Some of the most popular sites in Spain include Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Grenada, and Santiago.  This quick look at these tourist destinations can give you some insight as to where you might like to go.

Madrid-"From Madrid to the Sky. . ."

The capital of Spain since 1562, is located on the geographic center of the Iberian Peninsula. Because of its central location and high altitude, the climate of Madrid is characterized by warm dry summers and cool winters.

Madrid is a city of great monuments. Among its highlights are the medieval center dating back to the Habsburg Empire and the Prado Museum.

But Madrid is not just a cultural destination. It is also a lively metropolis with many pubs, cafes, discotheques and nightclubs open late into the night. Don't be surprised if you get stuck in a traffic jam at four in the morning, and the people you meet are not necessarily going off to work....

What more need be said about one of the finest capital cities of Europe...

Visit Spain's guide to the city of Madrid at http://www.munimadrid.es/Principal/ingles/portada.html 

For information about Madrid's landmarks and historic sites, go to http://www.travel-in-madrid.com/sightseeing/landmark.htm 

Barcelona-City of Constant Renewal. . .

Barcelona, located at the Mediterranean sea in the very north of the Spanish coast, is certainly the most cosmopolitan and economically most active city in this country. It has always proved its will to be modern, to follow the latest international tendencies or be ahead of them. To the tourist this is evident specially in its architecture, which so well reflects the general approach to life in this always pulsating city.

Of course, Barcelona has an old history, and there are monuments of Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance periods or still before, but most characteristic is what has been built during the last, say, 100 years. Barcelona has been a center of Modernist architecture and is distinguished specially by the works of genial Antoní Gaudí, who together with his great contemporaries gave new and exciting looks to it, but has remained since then at the top of modernity. If you want to find out which are the very latest tendencies today - go to discover it here.

Learn more about Barcelona with the city guide at http://www.barcelona.es/english/ihome.htm 

For information on other attractions and landmarks, go to http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/barcelona/attractions.htm#top 

Valencia-Bright City. . .

One of the biggest cities in Spain, and among the most liveliest. It is located at the Mediterranean sea, and you will find beaches right in the very heart of it. During the summer-months it is heavily visited by tourists, and if you want to spend holidays at the beach, with fantastic possibilities for any kind of sports (golf, diving, cycling, tennis, etc. are all very popular here) and a boiling nightlife, together with an ample cultural offer, then Valencia is the place for you. Important trade fairs confirm Valencia's position as one of the most dynamic cities in Spain.

After all that probably you will get hungry , and you have the chance to try Spain's most famous food right where it was born: "Paella Valenciana"

Then Valencia is of course the city where "El Cid", Spain's national hero, fought against the Moors, and popular festivals in the city and many villages around still remind of this epoch.

Find more information at http://www.gva.es/jsp/portalgv.jsp 

Main attractions can be found at http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g187529-Activities-Valencia_Valencian_Country.html 

Granada-The Moorish Jewel

Granada is one of the pearls of Spain, most visited by tourists from all the world. The long-time capital of Moorish Andalusia has to offer the most important reminds of this epoch in Spanish history, with the world-famous "Alhambra" at the top of the list.

Walk through beautiful gardens, charming narrow streets filled with flowers, sit down in one of those typical taverns to have some of that famous "Trevélez" ham and local wine, and breath the centuries of history around you anywhere. There are gypsies singing "Flamenco", and don't miss to visit their famous "Cuevas" - caves - in the mountain of the monastery of Sacromonte where some of them really live still nowadays making magnificent artisan. Granada's popular festivals, based as well on Moorish as Christian tradition, are most attractive.

The city is located at the foot of the "Sierre Nevada", Spain's highest mountain-massif with great possibilities for winter-sports. The highest peak, "Mulhacén" arrives to 3478 meters. On the other hand it is not far from the Mediterranean sea, so Granada is a great place to visit in any season.

Find out more about attractions in Granada at http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g187441-Activities-Granada_Andalusia.html 

Santiago-Town of the Apostle

Santiago de Compostela is the final destination of the legendary medieval way of pilgrim ship Camino de Santiago (Way of Saint James), now considered by Unesco a World Heritage Site. Until today it attracts visitors from all over the world thanks to its fantastic monuments. The town is named after the Apostle Saint James ("Santiago"), who is buried here (see History and Legend).

Santiago is certainly one of Spain's most monumental towns, with a particular architectonical style all of its own. But it is as well a town plenty of life, with one of the most famous Universities and a large number of students who guarantee youthful ambience in-between the historical walls. Also the region's cuisine is of great reputation, and it is said that nowhere you can eat better sea-food than in Galicia.

So this is a place with a really varied offer, and one of the great cultural centers of the continent.

Places to see can be found at http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g187508-Activities-Santiago_de_Compostela_Galicia.html 

(All information obtained from http://www.red2000.com/spain/t-map.html )

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