world-resorts

Skiing

2009-05-25T06:09:00.000+00:00

Not everyone enjoys taking a vacation during the summer months, many prefer to vacation during winter so they can enjoy a variety of winter sports with Poland skiing vacations at the top of the list. Poland skiing offers excellent towering peaks as well as flat hills and charming valleys for experts to beginners to enjoy the thrill of the slopes.

Skiing in Poland is one of the most popular activities of many visitors. Today, you can find several Poland ski resorts that offer a wide array of amenities including ski instructors. Poland ski areas include Karpacz, Zakopane, Krynica Zdroj, Szczyrk, Szlarska Poreba, and Wisla. Each of the Poland ski areas are also home to renowned Poland ski resorts.

Skiing in Poland is an exciting adventure and can be one of the most pleasant vacations in the world when you plan to stay at one of the many Poland ski resorts in the area. The first thing you must do is decide the Poland ski area you wish to explore and then you will be able to find the perfect Poland ski resort for your vacation.

In Karpacz, you will find the Poland ski resort, Vavaldi. Vavaldi is nestled in a pine forest giving guests a secluded and cozy atmosphere while getting them close to the Kolorowa Slope and the Kopa Chair lift. Other attractions nearby include Karkonoski National Park and the Lomnica Waterfall. Karpacz offers 10 ski lifts, 1772 vertical, and 14398 feet for the highest lift. Skiing is great for intermediate skiers and for snowboarding.

The Nikifor in Krynica Zdroj offers an array of skiing opportunities in the magnificent hills and valleys around the area. This Poland ski resort offers a babysitting service as well as a Finnish sauna, and horse drawn carriage rides. Zdroj offers 6 ski lifts, 197 feet vertical, and 2034 for the hightest lift. Skiing is great for beginners to experts.

Szczyrk is one of Poland ski areas that offer access to more than 60 km of ski runs served by 30 lifts. One of the most popular accommodations in Szczyrk is the Willa Maggie. The hotel offers excellent views of the Beskidy Mountains as well as a great starting place for all types of winter adventures. Szczyrk offers 8 ski lifts, 2304 feet vertical, and 4126 feet for the highest lift. There are two major skiing areas offering a wide range of skill levels.

Szlarska Poreba home in the western part of the Karkonosze mountains is home to Sasanka ski resort. Along with being so close to all kinds of skiing opportunities this wonderful hotel offers a wellness center, ski lockers, and horse back riding. Szlarska poreba offers 8 ski lifts, 2140 vertical, and 4470 feet for the highest lift. There are 10 trails offering a wide range of skill levels.

Wisla is home in the Beskid Slaski Mountains and attracts visitors year round, but winter of course is the most popular time since it is an awesome Poland skiing area. Here you will find Villa Almira close to the downtown area. The ambience of the resort is one of relaxation and comfort. You will also enjoy the beautiful mountain walking trails. wisla offers 1 chair lift and 3 T-lifts with 2841 feet for the highest lift. The skiing is about average for beginners, experts, and families alike.

Zakopane is one of the most popular skiing destinations in Poland. Here you will find several Poland ski resorts that will fit your lifestyle. A couple of the most popular include Litwor and Gorski Dworek. Zakopane offers 20 ski lifts, 3049 feet vertical, and 6433 feet for the highest lift with 16 trails. Skiing is average for expert skiers as well as for intermedieate skiers.

Ski Poland can be one of the best family vacations you may have. Consider a cozy mountain resort and the family skiing in Poland together. What memories you will have of the time spent together along with the beauty that only Poland can give.

New Year 2009

2009-01-10T11:15:00.001+00:00

Happy New Year!

Valencia Community

2008-08-14T07:45:00.000+01:00

This Autonomous Community is a prototypical example of the "Mediterranean Spain", with a fantastic climate and more than 500 kilometers of coast. It is decidedly one of the country's most touristical areas.
If you want to discover more than just sun and sand, you will find remains of most remote civilizations, Phoenicians, Greeks, Iberians and Romans. The Moorish legacy is still present in traditional artisany and agriculture with its praised oranges as well as rice. The conquests of Jaime de Aragon led to the foundation of the kingdom of Valencia, more or less at the territiory of todays Community.
Major attractions:
Valencia
The capital, with outstanding monuments in particular of Gothic period, as La Lonja and the bell-tower Miguelete.
Alicante
The second largest city of Valencian Community, dominated by the Moorish castle Castillo de Santa Barabara.
Costa Blanca
One of the most famous Spanish coasts. Its magnificent sand beaches and ideal installations made it a first rate touristic center. Among the most important cities are Denia, Calpe, and Benidorm with its outstanding hotel infrastructure and boiling nightlife.
Costa Azahar
The "Orange-Blossom-Coast", in the north of Valencia, not only offers great beaches but as well beautiful towns as Peñiscola with its great medieval castle or Oropesa, which conserves the 16th century Tower of the King, erected as a defense against pirates. A true pearl is the enchanting Morella with its narrow lanes, enclosed by 14th century walls.
Castellon
The most remarkable monuments are the cathedral Santa Maria and the town-hall.

