Holidays in Spain

Now Spain is one of the most demanded countries among tourists. It has everything you need for an interesting and varied vacation: a rich historical past, many attractions, gentle sea and hospitable people.

Spain landmarks

This country is full sights... There is something to see here. One of the country's main museums, the Prado National Museum, began collecting its exhibits during the reign of King Charles V. Now the number of paintings stored in the museum has reached 8,600. So many paintings do not fit in all the exhibition halls of the building. But in addition to paintings, here you can see the treasures of the Dauphin, the works of Italian sculptors and other objects of art.

The Cathedral of the Virgin Mary is located in Burgosse. The building is the 3rd largest in the country. The temple is distinguished by the Gothic style and decoration with carved bas-reliefs. The interior decoration is designed in the form of a mixture of Renaissance, Gothic and Baroque styles. This is an abundance of gilding, stone and wood carvings, beautiful stained glass windows. The cathedral serves as the burial place of the national hero of Spain, Sid Campeador.

Very ancient Sight Spain's Altamira cave is located near the city of Santander. It is unique primarily for its rock paintings. On the ceiling of the cave, you can see drawings of wild boars, bulls and horses. At the same time, these images have volume, since the unevenness of the rock was skillfully used by ancient artists for this purpose.

One of the most beautiful places in the country is the Plaza de España. She is located in Seville. The square is framed by the Seville administration building, built in the form of a semicircle, and in its center there is a fountain. The square is paved with tiles and pebbles in the form of a checkerboard. A special channel has been dug along the perimeter of the square, where you can swim on a boat.

Park Guell impresses with its beauty. This park was created by A. Gaudi, who was a friend of the merchant Guell. Here, anyone will feel like a child among the gingerbread houses with cream borders. Buildings, sculptures and columns are striking with an abundance of colors and smooth lines.

At an altitude of a little less than a kilometer above the sea surface is the ancient city of Cuenca. It was built as a Celtic settlement and has survived the rule of many civilizations. The Romans, Arabs and Moors left their mark here. Until now, the buildings of the ancient city hang over the abyss.

After the reign of the Moors in Cordoba, the cathedral-mosque of Mesquita remained as a reminder. After the conquest of the city in 1236, the Spanish king rebuilt the Muslim mosque into a Catholic cathedral. For this, a chapel was built in the prayer hall of the mosque. The building has preserved Arabic letters to this day.

The Escoril Monastery was built by the King of Spain after defeating French troops. Since then, the monastery has become a kind of cultural center of the country. Its walls contain paintings by great artists and a collection of literary and scientific works, which is second only to the Vatican library in terms of the number of volumes. Many monarchs of Spain are buried here.

At the end of the 19th century, the construction of the Sagrada Familia began in Barcelona. It is not finished even now, as it is financed only by private money. The temple was designed by Antoni Gaudi and reflects his vision of the New Testament.

If you plan to visit the museum culture of Islam Alhambra, which is located in Granada, then purchase your ticket in advance. After all, a strictly limited number of people can enter the territory of the museum. Inside the architectural complex there is a feeling of a real oriental fairy tale with palaces and parks, towers and fountains.

The Royal Palace in the capital was built by the architects Sabatini and Sacchetti. The building is distinguished by its grandeur and luxury, as befits the residence of kings. The palace is surrounded by a beautiful garden where you can see the carriage museum. And in the building of the palace there is an exposition of ancient weapons, paintings and violins by the famous Stradivarius.

As the legacy of the Moors, the Spanish kings inherited the Seville Alcazar. It has been used for over 700 years as the residence of the royal family in this city. On other days, the palace is open to tourists.

One of the largest European aqueducts reminds the Spaniards of the Romans. It is located in Segovia and has a height of 28 meters. The ancient drainage structure remained operational until the end of the last century. It is also noteworthy that the stone blocks from which the aqueduct is built are not fastened in any way, but simply tightly fitted to one another.

Another architectural monument left over from the era of Roman rule is the Roman theater in Madrid. Now the remains of the theater, which once held 6,000 people, become the site for the theater festival in the summer months.

Beautiful places in Spain

Spain itself is a very beautiful country. There are many places here that will be interesting to visit for any traveler. First of all, the capital of the country, Madrid, should be noted. This city was built by King Philip II in the 16th century, since the former capital of the country, Toledo, was already cramped for him. There are many architectural monuments and parks in Madrid, striking in their majesty and beauty. There are interesting museums and temples here, which are definitely worth visiting at least for a short while.

It is impossible not to mention the former capital of Spain Toledo. In this city, Muslim, Christian and Jewish cultures are intertwined, which is reflected in the architectural heritage and attractions. For several decades, Toledo has been part of the UNESCO cultural heritage list.

