Spain for

Sports Fans

The home of Nadal, Alonso and Garcia, Spain has produced countless sports stars – and little wonder. From the tennis court to the football pitch, games here are played in the sun and cheered on by passionate crowds. So why not join the locals at the next match or even have a go yourself.

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t Players from Real Madrid and FC Barcelona battle for the ball during a match

A Tale of Two Cities

Nothing in Spain – not food, religion nor politics – elicits the same passion as football. This is most evident during El Clásico, when Spain’s most famous football teams – arch-rivals Real Madrid (www.realmadrid.com) and FC Barcelona – meet on the pitch. Catching a match – whether in a stadium or in a packed bar full of frenetic fans – is an unmissable Spanish experience.

Shoot Some Hoops

Here in Spain, basketball is almost – but not quite – as popular as football. Top teams include Real Madrid (www.realmadrid.com/basketball), who won the 2018 Euroleague, arch-rivals FC Barcelona (www.fcbarcelona.com/basketball), and the Basque team Saski Baskonia (www.baskonia.com), who have a dedicated fan base.

Acing It

The legendary Rafael Nadal has boosted the popularity of tennis across Spain, and you can catch the quick-footed Mallorcan leaping across the clay at the Madrid or Barcelona Opens. “Rafa” got you inspired? Then pick up a racket yourself. There are plenty of tennis resorts across the country, but our favourite is La Manga Club (lamangaclub.com). One of Europe’s top sports resorts, La Manga’s 28-court tennis centre has hosted Davis Cup matches and runs an intensive coaching programme. If you’d prefer a casual knockaround, tourist information offices can provide lists of local courts.

Par-Tee Time

Spain is Europe’s most popular golfing destination and has more than 500 courses, including Real Club Valderrama (www.valderrama.com), La Reserva Club (www.lareservaclubsotogrande.com), Real Club de Golf Las Brisas (www.realclubdegolflasbrisas.com), Son Gual (www.son-gual.com) and Alcanada (www.golf-alcanada.com). Try to make par at any one of these courses on a holiday with Golf Breaks (www.golfbreaks.com).

Wheelie Good Fun

The Vuelta de España is one of Europe’s most prestigious cycle races and is an inspiring spectacle (www.lavuelta.es). If you prefer to cycle yourself, there are scores of bike rental outlets and you could attempt the notoriously difficult Los Machucos in Cantabria, which rises 921 m (3,022 ft) and has gradients of 28 per cent.

Did You Know?

Marca, devoted to football, is Spain’s second most popular newspaper.

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