TODA ESPANA! A complete tour of the continental Spain

A DIY tour through the most beautiful places of Spain, who reached the major cities and brought together the past and present of this country. Car hire in Madrid and returned to Barcelona, ten intense days for a total of 3400 km and cost around 700 Euro, excluding food, with all nights booked in advance by booking in 4 star hotel! (Except Madrid). Beautiful ... the amount would have been just two more days!

 

Arrival in Madrid

We arrive in Madrid in the evening, with an Air Europa flight and pick up the car booked from Italy. Hotel booking is to be reserved in a side street of Gran Via, your car is the first adventure. Park in the center is virtually impossible, so we give up the multi-storey behind the Hotel .. dear! We stayed at the Hostal Ballesta, a few meters from the Gran Via. We put our trust in the opinions of booking and we were wrong. It 's very new and clean, with spacious and well-kept, friendly and helpful staff, free wifi in your room and of course money! The only flaw is the "lord" that enliven the sidewalks near folklore ... but they do no more than annoying!

Madrid and the Escorial

We got up early and we decided to focus now on the outskirts of Madrid to visit the Escorial and Valle de Los Caídos. Unfortunately it was under renovation, so only the San Lorenzo de El Escorial. The village is nice and dominated by the Monastery, whose visit is worth. We return to Madrid before 11 and devote the rest of the day to visit the city. We use the first car to have an overview of the city, along the main roads and then the spring to continue on foot. We walk along the Gran Via, we enter the street until you reach the Monastery of Las Descalzas Reales, the Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Calle Mayor to the Royal Palace and all'Almudena. We continue with a visit to the gardens, the Plaza de Cibeles and the east. Even though the weather is warm blanket and the heat are felt. Exhausted we allow ourselves a drink near the Gran Via or better, Vamos a Tapear. The drink soon proves more substantial dinner, so we combine the two. Too tired to give up Madrid's nightlife, we are content to go back to the hotel and recharge for tomorrow.
Madrid is without doubt a living city, full of life, and the local people of Madrid are really nice .. but I was not particularly impressed. The area of the Prado and Gran Via are beautiful, Plaza Mayor is undoubtedly to be seen but the rest I could not find at other European capitals.

Through Andalusia

We start early Assigned Cordoba. We decide to avoid all highways, not to save the toll, but to cross the beautiful land of Castilla-La Mancha and groped to meet Spain in the past. First stop in Toledo, after only 80 km we stop for a couple of hours, we venture into its narrow streets, visit the cathedral and the Alcazar we arrive. The cathedral is superb, and is well worth a visit. Let us not miss a visit to the shops of blades and knives, the first souvenir of the holiday. Then we put ourselves in endless march between highlands, vineyards and olive trees that will soon leave the place to barren hills and remote countries. Every time we spot a few shooting windmill to remind us that we are the footsteps of Don Quixote. We do not regret having chosen the old state and through almost all the way alone. Entered in Andalusia, Cordoba is pretty close, the thermometer in the last kilometers of the car seems crazy and comes quickly to 47 °! After about 400 km, we arrive at the destination to 15:30. The town was deserted of course, soon understand the meaning of "Siesta" and we close our reeds in Hotel, carefully chosen pool! Here we stayed all'Hesperia Cordoba, VERY GOOD. It 's a 4 star hotel with every comfort, large rooms and tastefully decorated but above all a wonderful view of the Mezquita and the Roman bridge. After a refreshing bath and a rest defy the heat and leave to visit the town. These are the 19, but there are still 42 °. However the atmosphere is wonderful. We cross the bridge over the Guadalquivir accompanied only by crickets and reached the other side is like being in another era. Postpone the visit to the mosque tomorrow, as it is already late and they admire only the external walls. Cordoba is beautiful. The streets of Judería colors, shady patios, green citrus, smells ... you feel great even with the oppressive heat. Here inziamo to know the spirit of Andalusia and between a street and a square we begin to idle between a cerveza and a chat that everyone is willing to do. Dinner cooked by salmorejo and oxtail and back to the hotel after another nocturnal wanderings.