La Rioja

2008-08-12T08:00:00.000+01:00

The first thing that comes to your mind when you listen La Rioja is probably the wine bearing the same name. It is produced here, in the smallest of Spain's Autonomous Communities, located south of Basque Country at the occidental extreme of Ebro valley.
Haro is the center of wine production, and a well-known folkloristic event is its annual "battle of the wine".
Of major touristic interest is the the Camino de Santiago (Way of Saint James), a part of which leads through La Rioja. The monasteries along that way are not only of high artistic but as well cultural importance, here was written the first text ever in Castilian Spanish.
Along the Way of Saint James there are monumental towns of great beauty lined up: Calahorra, Arnedo, San Millan de la Cogolla, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, and Logroño, founded already by Romans and today the region's capital.
Worth a visit is as well the area Tierra de Cameros, with outstanding landscapes, grottos and caves.
La Rioja offers great possibilities for rural tourism, and if you like hunting, fishing, climbing or hiking it is certainly a place to take into consideration.
Speaking of regional gastronomy, we come back to La Rioja wine, which exists in seven varieties, four of them red and three white. Anyhow one shouldn't forget about another speciality, Pimientos del Piquillo, a delicious and sweet kind of red peppers. Highlights of traditional cooking include lamb, and the marzipan of Sierra de Cameros, of high reputation in all Spain.

Navarra

2008-08-11T07:26:00.000+01:00

The history of the ancient kingdom of Navarre always has been marked by its border situation with France, Castile, Aragon and Baskland, and the fact that it is crossed by the pilgrim way Camino de Santiago (Way of Saint James) is an additional reason for its extraordinary monumental richdom. Its beautiful towns, like Artajona which is surrounded by medieval walls, Estella, Olite, formerly seat of Navarre's kings, Tudela and Roncesvalles always are worth a visit.
The region's capital, Pamplona, a quiet and pleasant city, is world-famous for the Running of Bulls which form part of its most famous festival, Sanfermines, in July. Another very peculiar folkloristic attraction are the Navarrese Carnivals with their typical Zanpantzarrak.
Navarre is divided in three sectors: the mountain range of the Pyrenees in the north, with exceptional landscapes as the exemplaric Baztan valley; La Riviera in the south, a plain land with small lagoons and the fertile valley of Ebro river, and, inbetween, la Zona Media, with impressive landscapes and canyons as Hoces de Lumbier and Arbayun.
Navarre has no fewer than 50 natural preseves, most outstanding are Reserva Integral de Lizardoia and Parque Natural de Señorio de Bértiz. It offers great possibilities for hiking, climbing, fishing and is an ideal place if you want to spend green holidays in Spain.

Murcia

2008-08-08T08:33:00.001+01:00

Murcia is characterized by its old history of commerce and agriculture. Already its original inhabitants, Iberian tribes, established commercial relations with Phoenicians and Greeks. Lateron it became first a Carthaginean colony, then a Roman colony. (Carthago Nova, today's Cartagena still reminds of that fact). The Moors established effective and modern agricultural production, which still today is an important economic factor, thanks to their advanced technologies.
Of major touristical interest is of course the Mediterranean coast, Costa Calida ("the warm coast"), with beaches of fine sand. The salt-water lagoon Mar Menor and La Manga del Mar Menor offer great possibilities for water sports. The inland is almost desertic, and you may visit several towns which still preserve their medieval structures.
Typical cooking includes stews, salads, roasted meat, rice, and of course great sea-food along the coast. Murcia also produces wine of high quality.
The Cities
Murcia
The capital of the region, located inland.
Cartagena
The above mentioned Carthaginean Cartago Nova is of great historical importance, specially evident if you visit its museums. It also has the region's most important port.

