Spain has been continuously occupied since before records could be kept. The country offers a fabulous climate with stunning coastlines; this, coupled with over 40 UNESCO World heritage sites, make it very easy to understand why so many visitors flock to this beautiful temperate country; 45 to 57 million visitors per year.
Thoughts of Spain call up images of brave bull-fights, exotic flamenco dancers and golden sands, and the real thing does not disappoint. The country has so much more to offer though, and it would be a shame to simply pigeon-hole Spain as being a place to go for a beach holiday only. Archaeological discoveries are taking place all the time as researchers discover more about the history of this already well-documented place; researchers at the site at Atapuerca are currently working on human remains and fossils believed to be a million years old. More prehistoric artifacts are the Upper Palaeolithic cave paintings found at the Cave of Altamira at Santillana del Mar, a series of seventeen or so chambers. The caves are deep and isolated which means the paintings are well protected from the elements, which has enabled the paintings to survive for so long; they are believed to date from anywhere between 35000 BC to 11000BC.
It is not all about prehistoric sites in Spain, there are examples of architectural from almost every major influence over the past 20 centuries and more. The many works of Antoni Gaudi are well worth the study, his style of architecture falls broadly into the Modernist style, but each building is uniquely individual. Many examples can be found in the ancient city of Barcelona. The country as a whole offers examples and influences of Northern Gothic, Roman, Moorish (Islamic) and Italian Renaissance architecture and culture, demonstrating how the country absorbed and kept the best of its various masters throughout the ages.
Cordoba is another town that repays a visit, the magnificent Roman Catholic Cathedral which was converted from the Great Mosque of Cordoba in the 13th Century by Ferdinand III is just one example that demonstrates the tumultuous past of this passionate country.
Given the truly enormous range of architecture, natural beauty and tourist attractions that can be found in modern Spain it would seem impossible to enjoy a full experience of the country. A self drive holiday will allow visitors to travel from the Tower of Hercules in the North West to South-Eastern Granada or Mont Perdu in the North and the wonders of Donana National Park in the South. This type of leisurely ramble through the country will definitely allow time for visitors to appreciate the friendly locals and international standard cuisine while exploring facets of the country unknown by many.
