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Top 10 most popular places in Spain
4 July 2023
travel
matthieu
What do you think of if we mention Spain? Football? Real Madrid ? Futbol Club Barcelona? Bullfighting ? Or something else ? As the birthplace of European civilization, the peninsula between the Mediterranean and the vast Atlantic is certainly more than that! Here is the top 10 most popular tourist places in Spain.
1. Sagrada Família
Built in 1866, the Sagrada Familia is the most famous landmark in Barcelona. Gaudi took over from 1883 until his death in 1926 but left this unfinished singularity to Barcelona. This unfinished church, built for a hundred years, is now the most visited attraction in Barcelona. This pedigree of Gaudi’s devout temple shows his genius and the skillful use of geometric principles. The reference to natural elements and the control of light make the church so advanced and unique. It stands in the middle of the hall as if it is in the center of the universe. It’s solemn and spectacular. It is highly recommended to visit the 170-meter-tall tower, especially when the sun sets, to see panoramic view of the city. Gaudi himself described the building like this: “Even though I can’t complete this temple, I don’t have any regrets. I will get old, but others will continue to do it. It is the work that its spirit needs to be preserved forever. Its life comes from people who have passed on it from generation to generation.”
2. Alhambra
The name of the Alhambra comes from Arabic and means the Red Fort. It is representative of an Arabian palace courtyard and is located on the Sierra Nevada outside Granada. As a building that combines Islamic architecture and horticulture, the Alhambra was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1894. The main areas of visit to the Alhambra include the Akasaba Fort, the Nasserus Palace, the Henry Lorefi Palace, the mosque baths and the gardens. The palace occupies two hills, so it is recommended to wear flat shoes and spend a day visiting every part of the Alhambra. Of course, you can also bring a power charger, a little snacks and water.
3. Güell Park
It’s another masterpiece of Gaudi, and Gaudi’s artistic interest and architectural style have been fully reflected. The original purpose of the park was to build a high-end residential area embraced by the natural environment. Because of various social reasons beyond the designer’s ability, this failed real estate project finally became a fairytale park that was created for children. When you enter the park, the first thing that catches the eye is the object with the bright color and vivid shape: the mosaic lizard, also known as Gaudi dragon. There are two three-dimensional fountains at the entrance. The surfaces of the two are made of mosaic tiles, which are colorful and lively. The park is built on a hill so that we can overlook the sea and the city from here.
4. Casa Milà
The Casa Milà is the last private residence designed by Gaudi, which is with three wavy walls, twisted wraps of iron bars and iron railings, and large windows that are very eye-catching. In 1986, the Casa Milà was bought by the Caixa de Catalunya Bank and the bank paid a lot for renovations. The first floor is now the venue for the exhibition of the bank’s foundation. The six-floor, top-floor and roof terraces of the Casa Milà are open to the public. The chimneys on the roof are very special. On the balcony, you can also overlook some of the downtown streets and look at the Sagrada Familia.
5. Casa Batlló
Gaudi continued his style for the interior design of Casa Batlló. There are no straight lines and edges and corners, all of which are soft waves and curves, a door, a door handle and a seat. The curves cater to the human body lines. You will appreciate its details embodied in the whole place. From the ground floor, you can reach the lobby only by the elegant wooden staircase designed by Gaudi for the Casa Batlló. The top of the stair handrails is extraordinarily refined, and the foil strips made of metal surround a sphere made of orange glass. In order to create a gentle light difference, Gaudi used 15,000 pieces of five different shades of blue tiles. The closer to the top of the building, the deeper the color of the tiles. Contrasting with the colorful decoration and design of other floors, the attic walls are in pure white tones with a catenary arch structure as the basic architectural structure. Another design inspired by nature’s objects is the spiral staircase leading to the roof. Gaudi prefers this highly rhythmic curve and gives the Casa Batlló top floor a special style.
6. Ibiza
Ibiza is not only a beautiful island, but also a paradise for parties. It is famous for its electronic party and is also known as the European island of desire. Most visitors to Ibiza are not for the blue sky, but for the nightclubs here, party fans like Paris Hilton also come to Ibiza every year. Ibiza is one of the Spanish Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean. Above the port is the old town of Dalt Vila with the Gothic Santa Maria Cathedral and Renaissance fortifications.
7. La Rambla
Rambla is arguably the most vibrant street in Spain, with a collection of performance artists and visitors from all over the world. During the day, it is a paradise for street art and food. After the midnight bell rings, it becomes a playground for Barcelona’s nightlife. Rambla means sand in Arabic. The long “satin band” that stretches down from Plaza Catalunya to the port area is more than 1,800 meters long and is divided into five sections. The most famous streets are those where the flower street and the bird market are located.
8. Real Alcazar de Sevilla
The Royal Palace of Seville is the oldest royal palace in Europe and was chosen as a World Heritage Site in 1987. The palace was built in the Middle Ages initially as a Moorish castle, and later in an Islamic style, a blend of Christian style and Gothic style, which reflects the architectural style of the Andalusian region. The Pedro I Palace in the Royal Palace, the Palace of Carlos V and the Atrium of the Girl are all worth seeing. In addition to the building, the palace’s garden is also a mixture of Arabic and Gothic styles, which is very worth seeing. It is also the location of the palace garden of the Martel family in Dorn in the TV series “Game of Thrones”.
9. Costa de la Luz
Located on the Mediterranean coast of southern Spain, the “costa de la luz” is more than 200 kilometers long and is regarded as one of the six perfect beaches in the world. It is also one of the four major tourist areas in Spain. The coast connects nearly a hundred small and medium-sized towns, and many of the sparsely populated coastal villages have now become modern tourist spots. It is one of the most popular tourist resorts in Europe. The climate is mild and sunny, and the number of sunshine days in the year is more than 300 days, so it is called ‘Sun Coast’. Since its inception in 1982, they have won the World’s Best Pier Award twice. At the pier where the ship is docked, there are apartments, trendy shops and high-end restaurants that offer delicious dishes, all of which belong to the Moorish style.
10. Gran Canaria
It is a famous holiday resort in Spain. It’s like spring all the year around. Here is with the temperature of North Africa and the Spanish style –– half is the desert and half is the sea. What is rare is the vast desert that is high and low fluctuations! It has a long sunshine time and is the preferred holiday destination for Europeans. Gran Canaria has a wealth of tourism resources. It is known as the ‘miniature continent’ thanks to its diverse climate and topography, and is therefore recognized as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO.
Above all, what is the most important thing when you travelling in Spain? The guide? The money? Or the wifi? Don’t hesitate to take our pocket wifi to accompagne you during the trip!