Galicia

2008-08-07T08:23:00.000+01:00

Galicia is known in Spain as the "land of the 1000 rivers". Those rivers cross all the region from the mountainous inland to the coast, where they form the characteristical "Rias". The coast itself offers great contrasts, from the smooth beaches of As Mariñas to the dangerous cliffs of Costa de la Muerte, the "coast of death".
The climate of Galicia is tempered, and specially in winter, with minimal temperatures of about 5 degC, quite rainy. During the summer season, maximum temperatures are around 20 degC. Galicia's richdom in water and its Rias are characteristical for its nature. At the area of Rias Altas you will find magnific beaches, impressive towns and beautiful fishing villages. Rías Baixas are worth a visit for their natural preserves and balnearies, as A Toxa. The inland shows green landscapes and romantic villages.
The first cultures which left their tracks in Galicia were Celtic, while Romans left as a legacy the walls of Lugo, the bridge of Ourense, and the Tower of Hercules. Middle Ages were marked by the discovery of the tomb of the Apostle Santiago (Saint James). Thousands of pilgrims made their way to the cathedral of the newly founded town Santiago de Compostela, and the world-famous Way of Santiago (also known as Way of Saint James or Camino Jacobeo), which is flanked with numerous churches, monasteries and chapels of high historical-artistical value, was formed.
Galicia's folklore clearly shows its Celtic and Gaelic origins, and the most characteristical musical instrument is the Gaita (bagpipe). Regional gastronomy is of great reputation for its excellent fish, Empanada Gallega (a typical pie of fish or meat), traditional sweets prepared in some monasteries (where the recipes are kept in secret jalously), and the Ribeiro wine.
Major attractions:
Santiago de Compostela
The capital of Galicia and final destination of the famous pilgimage way is certainly among Spain's most beautiful cities.
A Coruña
This city, of high economical importance, is located at a peninsula. Major attractions include the Romanesque churches, the synagogue and the old quarter which offers an interesting contrast between almost fragile buildings and massive stone palaces.
Vigo
Galicia's most populated city, with the most important port. The historic quarter is very charming and well preserved.
Lugo
Lugo is surrounded by Roman walls which are perfectly preserved, and has a beautiful Romanesque cathedral.
Ourense
Located inland, also has a beautiful Romanesque cathedral.
Pontevedra
This province is said to be one of the most beautiful of Spain, thanks to the marvelous landscapes of Rías Baixas. The city itself offers an outstanding monumental center.

Extremadura

2008-08-06T07:13:00.000+01:00

This community is constituted of two provinces, Caceres and Badajoz, its capital nevertheless being Merida, certainly worth a visit thanks to its fantastic Roman ruins. Romans put Extremadura on the stage of history, and Merida was one of the most important cities in the whole Roman Empire. Lateron the region was for a long period of time the border between Moorish and Christian Spain. After the reconquista it arrived to new splendor with the discovery of America, when it was the cradle of several famous conquerors.
Extremadura's landscapes are characterized by the mountain ranges Cordillera Central, Montes de Toledo and Sierra Morena, the plains and fertile valleys of the rivers Tajo and Guadiana, and the plain lands of Low Extremadura. Its climate is continental, with warm summers and temperatures well over 30 degC, and quite cold winters.
Extremadura has several natural parks and preserves, specially the valleys of its two important rivers are important ecological reserves.
This region has yet not been discovered by mass tourism, but it has plenty of offers if you are looking for something off the beaten track: its original popular customs and traditions, typical dresses, great artisany of ceramics, metal works (those of Guadalupe are of high reputation) and embroideries, and an outstanding gastronomy: trouts, game, sausages, cheeses, as well as excellent wines.
Major attractions:
Merida
Merida preserves some of the most outstanding Roman monuments, including a colossal theater, an amphitheater, two aquaeductus, and a bridge, not to forget about the Museum of Roman Art with its invaluable collection.
Caceres
The capital of Upper Extremadura has a beautiful old quarter, enclosed by Moorish town walls with great watch-towers. Additional attractions include some exceptional Renaissance palaces.
Trujillo
The birthplace of famous conqueror Pizarro is well known for its beautiful main square. There are also a great medieval castle and the well-preserved town-walls with seven doors.
Guadalupe
This beautiful town is dominated by a colossal Mudejar style monastery which preserves valuable works of art.
Plasencia
A beautiful town with a Gothic-Plateresque cathedral, medieval town-walls and several palaces.
Badajoz
The capital of Lower Extremadura is worth a visit thanks to its Moorish Alcazaba, town-walls and watch-towers.

