Archive for the ‘Spain’ Category

Ibiza

Friday, August 14th, 2009

Ibiza is part of the Spanish Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located 79 km off the coast of the city of Valenica. It is by far the most extreme island of Spain with its rocky landscape and wild visitors. Ibiza really is the place to enjoy nightlife clubbing. The capital city is Ibiza Town. Other large cities are San Antonio and Santa Eularia des Riu. There are 84 thousand people living on Ibiza.

Ibiza forms with Formentera the Pine Islands of Pityuses. The island mostly attracts tourists that enjoy partying all night. Top DJ’s from all over the world come to Ibiza in the summer to play at big parties. During the summer you will find non-stop partying going on. The island knows little rainfall, ideal for outdoor parties. Spots are Playa d’en Bossa beach, Es Canar beach and Cafe del Mar. Nightclubs are Privilege, Eden, Es Paradis, Amnesia, Space, Pacha and D10.

Although Ibiza is famous for its nightlife, tourists can do more than partying alone. Ibiza has a harsh and rocky landscape. Olives, figs and almonds are growing alongside the hardy pines. About half of the island is covered in thick woods. Large parts of the island are even registered as U.N. World Heritage Sites. If you are looking for a fairly unspoiled place on Ibiza, you should visit the northeast.

Travelers to Ibiza need a valid passport and sometimes a visa. For Non-European visitors most of the time a return or onward ticket is needed. No visa is required for visits less than 90 days or three months. You should always check passport and visa requirements before traveling to Ibiza.

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Valencia

Friday, August 14th, 2009

Valencia is the third largest city in Spain with a population of 1.7 million people in the metropolitan area. The city is located on the Mediterranean coast to the south of Barcelona. Valencia has the best beaches of Spain on the Costa Blanca, more quite than others. The city has its own port, the biggest on the Western Mediterranean coast and the second of Spain.

The area around Valencia is known as orange country since you will find orange trees everywhere. The main festival in Valencia is Las Fallas which is held in March and has a reputation throughout Spain. The famous Spanish dish paella is originated from this city. Valencia is also home of football club Valencia C.F. one of the top teams in Spain.

Valencia started as an industrial city. Now it is starting to become a tourist place as the work of architect Santiago Calavatra is changing the landscape around the city. His most famous work is Ciudad delas Artes Y Las Ciencas. Tourists can also see old landscapes like the old Towers of the medieval city, monasteries as the San Miguel de los Reyes and museums. There are numerous convention centers, several 5 star hotels and the Conference Place. The city has different parks where you can enjoy a picnic or just enjoy the weather and it has a bubbling nightlife, many restaurants and shops.

Travelers to Valencia need a valid passport. For the 14 countries part of the Schengen agreement an official national ID card will also be enough. Travelers from America and other non-European countries don’t require a visa for visits less than 90 days.

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Barcelona

Friday, August 14th, 2009

Barcelona is the second largest city of Spain, after Madrid. The city is located on the Mediterranean Sea and so-called Costa del Maresme, between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besos. It has a population of around 4.9 million people in the metropolitan area. Barcelona is important in finance, commerce, media, entertainment and arts.

Barcelona is a busy and popular city for tourists. It is a compact city with sightseeing all over the place. The city is constantly reinventing itself and doesn’t seem to sleep when it comes to its development. Barcelona has a lot of museums, galleries, cathedrals and palaces, but is mostly famous for its architectural features. Everybody knows architect Gaudí and his buildings. Barcelona is also known for its football club, FC Barcelona or Barca. Tourists should always walk over Las Ramblas, a pedestrian street with dozens of restaurants and outdoor cafes as well as flower stands, book kiosks and small market stands.

In Barcelona these are the Gaudí sites to see: Sagrada Familia, Parc Güell and the houses La Pedrera/Casa Milà and La Casa Batlló. The church Sagrada Familia is still unfinished. It is a masterpiece which has been under construction since 1882. Private donors finance the continuing building of the church. The completion is planned for 2026. Parc Güell has its gingerbread houses, ceramic-clad lizard, curvy mosaic bench and panoramic views of the city. In this Parc you will also find Casa Musea Gaudí, the house where he spent many of his last years. The two houses Casa Milà and La Casa Batlló will show you the specific features that made Gaudí famous.

Travelers to Barcelona need at least a valid passport. Traveling through Barcelona is easy with its underground metro system. Don’t forget to take care of your bags and hand-luggage as there are so many pick-pockets active in the city. There can also be African men active doing ‘magical tricks’. Always be aware and don’t get too distracted.

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Madrid

Thursday, December 18th, 2008

Madrid is the capital and largest city in Spain. The city is located in the heart of Spain on the river Manzanares. Because its location, the history, the political and financial headquarters Madrid is seen as the most important city of Spain. With a population of 3.2 million people Madrid is the third most populated city in the European Union after London and Berlin.

Madrid is a large, chaotic and variety city. Its impossible to give a good definition without seeing it yourself. By fact from year to date Madrid is known as one of the few European cities with a extensive nightlife. In fact its one of the only European cities where bars, nightclubs and discotheques are opened and full from Thursday night till Wednesday morning. While Madrid possesses a modern infrastructure and look, it still has a lot of historic buildings and national parks left to be seen.

One of the most famous historic sight seeings is the Palacio Real (the Royal Palace). Other landmarks include; the Teatro Real (Royal theater) which is a restored 1850 Opera House, the Buen Retiro park, National Library containing Spain’s historical archives, an archeaological museum of international reputation and three art museums; Museo del Prado, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza which hosts one of the finest art collections worldwide.

Travelers to Madrid need a valid passport and visa. American citizens can visit without a visa for up to 90 days. In Madrid you don’t have to worry about transportation, its large and fair priced (a day pass costs €4.00 according to the latest measurement) underground metro network has 12 lines running across the city. The best time of the year to visit is spring, especially in the months April and May.

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