Laredo is located on the Cantabrian Coast, between the River Treto and the Bay of Santona.
 

Laredo

The town is divided into three different areas.
The old village consists of small streets with large stately homes which date from the 16th-18th century. This area was declared a Historic-Artistic Site in 1970. Also in this area you will find the gothic parish church of Santa Maria de la Asuncion which is home to a fantastic Flemish reredos.
The second area stretches to Plaza de Carlos V and is the commercial and administrative centre.
The third area stretches between Plaza de Carlos V and El Puntal. Here you will find three avenues which run parallel to each other and are flanked by the town’s two beaches.

La Batalla de Flores

Laredo is well known for its festivals, especially La Batalla de Flores (the battle of the flowers) which takes place on the last Friday of August. During this festival large floats, covered with flowers and petals, parade along the main streets of Laredo. It is tradition for a group of men to parade a large sardine through the town at the end of the festivities. This is called Entierro de la Sardina (burial of the sardine) as the sardine is eventually burned on the sand after a firework display.

Laredo beaches

BEACHES

Regaton
This golden, sandy beach is located at the tidal inlet of Treto and has very calm waters. At the end of the beach, beside the Puntal del Pasaje, there is a marina and a campsite.

Los Barcos
Located at the entrance to the Cape Quejo estuary, Los Barcos beach has golden sands, calm waters and sand dunes. Here you can hire pedaloes and there are four campsites in close proximity to the beach.

La Salve (Laredo Beach)
This sandy beach is ideal for surfing and windsurfing as the waters are less calm than at the other beaches in Laredo. Here you will find a long promenade that goes up to the Puntal del Pasaje where nudism is common place.

Cala de Tunel
This is a gravel beach with moderate waters and gets its name from the pedestrian tunnel that you have to go through to reach it (from Menendez Pelayo Street). Here you will find a nice viewing point offering wonderful views of the Cantabrian Coast.

For a relaxed break to Spain there are many cheap holidays available throughout the internet.

With one of the many last minute holiday deals on offer you can enjoy a really good holiday with the family to the ever popular country of Spain.

For more information on Spain and to view my latest articles please visit my Spain Blog.

Looking for a holiday full of fun, entertainment, nightlife, fantastic beaches and lots lots more?
Then look no further than the Spanish tourist resort of Benidorm. With thousands of cheap holidays on offer throughout the internet, you can’t go wrong.

I have just come across this interesting and informative destination guide to Benidorm which i think will sway you towards visiting this fun-filled Mediterranean coastal destination.

There is plenty to do for the whole family during the day, including the fine sandy beaches with watersports, theme parks, aquaparks and safari parks.
At night the resort bursts into life with it’s many clubs, discos, bars and entertainment venues.

Trevor Butler set up his first ‘travel’ related business in 2004 and has written many other destination articles with tips and information. I have found these articles both interesting and helpful, hope you do too.

Located in central Spain, 70kms south of Madrid, Toledo is steeped in history and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The city stands on a granite hill surrounded on three sides by the Tagus River.

SIGHTS TO SEE

The Alcazar Fortress
Located in the highest part of town, overlooking the city. Built in the 16th century, burned down by the French in 1810 and restored as a military college in 1882. It is now home to a museum on the Civil War.

Castillo de San Servando
A medieval castle next to the banks of the Tagus river and was originally built as a monestary in 1088. In 1874 it was named a national monument.

The Gothic Cathedral
Dating from the 13th century, the cathedral is considered one of the greatest Gothic structures in Europe. The cathedral is home to a spectacular baroque high altar and paintings by El Greco.

Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes
Founded by King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile to commemorate their victory at the Battle of Toro (1476) over the army of Afonso V of Portugal.

Santa Maria la Blanca
The oldest synagogue building in Europe still standing, now owned by the Catholic Church. Located in the old Jewish quarter of Toledo, the synagogue was built at the end of the 12th century and was converted into a church of the Order of Calatrava at the start of the 15th century.

Synagogue de el Transito
Founded by Samuel ha-Levi in 1356, the synagogue became a church in 1492 after the expulsion of the Jews from the city. Today it is part of the Sephardi Museum which explores the Jewish culture of Medieval Toledo.

