5 Unique Things to Do While in Spain

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Spain is a vast country with a wide range of local customs and practices. All of the different provinces of Spain make it a hugely cultured nation with a lot to offer. The diverse nature of Spain makes it a perfect country for an extended visit or a study abroad opportunity.  Spain has the Pyrenees Mountains to the north and then a Mediterranean coastline as well as an Atlantic coastline. It has many valleys that are famous for their wine and history, and cities that are known for their festivals.

Misconceptions and Culture Shocks While in Spain

There are many misconceptions about Spain that still permeate. Spanish laws are as varied as the society and country regions they represent. The Spanish are a friendly people who have a more relaxed view on personal spaces so they tend to stand closer and be more affectionate in public. They are also more direct when at bars by simply shouting “¡Oye!” to get the bartenders attention. Contrary to popular belief, the famed Flamenco dancing isn’t a common dance throughout Spain and is usually only found in the southern region. Even bullfighting these days is considered unpopular and most Spaniards are against it.

As you get used to your surroundings and the culture of Spain, you will find there are plenty of well-known Spanish gems in the area. Although these places are great to visit, make sure you check out some of the unique and overlooked attractions, some of which I have outlined below.

Calder Mercury Fountain

Image via Flickr by StevenBrace

A beautiful but deadly attraction, the Calder Mercury Fountain isn’t a fountain one would want to dip their feet into. The fountain is a one of kind piece of art designed to honor the men who worked/died in the mercury mines at Almadén. The fountain showcases flowing liquid mercury and is stored behind protective glass in the Fundació Joan Miró Art Museum in Barcelona.

Egypt in Spain

Image via Trover by Carolzinha

The Templo de Debod is an authentic ancient Egyptian temple that is located in Madrid and is one of the few pieces of ancient Egyptian architecture that can be seen outside of Egypt. Not originally built in Spain, the Templo was a gift from the Egyptian government to Spain with their assistance saving Egypt’s cultural heritage during the building of the Aswan High Dam.

A Train Though Mars

Travel to the South West of Spain to take a mining train on the Rio Tinto railway. The Rio Tinto is one of the oldest mines in the world and is referred to as “Mars on Earth,” with the area having a red color due to the high concentration of iron in the earth.

Sleeping Skulls

Hidden among the hills of Estella is a small park known as El Parque de los Desvelados, or Park of the Sleepless. The park is home to massive skull sculptures made by a local artist named Luis Garcia Vidal, who created the skulls between 1971 and his death in 2009.

The Witches of Zugarramurdi

The northwestern town of Zugarramurdi is known for its occult activity of the Basque witches who were tried as part of the Spanish Inquisition. It is home to the Cuevas de las Brujas (Witch caves) and Museo de las Brujas (Museum of the Witches).

Disclaimer:  This post is sponsored by Go Euro.

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