Gorgeous. Laid back. Vibrant. Fun.
“Who?” “Where?” you may ask.
It’s undoubtedly Spain.
Justly famous for its year-round sunshine, stone castles and sophisticated cities, Spain, perched on the south of Europe’s Iberian Peninsula, often edges out other countries to be considered to be the ultimate holiday destination (We’re heading to Spain for LA TOMATINA this August and we’d love for you to join us. CLICK HERE to know more). There are countless reasons as to why it’s arguably the most attractive destination in the world, but to save on time, here’s 10:
1) Sun, sun, sun
Spain is the sunniest country in Europe, and its Mediterranean coastline, from the Costa Blanca to the Costa del Sol, enjoys an average of 300 days of sunshine each year. You rarely get a single bad day in Spain. So that’s 300 days of clear skies, warm, golden rays, icecream, al fresco brunches, sunbathing, street night parties, and a sense of carefree freedom like no other.
2) Secret beaches
Spain has over 5,000 miles of beautiful Mediterranean coastline, dotted with hidden, tiny unspoiled coves. Here, you can kick-back and unwind, enjoying the feeling of having an entire beach to yourself. You can lazily sunbathe under the warmth of the Spanish sun, burrow your toes into soft, golden sand, swim in warm cerulean waters, breathe in the salty smell of the sea and revel in the feeling of being far, far away from the rest of the world. Bliss.
3) Sangria
There’s nothing like drinking sangria straight from the source. Additionally, an infinite variety of Spanish wines, from cava in Catalunya to sweet moscatel from Malaga means that there are limitless ways to create this drink, and all of them, delicious! ¡Salud!
4) La Sagrada Familia
Spain has the best avant-garde architecture in the world; cities full of vibrancy, brightly colored and decorated with embellishments. For instance:
but none more so than Gaudi’s unfinished spectacular masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia. It’s a mesmerizing sight from the outside, looking like a strange cross between a sandcastle and a beehive.
Its interior is even more impressive; massive pillars reach upwards like trees that extend like branches across the ceiling, and its huge stained glass windows dapple the church in greens, blues, reds and yellows.
It’s completely awe inspiring.
5) Spanish
It’s often billed as one of the world’s most romantic languages, with vowels, consonants, words and sentences fitting seamlessly together like a melody. And last year, a study found that it was also the world’s happiest language as well!
6) Seafood
Spain’s gastronomy varies from region to region, but regardless of where you are, prepare to stuff yourself with amazing seafood. Fresh fish. Crispy calamari. Melt in your mouth lobster. Grilled prawns. Plump juicy clams. Or just opt for a seafood paella for an explosion of utter deliciousness in your mouth.
7) Supersized festivals
Spain has festivals taking place all year round, from the infamous Tomatina Festival in the small town of Buñol, where thousands of people take part in a massive tomato fight, to the fireworks festival of Las Fallas in Valencia. In fact, every city and town in Spain celebrates its own festival and they can be truly spectacular. For example, Cordoba celebrates a festival of the patios in May with the entire town decorated with flowers, statues and beautiful tiles.
Whatever the reason, and wherever you go in the country, you’re bound to stumble upon a colorful, joyful, and unforgettable fiesta. Everyday you’re partyin’
8) Siestas
With late-rising, long lunches and afternoon naps – a long held tradition – there’s no better place to enjoy a laidback lifestyle than in Spain. Here, a conscious effort is made to take a break and enjoy some down time. Indeed, every afternoon, you’ll find shops, local offices and even churches closed during siesta hour. And scientists have found that naps are beneficial to health so Spaniards (and visiting travellers) can continue to nap unabashedly . . . in the interests of being healthy of course.
9) Spaniards
It’s no secret that Spaniards are extremely good-looking – Penelope Cruz, Antonio Banderas, Paz Vega and Javier Bardem for example, but if there’s one quality to beat this, it’s the warmth and friendliness of the locals. In fact, just last year, Spain was voted the world’s most tourist-friendly country. This means that you will never be short of fascinating conversations and if you get lost or need any assistance, you can rest assured that Spaniards will go out of their way to help you out.
10) The Spanish zest for life
Spain pulsates with vibrancy, excitement and a viva-la-vida state of mind. Whether it’s the sizzling rat-a-tat-tat and dramatic stare downs of the flamenco, the Dr. Seuss-inspired buildings that grow with gusto into the sky , youngsters fist-pumping with reckless abandon in Ibiza or eating tapas and drinking beer with relish, Spaniards put their heart and soul into everything they do. You can’t help but absorb and project this mantra yourself. It’s addictive, invigorating and irresistible; now, there’s nothing more attractive than this.
Clearly, Spain’s charms are undeniable. No matter where you are in this country – whether it is walking the streets of Barcelona in search of avant-garde architecture, eating the best dish of paella you’ve ever had in Valencia, or talking to locals in Madrid between mouthfuls of tapas – you’ll find countless opportunities to fall quickly in love with Spain.
You want to experience the delights of Spain, don’t you? Click here for information on spain tours & trips!
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