Spain road trip – Culture instead of party tourism
06:46
Culture instead of party tourism
8
nights (we recommend more) and 1,400 km
Costa
Brava, Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol. Fine-sounding names that should not be
missing in any travel catalogue. Get inspired by a clichéd road trip along the
Mediterranean coast and immerse in the world of tapas and siesta.
Barcelona
- culture, party, beach and shopping
A
classic! This city is at the top of the list of any traveller. No surprise. Because
here are more sights than at the Oscars. The selfie in front of the Sagrada
Familia is an absolute must just as a trip to the famous beach of Barceloneta. Everywhere
museums and exhibitions attract art lovers, who definitely get their money`s
worth. Strolling along the 1.2 km promenade La Rambla with an ice cream in your
hand, you can capture impressions of
street musicians and artists. Shopaholics can push the disposition to the limit
in numerous shopping malls and small boutiques, because shopping is part of the
lifestyle in Barcelona. If you still have money left, you can party at the
legendary club scene of the metropolis after a late dinner. Watch out: the
discos fill up at 1 o`clock at the earliest.
Tarragona
- yachts and antiquity
Deceleration
is the motto of this stop. In order to recover from the wild nightlife of
Barcelona, go to the placid harbor town on the Costa Dorada. The ancient Romans
made the place to the capital of one of the three Hispanic provinces. Therefore
there is a wealth of ancient buildings to lionise, the full exploration takes
several days. The archaeological museum and the amphitheatre by the sea, which could
hold as many as 14,000 spectators, belong to the mandatory stops. On an
afternoon stroll through the historic centre you can make a stop at one of many
restaurants and cafes. If you need a cooling after an exhausting sightseeing
tour, you can plunge into the turquoise blue Mediterranean round the corner. And,
if you are lucky, you can marvel at a luxury yacht that often lands at the
port.
Valencia - Paella and the Holy Chalice
The
third largest city in Spain is up to its ears in debt,
just to offer you great sights. During the construction boom, the city center
was refurbished expensively. In addition, in
the metropolis there are futuristic buildings such as the new opera house and
an art museum. Inextricably linked to Valencia is the nutritious rice dish
Paella. Souvenirs such as refrigerator magnets, bags and shirts are sold with a
rice pan theme. After a visit to the impressive Art Nouveau market hall, you
should definitely try paella in a tapas bar (only for lunch). The city's
cathedral combines elements of Baroque, Gothic and Romantic periods. The icing
on the cake is the chalice from which Jesus allegedly drank at the Last Supper:
the Holy Chalice.
Cartagena - inland sea, cannons and 20 degrees in January
20
minutes away is the largest saltwater lagoon in Europe. The so-called Mar Menor
convinced water lovers with 300 sunny days and water sports all year long. The
waters are separated, with the exception of small tributaries, by the headland of
the Mediterranean. Thus, the water temperature is above average with a light
swell. Optimal conditions for sailing, motor boating, windsurfing and much
more. In Cartagena you should first visit the (free) Castillo de la Concepcion.
Although the building is not in good condition, you have a vast overview of the
city and harbour. The highlight of the tiring climb to the castle are free
roaming peacocks that can be fed by tourists. If desired, you can also use the
elevator for one euro. If you are still not tired of castles, you should
definitely visit the nearby cannons of Cartagena. Two mighty cannons from 1933 are
250 meters above sea level and were on standby until 1994. If you have not been
impressed by that, then at the latest by the fantastic view over the bay of
Cartagena.
Granada - white peaks, white houses and Alhambra
A
backdrop like out of a fantasy novel. The Kala al hambra (Arabic for red
castle) is considered the highlight of Islamic architecture and with the
snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada in the background it takes your breath
away. No wonder that this building from Moorish times is the most visited
attraction in Spain. Therefore, you should urgently buy tickets in advance, if
you want to visit the monument. The city was until 1492 the last bastion of
Islam on the Iberian Peninsula, which is why remains of the Moorish culture can
be found everywhere in Granada. For example, the worth seeing cathedral is founded
on the remains of a mosque. The oldest part of the city - Albaicín - with its
fairytale streets and white houses is another must see at Granada. Here you can
see the mixture of Islamic and Christian influences.
Málaga - Package tourism, Picasso and bullfights
Anyone who now only thinks
only on ice cream, has not paid attention in school. The home town of Pablo
Picasso on the Costa del Sol offers a lot of vacation for those who want to
spend the whole day at the beach. No wonder, because rainy summers are impossible
with zero rainy days in July and August. Málaga, however, has much more to
offer than just sun. Despite moral scruples, in the bullring "Plaza de
Toros de La Malagueta" a series of bullfights takes place every year,
including the red-gold toreros, breeding bulls with all the trimmings. Most of
the year you can visit the bullfighting museum. Furthermore we recommend a visit
to the museum of the great artist Picasso, where more than 200 works are
exhibited. In general, the city is a paradise for artists and arty
people, asin many other large and small exhibitions creativity is not
missing.
Cádiz - Carnival, beach and 360 ° sea views
We leave the Mediterranean and
drive past Marbella and Gibraltar to the Atlantic coast. The oldest city in
Western Europe lies undiscovered by mass tourism on a peninsula, which is why you are almost completely surrounded by the sea. That's why it's best to leave
the car outside the city. As everywhere in Andalusia, the weather is almost
always good and long sandy beaches and palm trees invite you to splash around. The
bottom line is, Cádiz offers the ultimate combination of beach and sightseeing. Because right in front of the historic town is the Playa de La Caleta, left and
right surrounded by two fortifications. The view from the Cathedral's
observation deck is a must-see in Cádiz. The carnival is legendary and if you
are looking for a warm alternative to the wet, cold weather in Cologne, this is
the place to be. The elaborately tailored costumes of the Cádiz are already a attraction
in itself.
Seville - Royal Palace, flamenco and the largest wood construction in the world
The new landmark of the city
from the year 2011 is 150 meters long, 70 meters wide, 26 meters high and
reminds of the roofing of a huge bus station. The highlight: the
construction consists of wood. Especially at night when it is illuminated it is
nice to look at and it is recommended to go to one of the bars or restaurants
under the designer umbrella. The medieval royal palace of Alcázar is still used
by the Spanish royal family as a residence, if they are present. The rest of
the year, the complex with its beautiful gardens is open to visitors. Seville is known for its music and dance called flamenco. Therefore, you should visit a
so-called Peña. In the small clubs authentic performances of Andalusian folk
dance take place. At the end of your road trip through Spain, you can row
through the canal of the city with a rented boat.
Here is how to get from
Barcelona to Sevilla as cheap as possible.
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