Europa.

From Merida 49 min (63.8 km) via A-5

From Caceres 1 hr 16 min (91.7 km) via N-523

From Madrid 3 hr 58 min (400 km) via A-5
Main information
Area: 1440 sq. km (municipality)

Coordinates: 38°52′49″N 6°58′31″W

Population: 150 984

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Badajoz and its military heritage * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Badajoz is the capital of the Province of Badajoz in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain. It is situated close to the Portuguese border, on the left bank of the river Guadiana. Its geostrategic and border importance conditioned its history as a fortress and walled city, being the axis of diplomatic relations between Spain and Portugal, ...

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https://all-andorra.com/caceres/

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Cáceres is a city and municipality located in the center of the autonomous community of Extremadura The city has been the capital of the homonymous province since 1822 and the judicial capital of Extremadura since 1790. It is the most populated municipality in the province, with 24.23% of the total population. It is also the largest municipality in Spain with an area of ​​1750.33 km².

The old city of Cáceres was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986, as it is one of the most complete urban complexes from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance in the world. The Cathedral of Santa María, the Palacio de las Veletas (headquarters of the Provincial Museum of Cáceres), the palaces of Los Golfines (from Above and Below), the Casa del Sol, the Torre de Bujaco or the Arco de la Estrella are some of its most notable monuments.

Likewise, it stands out for being the headquarters of the Cáceres Campus and for its dynamic cultural life throughout the autonomous community.
Tourism and main attractions
The "Monumental City of Cáceres" was declared by the Council of Europe as the Third Monumental Complex of Europe in 1968 (after Prague and Tallinn) and World Heritage by Unesco in 1986.

Cáceres also has other awards: Pomme d 'Or to "Tourism Merit", awarded by the International Federation of Tourism Journalists and Writers in 1996; Les Etoiles d'Or du Jumelage, awarded by the European Commission in 1999; The Archival prize awarded to him by the Association for the Recovery of Historical Centers in 2004 and the Citizens 2008 Award granted by the Association of Radio and Digital Television Entities, with the collaboration of the Citizen Audiovisual Council for the support that the citizenship provided to The candidacy for the European Capital of Culture of 2016.

Cáceres is also a member of the Roads Networks of Sefarad, of the Vía de la Plata, being chosen by the Autonomous Community as Cultural Capital of Extremadura Enclave 92, and together with the solidarity effort of the administrations, private companies, official entities and private citizens, aspired between 2003 and 2010 to be European Capital of Culture in the year 2016.
Religious architecture:
The Santa Iglesia Concatedral de Santa María (S.I.C. de Santa María) is the most important Christian temple in the city. José Ramón Mélida indicates that it is the oldest foundation in the city, since it was completed between the 15th and 16th centuries on a 13th-century construction in Mudejar ways and a wooden ceiling.

The church of San Francisco Javier, also known as Iglesia de la Preciosa Sangre. Baroque-style Jesuit church built in the eighteenth century, it was built, next to the adjoining convent, with the fortune of a Jesuit from the Figueroa family, as this was the last link in a growing estate that was dying out. The works began in 1698 and concluded in 1755.

The church of San Mateo is a religious temple of Catholic worship and dedicated to Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist. Since 1982 it has been declared a Historic-Artistic Monument.

The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary and Convent of Santo Domingo was built during the 16th century by the Dominican Order and currently belongs to the Mendicant Order of the Franciscans. It has a semicircular portal on which an image of the Virgin of the Immaculate stands out. Its main altarpiece dating from the middle of the 17th century is dominated by an image of Santo Domingo carried out in the 18th century.

The hermitage of La Paz is an 18th century hermitage in the city's Plaza Mayor, attached to a side wall of the Bujaco tower, very close to the western canvas of the monumental city wall. Completed in 1750, it stands on the remains of a Renaissance chapel dedicated to Saint Benedict.

The convent of San Pablo is a cloistered convent of Franciscan nuns, it is built on an old hermitage. Its construction is documented in the 15th century, built with elements of the late Gothic style, where a simple flared doorway with a slightly pointed arch stands out. Inside it has a baroque style altarpiece where some interesting images are included, as well as a remarkable goldsmith.
Palaces:
The Episcopal Palace of Cáceres stands in the Plaza de Santa María, in the lower part of the monumental city. Located on the left after entering the enclosure through the Arco de la Estrella, the Episcopal palace of the bishop of the current diocese of Coria - Cáceres stands on a site that until 1261 had occupied a series of shops.

The Palacio de los Golfines de Abajo was built by the Golfín family that settled in the city immediately after its reconquest. Alonso Golfín, son of Pero Alonso Golfín, defender of the cause of Enrique IV, managed to get the Catholic Monarchs to grant in his favor a license to found a mayorazgo for the benefit of his son, Sancho Paredes.

The Carvajal Palace. The main façade is made of granite ashlar masonry and its voussoir façade stands out in a semicircular arch. In it, you can admire in relief, the coat of arms of the Carvajal family, surrounded by a closed alfiz and supported by two carved corbels. In the right corner of the façade there is a simple, undecorated corner balcony with a pointed arch.

The Palacio de las Cigüeñas or Casa de los Cáceres-Ovando is a historical building from the 15th century located in the highest part of the monumental area of the city, in the Plaza de San Pablo, one of the squares on which the Plaza de San Mateo extends.

The Palacio de las Veletas is a building dating from the 15th century. At present, next to the Casa de los Caballos, it forms the facilities in which the Museo de Cáceres is located.

The house of the Solís, or the Sun, Gothic-style house-fortress, it was built in the 15th century and renovated in the 16th. The most significant element of the façade is the family shield, a sun with a human face from which 16 rays come out, eight of them bitten by two dredging or serpent heads, three all crowned by a helmet. An alfiz frames the door with a semicircular arch and voussoirs, under the shield. At the top of the tower, a continuation of the façade, there is a semicircular machicolation with cross-shaped loopholes.

The Palace of the Golfines de Arriba is a medieval building, the construction lasted during the 14th and 15th centuries. Of the four initial towers that they built in its corners, only three remain in which the family's coats of arms and shields can still be seen. In the center of the construction is the keep, built in 1513.

The Toledo-Moctezuma Palace is a medieval Renaissance-style building. It was built during the 15th century, although its current appearance is due to the restorations carried out in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
Other interesting places:
Plaza Mayor, is a monumental neighborhood and public space of Cáceres, the main entry point to the monumental city. It borders on the east with part of the wall, the best known, with the Bujaco tower, the Arco de la Estrella and the Torre de los Púlpitos. In the southern part is the town hall and the forum of the Balbos. Here starts the Pintores street, the most commercial of Cáceres. On the west facade its arcades stand out and it is plagued by bars, restaurants and various shops. In the center of the square there is a promenade built in 2001. In 2011 the square was remodeled.

The Plaza de San Jorge is framed by the church of San Francisco Javier, the house of the Becerra, a group of tourist shops and the tower of the Palace of the Golfines de Abajo.

The Arco de la Estrella is the main gateway to the walled enclosure since the 15th century. Located next to the Bujaco tower, it was opened in the 15th century at the same point where there was a door to allow the passage of carriages from the Plaza Mayor, by then the wall had lost much of its defensive nature. Then it was called, for obvious reasons, New door.
Cuisine and best restaurants
The gastronomy of Cáceres is rich and varied, with notable influences from the different cultures, such as the Arab and the Sephardic, as well as influences from the pastoral and livestock life, especially in the most homemade gastronomy. In addition, the cuisine of convents and monasteries in various places in the province of Cáceres such as those of San Benito de Alcántara, Yuste or Guadalupe has left a complete recipe book of dishes and refined desserts.

Its gastronomy is rich by using ingredients with a designation of origin (PDO) and geographical indication (PGI), such as Dehesa de Extremadura Iberian ham, Torta del Casar cheese, Ibores cheese, Ribera del Guadiana wines, Gata-Hurdes oil, Vera paprika, Jerte cherry, Villuercas-Ibores honey, Extremadura veal, Extremadura lamb (CORDEREX) and Tierra de Extremadura wines.

There are five Michelin list restaurants in the city:

Atrio, Plaza San Mateo 1, 185 EUR * Creative cuisine (Two stars)

La Casa del Sol, Cuesta de la Compañía, 37 - 55 EUR * Contemporary cuisine

Madruelo, Camberos 2, 30 - 50 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Javier Martín, Juan Solano Pedrero 15, 30 - 65 EUR * Contemporary cuisine

alBalat, Avenida Ruta de la Plata 4, 15 - 50 EUR * Traditional Cuisine
How to get to?
The city is served by the Cáceres railway station.

There is no international airport in the city today. Earlier there were plans to build the Extremadura International Airport between the EX-100 and the municipalities of Aldea del Cano and Casas de Don Antonio, 17 km from the city.

Distance to the main cities of Extremadura:

From Merida 49 min (73.7 km) via A-66

From Plasencia 52 min (80.6 km) via A-66

From Badajoz 1 hr 17 min (92.6 km) via N-523

From Madrid 2 hr 55 min (296 km) via Autovía del Suroeste/A-5
Main information
Area: 1750, 23 sq. km (municipality)

Coordinates: 39°28′23″N 6°22′16″W

Population: 96 255

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Cáceres - a UNESCO heritage * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Cáceres is a city and municipality located in the center of the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain. The city has been the capital of the homonymous province since 1822 and the judicial capital of Extremadura since 1790. It is the most populated municipality in the province, with 24.23% of the total population.

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https://all-andorra.com/merida/

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Mérida and its Roman heritage by UNESCO • All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Mérida is a city and municipality in Spain, part of the province of Badajoz, and capital of the autonomous community of Extremadura.
Mérida is geographically located almost in the center of the region, crossed by the Guadiana and Albarregas rivers, at an altitude of 217 meters. The “Archaeological S…

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https://all-andorra.com/extremadura/

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Extremadura is an autonomous community of Spain. Its capital city is Mérida. Located in the central-western part of the Iberian Peninsula, it is crossed from east to west by the Tagus and Guadiana rivers. The autonomous community is formed by the two largest provinces of Spain: Cáceres and Badajoz.

Extremadura is bordered by Portugal to the west and by the autonomous communities of Castile and León (north), Castilla-La Mancha (east) and Andalusia (south).
Main attractions
Extremadura has three places that have been declared a Cultural World Heritage Site by UNESCO:

Old City of Cáceres, since 1986.

Archaeological site of Mérida, since December 1993.

Royal Monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe, since 1993.

In the same way, the process has begun to obtain the designation as World Heritage of other properties such as the walled city of Plasencia, the city of Trujillo, the Alcántara bridge.

On the other hand, the uniqueness of the historic city of Badajoz should be mentioned, which has the largest walled enclosure in Spain and the largest fortress in Europe and the world of its kind and time.
Badajoz province Mérida and its Roman heritage by UNESCO Badajoz and its military heritage Olivenza - the historic and artistic site Fregenal de la Sierra - an important Historic-Artistic Complex Zafra and its attractions Alburquerque and its Luna castle Medellín and its Roman theater Higuera de Vargas and its castle The García de Sola reservoir - one of the largest in Extremadura The Hermitage of Nuestra Señora Virgen de Gracia The Alconchel Castle dates back to the 12th century The Encomienda Castle and its history Capricho de Cotrina - a peculiar Gaudi style building Don Benito museum of the classic cars Cáceres province Cáceres - a UNESCO heritage Trujillo and its heritage Hervás and its Jewish quarter Guadalupe - one the most important pilgrimage centers in the Iberian Peninsula Valencia de Alcántara and its attractions Plasencia and its historical complex Valverde de la Vera and its attractions Coria and its attractions Alcántara and its Roman bridge San Martín de Trevejo and its architecture Robledillo de Gata and its architecture Cerezo and its installations The Monastery of Yuste - European Heritage The Gabriel y Galán reservoir named for the Salamanca poet The Museum of motorcycles and classic cars in Hervás Festivals and culture
Extremadura has around forty festivals of tourist interest throughout the year. The processing and concession of the title of the festivities are carried out through the Ministry of the Environment, Urban Planning and Tourism. These festivals of tourist interest usually coincide, although not always, with popular festivals in various places in Extremadura, such as San Sebastián, San Blas, Carnivals, Easter, August or All Saints' Day. They include, among others:

Holy Week in Cacereña, of International Tourist Interest, some of whose brotherhoods are among the oldest in Spain. The passage called "del Cristo Negro" is one of the most revered, standing out for its austerity and seriousness. Due to its peculiarity, it aspires to be declared of International Tourist Interest.

Holy Week in Mérida, of National Tourist Interest, has numerous brotherhoods, as well as the celebration of a Via Crucis with one of its oldest carvings, the Cristo de la O, in the city's Roman amphitheater. It has both old brotherhoods from the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as many others founded throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.

The Holy Week of Jerez de los Caballeros, of National Tourist Interest, has a total of eight brotherhoods parade during those days through the streets of the Badajoz town in a total of 11 processions. The four main churches (Santa Catalina, San Miguel Arcángel, San Bartolomé and Santa María de la Encarnación) plus the hermitage of the Holy Martyrs, become the center of attention and waiting to see the brotherhoods leave.

The Badajoz Carnivals, of National Tourist Interest, are one of the ones that gather the most popular participation. In them there are a multitude of groups that fill the streets of Badajoz with color, with incredibly elaborate costumes, creating a great show on Carnival Sunday, when the official parade of Comparsas y Artefactos is held.

Holy Week in Badajoz, of National Tourist Interest, has brotherhoods and images that date back to the 16th and 17th centuries. Special moments of these celebrations are the passage of the procession of the Cristo de la Angustia, from the parish of San Fernando, on the Bridge of Palmas.

Jarramplas, of National Tourist Interest, is a character dressed in a jacket and trousers from which a multitude of multicolored ribbons hang, the head is covered with a conical fiberglass mask that contains two horns and a large nose which makes a tour through the streets of Piornal playing a tambourine, while the neighbors throw greens and vegetables at it.
Cuisine
The gastronomy of Extremadura is the set of dishes and culinary traditions of the region. The opening of the Vía de la Plata has caused Extremadura cuisine to spread to other regions, also influencing Spanish cuisine, while at the same time Extremadura cuisine has been influenced by other cuisines.

The existence of numerous monasteries, such as that of Yuste or that of Guadalupe, has given rise to a culinary splendor of recipes that have come from their tables. Extremadura does not face the sea, and the dishes it offers are mainly meat and composed of various vegetables. Several foods, spices or fruits have a protected designation of origin.
Transport and how to get to?
In the region's public transport, buses stand out over any other means of public transport. Several companies operate in the region to transport passengers from one locality to another, such as LEDA or CEVESA. In the main cities, such as Badajoz, Cáceres, Mérida and Plasencia, there are urban lines of bus.

As for the railway, the cities of Extremadura do not have metro, commuter train or tram networks. The only train lines are the lines that link the region with other parts of Spain and Portugal, which have recently been deteriorated.

The high-speed works have been canceled, with stations in Navalmoral de la Mata, Plasencia, Cáceres, Mérida and Badajoz. Instead they plan to implement profitable conventional roads with a capacity of 200 km / h. In any case, today, Extremadura has several Regional and Intercity routes.

There is also an airport in Badajoz, with flights to Madrid, and in summer to the Balearic and Canary Islands.
Distance by car from Mérida to the main cities of Spain
To Barcelona () 9 hr 10 min (955 km) via A-2 and A-5

To Toledo (Castile-La Mancha) 2 hr 50 min (302 km) via A-5
Main information
Area: 41 635 km²

GPS coordinates: 39°12′N 6°09′W

Language: Spanish

Population: 1,087,790

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1, in summer +2

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Extremadura - an autonomous community of Spain * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Extremadura is an autonomous community of Spain. Its capital city is Mérida. Located in the central-western part of the Iberian Peninsula, it is crossed from east to west by the Tagus and Guadiana rivers. The autonomous community is formed by the two largest provinces of Spain: Cáceres and Badajoz.

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https://all-andorra.com/aranjuez/

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Aranjuez is a municipality and city in Spain in the extreme south of the Community of Madrid, head of the judicial district of the same name. It is located in a wide valley, next to the confluence of the Tagus and Jarama rivers, bordered by a set of hills and plateaus that reach 630 meters of altitude. In addition to natural channels, it has an extensive network of artificial canals, ditches and historic dams that, traditionally, have favored irrigated crops, such as fruit trees and vegetables, among which stand out strawberries and asparagus.

Aranjuez became one of the Royal Estates of the Crown of Spain in 1560, during the reign of Philip II. Until 1752, only the royalty and nobility were allowed to dwell in the town.

The tourism is based mainly on its numerous historical-artistic heritage, in which the palace and the ornamental gardens (gardens of the Prince, of the Island, of the Parterre, of Isabel II), the historical orchards, the tree-lined walks and groves ( Pico Tajo, Doce Calles, Legamarejo, El Rebollo), the hydraulic works, the agricultural areas and the historic center, which includes elements such as the House of Knights and Crafts, the House of Infantes, the church of San Antonio and the convent of San Paschal. In 2001, this entire complex, under the name of Cultural Landscape of Aranjuez, was declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Throughout the year, the most representative events are the Royal Spring Days -in memory of the old celebrations of the Court in Aranjuez, the festival of San Isidro Labrador in the Real Cortijo de San Isidro, the festivities patrons of San Fernando and the festivities of the Mutiny of Aranjuez. In the latter, which recall the events that occurred in 1808, the acts with the Godoy palace, the representation of the Mutiny and the Pirate Descent of the Tagus stand out; in 1990 they were declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest and in 2014 a Festival of International Tourist Interest.

The city has been the scene and protagonist of numerous artistic works in the fields of cinema, literature, painting and music, although it is thanks to the latter that it acquired worldwide fame, by serving as an inspiration to the composer Joaquín Rodrigo for his Concert of Aranjuez.
Main attractions
The Royal Palace of Aranjuez was established around the time Philip II of Spain moved the capital from Toledo to Madrid. Aranjuez became one of four seasonal seats of government, occupied during the springtime (from about holy week). Thereafter, the court moved successively to Rascafría, El Escorial and wintered in Madrid.

It is open to the public as one of several Spanish royal sites in the Community of Madrid, Spain. Management is entrusted to the Spanish Patrimonio Nacional, which does not allow private photography of its interior for security reasons. However, licenses may be available for specific purposes upon application.

The palace is the centerpiece set of a royal estate. To the north are former potager gardens, now agricultural land intersected by geometric tree-lined "royal rides" which are now open to the public and mostly pedestrian walkways. To the east are a trident of paved roads (Reina, Principe & Infantas) along which the nobility erected family residences. To the west are a matching trident of rural tracks, one of which was the royal access road lined by barracks (now ruined).

Furthest from the palace is an open area, the Raso de Estrella, the site of the original hunting lodge and now a festival ground. The original railway station was also here, before it was relocated further west of the current site. Some of the former railway sidings - now a car park for commuters - are also still discernible. Directly in front of the palace is the oval lawn surrounded by monumental stone benches. The tourist mini-train stop is near there. To the south is the Plaza de Parejas, an open sandy area surrounded by various palace dependencies described below.
Gardens
As part of the Royal Site, a series of gardens were laid out between the 16th and 19th centuries, encompassing different artistic and gardening styles.

The King's Garden, projected in 1561 by Juan Bautista de Toledo and carried out by Juan de Herrera between 1577 and 1582, stands out for its sculptural ensemble, whose iconography is related to the Roman emperors.

The Garden of the Island, in whose development Juan Bautista de Toledo and Juan de Herrera also participated, was traced in 1561 and, along a main axis, presents a set of fountains with their corresponding sculptural groups.

The Parterre garden was built between 1728 and 1735, according to a project by Esteban Marchand, and follows the French garden model. It is made up of three large groups organized around four fountains.

The Prince's garden, the most extensive of all of them, it unified several previous actions with new spaces drawn under the concept of landscape garden. Pablo Boutelou worked on it, between 1775 and 1784.

Several sites stand out, the islands, the Chinese pond and the Casa del Labrador, a leisure mansion drawn up in a neoclassical style.

Finally, the Isabell II garden was built at the beginning of the 19th century and constituted the first landscaped space for public use in Aranjuez.
Hydraulic systems
Since the 16th century, in order to have water to irrigate orchards and gardens, a set of infrastructures such as dams, canals and ditches were built. Thus, starting from the Embocador dam, built between 1530 and 1534, there are two canals, the Aves or Sotomayor, on the left bank of the Tagus, and the Azuda or Embocador, on the right bank; Both were initiated by Carlos I and promoted by Felipe II.

In the valley of the Azuda is the Azuda de la Montaña, a waterwheel that served to raise and transport the water to the grounds of the Casa de la Montaña. Al South of the urban nucleus is the Ontígola dam, built between 1563 and 1572 to supply water and to serve as a stage for shows and aquatic festivals.

Another dam was built next to the palace to allow the navigability of the Tagus, filter the entrance of water to the estuary.

For the supply of drinking water to the city, in the mid-18th century, a project was carried out, the work of Santiago Bonavía, to transport water from various springs located north of Ocaña. From them the water was channeled to the urban area through pipes and aqueducts, with its s corresponding coffers for review and cleaning.
Noble houses
After the founding of the city, the construction of houses began to accommodate the retinue that accompanied the kings. Three types are distinguished: those promoted by the Crown for its officials, courtiers and employees, those carried out by merchants and professionals, and those carried out by the nobility, for the accommodation of their family and servants.

Among the latter are the Godoy palace, with neoclassical traces and owned, among others, by Manuel Godoy; the Palace of the Dukes of Osuna, initially built for Farinelli and occupied since 1787 by the Dukes of Osuna; The Medinaceli palace, destined for the family of the Dukes of Medinaceli and consisting of the main building and two auxiliary pavilions; the old Queen Mother's garages, a building destined for the garages and stables of Bárbara de Braganza, but which, after her death, he would end up in the service of Isabel de Farnesio; the House of Godoy, ordered to be built by Manuel Godoy, but unfinished at that time; the house of the Duke of Arcos, owned by Antonio Ponce de León Spínola since 1778; and the Silvela Palace, built in the 19th century as a residence for Adalberto de Baviera and later occupied by Francisco Silvela.
Civil architecture
Among the day houses for civil use are that of Diego Agudo de Cevallos, completed in 1758 and intended to be leased to courtiers; the House of the Governor, built by Juan de Villanueva between 1799 and 1802 to house the governor and the offices of accounting, treasury and clerk's office; the Parador del Rey, the work of Jaime Marquet from 1761 for the accommodation of courtiers and merchants; and the House of Employees, built in 1792 for the homes of Her Majesty's higher-class servants and which has been the seat of the City Council since 1836.

Another set of buildings is that of those destined to develop the well-being of the population. The Teatro Real Carlos III was built according to a project by Jaime Marquet and its façade stands out, like a triumphal arch; the San Carlos Hospital, built in 1775-76 under the direction of Manuel Serrano in order to offer assistance sanitary facilities to royal employees and residents; the bullring, built under the direction of José de la Riva and inaugurated in 1797; and the slaughterhouse. Already in contemporary times, the Abastos market, built in 1893- 94 under the direction of Enrique Sánchez Sedeño according to the patterns of iron and glass architecture, and the railway station, built between 1922 and 1927 in neo-Mudejar style.

Finally, as part of the service to the Court, there was the Casa de Fogones, a work by Santiago Bonavía from 1758 destined to house the kitchens of the palace, and the barracks of the royal guard.
Religious buildings
In addition to the church of San Antonio, located in the homonymous square, two other religious constructions stand out. On the one hand, the church of Alpajés, whose construction began in 1681, at the request of the brothers of Nuestra Señora de las Angustias, under the project of Cristóbal Rodríguez de Jarama. It has a Latin cross plan, and in 1744 Santiago Bonavía raised an octagonal dome over the transept crowned by an octagonal dome with a lantern. On its façade there are four cartouches, the lower two with texts from the Lauretan litany and the upper two with the emblem of the Order of Santiago, and the royal coat of arms of Carlos II.

On the other hand, the convent of San Pascual; It was built between 1765 and 1770 and consists of a church, convent rooms and a vegetable garden. The church is the work of Marcelo Fontón and its neoclassical façade stands out: the central body presents the entrance door surmounted by a curved pediment and flanked by Tuscan columns, a window surmounted by the royal coat of arms, and is finished off with a broken pediment. The side streets show pilasters on the lower floor and flanges on the upper floor, and are crowned by turrets with iron bell towers.
Cuisine and the best restaurants
The traditional gastronomy of Aranjuez is based on the products of its gardens and on the hunting tradition of the monarchy. Among the horticultural products, the asparagus - brought from the Netherlands in the 18th century, the strawberries - in their mariguín variety stand out. They are joined by artichokes, cabbages, plums, pears, or apples.

In relation to hunting dishes, those prepared with pheasant - the most emblematic bird of this part of the Tagus valley - stand out, as well as quail, partridges or rabbit.

At the wine-growing level, the municipality is within the denomination of origin Vinos de Madrid, with the Real Cortijo de Carlos III winery, which is still active since it was created by Carlos III, and Viñas El Regajal.

There is one Michelin list restaurant in the city:

Casa José, Andalucía 17, 50 - 75 EUR * Contemporary cuisine
Transport and how to get to? Railways
Aranjuez railway station building is richly ornamented in the neomudéjar style. It was recently renovated by RENFE, who operate an hourly shuttle service to Madrid and medium distance services to other destinations. The Strawberry train is a special Steam locomotive Heritage railway service provided for summer visitors and tourists.

Distances to the nearest cities:

From Madrid 44 min (49.1 km) via A-4

From Toledo 38 min (48.3 km) via N-400

From Ciudad Real 1 hr 32 min (155 km) via A-4

From Guadalajara 1 hr 5 min (100 km) via A-2 and M-50
Main information
Area: 201 sq. km (municipality)

Coordinates: 40°02′00″N 3°36′10″W

Population: 60 332

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Aranjuez - a UNESCO site * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Aranjuez is a municipality and city in Spain in the extreme south of the Community of Madrid, head of the judicial district of the same name. It is located in a wide valley, next to the confluence of the Tagus and Jarama rivers, bordered by a set of hills and plateaus that reach 630 meters ...

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https://all-andorra.com/alcala-de-henares/

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It was declared a World Heritage City by Unesco in 1998. Thanks to the historic site and the University Rectorate, it is one of the nine cities in Spain that Unesco has classified as unique. It is famous for its University, built thanks to Cardinal Cisneros on April 13, 1499, but after languishing during the 18th century, through the Royal Order of the Regent Queen of October 29, 1836, its abolition was decreed in Alcalá and transferred to Madrid, where it was renamed the Central University.

For much of the late middle-ages and the early modern period before becoming part of the province of Madrid, Alcalá de Henares was a seigneurial estate of the archbishops of Toledo.

It is the native city of Miguel de Cervantes.

Alcalá is well known for its population of white storks. Their large nests can be observed atop many of the churches and historic buildings in the city, and are themselves a significant tourist attraction.
Tourism and main attractions Cisneriana University or University of Alcalá
It is made up of a set of major and minor colleges dating from the Renaissance founded by Cardinal Cisneros in 1499. This set of monuments contains important vestiges of the Modern Age, for which UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site.
Calle Mayor
Built around the 12th century, following the layout of the Caesar Augusta Roman road that passed through Complutum, it was part of the old Jewish quarter of the city, and one of its main commercial hubs.
Archbishop's Palace
It is a fortress palace located in the historic center of the city, its construction begun in 1209, in which numerous protagonists in the history of Spain have been born, lived and died. It is currently the seat of the Diocese of Alcalá de Henares. It is located in the Palace Square and is part of the monumental complex declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Cathedral-Magistral of the Holy Children Justo and Pastor
This cathedral, together with the church of San Pedro de Louvaina (Belgium), is the only one in the world that has the title of Magistral. This means that all its canons should be, since the time of Cisneros, professors at the University of Alcalá. Its construction belongs to the late Gothic also called flamboyant. The slender tower and Renaissance cloister of Herrerian design stand out. Inside are the remains of the founder of the university, Cardinal Cisneros.
Birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes
Modern reconstruction of an old 16th century house on the site of the house where, according to tradition, the author of Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes, was born in 1547. The different rooms of a typical Spanish noble house from the Golden Age: work room, kitchen, dining room, ladies' stage and the medical equipment room that could well have belonged to Cervantes's father. Its interior is decorated with interesting period furniture and one of the best collections from different editions of Don Quixote.
Corral de Comedias de Alcalá (1601)
The Corral de Comedias de Alcalá is one of the oldest theaters in Europe, its construction dates back to 1601. Inside you can distinguish the different transformations that the European theater has undergone. Visiting the different rooms you can see the arrangement in which the men and women of the Spain of the Golden Age and later stages were situated, as well as the changes in the scenery, the stage set and the spaces in which the sets were prepared and "special effects" of each era.
Laredo Palace (Neo-Gothic-Mudejar)
Originally built in the mid-nineteenth century as a private home in the Neo-Gothic-Mudejar style. It is currently the headquarters of the Cisneriano Museum where we can find different archaeological pieces incorporated into the architecture and decoration of the building. The museum's collection has works as important as an original edition of the Complutense Polyglot Bible, the Antwerp Bible or historical documentation related to the University of Alcalá.
Antezana Hospital
Founded in 1483, it has been kept in operation since its foundation until today, making it one of the oldest hospitals in Spain. According to tradition, Rodrigo de Cervantes, father of the great writer, worked as a surgeon in this hospital. Its architecture stands out for the double Mudejar eaves and the central patio with columns and wooden corridors to which the room where Saint Ignatius of Loyola was recovering after his long journey on foot from Barcelona to Alcalá.
Chapel of the Oidor and Tower of Santa María
The old church of Santa María closed the Plaza de Cervantes but was destroyed in the Spanish Civil War. From its remains - the Capilla del Oidor, which is an exhibition center. From the bell tower there is one of the best panoramic views of the city.
Puerta de Madrid (18th century)
The current construction replaced the medieval gate in the 18th century. It was built in 1788 ordered by the Archbishop of Toledo Francisco de Lorenzana, under the plans of the architect Antonio Juana Jordán. It is located near the Plaza de los Santos Niños, a very visited square where the Magistral is also located. As a curious fact, it is worth mentioning that the monument appears in the film Espartaco (1960) by Stanley Kubrick, as well as the walled enclosure and the entire surroundings of Andrés Saborit street.
Castle of Alcalá La Vieja
It is a medieval fortress, of Arab origin, whose first references date back to the 10th century. Of the old fortification, only a defensive tower, recently restored, and different remains of some towers. The castle stands on a clayey promontory, close to the witness hill known as Ecce Homo (836 m), in the valley of the Henares river. In its vicinity is the hermitage of Nuestra Señora del Val.
Cervantine city
The city celebrates the birthday of native son Miguel de Cervantes on 9 October every year and organizes an annual Cervantes festival, the Semana Cervantina (Cervantine Week).

Every year on 23 April, the anniversary of Cervantes' death, the city of Alcalá hosts the Miguel de Cervantes Prize, the Spanish-speaking world's most prestigious award for lifetime achievement in literature. The award is presented by the king of Spain at the University of Alcalá's historic Colegio de San Ildefonso. Speeches about the importance of the Spanish language are customarily given by the king, the minister of culture and the laureate.

The ceremony attracts a wide range of dignitaries to the city including members of the royal family, the prime minister, and others. During this ceremony the citizens of Alcalá can be heard singing the city's song, entitled "Alcalá de Henares."

Alcalá de Henares is a member (and promoter) of the Red de Ciudades Cervantinas (Network of Cervantine Cities).
Best restaurants
There are two Michelin list restaurants in the city:

Ambigú, Cervantes 7, 35 - 45 EUR * Modern Cuisine, Creative

Ki-Jote, San Diego de Alcalá 3, 15 - 70 EUR * Japanese, Fusion

How to get to?
From Madrid 50 min (41.8 km) via A-2

From Guadalajara 27 min (26.8 km) via A-2
Main information
Area: 88 sq. km

GPS coordinates: 40°28′55″N 3°21′51″W

Language: Spanish

Population: 197 562

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1, in summer +2

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Alcalá de Henares - a UNESCO site and a native city of Miguel de Cervantes * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Alcalá de Henares is a city in the Community of Madrid, Spain. It was declared a World Heritage City by Unesco in 1998. Thanks to the historic site and the University Rectorate, it is one of the nine cities in Spain that Unesco has classified as unique.

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https://all-andorra.com/el-escorial/

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El Escorial, or the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, or Monasterio del Escorial, is a historical residence of the King of Spain located in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial in Spain (the Community of Madrid), 2 km from the town of El Escorial and about 45 kilometres northwest of the Spanish capital Madrid.

Built between 1563 and 1584 by order of King Philip II (who reigned 1556-1598), El Escorial is the largest Renaissance building in the world. It is one of the Spanish royal sites and functions as a monastery, basilica, royal palace, pantheon, library, museum, university, school, and hospital.

On 2 November 1984, UNESCO declared The Royal Seat of San Lorenzo of El Escorial a World Heritage Site. It is a popular tourist attraction, often visited by day-trippers from Madrid - more than 500,000 visitors come to El Escorial every year.

Arranged within a quadrangle, the buildings include:

the church (1582);
the monastery, royal palace, and college (1584);
and the library (1592).

The interior of the Escorial was decorated by many notable Spanish and Italian artists of the 16th and 17th centuries.

Pellegrino Tibaldi and Federico Zuccaro were among the earliest painters to execute frescoes there.

Other masters who painted works for the Escorial were El Greco, Luca Giordano, and Claudio Coello.

An important collection of paintings by Renaissance and baroque artists donated by the crown is among the many artistic treasures housed in the complex.

The decoration of El Escorial was carefully coordinated with the architecture to create a unified artistic effect. The sober statue of San Lorenzo on the main façade and the six statues of Old Testament kings on the façade of the basilica prepare the way for a splendid display of saints and kings inside the basilica.
How to get to?
Address: Av Juan de Borbón y Battemberg, s/n, 28200 San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Madrid, Spain

From Madrid 54 min (57.8 km) via A-6

GPS coordinates: 40°34′54″N 4°07′35″W
Working hours
Monday
Closed

Tuesday
10AM-6PM

Wednesday
10AM-6PM

Thursday
10AM-6PM

Friday
10AM-6PM

Saturday
10AM-6PM

Sunday
10AM-6PM

The prices start from 15 euro. Kids under 5 - free entrance.

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El Escorial - the largest Renaissance building in the world * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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El Escorial, or the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, or Monasterio del Escorial, is a historical residence of the King of Spain located in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial in Spain (the Community of Madrid), 2 km from the town of El Escorial and about 45 kilometres northwest of ...

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https://all-andorra.com/community-of-madrid/

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The Community of Madrid is one of the 17 autonomous communities of Spain. It is located in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula, and of the Central Plateau (Meseta Central). Its capital is the city of Madrid, which is also the capital of the country.
Economy
The Community of Madrid is the third most populous in Spain with about 6,7 mln inhabitants mostly concentrated in the metropolitan area of Madrid. It is also the most densely populated autonomous community. In absolute terms, Madrid's economy has been, since 2018, slightly bigger in size than that of Catalonia. Madrid has the highest GDP per capita in the country.

After overcoming the throwback suffered in 2009 due to the economic recession and the fluctuations that followed in the next years, the economy has grown robust recently. In the same line, the population living in the region are the wealthiest in the country and among the most thriving in the EU. Since it enjoys a stable position, Madrid has increased its attractiveness as pole for the establishment of national and foreign companies.

Apart from the strength of the economic activities developed in the region and its location, the major drivers of Madrid are its research & development (R&D) expenditures, high development, low unemployment and its high added-value services.
Geography
The Madrid autonomous community roughly coincides with the drainage of the Jarama, Henares, and Manzanares rivers off the southern slopes of the Sierra de Guadarrama. On the monotonous Meseta Central the terrain is a bare, typically Castilian landscape of yellow soils and open cereal fields; it was the scene of several decisive battles during the Spanish Civil War (1936-39). Pine forests, preserved on the mountain slopes, attract a new style of summer suburbia for residents of Madrid city (the provincial and national capital) and provide ski facilities in the winter.

Only along the Henares and Jarama do irrigated lands give ribbons of green, intensive horticulture; on the outskirts of Greater Madrid are poultry and pig farms interspersed with the development of villas or factories along the main highways. Well-endowed with building materials, the region has granite quarries in the Guadarrama and clays to the south.
Tourism and main attractions
The tourism sector has become one of the most thriving activities in the Madrid economy. The community was visited by 8,651,891 tourists in 2006, 9.41% more than the previous year. With this figure, the highest in the history of Madrid tourism, the region surpassed the number of visitors to countries such as Brazil, Croatia, Switzerland or Egypt.

The region contains three World Heritage Sites: the Monastery and Royal Site of El Escorial, the University and historic centre of Alcalá de Henares, and the cultural landscape of Aranjuez.
TOP 10 places to visit Madrid - the capital of Spain Alcalá de Henares - a UNESCO site Aranjuez - a UNESCO site El Escorial - a UNESCO site The Royal Palace of El Pardo Chinchón and its Plaza Mayor Nuevo Baztán and its historic center The castle of Villarejo de Salvanés Museum of Aeronautics and Astronautics Puerto de Navacerrada ski resort Festivals and culture
The Community of Madrid celebrates its festival on May 2, in commemoration of the heroic acts that led to the War of Independence in 1808.

Among the most prominent festivals in the region, those of a bullfighting character stand out. The bullfighting festival in the Community of Madrid has been declared an Asset of Cultural Interest. The San Isidro Fair, which is held in May in the monumental square of Las Ventas, is one of the most interesting events in the bullfighting world.

For their part, the San Sebastián de los Reyes bull runs are considered the second most important in Spain, after those of San Fermín in Pamplona. Its origin dates back to the 16th century.

Alcalá de Henares has three festivals declared of Regional Tourist Interest: its Holy Week, Don Juan Tenorio and October Cervantino. Likewise, it has some Popular Fairs and Festivities that date back to 1184, the patrons of Los Santos Niños on August 5 and 6, the patrons of the Virgen del Val on the third Sunday in September, San Antón in January and Santa Lucía in December.

The city of Madrid has hosted a celebration of LGTB Pride since 1978 when it was promoted by the Homosexual Liberation Front of Castilla. It is one of the largest in the world, bringing together more than a million visitors each year.
How to get to?
Madrid is served by Barajas International Airport. Barajas is the main hub of Iberia Airlines and consequently serves as the main gateway to the Iberian peninsula from Europe, the Americas, and the rest of the world. Current passenger volumes range upwards of 52 million passengers per year, putting it in the top 10 busiest airports in the world.

Distance by car to the capitals of the Spanish Communities:

To Barcelona () 6 hr 11 min (625 km) via AP-2 and A-2
Main information
Area: 8021,80 km²

Coordinates: 40°25′31″N 3°41′26″W

Population: 6 779 888

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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The Community of Madrid and its attractions * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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The Community of Madrid is one of the 17 autonomous communities of Spain. It is located in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula, and of the Central Plateau (Meseta Central). Its capital is the city of Madrid, which is also the capital of the country.

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https://all-andorra.com/catalonia-travel-guide/

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Drawing: Joan Mañe
Tourism in Catalonia is one of the most important sectors of the Catalan economy. It is the main tourist destination in Spain and one of the most important in Europe. One of the main destinations is the metropolitan area of Barcelona.

Catalonia is one of the leading tourist regions in the world. Tourism accounts for about 11-12% of Catalonia's GDP. For example, in 2019, this figure was 12.34 billion euros.

As of 2019, Catalonia's tourism consists of over one million places to stay. This figure also includes a number of tourist sites. According to Eurostat, tourist accommodation in Catalonia accounted for 22.1% of the total in Spain and 2.5% in the EU in 2019.

Catalonia is divided into 9 travel brands. The Barcelona brand is the most highly demanded by tourists. It is followed by the Costa Brava, Costa Daurada and Costa de Barcelona.

The total tourism in Catalonia in 2019 was 39.4 million: 49.2% of foreign tourism, 38.4% of domestic tourism (Catalonia residents) and 12.4% of other residents Spain. In terms of total travel spending, which reached €25,167 million, foreign tourism accounted for the bulk (84.7% of the total), followed by resident tourists in Catalonia (7.7%) and residents of the rest of Spain (7.5%).

Overseas tourism increased by 0.8% in 2019, while its spending increased by 4.1%.

Catalonia is positioned as the leading tourist destination in Spain. Between 2005 and 2019, the number of foreign tourists in Catalonia increased by 38%, while spending increased by 144.5%.
Catalonia travel guide Sea resorts (from north to south) Most beautiful cities. TOP 10 Barcelona - capital of Catalonia Vic - one of the seven wonders of Catalonia Girona and its attractions Lleida and its cathedral Montblanc and its folklore Reus and its modernist architecture Tarragona and its Roman heritage Figueres and the museum of Salvador Dalí Empuriabrava - the largest residential port in the world Best museums National Museum of Science and Industry of Catalonia Salvador Claret Automobile Collection Barcelona museums. TOP 15 Ski resorts. TOP 5 Historical monuments. TOP 5 The Monastery of Montserrat The castle of Sant Ferran King's Castle of Lleida The Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes Royal Abbey of Santa Maria de Poblet Nature. TOP 5 Bagnoles - the largest lake in Catalonia Cap de Creus - the easternmost point of the Iberian Peninsula Canigou Peak - National Symbol of Catalonia Salt Mountain Salins de Cardona

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Catalonia travel guide * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Drawing: Joan Mañe Tourism in Catalonia is one of the most important sectors of the Catalan economy. It is the main tourist destination in Spain and one of the most important in Europe. One of the main destinations is the metropolitan area of Barcelona. Catalonia is one of the leading tourist regions in the world.

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https://all-andorra.com/costa-daurada-resorts/

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Costa Daurada is a small coastline stretch of the Tarragona province in Catalonia (Spain). Washed by the Balearic Sea, this coast is known in a tourist environment as the Costa Daurada, which means " golden coast " in Spanish. The region received such a name not without purpose, because the fine yellow sand on the resort area beaches sparkles in the sun, like gold ore.

It is one of the most popular parts of the Mediterranean resorts of Spain.

Borders with Costa del Garraf in the north and Costa del Azahar (Valencian community) in the south.

This is facilitated by the protection of the coast by low mountains from cold air masses, a favorable climate, developed infrastructure, and picturesque landscapes. Most coastal beaches have been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag Award.
Costa Daurada on the map
The resort area has a flat topography. It is located on the east coast of Spain and stretches for 200 kilometers. The northern border of the district is the Vilanova i la Geltru ( Costa del Garraf) town, the southern is the Alcanar town (unofficially). The low Catalan mountain ranges separate the Costa Daurada from the country central part. The Ebro, the deepest river in Spain, flows into the sea via its delta at the southern borders. The Tarragona city is the Costa Daurada administrative center. It is 100 km from Barcelona.
How to get to the Costa Daurada?
You need to fly to Barcelona to relax on the golden coast of Spain, El Prat de Llobregat International Airport is the closest to the Costa Daurada resorts. You can then get to the desired city by bus that runs several times a day. You can take the regional train at Barcelona-Sants station to Calafell, Torredembarra, Tarragona, Salou, and Cambrils resorts.

Another way to the Costa Daurada is to fly through Reus city airport, which is 8 km from Tarragona. You can get much faster to the right place from it. But its peculiarity is that planes come here not from all countries, but only from several European cities. There are charter flights to Reus during the summer season. Cruise ships enter the Tarragona capital. Any coastal town can be reached by taxi or a rented car from the airport in addition.
Climate and weather
Costa Daurada has a typical Mediterranean climate. It is characterized by hot summers and mild winters. The summer season already begins in May and ends in October here. The average air temperature indicators are + 24 ... 30 degrees. Water temperature is kept at + 23 ... 25 degrees.

The coastal strip throughout the resort area is shallow and sloping, so the water quickly warms up. Vacationers are constantly pleased by the light sea breeze, softening the summer heat and refreshing in the evening., the Costa Daurada is cool but sunny in winter. The air heats up to +16 degrees, and the sea temperature does not exceed 10 degrees. It rains a little here.
Costa Daurada beaches
The beach area characteristic feature is its length and width. There will be enough space for everyone for both outdoor activities and relaxing pastime in the sun in any month of the high season here. All district beaches are municipal and free, sunbeds and umbrellas rental is available everywhere.

Local authorities monitor the beach places cleanliness, therefore, the order is maintained here. Many beaches have been awarded the cleanliness and quality service mark. The sandbed is shallow off the coast, the descent into the sea is convenient. there are rocky beaches in some Costa Daurada areas.
Main resorts (from north to south) Cunit - the northernmost resort on the Costa Daurada Calafell - the best seaside resort in Catalonia for holidays with children El Vendrell and its graffiti Creixell and its castle Torredembarra and its attractions Altafulla has been declared a cultural heritage of Catalonia since 1998 Best beaches of Roman Tarragona Vila-seca and its PortAventura Park Salou - the most popular sea resort in Catalonia Cambrils - the gastronomic capital of Costa Daurada L'Hospitalet de l'Infant - the southernmost resort on the Costa Daurada The resorts which are not officially part of the Costa Daurada South of the Costa Daurada: L'Ametlla de Mar and its attractions L'Ampolla and its wild beaches Sant Carles de la Ràpita and Delta Ebro natural park Alcanar - the southernmost resort in Catalonia

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Costa Daurada resorts * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Costa Daurada is a small coastline stretch of the Tarragona province in Catalonia (Spain). Washed by the Balearic Sea, this coast is known in a tourist environment as the Costa Daurada, which means "golden coast" in Spanish. The region received such a name not without purpose, because the fine yellow sand on the resort area ...

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Costa del Garraf (Cat. Costa del Garraf) is the tourist name of the sea coast of Catalonia (Spain), which corresponds to the coast of Baix Llobregat, Garraf County. It is bounded in the north of the Costa de Barcelona and in the south of the Costa Daurada. It runs from the mouth of the Llobregat River to the mouth of the Foix.

It is one of the most popular parts of the Mediterranean resorts of Spain.

The coast is dominated by the mountain range del Garraf in its central part, which reaches the sea and is softened by sandy and very open beaches to the north, to the Llobregat delta, where the facilities of Barcelona airport are located, and to the south to the cities of Sitges, Vilanova i la Geltrú and Cubelles.
Infrastructure
The lively beaches and coves of the Costa del Garraf are just one reason to visit the area. The wide variety of its lands (Garraf, Baix Llobregat districts) allows you to enjoy natural spaces such as Garraf Park, villages with a long tradition of tourism, such as Sitges or Vilanova i la Geltrú, heritage of all eras (Gothic, industrial and modernist styles). Here you can also taste delicious local dishes accompanied by Penedès wines and cava.

Since the early 20th century, visitors from all over the world have been attracted by the fine golden sands and calm waters of Garraf. The easternmost, in the Baix Llobregat region, lies in the sands of Castelldefels, between the protected areas of the Llobregat Delta and the Garraf mountain range.

Les Botigues beach is located just at the beginning of the rock line of the massif. This is the territory of the bays at the foot of the cliffs.

Sitges offers the city's most famous beaches such as Aiguadols, San Sebastian, La Fragata, L'Estagnol and Terramar. Sitges has also become a destination for gay tourism throughout Europe, with many gay bars, clubs, restaurants and nightclubs.

Vilanova i la Geltrú and Cubelles also have excellent urban beaches with all amenities.

On both sides of Cubelles, there are virtually untouched coastlines with wetlands of high biodiversity.

Thanks to the Olympic Canal and the Castelldefels Maritime Club or the Vilanova i la Geltrú seaside resort, a variety of water sports (sailing, surfing, kayaking) can be enjoyed in the area. The Garraf Marina, Aiguadols and the Port of Ginesta in Sitges round out the coastal holiday offer.
Nature
The Parc del Garraf Natural Park has more than 12 thousand hectares of arid and rocky landscapes. Water and wind erosion of the limestone of which they are composed have created an amazing cave ecosystem.

The harsh sun and drought conditions have defined the flora and fauna of the park. The bald eagle or the Mediterranean turtle can be found here.

Parc d'Olerdola has a landscape characteristic of the landscape of the whole massif. Separately stands out the monumental complex of Olerdola, from where you can see the coast and the plains of Penedès and Anoia.

Parque del Foix is ​​a meeting place for birds and an example of a wetland in a principally arid area.

The Delta Llobregat Nature Reserve preserves some areas of ancient wetlands. The human presence, however, has limited the wetlands in some lagoons by the sea.
Gastronomy
The famous wines and cava (sparkling wine) with the indication of origin produced in Penedès are the TOP star products of the region, distributed and appreciated all over the world. Its importance has identified wine tourism as an important component of the tourist attraction of the region as a whole.
Beaches
The following beaches and ports on the Garraf Coast have been awarded the Blue Flag category (from north to south):

Platja del Prat (El Prat de Llobregat)

Gavà Mar (Gavà)

Platja de Castelldefels (Castelldefels)

Platja de Ribes-Roges (Vilanova i la Geltrú)

Platja d'Adarró (Vilanova i la Geltrú)

Platja de Sant Gervasi (Vilanova i la Geltrú)

Platja Llarga (Cubelles)

Culture
Every autumn, Sitges hosts the International Film Festival of Catalonia.

The human towers (cat. Els castells) are rooted in the traditional culture of Alt Penedès. The "building" of human towers, which has been practiced since the 18th century in the Penedès and Camp de Tarragona, spread throughout Catalonia in the 20th century. Saint Felix's Day in Vilafranca del Penedès, every August 30th, is considered the most important festival of the Human Towers of Catalonia of the year.
The best resorts of the Costa del Garraf: How to get to?
Nearest international airports are in Barcelona and Reus.

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The best resorts of the Costa del Garraf * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Costa del Garraf (Cat. Costa del Garraf) is the tourist name of the sea coast of Catalonia (Spain), which corresponds to the coast of Baix Llobregat, Garraf County. It is bounded in the north of the Costa de Barcelona and in the south of the Costa Daurada.

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Costa de Barcelona and its best beaches • All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Costa de Barcelona (cat. Costa de Barcelona) is the coast of Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain), that covers its municipality and San Adria del Besos. Its limits stretch from the mouth of the Besos River to Llobregat. It is bounded in the north of the Costa del Maresme and in the south of the Costa del Ga…

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The Costa del Maresme (cat. Costa del Maresme) is a stretch of the coastline of Catalonia (Spain) that coincides with the coast of the Maresme region and covers a total of 16 municipalities from Montgat to the Tordera estuary. It is bordered in the north by the Costa Brava and in the south by the Costa de Barcelona.

It is one of the most popular parts of the Mediterranean resorts of Spain.

It is a coastal strip stretching between the Mediterranean Sea and the coastal ridge that protects it from the northerly winds. The Maresme Coast is characterized by extensive beaches and golden sands, fishing villages and areas with a long tradition of tourism. Characterized by a mild climate and a Mediterranean landscape, it is a residential and tourist area of ​​the TOP level, which has become the home of many Barcelonians in recent decades.

There are five marinas in the region and fishing is mainly concentrated in Arenys de Mar. For this reason, the Catalan Tourism Agency has recognized this city and Sant Paul de Mar as fishing villages.

In front of the Maresme coast lies Alghero Mataro, which contains some of the best-preserved oceanic Posidonia meadows in the country. Its over 2,900 hectares have been integrated into the Costes del Maresme Natural Protected Area since 2006, and in 2014 they were declared a Special Protected Area (ZEC) by the Generalitat of Catalonia.

Posidonia or glass algae is a plant of great ecological importance and very beneficial for marine ecosystems, which is the subject of study and dissemination through public-private initiatives in the region, such as the Posidonia 2021 project.

The Costa del Maresme has a total of 54 beaches and coves, with a total length of 55 km, most of which are medium to coarse golden sand.

They range from urban beaches with all kinds of services to more natural beaches away from urban centers. These include awarded the Blue Flag beaches and those that have received a commitment to the sustainability of the biosphere and those that have been awarded the Q (Spanish system of the voluntary quality label for tourism products and services). Several locations have also been certified family tourism destinations and offer amenities and services specifically designed for families.
Among the largest resorts on the Costa del Maresme (from south to north):
Nearest international airports are in Barcelona and Girona.

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The best resorts of Costa del Maresme * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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The Costa del Maresme (cat. Costa del Maresme) is a stretch of the coastline of Catalonia (Spain) that coincides with the coast of the Maresme region and covers a total of 16 municipalities from Montgat to the Tordera estuary. It is bordered in the north by the Costa Brava and in the south by the ...

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https://all-andorra.com/costa-brava-resorts/

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Costa Brava is a wide strip of the Mediterranean coast that geographically occupies the north of Catalonia, Spain.

Costa Brava is located in the northeast of Catalonia (province of Girona), which is part of the Spanish Kingdom. Costa Brava stretches 210 km from the French border to the Blanes resort town. Borders with Costa del Maresme in the south and Mediterranean resorts of France in the north.

Cliffs and rocks interspersed with picturesque bays and coves are often found on the Costa Brava Mediterranean coast in Spain. The landscape is complemented by the greenery of the Pyrenees pine, fir and pine thickets. Nature reserves occupy 30% of the Costa Brava. Cap de Creus is a natural park with an area of 140 square meters. km, which is located in the eastern part of the Iberian Peninsula and has sea and land zones. The Costa Brava air is saturated with pine aroma and the Mediterranean Sea smell.

Costa Brava is considered the coolest coast of Spain. The Costa Brava summer average temperature is + 27 C for air, and + 23 C for water.

Summer holidays will appeal to those who do not like summer heat.

The Costa Brava beach season lasts from early June to late October.

Winter is mild with an average air temperature of up to + 14 C.

Costa Brava translates as a wild, rocky coast. It is possible that with its exoticism it began to attract numerous tourists' attention from all over the world.

It is the Costa Brava that marked the beginning of the tourist boom in Spain. Europeans have begun to visit Costa Brava actively since 1960. Costa Brava was the first resort area in Spanish Catalonia, which received Russian tourists. Tours to this region are cheaper than tours to other resorts in the country.

There are 3 international airports in Catalonia in Girona, Barcelona.

Travelers choose Barcelona Airport most often. There is a 70 km direct railway line to Blanes along the Costa Brava coast.

The Costa Brava beaches are white sand and pebbles, and Lloret-de-Mar is famous for its purely sandy beaches. The Costa Brava beaches are municipal and free of charge. Umbrellas and sunbeds are for a fee.

Portbou is the Costa Brava's northernmost resort.

Blanes is the Costa Brava southernmost resort, which is 59 km from Barcelona. Blanes' beaches with a gentle entrance to the sea are perfect for families with small children. Blanes is the owner of the luxurious Botanical Gardens and Fish Market.

The most famous resorts and cities of the Costa Brava from north to south are Portbou, Rosas, Figueras, Palamos, Playa de Aro, S'Agaro, Santa Cristina de Aro, Sant Feliu de Guixols, Tossa deMar, Lloret de Mar, Blanes.
Most popular resorts of Costa Brava Blanes - the gateway to the Costa Brava Lloret de Mar - sights and beaches Tossa de Mar - the beauty of its beaches and historic heritage make this place a 'must see' Sant Feliu de Guixols - capital of Costa Brava Palamos and its fishing traditions Begur city: an important tourist centre of Costa Brava resorts L'Estartit: a popular part of the sea resorts of Costa Brava L'Escala and its ancient Greek colony Empuriabrava - the largest residential port in the world with 24 km of canals Roses: its citadel and sand castles Cadaqués - the easternmost city of Spain and the Iberian Peninsula El Port de la Selva and its wild beaches Llança and its attractions Portbou - the northernmost resort of the Costa Brava

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Costa Brava resorts * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Costa Brava is a wide strip of the Mediterranean coast that geographically occupies the north of Catalonia, Spain. Costa Brava is located in the northeast of Catalonia (province of Girona), which is part of the Spanish Kingdom. Costa Brava stretches 210 km from the French border to the Blanes resort town.

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https://all-andorra.com/mediterranean-resorts-of-spain/

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Main regions (from south to north)
Costa del Sol
The Costa del Sol ("Sun Coast") is a region in the south of Spain in the autonomous community of Andalusia, comprising the coastal towns and communities along the coastline of the Province of Málaga and the eastern part of Campo de Gibraltar in Cádiz.
Main resorts: The Puerto de La Duquesa La Línea de la Concepción Costa Tropical
The Costa Tropical is a comarca in southern Spain, corresponding to the Mediterranean coastline of the province of Granada, Andalusia. It is also but less frequently called the Costa de Granada or Costa Granadina. This territory limits to the east with the region of Poniente Almeriense, in Almería (Costa de Almería); to the west with the Axarquía - Costa del Sol, in Malaga; to the north with Alhama, the Lecrín Valley and the Alpujarra Granadina; and to the south it has access to the Mediterranean Sea.

It is made up of 18 municipalities, of which the most populated and extensive is Motril; on the contrary, the municipality with the least number of inhabitants is Lentegí, and the one with the smallest area is Torrenueva Costa. Its traditional and historical capital is the city of Motril.

The Mediterranean climate prevails on the Costa Granadina. The Sierra Nevada mountain range, with the highest heights of the Iberian Peninsula, protects this coastline from the cold north winds and, due to the Föhn effect, creates a subtropical microclimate in localized areas, with 320 days of sunshine a year and an average temperature in around 20 ° C.
Main resorts: Costa de Almería
The region extends 217 kilometres and includes 13 municipalities, from San Juan De Los Terreros on the border with the community of Murcia to Adra on the border with the province of Granada.

The highlight of this coast is its contrasts, along with extensive sandy beaches, small coves, arid deserts, green oases, plantations and lush forests, great mountain ranges, great plains. Another feature is its clear and bright sky. Almería enjoys more than 3,000 hours of sunshine a year. Its climate is subtropical, Mediterranean, warm and dry. The average annual temperature is 18 / 19º C, and that of its waters in winter is warmer than that of the air, making it an optimal destination throughout the year.
Main resorts: San Juan De Los Terreros Costa Cálida
The Costa Cálida stretches from El Mojón in the north, near the province of Alicante, to the Cuatro Calas in Águilas in the south.

The northern end of this coast includes the Mar Menor, a coastal saltwater lagoon that, at about 170 km², is the largest in Europe. The Mar Menor is separated from the Mediterranean by a 22 km stretch of sand called La Manga, on which most of the region's tourist development has been built.
Main resorts: Costa Blanca
The Costa Blanca is the tourist name given to the Mediterranean coast that bathes the province of Alicante, in southeastern Spain (Valencian Community). It ranges from the municipality of Denia in the north, to that of Pilar de la Horadada, in the south. It is made up of 244 km of beaches, coves and cliffs. It limits to the north with the Costa de Valencia and to the south with the Costa Cálida (Region of Murcia).

The towns located on the Costa Blanca (from north to south) are: Denia, Jávea, Benitachell, Teulada-Moraira, Benisa, Calp, Altea, Alfaz del Pi, Benidorm, Finestrat, Villajoyosa, Campello, Alicante, Elche, Santa Pola, Guardamar del Segura, Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa and Pilar de la Horadada.

Its capitals par excellence are the cities of Benidorm and Torrevieja, since these municipalities are the great tourist focus of the Costa Blanca and the entire Levantine coastline.
Main resorts: Elche (inland) Costa de Valencia
Costa de Valencia is the coastal section that belongs to the province of Valencia, forming the Gulf of Valencia, an inlet of the Balearic Sea (western Mediterranean), on the eastern coasts of Spain. It borders the other two coasts of the Valencian Community, to the north with the Costa del Azahar (province of Castellón) and to the south with the Costa Blanca (province of Alicante).

The coastline that comprises the 109-kilometer coast of Valencia has very few geographical features, the most notable being the Cabo del Faro de Cullera, since the coast is generally low and sandy, which favors the presence of abundant sandy areas, such as the from Cullera, Daimuz, Gandía, Miramar, Canet de Berenguer, Sueca and the city of Valencia itself. Swampy areas are also abundant (especially in the central plain) such as the Gandía and Oliva lagoons, the most important being the Valencia lagoon. The marshes such as those of El Puig and Jaraco also stand out.
Main resorts: Costa del Azahar
The towns located on the Costa del Azahar are: Vinaroz (the northernmost resort), Benicarló, Peñíscola, Alcalá de Chivert, Torreblanca, Cabanes coast, Oropesa del Mar, Benicasim, Castellón de la Plana, Almazora, Burriana, Nules, Moncófar, Chilches, La Llosa and Almenara (the southernmost resort, about 30 km north of Valencia).
Main resorts: Costa Daurada
The Costa Daurada, washed by the Balearic Sea, this coast is known in a tourist environment as the Costa Daurada, which means " golden coast " in Spanish. The region received such a name not without purpose, because the fine yellow sand on the resort area beaches sparkles in the sun, like gold ore. The Costa Daurada Catalan coast is very popular among foreign tourists and Spaniards.

This is facilitated by the protection of the coast by low mountains from cold air masses, a favorable climate, developed infrastructure, and picturesque landscapes. Most coastal beaches have been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag Award.
Main resorts: L'Hospitalet de l'Infant Costa del Garraf
The coast is dominated by the mountain range del Garraf in its central part, which reaches the sea and is softened by sandy and very open beaches to the north, to the Llobregat delta, where the facilities of Barcelona airport are located, and to the south to the cities of Sitges, Vilanova i la Geltrú and Cubelles.

The lively beaches and coves of the Costa del Garraf are just one reason to visit the area. The wide variety of its lands (Garraf, Baix Llobregat districts) allows you to enjoy natural spaces such as Garraf Park, villages with a long tradition of tourism, such as Sitges or Vilanova i la Geltrú, heritage of all eras (Gothic, industrial and modernist styles). Here you can also taste delicious local dishes accompanied by Penedès wines and cava.
Main resorts: Costa de Barcelona
Costa de Barcelona is the coast of Barcelona, that covers its municipality and San Adria del Besos. Its limits stretch from the mouth of the Besos River to Llobregat. It is bounded in the north of the Costa del Maresme and in the south of the Costa del Garraf.

It is an entirely urban coastline, consisting of two different parts: from Besos to Barceloneta, with beaches for public activities and with all kinds of services, and from Barceloneta to Llobregat, occupied by the facilities of the port of Barcelona.

