General information. Brief information about spain Spain country story

Spain is the most detailed information about the country with a photo. Attractions, cities of Spain, climate, geography, population and culture.

Spain

Spain is a state in Southwestern Europe. This is one of the largest countries of the European Union, located on the Iberian Peninsula and occupying more than 2/3 of its territory. Spain borders Portugal to the west, France and Andorra to the north, Gibraltar and Morocco to the south. The state consists of 17 autonomous communities and 2 autonomous cities and is a constitutional monarchy.

Spain is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. The country is famous for its beaches and the sea, cuisine and nightlife, special atmosphere and friendliness of the locals. Interestingly, in terms of the number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Spain is second only to Italy and China. In addition, it is a country with great geographical and cultural diversity. Here you can find almost everything: from lush meadows and snowy mountains to swamps and deserts.

Useful information about Spain

1. The population is 46.7 million people.
2. The area is 505,370 square kilometers.
3. The official language is Spanish (in some autonomous communities, the local dialect is also considered the official language).
4. Currency - euro.
5. Visa - Schengen.
6. Time - Central European UTC +1, summer +2.
7. Spain is among the 30 most developed countries in the world.
8. In Spain, during the daytime, some shops and establishments may be closed (siesta). Some restaurants and cafes do not serve dinner before 8-9 pm.
9. Tips are included in the bill. If you liked the food or service, you can set aside 5-10% of the bill.

Geography and nature

Spain occupies 80% of the territory of the Iberian Peninsula. It also includes the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands and a very tiny part of the North African coast. The Iberian Peninsula is located in the extreme southwest of Europe.

The relief of Spain is extremely diverse. Mountains and plateaus play the main role in it. The country is one of the most mountainous in Europe. The largest mountain systems: the Pyrenees, the Cordillera Betica, the Iberian, Catalan and Cantabrian mountains. The largest plain is the Andalusian lowland, located in the south. In the northeast is the Aragonese plain. The highest peak in continental Spain is Mount Mulasen (3478 and). The highest peak of the country is located on the island of Tenerife - it is the Teide volcano (3718 m).

River Tahoe

Major rivers: Guadalquivir, Tajo, Duero, Ebro. Spain is known for its long coastline. There are several thousand beaches along the coast. The largest resorts: Costa del Sol, Costa de la Luz, Costa Blanca, Costa Brava, Costa Dorada, Canary and Balearic Islands.

Thanks to geographical features The flora and fauna of Spain is very diverse. The north of the country is similar to Central Europe, and the south resembles North Africa. Broad-leaved forests are found in the northwest, deserts and semi-deserts in the south, and Mediterranean flora is characteristic of the coast.

Climate

Spain is one of the warmest, even hottest countries in Europe. Although due to the relief here you can find several climatic zones. The Mediterranean climate prevails, which is maritime on the coast, and arid in the central part. In most regions of the country, summers are dry and hot, winters are quite warm and humid. In the central regions, frosts are not uncommon in cold weather.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit Spain - April-May and September-October. July and August are very hot in most areas. During the cold season it can be quite rainy.

Story

In the third millennium BC, the Tartess civilization existed on the territory of the modern Iberian Peninsula. But already in the second millennium BC. Iberian tribes came here, who later mixed with the Celts. In ancient times, the Pyrenees were called Iberia. The Iberians quickly settled in the territory of Castile and built fortified settlements. Around the same millennium, Phoenician and Greek colonies were founded on the coast.

Interestingly, according to the most common theory, the name of the country comes from the Phoenician "i-spanim", which translates as "shore of darmans". The Romans used this word to refer to the territory of the entire peninsula.

In the 3rd century, almost the entire territory of the Iberian Peninsula was subjugated by Carthage. In 206, Carthage lost control of the Pyrenees. From this period, for almost two centuries, the Romans tried to subdue these lands. The last free tribes were conquered by Rome in 19 BC under Emperor Augustus. Spain was one of the most prosperous and important Roman provinces. The Romans built expensive fortresses here. By the end of the 1st century, more than 300 cities were founded here, trade and crafts flourished.

