Archive for 'Tourist Attractions in Spain'

Isla Mágica made headlines a decade ago when Tom Cruise had a real-life movie magic moment and rented out the whole theme park for a day for his daughter Suri while in the area filming the movie, “Knight and Day.” However, you don’t need to pull that kind of massive surprise or have exclusive access to enjoy this incredible place. If you have found a vacation rental in Seville or a holiday rental in Andalusia then you should set aside a day to go and play around on the rides and enjoy the thematic zones and performances whether you are amongst actual children or those that are simply always children at heart.

Córdoba is a quaint town that is a must-see and perfect day trip destination for anyone who has found a vacation rental in Andalusia and is looking for something extra special. It is one of those utterly picturesque places that feel as though one is in an entirely different world; all lush vegetation, great open piazzas, big old bridges, flowers tumbling over cast iron balconies, little winding streets lined by cast iron lamps, Moorish architectural influences, great fountains and water features, a medieval core, and more modern parts of the city. However, amongst all the lovely restaurants, places to wander with loved ones and take in your lovely surroundings, pretty views, cute shops, and much more to see and do besides, the most famous and important attraction, by far, has to be the Mezquita-Catedral, or the Great Mosque of Córdoba.

The UNESCO-awarded Great Mosque is one of the oldest structures still standing from the time that Spain was part of Islamic-ruled Al-Andalus – the Muslim Iberia that included Spain, Portugal, and a small part of Southern France and which existed up until the late 8th century – and is the city's most famous building. It is thought to have been built on the site of a former temple to the Roman god Janus and it was later made into a church by the Visigoths who took the city in 572 before being rebuilt and converted into a mosque by the Umayyads, who were an exiled Islamic dynasty who had once ruled in present-day Syria.

If you have found a vacation rental in Madrid, then a visit to the Royal Palace of Madrid is really an absolute must. The palace is one of the city's most famous, important and extraordinary landmarks and attractions and is an exquisite gem that really needs to be seen with one's own eyes. Still the official residence of the Spanish royal family, though not actually their home, it housed the Kings of Spain from Charles III to Alfonso XIII and was an important site for a large chunk of Spanish history. In addition, it is quite the looker and, all in all, shouldn't be missed if it is your first time in the city!

The site can be traced back to when the islamic ruler Emir Mohamed I chose it as the place to build a fortress to protect Toledo from the advancing Christians. Then this fortress was used by the Kings of Castille and eventually became the Antiguo Alcázar (Old Fortress) in the 14th century. Under Charles I and his son Philip II it was made a permanent residence for the Spanish royal family. In 1734, the Palace of Los Austrias was burned to the ground and a new palace was commissioned under Philip V according to designs by Filippo Juvara. When Juvara suddenly passed away, his pupil Juan Bautista Sachetti took over the project. Charles III was the first Spanish king to occupy the new building and the decorative details and schemes from frescoes to clocks to chandeliers to chairs were added by subsequent kings to create the magnificent building that exists today.

Those of you who have found a holiday rental in Valencia and are exploring this beautiful seaside city will, no doubt, find themselves at the marina at some point. If so, it is hard to miss the striking architectural gem that is Veles e Vents (meaning “Sails and Winds”). Also known as the America's Cup Building, it and its accompanying park were constructed ahead of the 2007 America’s Cup, which is the world’s premier offshore racing competition, and took place in Valencia that year. This was the first time that it had been held in Europe in over 150 years and the city had it built as a central base for the teams and sponsors, as well as spectators who were afforded excellent views of the proceedings from its excellent position overlooking the marina.

An ultramodern pristine white concrete beauty, it is a minimalist building made up of staggered horizontal platforms that was designed by David Chipperfield and Fermín Vázquez. Work was begun in 2005 and it was opened in time for the preliminary regattas, held in May and June 2006.

The Spanish city of Zaragoza is a pretty magical and beautiful place. It is over 2,000 years old, home to many an architectural gem, filled with some of the best examples of Moorish architecture outside of Andalusia, houses the richest selection of works by Goya, boasts a delicious cuisine, and is home to, not one, but two great cathedrals: the Basílicade Nuestra Señora del Pilar and the Catedral del Salvador de Zaragoza, which both share co-cathedral status in metropolitan Zaragoza. The latter of these two is a fascinating blend of architectural styles and periods and is one of the finest buildings in all of Spain. If you have found a vacation rental in Catalonia or a holiday rental in Valencia and are thinking about spending a day exploring the extraordinary city of Zaragoza, this characteristic building is one of the must-see stops to pencil into your itinerary.