As the excitement of the FIFA Women's World Cup reaches its peak, many eyes are now on the Spanish National Team. The Matildas fought valiantly and now it's Spain's turn to show its skill and passion on the field. 

While many wait to cheer on the finals this Sunday, Spain asks supporters to take inspiration from the cities and towns where the players of La Roja (“the red one”) hail from:

Central Spain

Salma Paralluelo was born in Zaragoza – located between Madrid and Barcelona, this is one of Spain’s true hidden gems. The city has two majestic cathedrals, a fortified Islamic palace in the city centre, monumental remains of the Roman Caesar Augusta, Renaissance-style palace houses, unique treasures of the work of Francisco de Goya, emblems of modern architecture and one of the most diverse gastronomic scenes in Spain.

Alba Redondo was born in Albacete in the region of Castille la Mancha. It is the largest city of the region and is home to remarkable Gothic and Renaissance styled architectures such as the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist and Posada del Rosario - a compound declared a National Historic-Artistic Monument for its pure Castilian type of accommodation. Visit this city in September to see how its quiet corners are awakened by the bustle brought by its holidays and festivities. 

Jennifer Hermoso and Claudia Zornoza are both from Spain’s vibrant capital of Madrid. This is one of the world’s great cities for food, fashion, culture and nightlife. New hotels, restaurants and cultural highlights, there’s always something different to explore here.

Southern Spain

Centre back Rocio Galvez was born in Cordoba, another one of Spain’s hidden gems. This lesser-known city (the city of flowers) is famous for its Great Mosque, its World Heritage listed historic old town and its lively taverns with mesmerising flamenco shows.

Teammates Olga Carmona and Irene Guerrero both hail from Seville. In this southern city, travellers will find the largest Gothic cathedral in Europe, a bustling old town and cutting-edge architecture, luxury hotels and a diverse food scene. Seville is also home to the world’s largest   wooden structure, known as the Metropol Parasol or the Setas de Sevilla.  

Northern Spain

Both Athenea del Castillo and Teresa Abelleira are from the north of Spain.

Athenea’s hometown is Solares located near Santander, where travellers will find a hidden spa town, complete with Roman pool and the Fuencaliente spring (the source of the famous Solares bottled mineral water).

Spain’s midfielder, Teresa Abelleira was born in Pontevedra. A lesser-known part located between Santiago de Compostela and Vigo, this historic fishing village of medieval ruins is known best for its seafood-based gastronomy.

Eastern Spain

Yecla,  a small town in the region of Murcia, in southern Spain, is the birthplace of Eva Navarro. Here travellers will find the Yecla Wine Route, which takes in traditional underground cellars to more modern producers, as well as the colourful Festival of San Isidro Labrador, celebrating the patron saint of farmers.

Barcelona is Spain’s second biggest city, famed for its Gaudi works and Mediterranean lifestyle. No further introduction is required, but Alexia Putellas, Maria Perez and Ona Batlle were all born here. 

Spanish footballer Aitana Bonmati comes from Vilanova I la Geltru, a little medieval coastal town located close to Barcelona. This city is home to several museums and is also a great spot for water sports, including scuba diving and sailing.

The Islands

Goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez comes from Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, one of the largest islands amongst the eight main islands that make up the Canary Islands. Located only 145km from the coast of Africa, here visitors will find the House of Columbus museum and the nearby expansive sand dunes of Maspalomas. This volcanic island should not be missed.  

Felanitx in the Balearic Islands is the birthplace of Mariona Caldentey. The crystal-clear waters of this sandy cove on the much-loved island of Majorca offer an ideal swimming spot for families with young children. 

Spain is home to many talented sports stars and is a sports-loving nation across the board. It plays host to a number of world-renowned sports events year on year, including the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix, which is held annually in June in Barcelona, and Rugby fans will be uniting in Madrid next year in May / June for the Rugby Sevens. The 37th Americas Cup, will also be held in Barcelona in 2024, from August to October.

For more information on events in Spain visit www.spain.info/en/ or for inspiration follow @spain on Instagram.

ENDS 

About Spain Tourism Board

The Spain Tourism Board promotes Spain as a one-of-a-kind leisure and business destination in the markets of South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand. We support the travel industry by providing market intelligence, networking opportunities, product updates and training. We work in collaboration with the private sector and the autonomous regions in Spain. In addition to activities targeted to travel trade professionals, we market to consumers through social media information, a customer-oriented website, videos and online content, in order to give them a glimpse into the experience of visiting Spain.