In the 4th-5th century, Germanic tribes penetrated the territory of Spain, which were soon completely replaced by the Visigoths. Even earlier, the first Christians appeared here. The Visigoths established their kingdom here with its capital in Barcelona and then in Toledo. In the 6th century, the emperor of Byzantium, Justinian, tried to return Spain to the rule of the empire.

In 711, Arabs and Berbers from North Africa came to the territory of the Iberian Peninsula, who were later called the Moors. Interestingly, they were called to help by the Visigoths themselves (or rather, one of their factions). In just a few years, the Moors conquered almost all of the Pyrenees and formed the Umayyad Caliphate. It should be noted that the Arabs were quite merciful, preserving the property of the people, the language and religion of the conquered territories.

Around the same time, the Reconquista movement arose, the goal of which was the liberation of the Iberian Peninsula from the Muslims. In 718, the Moors were stopped in the mountains of Asturias. By 914, the Kingdom of Asturias included the territories of Galicia and Northern Portugal. After the end of the Umayyad dynasty in 1031, the caliphate collapsed. At the end of the 11th century, Christians captured Toledo and some other cities. In the 12th century, the Spanish Empire was proclaimed, which arose after the unification of Castile and Aragon and existed until 1157. In the future, despite the division, the kingdoms fought together with the Moors. By the 13th century, only the emirate of Granada remained on the Iberian Peninsula.

Despite the power of the Castilian kingdom, the country was tormented by unrest and unrest. Dominance belonged to knightly orders and powerful nobles. In Aragon, on the contrary, there were many concessions to the estates. In 1469, a dynastic marriage between Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile contributed to the unification of the two kingdoms. In 1478, the Inquisition was established, which served as an impetus for the persecution of Muslims and Jews. In 1492, the conquest of Granada and the end of the Reconquista took place.

In 1519 the Habsburg dynasty came to power. In the 16th century, Spain became one of the strongest powers in Europe. The absolute monarchy was established as a form of government. The Spanish kingdom captured Portugal and numerous colonies in South and Central America. Already by the middle of the 16th century, constant wars and high taxes led to economic decline. During this period, the capital of the kingdom was moved from Toledo to Madrid.

At the beginning of the 18th century, with the death of Charles II, the War of the "Spanish Succession" broke out. As a result, the Bourbon dynasty reigned, and Spain became "pro-French". In 1808, a popular uprising broke out, which led to the abdication of the king. Subsequently, the French were expelled from the country and the restoration of the Bourbons took place. In the 19th century, Spain was tormented by unrest and unrest. The state lost all American colonies. In 1931, the monarchy was overthrown and a civil war began, in which Franco won. Francisco Franco established a dictatorship that lasted until 1975. This year was crowned Juan Carlos I of the Spanish Bourbon dynasty.

Spain consists of 17 autonomous regions, two so-called autonomous cities and 50 provinces.

Autonomous communities:

• Andalusia
• Aragon
• Asturias
• Balearic Islands
• Basque country
• Valencia
• Galicia
• Canary Islands
• Cantabria
• Castile - La Mancha
• Castile and Leon
• Catalonia
• Murcia
• Navarre
• Rioja
• Extremadura

Population

The indigenous population of the country is the Spaniards (Castilians), Catalans, Basques, Galicians, etc. The official language is Spanish. In autonomies, the ethnic language or dialect is often spoken. Almost 80% of the population professes Christianity, of which 75% are Catholics. Interestingly, the average life expectancy in Spain is one of the highest in the world. She is 83 years old. The Spaniards themselves are quite friendly, open and emotional. These are noisy and temperamental people. They are often unpunctual, a little lazy and irresponsible.

Tips for communicating with Spaniards:

• Spaniards are very patriotic towards their country or autonomy. You should not raise such topics: "is Catalonia Spain" and so on.
• The vast majority of the population are Catholics, so words and actions that can offend the feelings of believers should be avoided.
• Avoid talking about the colonial past and the Franco regime.
• During lunch or dinner, the Spaniards do not start eating until all the guests have sat down. They also don't leave until everyone has finished eating.
• Close people or good friends hug or kiss each other on the cheeks when they meet. Otherwise, they are limited to a handshake.

