Many sun-starved tourists don't look far beyond their nearest beach, but there’s far more to Spain than its boozy resorts. This was the country that had built an empire across south and central America. Spain has escaped the widespread damage of Europe's 20th century conflicts. Almost all Spain's provincial towns and cities have retained their medieval city centres, with narrow winding alleys keeping cars at bay, perfect for an atmospheric evening stroll and a plate or two of tapas at a local bar. Such towns are so common it would be hard to pick out just a few. Toledo perhaps, home to the famous steel knives, where you can also tour the house of El Greco, or Gerona, in the heart of Catalonia. But almost any town will do: the pretty whitewashed villages of Andalucia, or the fortified hilltop villages along the Mediterranean coast and the Balearic Islands, all built high to avoid pirates.