Church of Santiago del Arrabal
Dating back to the 12th century the church is built in the Mudejar style. The church is home to a beautiful wooden ceiling and an ornate gothic Mudejar pulpit.

Mezquita del Cristo de la Luz
Dating back to the 10th century, this small former mosque is located in a park above the northen ramparts of the city. It is the only surviving mosque in Toledo.

Museo de El Greco
This is a house-museum which was designed as a recreation of the artist’s home and is home to several important paintings.

Iglesia de Santo Tome
Santo Tome was built in the 14th century in the Mudejar style and is home to El Greco’s famous painting The Burial of Count Orgaz.

Church of San Roman
This 13th century Mudejar church is home to the Museum of the Councils and Visigoth culture.

The Renaissance Museo-Hospital de Santa Cruz
Built in the 16th century as a hospital, it is now a museum housing paintings by El Greco, Zurbaran and Ribera.

The above are just a few of the historic sights to see when you visit Toledo. There are always cheap holidays available to Spain, why not take advantage and visit Toledo whilst holidaying in Spain, you won’t be disappointed!

For more information on Spain and to view my latest articles please visit my Spain Blog.

The city and port of Cadiz is located on a peninsula in southwestern Spain, close to Seville.

Port of Cadiz

Cadiz is the port for ferries running between mainland Spain and the Canary Islands and is a popular stop for many cruise ships.
The older part of Cadiz (within the ruins of the city wall) is referred to as Casco Antiguo (the Old City) and has different barrios (quarters), including El Populo, La Vina and Santa Maria.
The western shore of Cadiz is ‘guarded’ by two forts, Santa Catalina and San Sebastion.
Cadiz is the home of the University of Cadiz and also the home port of the Spanish Navy.

BEACHES

Because Cadiz is almost completely surrounded by water, it has some of the best beaches in Spain.

Caleta Beach

Caleta Beach

Situated close to the La Vina area, this is the most popular beach in Cadiz. 50 metres wide and 450 metres long, Caleta Beach was awarded it’s first white flag 10 years ago.
Caleta beach was featured in the James Bond film Die Another Day.

Victoria Beach

Another white flag beach, 185 metres wide and 2500 metres long. This is a beautiful beach complete with a sports area, loungers and parasols. Victoria Beach has a lovely promenade that stretches from one end of the city to the other.

Santa Maria del Mar Beach

Santa Maria del Mar Beach

This beach is situated at the most northern part of the city, between Caleta Beach and Victoria Beach, and is just 400 metres long.

La Cortadura Beach

At 4000 metres long and 60 metres wide, this is the largest beach in Cadiz, situated between Torregorda and Cortadura. This beach has been awarded seven blue flags.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Cathedral Nueva

Cathedral Nueva

This 18th century cathedral has a magnificent dome covered in golden tiles.
If you stand in the middle of the lower floor and make a noise, the echo heard will be amazing.
The tomb of Manuel de Falla, a Cadiz musician, lies in the crypt and there is an impressive collection of church treasures to be viewed.

The Fine Arts and Archaeology Museum

Situated over three floors, this museum is home to collections of amphorae, jewellery and glassware on the first floor in the Archaeology Museum, a Rubens painting and a collection by Zurbaran in the Fine Arts Museum on the second floor, and a collection of puppets on the third floor.

Oratorio De Santa Cruz

This church consists of two parts. The 18th century chapel is sparce, with just a sculpture of a crucifix but the upper floor is decorated with Goya paintings showing the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes, the Guest at the Wedding and the Last Supper.

Museo Historico Municipal

Here you can view a mahogany and ivory model of the city of Cadiz, dating back to 1779.

Torre Tavira

Torre Tavira

In the 18th century Cadiz had 160 towers overlooking it’s harbours. This watchtower is the cities highest, offering excellent views across the city.

CLIMATE

Cadiz experiences a mix of Atlantic and Meiterranean weather, mild and moderate all year, with more than 300 days of sunshine a year.
From April to September temperatures are around 25C to 28C but this drops dramatically during the winter evenings.