Transport

Information about modes of transport in Spain.

Major airports:

• Barcelona
• Palma de Mallorca
• Malaga - Costa del Sol
• Gran Canaria
• Alicante / Elche

Spain has an extensive network of high-speed trains that connect the major cities. The rail service also includes long-distance trains and a commuter train network. There are regular bus services between many cities. Major cities are connected by high-speed highways. Motorways are tolled here.

Speed ​​limits:

• 120 km/h on freeways and motorways,
• 100 km/h on normal roads,
• 90 km/h on other roads,
• 50 km/h when driving in populated areas.

The blood alcohol level must not exceed 0.5 g/l. The driver and all passengers must wear seat belts.

Spain is the second country in Europe in terms of the number of cruise ship calls. Main ports of Spain:

• Barcelona
• Palma de Mallorca
• Las Palmas
• Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• Malaga
• Bilbao

Spain cities

Spain has hundreds of old and interesting cities. But the most popular are:

• - a noisy and vibrant capital that will amaze you with modernist architecture, wide streets and squares, museums and vibrant nightlife.
• Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain and the capital of Catalonia. Famous sights, masterpieces of modernist architecture and art nouveau Gaudí are concentrated here.
• Bilbao is a large industrial city.
• Cadiz is considered the oldest city in Western Europe.
• Granada is a stunning city in the south, surrounded by the snow-capped mountains of the Sierra Nevada.
• Cordova - old City with a rich Moorish heritage.
• Toledo is an ancient capital with sights from various periods.
• Seville is the capital of Andalusia and one of the most beautiful cities in Spain.
• Valencia is one of largest cities country. The place where paella was invented.
• Alicante is the resort capital of the east coast and the Costa Blanca region.

In the south of Spain in Andalusia, you can find a lot of evidence of antiquity. Cadiz is located here - one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Western Europe with the remains of a Roman settlement. Nearby is Ronda - a beautiful city located on steep cliffs. The cities of Cordoba and Granada have preserved a rich Moorish heritage. Seville, the cultural center of Andalusia and all of southern Spain, has a dazzling collection of sights and the largest gothic cathedral in the world.

Crossing the north through the plains of La Mancha into Central Spain, it is worth visiting picturesque Toledo. This ancient Spanish capital and the most beautiful ancient city located on a hill. Not far from the Portuguese border is Merida with an impressive Roman heritage. If you are interested in relaxation and beaches, then you should go to Alicante, Malaga, the Canary and Balearic Islands.

Popular tourist destinations:

• Costa Blanca - 200 km of coastline, beaches and charming seaside towns.
• Costa Brava is a coastline with many seaside resorts.
• Costa del Sol is a sunny beach in the south of Spain.
• Ibiza is one of the Balearic Islands, famous for its clubs and discos.
• Mallorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands.
• Sierra Nevada - the highest mountain range of the Iberian Peninsula with ski slopes.
• Tenerife - lush nature, volcanoes and great beaches.

sights

Historically, Spain has been an important crossroads between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, North Africa and Europe. As such, fantastic collections of unique attractions can be found here. The country impresses with the number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, historical and cultural monuments.

The most famous sights of Spain

• Old city of Toledo.
• Historic center of Salamanca.
• Burgos Cathedral in the city of the same name.
• Moorish heritage of Granada and Cordoba.
• Architectural masterpieces of Gaudí in Barcelona.
• Gothic cathedral in Seville and architecture in the Mudéjar style.
• Rock paintings in Altamira cave
• The historical centers of the cities of Cuenca, Merida, Cáceres, Zaragoza, Avila and Segovia.
• Romanesque churches in Lleida.
• Ancient Roman walls in the town of Lugo.

Notable festivals:

• Feria de Abril is the best fair in the Pyrenees. If you love folklore, flamenco and wine, then you will definitely like this event. It takes place in April-May.
• Fallas is a festival in Valencia.
• Dia de Sant Jordi is a Catalan holiday.

Residence

Spain is an extremely popular tourist destination, so you need to look for accommodation in advance. When traveling here in the high season, accommodation will cost more. Many cities, even small ones, are tourism oriented. Therefore, it is not a problem to find accommodation for any groups of tourists and financial possibilities.

