About Spain

The effervescence of the Spaniards and the glorious summer weather have been attracting hordes from northern Europe's damp and clammy lands for decades, but Spain is much more than the Costa del Sol and hot summer nightlife. It is drenched in the historical pageantry of the moors, empire and conquistadors, the artistic legacy of Goya, Velázquez, Picasso and Dalí, and the romance of Don Quijote, Papa Hemingway and the International Brigades.

Madrid

As the central capital of Spain, home of five million inhabitants, Madrid is a city full of opportunities. Historical importance. Architectural beauty. Notorious nightlife. Museums filled with international treasures. A culture deeply rooted in the art of living life. Whatever your passion may be, you will easily find it in Madrid.

The following PDF file has everything you need to know about Spain’s capital: history, communications, transportation, health, lodging, cultural facts and how to fill your free time once you arrive.

History
    Madrid monuments
    Museums
Useful Information
    Communications
    Transportation
    English Language Publications
    Spanish Language Publications
    Health
    Lodging
Culture
    Culture in Spain
    What to expect
    Making the adjustment
    Safety
Free time
    General
    Barrios (Neighborhoods)
    Cinema
    Discotheques
    Excursions
    Travel Abroad
    Contacts

Barcelona

Spain's second city is now the country's hippest town. Summer gives way to periodic lapses in sanity with week-long fiesta fun. But year-round the city cooks - it's always on the biting edge of fashion, architecture, food, style, music and good times…Barcelona is one of the most dynamic and exciting cities on the western Mediterranean seaboard, sedulously promoting itself as a European metropolis, a link between the sub-Pyrenean peninsula and the heartland of Western Europe. It is a city that is inconceivable until you get there, unbelievable while you walk its streets and unforgettable after you've gone.

The following PDF file has everything you need to know about Barcelona: history, communications, transportation, health, lodging, cultural facts and how to fill your free time once you arrive.

Introduction to Programs
History
Barcelona Attractions
Useful Information
   Communications
   Transportation
   English Language Publications
   Spanish Language Publications
   Health
   Insurance
   Gyms
   Lodging
Culture
   Cultural Shock
   What to Expect Living with a Spanish Family
   What to Expect Living in Shared Flats
   Making the Adjustment to Customs & Traditions
Safety
   General Information & Tips
   What to do if you are robbed
   Police
   Offences
   Terrorism
   Credit Cards
   Consulates
   Western Union
Free Time
   General
   Cinema
   Discotheques
   Web Site Contacts

Additional Information:
www.fazed.com/travel/Barcelona.html

Valencia

Valencia, the City of Contrasts, is where 2000 years of history and a blend of cultures merge harmonically into futuristic architecture. Nationally famous nightlife, colourful fiestas all year long, the authentic paella in its home city and the craziest European festival – Las Fallas, are just some of Valencia’s attractions. This Mediterranean beach city is deliciously dynamic, yet it keeps the tranquil charm of a siesta afternoon, which is why they call Valencia “the biggest Spanish village”.

We recommend that you read the chapter on Culture from our Madrid pdf file.

Additional Information:
www.valenciavalencia.com

La Palma, Grand Canary

This paradisiacal group of islands, with a preferred climate and constant temperature all through the year, and splendid beaches of fine sand, consists of seven larger islands and a few smaller ones. Surprisingly, the landscape of each island is radically different to the others. Already Greeks and Romans reported on this archipelago of volcanic origins, and called it the Happy Islands. Some historians suppose th at the legendary continent Atlantis was located here.

We recommend that you read the chapter on Culture from our Madrid pdf file.

Additional Information:
www.red2000.com/spain/canarias

San Sebastián

Wherever you may comes from, the first time a visitor looks at the unique setting of San Sebastián's bay, La Concha, you will, little by little, discover beneath this real-life picture postcard, forever immortalized by the camera of nature, a community, an identity, a way of thinking and feeling, a way of life, a language, a culture and a people: and that is the Basque Country.

We recommend that you read the chapter on Culture from our Madrid p df file.

Additional Information:
www.sansebastianturismo.com (guide)

www.cd.sc.ehu.es/DOCS/book.SS-G/v2/index.html

Granada

The narrow streets of the old Arabic quarte r wind their way from one small square to the next as old men doze in the shade of orange and cypress trees. The blue sky stretches to the Alhambra on its rocky hilltop overlooking the town and the plains beyond. Red walls enclose a fairytale-like palace set within a blooming rose garden. Rivulets of water meander through the ivy clinging gently to its surroundings. The whispering fountains transport us back to the reign of the Moors and remind us of the nearness of the sea…

We recommend that you read the chapter on Culture from our Madrid pdf file.

Additional Information:
www.granadainfo.com/english.htm (guide and map)

La Coruña

La Coruña lies at the extreme north west of Spain and forms part of the autonomous community of Galicia. The Atlantic Ocean surrounds the city of La Coruña, point of arrival and departure for many peoples and cultures who over two thousand years have left legends, myths and history in each and every corner of this seaboard city.

We recommend that you read the chapter on Culture from our Madrid pdf file.

Additional Information:
http://www.galinor.es/galeria/c2.html

Sevilla

Additional Information:
http://www.andalucia.com/cities/sevilla.htm