2000 year old arches

Segovia, (Castilla y León) Spain

One of the best-preserved and most complete Roman monuments still standing today is the aqueduct of Segovia.  Until not that long ago, it was used to bring water into the city from the River Frío, located 17 km away.  The aqueduct itself, built with unmortared granite blocks, contains 166 arches and measures 638 meters in length.

This monument has always blown me away not only because of its size, but also because of its design and how they went about engineering this magnificent functional structure.

Mértola from a distance

Mértola, (Region of Alentejo) Portugal

In this picture you can see the castle of Muslim origin, but reconstructed after the town was taken over by the Christians.  The once mosque, now a church, sits just below the castle to the right.  There are many excavations taking place today exhibiting numerous archaeological finds from Roman houses that existed next to the wall of the city as well as other objects (pottery, glassware, metalwork, coins) from the almost 500 years of Islamic rule.  Mértola is a museum in and of itself!

Bulls on the beach!

Bolonia, (Cádiz - Andalucía) Spain

Bolonia is a slice of heaven, located at almost the southernmost tip of Spain on the Atlantic Ocean.  There is an enormous sand dune from which you can enjoy beautiful views of the endless beach below (2.4 miles long, 3.8 km and an average 230 feet wide, 70 m).  Also found next to the beach are the ruins of a Roman town, Baelo Claudia, considered to be the most complete Roman town ruins yet uncovered in Spain and then an important trading center between Europe and Africa.  Cows and bulls wander freely throughout this town of a little over 100 people.

This area is at the top of my list of places I have visited.  If you're looking for peace and tranquility, this is it!  The sound of the water alone is enough to make you want to stay forever.