Spain's Gem: Barcelona

When talking about the best vacation spots in Europe, or the world for that matter, Barcelona is one of those cities that will never go amiss in the list. It is fittingly dubbed as the Mediterranean jewel with an all-in-one package of offerings that will delight all types of tourists. The country is also rich in over 2,000 years of history so you will be in awe at what you can find at literally every corner. This world travel guide will show you exactly what you need to do and where you had to go when in Barcelona to make the most of your stay.

An integral part of Barcelona's identity as a tourist destination and a Spanish city is its artistic and architectural tradition. Indeed, there are plenty of cultural and sightseeing attractions that you can find in the city with most of them several centuries old. Antoni Gaudi's Sagrada Familia or Church of the Sacred Family is among those religious and architectural sites in Barcelona that you must include in the itinerary. Another famous work of Gaudi is Casa Mila, which is an apartment complex visited by lots of tourists in this Spanish city. Other cultural sites and attractions that you can check out include La Seu or Cathedral of Santa Eulalia, Barri Gotic, Las Ramblas, Picasso Museum, and the National Art Museum of Catalonia.

If you are not the one to be interested in cultural or historical sites, don't fret because the Barcelona world travel guide has more options for you. The gourmet delights of Barcelona, for instance, is one of those that has drawn lots of tourists in this side of the world. Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria is a shopping center that is also a go-to place for all those who love food. This 17th century plaza is home to bakers, farmers, and all those culinary masters that offer their unique Spanish culinary treats to visitors. The plaza is lined up with restaurants and bars so you can take your pick according to budget and individual preferences.

But if you want a more exciting way to get your fill on the city's gourmet delights, why not participate in Barcelona walking tours? The entire walking tour usually lasts for up to 2 hours with an option to have either an English- or Spanish-speaking tour guide. Stops will generally include Granja Viader, Carrer de Petritxol, and Cafe d'la Opera. But if you have a sweet tooth, you will be thrilled to sample some of the sweet treats at two of Barcelona's most famous chocolate and pastry shops Pastisseria Escriba and Xocolateria Fargas.

The nightlife in Barcelona is also something that you should try to experience once in a while. Most new tourists to the city are surprised to know that they do have a vibrant nightlife. World travel guide suggests visiting between May to October wherein beach bars (or locally known as chiringuitos) line up the urban beaches as locals and tourists partake in a night of frivolity. Barcelona's nightlife is indeed characterized by great music, exciting bars, and eccentric characters that you will surely remember long after you've left.

And to relax after a wild night, you can take a stroll along the beaches of Barcelona or have a dip in the blue Mediterranean waters. If you want to have a truly relaxing time, take your pick from any of the following beaches: Bogatell Beach, Barceloneta Beach, St Pol de Mar Beach, Ocata Beach, and Sitges Beach. Don't miss out on the chance to experience some down time after a hectic shopping and strolling all over the city.

Take note of this world travel guide to be among the locals and experience everything that this city has gotten famous for!

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The Sun And Fun In Costa Del Sol

In the southern part of Spain, lies along the Mediterranean coastline, the towns, resorts, beaches, golf courses and villas of Costa Del Sol. Following it's literal meaning - “Coast of the Sun”, Costa Del Sol is favored by many for vacations and holidays mainly because it has a very temperate climate. With an average 300 days of sunshine each year, there's no doubt why, Costa Del Sol which was once a typical Spanish town in the past centuries, is now one of Europe's world-renown tourists destination.

Without further ado, here are a list of things the “Sunshine Coast” has to offer for all its visitors:

Stretch across the coast of the Mediterranean from the area of Gibraltar in the west to Nerja in the east, the seaside resorts of Costa Del Sol plays the host to many tourists seeking for a seaside fun. The most well-known resorts lie west of Malaga beginning with Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Fuengirola and Mijas Costa. Further along the coast lies Marbella, the playground for the rich and famous, with its famous marina packed with large and extravagant yachts and motorboats. Other known resorts are Pueblo Banus, Estepona, Sotogrande and finally Gibraltar. Each of these resorts are known for its high-class accommodation; sandy, wide and clean beaches with turquoise water - allowing any tourists to lie, soak up the sun or just enjoy swimming. There are also water sports and activities like windsurfing, paragliding and water-skiing in the area.

If you are one of the many who love playing golf then, Costa Del Sol is like the haven for all lovers of the sport. There are around 70 golf courses on the “Costa Del Golf” one of which is the Santana Golf course in La Cala with a series of 18 holes. Away from the coast, there are numerous excursions; touring the cities of Ronda, Seville, Cordoba and Grenada. There are also a number of theme parks and the zoo in Fuengirola is a great place to tour the kids.

At night, Costa Del Sol has an active nightlife With literally hundreds of bars and clubs, you can't just stay in one bar, because you can't help but bar hop.

Another interesting fact about Costa Del Sol is that, it is the birthplace of the famous artist Pablo Picasso who was born in Malaga in 1881. If you happen to visit this area, you can visit Picasso's house, the Casa Natal de Picasso, situated in the Plaza del Merced.

All in all, Costa Del Sol offers anything for the young and old to enjoy. If you are captured by its beauty, you might as well get your own property and continually enjoy the sun and fun in this region.

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Spain: Where Semana Santa Is At Its Best

Spain celebrates Semana Santa or Holy Week (a.k.a Easter Week) much more than most European countries and even among any Christian-dominating countries in the world. So, if you are planning to make this year's Easter Week a holy one, it would be best to spend it where the celebration is Catholically extravagant and religiously observe over the years – nowhere else but Spain.

Looking back where Semana Santa is initially celebrated: it dates back in the 16th century when the Church decided to present the story of the passion of Christ in a more elaborate way for the laypersons to understand. For that purpose, a series of processions through the streets depicting the scenes from the rise and fall of Jesus Christ were organized.

Today, the Holy Week processions are the largest religious festival in the Catholic world which takes place from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. Since, Spain holds the grandest celebration of Semana Santa, Andalusia, in particular, is the heart of the whole celebration; involving whole cities, towns and villages.

When you get to pay a visit in Spain to celebrate Semana Santa, you'll witness people are carrying statues of saints around on floats or wooden platforms, they are called costaleros. You'll also notice an atmosphere of mourning: it's as if the mystery of the passion of Christ is relived. Another eye-catching element in the spectacle are the marchers of the procession. They wear robes with hoods which meant to depict Nazareños or people from Nazareth.

The Holy Week ends on the Easter Sunday, the day of Jesus' resurrection. The day is then filled with light and color as church and cathedral bells are heard ringing throughout the country.

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