Known for Flamenco music and Costas, Spain is also one of the cultural centres of Europe. Both a meeting place and a battleground for past civilizations, it is home to a myriad of pre-historical, Classical, Moorish and Christian sites, which sit alongside its often daring futuristic architecture. Then there are the famous artists who made Spain their home such as Velázquez and Goya, whose work is on show at venues such as the Museo del Prado, a building which is a masterpiece in itself.
The mainland mountain ranges, such as the Pyrenees and the Sierra Nevada, are perfect for skiing or trekking while the east coast mainland, bound by the Mediterranean, is home to fantastic beaches. The Balearics offer either a party lifestyle or a true chance to get away from it all. This mix of chaos and calm is probably best illustrated in Mallorca, the largest island in the Balearic's archipelago, with its usual cocktail of sun, sand, sea, topped off with an amazing nightlife in the east compared to tiny villages, deserted beaches and soaring mountain peaks in the north-west.
With all of this on offer, it is easy to see why Spain is one of the most popular destinations in the world.
