Soak Up the Sun and the Cities of Spain

Spain, located on the Iberian Peninsula in south-western Europe, is a travellers dream, offering a wide variety of destinations, activities and landscapes. From medieval castles to sandy beaches to ancient monuments left by the Romans and Moors, the region has a great mixture of attractions welcoming visitors far and wide to broaden their cultural experience. For those looking to know more about Spains past artworks, the many museums and art galleries concentrated in the urban areas offer an educational experience for any visitor. For younger visitors, the vibrant nightlife, both on the mainland and on Ibiza and the Balearic Islands, and the countrys array of celebrations, festivals and national holidays attract revellers from across the world. A great way to enjoy the sights and sounds of Spain is by going on an escorted group tour. Such group tours allow travellers to share and enjoy the experience with other like-minded individuals. Group travel companies such as Tailored Travel UK offer escorted group tours to Spain and other destinations worldwide, with itineraries that can be customised to suit the needs of you and your party. Check out the highlights that an escorted group tour of Spain can offer: Cultural Tourism As the crossroads of several civilisations, Spain is a major cultural destination and is the sanctum of many festivals and cultural events. There are in total thirteen cities in Spain that have been declared as UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the cities of Alcal de Henares, vila, Cceres, Crdoba, Cuenca and Toledo. All are fascinating and fun places to visit - however, the two cities which lead the way as must-see destinations in Spain are Barcelona and Madrid. Barcelona has much to see. It has many museums and historical monuments such as the National Museum of Art of Catalonia, Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, the Cathedral of St. Eulalia and the Columbus Monument. The most famous landmark in Barcelona is its international symbol, the Sagrada Famlia - the intricately designed, awe-inspiring Roman Catholic church which dominates the Barcelona skyline. The building has been under construction since the nineteenth century and simply has to be seen before you leave. Madrid, the countrys capital city, is a thriving hub of activity day and night. Enjoy dinner in a tablao, a restaurant which sees exotic flamenco dancers grace the stages after midnight, and take the lift up the Faro de Madrid for incredible views of the city. Summer Tourism For holiday makers, Spain has always been the land of sun, sea and sandy beaches. For decades, its extensive range of Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean beaches has been attracting tourists from different parts of the globe keen to sun themselves. Two of the most popular and well-known summer beach destinations are the Costa Blanca and the Costa del Sol. The La Concha Beach in the coastal city of San Sebastian is one of the most famous urban beaches in Europe. Other towns in Spain which attract an influx of summer tourists include Marbella in Mlaga Province and Sotogrande in San Roque, Cdiz. Many tourists take the opportunity to attend some of Spains summer festivals and events. Two of the most famous are the Running of the Bulls in Pampolona, which sees attendees try and outrun

bulls let loose in the streets and Valencias Tomatina, where people from across the world gather to pelt each other with tomatoes. Winter Tourism With its many beautiful and sunny beaches, Spain has always been known as a popular summer destination. . But did you know that it has the second largest number of mountain ranges with ski resorts in Europe after Switzerland? Spains mountain ranges include the Pyrenees, the Sistema Central, the Sistema Ibrico and the Sierra Nevada - perhaps Spains most popular winter skiing location. Parts of the range also have been included in the Sierra Nevada National Park. The Cantabria mountain range, located in Northwest Spain, is another popular winter destination known for its special northern charm and gastronomy. Nature Tourism For those seeking to get back in touch with nature on their escorted group tour, Spain offers some of the best natural surroundings for rural tourism. Particularly beautiful is the small island of Formentera, which provides a stark contrast to its nocturnal, hedonistic twin, Ibiza; the tiny island boasts of fine beaches, cycling trails, secluded coves and sleepy fishing villages. The sparsely populated district of Teruel, a short distance from Valencia, this region also contains some spectacular tourist spots such as some of the country's finest Mudjar architecture, built by Moorish craftsmen under Christian rule. The Teide National Park in the Canary Islands is another popular destination for nature lovers. The park boasts the third largest volcano in the world, Mount Teide. Thats a lot to pack in! While enjoying these many beautiful sights, you can take the stress out of arranging everything by enlisting a group travel company such as Tailored Travel to help. Whether you want to create a customised tour or opt for one of their pre-set Spain tours, just visit these group tour operators in their office near Bermondsey station in Southwark, London, and theyll do everything they can to make your trip to Spain one youll remember for the rest of your life.