Believe it or not, until 1992 there were no beaches in Barcelona! And they appeared only thanks to the Barcelona 1992 Olympics, when the city authorities decided to give Barcelona a worthy appearance of an international "Beach city". Today, there are nine beaches and one water center within the city.
Costa del Maresme
It is a coastal strip stretching between the Mediterranean Sea and the coastal ridge that protects it from the northerly winds. The Maresme Coast is characterized by extensive beaches and golden sands, fishing villages and areas with a long tradition of tourism. Characterized by a mild climate and a Mediterranean landscape, it is a residential and tourist area of ​​the TOP level, which has become the home of many Barcelonians in recent decades.
Main resorts (from south to north): Costa Brava
The Costa Brava is a wide strip of the Mediterranean coast that geographically occupies the north of Spain.

Cliffs and rocks interspersed with picturesque bays and coves are often found on the Costa Brava Mediterranean coast in Spain. The landscape is complemented by the greenery of the Pyrenees pine, fir and pine thickets. Nature reserves occupy 30% of the Costa Brava. Cap de Creus is a natural park with an area of 140 square meters. km, which is located in the eastern part of the Iberian Peninsula and has sea and land zones. The Costa Brava air is saturated with pine aroma and the Mediterranean Sea smell.
Main resorts:

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The Mediterranean resorts of Spain * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Main regions (from south to north) Costa del Sol The Costa del Sol ("Sun Coast") is a region in the south of Spain in the autonomous community of Andalusia, comprising the coastal towns and communities along the coastline of the Province of Málaga and the eastern part of Campo de Gibraltar in Cádiz.

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Tarragona is a city and municipality located in the northeast of Spain (Catalonia). Today it is one of the most important historical centers of Spain and an important seaport.

It's a popular part of the Costa Daurada of the Mediterranean resorts of Spain.

Tarragona contains many historical buildings dating back to the Ancient Roman period which are included on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. The city is associated with the era when Tarraco (the ancient name of Tarragona) was one of the most important cities on the Iberian peninsula. Tarragona shows the real history of mankind, connecting several thousand years of development. Here you can spot Ferraris in the streets alongside ancient ruins, a medieval Gothic cathedral, cobblestone streets and petrochemical complexes.

The city of Tarragona is located on the coast of the Balearic Sea in the north-eastern part of Spain, in the south of Catalonia.

The climate of Tarragona is the standard Mediterranean climate (dry summers, mild winters). The average annual rainfall is 500 mm. Most precipitation falls from September to November. Snow and frosts are rare.
History
According to historians, the first settlement was founded by the Iberian tribes in the 5th century BC and was called Kesse. In 218 BC, these territories were conquered by the Romans, who founded the city of Tarraco, which is considered the oldest Roman colony in the Pyrenees. Before the demise of the Roman Empire, Tarraco was the capital of the province.

After the Cantabrian War in Tarraco, the emperor Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus (later known as Augustus Caesar) spent a whole winter there, ordering the construction of many buildings. Also, the future emperor of the Roman Empire Septimius Severus is said to have lived in the city too.

After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the Visigoths conquered Tarragona. In the early 8th century, the city was conquered by the Arabs, who ruled over it for four centuries. The city was conquered by the kings of Aragon only in the 12th century and for some time was the capital of the kingdom.

Since the 16th century, new fortifications have been built here to protect Tarragona and the surrounding area from continuous wars and pirate attacks. The city suffered greatly during the war for the Spanish inheritance and Napoleonic wars.

Roman ruins and statues are a distinctive peculiarity in all parts of the city.
Tourism and main attractions
The Roman ruins of Tarraco have been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Part of the bases of large Cyclopean walls near the Cuartel de Pilatos are thought to pre-date the Romans. The building just mentioned, a prison in the 19th century, is said to have been the palace of Augustus. The second century Tarragona Amphitheatre near the seashore was extensively used as a quarry after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, and but few vestiges of it now remain. A circus c. 450 m long, was built over in the area now called Plaça de la Font, though portions of it are still to be traced. Throughout the town Latin, and even apparently Phoenician, inscriptions on the stones of the houses mark the material used for buildings in the town.

Two ancient monuments, at some little distance from the town, have, however, fared rather better. The first of these is Les Ferreres Aqueduct, which spans a valley about 4 kilometres north of the city. It is 217 m in length, and the loftiest arches, of which there are two tiers, are 26 m high. There is a monument about 6 km along the coast road east of the city, commonly called the "Tower of the Scipios"; but there is no authority for assuming that they were buried here.
Other Roman buildings include:
The Roman walls
The capitol, or citadel
The Amphitheatre
The Roman circus
The Pretorium - Tower
The Provincial and Colonial fora
The Necropolis
The palace of Augustus, called the house of Pilate

The so-called tower, or sepulchre, of the Scipios
Arch of Sura, or of Bara
The Aurelian Way.

The city is also home to the National Archaeological Museum of Tarragona.
Port
Tarragona is home to a large port where one can the most expensive yachts in the world. The photo shows the sailing yacht "Black Pearl" (length 106.7 m)
Shopping
Shopping is not the highlight card of the city, as all the main shops are concentrated in one area or in the larger shopping centres in Barcelona. In Tarragona itself, you can only find shops of some famous brands (mainly Spanish) which are concentrated on the main street of Tarragona - Rambla Nova. On Sundays (during the morning) there is also a flea market here.
Food and restaurants
Cheap food is available at the local attraction: the market of Tarragona (Mercat Central), which sells fresh and seasonal products, including fish.

The best restaurants are located in the port of the city (fishing area El Serallo) offering famous and popular dishes made from fresh fish and seafood. The restaurants are located directly on the shoreline overlooking the sea and the port of Tarragona.

There are two Michelin list restaurants in the city^

El Terrat, Pons d'Icart 19, 40 - 110 EUR * Creative Cuisine

Barquet Tarragona, Gasòmetre 16, 35 - 60 EUR * Regional Cuisine
Beaches
In Tarragona there only 2 working beaches: central with a view on a port.

The neighboring beach (1 km to the north) Platja de l'Arrabassada, is generally empty with the same sand and with beautiful views.
How to get to?
The nearest airport - Reus (15 minutes by car or bus) or Barcelona el Prat (1 hour and a half depending on the route).

Renfe Central Railway Station of Tarragona allows to reach main cities of Spain (including Barcelona, Madrid, Reus, Salou).
Shortest distances
From Girona 2 h (192 km) via AP-7

From Lleida 1 h 7 min (101 km) via AP-2

From Reus 17 min (16.1 km) via T-11

From Salou 16 min (11.8 km) via C-31B

From Barcelona 1 hr 13 min (95.1 km) via C-32

From Madrid 5 hr 37 min (551 km) via AP-2 and A-2

From Andorra 2 h 49 min (196 km) via C-14
Main information
Population: 131 500

Area: 63 sq. km.

The language: Spanish, Catalan

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time is Central European UTC +1, in summer +2

The Tourist Information Center is located at C / Fortuny, 4, Tarragona

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Tarragona and its sights * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Tarragona is a city and municipality located in the northeast of Spain (Catalonia). Today it is one of the most important historical centers of Spain and an important seaport. It's a popular part of the Costa Daurada of the Mediterranean resorts of Spain. Tarragona contains many historical buildings dating back to the Ancient ...

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Lleida (cat. Lleida, sp. Lérida) is a city in Spain, western , the capital of the Segrià region (cat. comarca) and the Ponet vegueria, head of the judicial district and the seat of the Diocese of Lleida.

Its extensive municipal district, the largest and most populated in the comarca, is formed by the city, the decentralized municipal entities of Raimat and Juices and 56 partides (sections of rural terrain around the city).

The partides closest to the city make up the Horta de Lleida. It is within the functional area of Ponent or Lleida. The city of Lleida has 137,327 inhabitants (2020).

The city houses historical monuments such as the Seu Vella, or the Conjunt Monumental of Gardeny, which are visited every year by hundreds of thousands of tourists.

The main motor of Lleida's economy is the service sector (77.1% of the GVA of 2001), followed by construction (10.6%), industry (10.1%) and agriculture (2.1%).

The city is formed around a hill located on the banks of the River Segre. This hill is known as the hill of La Seu, as La Seu Vella is located there. It stands at 154.65 m a.s.l. (measured on the porch of the catedral Nova). The municipality is located in western Catalonia, in the central depression, within the functional area of Ponent and the subcomarca of Pla de Lleida. It extends on both sides of the river Segre, which along with the Noguerola river form the only water route of the municipality.

Lleida has long been a city where communications networks come together. This situation would explain, in part, the reason for the greater development of agri-food industries here, as it is one of its most important centers in Catalonia and even in Europe. Companies like San Miguel, Nanta, Vall-Companys, the Alimentaria Guissona Group, Indra and Ros Roca have factories here. This region, far from political divisions, includes all the functional area of Ponent and much of the Franja.

In a wide area that includes the regions of Lleida and some of Aragon Lleida is an important center of services, and it is the city of reference in terms of hospital care, educational centers, cultural and leisure activities, etc. According to an economic study, the area of commercial influence of Lleida has 494,435 inhabitants.

The Lleida Agri-Food Science and Technology Park, created in 2005, was born with the intention of becoming one of the main scientific and technological platforms in the agri-food sector throughout Spain and being a pole of innovation capable to attract technology-based companies.
Lleida history
The history of Lleida has evolved around the hill of la Seu, since it has always been the place where the representative infrastructures of the social control power have been located: the Andalusian fortress (La Suda) and the mosque, and later the cathedral (La Seu Vella). The hill was, moreover, a good defense place from possible attacks, and soon it was surrounded by walls. These were no longer useful with the arrival of the industrial and demographic revolution of the 19th century.

Once demolished, Lleida was able to expand along the plain, though, having to overcome the obstacles presented by the River Segre and the railway, which was built without forecasting that the city would grow as it did. More history read here

The politics of the city of Lleida, since the transition, have been clearly dominated by one party, the Socialist Party of Catalonia, since they have always ruled the city, except for the period between 1987 and 1989 in which there was a government of CiU with Manel Oronich as a mayor. Also worthy of note are the figures of the two main mayors of the city: Antoni Siurana, mayor from 1979 to 2003 and Àngel Ros, from 2003 to 2018.
Tourism, monuments, architecture, museums and what to see
● La Seu Vella or the old cathedral: the symbol of the city, it is the temple that is located on the hill in the center of Lleida.
●The castle of the King or the Suda, next to the old cathedral
●The Castle of Gardeny, a monumental complex of the Knights Templar of Gardeny.
● The Paeria palace, seat of the Paeria de Lleida (town hall of Lleida), from the 13th century, among many artefacts of interest, it conserves the armari de les cinc claus and the altarpiece of the Virgin of the Paers.
● The new cathedral or Seu Nova, from the end of the 17th century, of Baroque style, built on an old city granary.
● The church of Sant Llorenç, of Romanesque style, from the 13th-14th-15th centuries.
● The former hospital of Santa Maria, home of the Institut d'Estudis Ilerdencs (en. Institute for Lleida studies).
● The church of Sant Martí, from the 12th century.
● The church of Sant Joan, neo gothic style of the late 19th century.
● The building of the Seminari, seat of the rectorate of the University of Lleida.
● The palace of the Diputació de Lleida, from 1789.
● The chapel of Sant Jaume, from the 14th century.
● The Chapel of La Sang, of Renaissance style, from the 16th century.
● The 18th century baroque church of Sant Pere Apòstol, where Gaspar de Portolà is buried.
● EMD (en. minor local entity) of Sucs, with the historicism church from the 20th century and the archaeological ruins of the Vilot park.
● The Suquets church, of final tendencies of the 19th century.
● The Carme church, built between 1954 and 1959.
● The sanctuary of Sant Antoni de Pàdua, from the 20th century.
● The oratory of the Dolors, from 1724, with the image of Our Lady of Sorrows.
● The Mariana Academy, from 1862, with a neoclassical façade and a noucentisme vestibule.
● The former convent of Santa Clara, early 18th century and the seat of the castellers of Lleida, the choirs Shalom and the Sícoris Club.
● The convent of Santa Teresa, from 1673.
● The convent of El Roser, construction begun in 1669.
● The convent, parish and sanctuary of Santa Tereseta, from the 18th century.
● The remains of the monastery of Sant Ruf, from the 12th century.
● The statue of Indíbil and Mandoni: bronze statue located below the arch of the Pont.
● The new faculties of the UdL (University of Lleida)
● The Jutjats building, of singular architecture.
● The elevator of the Seu Vella, that communicates the commercial axis with the hill of la Seu.
● The auditorium Enric Granados, a multipurpose musical space that houses eight resident groups.
● The Congress Palace - the Llotja de Lleida.
● The Lleida's train station, from 1860, of French style.
● The monumental fountains of Lleida.
● The bridge of Prince of Viana, is cable-stayed and unique in the world with the towers open to the outside. It also offers a beautiful night lights.
● The Sauces house, from 1808, with a neoclassical style.
Streets and squares with history
● The carrer Major and its branches, several streets full of shops.
● The Sant Martí street, which leads to the foot of the Seu Vella.
● Carme Street, former Aluderia.
● The Rambla de Ferran, from early 19th century.
● The Rambla de Aragon, at the foot of the old walls.
● The Sant Joan square, which already existed in 1149.
● Plaza de l'Ereta, with its origins in the 13th c.
● The Plaza del Dipòsit and its buried tank.
● The square of San Francisco, monumental viewpoint.
● The Sant Josep square, dated to around 1200.
Museums and archeological sites
● Centre d'Art la Panera (contemporary art center, with temporary exhibitions, activities, library ...).
● The Casa Misericòrdia, home of the Diocesan and Regional Museum of Lleida.
● The Jaume Morera Art Museum.
● The Sant Joan hall.
● The Archaeological and Art Museum of the Institute for Lleida Studies.
● The Museu de l'Aigua Lleida.
●The Museu de l'Automoció de Lleida
● CaixaForum Lleida.
● Museum of Science, Environment and Climate (under construction).
● Railway museum. It will be located at the facilities of railway material recovery and the Vilanoveta station from the 19th century. (In construction phase)
● The portal of Magdalena.
Modernism
● Teatro del Escorxador (1918), designed by Francesc de Paula Morera i Gatell.
● Old Cinemas Vinyes (1920), the facade shows a mixture of styles between Modernism and Noucentisme.
● Aquarium (1915), designed by Francesc de Paula Morera i Gatell.
● Casa Morera (1922).
● Casa Baró (la Vinícola), from 1921 and designed by Joan Bergós.
● Casa Magí Llorens (1905), named as the Lleida quarry, designed by Francesc Lamolla i Morante.
● Casa Melcior (1910), designed by Francesc de Paula Morera i Gatell.
● Casa Bergós (1906), designed by Francesc de Paula Morera i Gatell.
● Casa Xammar (1920), designed by Francesc de P. Morera i Gatell.
● Cases Balasch (1914), designed by Francesc de Paula Morera i Gatell.
● Florensa House (1905).
● Former Hotel Pal*las (1912), designed by Francesc de Paula Morera i Gatell.
● Farinera la Meta (1913).
● Mercado del Pla (1920), designed by Francesc de Paula Morera i Gatell.
● Cellar de Raimat (1918), designed by Joan Rubio i Bellver.
● Sagrat Cor de Raimat Church (1916), designed by Joan Rubio i Bellver.
● Houses of the colonos of Raimat (1918), designed by Joan Rubio i Bellver.
● Chalet Queralt (1910).
● Chalet Vila Remei (1924).
● Pantheon of the Count of Torregrossa (1912), designed by Francesc de Paula Morera i Gatell.
● Sant Francesc square (1920), designed by Francesc de Paula Morera i Gatell.
Culture and Festivals May holidays
The Festa Major de Lleida is celebrated on May 11 in honor of its patron saint Anastasi, a Roman soldier born in Lleida who was martyred in Badalona by order of Diocletian in 303. Within the May holidays, it is necessary to mention the recovery of the Moors and Christians Festival, which was recorded already in the 12th century and included 12 editions.
Autumn holidays
Fiestas that coincide with the festival of Sant Miquel and with the agricultural fair that bears its name.
Film Festivals
● The International Animation Film Festival (Animac) is a non-competitive show, which is celebrated the last week of February, it is devoted to everything related to cinematic animation
● Latin American Film Festival is a competitive event that takes place during the month of April, and as all film festivals, apart from the Official Competition Section, it incorporates retrospective sections and new proposals.
Aplec del Caragol
The Aplec del Caragol is a gastronomic festival organized around the snails cuisine, and is celebrated in the city of Lleida at the end of May. The gathering brings together thousands of people around the table, to taste the most traditional dishes of Lleida cuisine. All this is completed with numerous parallel acts.

The gathering started in 1980 with only 300 people (about 12 groups), it was very improvised, informal and lacking infrastructure. But, already, in its second edition it included a parade through the streets of the city of Lleida and presented a certain organization. In 2007, 210,000 people participated in the three days festival, and 12 tonnes of snails were consumed. Currently, the gathering is a great celebration known in the country and Europe.

In 2002, due to its relevance, the Aplec del Caragol festival was declared by the Generalitat of Catalonia 'Traditional holiday of national interest', and in 2004, commemorating its 25th anniversary, the Spanish government declared it 'Festival of National Tourism Interest'.
Sant Jaume Pilgrimage
The Gothic chapel of the Peu del Romeu (13th century), located on Carrer Major, commemorates the passage of the apostle Saint James through Lleida, where, according to a legend, the apostle got a thorn stuck in his right foot, walking at night, but an Angel with a lantern appeared and gave him light so he could take it out. On the afternoon of Sant Jaume the children of Lleida remember this story, by going with a lantern-lit procession to the Seu Nova, which gives this religious procession a special character of celebration and festivity. The processional passage includes a wooden image of the Apostle, accompanied by the city's gegants and the main authorities.
Fira de Lleida
The Fira de Lleida is a private foundation in charge of organizing fairs and congresses in the city of Lleida. Its foundation dates back to 1946. Every year, some 22 activities are celebrated, among them, the Agrarian Fair of San Miguel is worth mentioning, which is celebrated coinciding with the festival of San Miguel and which already had 53 editions.

Fira de Lleida is the second Catalan fair institution, after Fira de Barcelona, and to promote this market and favor the so-called 'congress tourism' Lleida in 2010, opened the Llotja de Lleida, a building that functions as the palace of congresses and theater.
Music
In the mid-nineteenth century a municipal band already existed, led by the composer Francesc Oliver i Aymauri, an organist of the church of San Joan.

The city has a band, the Municipal Band of Lleida, founded in 1996 under the direction of master Amadeu Urrea. Normally the band is formed by sixty musicians.

We also find here the Julià Carbonell Symphony Orchestra of Les Terres de Lleida, directed since 2002 by Alfons Reverté Casas and based in the Enric Granados auditorium in Lleida.

Lleida has several concert halls, including the Cotton Club and La Boite, and the Epap, Stones, Line, Les Paul, etc. pubs, which also offer live musical performances.

La Paeria organizes a contest for new musical talents every year, called 'Directe', the main prizes are performances in the great stages of the spring and autumn festivals.

The Pepe Marín Rock Festival is a musical contest aimed at the new talents of rock music, in all its variations.
Theater
Already in 1940, just after the Spanish Civil War, the first Floral Games were organized in Lleida, although because of the circumstances it was prohibited to perform in Catalan. The city slowly reconstructed a well-developed theatrical tradition, both in semi professional theater and amateur. In these categories, we can mention the Teatre Estable de Lleida and Teatredetext, dedicated entirely to the theater, while Xip Xap, The Sidral and La Pasterada are dedicated more to animation. Among the various amateur groups, there is AEM Teatre and the Talia Dramatic Circle. All this activity took shape in the creation of the Municipal Theater Aula.

On December 29, 1951, a group of forefathers of Lleida, in response to a public competition opened by the Paeria, inaugurated the Teatre Principal in the middle of the Carrer Major next to the square of San Juan. More than half a century later, it continues to offer theater, film and opera sessions, with a stable program.

On October 8, 1998, the new Escorxador Theater opened, inaugurated a year later, with two rooms dedicated to the performing arts, which gave even more impetus to the Lleida theater.

With the Llotja de Lleida, opened on January 21, 2010, the city gained one of the three most important scenic facilities in Catalonia, along with the Liceu and the TNC, thus becoming the most important theater outside Barcelona in terms of capacity, with a total of 1,600 seats.
Titelles
The Titelles Centre de Lleida (Puppets center) was created in 1986 with the ambition to combine elements of drama, learning, fact and social dynamism around the puppets. With the future Puppets Museum that is currently in development, the center will offer to the public a unic space in Catalonia.

The International Fair of Puppets Theater in Lleida started in May of 1990, thanks to the effort of the Poppets Center of Lleida and the support of Paeria. It proposed to become a marcet platform for the Puppetry profession and artistic promotion. Twentysix editions, with 20 to 30 theater companies on average, the performance of not less than 70 public sessions, the presence of more than 300 professionals and the attendance of nearly 30,000 people in the 2014 edition, make this fair a model one in Catalonia.
Gastronomy, cuisine and restaurants
Thanks to the Horta de Lleida, the cuisine of the city is based on fresh and top quality produce. Talking about Lleida cuisine is talking about fruit, snails, fresh vegetables, mushrooms and meat (especially pork). The dishes made here are characterized mainly by the quality of their ingredients. Furthermore, Lleida forms part of the Costers del Segre appellation of origin, contributing the production of the EMD of Raimat. Some typical dishes and products are:

● Arros a la cassola (Rice pot)
● Bacallà a la llauna (dish with cod)
● Caragols a la llauna (grilled snails)
● Cassola de tros (pork casserole)
● Coca de Lleida
● Fricandó (dish with slices of beef and usually mushrooms)
● Pera de Lleida (Lleidas pear variety)
● Peus de porc a la cassola (Pig's trotters)
● Poma de Lleida (Lleidas apples variety)

There are five Michelin list restaurants in the city:

Ferreruela, Bobalà 8, 39 - 50 EUR * Catalan Cuisine

Sheyton, Avenida Prat de la Riba 39, 25 - 65 EUR * Creative Cuisine

Saroa, Torres de Sanui 12, 35 - 50 EUR * Spanish Cuisine

Aimia, Doctor Combelles 67, 30 - 50 EUR * Modern Cuisine

Carballeira, Carretera N II A, 45 - 100 EUR * Market Cuisine, Seafood
Shopping
Shopping in Lleida is concentrated on the main street (cat. Carrer Major). There are more than 70 clothes stores and food markets specializing in the sale of local products (cheeses, wines, including exclusive ones)
How to get to Lleida? By train:
RENFE
By plane:
The nearest international airport is Barcelona Prat.
Shortest distances to the main Catalan cities and resorts
From Balaguer 27 min (26.5 km) via C-12

From Girona 2 h 26 min (229 km) via C-25

From La Seu D'Urgell 1 h 49 min (130 km) via C-14

From Tarragona 1 h 9 min (100 km) via AP-2

From Barcelona 1 hr 52 min (158 km) via A-2

From Madrid 4 hr 48 min (467 km) via AP-2 and A-2

From Andorra 2 hr 10 min (150 km) via C-14
Main information
Area: 212.3 sq. km

Coordinates: 41°37′00″N 00°38′00″E

Population: 137,327

Languages: Spanish, Catalan

Currency: euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Lleida and its sights * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Lleida (cat. Lleida, sp. Lérida) is a city in Spain, western Catalonia, the capital of the Segrià region (cat. comarca) and the Ponet vegueria, head of the judicial district and the seat of the Diocese of Lleida. Its extensive municipal district, the largest and most populated in the comarca, is formed by the city, the decentralized ...

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https://all-andorra.com/girona/

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Girona (cat. Girona) is a city and a municipality in Spain, northeastern Catalonia, its the capital of the comarca Gironès and the province of Girona. It belongs to the area of the Comarques Gironines.

The city lays at the confluence of four rivers: Ter, Onyar, Güell and Galligants, at an altitude of 75 m a. s. l. Its municipal boundary limits to the north with Sant Julià de Ramis and Sarrià de Ter, to the east with Celrà, to the southeast with Juià and Quart, to the southwest with Fornells de la Selva, Vilablareix and Salt, and to the west with Sant Gregori.

The first settlers were the Iberians of the Indigees tribe, located in the higher settlements that surround and enclose the Girona plain, such as the gorge of the current Sant Julià de Ramis, which was the most important. In the wake of the Sertori wars (82-72 BC), towards 77 BC, Pompey built an oppidum (fortified walled square) on Via Heraclea (future Via Augusta) to defend it and fight against the sedentary Sertori, the faction of the Populares, who had risen armed with the Roman Hispania against Sulalla of the faction of the Optimates who controlled the power in Rome. It is then, for these military needs, that the Roman occupants founded the original Girona, which was called at that time Gerunda, whose etymology has not yet been clarified, although it could mean "between the Undarius", name of the current river Onyar in the Iberian language. See here more history

Its Old Town or Barri Vell is one of the most evocative in Europe, and has some monumental elements that are unique on the continent. It is delimited by the so-called Passeig de la Muralla, the round walkway on the old Carolingian walls from 9th century and the Late Middle Ages (14th and 15th centuries). Among its monuments are the Call (former Jewish quarter, the best preserved in Spain), as well as the famous and colorful Cases de l'Onyar (houses on the river Onyar), and above all there is the Cathedral, with a very unique large nave, which is the widest in the world in a Gothic style.
Tourism and main places of interest
● The Girona Cathedral

The catholic christian church of Saint Maria de Girona is the cathedral headquarter of the Bishopric of Girona and the largest Christian temple of the bishopric and homonymous province. The bishops of the diocese of Girona were documented generically in 516. According to some documents from the 7th century, their worship was comparable to the dioceses of Toledo and Seville. During the Muslim occupation between the years 715 and 785 it was transformed into a mosque. Its most particular feature is that it has the largest gothic nave in the world, of 22.98 meters, which is at the same time the largest nave of any style except for the St. Peter's basilica in Vatican, which is twenty-five meters. Strategically located in the central part of the old city, known as the "Força Vella". It coincides with the urban layout of antic Gerunda, the Roman settlement of which there are still remains of the walls in the current square of the cathedral.

● The church of Sant Feliu de Girona

The church Sant Feliu, o Sant Fèlix, is a basilica collegiate of Girona, originally from the early days of Christianity. It houses the offices of the Parish of Sant Feliu of the Diocese of Girona, so called because it was the main church of Girona before the construction of the cathedral. Its construction, in honor of the Sant Feliu martyr, extended from the 12th to the 17th century. It retains much of the Romanesque construction, later completed with the Gothic naves and roof and the baroque façade. The main attraction are the eight extraordinary Roman and Paleochristian sarcophagus from the 3rd and 4th centuries, found during the construction of the church, along with the Gothic tomb of Sant Narcís.

● The monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants

The old Benedictine abbey of Sant Pere de Galligants is one of the most important Romanesque sites surviving in the city of Girona. The construction started in 992, the current nave dates from 1130, as does the Lombard-style octagonal bell tower. The cloister ranges from 1154 to 1190 and also has a Romanesque style. At present, it houses the Girona section of the Archeology Museum of Catalonia.

● The Call - the Jewish quarter

The Jewish Quarter of Girona is one of the most emblematic along with that of Besalú. Also known as the "Call jueu", the neighborhood conserves the original layout of some streets, such as c/ Cundaro and c/ de Sant Llorenç. Its crossing of medieval alleys allows us to get to know the history of Judaism in Spain.

● The Arab Baths

The oldest date in which the existence of baths is documented is December 18, 1194. The document states that the baths of Girona have been built by the order of the king Alfonso II the Chaste, they were property of the monarch, and that it was a new construction, without implying that it was a rebuild of previous construction or transformation. The building has a Romanesque style, but the monument doesn't hide the Arab influences inherited from the Greco-Roman thermal tradition that affected the architectural elements and the functional structure of the baths. It was with the conquest of Lleida and Tortosa that this system of baths was discovered, and imported into Girona.

At the end of the 13th century, the attacks by the armies of King of France, Philip III, damaged the baths building, to the point that it needed an almost total reconstruction. King James II agreed to Raimon de Taialà's proposal, which reconstructed the building between March 24, 1294 and December 4, 1296. It is documented that until 1366 the baths were public. However, from that date until 1416 there is an absence of historical references on the site. In 1416 there are news again, but they talk about baths that are no longer public. The documentary references mentions a house, with its garden and integrated baths. Between the 15th and 16th centuries, it seems that they were part of a private property.

In the 17th century the monastery of Capuchin was built, which meant that the baths were incorporated to it. Much of the architectural complex of the area, including the baths, was affected by a rigorous closure, which also changed the character of the entire area. The nuns kept parts for their own use. For example, the old pool was used as a laundry room. The years 1929-1930 saw the segregation of the baths, after being almost forgotten inside the cloistered monastery. On March 8, 1929, an agreement was established whereby the Arab Baths were disassociated from the whole monastic building. The agreement was signed by the president of the Diputació and the abbot of the Capuchin. Since the date of the construction of the baths, their surroundings have experienced remarkable changes. If they were originally built on the outskirts of the city, they are now surrounded by an urbanized and inhabited area.

In the 1960s, the Archaeological promenade was opened, which gave way to a wider street, a better neighborhood and a better character in general. Once separated from the cloister, with the relevant works carried out, the so-called Arab Baths could be visited, studied and admired, and incorporated into the archaeological site that Girona offers its visitors. From 1931 until 1939 they were under the responsibility of the Delegate Commissioner of the Generalitat; from 1939 to 1992, under the care of the Diputació and now they are entrusted to the Consell Comarcal del Gironès.

● The Barri Vell

Known as Barri Vell (the old quarter) is the part of the city that is, or was, bordered by the medieval walls and the bastions of modern times. It is Girona before 1895, prior to the demolition of the walls of the Pla de Girona. Inside, there are the main monuments of Girona and the original and primitive centre of the city. This neighborhood was subject to a profound renovation as of 1982 by the city council, it underwent a rehabilitation and restoration, with a focus on tourism. After almost two decades, the Barri Vell is the main tourist attraction in the city, with a large part of buildings rehabilitated and restored centre, especially the jewish Call.

● The walls

The Passeig de la Muralla (city walls promenade) is a part of the round walkway that goes through the old Carolingian walls (built in the 9th century) and the Late Middle Age walls (built between the 14th and 15th centuries) that surround the Historic Center of the city.

● Les cases de l'Onyar

The characteristic houses of the old quarter hanging over the river Onyar on its way through the city. All of them have the river façades painted following a chromatic palette set by Enric Ansesa, Jaume Faixò and the architects J. Fuses and J. Viader.

● Masó House

Casa Masó is the birthplace of Rafael Masó (1880-1935), and one of the most important works of his architecture. It is also the only house of the famous river houses of Girona that is open to the public. The house is preserved with the furniture and decoration of the noucentisme (Catalan cultural movement of the early 20th century), and also offers unprecedented views of the city. The current Masó House is the result of the successive union of four houses acquired by the family since the middle of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, its current appearance is similar to that it had after the last intervention by Rafael Masó, in 1919. From 2006 the house is owned by the City Council of Girona and is managed by the Rafael Masó Foundation.

● La Farinera Teixidor

The building of the Farinera Teixidor (1910-1911), the work of the Girona's noucentisme architect Rafael Masó i Valentí. Commonly known as the "Casa de la Punxa", in reference to the most outstanding element of the building. The chamfer tower was conceived as a block of rental apartments that was part of a group of naves and buildings of Farinera Teixidor. The tower, with its glazed ceramic flake roof, is a modernist reminiscence, a style surpassed by the rest of the construction, which is characterized by the formal simplification of the façade. The acquisition as private property by the Collegi d'Aparelladors (Association of Surveyors), in 1979, lead to the restoration of the building.

● The Devesa Parc

The Devesa Parc of Girona, with an area of almost 40 hectares, is the largest urban green space in the city of Girona and one of the largest in Catalonia. It is framed by the river Ter in the north, the Güell in the west, the Onyar in the east and the Güell-Devesa district in the south. Most of the park is populated by a monospecific set of about 2,605 Platanus trees, although there are also: open and sunny spaces, sport fields, gravel esplanades, an irrigation system with permanent water, urban gardens, cultural facilities of the city and public use buildings, such as the Fira de Girona and the Auditori-Palau de Congressos.

A very important fact is that the Devesa trees were planted during the 1950's, and in some cases they reach 55 meters. The trees of the Devesa give the parc a unique character, to the point of turning the Park not only into a reference for the city, but also a Cultural Asset of National Interest (classified as such according to the Decree of September 27, 1943). Especially thanks to the Platanus trees that create an orthogonal structure and give monumentality to the Park.

● Rambla de la Llibertat

Rambla de la Llibertat is the old backbone of medieval, baroque and nineteenth-century Girona, it is the busiest and most emblematic public space in Girona. However, the existence of La Rambla is quite new, since its configuration dates back to 1885 when the city architect Martí Sureda unified the Cols square with the Abeuradors street and demolished the esparto arches. All of the space was then converted into a tree-lined walkway with linden trees and benches that became known as Rambla de la Llibertat, in honor of the Liberty tree planted in 1869 during the democratic period. Although the space was very influenced by Sureda, it preserved a part of the medieval portals and some other palaces of the same period. However, the construction of nineteenth-century buildings was quite high and it transformed the medieval character to some extent. Currently the Rambla is the axis of entrance to the Barri Vell for the tourists who arrive in the city as well as a common place to stroll for gironians, who maintain the customs of buying flowers at the floristeries (cat. flower shops), that every Saturday set up their stands on the street, or "have a vermouth" in one of the cafes on the Rambla.

● Plaça de la Independencia or of San Agustín

Central sculpture of the plaça de la Independència. The plaça de la Independència (cat. Square of Independence), which name refers to the war of independence of Spain (see Peninsular War) and not to a hypothetical independence of Catalonia, is one of the most popular and frequented squares in Girona. Located in the Mercadal neighborhood, in the center of the city, the square stands where there used to be the convent of San Agustín. Which is why this square is also known as the Plaza de San Agustín. The attractiveness of this square lies in its nineteenth-century style: the entire space is surrounded by austere and identical neoclassical buildings, with little porches on the ground floors, in a style similar to that of the Royal Square of Barcelona. In the center of the square there is one of the few nineteenth-century sculptural groups dedicated to the defenders of the city of Girona during the sieges of 1808 and 1809.

However, this square of symmetrical proportions corresponds more to present times interventions, rather than the inheritance of the aforementioned architectural actions. The municipal architect of Girona Martí Sureda was the first who designed a closed square with porches and neoclassical vaults as well as buildings that kept the same proportions and aesthetics. However, the urbanization of the area only partially followed its schematics and the construction of the city's first cinemas crashed this idea. It was not until the 1980s that it became possible to complete the idea imagined by Martí Sureda in 1855. Therefore, this place of noucentista and romantic style is a timeless creation, from one century to another, that today captivates inhabitants and visitors of Girona. It is a place full of life thanks to the ongoing addition of cafes and restaurants. Within this square there are historical businesses, such as the Café Royal, the Albéniz Cinema and the Casa Marieta.

● The bridges on the Onyar river

One of the main problems throughout the history of the city has been the union of the two parts separated by the river Onyar: the right bank (Barri Vell) and the left bank (barri Mercadal). That is why bridges have played an important role in the development of the city. At the moment no bridges remain from the medieval times and the majority of the constructions are contemporary. Among them, stand out four bridges: the stone one, the iron one, the bridge of Gómez and the railway viaduct.

The stone bridge (or Isabel Segona bridge) dates from 1856, and replaced the medieval bridge of San Francisco (located next to the now gone convent of the Franciscan friars), which linked the two neighborhoods of the city. The Stone Bridge is very representative of the city, it was built with blocks of the typical Girona stone, containing abundant fossils of nummulites.

The iron bridge (or bridge of old fishmongers, or Eiffel bridge, in honor of Gustave Eiffel, whose company built the bridge) was opened in 1877, according to the commemorative plaque of ceramics. It replaced the old wooden paths built by some carpenter.

Gómez's bridge (which takes its name from the person whose house was partly expropriated to build the bridge) dates from 1916, and is made of reinforced concrete. It breaks the style of the previous bridges with a sleek, modern, and austere structure. It was designed in 1914, when the reinforced concrete was the latest constructive innovation.

The fourth bridge is the railway viaduct, built in 1876, representing the arrival of modernity and progress into Girona, that was still walled at the time.

● The castles

Castell de Sant Miquel

The castle of Sant Miquel is an architectural complex on the top of the hill or mountain of Sant Miquel, between the municipalities of Girona and Celrà (Gironès). Its situation at the summit allows for control over a large territory. This complex surrounded by a moat has a hermitage, called Sant Miquel Arcàngel, and a square base tower. The site is a perfect example of the successive reuse of this space over time, depending on the changing needs. At the moment, the space has been reformed by the City Council of Girona, paths have been adapted, and routes have been created to reach it easily, as it has become a regular place for cyclists, runners, and families.

Castell de Montjuïc

Montjuïc Castle was a bastion built in Girona on the Montjuïc mountain at the order of Philip IV in 1653 to ensure the security of the accesses to the Pla de Girona from the north, together with four defense towers: Sant Joan, Sant Daniel, Sant Narcís and Sant Lluís. The general floor plan of the castle was square, with an enclosure constructed with four bastions connected with walls of 150 meters in average length. It was very useful in the so-called War of the French, especially in the three sieges of the city (first siege of Girona of 1808, second siege of Girona of 1808 and siege of Girona of 1809) until finally it was abandoned on June 11, 1811, being unused in 1814, at the end of the war, by order of Marshal Louis Gabriel Suchet, after building the Suchet tower in 1812. In 1843, a bombing of General Prim destroyed it. It is at the highest point on the mountain of Montjuïc, at 219 meters above sea level. Joan Francesc Molinas and Sicart and Álvarez de Castro were some of its governors. At the moment, the City Council of Girona is preparing a plan to rehabilitate the castle in order to recover its public and tourist interest.

Tower of Alfonso XII

The Tower of Alfonso XII is a large watchtower of 160 meters that unfolds a magnificent panoramic view of the whole city, from south to north, with the Devesa, and further to the Pyrenees, with Canigó and Puig Neulós as a backdrop, following the circular path around the tower. It was built in the nineteenth century in the same place where previously stood the stronghold of the City, also called Sant Narcís or Estudiants, built in 1675 as an outstanding part of the fort of Condestable within the defensive system of the east and southeast of Girona. This fort of Condestable was connected with two others, following the highest points of neighboring hills: the one of Reina Anna and the one of Capuchins.

The stronghold was blown up by the French in 1814, after the Peninsular War, like the rest of the neighboring fortresses. During the Third Carlist War (1872-1876), the interior and the stones were used to build the so-called Tower of Alfonso XII, a small fort built in accordance with the defensive guidelines of the end of the 19th century . Below the tower, we find the Mirador fountain, an ideal stop point to rest and contemplate the Old Town and the emblematic monuments of the city, from an unusual perspective, under the shade of a nettle tree.
Culture and traditions
● Festes de Sant Narcís or Fairs of Girona

The Girona Fairs are celebrated during the week of October 29, the day dedicated to Sant Narcís, patron saint of the city. The holidays usually begin with a parade and a mass performed from the balcony of the town hall. The day of Sant Narcís celebrates a solemn mass dedicated to the saint in the church of Sant Feliu de Girona, where there is the chapel of the saint with the supposed remains of his relics. There is also the diada castellera de Sant Narcís, the most outstanding in the city.

The most entertaining section is in La Devesa Park, that hosts variety of attractions for children and adults, as well as the so-called "Barraques" fairs on the La Copa esplanade, where the most important musical concerts are performed. Since 2013, the musical spaces have multiplied, with performances in the square of Sant Feliu, the Miquel de Palol Square, the Auditorium of Girona, Plaça Calvet i Rubalcaba and Plaça del Vi. The celebration lasts until the Sunday following Sant Narcís, (in 2015 it was November 1) and closes with a spectacular fireworks display, which, from 2013, will be given by the winner of the International Fireworks Contest of Blanes. Throughout the time, the Sant Narcís celebrations have become a festival that includes all the municipalities of the comarques baixes of the Province of Girona, losing its more urban and traditional character, to exploit it in the most playful ways.

● Girona, Temps de Flors

This floral festival began in 1955 as a simple flowers exhibition in the church of Sant Domènec of Girona, organized by the Feminine Section of the FET and the JONS. Throughout the years the show was evolving, until it became a sample of floral creations in the mentioned church. In the 1990s, the city council decided to convert this isolated exhibition into an event that included the whole city. The monuments of the city were adorned and the owners of private patios in the Old Quarter were convinced to open them to visitors during the exhibition.

Thus, the current Girona, Temps de Flors, was born, and it ceased being a small flower exhibition to become the most important event in the city, bringing more than 200,000 visitors in the 2015 edition and promoting the Collaboration and expansion at national and international levels in cities such as Madrid, Salisbury, Gent or Perpignan. The floral exhibition, moreover, has gone from being a purely floral event and is already considered a festival, with a multitude of cultural events throughout the city, such as the A Cappella Music Festival or the European Opera Day. In 2015, the festival celebrated its 60th edition, with 168 floral projects distributed in 134 locations of the city. The communication campaign has recently been awarded by ESIC with the Aster Business Communication Award 2015.

● The Holy Week

The Holy Week (Setmana Santa) is the group of celebrations that take place between Friday before Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Through this vast and rich set of festive practices, theatrical staging and other liturgical and ritual activities, the Christian community remembers and recreates the last moments of Jesus Christ on Earth, known as the Passion, Death and Resurrection. Easter falls on different dates every year and oscillates between the months of March and April, since the date of Easter is fixed from the first full moon of spring. On Good Friday, in the midst of absolute silence, the processions that represent the last moments of the life of Jesus procered. In Girona, the Procession of the Holy Burial takes place and the Manaies of Girona as well as the Junta de Confraries de Girona participate in it.

Easter Gastronomy. In the past, the Church had imposed the practice of strict fasting and abstinence among its faithful. The use of certain products ("all meat products") was prohibited especially in the period between Carnival and Easter. This promoted the creation of dishes cooked exclusively with authorized products - one of them was cod. This white fish, recognized for its caloric and nutritional qualities, is a good substitute for meat and has become a symbol of the Lenten period. Another typical Lenten product are bunyols. The bunyols of Lenten are traditionally made on Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the Lenten period, they are sweet, fried dough ball, with no hole in the middle, quite fluffy and served as dessert. The Mona de Pasqua is a cake that the godfathers give their children on Easter Monday.

This tradition comes from the celebration of the end of Lent and its fasting and abstinence on that day, and the most symbolic way to do it was by giving away a cake to the baby (it turns out that the word Mona comes from the Arabic word munna, which means gift). The Mona had to have as many eggs as the age of the child. Traditionally, the Monas eggs were not chocolate, they were simply hard boiled eggs on top of the cake. Along with the Mona de Pasqua, the Rams Tortell is available in every pastry shop during Easter. The Tortell de Rams is eaten on Palm Sunday, after mass. Tortell has many variations, depending on the pastry, but always with a hole in the middle and made of bread dough.

● City of Festivals

In 2013, the City Council of Girona created the brand 'Girona, City of Festivals' (Girona, Ciutat de Festivals), a guide with the main festivals of the city throughout the year. This embryonic idea, born to provide the city with a stable and transversal program throughout the year, has finally led to a renowned, famous brand throughout the country, that is synonymous with some of the best festivals of Catalonia. Currently, the brand is made up of 22 festivals: The Pepe Sales Festival, Ibercamera, Black Music Festival, MOT.

Festival of Literature, Festival Strenes, Festival In-Somni, A Cappella Festival, Temps de Flors, Inund'Art, Festivalot, Milestone Project, Ludivers Festival of the Cultures of the Imagination, Nits de Clàssica, Undàrius. Festival of Popular and Traditional Culture, Tempo sota les Estrelles, International Mapping Festival of Girona, Festival Internacional de Teatre Amateur de Girona (Fitag), Jazz Festival, Cinema Festival of Girona, Fairs of Sant Narcís (ARC Prize for Best Festival Program 2014), 'Acocollona't' Fantasy and Terror Film Week and Temporada Alta. The brand 'Ciutat de Festivals' has also led to the birth of new stages in the city, such as Plaça Calvet i Rubalcaba, or unique shows during Girona 10, Temps de Flors, Sant Jordi, the Girona Fairs or events such as the return of the Sopa de Cabra musical group with a show from the roof of the Municipal Tourism Office. In addition, since 2014, it is closely linked to the Club Girona Cultura, through which its members can enjoy unique shows.

● Girona, Musical District of Catalonia

In 2013, for the first time in history, a city that was not Barcelona hosted the Enderrock Awards Gala, in particular, the Municipal Theater of Girona. The Enderrock Prizes - Catalan Music Awards are awarded since the creation of the music magazine, twenty years ago, and they are presented at a gala that brings together public and music sector since 1999, when it was established at the Barcelona Bikini room. In 2013, coinciding with the fifteenth edition, the organization opted for territorial decentralization, moving the event to Girona, which also aims to be a musical capital, until at least 2016. The celebration of the Enderrock Awards evolved in 2015 with the creation of "Girona, Musical District", a weekend, prior to the awards ceremony, with special concerts of the protagonists, open interviews, screening of documentaries, and other cultural activities closely linked with the brand "Ciutat de Festivals" and "Club Girona Cultura".

● Girona 10

Under the name of "Girona 10", the Association of Hospitality of Girona published in 2013 a project to attract visitors on the weekend of January 14 and 15. The offer included a night at one of the 1,000 places that offered thirty accommodations at only 10 euros. This was also the menu price of many restaurants in the city that joined the initiative, which was completed with discounts in the shops and free tickets to cultural and museum establishments. From this first edition, which surpassed all expectations to the point of collapse, derived the concept of "Girona 10", which no longer meant "10 euros", but "top city". This change was achieved with full collaboration of the public administrations, which changed the Girona 10 to become an event of the city with dozens of activities and concerts around the city throughout the weekend. The reformulation of the initiative in 2015 achieved a great success with all the places of hotels and restaurants booked, and the city full of visitors at a time traditionally known as very quiet and therefore usually empty. It was such a success, that the idea has already been copied in several towns of the region, also with success. The bookings of sites and menus must be done with a draw given the high demand.

● Cinema

Due to its urban and heritage characteristics, the city of Girona is widely used for advertising spots, photo shoots, television series and film footage. Among the feature movies filmed in Girona, stands out Soldiers of Salamina (2002), by David Trueba; The Monk (2010), by Dominik Moll; Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2005), by Tom Tykwer; I Want You (2012), by Fernando González Molina; Dying Beyond Their Means (2013), by Isaki Lacuesta; Menu for two (2014), by Robert Bellsolà. The city also annually hosts dozens of shootings for all kinds of advertising spots and, in June 2015, it became known worldwide thanks to the shooting of much of the sixth season of Game of Thrones. On the other hand, the Girona Film Office annually organizes the SmartFilms Girona Contest, a free short film competition (filmed with mobile devices) and offers as a first prize of € 1,000, the largest prize in Spain for a contest of these characteristics.

● Llibre del Sindicat de Remença

El Llibre del Sindicat de Remença (The Book of the Remensa Union) of 1448 contains the acts of the meetings held by the remensa men, or serfs, of 912 parishes of the Catalan dioceses of Girona, Vic, Barcelona, Elna and Urgell in order to appoint their trustees or representatives who had to negotiate the abolition of the servitude of evil customs in front of the King Alfonso the Magnanimous. The remences meetings were held between October 13, 1448 and March 10, 1449, and brought together about 10,500 men. These assemblies, authorized by the king, also served to collect the necessary money to support the process.

In June 2013, the International Committee of the Memory of the World Programme meeting in Gwangju (Republic of Korea) agreed to register the Llibre del Sindicat Remença (1448) in the UNESCO Memory of the World Registry. It was the first Catalan document included in the record. Its inscription is based on the fact that the claims of the remences, which are evidenced by the Llibre del Sindicat Remença (1448), forced the servitude to be abolished officially in Europe in 1486 by means of the arbitration ruling of Guadalupe. With this action, the Girona document becomes the first and only one in Catalonia to be part of the world memory record. Spain has 4 works in this universal registry, which consists of just under 300 entries from around the world.
Museums
● Girona History Museum

Located in the heart of the Barri Vell, in the old Capuchin convent (18th century) and later provincial institute (1845-1968), the museum covers the whole history of the city of Girona from the first prehistoric settlers, passing through the medieval splendor until nowadays. In the museum you will find a route through the history of Girona, from the foundation in Roman times to contemporary times. It is a chronological journey through Roman, medieval, modern and contemporary Girona, that is completed with various areas dedicated to Catalan traditions, such as the Faràndula where you will find the local festivity images and the theme room "La cobla y la sardana. Música y danza en Girona" (cat. Sardana and cobla. Music and dance of Girona). It also has a theme room "Industrial Girona, a pioneer city". The museum offers a varied program of activities, and temporary exhibitions are held within various spaces of the museum: the exhibition hall, the coal storage room, the cistern and the cellar.

The space of the museum is formed by the main building, the space dedicated to the Spanish Civil War and the air-raid shelter in the Jardí de la Infància (which are part of the Network of Democratic Memory Spaces). Also by another extension: the Agencia Gómez, an establishment of fine modernist design, which housed a notary archive, a bank office and a notary.

The building itself has witnessed a unique historical events, and it is a true marvel worth discovering. In the 15th century it was an important Gothic mansion owned by the Cartellà family. Later, around 1753, it became the convent of Sant Antoni, of Capuchin friars. It conserves, in magnificent state, amazing spaces of the old convent, such as the cemetery or desiccator, the cistern (interesting example of a water tank), the cloister and several impressive rooms. At the end of the 19th century it became the Institute of Middle School. Finally, since 1981, it houses the Girona History Museum.

● Museum of Archeology

The old church and the old convent of Sant Pere de Galligants houses the collections of the Girona section of the Archeology Museum of Catalonia, formerly the Provincial Museum of Antiquities and Fine Arts. Used as a warehouse for the archaeological excavations of Empúries since 1846, in 1857 the provincial museum was installed there, and in 1992 the project for the modernization of the facilities was carried out as a section of the Museum of Archeology of Catalonia. The museum houses all archaeological material of prehistoric and ancient times (Iberian, Greek and Roman) found in the province of Girona, that was not sent to the warehouses of Barcelona, as is the case of the statue of Asclepius of Empúries. In the collection you can find milestones, tombstones, mosaics and everyday use objects. The museum also houses finds from medieval era, such as epigraphy sets.

● Art Museum

Founded in 1976, the museum is located in the old episcopal palace of Girona, next to the cathedral. The museum houses art collections of all periods, from the Romanesque period to the contemporary era, with works by Ramon Martí Alsina or Joaquim Vayreda. The type of art pieces range from sacred art to decorative arts. The main collections is the medieval one, from which stands out the art from Empordà Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes.

● Cathedral Treasury Museum

Museum dedicated to the relics and objects of value accumulated by the head of the Cathedral of Girona. It houses collections of sacred art, liturgical objects and goldsmith works. Among its pieces are the Beatus of Liébana, made in Zaragoza in 975, and the Tapestry of Creation, from the 11th or 12th century.

● Girona Museum of Cinema

Opened in 1998, it is a unique museum in its category. Created from the donation of private funds by the Catalan film director Tomas Mallol. It houses a wide variety of film material, such as projection machines, coils, original film material and a very remarkable collection of posters. The Girona Museum of Cinema is one of the few museums in the world where you can take a trip through 500 years of history of images, seeing what was the background and origins of cinema, in terms of technique and as a visual spectacle, and get to know the seventh art from its beginnings until the arrival of television.

The main objective of the museum has been to collect all the elements that make up the prehistory of cinema and its first years of existence, and to make them available to everyone. The objects that can be seen in the museum explain how the images were represented before cinema and what was the technical process that led to the invention of the cinematography in 1895.

● Museum of Jewish History

The Museum of Jewish History, Patronat Call de Girona, is located in the center of the Call and is framed in a remarkable setting, where in the 15th century a third synagogue was located, of which there are written records. Through various objects found in archaeological excavations carried out in the Call and other objects from donations from private collections, the Museum of Jewish History explains and documents the life of the Jewish community in Girona during the Middle Ages, specifically from the 11th century, the pogrom of 1391, and until the expulsion of 1492. Of particular interest is the collection of some of the most important Jewish stone tombs of the Iberian Peninsula and Europe, from the Jewish cemetery of Montjuïc, Girona.

● Rafael Masó Foundation

Casa Masó is the birthplace of Rafael Masó (1880-1935), one of the most important works of his architecture and the only house of the famous houses over the Onyar river open to the public. The house has been preserved with the furniture and decoration of the noucentisme and offers unprecedented views of the city.

The house is also the headquarters of the Rafael Masó Foundation, a center that promotes the study, preservation and dissemination of Masó's work and the Catalan Noucentisme. It also fosters awareness of the importance of architecture and urbanism for society and people. For this reason, it organizes exhibitions, publications, and educational activities for all audiences. The house can only be visited in small groups and it is advised to make a prior reservation.

● Archeology Museum of Catalonia (MAC)

Located in the old monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants, a jewel of Catalan Romanesque, you can discover here the history of man in the counties of Girona, from prehistory to the medieval period. It has its origin in the Provincial Museum of Antiquities and Fine Arts, founded in 1846 by the Comissió Provincial de Monuments (cat. Provincial Monument Commission), and is therefore one of the oldest in Catalonia. Between 1846 and 1857 the museum had several locations, until in 1857 when it settled in the monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants, where it has remained so far which has given it the name it is commonly known by.

The first archaeological materials that were housed in the museum were mostly from Empúries, from excavations made by the Comissió de Monuments (cat. Monument Commission) in 1846. There were also tombstones and Roman sculptures of Gerunda, that were found during the works that were performed at that time in the city, which was recovering from the damage caused by the Peninsular War. Other collections admitted in the museum during the second half of the 19th century were the medieval epigraphy sets also from the city of Girona.

Apart from holding the archaeological collections, it also functioned as a "provincial" museum, and since the 1930s also held art collections as a Museum of Fine Arts, until they were segregated in 1976 for the creation of the Girona Art Museum, since then the Galligants Museum, exclusively specialized in prehistory and archeology. The building in which the museum is located is one of the most remarkable examples of the Catalan Romanesque style of the 12th century. The date of the foundation of the monastery is not known, but it has been documented since the end of the 10th century. In 1836, it was abandoned by the community of Benedictine monks, during the confiscation. The current museum occupies the cloister and the Romanesque church, and an upper cloister built in the second half of the 19th century. Since 1992, it has been part of the Archeology Museum of Catalonia.

● Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Girona

The future Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art began to be developed in the year 2014 with the purchase of the art collection Santos Torroella, by the city council of Girona. The museum will be located in Casa Pastors, located in the heart of the Old Quarter, at the foot of the cathedral of Girona, which until 2012 had housed the Provincial Court. With the construction of the new Palace of Justice the building was left unoccupied, and with the new project on the table, the Government of the Generalitat de Catalunya gave it, on June 8, 2015, to the city council in order to locate the new museum there. Although not open to the public yet, this space has already opened its doors on a couple of occasions to host the exhibition Color Latent by Gironas artists and by Enric Marquès, on the occasion of Girona Temps de Flors. In June 2014, the City Council of Girona already commissioned the current director of the Rafael Masó Foundation, Jordi Falgàs, with the management of the project of conversion of the Casa Pastors into the museum of modern and contemporary art of the city. Falgàs, who is an art historian, will have an impact on the design of the spaces during the architectural remodeling. He will decide how to make the space of the Santos Torroella exhibition compatible with other temporary exhibitions that they want to organize (both public and private) and will also draft the strategic and communication plans.
Shopping
Shopping in Girona is concentrated in the center of the city, mainly from Carrer de la Barca in the historic centre right over to Carrer Emili Grahit in the more modern part of the city. Main shopping streets are Rambla Llibertat, Plaça Catalunya, Ultònia, Calvet i Rubalcaba, Cort Reial, Argenteria, Migdia, Ballesteries, Creu, Santa Clara, Sant Francesc, Joan Maragall, Sant Antoni M. Claret and Bisbe Lorenzana.

Among main large molls are Centre Comercial Girocentre (Carrer Barcelona, 106, 110), Espai Gironès (Camí dels Carlins, 10), Centre Ville Girona Grands Mag (Carrer de Joan Maragall, 37)
Food, cuisine and restaurants
Girona is known for the outstanding vitality of its cuisine, characterized by a combination of traditional and avant-garde dishes, based on the use of local produce and time-honoured recipes. The city has many restaurants offering a wide range of fare: Spanish, Catalan, French, Mediterranean, market and signature cuisine.

Girona gastronomy has now become an international model of quality, with Michelin-starred restaurants that include El Celler de Can Roca, proclaimed by the prestigious Restaurant Magazine as the Best Restaurant in the World!

El Lleó shopping market is the city's centre of distribution for fresh quality produce. It houses a total of 60 stalls selling diverse products: meat, fish, fruit and vegetables, groceries... The market is a vital destination for many of the city's chefs who shop there for their restaurants, and is a daily meeting point for the citizens of Girona.
How to get to Girona? By train
Renfe trains (about 15 trips per day) from Barcelona Sants or El Clot Arago. The prices start from 11 euro.
By plane
Nearest international airport is Barcelona Prat.
Shortest distances
From Figueres 41 min (48.8 km) via AP-7

From Lleida (Lerida) 2 h 27 min (226 km) via C-25

From Tarragona 2 h (192 km) via AP-7

From Barcelona 1 hr 20 min (104 km) via AP-7

From Madrid 7 hr 7 min (691 km) via A-2

From Andorra 2 h 51 min (211 km) via C-25
Main information
Area: 39 sq. km

Coordinates: 41°59′04″N 02°49′16″E

Population: 100 276

Languages: Spanish, Catalan

Currency: euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Girona and its sights * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Girona (cat. Girona) is a city and a municipality in Spain, northeastern Catalonia, its the capital of the comarca Gironès and the province of Girona. It belongs to the area of the Comarques Gironines. The city lays at the confluence of four rivers: Ter, Onyar, Güell and Galligants, at an altitude of 75 m a.

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https://all-andorra.com/barcelona/

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Barcelona (cat. Barcelona) is a city and metropolis located on the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula. It is the capital of Catalonia, the region of Barcelonès and the province of Barcelona, as well as the second most populous and economically important city in the Iberian Peninsula after Madrid.
History
There are two different versions of the founding of Barcelona, one of which is mythological. According to this version, the city was founded by the half-deity Hercules during his heroic expeditions. A more realistic version says that the small village of Barcino, the site on which the city of Barcelona was formed centuries later, was founded by Hannibal's father Hamilcar Barca in the 3rd century BC. It is historically confirmed that in the 1st century BC on the site of the future capital of Catalonia was the small town of Laie, which was conquered by the Romans under the leadership of Lucius Cornelius Scipio in 133 BC.
Geographical location and climate
Barcelona is located in the northeast region of the Iberian Peninsula. The Pyrenees are approximately 120 km north of the city. The coastal mountains of Collserola form the boundaries of the city. The highest point is Mount Tibidabo. Its height is 512 m; it towers above the Colserola TV tower (Torre de Collserola) with a height of 288 m, visible from afar. The highest point in the city is the 12 m tall hill of Mant Taber (cat. Mont Taber), on which the Barcelona Cathedral is located.

This municipality grows on a plain between the Litoral mountain range, the Mediterranean Sea, the Besos River and Montjuïc. The city is home to the headquarters of the most important institutions of self-government of the Generalitat of Catalonia: the Parliament of Catalonia, the President and the Government of the Generalitat. Due to the fact that it was the capital of the county of Barcelona, it is often referred to as the city of Barcelona. In addition, since it has been the most important city in the Principality of Catalonia since the Middle Ages, it often receives the nickname or title of chapter and house.

The climate of Barcelona is typically Mediterranean; however, there are many nuances that distinguish it from the neighboring Catalan seaside cities.
Administrative and political division
Barcelona is the most populous city in Catalonia and eleventh in the European Union, the second non-state capital after Hamburg. It is the main urban core of the metropolitan region of Barcelona with a population of 4,774,561 and the metropolitan area of Barcelona, united by 36 municipalities, with a population of 3,225,058 inhabitants. In a 2005 study by the United Nations Department of Social and Economic Affairs, Barcelona was ranked 51st with the largest population in the world.

Barcelona grew by the annexation of neighboring municipalities, which are now city districts.

Barcelona is divided into ten districts (73 quarters).
Economy
Barcelona has long been an industrial city, one of the first in Spain to industrialize in the 19th century. Businesses have now moved to the outskirts, making it possible to transform old industrial areas into residential areas to create high value-added products and services. The most representative industries in Barcelona are the textile, chemical, pharmaceutical, automotive, electronics, medical and printing industries. In the service sector, Barcelona stands out for its logistics, publishing and IT activities.

At the same time, the economy of Barcelona has moved from an industrial base to a tertiary one in one century, with a special and progressive development of tourism since the last decade of the twentieth century. In recent years, the growth in the number of visitors has accelerated, which is in line with the increase in the number of visitors to the rest of Catalonia: from 5.65 million tourists in 2005 (25.24 million in Catalonia) to 8.30 million in 2015 (30.22 million in Catalonia).
Education
According to the Department of Statistics of Catalonia, on average, Barcelona has a total of 424,000 students at one time, distributed as follows: about 57,000 students in early childhood education, about 77,000 students in primary school, about 2,000 students in special education, about 100,500 students in high school and about 187,000 students in university.

Barcelona is home to many renowned universities and secondary schools, both public and private:

Polytechnic University of Catalonia (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya)

University of Barcelona (Universitat de Barcelona)

Autonomous University of Barcelona (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)

University of Pompeu Fabra (Universitat Pompeu Fabra)

Ramon Llull University (Universitat Ramon Llull)

International University of Catalonia (Universitat Internacional de Catalunya)

Abat Oliba University (Universitat Abat Oliba)

Open University of Catalonia (Universitat Oberta de Catalunya)

Higher School of Music of Catalonia (Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya)

Higher School of Business Administration and Management (Escola Superior d'Administració i Direcció d'Empreses)

Higher School of Film and Audiovisuals of Catalonia (Escola Superior de Cinema i Audiovisuals de Catalunya)

Higher School of Architecture Barcelona (Escola Superior d'Arquitectura de Barcelona)

Japanese College of Barcelona (Collegi Japonès de Barcelona)
Theaters
The city has a long tradition as the seat of institutions dedicated to the performing arts, such as the Gran Teatre del Liceu or the Palau de la Música, two institutions of an associative nature, created by citizens. Recently, large centers of artistic creation have also actively developed, such as the Mercat de les Flors, as well as the National Theater of Catalonia and the Auditori.