One of the most beautiful places in the country is located in the small town of Blanes. This is the Marimurtra Botanical Garden. The garden is a union of three climatic zones - temperate zone, subtropical and Mediterranean. The cliffs on which the botanical garden is located offer stunning views of the Costa Brava.

Resorts of Spain

Among the most popular resort towns this country belongs to Mallorca. This place is suitable for a great holiday for the whole family. Mallorca's mild climate makes the tourist season all year round. Here you can find cozy hotels with sandy beaches everywhere, which are so suitable for children.

Another famous and beloved resort by many tourists is the Canary Islands. The unique climate of this group of islands allows you to relax here at any time of the year. The air temperature here almost always stays at the same level of +25 degrees, and the water warms up to +22 degrees. In addition to the beautiful nature and climate, there are opportunities for sightseeing holidays.

Other popular resorts in Spain:

• The island of Ibiza is suitable for a youth party vacation.
• Costa Blanca is the resort with the largest number of beaches.
• Costa Brava - it is best to relax here in July-September, since this resort is located to the north of the rest.
• Costa Dorada is perfect for families as all the beaches are covered with fine sand.

Spain hotels

Hotels in Spain are not subject to state classification, so each region of the country decides on the "star rating" independently. For example, in the resorts of the Costa Brava and Costa Dorada, you will mainly find three-star hotels. This area is more suitable for a budget holiday. But the islands of Ibiza and Mallorca already differ for the better in the level of service. Therefore, the prices in these places are higher.

Hotels in Spain offer both traditional accommodation options and exclusively Spanish ones. For example, there is such a thing as a family hotel. This is either a separate small building or several entrances of an apartment building belonging to the same family. In such a hotel there is no restaurant, pool or entertainment program. The cost of living in such a hotel is about 25 euros.

A little below the level of service is the guesthouse. Usually this is a room in an apartment that is rented for the night. At the same time, public places will be common for several guests. This option costs 20 euros.

In the mountains and on the territory of national parks, you can stay not only for the night, but also for several days in special shelters. This is a small house with heating, kitchen and everything you need for life. Accommodation price from 12 euros.

It is possible to rent a whole rural house located in the countryside or in the mountains. Renting such a dwelling starts from 60 euros.

There are not just houses for rent, but whole villas with pools and tennis courts. Such villas are being built in resort areas and rented out during the tourist season from 600 euros.

Features of Spain

As in other Mediterranean countries, in Spain there is such a thing as an afternoon siesta. It used to last three hours. At this time, not a single institution was open, shops were closed, and people went home for lunch and a nap. But for some time now, this time has been reduced to one hour, as the authorities considered that a three-hour break was bad for the country's economy.

Spaniards love to be late, they may be late for the most important events in their life. Therefore, it is worth considering this feature and resigning yourself. At the same time, the Spaniards are very friendly and ready to introduce you to all of their friends 5 minutes after they meet.

One of the traditions of Spain is bullfighting. Moreover, a real bullfight is a very dangerous event. Newcomers are not always loyal to him, they consider it a cruel killing of animals. But the Spaniards are sensitive to this tradition and are not going to cancel it.

How much will a vacation in Spain cost

If you are planning a vacation in Spain and the issue of saving is important to you, we recommend starting preparation in advance. Explore the airline offers and choose the best options. For example, a flight to Barcelona from Moscow with a transfer will cost you 15,000 rubles in the summer. But you can buy it cheaper. Do not forget to calculate the costs of visa processing. If you count these costs for two, then the flight and visa will cost you a minimum of 380 euros.

Food in Spain is inexpensive. For example, breakfast will cost up to 6 euros in a budget cafe. Some hotels already include breakfast in the room rate. A multi-course set lunch costs up to 12 euros, and a dinner in a cafe will cost you up to 20 euros. At the lowest prices, meals for a week will cost about 260 euros for two.

Prices for hotels in Spain are very different, it all depends on the level of comfort you want and the season. The most inexpensive hotels offer rooms from 25 euros per night. For two for a week, you will give 350 euros.

Obligatory expense item is sightseeing. Here, the range of prices is already very large. For example, Park Guell will cost 8 euros, and the entrance to the Sagrada Familia will cost 15 euros. But some sights and museums can be visited for free. Let's conditionally designate the amount for this expense item 70 euros for two.

The most convenient way to get around the city is by bus or metro. To save on this expense item, we recommend purchasing special T-10 cards, which provide discounts for 10 trips. This card costs 10 euros, for two it will be 20 euros.

Thus, according to the very minimum estimates, a vacation in Spain will cost 1080 euros for two per week.