- Your Spanish Guide

Spain isn't just crowded beaches, flamenco dancers and bullfights. It's a spectacular and diverse country, with the north resembling the green rolling hills and fields of almost anywhere in northern Europe, while the south gives you a taste of north Africa and Moroccan architecture. Spain's long history is reflected in it's prehistoric cave paintings, Moorish palaces, ancient castles, Roman ruins, Gothic and Renaissance cathedrals as well as some very distinctive modern architecture.

The uniqueness of Spain lies in the separate kingdoms which made up the original Spanish nation. These regions remain diverse in their language, culture, cuisine and art. They include: Andalucia, Aragon, Asturias, Basque Country, Cantabria, Castilla La Mancha, Castilla Leon, Catalonia, Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra and Valencia. Some regions have their own language (or variation) in addition to Spanish, with Catalonia being an example.

Beaches
Although not so much in the news, there are excellent quiet beaches along most of the Spanish coastline - the quietest ones you have to hunt for, but if you prefer extremely developed resorts, there are plenty of often-crowded beaches on the well-known Costas, such as Costa Blanca, Costa de la Luz and Costa del Sol. These busy beaches have plenty of cafes and restaurants where you can dine and drink, whereas for the quieter beaches you may need to take a packed lunch.

Dress wear on beaches varies considerably. Some will be normal swim wear, others topless, and the more quieter beaches may be nudist. Incidentally, nudism is allowed anywhere in Spain providing there are no sexual connotations, but it doesn't mean the local Spaniards appreciate it.

History
Unique and historic architecture can be found throughout Spain, and especially in Cordoba, Salamanca, Granada, Toledo and Madrid. The visionary architecture of Antoni Gaudi and the Picasso museum are in Barcelona and Malaga, while Madrid is home to Spain's top three art museums.

Spanish Countryside
If you would rather get some fresh air, Spain is filled with endless opportunities to visit real untamed countryside, through to more organised wildlife parks. If you prefer to see Spain from horseback, the Pyrenees, especially around the Aragon region, is a great place for trekking. At the other extreme, if you prefer more exercise, in the south, Andalucia has its Sierra Nevada mountain chain, with luxurious skiing resorts where skiing is possible from November to May.

Between Guadix and Baza (famous horse market) can be found cave-dwellings, cave hotels, and beautiful natural parks. Further north, you can still find unexplored desert sceneries, with hamlets not even found on maps! Don't just stay near the coast. Go inland, explore and enjoy.

Social culture
Spanish people are very open-hearted and communicative. You won't have any problems to get to know someone, especially in the big cities like Madrid or Barcelona. It's often said that the Spanish living room is a bar where the Spanish meet the world.