Cheap holidays to Cadiz are always available throughout the internet.

Located on the Costa Dorada, on the east coast of Spain, Salou is the most popular resort for direct holidays in the area.
Salou is situated 7 miles south of Tarragona and 69 miles southwest of Barcelona.

Salou beach

The main attraction here is the long golden beach and the PortAventura theme park, one of the biggest in Europe.

The wide long sandy beach of Playa Levante is seperated from the town by a wide palm-lined promenade, complete with illuminated dancing fountains, and has most watersports on offer.
To the east of Playa Levante is Playa de Capellans and to the west is Playa Poniente which is a much quieter beach than Playa Levante.

PortAventura-Dragon Khan

PortAventura is situated just a mile from Salou and has thrilling rides and spectacular evening shows. There is also a great waterpark on site, the Costa Caribe.
There are also cheaper rides for at the Salou funfair and there is the Aquopolis waterpark, which also has a dolphin show, at the neighbouring resort of La Pineda.

Tarragona, about 7 miles north of Salou, has great medieval and Roman remains, and one of the finest cathedrals in Spain. The Roman relics here include an amphitheatre and the Roman Praetorium which is the birthplace of Pontius Pilate. Just outside of the town is the 712ft Pont del Diable (Devils Bridge) aqueduct.

Tarragona-Amphitheatre

CLIMATE

Between May and October the average daily temperature never falls below 20C and reaches above 30C in July and August.
The best time to visit is in late May or in June when the average daily temperature is between 22C and 26C, not only is the temperature more bearable but the resort is also less crowded. In September and October the average daily temperature is between 22C and 25C, and in early May between 20C and 22C, these are the 3 months that receive the most rainfall. The winters in Salou are very mild.

The resort of Benalmadena lies 15kms south west of Malaga airport between between the resorts of Fuengirola and Torremolinos on the Costa del Sol.

Paseo Maritimo

The Paseo Maritimo (promenade) stretches the length of the resort, and with a small break at Benalmadena’s world class Puerto Marina, and continues on to the neighbouring resort of Torremolinos.

The Arabian style Puerto Marina is the resorts centrepiece, housing over one thousand moorings, restaurants, bars, shops and discos.

 
In Avenida Garcia Lorca you will find an indoor swimming pool and the Costa del Sol’s only real ice skating rink.

Malapesquera

BEACHES
Benalmadena has sixteen sandy beaches, Malapesquera, Malapesca, Torre Bermeja, Santa Ana, Bil-Bil, Arroyo de la Miel, Torrevigia, Torrequebrada, Las Yucas, Las Viborillas, Arroyo Hondo, Torremuelle, La Perla, La Morera, Tajo de la Soga and Carvajal These beaches stretch for 9kms from the Puerto Marina to the village of Carvajal.

THINGS TO DO AND SEE

Benalmadena Sealife Centre
The sealife centre is situated right in the port area. Exhibited here is sea life found in the Mediterranean. There is a walk-through Lost City of Atlantis with sealife swimming all around you. There are over 30 displays and Europes largest collection of sharks. Visitors to the centre also have the opportunity to touch and feed some of the fish. Most of the centre is indoors, with an outside mini golf course.

Paloma Park

Paloma Park
Rabbits, peacocks and other wildlife roam free in Paloma Park, which also has a large lake,childrens playgrounds and cafes. The park is also home to a cactus garden which has species from all over the world.

 
Tivoli World
The Tivoli World amusement park is split into different areas, the main ares being Andalucia with live Spanish music and dance, Western Square with live country music and dance and Tivolilandia with children’s rides. The 3500 seat theatre here features a variety of events throughout the year. There are also restaurants, cafes and bars in the park.

Teleferico

Teleferico (Cable Car)
The lower entrance to the cable car is located opposite the entrance to Tivoli World. The eight minute journey offers wonderful views across Benalmadena and the coast and on a clear day you can see the coast of North Africa. At the top of Monte Callamorro there are birds of prey exhibitions, featuring vultures, eagles, owls and falcons.

