Canary Islands Christmas & New Year

The busy port city of Andalusia, the Spain of gazpacho and paella, flamenco and fiesta, recaptured from the Moors of the 15th century after 800 years of conflict. Enjoy the panorama from Gibralfara Castle, and visit the Moorish Alcazaba fortress, the birthplace of Picasso, and a wine cellar to try the famous local dessert wines. Or travel to Granada, to the glorious Alhambra, whose proud 14th century palaces and exotic gardens are Spain's finest expression of Moorish art.

The busy port city of Andalusia, the Spain of gazpacho and paella, flamenco and fiesta, recaptured from the Moors of the 15th century after 800 years of conflict. Enjoy the panorama from Gibralfara Castle, and visit the Moorish Alcazaba fortress, the birthplace of Picasso, and a wine cellar to try the famous local dessert wines. Or travel to Granada, to the glorious Alhambra, whose proud 14th century palaces and exotic gardens are Spain's finest expression of Moorish art.

Dominated by ‘the Rock', a towering 1, 396 ft sentinel that guards the Straits, the Arabs' Gebel el Tarik or Tarik's Rock is today simply ‘Gib'. Resolutely British for nearly 300 years, its unique setting unites the oddly familiar - from the helmeted policemen to Marks & Spencer - with an extrovert Mediterranean mood. Test the shops and pubs in Main Street and Irish Town, take a cable-car ride to enjoy the grandstand views to a nearby Africa, and of course make a call on those Barbary apes!

The picturesque whitewashed capital of this mountainous Portuguese island, 350 miles off the coast of Africa, has a timeless charm, delightfully enhanced by a benign climate that fills this ‘floating garden' with the year round colours and perfumes of subtropical flowers and fruit. Much painted by Sir Winston Churchill, Madeira has been offering the British visitor a warm welcome for three centuries, its famous wine the perfect aid to total relaxation!

The picturesque whitewashed capital of this mountainous Portuguese island, 350 miles off the coast of Africa, has a timeless charm, delightfully enhanced by a benign climate that fills this ‘floating garden' with the year round colours and perfumes of subtropical flowers and fruit. Much painted by Sir Winston Churchill, Madeira has been offering the British visitor a warm welcome for three centuries, its famous wine the perfect aid to total relaxation!

La Palma’s small, yet pretty capital city - is one of the Canary Island’s true gems. Boasting colonial-style architecture, a swathe of charming beaches, restaurants and bars, Santa Cruz is typically Canarian and has something for everyone. Conquered by the King of Castile in the 15th century, Santa Cruz de La Palma was a key trading post between Spain and the Americas, and the city’s fascinating history can be explored in the historic quarter – one of Spain’s Historic-Artistic sites. The Naval Museum is a replica of Christopher Columbus's 15th-century Santa Maria sailing ship. Stunning palaces and sumptuous merchants’ houses butt up against the grand town hall, built during the reign of Phillip II. Religious buildings include the Renaissance-style Church of El Salvador, with a tower of volcanic stone, and the Church of Santo Domingo, which houses a superb collection of Flemish paintings.Show less The compact city centre is incredibly picturesque, and the newly redeveloped beach and pr…

Sophisticated Santa Cruz - Tenerife's capital - is built around boulevards and wide avenues that link elegant squares and parks. Well-preserved buildings feature in the old town, including the colonial Church of the Immaculate Conception and the 18th century Palacio de Carta, which has impressive Baroque and neoclassical features. Recently redesigned by the architects Herzog & de Meuron, the city’s largest square, Plaza de España, is a pleasant spot to lose a few hours. Lively beaches such as Playa de Las Americas are within easy reach of Santa Cruz too. Away from the capital, many of Tenerife's highlights await on tours, including the exotic Botanical Gardens or the mystical lava stone Pyramids of Guimar. Exploring the volcanic El Teide National Park to marvel at majestic Mount Teide, or even climb Spain's highest peak, is an unmissable experience.

The busy port city of Andalusia, the Spain of gazpacho and paella, flamenco and fiesta, recaptured from the Moors of the 15th century after 800 years of conflict. Enjoy the panorama from Gibralfara Castle, and visit the Moorish Alcazaba fortress, the birthplace of Picasso, and a wine cellar to try the famous local dessert wines. Or travel to Granada, to the glorious Alhambra, whose proud 14th century palaces and exotic gardens are Spain's finest expression of Moorish art.

