Spain is one of the main tourist destinations in the world. Its wide range of tourist resources and attractions, its hotels, the friendliness of the Spanish people and a highly professional tourism industry lead 75 million international tourists to select Spain as their destination every year. The Monastery of Las Descalzas Reales resides in the former palace of King Charles I of Spain and Isabel of Portugal. The most popular Spain is among tourists from Great Britain, Italy, France, the countries of Central Europe and Scandinavia.
Two convincing arguments that Spain faces to attract international visitors are its mild and pleasant climate for a considerable part of the year in practically the entire national territory, especially the most touristic areas; and its rich gastronomy. Spain is possibly the only country in Europe that boasts and cares for its architectural relics as its nation's heritage. Join the millions of people from all over the world who have experienced the rich culture, history and all the offerings of Spain, whether short or long term, the experience is unique. The two archipelagos of Spain, the Balearic Islands off the continental coast in the Mediterranean and the volcanic Canary Islands in the Atlantic, are also popular destinations among Spaniards and Europeans.
Spain is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, as well as the Mediterranean Sea to the south and east. The northern regions offer tourists some of the best beaches in Spain, including the picturesque coastal areas of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country. The Mosque of Cordoba, the third largest mosque in the world, was created by Abd ar-Rahhman and is an excellent example of Islamic art in Spain. The authors compare the level of tourism in the 17 main regions of Spain and identify the main natural, cultural and dual attractions using a two-step cluster analysis to determine the relative importance of the three types of attractions.
Another important city of interest is Madrid, the capital, which combines a rich history with its current status as an economic, financial and service center in Spain. This is the most important physical characteristic of Spain's diverse topography, which slopes downwards from north to south and east to west. There are many tours and cooking schools available for visitors where you can learn all about Spanish cuisine and the most popular recipes. Carnival is also popular throughout Spain, but especially in the Canary Islands (Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife) and Cadiz.
The largest city in Spain and the third largest in Europe, the Spanish capital, Madrid, is the perfect choice for a short break or a quick break.