Catalonia

2008-08-05T10:51:00.000+01:00

Best known apart from the capital, Barcelona, is of course the Mediterranean coast, Costa Brava, with ample beaches and mild climate, doubtlessly a first rate touristical attraction. One shouldn't forget anyhow that Catalonia offers as well high mountain ranges, the Pyrenees in the north, the curious formations of Montserrat, the inactive volcans of Garrotxa, and a wide plain area in the region's center.
Catalonia has a very marked culture of its own, most evidently of Mediterranean tradition, and is distinguished of most other Spanish regions in several aspects, not at least by its language, Catalonian (although everybody speaks and understands Castilian Spanish perfectly). Certainly it is one of the most cosmopolitan places in Spain, thanks to its long tradition of international commerce.
The coast offers ideal facilities for all sorts of water sports, but everywhere you will realize about that special talent to combine the beauty of nature or monuments with modern attractions, a main reason why Catalonia developed into one of the preferred touristical destinations.
Catalonia's excellent gastronomy is characterized by seafood, rice dishes, wines of great international reputation and traditional desserts like the famous "Catalonian Cream".
Major attractions:
Barcelona
Catalonia's capital, located at the Mediterranean Sea, offers the structures of a true metropole. Among its most outstanding sights are the Gothic Quarter and the works of architect Antoni Gaudi.
Costa Brava
Certainly one of the most famous Spanish coasts, stretching from the north of Barcelona over the province of Girona. It is of great natural beauty, with steep cliffs and romantic small coves.
Girona
A beautiful historic city with the old Jewish Quarter among its major sights.
Figueres
The birthplace of great painter Salvador Dali. Its main attraction is of course the museum dedicated to the artist, showing a collection of some of his finest works.
Costa Dorada
The Golden Coast, stretching from south of Costa Brava to Tarragona, offers apart from its great beaches and beautiful landscapes towns of outstanding beauty, such as Arenys del Mar, Sitges (with the highly interesting museum of Cau Ferrat) and Castelldefels.
Tarragona
An important city of the Roman empire, still preserving outstanding monuments: the aquaeductus, an amphitheater and the Tomb of the Scipios, located at the seaside. Close to Tarragona there are the monasteries Santes Creus and Santa Maria de Poblet, both of high historic-artistic interest.
Lleida (Lerida)
Located inland in a mountainous area. Most interesting is its cathedral, "Seo", built between 12th and 15th century.

Castilla y Leon

2008-08-04T09:02:00.000+01:00

Castilla y Leon is not only the largest region of Spain, but as well the largest region of all the European Union. The elevated plain is limited by the the mountain ranges Sistema Iberico to the east, Cordillera Central to the south, Cordillera Cantabrica to the north and by Duero river towards Portugal.
Castilla y Leon came together in 1983, when the regions of Castilla la Vieja and Leon were united. Both have been central areas of Spanish medieval history, and the importance during that epoch is still evident in many cathedrals, monasteries, castles and fortificated towns, many of which are preserved in perfect state. Apart of its great monumental patrimony, Castilla y Leon offers as well natural parks and kilometers of practically virginal nature, with woods of oaks and cork-oaks.
Gastronomy is distinguished by excellent meat, in particular of lamb, and vegetables like the famous creamy beans of Avila. Artisany and popular celebrations show a rich and varied folklore, often of archaical roots and almost unknown to a wider public.
The Cities:
Salamanca
Salamanca's great historical importance is due to its University, one of the oldest of Europe. It is a city of outstanding beauty and rich cultural heritage.
Segovia
Segovia's most famous monument is certainly its colossal Roman aquaeductus which dominates all the town. Additional attractions include the Alcazar and the Gothic cathedral.
Avila
A beautiful historic town, entirely enclosed by impressive Romanesque walls.
Burgos
A monumental town well worth a visit. The famous cathedral,one of the greatest examples of Gothic style in Spain, is its most outstanding attraction.
Leon
Formerly the capital of the region, it gave its name to the Community. The city's most famous monuments are its great Gothic cathedral, the church Basilica de San Isidoro with valuable Romanesque frescoes in its crypt, and the San Marcos monastery of Renaissance period. Close to Leon you may visit the legendary Roman gold mines Las Medulas.
Zamora
Zamora is a beautiful medieval town with a magnificent cathedral and several great Romanesque churches. Nearby there are the 8th century Visigothic church San Pedro de la Nave, and Lago de Sanabria, the largest lake of Spain and the only one of glacial origins.
Valladolid
The capital of Castilla y Leon has one of the most important sculpture museums of all Spain, and the famous Easter week processions are of great touristical interest. The city itself is monumental, and in its surroundings there are innumerable castles. It is said that in Valladolid the most correct Castilian Spanish is spoken.
Soria
In Soria, located at Duero river, you should pay special attention to the magnificent Romanesque churches.
Palencia
Medieval town with outstanding Romanesque monuments. Among the major attractions are the beautiful cathedral and the interesting archaeological museum.

Castilla-La Mancha

2008-07-31T07:43:00.000+01:00

Castilla-La Mancha, located at the very center of the Iberian peninsula, is dominated by an extense tableland, although there are mountainous landscapes too.
Of major interest to the visitor are of course the monumental cities and towns of great historical importance, like Toledo, the enchanting Cuenca and Albacete, but one should take as well several interesting alternative routes into consideration, among them: Ruta de los Pueblos Negros ("Route of the Black Villages"), having their name from the use of slate in their traditional architecture, the "Route of the Saffron Fields", "Route of the Castles", and the "Route of Don Quijote", named after Cervante's legendary "Man from La Mancha". Still today you will see many of those characteristical windmills Don Quijote was fighting with in all the land.
Traditional gastronomy is simple but tasteful, with stews, game, sausages and the famous Manchego cheese. The region's excellent wines are a perfect match.
Artisany is varied, from ceramics and embroiderings to the famous Swords of Toledo and Knives of Albacete.

