Spain Travel - Regions of Spain

Aragon - Spreading from the high Pyrenees in the north to the mountainous Iberian range to the south, most of the population live in or close to Zaragoza, the region's capital, on the river Ebro. The remainder of the region includes sparsely populated areas, particularly the Monegros desert. A small proportion of the population speak a dialect, Aragonese.

Asturias - is a small region in the north of Spain surrounded by mountains opposing the Bay of Biscay. It enjoys an oceanic climate, with abundant precipitation, which is the reason why its landscape is always green. The Picos de Europa Mountains, the National Park of Covadonga, or the one in Somiedo, are some of the places not to be missed, and have to be admired for their landscape and nature.

Balearic Islands - Lying to the southwest of mainland Spain, the Balearic Islands (or Baleares) archipelago is made up of three islands: Majorca (the largest), Menorca and Ibiza. Their favourable position in the Mediterranean has given them a long and colourful history, with evidence of settlement from as early as 5000 BC. In more recent times, the Balearics were one of the first Spanish regions to benefit from the tourist boom. By the 1960's, tourism had really taken off and all three islands had opened major airports whilst cheap air flights encouraged new visitor levels. In 1966, Majorca recorded one million visitors to the island, whilst Ibiza saw an influx of hippies, some of whom remain there today! In 1983 the Balearics became an autonomous region with Palma the capital and Catalan the official language. The climate, tranquility and natural beauty of the islands continues to make them a favourite with holidaymakers to this day.

Basque Country - Today it is one of the most industrialized regions of Spain. Despite of that there are still many areas of almost untouched nature, notably the natural parks of Valderejo, Urkiola, Urdaibai and the magical landscapes along Guernica river. It is a great region for hiking, riding, golf and all sorts of mountain sports. Another atttraction is the steep Cantabrian coast, but don't forget to bring your raincoat to protect yourself of the "txirimiri", the typical very fine rain.

Canary Islands - The outdoor lover's winter playground, the walker's paradise and the beach bum's dream come true, the Canaries offer one of the easiest escapes from a snowy European winter. Avoid the mega-resorts and have yourself a more authentic relaxing time.

Cantabria is located in the centre of the Spanish North coast, bathed by the Bay of Biscay. The flora and fauna are very varied, with threatened species like bears, wolves and capercaillies in the reserves of Saja and Picos de Europa. In general, the climate is smooth and humid, and the coast, sparkled with fishing towns, has beaches and small creeks. In the interior the mountains mark a territory with beautiful valleys and small villages.

Catalonia - Mountainous region - The autonomous region of Catalonia is located in the northeast of Spain and lies on Mediterranean coast. It borders France and Andorra in the north, the Mediterranean sea in the east, the region of Valencia in the south, and Aragon in the west.

Galicia - Bathed by a sea and an ocean - The autonomous region of Galicia lies in the north western part of Spain basking in the Cantabrian sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It borders with the Cantabrian sea in the north, with Asturias and Castile and Leon in the east, with Portugal in the south, and with the Atlantic Ocean in the west.

Madrid - The region of Madrid is two different worlds. Rural Madrid features charming villages like Patones and Chinchón, and sights such as the majestic El Escorial of Phillip II, Alcalá de Henares, and Aranjuez, where the royal court once summered. Outdoor activities abound, from winter skiing in the high mountains to water sports in summer. The countryside around the city of Madrid is the escape valve, as it were, for the capital’s people, a place where they can relax and enjoy life at a slower pace.

Murcia - An increasing number of tourists are heading to Murcia in south-east Spain for their holidays, attracted by a growing number of golf courses, stunning gothic and baroque architecture and year-round sunshine. Most imposing in the city centre is the Cathedral of the Diocese of Cartagena-Murcia, which was built between 1394 and 1465, and the old town is mostly pedestrianised to enhance the sightseeing experience.

La Rioja - La Rioja is synonymous with great Spanish wines. For decades, wines from La Rioja, protected by their own Designation of Origin standard, have been an obligatory reference throughout Spain and beyond. The deep tradition of devotion to St. James which exists in La Rioja is felt in each and every one of the towns which the Pilgrim's Road to Santiago de Compostela crosses in this province. Leaving Logroño behind, the French Road passes through Navarrete, with the remains of a pilgrims' hospital, and Nájera, a former royal court. In this latter place, we can stop to admire the Monastery of Santa María la Real, which is noteworthy for its splendid cloisters and its use as a pilgrims' shelter. Continuing along this route, walkers must branch off a few kilometres to San Millán de la Cogolla to admire the incredible beauty of the site formed by the Monasteries of Suso and Yuso, declared World Heritage Sites.Santo Domingo de la Calzada is the last great staging post of the Road in La Rioja. Outstanding in this well-looked after town are its walls, its Roman road and the Cathedral of San Salvador

Valencian Community - This Autonomous Community is a prototypical example of the "Mediterranean Spain", with a fantastic climate and more than 500 kilometers of coast. It is decidedly one of the country's most tourist areas. If you want to discover more than just sun and sand, you will find remains of most remote civilizations, Phoenicians, Greeks, Iberians and Romans. The Moorish legacy is still present in traditional artisan and agriculture with its praised oranges as well as rice. The conquests of Jaime de Aragon led to the foundation of the kingdom of Valencia, more or less at the territory of today's Community.