The busy port city of Andalusia, the Spain of gazpacho and paella, flamenco and fiesta, recaptured from the Moors of the 15th century after 800 years of conflict. Enjoy the panorama from Gibralfara Castle, and visit the Moorish Alcazaba fortress, the birthplace of Picasso, and a wine cellar to try the famous local dessert wines. Or travel to Granada, to the glorious Alhambra, whose proud 14th century palaces and exotic gardens are Spain's finest expression of Moorish art.

Dominated by ‘the Rock', a towering 1, 396 ft sentinel that guards the Straits, the Arabs' Gebel el Tarik or Tarik's Rock is today simply ‘Gib'. Resolutely British for nearly 300 years, its unique setting unites the oddly familiar - from the helmeted policemen to Marks & Spencer - with an extrovert Mediterranean mood. Test the shops and pubs in Main Street and Irish Town, take a cable-car ride to enjoy the grandstand views to a nearby Africa, and of course make a call on those Barbary apes!

The picturesque whitewashed capital of this mountainous Portuguese island, 350 miles off the coast of Africa, has a timeless charm, delightfully enhanced by a benign climate that fills this ‘floating garden' with the year round colours and perfumes of subtropical flowers and fruit. Much painted by Sir Winston Churchill, Madeira has been offering the British visitor a warm welcome for three centuries, its famous wine the perfect aid to total relaxation!

The picturesque whitewashed capital of this mountainous Portuguese island, 350 miles off the coast of Africa, has a timeless charm, delightfully enhanced by a benign climate that fills this ‘floating garden' with the year round colours and perfumes of subtropical flowers and fruit. Much painted by Sir Winston Churchill, Madeira has been offering the British visitor a warm welcome for three centuries, its famous wine the perfect aid to total relaxation!

La Palma’s small, yet pretty capital city - is one of the Canary Island’s true gems. Boasting colonial-style architecture, a swathe of charming beaches, restaurants and bars, Santa Cruz is typically Canarian and has something for everyone. Conquered by the King of Castile in the 15th century, Santa Cruz de La Palma was a key trading post between Spain and the Americas, and the city’s fascinating history can be explored in the historic quarter – one of Spain’s Historic-Artistic sites. The Naval Museum is a replica of Christopher Columbus's 15th-century Santa Maria sailing ship. Stunning palaces and sumptuous merchants’ houses butt up against the grand town hall, built during the reign of Phillip II. Religious buildings include the Renaissance-style Church of El Salvador, with a tower of volcanic stone, and the Church of Santo Domingo, which houses a superb collection of Flemish paintings.Show less The compact city centre is incredibly picturesque, and the newly redeveloped beach and pr…

Sophisticated Santa Cruz - Tenerife's capital - is built around boulevards and wide avenues that link elegant squares and parks. Well-preserved buildings feature in the old town, including the colonial Church of the Immaculate Conception and the 18th century Palacio de Carta, which has impressive Baroque and neoclassical features. Recently redesigned by the architects Herzog & de Meuron, the city’s largest square, Plaza de España, is a pleasant spot to lose a few hours. Lively beaches such as Playa de Las Americas are within easy reach of Santa Cruz too. Away from the capital, many of Tenerife's highlights await on tours, including the exotic Botanical Gardens or the mystical lava stone Pyramids of Guimar. Exploring the volcanic El Teide National Park to marvel at majestic Mount Teide, or even climb Spain's highest peak, is an unmissable experience.

With its feel of mainland-Spain, spiced up with an eclectic mix of Asian and African cultures, Las Palmas is one of the Canary Island's most popular destinations, attracting sun-seekers who come to relax on its golden-sand beaches and soak up the gorgeous, year-round climate of Gran Canaria. Founded over 500 years ago, Las Palmas is the largest city in the Canary Islands, and has three gorgeous beaches, including Playa de las Canteras, regarded as one of the world's best beaches, to enjoy. Vegueta, the oldest quarter, is both atmospheric and fashionable, with extensive historical architecture plus a fine selection of boutiques and smart bars. At its centre stand the twin towers of Santa Ana Cathedral; started in 1500 but still unfinished, the cathedral has a unique mix of Renaissance, Gothic and Neoclassical styles in its construction. In Plaza Santa Ana, bronze statues of dogs – the Romans named the islands after legendary canines – stand guard over the 17th-century Palacio Regental,…

The busy port city of Andalusia, the Spain of gazpacho and paella, flamenco and fiesta, recaptured from the Moors of the 15th century after 800 years of conflict. Enjoy the panorama from Gibralfara Castle, and visit the Moorish Alcazaba fortress, the birthplace of Picasso, and a wine cellar to try the famous local dessert wines. Or travel to Granada, to the glorious Alhambra, whose proud 14th century palaces and exotic gardens are Spain's finest expression of Moorish art.