The city hosts the Filmoteca de Catalunya exhibition, where there are screenings of classic, experimental films or novelties that have no place on billboards.
Tourism
According to the European Brands Barometer, the Barcelona brand is in third place after Munich, and after Paris and London (tied for second). It is ranked fourth for the best business cities and hotels, fifth in the organization of congresses, first in passenger cruises and sixth in rental prices.

Some of the slogans the city has used to promote itself are "Barcelona is getting beautiful," "Long live Barcelona" and "Barcelona is bigger than ever."

Barcelona is the fifth most visited European city and seventeenth in the world, according to the latest Mastercard survey. In terms of the European destinations where tourists spend the most money, Barcelona is in sixth place with an average daily spending of €195.

In 2019, Catalonia welcomed almost 21 million travelers. The portion that visited Barcelona was approximately 8.5 million people (41% of total Catalonia visitors). The main source of tourism to Barcelona is foreign visitors. In 2019, foreign tourism accounted for 83% of the total, leaving the national tourist at only 17%.
Barcelona restaurants Transport infrastructure
Barcelona allows you to quickly move around the city thanks to two roundabouts: Ronda de Dalt (next to the mountains) and Ronda del Litoral (next to the coast). These are partially underground and have several exits in different parts of the city. The city's main arteries are Avinguda Diagonal (which, as the name suggests, crosses the city diagonally), Avinguda Meridiana (which starts at Parc de la Ciutadella and connects with Diagonal) and Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes (which crosses the city from north to south through the center).

In terms of motorways and dual carriageways, the AP-7 starts in Almeria and runs through Alicante, Valencia and Barcelona to Perpignan. The motorway northeast starts in Madrid and runs through Zaragoza and Barcelona to the French border. Finally, the AP-2 runs parallel to the A2 between Zaragoza and Barcelona. AP7 and AP-2 have tolls.
Barcelona airport El Prat Football in Barcelona
Football in Spain is more than just football. This is both a national treasure and a national pride. A separate topic is football in Barcelona. Fútbol Club Barcelona, also known as Barça, is the Spanish professional football club of Barcelona, the most decorated in Spain (including 26 Spanish Champion titles, 31 Spanish Cups, 13 Spanish Super Cups and 2 Spanish League Cups). It was founded in 1899 under the leadership of Joan Gamper, a 21-year-old accountant.

The club is one of the symbols of Catalonia, and its fans are known as "culés." Representatives of "Barça" together with Madrid "Real" and Basque club "Athletic" stood at the origins of the formation of the First League. "Barça" has never in its long history not been in the top division. Barcelona is one of the most expensive sports clubs in the world, ranking fourth after the Dallas Cowboys (American football), New York Yankees (baseball, $4.6 billion) and Real Madrid (football, $4.2 billion).

In the main application of "Barcelona" for the 2019/20 season, there were 22 players, including 15 legionnaires. The captain of Barça is Lionel Messi. Argentinian by birth, according to Forbes magazine in 2019, he became the highest paid athlete in the world, earning more than one billion dollars throughout his career.
Main information
Area: 101.3 sq. km

GPS coordinates: 41 ° 22 ′ 57 ″ N, 2 ° 10 ′ 37 ″ E

Language: Spanish, Catalan

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1, in summer +2

Phone code: 93

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Barcelona and its attractions * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Barcelona (cat. Barcelona) is a city and metropolis located on the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula. It is the capital of Catalonia, the region of Barcelonès and the province of Barcelona, as well as the second most populous and economically important city in the Iberian Peninsula after Madrid.

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https://all-andorra.com/the-don-quixote-route/

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The Don Quixote Route refers to the journey that the protagonist of the novel El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes followed in his adventures through the lands of La Mancha, mainly, as well as Aragon and Catalonia (Spain).

Its official ecotourism route, declared a European cultural itinerary by the Council of Europe, is 2,500 km long and is made up of a network of historic paths and perfectly marked livestock trails that link the places of greatest interest near the points mentioned in the novel. Although this does not follow criteria strictly linked to the literary work.

The adventures of Don Quixote have been universally disseminated through the translations that have been made of the novel. In La Mancha, Don Quixote is a symbol. His legend has generated a cultural tourism that allows us to contemplate the social and geographical reality that Cervantes masterfully described, considered the greatest figure in Spanish literature.

The truth is that the vast majority of adventures of Don Quixote take place in La Mancha. For this reason, any route that allows us to discover the soul of La Mancha and its traditions could well be considered "our" Don Quixote route.

These are some of the most important towns that the route crosses, although some of them do not strictly belong to La Mancha, such as Sigüenza (Guadalajara) or Toledo. In most of them there is also the possibility of obtaining information on any aspect of the route.

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The Don Quixote Route * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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The Don Quixote Route refers to the journey that the protagonist of the novel El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes followed in his adventures through the lands of La Mancha, mainly, as well as Aragon and Catalonia (Spain).

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https://all-andorra.com/toledo/

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Toledo is a city and municipality in Spain, capital of the province of Toledo and the de jure seat of the government and parliament of the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha.

With a population of about 85,000 inhabitants, it is the third most populated municipality in the region.

Toledo was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 for its extensive monumental and cultural heritage.

Located on the banks of the Tagus in central Iberia, Toledo is known as the "Imperial City" because it was the main venue of the court of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor in Spain, and as the "City of the Three Cultures" for the cultural influences of Christians, Muslims, and Jews reflected in its history.
Tourism and main attractions Wall, gates and bridges
The historic center of the city is surrounded in some points by a wall, which has several monumental gates, such as the Puerta del Sol (Mudejar), the New Gate of Bisagra, the Old Gate of Bisagra, the Puerta del Vado and the Cambrón Gate. The wall has the so-called Torre de la Almofala. Among the various bridges that cross the waters of the Tagus, those of Alcántara and San Martín stand out.
Religious architecture
In the city of Toledo there are several Catholic churches, among which we can mention the Cathedral of Santa María (Gothic), the Church of San Ildefonso (Baroque), the Church of San Román (Mozarabic), the Church of Santiago del Arrabal (Mudejar), the church of Santo Tomé (Mudejar).

Other Catholic buildings are the monastery of San Juan de los Reyes, a prominent representative of Elizabethan Gothic; the convents of the Madre de Dios, Santo Domingo el Antiguo and San Pedro Mártir, the hermitage of Cristo de la Vega (Mudejar), or the San Sebastián church (Mudejar), built on a mosque.

Properties associated with other creeds are the synagogues of Santa María la Blanca (originally a synagogue, although later it was transformed into a church) and the Tránsito synagogue (current Sephardic Museum), as well as the mosques of Bab al-Mardum, or Christ de la Luz, originally a Muslim temple and enlarged for its conversion into a church, and the old Mosque of Las Tornerías.
Civil architecture
Toledo has several palaces and mansions in its urban area, such as the Palace of Galiana, the Palace of Fuensalida, the Palace of Amusco, the House of the Temple, the House of the Nuncio, and the Archbishop's Palace of Toledo, in addition to the Posada de the Holy Brotherhood.

One of the nerve centers of the city is the Plaza de Zocodover. In the streets of Toledo there are other buildings such as the Santa Cruz Museum-Hospital, the El Greco Museum, the Tavera Hospital, the Rojas Theater and a Roman circus.
Military architecture
The castle of San Servando - a medieval castle located next to the banks of the Tagus River and the Infantry Academy, in addition to the one known as the Alcazar of Toledo, a fortification on rocks located in the highest part of the city that since 2010 houses the funds of the Army Museum.
Contemporary architecture
At the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st, the city of Toledo opened up to new architectural trends. Projects in the Santa María de Benquerencia district designed by important international architects such as Jean Nouvel, who proposed the so-called "advanced neighborhood of Toledo", and Álvaro Siza, author together with Sánchez-Horneros of the project for the future Hospital contributed to this.

However, the economic crisis affected both projects: the first, which was completely abandoned, barely a couple of buildings were built, and the second had years of stoppages and delays. The hospital was finally inaugurated in November 2020.

Among the completed works are the escalators at La Granja (or "de Recaredo") by Juan Antonio Martínez Lapeña and Elías Torres (2000), the Palacio de Congresos "El Greco" by Rafael Moneo (2012), and government buildings such as the buildings of the Ministry of Education and Science (2004), by José R. González de la Cal and Josefa Blanco Paz, and the Ministry of Industry (1998) by Antonio Sánchez-Horneros, both in Santa María de Benquerencia.
Museums
The city, where El Greco settled in 1577, has an important repertoire of paintings by the Cretan artist spread over various museums and temples. Among these are the Museum of Santa Cruz and the so-called Museo del Greco, a house-museum designed as a recreation of the artist's home, since it was lost centuries ago.

This building houses several relevant paintings, although the famous painting of The Burial of the Count of Orgaz is located in the church of Santo Tomé, also in Toledo.

The Museum of Visigoth Councils and Culture, located in the church of San Román, has Romanesque paintings from the 13th century and an important collection, original and replicas, of Visigothic goldsmiths, along with other archaeological collections dated between the 6th and 8th centuries.

The Sephardic Museum is located in the Tránsito synagogue, located in the Jewish quarter.

The "Roberto Polo Collection. Centro de Arte Moderno y Contemporáneo de Castilla-La Mancha" was inaugurated in 2019 and houses paintings by Max Pechstein, Vasili Kandinsky, Oskar Schlemmer, Kurt Schwitters, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy and Max Ernst. The San Clemente Cultural Center of the county council de Toledo, the Caves of Hercules or the Church of San Sebastián, run by the Toledo Consortium, show temporary exhibitions of contemporary art.
Routes
On the occasion of the fourth centenary of the publication of the first part of Don Quixote, the Castilla-La Mancha Community Board designed a series of routes through the region, crossing the various points mentioned in the novel.

It is known as the Don Quijote Route and two of the designed routes, sections 1 and 8, originate from the city of Toledo: those that link the Castilian city with La Mancha and the Montes de Toledo, taking advantage of the natural route that crosses the Cigarrales and it goes to Cobisa, Burguillos de Toledo and Nambroca where it takes the Camino Real de Sevilla to soon turn towards Almonacid de Toledo and Mascaraque, entering its surroundings, near Mora, in La Mancha.

This Mascaraque-Toledo section of the Don Quijote Route has recently been officially included in the Camino de Santiago in its Levantine branch with origins in Cartagena, Alicante and Valencia, so both routes declared a European Cultural Itinerary share a route in this section.

Las Huellas de Santa Teresa is a pilgrimage, tourist, cultural and patrimonial route that brings together the 17 cities where Saint Teresa of Jesus left her "footprint" in the form of foundations. The route does not have an established order or a limited time that each pilgrim or visitor can do it how and in the time they want.
Cuisine and the best restaurants
Toledo's cuisine is grouped with that of Castile-La Mancha, well-set in its traditions and closely linked to hunting and grazing. A good number of recipes are the result of a combination of Moorish and Christian influences.

Some of its specialties include lamb roast or stew, cochifrito, alubias con perdiz (beans with partridge) and perdiz estofoda (partridge stew), carcamusa, migas, gachas manchegas, and tortilla a la magra. In addition, in Toledo there are local versions of dishes from the nearby capital of Spain, Madrid, as is the case of the cocido toledano, La Mancha version of the famous Madrid stew. Two of the city's most famous food productions are Manchego cheese and marzipan, which has a Protected Geographical Indication (mazapán de Toledo).

There are three Michelin restaurants in the city:

Iván Cerdeño, Cigarral del Ángel, 47 - 135 EUR * Modern Cuisine (One star)

Adolfo, Hombre de Palo 7, 60 - 80 EUR * Modern Cuisine

La Orza, Descalzos 5, 40 - 50 EUR * Regional Cuisine
Shopping and what to buy?
Toledo is well known for its swords, so be sure to look for a conquistador sword, which should set you back around 250 euro. As you can't bring it on a plane, you'll need to send it. Fortunately, many shops will ship it for you for a reasonable price.

Ceramics - Talavera de la Reina (outside of Toledo) has a centuries-old tradition of glazed ceramics. Toledo is filled with handpainted ceramics of varying degrees of quality (upscale shops and boutiques are pricier, but generally carry higher-quality pieces).

Damascene - Another famous handicraft of Toledo is damascene, from the ancient Moorish art of interlacing gold on iron or steel, then firing it so the underlying material oxidizes and becomes black, with the gold in sharp relief. Every shop in Toledo will carry some form of damascene work, most frequently as small decorative plates and jewellery. Damascene also tends to be on the expensive side, so be sure to comparison shop around Toledo.
How to get to?
In the mid-nineteenth century Toledo was one of the first Spanish cities to receive rail service, with the arrival of the Madrid - Aranjuez line, which was inaugurated by Isabella II on June 12 of 1858.

Today high-speed link to Madrid, which entered service on November 16 of 2005, reduced the travel time to Madrid to just under 30 minutes.

By car:

From Madrid 1 hr (72.4 km) via A-42

Distances to the main cities of Castilla-La Mancha:

From Ciudad Real 1 hr 28 min (118 km) via N-401

From Albacete 2 hr 23 min (258 km) via CM-42

From Cuenca 1 hr 49 min (179 km) via A-40

From Guadalajara 1 hr 23 min (129 km) via A-2 and A-42
Main information
Area: 232 sq. km (municipality)

Coordinates: 39°52′00″N 4°02′00″W

Population: 85 811

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Toledo - a UNESCO site * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Toledo is a city and municipality in Spain, capital of the province of Toledo and the de jure seat of the government and parliament of the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha. With a population of about 85,000 inhabitants, it is the third most populated municipality in the region.

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https://all-andorra.com/guadalajara/

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Guadalajara and its attractions • All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Guadalajara is a city and municipality in Spain, located in the autonomous community of Castilla–La Mancha. It is the capital of the Province of Guadalajara. Tourism and main attractions
Military architecture
The oldest remains of the Alcázar Real de Guadalajara date back to the 9th century. Over t…

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https://all-andorra.com/cuenca/

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Cuenca is a municipality belonging to the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha and a city, capital of the homonymous province (Spain).
Main sights
In 1996, the "Historic walled city of Cuenca" was declared a World Heritage City by UNESCO, with the following places:

Recinto Intramuros

Barrio del Castillo

Barrio de San Antón

Barrio Tiradores

The city of Cuenca originated around the 8th century around the Andalusian fortress of Qūnka, which occupies approximately the space of the current castle. This fortress was located at the point where the gorges of Júcar and Huécar narrow the most, creating a small peninsula where the urban nucleus was developed. The Andalusian medina was formed in the space between said citadel and the fortress, which encompassed the spaces of the current Plaza de Mangana, the convent of La Merced, the seminary and part of Calle de Alfonso VIII.

One of the main areas of the city is its Plaza Mayor, located in the center of the longitudinal axis that runs through the old city, of which it is the nerve center. It has a slight triangular shape and its limits are marked by the cathedral, the town hall and the convent of Las Petras. It did not become the main square of the Christian city until the 15th century, when it replaced the Plaza del Carmen (then de la Picota) in their functions of meeting of the Council.

The Mangana square occupies the site of the old fortress and in it are the Mangana tower and the Monument to the Constitution of Gustavo Torner. It has been the object of important archaeological campaigns until the end of 2010. The main remains that will be integrated into the building are those of the old fortress, a synagogue and the church of Santa María de Gracia.

Cuenca Cathedral is a Gothic cathedral - one of the earliest Spanish examples of Gothic architecture, built at a time when the Romanesque style predominated in the Iberian Peninsula. In particular, the cathedral is characteristic of the Norman and Anglo-Norman architecture of the 12th century, of which Soissons Cathedral, Laon Cathedral and Notre-Dame de Paris are representative examples. The cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cuenca. It is dedicated to Mary and to Saint Julian of Cuenca, the second bishop of the Diocese and patron saint of the city.
Church of Saint Peter
With Romanesque origins, the church of St. Peter (San Pedro in Spanish) was rebuilt by Jose Martin de la Aldehuela during the 18th century and displays since that time a Baroque façade. It shows an octagonal shape outdoors but it is circular inside, and it is located at Plaza del Trabuco.
Bishop's Palace
The bishop's palace features, on three of its museums, the Diocese's Museum, which has a remarkable collection of religious art. It can be easily accessed from the cathedral.
Church of Saint Michael
The Church of Saint Michael (Iglesia de San Miguel in Spanish) was erected during the 13th Century, with only one nave and an apse. In the 15th Century, a second nave at the north side was added. The dome was built by Esteban Jamete in the 16th Century, and finally the wooden ceiling of the two naves was replaced with stone vaults during the 18th Century.
Old convent of Saint Paul
The convent of Saint Paul was built in the 16th century by command of the canon priest Juan del Pozo, a monk belonging to the Dominican Order. Brothers Juan and Pedro de Alviz were in charge of the building project; Pedro worked on the convent and the cloister and Juan on the church.
The Castle
El Castillo is the name for the remains of an ancient Arab fortress, representing the older structures of Cuenca. Only a tower, two stone blocks, the arch which allows to enter/leave the old town from the Barrio del Castillo and a fragment of the walls have been left.
Mangana Tower
The origins of the Mangana Tower remain unclear. In 1565 it was painted by Anton van den Wyngaerde, which indicates that at that time Mangana had already been built up, and after the attacks by French soldiers during the Spanish War of Independence war - at the beginning of the 19th century - and having been hit previously by a thunderbolt in the 18th century, it became badly destroyed. Mangana Tower was rebuilt by Fernando Alcántara in Neomudejar style - inspired on Arab decorative motifs - in 1926. Finally Victor Caballero gave Mangana its current look in a fortress-like style in 1968.
Town Hall
The Town Hall is a building in baroque style built up during the ruling period of King Carlos III and supported over three Roman arches. It was finished in 1762, as it can be read on the façade.
Hanging Houses
Built over a rock above the Huecar River gorge in the 15th century, Las Casas Colgadas are the only remaining samples of this type of building which was common in this city a long time ago. Hanging Houses can be considered the most famous civil buildings in Cuenca. They house a restaurant and the Museum of Abstract Arts and they serve as the background of millions of photos made from the bridge of San Pablo.
Museums

Archeological Museum which contains items from the Archaeological Park of Segóbriga

Diocese's Museum

Museum of Spanish Abstract Art

Museum of Science of Castile-La Mancha

Shopping
There are stores with unique fashions and international brands such as Zara, Benetton, Mango, Bershka. But, above all, you will find a great number of shoe shops due to Cuenca's close proximity to Valencia and Alicante, two of the most important textile and footwear industrial zones.

All over the "Old City" area you will be able to find small craft shops. There are also shops in the museums with great variety of artistic objects.

Centro Comercial Cuatro Caminos · Shopping mall, Av. de Castilla-la Mancha, 10, In-store shopping

Centro Comercial El Mirador · Shopping mall, Av del Mediterráneo, 1, In-store shopping

Centro Comercial Alcampo Cuenca · Shopping mall, N-400, Km. 178, In-store shopping

Cuisine and the best restaurants
There are three Michelin list restaurants in the city:

Trivio, Colón 25, 50 - 70 EUR * Modern Cuisine (One star)

Raff San Pedro, San Pedro 58, 35 - 50 EUR * Traditional Cuisine, Modern Cuisine

Olea Comedor, Avenida Castilla-La Mancha 3, 28 - 35 EUR * Modern Cuisine, Fusion

Transport and how to get to?
The city is served by the Cuenca railway station. A new AVE (high-speed rail) link (50 minutes from Madrid) was established between Madrid and Valencia.

Distances to the main cities of Castilla-La Mancha:

From Toledo 1 hr 53 min (182 km) via A-40

From Ciudad Real 2 hr 37 min (266 km) via A-4 and A-40

From Albacete 1 hr 51 min (160 km) via A-31 and N-420

From Guadalajara 1 hr 41 min (136 km) via N-320
Main information
Area: 911 sq. km

GPS coordinates: 40°04′18″N 2°08′06″W

Language: Spanish

Population: 54 621

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1, in summer +2

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Cuenca - a UNESCO site * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Cuenca is a municipality belonging to the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha and a city, capital of the homonymous province (Spain). Main sights In 1996, the "Historic walled city of Cuenca" was declared a World Heritage City by UNESCO, with the following places: Recinto Intramuros Barrio del Castillo Barrio de San Antón Barrio Tiradores The city of Cuenca originated around ...

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https://all-andorra.com/ciudad-real/

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Ciudad Real is a city and municipality in Spain located in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha, capital of the province of Ciudad Real. It is the 5th most populated municipality in the region.

A part of the Don Quixote Route.
Tourism and main attractions Religious architecture
Cathedral of Nuestra Señora del Prado: originally a Romanesque hermitage. According to tradition, in 1088, the Virgin appeared on that site to the locals of the village of Pozo de Don Gil. In 1531 the church of Santa María was built, leaving only the southern door called El Perdón from the original Romanesque hermitage. The impressive four-section tower was started in the 17th century and completed in the 19th century.

The interior has a single nave, this being the only cathedral in Spain of these characteristics, with a highly ornate pseudo-ribs from the late Gothic. But what gives the Cathedral its personality and stamp is its magnificent 1616 altarpiece by the sculptor Giraldo de Merlo and the painter Juan de Hasten.

Church of San Pedro: national monument by decree of July 20, 1974. 14th century Gothic building, ordered to be built by the Knights of the Flower and Cream of Ciudad Real, it is worth noting from its exterior the tower with spire and its three doors, the Romanesque del Perdón, named for being in front of the Prison of the Holy Brotherhood, Umbria and the Sun.

From its interior, undoubtedly, apart from its harmonious distribution of space and the forest of columns in the ribbed vaults, its capitals with singular themes, such as heads of man, animals or plants; but the most outstanding feature that surprises the visitor is the Capilla de los Coca, it houses the recumbent tomb of the cantor of the cathedral of Coria and confessor of Isabel I of Castilla, Fernando Alonso de Coca, a Spanish-Flemish work from the 15th century with a clear resemblance to the Doncel.

Iglesia de Santiago: church from the late 13th century is the oldest preserved in Ciudad Real. Inside, a true treasure of rural late Romanesque, we can find in its central nave a Mudejar coffered ceiling from the 14th century with laceries and octagonal stars ordered to be built by the Master of Calatrava Don Pedro Muñiz de Godoy, at the end of which in the central Gothic apse.

It is worth highlighting a Gothic mural in the nave of the Gospel with the iconographic representation of the Mass of Saint Gregory, as well as various capitals with demons and pilgrim figures and shells of Santiago in the side naves.

Convent of the Discalced Carmelites: 17th century Renaissance and Baroque convent and church, it was originally a monastery of the Order of Montesa ordered to be built by Don Antonio Galiana y Bermúdez, knight in Montesa. In 1956 it was occupied by Discalced Carmelites.

Convent of the Mercedarios: the emblematic building of the Old Convent of La Merced, from the 17th century. The first secondary school in the province was located in this building. In 2005 it was rehabilitated for the celebration of the IV Centenary of Don Quixote and currently houses the collection of Fine Arts of the Museum of Ciudad Real and a selection of contemporary Spanish art representative of the 19th-21st centuries. On its side is the famous Passage de la Merced.

Door of the convent of Nuestra Señora de Altagracia de las Dominicas: currently located in the Ronda de Santa María, where formerly the door of Santa María of the medieval city wall was. It is the only vestige that remains of the old Dominican convent demolished in 1969 due to the poor conditions in which it was found. So it was decided to place the front of the convent church as a monument in one of the roundabouts of the Ronda that surrounds the city.

Hermitage of Alarcos: Gothic in style from the 13th century, it has a Latin cross floor plan in which the magnificent tracery rose window stands out. It is divided into three naves, separated by ten pillars with attached columns that have capitals with alternate heads and leaves. This sanctuary is dedicated to the Virgin of Alarcos. It is located within the archaeological park of Alarcos, which has archaeological remains, both from medieval and Iberian times.
Civil architecture
Puerta de Toledo: a national monument since 1915, a magnificent example of military architecture from the 14th century, ordered to be built around 1255, and completed in 1328 by King Alfonso XI of Castile. Supported by two towers on each side, it has six arches: the ogival exteriors on attached half columns, the intermediate horseshoe arches and the Gothic interiors.

Inside, there are two sections with an edge vault separated by the space dedicated to the portcullis. Outside the walls, on the pointed arch, a shield with Castilian weapons -castles and lions- and inside the walls an inscription that reveals that it could have been completed in the time of Alfonso XI in 1328. Recently restored.

Torreón del Alcázar: although much restored and partly rebuilt, it is the only remaining on the surface of the royal fortress ordered to be built by Alfonso X, in which his son, the infant Fernando de la Cerda, died in 1275. It is actually the access gate to the fortress, known as the "tower" possibly due to confusion with other remains of the fortress that have now disappeared.

Casa del Arco: the first town hall in Ciudad Real, it is a 15th-century building with a floor plan, although the façade is from the 18th century; It was expropriated by the Catholic Monarchs from the Jewish Rabbi Alvar Díaz to be the headquarters of the Ciudad Real City Council, a situation that lasted until 1866. It is the oldest government building in Ciudad Real and one of the oldest in the province.

Town Hall: building from 1976 (not without controversy), the work of the Madrid architect Fernando Higueras. Its peculiar physiognomy responds to a neo-Gothic inspiration, reminiscent of the typical town halls of the Netherlands. It is located in the Plaza Mayor.

Casino: until 2007 it housed a music conservatory inside. It is a classicist style construction by Sebastián Rebollar, in which the moldings stand out, especially those of the Ballroom with palm trees, frets or plant shapes as decorative elements. Also the beautiful chandeliers, which have an art deco style or the gathering room with mythological motifs. The radiators are conceived as furniture with curvilinear legs and vegetal decoration.

Hospital de la Misericordia: today headquarters of the Rectorate of the University of Castilla-La Mancha, it is an 18th century building that Cardinal Lorenzana ordered to be built as a shelter and teaching of trades to women and the underprivileged. With the French invasion it became an artillery barracks, a function it carried out until it was transferred to the university in the 1990s. The building is structured around two large courtyards with a central chapel (today the assembly hall). In one of the courtyards there is a door from the old Jewish quarter of the city, from the 14th century.

Façade of the Medrano Palace: its façade with the Treviño coat of arms, from the 16th century, and an elegant colonnaded patio stand out. Today it hosts the Delegation of the Community Board of Castilla-La Mancha.

Palace of the Provincial Council: it has three different facades, highlighting the main façade, topped with the coat of arms of the city, and that of La Merced, with a tribune of Ionic columns crowned by a pediment. Inside, it is worth contemplating the main staircase, of the imperial type, developed in two slopes and covered by a dome, a late 19th-century work by the architect Sebastián Rebollar and decorated by Ángel Andrade and Samuel Luna. In its galleries, as a permanent exhibition, the work of Ángel Andrade stands out along with other painters and sculptors from the province.
Museums
Ciudad Real Museum: it consists of two locations: built by Carlos Luca de Tena y Albear and inaugurated in 1982 on Prado Street and where the Paleontology and Archeology sections are located. Its funds are mainly from excavations with Iberian and medieval finds on the Cerro de Alarcos, the Roman city of Sisapo (La Bienvenida), the Roman mosaics of the Alcazar de San Juan or the door of the old synagogue of Ciudad Real.

The Paleolithic collections come mainly from the donation of private collections (Estanislao Rodríguez, Evaristo Martín and Margarito Expósito) and from the deposits of the Bullaque river, La Atalaya and Aldea del Rey. The Fine Arts collection is located in the old convent of La Merced.

Manuel López-Villaseñor Museum: contains the work of Manuel López-Villaseñor from Ciudad Real, one of the greatest exponents of Spanish painting of the second half of the 20th century. The building, from the 14th century with additions from the 17th century, with a facade that has a Renaissance stone doorway formed by two Ionic columns.

Don Quixote Museum: museum dedicated to the immortal figure of the knight Don Quixote, the fruit of Cervantes' work. It combines an exhibition of works of art related to the Cervantes novel with modern multimedia montages that will take us back to the 16th century, in the atmosphere of the time, with the characters of the novel, in a true journey through time. Students of Cervantes' work also have a study center and an important library on Don Quixote.

Episcopal Palace / Diocesan Museum: inside the 19th-century building of the Episcopal Palace, the Diocesan Museum is installed, where the artistic heritage is preserved, religious furniture, hymns from the monastery of Uclés of the old Order of Santiago, liturgical elements, as well as works of the Romanesque, Gothic and, above all, Baroque. Also on display is the impressive Easter week "La Santa Cena", the work of Faustino Sanz Herranz.

Elisa Cendrero Municipal Historical Archive-Museum: it is the house of Elisa Cendrero and Arias, dated 1917, and which preserves the decoration typical of the time, evoking the bourgeois atmosphere of the late 19th century, inside which is the Municipal Museum. Open, after its restoration, in 2019.
Gastronomy and the best restaurants
Among its typical gastronomy we can find dishes such as migas, Manchego pisto, caldereta, tiznao, asadillo, almortas flour porridge, sponge cake, syrup, quebrantos, porridge and its pure sheep's milk cheeses.

There are three Michelin list restaurants in the city:

Mesón Octavio, Severo Ochoa 6, 33 - 45 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Miami Gastro, Avenida Rey Santo 3, 30 - 50 EUR *Modern Cuisine

San Huberto, Montiel, 35 - 85 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

How to get to?
The city has a railway station on the AVE high-speed rail line, the Ciudad Real railway station. A high-capacity airport (Ciudad Real Central Airport) was built in the city, but closed in 2012.

Distances from the main cities of the region:

From Toledo 1 hr 31 min (121 km) via N-401

From Albacete 2 hr 7 min (220 km) via A-43

From Cuenca 2 hr 22 min (234 km) via A-43

From Guadalajara 2 hr 34 min (272 km) via A-4

From Madrid 2 hr 11 min (205 km) via A-4
Main information
Area: 284 sq. km (municipality)

Coordinates: 38°59′00″N 3°55′00″W

Population: 75 504

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Ciudad Real and its attractions * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Ciudad Real is a city and municipality in Spain located in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha, capital of the province of Ciudad Real. It is the 5th most populated municipality in the region. A part of the Don Quixote Route. Tourism and main attractions Religious architecture Cathedral of Nuestra Señora del Prado: originally a Romanesque hermitage.

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https://all-andorra.com/albacete/

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Albacete is a city and municipality of Spain in the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha, capital of the homonymous province. It is the easternmost capital of Castilla-La Mancha, located to the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula in the middle of a vast countryside of high natural value near the San Blas hill, on which the medieval city of Chinchilla de Montearagón is located, in the historical region of La Mancha, specifically in the historical region of La Mancha de Montearagón, currently framed within the region of Los Llanos, of which it is its only municipality, in the Levante, at its westernmost limit.

It is by far the largest and most populated city in Castilla-La Mancha, with about 175 000 inhabitants, experiencing, since the middle of the 20th century, a very significant demographic growth. It is the most populated capital of the southern sub-plateau after Madrid and one of the most populated inland cities in Spain. Its metropolitan area, which amounts to 217,774 inhabitants, is the largest in Castilla-La Mancha and one of the thirty largest urban agglomerations in the country. The municipality of Albacete is the seventh largest in Spain, with 1125.91 km² .

Albacete is the most important city of Castilla-La Mancha, regional economic engine in Spain, economic and judicial capital of the autonomous community, seat of the Superior Court of Justice of Castilla-La Mancha, highest judicial body autonomic. The famous writer Azorín described in his poetry the city of Albacete as the "New York of La Mancha".

The origins of the city are uncertain - there are pre-Roman and Roman remains under it - although the first certainties of its existence are found in the 9th century during the Andalusian rule of the area, the city having been originally called البسيط Al-Basit, in Arabic "the plain" in reference to the flat character of the geography of the place.

Over the centuries, the city was gaining importance, being the object of historical events such as the battle of al-Luŷŷ (1146), the conquest of the castle of Albacete by Fernando III of Castile (1241), the lordship of Isabel de Portugal (1526-1539), the concession of a free fair by Felipe V (1710), the construction of the Real Canal de María Cristina by royal decree of Carlos IV (1805), its capital to the detriment of the historic Chinchilla de Montearagón (1833) , the establishment of the Royal Court of Albacete by María Cristina de Borbón-Dos Sicilias (1834), the transfer of the Government of Baldomero Espartero and his troops to Albacete (1843), the establishment of the Spanish Aviation Company (1923), the base of the International Brigades (1936-1938) or the bombing of the Condor Legion (1937).

Currently, Albacete is a modern capital, with large spaces for pedestrians and large green areas. In addition, its flat location and the elimination of architectural barriers have made it one of the cities with the greatest accessibility in the entire country, with the highest quality of life and one of the safest.

Albacete is a commercial and industrial city, reflected in its extensive commercial area that encompasses more than 556,723 people from 154 municipalities. Its strategic geographical location, halfway between Madrid and the Mediterranean coast, makes it the main logistical and of communications of the southeast of Spain, counting on important connections by highways, and by rail (including AVE services), as well as by air through its airport, which communicates it with various points of Spain and Europe.
Tourism and main attractions
Very important inland tourist destination, its historic center brings together unique and outstanding heritage values. Among its great most representative monuments are the Albacete Fairgrounds, the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista, the Bullring, the Circo Theater, the Provincial Palace, the Flour Factory, the Lodares Passage or the Water Tower.

Museums such as the Albacete Museum, the Cutlery Museum, the Municipal Museum, the International Museum of Popular Art of the World, the Botanical Garden of Castilla-La Mancha, the La Asunción Cultural Center or the José Saramago House of Culture stand out. Leisure is one of the hallmarks of the capital of Albacete, which has nightlife areas such as La Zona, El Campus or Los Titis.

Other of its great attractions in this regard are the traditional Tascas de la Feria or the traditional outdoor macro-market of Los Invasores. The Albacete cutlery and especially the Albacete pocket knife are a symbol of the city, which will be the World Capital of Cutlery in 2022.

The city is also a part of the The Don Quixote Route.
Festivities Albacete Fair
From 7 to 17 September, the Fair Albacete takes place. It is the "biggest party" in the Albacete calendar. In 2010, the third anniversary of the declaration of free fair was held by Felipe V, although it several centuries ago and celebrated is held in honor of the patron saint of the city, the Virgin of Los Llanos, and is accompanied by one of the most important bullfights calendar national.
Feast of San Juan
In the days before 24 June, the feast of John the Baptist pattern of Albacete, the festival is held in his honor. These are accompanied by cultural, sporting and leisure activities in various parts of the city.
Easter
Between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday is held in Albacete Easter, in which the various brotherhoods in processions through the city, accompanied by the steps and the touch of bugles and drums.
Carnival
The day before the Ash Wednesday Thursday celebrates the Day Mona, where traditionally families will eat the mona to Park the Tree Festival or suburban park of The Pulgosa, where children's activities are also held.
Cuisine and the best restaurants
While traditional Spanish cuisine is fused with Levantine and Mancha influences, Albacete cuisine is rich and varied.

It stresses the dish of Gazpachos Mancha with game meat, the breadcrumbs ruleras, pastor porridge (with fresh bacon and pebbles or millet flour), the manchego ratatouille or wet during the summer time, combining tomato and pepper, beans with partridge or popular atascaburras whose base is the egg, oil and cod, and which dates back to the cold winters La Mancha Albacete, as well as the garlic mataero.

Albacete cuisine is based on the finest ingredients such as meat manchego lamb (which has a PGI) and the manchego cheese (that is name of protected source) or wines (DO La Mancha, DO Almansa, OJ Manchela), whose derivatives create delight diners as crook, the zurracapote, the Marc or dove.

As for desserts, the most important is the miguelitos La Roda, flowers and chips, made from flour, eggs, sunflower oil, sugar, dry anise and rosemary honey.

There are five Michelin list restaurants in the city:

Caldereros, Caldereros 13, 30 - 50 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Asador Concepción, Concepción 5, 20 - 55 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Nuestro Bar, Alcalde Conangla 102, 18 - 50 EUR * Regional Cuisine

El Callejón, Guzmán el Bueno 18, 35 - 50 EUR * Traditional Cuisine, Spanish Cuisine

Don Gil, Baños 2, 35 - 55 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Shopping
Albacent shopping center was first opened in 1996, was extended in 2004 and renovated in 2008, and had reached 76% occupancy by year-end 2015. 75 shops arranged over two floors and 1,223 parking spaces.
How to get to? City buses
The city has 10 lines of bus urban (7 of them daily). The buses have a red and white corporate color. Albacete capital currently has 28 vehicles. One of the buses is the model "Labobús", i.e. a modern vehicle with data storage and powered by solar panels. The stop frequency time is 11 minutes a day most lines. The extensive municipality of Albacete has regular bus lines that connect the city from the bus terminal, with major centers.
Intercity buses
The Bus Station Albacete, managed by EMISALBA (Municipal Infrastructure and Services Albacete SA), is located in the northwest of the city, it has 13,950 m2 (parking included). From the terminal, Albacete has connections through regular intercity bus lines to cities of Valencia, Murcia , Madrid, Catalonia, Andalusia, Extremadura, besides having connections with the major cities of Castilla-La Mancha and municipalities throughout the Albacete.
Railway
The Albacete-Los Llanos railway station is located on the street Federico García Lorca, very close to the A-31. Inaugurated in 2010, it has extensive shopping and leisure. From the new station ADIF the capital has a wide range of provincial, regional and national connections.
Aviation
The Albacete Airport (IATA: ABC, ICAO: LEAB), managed by AENA, is 3.9 kilometres from the city to the south. Its facilities are very close to the Los Llanos Air Base of Air Force, the Air Arsenal and Air and Logistic Park.

Distances to the nearest cities:

From Toledo 2 hr 30 min (259 km) via CM-42

From Ciudad Real 2 hr 11 min (220 km) via A-43

From Cuenca 1 hr 49 min (164 km) via N-420 and A-31

From Guadalajara 2 hr 49 min (293 km) via A-3 and A-31

From Valencia 2 hr 4 min (186 km) via A-31

From Alicante 1 hr 47 min (167 km) via A-31

From Murcia 1 hr 30 min (146 km) via A-30
Main information
Area: 1125 sq. km (municipality)

Coordinates: 38°59′44″N 1°51′21″W

Population: 174 336

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Albacete - the largest and the most populated city in Castilla-La Mancha * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Albacete is a city and municipality of Spain in the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha, capital of the homonymous province. It is the easternmost capital of Castilla-La Mancha, located to the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula in the middle of a vast countryside of high natural value near the San Blas hill, on which the ...

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https://all-andorra.com/castile-la-mancha/

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Castilla-La Mancha, or Castile-La Mancha, is an autonomous community of Spain. Comprising the provinces of Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca, Guadalajara and Toledo, it was created in 1982.

The government headquarters are in Toledo.

It is bordered by Castile and León community, Madrid community, Aragon community, Valencian community, Murcia community, Andalusia community, and Extremadura community.

It is one of the most sparsely populated of Spain's regions. Albacete, Guadalajara, Toledo, Talavera de la Reina and Ciudad Real concentrate the largest urban areas in the region.
Tourism and main attractions
The art of architecture has left beautiful monuments in Castilla-La Mancha throughout history, the result of the peoples and cultures that have inhabited these lands.

In Roman times, monuments such as the Roman circus of Toledo dating from the first century, or the Roman city of Segóbriga in the province of Cuenca, stand out.

Later, the Visigothic culture also left its mark on the Community, the remains of the Basilica of Cabeza de Griego, in Cuenca, or the church of San Pedro de la Mata de Sonseca (Toledo) attest to this.

The importance of Toledo during the high Middle Ages is reflected in a multitude of monuments that have survived to the present day, among which the church of Santa María de Melque, located near La Puebla de Montalbán, stands out.

In Ciudad Real there are works of Mudejar architecture such as the Puerta de Toledo or the church of Santiago.

During the long historical period that the Middle Ages occupy, fortifications and buildings of a religious nature were erected, which even today are surprising due to their dimensions. Among all, the Castillo de San Servando (Toledo) from the early 10th century, the castle of Belmonte in the province of Cuenca.

The Cathedral of Sigüenza built between 1144-1326 and of Romanesque-Gothic character, the Cathedral of Cuenca (built between 1196 and 1257), and the Cathedral of Toledo (1226-1493) are the key buildings within Spanish Gothic architecture.

Later, and already in the 14th century, the castle of Almansa is a more refined example of defensive architecture. In another aspect, the monastery of San Juan de los Reyes (XV-XVI centuries) or the Palacio del Infantado in Guadalajara show Gothic-Elizabethan features. Also from this period are the Hanging Houses of Cuenca, or groups such as the main square of Alcaraz, that of Tembleque, or that of Villanueva de los Infantes.

The Spanish baroque has a clear exponent in the "transparent" of the cathedral of Toledo by Narciso Tomé, where sculpture and architecture are integrated to achieve a dramatic effect of light.

Later, we find neoclassical-inspired buildings in the 20th century, such as the Pasaje de Lodares de Albacete (1925) in the modernist style and designed by Buenaventura Ferrando Castells, or the Ciudad Real City Hall building (1976) in the Neoclassical and inspired by Flanders, the work of the architect Fernando Higueras.

In the 21st century, the most outstanding buildings are the Torre de Caja de Guadalajara in the capital of Alcarria, designed by the architects Solano & Catalán, the buildings of the Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones de Albacete.

Popular architecture in Castilla-La Mancha has different aspects depending on the different geographical areas of the Community, as a result of the extension of the territory.

In the central area of La Mancha, the typical constructions of windmills that have gone around the world thanks to the work of Miguel de Cervantes (Don Quixote Route), stand out, or the silos, caves that served as storage functions.

Valverde de los Arroyos, a clear example of black architecture. Black architecture develops in the northwest of the province of Guadalajara, using slate as a fundamental element for construction. From its dark color comes the name of this type of building.
What to see? Albacete - the largest and the most populated city in Castilla-La Mancha Alcalá del Júcar and its castle Alcaraz and its attractions Carcelén castle dates from the 14th century Chinchilla de Montearagón and its attractions Chinchilla de Montearagón Castle is located in one of the most strategic places in Spain Alcázar de San Juan and its mills Alhambra castle may have an Umayyad origin Almagro - a historic-artistic complex Calatrava la Nueva - a medieval castle and convent Campo de Criptana and its windmills Ciudad Real and its attractions Doña Berenguela castle - a former Moorish fortress Lagunas de Ruidera Natural Park Palace of the Marquis of Santa Cruz - the headquarters of the General Archive of the Spanish Navy Peñarroya castle dates back to 1198 Valdepeñas - city of Wine Villanueva de los Infantes - National Historic Site Alarcón and its attractions Archaeological Park of Segóbriga Belmonte and its attractions Belmonte castle - one of the most emblematic in Spain Garcimuñoz castle and its architecture Tarancón and its attractions Toba reservoir on the Júcar river Uña lagoon - a part of the Serranía de Cuenca natural park Almonacid de Zorita and its attractions Atienza and its attractions Brihuega - the lavender city Cifuentes and its castle Entrepeñas reservoir and its water activities Galve de Sorbe castle was built in the 15th century for the house of Zúñiga Guadalajara and its attractions Hita and its attractions Jadraque castle dates to the late 15th century Monastery of Santa María de Monsalud - an old Cistercian monastery Molina de Aragón and its castle - one of the biggest in Spain Pastrana and its attraction Recópolis - an ancient city of Visigothic origin Sigüenza - a historic-artistic complex Torija castle first built by the Knights Templar in the 11th century Zorita de los Canes castle was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1931 Valverde de los Arroyos Barcience castle dates back to the XV century Casarrubios del Monte castle dates back to the 15th century Castillo de la Vela was declared a historical monument of art in 1931 Consuegra and its windmills El Toboso - the homeland of Dulcinea, a character from Don Quixote de la Mancha Guadamur castle was declared a historical-artistic monument Illescas and its attractions Escalona and its castle-palace La Puebla de Montalbán and its attractions Ocaña and its attractions Orgaz castle was built in the 14th century Puñoenrostro castle dates back to the XIV century Talavera de la Reina and its pottery craft Tembleque and its Plaza Mayor Transport and how to get to? Railways
Renfe, Spain's state-owned railway operator operates numerous trains throughout Castilla-La Mancha.

Long distance

Numerous long-distance rail lines (líneas de largo recorrido) pass through Castilla-La Mancha, most of them radiating out of Madrid. Some of these are high-velocity trains (Alta Velocidad Española AVE):

High velocity AVE trains

Normal Largo Recorrido trains

Alicante-Albacete-Alcázar de San Juan-Ciudad Real
Madrid-Ciudad Real-Jaén
Madrid-Ciudad Real-Badajoz
Madrid-Cuenca-Valencia
Madrid-Guadalajara-Soria
Madrid-Guadalajara-Arcos de Jalón
Madrid-Talavera de la Reina-Badajoz

Airports
Distance by car from Toledo to the main cities of Spain
To Barcelona () 6 hr 46 min (686 km) via AP-2 and A-2
Main information
Area: 79 463 km²

GPS coordinates: 39°30′00″N 3°00′00″W

Language: Spanish

Population: 2 045 221

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1, in summer +2
Subdivisions
5 provinces, 919 municipalities.
Main festival
Castilla-La Mancha Day is the festive day of the Spanish autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha. It is celebrated on May 31, commemorating the anniversary of the constitution of the Regional Courts for the first time in its history. The first time it was held was in 1984. At the event, the Gold Medals of the Region were awarded.

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Castile-La Mancha - an autonomous community of Spain * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Castilla-La Mancha, or Castile-La Mancha, is an autonomous community of Spain. Comprising the provinces of Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca, Guadalajara and Toledo, it was created in 1982. The government headquarters are in Toledo. It is bordered by Castile and León community, Madrid community, Aragon community, Valencian community, Murcia community, Andalusia community, and Extremadura community.

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https://all-andorra.com/zamora/

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Zamora is a city and municipality located in the autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain. It is the capital of the province of Zamora. The city stands on the Duero river.

The old part of the city has been classified as a historical-artistic complex since 1973. Its main nucleus -with a very elongated layout and largely surrounded by walls- stands on a wide rocky plateau (peña tajada) from 26 to 32 meters high, located on the edge of the River Duero, which surrounds it to the south. These characteristics earned it the nickname of "the well-fenced one."

Its set of Romanesque buildings stands out, consisting of the 23 temples in the municipal area and the 14 churches in the historic center, data that places Zamora as the city with the highest number and quality of Romanesque temples in Europe, having requested its declaration as Heritage European.

This Romanesque heritage consists, in addition to the cathedral (which has a dome with an exterior decoration of scales), other twenty-four churches, a castle, walls, a bridge, two palaces and nine houses, which is why Zamora is considered "the city of the Romanesque".

A total of 15 temples have been declared Asset of Cultural Interest, including some of later styles. On the other hand, its set of modernist buildings is also significant (19 in total), the only one in inland Spain together with Teruel.

Among its festivities, the celebration of Holy Week, declared of International Tourist Interest, and a Site of Interest, stands out.

The city is home to regional and international institutions, such as the Ethnographic Museum of Castilla y León, the Advisory Council of Castilla y León and the Spanish-Portuguese cooperation organization Fundación Rei Afonso Henriques (FRAH).

It was the first city in the world with global WiFi coverage, receiving the project, called "Zamora Hot City", the "Nobel" in computing, the "Computerworld Honors".
Main attractions
The Cathedral of Zamora is a Roman Catholic located above the right bank of the Duero. It remains surrounded by its old walls and gates.

Built between 1151 and 1174, it is one of the finest examples of Spanish Romanesque architecture.

The building is on the Latin cross plan; it has a nave and two aisles, a short transept and three semicircular apses. The latter were replaced by Gothic ones in the 15th century. The transept is covered by barrel vault, the aisles by groin vault, and the nave by cross vault in late-Romanesque or Proto-Gothic style.

The Cathedral Museum, in the 17th century cloister, is notable particularly for its fine Flemish tapestries of the 15th-17th centuries depicting scenes from the Trojan War, Hannibal's Italian campaign, and the life of Tarquin the Etruscan king of Rome. Another treasure is a Late Gothic monstrance of 1515.

The Santa María Magdalena de Zamora is a church built in the 12th century, a small Romanesque church of the Knights Templar. The exterior features a deeply recessed south entrance, with circular arches and shafts, as well as ornate Romanesque work. The rose window, formed with small columns, is similar to the Temple Church in London. The interior includes canopied tombs dating to the 13th century, supported by spiral and fluted shafts. Against the north wall, there is a tomb under a canopy supported by three shafts.

The wall of Zamora with the defensive functions parapets the city practically from its beginnings as a city. The wall undergoes various layout modifications throughout its history, one due to the war events surrounding the history of the city, another due to the constant growth of the population and its consequent expansion.

Starting in 1868, it lost its status as the city's defensive wall. A few years later, the architect Segundo Viloria made a plan of the city for the first time indicating its route.

The Castle of Zamora is a Middle Ages fortress. Stands northwest of the city's Cathedral.

It features Pre-Roman foundations and a Romanesque general structure. It was built between the 10th and 12th centuries. It stands northwest of the Cathedral, with magnificent views of the town and the river from the keep.

At the moment the perimeter of the castle is conserved, surrounded by a moat that is almost complete. The most important walls, the parade ground and the keep have also survived to this day. The Decree of 04/22/1949 declares it under its protection, while in Law 16/1985 it is designated as protected by the Spanish Historical Heritage. Today it is owned by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, which is in charge of its conservation.

The Puente de Piedra de Zamora (also called Puente Nuevo de Zamora in the Middle Ages) is one of the five bridges that cross the Duero River as it passes through the capital of the province of the same name. For centuries it was the only river crossing in the city, connecting the neighborhoods of the suburb with the historic center of the city.

Nowadays it is a link between Avenida de Vigo (right bank) and Plaza de Belén (margin left). Due to its location on the Vía de la Plata, it was an important crossing point of the Duero River for people, merchandise and transhumant herds. It was finished building at the beginning of the 13th century, and subsequently renovated on several occasions. Currently one of the most representative symbols of the city.

The Zamora Museum is a provincial museum located in the Plaza de Santa Lucía, in the neighborhood that in the medieval times was called "La Puebla del Valle". It is owned by the Ministry of Culture (currently the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports).

It consists of a section dedicated to archeology, another to the fine arts and a third, smaller, that deals with the history of the city. In the first, the bell-shaped trousseau of Villabuena del Puente, the two pre-Roman treasures of Arrabalde, "the most spectacular set" of the museum, in the words of its director, mosaics and wall paintings from the Roman town of Requejo (Santa Cristina de La Polvorosa) and the Visigothic gold votive crosses from Villafáfila.

In the second there are paintings and sculptures that span from t14th to the middle of the 20th century. Besides, it also regularly hosts temporary exhibitions.
Cuisine and the best restaurants
Food specialties in Zamora include the pulses, the chickpeas or 'garbanzos' from Fuentesauco, the exquisite cheese made from sheep's milk, honey from Sanabria, asparagus from Guareña, peppers from Benavente, steak from Aliste, mushrooms, game, cold meats, cakes and sweets.

Other specialties are the rice dishes from Zamora and the Toro wines (very dark, almost black, nowadays made using modern techniques - with a rapidly growing reputation for their taste and quality).

Traditional dishes include bacalao a la tranca (a cod dish), pulpo a la sanabresa (an octopus dish), dos y pingada (two fried eggs with fried ham, usually served at Easter) and presas de ternera (a beef dish). For dessert there is the rebojo Zamorano, a very tasty though hard type of bun, and las natillas almendradas (Spanish style custard with almonds).

There are two Michelin list restaurants in the city:

Casa Mariano, Avenida Portugal 28, 16 - 47 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Lasal, Los Herreros 29, 30 - 45 EUR * Traditional Cuisine
How to get to?
The city is served by the Zamora Railway Station, located on one of the Spanish North-Northwestern high speed lines. All major Spanish bus companies and some local companies operate out of the Estación de Autobuses de Zamora, which connects Zamora to neighboring cities, such as Salamanca, as well as nearby pueblos, major cities such as Valladolid and Madrid, and further destinations around Spain and Europe.
Distance by car to other main cities of Castile and León and Madrid
Madrid 2 hr 40 min (254 km) via AP-6 and A-6

Valladolid 1 hr 16 min (102 km) via A-11

Ávila 1 hr 48 min (178 km) via A-66 and A-50

Burgos 2 hr 15 min (226 km) via A-11 and A-62

Palencia 1 hr 32 min (149 km) via A-11 and A-62

León 1 hr 29 min (142 km) via A-66

Salamanca 49 min (66.2 km) via A-66

Segovia 2 hr 4 min (190 km) via A-11, A-6 and CL-605

Soria 3 hr 32 min (305 km) via A-11
Main information
Area: 149 sq. km

GPS coordinates: 41°30′12″N 5°45′20″W

Language: Spanish

Population: 60 988

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1, in summer +2

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Zamora - the city with the most Romanesque churches in all of Europe * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Zamora is a city and municipality located in the autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain. It is the capital of the province of Zamora. The city stands on the Duero river. The old part of the city has been classified as a historical-artistic complex since 1973.

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https://all-andorra.com/soria/

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Soria is a municipality and a city, located on the Douro river in the east of the autonomous community of Castile and León and capital of the province of Soria, Spain.
Tourism and main attractions
Soria has almost 300 cataloged monuments, buildings, sites and works of art.

The church of San Juan de Rabanera. It retains its original Romanesque character. Its semicircular apse divided into four panels is particularly noteworthy, with windows in the two central ones and two beautifully decorated blind windows on the outside.

The façade of the church of San Juan de Rabanera is also Romanesque, but it is not from this church originally. It was transferred from the church of San Nicolás, once one of the most emblematic temples in the city and currently a consolidated ruin.

The Santo Domingo church, originally dedicated to Santo Tomé, also retains its Romanesque character. Its façade stands out, with a rare example (there are only 5 in the world) of Trinidad Paternitas surrounded by four beautifully carved archivolts with biblical scenes, and an eight-part rose window.

The interior of the church is from the original 11th century temple , while the three naves of the feet and the facade date from the 12th century. The apse was destroyed in the 14th century.

Many of the original 35 parishes were completely renovated in later years.

The church of Santa María la Mayor, preserves an austere doorway of the Romanesque temple, the two apsidioles and three bodies of the tower. During the 16th century, the Cabildo moved to this temple temporarily, and the main chapel and the late-Gothic apse were built.

The church of Nuestra Señora del Espino preserves few Romanesque vestiges, being rebuilt throughout the 16th century in the Plateresque style.

The hermitage of Nuestra Señora del Mirón is currently a Baroque temple, but it preserves the apse of the original Romanesque temple as a sacristy.

Most of the original parishes disappeared over the centuries, with remains of some of them being preserved.

The Cathedral of San Pedro has the remains of a monastic church from the 12th century. The monastic church suffered a partial ruin in 1543, and was rebuilt during the 16th century following the model of the Berlanga de Duero collegiate church. It has a hall plan of five naves with star-shaped ribbed vaults of warped, supported by Doric columns of circular section, with polygonal apse. Both the central nave and the lateral ones consist of five sections separated by slightly pointed arches.

The castle of Soria is located on the so-called Cerro del Castillo. The original city was strongly walled in its entirety, more than a square kilometer, with a double barrier and barbican, the castle being on the hill that bears its name, the original Mount Oria of some authors, being one of the best defended in Spain at the beginning of the 12th century.

The Círculo Amistad Numancia, popularly known as "El Casino" or Casino Amistad Numancia, is the result of the union of two centuries-old institutions. The first in time, the Casino de Numancia was established in 1848 and the Círculo de la Amistad in 1865.

The Palace of the Counts of Gómara is the most representative building of Renaissance civil architecture in the city of Soria. The palace was built by Francisco López de Río y Salcedo in the 16th century. The chief lieutenant of Soria and his province, he ordered it to be built at the end of the 16th century, the main work being completed in 1592 according to the inscription on its façade.

Plaza de San Clemente is named after a disappeared Romanesque church. This area is better known by the name of "El Tubo" (more specifically as El Tubo Narrow) and a large number of bars serve as an attraction for the meeting, before lunch and late in the afternoon, of the Sorianos. In this same square, next to what was the church of San Clemente, the Palacio de los Ríos y Salcedo is located.

The Soria bullring, popularly known as La Chata or more formally as the Coso de San Benito, constitutes one of the main references of Soria due to its traditional relationship with the most important festivals of this city, the Fiestas de San Juan or the Madre de Dios, declared as festivals of National Tourist Interest.

Plaza Mayor is also one of the most commercial and busiest places in Soria.
Museums
Museo Numantino, is the name of the archaeological museum of Soria and collects a good part of the findings from nearby Numancia.

House of the Poets of Soria, is the museum of the poets who wrote about Soria.

Medieval Museum of San Juan de Duero located in the church of the monastery of the same name.

Diocesan-Cathedral Museum with funds from the Cathedral of San Pedro and located in the old refectory of the cloister.

Juan Antonio Gaya Nuño Cultural Center, cultural center and museum of contemporary Spanish art that collects the collections of Juan Antonio Gaya Nuño.

Museum of San Saturio, located in the old house of the santero of the hermitage of San Saturio.
Restaurants
There is one Michelin list restaurant in the city:

Baluarte, Caballeros 14, 40 - 72 EUR * Modern Cuisine (one star)
How to get to?
The city is served by the Soria Railway Station, with daily services to Madrid via Guadalajara. There are also many bus lines to neighbouring cities.
Soria: nearest airports
Logroño Airport (78.5 kilometers)
Zaragoza Airport (119.1 kilometers)
Vitoria Airport (126.3 kilometers)
Pamplona Airport (130.9 kilometers)
Distance by car to other main cities of Castile and León and Madrid
Madrid 2 hr 17 min (236 km) via A-2 and A-15

Valladolid 2 hr 30 min (208 km) via A-11 and N-122

Ávila 3 hr 6 min (254 km) via N-110

Palencia 2 hr 34 min (223 km) via A-62 and N-234

León 3 hr 20 min (311 km) via A-231 and N-234

Salamanca 3 hr 39 min (324 km) via A-62 and A-11

Segovia 2 hr 23 min (192 km) via N-110

Burgos 1 hr 46 min (142 km) via N-234

Zamora 3 hr 32 min (305 km) via A-11
Main information
Area: 271 sq. km

GPS coordinates: 41°46′00″N 2°28′00″W

Language: Spanish

Population: 39821

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1, in summer +2

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Soria has almost 300 cataloged monuments, buildings, sites and works of art * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Soria is a municipality and a city, located on the Douro river in the east of the autonomous community of Castile and León and capital of the province of Soria, Spain. Tourism and main attractions Soria has almost 300 cataloged monuments, buildings, sites and works of art.

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https://all-andorra.com/segovia/

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Segovia is a city in the autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain. It is the capital and most populated municipality of the Province of Segovia.

The old city and the aqueduct of Segovia were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985. The aqueduct is considered the most important work of Roman civil engineering in Spain, and is one of the most significant and best-preserved monuments of Ancient Rome in the Iberic Peninsula.
Main attractions
The Aqueduct of Segovia is one of the best-preserved elevated Roman aqueducts and the foremost symbol of Segovia, as evidenced by its presence on the city's coat of arms.

As the aqueduct lacks a legible inscription, the date of construction cannot be definitively determined. The general date of the Aqueduct's construction was long a mystery, although it was thought to have been during the 1st century AD, during the reigns of the Emperors Domitian, Nerva, and Trajan.

The aqueduct once transported water from the Rio Frio river, situated in mountains 17 km from the city in the La Acebeda region. It runs 15 km before arriving in the city.

The construction of the aqueduct follows the principles laid out by Vitruvius in his De Architectura published in the mid-first century BC.

The aqueduct is built of unmortared, brick-like granite blocks. During the Roman era, each of the three tallest arches displayed a sign in bronze letters, indicating the name of its builder along with the date of construction. Today, two niches are still visible, one on each side of the aqueduct. One of them is known to have held the image of Hercules, who, according to legend, was founder of the city. That niche now contains an image of the Virgin. The other one used to hold an image of Saint Stephen, now lost.

The Alcázar of Segovia (literally "Segovia Fortress") is a medieval castle - a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Rising out on a rocky crag above the confluence of two rivers near the Guadarrama mountains, it is one of the most distinctive castle-palaces in Spain by virtue of its shape - like the bow of a ship. The alcázar was originally built to serve as a fortress but has served as a royal palace, a state prison, a Royal Artillery College, and a military academy since then used as a museum and a military archives building.

The Alcázar of Segovia, like many fortifications in Spain, started off as a Roman castrum, but apart from the foundations, little of the original structure remains. A Muslim era fort, which was itself largely replaced by the present structure, was built by the Berber Almoravid dynasty. The first reference to this castle was in 1120, around 32 years after the city of Segovia was conquered by the Christians (during the time when King Alfonso VI reconquered lands to the south of the Duero river down to Toledo and beyond).

The Alcázar of Segovia was one of the favorite residences of the monarchs of Castile in the Middle Ages, and a key fortress in the defence of the kingdom.

The castle also served as the French home of Sir Lancelot du Lac, Joyous Gard, in the 1967 musical film Camelot. The castle's silhouette and overall appearance also inspired the castle in Disney's 1937 animated classic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.

The Segovia Cathedral is the Roman Catholic cathedral located in the main square (Plaza Mayor). The church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, was built in a Gothic style in the mid-16th century. The massive cathedral was built between 1525-1577 in a late Gothic style, outdated elsewhere in Europe.

The building's structure features three tall vaults and an ambulatory, with fine tracery windows and numerous stained glass windows. The interior is characterized by unity of style (late Gothic), except for the dome, built around 1630 by Pedro de Brizuela. The Gothic vaults are 33 meters high by 50 meters wide and 105 long.

The bell tower reaches almost 90 meters. The current stone spire crowning the tower, dating from 1614, was erected after a major fire caused by a thunderstorm. The original spire, entirely Gothic, was built of American mahogany, had a pyramidal structure, and was the tallest tower in Spain.

The cathedral museum has works by Pedro Berruguete, Sánchez Coello and Van Orley, and the cathedral archives have one of the first printed books published in Spain: the Sinodal de Aguilafuente.

The walls of Segovia are the remains of the medieval city walls surrounding Segovia complete a circuit of about 2,250 metres in length, with an average height of 9 metres and an average thickness of 2.5 metres. They are built out of many different materials, with some parts of great antiquity, although most date back to the 11th and 12th centuries, which major renovations in subsequent centuries.

From the Alcázar to the gate of Santiago, there are two circular towers and a rectangular one. The Puerta de Santiago, which has a rectangular plan, has a horseshoe arch. The wall continues to the north of the city's historic centre, dominating the Eresma River, until it reaches the gate of San Cebrián, which has a crucifix at its entrance.

