Spanish Attractions

Your travel to Spain won't be complete without seeing a bull fight. Bullfighting is not only part of Spanish attractions but also of their culture. As early as 711 A.D., the Spanish people have been watching the bull fight with great enthusiasm.

Bullfighting as Spanish tourism attraction

Bullfighting is one of them main attractions here in Spain. The first bull fight happened sometime in 711 A.D., when celebrating King Alfonso VIII's crowning. Bullfight used to be a sport exclusive to aristocrats. The old version includes horseback riding until King Felipe V banned the aristocrats from doing the sport. He thought of it as setting a bad example. The commoners then adopted the sport but without the horses. The sport became more dangerous as they would be on foot as the angry bull charges. Nonetheless, the sport only became more exciting.

How bull fights happen

During bull fights, thousands of people are gathered in a bull ring, watching closely how the matadero (bullfighter) will challenge the bull to a duel. But before that. an assistant would first wave a colorful cape (often in bright yellow and magenta), prompting the bull to charge. From there, the matadero can see the mood and certain qualities of the bull before he takes charge.

Bull fighting is said to be a "dance with death," filled with artistry. The matador displays courage as he challenges the bull with the swinging of crimson cloth back and forth. On the other hand the matador holds a sword. Every move is crucial as this can lead to the death of the matador when the bull charges with its horn. The demonstration is done to prove superiority until the bull is killed using the sword. The matador is awarded depending on his displayed skills.

Bullfighting is common during Spanish fiestas. It is considered a form of art that reflects the country's culture and history. Though there have been accidents in the past and some people protested against it, the locals never lost enthusiasm into one of their favorite sports. Bullfighting is so popular that bullfighters are said to earn as much as professional soccer players.

No matter how ancient the structures may be, every country that has these benefits from the number of tourists that flock to the place. Even though we have structures like the Eiffel in Paris to boast of to the modern world, it is still somewhat a different experience when you visit a location or the ruins where ancestors fought to defend their freedom. I find these architectures quite spooky sometimes because of the history, or rather, the possibility of ghosts (well, you know how those stories go about), but then, when I think about its presence for this long a time, it is amazing.

That's why it is no surprise that UNESCO has granted these so-called ancient structures as a 'world heritage'. Spain's Roman Wall of Lugo is included in the list. The Wall is just the only one in the whole continent of Europe to cover and preserve over two thousand meters of area. Although it is understandable that some of its portions have been weathered by time, there have been efforts in recent years to renew and promote this site to both local and foreign tourists. The Wall surrounds an ancient area of the place, which you can access through the four Roman doors (there are actually ten doors, but if you're keen on history, why not go through one that has significance?). There are also over 70 round turrets that you can find in the Wall.

Traveling to a famous European city usually mean seeing grandiose historical landmarks or great architectural designs. But then, you know, sometimes, it gets tiring to just think of Europe as the location of Eiffel Tower or such. Heck, I even get wary when people talk about how magnificent the lights are in Paris!

So let's go to another destination, shall we? In Spain, there are still a lot of unchartered territories, uh, I mean, beautiful cities that are very much inviting to any travel enthusiast. Ever heard of Cadiz, for instance?

Cadiz province offers a lot of attractive things to discover for both locals and tourists. Surprisingly, even the ordinary things you can do at home could be more meaningful when you do it in an exotic location. Visiting the Bolonia ruins or going wind and kite surfing in Cadiz are just several of the exciting activities in the area. If I may say so, being in Cadiz is like being in the whole of Spain already! Just imagine: Conil de la Frontera beaches, Jerez de la Frontera's dancing horses and sherry bodegas, Pueblos Blancos drive routes, Tarifa (to Morocco) excursions, and lastly, fighting bulls! All these are the features you can enjoy in Cadiz and if you are not yet entertained with that notion, then there's something seriously wrong with you, dude.

I got the chance to travel to Madrid early this year and we were given a tour of the Royal Palace. I took some pictures but I think a picture of it at night would have been better because it's really pretty when it's all lit up. My favorite sight was The Cathedral across the courtyard from the palace.

The main entrance is located on the impressive Plaza de Armas where you can already see the elegance and magnificence of the building's main facade. Make sure to check out the balconies of the most important rooms, such as the Throne Room or the Gala Dining Room. During the tour we got to see stunning frescoes, 16th-century tapestries, mirrors from the La Granja royal factory in Segovia, Chinese porcelains, silks and velvets are some of the beautiful features that enhance the splendor of the different salons, where important historic events are still held.

On the cornerstone of the palace you will see an inscription that reads "For all eternity." The Royal Palace was laid at the center of Madrid in 1738 as a symbol of solidity, strength, and continuity. The monumental building was built of granite and limestone, with wood used only in the doors and windows to minimize the risk of fire, and used to be the official residence of the King and Queen of Spain.