Kitchen

Spaniards love to eat, drink wine and are very proud of their cuisine. Spanish cuisine can be described as fairly light, with lots of vegetables and a huge variety of meats and fish. Interestingly, traditional cuisine does not use a lot of spices, but relies entirely on the use of high quality ingredients and their taste. Spaniards' meals are slightly different from ours. Their breakfast is light. Lunch is served at 13.00-15.00. Lunch is followed by a siesta. Dinner is late.

Traditional food and products: paella, jamon, tapas, Chorizo ​​(spicy sausage), Bocadillo de Calamares (fried squid), Boquerones en vinagre (anchovies with garlic), Churros (Spanish donuts), Empanadas Gallegas (meat pies), Fabada asturiana (stew), various varieties of gazpacho (soups), Tortilla de patatas (egg omelet with fried potatoes). The main alcoholic drink is wine, which is of very good quality here. The most popular soft drink is coffee.

Kingdom Spain(Espana - in Spanish and Spain - in English) - a state located in southwestern Europe and occupying most of the Iberian - also known as the Iberian - Peninsula. In addition, Spain owns a number of overseas territories: the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean; the Balearic and Pitius Islands in the Mediterranean and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla on the northern coast of Africa.

• In the west of the Iberian Peninsula, Spain borders on Portugal, in the south - on the British territory of Gibraltar, in the north the country shares a common border with France and microscopic Andorra, and in the north of Africa also with Morocco
• In the west and north, the Spanish coasts are washed, respectively, by open Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Biscay (also known as the Cantabrian Sea), the latter, and in the east and south - the Mediterranean Sea
• (comparatively) Detailed

Basic information about Spain

As in Europe in general, there are not so many populated megacities here - only two cities in Spain have overcome the mark of a million inhabitants. These are Madrid and Barcelona. In terms of the number of inhabitants, even individuals cannot compete with the capital of Spain, Madrid (3.3 million inhabitants in the city itself and 6 million inhabitants in the metropolitan arena).

The second place is occupied by the capital of the most economically developed region of the country (Catalonia), Barcelona, ​​which counts over 1.6 million people among its inhabitants. In third place is Valencia, the capital of the community of the same name - over 800 thousand inhabitants, in fourth place is the beautiful Andalusian capital, Seville (700 thousand people).

Aragonese Zaragoza closes the top five most populated cities in the country, almost equaling Seville in terms of the number of inhabitants (over 700 thousand). On the 6th place is the dynamically developing capital of the Costa del Sol, Malaga (570 thousand inhabitants).

Spain has been and remains a country extremely popular among tourists: in terms of the number of foreigners received per year, it is second only to neighboring France. The iconic sights of Spain are in the dozens.

Sights of Spain

We will only mention those that are known to us. The Escorial Palace-Monastery near Madrid, marked with the seal of the genius Antonio Gaudi, the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is perhaps the most unusual temple in the world, the fortress of the Moorish kings in Granada, the Alhambra, the Montserrat monastery in the rocks of Catalonia, the Seville Cathedral is the second largest Catholic church ( more only in Rome) of Europe, are known even to those who have never been to this country.

Those who are going to visit Spain will be able to discover a lot of equally interesting places. Almost any city in the country, from the metropolises of Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Valencia or Seville, to provincial centers like Bilbao, Valladolid, Burgos, Zaragoza, Toledo, has an exceptionally ancient history and its own sights.

• The resorts of Spain are also naturally popular - in themselves the main and favorite sights of this country by tourists. Their number is so great that many allow themselves to distinguish the city already, saying easily: I'm going to the Costa Brava, Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol, Costa Verde, or some other, smaller, "cost."

Places or now vast places, entire municipalities, the only reason for the growth of which was the influx of foreign tourists - such as, for example, Benidorm, Marbella, Alicante or entire resort islands, Ibiza or Tenerife, are known far beyond the borders of the country and even beyond the borders of the continent.