From this point the wall, raised on rock, continues in an easterly direction until the former San Juan gate. This was an ornamental arch built in the 16th century, and it was demolished in 1888 due to urban needs.

The wall continues to the south and then to the west, in a section that included the Postigo del Consuelo, the Portillo de la Canaleja and the gates of San Martín, la Luna and del Sol. Continuing towards the west, one arrives at the Puerta de San Andrés, which has a square and a polygonal tower. From there the wall continues to close its perimeter at the Alcázar.
Museums
The Museum of Segovia in the Casa del Sol of the Segovian capital, is a cultural institution of the Spanish State managed by the community of Castilla y León, which guards historical pieces mainly from the province of Segovia.

Throughout its history it has had several denominations, Museum of Paintings, Museum of Fine Arts or Provincial Museum, as well as various venues from the initial one in the episcopal palace in 1842, passing through the church of San Facundo (1845) and the Casa del Hidalgo (1967), until settling in the Casa del Sol. Its affiliate museum is the Zuloaga Museum, located in the church of San Juan de los Caballeros.

The Esteban Vicente Contemporary Art Museum is a museum, which has its headquarters in the so-called Palacio de Enrique IV. It exhibits works by the painter Esteban Vicente, a native of the province. In 2017, a file was launched to declare the museum's collection as an Asset of Cultural Interest. This collection is made up of a set of works by the artist and the permanent collection as well as the documentary and bibliographic archive that the museum houses.

The Museum of the Artillery Academy is located exactly in San Francisco number 25. Located in a military academy, the library of this museum has a number of volumes close to 50,000 copies of scientific works, in particular of mathematics, geometry, physics, astronomy, chemistry, fortifications, navigation and natural history. It can be found open from Monday to Friday and closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

The Zuloaga Museum is a cultural institution of the Spanish State managed by the Community of Castilla y León, located in Plaza de Colmenares. It is installed in the old church of San Juan de los Caballeros, abandoned at the end of the 19th century, converted into a lumberyard and garage, and which, acquired by Daniel Zuloaga in 1905, was renovated as a workshop and office.

The Machado House-Museum is a traditional house used as a pension in the 19th century and part of the 20th, located in the historic center. It was the house where the poet Antonio Machado lived between 1919 and 1932. Since the second half of the 20th century it has been administered by the Royal Academy of History and Art of San Quirce.

Among other museums are:

Gastronomic Museum of Segovia

Episcopal Palace Museum

Cathedral Museum

Machado House-Museum

Cuisine and the best restaurants
The lands of the province provide various products, starting with the most popular food, bread, or milk, the basis of the cheeses of the province of Segovia. The tender roast suckling lamb or suckling pig are part of the meat offer of the restaurants in the capital.

Among the desserts you can find donuts, puffs and, above all, the Segovian punch, with a creamy interior. Among the wines there are some produced in the province such as the Blancos de Nieva or the Reds from Valtiendas.

There are four Michelin list restaurants in the city:

Villena, Plazuela de los Capuchinos 4, 65 EUR * Modern Cuisine

José María, Cronista Lecea 11, 45 - 60 EUR * Traditional Cuisine, Regional Cuisine

Juan Bravo, Plaza Mayor 9, 25 - 40 EUR * Modern Cuisine, Spanish Contemporary

Casa Silvano-Maracaibo, Paseo de Ezequiel González 25, 38 - 60 EUR * Modern Cuisine, Traditional Cuisine

Shopping
The area around Plaza Mayor is a great spot to find a whole range of souvenirs of the city, including typical local crafts, and all kinds of gifts.
Transport and how to get to?
Nearest international airport is in Madrid.

Segovia-Guiomar railway station provides a rail connection to Madrid Chamartín and Valladolid-Campo Grande via the AVE network's Madrid-León high-speed rail line.
Distance by car to other main cities of Castile and León and Madrid
Madrid 1 hr 12 min (91.8 km) via A-6 and AP-61

Valladolid 1 hr 22 min (117 km) via A-601

Ávila 52 min (66.0 km) via AP-51 and N-110

Palencia 1 hr 40 min (165 km) via A-601

León 2 hr 48 min (257 km) via N-601 and A-601

Salamanca 1 hr 47 min (172 km) via A-50

Burgos 2 hr 7 min (199 km) via A-1 and N-110

Soria 2 hr 24 min (189 km) via N-110

Zamora 2 hr 4 min (190 km) via A-11, A-6 and CL-605
Main information
Area: 163 sq. km (municipality)

Coordinates: 40°56′53″N 4°07′06″W

Population: 52 057

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Segovia - the UNESCO heritage * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Segovia is a city in the autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain. It is the capital and most populated municipality of the Province of Segovia. The old city and the aqueduct of Segovia were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985.

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https://all-andorra.com/salamanca/

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Salamanca is a municipality and a city situated in western Spain, it is the capital of the Province of Salamanca in the autonomous community of Castile and León.

In 1988, the old city was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It has an important historical-architectural heritage, among which its two cathedrals - the Old and the New - stand out, the Casa de las Conchas, the Plaza Mayor, the convent of San Esteban and the Escuelas Mayores.

In 2002, it was named, together with the Belgian city of Bruges, European Capital of Culture by the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament.

Since 2003, its Holy Week has been declared of international tourist interest. In 2005, it hosted the celebration of the XV Ibero-American Summit and since that year it has hosted the International Arts Festival of Castilla y León.

In Salamanca there are important scientific institutions and research centers, such as the Cancer Research Center, the Institute of Neurosciences of Castilla y León (INCyL), the Center for Research and Technological Development of Water (CIDTA) and the Ultra-short Ultra-Intensive Pulsed Lasers Center (CLPU).

The city and its metropolitan area are home to some of the largest companies of the autonomous community of Castile and León.

The University of Salamanca, founded in 1218, is the oldest university in Spain and the third oldest western university. Pope Alexander IV gave universal validity to its degrees. With 30,000 students, the university is, together with tourism, a primary source of income in Salamanca.

In addition, it is considered the largest world benchmark in the teaching of Spanish, since it concentrates 78% of the existing offer in its autonomous community, which represents 16% of the national market.
Main attractions Squares
The Plaza Mayor: in the baroque style, designed by the architects Alberto and Nicolás Churriguera, it is the most important of the public spaces and the heart of the city.

Campo de San Francisco: first public garden in the city on land of the old convent of San Francisco el Real.

Huerto de Calixto y Melibea: garden near the cathedrals, where, according to some, the plot of the novel La Celestina by Fernando de Rojas is located. Next to it are remains of the Roman wall.

Plaza del Corrillo: small square attached to the Plaza Mayor. On the left is the Romanesque church of San Martín and on the right a series of houses with arcades formed by stone columns that represent the days of the week (a moon for Monday, a Mars for Tuesday, etc.).
Cathedrals
Salamanca has two cathedrals, the old one, dating from the 12th century and in the Romanesque style, and the new, much larger, begun in the 16th century in the Gothic style and completed in the 18th century. The place where the two meet is known as Patio Chico and it is one of the most interesting corners of the city.

The main tower of the new cathedral was built on top of the bell tower of the old cathedral. In it, a crack originated by the Lisbon earthquake of 1755 is still visible.

La Clergy is currently the headquarters of the Pontifical University. Construction began in 1617 and was completed a century and a half later as the Royal College of the Holy Spirit, of the Society of Jesus. It is in the baroque style.

The Convent of San Esteban is a Dominican convent from the (16th century). The Plateresque façade, with its triumphal arch shape, is an authentic jewel of the Salamanca Renaissance. Impressive baroque altarpiece by José Benito Churriguera. Also noteworthy is the Cloister of the Kings, Renaissance.

The Convent of the Dueñas was built in 1533 and the interest of the entire building is mainly focused on the magnificent cloister, which had to adapt its plan to the layout of the original rooms, for which it developed a unique irregular pentagonal plan. It consists of two floors.
University buildings
University: set of buildings that made up the old University of Salamanca, which include the Major Schools, the Minor Schools and the Hospital del Estudio (current rectory). These buildings are located around the square called Patio de Escuelas. In this same square is the house of Dr. Álvarez Abarca or of the Doctors of the Queen (15th century), whose facade is Gothic with Renaissance details and which today is the Museum of Salamanca.

Unamuno House-Museum (18th century): former home of the University rectors. It is preserved as Miguel de Unamuno had when he held this position.

Colegio Mayor de Santiago el Zebedeo, also called "del Arzobispo Fonseca" or "los Irlandeses" (16th century).

Colegio de San Ambrosio (1719): currently it is the General Archive of the Spanish Civil War. It houses documents and objects seized by Franco's troops and their allies during and at the end of the Spanish Civil War.
Palaces
Casa de las Conchas: it was built at the end of the 15th century. In a civil Gothic style, its façade is decorated with around 350 scallop shells, distinctive of the Order of Santiago. Gothic window bars are also important. It currently houses a public library.

Casa de Don Diego Maldonado: Plateresque palace from the 16th century. It houses the Hispanic-Brazilian Cultural Foundation and the Center for Brazilian Studies of the University of Salamanca.

Casa de Doña María la Brava: Gothic building from the 15th century, prototype of the noble mansions of the time. Its owner, María de Monroy, was the head of one of the two groups into which the city was divided in the 15th century. It is located in the Plaza de los Bandos.

Casa Lis: Modernist mansion from 1905 with an iron façade. Built on the wall. It houses the art nouveau and art deco collections donated by Manuel Ramos Andrade.

Casa de las Muertes (early 16th century): built by Juan de Álava, and named for the skulls that decorate the façade. On one occasion when the building was renovated, the skulls were rounded and turned into balls, but it remained such a gloomy name and that was reason enough for the popular imagination to invent a legend that ran for many years.
Others
Alcazar de Salamanca: old urban military fortress located in the extreme southwest of the medieval walled area of ​​the city of Salamanca. Currently, its abandoned archaeological remains can be seen in the Vaguada de La Palma, on the western end of the Peña Celestina, the original nucleus of the city during the Repopulation of Extremadura Leonesa in the 11th century.

Salamanca Cave: located on the Carvajal slope, where it is said that the devil taught black magic. Therefore, in a part of Spanish America, a Salamanca is a cave of witches. What is known today as the Cueva de Salamanca, is actually part of the sacristy of the disappeared church of San Cebrián.

Mercado de Abastos (1899-1909): located in the old Plaza de la Verdura. Built in iron, it was designed by the Jerez-born architect Joaquín de Vargas y Aguirre (also the author of Casa Lis for Miguel Lis) at the beginning of the 20th century. Inside, the typical ingredients of the gastronomy of the province of Salamanca are offered for sale.

Medieval walls: at present there are visible samples of the wall near the Calixto and Melibea orchard next to the Tormes river. The walls make up two walled enclosures in the city, the first and oldest that has its center in the Plaza de Azogue Viejo located near the Cathedral. The second dating from the twelfth century that has its center in the Plaza Mayor.

Cerro de San Vicente Archaeological Park: an archaeological site that preserves remains of the first population center of the city in the Iron Age and the later Benedictine monastery of San Vicente.
Museums
Museum of Art Nouveau and Art Déco: located in Casa Lis, it houses a collection of furniture and objects representative of the decorative arts. It was inaugurated in the spring of 1995 with funds from the donation that the collector Manuel Ramos Andrade made to the city. It is one of the most iconic buildings and the most outstanding museum in the city.

Salamanca Commerce Museum: dedicated to recovering and preserving the memory of economic, industrial and commercial activity, especially of the city and its province.

Unamuno House Museum: house located in the historic center of the city, belonging to the University. It was built in the 18th century and dedicated to the Rectoral House, it is known for having been the place where Miguel de Unamuno lived when he was Rector of the University of Salamanca, since the fifties it is a museum dedicated to his life and stay of the writer in Salamanca (1900-1914).

Salamanca Automotive History Museum: it is the first public museum in Spain dedicated to motors. Inaugurated at the end of September 2002 by the Kings of Spain, it has more than 200 historic automobiles in its collection, some unique, as well as thousands of accessories related to the automobile. It is located in a building that was the first electricity production plant that Salamanca had.

Modern art museum DA2 Domus Artium 2002: a contemporary art center, inaugurated in April 2002, on the occasion of the European Cultural Capital that was held in Salamanca throughout that year. It is built on what was the old provincial jail, a building from 1930, preserving original elements such as the cell doors and the original iron fence.

Salamanca Museum: it was created in 1835 and, since 1947, has its headquarters in the Casa de los Abarca, an old Salamanca palace built at the end of the 15th century. The entrance to the museum, which is made up of an archeology section and a Fine Arts section, is from the Patio de Escuelas, although the noble façade of the Casa de los Abarca is located on Calle Serranos.
Cuisine and gastronomy
Among many local dishes, chanfaina (steamed rice with pork) is very popular. Another distinctive dish is the cocido, a slow-cooked chickpea-based casserole. However, hornazo, a meat pie, is the most popular dish.

There are five Michelin list restaurants in the city:

En la Parra, San Pablo 80, 48 - 65 EUR * Modern Cuisine (one star)

Víctor Gutiérrez, Empedrada 4, 72 - 110 EUR * Creative, Fusion (one star)

El Alquimista, Plaza San Cristóbal 6, 18 - 45 EUR * Modern Cuisine

El Mesón de Gonzalo - La Barra, Plaza del Poeta Iglesias 10, Traditional Cuisine

Tapas 3.0, Sánchez Barbero 9, 15 - 34 EUR * Modern Cuisine

Shopping
There are more than 4,000 establishments located around: clothes, shoes, accessories, jewellery, souvenirs, food and drink, local handcrafts. The shopping district is located along the main avenues heading north from the Plaza Mayor.
Festivals
The Holy Week in Salamanca (Semana Santa) is the most well-known feast in the city. Salamanca is renowned for the solemn and sober processions celebrated during Holy Week. 16 confraternities, 10,000 brothers or "cofrades", 50 floats or "pasos" celebrate the Passion of Christ with 20 processions and thousands of followers, tourists and visitors.
Transport and how to get to?
Salamanca Airport, located in the military base of Matacán, is located about 14 km east of the city.

The Vialia-Estación de Salamanca railway station is the main point of the city. It is home to the railway terminal and the point of purchase of travel tickets, numerous leisure and restaurant venues, movie theaters and various shops. The station has the services of Renfe Operadora.

A high-speed line with Madrid via Medina del Campo is projected, and, in the long term, a line to Portugal.

Two lines arrive in the city:

Medina del Campo - Salamanca. It connects with the north of Spain and with Portugal.
Avila - Salamanca. It connects with the south through Madrid.
Distance by car to other main cities of Castile and León and Madrid
Madrid 2 hr 15 min (215 km) via A-50

Valladolid 1 hr 24 min (121 km) via A-62

Ávila 1 hr 8 min (109 km) via A-50

Palencia 1 hr 43 min (169 km) via A-62

León 2 hr 5 min (207 km) via A-66

Burgos 2 hr 29 min (245 km) via A-62

Segovia 1 hr 47 min (170 km) via A-50

Soria 3 hr 39 min (325 km) via A-11 and A-62

Zamora 48 min (66.2 km) via A-66
Main information
Area: 39 sq. km (municipality)

Coordinates: 40°58′00″N 5°39′50″W

Population: 144 825

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Salamanca - a UNESCO site * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Salamanca is a municipality and a city situated in western Spain, it is the capital of the Province of Salamanca in the autonomous community of Castile and León. In 1988, the old city was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It has an important historical-architectural heritage, among which its two cathedrals - the Old and ...

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https://all-andorra.com/palencia/

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Palencia is a city and municipality in the autonomous community of Castile and León, capital of the province of Palencia, Spain.

It is an important industrial center of Castile and León.
Tourism and main attractions Civil heritage:
Calle Mayor: this is the main street of the city and the center of commercial, administrative and cultural activity in Palencia. In this street and in its surroundings are the most interesting civil buildings.

Plaza Mayor and Town Hall: the Plaza Mayor was built in the 17th century to celebrate public festivities and the market. Three of its sides are supported and it is presided over by the Town Hall, a neoclassical construction from the 19th century.

Palacio de la Diputación: Neo-Renaissance style building from 1914, designed by the Palencian architect Jerónimo Arroyo. Its main façade stands out and the works of artists from Palencia that it houses inside.

Casa del Cordón: 16th century building topped on its façade with a Franciscan cord. Inside is the Provincial Archaeological Museum. It is the only Renaissance civil monument in the city.

Puentecillas: bridge of Roman origin, renovated in the 16th century. The oldest in the city, it is for pedestrian use. In one of its entrances is the famous Bolus of Patience.

Puente Mayor: stone construction from the 16th century, renovated and enlarged at the end of the 18th century.

Iron Bridge: from the beginning of the 20th century.

Colegio Villandrando: notable Neo-Gothic and modernist style building on Calle Mayor. Designed by Jerónimo Arroyo, the ceramics that finish off the façade, the work of Daniel Zuloaga, stand out.

Hospital de San Bernabé: located in the vicinity of the Cathedral. Founded in the 12th century and rebuilt in the 15th century.

Casa Junco: noble construction from the 18th century, in the Baroque style. Located on the main street.

Casa de Flora Germán: Modernist building by Jerónimo Arroyo.

Council of Accounts of Castilla y León (Casa de Ramón Alonso): Jerónimo Arroyos' building located at the confluence of Calle Bocaplaza with Calle Mayor (one of the most sophisticated areas of the city). It has two interesting towers with colored stained glass windows.

Post Office Building: built in 1916 according to the project of Jacobo Romero.

Main theatre: built in the 19th century on the model of Italian theatres. After suffering a fire in 1826 it was rebuilt and remodeled.

IES Jorge Manrique: it is the largest high school in Palencia and in one of its domes is the Jerónimo Arroyo museum.

Mercado de Abastos: Notable Palencia building for housing a large market and for being the only iron and glass work in Palencia, designed by Juan Agapito Revilla and built in 1898.
Casino of Palencia. Religious heritage:
Cathedral of San Antolin: main monument of the city of Palencia, built in Gothic style. It has been a National Monument since 1929. In its interior it keeps numerous and valuable works of art, among which the following stand out:

The main altarpiece, one of the first examples of the Renaissance in Spain.

The collection of tapestries, with excellent samples of this art.

The Crypt of San Antolín, one of the first Romanesque-style buildings in Castile, with a Visigothic section.

The retrochoir, an excellent work of Flamboyant Gothic, with a Flemish triptych by master Jan Joest.

The martyrdom of Saint Sebastian, painting by El Greco, one of his most outstanding works.

Cristo del Otero: key work of the sculptor Victorio Macho. Erected in 1931 on one of the hills that surround the city, crowning an old hermitage, it is a 30-meter-high sculpture (the third largest of Christ, after the statue of Christ the King in the Polish city of Świebodzin and the Christ of Rio de Janeiro). The colossal construction dominates the entire city and is the main symbol of the Palencia capital.

Church of San Miguel: its religious-military tower is another of the most representative icons of Palencia. Temple from the 12th century, it is an excellent example of the primitive ogival style. Inside, there is a Christ from the 14th century, altars from the 17th and 18th centuries, one of them with a Flemish Pietà, and remains of Gothic mural paintings. It was declared a National Monument in 1931.

Church of San Francisco: Franciscan foundation from the 13th century, it underwent modifications in the 16th century, which altered its original Gothic character. It was the seat of the Cortes Generales in the 14th century and a royal residence. Inside, its Mudejar coffered ceilings, a good collection of altarpieces and images and a chapel completely covered with skulls stand out. National Monument since 1962.

Convent of San Pablo: it was the foundation of Santo Domingo de Guzmán in the 13th century. The current church dates from the 15th and 16th centuries, and the belfry of the main façade from the 18th. Outside, the apse with Renaissance windows stands out. Inside, the main altarpiece and the tombs of the Marqueses de Poza stand out. Declared a National Monument in 1931.

Santa Clara Monastery: the church dates from the 15th century, with a main altarpiece from the 18th century.

Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús (also called Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Calle): Jesuit church built in 1584. It houses the 40 cm carving of the Virgen de la Calle, patron saint of the city. It was declared a National Monument in 1982.

Church of San Juan Bautista: small but beautiful Romanesque temple. It is a National Monument since 1981.

Episcopal Palace: in this severe Neoclassical style palace, formerly the residence of the Palencia bishops, is the Diocesan Museum, with an important collection of works of art of all styles from the Romanesque, highlighting those by authors such as Pedro Berruguete, Alejo de Vahía or Juan de Valmaseda, which make it one of the main museums of its kind at a national level.
Museums:

Provincial Archaeological Museum

Contemporary Art Museum

Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art

Cathedral Museum

Jeronimo Arroyo Museum

Victorio Macho Museum

Footwear History Museum

Gastronomy and the best restaurants
The main speciality of Palencia is locally produced lechazo (suckling lamb). Traditionally suckling lamb is roasted slowly in a wood oven and served with salad. "Menestra de Verduras" is a mixture of vegetables cooked with chopped pieces Spanish ham, onion, garlic and spices is another traditional dish.

Palencia also offers a great assortment of lettuces, leeks, wild mushrooms, peppers, asparagus, endives and beans. Some legumes, like white beans and lentils are particularly good and cooked in hot dishes with chorizo.

The sopa de ajo, a traditional winter garlic soup dish, made with bread mixed with paprika, water and garlic and cooked slowly. A raw egg is often whipped into the soup as it is served.

Morcilla is a form of black sausage made from pig's blood. In Castile the pig blood is often flavoured with pieces of pork fat, onions herbs and spices; the addition of rice gives a distinctive texture and flavour.

There are three Michelin list restaurants in the city:

Casa Pepe´s, Avenida Manuel Rivera 16, 40 - 60 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Ajo de Sopas, Paseo del Salón 25, 20 - 49 EUR * Modern Cuisine

Terra, Pedro Fernández de Pulgar 6, 20 - 50 EUR * Modern Cuisine
Festivals
The Baptism of the Child: on January 1, of National Tourist Interest. Unique festival that is celebrated around the church of San Miguel with a procession and a "pedrea" of candies.

San Antón: it is celebrated on January 17 in the vicinity of the church of San Miguel.

Festival of Virgen de la Calle (Las Candelas): February 2. Patron saint of the city. In the parish of Nuestra Señora de la Calle, the image of the Virgin, known as "La Morenilla", is venerated and is carried in procession to the Cathedral.

Holy Week: March-April, (first spring full moon) is the most important festival in the Palencia calendar, as it has the distinction of Festival of International Tourist Interest.

Pilgrimage of Santo Toribio: the Sunday closest to April 16, Festival of Regional Tourist Interest. A "pedrea" of bread and cheese is celebrated at the foot of the Cristo del Otero.

Caracolada de San Marcos: held on April 25.

Feria Chica: days around Pentecost. Popular party in Palencia called "chica" because it is the second most important when compared to the San Antolín fairs.

Corpus Christi procession and mass: Sunday closest to Corpus Thursday. The procession and mass are organized by the Penitential Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulcher and the Cathedral Chapter.

Saint John's Day (colloquially "San Juanillo"): June 24. Copatrón de Palencia, a procession is carried out in which the San Juan of the brotherhood of the Holy Sepulcher parades. From its headquarters it reaches the Plaza Mayor. At night the Bonfire of San Juan takes place.

Festivities of San Antolín: patron saint of Palencia, on September 2. There are processions, parades, bullfights. It is the main festival of Palencia.

Procession in honor of San Francisco: after mass, the Brotherhood of San Francisco performs a small parade with the image of the Saint.
Transport and how to get to? By air:
Valladolid Airport is the closest airport to the city at 45 kilometres. There are daily flights to Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Paris, Brussels and other destinations.
By train:
The city also has a busy railway station, given its strategic location as a hub for north and north-west railway connections in Spain. There are several services from Palencia railway station to Valladolid - Campo Grande, Madrid (Chamartín and Príncipe Pío), León, Burgos, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Santander, 3 daily trains to Barcelona Sants, Bilbao - Abando, A Coruña, Santiago, Oviedo and Zaragoza - Delicias, 1 daily train to Albacete - Los Llanos and Alicante.
Distance by car to other main cities of Castile and León and Madrid
Ávila 1 hr 55 min (187 km) via A-6 and A-62

Burgos 59 min (90.0 km) via A-62

León 1 hr 29 min (133 km) via A-231 and CL-615

Salamanca 1 hr 42 min (168 km) via A-62

Segovia 1 hr 43 min (165 km) via A-601

Soria 2 hr 28 min (204 km) via CL-619

Valladolid 49 min (52.9 km) via A-62

Zamora 1 hr 36 min (149 km) via A-11 and A-62

Madrid 2 hr 38 min (260 km) via AP-6 and A-6
Main information
Area: 94 km² (municipality)

Coordinates: 42°01′00″N 4°32′00″W

Population: 77 090

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Palencia and its attractions * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Palencia is a city and municipality in the autonomous community of Castile and León, capital of the province of Palencia, Spain. It is an important industrial center of Castile and León. Tourism and main attractions Civil heritage: Calle Mayor: this is the main street of the city and the center of commercial, administrative and cultural activity in ...

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https://all-andorra.com/leon/

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León is a city and municipality, capital of the province of León, part of the autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain.

León's historical and architectural heritage, as well as the numerous festivals hosted throughout the year (particularly noteworthy are the Easter processions) and its location on the French Way of the Camino de Santiago, which is ranked as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, make it a destination of both domestic and international tourism.
Main attractions Religious architecture
Santa María de Regla de León Cathedral is a Catholic church, the episcopal see of the diocese of León in north-western Spain, consecrated under the name of the Virgin Mary. It was the first monument declared by the Royal Order of Spain on August 28, 1844 (confirmed by the Royal Order on September 24, 1845).

Initiated in the 18th century, it is one of the greatest works of the Gothic style, with French influences. Also known as the Pulchra Leonina, which means 'Beautiful Leonese,' it is located on the Way of Saint James, or Camino de Santiago.

The León Cathedral is mostly known for taking the "dematerialization" of gothic art to the extreme, that is, the reduction of the walls to their minimum expression to be replaced by stained glass, constituting one of the largest collections of medieval stained glass in the world.

The main façade has two towers. The southern tower is known as the 'clock tower'. The Renaissance retrochoir contains alabaster sculptures by Jusquin, Copin of Holland and Juan de Malinas. Particularly noteworthy is the Plateresque iron grillwork screen or reja in the wall behind the sepulchre of King Ordoño.

It has three portals decorated with sculptures situated in the pointed arches between the two towers. The central section has a large rose window. Particularly outstanding is the image of the Virgen Blanca and the Locus Appellatione, where justice was imparted.

The church has nearly 1,800 square meters of stained glass windows. The great majority of them date from the thirteenth to the fifteenth century: a rarity among medieval gothic churches.

The Basílica de San Isidoro de León is a church located on the site of an ancient Roman temple. Its Christian roots can be traced back to the early 10th century when a monastery for Saint John the Baptist was erected on the grounds.

In 1063 the basilica was rededicated to Saint Isidore of Seville. Isidore was archbishop of Seville, and the most celebrated academic and theologian of Visigothic Spain in the period preceding the Arab invasions. With the agreement of Abbad II al-Mu'tadid, the Muslim ruler of Seville, Isidore's relics were brought to Leon where they could be interred on Christian soil. The tomb of the saint still draws many visitors today. An equestrian statue of Saint Isidore dressed as a Moor-slayer is visible, along with many other sculptures, high on the facade.

In 1188, the Cortes of León were held in here. It was the first sample of modern parliamentarism in the history of Europe, according to the UNESCO and John Keane's book "The Life and Death of Democracy".

The Convento de San Marcos is today an operating luxury parador 4stars hotel. It also contains a consecrated church and museum, and is one of the most important monuments of the Renaissance in Spain. It is one of the greatest architectural jewels of León, together with the Cathedral, the Basilica of San Isidoro and la Casa Botines.

It has a highly ornamental plateresque facade. The darkest period in the monastery of San Marcos's five centuries of history is concentrated in just four years. During the course of the Spanish Civil War cells, rooms, stables, cloisters, church, choir, museum and every fast corner of the building were transformed into impromptu dungeons or jailers' offices.

Between July 1936 and the end of 1940, up to 7,000 men and 300 women were imprisoned at the same time. It is estimated that, over the entire war and the period immediately following, the number of Republican militia members and political prisoners that passed through its cells totaled some 20,000. In the province of Leon, around 3,000 deaths are recorded due to the repression, and a good number of these came from the dungeons of San Marcos.

San Juan y San Pedro de Renueva was built in the mid-20th century in Neo-Renaissance style by will of the local bishop, Luis Almarcha Hernández. Its main artistical feature is the entrance gate, in Baroque style, taken from the ruined monastery of San Pedro de Eslonza, located 22 km outside León in the municipality of Gradefes.

It dates from 1711 and was designed by the architect Pedro Martínez de Cardeña. It has three orders, the first characterized by four Ionic columns over pedestals, the second similar to the former, apart the use of Corinthian columns and the narrower length. It is sided by two circular windows, and surmounted by another one over a coat of arms. The façade ha five niches, now empty, but originally housing statues of saints.
Others:
In the historic center we have to highlight the churches of the Palat del Rey, Our Lady of the market and the church of San Marcelo.

The Church of San Salvador de Palat del Rey is the oldest temple in the city of León, it was founded in the 10th century by Ramiro II de León and, as its name suggests, it is the temple of the King's Palat (Palace). Its past as a royal oratory of the Leonese monarchy gives a good account of its own choice of dedication, San Salvador, recalling the Oviedo main temple, or its use as a monarchy pantheon, before the construction of what would be the great Isidorian mausoleum. Few remains of the original pre-Romanesque temple can be seen today, although it has recently been restored and made a museum.

The Church of Our Lady of the Market is a church with a basilica plan in the shape of a sepulcher, being narrower at the foot. It has a Romanesque doorway with a blind arch, two Romanesque apses also decorated with a furnace vault, capitals and impost lines with checkered pattern. The feet of the building are closed with a ribbed vault. The tower is the work of Felipe de Cajiga (1598), having been finished off by Fernando de Compostiza. Of what was the church dedicated to the Roman centurion Marcelo, nothing remains but a Gothic doorway. The current temple is in the Herrerian style, completed at the beginning of the 17th century. From the outside, the square tower of the church stands out, covered with characteristic bricks, which overlooks the Plaza de Santo Domingo.

Other ecclesiastical ensembles of relevance could be the church of San Francisco, the church of San Juan and San Pedro y Renueva and the convent of the concepcionistas.

The church of San Francisco, whose current construction dates back to the second half of the 18th century, built with classical forms and dedicated to San Francisco. It is associated with the Capuchin convent and is located opposite the park to which it gives its name.

The Convent of the Conceptionists, founded in 1512 by Leonor de Quiñones, has a Romanesque façade of the old building and corridors with Mudejar paintings. Its church has a single nave, with a 16th century headboard, the work of Juan del Ribero. Artistic furniture, baroque altarpieces, paintings and goldsmiths are preserved inside.

Special mention should be made of the Neo-Romanesque chapel of Christ of Victory, built at the end of the 19th century by Demetrio de los Ríos, one of the main restorers of the Cathedral of León. The cover imitates the door of Forgiveness of the Basilica of San Isidoro de León. Inside there is a Gothic sculpture of the crucified.
Civil architecture
The Casa Botines (built 1891-1892) is a Modernist building designed by Antoni Gaudí. It currently houses a museum dedicated to Gaudi, Spanish art of the 19th and 20th centuries, and the history of the building itself.

After being built for a fabrics company, it was adapted to serve as the headquarters of a local savings bank (first Caja León, later Caja España).

The Palacio del Conde Luna is a monument from this old 14th-century palace, built by Pedro Suárez de Quiñones and his wife Juana González de Bazán, the central body of the façade is preserved, with three shields, the central one of the Quiñones and the sides of the Bazán. It is built of ashlar stone and is about eleven meters wide. The façade is Gothic with a lintel over modillions, a large pointed arch covers the tympanum, and is framed in wide molding.

The Palacio de los Guzmanes is a Renaissance building; it is the seat of Provincial Government of León.

The architect Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón built the palace in the 16th century, commissioned by the aristocratic family of Guzman, one of the city's powerful and influential families. It is three-story high with square towers at the four corners and is arranged around a two-story courtyard. The façade has a round arches gallery on the top floor.

In "la Plaza de Santo Domingo", the palace stands tall, right next to "la casa de botines" and is one of the prize possessions of "El Casco Viejo (antiguo)" of Leon.

The wall of León is the Roman fortification, whose origin dates back to the 1st century, by the medieval fences or wall, from the 14th century, and by the León castle, today the seat of the provincial historical archive. The walls were built by Legio VI to control the Asturian population of the area and rebuilt by Legio VII in stone in 74 AD. The first draft reform was carried out in the tetraarchic period, still under Roman rule.

The repopulation of the city in the 9th century by the kingdom of Asturias led to the repair of the wall using the methods of the time. The first expansion to the south of the city was carried out due to the increase in the number of villages outside the walls, something that would finally also lead to Alfonso XI having the fences built to protect the new borough.

Main square, located in the heart of the old town, was completed in 1677 according to plans by Francisco del Piñal, following the example of other Spanish main squares, in particular, Madrid. The Consistory building that presides over the square is in the Baroque style and was designed by Francisco del Piñal himself as a balcony for the municipal corporation to preside over the events in the square.

The square was the great commercial center of the city during the Middle Ages and until the 19th century, dedicating itself to the market twice a week and with the existence of all kinds of shops in its arcades, with supremacy of food products, but also drugstores, hardware stores, silver stores, crafts, etc. Today the market in the square continues to exist, held every Wednesday and Saturday.
Museums
The Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León, better known as the MUSAC, is a contemporary art museum inaugurated in April 2005 by Felipe, Prince of Asturias, this cultural institution aims to be a "Museum of the Present", in the words of its curator Agustín Pérez Rubio, and thus only collects artworks from the latest generation of artists, between 1992 and 2012.

The museum has won international prestige for its 21st-century collection and innovative programming, being labelled, for example, as "one of the most astonishingly bold museums to hit the Spanish cultural landscape in years" by The New York Times.

The Museum of León is the oldest in the province and is dedicated to narrate its history through Archeology, Art and Ethnography. Inaugurated in 1869, although founded from the activity of the Provincial Commission of Monuments of León in the context of the nineteenth-century Confiscation, since 2007 it has been located in what is known as the Pallarés Building, in the center of the City. It also has two annexes: the Roman Villa of Navatejera, in the neighboring municipality of Villaquilambre, and the old convent of San Marcos, in the same capital, which is also the historical headquarters of the Museum.

The Museum of the Royal Collegiate Church of San Isidoro stands out for the Pantheon of the Kings, which is called the Sistine Chapel of the Romanesque for its elaborate frescoes. Other relevant pieces are the San Isidoro casket, the Doña Urraca chalice, from the 11th century, the Ivory Chest and the Pantocrator Portapaz, from the same century, and the Limoges Chest, among others.
Cuisine
Within the wide range of Leonese cuisine the following dishes are the most representative: cecina (cured, smoked beef meat), morcilla (a blood sausage), botillo (a dish of meat-stuffed pork intestine), garlic soup, el cocido leonés (a mix of meat with vegetables and chickpeas, served after a vegetable-vermicelli soup) and mantecadas (pastry).

Another very important part of the gastronomy of León are the tapas, which are usually given free with drinks, unlike in the rest of Spain. It is very common to go "de tapas" or "tapear" i.e. to go for a few drinks ("un corto", which is a very small beer, "una caña", which is roughly half a pint of beer or "un vino", a glass of wine) just before lunch but more normally as a light form of dinner.

There are no Michelin list restaurants in the city.
How to get to?
León Airport is located approximately 6 kilometres away from the city centre. It offers mostly domestic flights within the country. Currently two Spanish airlines operate in it: Iberia/Air Nostrum and Air Europa.

Air Nostrum offers flights from and to Barcelona. During the summer months the number of available destinations increases, and flights are also offered from and to Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife, Ibiza, Menorca, Málaga, and Gran Canaria.

León has two railway stations, León railway station on the RENFE line, and León-Matallana on the FEVE lines. There are high-speed services that connect León to Madrid in approximately two hours. Other destinations directly reachable from León are Galicia (to the West), Asturias (to the North) and Valladolid (to the South-East, in the same route as Madrid).
Distance by car to other main cities of Castile and León and Madrid
Madrid 3 hr 29 min (337 km) via A-6

Valladolid 1 hr 46 min (140 km) via N-601

Ávila 2 hr 37 min (264 km) via A-6

Palencia 1 hr 26 min (132 km) via CL-615 and A-231

Burgos 1 hr 43 min (179 km) via A-231

Salamanca 2 hr (205 km) via A-66

Segovia 2 hr 46 min (262 km) via A-601 and N-601

Soria 3 hr 13 min (311 km) via N-234 and A-231

Zamora 1 hr 28 min (142 km) via A-66
Main information
Area: 39 sq. km

GPS coordinates: 42°35′56″N 5°34′01″W

Language: Spanish

Population: 124 028

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1, in summer +2

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León and its historical heritage * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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León is a city and municipality, capital of the province of León, part of the autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain. León's historical and architectural heritage, as well as the numerous festivals hosted throughout the year (particularly noteworthy are the Easter processions) and its location on the French Way of the Camino de Santiago, which ...

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https://all-andorra.com/burgos/

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Burgos is a city of Spain located in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is the capital and most populated municipality of the province of Burgos.

It is situated in the north of the Iberian Peninsula, on the confluence of the Arlanzón river tributaries, at the edge of the central plateau.

Declared in 1964 as Pole of Industrial Promotion and in 1969 as Pole of Industrial Development, the city has grown since then in terms of economic activity. At the regional level, Burgos forms part of an economic axis together with the cities of Valladolid and Palencia.

It has a diverse educational offer led by the University of Burgos, which has more than 8,000 students, which stands out for its research quality and relationship with the business world.

It houses the headquarters of the Superior Court of Justice of Castile and León and the Castilian and Leonese Institute of Language.

It has the largest aviation pilot school in the country.

Burgos is the venue for several international events, such as the iRedes social network congress, and national events such as the ForoBurgos conference, or the Castile and León Fashion walk.

In recent years the city has been immersed in various projects, such as the complete urbanization of the Ferrocarril Boulevard, which, at around 12 km long, is one of the longest avenues in Europe, crossing a large part of the city from east to the west following the redeveloped layout of the eliminated train tracks.

The Cathedral of Burgos is a World Heritage Site.

Burgos was selected as the "Spanish Gastronomy Capital" of 2013. In 2015 it was named "City of Gastronomy" by UNESCO and has been part of the Creative Cities Network since then.

It forms part of the Camino de Santiago.
Tourism and main attractions Religious architecture
The construction of Burgos' Gothic Cathedral began in 1221 and spanned mainly from the 13th to 15th centuries. It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The west front is flanked by towers terminating in octagonal spires covered with open stonework traceries. The middle section, which serves as an entrance, has three alabaster pilasters, the intercolumnar spaces bearing panel-pictures representing the martyrdom of saints. The façade possesses ornate and fantastic surface decoration.

The church of San Gil Abad is a Gothic temple. The church has access from San Gil street and is located next to the Gate of the same name, near the eastern slope of the Castillo hill.

Currently, it is considered a BIC (Well of Cultural Interest) (it was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument belonging to the National Artistic Treasure by decree of June 3, 1931).

It is believed that there was first a hermitage outside the walls dedicated to Saint Bartholomew here. But a pontifical bull of Alexander III, in 1163, already mentions the church of San Gil among the eleven that belonged to the episcopal chair, and it is also included in an act of the University of 1388.

The church of San Esteban is a Catholic temple, no longer worshipped, located in the neighborhood of the same name. Remarkable Gothic construction built essentially between the end of the 13th century and the beginning of the 14th, it currently houses the Altarpiece Museum.

The church of San Nicolás de Bari is a Catholic temple located next to the Camino de Santiago, on Fernán González street, next to the cathedral.

It was built in 1408 on top of another Romanesque temple. It is presided over by one of the most impressive and monumental altarpieces of the Castilian Renaissance art, designed and made in the 15th century by Simón de Colonia and his son Francisco de Colonia.

The church and convent of Nuestra Señora de La Merced constitute a late-Gothic monument from the 15th and 16th centuries located on Calle de la Merced. The temple continues to have a religious use as a parish of the Jesuit Fathers, while the old convent rooms, inhabited by the Mercedarians for more than three centuries, are today integrated into a hotel business.

The church of San Cosme and San Damián is a parish church of Catholic worship, of whose construction there are already reports in the 13th century. Later it undergoes a serious reform in the sixteenth century halfway between the Gothic and the Renaissance.

The Saint John's Monastery is located at one end of the Plaza de San Juan, built in the 11th century and rebuilt on later occasions. It was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1944. It served as a hospital for pilgrims and belonged to the Benedictine order. Fragments of the 15th-century church and the 16th-century chapter house are preserved. Its restoration received the Europa Nostra award in 2017.

It preserves a Renaissance cloister, in which there is a museum that exhibits the works of the Burgos painter Marceliano Santa María.

Miraflores Charterhouse is an Isabelline style charterhouse, or Carthusian monastery of the Order of the Carthusians, built on a hill (known as Miraflores) about three kilometres from the center of Burgos.

Its origin dates back to 1442, when King John II of Castile donated a hunting lodge outside Burgos, which had been erected by his father Henry III of Castile "the Mourner" in 1401, to the Order of the Carthusians for its conversion into a monastery, thus fulfilling his father's wishes, as stated in his will.

A fire in 1452 caused the destruction of the pavilion, and construction of a new building began in 1454. It is this building, which was placed under the patronage of Saint Mary of the Annunciation, which exists today. The construction was commissioned to Juan de Colonia, and was continued after his death by his son, Simón de Colonia, who completed the structure in 1484 at the behest of Queen Isabella I of Castile, surviving daughter of king John II of Castile and queen Isabella of Portugal, whose impressive buried are housed in the monastery.

It is a late-Gothic jewel, and its highlights include the church, whose Isabelline style western facade is decorated with the coats-of-arms of its founders. The monastery consists of a single nave with stellar vault and side chapels, and is topped by a polygonal apse.

The Abbey of Santa María la Real de Las Huelgas is a monastery of Cistercian nuns located approximately 1.5 km west of the city of Burgos. The word huelgas, which usually refers to "labour strikes" in modern Spanish, refers in this case to land which had been left fallow. Historically, the monastery has been the site of many weddings of royal families, both foreign and Spanish, including that of Edward I of England to Eleanor of Castile in 1254, for example. The defensive tower of the Abbey is also the birthplace of King Peter of Castile.

The Archbishop's Palace was built in 1916 in neo-Renaissance style, after having demolished the original medieval one, and located adjacent to the cathedral. Archbishop José Cadena Eleta was commissioned to build it by the architects Julián de Apráiz and Javier de Luque, who opted for a historicist style. Its balconies in the corners, the stained glass windows, the Throne Room, and in general all its interior decoration stand out. It is located between the Paseo de la Audiencia and the cathedral.
Civil architecture
Palace of Castilfale. In front of the door of the Coronería of the cathedral, the house of Los Colonia was built in the second half of the 15th century. On its site, Juan Vallejo began the construction of a palace acquired in 1565 by Andrés de Maluenda.

Although the building, made of stone and brick, as was usual in Burgos domestic architecture, was transformed by its successive owners; the last, in the 20th century, was the Count of Castilfalé.

It was the occasional residence of personalities such as King Ferdinand VII and Napoleon Bonaparte. Ceded by its last owners, the Counts of Castilfalé, to the Burgos City Council in 1969, it was restored and rehabilitated as the Municipal Archives in 1985.

The Palace of the Constables of Castile, popularly known as Casa del Cordón, is a palace from the 15th century that stands in the historic center, presiding over the old Plaza del Mercado Mayor, which was formed by the current Plazas de La Libertad and Santo Domingo de Guzman. Its promoters were Pedro Fernández de Velasco, Constable of Castile, and Countess Mencía de Mendoza y Figueroa, his wife.

The Palacio de la Isla was commissioned to be built in 1883 by the lawyer and banker Juan Muguiro y Casi in the orchard he had acquired on the Paseo de la Isla, with the intention of spending the summer in the city. Its style is romantic with neo-Gothic influences. In 1942, the building was declared a Site of Cultural Interest.

The Casa de Miranda is a Renaissance palace, built in 1545 to serve as the residence of the canon of the cathedral Francisco de Miranda Salón, probably by the architect Juan de Vallejo.

The Burgos Main Theater is a building from the Elizabethan era located at the beginning of the Paseo del Espolón, next to the Provincial Council Palace. Construction began in 1843 by the architect Bernardino Martínez de Velasco, under the direction of Francisco de Angoitia, and it was inaugurated in 1858.

From its inauguration until 1956, it hosted a large number of concerts and shows. In the same building was the so-called Recreation Room. After the reform of 1997, carried out under the direction of the architect José María Pérez González, the building recovered its dance, theater and music activity, managed by the Municipal Institute of Culture of the Burgos City Council.

In the same building there is a library, an exhibition hall and a conference room (the Sala Polisón).

The Burgos Castle is a fortress located on the summit of Cerro del Castillo, elevated 75 m above the level of the city. The first tower was built by Count Diego Porcelos at the time of the Reconquest, in the year 884. As the importance of the defensive site increased, it gave way to a castle and more complex defensive elements.
Museums
Burgos has a total of 10 museums, the newest being the Museum of Human Evolution (the 10th most visited museum in Spain).

Among the most interesting are:

The Museum of Human Evolution was inaugurated on 13 July 2010. Its foundation is based on the archeological site of Atapuerca located 20 km east of Burgos. The Atapuerca site has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It contains several caves, where fossils and stone tools of the earliest known hominids in West Europe have been found, near Atapuerca Mountains.

The Museum of Burgos summarizes the history of the province of Burgos. It has important objects and documents from all the ages, starting from Atapuerca, passing to the Romans and Iberians, and finishing in the contemporary period. These include the traditional sword of El Cid.

The Museum of Medieval Fabrics, located in the Monasterio de las Huelgas Reales, is a museum that houses women's, men's and children's medieval civil clothing from the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries.

Due to the high degree of conservation, the richness of the pieces and their ancient dating, it is considered the most important museum in the world of these characteristics. The Royal Heritage textile curator, Concha Herrero, affirms that it is the only set of perfectly dated medieval civil clothing.

The Altarpiece Museum is installed in the Church of San Esteban, currently without worship, and belongs to the Archbishopric of Burgos. It brings together a collection of altarpieces from the 15th to the 18th century from various towns in the province of Burgos. It also offers a sample of religious goldsmithing.

The Caja de Burgos Contemporary Art Center, also known as CAB de Burgos, is a center dedicated to contemporary art. It is located in the upper part of the historic center, next to the Church of San Esteban.

The CAB opened its doors in November 2003 and since then it has hosted a varied exhibition program that contains samples of the new current artistic trends. In addition to the exhibitions that include artists from the Spanish and international spheres, the center periodically carries out activities and workshops in parallel to bring contemporary artistic creation closer to all audiences.

The Book Museum. Between the Main Square "Plaza Mayor" and the Promenade of the Espolón "Paseo del Espolón," on the side street, Travesía del Mercado nº3, you find the Fadrique de Basilea Book Museum "Museo del Libro Fadrique de Basilea", of the Burgos publisher, Siloé, a cosy museum that shows the history of the book from its first written form to its modern electronic form.
Gastronomy and best restaurants
Burgos province is famous in gastronomy for:

Queso de Burgos, a white cheese which is soft and unctuous (because it is made with whey). Although originally made with sheep's milk, now cow's milk or mixtures are more common. Each rural district produces a minor variation, and the major dairies produce an industrial product that is acceptable for people with sensitive digestion. Its production reaches 35,000 tons annually.

Morcilla de Burgos, a pig's-blood sausage (black pudding), is a staple country food known across the Iberian peninsula. Spiced with onions and herbs its most noticeable content is rice (often mistaken for fat) which makes it one of the lightest and healthiest products of its kind.

There are five Michelin list restaurants in the city:

Blue Gallery, Comuneros de Castilla 19, 23 - 49 EUR * Creative Cuisine

La Fábrica, Briviesca 4, 22 - 70 EUR * Contemporary Cuisine

Cobo Tradición, Plaza de la Libertad 9, 40 - 60 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Alma, General Sanz Pastor 7, 18 - 45 EUR * Contemporary Cuisine

La Favorita, Avellanos 8, 30 - 47 EUR * Traditional Cuisine
Festivals
The city's main festival is San Pedro y San Pablo, on June 29. Every year, for about two weeks, the city celebrates with fireworks, concerts, sports, folklore, games for children, theater and other activities.
Transport and how to get to? By air
Burgos Airport is located only 5 km from the city centre, with daily flights to Barcelona International Airport, and during spring and summer to Palma de Mallorca and Paris Orly.
By train
The city is considered a first-class rail route through which one rail lines circulate, operated by Renfe: Madrid-Hendaye railway. The faster trains use the AVE line between Madrid and Valladolid.
Distance by car to other main cities of Castile and León and Madrid
Ávila 2 hr 35 min (263 km) via A-6 and A-62

Palencia 1 hr 1 min (91.6 km) via A-62

León 1 hr 42 min (180 km) via A-231

Salamanca 2 hr 22 min (244 km) via A-62

Segovia 2 hr 6 min (203 km) via N-110 and A-1

Soria 1 hr 43 min (142 km) via N-234

Valladolid 1 hr 29 min (129 km) via A-62

Zamora 2 hr 15 min (226 km) via A-11 and A-62

Madrid 2 hr 35 min (249 km) via A-1
Main information
Area: 107 km² (municipality)

Coordinates: 42°20′27″N 3°41′59″W

Population: 174 051

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Burgos and its attractions * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Burgos is a city of Spain located in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is the capital and most populated municipality of the province of Burgos. It is situated in the north of the Iberian Peninsula, on the confluence of the Arlanzón river tributaries, at the edge of the central plateau.

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https://all-andorra.com/avila/

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Ávila is a municipality and a city, capital of the province of Ávila, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain.

It is located next to the course of the river Adaja and it is the highest provincial capital in Spain, at 1131 m above sea level, snowfalls are relatively frequent in its urban area during winter. The city has a continental Mediterranean climate with mountainous nuances.

After the Roman foundation and the assimilation of the native Vetonian population of the area - since there are no clear indications of a pre-Roman settlement in the historic center - the city would pass to Visigoth power. Ávila fell, like most of the peninsular territory, under Muslim rule at the beginning of the eighth century, and would not be definitively reconquered by Christian troops until the 11th century. It boomed during the 16th century, only to be plunged into a prolonged crisis and decline until the 19th century, when the construction of the railroad succeeded in boosting economic development.

Distinctly known by its medieval walls, Ávila is sometimes called the Town of Stones and Saints, and it claims that it is one of the towns with the highest number of Romanesque and Gothic churches per capita in Spain.

Ávila was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. The site originally consisted of the walled city and four extra muros churches. The number of churches included in the site has since been increased.

Ávila holds the titles of "Ávila del Rey" - awarded by Alfonso VII -, "Ávila de los Leales" - awarded by Alfonso VIII - and "Ávila de los Caballeros" - awarded by Alfonso X - all of them present on the flag of the city.
Main attractions
The main landmark in the city is the imposing Walls of Ávila (11th-14th centuries), begun in 1090. The enclosed area is 31 hectares with a perimeter of 2,516 metres, 88 blocks of semicircular towers, 2,500 merlons, curtain walls 3 m thick, with an average height of 12 m, and 9 gates.

The walls represent the largest fully illuminated monument in the world. It is possible to walk upon the walls for roughly half their circumference.

The Cathedral of the Saviour is a Catholic church built in the late Romanesque and Gothic architectural traditions.

It was planned as a cathedral-fortress, its apse being one of the turrets of the city walls. It is surrounded by a number of houses or palaces, the most important being: the Palace of the Evening, the Palace of the Infant King, and the Palace of Valderrábanos, which were responsible for the defence of the Puerta de los Leales (The Gate of the Loyal Ones) also known as La Puerta del Peso de la Harina (The Flour Road Gate).

The Basilica de los Santos Hermanos Mártires, Vicente, Sabina y Cristeta, best known as Basilica de San Vicente, is a church - one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture in the country.

The church is built using rock extracted from quarries of the nearby La Colilla. However, as in all the churches of Avila where this rock is described as sandstone, it is in fact decomposed granite. It is attributed to Giral Fruchel, the architect who introduced the Gothic style in Spain from France.

San Vicente is on the Latin cross plan, with a nave and two aisles ending in semicircular apses, with a large transept, ciborium, atrium and a crypt.

The monastery is protected as part of a World Heritage Site, "Old Town of Avila and its extra muros churches"; it is listed as one of ten extra muros churches (that is, outside the walled city) included in the site.

The Convento de San José (Convent of Saint Joseph) is a monastery of Discalced Carmelite nuns. It is situated not far from the center of the city but outside the medieval walls. Saint Teresa of Jesus was the driving force behind the foundation of the monastery, which was built from 1562 onwards. The church (by Francisco de Mora) was only begun in 1607 after Saint Teresa's death. The statue in the facade was commissioned by King Philip III of Spain via artist Giraldo de Merlo.
Museums
The main museum in the city is the Museo de Ávila, inaugurated in 1911. In 1968 it acquired the identity of a Provincial Museum. It has been managed by the Junta de Castilla y León since 1987. The museum has two locations: the Casa de los Deanes, a 16th-century Renaissance palace that functions as the main headquarters, and the Santo Tomé church, originally built in the 12th century which is used as a store that can be visited. The collections are included in three large sections: a representative of the rural culture of the province, another that collects pieces found in Avila territory from prehistory to the 19th century and finally one dedicated exclusively to archaeological pieces found in urban excavations in the city of Avila.

Inside the Cathedral of Ávila, the Cathedral Museum is installed, which houses an exhibition of religious art.

There is also a permanent exhibition in the Convent of the Incarnation, which shows various historical testimonies of Saint Teresa of Jesus as well like various pieces of religious art. It also preserves pieces related to the life and work of Saint John of the Cross.

In the crypt of the Santa Teresa convent there is a museum of Santa Teresa, which exhibits the work and life of the saint, as well as various pieces of religious art.

Inside the Santo Tomás monastery there are several museums, such as Oriental Art and Natural Sciences. The Oriental Art Museum was inaugurated in 1964, is located in the third cloister of the Santo Tomás monastery and houses a varied collection of pieces from Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines and China.

The Natural Sciences Museum houses a collection of specimens zoos that were part of the former cabinet of natural history of the Dominican order of the monastery.

The city also has the Caprotti museum, located in the Palace of Superunda, which houses the work of the Italian painter Guido Caprotti, who has lived in Ávila since 1916.
Cuisine and the best restaurants
Typical dishes of the town and region are "Judías del Barco", "Chuletón de Ávila", "Patatas revolconas" and "Yemas de Santa Teresa". Also worth mentioning is "Hornazo", "Bun stuffed with sausage, bacon, steak and eggs", "Mollejas de ternera" or the "Cochinillo", which can be found in the capital and in Arévalo.

Yemas de Santa Teresa sweet can always be found in the traditional pastry shop "La Flor de Castilla". In the other bakeries in the town it is produced under the name "Yemas de Ávila", or simply "Yemas", produced as its name indicates from egg yolk.

Chuletón de Ávila - a grilled T-bone steak, best cooked rare, which can be enjoyed in any hotel in the town. It is made from Avileña-Negra ibérica, an indigenous black cow known for its excellent meat, whose fame transcends the borders of the province and the country.

There is one Michelin list restaurant in the city:

El Almacén, Carretera de Salamanca 6, 30 - 100 EUR * Traditional Cuisine
How to get to?
The Ávila Railway Station serves the town. The closest airport is Adolfo Suárez in Madrid - Barajas.
Distance by car to other main cities of Castile and León and Madrid
Madrid 1 hr 18 min (109 km) via A-6 and AP-6

Valladolid 1 hr 37 min (120 km) via N-601 and N-403

Burgos 2 hr 38 min (262 km) via A-62 and A-6

Palencia 1 hr 53 min (186 km) via A-62 and A-6

León 2 hr 36 min (264 km) via A-6

Salamanca 1 hr 5 min (109 km) via A-50

Segovia 49 min (64.3 km) via N-110 and AP-51

Soria 3 hr 3 min (254 km) via N-110

Zamora 1 hr 46 min (178 km) via A-66 and A-50
Main information
Area: 231 sq. km (municipality)

Coordinates: 40°39′16″N 4°41′46″W

Population: 58 369

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Ávila - Town of Stones and Saints * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Ávila is a municipality and a city, capital of the province of Ávila, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain. It is located next to the course of the river Adaja and it is the highest provincial capital in Spain, at 1131 m above sea level, snowfalls are relatively frequent in its urban area ...

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https://all-andorra.com/valladolid/

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Valladolid - the capital of Castile and León • All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Valladolid is a city in Spain and the capital of the autonomous community of Castile and León. It has a population of about 300,000 people, making it Spain’s 13th most populous municipality and northwestern Spain’s biggest city.
Valladolid is a major economic center in Spain.
Its strategic position…

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https://all-andorra.com/castile-and-leon/

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Castile and León (Castilla y León) is an autonomous community, Spain, referred to as a "historical and cultural community" in its Statute of Autonomy.

It was established as a pre-autonomy in 1978 and acquired its status as an autonomous community in 1983.

Its territory is located in the northern part of the plateau of the Iberian Peninsula and corresponds mainly to the Spanish part of the Duero hydrographic basin. Castile and León is a landlocked region, bordered by Portugal as well as by the Spanish autonomous communities of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, the Basque Country, La Rioja, Aragon, Castile-La Mancha, the Community of Madrid and Extremadura.

It is made up of nine provinces: Ávila, Burgos, León, Palencia, Salamanca, Segovia, Soria, Valladolid and Zamora. The capital city is Valladolid.

It is the largest autonomous community in Spain in terms of area, covering 94,222 km2.

The heritage of Castile and León includes: 9 World Heritage Sites, almost 1,800 classified assets of cultural interest, 112 historical sites, 400 museums, more than 500 castles, of which 16 are considered to be of high historical value, 12 cathedrals, 1 co-cathedral, and the largest concentration of Romanesque art in the world.

Castilla y León constitutes, together with the Italian region of Lombardy, the region in the world with the most distinguished properties with the maximum figure of protection granted by UNESCO, with a total of 11 properties.

The region is a popular part of the Camino de Santiago and Camino del Cid touristic cultural routes.
Tourism and main attractions
Castilian-Leonese architecture is of great historical importance. Its artistic-architectural heritage leads it to have some world-class ensembles. It stands out in both civil and religious architecture. Within this, numerous cathedrals, monasteries, and churches, of which one of the largest churches of Romanesque style churches in the world stands out, especially in the province of Palencia. The Basilica of San Vicente de Ávila also stands out as an example of Romanesque.

Within military architecture, fortresses such as the one in Segovia stand out. But, without a doubt, the most representative are the castles, whose number is immense in Castilla y León. Land of castles, many stand out for their importance, such as: Ponferrada Castle, Peñafiel Castle, Frías, Fuensaldaña, Simancas, Coca, Ampudia, Enrique II of Trastámara, Cuellar, Los Comuneros and Benavente, among many others.

In addition, Castilla y León has three cities considered World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. They are Avila, Salamanca and Segovia.

The Plaza Mayor of the Charra capital is considered the best representation of the Churrigueresque style.

There is also an important heritage of the Mozarabic style. Examples of these are the numerous Mozarabic churches from the time of the Christian repopulation on both banks of the Duero, such as the monastery of San Miguel de Escalada or the hermitage of San Baudelio de Berlanga. Another example is the Royal Monastery of Santa Clara de Tordesillas.

Within Renaissance architecture, the Palacio de Santa Cruz stands out, the current seat of the rectorate of the University of Valladolid. From the same period, palaces of the Castilian nobility stand out throughout the community.

In Valladolid we can find the palace of Fabio Nelli, today a museum; the Pimentel Palace, the current Valladolid Provincial Council and the place where King Philip II was born, or the Vivero Palace, which served as the headquarters of the former Chancery of Valladolid as well as the place where the Catholic Monarchs signed their marriage agreement.

On the other hand, the Casa de las Conchas in Salamanca introduces Renaissance, Gothic and Plateresque elements. Also notable in this city is the Palacio de Monterrey, Plateresque in style and owned by the House of Alba. Salamanca concentrates several important works of this style, such as the convent of San Esteban.

In Burgos, the Casa del Cordón stands out, and within Elizabethan art, the Cartuja de Miraflores, the greatest exponent of this style. Also of relevance is the Cistercian monastery of Santa María la Real de Las Huelgas, important for its architecture, history and the musical Codex of Las Huelgas.

