Trish York
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Exploring Spain
To have more flexibility we decided to drive during a summer trip to Spain. After exploring Madrid for a few days we picked up a car and headed to Segovia, a UNESCO World Heritage site with a spectacular legacy of the Roman Empire – The Aqueduct. The Alcázar fortress-palace sits up above the town and Segovia Cathedral looms large over the downtown square. Driving through its narrow streets to find our hotel was a challenge but once we parked the car it was an easy city to explore on foot.
From Segovia we headed south to the Costa del Sol and the small beach town of Nerja. The region is better known for larger towns like Malaga and Marbella but we were in search of family who lived in Nerja. With a room overlooking the ocean we enjoyed watching the sun set from our balcony and walking through the charming downtown. On our quest to visit more of our Spanish family we drove towards Spain’s eastern coastline to the port city of Cartagena on the Mediterranean Sea. With palm trees, a sea breeze and outdoor dining options it’s a relaxing city to spend a day wandering the marble streets or visiting the ancient Roman Theater discovered in the late 1980s. The city is also known for Licor 43, or Cuarenta y Tres ("43" in Spanish), a sweet, vanilla-flavored liqueur using a total of 43 flavoring ingredients, including citrus and other fruits, herbs, and spices. We stayed on La Manga del Mar Menor, a seaside spit of Mar Menor. The strip is 13 miles long and 109 yards wide, separating the Mediterranean Sea from the Mar Menor lagoon. It is a very popular spot for Spanish families to vacation with many residents from Barcelona and Madrid having beach houses there. We also visited the charming coastal beach town of Los Alcázares on the other side of the Mar Menor.
Once we returned to Madrid I hopped a plane for a week on the island of Mallorca, a very popular European holiday spot. From the excitement of the capital city of Palma to the beaches, mountains and countryside this was a relaxing time spent with friends at their finca – traditionally known as a farm they are more holiday homes on some land with a house, greenery and often a pool. The town of Artà sits in a picturesque valley not far from the eastern coast of Mallorca. There is much to do on the island from the charming towns and villages, spectacular beaches, hiking and water sports to the larger city of Palma with its luxury hotel and dining experiences.
Back on the mainland we once again picked up a car and went to the most beautiful of cities – Seville. With its charming cobblestone streets and outdoor cafes we visited the Royal Palace/Real Alcázar de Sevilla and its lush garden, the Seville Cathedral with the Giralda Tower and the Tower of Gold/Torre del Oro at the river. The Plaza del Toro bullring is also worth a visit as is the Plaza de Españain the Maria Luisa park. The plaza was created for the Ibero-American exhibition of 1929 to symbolize peace with the former colonies. A highlight of this square are the 52 benches with Andalusian tiles that represent all Spanish provinces.
A visit to Spain would not be complete without visiting the spectacular Alhambra in Granada. From our hotel set high above the town and walking distance to the Alhambra, we enjoyed evening tapas and Spanish wine as the sun set. Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Alhambra is an ancient palace, fortress and citadel. The eighth-century-old site was named for the reddish walls and towers that surrounded the citadel. In Arabic Alhambra means red fort or castle. It’s the only surviving palatine city (a royal territorial center) of the Islamic Golden Age. Don’t miss the beautiful Generalife Gardens while touring the Alhambra.
Our last stop before flying home from Madrid was the walled-city of Toledo, another of Spain’s UNESCO World Heritage sites. Called the City of Three Cultures, Toledo features a Gothic cathedral, a 10th century mosque and two synagogues all within walking distance of one another. Visit the Alcazar fortress which dominates the skyline or the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes or the oldest still standing synagogue in Europe - Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca. While an easy day trip from Madrid it is worth an overnight in Toledo to enjoy the outdoor dining and quieter streets after the day trippers have left.
Spain is a fantastic destination that is easy to navigate via car or even train for some of the larger cities. July and August, when we were there was extremely hot, in the 90s, so I would recommend going in the spring or fall if you’re not a fan of intense heat.