Spain isn’t exactly an underrated tourist destination. It’s one of the most popular holiday spots on the planet, a vast country as famed for its buzzy cities filled with food, drink and culture as it is known for its sun-soaked beaches and coastal towns. No matter what kind of traveller you are, Spain no doubt has plenty of appeal.
And yet so much of Spain still, humancareproductsllc.com somehow, manages to fly under the radar. Between the mainland and the Canary Islands you’ll find a vast, vast range of landforms and man-made marvels, from rugged volcanoes and blustery coastlines to ancient human settlements and cutting-edge art complexes. Plenty of Spain’s most dazzling sights have to be seen to be believed. Here are those that are most worth your eyes: Spain’s eight most spectacular sights.
Where: Lanzarote
Timanfaya is different from those natural parks where you can’t tell exactly where they start and where they end. An expanse of dark, rugged terrain with no vegetation, the singular landscape here has an almost extraterrestrial look and feel. This is the magic that was uncovered after the area’s volcanoes erupted in the late nineteenth century, spewing lava and devastating Lanzarote for several days. Timanfaya was born out of that event, creating the island’s only national geological park and a true natural wonder. The temperature is a sizzling 400ºC just four metres below ground – and park staff are on hand to demonstrate the speed at which water evaporates when poured into a hole.
Where: Basque Country
The Basque Country is gorgeous, from Irún to Getxo. It’s a region characterised by its greenery, miles of sandy beaches, spectacular cuisine and some pretty epic sights. See for yourself in San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, a small island connected to the mainland by a 241-step zigzag path and crowned by an eleventh-century stone castle (the literal translation of ‘Gaztelugatxe’ is ‘stone castle’). And when we say ‘epic’, we’re not exaggerating: San Juan de Gaztelugatxe played the role of the fortress of Dragonstone in the seventh season of Game of Thrones.
Where: Huelva
Doñana National Park is a 68,236-hectare space created 50 years ago and later declared a Unesco World Heritage Site. It’s a preserve of ever-changing land and untamed vegetation – dunes, marshes, beaches – where you can discover local fauna in its native habitat. Above all, it’s a haven for birds, who stop here before migrating to warmer lands. On its outskirts, you’ll find picturesque hamlets like Almonte, which fills up in June with believers making the pilgrimage to the El Rocío hermitage. The organised routes allow you to get to the most important settlements in Doñana, though you can also explore them on your own.
Where: Mallorca
Yet another World Heritage Site, crowned as such in 2011, is Serra de Tramuntana. This vast, mountainous area of Mallorca stretches from the island of Sa Dragonera to the cape of Formentor, boasting dramatic sunsets, formidable cliffs and heaps of history. The region has historically drawn artists and writers: British poet Robert Graves lived here (in Deià); Serra de Tramuntana also inspired the likes of Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío, Spanish painter Santiago Rusiñol and Catalan painter Anglada Camarasa. Our tip? Take the tram from Puerto de Sóller, get off at Cala Deià and visit the Cartuja de Valldemossa, to devour crispy ‘coca’ bread with potato.
Where: Soria
The whole region of Soria is a natural wonderland, but the Laguna Negra – which you can get to by car or bus from the town of Vinuesa – has to be one of its most beautiful spots. Its name translates literally to ‘Black Lagoon’, and legend says that the body of water is bottomless, linking with the sea through a series of caves. The lagoon is flanked by rock walls, formed by ice that has eroded over thousands and thousands of years, and the surrounding forests are perfect for hiking. Visit in spring or autumn, taking in the seasonal splendour of the lagoon by walking the wooden pathways along the shore.
