Ultimate Guide to Spain

Spain, the second largest country in western Europe,ten-minute walk of each other: Museo del Prado,
is located on the Iberian Peninsula in southwesternCentro de Arte Reina Sofia and Museo
Europe. It offers cultural and historical artifacts andThyssen-Bornemisza.
attractions for visitors as well as traditional SpanishNorth of Madrid, the city of Segovia is home to both
food and festivals.a 2,000-year-old Roman Aqueduct of Segovia, which
In Barcelona, the most famous sight is La Sagradais still standing even though no mortar was used to
Familia, an unfinished Roman Catholic basilica.hold it together and the Alcazar Castle, which
Construction on the building was started in 1883 andoriginally started off as an Arab fort. Although part of
should be completed in 2026, 100 years after thethe roof was destroyed in an 1862 fire, it was
original designer died.restored in an identical style to that used in the
Also in Barcelona is Las Ramblas, a famousoriginal construction more than 300 years ago. Other
thoroughfare featuring street performers and theSegovian sights include the Cathedral of Segovia, built
Boqueria market, where visitors can purchase fruitsbetween 1522 and 1577 considered the last great
and vegetables from the many stalls and view theGothic cathedral of Europe, and the Church of Vera
Plaça Reial, featuring lampposts designed byCruz.
Gaudi, the original designer of La Sagrada Familia.A final popular area to visit in Spain is Seville. It
In Madrid, Spain's capital, the Museo Taurinofeatures several parks and gardens, including the
(bullfighting museum) can be found. Visitors unable toParque Maria Luisa, built for the 1929 World's Fair, the
see a real bullfight while in Spain can check out theAlcázar Gardens, planted along the palace and
museum, which features not only the history of thethe Gardens of Murillo. Visitors will also find a theme
popular Spanish pastime, but also bullfighting artifacts,park built on the 1992. Universal Exposition of Seville
including actual bulls' heads and matador costumes.site called La Isla Magica, Cartuja Island in Seville.
Madrid also features what many consider to be theMonuments of interest include Alcázar, a
three best art museums in Europe: Centro de Artepalace with construction dating back to 1181 and
Reina Sofia, featuring modern art from the last 100continuing for more than 500 years; the Torre del
years; Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, which displays artOro, built as a defensive barrier and watchtower on
from medieval times to present day; and Museo delthe river; the Town Hall, the construction of which
Prado, the most important of the three museums,took place in the 16th-century and the façade
which has on display pieces of definitive Spanish artof which was constructed, in Neoclassical style, in the
from the past 500 years.19th-century; and the University of Seville, located in
Art fans should feel at home in Madrid, where threethe site of Europe's first tobacco factory.
of the best museums in Europe are located within a