The
exuberance
of the
Spaniards
and
the
glorious
predictability
of the
summer
weather
have
been
attracting
refugees
from
northern
Europe's
damp
and
clammy
lands
for
decades,
but
Spain
is much
more
than
the
Costa
del
Sol
and
warm
English
beer.
It is
drenched
in the
historical
pageantry
of empire
and
conquistadors,
the
artistic
legacy
of Goya,
Velázquez,
Picasso
and
Dalí,
and
the
romance
of Don
Quijote,
Papa
Hemingway
and
the
International
Brigades.
When
to Go
The
ideal
months
to visit
are
May,
June
and
September
(plus
April
and
October
in the
south).
At these
times
you
can
rely
on good
weather,
yet
avoid
the
sometimes
extreme
heat
- and
the
main
crush
of Spanish
and
foreign
tourists.
That
said,
there's
decent
weather
in some
parts
of Spain
virtually
year-round.
Winter
along
the
southern
and
southeastern
Mediterranean
coasts
is
mild,
while
in
the
height
of
summer
you
can
retreat
to
the
northwest,
or
to
beaches
or
high
mountains
anywhere,
if
you
need
to
get
away
from
excessive
heat.
If
you
want
to
make
sure
you
hit
some
parties,
the
best
festivals
are
concentrated
between
Semana
Santa
(the
week
leading
up
to
Easter
Sunday)
and
September.
Environment
Spain and
Portugal share
the Iberian
Peninsula,
a vaguely
square-shaped
realm at the
far southwestern
edge of Europe.
Spain occupies
some 80% of
this peninsula
and spreads
over nearly
505,000 sq
km, making
it the biggest
country in
Western Europe
after France.More
than half
of the country
is made up
of vast, elevated
tablelands
- the mesetas
- and five
major mountain
ranges stretch
across the
country.
In fact, with
an average
altitude of
650m, it's
the highest
European country
after Switzerland.
Landscapes
range from
the deserts
of Andalucía
to the green
wetlands of
Galicia; from
the sunbaked
plains of
Castilla-La
Mancha to
the rugged
snowcapped
Picos de Europa
and Pyrenees.
The Canary
Islands archipelago
in the Atlantic
Ocean, west
of Morocco,
is an autonomous
community
belonging
to Spain.
The prevalence
of an 'if
you see
it, shoot
it' philosophy
has destroyed
much of
Spain's
wildlife.
Critters
that you
may still
come across
include
red squirrels,
chamois,
deer, ibex,
genet and
a wide range
of reptiles.
Spain has
around 25
breeding
species
of birds
of prey,
and it is
a haven
for water
birds thanks
to its large
wetland
areas. Gibraltar
is famous
for its
Barbary
macaques,
the only
wild monkeys
in Europe.
Native flora
is prolific,
especially
in the alpine
regions.
Most tourists
come to
Spain's
coastal
strip during
July and
August,
when the
sun is at
its strongest.
Madrid is
unbearable
at this
time of
year and
is almost
deserted
by Spaniards.
In the north,
and on the
Balearic
Islands,
summer temperatures
of around
30°C
are standard.
In winter,
the rain
never seems
to stop
in the north,
except in
the backlands
of Galicia
and the
Pyrenees,
where they
turn into
snow. Generally
the north
is best
during summer,
Andalucía
is best
in spring,
the centre
is best
in autumn,
and the
south is
best in
winter.
