We have put together a list of the Top Gap Year destinations in Spain...
Madrid
Madrid is a young, modern, vibrant city which can be summed up in one word…‘Cosmopolitan’. Where else, in only a small area of space, can you discover the acclaimed artists of Spain and beyond in three of the most famous art galleries in the world, learn the history and tradition of the bull fight in the largest bullring in the country, get away from it all in the huge parks Madrid has to offer, and then take a rest in one of the typical Spanish bars with tapas and a caña?!
Located at the heart of the Iberian Peninsula at an altitude of over 600m above sea level, Madrid is the highest capital city in Europe.
The Spanish capital plays host to international music festivals and is visited by the world’s leading pop stars. Madrid boasts three international acclaimed museums namely the Thyssen-Bornemisza (range from primitive Flemish collections to contemporary paintings, sculptures, tapestries and carvings), the Prado (displays masterpieces from Velázquez, El Greco, Goya, and Rembrandt) and the Reina Sofía (Spanish contemporary art).
Whatever nightlife you are looking for, you can find it in Madrid. If you stroll around, you can see that it’s a cosmopolitan city, where each area has its own special atmosphere and characteristics.If you like alternative music, it’s a good idea to go out in Malasaña or in Lavapiés. Around Sol and the city centre, you can find clubs with all sorts of music. The area around Moncloa is especially known for being favoured by students.
Barcelona
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| Barceloneta Beach |
Barcelona is one of the most beautiful and exciting cities in the world. It has a huge number of attractions including a city centre which retains its medieval street plan; some stunning modernist architecture including several buildings by Gaudi, Spain’s most famous architect; and dozens of museums including one dedicated to Picasso, another to Miro and yet another to Barcelona’s world-famous football club!
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| La Sagrada Familia |
Barcelona is almost as lively at night as it is during the day and it has a unique, exciting atmosphere, which provides visitors with a truly unforgettable experience.There are two major arts festivals during the year, one in summer and one in autumn, and there are concerts and shows of different kinds happening all the time.The city enjoys an almost perfect climate, making it an ideal place to be at any time of the year. It even has its own sandy beaches, which are less than 15 minutes away from the school. The city’s geographical position also makes it the easiest (and cheapest) Spanish city to reach from the rest of Europe, and there are direct flights from most cities in the world to its prize-winning international airport.
Sevilla
Seville, the capital of Andalusia, is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities for travel and tours in Spain and the one which best keeps alive the spirit of its traditions.
An explosion of colour and contrast, as well as the successful mix of the modern and traditional, means that Seville offers a wide range of cultural variety to cater for all tastes throughout the year: Flamenco, bullfighting, Semana Santa (Holy Week), The April Fair and the lively atmosphere in the streets due to the open and friendly nature of its people.
So what is there to see in Seville? The river Guadalquivir, Maria Luisa Park, the Cathedral, The Golden Tower and the Plaza de España are all places of enchantment where visitors can feel the spirit of a city which is eternally romantic.
Seville enjoys an intense cultural life, with the celebration of numerous festivals and cultural events throughout the year such as the Festival de Música Antigua (Ancient Music Festival), celebrated in March, which includes the most varied musical styles; the Jazz Festival, at the Teatro de la Maestranza; the Festival de Ópera al Aire Libre (Open Air Opera Festival), in September; the season of classical music, and the season of opera at the Teatro de la Maestranza; and the emblematic Flamenco Biennial, that features the most acclaimed artists in this genre.
To have an entertaining evening, it is strongly recommended to go to one of the numerous tablaos flamencos of Seville, the stages for flamenco dancing. Some of the best known are Los Gallos, located in the touristic district of Santa Cruz; Patio Sevillano (Sevillian Courtyard), that hosts performances that combine flamenco, classical Spanish dance, Spanish song, and regional dances; and El Arenal, with flamenco performances of great artistic and professional value.
Valencia
Valencia is a modern and exciting city which nevertheless keeps its historical touch. The city is an architectural melting pot, which testifies to the cultural mix of the Valencian people, and gives the city an atmosphere that is open to both new cultures and old customs. This makes it the best place to learn Spanish in Spain.
Five reasons to go to Valencia:
1 – Being the third largest city in Spain, Valencia was ranked among the best top 10 cities to visit in the world in 2011 by Lonely Planet. Within Europe Valencia ranks number one.
2- On the Mediterranean coast you can enjoy the beach more than 8 months of the year. Besides, Valencia’s traditional link with the sea has been strengthened by the water sports event par excellence: the Americas Cup in 2007 and 2010.
3- A city with more than 2,000 years of history which can be seen in its historic centre, one of the biggest historic districts in Europe.
4- With one of the best climates all over Spain (an average annual daytime temperature higher than 71º F – 22º C), you can swim in the sea during at least 8 months of the year.
5- The fact that Valencia has two major universities and almost hundred thousand students is clearly reflected in its social life and its distinct night life. The city is a popular destination for students from all over the world to spend their semester or year abroad.
Granada
Granada is the capital of the Southern Spanish province of the same name, situated in the eastern part of the region of Andalusia. Geographical and scenic diversity characterises this land. There is the coastal area with its warm climate; the extensive, fertile Genil plain; and the mountainous regions with a colder climate, where the 3,481m Mulhacén, the biggest peak on the Spanish peninsula, is found. The city of Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, where the Darro and Genil rivers meet. Its unique history has bestowed it with an artistic grandeur as the last Moorish capital on the Iberian Peninsula, embracing its Moorish palaces and Christian Renaissance treasures that hold great symbolic value.
The city of Granada has been shaped by hills brimming with narrow and steep streets, beautiful crannies and nooks, and marvellous landscapes – hills where the old districts of the Albaicín and the Alhambra Palace were founded. The new part of the city is situated on the plain, criss-crossed by the large streets of Gran Vía de Colón and Calle de los Reyes Católicos, and where one can find the busy streets surrounding the Granada Cathedral.
The Moors crossed the Strait of Gibraltar in 711 and settled in what was then a small Visigoth town perched atop the Alhambra hill. They erected walls and laid the foundation for the prosperous civilisation that would follow. It was in the 9th century when Granada rose to importance after the fall of the Caliphate of Córdoba. Granada reached its splendour in 1238, when Mohammed Ben Nasr founded the Nasrid dynasty, and the kingdom of Granada stretched from Gibraltar to Murcia. This dynasty bore twenty kings; for three centuries, a magnificent and rich Islamic culture flourished, leaving Granada with architectural marvels of the calibre of the Alhambra. It all came to an end when King Boabdil was forced to surrender Granada in 1492 to the Catholic monarchs, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Today, Granada has been declared a World Heritage Site, along with the Albaicín.
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