Beginners guide to Spain

Spain is the larger of the two countries that make up the Iberian peninsula—the other being Portugal, and is home to about 41,000,000 Spaniards. This figure is boosted by about 150,000 British who have been seduced by the warm climate and easy pace of living. Castilian Spanish is spoken along with a dozen regional dialects. In 2002 Spain adopted the euro and joined the Eurozone. To the northeast, along the Pyrenees mountain range, Spain borders France and includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean.

A country of large geographical and cultural diversity, Spain is sometimes a surprise to people who only know its reputation for great beach holidays. Lush meadows in the Northern provinces contrast with snowy mountains in the east and near desert in the South. Modern Spain has overcome civil war and fascism in the 20th century to stand proud and centred in itself. With great beaches, fun nightlife, many historic cities and cultural regions , Spain makes a great destination for any kind of trip.

A to Z of places to stay in Spain:

Alicante. Old Town has World Heritage designation.

Barcelona. A lively cosmopolitan city that is the capital of Catalonia. Famous for the architecture of Antoni Gaudi.

Benidorm. A Valencian city where you can enjoy a seaside tourism and lots of pubs and discos. Famous for its skyscrapers and beaches.

Bilbao. Former industrial city, home to the Guggenheim Museum.

Cordoba. The Grand Mosque ('Mezquita') of Cordoba is one of the world's finest buildings.

Coruna La. A picturesque city in the northwest of Galicia. Typical Galician Architecture and great cultural life.

Granada. Stunning city in the south, surrounded by snow capped mountains of the Sierra Nevada, home of the Alhambra.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Capital of the archipelago famous for its original and individual architecture.

Madrid. Capital of Spain. Lively city with great museums and wild nights.

Malaga. Capital city of the Costa del Sol. A fine, typical Spanish city, hometown of Picasso and its Picasso Museum, with one of the most popular beaches.

Marbella. Situated in the Costa del Sol it is an luxury resort town with exclusive restaurants, hotels and clubs.

Murcia. A gateway to the Costa Calida and South of the Costa Blanca, Murcia is a university city.

Pamplona. Famous for the San Fermin 'Running of the Bulls' Festival.

Santiago de Compostela. Destination of the historic pilgrimage.

San Sebastian. A wealthy city with a large sandy beach bay.

Seville. Beautiful, beautiful see the Giralda.

Toledo. Former capital, now city of gold plates.

Valencia

Vigo. Busy fishing port. Old Town with tiny cobbled streets.

Zaragoza. You can see roman ruins and see the 'mozarabe' brick architecture.

Spain has year-round availability as a holiday destination. Whether you want a basic holiday apartment on the Costa del Sol or a luxury self-catering holiday villa in the peace and quiet of the mountains, holiday rental has never been simpler and the Mediterranean coast from the Costa Brava and Costa Dorada down to the Costa Blanca now offers a high standard of holiday accommodation. There is a wide selection of quality self-catering apartments and villas to rent in Spain, available for holiday or vacation rental. Whether you are seeking a short-term vacation, or long-term accommodation, luxurious villas, a holiday hideaway, or a beachfront apartment rental, there is a truly splendid choice available for you.