The Cities:
Toledo
The former capital of Spain is certainly one of the country's architectonical treasures, with magnificent monuments specially from Moorish, Mudejar, Gothic and Renaissance periods. Toledo was also the hometown of the great painter El Greco.
Cuenca
This enchanting medieval city, declared Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO, is surrounded by landscapes of incredible beauty. Among the town's most remarkable sights are the famous "Hanging Houses", the Gothic cathedral and the Museum of Abstract Art. In its surroundings there are several fantastic natural preserves, among them Ciudad Encantada, the "enchanted city", where erosion has created most bizarre forms.
Guadalajara
Major attractions are the Mudejar style church Santa Maria la Mayor, the 15th century palace Duque del Infantado, the Moorish town-walls and bridge over Henares river, from 10th century. In the province of Guadalajara the medieval town Siguenza, with its great fortress and cathedral, is worth a visit.
Ciudad Real
This city is marked by the history of Don Quijote who is said to have fought against the windmills at the nearby Campo de Criptana. The nearby Lagunas de Ruidera, consisting of 17 lagoons, offer splendid landscapes.
Albacete
A modern and functional city, located at the typical plains of La Mancha. It is known for its knife-making industry.

Cantabria

2008-07-30T08:45:00.001+01:00

With a surface of 5.300 square kilometers Cantabria offers extremely varied landscapes and climates. In its mountain ranges, Picos de Europa and the natural preserve of Saja, still live bears, wolves and eagles, and the rivers are full of salmons and trouts. Pico de tres Mares ("peak of the three seas") is a real curiosity: a drop of water that falls here may equally arrive to Atlantic Ocean, by Duero river, the Cantabric Sea, by Nansa river, or the Mediterranean Sea by Ebro river.

In total contrast is the coast with beautiful bays and romantic fishing villages. Inbetween you will find green valleys and hills.

The capital, Santander, is located at a beautiful bay. It is an economically extremely active city with an important port. There is an ample cultural offer, specially remarkable are the Menendez y Pelayo International Summer University, and the International Festival. Santander's great sports facilities make it an ideal place for leisure.

At a few kilometers from the capital there are the medieval town Santillana del Mar, and the highly interesting prehistorical Caves of Altamira . Some other attractions in the surroundings of Santander are the church of Santa Maria de Valverde, or the natural park of Cabarceno, where you will find animals from the five continents in an outstanding and singular landscape.

Finally, Cantabria's colorful popular customs, its artisany and gastronomy make it a holiday destination which certainly will not disappoint.

Canary islands The Happy Islands

2008-07-29T09:50:00.000+01:00

This paradisiac group of islands, with a preferred climate and constant temperature through all the year, and splendid beaches of fine sand, consists of 7 larger islands (Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Tenerife, La Palma, Gomera, Hierro) and a few smaller ones (Alegranza, Graciosa, Montaña Clara, Roque del Este, Roque del Oeste und Lobos). 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, Garden of the Hesperides, Atlantida, ... Some historians suppose that the legendary continent Atlantis was located here. The islands' original population, called Guanches, is tall and of white skin.
In 1496 the islands became part of the Spanish kingdom, and the ships of Christopher Columbus stopped here on their travel to discover the New World.

B A S Q U E C O U N T R Y

2008-07-25T10:41:00.001+01:00

Baskland is of particular interest for its completely autoctonous culture, including a language of its own (Euskera) of quite mysterious origins. Its folklore is autotoctonous too, and you may even watch particular sports like the so-called Basqueball ("pelota vasca").
Today it is one of the most industrialized regions of Spain. Despite of that there are still many areas of almost untouched nature, notably the natural parks of Valderejo, Urkiola, Urdaibai and the magical landscapes along Guernica river. It is a great region for hiking, riding, golf and all sorts of mountain sports. Another atttraction is the steep Cantabrian coast, but don't forget to bring your raincoat to protect yourself of the "txirimiri", the typical very fine rain.
The Cities:
San Sebastian (basque: Donostia)
The famous aristocratic beach resort of great reputation during the 19th century conserves its exclusive and cosmopolitan ambience. Its beautiful buildings and excellent beaches (with somewhat cool water temperatures, though) make it also today a privileged holiday destination.
Bilbao
Although the region's largest city is specially recognized as an important industrial and economic center, it conserves a beautiful historic quarter with the Gothic cathedral among its major attractions. Bilbao's greatest sight however is the Guggenheim Museum, built in 1997. This spectacular building with a facade of glass, titanium and lime stone was designed by american architect Frank O. Gehry and is one of the most outstanding examples of the avantgarde architecture of the 20th century.
Vitoria-Gasteiz
The capital of Euskadi is worth a visit due to its well-preserved historical center and its active cultural life with several festivals of international importance.