Administratively, Spain is divided into 17 autonomous regions (Autonomous Community) and 2 autonomous cities. Areas: Andalusia, Aragon, Asturias, Balearic Islands, Valencia, Galicia, Canary Islands, Cantabria, Castile-La Mancha, Castile and Leon, Catalonia, Madrid, Murcia, Navarre, Rioja, Basque Country and Extremadura. Cities (on the African continent): Ceuta and Melilla.

By political structure Spain is a constitutional monarchy. The king is considered the supreme head of state. The executive power in the country is represented by the Cabinet of Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister, the leader of the party that won the parliamentary elections.

• The main legislative power of the country: the bicameral Parliament or the Cortes Generales (Cortes Generales), consisting of the Senate (upper house) and the Congress of Deputies (lower house), re-elected every four years.

Spain is completely installed in the European economic and defense system: the country is a member of the European Union, the eurozone (the zone of circulation of the euro as the main currency) and NATO. It is also a member of the UN and WTO international organizations.

Perhaps, thanks to this, Spain has a developed economy: the fifth in terms of turnover in the European Union and the fourth in the eurozone. Estimated Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2011 should be about 1 trillion 400 billion euros. That is, per capita of every Spaniard, goods and services worth 30,000 European "roubles" are produced per year.

• By the way, judging by the research of the German newspaper Die Welt, if it were not for the global financial crisis that hit Spain like a hammer, then by 2011 the country would have overtaken Germany in terms of average per capita income.

The following sectors of the economy are considered to be the leading ones: engineering and textile industry (few people have heard about the automotive SEAT and clothing Zara), tourism (provides about 5% of GDP), banking (Santander Bank is the largest in the eurozone), as well as winemaking and olive oil production . In the last two branches of human activity, the Pyrenean country occupies a leading position in Europe.

Flamenco music and dancing, bullfights, lots of sun and fantastic beaches… In fact, Spain has much more to offer tourists. Spain has been a cultural center Europe. This country has kept a large number of monuments of the times of the Celts, Goths, Romans and Moors. The Alhambra Palace in Granada, the Mesquite Cathedral in Cordoba and the Royal Palace in Madrid will be no less interesting to tourists than the beaches of the Costa del Sol or, for example, the Costa Dorada.

Geography of Spain

Spain is located on the famous Iberian Peninsula, in the south of Europe. In the west, Spain borders on Portugal, in the south - on Gibraltar (owned by Great Britain), in the north - on France and Andorra. In North Africa, Spain borders on Morocco (their common border is 13 km). In the south and east, Spain is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, and in the west and northwest by the Atlantic Ocean.

Spain includes the small Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, the "Isles of Dogs" (as the Canaries were once called) in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa, and two semi-autonomous cities - Ceuta and Melilla in North Africa.

The total area of ​​Spain is 505,992 sq. km, including the islands, and the total length of the state border is 1,917 km.

Mainland Spain is a mountainous country dominated by plateaus and mountain ranges. The main mountain systems in Spain are the Pyrenees, the Cordilleras, the Cantabrian Mountains, the Catalan Mountains, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The highest peak in Spain dormant volcano Teide on the island of Tenerife (3718 m).

Capital of Spain

The capital of Spain is Madrid, which is now home to more than 3.3 million people. Madrid was founded by the Moors in the middle of the 10th century.

Official language

Spain is a multilingual country. Throughout Spain, the official language is Spanish (aka Castilian).

Other official languages:

• Basque language - common in the Basque Country and in Navarre;
• Catalan - common in Catalonia, as well as in Valencia and the Balearic Islands;
• Galician - in Galicia.

Religion

About 96% of the population of Spain are Catholics belonging to the Roman Catholic Church. However, only 14% of Spaniards go to church every week (or more often).

In addition, about 1.2 million Protestants and more than 1 million Muslims now live in Spain (a lot of people from Morocco and Algeria).

State structure

Spain is a constitutional monarchy in which the head of state, according to the Constitution, is the King.

The source of legislative power is the Cortes General, consisting of the Congress of Deputies (350 people are elected to it) and the Senate (258 people).

The main political parties in Spain are the right-wing People's Party, the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and the Communist Party of Spain.

Spain consists of 17 communities (regions) and 2 autonomous cities (Ceuta and Melilla).

