Spain Cities

Alicante
A tourist, congress and university city, with dynamic industry and commerce... Alicante is an ideal destination for business tourism. Washed by the waters of the Mediterranean, this city lives with the sea in its spirit. You will soon notice this as you stroll on its promenades, when you discover its marinas and when you head for any of its beaches, ideal for water sports at any time of year.

With an average annual temperature of 18ºC and bright sunshine, the streets of Alicante are packed with shops, terrace bars, ice cream parlours, bars and fashionable nightspots open to all kinds of trends and music. It is also well worthwhile visiting its old town, which spreads out below Santa Bárbara Castle. There are many good reasons to hold a congress in Alicante. To these we should add the good communications it has thanks to El Altet international airport and the rail and motorway network. It also has a wide range of hotel accommodation and services, as well as cultural and leisure attractions.

Ibiza
The two most remarkable aspects of Ibiza —biodiversity and culture— lead to its declaration of World Heritage Site by the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO). The Carthaginians were the ones who founded the ancient Ibosim, back in 654 B.C. In little more than a century, the city became a strategic colony in the western Mediterranean. Ebusus during the Roman Empire and later named Yebisah under Muslim rule, the island came under the rule of King Jaume I after the Reconquest, in 1235. The continuous pirate sieges lead to the construction of a wall to fortify the city, in the 16th century.

Presently, the city is divided into Sa Penya, known as "ciudad baja" (lower city) and Dalt Vila, a monumental area located on the higher part of the city, declared World Heritage Site. Dalt Vila is surrounded by well preserved Renaissance walls, built by King Carlos V, which served as a model for walls and fortresses in the New World. The considerable height of its bastions provides a gorgeous view to the city and the port under it.

Murcia
Although the lands of Murcia have been populated for more than 2,000 years, the foundation of Murcia capital did not comeuntil 831, when the emir of Córdoba Abd-al-Rahman II ordered a walled city to be built on the banks of the riverSegura and made it into the capital of the caliph's province.

It was then when Arab Mursiya began to gain importance, until in the 13th century it becamepart of the Kingdom of Castile.

The old city sits next to the Segura, with historicstreets which have retained the names of the guilds which once occupied them, such as the shopping streets of Platería, Trapería and Vidrieros (Silversmiths, Rags and Glass makers).

The square of Cardinal Belluga houses two of Murcia capital's architectural gems, the Episcopal Palace (18th century), with a rococo façade and a churrigueresque courtyard, and the Cathedral. This temple, which was begun at the end of the 14th century, stands out because of the superimposition of styles. Drawing attention, for example, is its singular and richly-sculptured baroque façade, and, along with it, the tremendous tower measuring 92 metres in height. Outstanding on the inside, meanwhile, is the Vélez Chapel, a magnificent example of the florid Gothic style.

The baroque style is well-represented in Murcia through religious buildings such as the church of la Merced, originally from the 16th century and rebuilt in the 18th century), the convent church of Santa Ana, the church of Santo Domingo, San Nicolás or San Miguel.

Melilla
Melilla has magnificent wide beaches of fine sand on its coast, as well as the spectacular “Puerto XXI” marina, situated between the old Mineral Wharf and San Lorenzo beach. It is a recent construction that has hundreds of moorings for leisure boats as well as a shopping and leisure centre. Among the many opportunities, you can learn to sail in a Sailing School or practise other water sports like jet skiing, windsurfing or diving. When it comes to eating, Melilla has a delicious and very varied cuisine which has similarities with Andalusian regional cuisine.

Seville
Built on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, Seville is heir to a rich Arab legacy, and to the condition of being a prosperous trading port with the Americas.

Every street and square that makes up the historic quarter of the Andalusian capital bursts with joy and bustle. This area has an interesting collection of historic buildings, many of which have been declared World Heritage Sites, and also contains colourful districts with great popular flavour, such as Triana and La Macarena.

Seville is a remarkable southern business and service centre, having many hotel beds distributed all over the city allowing the visitor to discover the many attractions the city holds. Museums, arts centres, theme parks, cinemas, theatres, and banquet halls are only a few of the endless possibilities that a great city like Seville affords. And the numerous terraces, pubs and bars should not be forgotten because they are where one of the most deeply-rooted of all traditions of the city is carried out: the “tapeo”.

Very few places in the world can boast of having been the capital of Hispania Ulterior under the Roman Empire, and the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate. Such splendour is palpable in the intellectual wealth of this centre of wisdom and knowledge, that has seen the birth of figures like Seneca, Averroes and Maimonides.

To take a stroll through the historic quarter of Cordoba is to discover a beautiful network of small streets, alleys, squares and whitewashed courtyards arranged around the Mosque-Cathedral, which reflects the importance of the city during medieval times and which is a real symbol of the capital.

Granada
At the foot of Sierra Nevada, between the Darro and Genil rivers, lies one of the most interesting cities in eastern Andalusia. An impressive Andalusian legacy meets architectural gems from the Renaissance and the most modern facilities, typical of the 21st century.

Because it was the last city reconquered by the Catholic Monarchs in 1492, Granada has an unmistakable Arab flavour. Its cuisine, crafts and urban layout are a consequence of the city's glorious history. Fountains, viewpoints and Cármenes, the villas surrounded by gardens typical of the city, add to Granada's unforgettable charm. Not in vain was one of its oldest districts, the Albaicín, declared a World Heritage Site, together with the Alhambra and the Generalife. An important cultural centre for centuries, both during Muslim and Christian rule, nowadays the city boasts an enviable calendar of cultural and leisure events. Music, cinema and theatre seasons and festivals are listed, along with permanent and temporary exhibitions ranging over all fields of knowledge. Old Renaissance palaces are home to seminars, conferences and debates, while the most innovative infrastructures are ready for the bigger events.