B A L E A R I C ISLANDS

2008-07-24T09:31:00.001+01:00

Mediterranean Paradise

This wonderful group of islands is divided into Gimnesias (Mallorca, Menorca and Cabrera) in the North, and Pitiusas (Ibiza y Formentera) in the South-West.

Their excellent climate with some 300 days of sun per year, wonderful beaches, a rich cultural offer and the unusual hospitality of their inhabitants make Balearic Islands one of the preferred holiday destinations in Spain. There are more passengers at the airport of Palma de Mallorca than at the airport of any other Spanish city. Hardly anybody who has spent holidays here didn't wish to return, in fact, many visitors have made the islands their permanent home. Each of the islands has a strong personality all of its own, and each of them offers much more but the possibility to spend nice holidays at the beach

Asturias

2008-07-23T09:52:00.000+01:00

The Principality of Asturias is constituted of a single province, the capital is Oviedo. It is limited by high mountain ranges, Cordillera Cantabrica, where you find some outstanding natural preserves such as Picos de Europa and the national parks of Covadonga and Somiedo. Asturias is well known for its green landscapes, and just at a few kilometers from high mountain peaks there is the Cantabric coast with great beaches and colorful fishing villages.
Major attractions are the Way of Saint James with its numberless monuments and the Ruta de la Plata, "silver route", which both lead through Asturias.
Asturias too is the home of ancient rites and beliefs, and this region's popular customs are among the most interesting of Spain. Artisany and gastronomy are of high reputation, you may try excellent sea-food along the coast and, in the mountains, typical dishes such as Fabada, made of a special sort of beans, blood sausage and various cheese specialities, together with a glass of cider.
The Cities:
Oviedo
The region's capital, located more or less at its geographical center, is specially remarkable for its pre-romanic monuments and its great cathedral.
Gijon
This historic city, founded already by Romans, is today one of the most important sea-ports and offers active cultural life.
Aviles
Aviles, one of the oldest settlements of the Cantabric area, is of high economical importance too, but conserves as well its traditional style.
All three cities were declared Patrimony of the Humanity by UNESCO, due to their outstanding monuments.

Aragon

2008-07-22T10:05:00.001+01:00

This community, bordering on France with the Pyrenees, is of particular interest for its outstanding mountainous landscapes, with glacier lakes and several natural preserves where you still may observe animals which have been extincted in many other regions of Europe long ago. In total contrast is the plain Ebro valley, which is limited by the mountain range Moncayo, in the east.
When you are crossing Aragon's three provinces, Zaragoza, Huesca and Teruel, with many monumental towns, the splendor of the old Kingdom of Aragon, one of the centers of Spanish culture in medieval times, comes alive again.
The mountain ranges offer great possibilities for winter sports, and during the warm season you may explore this almost virginal natural paradise as well as the region's celebrated gastronomy, artisany and folklore.
The Cities:
Zaragoza
The region's capital, located at Ebro river, is one of the great monumental cities of Spain. Its historic heritage of Romans and Moors is documented in its museums.
Teruel
Most notable are the city's great Mudejar style monuments, consequence of a long Moorish dominance. Highlights include the cathedral with its beautiful belltowers and the churches of San Martin, San Pedro and El Salvador.
Huesca
Huesca, located at the foot of the Pyrenee mountain range, offers landscapes of incredible beauty.

Spain - Andalucia

2008-07-21T09:47:00.001+01:00

Andalucia is the Spanish Autonomous Community with the greatest number of inhabitants and the second in surface. Its varied landscapes, the benignancy of its climate and the friendly character of its population have turned it into one of the most attractive regions.
3000 hours of sun per year, many kilometers of golden sand beaches and those beautiful natural ports made it a safe refuge already for Phoenician navigators, thousands of years before Christ.
The coast of Huelva and Cadiz corresponds to the Atlantic Ocean and is characterized by fine sand. The Mediterranean coast, from the Strait of Gibraltar to Almeria, on the other hand offers smoother climate with less wind and higher water temperatures.
Andalucia is crossed by Guadalquivir river, the "father" of old civilizations who have left along its borders an impressive monumental track, as well as the high mountain ranges of Sierra Morena and Sistemas Beticos.
The offer for visitors is extremely varied, from golden beaches to those beautiful mountain ranges with their highly interesting fauna, and the famous "white villages" with their richdom in folklore and artisany. There are great possibilities for most different sports as well, from skiing in the Sierra Nevada to surfing at the coast of Cadiz, where you will find ideal conditions as nowhere else in Europe.
Andalucia is the "mother" of the Spanish folklore which is probably best known abroad: here you will live the magic of Flamenco and bullfighting in their most authentic style, and myths like Don Juan and Carmen were born here. A land of great traditions, which has understood as well to assimilate the progress.

