Set on Europe’s Iberian Peninsula between the Atlantic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, Spain typically conjures up images of matadors, sangria, flamenco dancers and paella. While it offers all of these traditional cliches in abundance, the country's real attraction is to be found in its passionate, laid back people and its unbeatable natural beauty. Even along the well-beaten tourist tracks, there are authentic Spanish experiences to be had, traditional local dishes to sample and idyllic villages of timeless charm to explore. Like the country’s famous tapas, Spain itself is a veritable smorgasbord of thriving cities, bizarre festivals, panoramic views and breathtaking beaches - rendering it a beautiful and beguiling country unlike any other. Weird, enthralling architecture, incredible nightlife and its diversity of art and culture add to the country’s unique allure.
Less than an hour north of Barcelona, Girona is an easily accessible historical haven permeated with old-world charm. A stroll along the City Walls ‘Passeig de la Muralla’, reveals the vantage point the city's protectors would have had when warding off invaders over the ages, while the well-preserved Jewish Quarter is a must-see relic dating to the 12th century when the city saw a burgeoning of Jewish culture. Also not to be missed, the Sant Feliu and Girona cathedrals are prime examples of Gothic Catalonian religious architecture. Don’t miss taking a stroll past the multicoloured Cases de l'Onyar ‘hanging houses’ that flank the river and make for beautiful photographs.
