Spain Action & adventure, Art, Beach, Gardens & parks, Historic buildings, Historical, Lighthouse + Winter pictures

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The Catalan capital is a thriving hub for culture and art, home to spectacular buildings and famous museums.

Its grandiose colonnade and refurbished 19th-century interior make up an exquisite setting, with excellent acoustics for operatic shows and music concerts.

While Casa de Campo is a park walking on the wild side of western Madrid, its eastern counterpart, El Retiro Park, is Madrid\'s genteel, cultured take on park-life.

Armouries and pharmacies, rooms filled with fine porcelain, amazing collections of watches and silverware, and never-ending corridors graced by masterpieces.

Visit the two intriguing castles that flank this historic Spanish beach and relax on its photogenic stretch of golden sand.

Wander amid the many lanes of the historic center where interesting architecture, a leafy park and traditional apple cider await. 

An arresting façade, richly decorated chapels and the tomb of a former king make this centuries-old church one of Pamplona’s most symbolic landmarks. 

While Casa de Campo is a park walking on the wild side of western Madrid, its eastern counterpart, El Retiro Park, is Madrid\'s genteel, cultured take on park-life.

Stop by a 16th-century meeting room inside the Cathedral of Seville that is stunningly decorated with religious paintings, sculptures and reliefs.

A canal filled with boats laps around the scenic gardens at the front of this neo-Renaissance palace known as the Venice of Seville.

Note the numbers on the balconies that represent former bullring boxes. Try delicious local wine in this festive central square.

One of Gaudí’s early buildings in an icon of the city with its grand ceilings and precise artistic detail.

Consider how an old monastery was converted into a modern masterpiece and learn about customs and art in the Basque region.

A lake and a majestic fountain are among the highlights in this urban park that stands on the site of the city’s former fortress.

Marking the point where old Madrid started, this impressive gateway remains a part of Madrid\'s heritage. Wars, rebellion and assassinations have all left their mark.

This 15th-century monastery is an elaborate and imposing structure, designed to display the power and might of Spain’s Catholic monarchs. 

Armouries and pharmacies, rooms filled with fine porcelain, amazing collections of watches and silverware, and never-ending corridors graced by masterpieces.

An impressive modernist concert hall which you can look around, or maybe visit to watch a show.

Maze-like hedges, marble sculptures and colorful flower beds adorn this historic royal garden, where the palace’s stables and carriages once lay.

Cutting-edge contemporary art – and challenging pieces by Spain\'s 20th century art \'superstars\', Picasso and Dali – are among the works found in the Reina Sofía.

A canal filled with boats laps around the scenic gardens at the front of this neo-Renaissance palace known as the Venice of Seville.