Aranjuez is a Royal City at the South of Madrid. It is placed
at the riverside of the Tajo, and its main feature is to be a
city where there are many points of tourist interest, because
it was the place where the Spanish Kings spent their spare time
during the XVIII Century.
It is also famous because of its wonderful gardens and As it
was the first place where strawberries where cultivated, Isabel
II built in 1851 "The Strawberry train" from Madrid
to Aranjuez.(its tickets include a travel across the main monuments
of the Royal Place.)
Its gardens are deserved of any King, and its monuments (the
Royal Palace, the Tilling House, water springs, etcetera...) are
the proud of a quiet population, that come into alive in the summer
season because of the great number of visitors that spend their
time astonishing its many beauties, and enjoying their citizens
hospitality.
In fact, some assorted attractions that bound to other factors as
the gastronomic wealth, the cultural offer offered through the Cultural
Centre, and other initiatives, a leisure offer in full development
and the special captivation that offers this city, makes of Aranjuez
an obligated place, not only of step but of pause and inn for every
visitor
More
info: http://www.aranjuez.net/
Another great place to visit is the majestic monastery-palace of
El Escorial (the Escorial). Felipe II had this massive structure
built in the 16th century. The interior features a royal palace,
an impressive mausoleum of gold and marble, a valuable library with
old books and manuscripts, a basilica, and a large collection of
paintings. Nearby is a monument to the victims of the Spanish Civil
War, the Valle de los Caídos, or Valley of the Fallen. The
colossal cross and beautiful setting are inspiring, but controversial
because the church contains the tomb of Francisco Franco.
More
info: http://www.escorial.com
Segovia
is Spain and Castile at its best - twisting alleyways, the highest
concentration of Romanesque churches in all of Europe, pedestrian
streets where no cars are allowed, the aroma of roast pig around
every corner - all surrounded by the city's medieval wall which
itself is bordered by two rivers and an extensive green-belt park
with miles of walks. On the north-west extreme of the wall is the
famous Alcazar castle, source of inspiration to Walt Disney, and
where Queen Isabel promised Columbus the financial backing he needed
to discover America. On the south-east extreme is the world well-known
Roman Aqueduct, the best preserved of its kind anywhere, which served
in the city from 1455 to 1864. The tallest building in Segovia is
still the 16th-century Cathedral, a prominent landmark as one approaches
from any direction.
A city of great importance in Roman and medieval times, famous in
the 15th-century for its wool production, today's activities are
based on agriculture and tourism. The tourist sector was greatly
assisted in 1985 when UNESCO declared Segovia "Heritage of
Mankind".
Visiting
all the attractions in Segovia is particularly easy due to the city's
close proximity to Madrid and its international airport. The 54
Km drive is done in less than an hour via a twin-bore tunnel going
under the Guadarrama Mountains, which totally and quite effectively
separate this sleepy Castillan town from the over 3 million people
in Spain's capital city. The mountains also provide a dramatic backdrop
to Segovia's monumental skyline, particularly in winter and spring
when covered with snow. Buses leave Madrid for Segovia every half
hour and trains every two hours.
More
info: http://www.cyberspain.com/
Another
city considered Heritage of Mankind by UNESCO in 1987 is Toledo.
It is one of the five provinces which go to make up the Castile-La
Mancha Regional Authority, is situated south of Madrid, to which
it is linked by road and train; the distance between the two capitals
is 75 kilometres. Its idyllic setting on a plateau high above the
Tajo River has always given it a special mystique for the visitor.
It was this setting that appealed to centuries of painters including
El Greco, whose home and museum contains an extensive collection
of his paintings.
Toledo
was a society of great tolerance that attracted Muslim, Jewish and
Christian men of learning and commerce. It was the scholars of Toledo
who kept the works of the Greeks and Romans from becoming lost to
future generations. Prominent schools of science, mathematics, theology
and mysticism developed here, as well as schools of the occult and
alchemy.
Although
often overshadowed by nearby Madrid, it is Toledo - its narrow,
winding streets and steps, stone houses, unpretentious museums -
that embodies the soul of Spain's past.
More
info: http://www.toledo.com/
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