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Spain has many great cities, all worth a visit and with lots of tourist attractions. Madrid and Barcelona are among the most popular, but also Sevilla, Cordoba and Granada attract many visitors.
The great country of Spain that sits at the western end of the Mediterranean Sea is without doubt a holidaymaker`s dream. Spain is popular and diverse, friendly and accommodating. It positively brims with history, boasting more World Heritage Cities than any other country. After Italy it has the second most UNESCO World Heritage Sites, so along with its inviting climate, its folklore, festivals and its vibrant seaside resorts, it remains the top European tourist destination.
The capital Madrid oozes class and sophistication. Home to over six million people in its metropolitan area, it is particularly well known for its rich artistic heritage with the El Prado museum at its cultural hub. Echoes of its imperialistic past still resonate throughout this historical epicenter. The Royal Palace is no less than magnificent as are countless architectural tributes to its colorful, cosmopolitan past.
In the southern region of Andalusia, the city of Cordoba is one of Europe`s great cultural reference points. Given that it has been both a capital of a Roman province and of an Arab state in its glorious multicultural past, it will probably come as no surprise that Cordoba is a World Heritage Site and that the Mezquita, a mosque turned cathedral can lay claim to being Spain`s most majestic building. And that really is saying something!
Spain`s 4th largest city and the capital of Andalusia is Seville. Sitting on the Guadalquivir River which divides the city in two, Seville has long been a center for economic trade, particularly in agricultural goods. It`s also a bustling seaport and has been since Roman times, through Muslim rule and then via trade with the Americas. Much of its prominent architecture is Gothic in style and since the 19th century it has been gaining a reputation as a very desirable tourist center featuring in Europe`s Romantic "Grand Tour" and continuing similarly to this day. The Barrio Santa Cruz or `Jewish Quarter` with its winding streets and colorful shops is often regarded as the most charming part of this elegant city.
Barcelona, capital of and center to Catalonian culture is Spain`s 2nd city and is located on the North-eastern Mediterranean coast of the country. Old certainly meets new here from the Ciutat Vella- the old town with its outdoor markets, restaurants and shops through to the reliable Metro system, symbol of the new Barcelona. The 1992 Olympic Games helped revamp several parts of the city as well as allowing the best of modern design to blend with the rolling beauty of its ancient past. Visit the inland suburbs too, gateway to the mountains that protect this beautiful city.
Some 120km further south is the resort of Salou, capital and main center of the Costa Dorada or `Golden Coast.` Here, rocky coves intermingle with beautiful beaches. Each day ends with a glorious sunset as bright reds, oranges and yellows meld mesmerically with the blue/grey glint of the sea. Then the town comes alive and the party begins. It`s great value too, so why not enjoy a holiday in Salou and let those Spanish dreams come true.
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