The Royal Palace of El Escorial lies 45km north-west of Madrid and is one of Spain’s most famous sights. Felipe II ordered the construction of the palace to commemorate Spain’s victory over France at the Battle of Saint Quentin in 1557 during the Franco-Habsburg War. With practically unlimited funds available from the “New World” it […]
Top 10 Historical Attractions in Spain
Having spent so many years travelling around Spain it’s very common for me to be asked where my favourite place is. This is always a question I find impossible to answer. The first place I lived in Spain was on the island of Mallorca which I still try to visit as often as possible. However, since […]
Top 10 Places of Natural Beauty in Spain
Deciding on my “Top 10 NATURAL Places to See in Spain” proved even more complicated than creating the previous list of “Top 10 MAN MADE Attractions“. Whilst I’ve visited just about everywhere of historical note I still haven’t seen all the country’s natural beauty spots. You might be surprised to hear that Spain is Europe’s second […]
Top 10 Winter Holiday Destinations in Spain
Spain is primarily considered to be a summer holiday destination, with British holiday makers most prominently flocking to the Mediterranean in the July-August period. What many do not realise however, is that Spain is just as beautiful in the winter months. The climate remains warm, and it does not carry that same scorching heat from […]
Walking El Caminito del Rey
For most visitors to the holiday hotspots of Spain’s Costa del Sol the most popular day trips are to the white village of Mijas and Ronda or along the coast for a visit to Gibraltar. Whilst these are well worthwhile excursions, especially for first time tourists, there’s another that I’d highly recommend which you’re unlikely […]