Climate and weather

In general, the climate of Spain can be divided into three main climatic zones:

• Mediterranean climate, which is characterized by hot summers and rather cold winters (central and north-central Spain);
• semi-arid climate (southeastern Spain, especially in Murcia and the Ebro Valley);
• maritime climate (in northern Spain, especially in Asturias, the Basque Country, Cantabria, and partly in Galicia).

The Pyrenees and the Sierra Nevada have an alpine climate, while the Canary Islands have a subtropical climate.

In Spain, in January, the average air temperature is 0C, and in July - +33C.

Seas and oceans

The Mediterranean Sea in the south and east washes the shores of Spain, and in the west and north-west of the country is the Atlantic Ocean. In the north of Spain is the great Bay of Biscay.

Average sea temperature in Spain in May:

• Costa Dorado - +17С
• Costa Brava - +17С
• Costa Calida - +17C
• Almeria - +18С
• Costa del Sol - +17С
• Costa Blanca - +17С

Average sea temperature in Spain in August:

• Costa Dorado - +25С
• Costa Brava - +25С
• Costa Calida - +25С
• Almeria - +24C
• Costa del Sol - +23С
• Costa Blanca - +25С

Rivers and lakes

Despite the fact that Spain is a mountainous country, a large number of rivers flow through its territory. The largest rivers in Spain are the Tagus (1,007 km), the Ebro (910 km), the Duero (895 km), the Guadiana (657 km) and the Guadalquivir (578 km).

According to scientists, there are several hundred lakes in Spain, and more than 440 of them are mountain lakes. The largest lake in Spain is Sanabria, whose area is more than 11 thousand square meters. km.

History of Spain

The ancient Greeks called the indigenous inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula (the territory of modern Spain) Iberians. Iberian tribes, according to archaeological finds, came to the Iberian Peninsula from the eastern Mediterranean during the Neolithic.

Around 1200 B.C. Celts appeared in the Pyrenees, who began to mix with the Iberian tribes. Then the Phoenicians founded several of their cities in the Pyrenees - Gadir (Cadiz), Malaka (Malaga) and Abdera (Adra). Then the ancient Greeks built their colonies in southern Spain along the Mediterranean coast.

During the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage, Roman legionnaires invaded Spain and conquered most of it. Then Spain fell completely under the rule of Ancient Rome.

In 409 AD The Goths invaded the Iberian Peninsula and established their kingdom there. However, in 711 AD. The kingdom of the Visigoths fell under the blows of the Moors from Africa. In the end, the Moors managed to conquer almost all of Spain. In the 10th century, Andalusia established its own Muslim Caliphate.

However, Christians are trying to return the Spanish lands occupied by the Moors. This period in Spanish history is known as the Reconquista.

The very same kingdom of Spain was formed in 1469 (the wedding of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon took place this year), but only in 1492 the last Arab emir fled from the territory of Spain (this happened after the fall of Granada).

After Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492, Spain received tons of silver and gold from there, thus becoming one of the most influential and powerful countries of that time.

In 1808, the troops of Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Spain, but the Spaniards put up stubborn resistance to them. After the defeat of Napoleon in 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo, King Ferdinand IV was restored to the Spanish throne.

Due to the economic crisis and political instability in the 19th century, Spain lost almost all of its colonies. In 1895, after the war with the United States, Cuba, the last colony of Spain, was lost.

From 1936 to 1939, the Civil War continued in Spain, the winner of which was the nationalists, led by Franco. During the Second World War, which began in 1939, Spain remained neutral, although it sympathized with Germany.

Franco died in 1975 and a constitutional monarchy was established in Spain.

Spain joined NATO in 1985 and joined the European Union in 1992.

Culture of Spain

Spanish culture was greatly influenced by the ancient Greeks, as well as the ancient Romans. Until now, a large number of ancient Roman monuments have been preserved in Spain. After the Moors conquered Spain in the early 700s, the Arabs began to exert a decisive influence on Spanish culture. In general, the entire Middle Ages in Spain is a confrontation between Arab and Christian cultures.

It so happened that the Spaniards most notably showed themselves in literature and in painting, although, of course, in Spain there were talented architects, philosophers, doctors and philosophers.

