|
 |
 |
|
| |
Best Countries - Spain |
|
| |
|
|
| |
| |
About
Spain
| |
The
exuberance of the Spaniards
and the glorious predictability
of the summer weather
have been attracting refugees
from northern Europe's
damp and clammy lands
for decades, but Spain
is much more than the
Costa del Sol and warm
English beer. It is drenched
in the historical pageantry
of empire and conquistadors,
the artistic legacy of
Goya, Velázquez,
Picasso and Dalí,
and the romance of Don
Quijote, Papa Hemingway
and the International
Brigades.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
When
to Go
| |
The
ideal months to visit
are May, June and September
(plus April and October
in the south). At these
times you can rely on
good weather, yet avoid
the sometimes extreme
heat - and the main crush
of Spanish and foreign
tourists. That said, there's
decent weather in some
parts of Spain virtually
year-round.
|
|
|
| |
Winter
along the southern and southeastern
Mediterranean coasts is mild,
while in the height of summer
you can retreat to the northwest,
or to beaches or high mountains
anywhere, if you need to get
away from excessive heat. If
you want to make sure you hit
some parties, the best festivals
are concentrated between Semana
Santa (the week leading up to
Easter Sunday) and September.
|
|
| |
|
Environment
Spain and Portugal share the
Iberian Peninsula, a vaguely
square-shaped realm at the far
southwestern edge of Europe.
Spain occupies some 80% of this
peninsula and spreads over nearly
505,000 sq km, making it the
biggest country in Western Europe
after France.More than half
of the country is made up of
vast, elevated tablelands -
the mesetas - and five major
mountain ranges stretch across
the country.
In fact, with an average altitude
of 650m, it's the highest European
country after Switzerland. Landscapes
range from the deserts of Andalucía
to the green wetlands of Galicia;
from the sunbaked plains of
Castilla-La Mancha to the rugged
snowcapped Picos de Europa and
Pyrenees. The Canary Islands
archipelago in the Atlantic
Ocean, west of Morocco, is an
autonomous community belonging
to Spain.
|
| |
The prevalence of an 'if
you see it, shoot it' philosophy
has destroyed much of Spain's
wildlife. Critters that you
may still come across include
red squirrels, chamois, deer,
ibex, genet and a wide range
of reptiles. Spain has around
25 breeding species of birds
of prey, and it is a haven
for water birds thanks to
its large wetland areas. Gibraltar
is famous for its Barbary
macaques, the only wild monkeys
in Europe. Native flora is
prolific, especially in the
alpine regions.
Most tourists come to Spain's
coastal strip during July
and August, when the sun is
at its strongest. Madrid is
unbearable at this time of
year and is almost deserted
by Spaniards. In the north,
and on the Balearic Islands,
summer temperatures of around
30°C are standard. In
winter, the rain never seems
to stop in the north, except
in the backlands of Galicia
and the Pyrenees, where they
turn into snow. Generally
the north is best during summer,
Andalucía is best in
spring, the centre is best
in autumn, and the south is
best in winter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
