Spanish holidays
continue to be popular with Brit tourists. Offering ideal weather, authentic towns and villages, good food, exciting nightlife and friendly people, all set in beautiful surroundings, it's no wonder why millions of Brits flock to the country for their holidays each year. Aside from the city attractions in Madrid, Barcelona and Seville, Spain has many lesser known gems to offer the inquisitive traveller.

Ronda
Ronda is an old town in the Spanish province of Andalucia. Situated in the south of the country, below Seville, it is a charming town in the Spanish countryside. With a population of 35,000 it is not overcrowded like some of the cities and although it is popular with tourists out on a daytrip, it somehow manages to keep its distinct relaxing atmosphere intact. The oldest bullfighting ring in Spain, the Plaza de Toros can be found in Ronda, which dates back to the end of the 18th century.

Alquezar
Alquezar is an authentic village in the province of Huesca, in the self-contained community of Aragon. Situated within the Sierra de Guara National Park, the village was built around a castle and has a population of over 300 people. Since Alquezar is situated within a national park there are many outdoor activities tourists can enjoy besides exploring the town itself. Rock climbing, trekking and abseiling can all be done in and around the nearby Rio Vero canyon. The surrounding area to the south towards Barbastro is an area known for its vineyards and is well worth a visit if you are interested in wines and wine making.

Peniscola
Peniscola is a picturesque seafront town in the province of Castellon on the eastern Mediterranean coast. It is a fortified harbour, complete with lighthouse, and is built on rocky headland which is joined to the mainland by a narrow strip of land. The town has an authentic castle, which dates back to the 14th century and many of the other buildings are architecturally impressive. Peniscola hosts an annual comedy festival which is popular with Spaniards, foreign actors, filmmakers and tourists alike.
With so many tourist resorts fit to burst with ever-swelling numbers, one of the best ways to enjoy Spain is by staying in your own private villa. For a peaceful holiday experience you could rent a villa in a secluded part of the countryside and walk to its local villages, perhaps going further afield by car to take in the more bustling cities. Transfers are easy to organise, with companies such as holiday taxis offering cheap rates.