In October 2012 we explored southern Spain

We decided this was the year to learn more about the southern part of Spain. We spent a little time in northern Spain in 1996 on our Pyrenees bicycle trip, and we wanted to know more about this country.

We also decided to use public transportation, as opposed to airlines, taxis or rental cars. We traveled by train and bus only, and we have almost nothing but good things to say about the experience. The transportation was great - comfortable and fast. The only stumbling block was finding the schedules in very small villages.

We explored churches and palaces. We hiked many miles each day discovering the sights and sounds of Spanish cities, towns, and villages. We visited Sevilla, the hill towns of Arcos and Ronda, Granada, Toledo and Madrid.

Select a picture below to see our photos

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ABOVE - We left Portugal from the Oriente Station, one of the most stunning modern sights in Lisbon.

It was built by master architect Santiago Calatrava with a roof of glass and steel made to look like a row of trees.

It houses a railway station, a metro, and a bus terminal. The entrance to the metro platform has huge tile murals

designed by some of the best local contemporary artists. We arrived in Sevilla, Spain late evening.
 

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ABOVE - We have to say that Sevilla eventually became our favorite city in Spain.

The photos above include the exterior and interior of the Cathedral.

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ABOVE  - Flamenco was just one of the exciting sights we enjoyed in Sevilla.

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ABOVE - Known as The Royal Alcazar, Seville's Royal Palace was originally

a Moorish fort built in the 10th century by the first Caliph of Andalucia.

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ABOVE - We spent a night in the romantic queen of the white towns, Arcos de la Frontera.

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ABOVE - We hiked into the gorge of the stunning Cliffside city of Ronda, Spain

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ABOVE - We walked around the City of Granada, and up through the Albaicin neighborhood,

known as the Old Town, to the San Nicolas Church Plaza to watch the sunset over the Alhambra.

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ABOVE - Granada's dominant sight is the Alhambra, the last and greatest Moorish palace.

For two centuries, until 1492, Granada reigned as the capital of a dwindling Moorish empire.

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ABOVE - Toledo's top sight is its magnificent cathedral, the Catedral de

Santa María la Real de la Almudena. The cathedral took 250 years to build.

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ABOVE - The buildings and winding streets contained within the old city walls of Toledo

hold hundreds of years of history, and the River Tajo which runs alongside adds to its charm.

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ABOVE - Europe's third-greatest palace (after Versailles and Vienna's Schönbrunn)

has over 2,000 rooms with tons of luxurious tapestries. We enjoyed the Royal Palace,

the Prado, and many other sights in Madrid, the capital of Spain.

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ABOVE - We enjoyed the use of tiles in Spain for everything from Street signs

and storefronts to decorative art in palaces and museums.