If you are planning to travel and enjoy Europe, Spain is one of European countries that are highly recommended. Spain is rich in history, culture, and customs, and very famous in tourist attractions. Malaga, is one of Spanish cities that are undisputed in terms of attractions.

When you are in Malaga, boring is not the word to describe the city. You can do a lot of things like visiting the Alcazaba that allows you to relax on the lovely park away from the busy city. You can visit magnificent Alcazaba Castle which has been a Roman fortress. Inside the castle, you can see the antique Malagan Theater, one of the remains of the first century. If you have the passion in sports, you can play golf. Malaga has numerous golf courses scattered around Malaga. You can also tour the Picasso Museum, the famous museum of the city. This is where you can enjoy the famous artworks of Picasso. If you get tired of the day's travel, you can enjoy the relaxing taste of the finest wines of the city at Antigua Casa de Guardia.

There are more attractions the City of Malaga can offer you. Your visit expense will be truly compensated by the city's grand attractions and warm accommodations. So, if you plan to travel Spain, do not forget to visit Malaga.

Alhambra is one of the evidences of Spain’s rich and colorful history. This walled city, which also served as a fortress, was created during the ninth century. The people responsible for this outstanding architecture were the rulers of Zyridia. After two more centuries, it was turned into a fortress by Nasrid King Ibn al-Ahmar. He ordered that great walls should surround this great city. As such, great walls and numerous towers were added by the year 1238.

In order for his people to survive inside the great walled city, he installed water systems inside. Their source of water became the Darro River near the place. Because they were very well supplied with water, they had fountains, pools, etc. inside. The place was also full of healthy greeneries and plants.

Because Alhambra was a very popular Arabian palace, it was full of Arabian arts and geometric patters. When you enter this majestic place, you can still see the intricate patterns on its walls and ceilings. Aside from that, you can also find Arabic poems, which are displayed on the walls for everyone to see. The palace is really one great place to visit in case you find yourself in Spain's Granada city.

Your visit to the wonderful country of Spain would not be complete if you have not visited Northern Spain. This is the place where the provinces such as a Rioja and Navarra are located. These places offer so much rich and colorful history, so you can find so many things to do there.

The first thing you can do there is go to the popular Guggenheim Museum located in Bilbao. This is the perfect place to learn so much about Spain's past. You can also visit the Guernica where the Nazi bombing during World War II happened. When you get hungry from visiting all these educational and important spots, you can wine and dine in San Sebastian, Spain’s finest restaurants. You can find also numerous bars and pubs there with the most delicious drinks. Aside from filling your empty stomach, you also get to see a lot of locals and meet new friends.

If you are looking for some fun, why don't you try running the bulls? However, this only happens in July so make sure you are in Spain for that important event. Also happening in July is the International Festival of Jazz, which is always held in San Sebastian. While having the time of your life, treat yourself to the Baque Cider and get a taste of what it's like to live in Spain.

Spain may not be as romantic as the proverbial France or Venice but it is equally rich in culture and historical heritage. In Spain, you may trace the vestige of its Moorish past, learn about the religious bigotry of the Inquisition, visit the setting of Don Quixote's exploits, and see the majestic achievements of it monarchs.

In Spain, you may visit museums and participate in the different fiestas. In the capital Madrid, for instance, you may visit the Prado Museum which features great European arts, visit the Royal Palace or take an excusion to El Escorial and Valles delos Caidos.

The most beautiful places are not always found in the center or large cities, but rather they may be lying in the corners, in the woods, or at the foot of a mountain. Such is true with Roncesvalles.

Roncesvalles reminds us of the beautiful Song of Roland. But when I hear the word, I remember the visit and hiking we once had at the site. The village is not that big, but it was a perfect place. There were a few historical monuments and artifacts there related to Charlemagne. One thing I couldn't forget was the king's silver chessboard.

Spain is perhaps most famous for its bullfighters and bull runs. However, there are lots of other attractions which are less violent. There are the religious fiestas and of course the historical sites. Spain is rich in fiestas which are annual festivities celebrated to honor a particular saint. For almost every month there is fiesta celebrated and every region and cities have their own fiesta celebrations. On the other hand, historical sites also abound in Spain. These historical sites such as the Al-Hambra, Escorial and Roman Walls of Lugo are some of the interesting historical sites which are declared world heritage sites by the United Nations.

Spain was once a world super power like the United States. Its former territory included the South America, parts of North America, the Philippines, and other smaller territories. Spain once dominated Europe and its most powerful monarch was King Charles who was also emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Spain was also once called defender of the Catholic faith and its rulers exercise inquisition powers granted by the church. Spanish culture is deeply influenced by Catholicism. However, who would imagine that Spain was once ruled by Muslims for approximately 800 years. One relic of the Muslim past is the Al Hambra, a palace in Granada.