A land of rugged natural beauty, unique Moorish influence and warm hospitality, Spain can feel wildly different to its European neighbours to the north. Madrid, a cosmopolitan city of Baroque architecture and staunch Spanish nationalism, rivals the beachside appeal and outlandish architecture of Barcelona for tourists’ attention. While the southern state of Andalusia with its olive oil and jamon iberico, and the Basque region in the north with its pintxos and la tomatina festival, each claim their own unique slice of culinary tradition and cultural prowess. Spend even a short sojourn in the Spanish sun and it’s easy to see why this country has long been a source of inspiration for artists and writers, from Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso to Ernest Hemmingway and George Elliot.