There is also evidence suggesting that during the Late Bronze Age it was occupied by a society characterized by metallurgy. More than 2,000 years ago, Cordoba was once home to an Iberian city located on a hill now named Quemados. Despite a lack of archaeological information – most of the ruins are buried beneath new buildings – they were able to digitally reconstruct the geomorphology of the area where Cordoba is now located before it was covered with buildings. Researchers reanalyzed relief maps obtained by a 2016 LiDAR flight conducted by the National Geographic Institute in order to understand how the southcentral Spanish city has evolved through the ages. Now, using light detection and ranging technology, LiDAR for short, researchers have created three-dimensional maps of the region that digitally reconstruct three cities built on top of one another over the course of more than 2,000 years. Indeed, so densely do they grow, they've had to be thinned in order to prevent forest fires.Cordoba, Spain, is a modern city home to more than 300,000 but its roots date back thousands of years. The province of Tarragona is home to the Ebro Delta, one of the biggest wetland areas in the western Mediterranean. Time seems to stand still in this area with the village of Chinamada, for example, famous for its cave houses. Which explains its status as one of the major laurel forests on the Canary Islands. The north-east of Tenerife is a lot wetter than the arid south of the island where you'll find the majority of its resorts. Even if you don't, there are few more special places in Spain than this biosphere reserve. For whilst you're unlikely to see picnicking teddy bears, you could well see real-life brown bears. If you go down to these woods today, you might be in for a surprise. Closer to the white hilltop villages of Algotocin and Gaucin, you'll spot yew too. As you'll notice if you take a walk along the Paseo de los Pinsapos above Estepona, home to the Spanish fir. Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja, AndaluciaĪh, the Costa de Sol. It's a mere 30-minute drive from Pamplona. Indeed its second only in size to the Black Forest as regards the largest beech and fir forests of Europe. You'll also see plenty of beeches in Navarre's Irati Forest, along with firs. The former you'll see at La Fageda d'en Jorda, a curious forest which features tossols, mounds which can grow up to 20 metres in height. Which you'll encounter if you take one of the 28 available walking routes. The fertile soil of La Garrotxa Volcanic Natural Park has resulted in both beech and oak forests. Parc Natural de la Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa, Catalonia Alongside aleppo pines which thrive in the balmy Mediterranean climate. Where mighty oaks from little acorns grow. Overlooking Barcelona, you'll find the mountainous Natural Park of the Serra de Collserola. Parc Natural de la Serra de Collserola, Catalonia You'll also find some juniper trees here. However, the rest of the park, which encompasses nearly 47km, features dense Canary Island pine forest. The 8-km wide, 2-km deep cauldron dominates the Caldera de Taburiente National Park. Parque Nacional de la Caldera de Taburiente, La Palma Where you'll walk through forests made up of beech trees and silver firs in the Spanish Pyrenees. None more so than on the valley floor of the Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park. Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido, Aragon
And when the mist rolls in, there are few more magical places to be on Earth. 70% of which is covered in laurel forest. Here, you'll find the Garajonay National Park. For a very different Canaries, head over to one of the least touristy islands, La Gomera. Think of the Canary Islands and you imagine sipping lazily on a cocktail by the pool or getting some serious holiday reading done on the beach. Where ancient forests offer the chance to explore a country that's greener than you first thought. Escape the resorts with a journey into the interior.
Whilst Spain conjures up images of mile upon mile of golden sand, there's more to it than its beaches.