This mesmerising country is situated in
the southwestern Europe and is known for its intense cultural, artistic
activity and a very lively nightlife. One should not miss the Prado museum
which houses one of Europe’s leading collections of paintings, and
Parque del Retiro Madrid’s largest and most beautiful park.
Spain is a spectacular and diverse country with the north resembling the
rolling, green hills of Ireland and the south giving one a touch of Moroccan
landscapes and architecture. Its glorious history is reflected in its
prehistoric cave paintings, Moorish palaces, ancient castles, Roman ruins,
Gothic and Renaissance cathedrals as well as some very unique modern
architecture. The above mentioned features give Spain its charismatic appeal
attracting people from all parts of the globe.
Spain is made up of regions with diverse languages, cultures, cuisines and
art. These regions include: Andalucía, Aragon, Asturias, Basque
Country, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Cantabria, Castilla La
Mancha, Castilla León, Catalonia, Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja,
Madrid, Murcia, Navarra and Valencia.
Fact File
Official name : Spain
Government : parliamentary monarchy
Nationality : Spanish
Capital city : Madrid
Ethnic groups : Castilians, Basques, Catalans, Galicians, Moroccans,
South Americans
Location : Spain is located in southwestern Europe, occupying the
greater part of the Iberian Peninsula, and is bounded on the north by the
Bay of Biscay, France, and Andorra; on the east by the Mediterranean Sea; on
the south by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean; and on the west
by Portugal and the Atlantic Ocean
Continent : Europe
Currency
: Euro; 1 Euro = 52.443 Indian Rupee = 1.2047 US $ = 0.678141
GBP(subject to change).
Population : 42.7 million
Languages : Catalan, Basque, Gallegan, Spanish
Religion : 85% Roman Catholic; 2% Jewish; 2% Muslim
Area : 505,000 sq km
Famous for : Monuments, artists, cuisines
Major cities : Madrid, Cordoba, Granada, Barcelona
Clothing : Summer : cotton;
Winters
: woolens
Major events : La Tamborrada, Carnaval Las Fallas, Semana Santa,
Feria de Abril, La Tomatina, Running of the Bulls (Fiesta de San Fermín)
Semana Grande
Things to Buy : anything
Things to do : Sightseeing and shopping
Cuisine : Paella (saffron rice), Fabada Asturiana (bean stew),
Mariscos (shellfish), Gazpacho Soup, Lechazo asado (roasted milk-fed lamb),
Chuletillas (grilled chops of milk-fed lamb), Tortilla de patatas (egg
omelette, with potatoes), Chorizo (spicy sausage), Jamón serrano
(cured ham), Cocido (a chickpea and meat stew of sorts), Arroz a la Cubana
Visa Permit
Visa: Not Required
Requirements: U.S. passport holders may stay up to 90 days
without visa.
Culture
Spain is famously known for Flamenco music and dance, bullfights, fantastic
beaches and a great weather. The dominant figures of the golden age were the
Toledo-based artists El Greco and Diego Velasquez. Francisco Goya emerged in
the 18th century as Spain's most renowned painter who produced some great
portraits of royalty. The art world in the early 20th century was influenced
by a remarkable group of Spanish artists: Pablo Picasso, Juan Gris, Joan Miró
and Salvador Dalí. Spain's architecture ranges from prehistoric
monuments in Minorca in the Balearic Islands, to the Roman ruins of Mérida
and Tarragona, the decorative Lonja in Seville, Mudéjar buildings,
Gothic cathedrals, castles, fantastic modernist monuments and Gaudí's
intricate fabulist sculptures. The guitar was also invented in Andalusia in
the 1790s.
When to go
The
best months to visit are May, June and September (plus April and October in
the south). At these times there is good weather. Winter along the southern
and southeastern Mediterranean coasts is mild, while in the height of summer
you can retreat to the northwest, to beaches or high mountains anywhere to
escape excessive heat. The best festivals are mostly concentrated between
Semana Santa (the week leading up to Easter Sunday) and September to
October.
Climate
Spain lies in the temperate zone but experiences variety of climates. The
Cantabrian mountains is responsible for well-defined climatological dividing
zone. To the north of this range, i.e. in the narrow northern strip, where
the Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia are situated, lies the
rain prone arae, with a maritime climate, with only slight changes in
temperature, mild winters and cool summers, an almost constantly cloudy sky
and frequent rainfall, although less so during the summer. To the south of
the Cantabrian range is dry Spain, which has extremely varied climate,
characterized by scarce rainfall and high temperatures, occasionally crossed
by shortlived, fierce local thunderstorms.
Getting there
By Air : Spain has many international airports, including Madrid,
Barcelona, Bilbao, Santiago de Compostela, Seville, Granada, Málaga,
Almería, Alicante, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza and Maó.
By Train : Travelling to Spain by train can be more expensive than
by bus unless you are under 26 or have a rail pass
By Road : There are regular bus services to Spain from all major
centres in Europe, including Lisbon, London and Paris.
Getting Around
From Barcelona, Valencia and Alicante, there are often good deals on
charter flights.
There are many bus routes serviced by number of independent companies, and
the bus network is more extensive than the train system and cheaper.
Ferries regularly connect the mainland with the Balearic Islands, but
flying is a better choice considering the time saved.
Major Attractions in Spain
Madrid,
the capital city : A cosmopolitan city, a business center, headquarters
for the Public Administration, Government, Spanish Parliament and the home
of the Spanish Royal Family, Madrid also plays a major role in both the
banking and industrial sectors. Most of its industry is located in the
Southern fringe of the city, where important textile, food and metal working
factories are clustered. Madrid is characterized by intense cultural and
artistic activity and a very lively nightlife.
Las Hurdes : Many people still live in the traditional stone houses
that are unique to this corner of Spain. It's an area comprising of
beautiful hamlets, cascading waterfalls and fine walks. The place is gifted
with natural beauty and invites all the nature lovers
Teruel : Located in the deep south of Aragón, Teruel has
maintained an atmosphere all of its own and is known for its Mudéjar
architecture, overwhelming Moorish touch, magnificent cathedrals, and
medieval belfries. Its range of inlaid stones and colourful tiles speaks of
an Islamic tradition blended with European Gothic.
Teruel has four magnificent Mudéjar towers : the cathedral of
Santa María and the Terre de San Salvador (13th century), Torre de
San Martín and Iglesia de San Pedro (14th century). The Museo
Provincial de Teruel has a fascinating archaeological collection going back
to the days of Homo erectus.
