Spain

This is the best travel guide I have ever used for any country. The photos are spectacular and comprehensive beyond any expectation. Clearly tabbed by region and covering towns and villages covered sparsely if at all by other guides, this guide also allows the reader to learn basics of history, architecture, art, food, wine, and adventure with cross-references to the tutorials as you tour the country.An adventurous independent traveler should not be without this book! Armchair travelers will also find this the next best thing to being there. Viva Eyewitness!

My wife is from Spain and I have spend lots of time there. I have many guide books, but when I saw this book, I knew I needed it. It has very good discussions on history, art, food, etc. The maps and cut-away diagrams are very good and informative. It not only gives info on the main cities but also points out many of the out-of-the-way places that really add to a visit to Spain.

I spent countless hours in the bookstore preparing for my first trip to Europe (Italy). I bought books from several sources. I received an Eyewitness Travel Guide for Florence as a gift and I have been hooked since. Now they are the only book I buy for planning my itenerary. Recently I began planning a vacation to Spain. The book on Spain is formatted with the same pictorials, graphic, and short summaries that I have come to enjoy. The book covers all regions of Spain, each with a dedicated chapter. The introduction gives you a history of the country, weather,and background information on art, architecture, food, sports and seasonal activities. The chapters by region start with a map of key points of interests and are followed by descriptions of each site including hours, location, contact info, and accessibility. For major attractions 3-d views and points of interest are noted. The book contains photos of many attractions and floor plans or cutaway views of key architectural sights. The back of the book has a hotel and restaurant guide. In the past, I have found the maps to be good for location reference but not navigation. You will need to buy a map. The hotel information does not provide adequate descriptions or any photos, so you may want to purchase a companion book for accomodations reference.

This book is wonderful and visually exciting! Its color pictures, maps and legends to historical sites make it a "must have" for travel to Spain, but what is even more exciting is the timeline detailing the country's history, from being part of the Roman Empire to Moorish influence, right up to present day. Among the myriad of covered topics, there are souvenir and shopping recommendations, information on medical care, a calender of festivals, and even a weather guide. The indespensible information and the sheer beauty of the book make it a real page turner. You're not bogged down by too long explanations or endless rambling. It whets your appetite for the culture and doesn't let you down. Going to Spain? Don't go without this book.

As a Canadian living in Switzerland, I find myself travelling all over Europe and I always buy the Eyewitness Travel Guides! They are the bests travel Guides available. The one on Spain is very complete...even the smallest villages are included! GREAT GUIDE!