The capital of the Bajo Aragon district of eastern Aragon, the town of Alcaniz stands on the banks of the Guadalope river, some 430 kilometres from the countries capital Madrid. Overlooked by its castle which was formerly the HQ of the Order of Calatrava, Alcaniz has a population of 16,392, and a history going back to the Moorish occupation. It suffered various conflicts before finally being taken from muslim control in 1179, by Alfonso II of Aragon. Places to visit in Alcaniz include the Santa Maria la Mayor church, the town hall, the Lonja and the castle which has now been turned into a parador (hotel). Alcaniz can be reached from the N-232, between Hijar and Monroyo, 120 km from Zaragoza, the regional capital.
October 25, 2010
October 22, 2010
Daroca Aragon
Located to the south of Zaragoza, the town of Daroca has a population of around 2,000 and is mostly famous for its medieval walls, which stretch for over four kilometres and formerly has a staggering 114 fortified towers. You still enter the town through its 2 ancient portals, and inside you will find some fine Mudejar architecture. Places worth visiting in Daroca include the Iglesia de Santa Maria, the Iglesia de San Miguel, the Puerta Alta and Puerta Baja gateways, the Iglesia de Santo Domingo and the Fountain of Twenty Pipes. Daroca is about thirty eight kilometres from Calatayud.
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Tarazona Aragon
Situated in the valley of the River Queiles at a distance of 86 kilometres from the city of Zaragoza, the town of Tarazona lies in the foothills of the Moncayo, at a crossroads between the Spanish regions of Aragon, Navarre, Castilla and La Rioja. Accessible only by road, as it has no railway connections, Tarazona has a population of about 11,000 and a history going back to before the Roman invasion of Spain. The earliest remains date from the 1st century BC, and the Romans called the town Turiaso, at which time it was a thriving city. Later controlled by the Moors it was reconquered for the Christians by Alfonso I in 1119. An interesting place to visit, especially if you are interested in Mudejar architecture, Tarazona now relies a great deal on tourism for its survival though it has been important for textiles and matches. Tarazona is to the north-west of Zaragoza.
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September 24, 2010
Teruel Aragon Alpino Hotel
Teruel Alpino Hotel Aragon
For your accommodation in the historic city of Teruel, why not stay at the Alpino Hotel, one of the best value establishments in this city in the Aragon region of Spain. Rooms in the Alpino Teruel offer bathroom, shower, television and internet access, hotel facilities include restaurant, bar, café, wi-fi internet access, city tours etc. Teruel is an ancient city which traces its history back to the Arab occupation of Spain, it is a mountainous region and there are some skiing resorts such as Valdelinares nearby which would be ideal if you are visiting during the winter time, this lesser known ski location will make a nice change from the usual crowded ski resorts. There are also some pretty villages nearby, a good example is Alcala de la Selva, which is a charming place to visit. Rooms in the Alpino Teruel are offered from around 25 euros per night (approx £21). Teruel is in the southern part of Aragon and is about 140 kilometres drive from Valencia on the coast.
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September 17, 2010
Costa Calida Spain
A popular Spanish region enjoying a fine climate (it is one of the driest areas of Spain), and lying within the Murcia autonomous community, the Costa Calida has some of the best beaches in this part of the country, especially those along the Mar Menor coastline, which also enjoys a sea temperature five degrees warmer than the surrounding Mediterranean Sea. The best of the beach resorts include Los Alcazares, San Pedro del Pinatar, Lo Pagan, San Javier and Puerto Mazarron, most of these are easily accessible from Murcia (San Javier) airport which is actually located beside the Mar Menor, some distance from the city of Murcia which is some 20 kilometres inland. The Costa Calida is a fantastic area for golfers, with a huge choice of courses which you can try out, around the Mar Menor there are several fine courses including Roda Golf, the Serena Golf Resort, La Torre Golf and the Mar Menor Golf Resort, near to Los Alcazares. There are even more courses surrounding the city of Murcia,with the now troubled Polaris World developing lots of courses and residential complexes in this area.
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September 13, 2010
Fira Palace Hotel Barcelona
Fira Palace Hotel Barcelona
An elegant hotel well located in the city of Barcelona, Spain, the Fira Palace Hotel is ideal for both leisure and business visitors to this great city. Offering two hundred and seventy six rooms, all both excellent facilities, the Fira Palace Hotel Barcelona could be your ideal accommodation. The hotel offers such fine facilities as an indoor swimming pool, health and fitness centre, sauna, gift shop, piano bar, two restaurants, patio garden, gymnasium, hair salon etc. Rooms in the Fira Palace Hotel are available from 77 euros per night (around £64), very reasonable for a city centre hotel in Barcelona. Located in the Catalonia region of north-eastern Spain, Barcelona is the countries second largest city, it is around 150km from the border with France and about 100kn from Girona. The city has a huge variety of attractions, whether you are looking for culture, entertainment of even a beach holiday, and a visit to Spain would not be complete without a visit to this amazing place. Barcelona Map.
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