Spain is one of the countries I really want to visit. Ever since the Barcelona Olympics it has been on my list as a country I must visit. If you also are thinking of visiting Spain here is an article to give you some ideas about what to see.

In the southern part of Europe lies the attractive and wonderful country of Spain where from the southernmost regions of the country and more particularly from Tarifa it is even possible to get a scene of Africa.  Spain is a country where people from all parts of the world including America and Britain as well as from Europe come for their vacations – mainly because the country has attractive landscapes; some of the best beaches in the world as well as a multi-cultural atmosphere that makes it a very attractive destination.

Much To Do And See In Spain

When you come to Spain you will find a wide variety of things to do and places to see and this is one of the main reasons why it is a country that attracts so many tourists. Splendid mountains to the north and numerous green patches of land that allow There are splendid mountains to the north and in addition there are also numerous green patches of land that allow you to enjoy abundant scenery in a sound environment. The Pyrenees in particular are ideally suited for those that enjoy nature as well as would like to hike.

There are as many as seven different provinces in the northern part of the country where four distinct languages are spoken including the official language Castilian, followed by Basque, Galician as well as Catalan and Valencian languages.

Toward the south of Spain you will enjoy a visit to the capital city of Madrid where you will get to see some exotic architecture as well as views the ancient footprints left by Romans. Salamanca, a city that houses the oldest university in the country is another place worth visiting as too is Valencia to the east as well as Murcia where you can enjoy milder weather and an exciting coastline.

Other places worth visiting in Spain include Andalusia, the biggest Spanish province and the coast of this part of the country that comprises places such as Cadiz and Malaga as well as Huelva and Almeria and even Granada are truly spectacular. You should also take in Arabic monuments such as the Alhambra which are found in Granada and the Mosque of Cordoba is another excellent tourist destination.

The world famous Canary Islands and the Balearic in Spanish Islands attracts tourists to enjoy the excellent beaches and wonderful weather.

Barcelona Spain is another wonderful tourist city where one of the most notable attractions of this city is its excellent transportation system. This feature alone makes Barcelona a very unique city.

A work colleague has just returned from a five week vacation in Europe. I asked her which places she enjoyed the most. Her answer was London, Paris and Barcelona. No doubt many of you are familiar with London and Paris. You may not know so much about Barcelona. If not, read on.

Barcelona on the shores of the Mediterranean is the capital of Catalonia, an autonomous community of Spain. The city was showcased to the world during the 1992 summer Olympics. Who can forget the spectacular lighting of the Olympic cauldron as the archer shot his arrow into the cauldron? Apart from enjoying the best in sport at the time I also remember the spectacular sights from around the city during the Olympic coverage.

Some places of interest you should see during your visit to Barcelona include La Rambla, Barri Gotic, Museu Picasso, La Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera, Montjuic and Tibidabo.

The locals known as Catalans are fervent defenders of their language, culture and traditions, normally define their identity as Catalan ahead of Spanish. Add this fantastic city to your must visit destinations and book your accommodation in Barcelona!

La Sardana, a traditional dance, forms part of their surprising folklore which is still alive today. The participants form a circle, take each other by the hand and dance to the sound of the tamberines, wind instruments and rustic flutes. Els Castells is another very famous tradition. These human towers require alot of skill and an almost blind trust in your partner. For many, it is a symbol of courage and the solidarity between Catalans.

Catalan, together with Castellano, is the official language of the community. Keeping the language alive is one of the most important aspects for the catalan people and with regards to the situation of bilingualism, Catalan is the language most used here. Therefore, making an effort to learn the basic vocabulary for conversation in Catalan would be very useful if you are considering coming to Barcelona, as a mark of repect. It is also the first step to integration.

With regards to the typical Catalan character, from a general perspective, it is said that you have to really get to know the person well to find out. Catalans generally steer away from superficiality and prudency, but after the first impression and once you really get to know them, “the Catalan” can normally be a loyal and very fun kind of person. It could also be said that the Catalan character is a species that consists of a mix between good (seny) and excessive (rauxa). You just have to look at Gaud? and Dal? to see this! Make sure when you come to this wonderful place, you stay in a Barcelona apartments or a hotel in Barcelona

Sports fans are well catered for in Barcelona. Even if you are not a football or soccer fan it would be worthwhile attending a Barcelona Football Club match at Camp Nou. This huge stadium can host close to 100,000 fans. There is also an annual Formula 1 grand prix. In 2009 the F1 race will be held on 8-10 May. Tennis fans can enjoy the Open Sabedell Atlantico ATP tennis tour event in April each year.