Spain are drenched in the historical pageantry of empires and conquistadors, the artistic legacy of Goya, Picasso and Dali, and the romance of Don Quijote, Papa Hemingway and the International Brigades.
Geographically, Spain's diversity is immense. There are endless tracts of wild and crinkled sierra to explore, as well as some spectacularly rugged stretches of coast between the beaches
. Sunshine for 340 days a year, and an
average temperature of 22 degrees: two good reasons why Gran Canaria is a hugely popular choice in Spain for sun-seeking Brits. Gran Canaria has the Sahara to thank for its magnificent, rolling dunes and soft, golden bays. Over centuries, the African desert's silky sands have drifted the short distance across the sea to cloak this island's coastline in its distinctive shimmering edges.
Playa del Ingles is a fun-packed resort in Gran Canaria, with an endless choice of bars, restaurants, pubs and clubs. The shopping is superb, the beaches are busy and there's a long palm-fringed promenade to see and be seen on.