El Saler is located in the heart of the Albufera Natural Park, a landscape of dunes and pine forests that holds the largest freshwater lake in Spain. People frequently head there to see the more than three hundred different species of birds or to sail on the lake. This natural environment offers a first-class beach, with fine sand and clean water, where you can not only swim but also practice beach sports such as windsurfing.

The Costa del Azahar bathes this Mediterranean city where the beaches give way to a medieval old town that’s full of stately homes. The best way to explore it is by walking; its pedestrian streets will take you to the Church of San Bertolomé, a baroque shrine that’s well worth a visit, and to the marina. Outside the heart of the town you’ll come across the Iberian settlements of Puig de la Nao and Tossa.

Vielha is a small Pyrenean town, capital of the Val d'Aran, has a beautiful historic quarter where you can find all kinds of shops specialising in adventure sports, high mountain and snow sports. And if there is one thing Vielha is known for, it is its stunning scenery. Surrounded by the mountains of the Catalan Pyrenees, the town is the perfect destination for mountain sports and nature lovers, as the ski resort of Baqueira is just 20 minutes away by car. When the snow is not there, Vielha's surroundings invite you to go hiking, mountain biking and sightseeing in the most traditional corners of the area.

The location of the Parador de Lleida is perfect for walking around the city. Start with the monumental ensemble of Seu Vella or Old Cathedral, a Romanesque-Gothic temple on which building begun in the thirteenth century. It is located on a hill overlooking the city and part of the region of Segrià. From there, continue the visit through the historic centre of Lleida to the Plaza de la Paería, where the City Hall is located; the Seu Nova or New Cathedral, the Templar Castle of Gardeny, the old Hospital of Santa Maria and the Main Casino, BUILT in neoclassical style.

Vilalba is the capital of Terra Chá, which is located in the centre of the province of Lugo. Vilalba lies on several routes, including the Northern Way of St. James, which crosses the old Royal Way of Betanzos and A Coruña. Here you’ll enjoy natural surroundings such as the La Madalena river beach, the medicinal Charca del Alligal, and the banks of the numerous rivers that flow through these lands. Next to the plain and the water is the Serra do Xistral and the Monseivane mountain where you’ll relish losing yourself along rural paths. A little more than 45 minutes away, these lands of Lugo overlook the sea, with such exceptional balconies as the beautiful f Las Catedrales beach, and, closer at hand, the historic-artistic site of Mondoñedo and the historical beauty of Lugo.

Founded in 25 BCE by the emperor Augustus, Mérida is home to the most important Roman settlement on the peninsula. The best way to discover the city is to wander through its olds streets and see spectacular monuments such as the Roman Amphitheatre, Circus and Theatre, which has been the backdrop for the International Festival of Classical Theatre since 1933. Other sights not to be missed include the National Museum of Roman Art and the city’s magnificent Arab heritage, such as the Alcazaba and the Archaeological Complex of the Morería.

 

Mérida is much more than the city, Nearby you can see prehistoric structures such as the Dolmen of Lácara and the burial sites of Huerta Montero, and visit the Roman reservoirs of Proserpina and Cornalvo, where you can relax in the bathing areas and bars. If you like nature, you’ll be amazed by the Natural Park of Cornalvo, while the tremendous biological wealth of the National Park of Monfragüe is just a little further away. And if golf is your game, you’ll find an excellent course just 8 kilometres away from the city.

The best way to discover León is by wandering through its exceptional historical quarter, where you’ll be amazed by its cathedral, a gem of the Spanish Gothic style that is internationally famous for its 13th c.-stained-glass windows. Your walk will take you past other spectacular monuments such as the Real Colegiata, the Palacio de los Guzmanes or Gaudi’s Casa Botines de Gaudí, and if you feel like relaxing for a while, stop off at the beautiful Plaza Mayor, or continue along the streets of the famous districts of the Barrio Húmedo and Barrio Romántico , or find out more about the city’s fascinating history and art at its many museums.

 

León is surrounded by a truly exceptional heritage. Nearby are the historical cities of Astorga and Ponferrada, the headquarters of the Templar knights, or discover unique buildings such as the Mozarabic monastery of San Miguel de la Escalada. The region also offers impressive sights like the Caves of Valporquero and the Hoces de Vegacervera, and many hiking trails, such as the Roman Gold Trail, which takes you into the World Heritage landscape of Las Médulas. And for the more daring, the Valle de Anciles offers an exclusive safari of bison and Pottoka horses.

The Parador de Turismo "Marco Fabio Quintiliano" pays homage to the bimillenary Calagurris Nassica Iulia, the Roman name by which Calahorra was known. A walk through its historic centre reveals the 12th-century Romanesque Cathedral, several other churches from different historical periods, and the Episcopal Palace, which holds numerous items such as fine gold ornaments, clothing, sculptures and paintings. There are also several museums, such as those dedicated to Romanisation or to Crops, and the Museum of Easter Floats, as Easter celebrations here have been declared a festival of National Tourist Interest.

The island of Gran Canaria offers an enormous variety of plans. If you’re looking for sun and sand, head to the Maspalomas Dunes. It’s in the south of the island and constitutes its main tourist centre. There’s a huge beach, a field of living dunes, a palm forest and a lagoon.

A local song starts with the words “at the feet of one hundred mountains that rise all around”, and this is the case with the town of Cangas de Narcea, just two kilometres away from the Parador. The best way to discover it is to wander through its stone paved streets, full of mansion houses, palaces and churches, a reflection of the lineage of the first Asturian kings. The traditional beauty of the region combines beautiful typical buildings such as the Molino de Villajur and monuments such as the Sanctuary of the Virgen del Acebo, one of the Marian churches of Asturias.

 

More than anything, Cangas de Narcea is a natural paradise. The old stables of the Monastery of Corias are home to the Centre of the Natural Park of Fuentes del Narcea, Degaña e Ibias, where you’ll find a starting point for all kinds of hiking and adventure activities in the magical place. You shouldn’t miss the Natural Reserve of the Forest of Muniellos, the largest oak forest in Spain, where brown bears and grouse – emblems of the regional fauna – can be found. Cangas del Narcea is also the home of D.O. Cangas wine, with a wine museum, cellars and vineyards open to visitors.