Top 6 Cities To Visit in Spain
Spain has something for everyone.
Home to 48 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, strong historic ties to Catholism which played a pivotal role in the country’s formation and identity, Spain is definitely a country for every type of traveler and on everyone’s bucket list.
With eye-opening festivals to know about to the country’s roots to mouthwatering foods like Tapas and Paella, Spain is the 2nd visited country in Europe. Which makes it more interesting.
Why Visit Spain?
Spain is a haven for art and culture lovers, thanks to the Guggenheim Museum that showcases modern and contemporary art.
Spain is open to variety of cultural influences, it has public and private libraries, and some of them date back to more than four centuries.
Sports and recreation also play an important part in the life of the Spanish people, and each region has its favourite form of play.
In summary, there’s something for everyone visiting Spain.
Cities To Visit
1. Valencia
This city is ranked as the third- largest in Spain, it’s historic centre is one of the largest in the country. Due to its long history, Valencia has numerous celebrations and traditions, such as the Falles (Les Falles), which was declared Fiestas of National Tourist Interest of Spain in 1965 and an intangible cultural heritage of UNESCO in November 2016.
Known for it’s City of Arts and Sciences, Valencia has a list of top museums, ranging from 20th Century Art to the Aquarium.
Paella , simmered rice dish with meat(usually chicken, rabbit or seafood), was born in Valencia.
2. Bilbao
The city of Bilbao houses one of Europe’s most famous art institutions, The Guggenheim Museum,which was designed by Canadian-American architect, Frank Gehry.
Bilbao also offers a rich, medieval, historic atmosphere combines with some modern skyscrapers and a reflection of the country’s industrial history.
3. Zaragoza
Zaragoza has over 2000 years of history and has been ruled by the Romans, the Moors and the Christian Kings, each leaving there marks upon the city.
Being the 5th biggest city in the country, quite bigger than Bilbao or Málaga, this city is rarely talked about and less visited.
The city of Zaragoza is home to not one but two great cathedrals: Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar and the Catedral del Salvador de Zaragoza, each combining baroque, mudéjar and romanesque styles. How astonishing!
Known for eating, shopping, eating and site seeing, this city may also be known for its rich culture. The city’s major festival, El Pilar, takes place every year on the 12th of October, with lots of concerts, performances and street animations all over the city creating a fantastic party atmosphere.
4. Málaga
Known as the homeland of renowned artist, Pablo Ruiz Picasso, Málaga is one of the oldest cities in Europe and also one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
Málaga is termed an ‘open museum,’ thanks to the archeological remains and monuments from the Roman, Arabic, Phoenician and Christian eras.
For automobile lovers, this city houses an Automobile museum, where cars are displayed as work of design, arts and craftsmanship.
5. Córdoba
Renowned for it’s great mosque-cathedral(The Mezquita-Catedral), which was named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in 1984, Córdoba is a breathtaking city.
It’s the only city to have as many as four cultural heritage sites. The city’s annual guitar festival is among the most significant event of it’s kind in the world.
Córdoba is also the birthplace of Roman philosopher, Seneca. The city is sometimes tagged “Constantinople of the Occident” and “Pearl of Moorish Spain.”
Important festivals are quite intense in the month of May; the three important festivals in the city include: Las Cruces de Mayo; Los Patios de Córdoba and La Feria de Córdoba.
6. Salamanca
Every year, Salamanca attracts thousands of students, thanks to one of the most important University and it’s ornate sandstone architecture.
The Holy Week in Salamanca(Semens Santa) is the most well known feast in the city. Notable artists like Fernando Gallego, a Castilian painter and renowned writer, Yann Martel come from Salamanca.
Salamanca has two cathedrals; Old and New Cathedral and both are of Baroque and Gothic architecture. No matter where you walk, the ‘Golden City’ of Salamanca is full of Romanesque and Gothic architectural treasures waiting to be discovered.
Which city do you intend to travel to? Let’s talk about it in the comments 😉.
