Spain, April 2014

[motion]

After 3 years of fence wavering, the wife and I are finally headed to Spain next week. We'll arrive in Madrid for 2 nights, then head south to the Alicante area and start working our way up the coast to France in our rental car. We're planning on dipping our toes into France, then heading back to Madrid. We have only 5 days to work with. Focus is on wine, food and architecture, in that order

Paco, if you're around and want to meet for a few hours, hit me up!

Any other suggestions of what to hit/miss, are welcome, considering our abbreviated schedule. I am really looking forward to this trip, after my recent China, Peru and Chile trips. The refinement and history of Europe will be very welcome!

[stuartj]

You lucky lucky bastard. Valencia. But no Barcelona? If you want architecture- the Gaudi Sagrada Família and Park Guell- two absolute highlights of Spain- imho. The catherdral blew my mind.

[Noah930]

I loved visiting Toledo (not Ohio). Small town a short drive outside of Madrid. Tons of history. The whole place is a postcard. I don't think your drive will take you by Seville, but I was fascinated by that city, as well.

Whatever you do, have a great time!

[look 171]

My girlfriend, now wife visited Spain. Our plan was to spend some a day or two here and there bumming around the country (side). We ended up staying at Segovia for a week since we had no schedule. The slower pace and the romance of old towns kept us around for a bit. Like Noah said, Seville was also another place we like very much.

[imcarthur]

Alhambra. Find a day for Granada to see this.

Ian

[imcarthur]

And in Madrid, Reina Sofia for Guernica. Calle(?) Baja for food.

Ian

[HardDrive]

Toured Spain with a friend of mine after we got out of college. Holy hell. Good times.

[Evans, Marv]

Love Spain, one of my favorites. If you're going to make it up the eastern coast into southern France, you might consider Carcasonne and the Camargue area. I was thoroughly fascinated by the fortified, medieval city in Carcassone(since you want architecture - don't know if you want old architecture). For a natural attraction, you might like the Camargue area. There was some great seafood there. They aren't too far & may fit into your time frame.

[masraum]

I've not been to the part of Spain where you will be, but where I visited was absolutely amazing. Enjoy!

[HarryD]

Was in Barcelona last year for about 5 days. Great city, lots of fun and good sights. Stayed at the Hotel Cool International on the Ramblas. Would do it again in a heartbeat.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

Alhambra. Find a day for Granada to see this.

Ian

+1 I was totally fascinated by how the fountains are "powered" by reservoirs many miles and mountains away.

[Paco Anton]

Originally Posted by motion

We'll arrive in Madrid for 2 nights, then head south to the Alicante area and start working our way up the coast to France in our rental car....

Paco, if you're around and want to meet for a few hours, hit me up!

Sure!!!! Let me know your schedule and we will work out something.

If you want to focus on wine and food I would suggest changing your route and going straight north from Madrid to the "La Rioja" region where the best wineries are located and you can tour them and sample their products. Then continue north to San Sebastian for amazing food.

If you are set on your your route, then considering the following:

- In Madrid for a quick visit definitely visit the big three museums: Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofia (in order of importance) and walk the center
- There is nothing really interesting between Madrid and Alicante
- In Alicante you can visit the Santa Barbara Castle and maybe walk the old town and the main street in front of the sea (My family owns a house there, not much sightseeing to do). Consider skipping Alicante and go directly to Valencia so you have more time for Barcelona
- Go north and spend a day in Valencia and walk the old town. Eat a Paella.
- Go north and maybe stop at Peñiscola for a great walled medieval city. Then continue straight to Barcelona. Great sightseeing, walk the Ramblas, the Gothic quater, see some Gaudi buildings, etc.
- When going north from Barcelona consider visiting Cadaques where Dali used to live
- Try to make it to Carcasonne in France. Definitely worth it
- On the way back to Madrid stop at Zaragoza for the Cathedral

I am PMing you my email so we can discuss your plans.

[HarryD]

Pack. Sounds like a nice tour. I will be seeing my daughter in few weeks. Plans are Madrid, Toledo, Seville, Grenada and back to Madrid. Will have a car so we can wander a bit.

[creaturecat]

I just purchased a motorcycle in the UK(750 Super Tenere), going to ride Portugal, Spain and France in May.
Morocco sure is tempting......

[MFAFF]

Sounds like a fun trip..

Barcelona is a 'must see'...
I'm sure Paco can give you more details.. but a few top sights..

Picasso Museum in the Gothic Quarter..
Mies van der Rohe's 1929 Barcelona Pavilion...re-constructed in 1986.. one of the seminal buildings of all time...
Gaudi's Parc Guell, Casa Batillo and cathedral..you might also see if you can find the 'Dragon Gate'...a fantastic wrought iron and cast iron gate to one of the properties near the Parc Guell,

Also if you head out a little to the west go to the top of Torre del Collserolla, great views.. its also a great building....

[FLYGEEZER]

Spain is one of very few places on earth that I really love. Have a great vacation!

[motion]

Thanks all! Lots of useful information here, and we have already altered plans based on your input.

We'll be driving from Madrid to Valencia, then north to Barcelona, then to Marseille, across southern France to Toulouse, then down to San Sebastian & Santander, then return to Madrid. The distances are not too great, but taking country roads will make for full days.

I would like to make it down to Marbella, but I think its just too far south given our time restraints. I hope I'm not making a mistake missing it. I hear its mostly expat UK and Germans who have taken away a bit of the character of the coast?

Anyone have experience with the govt-run castle/hotel program? We'd like to stay a night or 2 in castles, so looking for some input there.

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by motion

Anyone have experience with the govt-run castle/hotel program? We'd like to stay a night or 2 in castles, so looking for some input there.

They are called Paradors. Think of them as 3 Star Hotels in some terrific buildings. We stayed in Paradors in Jaen (rebuilt fortress on a hilltop), Granada (15th C convent in the Alhambra grounds) & Almagro (another convent 16th C). All were unique & really cool. The attached restaurants were good as well. Easy to book through their website.

Ian

[Evans, Marv]

Stayed in several paradores years ago when traveling around Spain. My all time favorite was the Parador de Alarcon southeast of Madrid, between Madrid and Valencia. We were going by on the highway, saw the parador, and decided to stop to see if they had a vacancy. Luckily enough they did. It was one of the few places I've been that truly felt like being back in time.

[Paco Anton]

There is a nice map of the Paradores in Ian's link. The Paradores along the east coast in your route are not that great or historically significant. The best are the ones on your way back to Madrid from San Sebastian.

Check out Santo Domingo de la Calzada: "The hotel occupies a former 12th-century hospital near the cathedral, erected by St. Dominic to take in pilgrims traveling on the Way of St. James."



and Siguenza: "The Parador de Sigüenza is an imposing medieval castle situated in an Arab fortress built atop a Roman settlement"