One tends to summarise Spain as an idyllic stretch of sandy beaches lined with palm trees and pretty coves bathed by the clear blue waters of the Mediterranean. How right it is, but this is not all! The resorts on the Costa Brava and Costa Dorada are the perfect destination for a dazzling beach holiday. Relax on the warm sand, or participate in a good choice of water sports. Spain, however, offers so much more than its beaches. Away from the coastal shores of the Atlantic we discover a greener wilder picture of Spain, with wide-open space and cities loaded with history. Nestling between the ocean and the mountainous region of the Picos de Europa, pretty beaches blend with jagged cliffs, whilst churches and chapels built for the pilgrims on the Compestella Route paint a beautiful open-air scene.

Dali Museum
This museum pays tribute to the universe of the Spanish painter.

Poblet Monastery
One of the largest Cistercian Abbeys in Spain.

Universal Studios Port Aventura
A popular theme park, based on the great films of Universal Studios.

Barcelona
A curious blend of architectural styles, ranging from Roman vestiges to the fantasies of Gaudi.

Salamanca
UNESCO has classed the old city on its World Heritage list and its university, the oldest in Spain, is well worth a visit.

Grenada
Alhambra, heritage of an Arab-Andalousian past, its palaces and famous gardens.