Marvels of the Andalusia

We go out early and with the cool of the morning we cross the bridge again Roman de la Calahora admire the tower and the views of the Guadalquivir and arrive at the entrance of the mosque. We discover that the entrance is free from 8:00 to 10:00, since there's hardly anyone there and in the morning mass. The garden is an oasis of cool, decorated with fountains and lots of citrus. But it is inside that is really impressive: the space is really great, and we remain stunned by the architecture and colors. E'strano see a few meters of the splendor of the mihrab and the crucifix on the altar. Nice, really nice. After breakfast we go to see the medina Azhar, of which he can well do without. We put ourselves in the car and after about 140 km to get to Seville. It 's almost noon but before going to the hotel we stop at the Torre del Oro and decided to visit the Maestranza bullring. Despite the evening there is a bullfight, I did not dare to buy tickets, so we prefer to enter now, with the silence and enjoy another show. They say it is the most beautiful of Spain, and indeed it is a nice glance. We spend most of the afternoon in the park with swimming pool, and we enjoy a little relaxation. Here are staying at the Silken Al-Andalus, on the fashionable Avenida de las Palmeras, which although a bit far from downtown (4 Km) are perfect. With the usual 42 degrees in the evening we go out, but already weigh no more. Let's go to the Plaza del Triunfo, we visit the Cathedral, the Barrio de Santa Cruz, The Maria Luisa Park and Plaza de Espana and go to dinner all'Arenal. Around the Cathedral and Giralda dominated by the Barrio de Santa Cruz you can breathe the same atmosphere of Cordoba, an atmosphere that brings back and imbued with Moorish influence and Eastern Europe. Again, these squares are the barrio oasis of coolness and relaxation. Do not miss Plaza Santa Cruz. Plaza de Espana is unique. Arenal is full of local life. Visit the riverfront in the evening. Seville you fall in love.

Sevilla and the south

We use the morning to complete our tour of Seville. First visit to the Reales Alcazares, the jewel of Moorish architecture. All rooms and patios and fresh green kidnap for their richness and beauty. Let's go then to the Barrio de la Macarena, where we have breakfast and visit the church which holds so dear to the Virgin Sevillana.
We resumed our journey to Jerez de la Frontera, where we arrive after a few hundred kilometers. Here we stayed at the Los Andalos Jerez & Spa, certainly nice and clean but the staff really hateful, a rarity for the Spaniards. After the usual siesta we went to Arcos de La Frontera, the first of the pueblos blancos. The scorching heat did not allow us to shoot it far and wide, but it was enough to breathe here a something of the past remained intact. The bottom view is a must. Back at Jerez, we wandered to the center, nice, but nothing compared to the rest of Andalusia.

Finally at the seaside!

This morning we head towards the sea at last, and after less than an hour we at Cadiz. Port town, largely modern and overly crowded with tourists. Take a tour and we stopped only to visit the cathedral and its surroundings. The waterfront is a promenade where we have breakfast picevole finally freed from the intense heat of the interior! For the first swim of the holiday we planned the beach of Conil de la Frontera, where we arrived shortly after. The beach is huge, very nice and relax in the country by creating a picture postcard! We grant you a half day at sea, before continuing towards Tarifa. Along the way we stop in Vejer de la Frontera, another small Andalusian village that is well worth a visit. Personally I found the most beautiful of Arcos, perhaps for the third air that makes the color even more dazzling. We arrived at Tarifa, where we escape from the crowded beach now and unfortunately poorly maintained. So we settle into a hotel and go to watch the sunset from the lookout over the Strait of Gibraltar, we continue the evening in Tarifa. The African coast are so close, and turn to its narrow streets, it makes you feel already with one foot in Morocco.