 
Benalmadena Stupa
This is a Buddhist temple on the main road from Benalmadena Pubelo to Mijas. This amazing building is lit up at night and can be seen for miles around.

 
Casino
Benalmadena’s casino is located within the five star Torrequebrada Hotel which overlooks the sea, just a few kilometres west of Benalmedena Costa. The hotel has an excellent restaurant which is open in the evenings, and a garden side restarant which is open at lunchtime.

 
Bil-Bil Castle
Concerts and exhibitions are held in this arabian style building which is situated above Bil-Bil beach.

 
Boat Trips
Regular boat trips run from Benalmadena Marina to Fuengirola. The trip takes sixty minutes each way and run all year.

WEATHER
With around 300 days of sunshine and an average annual temperature of 18C, Benalmadena is the perfect all year round destination for those bargain holidays. Temperatures can reach the mid 20′s in January and February and in July and August daytime temperatures often rise above 40C.
The sea temperature from July through to October averages 20C, with the average for the rest of the year 15C.

The Costa Brava (Wild Coast) is a 160 km stretch of beautiful, rugged coastline in Catalonia region, in the north east corner of Spain. The Costa Brava stretches from Blanes, north of Barcelona, to Roses near the French border.

Costa Brava

Not only does the Costa Brava have many beautiful beaches, it also has unspoilt fishing villages, sheltered rocky coves and medieval towns complete with ancient castles, making it a favourite choice for holidays since the 1960′s.

The regional capital of Barcelona is home to the Pablo Picasso museum, Olympic village and world-famous La Rambla boulevard.
The Salvador Dali museum at Figueres is a popular tourist attraction, along with the Benedictine Monastery at Montserrat, which is located high on

Benedictine Monastery Montserrat

 some extraordinary rock formations in the mountains to the north west of Barcelona.

Popular with families is Europe’s biggest water park which is found just outside Lloret de Mar and the Marineland complex near Blanes, with its dolphin, sea lion and parrot shows, water slides, reptile house and children’s zoo.

The old fishing port of Roses is the biggest resort on the northern stretch of the Costa Brava, located 30 kms from the French border. It is situated at the north eastern end of the wide, sweeping Bay of Roses.

Cadaques street

Cadaques is just a short drive north of Roses and is one of the most unspoilt spots on the whole of this coastal stretch.

South of Roses is the resort of Estartit where you will find a traditional Spanish fishing harbour and a modern yacht marina. This is a fairly quiet resort, overlooking the archipelago of seven Medes Islands which is one of the most important nature and marine reserves in the western Mediterranean.

The next resort to the south is Tossa de Mar. The Hollywood film ‘The Flying Dutchman’, starring Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra, was shot here in the 50′s. A statue of the actress was erected in the old town in honour of her stay here.

Villa Vella

This part of the coastline has 14 kms of tourist beaches and coves and also an historic old quarter, the Villa Vella, with its ancient defence walls and towers still in tact.

The popular beach resort of Blanes is the southernmost point of the Costa Brava, although the resorts of Santa Susanna and Calella, to the south of Blanes, are often referred to as part of the Costa Brava but they are actually part of the Costa Maresme.

CLIMATE
The average temperature on the Costa Brava is around 22C, with temperatures in the summer months often reaching 30C, with up to 12 hours of sunshine a day. During the peak season (July and August) the weather is hot and humid. The best time to visit is in May or June when the temperature is around 23C and there are fewer visitors. During the winter there is still an average 6 hours sunshine a day, although the temperatures drop to 16C.

Valencia, often referred to as the ‘New Barcelona’, lies on the Mediterranean coast, about 350kms south of Barcelona.

Valencia

Valencia is fast becoming a major competitor in the Spanish Tourism market.

The Valencia climate tends to be mild all year round, with an average temperature of 18C and 300 days of sunshine a year.

BEACHES

The city’s main beach, the Malvarrosa, is about a 10 minute tram or bus ride from the city centre. There are lots of restaurants and bars here on the Malvarrosa and also at Las Arenas beachfront. Patagona beach is a more secluded beach, stretching northwards from Cabanyal to Port Saplaya. The Paseo Neptuno, the Golden Mile of restaurants, is the place to go to try Valencia’s famous Paella.
There are plenty of beach activities on offer on the beaches of Valencia. 