The Herrerian style is also present in the region. The most representative work of this style within the region is the Ducal Palace of Lerma.
Places to visit (by province in alphabetical order) Ávila province Arévalo - a site of cultural interest Ávila - the capital of the province Bonilla de la Sierra and its Collegiate Church Mombeltrán Castle was erected by Beltrán de la Cueva, first Duke of Albuquerque Burgos province Aranda de Duero and its wineries Briviesca and its attractions Burgos - the capital of the province Caleruega - the birthplace of Saint Dominic Covarrubias - a National Historic-Artistic Site Frías - the smallest city in Spain Lerma - a Historical Complex Miranda de Ebro and its attractions Peñaranda de Duero - a Historical Complex Poza de la Sal - a Historic-Artistic Site Santa María de la Vid - the first Premonstratensian monastery in Spain Santo Domingo de Silos and its monastery León province Astorga - the European birthplace of chocolate Carucedo lake stands out due to the Roman excavations of Las Médulas Castrillo de los Polvazares - a Historic-Artistic Complex Congosto and its Bárcena reservoir Cornatel castle was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1949 León - the capital of the province Molinaseca - a Historic-Artistic Site Monastery of Saint Mary of Carracedo - a National Historical-Artistic monument Monastery of San Pedro de Montes was founded around the year 635 Peñalba de Santiago and its rural architecture Ponferrada and its Templar castle Roman bridge known as Passo Honroso Villafranca del Bierzo - a Historic-Artistic Site Virgen de la Peña Sanctuary dates back to the 13th century Palencia province Aguilar de Campoo - a Historic-Artistic Site Church of San Juan Bautista - the most original church of all the Visigothic art in Spain Frómista and its locks on the Canal of Castile Monastery of Santa María la Real - an old abbey of the Premonstratensian order Palencia - the capital of the province Picos de Europa - the second most visited national park in Spain Salamanca province Béjar - a historical-artistic complex Candelario and its architecture Ciudad Rodrigo - a Historic-Artistic Site Duques de Alba castle dates back to the 12th century La Alberca was the first Spanish town to be declared a Historic-Artistic Site in 1940 Ledesma - a historical-artistic complex Miranda del Castañar - a historical-artistic complex Salamanca - the capital of the province Salamanca car museum and its collection Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de la Peña de Francia - the highest Marian sanctuary in the world Segovia province Ayllón and its main square Coca - the birthplace of Roman Emperor Theodosius I Coca castle - one of the best examples of Spanish Mudejar brickwork Linares reservoir - a part of the Hoces del Río Riaza Natural Park Maderuelo - a historical complex Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso Segovia - the capital of the province Sepúlveda - a historical-artistic complex Soria province Almazán and its attractions El Burgo de Osma - a Historic-Artistic Site La Cuerda del Pozo reservoir and its tourist activities Medinaceli and its castle Monteagudo de las Vicarías and its castle Soria - the capital of the province Santa María la Real de Huerta - a Cistercian monastery Vinuesa and its attractions Valladolid province Castle of La Mota belongs to the School of Valladolid Medina del Campo - the capital of the Rueda Denomination of Origin Tordesillas and its attractions Valladolid - the capital of Castile and León Zamora province Benavente and the Church of Santa María del Azogue Monastery of Santa María de Moreruela - a Cistercian monastery Puebla de Sanabria - a historical complex Sanabria lake - the largest glacial lake in Spain and the Iberian Peninsula Zamora - the capital of the province Transport and how to get to? By air
Castile and León has four airports open to civil use: Valladolid Airport, in the municipality of Villanubla, 10 km from Valladolid, which registers the highest volume of air traffic in the Community and is of mixed civil and military use; León Airport, in the town of La Virgen del Camino, 10 km from León, also for mixed civil-military use; Salamanca Airport, 17 km east of the capital, previously exclusively for charter flights and now with regular flights, and Burgos Airport, in the Villafría neighbourhood, the most recently opened (2008).
By trains
Castile and León has an extensive rail network, including the principal lines from Madrid to Cantabria and Galicia. The line from Paris to Lisbon crosses the region, reaching the Portuguese frontier at Fuentes de Oñoro in Salamanca. Astorga, Burgos, León, Miranda de Ebro, Palencia, Ponferrada, Medina del Campo and Valladolid are all important railway junctions.
Distance by car from the capital of Valladolid to other capital cities of Spain
From Madrid 2 hr 20 min (193 km) via AP-6 and N-601

From Santiago de Compostela 4 hr 17 min (447 km) via A-52

From Oviedo 3 hr 3 min (258 km) via AP-66 and N-601

From Santander 2 hr 44 min (254 km) via A-67

From Vitoria-Gasteiz 2 hr 39 min (243 km) via AP-1 and A-62

From Pamplona 3 hr 31 min (339 km) via A-62

From Zaragoza 4 hr 17 min (427 km) via AP-68

From Barcelona 7 hr 10 min (729 km) via AP-2 and AP-68

From Toledo 2 hr 51 min (257 km) via AP-6 and N-601

From Valencia 5 hr 34 min (547 km) via A-3

From Mérida 3 hr 48 min (396 km) via A-66 and A-62

From Murcia 5 hr 39 min (593 km) via AP-36

From Seville 5 hr 32 min (587 km) via A-66

From Logroño 2 hr 47 min (256 km) via A-62
Gastronomy
The Gastronomy of Castilla y León is widely known for the quality of its wines and meats. Some of its quality brands are known worldwide: its wines, with 9 denominations, among which D.O. Ribera del Duero, D.O. Bierzo, D.O. Bull or D.O. Wheel. Sausages and cured or fresh meats, with 16 Protected Geographical Indications and quality marks, among which are Guijuelo Ham, Castile and León Suckling Pig, Segovia Suckling Pig, León Cecina or Cantimpalos Chorizo.

Some of its typical dishes are: roast suckling lamb, roast suckling pig, garlic soup, hornazo, botillo, Saldaña beans, beans from El Barco de Ávila, beans from La Granja , the hen in pepitoria, or the varieties of blood sausage such as the blood sausage from Burgos, the blood sausage from León or the blood sausage from Aranda.

The province of Soria is a notable producer of black truffles, although it still doesn't have a protected designation of origin or geographical indication for the Soria black truffle. Soria was pointed out by UNESCO as a good example by include the Mediterranean diet in its Representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Various sweets and pastry desserts are also typical, such as the Yemas de Santa Teresa. Depending on the religious calendar (Holy Week, All Saints' Day), there are some or other traditional sweets.

They are traditional style dishes. In many restaurants the wood oven is still used. This has favored an incipient gastronomic tourism in the community.

The traditional Castilian chocolate with churros is also still practiced for breakfast, mainly on Sundays.

Castile and León is the European region with the largest number of recognized quality marks with 7 protected quality marks, the Bierzo region: D.O. Apple Reineta del Bierzo, M.G. Pera Bierzo Conference, M.G. Castaña del Bierzo, I.G.P. Roasted pepper from Bierzo, I.G.P. Botillo del Bierzo, Wine D.O. Bierzo and M.G. Bierzo cherry.
Main information
Area: 94 226 km²

Coordinates: 41°23′00″N 4°27′00″W

Population: 2 394 918

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Castile and León - the largest autonomous community in Spain in terms of area * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Castile and León (Castilla y León) is an autonomous community, Spain, referred to as a "historical and cultural community" in its Statute of Autonomy. It was established as a pre-autonomy in 1978 and acquired its status as an autonomous community in 1983. Its territory is located in the northern part of the plateau of the Iberian Peninsula ...

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https://all-andorra.com/costa-cantabria/

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Costa Cantabria is the tourist name assigned to the coast of Cantabria (Spain), located in the Cantabrian Sea, Atlantic Ocean.

The Cantabrian coast extends along the entire coastline of the homonymous region and is divided by the Costa Vasca in Basque country to the east and the Costa Verde (Green Coast) in Asturias to the west.

The most differentiating thing about the Cantabrian coast with respect to the rest of Spain, with the exception of Galicia, is the presence of estuaries, which give it a more convoluted perimeter; Thus, Cantabria has 1 km of coastline for every 509 km² of surface, while the total for Spain is 1 km for every 126 km².

These estuaries take their own name different from that of their rivers; for example, the Mogro estuary is the mouth of the Pas, and the Cubas estuary that of the Miera.

Cantabrian waters vary between 11ºC in February and 20ºC in August, a small change due to the Gulf Stream, which in winter keeps the waters at a temperature higher than that which would correspond to their latitude.

The prevailing winds in winter are from the Northwest. In general they are not dangerous, except for the southerly wind in the Bay of Santander, which raises large waves. Between June and September galernas occur on occasions, a sudden meteorological phenomenon that is very dangerous for vessels on the high seas.

Along the entire coast, Santander Bay stands out, the largest and safest port between Bordeaux and La Coruña, although its shape has shrunk over the centuries while the nearby Bilbao estuary has widened. Santander Bay is sheltered from all winds except the south wind. A chronicler said that it was "the widest, safest and strongest port (...) of the entire Cantabrian coast and, therefore, one of the five famous ones that Spain has".

Since ancient times there has been evidence of the human presence on the Cantabrian coast. There is evidence already in the Mousterian period, 40,000 years ago, and it is known that in Roman times there were at least the ports of Flaviobriga (Castro Urdiales), Portus Victoriae Iuliobrigensium (Santander), Portus Blendium (Suances) and Portus Vereasueca (San Vicente de la Barquera).

During the Late Middle Ages, the activity of the Brotherhood of the Four Villas stands out, while in the 16th century almost 90% of the ships destined for the Indies and the Pacific were built between Cantabria and the Basque Country. Later, and although shipbuilding fell into disuse in the north of Spain, it continued to be an important task for the bays of Santander and Santoña.

Today Cantabria offers over 220 kilometres of coastline, with more than 90 beaches in fantastic natural settings.
Best resorts (from east to west) Castro-Urdiales - a Historic-Artistic Site Laredo - a Historic-Artistic Site Santander - the capital of Cantabria Comillas - the Spanish royal resort since 19th century San Vicente de la Barquera and its attractions How to get to?
By air:

The region is served by the Seve Ballesteros-Santander Airport (SDR), located four kilometres south of Santander. It is an international airport and the only airport in Cantabria.

By sea:

There are ferry services to Santander from Portsmouth and Plymouth in the United Kingdom and Cork in Ireland, all operated by Brittany Ferries.

By train

Santander railway station serves three million annual passengers. Direct communication with Madrid, Barcelona and many other big cities of Spain.

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Costa Cantabria and its best resorts * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Costa Cantabria is the tourist name assigned to the coast of Cantabria (Spain), located in the Cantabrian Sea, Atlantic Ocean. The Cantabrian coast extends along the entire coastline of the homonymous region and is divided by the Costa Vasca in Basque country to the east and the Costa Verde (Green Coast) in Asturias to the west.

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https://all-andorra.com/santander/

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Santander is a city located in the north of Spain, capital of the autonomous community of Cantabria. It is the most populous city in the autonomous community.

In addition, it is the capital of the metropolitan area of Santander, a conurbation of more than 300,000 inhabitants that extends around the bay of Santander.

The city is an important part on the Costa Cantabria of the Atlantic resorts of Spain.

It is the provincial capital and also the capital of the northernmost autonomous community in Spain and one of the most important cities in the north of the country. The municipality is bounded on the north by the Bay of Biscay, on the east by the bay of the same name, which also surrounds it on the south by the municipality of Camargo and on the west by the municipality of Santa Cruz de Bezana.
Tourism and main attractions
The Royal Palace of the Magdalena is a building located on the Magdalena Peninsula, in front of the island of Mouro, and was built between 1909 and 1911, by popular subscription, to house the Spanish royal family.

Work of the architects Javier González Riancho and Gonzalo Bringas Vega, it is located in the place where the old fort of San Salvador de Hano was, which protected the entrance to the bay. It cost 700,000 pesetas in 1912 and was paid for by the town hall and a large number of local families. It was furnished in 1913, immediately becoming the summer residence of King Alfonso XIII and his family, who regularly occupied it until the proclamation of the Second Republic. In 1914, the stables were designed by González Riancho, which emulate a medieval English town with pointed roofs with steep slopes, exposed wood frames, etc.

In 1977 Juan de Borbón sold the building to the city for 150 million pesetas. In 1982 it was declared a historical-artistic monument. Between 1993 and 1995 it was rehabilitated by the Santander City Council and the Menéndez Pelayo International University.

Today it is considered one of the most emblematic buildings in Santander and is one of the main tourist enclaves of the city.

Santander Cathedral or Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary of Santander is a historical monumental complex built between the end of the 12th century and the 14th century on top of the former Santander Abbey also known as the "Abbey of the Holy Bodies" (Abadía de los Cuerpos Santos), an old monastery dedicated to Saints Emeterius and Celedonius.

The main portal, constructed around 1230, is of special interest, as it contains the first known carved coat of arms showing lions and castles together, after the final unification of Castile and León in the time of Fernando III, whose son, Sancho, was abbot here.

The church was expanded in the 16th and 17th centuries, incorporating new chapels.

In 1754 the diocese of Santander was created, and the collegiate church was transformed into a cathedral by Pope Benedict XIV, as the seat of the new bishop of Santander.

It suffered considerable damage as a result of the enormous dynamite explosion on the steamship Cabo Machichaco in the harbour in 1893. After surviving the Spanish Civil War, it suffered serious damage in the Santander Fire of 1941, and needed extensive reconstruction and repair from 1942 to 1953, when it was reopened. The architects in charge of this task were José Manuel Bringas and Juan José Resines del Castillo.

The respectful restoration performed on the affected parts today permits the appreciation of the architectural qualities of the original monument.

The church is also a basilica of immemorial memory.

The Museum of Prehistory and Archeology of Cantabria is a museum specializing in prehistoric archeology and also has collections from the ancient and medieval world. It is located in the city of Santander, in Cantabria (Spain).

The museum was created in 1926 by the Provincial Council of Santander, which commissioned its direction and development to Jesús Carballo García. Alfonso XIII attended its inauguration. It had its first headquarters in the building of the Instituto de Santander, now the Instituto Santa Clara, moving in 1941 to the ground floor of the Palacio de la Diputación Provincial, where it had remained until a few years ago.

The Botín Center is an art center dependent on the Botín Foundation. The building was designed by the architect Renzo Piano, being inaugurated on June 23, 2017.

The project was promoted by the Botín Foundation, a private heritage foundation created in 1964 by Marcelino Botín Sanz de Sautuola and his wife, María del Carmen Yllera Camino.

The building, made up of two volumes of different sizes supported on columns and partially suspended over the sea, was the work of the Italian architect Renzo Piano, who was awarded the Pritzker Prize in 1998.

The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Santander and Cantabria (MAS) is an art collection founded in 1909, it is the main art museum in the region, with a remarkable collection of paintings and sculptures from the 15th to the 20th centuries, from the Italian, Flemish and Spanish schools (the latter with a significant presence of Cantabrian artists).

Until 2011 it was known as the Municipal Museum of Fine Arts of Santander.

Perhaps the most famous of its works is the portrait that Francisco de Goya painted, around 1814, of King Fernando VII by order of the councilor of the Municipal Council of Santander.

The Riva-Herrera or Pronillo Palace is located in the Pronillo district of the city. The complex made up of the tower, the walls and the monumental complex of the noble house is declared a Cultural Asset. The enclosure, of about 2000 square meters, has the original building, a tower of the Middle Ages called "tower of Pronillo" to which in the sixteenth century was attached a house with a stately tower, manor house, chapel. It is the oldest civil construction in the city.

The Library and House-Museum of Marcelino Menéndez Pelayo is a library of around 42,000 volumes belonged in its lifetime to the famous writer, passed after his death to the city council of Santander by testamentary decision.

Its bibliographic collection consists of 1,032 manuscripts, papers and correspondence from 17 legacies by different authors, and 42,500 printed titles, of which 22 are incunabula (15th century), 124 from the 16th century and 1,225 from the 17th century. The eighteenth century is represented by 2,839 titles and the nineteenth and twentieth by 35,260. To all this should be added 870 titles of periodicals.

The convent of the Madres Clarisas de Santa Cruz is a building declared of Cultural Interest. The convent was inhabited from the beginning by nuns of the Claretian clergy, until in the middle of the 19th century it was transformed into a tobacco factory. With the transfer of production to a new factory in Entrambasaguas in 2002, the building has become obsolete, although it is expected to become the courthouse.

The old Hospital de San Rafael was originally an asylum, hospice and maternity or poor home, to finally become a clinical care center of importance for the city of Santander during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Its foundation in 1791 is linked to the action of Bishop Menéndez de Luarca. With the beginning of the activity of the Casa de Salud Valdecilla, the hospital of San Rafael would close its doors definitively. The Cantabrian Parliament is currently located in the building, on Calle Alta (Cabildo de Arriba neighborhood).

The Eastern Market, also popularly known as Plaza del Este, is an old market currently occupied by various shops and hotels.

The construction of the new Santander market was promoted in 1839 by the mayor of Santander, José María López-Dóriga, designed by the municipal architect Antonio Zabaleta.

This market is considered one of the first examples of "galleries" built in Spain for commercial use.

The seminary of Monte Corbán, formerly a monastery, was built around the hermitage of Santa Catalina de Monte Corbán.

The main baroque façade was built in the 17th century, and at the end of the 18th century the extension works were completed with the new cloister and the main staircase.

Paseo de Pereda is an extensive street located in the city center, it houses a long walk parallel to the pier line, and reaches Puertochico. The whole of Santander Bay can be seen along it.

The church of San Francisco is a Catholic, apostolic and Roman temple, eclectic (mainly Herrerian), located at No. 9 Calle de los Escalantes. It is the work of the Santander architect Javier González Riancho, one of the most prestigious architects in Cantabria, who designed it in the middle of the twentieth century after winning the 1940 project competition, being inaugurated in 1953. It belongs to the bishopric of Santander, and is included in the lists of the artistic-religious patrimony of Cantabria.

Corbanera Castle is a military fortification built in 1874 in the area of Corbanera, La Maruca, in Monte. It was the main defensive element of the line of walls, fortifications and batteries built to protect the city from possible Carlist attacks during the Third Carlist War (1872-1876). It is a monument declared of Cultural Interest.
Festivals
Santander is a city of many festivals and pilgrimages, distributed throughout the various neighborhoods and areas of the city. Mention the existence of many local festivities, such as those of Mendicoague, Perines, etc. The most well-known festivals in Santander and those with the most tourist attraction are the following:

January 5: The procession of the Three Wise Men travels through a small part of the city, from the Palace of Festivals to the Town Hall Square.

The first Sunday in June: Cantabria Children's Day is celebrated in La Magdalena. It is a Festival of Regional Tourist Interest, of exaltation of the native thing, organized by the "Association for the Defense of the Interests of Cantabria" (ADIC), association founded by Miguel Ángel Revilla. This festival includes many other things, an exhibition of aluche (old Cantabrian wrestling) and rural sports such as dairy racing, jumping and cutting logs.

Pentecost Monday: Feast of the Virgin of the Sea.

June 24: The bonfire of San Juan is celebrated in El Sardinero. This festival celebrates the arrival of summer with a large bonfire and a pilgrimage. In other parts of the municipality, bonfires are also made, such as in Albericia and in the Barrio Pesquero.

July 25: Fiestas de Santiago (Fiesta of Regional Tourist Interest).

August 30: Feast of the Holy Martyrs (St. Emeterius and St. Celedonius). Patrons of Santander.

September 15: Feasts of the Virgin of the Good Apparent Patroness of the Diocese of Santander and Cantabria (Feast of Regional Tourist Interest).

Sea Festival: held every four / five years.
Beaches
It has 13 beaches in total:

Virgen del Mar beach

Maruca Beach

Bocal Beach

Rosamunda beach

Mataleñas beach

Molinucos Beach

Beaches of El Sardinero

The First beach

The Second beach

La Concha beach

El Camello beach

Bikini Beach

La Magdalena beach

Los Peligros beach

Cuisine and restaurants
Santander's cuisine is characteristic of Cantabria in that it is based mainly on seafood. Popular shellfish include almejas (clams) and navajas (razor clams); fish include seabream, red mullet, anchovies, seabass and sardines; and squid and cuttlefish are also commonly eaten.

Some typical dishes from the city of Santander are the fried calamari called rabas, double donuts, bean stew called cocido montañés, and seafood dishes ranging from seabass and sardine to products such as morguera.

There are 17 Michelin list restaurants in the city:

El Serbal, Avenida de Manuel García Lago 1, 54 - 78 EUR * Modern Cuisine (one star)

Casona del Judío, Repuente 20, 70 - 82 EUR * Modern Cuisine (one star)

La Hermosa de Alba, Tetuán 34, 25 - 50 EUR * Fusion

La Caseta de Bombas, Gamazo, 35 - 55 EUR * Market Cuisine, Barbecue

Asador Lechazo Aranda, Tetuán 15, 35 - 47 EUR * Meat and Grills

Querida Margarita, Andrés del Río 7, 20 EUR * Fusion, Traditional Cuisine

La Mulata, Andrés del Río 7, 40 - 65 EUR * Seafood

Del Puerto, Hernán Cortés 63, 50 - 90 EUR * Seafood

Casa Lita, Paseo de Pereda 37, Traditional Cuisine

La Bombi, Casimiro Sáinz 15, 50 - 80 EUR * Market Cuisine

Daría, Bonifaz 19, 30 - 45 EUR * Modern Cuisine

Umma, Sol 47, 33 - 45 EUR * Modern Cuisine

Bodega Cigaleña, Daoiz y Velarde 19, 40 - 55 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Cadelo, Santa Lucía 33, 32 - 42 EUR * Modern Cuisine

Cañadío, Gómez Oreña 15, 40 - 55 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Agua Salada, San Simón 2, 35 - 45 EUR * Contemporary Cuisine

Bodega del Riojano, Rio de la Pila 5, 35 - 50 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Shopping
Santander's shopping district is in its centre. The streets around the City Hall - Artigas, Juan Herrera, Burgos and Cubo, for example, are good for everything from clothes to shoes and to sportswear, as are Vargas and San Fernando. For boutiques - the Avenida de Calvo Sotelo.

There are two large commercial centers in Santander, both located a short drive out of town - Valle Real and the well-known Spanish department store El Corte Ingles.
Transport and how to get to? By air:
The city is served by the Seve Ballesteros-Santander Airport (SDR), located four kilometres south of the city centre. It is an international airport and the only airport in Cantabria.
By sea:
There are ferry services to and from Portsmouth and Plymouth in the United Kingdom and Cork in Ireland, all operated by Brittany Ferries.
By train
Santander railway station serves three million annual passengers.
Distance by car to other capital cities of Spain:
From Madrid 4 hr 32 min (455 km) via A-67

From Santiago de Compostela 4 hr 50 min (491 km) via A-8

From Logroño 2 hr 28 min (234 km) via AP-68 and A-8

From Oviedo 2 hr 7 min (194 km) via A-8

From Vitoria-Gasteiz 1 hr 56 min (162 km) via A-8

From Pamplona 2 hr 45 min (253 km) via A-8

From Zaragoza 3 hr 59 min (401 km) via AP-68

From Barcelona 7 hr 6 min (705 km) via AP-2 and AP-68

From Valladolid 2 hr 36 min (248 km) via A-67

From Toledo 5 hr 6 min (522 km) via A-67

From Valencia 7 hr 12 min (710 km) via A-23 and AP-68

From Mérida 6 hr 5 min (637 km) via A-66 and A-67

From Murcia 8 hr 2 min (840 km) via A-1

From Seville 8 hr 15 min (830 km) via A-66
Main information
Area: 36 km²

Coordinates: 43°28′00″N 3°48′00″W

Population: 172 221

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Santander - the capital of Cantabria * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Santander is a city located in the north of Spain, capital of the autonomous community of Cantabria. It is the most populous city in the autonomous community. In addition, it is the capital of the metropolitan area of Santander, a conurbation of more than 300,000 inhabitants that extends around the bay of Santander.

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https://all-andorra.com/cantabria/

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Cantabria is an autonomous community in Spain, defined as a historical community in its Statute of Autonomy.

It limits to the east with the province of Vizcaya (Basque Country), to the south with the provinces of Burgos, León and Palencia (Castile and León), to the west with the Principality of Asturias and to the north with the Cantabrian Sea.

The city of Santander is its capital and most populous municipality, followed by Torrelavega.

It has a strong historical link with the Duchy of Cantabria, the Asturias de Santillana, the Brotherhood of the Four Cities and the province of the Nine Valleys.

Cantabria has archaeological sites from the Upper Paleolithic period, although the first signs of human occupation date from the Lower Paleolithic. The most significant site for cave paintings is that in the cave of Altamira in Santillana del Mar, dating from about 37,000 BC and declared, along with nine other Cantabrian caves in Puente Viesgo, as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

Since 2015, the ways of Camino de Santiago (de la Costa and de Liébana) has been recognized as a World Heritage, a category that includes as individual properties the church of Santa María de la Asunción de Castro-Urdiales, the collegiate church of Santa Juliana de Santillana del Mar, and the monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana. The latter, a holy place of Christianity, is the pilgrimage center of the Lebaniego Jubilee Year due to the papal bull it received in 1512.
Tourism and main attractions
Costa Cantabria is the main tourist destination of the region. The Cantabrian coast extends along the entire coastline of the homonymous region and is divided by the Costa Vasca to the east and the Costa Verde (Green Coast) in Asturias to the west.

Cantabrian waters vary between 11ºC in February and 20ºC in August, a small change due to the Gulf Stream, which in winter keeps the waters at a temperature higher than that which would correspond to their latitude.

Today Cantabria offers over 220 kilometres of coastline, with more than 90 beaches in fantastic natural settings.

The architecture of Cantabria has a long history. In medieval times, artistic individuality was subordinated to ingenuity in civil works. Late Gothic, Plateresque, and Renaissance architecture later played a role in Cantabrian architecture, as did the province's mountain quarries. The contemporary era is dominated by a regional architectural tradition that incorporates diverse influences from around the world.

The traditional mountain architecture of Cantabria, even with its differing local varieties, is a cultural heritage that has been preserved over time. These forms are based on a way of understanding architecture and applied materials, harmony with the Cantabrian environment and climate, and the continuation of ancestral customs.

Within this vernacular architecture, the Cantabrian house stands out as the most traditional and typical. Cantabrian houses range from humble shepherd huts to the palaces and mountain mansions of the rich, from traditional mountain homes to the modest huts of the Pas valley.

The Picos de Europa are a mountainous massif located in the north of Spain that belongs to the central part of the Cantabrian mountain range. Although not very extensive, its proximity to the sea makes it abundant in geographical features of great interest.

Currently, the Picos de Europa National Park is the second most visited national park in Spain, after the Teide National Park (Tenerife).
TOP places to visit Abbey of Santa María de Viaceli Bárcena Mayor and its rural architecture Carmona and its rural architecture Castro-Urdiales - a Historic-Artistic Site Comillas - the Spanish royal resort since 19th century Ebro reservoir - one of the largest reservoirs in Spain Juliobriga - Roman city Laredo - a Historic-Artistic Site Liérganes - a historical-artistic complex Mogrovejo - a Historic Site Picos de Europa - national park Potes - a historic complex Puente Viesgo and its caves Reinosa and its attractions Santander - the capital of Cantabria Santillana del Mar - a Historical-Artistic complex Santo Toribio de Liébana monastery - a National Monument San Vicente de la Barquera and its attractions Torrelavega and its attractions Tudanca - a historic complex Festivities of National Tourist Interest

La Vijanera (Europe's first winter carnival) (first Sunday in January) in Silió.

Sailor Carnival, February 24 in Santoña.

La Folía, Sunday after Holy Week in San Vicente de la Barquera.

Fiestas del Coso Blanco, first Friday of July in Castro-Urdiales.

The Living Passion, Good Friday in Castro-Urdiales.

Mountain Day*, second Sunday in August in Cabezón de la Sal.

Floral Gala, August 20 in Torrelavega.

Battle of flowers, last Friday of August in Laredo.

Campoo Day, last Sunday of September in Reinosa.

Cantabrian Wars, last weekend of August and first weekend of September in Los Corrales de Buelna.

Orujo Festival, second weekend of November in Potes.

Transport and how to get to? By air:
The region is served by the Seve Ballesteros-Santander Airport (SDR), located four kilometres south of the city centre. It is an international airport and the only airport in Cantabria.
By sea:
There are ferry services to and from Portsmouth and Plymouth in the United Kingdom and Cork in Ireland, all operated by Brittany Ferries.
By train
Santander railway station serves three million annual passengers. Direct communication with Madridand many other cities of Spain.
Distance by car then capital of Santander to other capital cities of Spain
From Madrid 4 hr 32 min (455 km) via A-67

From Santiago de Compostela 4 hr 50 min (491 km) via A-8

From Oviedo 2 hr 7 min (194 km) via A-8

From Vitoria-Gasteiz 1 hr 56 min (162 km) via A-8

From Pamplona 2 hr 45 min (253 km) via A-8

From Zaragoza 3 hr 59 min (401 km) via AP-68

From Barcelona 7 hr 6 min (705 km) via AP-2 and AP-68

From Valladolid 2 hr 36 min (248 km) via A-67

From Toledo 5 hr 6 min (522 km) via A-67

From Valencia 7 hr 12 min (710 km) via A-23 and AP-68

From Mérida 6 hr 5 min (637 km) via A-66 and A-67

From Murcia 8 hr 2 min (840 km) via A-1

From Seville 8 hr 15 min (830 km) via A-66

From Logroño 2 hr 31 min (235 km) via A-8 and AP-68
Main information
Area: 5321 km²

Coordinates: 43°20′00″N 4°00′00″W

Population: 582,905

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Cantabria and its attractions * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Cantabria is an autonomous community in Spain, defined as a historical community in its Statute of Autonomy. It limits to the east with the province of Vizcaya (Basque Country), to the south with the provinces of Burgos, León and Palencia (Castile and León), to the west with the Principality of Asturias and to the north with ...

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The Basque Coast and its best resorts • All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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The Basque Coast (Costa Vasca) designates the stretch of coastline of the Cantabrian Sea in Spain between the cities of Bilbao and Biarritz. It is located at the eastern end of the northern coast of Spain and at the southwestern end of the western coast of France, in Biscay and Guipúzcoa (autonomous…

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https://all-andorra.com/bilbao-city/

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Bilbao is a city and a municipality in Spain, Basque country. Located near the northern edge of the Iberian Peninsula, about 16 kilometers south of the Bay of Biscay, near the mouth of several rivers. The city is located in the Basque Mountains, between the large Cantabrian Mountains and the Pyrenees. The Gran Bilbao metropolis' highest point is Ganeta Mountain (689 meters), followed by Pagasarri Mountain (673 meters), both of them are located on the border with the municipality of Alonsotegi.

The Basque country's capital is the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz, and the largest Basque city is Bilbao. It is the largest city in northern Spain, in the province of Bizkaia and in the Basque Country as a whole, as well as the tenth-largest city in Spain.

As of 2021, the population was 346 405 people. More than 1 million inhabitants live in the Gran Bilbao comarca together with 35 municipalities, making it one of the most densely populated agglomerations in northern Spain. Bilbao is the main urban area of the territory called the Basque Country.

Bilbao's main river system is the hydrological artery of the Biscay Sea. The rivers Nervion and Ibaizabal converge in Basauri and form the so-called Estuary of Bilbao.

The city of Bilbao itself, which is part of the Gran Bilbao comarca, is surrounded by the municipalities of Derio, Echevarri (Etxebarri), Galdacano (Galdakao), Lujua (Loiu), Sondica (Sondika) and Zamudio in the north, Arrigorriaga and Basauri in the west, Alonsotegui (Alonsotegi) in the south, Baracaldo (Barakaldo) and Erandio in the east.

Administratively, Bilbao is divided into eight regions (barrutia in the Basque language), which, in turn, are divided into 34 districts (auzoa). Most regions and districts used to be independent municipalities and elizates (forms of local self-government), which were eventually annexed to the city.

Bilbao originally consisted of the Old Town (Casco Viejo) and some houses on the left side of the estuary - now this area is known as Old Bilbao (Bilbao La Vieja).

About 47% of the total number of the Basque autonomous communities' population lives in the metropolis of Bilbao, of which 15% are registered directly in the municipality of Bilbao.

Spanish is the most commonly spoken language in the city, with second place being taken by the Basque language. At least 51% of the population can "speak some Basque", and 29% think that they are fluent in Basque according to Bilbao's city government.

The largest foreign communities in Bilbao are Bolivian and Colombian, consisting of 4,879 and 3,730 people respectively. Other nationalities with more than 1,000 members are Romanians (2,248), Moroccans (2,508), Ecuadorians (1,832), Chinese (1,390), Brazilians (1,273), and Paraguayans (1,204).

The region's economic status is quite high: the Gran Bilbao comarca has a GDP of 30,860 euros per capita, which is higher than the average for Spain and the European Union.

Bilbao has been the Basque Autonomous Community economic center since the Consulate of the Sea creation in the city in the 16th century, mainly due to the city's port through which trade was carried out with the rest of the world. The city experienced a powerful economic recovery in the 19th century, based mainly on the development of the nearby iron mines and the ferrous metallurgy creation, which contributed to the development of maritime navigation and port activities. This ultimately led to the formation of a very important shipbuilding industry.

There are iron ore deposits on the Bay of Biscay coast at the Nervion River mouth. One of the country's oldest and most famous metallurgical plants - Altos Hornos de Vizcaya is located in Bilbao.

Bilbao's main trade with other countries has always been through the port. This first-class commercial port is one of the five best ports in Spain and currently connects Bilbao with 500 ports around the world. The main markets are Russia, Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Scandinavian countries. Bilbao Port is the fourth busiest port in Spain after Algeciras, Barcelona, and Valencia.

Tourism is also actively developing in Bilbao, and a sharp increase in interest in this region was associated with the Guggenheim Museum's opening in 1997. The number of tourists visiting Bilbao has been increasing steadily since then. Tourism brings Bilbao about 300 million euros annually. 31% of all visitors to the Basque Country visit Bilbao - according to this indicator, this city is ahead of San Sebastian. Most tourists come here from Catalonia and Madrid but a significant part of the tourists are French due to Bilbao's proximity to the border with France, followed by the British, Germans, and Italians.

Bilbao is attractive for business tourism, thanks to a modern and well-equipped conference center and the "Euskalduna" concert hall, as well as an exhibition center in the neighboring municipality of Baracaldo.

Most football fans know Athletic de Bilbao club, one of the most successful clubs in the history of Spanish football, and is, therefore a subject of Basque national pride.

The city of Bilbao was awarded the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize in 2010, established by Singapore, together with the Swedish Nobel Academy. The mayor Iñaki Askuna was awarded the prestigious Mayor of the World Award in 2013, which is awarded every two years by The City Mayors Foundation, in recognition of the urban transformation that has been ongoing in the Biscay capital since the 1990s. Bilbao received the "The Urbanism Awards 2018" as the best European city in 2017.
History
The remains of an ancient settlement dating from the 3rd or 2nd century BC were found in the vicinity of Bilbao on the top of Malmasin Mountain. Burials were found in the Artxanda ridge area as well whose age is about 6,000 years. Some researchers believe that Bilbao's ancient settlement could be called Amanun Portus, mentioned by Pliny the Elder, or Flaviobriga described by Claudius Ptolemy.

Bilbao was one of the first cities founded in the 14th century - a period when about three-quarters of all Biscay cities were built one after the other.

Diego Lopez V de Haro is considered to be the founder of Bilbao - he published a city charter in 1300, which was approved by King Ferdinand IV of Castile, and founded a new city on the right bank of the Nervión River. See here more history of Bilbao
Climate
Bilbao's climate is mild, with low pressure, high rainfall (45% of rainy days a year), and less sunshine than in the rest of Spain due to the Bay of Biscay.

The rainiest season in Bilbao is from October to April, with the most rainfall in November. Snow is not a frequent occurrence in Bilbao, although it can be seen on the surrounding mountain's peaks. Hoarfrost occurs about 10 days a year, mainly in the winter months.

The average daily temperature is 19-20 degrees during the year in Bilbao. July is the driest month in the region, but still not really dry compared to the Mediterranean climate standards.

The ocean's proximity also means that the two best seasons (summer and winter) in Bilbao are quite mild, with low temperature fluctuations. The average maximum temperature in the summer months ranges from 25 to 26 degrees, and the average minimum in winter is from 6 to 7 degrees.

The highest sea temperature in Bilbao is 21 degrees in August. The average water temperature is 18 degrees in June, and the sea warms up to 20 degrees in July and September.
Transport
Bilbao Airport is the busiest terminal in the Basque Country and the entire North Coast. Bilbao Airport's passenger flow reached almost 5 million people in 2017. It is located 9 km north of the city, between the Lujua and Sondica municipalities. 15 airlines use the terminal's services, including Iberia, Lufthansa, and TAP Portugal. There are no direct flights from Russia to Bilbao, but there are a lot of connecting flights from Aeroflot, Airfrance, KLM, and Lufthansa.

Some low-cost airlines, such as Ryanair, use Vitoria Airport also, located near the town of Foronda (59 km south of Bilbao). Flights depart all year round to Bergamo and Tenerife from there.

Bilbao Airport opened in 1948 with regular flights to Madrid. A new terminal building was constructed in 2000, designed by the famous Valencia architect Santiago Calatrava. The terminal has a streamlined design with two symmetrical "wings" and a sharp tip in the center, which is especially noticeable from the side. The terminal received the nickname, La Paloma ("Dove") due to this unique shape. The structure is made of white concrete and glass.

There are 2 floors of open bright spaces inside the terminal - there are check-in counters and a departure lounge on the upper floor, there is an arrival hall on the lower one.

There is currently a project to double the size of the existing building. The financial crisis delayed the start of this project unfortunately at least until 2019.

Take the BizkaiBus bus from Bilbao Airport to the "Alameda Recalde 14" stop in the city center. The bus runs every 15 minutes, the travel time is 10 minutes, and the fare is about 3.5 euros.

A train leaves every 20-30 minutes from the Elotxelerri-Loiu station near the airport to the Zazpikaleak-Bilbao (city center); travel time is 16 minutes.

One can reach the center of Bilbao from the airport by taxi in 11 minutes, paying about 30 euros.

Bilbao is an important transportation hub for northern Spain. The city is located on two international roads. The E70 European route follows the Bay of Biscay coast, passing through the cities of Santander and Gijon in the west and Eibar, San Sebastian in the east. The E80 European route connects Bilbao with inland Spain in the south, including Burgos and Salamanca, and continues to Lisbon. The AP-68 (E804) motorway runs south from Bilbao, the main road connecting Bilbao with southern Spain and the Mediterranean coast.

The A-8 toll road connects all regions on the northern coast of Spain. It is known as Autovía del Cantábrico (or Transcantábrica) and connects Bilbao with the regions of Cantabria, Asturias, and Galicia; the road continues from Bilbao to the French border along the AP-8 highway. The route goes through Ribadeo, Gijon, and Santander. The A-8 is the main ring road currently in Gran Bilbao too.

Other roads run parallel to the A-8 and AP-8 motorways through Bilbao, or from Bilbao, for example, the N-634 national road connecting San Sebastian with Santiago de Compostela.

Intercity lines connect Bilbao with Madrid and other cities in northern Spain. There are four railway stations in Bilbao: Bilbao-Abando and Bilbao-La Concordia are owned by Adif state company and operated by the Spanish Renfe railway company, while Bilbao-Atxuri and Zazpikaleak / Casco Viejo are owned by the ETS Basque railway network and are operated by the Eusko Trenbideak Basque company.

Simply put, Euskotren Tranbia operates a tram line, Euskotren Trena operates commuter networks, Euskotren Autobusa operates buses, and Euskotren Kargo operates freight trains.

Renfe operates four commuter lines in a system separate from the metro. Three of them operate under the Cercanías brand, and the fourth line is Renfe Feve. Cercanías go above the ground mainly and over long distances, reaching municipalities outside the metropolis, such as Musques, or even outside the province of Biscay, such as Amurrio. Three lines leave from the Bilbao-Abando railway station and the Renfe Feve line - from Bilbao-Concordia.

Bilbao-Abando station, formerly known as the North Station, is the main railway station of the city, Alvia (Renfe) high-speed trains run along the Iberian track to Madrid and Barcelona, while Cercanías trains leave for the suburbs. Special trains are launched from here to Malaga in summer. There is direct access from the station to the metro and tram, as well as to numerous local and regional bus lines.

The U-shaped main station building, reconstructed in 1948 from reinforced concrete, granite, limestone and brick, consists of 5 floors. The second semicircular building with 12 arches is attached to the main hall. The main attraction of Bilbao-Abando Station is a large stained glass panel above the platform's exit, consisting of 301 glass pieces, 15 meters wide and 10 meters high. The stained glass window depicts a variety of activities typical of the Basque country, as well as symbolic sights such as the Basilica of Begoña.

In 2018, the Ministry of Development and the Bilbao City Hall announced a project that envisages the construction of a completely new Bilbao-Abando station with three underground levels (one for high-speed trains, one for regional and Cercanías trains, and the third one will be the main hall). The station will connect with the new bus station with 13 platforms, as well as with the existing metro station.

There is also the Bilbao Concordia narrow gauge railway station, operated by Renfe Feve in the immediate vicinity of Bilbao Abando. Regular trains leave for the cities of Santander and Leon from here.

The Euskotren Trena Basque company is responsible for regular trains to Bermeo from Bilbao Atxuri Station, as well as to the cities of Durango, Eibar and San Sebastian from Zazpikaleak / Casco Viejo Station.

There are plans to connect Bilbao to the Basque Y high-speed rail network on a European gauge that is being built between the cities of San Sebastian, Vitoria-Gasteiz, and Bilbao by 2023; travel time between these cities will be reduced by half. Basque Y will connect Basque cities with Madrid via Valladolid and France via Irun.

Bus and rail public transport in Bilbao is organized by the Bizkaiko Consortium (Bizkaiko Garraio Partzuergoa), which issues a Barik card - an electronic ticket valid for almost all types of public transport in the metropolitan area of Bilbao and the province of Biscay.

The Bilbao Metro, opened in 1995, consists of a line branching into two - black and orange. The third small line of seven stations was launched in 2017. It will reach the airport in the future. There are interesting metro stations designed by British architect Norman Foster along the line.

Euskotren (abbreviation for "Eusko Tranbia", which means "Basque Tram") operates a tram line under the Euskotren Tranbia brand. The tram runs along narrow-gauge rails along the Nervión River, through the central areas of the city, from the Bilbao-Atxuri Station, connecting areas with important sites such as the Guggenheim Museum and the San Mames Football Stadium. Travel time is about 15 minutes along the entire tram line. All tram stops are equipped with route diagrams and displays indicating current times, temperatures and intervals.

You need to purchase tickets (for one trip, for a day or for a month) in special machines installed at each stop to travel around the city by tram. The ticket price is fixed and not tied to zones. There are also uniform tickets for all types of transport in Biscay - Creditrans - for 5, 10 and 15 euros. They are sold at tram and metro stops, at ATMs and kiosks.

Each 25-meter tram is equipped with air conditioning, has 4 doors on each side, 192 places, including 50 seats, which corresponds to the capacity of about three buses. Entrance openings are located at the same height as the platform which allows passengers with disabilities to get inside safely. Every stop is announced in the tram, and pleasant music is broadcasted during the journey. Many tourists prefer the Bilbao tram rather than the metro, as the trip to Euskotren Tranbia allows you to see the city during the trip. It is convenient to get to the Guggenheim Museum and you can get from the bus station to the railway station and back quickly as well.

The city's bus system is called Bilbobus and has 28 regular bus lines, 8 minibus lines, and 8 night buses, known as the Gautxori ("Night Owl"). Bilbobus network is limited to the city mainly, only a few lines go beyond its borders. The Bizkaibus network with over a hundred lines connects the city with all other municipalities in the metropolitan area, as well as with most cities in the Biscay province and with some in Alava.

A ferry service is provided by the Brittany Ferries French company - the liner leaves from the Bilbao port (municipality of Santurtzi), located 15 km north-west of the city center, and keeps heading for the English city of Portsmouth.
Tourism, museums and main sights
Buildings in Bilbao, representing cultural and artistic value, are made in a variety of architectural styles: gothic and neo-gothic, art deco, modern, and contemporary architecture as in many cities in Spain. The Old Town houses many of the oldest buildings, such as Santiago Cathedral (or Bilbao Cathedral) and San Anton Church (Iglesia de San Antón), depicted on the city's emblem. Most of the Old Town is a pedestrian area during the day. Nearby is one of the most important religious temples of Bisсay - the Basilica of Begoña (or Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Begoña), dedicated to Our Lady of Begonia, the province's patron saint.

Santiago Cathedral (Catedral de Santiago) is the main Roman Catholic church in Bilbao. The temple was originally built in the 14-15th century as the main parish church of the city and was declared a cathedral in 1950 only when the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bilbao was created. Presumably, on the site of the cathedral, long before the founding of Bilbao, there was a small fishing village's ancient church, located on the modern city site.

The temple is dedicated to the Holy Apostle James the Great (in Spanish known as Santiago - the Holy Iago) - largely due to the fact that it is an important point on the route of pilgrims following the Northern branch of the Way of St. James.

The modern cathedral is a mixture of different architectural styles. The main vault and cloister with a magnificent portal belong to the 15th-century Gothic masterpieces. The magnificent 16th-century facade and towers decorated with characteristic Renaissance elements are made in the Renaissance style, and the church bell tower, rebuilt in the 18th-century in the Baroque style, is one of the best examples of this style in the entire Basque Country.

Church of San Anton (Iglesia de San Antón) is dedicated to St. Anthony. It is one of the oldest surviving original buildings in the city. It is depicted on Bilbao city's coat of arms together with the adjacent bridge of the same name. The temple was erected at the end of the 15th century on the site where the warehouse was located for three hundred years. Further excavations revealed that the church stands on the old 11th century Alcazar walls.

This church received many injuries and was closed twice throughout history. San Anton Temple often suffered from floods that destroyed its interior several times due to its proximity to the Nervion River. The last flood occurred in 1983 -the temple interior, doors, and railings were damaged as a result. The church was bombed and suffered from fires during the war, especially during the Carlist War. And although the Church of San Anton was reconstructed several times, it still preserves many typical Gothic elements such as rib vaults and pointed arches.

Basilica of Begoña (Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Begoña), one of Bilbao's main symbols, was built in the 16th-century transitional style from Gothic to Renaissance. The Renaissance façade is complemented by a magnificent main entrance triumphal arch. The basilica's altar is made in a neoclassical style and is of high artistic value.

The basilica suffered from hostilities in different centuries like other churches, extensive cleaning, and restoration work was carried out in 1993-1994, during which the watch dial and the bell were repaired.

Walking along the Casco Viejo, it is difficult to miss or not to notice the Church of St. Nicholas (Iglesia de San Nicolas) - its Spanish-Baroque façade stands out among other historical sites. It was built in the 14th century and restored after the destruction at the end of the 18th century. Its skillfully carved altar is of particular interest to anyone who cares about art and beauty; Juan de Mena made it, alongside the temple's wall paintings.

Bilbao's City Hall (Casa consistorial de Bilbao) is located on the Nervión River's right bank at the Puente del Ayuntamiento bascule bridge, which leads to the central Abando district.

The building was constructed in 1892 by Joaquín Rucoba, on the former site of a convent in the district of Uribarri. It was built in a Baroque style. One of the building's highlights is the Arab Hall, a richly decorated hall in a Neo-Mudéjar style that resembles the decorations found in the Alhambra of Granada. The hall is used for official receptions and weddings.

Joaquin Rucoba is the creator of another important building in Bilbao - the public theater of Arriaga (Teatro Arriaga), built in 1890 in the same neo-baroque style. The theater is located by the river, next to the bridge leading from Casco Viejo to Abando. It is named after Juan Crisóstomo de Arriaga, known in his time as the "Spanish Mozart".

The theatre was rebuilt in 1985 after severe flooding destroyed it in August 1983. Restorers still managed to preserve the original decor and furniture.

There is another theater in Bilbao - Campos Eliseos with a luxurious modernist facade on the other side of the Nervion River in the Abando area. This theater's opening took place in 1902. It was created by the Basque architect Alfredo Acebal and the French decorator Jean Baptiste Darroguy. However, the theater's fate was quite dramatic - it closed several times and gradually deteriorated. The city's government bought the building and authorized restoration work finally in the early 90s. Campos Eliseos reopened its doors in 2010. It is considered to be the most advanced theater in Spain in terms of technology nowadays. If you wish, you can visit it on a free tour during which they will tell about the theater's history and activities.

Abandoibarra, a former industrial area in the north of the Abando district, located next to the Nervion River, began to be updated in the early 1990s. Many symbolic objects were built here, such as the Guggenheim Museum, the Euskalduna Conference Center and Concert Hall, the twin towers of Arata Isozaki, the Iberdrola Skyscraper, and the Azkuna Zentroa multi-purpose venue.

Not far from the Guggenheim Museum there is Euskalduna Conference Center and a Concert Hall (Palacio Euskalduna) - the creations of architects Federico Soriano and Dolores Palacios. It began to be built in 1994 and opened five years later, in February 1999. Euskalduna is a multifunctional cultural and business center where the top-class conferences and congresses are held, performances of the opera house are given, and a magnificent concert hall hosts world-class stars. Euskalduna was recognized as the best congress center in the world by the International Congress Association in 2003.

Euskalduna organizes and hosts a wide range of activities, including cultural, political, business, academic and social events. The main auditorium in the building has 2,164 seats and can host theatre, ballet, concerts, and opera. The Euskalduna centre has two restaurants. One of them, Etxanobe, is a Michelin-starred restaurant.

There is the Iberdrola Tower (Torre Iberdrola) in the vicinity, designed by Argentinean architect César Pelli. It has been the tallest skyscraper in the Basque Country (165 meters) since its completion in 2011.

Isozaki Atea is located on the Nervion River's left bank, near the Zubizuri footbridge. Its name means Isozaki Gate in Basque - a complex of seven buildings: two glass modern 83-meter twin skyscrapers (Isozaki Towers) and five 6-8-story buildings. The complex was designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki. The 23-story Isozaki Towers are the tallest residential buildings not only in Bilbao but throughout the Basque Country. The first two floors are used for mixed-commercial purposes, and the remaining floors are residential.

One example of de-industrialization and the transformation of industrial zones into public ones is the wine warehouse (alhóndiga), built in 1909 and completely transformed in 2010 by French designer Philippe Starck in collaboration with Thibaut Mathieu, into Azkuna Zentroa (Azkuna Center) multi-purpose venue. The Azkuna multifunctional center (the old name is Alhondiga), in which one can spend all day, is located in the Abando district center and consists of an 8-hall multiplex, a fitness center, a library, a pool, exhibition and concert halls, shops and a restaurant. The pool located on the 4th floor is fascinating as the complex's visitors can see people swimming there over their heads.

Another example of the transformation of industrial and undeveloped city areas is Zorrotzaurre, an artificial island located in the Deusto district, in the northwest of Bilbao. It was first formed as a peninsula in the 50-60s when a canal was built to facilitate navigation along the Bilbao estuary. Zorrotzaurre became a zone of industrial and social decline caused by the economic crisis in the 70s.

A project was approved to upgrade the area in accordance with residential and business needs and a large-scale plan developed by British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid in 2012. The canal was fully opened on 8 October 2018, finally turning the former peninsula into an island as part of the plan.

Frank Gehry Bridge (Puente Frank Gehry) connects the Deusto area with the Zorrotzaurri island. Its name is a tribute to the Canadian-born American architect Frank Gehry, creator of the Guggenheim Museum. The length of this four-lane bridge is 75 m, the width is 28 m; there are sidewalks for pedestrians and bike paths on both sides. This is the first bridge in Bilbao using exclusively LED lighting.

Bilbao captivates visitors not only with its history but also with the spirit of freedom and ancient churches in general. There are as many as 17 bridges thrown within the city across the banks of the Nervion River, which passes through Bilbao and flows into the Bay of Biscay; each bridge has its own peculiarity and history. Among the most interesting bridges are Zubizuri, which in Basque means "White Bridge" - a spectacular suspension footbridge created by Santiago Calatrava and opened in 1997, as well as the Princes of Spain Bridge, also known as "La Salve" - cable bridge of 1972, transformed by French conceptual artist Daniel Buren in 2007. The Guggenheim Museum was built right under the La Salve bridge, literally integrating the bridge into the museum's structure.

The bridge's unusual design consists of a curved walkway which is supported by steel suspension cables from an overhead arch. The structure of the bridge is painted white and the bridge deck consists of translucent glass bricks. One should walk on the bridge with caution in wet weather as the glass blocks become quite slippery.

Alberto and Sylvester Palacio (brothers) built between 1890 and 1893 the world's first transporter bridge or flying ferry (Vizcaya Bridge) on the Nervion River between the municipalities of Gran Bilbao Portugalete and Getxo. The bridge is currently in operation, transporting several dozen people and six cars from one bank to another on its gondola in 1.5 minutes.

The Deusto Bascula Bridge was designed following the example of the Michigan Avenue Bridge in Chicago and opened in 1936.

The San Anton Bridge (Puente de San Antón), located next to the Church of San Anton, is the oldest bridge in the city, being open since 1318. It has great historical significance - in the Middle Ages merchants used this bridge to transport goods from Biscay to Castile since San Anton was the only bridge over the river after its construction for centuries. This medieval arched bridge connects Bilbao La Vieja and Casco Viejo (Old Town) districts. The bridge was repaired and rebuilt several times. The last reconstruction dates back to 1937. The San Anton Bridge is one of Bilbao's emblems and is depicted on the city's coat of arms. The bridge represents an amazing architectural composition together with the church of San Anton, especially if you make photos from the river.

Bilbao's main square is located in the very center of the city, in the Abando area - it is called Moyúa Square or Elliptic square. The square was conceived in 1876 as a central hub in the middle of Gran Via de Don Diego Lopez de Haro Avenue, from where the main eight streets would diverge. The square was called Elliptical because of its shape. In the 1940s, the square was restored, after which it took its current shape, with a fountain in the center and several English and French gardens, and was renamed in honor of the former mayor of the city, Federico Moyúa.

Chavarri Palace (Palacio Chávarri) built in the Flemish style is the most notable and outstanding building in Moyua Square. It was built in the early 20th century and its style resembles the palaces built during the Renaissance period in Antwerp or Bruges. One of the most interesting features of the buildings is that none of the sets of windows is the same as any other. The palace accommodates the Government of Spain in the province of Biscay.

There is another neoclassical square significant for the city - New Square (Plaza Nueva or Plaza Barria) in the Casco Viejo district not far from Arriaga Theater. Its name comes from the previously existing Plaza Vieja or Old Square. The square built in 1821 is enclosed by arcaded buildings and accessed by arches known as cuevas (caves).

The main building was the site of the Biscay government until a new palace was built in 1890. The place is now the site of Euskaltzaindia, the Basque language Royal Academy.

The arches are home to many traditional taverns and restaurants, some of the most ancient and typical of the city, and some gift and souvenir shops.

Each Sunday, New Square provides space for a traditional flea market where ancient books, coins, stamps, birds, and flowers are sold. City guests will appreciate the opportunity to use the free Wi-Fi Internet access in the square in addition to all this.

Bilbao has a traditional market. La Ribera Market is located near the Old Town and the Church of San Anton, on the Nervion River's right bank. Its area of 10,000 square meters makes it the largest indoor market in Europe. The market trades mainly in fresh products: meat, fish, seafood, vegetables, fruits, and greens. Part of the market is given to local farmers. A market was located in this place back in the 14th century but the current building was erected in 1929 in the then fashionable art deco style. The market has beautiful large stained glass windows, and its internal open space is filled with natural light thanks to this style.

Speaking about vivid examples of modern architecture in Bilbao, one cannot fail to mention the amazing Osakidetza prism house, located in the city center. Architect Juan Coll-Barreu designed it and the building was finished in 2008.

The unusual transparent building, with a multifaceted dynamic facade, is quite functional. It houses the Basque Department of Health now.

One can highlight the "Bilbao Arena" and the "San Mames" stadium as the significant sports facilities in Bilbao. The covered "Bilbao Arena" central hall can hold up to 10 thousand people for basketball games. This is the local Bilbao Basketball Club's home. The facilities also include swimming pools and gymnasiums for the local residents use, and the central hall is also used for concerts and other kinds of shows.

San Mames stadium is also called the Nuevo (New) San Mames stadium, as it was built in 2010-2013 instead of the old stadium of the same name, which has been the home arena of the Athletic Bilbao football club since 1913. The new stadium project designer is the Basque architect Cesar Azkarate. The stadium has an original facade made of glass panels in the form of scales located between the rows of a metal structure; the facade is highlighted at night like the Munich Alliance Arena. The new San Mame stadium accommodates 53,332 people.

Bilbao has more than a dozen museums spanning a range of areas, including art, science and sport, which have played a central role in calling Bilbao one of the most creative cities in the world. However, the most famous and iconic museum that made Bilbao a famous and popular city for the whole world is the Guggenheim Museum, one of the largest in Spain. This kind of mecca of contemporary art is one of several museums owned by the Solomon Guggenheim Foundation.

The Guggenheim Museum was built on the site of an old dock and a wooden warehouse, next to the Nervion River. The creator was Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry. The museum was inaugurated on October 18th, 1997 by the King of Spain, Juan Carlos I.

This outstanding modern architecture is rightfully considered one of the most important buildings in the world that appeared after 1980. The Guggenheim Museum received the title of the most impressive building, made in the style of deconstructivism almost immediately after its opening; it is still known as a 20th-century masterpiece. The futuristic building has become a model and inspiration for other similar buildings around the world.

The unusually shaped museum, created from glass, stone, and titanium, organically and extremely successfully fits into the city's landscape, occupying 32.5 thousand square meters. Lined with sheets of titanium, it looks most impressive from the riverside. A huge 13-meter flower sculpture "Puppy" by Jeff Koons and a giant metal spider by Louise Bourgeois, the size of a 3-storey building, are installed near the museum.

Most of the museum's exhibits belong to the permanent Guggenheim collection, but the museum itself bought a number of paintings by artists such as Clyfford Still, Mark Rothko, Willem de Kooning, and also commissioned new works to Richard Serra, Jenny Holzer, Francesco Clemente, and Anselm Kiefer. In addition, the museum houses large-scale work, contemporary artists' works, and installations, tied to a specific site, including Basque and Spanish.

It is worth noting that the traditional paintings and sculptures are in the minority in the museum, compared with installations and various electronic forms. The collections mainly feature avant-garde art, 20th-century abstraction, and pointless art. The highlight of the museum's collection and its only permanent exhibit is Richard Serra's The Matter of Time, including his early work "Snake", a series of twisted ellipses made of weathered steel, housed in the 130-meter Arcelor Gallery.

Among the contemporary art exhibits in other areas, it should be noted that there are works in cubism, expressionism, pop art, and conceptual art style. You can see the works of Miro, Kandinsky, Malevich, Picasso, and many other of the 20th century geniuses here.

The temporary museum exhibits often change; various thematic exhibitions focused on different countries' art are regularly held, for example, expositions of Russian or Chinese art.

When you leave the Guggenheim Museum, do not forget to take a ride on the funicular near the museum. The funicular was opened in the 19th century and functions perfectly today. It will take you in three minutes to the very top of Artxanda Mountain, where there is a relaxation area, restaurants, a sports complex and a balcony with panoramic views, from where you can enjoy breathtaking views of Bilbao and the surrounding area.

The Bilbao Museum of Fine Arts (Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao), located in the Doña Casilda Iturrizar Park and founded in 1908, contains an impressive collection of Spanish and European art from the 12th century to the present day. The collection is divided into five main sections: ancient art, classical art, modern art, Basque art, work on paper and applied art. It is the second-largest and most visited museum in the Basque Country, after the Guggenheim Museum, and one of the richest Spanish museums outside of Madrid.

The museum changed locations several times before it was finally housed in the current large neoclassical building in 1945. The building expanded in 1970 and 2001 due to the growth of the museum's collection. Today the museum has a total area of 13,914 m2, of which 5,089 are distributed in 33 rooms for the permanent collection, temporary exhibitions in 1142 and the rest in domestic and visitor's services. The museum's collection currently boasts more than ten thousand works including 1,500 paintings, 400 sculptures, more than 6,500 works on paper and 1,000 pieces of applied art.

The collection of the period until the 20th century is concentrated mainly around famous Spanish artists such as El Greco, Francisco de Zurbaran, Bartolome Esteban Murillo, and Francisco Goya. Of particular interest are the Flemish and Dutch schools of painting with the famous works of Anthony van Dyck, Mabuse, Benson, Coecke van Aelst, Mandyn, Hans Vredeman de Vries, Marten De Vos, Jordaens, Grebber, and Ruisdael.

The museum exhibits one of the best collections of Basque art with works created from the 19th century to the present. Contemporary art connoisseurs can be attracted by the avant-garde collection, from the post-impressionism of Paul Gauguin to pop art and expressionism of Francis Bacon.

Among the many works on paper, it is worth mentioning the graphics and engravings of Albrecht Dürer, Van Mekenem, Georg Pencz, Goltzius, Rembrandt, Sandrart, Piranesi, Goya, Fortuny, Carlos de Haes, Cezanne, Picasso, Duchamp, Lipchitz, Hokusai, Rouault, Hockney, Allen Jones, Immendorff, Bacon, Antonio Saura, and others.
The Basque Archaeological Museum (Arkeologi Museoa) holds important collections related to the region's background, as well as ethnographic exhibits. The museum is located in the Casco Viejo quarter, and the museum building, designed in a classical style, is included on the Conjunto histórico Spanish National Heritage List.

A collection representing the period from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages is on the museum's ground floor. You can see part of the prehistoric Basque fishing boat here too. The second floor is occupied by exhibits relating to the period from the Middle Ages to the present day.

Most of the museum's extensive collection (more than 2 thousand exhibits) was discovered during excavations on the Bay of Biscay coast and other Basque Country territories. In general, the Archaeological Museum often hosts exhibitions on the Basque people's history.

If you are interested in the Basque people's history, their traditions, culture, and everyday life, then we recommend visiting the Basque Museum (Euskal Museoa Bilbao or Museo Vasco) in Casco Viejo. The Basque nationality is still considered largely mysterious for scholars studying the Basque history and language, which, incidentally, is not similar to any language or dialect and is not related to any language group. The museum is housed in a former 17th-century Jesuit school. Dwelling and boat models, furniture, household items, ceramics, tableware, artisanal machine tools, and textiles presented in the exhibition belong to different historical eras.

Bilbao's Old Town also houses the Diocesan Museum of Religious Art (Eleiz Museoa), and the Maritime Museum (Bilboko Itsas Museoa), which houses ships and other important exhibits related to the history and culture of fishing and shipbuilding in the region, and is located on the Nervion river bank. The most important Maritime Museum exhibit is an exact replica of a 17th-century consular Basque ship built from preserved paintings. You can go up, inspect the main premises on ships located outside at the shipyard docks, stand in the captain's bridge.
Football in Bilbao
Football in Bilbao is a national treasure. Athletic Bilbao is a Spanish professional football club, founded in 1898. Included in the list of three Spanish clubs that have never left top Spanish division.
Bilbao's gastronomy and restaurants
Most of Bilbao's traditional dishes are based on seafood and fish, such as European eel and Atlantic cod. For the most part, Bilbao is characterized by general Biscay gastronomy, which includes dishes such as bacalao al pil pil (codfish cooked with olive oil, garlic, and guindilla hot pepper), bacalao a la vizcaína (salted cod with biscay sauce, with choricero pepper and onion), merluza en salsa verde (hake fish with green sauce), chipirones en su tinta (squid served in its own ink), revuelto de perretxikos (omelet with mushrooms).

Canutillos de Bilbao (puff pastries with cream or chocolate), pantxineta (puff pastries with cream and almonds), rice cakes, and bollos de mantequilla (cream buns) are very popular desserts.

Pantxineta is the most typical and popular Basque Country dessert. It consists of a puff-pastry bun filled with thick custard cream; it is topped with almonds and often decorated with icing sugar. It is usually served warm, either reheated or, whenever possible, straight out of the baking oven. Sometimes it is served along with hot chocolate syrup, which is poured on top of the pastry.

