Spain is a great country for road trips and there are plenty of routes to choose from. The bigger cities have metro systems that are affordable and easy to use and there are buses to get around in the smaller towns too. You can also take the train if you want to be more comfortable and cut down on your travel time. It is worth mentioning that driving in Spain can be a bit challenging because of the narrow streets and lack of parking spaces, but if you stick to the main routes it will not be too much of a problem.
The early 20th century saw a number of profound problems that shook the foundations of the state. The population had doubled in a land of limited resources, the economy was stagnating and the latifundism that characterised Spain’s rural areas was hindering industrialisation. The emergence of new political forms threw the conservative-liberal two-party system into crisis and there were significant expressions of social unrest, such as the Tragic Week of 1909 in Barcelona and resistance to drafting troops for the war in Morocco.
In the field of politics, the liberals legislated in accordance with individual-egalitarian principles and abolished privileges and legal exemptions, dissolved judicial domains and dissociated entailed estates from the church and local authorities, vastly increasing the amount of land available for market production. Moreover, they believed in free trade and sought to achieve it by breaking down absolutism.
However, the failure of these measures to bring about a quick and substantial economic recovery, the worsening of the political climate and the restoration of Alfonso XII’s fortunes spelt the end of this period of liberal reforms. A disillusioned and frightened liberal intelligentsia turned to extremism.
The first of these was petty nationalism, which sought to preserve the traditional territorial structure of Spain and to impose the agrarian exploitation that had characterised the Carlist regime. The second was the federalist movement, which sought to revive fuerismo or, alternatively, claims for territorial autonomy – such as that of Catalonia or the Basque Country – within a united Spain.
Whether you’re looking for an adventurous road trip through the mountains of Andalucia or a slower pace of exploration on the Costa Tropical, Spain is a fantastic place to visit. From the famous Running with the Bulls in Pamplona to the food fight of a lifetime at La Tomatina to the spectacular fire displays at Las Fallas, there are so many incredible festivals to experience in this gorgeous country.
If you’re looking for a trip to explore Andalucia, we recommend spending at least 2 days in Cordoba exploring the Mezquita and the beautiful city centre. Then, head to Seville where you can spend the following day visiting the Cathedral and Alcazar.