Rebuilt after its nearly complete destruction in the Great Earthquake of 1755, Lisbon is as a result one of the most homogeneous and instantly identifiable cities in Europe. So it is all the more remarkable that almost everyone likes Lisbon. Guest writer Stan Smith is no exception.

This article was submitted on 06/10/2006. It has been read 159297 times.

Portugal's Algarve region is the country's touristic hotspot, for overwhelmingly convincing reasons. In this guest article by Alison White, she points out the Oriental or North African feel that much of the Algarve still has.

This article was submitted on 06/10/2006. It has been read 52010 times.

American doctor Anstel Keys discovered the Mediterranean diet in 1945, but it was not until the nineties that it became a popular concept. This guest article by Ray Darken weighs the evidence in favour of and against the Mediterranean diet, with its high levels of oil, fruit, vegetables, fibre and fish. He sensibly suggests there may be other factors explaining the relative good health of southern Europeans, but you might want to remember this: Anstel Keys died peacefully in November 2004 - two months before his 101st birthday.

This article was submitted on 06/10/2006. It has been read 8626 times.

When Spaniards occupied the Canary Islands at the beginning of the 15th century, most of them were inhabited by Stone-Age peoples,and most of these inhabitants fought back. Their resistance was futile, Spain then having mighty armies and navies and being one of the most advanced countries in the world, and most traces of the Guanches have disappeared. Here is another article by Anders Jonsson telling you about the strange, blue-eyed Cro-Magnons who once ruled the Canary Islands, in spite of not having the technology to build a boat.

This article was submitted on 06/10/2006. It has been read 8744 times.

Las Palmas for consumers. An article by Anders Jonsson suggesting the best local products and produce to shop for and where you are most likely to find your purchases.

This article was submitted on 04/10/2006. It has been read 28259 times.

Actually, Mallorca isn't so much "hidden" as keeping a lower profile. Because, although it is a mass tourism destination, there is in fact far more "nice" than "nasty" Majorca.

This article was submitted on 03/10/2006. It has been read 23786 times.

"Flamenco is like our blues," said Miles Davis. Why? Because it uses distinctive musical techniques, scales and sounds, because the performer bares his soul to his audience, because it creates fervent devotion in its fans, because it is so immediately recognisable, because it is the result of a cultural fusion... A guest article by Chelsea Miller, who recommends that you discover flamenco in one of its strongholds - Seville.

This article was submitted on 03/09/2006. It has been read 12795 times.

The annual Feria del Caballo in Jerez de Frontera, Cádiz, Spain, is one of the highlights in the Spanish equestrian calendar, as well as one of Andalusia's most important festivals.

This article was submitted on 01/09/2006. It has been read 45372 times.

A ria is a submerged valley (yes, like a fjord), almost always an estuary. They are found all over the world, but are especially common in Galicia in the north-west of Spain, where most of the towns and cities are clustered on their banks. Galician rías are divided into two areas, the Rías Baixas, lower rias, on the west-facing Atlantic coasts of Pontevedra and La Coruña, and the Rías Altas, upper rias, on the north-facing Cantabrian coasts of La Coruña and Lugo. Here is a guest article by Jakob Jelling, telling you about the Rías Altas and why they are important.

This article was submitted on 12/08/2006. It has been read 14229 times.

The benign climate, volcanic formation and coral reefs of the Canary Islands make them a magnet for scuba divers. Here is a guest article by Helmut Mueller, an experienced diver who did an advanced course on Lanzarote and found its waters irresistible.

This article was submitted on 10/08/2006. It has been read 4189 times.

With its warm climate, exotic culture and customs like bullfighting and flamenco, Andalusia is the best-known region of Spain. And Sevilla is the essence of Andalusia, a city like no other in Europe. Here is a breathless guest article by Chelsea Miller, who simply adores Seville.

This article was submitted on 08/08/2006. It has been read 5595 times.

Saint James' Way, the pilgrimage roads to Santiago de Compostela in Spain's Galicia region, is one of the world's oldest tourist attractions. Believers have followed it for over a thousand years, encouraged by the promise of forgiveness of all their sins, while today the faithful are joined by trekkers, cyclists and tourists of all ages and nationalities, drawn by the beauty of the landscapes and picturesque villages through which the Camino runs. Here is a guest article by Alex Chang, a professional tour leader specialising in the Camino de Santiago.

This article was submitted on 01/08/2006. It has been read 38565 times.