Experience Spain with AIFS Abroad

Barcelona is Spain’s second largest city and its most cosmopolitan. From the surreal Modernist buildings, among them Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia church, to the dynamic business center and the bustling seafront looking out onto the Mediterranean, it is easy to understand Barcelona’s immense popularity. The city’s origins can be traced back to the first century BC and the Roman colony of Barcino; 2,000 years of history have left their mark on Barcelona’s architectural, artistic and cultural heritage. Its Mediterranean climate, excellent location for international travel and feel for the avant-garde make Barcelona the perfect place to study or intern abroad.

Granada, perched between the dazzling white peaks of the Sierra Nevada and the glistening blue Mediterranean of the Costa del Sol, has a certain cosmopolitan air, but still retains the feel of a small, Andalusian town. The people of Granada are friendly and welcoming. A direct legacy of three cultures living together in harmony—Christians, Moors and Jews—has formed the openness of the Andalusian personality. Traces of Moorish, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque can be found in every corner. Buildings and monuments such as the Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens, the Cathedral and Royal Chapel, the Arab baths, the Bañuelo and the Carthusian monastery reflect each of these styles and attract thousands of visitors from all around the world year after year. 

Madrid’s non-stop marcha (rhythm) courses through its streets and beguiles with its welcoming and open character. As the capital of Spain, it is a cosmopolitan city of four million. It’s easy to feel at home here. It is a city of contrasts where royal palaces, medieval mansions and timeless plazas stand beside modern architectural gems and where you can enjoy traditional Spanish dishes that have endured for generations or be tempted by the new cuisine of Spain’s current food revolution. Madrid’s artistic heritage is ever-present, as seen in the world-class galleries of the Museo del Prado, Centro de Arte Reína Sofía and the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza where you’ll find masterpieces by Goya, Velázquez, Picasso and Dalí. Madrid embraces its visitors as much as it embraces life. 

Salamanca is a city built around the university. Like other famous European universities such as Oxford, Cambridge or Bologna, Salamanca exudes a unique medieval charm and a vibrant student life that combine to make it such a dynamic place to study. Established in 1218, the university is Spain’s oldest and world-renowned when it comes to the teaching of Spanish as a second language. But the university is not the only reason why you should choose to come here, visit as well for the monumental “golden city” of Salamanca. You can walk everywhere and the city offers a rich arts, sports and culture scene for visiting students and locals alike.  

Seville fits the bill for the archetypal Spain of intimate flamenco venues, crowded tapas bars and orange-tree scented squares busy with the throng of cheerful “Sevillanos”. The lively historic center encompasses the Real Alcázar (Royal Palace), Cathedral and Giralda Tower and the Barrio Santa Cruz (historic Jewish Quarter) and embodies the city’s rich cultural heritage as a Moorish capital and a prosperous 16th-century trading port. Seville’s reputation for celebration, drama and a love of life make it an exciting and engaging destination for study abroad. There is plenty to do, see and explore during a semester here…”Sevilla le da la bienvenida!”

Valencia has many draws, from its location on the Mediterranean with its lively beach and port area, to its buzzing cultural, culinary and nightlife attractions. In recent years it has become known as a city of innovation, captured most strikingly in the iconic, futuristic architecture of La Ciudad de las Artes y Ciencias (City of Arts and Sciences) built on the old town’s former riverbed and Europe’s largest cultural complex and park area. It still maintains its heritage with the historic Carmen neighborhood, the art nouveau Central Market and La Lonja, the 15th-century silk exchange, demonstrating the city’s ability to combine the old and the new. Don’t miss the chance to sample paella in the city which invented it and in spring see the city come alive with noise and color in Las Fallas, one of Spain’s biggest fiestas.