Major attractions:
Seville
The Andalusian capital, the third largest city of Spain, is among the most beloved places by tourists, thanks to its unique ambience and its great monuments: the Arabian belltower Giralda, the city's landmark, the enormous cathedral, Torre del Oro, and the old district Barrio Santa Cruz are among the highlights.
Granada
The Moorish Jewel, located at the foots of snowy Sierra Nevada mountain range, is a must-see. Most outstanding is certainly the great Arabian palace Alhambra.
Cordoba
The long-time center of Moorish Spain preserves monuments of outstanding importance. The Mezquita, the great Mosque, is perhaps most impressive.
Malaga
Among its major attractions are the Moorish Alcazaba and, of course, the splendid Mediterranean coast.
Costa del Sol
The coast of Malaga is of great touristical importance, thanks to its splendid beaches, outstanding installations and smooth climate. Among the most famous centers are Marbella, Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Fuengirola, and San Pedro de Alcantara.
Ronda
A beautiful town, surrounded by an impressive mountain range.
Almeria
Almeria is among those Andalusian cities which have best preserved their Moorish heritage. Of great touristical attraction is also its splendid coast, Costa de Almeria.
Cadiz
Cadiz is one of the oldest cities in Spain, founded by Phoenicians. It is fascinating for its typical Andalusian ambience with whitewashed houses and tropical vegetation.
Huelva
Of great importance as a fishing port as well as for its industry. The city itself and its surroundings are marked by Christopher Columbus, who started his travel to America from the nearby Palos de la Frontera. There you may still visit the monastery where he prepared his travel, alongside with a reconstruction of the port and the three famous ships.
Doñana National Park
This extense preserve including beach areas with moving dunes as well as marshy regions of great value concerning their fauna is located next to the outlet of Guadalquivir river, Matalascañas, Acebuche and El Rocio. Numerous species of migrant birds, on their way from Eurasia to Africa, stay here during the breeding phase.
Costa de la Luz
The "Coast of the Light", in the provinces of Huelva and Cadiz at the Atlantic Ocean, offers splendid beaches of fine sand. Major centers of attraction are Punta Umbria, Islantilla, Isla Cristina, Mazagon, Matalascañas, Barbate, Algeciras, Tarifa, Conil de la Frontera, Chiclana de la Frontera, El Puerto de Santa Maria, Rota, Chipiona, and Sanlucar de Barrameda.
Jerez de la Frontera
In the hometown of the world-famous Sherry wine several "Bodegas" may be visited. Jerez too is the site of a renowned equestrian school. Wine and horses mark the ambience of this manorial town.
Jaen
Jaen, located inland, is dominated by its medieval fortress. Additional attractions are the 11th century Moorish baths and the Renaissance cathedral. The nearby Sierra de Cazorla is an outstanding natural preserve.

Marsabit and Beyond

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North of Isiolo is Archer’s Post, long considered the official eastern gateway to the wilds of the Northern Frontier District.

Beyond this point you enter a world of harsh beauty, endless arid plains and the great monolithic mesa of Ol Olokwe on the horizon. At the heart of this great desert wilderness is the lush highland oasis of Marsabit. Set over the scorching plains, Marsabit is a small town surrounded by thick verdant forests, watered each morning by cool mists.

Marsabit is the commercial centre of the area, and its streets are a fascinating showcase of the many Northern tribes and cultures.

Nearby Marasabit National Park is a beautiful place, where thick forests and rivers attract plenty of game and great herds of Elephant. This is real elephant country, once home to the mighty Ahmed, a famous tusker whose impressive ivory is now displayed in the Nairobi Museum.

Beyond Marsabit is the Great Northern frontier, and the winding road to Turkana leads to adventure

Maralal and Beyond

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Maralal is a frontier town, the beginning of the Great Northern wilderness and the staging post for many great adventures.

This simple town is a thriving centre for the local Samburu people, and the streets are always busy with camels, passing warriors and traders.

Beyond Maralal lies some of Kenya’s most beautiful country. Here the broad arid plains give way to the spectacular Loroghi Hills and the high, wild Matthews ranges. Dry river beds course through this land, and have become the tracks and routes of nomadic camel trains.

The wild country between Maralal and Turkana is ideal for the adventure seeker. Here in these vast empty spaces, there is freedom to explore and lose yourself in the wild.

Whether you want to take a truck to Turkana or a camel through Samburu land, this is your starting point

Kenya's Desert Wilderness

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The North of Kenya is a vast trackless expanse of desert and semi desert wilderness. This hot, sparsely populated land is a place of harsh and stunning beauty.