THINGS TO DO AND SEE

L'Hemisferic

L’Hemisferic
This is a planetarium with a huge IMAX cinema showing science and geography related documentaries.

L’Oceanografic
This is Europe’s largest state-of the-art marine park, with lagoons, a dolphinarium, large-scale aquaria and walk through tunnels with sharks and other sea creatures swimming around you.

Bioparc Valencia
With over 4,000 animals from Africa, South-East Asia and the Tropics, you can see these animals in their natural habitats.

La Lonja

La Lonja
This fascinating gothic 15th century silk exchange is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

La Seu Cathedral
Built between 1262 and 1426, this cathedral is home to the Cup of the Holy Grail and other treasures. The Torre del Miguelet (bell tower) offers magnificent views across the city.

Mercado Central (Market)
This brick and iron monument was built in the 1920′s and is home to over 1,000 stalls selling all sorts of merchandise.

Museu de Belles Artes (Fine Arts Museum)
This is one of the largest fine arts museums in Spain, after the Prado. The ancient and modern galleries here feature works by many of Spain’s greatest painters.

Museo de las Ciencias Principe Felipe
Here you will find exhibitions of all the latest in high technology.

Museu San Pío
Here you can see works by Velazquez, Goya, Bosch, Morales, El Greco, Ribera, Murillo, and Sorolla.

Palacio de las Artes
The Palacio de las Artes consists of auditoriums for the performance of plays, opera, and music in conjunction with all the latest technology.

Valencian Institute of Modern Art
This is one of the most important 20th century art museums in Spain, with a permanent collection and temporary exhibitions.

The Costa Blanca, with its wonderful beaches attracts millions of tourists every year.

The Costa Blanca or White Coast extends along the eastern Mediterranean coastline of Spain for about 200kms and covers the province of Alicante.

Denia

To the north it includes the popular resorts of Gandia, Javea and Denia and to the south it extends to Torrevieja.  To the north of Denia is the Costa del Azahar and to the south of Torrevieja is the Costa Calida.

The Costa Blanca is not as cold or wet in the winter as the Costa Brava (to the north of the Costa Blanca), nor is it as humid or hot in the summer as the Costa del Sol (to the south of the Costa Blanca). In the winter months the Costa Blanca is lucky enough to have nearly as many sunny days as in the summertime.

The Costa Blanca is famous for its tourism. The towns along the coast were originally tiny fishing villages but have now been developed into major tourist attractions for those seeking fantastic beach holidays.

The Costa Blanca has over 100 kms of sandy beaches and rocky coves and many of the beaches have the coveted European Blue Flag signifying cleanliness and safe bathing.

In the north the costa blanca starts with Denia and Javea, both beautiful towns at the bottom of a mountain. The northern Costa Blanca is typically mountainous with cliffs and coves, a mixture of pebble beaches and fine sandy beaches. North of Altea it is surprisingly very green and lush.

Torrevieja

In the south the costa blanca goes down to Guardamar and Torrevieja, and includes the wonderful city of Elche, the palm tree capital of the world. The southern Costa Blanca is mostly flat with fine sandy beaches, palm trees and salt lakes.

There are lots of attractions along the Costa Blanca, including the theme park Terra Mitica at Benidorm. For pure relaxation there are the beautiful bays of Altea and Calpe. Villajoyosa, just south of Benidorm, is famous for its old town and its chocolate.

Terra Mitica

WEATHER
Because the weather and climate on the Costa Blanca is so hot and reliable, the Costa Blanca has become a world-renowned tourist destination for sun lovers. The Costa Blanca enjoys approximately 325 sunny days each year.

The weather in summer on the Costa Blanca is typically very hot with very little to no rainfall. Summer temperatures in most Costa Blanca towns will reach between 25C to 35C during the day. Temperatures on the Costa Blanca rarely drop below 15C.

In August the weather on the Costa Blanca can be almost unbearably hot with some days reaching 40C. Fortunately if you are on the Costa Blanca coast you will most likely have cooling sea breezes.

