La Gomera has secured a place among the world's 25 most peaceful islands, ranking 25th in the latest BookRetreats index. The study assessed around 100 island destinations using satellite and cartographic data, with La Gomera emerging as the only Spanish island to make the list. The result comes amid growing demand for slower-paced travel, with searches for quiet destinations rising sharply as more travellers seek nature, tranquillity and less crowded alternatives.

Santillana del Mar is called the town of three lies because it is neither "holy" (santi) nor "flat" (llana) and, despite its name, it is not by the sea (del mar).

Located in Alaior, Menorca, Camping Son Bou, part of the Yelloh! Village Les Baléares network, has been welcoming visitors since 1996. Designed with families in mind, it combines a range of accommodation options with activities for all ages, making it an excellent base for exploring the island. Set within 70,000 m2 of pine forest and green spaces, the campsite blends seamlessly into its natural surroundings, with pitches nestled among the vegetation to provide privacy and a closer connection to nature.

On Barcelona's waterfront stands one of the city's most recognisable buildings: the W Barcelona, better known as the Vela Hotel. Designed by renowned architect Ricardo Bofill and opened in 2009, its sail-shaped silhouette has become a defining feature of the Barceloneta skyline. Wrapped in glass and positioned at the edge of the Mediterranean, the hotel was conceived to maximise sea views, making the surrounding landscape an essential part of the experience.

From the air, it resembles a giant stone wave frozen beside the Mediterranean, its form tracing the curve of the coastline and creating a striking image within the urban landscape.This is not a sculpture, but the seafront promenade along Poniente Beach in Benidorm.

Every summer, alongside the Blue Flags awarded for beach quality, a less desirable distinction also appears: Black Flags. These highlight environmental problems such as pollution, untreated discharges and poor coastal management. In 2026, notable cases include Portmán Bay and the Mar Menor in Murcia, the coastline of L’Ametlla de Mar in Tarragona and Usgo Beach in Cantabria. Areas affected by urban development pressure include Isla Cristina’s Central Beach in Huelva and Los Berengueles Beach in Almuñécar, Granada.

With more than five kilometres of unspoilt sand in the heart of Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, this wild beach in Almería is a paradise for swimming, diving and flamingo spotting.

In the Prades Mountains, the terrain leads visitors down through rocky outcrops and dense vegetation.

In the heart of Catalonia, a narrow tongue of rock rises vertically amid forests, supporting the remains of a unique medieval fortress.

This small Catalan town, with barely 70 inhabitants, preserves stone streets, a fortress over a thousand years old and legends that remain alive underground.Follow idealista/news on the WhatsApp channel (in Spanish)Some places still retain the essence of the past.