Among the stunning cliffs and ranges and thorn scrub of the North, live some of Kenya’s last nomadic tribes. For these people, the desert wilderness is an integral part of their lives, and they cross these lands with camel trains following traditional routes older than any living memory.

For many people, this is the real Kenya, where the great empty spaces hold the promise of real adventure

Lake Victoria

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At Kenya’s Western frontier lies the great expanse of Lake Victoria.

This massive (67,493 sq kms) lake, commonly known as Nyanza, is twice the size of Wales, and forms a natural boundary between Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

The lake is the heart of the African continent, the source of its mightiest river, the Nile. In the 19th century the riddle of the Nile was one of the great enigmas of African exploration. After many expeditions failed, John Hanning Speke finally reached these shores in 1858.

The Nile flows northwards, carrying the waters of Nyanza to Egypt and beyond into the Mediterranean.

This mighty body of water is rich in fish life, with shimmering shoals of colourful cichlids and large Nile Perch. Nyanza province is the heartland of the Luo, a tribe known as formidable fisherman.

Fishing brings many visitors to this lake, mainly in search of the Nile Perch, considered a world class game fish. There are three separate fishing lodges on islands within Victoria.

Kisumu is a quiet port town on the Lakeshore, with wide streets and fine colonial architecture. To the south fishing villages line the lake towards the broad waters of Homa Bay.

This area is home to Ruma National Park, a small but attractive park with many unique species.

The best way to appreciate the beauty of this region is on the lake itself. The sun shines brightly, and gentle breezes rise from the water. In trees along the shore, Fish Eagles call to each other with long haunting cries. Sunsets turn the water to gold, as the local fisherman in their canoes pull in their nets and slowly turn for home

Lake Magadi

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Deep in the heart of Southern Kenya’s Maasai land is the unearthly Lake Magadi. This 104 sq km soda lake is completely surrounded by vast natural salt flats. These sweltering hot plains prevent any animals reaching the alkaline lake at its centre.

For this reason, thousands of flamingo descend on the lake each year to nest on elevated mud mounds at the lake’s edge safe from any potential predators.

Freshwater springs at the Lake’s shore attract a host of other birds.

A journey to Magadi is to enter another world. The baking salt plains stretch into horizons of shimmering heat haze, while the shallow lake heaves with the pink waves of nesting flamingo. The otherworldly atmosphere is compounded by the intense heat and the isolation.

Magadi is often the final destination for treks from the Nguruman escarpment or the Loita hills.

Proximity to Nairobi means that trekkers can leave the heat of Magadi behind and ascend 1000 metres to the highland cool of the capital

Lake Turkana

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At Kenya’s far Northern frontier lies one of the natural wonders of the world.

Lake Turkana is a massive inland sea, the largest desert lake in the world (6,405 sq km). This single body of water is over 250 kilometres long- longer than the entire Kenyan coast.

It is widely known as the Jade Sea, because of the remarkable, almost incandescent, colour of its waters. After a long journey through the sweltering deserts and lava flows of Northern Kenya, the sight of this vast body of bright turquoise water comes as an unearthly, ethereal vision.

The Lake is a source of life for some of Kenya’s most remote tribes. The Turkana, with ancestral ties to Uganda, live a semi-nomadic existence around the Lake. The country’s smallest tribe, the El Molo, live a hunter-gatherer existence on the shores, in villages of distinctive rounded reed huts.

Turkana has one of the longest living histories on earth, and recent fossil evidence unearthed at Koobi Fora has led to the Lake being referred to as ‘The Cradle of Mankind’.

The site lies at the heart of the Sibiloi National Park, a place of stark beauty and prehistoric petrified forests.

The Lake itself is a natural treasure, with the world’s single largest crocodile population. In Turkana these reptiles grow to record size, with some of the largest specimens found on remote windswept Central Island.

Lake Turkana is Kenya’s most remote destination, but one that repays the intrepid traveller with rich rewards

Lake Baringo

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Lake Baringo is at the threshold of Northern Kenya, and its freshwaters are an oasis in the arid plains.

This is the traditional home of the Njemps tribe, a unique people who are the only pastoral, cattle herding, tribe who also fish. Among other pastoral tribes such as the Maasai, eating fish is a taboo.

The 129 sq km lake is well stocked with fish, and attracts many Pelicans, Cormorants and Fish Eagles. The Lake is also well populated with Crocodile.

The lake itself is truly beautiful, surrounded by volcanic ranges that stretch as far as the eye can see.

At the lakes heart is Ol Kokwe Island, a stark rocky island that is home to Njemps villages and a well appointed camp. This is an excellent base for exploring the lake, with boat trips ideal for bird and hippo spotting.

Baringo is an ideal stopover on a safari to Northern Kenya.