Valentine’s Day in Spain
Picture yourself and your loved one embracing in the romantic lights of Plaza Mayor, Madrid or strolling along the golden sandy beaches of Barcelona and stealing a kiss or two? Spain is dubbed one of the most romantic places in the world, alongside Italy and France. Forget about Venice or Paris, Spain has got the stunning Barcelona, regal Madrid, sultry Seville and sexy Ibiza. Whisk your sweetheart away to Spain for Valentine’s Day and she won’t be disappointed.
Where to Go for Valentine’s Day in Spain
Almost every city in Spain has a romantic atmosphere to it but if you’re looking for places that particularly stand out for its sexy appeal, here are some suggestions:
- Barcelona – The gorgeous outskirts of Barcelona was the setting of the sexy Woody Allen film, ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’. Need we say more? Barcelona is Spain’s most romantic city, blessed with sexy city beaches, seductive architecture and atmospheric restaurants.
- La Rioja – This region in northern Spain is home to the Rioja wine, one of the best wines in the world. Go wine-tasting in the Rioja region and you’ll be spoiled for indulgence. And if that’s not enough to set you in the right mood for romance, La Rioja’s Old Town is a charming labyrinth of medieval buildings and narrow alleyways.
- Toledo – Just one hour away from Madrid is one of the most beautiful and charming cities in Spain. Toledo is stacked up on a hilltop, overlooking prairies, farms and olive groves. Walk hand-in-hand with your loved one , get lost in dark alleyways and be blown away from the beauty of Toledo.
- Granada – The breathtaking Moorish Palace, the Alhambra, bathes Granada in a blanket of romance. Exuding mystique Arabic vibes, the Alhambra Palace gives Granada its Moorish identity and makes it stand out from other Spanish cities.
- Las Alpujarras– Tucked in the slopes of the Sierra Nevada are beautiful white-washed hilltowns. This area, known as the Alpujarras, is home to tiny towns and villages that play hosts to enchanting vacation rentals. Many of the smaller and quieter towns are ideal for a laid back romantic vacation where “nothing to do” is the best thing you’ve heard all day.
How Valentine’s Day is Celebrated in Spain
In Spain, Valentine’s Day is essentially an imported holiday, with pink and red hearts and special confections designed to be gifted to a special someone on February 14th. Like the rest of the world, you can expect to see the same kinds of iconography associated with Valentine’s: heart-shaped chocolates, red roses, romantic dinners and gift cards.
Valentine’s Day in Spain is celebrated in pretty similar ways to the rest of the world. You’ll see street venders selling roses, florists stocked full of flowers and shopping malls bursting with gift ideas. One thing that differs however, is that Valentine’s Day in Spain is largely celebrated by the younger generation. It is after all an imported festival.
Photo credit: Creative Commons by SantiMB .