As in other Basque cities, Bilbao's cuisine is known for a wide variety of snacks, among which the most typical and traditional are pinchos (pintxo in Basque). They are served usually in bars and consist of small pieces of bread, on which a specific snack is placed: seafood, fish, vegetable combinations, potato tortilla, etc. Unlike tapas, pinchos are ordered as a separate dish, and not served with a drink.

Other snacks include rabas (squid rings in batter, fried in oil, usually served with lemon slices), Spanish tortilla (omelet with eggs and potatoes, where onions and peppers are added sometimes), txampis (stuffed mushrooms), triángulos (traditional Bilbaon triangle sandwiches), gildas (one or more olives, guindilla peppers, and anchovies, all joined together with a toothpick).

If we talk about drinks, then chakoli (txakoli), a slightly sparkling, very dry white wine, usually drunk as an aperitif, is typical in the region. Biscay Chakoli (Bizkaiko Txakolina) served in Bilbao is a protected brand of white wine produced in the province of Biscay. Cider, pacharan (patxaran) - liquor with the aroma of thorns, and Rioja wine are also popular in Bilbao.

Bilbao has a lot of good bars and restaurants serving all the above-mentioned dishes and drinks. There are especially a lot of pleasant and colorful establishments in the Old Town area.

There is an interesting and popular phenomenon in Bilbao and other Biscay cities which is known as chokos (txokos) - closed gastronomic societies where people get together to cook, experiment with new ways of cooking, eat and communicate.

The development of Txokos has had a significant impact on Basque cuisine. Many traditional dishes that have almost disappeared have been saved or revived thanks to chokos. It has also brought a lot to the Bilbao gastronomy, as members of these closed communities often experiment with new dishes, ingredients, and cooking methods, and experience different versions of existing dishes. People exchange information in chokos on where to get the best quality and cheapest ingredients too. All this, in turn, led to the fact that the Basque cuisine is very sophisticated, but at the same time quite affordable.

There are 20 Michelin list restaurants in the city:

Mina, Muelle Marzana, 100 - 130 EUR * Creative cuisine, Seasonal Cuisine (one star)

Ola Martín Berasategui, De la Ribera 13, 65 - 125 EUR * Contemporary Cuisine, Traditional Cuisine (one star)

Zortziko, Alameda de Mazarredo 17, 70 - 99 EUR * Contemporary Cuisine (one star)

Etxanobe Atelier, Juan de Ajuriaguerra 8, 125 - 150 EUR * Creative Cuisine (one star)

Nerua Guggenheim Bilbao, Avenida de Abandoibarra 2, 45 - 80 EUR * Creative Cuisine (one star)

Zarate, Licenciado Poza 65, 60 - 105 EUR * Seafood, Traditional Cuisine (one star)

Gure-Toki, Plaza Nueva 12, 3 - 9 EUR * Basque, Seasonal Cuisine

Los Fueros, De los Fueros 6, 30 - 60 EUR * Basque Cuisine

Patri Martin Berasategui, De la Ribera 13, 40 - 55 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Bascook, Barroeta Aldamar 8, 35 - 83 EUR * Modern Cuisine

Aitor Rauleaga, Colón de Larreátegui 9, 60 - 80 EUR * Basque Cuisine

KUMA, Ercilla 8, 60 - 90 EUR * Japanese Cuisine

La Despensa del Etxanobe, Juan de Ajuriaguerra 8, 55 - 105 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

De Santa Rosalía, Diputación 8, 40 - 65 EUR * Meats and Grills, Traditional Cuisine

Kimtxu, Henao 17, 25 - 42 EUR * Fusion

Yandiola, Plaza Arriquibar 4, 50 - 65 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Txirene, Poza Lizentziatuaren 26, 40 - 55 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Aizian, Lehendakari Leizaola 29, 52 - 85 EUR * Modern Cuisine

La Escuela, Carretera Enekuri-Artxanda, 18 - 35 EUR * Contemporary Cuisine, Basque Cuisine

San Mamés Jatexea, Raimundo Pérez Lezama, 38 - 80 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Shopping
Bilbao offers visitors a wide selection of products, from international brands to boutiques with unique collections.

The main shopping areas are on Plaza Moyúa, the Casco Viejo and the Gran Vía. Plaza Moyúa is a good place to find high-end brands, while Casco Viejo, the old town of Bilbao, is full of small boutiques and art galleries. You will also find many large boutiques along Gran Via.
Main information
Area: 41.3 sq. km

Coordinates: 43 ° 15′25 ″ N 2 ° 55′25 ″ E

Population: 345,800

Languages: Spanish, Basque

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Bilbao - the most visited city of the Basque Country * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Bilbao is a city and a municipality in Spain, Basque country. Located near the northern edge of the Iberian Peninsula, about 16 kilometers south of the Bay of Biscay, near the mouth of several rivers. The city is located in the Basque Mountains, between the large Cantabrian Mountains and the Pyrenees.

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San Sebastian - Spanish royal resort • All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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San Sebastián (or Donostia in Basque) is a coastal city and municipality, the capital of the Gipuzkoa province, and is located in the Basque Autonomous Community, in northern Spain. The city is located on the southern coast of the Bay of Biscay, 20 km from France. The population of San Sebastian’s m…

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Vitoria (in Basque: Gasteiz, and officially Vitoria-Gasteiz) is a city and municipality, capital of the province of Álava and official seat of Parliament and Government of the autonomous community of the Basque Country, in Spain. It is considered the de facto capital of the Basque Country for being the seat of common institutions.

In 2012 it was European Green Capital.

Nestled at the crossroads, it has been an important strategic point throughout history, both military, commercial, cultural. Since Roman times, when the road that linked and Bordeaux (Ab Asturica Burdigalam), passed through Álava, these lands have not ceased to be a hub of communications between the Central Plateau and Europe. It is a city with an intense history that manifests itself in a valuable monumental heritage.

The city bears the title of "very noble and very loyal."
Tourism and main attractions Religious heritage
The Cathedral of Santa María de Vitoria is a Gothic-style, Roman Catholic cathedral declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 1931.

Construction of the cathedral of Santa María in Gothic-style began in the late 13th century and continued throughout the 14th century. It was conceived as a fortress church, with great volume and enclosed appearance, being part of the city's defences.

Between 1496 and 1861, the building operated as a collegiate church, and it was that year when it was declared a cathedral. It has a Latin-cross plan, with a wide transept crossing and circular apse containing several chapels.

The facade's portals are richly decorated with sculptures. The western portico is masterwork consisting of three portals: the central one consecrated to the Virgin, the left one dedicated to San Gil and the right one to the Final Judgement and Saint James.

Nowadays it is being restored within the project of the Santa Maria Cathedral Foundation, which manages guided tours and is in charge of restoration works.

The Cathedral of María Inmaculada de Vitoria, usually known as "The new Cathedral" is a Neogothic-style, Roman Catholic cathedral, built in the first half of the 20th century.

The building, of imposing proportions, has 5 longitudinal naves, main and four side, a cruise of three naves, an apse aisle with two naves with seven apsidal chapels, a porch, a crypt and a sacristy. With 118 meters apse portico, it is 62 meters wide between the two end walls of the transept and 35 meters high on the cruise, is the second largest church in Spain after the Cathedral of Seville. Its Latin cross is reminiscent of the Chartres Cathedral and covers an area of 5,750 square meters and can shelter inside 150,000 people.

Church of San Pedro Apostol - Gothic temple from the 14th century. The Old Portico stands out, with a set of reliefs with scenes from the lives of Saint Peter and the Virgin Mary, under which are the images of the Virgin and the apostles.

Inside, at the head, there are several valuable tombs. The tower is baroque, with a 17th-century nave and an 18th-century spire, the work of Valerio de Ascorbe, very similar to the tower of the nearby church of San Miguel Arcángel. Between 1892 and 1896 it underwent a restoration of which the Neo-Gothic portico on the south side is preserved, the work of the Vitorian architect Fausto Íñiguez de Betolaza.

The stained glass windows, made in Bordeaux by the Dagrant house, were placed between 1861 and 1901. The temple is located next to the Canton de la Soledad, a steep street that has modern mechanical ramps that facilitate access to the highest part of the Medieval town.

Church of San Miguel Arcángel - Gothic-Renaissance temple from the 14th to 16th centuries in whose porch is the image of the Virgen Blanca, patron saint of the city. Main altarpiece by Gregorio Fernández. It was built at the end of the 14th century on the southern slope of the hill of primitive Vitoria, outside its walls and the San Bartolomé gate.

The church overlooks Calle Mateo Moraza and dominates the squares of the Virgen Blanca and General Loma, vital centers of the city, and its mostly Gothic bill contrasts with the set of neoclassical constructions that run at its feet. Object of Cultural Interest (BIC), it is also a National Historic-Artistic Monument since 1995.

Church of San Vicente Martir - late Gothic temple from the 15th and 16th centuries. The temple was built on one of the fortresses of Vitoria from the time of King Sancho VI of Navarre. Since the 13th century there would have been a temple on the site of small dimensions that was demolished to make way for the new church. Object of Cultural Interest (BIC), it is also a National Historic-Artistic Monument since 1984.

The Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de Estíbaliz is a sanctuary located in Argandoña within the municipality of Vitoria-Gasteiz. It is surrounded with green forests and it has the view of the entire province as it is located in a small hill 9 km away from the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz. Here stands the patroness of Álava. It was declared Bien de Interés Cultural in 1931.

The site and the Lady of Estibaliz are first attested on a 962 Navarrese royal charter. The present-day sanctuary was built in the 11th century, and it is a true jewel of Romanesque art. In 1138 it was donated to the benedictine monks of Nájera, who preserved it until 1431 when they sold it to lord Fernán Pérez de Ayala, son of the famous King Enrique de Castilla's chancellor, lord Pedro López de Ayala.

Later, the sanctuary was donated to Santiago's hospital in the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz. In 1542, the donator's inheritor ordered its restoration. The new parts of the sanctuary, most of them restored, were built between the 12th and 13th centuries.
Civil heritage
Medieval wall. The last remains of the Medieval Wall of Vitoria were discovered in 2001 in archaeological excavations carried out in the subsoil of the Cathedral of Santa María on the occasion of the works for its rehabilitation and completed the sections that were previously known. It is a work carried out in the 11th century and that completely surrounded the old Vitoria with its 900 meter perimeter. The City Council of Vitoria, in collaboration with the Basque Government and the Department of Archeology of Architecture of the UPV, uncovered in a first phase 236 meters of fortress and two towers located at the back of Correría Street. The medieval wall of Vitoria won the Europa Nostra award in 2010, considered as the Nobel Prize for heritage.

Palace of the Álava-Esquivel family. Renaissance-style building from the 16th century. The main facade is located on Calle Zapatería with a double doorway of semicircular arches with a beautiful noble coat of arms. The rear facade is made of masonry with neo-Gothic elements, better known, it is located on Calle Herrería. The building is owned by the King of Morocco.

Ruiz de Vergara y Álava House-Palace. Very altered Renaissance palace, built by Juan Ruiz de Vergara and María Díez de Álava on the plots of ten houses that he received as a dowry from his parents.

Casa de los Landázuri y Romarete has been considered the customs house. Until 1841 it was where the control of the passage of goods from the interior of the peninsula to the rest of Europe was carried out. The historian Joaquín José de Landázuri y Romarate was born and lived there.

The houses at the beginning of Calle Correría were built in the first months of 1757 by Manuel Baltasar de Uriarte y Castillo, who placed his coat of arms between the first two portals of the street and on the first floor. The Alforja houses are an example of the constructions of the merchants in the 17th century. The lower floor was used for business and the upper floor as housing.

The Casa Uralde or Casa de la Yedra belongs to the first expansion of the city and was part of the walled enclosure that surrounded the city.

Palace of the Álava-Velasco family. Francisco Carlos de Álava y Arista y Amézaga and his wife María Josefa de Ibarra y Echazarreta ordered the construction of this Baroque-style palace. The name is due to its last owners, the Velasco, heirs of the founder.

The house of the Corcuera is one of the oldest in the city. Three shields with the arms of the Corcuera family, together with the Mendoza and Urbina family, stand out on its south façade. Of these, a round shield is especially interesting which, due to its style and simplicity, could correspond to the last third of the 15th century.

Tower of the Hurtado de Anda. Medieval tower from the 15th century located at the back of the Cathedral of Santa María in the Plaza de las Burullerías. It was part of the city's defensive system and it is a large Gothic building that retains its closed appearance at the bottom, made of masonry stone. The upper one is more open, and was made of wood and brick framework. It was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1984, after undergoing major restoration in 1981.

Escoriaza-Esquivel Palace. Fernán López de Escoriaza, physician to King Henry VIII of England, and his wife Victoria de Anda y Esquivel ordered the construction of this palace in the mid-16th century. Due to its architectural and ornamental richness, it is one of the best examples of Renaissance civil architecture. Built with masonry stone, it is organized around a square courtyard with double arches superimposed on three of its sides and a staircase. The capitals and medallions of the columns are richly decorated. It is worth highlighting the main façade, facing a small square, in which the plateresque portal stands out where you can see the busts of the owner and his wife.

Plaza de la Virgen Blanca is one of the oldest meeting points in Vitoria-Gasteiz. In the middle of it there is the monument to La batalla de Vitoria, a battle which took place in the city in 1813 during the Napoleonic wars.

In the Middle Ages the square was Vitoria's city center. It was the place where all activities, including bullfights and food markets, were carried out. At the end of the 18th century, Plaza de España or Plaza Nueva was built right next to it by Vitorian architect Justo Antonio de Olaguibel. Due to the construction of the new square the old one became the local's meeting point. In 2007 the flowers that were in the middle of it were removed and fountains were installed in order to modernize the square.
Museums
The Artium Museum is a contemporary art museum, designed by the architect José Luis Caton, it is owned by the Provincial Council of Álava and opened 26 April 2002 and its director is Daniel Castillejo. The Museum was a created by the initiative of the Provincial Council of Alava, which is the owner of most of the works that are in the museum, and it's the owner of the building too. The aim of this museum is to develop the critical view of the society and to make Alava be associated with art and culture.

The museum holds works by numerous artists, including Miquel Barceló, Joseph Beuys, Joan Brossa, Juan Francisco Casas, Jake and Dinos Chapman, Eduardo Chillida, Salvador Dalí, Óscar Domínguez, Manolo Millares, Joan Miró, Juan Muñoz, Jorge Oteiza, Pablo Palazuelo, Pablo Picasso, Antonio Saura, Antoni Tàpies, Juan Uslé, and Darío Villalba. It also includes a library and documentation center, both of which are open to the public.

Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art of Álava. Located in the ambulatory of the New Cathedral, it offers samples of the religious artistic heritage of the province, divided into sections for stone carving, wood carving, panel painting, painting on canvas, goldsmithery and liturgical furniture.

Museum of Natural Sciences. The museum is installed in the Tower of Doña Otxanda, an example of medieval architecture. It is also a center for research and dissemination of Natural Sciences.

Bibat. Archeology Museum and Fournier Playing Card Museum. The Archeology Museum is located in a modern building attached to the Fournier Playing Card Museum. The set of the two museums is called Bibat and creates one of the most interesting points of the medieval quarter combining antiquity and modernity. While the archeology museum is of recent construction, the card museum is based in the Renaissance palace of Bendaña. The manufacture of cards has been one of the most characteristic activities of Vitoria, promoted by Heraclio Fournier.

Museum of Fine Arts. In a neo-Renaissance mansion, the museum displays carvings from the 14th century, Flemish triptychs from the 16th century, paintings by Spanish masters such as Ribera, and modern Spanish painting, including works by Picasso and Zuloaga. The museum pays special attention to Basque costumbrista painting.

Álava Armory Museum. Very close to the previous one is this museum, where weapons from all eras can be seen, from prehistoric axes to 20th-century pistols. There is a large collection of medieval weapons and the reconstruction of the battle fought in Vitoria in 1813 during the War of Independence.
Festivals

Cavalcade of the Three Kings - January 5

Saint Anton's Day - January 17

Eve of Santa Águeda - February 4

Carnival

Holy Week

Festivities of San Prudencio - April 27 and 28. Patron of the Alaveses.

Our Lady of Estíbaliz - May 1. Patron Saint of the Alaveses.

Blouse and Neska Day - Santiago Day - July 25.

Festivities of La Virgen Blanca - August 4 to 9

Pilgrimage of Olarizu - Monday following the Virgin of September.

Christmas in Vitoria - December 24 to January 6. A large monumental Nativity scene is placed in the Parque de la Florida.

Vitoria-Gasteiz hosts two annual international music festivals:

The International Music Festival/Course Vitoria-Gasteiz, from 18 to 27 July (the 2011 Edition)

The Vitoria-Gasteiz Jazz Festival, from 10 to 16 July (the 2011 Edition).

The Azkena rock festival, on 29 & 30 June (the 2013 Edition).

Best restaurants
There are five Michelin list restaurants in the city:

Zabala, Mateo Benigno de Moraza 9, 22 - 55 EUR * Contemporary Cuisine

PerretxiCo, San Antonio 3, 19 - 36 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

El Clarete, Cercas Bajas 18, 56 EUR * Modern Cuisine

Andere, Gorbea 8, 45 - 75 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Zaldiarán, Avenida Gasteiz 21, 60 - 70 EUR * Contemporary Cuisine
How to get to? By train
Vitoria-Gasteiz railway station is one of the main stops on the Madrid - Hendaye railway. Half a dozen trains each day link the city with Madrid, using Alvia trains on the AVE infrastructure to reach Madrid in 3 hours 43 minutes. There are also connections to Paris, Barcelona, Lisbon and Bordeaux. There is a complete lack of rail services to Andalusia and no direct rail link with Bilbao.

A municipal tram service is operated by Euskotren Tranbia.

The Basque Y high-speed rail network is planned to connect Vitoria-Gasteiz with the French border, San Sebastián and Bilbao within 35 minutes. However, work on this project has been slow and there is no date for its inaugural run.
By air
The Vitoria Airport is 4th in Spain in cargo traffic. Almost all passenger flights use Bilbao Airport (50 minutes away by car), which is the 2nd most important base for Vueling, with the second highest number of destinations offered and 4 million passengers traffic.
Distance by car to other capital cities of Spain
From Madrid 3 hr 37 min (364 km) via A-1

From Santiago de Compostela 5 hr 46 min (602 km) via A-6 and A-231

From Logroño 1 hr 12 min (96.0 km) via AP-68 and A-1

From Oviedo 3 hr 33 min (344 km) via A-8

From Santander 1 hr 50 min (162 km) via A-8

From Pamplona 1 hr 8 min (97.7 km) via A-10 and A-1

From Zaragoza 2 hr 32 min (263 km) via AP-68

From Barcelona 5 hr 17 min (567 km) via AP-2 and AP-68

From Valladolid 2 hr 30 min (243 km) via A-62 and AP-1

From Toledo 4 hr 10 min (430 km) via A-1

From Valencia 5 hr 27 min (572 km) via A-23 and AP-68

From Mérida 5 hr 44 min (631 km) via A-66 and A-62

From Murcia 6 hr 43 min (744 km) via A-1

From Seville 7 hr 29 min (824 km) via A-66 and A-62
Main information
Area: 276 km²

Coordinates: 42°50′48″N 2°40′23″W

Population: 253 093

Languages: Spanish, Basque

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Vitoria-Gasteiz - the capital of the Basque Country * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Vitoria (in Basque: Gasteiz, and officially Vitoria-Gasteiz) is a city and municipality, capital of the province of Álava and official seat of Parliament and Government of the autonomous community of the Basque Country, in Spain. It is considered the de facto capital of the Basque Country for being the seat of common institutions.

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The Basque Country (Basque: Euskadi; Spanish: País Vasco; French: Pays Basque), also called Basque Autonomous Community is an autonomous community in northern Spain.

Its basic institutions are the Basque Parliament and the Basque Government, based in the de facto capital city of Vitoria-Gasteiz.

It includes the Basque provinces of Álava (capital Vitoria-Gasteiz), Biscay (capital Bilbao), and Gipuzkoa (capital San Sebastian).

It limits to the east with Navarre and the French department of Pirineos Atlánticos (region of Nueva Aquitania), to the south with La Rioja and to the west with Castile and León and Cantabria.

The Basque Country is also the name given to the home of the Basque people. The Basque country is located in the western Pyrenees, straddling the border between France and Spain on the coast of the Bay of Biscay. Euskal Herria is the oldest documented Basque name for the area they inhabit, dating from the 16th century.

It comprises the Autonomous Communities of the Basque Country and Navarre in Spain and the Northern Basque Country in France. The region is home to the Basque people (Basque: Euskaldunak), their language (Basque: Euskara), culture and traditions. The area is neither linguistically nor culturally homogeneous, and certain areas have a majority of people who do not consider themselves Basque, such as the south of Navarre.

The Statute of Autonomy recognizes two official languages, Basque and Spanish.

The Basque Country also has, for historical reasons, like Navarre, a particular fiscal regime protected by the Spanish Constitution, which attributes the ability to collect taxes to the provincial councils.

Currently, the Basque Country has one of the most dynamic regional economies in Spain. Industry represents 24% of GDP, eight points above the national average.

A 2014 OECD report places the Basque Country as the Spanish region with the highest quality of life.
Tourism
Tourism in the Basque Country has increased considerably in recent years. Among the people who visit it annually, 71% come from the rest of Spain, with the following autonomous communities representing the most visits: Community of Madrid (14.2%), Catalonia (11.1%). International entries represent the remaining 29%, with France (7.2%) being the country that visits the Basque Country the most. On the other hand, 62% of the people who come to the Basque country visit one of the three capitals, 27% visit the interior and 11% the Basque coast.
Places to visit (in alphabetical order by provinces) Álava province Laguardia and its attractions Ullíbarri-Gamboa reservoir is the largest lake in the Basque Country Vitoria-Gasteiz - the capital of the Basque Country Biscay province Aguinaga Museum of Mercedes-Benz Armintza - a fishing village Bakio - ideal for surfers of all levels Bermeo and its attractions Bilbao - the most visited city of the Basque Country Biscay bridge - a World Heritage Site by UNESCO Butron castle inspired by Bavarian castle models Cabo Machichaco lighthouse - the northernmost point of Basque country Castle of Muñatones dates back to 1339 Durango and its historic center Gaztelugatxe viewpoint Lekeitio and its attractions Mundaka is famous for its surfing Ondarroa and its beaches Torre Loizaga car museum and its Rolls-Royce collection Gipuzkoa province Balenciaga Museum - born to be fashionable Beasain and its attractions Getaria and its attractions Hondarribia​ - the northernmost resort of the Costa Vasca Irun and its attractions Mutriku and its beaches Oñati and its first Basque university Orio and its Antilla beach Pasaia - a fishing village Sanctuary of Our Lady of Arantzazu Sanctuary of the Virgin of Guadalupe San Sebastian - Spanish royal resort Tolosa and its attractions Urkulu Reservoir and its hiking routes Zarautz and its longest beach in Basque coast Zumaia - the longest set of continuous rock strata in the world Way of St. James
The Camino de Santiago (214.2 km) runs along the entire Basque coast and is one of the first pilgrimage routes. The tour begins in the port of Fuenterrabía (Guipúzcoa), retracing the steps of the first pilgrims who arrived by sea.
Activities
The Basque Country has a wide range of active tourism companies and all kinds of adventure sports, from the most technical and specialized to the most common modalities such as surfing, mountain biking, hiking and bird watching.

There are thirteen Long Distance trails -the so-called GR- signposted and marked with red and white colors, which makes it possible to cross the autonomous community in all directions, knowing the borders of Gupúzcoa (GR 121), the Llanada Alavesa through the foothills of the mountains (GR 25) or the Urdaibai biosphere reserve, through the GR 98. There are also short-distance trails -called PR-, marked with white and yellow colors, which allow shorter routes and are available to all audiences.

Bicycle fans have 130 kilometers of Greenways enabled, nine paths recovered from old railway lines that were left in disuse. Some examples are the Plazaola Greenway, which crosses the Leizarán river valley, the old Basque-Navarro railway path, the Zadorra Greenway, between the Álava reservoirs, or the Arrazola Greenway, in the vicinity of the Mount Anboto.
Natural spaces
There are 19 natural spaces of different categories, spread over the entire surface of the autonomous community, and all of them can be visited.

Ten of them have the status of Natural Parks: Peñas de Aya, Pagoeta and Aralar in Guipúzcoa; Izki, Valderejo and Entzia in Álava; Gorbea, and Urquiola in Álava and Vizcaya; Armañón in Vizcaya and Aizkorri in Guipúzcoa and Álava.

Likewise, there are six protected biotopes: Inurritza, Leizarán and the Rasa Maral in Guipúzcoa; Itxina and San Juan de Gaztelugatxe in Vizcaya and the Lagunas de Laguardia in Álava.
Transport and how to get to? By air
The three capitals have international airports:

Bilbao Airport (BIO) International
Vitoria Airport (VIT)
San Sebastián Airport (EAS)

Of the three, the most important hub and entry point to the Basque Country is Bilbao Airport, offering many international connections.
By trains
Eusko Trenbide Sarea (Basque Railway Network) is the Basque Government-owned company that maintains and creates the railway infrastructure in the autonomous region. Euskotren is the Basque Government-owned narrow gauge rail company that operates commuter services in Bilbao and San Sebastián, intercity Bilbao-San Sebastián service, and Euskotren Tranbia tram services in Bilbao and Vitoria-Gasteiz.

Metro Bilbao operates two metro lines that serve the Greater Bilbao area while Euskotren operates a third which opened in 2017. Euskotren operates a metro-like service in the San Sebastián area.

The Spanish government owns two main RENFE broad gauge lines that link Vitoria-Gasteiz with San Sebastián and Bilbao with central Spain. It also operates Cercanías commuter lines in both Bilbao and San Sebastián.

The FEVE narrow gauge rail company operates a commuter line between Bilbao and Balmaseda and links Bilbao with the rest of northern Spain.
Distance by car from the capital Vitoria-Gasteiz to the main cities of Spain
From Madrid 3 hr 37 min (364 km) via A-1

From Santiago de Compostela 5 hr 46 min (602 km) via A-6 and A-231

From Oviedo 3 hr 33 min (344 km) via A-8

From Santander 1 hr 50 min (162 km) via A-8

From Pamplona 1 hr 8 min (97.7 km) via A-10 and A-1

From Zaragoza 2 hr 32 min (263 km) via AP-68

From Barcelona 5 hr 17 min (567 km) via AP-2 and AP-68

From Valladolid 2 hr 30 min (243 km) via A-62 and AP-1

From Toledo 4 hr 10 min (430 km) via A-1

From Valencia 5 hr 27 min (572 km) via A-23 and AP-68

From Mérida 5 hr 44 min (631 km) via A-66 and A-62

From Murcia 6 hr 43 min (744 km) via A-1

From Seville 7 hr 29 min (824 km) via A-66 and A-62

From Logroño 1 hr 10 min (94.1 km) via AP-68
Main information
Area: 7234 km²

Coordinates: 42°59′00″N 2°37′00″W

Population: 2 220 504

Languages: Spanish, Basque

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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The Basque Autonomous Community and its attractions * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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The Basque Country (Basque: Euskadi; Spanish: País Vasco; French: Pays Basque), also called Basque Autonomous Community is an autonomous community in northern Spain. Its basic institutions are the Basque Parliament and the Basque Government, based in the de facto capital city of Vitoria-Gasteiz.

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https://all-andorra.com/green-coast/

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Costa Verde (Green Coast) is the tourist name assigned to the coast of Asturias (Spain), located in the Cantabrian Sea, Atlantic Ocean. It includes the coast of the maritime province of Gijón created in 1845, and maritime province of Avilés, created in 2007.

Borders with the Rías Altas resorts (Galicia) in the west and Costa Cantabria resorts (Cantabria) in the east.

Although August is considered the hottest month of the year, the swimming season begins in June. Many tourists come here not only for beach holidays and sightseeing, but also for surfing, diving and other water sports.

It is the fifth coast of Spain by extension, with 345 km in length. The Asturian Costa Verde is considered one of the best preserved coastlines in the country.

Gijón is the capital of the Green Coast. It is the largest city and municipality by population in the autonomous community of Asturias.

It is located on the coast of the Cantabrian Sea in the Bay of Biscay, in the central-northern part of Asturias.

From a geological point of view, the coastal plain gives continuity to the entire Costa Verde complex. It is a more or less wide plain that extends from the edge of the sea, or cliff, to the first slopes of the mountains.

The eastern coast is a massive karstic massif, so here we find very vigorous coastal formations.

The tourist name refers to the green color of the fields throughout the year, which extends to the beaches. It is a steep coast, with cliffs, but also with extensive sandbanks and coves.

Cabo de Peñas, the northernmost in the Community, divides the eastern and western coast of Asturias.

This cape has been declared a protected landscape due to its own flora and fauna and its cliffs, which at some points are over a hundred meters high.
Best beaches
Some of the best known beaches are Rodiles, in Villaviciosa; that of La Isla, in Colunga; that of Torimbia, in Llanes; that of Arnao, in Castrillón; or that of San Lorenzo, in Gijón.

Gulpiyuri Beach, in Llanes, stands out for its uniqueness, declared a natural monument in 2001, as well as being part of the Protected Landscape of the Eastern Coast of Asturias.

It is a closed beach, without open access to the sea, which enters the beach through a small underwater cave below the cliff.
Activities
The Asturian coastal towns preserve their seafaring tradition. The most unique and attractive are: Cudillero, Gijón, Llanes, Ribadesella, Luarca, Luanco and Candás.

Due to its wild character and the height of its waves, the Costa Verde is an important destination for those who practice surfing and windsurfing. One of the most popular places to practice these water sports is Tapia de Casariego.
Most popular resorts (from west to east) As Figueiras and its attractions Tapia and its Peñarronda beach Navia and its attractions Luarca and its attractions Cudillero and its attractions Avilés - a Historic-Artistic Site Luanco and its attractions Candás and its attractions Gijón - the capital of the Green Coast Tazones - the Historic-Artistic Complex Lastres and its attractions Ribadesella and the International Descent of the Sella Llanes and the Gulpiyuri - shortest beach in the world Transport and how to get to?
Asturias Airport, (IATA: OVD, ICAO: LEAS) is the only international airport of Asturias, in Castrillón. Traffic consists primarily of scheduled domestic flights and some seasonal scheduled international flights.

The airport is located in Anzu, parish of Santiago del Monte, municipality of Castrillón, 15 km from Avilés, 40 km from Gijón and 47 km from the regional capital, Oviedo.

Main railway stations with a direct communication with Madrid and other cities of Spain are in Oviedo and Gijón.

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Costa Verde and its resorts * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Costa Verde (Green Coast) is the tourist name assigned to the coast of Asturias (Spain), located in the Cantabrian Sea, Atlantic Ocean. It includes the coast of the maritime province of Gijón created in 1845, and maritime province of Avilés, created in 2007. Borders with the Rías Altas resorts (Galicia) in the west and Costa Cantabria ...

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https://all-andorra.com/gijon/

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Gijón or Xixón (Asturian) is a city and municipality in north-western Spain. It is the largest city and municipality by population in the autonomous community of Asturias.

It is located on the coast of the Cantabrian Sea in the Bay of Biscay, in the central-northern part of Asturias. A popular part of the Atlantic resorts of Spain.

Since its foundation in Roman times, its development has been linked to that of its port, which is currently the leader in solid bulk movements in Spain. Until recently, Gijón had an eminently industrial character, which favored the great growth of the 19th and 20th centuries.

However, in recent decades, the crisis in the steel industry and the naval sector have led to the reconversion of its productive fabric, which has transformed the city into a tourist, university, commercial and R + D + i center. Thus, in addition to having a municipal network of museums, it houses the cultural complex of the Labor University, a university campus and a science-technology park.

The city is known par excellence as the "capital of the Green Coast - Costa Verde" and is also the capital of the maritime province of Gijón.

Through the council runs the Camino de Santiago on its coastal route and the Consultative Council of the Principality of Asturias, the Radiotelevision of the Principality of Asturias and the Comprehensive Maritime Safety Center for Maritime Rescue are based there.
Main attractions Civil architecture
The Palacio de Revillagigedo (or the Marqués de San Esteban de Natahoyo) is a palace located in the Cimadevilla neighborhood, it forms a single complex with the San Juan collegiate church. It is a remarkable example of 18th century Asturian palatial architecture. In 1974 it was declared a Site of Cultural Interest.

Both the palace and the Collegiate Church of San Juan belong to the Caja de Ahorros de Asturias Banking Foundation and house the Liberbank Palacio de Revillagigedo Cultural Center.

The adjoining chapel, with collegiate status, was completed fifteen years later than the palace and is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. Also in the Baroque style, it follows the same ornamentation and design as the rest of the buildings. The financing was provided by the prior of the Oviedo Cathedral Luis Ramírez de Valdés, uncle of the Marquis. In addition to Menéndez Camina, the architect from Gijón, Pedro Muñiz Somonte, collaborated in the work and made the roofs and the tower.

The Jovellanos Theater is a theater located on the Paseo de Begoña although it originally stood on the nearby Jovellanos street, in the location currently occupied by the city's public library until it was destroyed during the fighting that took place in the 1934 revolt.

The Gijón Labor University is located in the municipality of Gijón, specifically in the Cabueñes parish, just over three kilometers from the urban center. Built between 1946 and 1956, it is the most important architectural work carried out in the 20th century in Asturias. It is, with its 270,000 m², the largest building in Spain.

It has been declared an Asset of Cultural Interest with the category of Monument since 2016.

Real Instituto Jovellanos is the name of one of the oldest educational centers in Spain. It was created in Gijón by Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos as one of the illustrated projects that he carried out in the Principality of Asturias. The idea of creating an educational center that would train in mining and marine science arose in the midst of the projects related to the exploitation of mines that were beginning to open in the coal deposits of the Asturian mining basin, together with the construction of a highway that join with the port of Gijón (El Musel, whose creation he also proposed).

The "Jovellanos" Public Library is the State Public Library in Gijón whose management was transferred to the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias in 1986.

Originally, it was the library of the institute founded by Jovellanos in Gijón in 1794 and it kept his famous collection of drawings and his personal library. Since its foundation, the Library has occupied the same building of the Institute, on Jovellanos street, and, from 1858, it was also considered a public library by virtue of the Decree of July 17.

The town hall of Gijón is the headquarters building of the city council of the Spanish city of Gijón. The project was commissioned in 1858 to Andrés Coello, but underwent modifications by Luis Céspedes and Lucas María Palacios. The work began in 1861. By mid-1865 the town hall was practically finished. The building, with a porticoed gallery, forms a cubic volume of 3 floors.

The Sindical House or House of the People of Gijón is a building located on Calle Sanz Crespo, next to the Jardines del Tren de la Libertad in the Laviada neighborhood. It is owned by the Ministry of Labor. It currently houses the headquarters of the CNT, CSI, CGT and CCOO unions.

Designed by the Somolinos brothers and Enrique Álvarez Sala, its plan was based on the premises of the Modern Movement, following the ideas of Le Corbusier and the Bauhaus school.
Religious architecture
The church of San José is a Catholic temple built during the 20th century on Álvarez Garaya street. The temple replaces another one destroyed in the Civil War very close to the current building. The first church was built between 1893 and 1897 following a project by the architect Nicolás García Rivero. The current one is the work of Enrique Rodríguez Bustelo, and was built between 1946 and 1954 in neo-baroque style. Despite its historicist appearance, modern materials were used for its construction: reinforced concrete and lead-covered ceramics in the central vault, artificial stone in the coverings.

The Church of San Lorenzo is a Catholic temple built at the beginning of the 20th century on Calle Cabrales. The building was designed by the architect Luis Bellido y González and is in the Neo-Gothic style. The ceremony of laying the first stone took place on August 23, 1896, although the foundation works had not to begin until January 1897. The consecration of the temple was celebrated on August 9, 1901.

The sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de Contrueces is a Catholic temple located in the southern part of the urban area of Gijón, in the neighborhood of Contrueces. It is an important icon in the history of Gijón, since the Virgin that is venerated in this temple was considered by most of the people of Gijón for many years as the patron saint of the city. The first documents that attest to the existence of this church date from the beginning of the 10th century.

The church of San Pedro is a Catholic temple located in Campo Valdés, at one end of the beach of San Lorenzo and at the foot of the Cimadevilla neighborhood. It was the only parish church in the town until 1893. The current church, built between 1945 and 1955 after the destruction of the previous 15th century building during the Civil War, follows a project by the architects Francisco and Federico Somolinos. Originally Gothic in style and with numerous later additions, it is currently in a historicist style inspired by Asturian Romanesque and pre-Romanesque.

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in a temple popularly known as La Iglesiona and located in front of the Real Instituto Jovellanos. It was built in 1918 under the negotic and modernist style, and was used as a prison during the Spanish Civil War.
Museums
The Museum of the Asturian People (Asturian: Muséu del Pueblu d'Asturies) is an open-air artspace containing Asturian popular art installations, large ethnographic items, and three buildings:

Casa de los Valdes: temporary exhibition space

Casa de los González de la Vega: site of the International Bagpipe Museum, including a collection of traditional Asturian musical instruments

The Asturian Pavilion from the 1992 Universal Exposition of Seville, installed at the museum in 1994

The Asturias Railway Museum or Gijón Railway museum (Museo del Ferrocarril de Asturias) is an institution dedicated to restore, preserve and display to the public the railway history of Asturias. It was inaugurated on October 22, 1998 by the current king Felipe VI as Prince of Asturias in that moment. The centre is economically supported by Gijón City Council and it's integrated in the museums municipal network. It's one of the most important Spanish railways museums.

The Juan Barjola Museum of Painting was inaugurated in 1988, after a donation by Juan Barjola of 104 works from the years 1950-1988. It is under the auspices of the Cultural Council of the Principality of Asturias. The museum is located in the Trinidad Complex, a four-storied historical building. The exhibition occupies three of the four stories of the building. The lower floor is for temporary expositions. The exhibition starts on the third floor, with very early works from the 1950s. It continues on the second floor with works from the 1970s, ending on the first floor with paintings from the 1980s.

The International Bagpipe Museum was founded in 1965, and moved to its current location, integrated in the Museum of the Asturian People, in 1975. The museum houses a large collection of bagpipes from Spain, and from the remainder of Europe, Africa, and Asia. Additionally, the museum features items related to Asturian music.

LABoral Centro de Arte y Creación Industrial (Art and Industrial Creation Centre) is an exhibition centre for art, science, technology and advanced visual industries. It is also a venue for artistic and technological production, research investigation and training; and for the dissemination of new forms of art and industrial creation. The museum's programme of activities mirrors the changes society is undergoing and its immersion in contemporary visual culture.
Best restaurants
There are seven Michelin list restaurants in the city:

Auga, Claudio Alvargonzález, 55 - 90 EUR * Modern Cuisine (one star)

V. Crespo, Periodista Adeflor 3, 40 - 60 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

El Recetario, Trinidad 1, 30 - 40 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Farragua, Contracay 3, 34 - 55 EUR * Modern Cuisine

Gloria, Plaza Florencio Rodríguez 3, 25 - 50 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

El Cencerro, Decano Prendes Pando 24, 19 - 60 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Camelia, Marqués de San Esteban 2, 30 - 45 EUR * Asturian Cuisine

Shopping
Gijón's main street is Calle Corrida, a wide pedestrian avenue leading from the gardens of the Queen to the Six Square August.

The artisan and organic market is held the second weekend of every month in Plaza Mayor in Gijón, just at the entrance of the old town of Cimadevilla.
Beaches
The Paseo del Muro and the San Lorenzo beach make one of the most well-known and populous sea facades of Asturias.

The San Lorenzo with a length of 1.550 meters and shell shape it offers kites, surfboards, skates, bicycles, volleyball, soccer, jogging, sand castles, baths, sports competitions, sunbeds, bathing huts, umbrellas.

At the eastern end of San Lorenzo, there is the Paseo del Muro, it is the best known coastal path of the Cervigón, a sea route of more than 2 kilometers that brings closer to other beaches such as Rinconín or Peñarrubia.
How to get to? Airport
Gijón is served by Asturias Airport, about 38 km from the center of the city; it is located in the municipality of Castrillon. The airport is connected to the city by the A-8 motorway, the N-632 national highway and scheduled bus service (Alsa).
Public transport
Gijón currently has 18 bus lines and four more Búho (owl) lines. The owl services work on Friday and Saturday nights, and daily in the months of July and August.
Railway
The city is served by the Gijón Railway Station. It is the terminus for Alvia services from Madrid, Alicante, León, Valladolid and Barcelona, as well as Intercity and Media Distancia services. It is also the last destination for four Cercanías commuter railway lines.
Main highways
From Madrid 4 hr 35 min (466 km) via A-6.
Main information
Area: 182 km² (municipality)

Coordinates: 43°31′46″N 5°40′38″W

Population: 268 896

Languages: Spanish, Asturian

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Gijón - the capital of the Green Coast * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Gijón or Xixón (Asturian) is a city and municipality in north-western Spain. It is the largest city and municipality by population in the autonomous community of Asturias. It is located on the coast of the Cantabrian Sea in the Bay of Biscay, in the central-northern part of Asturias.

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https://all-andorra.com/oviedo/

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Oviedo (Asturian: Uviéu) is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. It is also the name of the municipality that contains the city.

It is the geographical, educational, religious, political and administrative center of Asturias, headquarters of the General Board of the Principality, its institutions, the University of Oviedo, the Museum of Fine Arts of Asturias, the Princess of Asturias Awards as well as the Archdiocese of Oviedo. It is recognized as one of the cities with the highest quality of life in Europe according to the European Commission.

The municipality of Oviedo is the second most populated in the autonomous community, ranking 23rd among the most populated municipalities in Spain and is included in the central metropolitan area of Asturias, which includes 800,000 people, and in the so-called Asturian Eight.

It holds the titles of "very noble, very loyal, worthy, undefeated, heroic and good" that appear on the municipality's coat of arms and this is reflected in a plaque located on the facade of the Town Hall building.
Tourism and main attractions
Oviedo contains a very rich architectural history, with many buildings dating back to the early medieval period. Many of the building projects were undertaken during Alfonso II's (791-842) reign and Ramiro I's (842-850) reign. Alfonso III's contributions are not as well documented.
Religious architecture
The Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour or Cathedral of San Salvador (Spanish: Catedral Metropolitana Basílica de San Salvador, Latin: Sancta Ovetensis) is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica that today displays an array of architectural styles, from Pre-Romanesque to Baroque, including Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance parts.

The church began as a large Pre-Romanesque basilica in the present location of the Gothic cathedral, but nothing more is known about that first building, built by order of King Alfonso II of Asturias.

The cathedral was founded by King Fruela I of Asturias in 781 AD, and enlarged in 802 by his son Alfonso II of Asturias known as Alfonso the Chaste, who made Oviedo the capital of Kingdom of Asturias, and resided in Oviedo with his court. He created the See of Oviedo in 810. The present edifice was begun by Bishop Gutierre of Toledo in 1388, and the tower added by Cardinal Francisco Mendoza de Bobadilla in 1528.

The Holy chamber of Oviedo, also known as the chapel of St. Michael, is a Roman Catholic pre-Romanesque church, built next to pre-romanesque Tower of San Miguel of the city's cathedral. Nowadays, the church occupies the angle between the south arm of the cathedral transept and a side of the cloister.

It was built during the 9th century as a palace chapel for King Alfonso II of Asturias and the church of San Salvador of Oviedo. Apart from acting as royal chapel, the Holy Chamber was built to house the jewels and relics of the cathedral of San Salvador in Oviedo, a function it continues to have 1200 years later. Some of these jewels were donated by the Kings Alfonso II and Alfonso III, and represent extraordinary gold artifacts of Asturian Pre-Romanesque, brought from Toledo after the fall of the Visigothic kingdom.

The church of St Mary at Mount Naranco is a pre-Romanesque Asturian building on the slope of Mount Naranco situated 3 kilometres from the city center. Ramiro I of Asturias ordered it to be built as a royal palace, part of a larger complex that also incorporated the nearby church of San Miguel de Lillo, 100 meters away. The palace was completed in 842 and had in part a religious function, being consecrated in 848. Its structural features, such as the barrel vault-with transverse ribs corresponding one-to-one with contreforts at the exterior, make it a clear precursor of the Romanesque construction. The exterior decorations, as well as the use of stilted arches mark the intended verticality of the composition.

It was declared a Monumento Nacional on 24 January 1885. Along with all other national monuments of Spain, it was classified as a Bien de Interés Cultural in June 1985. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in December 1985.

St. Michael of Lillo is a Roman Catholic church built on the Naranco mount, near the Church of Santa María del Naranco. It was completed in 842 and it was consecrated by Ramiro I of Asturias and his wife Paterna in the year 848. It was originally dedicated to St. Mary until this worship passed to the nearby palace in the 12th century, leaving this church dedicated to Saint Michael. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985.

San Julián de los Prados, also known as Santullano, is a Pre-Ramirense church from the beginning of the 9th century. It is one of the greatest works of Asturian art and was declared an Historical-Artistic Monument by the Spanish Ministry of Culture in June 1917 and a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on 2 December 1998.

The church's construction was ordered by Alfonso II of Asturias and it was built by the court architect Tioda. It is dedicated to the martyred Egyptian saints Julian and Basilissa.

San Vicente de Oviedo is a church and monastery, which foundation, in 761, is recorded in a charter known as the Pacto monástico de Oviedo ("Monastic Pact of Oviedo") a copy made in the 12th-century of the original that is dated 25 November 781 and is considered the earliest document on the monarchy of the Kingdom of Asturias, although doubts exist as to the veracity of this document since the monastery, also called Antealtares in the Middle Ages, is not mentioned again until 969.

The Church of Saint Thyrsus is a Roman Catholic Asturian Romanesque church, established in the 790s. Dedicated to Saint Thyrsus, it was built by Tioda, the royal architect of Alfonso II of Asturias. The Great Fire of Oviedo in 1521 and rebuilding in the 18th century removed most of the original church, except for a three-light window.
Civil architecture
Casa de la Rúa, house-palace from the end of the 15th century, the only surviving civil building from the fire of 1521.

University of Oviedo, founded at the end of the 16th century by the Catholic Archbishop Fernando Valdés Salas, Inquisitor General of Spain. Opened in 1608.

Town Hall, built in the 17th century, is a three-story building with a porticoed ground floor with a central arch built over the Puerta de Cimadevilla and which takes advantage of the old city wall as a support.

Valdecarzana-Heredia Palace, baroque from the early seventeenth century, today the seat of the Provincial Court of Asturias.

Malleza-Toreno Palace, baroque from the end of the 17th century, today the headquarters of the Royal Institute of Asturian Studies and its Library.

Camposagrado Palace, late baroque from the beginning of the 18th century, today the seat of the Superior Court of Justice of Asturias.

Palace of the Duke of the Park, built at the beginning of the 18th century, also in the late Baroque style.

Velarde Palace, from the end of the 18th century. It houses the Museum of Fine Arts of Asturias.

Former Hospice, from the 18th century, it has a Baroque façade topped by a large coat of arms and an octagonal chapel.

Campoamor Theater, inaugurated in 1892 and named in honor of the poet Ramón de Campoamor at the initiative of Leopoldo Alas "Clarín", then a councilor of the city council. Among other things, it is famous for being the setting for the delivery of the Princess of Asturias Awards.

Palace of the General Board of the Principality of Asturias, built at the beginning of the 20th century, on the site of the old San Francisco Convent.

Auditorium-Palacio de Congresos Príncipe Felipe, is the work of the architect Rafael Beca and was inaugurated in 1999. It is erected on the old water tanks of the city, built in 1846, and of which its structure has been preserved.

Oviedo Conference Center, the work of the architect Santiago Calatrava, partially opened in 2008, and later the auditorium in May 2011.

El Fontán Market, the first covered square in Oviedo, from 1885.

Worth mentioning about the industrial heritage of the municipality, with the conservation of large industrial complexes such as the La Vega Arms Factory, the Trubia Arms Factory, the San Claudio Loza, the Gas Factory, the Olloniego, Tudela Veguín and the neighborhoods and houses of industrial paternalism such as Santa Bárbara, Junigro or the chalets of La Vega.

Plaza de la Escandalera - is the most popular area to walk through. The statue "Maternity" (La Maternidad) by Colombian-artist Fernando Botero is located in the plaza.

The city is also famous for its numerous metal sculptures and installations.
Museums
The Archaeological Museum of Asturias is housed in the 16th century Benedictine monastery of Saint Vicente. Its findings include collections of the Asturian Neolithic, Megalithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Astur hill fort culture, Roman period, and of the Gothic, Pre-Romanesque and Romanesque periods of the Kingdom of Asturias. The museum also includes sections of Asturian Ethnography, Heraldry, Medieval and Modern Epigraphy, Spanish Numismatics, a European Medal Section, and Armor.

While owned by the Spanish State, its management was transferred to the regional administration in 1991.

The museum underwent a series of refurbishment works beginning in 2004, being reinaugurated and reopened to the public on March 21, 2011.

The Museum of Fine Arts of Asturias is a museum situated within three buildings: the Palacio de Velarde, the House of Oviedo-Portal, and the House of Solís-Carbajal. The museum was conceived on 13 June 1844 by Royal Decree, and inaugurated 19 May 1980 from the art collection owned by the former province of Oviedo. It now depends on funding from the Culture Department of Asturias, and the City of Oviedo.

The fine arts collection includes up to 10,000 inventoried items, with 350-400 on public display at one time. There are paintings by Spanish artists, highlighting those from Asturias, as well as those from foreign countries, such as Italian (like Umberto Pettinicchio) and Flemish painters. Sculptures, photographs, glass objects, and earthenware are also part of the permanent collection.
Best restaurants
There are six Michelin list restaurants in the city:

Ca'Suso, Marqués de Gastañaga 13, 35 - 55 EUR * Modern Cuisine

Salazogue, San Antonio 3, 30 - 45 EUR * Modern Cuisine

Mestura, Jovellanos 2, 25 - 72 EUR * Traditional Cuisine, Contemporary Cuisine

Casa Fermín, San Francisco 8, 45 - 70 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

El Foralín, Asturias 18, 40 - 58 EUR * Contemporary Cuisine

Gloria, Cervantes 24, 23 - 40 EUR * Traditional Cuisine
Shopping
Asturias (and Oviedo in particular) is famous for its handmade leather and calfskin goods, including handbags, shoes, coats and luggage. Some of the top shops in Oviedo are situated on Calle Gil de Jaz, Calle Uria and the surrounding streets.
How to get to? Airport
Asturias Airport, (IATA: OVD, ICAO: LEAS) is the only international airport of Asturias, in Castrillón. Traffic consists primarily of scheduled domestic flights and some seasonal scheduled international flights. The airport is located in Anzu, parish of Santiago del Monte, municipality of Castrillón, 15 km from Avilés, 40 km from Gijón and 47 km from the regional capital, Oviedo.
Railways
Oviedo railway station is the main station in the Spanish city of Oviedo. It opened in 1874 and was reconstructed after the Spanish Civil War.

The station provides a wide range of long- and middle-distance services, in addition to regional and suburban (cercanías) services operated by Renfe, and the narrow-gauge Renfe Feve lines. These services connect Oviedo with the other main centres of Asturias and the remainder of the Cantabrian seaboard, and with other parts of Spain including the inland plateau, the Levante and Catalonia. Some of the long distance services they offer are Madrid, Barcelona and Alicante, medium distance services with León, Ferrol and Santander.

The station is located at the end of calle de Uría, a main commercial thoroughfare. It is adjacent to the bus station (Estación de Autobuses de Oviedo), built in 2003.
Distance by car to other capital cities of Spain:
From Madrid 4 hr 29 min (446 km) via A-6

From Santiago de Compostela 3 hr 13 min (323 km) via A-8

From Santander 2 hr 2 min (192 km) via A-8

From Vitoria-Gasteiz 3 hr 37 min (344 km) via A-8

From Pamplona 4 hr 28 min (435 km) via A-8

From Zaragoza 5 hr 39 min (583 km) via AP-68 and A-8

From Barcelona 8 hr 43 min (884 km) via AP-68 and A-8

From Valladolid 2 hr 59 min (257 km) via N-601 and AP-66

From Toledo 5 hr 24 min (505 km) via A-6

From Valencia 7 hr 57 min (804 km) via A-3

From Mérida 5 hr 32 min (586 km) via A-66

From Murcia 7 hr 54 min (850 km) via A-6

From Seville 7 hr 32 min (777 km) via A-66

From Logroño 4 hr 16 min (424 km) via A-231
Main information
Area: 186 km² (municipality)

Coordinates: 43°21′45″N 5°51′01″W

Population: 217 552

Languages: Spanish, Asturian

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Oviedo - the capital of the Principality of Asturias * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Oviedo (Asturian: Uviéu) is the capital city of the Principality of Asturias in northern Spain. It is also the name of the municipality that contains the city. It is the geographical, educational, religious, political and administrative center of Asturias, headquarters of the General Board of the Principality, its institutions, the University of Oviedo, the Museum of ...

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https://all-andorra.com/asturias/

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Asturias, officially the Principality of Asturias (Spanish: Principado de Asturias; Asturian: Principáu d'Asturies; Galician-Asturian: Principao d'Asturias), is an autonomous community in northwest Spain.

Oviedo is, according to the Statute of Autonomy, the capital and a seat of the institutions of the Principality of Asturias. The most populated city in the community is Gijón.

It is coextensive with the province of Asturias and contains some of the territory that was part of the larger Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages. Divided into eight comarcas (municipalities), the autonomous community of Asturias is bordered by Cantabria to the east, by Castile and León to the south, by Galicia to the west, and by the Cantabrian sea to the north.

The Principality of Asturias, according to its Statute of Autonomy, is considered a historical community in its article 1. It has a legislative assembly called the General Board of the Principality, in memory of an old medieval institution of representation of the councils before the Crown.

It is partly a territory of the ancient kingdom of Asturias from the year 718 and has two languages of its own: Asturian or Bable, from the Asturian-Leonese linguistic base, which, although not considered an official language, has a legal status, and the Eonaviego or Galician-Asturian, from the Galician-Portuguese linguistic base, spoken in the municipalities of the extreme west and which enjoys a similar status.

Asturias is also home of the Princess of Asturias Awards.
Tourism and main attractions
First of all, the region is known for its sea resorts. Costa Verde (Green Coast) is the tourist name assigned to the coast of Asturias, located in the Cantabrian Sea, Atlantic Ocean. It includes the coast of the maritime province of Gijón created in 1845, and maritime province of Avilés, created in 2007.

Borders with the Rías Altas resorts (Galicia) in the west and Costa Cantabria resorts (Cantabria) in the east.

Although August is considered the hottest month of the year, the swimming season begins in June. Many tourists come here not only for beach holidays and sightseeing, but also for surfing, diving and other water sports.

The Asturian coastline is extensive, with hundreds of beaches, coves and natural sea caves. Notable examples include the Playa del Silencio (Beach of Silence) near the fishing village of Cudillero (west of Gijón), as well as the many beaches surrounding the summer resort of Llanes, such as the Barro, Ballota and Torimbia (the latter a predominantly nudist beach). Most of Asturias's beaches are sandy, clean, and bordered by steep cliffs, on top of which it is not unusual to see grazing livestock.

Asturias has a rich artistic legacy that emphasizes Romanesque (Asturias Arts) indigenous architecture with monuments like Santa María del Naranco, Santa Cristina de Lena and San Miguel de Lillo. These monuments have a Ramirense Romanesque style (due to Ramiro I) or San Julián de los Prados, known as Santullano (Oviedo) of the Alfonsino pre-Romanesque style (due to Alfonso II), which are all in Oviedo.

Other examples of architecture are Villaviciosa's church, San Salvador de Valdediós (commonly known by the Asturians as "Conventín"), and the church of San Salvador de Priesca. Another example is Cabranes' San Julian de Viñón.

The Romanesque style is very present, since all Asturias is crossed by one of the Camino de Santiago routes, which highlights the Monastery of San Pedro de Villanueva (near Cangas de Onis), the churches of San Esteban de Aramil (Siero), San Juan de Amandi (Villaviciosa) and Santa María de Junco (Ribadesella).

The Gothic style is not as abundant, but there are good examples of this style, such as the Cathedral of San Salvador in Oviedo.

The Baroque style is more present by means of palace architecture, with such notable examples as the Palace of Camposagrado and Velarde - the latter seat of Museum of Fine Arts of Asturias. The Baroque style stands out in public civil engineering and bridge tolls (Olloniego); the milestones, the chairs or seats present along the road to Madrid and the resort of Caldas de Priorio (Oviedo) building.

In 1985, the UNESCO declared the pre-Romanesque monuments and the Cathedral of Oviedo as World Heritage Sites.

In popular architecture, the traditional granaries in Asturias, called hórreos, are known for their demographic extension and their functional evolution, its basic characteristic being its mobility: it can be easily dismounted and transported to another location. The Panera is the evolution of the hórreo, with examples exceeding 100 square metres (1,076 square feet) of area covered. The purpose of the hórreo is to store objects and crops. With the arrival of maize and the beans, they were endowed with exterior corridors and railings for drying the harvests.

Asturias is home to the only architectural work in Spain (as well as the largest in Europe) of the Brazilian architect and disciple of Le Corbusier; Oscar Niemeyer: the Oscar Niemeyer International Cultural Centre. The architectural project was donated to the Principality by the architect, who was awarded the Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts, in the XXV edition of these awards. Niemeyer's project combined several different elements, and projected an open space, a place for education, culture and peace.
TOP places to visit (in alphabetical order) Avilés - a Historic-Artistic Site As Figueiras and its attractions Candás and its attractions Castropol - a Historic Site Cudillero and its attractions Gijón - the capital of the Green Coast Jurassic Museum of Asturias Indiano Archive Foundation and its museum La Quinta de Selgas - Asturian Versailles Lastres and its attractions Llanes and the Gulpiyuri - shortest beach in the world Luanco and its attractions Luarca and its attractions Navia and its attractions Oviedo - the capital of the Principality of Asturias Ribadesella and the International Descent of the Sella Sanctuary of Covadonga - cradle of Spain Tapia and its Peñarronda beach Tazones - the Historic-Artistic Complex Torazu and its rural architecture Natural parks
Asturias is a mountainous and coastal community that has numerous and well-known natural enclaves, some of them protected under different figures. These include those recognized by UNESCO as biosphere reserves:

The Integral Natural Reserve of Muniellos, in the southwest of Asturias, between the councils of Cangas del Narcea and Ibias;

The natural park of Somiedo, in the homonymous council;

The Redes Natural Park, in Caso y Sobrescobio;

The Picos de Europa National Park, which also extends to the neighboring communities of Cantabria and Castilla y León;

The natural park of Las Ubiñas-La Mesa, in the municipalities of Lena, Quirós and Teverga.

The one of the River Eo, Oscos and Lands of Burón, distributed between the Lands of Burón - in Galicia - and the Asturian councils of Castropol, Vegadeo, Taramundi, San Tirso de Abres, Villanueva de Oscos, Santa Eulalia de Oscos and San Martín de Oscos.

The natural park of Fuentes del Narcea, Degaña and Ibias. It is located in the municipalities of Degaña, Cangas del Narcea and Ibias, and also includes the Muniellos Integral Nature Reserve.
Cuisine and gastronomy
While Asturias is especially known for its seafood, the most famous regional dish is fabada asturiana, a rich stew typically made with large white beans (fabes), shoulder of pork (lacón), black pudding (morcilla), and spicy sausage (chorizo).

Apple groves foster the production of the region's traditional alcoholic drink, a natural cider (sidra).

Asturian cheeses, especially Cabrales, are also eaten throughout Spain and beyond; Asturias is often called "the land of cheeses" (el país de los quesos).
Economy
For centuries, the backbone of the Asturian economy was agriculture and fishing. Milk production and its derivatives was also traditional, but its big development was a byproduct of the economic expansion of the late 1960s. Nowadays, products from the dairy cooperative Central Lechera Asturiana are being commercialised all over Spain.

The main regional industry in modern times, however, was coal mining and steel production: in the times of Francisco Franco's dictatorship, it was the centre of Spain's steel industry. The then state-owned ENSIDESA steel company is now part of the privatised Aceralia, now part of the ArcelorMittal Group. The industry created many jobs, which resulted in significant migration from other regions in Spain, mainly Extremadura, Andalusia.
Education
Asturias has a public university, the University of Oviedo, promoted by the inquisitor general Fernando Valdés Salas at the end of the 16th century, who had already founded the Colegio de San Gregorio, for the study of Grammar and Latin and the Colegio de Niñas Huérfanas Recoletas . The university was launched in 1607. Today it has numerous campuses spread between Oviedo and Gijón. It has 20,000 students a year and its medical and engineering faculties stand out, as well as its Erasmus programs.

Asturias also has private university schools. Vocational training education in Asturias has its origins in master's schools founded by industrial companies since the late nineteenth century, highlighting today several vocational training campuses in Oviedo, Gijón, Avilés and Langreo.
Festivals
Asturias hosts many festivities, especially from spring (when the "corks" of cider known as spikes take place, where drinks and food are served) and throughout the summer. Pilgrimages are also famous, also known as festivals of prau or folixes, celebrated in multitude of villages, towns and villas. The busiest are El Carmín in Pola de Siero, El Xirigüelu in Pravia and San Timoteo in Luarca, which have thousands of attendees.

Also noteworthy are the most urban festivals such as San Mateo in Oviedo, the Semana Grande de Begoña and the Semana Negra in Gijón or the Fiestas del Bollu and San Agustín in Avilés. The Carnival or Antroxu is celebrated in all the Asturian localities, being especially concurred the one of Avilés with the Descent of the Galiana street, and those of Oviedo and Gijon. Holy Week has many religious acts.

It is worth noting the International Descent of the Sella which is celebrated on the first Saturday of August between Arriondas and Ribadesella, with a distance of 20 km, a festival declared of International Tourist Interest. This is the busiest festival in Asturias, with hundreds of thousands of attendees each year.

The festivities of the Cider Festival, in Nava, the Day of Asturias in Gijón, the Descent to swim of the estuary of the Navia, Our Lady of the Rosary in Luarca, the celebration of the Virgin of the Guide in Llanes are declared of national interest and America's Day in Asturias in Oviedo.

Many others are declared of regional interest such as the Nalón Folk Descent, the Descarga de Cangas and several gastronomic days and pilgrimages.

Institutionally, the official holiday of the autonomous community is celebrated on September 8, also the feast of the Virgin of Covadonga. This date was proclaimed Asturias Day in 1984 and has the character of a regional holiday and, therefore, a non-working day. It is held every year in the town determined by the Governing Council of the Principality of Asturias.

