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Towns and Cities
Towns and Cities in Spain
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Spain has two of the world's great cities and they are fierce rivals in everything from culture to football. The capital Madrid is well placed in the centre of the country and is renowned for having a nightlife to rival cities such as New York in terms of intensity.
Madristas, as the locals are known, often don't bother to go to bed and why would they with so many fabulous bars, cafes and clubs? They have arguably the world's greatest football team to cheer for in Real Madrid which has showcased the talents of amazing players like Alfred di Stefano, Zinedine Zidane and the latest 'Galactico', Cristiano Ronaldo. Madrid is also notable for a Golden Triangle of art galleries which draw visitors from around the world. Madrid is a cosmopolitan delight, the shopping is to die for and the city has many great places to eat. Among the highlights are the unique bakeries which Madristas frequent in order to fill up on coffee and cakes.
The capital of Catalonia, an autonomous region in the north east of Spain, is also one of Europe's hotspots. The Gothic and Medieval architecture of Barcelona's old town is crowned by the work of architect Gaudi while one of the most impressive structures in the city is the formidable Nou Camp. Europe's widest soccer stadium is currently graced by such stellar talents as Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry, while Johan Cruyff, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho have all dazzled at various times. Barcelona has a charming area known as La Rambla which is a great place to walk and soak up the atmosphere of the city, full as it is of artists and street performers. The city also has a beach front.
The other major cities of note in Spain include Valencia which is Spain's third largest city. Valencia is located on the east coast and has recently been a focus of attention for building City of Science and Culture. Valencia was where the first paella was thought to have been made and the rice and fish dish was inspired by the catches brought back by boat from the Costa de Azahar.
There is Seville, a city of 700,000 inhabitants which is capital of the Andalucía Province and has one of the largest mosques in the world. Malaga, also in the south, was home to the artist Pablo Picasso and attracts a large amount of golf tourism as well as family visitors to its numerous water and theme parks.