Spain Attractions

Valencia City

Spain's third-largest city, and capital of the province of Valencia, comes as a pleasant surprise to many. Home to paella and the Holy Grail, it is also blessed with great weather and the spring festival of Las Fallas, one of the wildest parties in the country.

One of Valencia's best attractions is the baroque Palacio del Marqués de Dos Aguas. The facade is extravagantly sculpted and the inside is just as outrageous. The Museo de Bellas Artes also ranks among the best museums in the country, containing works by artists such as El Greco, Goya and Velázquez.

Barcelona

After a makeover lasting more than two decades, Barcelona has transformed itself into one of the most dynamic and stylish cities in the world. Summer is serious party time, but year-round the city sizzles - it's always on the biting edge of architecture, food, fashion, style, music and good times.

The buildings, especially the work of the eccentric genius Gaudí, will blow you away. The art, with significant collections by Picasso and Miró, will make you clammy all over. The people, with their exuberance, their creative spirit, their persistent egalitarianism, will fascinate you.

Andalucia

With strong Islamic roots and a history of unrelenting poverty, Andalucía is perhaps the least European part of western Europe; but the region's heritage is Spanish as well as Muslim. It gave us Velázquez, Picasso and Lorca, and is also a hotbed of flamenco, fiesta and bullfighting.

The Islamic palaces, picturesque little villages, ragged mountains and endless coastline make it unforgettable. Happy hours start at midnight and the cities of Seville and Málaga have a kicking nightlife. You can party, hike, sunbathe and sightsee: it's no wonder Andalucía is such a heart-stealer.