Going to Marbella

This morning drive along the Atlantic coast, to Gibraltar and after a walk, go to Marbella. In fact the hotel we had booked was 16 km from the coast, near the small village of Istan. The Los Jarales Rural Hotel was a nice surprise: comfortable rooms, with high, beamed ceilings, breathtaking views and quiet after a day of travel is truly a blessing. The pscina available is small, but we discover to be the only guests here and so we decide to spend the day resting and recharging the batteries. Only in the evening we go down to Puerto Banus and Marbella. The biggest disappointment of the holiday. Undoubtedly the context of villas, golf courses, modernity and worldliness makes the Porto Cervo Puerto Banus in Spain. The marina is a parade of luxury cars and yachts fairytale, where the cost of living has tripled compared to everything else, however pleasing to the eye. But Marbella is truly incomprehensible. Only obscene cement. We are pleased him, mostly only a few hours.

Granada

We're leaving soon and we are already at 11 in Granada. Here are staying at the Hotel Camino de Granada, a little outside the center but the structure is new and well-tended garden with a swimming pool.
We take the lunch hour to enjoy the sun and swimming pool here but soon challenge the heat and 15:00 we're out. We leave the car at the beginning of the center and walk around the Gran Via de Colon, visiting the cathedral. We stop to pick up the tickets bought from Italy and the Alhambra comic climb to the fortress, along the steep Cuesta de mbrosa Gomerez! It 'important to note that you must purchase tickets in advance, as are limited and may not be able to enter. Even you must book the visit time for the Palace Nazaries along with tickets. They are many sites that sell tickets, but the only officially and the official price is the patronage of the Alhambra, you pay by card, then simply pick up the tickets from the ATMs CAIXA, selecting the ticket collection. Let's go back to the Alhambra. You can not descrivre the Alhambra, because everything is permeated by a special and magical atmosphere. Sull'Albaicin views and the Sierra Nevada are the heart and even more rooms and patios of the palace Nazaries. WONDERFUL. We would like to go out and nis try to imagine that tourists sspariscano and go back to relive the glory that was .. Visits to the Alhambra, immerse themselves in reading the "Tales of the Alhambra" can extend that sense of story that wraps around the place and most of Andalusia. The whole afternoon passed here, and only in the evening we reach the Albaicin to wander in its streets and where they can stay hours gazing at the panorama of the fortress from the Mirador San Nicolas in the background with the sound of guitars and castanets with which imrovvisati accompany flamenco gypsies. We would never go away but another day is over, we would not even leave Granada ... we regret not having more time for this city. So we go down the hill Albaicin walk and walk all the way along the Darro giving farewell to Granada.

A day on the road

Today our destination is Barcelona. About 900 miles from our destination, so for the first time we use the Spanish motorways. Dear!
Do not want to miss a stop in Valencia, where we arrive early afternoon. Having very little time we decide to go straight to the city of arts and science, a symbol of the city. E'forte the contrast of the great works of engineering and architecture who are here with those who accompanied us until yesterday ... the wonders of the past and present ... that make this beautiful country of Spain that do not really miss anything. After a quick trip to town, we continue our march and arrived in Barcelona around 17:30, and we take a little well-deserved rest. Here we stayed at the Hotel Ronda Lesseps, near Parc Guell. Excellent rappporto money, even if we add the drain on parking the car. Take advantage of last night, and cars will go first to visit the Sagrada Familia and then enjoy a good paella in Barceloneta. After dinner we dedicate it to Montjuic, where we are fascinated by the spectacle of lights & sounds "magical source." It was for me the second time in the Catalan city, and the impression of life, joy, celebration continues attacks me for the second time, although I found the city changed dramatically and I now appears efficient, advanced and up to date with the most major European capitals and international.

Barcelona

Full day dedicated to the Catalan capital. Early in the morning we go to leave the car at the train station and begin our tour from Passeig de Gracia, with a visit to La Pedrera and Casa Batllo '. First meeting with the genius Gaudi. We continue to Plaza de Catalunya, where we start the descent on the Ramblas.