Málaga airport is used by millions of holidaymakers as the gateway to Spain’s most commercialised coastline with the ‘super resorts’ of Torremolinos and Marbella, just a few miles west. Direct holidays to Málaga are available throughout the internet.

Malaga harbour

Málaga has a busy commercial port, bars and restaurants where local food and language are the norm, and Malagueños going about their daily business. If you want to spend your holidays in a typically Spanish city, Málaga is the place for you.

Since the turn of the century Málaga has been a city in transition, with an increase in building projects, new hotels and an increasing number of high quality ‘Spanish-cosmopolitan’ restaurants, cafes and bars.

KEY FACTS
Location – Province of Andalucía, on Spain’s southern coastline.
Time zone – GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
Average January temperatures – 17°C (62.5°F).
Average July temperatures – 29°C (84°F).
Annual rainfall – 9 inches.
Currency – Euro.

SIGHTSEEING

Plaza de Toros bullring

The Old Town, which contains the vast majority of Málaga’s sights, is bordered to the west by the Río Guadalmedina, south by the port and east by the Castillo de Gibralfaro and Plaza de Toros (bull ring). To the north the border is regarded as Calle Carreteria, though beyond the Plaza de la Merced there is little of interest with the exception of the Santuario de la Victoria church.

The main east-west axis is along the attractive boulevard of Alameda Principal/Paseo del Parque. The Paseo del Parque is lined with tall palms and botanical gardens.

ATTRACTIONS

Pablo Picasso

Picasso Museum
Pablo Picasso was born in Málaga in 1881. A collection of around 160 of his works is housed in a 16th-century Andalucian palace. It includes paintings, drawings, sculptures and ceramics from his earliest works up to the 1970s and is notable for the portrayal of the women and children in the artist’s life.

Catedral
Built between the 16th and the 18th centuries (but still unfinished), Málaga’s cathedral is an impressive soaring structure, with carved choir stalls and two organs.

Opposite the Catedral is the imposing Bishop’s Palace which stages art exhibitions.

Plaza de la Merced

Plaza de la Merced
This is Málaga’s liveliest square, lined with bars, cafes and restaurants. It is home to the Fundación Picasso Museo Casa Natal, the artist’s birthplace, and now a small museum.

Alcazaba
This mini-Alhambra, with its horseshoe arches and geometric Islamic decoration, was the palace-fortress of the city’s Moorish rulers. It was built mostly in the 11th century, hugging the hillside with fascinating terraced gardens (best viewed from the fountain on Paseo del Parque) and a Roman amphitheatre below.

Castillo de Gibralfaro
Málaga’s highest ground is occupied by the crenellated walls and towers of this 14th-century fortress built to defend the Alcazaba immediately below. It has a small museum, pretty gardens and wonderful views.

Museo Unicaja de Artes Populares
Set in a charming 17th-century house, this museum is full of colourful displays of ordinary Andalucian life from the last three centuries, including farming, wine, fashion, bullfighting, ceramics and fishing.

Centro de Arte Contemporáneo (CAC)
This gleaming white space, set in a former warehouse, has a small permanent collection of contemporary art.

MALAGA AT NIGHT

Calle de Bruselas

Málaga is a buzzing city at night, with most of the action taking place around the Plaza del Merced and Plaza Uncibay, where the city’s most popular bars are located. Calle de Bruselas in the Plaza del Merced is one of a row of six trendy bars and cafes with terraces spilling onto the square. El Pimpi is a very traditional but lively warren-like bodega.

In summer at the weekends and holidays there is also a lively young beach nightlife scene at Malagueta and Pedragalejo.

Good clubs include Karma and Casanova, with the latter attracting an older, more mature crowd.

The biggest and best live venue is the Sala Vivero, near the airport, which has an eclectic policy, from rock and blues to hip hop.

Flamenco is a passion in Southern Spain. Regular shows are held at Restaurante Mesón ‘La Mesonera’ and at Vista Andalucia, near the airport.

Jazz fans will enjoy Onda Passadena and Ragtime. Both venues also feature flamenco nights.