Spain

The beguiling kingdoms of Las Espanas are a cultural and geographical maelstrom - from medieval villages to sleek cities, ancient miracles to mind-bending surrealism, Moorish palaces to pre-Romanesque cathedrals. This is a useful guide for travellers who want to journey beyond the stereotypes.

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It offers information on the best places to eat and drink - paradores, refugios, pintxo bars, paella stalls and sidrerias uncovered - and the cultural lowdown from Goya to Gaudi, fiestas to film and pilgrims to politics. It provides tips for the adventurous traveller - from hiking in the Pyrenees to riding across the Sierra Nevada - and detailed maps for off-the-beaten-track navigation.