The Spanish Pyrenees rise majestically from the rolling green foothills of Northwest Spain. Both a working pastoral idyll and an internationally acclaimed destination for outdoor activities enthusiasts, the small mountainside hamlets and larger valley villages preserve a rich rural tapestry that is far from the stereotypical whitewashed towns of the south. Valencia, third largest city in Spain, is an often overlooked Mediterranean wonder, boasting world-class cuisine, architecture, and entrepreneurial innovation, all without the overtourism which looms over other Spanish destinations.

Castellano, or Castilian Spanish, is the official language of Spain, although other languages are spoken in different regions, including Catalan in Cataluña. In Valencia, a Catalan dialect called Valenciano is spoken in addition to castellano.

Daytime temperatures in Barcelona and Valencia during the summer months range from 80–90ºF/27–35ºC, although it is much cooler in the mountains, where temperatures hover around 65-70ºF/21ºC in the afternoon, and can sometimes dip below 50ºF at night.

Each region of Spain is famous for its own regional specialty, a product of each region’s climate, history, and customs. While northern Spanish cuisine is a hearty reflection of the farming industry and proximity to the Atlantic coast, with specialties like queso manchego and tortilla de patata, Valencia is the birthplace of paella and showcases a wide variety of seafood and other Mediterranean dishes.