A Very Brief Tourist Guide: 5+ Cool Things for Engineers to See in Spain

Need a break? Then book some flights to Spain ASAP!

If that hasn't sold it to you, here are a few reasons you really should consider a holiday in one of the most beautiful and impressive places to visit in the world. 

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What is the most beautiful place in Spain?

Spain is filled with beautiful and stunning places to visit. For this reason, it is very difficult to single one out.

According to sites like theculturetrip.com, some of the most stunning spots to visit in Spain include: 

• Sagrada Família, Barcelona

• The Aqueduct, Segovia

• The Alhambra, Granada

• Basílica de Santa María la Real de Covadonga, Parque Nacional de Los Picos de Europa, Asturias

• Plaza Mayor, Madrid

• The Patios, Córdoba

• El Tajo Gorge, Ronda

What cities are a must-see in Spain?

Spain is widely considered one of the most vibrant and beautiful countries to visit in the world. But, that being said, there are some cities you simply have to see if you ever find yourself there on holiday.

According to sites like theplanetd.com, some of the best cities to visit in Spain are:

• Madrid
• Barcelona
• Seville
• Bilbao
• Valencia
• Granada
• Salamanca
• Toledo
• Malaga
• Cordoba

Is Spain a cheap place to visit?

Spain happens to be one of the cheapest places to visit in Europe. But prices will vary depending on how much you are willing to rough it out or not and how long you intend to stay. 

It is really easy to travel around the country on a budget and still have a really great holiday. 

Sites like youngadventuress.com have a great guide on how to do this. Madrid, for example, is one of the most expensive places to stay, for obvious reasons.

"Worst case" costs (based on Madrid) are roughly as follows for certain main expenses when on holiday (courtesy of youngadventuress.com):

• One beer - €1.50-3, but can be more in the more touristy areas

• One glass of wine - €3-5

• One tapa or pincho - €2.50-5

• Café con leche - €2-5

• Average meal - €12-25

• A night on the town - €5-15 for mixed drinks, disco cover €10-20

• Dorm hostel - €15

• Private hotel/hostel room - €30

• Transport - Bus €1.50 and metro: €2 per ride but now depends on zone though many rides pass available, local cercanías trains around €3.50 depending where you go

• Attractions - movies and small venue concerts €8-12, museums, palace, etc. free to €15, extra costs for a guide

• Rent - €350 + €50-75 utilities

• Groceries for 1 wk - €25-35

Why is Spain a great place to visit?

Frankly, Spain is an amazing place to visit. Its usually sunny, the food and wine is awesome, and the people are some of the friendliest you'll meet anywhere in the world. 

It also has a long and fascinating history that has left its mark in the country. Spain is one of the best places for a holiday, so much so that you might never want to leave.

According to sites like tripadvisor.co.uk, some of the main reasons people love to visit Spain are as follows:

1. The food is great

2. The wine is second to none

3. It has many impressive monuments

4. Spain's religious buildings are amazing

5. It has a long and important artistic heritage

6. It has lots of amazing beaches

7. Sun!

8. Spain is dripping in beautiful places

9. The White Towns of Andalusia are incredible

10. It has many Medieval towns

11. There are plenty of festivals - all the time

12. Its music is incredible

And there are many, many more reasons.

Five great places to visit in Spain as an engineer

Here are some of the more engineering-related places to visit in Spain. Trust us when we say this list is far from exhaustive and in no particular order.

1. Segovia is definitely worth a trip

Segovia is one destination in Spain that is perfect for anyone who might be a fan of Disney. The city's Alcázar Castle happens to be the inspiration for Walt Disney's iconic Cinderella's palace. 

If that's not enough to entice you, the city is also home to one of the most complete and impressive Roman aqueducts in the world. The city itself is also an impressive thing to see, and it is rumored that it was founded by Hercules (or the son of Noah) himself!

The city is located in the Castilla and Leon regions of Spain and is about an hour's drive from Madrid. 

"The collection of historical monuments, their conservation, together with its beauty make this an impressive city to visit. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1985," notes euroresidentes.com.

2. Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is amazing

The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is one of Spain's most iconic and famous landmarks. It was originally commissioned by Josep Maria Bocabella who wanted to build a grand cathedral in Barcelona akin to the Basilica de Loreto.

He initially commissioned architect Francisco de Paula del Villar to design the building with the construction of the apse commencing in 1882. De Villar later resigned after falling out with Bocabella in 1883, however.

De Villar's loss was the world's gain as none other than Antoni Gaudi took up the reigns for the project. Under his guidance, the design for the building took a completely different route. 

The result is one of the most iconic and unique cathedrals ever conceived. It has become one of Barcelona's most treasured buildings and attracts millions of visitors every single year.

3. The Mezquita in Cordoba is definitely worth checking out

The Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, also known as the Great Mosque of Mezquita, is another of Spain's most iconic buildings. Once built as a grand Moorish Mosque in the 8th Century, it was converted to a Catholic cathedral during the Reconquista, sometime in the 13th Century.

Today, it is the cathedral of the Diocese of Cordoba and is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. It is widely considered to be one of the gems of Moorish architecture anywhere in the world. 

The buildings most notable feature is it arcaded hypostyle hall with its 856 columns of jasper, onyx, marble, granite, and porphyry. The columns are mounted by double arches that were an innovation in architecture at the time.

4. Walk the Walls of Ávila

Completed between the 11th and 14th Centuries AD, The Walls of Avila are some of Spain's most impressive pieces of monumental architecture. They were built to fortify the city and is one of the most complete fortifications of the period in all of Spain.

Work on them commenced in around 1090, and most of the work was largely completed sometime in the 12th Century AD. It encloses an area of roughly 31 hectares and includes castellated walls and around 88 semicircular defensive towers.

The walls range in thickness but are on average around 3 m thick. They also stand at, on average, 12 meters tall. Visitors can mount the battlements in places, and it is possible to walk around roughly half the full circumference.

The walls were registered as a Spanish National Monument in 1884.  It has also become a World Heritage Site (since the mid-1980s). 

The completeness and marvelous preservation make them one of the best places to visit in Spain if you like this sort of thing. The city itself is pretty interesting too. 

5. Check out the National Museum of Science and Technology in Madrid

If you want something a little more "techy," why not check out the National Museum of Science and Technology in Madrid. The museum opened in 1980 and houses a huge collection of important instruments and other equipment from various educational and research centers throughout Spain. 

"Today, the Madrid center, on Paseo de las Delicias, is home to the museum’s main library, archive room and warehouse where some of the 15,000 pieces that form the museum’s collection are stored, including scientific equipment, technological equipment, transport vehicles, tools and machines from as far back as the 16th century (it can be visited on first Thursday of every month)," according to the National Museum of Science and Technology Madrid. 

When you're finished, you might want to check out some of the other amazing things to see in Spain's capital.