The pint-sized nation of Andorra is tucked in the Pyrenees, where it spends its time ensuring that the needs of its guests are comfortably met. The tourist-based economy has propelled this once poor nation to a level of prosperity that belies its small size and population. Andorra is a land of duty free shopping, whose citizens reap the benefits of the tourism industry through tax free living.
Skiing is king here in Andorra, which reputedly holds the best slopes in the Pyrenees. Andorra is dotted with villages and hamlets along its main road. Two mountain streams converge at the country’s capital, Andorra la Vella, where the government is housed in a building dating from the 16th century, which still holds everything from wall paintings to kitchen utensils, from that era. Escaldes-Engordany is a parish of ancient villages and modern boutiques, as well as a thermal hot spring that inspired the creation of Europe’s largest thermoludic spa, the Caldea. The Art Vall is a gallery featuring the works of Andorran and international painters, sculptors and photographers. In addition to skiing, Andorra has winter facilities for snowmobiling, skating, ice disco and hockey, as well as summer spots for fishing, hunting and hiking.