On the other hand, the Princess of Asturias Awards are presented annually by the Foundation of the same name in Oviedo, where many famous people have received their eminence awards in science, arts or sports, including Woody Allen, JK Rowling, Stephen Hawking, Susan Sontag, Annie Leibovitz, Paul Auster, Nelson Mandela, Francis Ford Coppola, Mary Beard, Leonard Cohen, Martina Navratilova, Norman Foster or Pedro Almodóvar among many others.
Transport and how to get to? Airports
Asturias Airport, (IATA: OVD, ICAO: LEAS) is the only international airport of Asturias. Traffic consists primarily of scheduled domestic flights and some seasonal scheduled international flights. The airport is located in Anzu, parish of Santiago del Monte, municipality of Castrillón, 15 km from Avilés, 40 km from Gijón and 47 km from the regional capital, Oviedo.

Road - The airport may be reached by both the A-8 motorway and the N-632 national road.
Bus - Alsa coach company offers a service between the airport and the cities of Avilés, Gijón and Oviedo. Some routes also stop in Piedras Blancas and Salinas.
Taxis - These are available at the airport.
Car Rental Services - Avis and Hello Rent a Car.
Sea ports
El Musel is a seaport located in the middle point of the Cantabrian Sea coast, it is the Port of Gijón as a gateway to Europe through the A-66 and A-8 highways, allowing direct access to the west and centre of the Iberian Peninsula.

The Port of Gijón is the top dry bulk port in the Spanish ports system with an average annual traffic of more than 20 million tons the last years.
Trains
Spain's national RENFE rail network also serves Asturias well; trains regularly depart to and from the Spanish interior. Major stops are the regional capital, Oviedo, and the main coastal city, Gijón. Meanwhile, the FEVE rail company links the centre of the region with Eastern and Western Asturias. Under the Cantabrian Mountains, the Pajares Base Tunnel, is currently under construction, and will reduce the journey times from Madrid to Asturias from 5 hours to just 3 hours, paving the way for the arrival of AVE trains in the near future.
Bus By car Distance by car to other capital cities of Spain:
From Madrid 4 hr 29 min (446 km) via A-6

From Santiago de Compostela 3 hr 13 min (323 km) via A-8

From Santander 2 hr 2 min (192 km) via A-8

From Vitoria-Gasteiz 3 hr 37 min (344 km) via A-8

From Pamplona 4 hr 28 min (435 km) via A-8

From Zaragoza 5 hr 39 min (583 km) via AP-68 and A-8

From Barcelona 8 hr 43 min (884 km) via AP-68 and A-8

From Valladolid 2 hr 59 min (257 km) via N-601 and AP-66

From Toledo 5 hr 24 min (505 km) via A-6

From Valencia 7 hr 57 min (804 km) via A-3

From Mérida 5 hr 32 min (586 km) via A-66

From Murcia 7 hr 54 min (850 km) via A-6

From Seville 7 hr 32 min (777 km) via A-66

From Logroño 4 hr 16 min (424 km) via A-231
Main information
Area: 10 603,57 km²

Coordinates: 43°20′00″N 6°00′00″W

Population: 1 018 784

Languages: Spanish (Asturian has special status)

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Asturias and its attractions * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Asturias, officially the Principality of Asturias (Spanish: Principado de Asturias; Asturian: Principáu d'Asturies; Galician-Asturian: Principao d'Asturias), is an autonomous community in northwest Spain. Oviedo is, according to the Statute of Autonomy, the capital and a seat of the institutions of the Principality of Asturias. The most populated city in the community is Gijón.

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https://all-andorra.com/teruel/

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Teruel (Sp. Teruel) is a city in the community of Aragon, located in eastern Spain, and is also the capital of Teruel Province.
Tourism and main attractions
Teruel preserves several Mudejar buildings that have been declared a World Heritage Site under the name "Mudejar Architecture of Aragon": the tower, roof and dome of the Cathedral of Santa María de Mediavilla (378-001), the tower and church of San Pedro (378-002), the tower of the church of San Martín (378-003) and the tower of the church of El Salvador (378-004).

Among them, the roof of the Cathedral of Teruel stands out, as a half constructive, half decorative Mudejar element, which is considered the most important medieval wooden roof in the world.

The Cathedral of Santa María de Mediavilla de Teruel is one of the most characteristic Mudejar constructions in Spain, and one of the few Spanish cathedrals, along with that of Tarazona, built in this style.

Currently, the cathedral is considered as BIC (Asset of Cultural Interest). It was also declared a Historic-Artistic Monument belonging to the National Artistic Treasure by decree of June 3, 1931.

The San Martín de Teruel tower was erected in 1316 and renovated in the 16th century, in which a stone base was added.

It is located in the Plaza de Pérez Prado, in front of the Calle de los Amantes. It is, like other of the towers of the Teruel capital, a brick door-tower with glazed ceramic ornaments under which the Andaquilla slope passes. Three of its faces are visible in the first body, as the fourth is attached to the church of San Martín, from the Baroque period.

There are also several modernist buildings, with examples of historicist styles, such as the neo-Mudejar. The Casa de Tejidos El Torico, in the Plaza Carlos Castel, the Plaza de Toros, or the Escalinata, are examples of the aforementioned styles.

The El Torico house, located in Plaza Carlos Castel No. 13, was built in 1912 by the architect Pablo Monguió from Tarragona for the López family and receives this name from the place that originally occupied the ground floor , intended for the sale of fabrics. The primitive commercial and residential use was transformed in the 80s to house the offices of the Caja Rural Provincial. The building underwent a profound internal reform to adapt it to its new use and only the facades and two cast iron columns on the ground floor remain.

In addition, the city preserves some Gothic buildings that have their best exponent in the church of San Francisco.

Also noteworthy from this time are its walls or cisterns. From the 16th century, the largest aqueduct built in Spain in the Renaissance, known as Los Arcos, stands out. In addition to this period, the palace of the Community of Villages of Teruel stands out, currently the Provincial Museum, within the so-called Aragonese (Renaissance) style.

Another place of interest is the Torico fountain and its square, a meeting point, nerve center and a symbol of the city.

On the road to Santa Bárbara you can appreciate the best view of the city and its surroundings from the Mirador de Los Mansuetos, with its interpretation table.
Gastronomy
Due to the livestock vocation of some areas, meat dishes are popular, especially those based on lamb, pork (and its slaughter) as well as various poultry animals. They are known wheat cakes called "flaps" and the shepherd's stew.

One of the most popular foods is the Teruel Jamon serrano (which participates in toasts called Teruel delights: a kind of bread with tomato) and the lamb from Aragón.

Jamón de Teruel has PDO (protected designation of origin) status.

Some dishes of interest are the Teruel crumbs, garlic soups and Teruel soup. Among Teruel pastries are the "lover's sighs", cakes with a cheese base.

There are no Michelin list restaurants in the city.
How to get to?
Teruel Airport opened in 2013, but is primarily an aircraft storage and maintenance facility.

Teruel remains the only provincial capital in peninsular Spain without a direct road or railway link to the national capital, Madrid.

Railways:

Car:

From Zaragoza 1 hr 46 min (171 km) via A-23

From Madrid 3 hr 38 min (306 km) via A-2 and N-211
Main information
Area: 440 sq. km

GPS coordinates: 40°20′37″N 1°06′26″O

Language: Spanish

Population: 36 240

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1, in summer +2

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Teruel and its Mudejar heritage * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Teruel (Sp. Teruel) is a city in the community of Aragon, located in eastern Spain, and is also the capital of Teruel Province. Tourism and main attractions Teruel preserves several Mudejar buildings that have been declared a World Heritage Site under the name "Mudejar Architecture of Aragon": the tower, roof and dome of the Cathedral ...

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https://all-andorra.com/saragossa/

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Zaragoza, also known in English as Saragossa, is the capital city of the Zaragoza Province and of the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain.

It is located on the banks of the Ebro, Huerva and Gállego rivers and the Canal Imperial de Aragón, in the center of a wide valley. Its privileged geographical location makes it an important logistics and communications hub; It is located about 300 km from Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Valencia, Bilbao and Toulouse.

According to the Economic Activity Index, Zaragoza is the fourth city in Spain, says the Mayor of Zaragoza Jorge Azcón.

Part of its municipal term is occupied by the managed nature reserve of Los Sotos and Galachos del Ebro.

The city holds the titles of Very Noble, Very Loyal, Very Heroic, Very Beneficial, Always Heroic and Immortal, granted mostly after its resistance against the Napoleonic army in the Sieges of Zaragoza during the War of Independence. All these titles are reflected in its shield, by the initials of each one of them.

It celebrates its main festival in honor of the Virgen del Pilar on October 12. The patron saint of the city is San Valero (January 29).
Tourism and main attractions
Zaragoza is a two-thousand-year-old city through which practically all the civilizations that have dominated the Iberian Peninsula have passed.

The three main places of interest are:

The Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of El Pilar is the largest Baroque temple in Spain. It includes works of art such as the altarpiece of the main altar by Damián Forment, the choir stalls from the 16th century, and the Santa Capilla, the work of the architect Ventura Rodríguez from 1750. It also houses frescoes by Goya and Francisco Bayeu, among others.

The Cathedral of El Salvador (La Seo), recently restored and a mixture of styles - Romanesque, Gothic, Mudejar and Baroque - is built on the remains of the Mosque from the Muslim period and this, in turn, on a Roman temple. From the exterior stands out the dome, the apse, the Mudejar wall - declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco within the set of Mudejar architecture in Aragon - and the Baroque tower. The interior contains a large number of works of art such as the Gothic altarpiece of the main altar, the organ, the choir, the retrochoir, the set of Renaissance and Baroque chapels or the Museum of Tapestries.

The Aljafería Palace is an Arab construction that was the palace of King Al-Muqtadir of the Saraqusta Taifa in the 11th century. It was also used by some kings of Aragon such as Pedro IV the Ceremonious and Fernando the Catholic, among others. Later it was used as the seat of the Inquisition and today it is the headquarters of the Cortes de Aragón, after extensive restoration, which included the reconstruction of some areas. The patio surrounded by horseshoe arches intertwined with plasterwork, the mihrab, and the upper floor, of Renaissance style, with the great access staircase and the throne room stand out.
Roman Zaragoza
Towards the year 15 AC, the Roman city of Caesar Augusta (Zaragoza) was founded. It coincided with the reorganization of the provinces of Hispania by César Augusto after his victory in the Cantabrian wars. Colonia Caesaraugusta was the name given to the new city, which enjoyed the privilege of bearing the full name of its founder.

The city's heyday (1st and 2nd centuries) brought with it many of the great public works: the forum, the river port (which made Caesarugusta the main redistributor of goods in the Ebro valley), the public baths , the theater, the amphitheater, the first bridge in the city (located on the site of the current Stone Bridge and which was probably a mixed work of stone and wood).

In the second half of the third century the construction of an imposing wall and the abandonment of the great public works denote the important process of crisis in the Roman world. Commerce and life in Caesaraugusta do not decline and help its cultural flourishing.
Medieval Zaragoza
The Cesaraugusta of late antiquity and Christianity, continued to be a place of the first order in the peninsular area. Despite the decline of Roman civilization, Zaragoza preserves, thanks to the tradition of its Innumerable Martyrs sung by Prudencio, at least two monastic establishments, among which the basilica Church of Santa Engracia or of the "Holy Masses" stands out.

Marian worship is also documented since ancient times in the basilica of Santa María, today El Pilar, of which there are testimonies from the first centuries of Christianity and, without any solution of continuity, its permanence as a church of Christian worship during the Islamic domination is recorded, to whose environment the Mozarabic community was grouped.
Renaissance Zaragoza
In Visigothic times another capital temple is documented: a cathedral dedicated to San Vicente, probably on the site where the Aljama Mosque and the Cathedral or Seo de San Salvador later stood.

Zaragoza in the 16th century was a wealthy city, nicknamed La Harta, dedicated to commerce and industry, with a population of over 25,000. This wealth is reflected in the buildings of the time: the Lonja, the demolished Aduana and the city palaces, which gave a sample of the power and money of their owners, nobles and merchants. Of the 200 palaces that it is estimated that there were in the city, only a few have remained, but they allow to get an idea of the appearance of Renaissance Zaragoza. Most of the buildings were concentrated on Calle del Coso, el Mercado, the banks of the Ebro, and Calle Mayor and Manifestation.
Baroque Zaragoza
The baroque spread in Zaragoza simultaneously with the rest of Spain during the second third of the 17th century. However, the style did not undergo a true emergence until the reign of Carlos II of Spain. If during the 17th century civil buildings such as the Lonja or palace-houses had predominated, now religious buildings will take center stage.

This change is explained because, despite the lack of money, the plagues, wars and violence in general, led the people to ask for divine protection. To this must be added the currents of thought of the Counter-Reformation, which were still valid.

The buildings are characterized by their sober brick facades, which only brighten up on the facades, often adorned with statues. On the other hand, the interior is usually very adorned with vaults decorated with plasterwork, polychrome and gilded altarpieces and large paintings. During this time, many of the Mudejar churches were also modernized, adapting the interior and the doorways to the Baroque taste, as would happen with San Miguel de los Navarros, San Gil Abad, La Magdalena, San Nicolás de Bari and San Felipe.
Neoclassical Zaragoza
Despite the difficult position in which the old kingdom of Aragon remained after its defeat against the former king, Felipe V, the Enlightenment ended up finding fertile ground in Zaragoza. Important ministers and patrons (The Count of Aranda, Ramón Pignatelli) give impetus to ideas to promote the public good. Companies such as the Canal Imperial de Aragón and some 18th-century palaces that were saved from the ruin of the Sites of Zaragoza, testify to this fact.

It is also the century of the definitive change in popular devotion, which leans towards the temple of Pilar and the Marian cult, compared to the medieval past and the ecclesiastical and political head that La Seo represented. Thanks to largely popular votes, the Baroque reform of the Pilarista basilica was undertaken in this period, with an initial project by Ventura Rodríguez, which includes a chapel for the Virgen del Pilar of excellent workmanship and noble materials. The work, for the most part, ends in 1765.
Modernist Zaragoza
It is the young architects José de Yarza Echenique, Julio Bravo Folch, or the Talaverano Juan Francisco Gómez Pulido who erected most of the modernist buildings in the city, concentrating particularly on the Paseo de Sagasta.
Museums
The History Center presents in sequence the different historical stages of the city of Zaragoza. On the upper floor of the center is the Zaragoza School-Museum of Origami, which exhibits works made using origami.

There are four museums that house remains of urban spaces of the Roman Caesaraugusta - the Roman theater, the forum, the thermal baths and the port - and explain their evolution, use and importance in the life of the city. They are the Caesaraugusta Theater Museum, the Caesaraugusta Forum Museum, the Caesaraugusta Public Baths Museum and the Caesaraugusta River Port Museum.

The Zaragoza Museum, whose work is spread over several buildings. The main one is the building built by Ricardo Magdalena for the 1908 Hispano-French Exposition in the Plaza de los Sitio and is divided between an archeology section and a fine arts section. Other collections in the museum belong to the Ethnology Section, located in the reproduction of an Ansotan house at the entrance to the José Antonio Labordeta Park, where everyday items and clothing from 19th century Aragonese society are exhibited. Next to the latter is the Albarracín house, where the Ceramic Section is located.

The Alma Mater Museum (MUDIZ) occupies part of the Archbishop's Palace. It presents the history of the Archdiocese of Zaragoza and exhibits works of art related to it.

The La Seo Tapestry Museum is located in the Cathedral of El Salvador and has an exceptional collection of tapestries from the 15th-18th centuries, considered one of the best collections in Europe. Important works of the Cathedral Treasury are also exhibited.

The Goya Museum exhibits the collection of paintings that José Camón Aznar gathered, which includes works from the 15th to the 20th centuries and also includes drawings. It also presents the complete collection of Goya's etchings. In its basement it houses some monumental remains from Roman times.

The Museo de la Torre Nueva, dedicated to the memory of the Torre Nueva, demolished in the 19th century. It is located in Casa Montal, a Renaissance palace.

The Pilarista Museum, located in the Basilica del Pilar, exhibits works of art related to the devotion to the Virgen del Pilar.

The Museum of Fire and Firefighters, located in the old convent of Minimos de la Victoria, which exposes the evolution of the means used by firefighters in Zaragoza throughout history.

The Museum of La Zaragozana, located in the facilities of this old beer-producing factory. In it you can see the entire brewing process and the historical evolution of the factory.

The Pablo Gargallo Museum, located in a Renaissance building, exhibits a collection of works made by the sculptor Pablo Gargallo.

The Pablo Serrano Museum contains works donated by the sculptor Pablo Serrano, founder of the El Paso Group and Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts in 1982.

The Museum of the General Military Academy presents a collection of objects related to the army and the history of the Academy.

The Museum of Natural Sciences of the University of Zaragoza, which is located in the Paraninfo and groups together the funds of the Paleontological Museum and those of the Longinos Navás collection.
Best restaurants
There are eight Michelin list restaurants in the city:

Cancook, Juan II de Aragón 5, 65 - 110 EUR * Creative Cuisine (one star)

Maite, Plaza San Pedro Nolasco 5, 40 - 65 EUR * Contemporary Cuisine

Casa Pedro, Cadena 6, 36 - 49 EUR * Traditional Cuisine, Contemporary Cuisine

Casa Lac, Mártires 12, 40 - 50 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Novodabo, Plaza de Aragón 8, 25 - 50 EUR * Modern Cuisine

Quema, Paseo María Agustín 20, 35 - 50 EUR * Modern Cuisine

Crudo, Doctor Cerrada 40, 25 - 37 EUR * Fusion

El Chalet, Santa Teresa de Jesús 25, 35 - 55 EUR * Traditional Cuisine
Shopping
In the old historic center of town, as well as in and around the streets of Alfonso I and Don Jaime I, you'll find many small specialised shops, silk warehouses, jewellery, antiques, gift shops, clothes by local designers and fantastic centuries old bakeries.

This city has a number of interesting street markets as well. They can be found in La Romareda, in Plaza Sanfrancisco and in Plaza San Bruno, which is located behind La Seo. The central market is also worth a look.
How to get to?
Zaragoza Airport is located in the Garrapinillos neighbourhood, 10 kilometres from the city centre. It is a major commercial airport, its freight traffic surpassing that of Barcelona El Prat, and serves as the home of the Spanish Air Force's 15th Group.

Zaragoza is a part of the Spanish high-speed railway operated by RENFE, AVE, which connects Madrid and Barcelona via high-speed rail. Madrid can be reached in 75 minutes, and Barcelona in approximately 90 minutes. In addition to long-distance railway lines and the high-speed trains, Zaragoza has a network of commuter trains operated by RENFE called cercanías.

Distance by car:

From Teruel 1 hr 40 min (171 km) via A-23

From Huesca 51 min (74.0 km) via E-7/A-23

From the capital Madrid 3 hr 5 min (320 km) via A-2
Main information
Area: 973 sq. km

GPS coordinates: 41°39′00″N 0°53′00″W

Language: Spanish

Population: 681 877

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1, in summer +2

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Zaragoza and its heritage * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Zaragoza, also known in English as Saragossa, is the capital city of the Zaragoza Province and of the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. It is located on the banks of the Ebro, Huerva and Gállego rivers and the Canal Imperial de Aragón, in the center of a wide valley.

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https://all-andorra.com/huesca/

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Huesca (Aragonese: Uesca) is a city in north-eastern Spain, within the autonomous community of Aragon. It is also the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and of the comarca of Hoya de Huesca. The city is one of the smallest provincial capitals in Spain.

The Isuela river runs through Huesca and the Flumen river also in its surroundings, it is also located on the edge of the outer mountain ranges of the Pyrenees. From the city you can see the Sierra de Guara, whose peak reaches 2077 m of altitude. That is why it is also known as "the door of the Pyrenees".

At present it is the second city of Aragon and the headquarters of the Provincial Council of Huesca. The economy is based on the services sector with a boom in tourism, followed by the industrial sector and with a great tradition of the agricultural sector, with crops of cereal in the outskirts of the city.
Tourism and main attractions
The monumental heritage of the city of Huesca is mainly concentrated in the Old Town and the surrounding areas.
Ramparts
Construction that surrounded the city built in the 9th century by Muslims to stop Christians from the north. The growth of the city with suburbs outside the walls from the 10th century made it necessary to build a new defensive belt made of mud. Currently it only remains standing from Joaquín Costa street to the bullring. The wall had seven gates and 100 towers, but currently only that of the Septentrión remains, remodeled according to the Gothic style.
Church of Saint Peter the Elder
Romanesque monastery from the 12th century, which includes a cloister and royal pantheon of the kings of Aragon (Alfonso I el Batallador and Ramiro II el Monje). The tower is hexagonal in plan from the late 13th century and is located in the old part of the city. It houses inside the 13th century wall paintings, the 16th century choir stalls and the Main Altarpiece from the early 17th century. It is a National Monument since 1885.
Convent of San Miguel
It is a set of the late Romanesque. It was founded by Alfonso I in 1110. The building was an important hospital, leper colony, and meeting place until the end of the 15th century. Numerous baroque-style altarpieces and the choir organ, dating from 1852, have been preserved. It is located next to the Isuela river and the San Miguel bridge. It is popularly called "Las Miguelas" because it is occupied by Carmelite nuns.
Huesca Cathedral
The cathedral dedicated to Santa María is in the Gothic style built in the 13th century and completed in the 16th century. It stands on a possible Roman temple and on the old aljama mosque of which only a horseshoe arch remains in the cloisters area. During the 17th century the building continued to be renovated, replacing medieval altarpieces, chapels and tombs with others in the Gothic and Baroque style. It was declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1931. It is the seat of the bishopric of Huesca and the Diocesan Museum of Huesca.
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Salas
It is located approximately one km from the city. It was rebuilt around the year 1200, at the initiative of Sancha de Castilla, widow of Alfonso II of Aragon. It is a National Monument since 1951.
Huesca City Council
It is a clear example of an Aragonese town hall from the Aragonese Renaissance. The building was built in the 16th century on the site that previously housed the council, opposite the cathedral. In it is the famous painting of the Bell of Huesca.
Huesca Museum
Built on the old Sertoriana University of Huesca, which in turn occupied part of the Palace of the Kings of Aragon, it houses archaeological remains and works of art from the entire province and especially from the Hoya de Huesca region.
Villahermosa Palace
This Gothic-style palace was built in the 14th century. Its roof has been restored where you can see a mixture of bestiary and heraldic elements. Among these figures are birds, leopards or snakes. At present it is a Cultural Center in charge of IberCaja.
Basilica of San Lorenzo
It was built on an old Romanesque temple, which was later expanded in the 14th century in Gothic style during the reign of Jaime II of Aragon. The church has a hall plan, consisting of three naves of the same height divided into four sections by cruciform pillars covered by lunettes vaults, with side chapels from the 16th and 17th centuries.
Grocery The Trust
Oldest active shop in Aragon and Spain, opened by a French family in 1871. The grocer was used for haberdashery and silk. In a few years the sale of luxurious imported products, aromatic coffees and chocolates, French liqueurs or smoked foods expanded.
Casino (Huesca Circle)
It is one of the most important examples of modernism in Huesca, it is located in the Plaza de Navarra, the nerve center of the city. Built at the beginning of the 20th century. It is symmetrical with respect to the axis of the main façade and is configured by the addition of simple geometric bodies with white facades, it also presents a castle-fortress character. For the people of Huesca it is also known as Casino.
Cuisine and the best restaurants
The meat, generally lamb, is widely used in the gastronomy of Huesca.

The traditional fresh fish comes from the rivers that cross the province, some specialties such as the ajarriero pollock are popular. Cod is prepared in various ways: ajoarriero, or baturra, with potatoes and boiled eggs, and the suggestive cod fritters.

Preparations such as chilindrón (either chicken or lamb) are popular in the province.

The most popular vegetables are endive, asparagus, as well as borage and thistle.

In the confectionery, the marzipan chestnuts, the refollau and the empanadas (stuffed with spinach or pumpkin) stand out. Also fried milk and rice pudding are popular.

There are four Michelin list restaurants in the city:

Tatau, Azara, 60 - 120 EUR * Creative Cuisine, Traditional Cuisine (one star)

Lillas Pastia, Plaza de Navarra 4, 50 - 75 EUR * Modern Cuisine, Market Cuisine (one star)

El Origen, Plaza Justicia 4, 19 - 50 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Las Torres, María Auxiliadora 3, 40 - 60 EUR * Modern Cuisine, Traditional Cuisine
How to get to?
The Huesca airport is located between the municipalities of Monflorite and Alcalá del Obispo and is a benchmark for the Aragonese Pyrenees since there are the main ski slopes in Spain. Offers flights to Madrid, La Coruña, Palma de Mallorca and London-Gatwick.

Huesca has an intermodal train and intercity bus station inaugurated in 2001. It is a pass-through type station on the Zaragoza-Canfranc line. The station has four platforms and six tracks, two for High Speed and four for regional traffic without electrification.

AVE: The station has the lines: Huesca-Zaragoza-Delicias-Madrid-Puerta de Atocha and Huesca-Zaragoza-Delicias.

Media Distancia Renfe: Huesca-Jaca-Canfranc International Station and Huesca-Zaragoza-Delicias-Teruel-Valencia.

Distance by car:

From Zaragoza 54 min (74.1 km) via E-7/A-23

From Madrid 3 hr 59 min (394 km) via A-2 (tolls)
Main information
Area: 161 sq. km

GPS coordinates: 42°08′24″N 0°24′32″W

Language: Spanish, Aragonese

Population: 53 956

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1, in summer +2

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Huesca - the door of the Pyrenees * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Huesca (Aragonese: Uesca) is a city in north-eastern Spain, within the autonomous community of Aragon. It is also the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and of the comarca of Hoya de Huesca. The city is one of the smallest provincial capitals in Spain.

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https://all-andorra.com/aragon/

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Aragon - an autonomous community in Spain • All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Aragon is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain. The Aragonese autonomous community consists of three provinces (from north to south): Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel.
Its capital is Zaragoza. The current Statute of Autonomy declares Aragon a historic nationality of Spain. Geography
Covering a…

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https://all-andorra.com/catalonia/

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Drawings: Joan Mañe
Catalonia (cat. Catalunya, Aran. Catalonha, Sp. Cataluña) is an autonomous community of Spain. It is located on the northeastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula and borders Andorra and France in the north, Aragon in the west, Valencia in the south and the Mediterranean Sea in the east. Catalonia is the largest part of the historical and cultural territory of the Principality of Catalonia and one of the countries belonging to the Catalan countries.

According to IDESCAT (cat. L'Institut d'Estadística de Catalunya), the country's population in 2020 was 7,600,065, which is 51.55% of the total population of Catalan countries.

The territory now known as Catalonia was the possession of the Roman Empire, which passed into the hands of the Goths and Alans in the 5th century. The Muslims conquered it in 712 but were expelled from the northern coast of Llobregat at the end of the same century and at the beginning of the next century, with the support of Charlemagne, then the king of the Franks, who created a number of counties.

Over time, the Frankish counts turned Catalonia into an independent territory, which was allied in 1137 with the crown of Aragon, and ended the conquest of the Muslim territories of Catalonia in 1154. The Crown of Aragon later joined the Crown of Castile in 1476 as a result of the marriage between Elizabeth and Ferdinand, the Catholic monarchs.

Catalonia retained its autonomous government institutions until the end of the War of Spanish Succession in 1714. A few years later, the division of the territories followed as a result of the cession of the province of Roussillon and part of Cerdanya to the French kingdom. In 1978, the region regained autonomy and became the Autonomous Community of the Kingdom of Spain. On October 27, 2017, the Parliament of Catalonia proclaimed the Catalan Republic, which did not enter into force and did not appear in the DOGC (El Diari Oficial de la Generalitat de Catalunya), but led to the application of Article 155 by the Spanish government for 218 days.

The Parliament of Catalonia, uniting the feelings and will of the citizens of Catalonia, defined Catalonia as a nation by a majority vote in the Preamble to the Statute of Autonomy.

The capital of Catalonia, Barcelona, has a total of 947 municipalities. Two-thirds of the population lives in the Barcelona metropolitan region. More

Catalonia's own language is Catalan, with the exception of the Aran Valley, where Aranese is spoken. Both Catalan and Spanish, the official language of Spain, are official languages throughout Catalonia. Occitan, called Aran in the Aran Valley, is also an official language in Catalonia. Catalans are generally bilingual and speak two main languages. As of 2013, 99.7% of Catalans speak Spanish and 80.4% Catalan. In addition, the use of a particular language by each speaker often depends on the social sphere in which it is expressed. According to the Statistical Institute of Catalonia, 36% of Catalans use Catalan as a common language, 46% use Spanish, 12% use both languages and 6% of the resident population of Catalonia regularly use other languages. More
Etymology
The name Catalonia began to be used in the late 11th century to designate a number of border counties, which were gradually dissociated from the tutelage of the Franks. The origin of the word Catalonia is still unclear and can be interpreted. One theory is that it comes from a reference to the presence of numerous castles, and that it comes from the Castilian term for "castle governor." According to this theory, the Spanish term would be similar. Another theory suggests that Catalonia came from Gotoland, that is, the land of the Goths. In fact, the Franks often referred to the territory of Catalonia as Gothia.

Another theory comes from its history of Muslim rule, which wanted to relate the name to Talunya or Taluniya, a Muslim town in the region of Ath-Thaghr al-Allah near Lleida. It is mentioned by the Muslim historian and geographer Al-Udhrí (1002- ~ 1085) in his work Tarsi al-akhbār. According to Al-Udhrí, it was located halfway between Lleida and Huesca, which leads many experts to identify it with Montsó. It would be a name of Iberian origin. During the Saracen period, it had a fortification or castle (qalat in Arabic), which gave qalat Talunya or, using the contraction qa- to refer to castle, qa Talunya ('castle of Talunya'). According to this hypothesis, the Arabs would call the inhabitants of Gòtia 'those who live beyond qa Talunya.' The Arabic origin, through an Iberian toponym, could explain the lack of exact correspondence between the Catalan gentilicio and the toponym Catalunya.

The concept Principat de Catalunya is a legal term (in Latin principatus) that appeared in the 14th century to indicate the territory under the jurisdiction of the Catalan Parliament, whose sovereign (in Latin, princeps) was the king of the Casal de Barcelona, without being formally a kingdom but a grouping of counties with laws united by Cortes.
Geography of Catalonia
The geography of Catalonia describes the topography and how it affects human relations (trade, demography, transport) that are established in the territory of Catalonia, in the sense of an autonomous community, with an area of about 32,000 km².

Catalonia has borders in the north with Andorra (65.3 km) and France, in the west with the Department of Eastern Pyrenees (315 km) and the Autonomous Community of Aragon (359.9 km), in the south with Valencia (52.9 km) and in the east with the Mediterranean Sea. Its geographical position since the Middle Ages has contributed to the establishment of close and intense relations with the rest of the Mediterranean and at the same time with continental Europe. More
Climate
Catalonia has a temperate Mediterranean climate, typical of its latitudes in the northern hemisphere. However, given its varied topography, there is a variety of climatic features. Average annual temperatures range from 0 ° C in the Pyrenees to 17 ° C on the southern coast; the maximum temperature can reach 43 ° C (in Les Garrigues) and the minimum is -30 ° C (high in the Pyrenees). More
Administrative division
There are several administrative levels in Catalonia. The division into municipalities and provinces was organized after the territorial division of Spain in 1833 with variations, usually the merging of municipalities, especially in places where depopulation was the main demographic force. Catalonia has four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona. However, in connection with the growing strengthening of self-government, the local administrations of Catalonia have called for the creation of other administrative levels, which would be more consistent with this administration. Among the largest cities in Catalonia are Barcelona, Lleida, Girona, Figueres, Tortosa, Sabadell and Tarragona. More
Political system
The institutional norm that establishes the political structure of Catalonia is the 2006 Statute of Autonomy. In accordance with what the Statute establishes, the self-government of Catalonia is politically organized in the Generalitat of Catalonia, which is coordinated by the Parliament, the Presidium, the Executive Council and other institutions created by the Parliament. The system of political organization in Catalonia is based on parliamentarism. More
Economy
Catalonia, despite a certain lack of natural resources, is one of the richest communities in Europe. Catalonia is a member of The Four Motors for Europe. Four Motors for Europe (4ME) is an association for interregional cooperation between the territories of Catalonia, Baden-Württemberg (BW), Lombardy (ITA) and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (AURA) with the aim of strengthening and increasing economic activity. The association controls the internationalization of its members, as well as their active participation in European construction, mainly through joint decisions and positions that are presented to European institutions.

The Catalan economy, with a gross domestic product of 223,629 million euros in 2016, is the largest in the autonomous communities of Spain. More
Art
The art of Catalonia has given the world many important figures. The most famous Catalan painters worldwide are Salvador Dali, Joan Miró and Antoni Tapies. Closely associated with the Catalan scenic environment, Pablo Picasso, originally from Malaga, lived in Barcelona as a young man, studied painting there and laid the foundation for the Cubist movement. Other Catalan artists include Ramon Casas, Josep Maria Subirax and Maria Fortuny.

The most important scenic museums in Catalonia are the Dalí Theater Museum, the Picasso Museum in Barcelona, the Antoni Tapies Foundation, the Joan Miró Foundation, the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC), the Museum of Contemporary Art in Barcelona (MACBA), the Center for Contemporary Culture of Barcelona (CCCB) and CaixaFòrum.

In the field of architecture, various predominant artistic styles in Europe have been developed and adapted in Catalonia, leaving their mark on many Romanesque churches, monasteries and cathedrals. The prevailing styles include Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassicism. The name of the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi has become a "common" name. More
Cuisine and gastronomy
Catalan cuisine takes its own place among the gastronomy of the Mediterranean, while being its typical representative. Often, this name refers to the cuisine of Catalonia under the influence of Spain, Northern Catalonia (cat. Catalunya Nord), France and even Andorra (cat. Andorra). Some contemporary authors such as Josep Pla, Jaume Fàbrega, Eliana Thibaut i Comalada, Ferran Agulló and English-speaking writer Colman Andrews talk about the gastronomy characteristics of the entire area of distribution of Catalan culture, including the Valencian Autonomy (cat. País Valencià), the Balearic Islands (cat. Les Balears), the Western Strip (cat. Franja de Ponent)-the border area between Catalonia and Aragon-and Andorra; thus, it becomes the predominant cuisine of the Catalan lands (cat. Països Catalans). More
Festivals and holidays
The anniversary of the end of the siege of Barcelona in 1714, the National Day of Catalonia (cat. Diada Nacional de Catalunya), is celebrated every year on September 11th.

Popular festivals in Catalan countries are a collection of traditional festivals that are celebrated in Catalan-speaking territories.

The festivals of the Pyrenean fire, or San Joan (cat. Les falles del Pirineu), are essential elements of traditions rooted in paganism. It is interesting to note that these fire festivals, which are also widespread throughout Europe and beyond, have very high recognition in all Catalan countries, from Falles del Pallars Sobirà, Falles d'Andorra and Flame of Canigó (cat. Flama del Canigó) to the bonfires of Alicante and the other 90 cities of Valencia. More
Tourism
Tourism in Catalonia is one of the most important sectors of the Catalan economy. It is the main tourist destination in Spain and one of the most important in Europe. One of the main destinations is the metropolitan area of Barcelona.

Catalonia is one of the leading tourist regions in the world. Tourism accounts for about 11-12% of Catalonia's GDP. For example, in 2019, this figure was 12.34 billion euros. More
Media
Catalonia has many media both in Catalan and Spanish, and an even large number of bilingual media.

Televisió de Catalunya, a public channel in Catalonia that broadcasts entirely in Catalan, is the main Catalan television. It has five channels: TV3, Canal 33, 3/24, Esport3 and Canal Super3. TVC competes for an audience with the Spanish-language channels of Spanish communication groups, mainly Radiotelevisión Española (RTVE), Atresmedia and Mediaset España Comunicación. These groups are based in Madrid, but have production centers in Catalonia, from where they broadcast some programs.

Other channels with a smaller audience are 8 TV, the private Godó Group TV that broadcasts in Catalan, Barça TV, El Punt Avui TV and local TV channels, the largest of which is Barcelona Televisió, which also broadcast in Catalan.

The two main groups of the Catalan press and magazines are the Godó Group and the Zeta Group. Each of the groups has a variety of both newspapers and magazines with general and sports information.

The two main Catalan general information newspapers are El Periódico de Catalonia (Grupo Zeta) and La Vanguardia (Godó Group), both of which are published in both Catalan and Spanish. These are the two newspapers with the largest circulation and distribution in Catalonia, ahead of national Spanish-language newspapers such as El País or El Mundo, which also have branches in Catalonia. Also noteworthy are the newspapers El Punt Avui i Ara, published only in Catalan.

Many regional newspapers are published both in Spanish and Catalan. The most influential are El 9 Nou, Segre, Regió 7, Diari de Girona and El Diari de Tarragona.

In the area of sports information, Sport by the Zeta Group and El Mundo Deportivo (Godó Group) stand out. Both newspapers are published in Spanish. L'Esportiu is published in Catalan.

The radio with the largest audience in Catalonia is RAC 1 (Grup Godó), which broadcasts entirely in Catalan. The second is Catalunya Ràdio, a public radio owned by the Catalan radio and television company.
Symbols
National symbols of Catalonia are elements and icons that are representative or characteristic of Catalonia and its population, culture and history. The oldest Catalan symbol is the coat of arms of Catalonia, which is one of the oldest heraldic emblems in Europe. According to legend, it dates from the ninth century, and it is said that the four sticks (or four rods) depicted on it were the result of four fingers of Charles II the Bald (cat. Carles el Calb) passing through the blood stain on the golden shield of Guifré el Pelós as a reward for his valiant struggle against the Normans. The national flag of Catalonia (cat. Senyera), inspired by the coat of arms, is perhaps the most representative symbol of Catalonia.
Bibliography: L'Enciclopèdia: Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana. "Els Països Catalans": Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana. Institut d'Estadística de Catalunya

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Catalonia - Spanish autonomous community * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Drawings: Joan Mañe Catalonia (cat. Catalunya, Aran. Catalonha, Sp. Cataluña) is an autonomous community of Spain. It is located on the northeastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula and borders Andorra and France in the north, Aragon in the west, Valencia in the south and the Mediterranean Sea in the east.

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https://all-andorra.com/costa-de-la-luz/

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The Costa de la Luz ("Coast of Light") is a section of the coast in Spain facing the Atlantic ocean, Andalusia. It extends from Tarifa in the south, along the coasts of the Province of Cádiz and the Province of Huelva, to the mouth of the Guadiana River.

It is a popular part of the Atlantic resorts of Spain.

National tourism stands out and it is also a destination for foreigners, mainly French, English and Germans. The urban growth of some areas of the coastline has left economic benefits, but also episodes of speculation and environmental aggressions.

It has a fairly relevant tourist offer of hotel and leisure beds, both sun and beach, rural, gastronomic and cultural, golf courses, water parks and marinas.

It is worth mentioning that of the Cadiz municipalities that make up the Bay of Algeciras; Algeciras, San Roque and La Línea de la Concepción, have their coastline on the Costa del Sol.

The towns and their municipalities that make up the Costa de la Luz in the province of Huelva are: Ayamonte, Isla Canela, Punta del Moral, Isla Cristina, Casita Azul, Urbasur, Islantilla, Lepe, La Antilla, Cartaya, El Rompido, Nuevo Portil , El Portil, Punta Umbría, Mazagón, Palos de la Frontera, Moguer, Huelva, Almonte, Matalascañas and the coast of Coto de Doñana, the latter without tourist activity, and in the province of Cádiz: Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Chipiona, urbanization Costa Ballena, Rota, El Puerto de Santa María, San Fernando, Cádiz, Chiclana de la Frontera and its urbanization of Novo Sancti Petri, Conil de la Frontera, Los Caños de Meca, Barbate, Zahara de los Atunes, Vejer de la Frontera and Tarifa.

The Costa de la Luz has a rich history dating back to the 12th century BC. Cultural attractions include Baelo Claudia, the well-preserved ruins of a small Roman town; Cape Trafalgar, where, in 1805, within sight of this promontory, the English admiral, Horacio Nelson, defeated a combined French and Spanish fleet; and the Monastery of La Rábida.

Throughout the 20th century, the Costa de la Luz has evolved from an agricultural place to open to the world through mass tourism since the 1960s, consolidating a remarkable economic and urban development.

The importance of its protected natural areas stands out: Doñana, Cádiz bay, cliffs and marshes of Barbate, del Tinto and Odiel, marshes of the Piedras and Flecha del Rompido river, El Portil lagoon, Isla Cristina marshes, etc. as important destinations for cultural tourism, such as Baelo Claudia, Cape Trafalgar or the Colombian places such as the monastery of La Rábida, Palos de la Frontera and Moguer.

The Costa de la Luz is especially known for the beauty of its protected nature reserves and a series of first-rate natural attractions. Among them are: the Doñana National Park, where endangered species, such as the Iberian imperial eagle and the Iberian lynx, can be seen occasionally; the picturesque bay of Cádiz; the steep coasts of the southern section of the Andalusian coast; the marshes of Barbate and the coastal cliffs of La Breña (both within the natural park of La Breña and Marismas de Barbate); and the extensive wetlands at the mouths of the Tinto and Odiel rivers, where waterfowl abound and, in season, other migratory birds, including storks and flamingos.

The beaches of the Costa de la Luz are usually made up of endless dunes made up of fine sandy areas and native plants, sometimes escorted by pine forests. The predominant elements are golden sand and a visible sun almost every hour of the day, in all seasons. The name is given by a very vivid light that highlights the neatness of the streets, the whitewash of the walls, the gold of the dunes and the reflection of the sea.

Aside from the beaches and the sunshine, there are ample opportunities and facilities for leisure activities, like fine dining, golf, kitesurfing, boating, and other water sports.

Nearest international airports are in Seville and Jerez de la Frontera.

Main resorts are (from west to east):
Ayamonte and Isla Canela beach - the westernmost resort on Costa de la Luz Sanlúcar de Barrameda is internationally renowned for beach horse racing Chipiona and its tallest lighthouse in Spain El Puerto de Santa María - the City of a Hundred Palaces Cádiz and its Victoria Beach - best urban beach in Europe Chiclana de la Frontera has the largest number of hotel beds in the Costa de la Luz Conil de la Frontera and its beaches Vejer de la Frontera and its historic center Tarifa - where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean How to get to?
The nearest international airports are in:

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The Costa de la Luz and its best resorts * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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The Costa de la Luz ("Coast of Light") is a section of the coast in Spain facing the Atlantic ocean, Andalusia. It extends from Tarifa in the south, along the coasts of the Province of Cádiz and the Province of Huelva, to the mouth of the Guadiana River.

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https://all-andorra.com/costa-del-sol/

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The Costa del Sol ("Sun Coast") is a region in the south of Spain in the autonomous community of Andalusia, comprising the coastal towns and communities along the coastline of the Province of Málaga and the eastern part of Campo de Gibraltar in Cádiz. Formerly made up only of a series of small fishing settlements, today the region is a world-renowned tourist destination.

It is one of the most popular parts of the Mediterranean resorts of Spain.

The Costa del Sol is situated between two lesser known coastal regions, the Costa de la Luz and the Costa Tropical.

The region has no official limit, but it is generally accepted that the Costa del Sol stretches from the municipality of La Línea de la Concepción in the west to Nerja in the east, spanning around 150 kilometers of coastline.

The region was a relatively prosperous commercial and industrial center for much of the 19th century. The tourist boom in the area began in the 1920s with the opening of the Baños del Carmen in Málaga and a golf course in Torremolinos.
Most popular resorts (from east to west)
Nerja has a long history proven by the paintings found in the Cueva de Nerja, discovered in 1959, which could constitute the oldest rock art images in the history of mankind with 42,000 years old. Under Muslim rule, its name was Narixa, which means "abundant source" and is the origin of the current name.

El Morche is a resort district in the Spanish municipality of Torrox, in the province of Malaga. Torre de El Morche or Güi: it is one of the most outstanding monuments of this nucleus located near the N-340 road and the Güi ravine, hence its name. It was built before 1497.

Torrox is frequented especially by German and British tourists. The city itself is divided into sections: Torrox Costa on the sea and Torrox Pueblo, four km inland. Torrox Park, a housing section in between the costa and the village, could be seen as another division. Torrox is located in close proximity to Nerja, and 50 km from Malaga.

Torre del Mar is bounded by the channels of the Río Vélez and Río Seco. It is located 33 kilometers east of the provincial capital Málaga, on the axis formed by the A-356, A-7 and N-340A highways. The tourism sector constitutes the main productive sector of the municipality of Vélez-Málaga, followed by agriculture, which stands out for the production of subtropical crops such as mango, and especially avocado. In addition, the largest fishing fleet on the Costa del Sol moors in the Port of La Caleta.

Rincón de la Victoria is the ninth most populated municipality in the province and the second in the region after Vélez-Málaga. The population is concentrated in four urban centers, three coastal and one inland (La Cala del Moral, Rincón de la Victoria, Torre de Benagalbón and Benagalbón).

Malaga - the main tourist spot on the Costa del Sol.

Torremolinos - a poor fishing village before the growth in tourism began in the late 1950s, was the first of the Costa del Sol resorts to be developed and is still the most popular in the region. The influx of foreigners, intellectuals, bohemians, hippies, artists, aristocrats, jet-set personalities and tourists in general during the 1960s and 1970s created a liberal, permissive and cosmopolitan atmosphere that differentiated it from other areas of the Costa del Sol, becoming one of the main references for musical and nightlife in Spain.

Benalmádena is one of the municipalities with the largest hotel offer on the Costa del Sol. Today, Benalmádena is one of the main tourist destinations on the Costa del Sol, notable for its leisure establishments, which include an amusement park, two aquariums, a casino, a cable car and one of the largest marinas in Andalusia.

Fuengirola is a major tourist resort, with more than 8 km of beaches and a medieval Moorish fortress. In common with much of this coast, it has been the subject of considerable urban development. Founded by the Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Visigoths and Muslims, among other peoples, passed through Fuengirola, until its definitive incorporation into the Crown of Castile in 1485. Its development slowed due to the intense Berber piracy that the area suffered for centuries, it became municipality after separating from Mijas in 1841, still being a small fishing village. Currently, Fuengirola is an important tourist center with around 250,000 inhabitants during the summer months.

La Cala de Mijas forms the resort part of the Municipality of Mijas. In the middle of the Costa del Sol, La Cala is located in the coastal zone of the municipality, and except a few rocks is practically urbanized within a 12 kilometres radius. It sits between the limits of Fuengirola to the east, and Marbella to the west.

Marbella - a protagonist in the early Spanish industrial revolution in the 19th century, has experienced continuous growth throughout the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, developing an economy based on the tourist offer aimed at visitors and temporary residents of medium and high purchasing power.

Estepona is a popular international tourist destination, with a wide range of hotels and interesting leisure and sports facilities. It has a very well-kept historic center, beaches and a significant number of second homes. It has several five-star hotels such as Kempinski Bahía Beach, Elba Estepona Gran Hotel, Healthhouse Las Dunas and Senator Banús. During its history, Estepona has been linked to its status as a coastal town, the scene of naval battles due to its proximity to the Strait.

Casares is located on the border with the province of Cádiz, in the region of the Western Costa del Sol. Casares is the prototype of the Andalusian white village: narrow, steep and winding streets and whitewashed houses. In addition, it is the birthplace of Blas Infante, the Father of the Andalusian nationalism.

The Puerto de La Duquesa is a marina, enjoyed by sailors and tourists alike. The beautiful port of Duquesa offers full Marina services for boating enthusiasts as well as a myriad of attractions for those with no aspirations to take to the water. For those that a do, a number of companies offer Jet Boat, Wake Board, Boat trips and Scuba Diving. The attractive promenades surrounding the port offer a variety of restaurants, intimate bars and cafes.

San Roque is a part of the province of Cádiz, which in turn is part of the autonomous community of Andalusia. San Roque is situated a short way inland of the north side of the Bay of Gibraltar, to the north of the Gibraltar peninsula. The urban area of San Roque was the first enclave of Campo de Gibraltar to be declared a historical-artistic complex by the Ministry of Culture of Spain.

La Línea de la Concepción - a westernmost resort of the Costa del Sol. The city lies on the sandy isthmus which is part of the eastern flank of the Bay of Gibraltar, and it limits with the Gibraltar-Spain border to the south. La Línea has close economic and social links with the British overseas territory of Gibraltar.
The Golf Coast
The Costa del Sol is also known as the Costa del Golf. It has the highest concentration of golf courses in Andalusia and the European continent, which are distributed as follows: 21 in the municipality of Marbella, 11 in Mijas, 10 in Estepona, 6 in Benahavís, 9 in San Roque, 3 in Malaga , 2 in Casares, Rincón de la Victoria and Benalmádena and 1 in Vélez-Málaga, Fuengirola, Nerja, Manilva.
Sea ports

Puerto Marina Alcaidesa (sports)

Port of La Atunara (sports and fishing)

Sotogrande port (sports)

Port of La Caleta (sports and fishing)

Puerto de la Duquesa (sports)

Port of Estepona (sports and fishing)

Puerto Banús (sports)

Marbella Marina

Puerto de Marbella (sports and fishing)

Puerto de Cabopino (sports)

Port of Fuengirola (sports and fishing)

Puerto Deportivo de Benalmádena (sports)

Port of Malaga (commercial, passenger, cruise, sports and fishing)

Real Club Mediterráneo (sports)

Puerto El Candado (sports)

How to get to?
The nearest international airports are in:
Cuisine and best restaurants
Native cuisine on the Costa del Sol, as in the rest of Andalusia, has been influenced historically by Spanish, Jewish and Arabic traditions, and emphasises seafood. Pescaíto frito, small fish breaded without egg and fried in olive oil, then served with fresh lemon, is a universally popular dish. Gazpacho is a famous refreshing cold soup made of raw tomatoes, cucumber, onions, green peppers, garlic, bread, oil and vinegar. Tortillas, Spanish omelettes made with potatoes and served cold, are typical, and a plate of thin-sliced jamón serrano, or dry-cured ham, with a glass of sherry or Málaga wine is a traditional combination. The Ir de Tapas (tapas tour), a Spanish expression meaning to make the rounds of bars drinking and eating snacks, is an important social activity for Spaniards. Some bars will serve a tapa for free when one orders a drink. Churros, fried-dough pastries served hot and dipped in café con leche or hot chocolate are a typical breakfast food.

Chiringuitos, small, open-air beachside restaurants, offer respite from the summer heat of the cities in the high holiday season.

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The Costa del Sol and its best resorts * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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The Costa del Sol ("Sun Coast") is a region in the south of Spain in the autonomous community of Andalusia, comprising the coastal towns and communities along the coastline of the Province of Málaga and the eastern part of Campo de Gibraltar in Cádiz. Formerly made up only of a series of small fishing settlements, ...

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https://all-andorra.com/malaga/

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Malaga is a city and municipality in Spain, capital of the homonymous province, in Andalusia, in the south of the country.

With a population of 578,460 inhabitants as of January 1, 2020, it is the second most populated city in Andalusia and the sixth in Spain.

It is located at the western end of the Mediterranean Sea and in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, about 100 km east of the Strait of Gibraltar. Its municipal term occupies an area of ​​398.25 km² that extend over the mountains of Malaga and the Guadalhorce valley. It is located in the center of a bay surrounded by mountain ranges. The rivers Guadalmedina and Guadalhorce cross it.

It's a popular part of the Costa del Sol of the Mediterranean resorts of Spain.

Founded by the Phoenicians in the 8th century BC. C., is one of the oldest cities in Europe. During the nineteenth century it experienced a remarkable industrial and revolutionary activity so it was ranked as the first industrial city in Spain.

Today it is the fourth-ranking city in Spain in terms of economic activity behind Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia. After the tourist boom of the 1960s and 1970s, it currently constitutes a notable entertainment, economic, cultural and communication hub on the Mediterranean coast.
Tourism and main attractions
Malaga has been declared a Historic Site, due to the set of historical elements located in the same city: Phoenicians, Punics, Romans and Arabs are concentrated in the historical center of the city, highlighting: Roman Theater, the Alcazaba, the Cathedral.

Some of its main monuments are located on Mount Gibralfaro and its surroundings. The castle that crowns the mountain is preserved from the Muslim era, built during the 14th century by Yusuf I on a previous enclosure of Phoenician origin that also contained a lighthouse that gives the hill its name ('lighthouse mount'). At the foot of Gibralfaro is the Alcazaba, a palatial fortification from the Muslim period, and on the northern side of the Alcazaba slope, the Roman Theater, built at the beginning of the first century in the time of Emperor Augustus.

After the Christian arrival in the city, the Cathedral of the Incarnation was built, in a mainly Renaissance style, but with Baroque elements; After two centuries of work, its construction was interrupted and the lack of one of its towers has earned it the nickname "La Manquita - One armed" Among its most valuable elements, the choir stalls, the work of Pedro de Mena, stand out. Next to the cathedral is the Episcopal Palace, a classicist baroque building with an elaborate portal-altarpiece.

The Alameda Principal, the main artery of the historic center and was configured during the 18th century. It has several points of interest such as the Antigua Casa de Guardia tavern, an establishment with a century and a half of history where typical Malaga wines are served, the Edipsa building or the house where the Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen stayed during his visit to the city.

Marqués de Larios Street is a road opened in 1891 originally created to communicate the Plaza Mayor (today Plaza de la Constitución) with the Port of Malaga. Flanked by a series of buildings in style inspired by the Chicago School, it is the scene of the main events of the city.

The center has two spaces dedicated to Pablo Picasso: Picasso's Birthplace, located in the Plaza de la Merced, which houses the foundation of the same name and where objects from his childhood are preserved, and one of the three museums on the artist, the Museo Picasso Málaga. In addition, in the historic center and its surroundings are located some of the fountains of Málaga as well as modern sculptures, such as Points of view.

Between the Plaza de la Merced and the Plaza de la Aduana is Alcazabilla Street which concentrates the Palacio de la Aduana, the access to the Alcazaba, the Roman Theater, part of the city's Jewish quarter, the tree-lined garden behind the Picasso Museum and the Palace of the Counts of Buenavista, whose basement contains remains of the ancient Phoenician wall of the city.

In Malaga apart from the Cathedral there are examples of religious architecture of various styles. The oldest that are preserved after the capture of the city by the Catholic Monarchs in 1487: the church of San Juan, that of the Martyrs, that of Santiago and that of San Lázaro. All four have a Gothic-Mudejar style, the oldest being that of Santiago, founded in 1490 on an old mosque.

Next to the cathedral is the church of El Sagrario, with Gothic-Elizabethan elements, built in the 16th century.

The church of San Julián dates from the 17th century, which has its origin in the old Hospital de la Caridad and the church of Santo Cristo de la Salud, currently being the headquarters of the Association of Holy Week Brotherhoods, the Historical Archive and the Museum of the Brotherhoods.

From the architect José Martín de Aldehuela, two temples of neoclassical design stand out: the church of San Felipe Neri and the church of the convent of San Agustín, both from the 18th century. Also in this century, the construction of the Basilica de la Victoria was completed, of which the set of the camarín tower and the pantheon of the counts of Buenavista stand out.

Other notable religious buildings are: the hermitage of Zamarrilla, the baroque Chapel of Water, the convent of La Trinidad, the Diocesan Seminary of Malaga, the Trinitarian church of San Pablo, neo-Gothic, the Abbey of Santa Ana, the work of Gerónimo Cuervo, the Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón, and four other churches located in the El Perchel neighborhood: the Basilica de la Esperanza, the Santo Domingo church, the Carmen church and the San Pedro church.

Of the civil architectural heritage of Malaga, the number of works carried out at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th are notable. Among the buildings from this period are the Almacenes Félix Sáenz, the Mercado de Atarazanas, the Mercado de Salamanca, the Palacio de Miramar, the Palacio de la Tinta, the La Malagueta bullring, the Colegio del Mapa, the Junta de Obras del Puerto and La Tabacalera, among many others. All of them use the stylistic language of the time, sometimes mixing modernist, historicist and regionalist elements at the same time.

The residential walks in the eastern area are where most of the well-to-do classes in Malaga have their place of residence, such as Villa Sweden, La Bouganvillea, Villa Cele María and Villa Fernanda, among others.

Before the 19th century, they are the Casa Palacio de Salinas, of Muslim origin; the Palacio de Buenavista and the Palacio de Villalón, both from the 16th century; the Palace of Zea-Salvatierra, from the 17th century; the Palace of the Marqués de la Sonora, the Casa Barroca de las Atarazanas, the Palace of Valdeflores, the House of the Consulate and the Palace of Villalcázar, from the 18th century.

Some structures from the industrial past of the city are still preserved, such as the Antigua Azucarera del Tarajal or the Chimney of the La Misericordia thermal power plant. Notable engineering works include the Aqueduct of San Telmo, the Puente de los Alemanes or La Farola, completed in 1817, being then located at the entrance to the port.

Examples of contemporary architecture are the La Equitativa Building, built in 1956, the old wholesale market that houses the Center for Contemporary Art and the most recent Provincial Cultural Center, Provincial Palace, Urban Environment Observatory, Manuel Altolaguirre Library, Building of Multiple Municipal Services, the Palm Grove of Surprises and the City of Justice.

Also noteworthy are the English Cemetery, in a romantic style, and the neoclassical Cemetery of San Miguel. In these cemeteries rest, among others, Jorge Guillén, Gerald Brenan, Jane Bowles and the architects Fernando Guerrero Strachan and Eduardo Strachan Viana-Cárdenas.
Beaches
The coastline of the municipality of Malaga has 16 beaches of diverse nature. Along the border with Torremolinos are the beaches of San Julián, Guadalmar and Guadalhorce, the latter within the natural setting. In the urban area and west of the port are the beaches of La Misericordia, San Andrés and Huelin.

They are extensive beaches with a high degree of occupancy. On the other side of the port are the beaches: La Malagueta and La Caleta, the former having a blue flag. Further east extend the Baños del Carmen and the beaches of Pedregalejo, El Palo and El Candado. These are urban beaches bounded by U-shaped dikes and fine sand. At the eastern end are the semi-urban beaches of La Araña and Peñón del Cuervo with coves and small rocky cliffs.
Shopping
Calle Larios. When it was built at the end of the 19th century, this was the most elegant street in Spain and it still counts as one of the most exclusive in the country.

Calle Nueva. Parallel to Calle Larios, this narrow pedestrian street has a good mix of stores from international brands to one-off shops only found in Malaga.

Calle Especería/ Cisneros. Perpendicular to Calle Larios and Calle Nueva, this street is a treasury of the typical Spanish clothes.

Calle Compañía. To the left of the top of Calle Larios, this long street has a good mixture of independent stores along with bars and cafés.

Calle Andrés Pérez. This narrow street off Plaza de los Mártires has had a complete facelift with brand-new paving. Great for unusual small stores.
Cuisine and best restaurants
The cuisine of Málaga and the wider Costa del Sol is known for its espetos, fish (most often sardines) grilled over open fires in the chiringuitos located near the beaches. The espeto has been proposed as a candidate for designation by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage.

There are six Michelin list restaurants in Malaga:

José Carlos García, Plaza de la Capilla, 100 - 140 EUR * Creative cuisine, Andalusian cuisine (One star)

Kaleja, Marquesa de Moya 9, 75 EUR * Contemporary cuisine

La Cosmopolita, José Denís Belgrano 3, 40 - 60 EUR * Market Cuisine

Figón de Juan, Pasaje Esperanto 1, 33 - 50 EUR * Traditional Cuisine, Mediterranean Cuisine

Café de París, Vélez-Málaga 8, 28 - 37 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

TA-KUMI, Mundo Nuevo 4, 35 - 65 EUR * Japanese cuisine

Transport and how to get to?
Málaga Airport, officially Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport since June 2011, is the fourth busiest airport in Spain after Madrid-Barajas, Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca. It is an important airport for Spanish tourism as it is the main international airport serving the Costa del Sol. It is eight km southwest of Málaga and five km north of Torremolinos. The airport has flight connections to over 60 countries worldwide.

The airport operates with three terminals. The third terminal adjacent to the previous two opened on 15 March 2010, and flight operations started on 16 March 2010. A second runway opened at the airport on 26 June 2012.

Málaga Airport is the busiest international airport of Andalucía, accounting for 85 per cent of the region's non-domestic traffic. It offers a wide variety of international destinations. The airport, connected to the Costa del Sol, has a daily link with twenty cities in Spain and over one hundred cities in Europe. Direct flights also operate to Africa, the Middle East and also to North America in the summer season. Airlines with a base at the airport are Air Europa, Norwegian, Scandinavian Airlines, Ryanair, Vueling and Easyjet which operates a seasonal base.

The Madrid-Málaga high-speed rail line is a standard gauge high-speed rail line of 512 km in length that links the city of Madrid with the city of Málaga. The line was inaugurated on 24 December 2007. At the time the service opened, Renfe Operadora was running 22 trains daily between Madrid and Málaga.

Distance by car to the main cities of Andalusia:

From Seville 2 hr 17 min (205 km) via A-92

From Huelva 3 hr 14 min (303 km) via A-49 and A-92

From Cadiz 2 hr 37 min (234 km) via A-381 and AP-7

From Granada 1 hr 36 min (125 km) via A-92

From Cordoba 1 hr 50 min (160 km) via A-45

From Jaen 2 hr 6 min (202 km) via A-44 and A-92

From Almeria 2 hr 5 min (201 km) via A-7
Main information
Area: 398 km² (municipality)

Coordinates: 36°43′00″N 4°25′00″W

Population: 578 460 (municipality)

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Malaga - one of the oldest cities in Europe * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Malaga is a city and municipality in Spain, capital of the homonymous province, in Andalusia, in the south of the country. With a population of 578,460 inhabitants as of January 1, 2020, it is the second most populated city in Andalusia and the sixth in Spain.

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https://all-andorra.com/jaen/

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Jaén is a city and municipality of the autonomous community of Andalusia, capital of the homonymous province (Spain). It is known as the "capital of the Holy Kingdom".

Due to its location, Jaén has had a great strategic importance, having found in its urban nucleus several of the oldest human settlements in Europe. It also had great importance in the history of al-Andalus and the Kingdom of Castile.

