A Spanish Vacation: Beautiful Chaos

There are plenty of places to go for romantic vacations in the world. If you're a classic hopeless romantic, you head for Italy. If you and your partner like beaches, you hit the tropics. If you and your partner prefer quiet and solitude, there are a lot of romantic hotels all across the United States with pleasure gardens, saunas, and health spas. If you enjoy exotic historical sights, the Far East is a good place to go. However, if your romance is one that can be likened to a whirlwind, fast paced and exciting, Spain is definitely the place to take your vacation.

What makes Spain so different from other "romantic" vacation spots is that it has something to offer almost everyone. There are exotic locations, ancient museums, and art galleries for those who want to see the sights. But there are likewise some of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the world, cutting edge nightclubs, and rowdy festivals. The contrast is often startling to visitors to Spain, as one moment they cruise through an area of ancient, archaic beauty, then turn a corner only to see a fully urbanized street packed with shops and nightclubs. Then they stroll off a few blocks and run into a quiet, moonlit park where they can stroll hand in hand. With all this variety, mercurial lovers on vacation will be able to find something to suit whatever mood they may be in at the moment. Here are some of the highlights you should explore while you're there with your better half.

Seville is known as one of the most classically romantic cities in Europe. Its architectural design is ancient, with cathedrals and wide, sweeping structures all over the place. The city is situated along a riverbank where a couple can stroll at night for a romantic tryst. On the other hand, while the city is rather dignified by day, it becomes riotous at night, especially when there are festivals going on. Regular Flamenco dance shows are held in parts of the city, and a couple who enjoys dancing can participate in these or even find studios in the city for quick tutorials. In case you didn't know, Spanish dances are widely regarded as one of the most beautiful forms of dance in the world.

For those who want a "general" vacation, Barcelona is the place to go, as it offers comfortable beaches, golf courses, bazaars and shops with plenty of street performers including dancers and musicians, the Codorniu caves for those who want to go exploring, and the Picasso museum for those who want a little cultural exposure. Barcelona is ideal to visit if you don't quite have a set itinerary or theme in mind for your romantic holiday.

If you want to stay a bit urbanized in your vacation, however, Mallorca offers a very vibrant nightlife around in Spain. This city's specialties are nightclubs and bars where you can go for a little chaos and good music, and all-night restaurants and cafes that offer one of the widest selections of Spanish cuisine and cocktails in the country. If you and your partner subscribe to the philosophy of sleeping by day and partying by night, then head to Mallorca.

For those who enjoy panoramic views, Alicante, Granada, and Estepona should all go on your agenda. Alicante and Granada are home to several classic examples of Gothic architeture, including the ancient castles and the Santa Maria Church. Estepona, on the other hand, offers sightseers pure natural beauty from the mountain area surrounding it.

Finally, on an exotic note, there's plenty to pursue all over Spain even if you or your partner have off-the-wall interests. Toledo, for example, happens to be famous among classic sword enthusiasts for the quality of steel they used for their blades. Salamanca is similarly for sword enthusiasts, with a type of rare fencing sword named after the city (where it originated), and a unique fighting style that employed a fencing blade and a parrying dagger. There are likewise other places in Spain to visit if you love classic literature or art, cars and power tools, computers and video games... the list goes on and on.

With so many wonders to offer vacation goers, it's easy to get overwhelmed when visiting Spain, which is why it's ideal for a romantic getaway. After all, the worst thing that can happen when on vacation is that you or your partner get bored. Thankfully, Spain has more than enough variety and zest to keep that from happening.