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. Valencia, the third largest city in Spain, is an often overlooked Mediterranean wonder, boasting world-class cuisine, architecture, and entrepreneurial innovation. With a diverse population of over 1.6 million, Barcelona is markedly cosmopolitan, wearing its reputation for being Spain’s “Gateway to Europe” as a badge of considerable honor.

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. 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 specialty, a product of the area’s climate, history, and customs. 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.