The most important economic activity in the province of Jaén is the production of olive oil, being the world's largest producer, which is evident under the motto that the city receives, as "World Capital of Olive Oil". The city has hosted Expoliva every two years since 1983, a world-renowned international fair dedicated to the olive oil sector and related industries, currently held at the Institución Ferial de Jaén. However, the economy is also based on the service sector, administration, the agricultural and food industry, construction, and cultural tourism.
Tourism and main attractions
Saint Catherine's Castle (Castillo de Santa Catalina) sits on the top of a hill overlooking the city. Previously there had existed a fortress of Arabic origin (Abrehui's castle), of which some remains still exist. The current construction is of Christian origin, raised after the conquest of the city by Ferdinand III of Castile, called the Saint, in 1246.

Jaén Cathedral is one of the most important Renaissance-style cathedrals. Construction began in 1570 and was completed in 1802. It is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin, and it was built to shelter the relic of the Holy Face, or Veil of Veronica, lodged at the major chapel and exposed to the public every Friday.

Due to the length of time in its construction, different artistic styles can be appreciated, the most prominent being Renaissance; Andrés de Vandelvira the most important architect. He is the greatest exponent of the Andalusian Renaissance. It aspires to be listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The Arab Baths (Baños Arabes) in Jaen are among the largest Islamic bathhouses preserved in Spain. They can be visited under Villardompardo's Palace (another important monument in the city). These Arab baths had the function in their origins of purifying all the visitors who entered the city of Jaén. However, nowadays they are not in use, being a great tourist and historical attraction.

The Jewish Quarter of Jaén, also called the Santa Cruz neighborhood, is an important set of narrow streets, steep slopes and magnificent examples of the history of the city. The neighborhood grew during the twelve centuries of Hebrew presence in the city, since then numerous historical news, legends and traditions have existed.

The neighborhood is in the process of recovery. In 2005, the city became a full member of the network of Jewish quarters in Spain "Caminos de Sefarad". In 2011, the "Casa Sefarad-Israel de Madrid" signed an agreement with the Jaén city council to create the headquarters of the first territorial delegation of this body in Andalusia in the city.

Jaén has numerous churches of great cultural interest and architectural beauty located in its old town, we can highlight the churches of Santa María Magdalena, San Juan Bautista, San Bartolomé, church of San Andrés and Santa Capilla, Merced, the Royal Convent of Santo Domingo, headquarters of the Provincial Historical Archive or the old Hospital of San Juan de Dios, currently headquarters of the Institute of Giennenses Studies.

Among other constructions of great artistic beauty - the Palace of the Vilches, the Palace of the Condestable Iranzo, the Palace of the Vizconde de los Villares or the Count-Duque, the Palace of the Museum of Jaén, the Palace of the Torres de Navarra, the Municipal Palace and the Provincial Palace.

The entire old part of the city remained delimited and protected by the walls of Jaén of Roman origin and modified during the Middle Ages, it opened in twelve gates, of which only the Puerta del Ángel and different wall sections are preserved.

Of modernist and contemporary architecture, it is worth highlighting the old Bank of Spain, the work of the architect Rafael Moneo, the church of Cristo Rey, the headquarters building of the provincial delegations of the Councils for the Environment and Innovation and Science of the Junta de Andalucía, the headquarters of the Emergency service, the Infanta Leonor Theater and the future International Museum of Iberian Art, which will exhibit, among others, archaeological remains found in the settlements of Marroquíes Bajos.
Cuisine and best restaurants
The gastronomy of Jaen is very varied, emphasizing local dishes such as the pipirrana (tomato, green peppers, breadcrumbs, garlic shoots, olive oil, vinegar, salt and hard-boiled egg); "spinach a la Jaén" (garlic, croûtons, spiced sausage, bayleaf, egg, orange zest and vinegar); "rice a la Jaén" (very weak), "veal with chopped garlic", "trout from the rivers of Jaén" (trout, butter, chunks of ham with bacon, parsley, white wine and salt), "ajo blanco a la Jaén" (raw almond, olive oil, eggs, garlic, salt, vinegar and water).

Among the most well-known confectioneries of Jaén is "rice pudding", "gachas of Jaen" (a sort of porridge), "pestiños", "gusanillos" and "ochíos".

Eating tapas is very common in Jaén; There are many bars where, for the price of beer (about 1.50 euros), you can buy tapas, which is a small plate of food for one person.

There are six Michelin list restaurants in the city:

Dama Juana, Melchor Cobo Medina 7, 65 - 100 EUR * Modern cuisine, Traditional cuisine (one star)

Bagá, Reja de la Capilla 3, 85 EUR * Modern cuisine (one star)

Casa Antonio, Fermín Palma 3, 40 - 65 EUR * Modern cuisine

Horno de Salvador, Carretera al Castillo, 40 - 60 EUR * Traditional cuisine

Yuma's, Avenida de Andalucía 74, 30 - 50 EUR * Traditional cuisine

MangasVerdes, Bernabé Soriano 28, 34 EUR * Modern cuisine

How to get to?
Jaén does not have an airport. The closest airports to the city are Granada Airport and Málaga Airport.

Jaén is served by the Jaén railway station, terminal of the Madrid-Jaén high speed railway line. Jaén is also connected to Cordoba and Sevilla by train.

Distances by car from the main cities of Andalusia and Madrid:

From Granada 1 hr 4 min (93.4 km) via A-44

From Seville 2 hr 53 min (247 km) via A-4

From Malaga 2 hr 8 min (204 km) via A-92 and A-44

From Cordoba 1 hr 28 min (120 km) via A-4 and A-311

From Almeria 2 hr 17 min (225 km) via A-92

From Huelva 3 hr 54 min (342 km) via A-4

From Cadiz 3 hr 41 min (371 km) via A-4

From Madrid 3 hr 25 min (339 km) via A-4
Main information
Area: 424.30 km² (municipality)

Coordinates: 37°46′0″N 3°46′16″W

Population: 113,457 (municipality)

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Jaén - the world capital of olive oil * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Jaén is a city and municipality of the autonomous community of Andalusia, capital of the homonymous province (Spain). It is known as the "capital of the Holy Kingdom". Due to its location, Jaén has had a great strategic importance, having found in its urban nucleus several of the oldest human settlements in Europe.

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https://all-andorra.com/

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All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra * politics, business, tourism, society, science, education, sport

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Франция, Испания, Андорра

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https://all-andorra.com/huelva/

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Huelva is a city in southwestern Spain, the capital of the province of Huelva in the autonomous community of Andalusia.

The discovery of two cylindrical deposits, with around thirty pieces of prehistoric deities, the largest known to date, would place the capital of Huelva as "the oldest city in the Iberian Peninsula" and "the oldest city in Western Europe". It has been tentatively defended the existence of pre-Phoenician settlement on the current urban limits since circa 1250 BC, with Phoenicians establishing a stable colony roughly by the 9th century BC.

The Port of Huelva is a cargo and fishing port located off the Spanish southwestern coast, belonging to the municipalities of Huelva and Palos de la Frontera. With a total annual traffic capacity of 33.8 million tonnes, it is the second biggest port in Andalusia after the Port of Algeciras.
Main attractions
St. Peter's Church. It was built in the Seville Mudejar style in the 14th century on the remains of an old Mudejar mosque, which is why it is considered the oldest in the city. In it is one of the most important religious groups in the city. The building is listed as an Asset of Cultural Interest on March 16, 1999.

La Merced Cathedral (Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy). Located in the Plaza de la Merced, next to the university headquarters. With a Renaissance façade, it was built in 1605 and proclaimed a cathedral in 1953. In the niches on its façade there are images of works by the sculptor León Ortega from the 70s. It preserves the carving of the Christ of Jerusalem and a beautiful image of the Virgen de la Cinta , patron saint of the city, by Martínez Montañés. It is waiting to be declared a Site of Cultural Interest.

Hermitage of La Soledad. From the 15th-16th centuries, with important reforms in the 18th century. Simple white building closely linked to the history of Huelva, due to the many uses it has had. This characteristic white hermitage is currently the headquarters of the Brotherhood of the Holy Burial.

Sanctuary of La Cinta and Humilladero de la Cinta. In the Cabezos del Conquero. It is a 15th century Gothic-Mudejar style building, although it probably sits on much older remains. It was visited by Columbus before and after his trip in gratitude to the Virgen de la Cinta. Interesting frescoes by Ignacio Zuloaga inside that relate the scenes of Christopher Columbus's visit to the Sanctuary as well as the representative fresco of the patron saint of the city in the central nave. From here you can take beautiful snapshots of the marshes, the lower part of the city and the port as well as experience romantic sunsets.

Perhaps the most recognizable monument in the city even though it is located on the outskirts is the Monument to the Discovery Faith, in Punta del Sebo, which commemorates the fourth centenary of the departure of Christopher Columbus from the nearby port of Palos de la Frontera.

Other places of interest in the city are the Muelle de las Canoas, which connects by boat with the town of Punta Umbría and where the colossal monument to the sailor's knot is located, ten meters high located at the entrance of the dock. Right at the entrance to the dock, there are two buildings from the port of Huelva from the 1930s that have been declared a Site of Cultural Interest.

Remodeled in 2006, the Plaza de las Monjas stand out. It is one of the most outstanding and probably ancient in the city, presided over by the Columbus monument and surrounded by notable buildings such as the old Bank of Spain, the Paris Hotel (today an office building) or the Augustinian Mothers Convent.
Gastronomy
In the province of Huelva the gastronomy is very rich and varied. The prawns and sausages such as Jabugo ham stand out. The cuttlefish from Huelva is also popular (accompanied by beans and potatoes) as well as the tomato soup, the clams a la marinera, the tollos with tomato, the tuna onions, the coquinas with parsley. And everything washed down with the excellent wines of the County of Huelva.

There is one Michelin list restaurant in the city:

Taberna El Condado, Santa Ángela de la Cruz 3, 15 - 30 EUR * Traditional Cuisine.
Shopping
The principal shopping streets are the narrow pedestrianized streets of Concepción, Palacio, Pérez Carasa and Berdigón and the roads leading off this main drag. Sara Merino has a good selection of dresses for special occasions.
How to get to?
The nearest international airport is in Seville.

Distance to the main cities of Andalucia and Madrid:

Seville 1 hr 7 min (92.4 km) via A-49

Cádiz 2 hr 8 min (210 km) via AP-4 and A-49

Málaga 3 hr 9 min (304 km) via A-92 and A-49

Córdoba 2 hr 30 min (236 km) via A-4 and A-49

Jaén 3 hr 32 min (346 km) via A-4

Granada 3 hr 34 min (348 km) via A-92

Almería 4 hr 55 min (511 km) via A-92

Madrid 5 hr 52 min (612 km) via A-5 and A-66
Main information
Area: 151.3 sq. km (municipality)

Coordinates: 37°15′N 6°57′W

Population: 143 837

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Huelva and its attractions * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Huelva is a city in southwestern Spain, the capital of the province of Huelva in the autonomous community of Andalusia. The discovery of two cylindrical deposits, with around thirty pieces of prehistoric deities, the largest known to date, would place the capital of Huelva as "the oldest city in the Iberian Peninsula" and "the oldest city ...

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https://all-andorra.com/granada/

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Granada is the capital city of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of four rivers, the Darro, the Genil, the Monachil and the Beiro.

Ascribed to the Vega de Granada comarca, the city sits at an average elevation of 738 m above sea level, yet is only one hour by car from the Mediterranean coast, the Costa Tropical.

Nearby is the Sierra Nevada Ski Station, where the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1996 were held.

The Muslim Granada was the capital of the Zirí kingdom of Granada, during the 11th century, and of the Nasrid kingdom of Granada between the 13th and 15th centuries. After the taking of the city by the Catholic Monarchs, it remained the capital of the Castilian kingdom of Granada, which was already a simple territorial jurisdiction and which remained until 1833, when a new provincial division in Spain took place, still in force. Its municipal coat of arms bears the titles of "Very noble, loyal, named great, famous and heroic city of Granada."
Tourism and main attractions
The Alhambra is a Nasrid "palace city". It was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1984. It is certainly Granada's most emblematic monument and one of the most visited in Spain. It consists of a defensive zone, the Alcazaba, together with others of a residential and formal state character, the Nasrid Palaces and, lastly, the palace, gardens and orchards of the Generalife.

The Alhambra occupies a small plateau on the southeastern border of the city in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada above the Assabica valley. Some of the buildings may have existed before the arrival of the Moors. The Alhambra as a whole is completely walled, bordered to the north by the valley of the Darro, to the south by the al-Sabika, and to the east of the Cuesta del Rey Chico, which in turn is separated from the Albaicín and Generalife, located in the Cerro del Sol.

The Generalife is a garden area attached to the Alhambra which became a place of recreation and rest for the Granadan Muslim kings when they wanted to flee the tedium of official life in the Palace. It occupies the slopes of the hill Cerro del Sol above the ravines of the Genil and the Darro and is visible from vantage points throughout the city. It was conceived as a rural village, consisting of landscaping, gardens and architecture. The palace and gardens were built during the reign of Muhammed III (1302-1309) and redecorated shortly after by Abu l-Walid Isma'il (1313-1324). It is of the Islamic Nasrid style, and is today one of the biggest attractions in the city of Granada. The Generalife was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984.

The cathedral of Granada is built over the Nasrid Great Mosque of Granada, in the centre of the city. Its construction began during the Spanish Renaissance in the early 16th century, shortly after the conquest of Granada by the Catholic Monarchs, who commissioned the works to Juan Gil de Hontañón and Enrique Egas. Numerous grand buildings were built in the reign of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, so that the cathedral is contemporary to the Christian palace of the Alhambra, the University and the Real Chancillería (Supreme Court).

The church was conceived on the model of the Cathedral of Toledo, for what initially was a Gothic architectural project, as was customary in Spain in the early decades of the 16th century. However, Egas was relieved by the Catholic hierarchy in 1529, and the continuation of the work was assigned to Diego Siloe, who built upon the example of his predecessor, but changed the approach towards a fully Renaissance aesthetic.

The Royal Chapel: the Catholic Monarchs chose the city of Granada as their burial site by a royal decree dated September 13, 1504. The Royal Chapel of Granada, built over the former terrace of the Great Mosque, ranks with other important Granadan buildings such as the Lonja and the Catedral e Iglesia del Sagrario. In it are buried the Catholic Monarchs, their daughter Joanna of Castile (Juana la Loca) and her husband Felipe I (Felipe el Hermoso). Construction of the Chapel started in 1505, directed by its designer, Enrique Egas. Built in several stages, the continuing evolution of its design joined Gothic construction and decoration with Renaissance ideals, as seen in the tombs and the 17th and 18th century Granadan art in the Chapel of Santa Cruz. Over the years the church acquired a treasury of works of art, liturgical objects and relics.

The Royal Chapel was declared a Historic Artistic Monument on May 19, 1884.

The Albayzín (or Albaicín) is a neighborhood of Al-Andalus origin, much visited by tourists who flock to the city because of its historical associations, architecture, and landscape.

The archeological findings in the area show that it has been inhabited since ancient times. It became more relevant with the arrival of the Zirid dynasty, in 1013, when it was surrounded by defensive walls. It is one of the ancient centres of Granada, like the Alhambra, the Realejo and the Arrabal de Bib-Rambla, in the flat part of the city. Its current extension runs from the walls of the Alcazaba to the cerro of San Miguel and on the other hand, from the Puerta de Guadix to the Alcazaba.

This neighborhood had its greatest development in the Nasrid era, and therefore largely maintains the urban fabric of this period, with narrow streets arranged in an intricate network that extends from the upper area, called San Nicolás, to the river Darro and Calle Elvira, located in the Plaza Nueva. The traditional type of housing is the carmen granadino, consisting of a free-standing house surrounded by a high wall that separates it from the street and includes a small orchard or garden.

The Charterhouse of Granada is a monastery of cloistered monks, located in what was a farm or Muslim almunia called Aynadamar ("fountain of tears") that had an abundance of water and fruit trees. The initiative to build the monastery in that place was begun by Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, known as El Gran Capitán. The charterhouse was founded in 1506; construction started ten years later, and continued for the following 300 years.

The Monastery suffered heavy damage during the Peninsular War and lost considerable property in 1837 as a result of the confiscations of Mendizábal. Currently, the monastery belongs to the Carthusians, reporting directly to the Archdiocese of Granada.

The Mosque of Granada was inaugurated in 2003 on the summit of the neighborhood of Albayzin. The mosque was built near the Church of San Salvador and the Church of San Nicolás. The Church of San Salvador was built on the site of the Great Mosque of Albayzin. The Society for the Return of Islam in Spain purchased the site in 1981, but it took many years for the plans to be approved. The mosque's initial funding was supplied by Shaykh 'Abdalqadir as-Sufi al-Murabit who envisioned providing Granada's new Spanish Muslim community with a mosque. Additional funding came from Malaysia, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates.

In 1991 the CIE (Comunidad Islámica en España) hired the architect Renato Ramirez Sanchez to design the mosque. In the 1990s, there was a heated debate pertaining to the design of the minaret. Construction eventually began in 2001. The mosque now serves about 500 people.

The Palace of the Marqués de Salar was built in one of the most emblematic streets of Granada, the Carrera del Darro, at number 5. This place is an architectural example of the classical Granada during the Renaissance transformation of the XVIth century. It was built by the Marqués de Salar, great-grandson of both Hernán Pérez del Pulgar and Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, Captain-General of the Castilian-Aragonese forces that concluded the Reconquest of the peninsula. The palace is now the museum of perfumes El Patio de los Perfumes, with 1,500 square metres of floor space on two floors and 130 square metres of patio to relax surrounded by flowers and perfumes.

The Royal Monastery of St. Jerome is a Roman Catholic Hieronymite monastery in Granada. Architecturally, it is in the Renaissance style. The church, famous for its architecture, was the first in the world consecrated to the Immaculate Conception of Mary.

San Juan de Dios Hospital is a symbol and living history of the contemporary healthcare model and a spirit of solidarity for Granada. It was founded in 1544 by San Juan de Dios and his disciples in 1553 by his disciples. For five centuries, the brothers of the Hospitality Order of San Juan de Dios ran this hospital located in a Renaissance building, which was renovated and expanded in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, next to the Basilica del Santo, and it maintained from its origin the dedication to healthcare for the most disadvantaged people with entire dedication to the city of Granada.

The Castril palace (also House of Castril) is a Renaissance style palace located in Sacromonte, a district of the Spanish city of Granada. Nowadays it hosts the Archaeological Museum of Granada.

The house is nailed in the Race of the Darro, in the old Arab district of Ajsaris, seat of 16th century's granadine nobility. The palace is one of the best Renaissance palaces of Granada and belonged to the family of Hernando de Zafra, secretary of Catholic monarchs who participated actively in reconquering it from the Muslim hands during the Reconquista.

The Madrasa of Granada was founded in 1349 by the Nasrid monarch Yusuf I, Sultan of Granada. The building is currently part of the University of Granada and is the seat of the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de Nuestra Señora de las Angustias ("Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Our Lady of Sorrows").

It is located on the street now known as Calle Oficios. The madrasa was built at the heart of the city, near the main mosque (now the site of the Granada Cathedral) and the Alcaicería, then the elite bazaar where silk, gold, linen and other cloth were traded.
Museums
Granada has a wide, varied and quality museum proposal, where collections of great artistic, ethnological and cultural interest are exhibited. The Archaeological and Ethnological Museum of Granada, the Museum of Fine Arts of Granada, the Museum of the Alhambra, the Science Park of Granada, the José Guerrero Center, the Memory of Andalusia Museum, the Cuevas del sacromonte Museum, Interpretation Center del Valle del Darro or the House-Museum of Federico García Lorca are some of its best cultural samples.

The Archaeological Museum of Granada was created in 1867; Although until 1879 it was considered a mere Antiquities Cabinet dependent on the Granada Monuments Commission, which formed its first collection with the funds of the Monuments Commission, with two sections: Archeology and Fine Arts. In 1917 the Casa de Castril was acquired to move the museum there. The Casa de Castril is considered one of the best Renaissance palaces in Granada. It was duly modified to accommodate the museum in its rooms.

Bordering the Casa de Castril was the House of the painter Rafael Latorre, which was acquired in 1962 as an extension of the museum. In 1980 a new room was conceived, the Ethnological Section, which was never opened. The contents of the museum include archaeological finds from the Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods made in the province of Granada, as well as Iberian, Phoenician, Roman and Arab pieces of notable value.

The Granada Science Park is the first interactive science museum in Andalusia and one of the most relevant in Spain. Since its inauguration, in May 1995, it has grown in three phases to constitute more than 26,000 square meters that make up its surface. In November 2008, the fourth expansion phase was inaugurated, which doubled the surface of the center and also its contents.

The Science Park is located in a central area of Granada and has become one of its main tourist attractions, especially for students from all educational centers in Andalusia. The Park is made up of a significant series of permanent and temporary exhibitions. The Consortium that participates in the Science Park is made up of a series of public institutions from the Junta de Andalucía, the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), the Provincial Council, the City Council, the University and private corporations.

The Andalusian Memory Museum is located opposite the Science Park, in an avant-garde architectural space designed by the architect Alberto Campo Baeza. It has a collection that shows the artistic memory of Andalusia as a region connected to the world, from artists and romantic travelers, through Picasso and Braque, José Guerrero, Louise Borgeoise, Luis Gordillo and a long etcetera. Linked to the CajaGranada Social Work, its objective is to reach all audiences, schoolchildren, families, tourists and groups at risk of social exclusion.

The Granada Museum of Fine Arts is based in the Palacio de Carlos V, a Renaissance building attached to the Alhambra. The origin of this Museum of Fine Arts is due to the confiscation of Mendizábal (1837), which led to the dispersal of numerous works of art that had belonged to religious orders and that were collected in this place.

The Alhambra Museum, also called the National Museum of Hispano-Muslim Art, is located in the south wing of the ground floor of the Palace of Carlos V in the Alhambra. It exists since 1870 under the name of the Alhambra Museum. In it the archaeological pieces provided by the Provincial Monuments Commission were kept.

In 1962 it took the name of the National Museum of Hispano-Muslim Art and in 1994 it changed its name again and was assigned to the Board of the Alhambra and Generalife, being then when it was moved and organized in accordance with the new museological requirements. It houses pieces of Hispano-Muslim art from the mid-eighth century to the last years of the Nasrid culture. It consists of seven rooms where the objects are distributed thematically and chronologically.

You can also visit the following museum venues: García Lorca Museum located in the Huerta de San Vicente; Manuel de Falla House Museum; Rodríguez-Acosta Foundation, singular Carmen with art deco and gardens; House of the Pisa Museum; Rodríguez-Acosta Museum; Interpretation Center of the Sacromonte; José Guerrero Center and Palacio de los Condes de Gabia, which aims to promote modern / contemporary art.
Gastronomy and restaurants
The gastronomy of Granada is part of the Arabic-Andalusian cuisine tradition, with a strong Arab and Jewish heritage, which is reflected in its condiments and spices, such as cumin, coriander, nutmeg, cinnamon, raisins, almonds or honey. The writer Miguel Alcobendas, author of the traditional cuisine of Granada, says that it has its origin in living together, from the thirteenth to the fifteenth century (when Granada surrendered to the Catholic Monarchs), of Muslims, Jews and Christians in the Nasrid Kingdom from Granada. Subsequently, there was a miscegenation with the kitchen of the Christians, in which the pork acquired an importance in the kitchen of Granada more than in the rest of Spain, since its consumption allowed its eaters to demonstrate a certain distance from the persecuted religions, since both Muslims and Jews have it banned.

The famous and reputed Trevélez ham comes from the Sierra of Granada, to which other pork derivatives are added, sausages such as chorizo, black pudding and pork tenderloin.

Ham and beans, two products of the land, are combined in one of its most typical dishes, beans with ham; Other known dishes are the Sacromonte tortilla, which among other ingredients must have cooked brains and veal crustaillas, chopped and sauteed before mixing with the egg. It is also worth mentioning "papas a lo pobre", potatoes which are usually served with egg and fried peppers, as well as with pieces of pork or ham.

There are eight Michelin list restaurants in the city.

Atelier Casa de Comidas, Sos del Rey Católico 7, 25 - 80 EUR * Spanish Contemporary

FM, Avenida Juan Pablo II 54, Market Cuisine, Andalusian

Cala, José Luís Pérez Pujadas 7, 35 - 65 EUR * Modern Cuisine, Regional Cuisine

Damasqueros, Damasqueros 3, 42 EUR * Modern Cuisine

Puesto 43, Plaza de Gracia 3, 25 - 40 EUR * Seafood

Arriaga, Avenida de la Ciencia 2, 65 - 80 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Faralá, Cuesta de Gomérez 11, 42 - 88 EUR * Contemporary

María de la O, Carretera de la Sierra, 35 - 65 EUR * Traditional Cuisine, Creative

Shopping
Shopping in Granada is made easy because the main shopping district is located within the historic center. Granada also may be one of the best cities in Spain to purchase items from Morocco and other parts of Africa.

Calle Reyes Católicos is Granada's main shopping street, offering a mix of long-established retailers and familiar fashion chains. In addition to Zara Home, Mango, and H&M, you'll also find upscale Spanish brands like Uterqüe or Bimba&Lola, as well as the sleek Alhambra Bookstore (Librería de la Alhambra), which holds quality gifts & souvenirs alongside a collection of titles dedicated to the monument's history and culture.

With approximately 240 shops and food halls spread over an area of 267,000 m², Nevada Shopping Center is the largest commercial complex in Andalusia. The modern mall is situated a few km outside Granada, in the municipality of Armilla, and has all the usual high street labels alongside some exquisite designer options, shoe shops, sports outfitters, and home decor stores.
How to get to?
The nearest civil airport is Federico García Lorca Airport, about 15 km (9 mi) west of Granada.

Granada railway station has rail connections with many cities in Spain. There are several types of train service to and from Granada.

Short-distance trains
Medium distance trains
Long-distance trains
AVE (high speed long distance) via the Antequera-Granada high-speed rail line. The closest AVE connection is in Antequera.

Distances by car to the main cities of Andalusia and Madrid:

Seville 2 hr 42 min (249 km) via A-92

Cádiz 3 hr 26 min (292 km) via A-384 and A-92

Málaga 1 hr 37 min (125 km) via A-92

Córdoba 2 hr 14 min (203 km) via A-45 and A-92

Jaén 1 hr 10 min (92.0 km) via A-44

Almería 1 hr 48 min (168 km) via A-92

Huelva 3 hr 41 min (346 km) via A-92

Madrid 4 hr 19 min (426 km) via A-4 and A-44
Main information
Area: 88,02 km² (municipality)

Coordinates: 37°10′41″N 3°36′03″W

Population: 233 648 (municipality)

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Granada - noble, loyal, named great, famous and heroic city * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Granada is the capital city of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of four rivers, the Darro, the Genil, the Monachil and the Beiro. Ascribed to the Vega de Granada comarca, the city sits at an average ...

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Cordoba has more World Heritage Sites than anywhere in the world • All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Córdoba is a city and municipality in Andalusia, capital of the homonymous province, located in a depression on the banks of the Guadalquivir and at the foot of the Sierra Morena in Spain. It has a population of 326,039 inhabitants in 2020, being the third largest and most populated city in Andalusi…

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https://all-andorra.com/cadiz/

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Cádiz and its Victoria Beach - best urban beach in Europe • All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Cádiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the Province of Cádiz, one of eight that make up the autonomous community of Andalusia, Atlantic Ocean.
Cádiz, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Western Europe, with archaeological remains dating to the 8th century…

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https://all-andorra.com/almeria/

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Almería is a city and municipality in Spain, capital of the homonymous province, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. It is the nerve center of the Metropolitan Region of Almería, in the extreme southeast of the Iberian Peninsula and the tourist region of Almería-Cabo de Gata-Níjar.

It is surrounded by the Sierra de Gádor to the west, by Sierra Alhamilla in the north and to the east by the valley and delta of the Andarax river. Beyond, by a plain that culminates in the Cabo de Gata mountain range. To the south, its port and coastline open onto a wide bay on the Mediterranean Sea.

It is the seat of the judicial party No. 1 of the province and of the diocese that bears its name. In 2005 it also hosted the XV Mediterranean Games.

It was founded in 955 AD. C. by Abderramán III.

After its incorporation to the Crown of Castile in 1489, the population was decimated by earthquakes, plagues and incursions by pirates. The recovery was not evident until the end of the 19th century, with the resurgence of mining and the export of the Ohanes grape, and again from the 1960s, thanks to the explosion of intensive agriculture, tourism, construction and the marble industry.

Among its historical-artistic heritage, it is worth mentioning the Muslim Alcazaba (10th to 15th centuries), the cathedral-fortress of the Incarnation (16th century), the mineral loading bay or English Cable (late 19th century), and the Museum of Almería, reopened in 2006.

It is an important communication hub thanks to its remodeled port and international airport. At present it is one of the 30 most populated localities in Spain, also being the 19th provincial capital of Spain in terms of population.

Almería has a university center, the University of Almería (UAL). Founded in 1993, it has about 12,300 students.

It's a popular part of the Costa de Almería of the Mediterranean resorts of Spain.
Tourism and main attractions
The Alcazaba of Almería is a fortified complex. The word alcazaba, from the Arabic word (القَصَبَة; al-qaṣabah), signifies a walled fortification in a city.

The first line of walls is a wide enclosure corresponding to the first Muslim military camp, used as shelter for the population in case of siege. For this task it was provided with large cisterns.

The first enclosure is separated by the second one by the so-called Muro de la Vela ("Wall of the Sail"), taking its name from a bell that warned the population in case of events such as the arrival of a ship in the port, danger, fires etc. This wall was built by King Charles III of Spain.

In the second enclosure was the residence for the governors, their soldiers and their servants. It included also the mosque, baths, tanks, tents etc.

The third enclosure, the most external, is also the most modern in the complex. After the Christian reconquest of Almería, the Catholic monarchs Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon had a castle built in the most elevated sector of the town, more apt to resist the new gunpowder artillery.

The Alcazaba has been used to film Conan the Barbarian, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Never Say Never Again, and most recently Wonder Woman 1984, as well as the syndicated TV series Queen of Swords used the inner courtyard and gardens.

Almería air raid shelters. The Spanish city of Almería suffered up to 52 bombings from air and sea, with a total of 754 bombs dropped during the Spanish Civil War. This led to the decision to create a system of underground shelters for the protection of approximately 40,000 civilians. These shelters measure more than 4.5 km long, and they are equipped with a surgery room and a food storage room. Now it's open for tourists.

The Cathedral of Almería, in full the Cathedral of the Incarnation of Almería, is a Roman Catholic cathedral. It is the seat of the Diocese of Almería. The cathedral was built in Gothic and Renaissance architectural styles from 1524 to 1562. Its last bell was built in 1805.

It is considered Bien de Interés Cultural and was declared as a Monumento histórico-artístico perteneciente al Tesoro Artístico Nacional by the decree of the June 3, 1931.

On March 21, 1969 the cathedral was used as a scenery for the American film Patton.

The oldest civil building in Almería is the old Hospital de Santa María Magdalena, from the middle of the 16th century, which has an attractive courtyard, a chapel and a main portal of transition between the baroque and neoclassical styles of the 18th century. Another building from this period is the current School of Applied Arts, the former cloister of the Santo Domingo convent, built in the 16th century and greatly reformed during the 18th.

It is worth mentioning the sample of Christian military buildings erected between the 16th and 18th centuries, the main one being the Barracks of Mercy, from the 18th century. Located on the ablution courtyard of the primitive mosque, it has a courtyard dotted with arches, as well as orange trees and a baroque façade.

On the other hand, there are numerous watchtowers erected at this time to defend the coastline: the tower of La Mona, in La Garrofa, the castle of San Telmo, Torrecárdenas, the watchtower of El Perdigal, the Strong Houses of El Alquián, Torregarcía and the tower of San Miguel de Cabo de Gata, built in 1756 by order of Fernando VI and future museum fishing.

Finally, among the palatial buildings - t he Casa de los Puche or the Palace of the Viscounts of the Almansa Castle, from the 18th century, are noteworthy.

Between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, various infrastructures, public and private buildings of an eclectic and historicist nature were erected, coinciding with the urban expansion motivated by the demolition of the Arab walls in 1855 and the economic boom of mining and the export of the grape. Among them are the Plaza de Toros (1888), the Mercantile Circle (1898), the City Hall building or the Cervantes and Apolo theaters.

The iron architecture is represented in the railway station, in 1893, the Central Market, in 1893, or the English Cable, in 1904. El Cable Inglés, also known as El Alquife pier, is an old mineral loading dock, owned by The Alquife Mines and Railway Company Limited, an example of iron architecture. Its construction concluded in 1904, and linked the station with the port. With an eclectic style characterized by the use of new materials, it followed the guidelines of the Gustave Eiffel school. In 1998 it was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest of Andalusia.

Finally, noteworthy are the palaces built in the heat of the aforementioned nineteenth-century boom, such as the Palace of the Marquises of Cabra (1840), the Palace of the Marquis of Torrealta (1847), or that of the Provincial Council (1884). Later, bourgeois houses were built such as the Cultural Casino (1888), the Butterfly House (1907) or El Preventorio, a neo-Mudejar style chalet built in 1927.
Cuisine and restaurants
Being isolated from the rest of the peninsular territory, Almería was forced to self-supply for a long time, which made it possible to develop a simple but diverse cuisine, based on local products.

The sea is one of the main resources of the Almeria table. We can point out monkfish, mackerel, red mullet, octopus, squid, cuttlefish, red shrimp from Almería or the famous gallants. Unlike other parts of Andalusia, Almeria cuisine stands out for the preparation of grilled fish.

There are three Michelin list restaurants in the city:

Valentín, Tenor Iribarne 19, 25 - 75 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Tony García Espacio Gastronómico, Avenida del Mediterráneo 201, 25 - 65 EUR * Contemporary cuisine

Salmantice, Costa Balear 16, Almería, 25 - 80 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Beaches
There are three main beaches in the city: Playa de San Miguel, Playa del Zapillo, Playa del Auditorio - PLAYA DE ALMERÍA.
Shopping
Most of the shops are located in the city centre. Head to Paseo de Almería to discover the city's main shopping area. The main street and the surrounding streets host shops and boutiques - from big brand retailers to quaint boutiques.
Transport and how to get to?
By air, Almería is served by Almería Airport, the fourth largest in Andalusia. The winter timetable includes flights to Madrid, Barcelona, Melilla, London, and Seville, with international connections to Manchester, Birmingham, Brussels, Dublin and Swiss, German and other EU airports being added during the summer.

In the future, high-speed rail AVE services will link Almería to Madrid via Murcia.

Distances to main cities of Andalusia:

From Seville 3 hr 58 min (412 km) via A-92

From Granada 1 hr 46 min (167 km) via A-92

From Córdoba 3 hr 31 min (368 km) via A-45 and A-92

From Malaga 2 hr 7 min (200 km) via A-7

From Jaén 2 hr 16 min (225 km) via A-92

From Cadiz 4 hr 29 min (436 km) via A-7

From Huelva 5 hr 4 min (499 km) via A-7 and A-92
Main information
Area: 295 km² (municipality)

Coordinates: 36°50′25″N 2°28′05″W

Population: 201 322 (municipality)

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Almería and its attractions * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Almería is a city and municipality in Spain, capital of the homonymous province, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. It is the nerve center of the Metropolitan Region of Almería, in the extreme southeast of the Iberian Peninsula and the tourist region of Almería-Cabo de Gata-Níjar.

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https://all-andorra.com/seville/

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Seville (Sp. Sevilla) is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville, Spain.

It is the most populated city in Andalusia, the fourth in Spain after Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia, and the 32nd in the European Union.

Its old center, with 3.9 km², is the largest in Spain and the sixth largest in Europe, after Rome (14.6 km²), Naples (10.3 km²), Venice (7.6 km²), Florence (5.5 km²), and Genoa (4.1 km²). Seville is one of the cities with the most cataloged monuments in Europe. Its historical and monumental heritage and its various scenic and cultural spaces make it a host city for national and international tourism. It is the third city in Spain by number of visitors, after Barcelona and Madrid. Among its most representative monuments are the cathedral (which includes the Giralda), the Alcázar, the Archivo de Indias and the Torre del Oro, the first three declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1987.

It is the only inland city in Spain with a port, located about 90 km from the Atlantic Ocean, since the Guadalquivir River is navigable from its mouth in Sanlúcar de Barrameda to the city, although the size of the access ships is limited by the Centenario bypass bridge.
Main attractions
The Royal Alcázars of Seville, historically known as al-Qasr al-Muriq and commonly known as the Alcázar of Seville, is a royal palace, built for the Christian king Peter of Castile. It was built by Castilian Christians on the site of an Abbadid Muslim alcazar, or residential fortress. The fortress was destroyed after the Christian conquest of Seville in 1248. The palace is a preeminent example of Mudéjar style in the Iberian Peninsula, combining Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance structural elements. The upper stories of the Alcázar are still occupied by the royal family when they visit Seville and are administered by the Patrimonio Nacional. It was registered in 1987 by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, along with the adjoining Seville Cathedral and the General Archive of the Indies.

The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See, better known as Seville Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral, registered in 1987 by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It is the fourth-largest church in the world (its size remains a matter of debate) as well as the largest Gothic church.

After its completion in the early 16th century, Seville Cathedral supplanted Hagia Sophia as the largest cathedral in the world, a title the Byzantine church had held for a thousand years. The total area occupied by the building is 11,520 square metres. The Gothic section alone has a length of 126 m, a width of 76 m, and its maximum height in the center of the transept is 42 m. The total height of the Giralda tower from the ground to the weather vane is 104.5 m.

Seville Cathedral was the site of the baptism of Infante Juan of Aragon in 1478, only son of the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. Its royal chapel holds the remains of the city's conqueror Ferdinand III of Castile, his son and heir Alfonso the Wise and their descendant king Peter the Just. The funerary monuments for cardinals Juan de Cervantes and Pedro González de Mendoza are located among its chapels. Christopher Columbus and his son Diego are also buried in the cathedral.

The Archbishop's Palace is located on the northeastern side of the cathedral.

The Archivo General de Indias, "General Archive of the Indies"), housed in the ancient merchants' exchange of Seville, the Casa Lonja de Mercaderes, is the repository of extremely valuable archival documents illustrating the history of the Spanish Empire in the Americas and the Philippines. The building itself, an unusually serene and Italianate example of Spanish Renaissance architecture, was designed by Juan de Herrera. This structure and its contents were registered in 1987 by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

In 1785, by decree of Charles III the archives of the Council of the Indies were to be housed here, in order to bring together under a single roof all the documentation regarding the overseas empire, which until that time had been dispersed among various archives, as Simancas, Cádiz and Seville. Responsibility for the project was delegated to José de Gálvez y Gallardo, Secretary for the Indies, who depended on the historian Juan Bautista Muñoz for the plan's execution.

Two basic motivations underlay the project; in addition to the lack of space in the Archivo General de Simancas, the central archive of the Spanish Crown, there was also the expectation, in the spirit of the Enlightenment, that Spanish historians would take up the history of Spain's colonial empire. It was decided that, for the time being, documents evolved after 1760 would remain with their primary institutions.

The first cartloads of the documents arrived in October 1785. Some restructuring of the Casa Lonja to accommodate the materials was required, and a grand marble staircase was added in 1787, to designs of Lucas Cintara.

The walls of Seville were military fences that surrounded the old quarter of the city of Seville. Throughout history, Seville has had several walled enclosures, as it grew, the oldest references to the existence of walls appear in the Roman period, but there must have been some prior.

We know of the existence of a first enclosure of Roman origin of which no visible vestiges exist today, which would encompass the south-eastern quadrant of the current historic center (area from Puerta Jerez to San Martín, Encarnación, Puerta Osario, Puerta de la Carme and Alcazar). The only remains detected correspond to fortuitous finds in the subsoil of the city, these data, together with the observation of the current urban topography, have allowed us to trace a hypothetical route of the first wall of Hispalis.

The Torre del Oro was built as a watchtower and defensive barrier on the river. The river was used as a mode of defense. A chain was strung through the water from the base of the tower to prevent boats from traveling into the river port.

The Palacio de San Telmo, formerly the University of Sailors, and later the Seminary, is now the seat for the Andalusian Autonomous Government. It is one of the most emblematic buildings of baroque architecture, mainly to its world-renowned churrigueresque principal façade and the impressive chapel.

The Royal Tobacco Factory is housed on the original site of the first tobacco factory in Europe, a vast 18th-century building in Baroque style and the purported inspiration for the opera Carmen.

The Metropol Parasol, in La Encarnación square, is the world's largest wooden structure. A monumental umbrella-like building designed by the German architect Jürgen Mayer, finished in 2011. This modern architecture structure houses the central market and an underground archaeological complex. The terrace roof is a city viewpoint.

The Plaza de España in the Parque de María Luisa (María Luisa Park) was built by the architect Aníbal González for the 1929 Exposición Ibero-Americana. It is an outstanding example of Regionalist Revival Architecture, a bizarre and loftily conceived mixture of diverse historic styles, such as Art Deco and lavishly ornamented with typical glazed tiles.

The Palacio de las Dueñas has belonged to the Casa de Alba since 1612. It was built between the 15th and 16th centuries, from Gothic-Mudejar to Renaissance styles and is one of the main buildings in the city, due to its historical, architectural, and cultural value. It was founded by the Pineda family, who had to sell it in 1484 to Catalina de Ribera for pressing money needs: they had to pay a ransom for Don Juan de Pineda, taken prisoner by the Moors.

La Antigua Audiencia, built between 1595 and 1597, and located in the Plaza de San Francisco. Throughout its history, this building has undergone numerous reforms, highlighting those carried out during the 16th and 19th centuries, as well as the work carried out in 1924 by the architect Aníbal González, who rebuilt the facade and the interior.

The Municipal Newspaper Lib rary and Provincial Historical Archive of Seville, built between 1893 and 1913, occupies the building that originally served as the Palace of Justice of Seville. After its restoration, its façade shows a neoclassical portico, its interior contains two patios with galleries and a marble staircase. It has a total area of 4238 m².

The Seville City Council constitutes one of the most notable examples of Plateresque architecture. Construction began in the 15th century by Diego de Riaño, the master executed the southern sector of the Town Hall, the arch of communication with the Franciscan monastery and two floors covered with plateresque reliefs with representations of historical and mythical figures, heraldry and emblems alluding to the founders of the city, such as Hercules and Julius Caesar.

This headquarters was reformed in the 19th century by Demetrio de los Ríos and Balbino Marrón, who drew up a new main facade, facing the Plaza Nueva, of a neoclassical style. In turn, they reorganized the interior around two patios and a large staircase.

The Alfonso XIII Hotel is a historic building located between the Puerta de Jerez, the San Telmo Palace and the Tobacco Factory. Work of the architect José Espiau y Muñoz; It was built between 1916 and 1928, and officially inaugurated on April 28, 1929, with the celebration of a banquet presided over by King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenia. Architecturally, it is in the Neo-Mudejar style, a regional historicist version of Arab architecture, and presents rich ornamentation.

The Casa de Pilatos is a palace that combines Italian Renaissance and Spanish Mudejar styles. The construction of the palace began in 1483, at the initiative and desire of Pedro Enríquez de Quiñones (IV Adelantado Mayor of Andalusia) and his second wife Catalina de Ribera, founders of the Casa de Alcalá. It is considered a prototype of an Andalusian palace and several films have been shot there, including four Hollywood blockbusters: Lawrence of Arabia; 1492: The Conquest of Paradise and The Kingdom of Heaven, both by Ridley Scott and Knight and Day with Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise.

The Hospital de las Cinco Llagas currently houses the seat of the Parliament of Andalusia. It was founded by Catalina de Ribera and its construction began in 1546 by order of Fadrique Enríquez de Ribera, 1st Marquis of Tarifa. It was designed by Martín de Gainza, who had directed the works until his death in 1556. The most characteristic element of the building is its church. The building functioned as a hospital until 1972. In 1986 the projects were drawn up for its conversion into the seat of the Parliament of Andalusia, inaugurating it on February 28 (Andalusia day), 1992.

The Santa Cruz neighborhood, an old medieval Jewish quarter located in the historic center of Seville, is one of the most emblematic and picturesque in the city. With narrow and winding streets, its Sevillian-style houses have stately patios and balconies with wrought-iron railings adorned with flowers. The neighborhood was founded when King Ferdinand III of Castile conquered the city and the second most important Jewish community in Spain, after Toledo, was concentrated in Seville. After the expulsion of the Jews in 1483, the neighborhood was abandoned and fell into decline, until at the beginning of the 20th century it was remodeled, directed by the municipal architect Juan Talavera y Heredia.

The Sevilla Tower is an office skyscraper, its construction started in March 2008 and was completed in 2015. The tower is 180.5 metres tall and has 40 floors. It is an office building, with the entrance to the tower located off Odiel street. The tower is the tallest building in Andalusia and in the city of Seville, and the seventh tallest in Spain. It provides a panoramic view on all Seville.

The tower is located in La Cartuja, the former zone of the Universal Exposition that took place in Seville between April and October 1992. It is located next to the river in an area being redeveloped since the early 2000s.
Museums
The Museum of Fine Arts of Seville - a collection of mainly Spanish visual arts from the medieval period to the early 20th century, including a choice selection of works by artists from the so-called Golden Age of Sevillian painting during the 17th century, such as Murillo, Zurbarán, Francisco de Herrera the younger, and Valdés Leal.

The building itself was built in 1594. The institution of the provincial museum of Seville was created in September 1835. Items were moved to the museum in the ensuing years. The building it is housed in was originally home to the convent of the Order of the Merced Calzada de la Asunción, founded by St. Peter Nolasco during the reign of Ferdinand III. Extensive remodeling in the early 17th century was led by the architect Juan de Oviedo y de la Bandera.

The Archeological Museum of Seville is a museum in Seville, southern Spain, housed in the Pabellón del Renacimiento, one of the pavilions designed by the architect Aníbal González. These pavilions at the Plaza de España were created for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929.

The museum's basement houses the El Carambolo treasure, discovered in Camas (3 km NW of Seville) in 1958. The treasure comprises 2950 grams of 24 carat gold and consists of golden bracelets, a golden chain with pendant, buckles, belt- and forehead plates. The hoard, initially associated to Tartessos, has been however interpreted since the 1990s rather as part of a Phoenician sanctuary; this later hypothesis was verified by new archaeological digs in the 2000s. The treasure includes a small figurine of Astarte, a Phoenician goddess.

Museum of Arts and Popular Customs of Seville occupies the Mudéjar Pavilion designed by Aníbal González and built in 1914. It served as an art pavilion, the Pabellón de Arte Antiguo, for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929, when Aníbal González had the opportunity to design several additional permanent buildings for the plaza. The exterior is ceramic over brick, and has three doors with archivolts adorned with glazed tiles.

The building originally consisted of two stories over an aeration chamber. In the 1960s, the main floor, originally over 12 metres high, was divided in two, with an intermediate level added by architect Delgado Roig. In 1972, as part of the preparations for the current museum, the various stories of the building were connected by a grand spiral staircase designed by José Galnares Sagastizábal.

The Monastery of Santa María de las Cuevas, also known as the Monastery of the Cartuja (Charterhouse), is a religious building on the Isla de La Cartuja. In 1964, the monastery was declared a national monument, and now is owned by the government of Andalusia, which create a new institution called "Monumental Ensemble of the Monastery of Santa María de las Cuevas". Restorations were made for the Seville Expo '92, directed by Bartolomé Ruiz González, the first and only one director of the Monumental Ensemble from 1989 to 1994. In 1997, the older part of the monastery became the site of a museum of contemporary art, the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo (CAAC).

Other museums:

The Naval Museum, housed in the golden Torre del Oro, next to the River Guadalquivir

The Carriages Museum, in the Los Remedios neighbourhood

The Flamenco Art Museum

The Bullfighting Museum, in the La Maestranza bullring

The Palace of the Countess of Lebrija, a private collection that contains many of the mosaic floors discovered in the nearby Roman town of Italica

The Centro Velázquez (Velázquez Centre) located at the Old Priests Hospital in the touristic Santa Cruz neighbourhood

The Antiquarium in Metropol Parasol, an underground museum which is composed of the most important archaeological site of the ancient Roman stage of Seville and remains preserved

The Castillo de San Jorge (Castle of St. George) is situated near the Triana market, next to the Isabel II bridge. It was the last seat for the Spanish Inquisition

The Museum and Treasure of La Macarena, where the collection of the Macarena brotherhood is exhibited. This exhibition gives visitors an accurate impression of Seville's Holy Week

La Casa de la Ciencia (The House of Science), a science centre and museum opposite the María Luisa Park.

Cuisine and best restaurants
The tapas scene is one of the main cultural attractions of Seville: people go from one bar to another, enjoying small dishes called tapas (literally "lids" or "covers" in Spanish, referring to their probable origin as snacks served on small plates used to cover drinks). Local specialities include fried and grilled seafood (including squid, choco (cuttlefish), swordfish, marinated dogfish, and ortiguillas), grilled and stewed meat, spinach with chickpeas, Jamón ibérico, lamb kidneys in sherry sauce, snails, caldo de puchero, and gazpacho. A sandwich known as a serranito is the typical and popular version of fast food.

Typical desserts from Seville include pestiños, a honey-coated sweet fritter; torrijas, fried slices of bread with honey; roscos fritos, deep-fried sugar-coated ring doughnuts; magdalenas or fairy cakes; yemas de San Leandro,which provide the city's convents with a source of revenue; and tortas de aceite, a thin sugar-coated cake made with olive oil. Polvorones and mantecados are traditional Christmas products, whereas pestiños and torrijas are typically consumed during the Holy Week.

There are 18 Michelin list restaurants in the city:

Abantal, Alcalde José de la Bandera 7, 80 - 100 EUR * Creative Cuisine (One star)

La Barra de Cañabota, Orfila 5, 20 - 60 EUR * Traditional Cuisine, Regional Cuisine

Cañabota, Orfila 3, 45 - 90 EUR * Seafood

Sobretablas, Colombia 7, 33 - 70 EUR * Contemporary Cuisine, Modern Cuisine

El Rinconcillo, Gerona 40, 35 - 45 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Tribeca, Chaves Nogales 3, 75 - 140 EUR * Contemporary Cusuine, Traditional Cuisine

La Azotea, Conde de Barajas 13, 25 - 35 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

Ispal, Plaza de San Sebastián 1, 35 - 159 EUR * Modern Cuisine

Az-Zait, Plaza de San Lorenzo 1, 25 - 48 EUR * Modern Cuisine

Torres y García, Harinas 2, 15 - 40 EUR * Contemporary Cuisine

El Asador de Aranda, Luis Montoto 150, 30 - 45 EUR * Castilian Cuisine

Eslava, Eslava 5, 35 - 60 EUR * Traditional Cuisine

El Gallinero de Sandra, Esperanza Elena Caro 2, 38 - 70 EUR * Contemporary Cuisine, Modern Cuisine

Iki, Luis de Morales 2, 40 - 60 EUR * Japanese Cuisine

El Disparate, Alameda de Hércules 11, 21 - 33 EUR * Contemporary Cuisine

Puratasca, Numancia 5, Contemporary, Tapas

Ovejas Negras, Hernando Colón 8, Fusion

Tradevo Centro, Cuesta del Rosario 15, Contemporary cuisine

Shopping
The main shopping area is the square between Plazas Nueva, Magdalena, Encarnacion and San Francisco, with Calle Sierpes at its heart. For more touristy gear (flamenco aprons, T-shirts, bullfighting souvenirs) Barrio Santa Cruz has a wealth of places; for more individual shops, Barrio San Vincente and the Alameda; while for ceramics, Triana is where the beautiful azulejos (ceramic tiles) which adorn many Sevillano bars, hotels, churches and private houses are made.

Most shops are open from 10.00-14.00 and 17.00 to 20.00 Monday to Friday, and 10.00-14.00 only on Saturday, although some larger ones in the centre stay open all day and on Saturday afternoon. Nearly all accept major credit cards.

Department stores:
El Corte Ingles
Plaza de la Magdalena 1 (clothes, accessories, toiletries, food)
Plaza del Duque 7 and 13 (kitchenware, electrical goods, linen)

There is a flea market every Thursday on Calle Feria, and an art market on Paseo de la O by the river in Triana, on Saturdays and Sundays. An organic market takes place in the Alameda on the Saturday of the month.
Transport and how to get to?
Seville airport, known as Seville-San Pablo airport, is the only airport in the city after the closure of the Tablada Air Base. It is managed by AENA and is located ten kilometers northeast of the city.

The Seville-Santa Justa railway station is served by the AVE high-speed rail system, operated by the Spanish state-owned rail company Renfe.

The Seville metro ("Metro de Sevilla" in Spanish) is a light metro network serving the city of Seville and its metropolitan area. The system is totally independent of any other rail or street traffic. All stations were built with platform screen doors.

Distances to main cities of Andalucia and Madrid:

Huelva 1 hr 4 min (93.3 km) via A-49

Cádiz 1 hr 18 min (121 km) via AP-4

Málaga 2 hr 14 min (206 km) via A-92

Córdoba 1 hr 37 min (143 km) via A-4

Jaén 2 hr 41 min (253 km) via A-4

Granada 2 hr 38 min (248 km) via A-92

Almería 3 hr 59 min (413 km) via A-92

Madrid 5 hr 6 min (532 km) via A-66 and A-5
Main information
Area: 140 sq. km (municipality)

Coordinates: 37°23′00″N 5°59′00″W

Population: 691 395

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Seville and its UNESCO heritage * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Seville (Sp. Sevilla) is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville, Spain. It is the most populated city in Andalusia, the fourth in Spain after Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia, and the 32nd in the European Union.

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https://all-andorra.com/andalusia/

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Andalusia is the southernmost autonomous community in Peninsular Spain. It is the most populous and the second largest autonomous community in the country. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Almería, Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaén, Málaga, and Seville.

Andalusia is located in the south of the Iberian peninsula, in southwestern Europe, immediately south of the autonomous communities of Extremadura and Castile-La Mancha; west of the Murcian community and the Mediterranean Sea; east of Portugal and the Atlantic Ocean; and north of the Mediterranean Sea and the Strait of Gibraltar.

In the articles of the autonomous statute, Andalusia is granted the condition of historical nationality, reflecting the political identity of the Andalusian people as a result of its historical and cultural uniqueness. In the previous statute, the Statute of Autonomy of 1981 or the Statute of Carmona, was defined as "nationality".

The geographical setting is one of the elements that gives Andalusia its own uniqueness and personality. From a geographical point of view, three large environmental areas can be distinguished, made up of the interaction of the different physical factors that affect the natural environment: Sierra Morena -which separates Andalusia from the Meseta-, the Betic Systems and the Betic Depression that they individualize upper Andalusia from Lower Andalusia.

The history of Andalusia is the result of a complex process in which different cultures and peoples merge over time, such as the Iberian, the Phoenician, the Carthaginian, the Roman, the Byzantine, the Andalusian, the Sephardic, the Gypsy and Spanish, which have given rise to the formation of Andalusian identity and culture.

At present, the economy of Andalusia is marked by the disadvantage of the region with respect to the Spanish and European global frameworks due to the late arrival of the industrial revolution, also made difficult by the peripheral situation that Andalusia adopted in the international economic circuits . This resulted in a lower impact of the industrial sector on the economy, a great relative weight of agriculture and a hypertrophy of the services sector.

Andalusia's hinterland is the hottest area of Europe, with cities like Córdoba and Seville averaging above 36 °C (97 °F) in summer high temperatures. Late evening temperatures can sometimes stay around 35 °C (95 °F) until close to midnight and daytime highs of over 40 °C (104 °F) are common. Seville also has the highest average annual temperature in mainland Spain and mainland Europe (19.2 °C, 66.6 °F), closely followed by Almería (19.1 °C, 66.4 °F).
Protected areas
Andalusia has many unique ecosystems. In order to preserve these areas in a manner compatible with both conservation and economic exploitation, many of the most representative ecosystems have been given protected status.

In total, nearly 20 percent of the territory of Andalusia lies in one of these protected areas, which constitute roughly 30 percent of the protected territory of Spain.

Among these many spaces, some of the most notable are the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park, Spain's largest natural park and the second largest in Europe, the Sierra Nevada National Park, Doñana National Park and Natural Park, the Tabernas Desert, and the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, the largest terrestrial-maritime reserve in the European Western Mediterranean Sea.
Tourism
With almost 30 million annual visitors whose main destinations within the community are the Costa del Sol and Sierra Nevada, Andalusia is the fourth autonomous community by number of visitors from all sources, after Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands. The highest tourist demand is concentrated in the summer period.

There is a high concentration of destinations on the Andalusian coast. 75% of all hotel overnight stays in Andalusia are made in coastal municipalities and this is where the largest offer of hotels is concentrated, with more than 70% of the total offer of regulated accommodation.

Along with sun and beach tourism, there is also a slight growth in nature, indoor and sports tourism.

Regarding cultural and congress tourism, Andalusia has a great heritage and history. Its monuments, cathedrals, castles or fortresses, monasteries, historic centers and museums, as well as a wide network of palaces for fairs and exhibitions, make this sector clearly expanding in the community.

One way to discover the culture of Andalusia is by exploring the sites which have been awarded the UNESCO World Heritage designation. In Granada, you'll see the Alhambra palace, the Generalife gardens and the mediaeval Albaicín neighbourhood; in Cordoba, its historic centre with the great Mosque; in Seville, the cathedral, the Alcázar palace and the Indies Archive; and in Jaén, the monumental sites of Úbeda and Baeza. You'll also be able to experience festivals such as Easter Week, the Carnival in Cadiz, the Rocío pilgrimage in Huelva and the April Fair in Seville.

You'll find a variety of natural landscapes which range from the beaches of the Costa del Sol, Costa de la Luz and Almería to the extensive olive groves of Jaén. You can visit the Doñana National Park - also declared a World Heritage Site -, or go skiing in the Sierra Nevada ski resort.

Andalusia has a thousand different flavours waiting to be tried. From the sherries of Jerez (Cadiz) and Montilla - Moriles (Cordoba), to the classic platters of fresh fried fish known as "pescaíto frito" from Cadiz and Malaga, cured ham from Huelva and Cordoba, olive oil, and other such typical dishes as gazpacho and "salmorejo" (a kind of thicker gazpacho).
Main attractions Almería province San Juan De Los Terreros and its beaches Villaricos and its beaches Vera and its attractions Garrucha and its attractions Mojácar and white colors Roquetas de Mar and its beaches Almería and its attractions Níjar - one of the largest municipalities of Spain Lucainena de las Torres and its attractions Tabernas castle dates back to the 11th century Gérgal Castle has been listed as a Site of Cultural Interest since 1985 Oasys Mini Hollywood - Spanish Western-styled theme park Cádiz province La Línea de la Concepción - a westernmost resort of the Costa del Sol Algeciras ranked as the 16th busiest port in the world San Roque was the first enclave of Campo de Gibraltar to be declared a historical-artistic complex Sanlúcar de Barrameda is internationally renowned for beach horse racing Chipiona and its tallest lighthouse in Spain El Puerto de Santa María - the City of a Hundred Palaces Jerez de la Frontera - the world capital of sherry wine Cádiz and its Victoria Beach - best urban beach in Europe Tarifa - where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean Vejer de la Frontera and its historic center Conil de la Frontera and its beaches Chiclana de la Frontera has the largest number of hotel beds in the Costa de la Luz Córdoba province Espejo and its attractions Cordoba has more World Heritage Sites than anywhere in the world The Iznájar reservoir is the largest in Andalusia Granada province Guadix and its cathedral Almuñécar and its castle Velilla-Taramay and its beach Salobreña and its castle Motril is synonymous with sugar cane Pampaneira and its attractions Bubión and its architecture Capileira and its parish church Lanjarón and its mineral waters Granada - noble, loyal, named great, famous and heroic city The castle of Moclín named 'Hins Al-Muqlin' during the Nasrid kingdom The Abbey of Sacromonte and its museum Sierra Nevada ski resort Huelva province Huelva and its attractions Ayamonte and Isla Canela beach - the westernmost resort on Costa de la Luz Almonaster la Real and its Mosque from the 10th century Jaén province Alcalá la Real and its fortress of La Mota Jaén - world capital of olive oil Baños de la Encina and its castle Linares and its attractions Úbeda - a World Heritage Site by UNESCO Baeza - a World Heritage Site by UNESCO Segura de la Sierra and its castle The Alcaudete castle was declared a Bien de Interés Cultural monument in 1949 Saint Catherine's Castle - former Moorish fortress Málaga province Nerja - the easternmost resort of Costa del Sol Frigiliana and its white colors Torrox and its umbrellas Estepona and its beaches Marbella and its attractions La Cala de Mijas and its towers Fuengirola and its attractions Benalmádena is one of the municipalities with the largest hotel offer on the Costa del Sol Torremolinos - one of the main spots of musical and nightlife in Spain Malaga - one of the oldest cities in Europe Rincón de la Victoria and its caves Torre del Mar and its beaches El Puerto de La Duquesa and its castle Casares - the prototype of the Andalusian white village Benadalid and its castle Genalguacil and its Museum of Contemporary Art Colomares castle - the largest monument in the world to Christopher Columbus Automobile and Fashion Museum in Malaga Butterfly Park of Benalmadena Seville province Utrera and its historic center Seville and its UNESCO heritage Carmona - a monumental city Lebrija and its attractions Los Molares castle and its history Sea resorts by Costas (from east to west) How to get to?
Andalusia has six public airports, all of which can legally handle international flights. The Málaga Airport is dominant, handling 60 percent of passengers and 85 percent of its international traffic.

The Seville Airport handles another 20.12 percent of traffic, and the Jerez Airport 7.17 percent, so that these three airports account for 87.96 percent of traffic.

Distance by car from Seville to the capitals of the Spanish Communities:

To Barcelona () 9 hr 47 min (993 km) via A-4 and AP-7
Main information
Area: 87 599 km²

Coordinates: 37°28′N 4°10′W

Population: 8 476 718

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Euro

Visa: Schengen

Time: Central European UTC +1

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Andalusia - the southernmost autonomous community in Peninsular Spain * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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Andalusia is the southernmost autonomous community in Peninsular Spain. It is the most populous and the second largest autonomous community in the country. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Almería, Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaén, Málaga, and Seville. Its capital city is Seville.

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https://all-andorra.com/category/blog/armies-and-machines-of-the-world/

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Aviation, fleet, fighting vehicles of the world on the drawings and colorings by Joan Mañé Archives * All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra

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All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra * Aviation, fleet, fighting vehicles of the world on the drawings and colorings by Joan Mañé