Spain History

make sure to give yourself at least a couple days to check out all the sights in the city, and at least 1-2 days for day trips... Toledo is a must-see (it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and Segovia is another one you shouldn't miss. Toledo is only a 1/2 hr train ride (AVE...Spain's high speed train) from the center of Madrid. Go to the Puerta de Atocha station and get your tix. they leave pretty much every hr-every two hrs (depending on the day the time of the day). You can also get tix to Segovia that leave from Puerta de Atocha... that train ride is about an hr long.

This is a great place to get a taste of the fascinating and often very turbulent history of the region, and indeed Spain as a whole. Granada was one of the key Moorish strongholds during the long Islamic occupation of the southern Iberian peninsular. The most important buildings from that period are grouped together in an enclosed area called the Alhambra ; highlights include the Casaba (castle) and several palaces influenced by both Moorish architecture and the later Catholic styles post 1492. Once you have visited the main historical attraction, which is situated on top of a strategic hill, then head on down into the maze of streets and alleyways which make up the old town. There are some great places to sample the local cuisine, especially the Tapas bars - But be warned many landlords do not speak English and if your Castilian Spanish is not up to much then you may have to get by in French! But once the food arrives then all the effort of walking around the sites will be made truly worthwhile, all food is freshly prepared and there are sure to be things to please all travellers.

Once the capital of Spain, Toledo has played a central role in the country’s political and religious history since Roman times. It has been a major European centre for learning and the arts for generations of Jews, Muslims and Christians alike. All of which makes wandering its narrow streets with a head full of summarised history a slightly overwhelming experience. A labyrinth of cobbled lanes – often no more than an arms width apart - twist and dip all over the old city, suddenly opening up to medieval cathedrals, synagogues, fortifications, art museums, or the stunning Alcazar. Like a lot of places in Spain, it is a town hard to appreciate in a single day. IMPORTANT...CATHEDRAL OPEN FOR LIMITED HOURS ...A MUST SEE WITH EL GRECO ART AND UNUSUAL DESIGN..DO NOT MISS.

We went in late May when the temperature was just hotting up nicely and the canvas sails above the streets were just being put up for the summer. Take a river trip to get some of the history and cooling breeze from the river. Just outside Sevilla is a Roman ruin called Italica which is worth a visit for the amazing quality of the amphitheatre and mosaics.

Great weather and full of spain recent history!