The most famous Spanish writers and poets are Lope de Vega (life - 1562-1635), Francisco Quevedo y Villegas (1580-1645), Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (life - 1547-1616), Baltasar Gracian (1601-1658 ), Benito Galdos (1843-1920), and Camilo José Sela (life - 1916-2002).

The most famous Spanish painters are El Greco (life - 1541-1614), Francisco de Herrera (life - 1576-1656), Jusepe de Ribera (life - 1591-1652), Diego Velasquez (life - 1599-1660) , Alonso Cano (life - 1601-1667), Francisco Goya (life - 1746-1828), and Salvador Dali (life - 1904-1989).

For many of us, Spain is flamenco and bullfighting, which has a long tradition.

The dance and song "flamenco" appeared in the Middle Ages in Andalusia. The emergence of this dance and musical style is associated with the gypsies, but since the end of the 18th century, flamenco has become a traditional Spanish dance.

Now every two years in the Spanish Seville, an international flamenco festival called Bienal de Flamenco is held. This festival gathers thousands of participants and visitors.

Another famous Spanish tradition is bullfighting, bullfighting, which was started by the Iberian tribes who lived in the Pyrenees around 3000 centuries BC. BC. At first, the killing of a bull was of a ritual nature, but over time, it became a real art. Since the middle of the 18th century, bullfighting has already existed in many Spanish cities.

Now in some Spanish cities there are bull races - "encierro". During these races, the bulls try to catch up with the people running through the streets. Sometimes the bulls succeed. The most famous encierros are in Pamplona.

Kitchen

Spanish cuisine is characterized by a wide variety of dishes. This is understandable, because in every region of Spain they carefully preserve not only their cultural, but also culinary traditions. In general, the cuisine of Spain can be attributed to the Mediterranean cuisine. Two characteristic elements of Spanish cuisine are olive oil and garlic.

In Mediterranean Spain (from Catalonia to Andalusia), seafood is often used for cooking. Cold soups (eg gazpacho) and rice dishes (eg paella) are traditional here.

Inland Spain is characterized by thick hot soups and stews. Ham and various cheeses are popular here.

For the northern coast of Spain (Atlantic Ocean), including the Basque Country, Asturias and Galicia, dishes with meat, fish and vegetables are typical.

• Cochinillo Asado (roast pig);
• Gambas Ajiillo (fried shrimp with garlic and chili);
• Paella (rice dish);
• Pulpo a la Gallega (Galician octopus);
• Jamon Iberico & Chorizo ​​(Iberian ham and spicy sausages);
• Pescado Frito (this is any fried fish);
• Patatas Bravas (these are fried potatoes cooked in a spicy sauce);
• Tortilla Espanola (Spanish omelet);
• Queso Manchego (Spanish sheep cheese);
• Gazpacho (This is a traditional cold tomato soup).

Sunny Spain is unimaginable without wine. The traditions of winemaking on the Iberian Peninsula were laid down by the ancient Greeks, who founded their colonies there. Spain now produces a wide variety of wines.

In our opinion, the Top 5 best red wines in Spain include:

• Wine Lopez de Heredia
• Bernya (Alicante)
• Vinyes josep - Sola Classic (Priorat)
• Tempranillo - Baron fernand (Valdepeñas)
• Divus - Bodegas Bleda (Jumilla)

Top 5 best white wines in Spain:

1. Xarlel-lo - Clar de Castanyer (Penedés)
2. Amalia - Rubicon (Lanzarote)
3. Wine Mas Plantadera Blanco Roble - Celler Sabate (Priorat)
4. Malvasia semidulce - Bermejo (Lanzarote)
5. el copero (Utiel-Requena)

Sights of Spain

Perhaps Spain does not take the 1st place in terms of the number of attractions, but it is undeniable that in this ancient country tourists have something to see. The top ten attractions in Spain, in our opinion, include the following:

Cities and resorts in Spain

The biggest Spanish cities- Madrid, Barcelona (1.7 million people), Valencia (850 thousand people), Seville (720 thousand people), Zaragoza (more than 610 thousand people), and Malaga (about 550 thousand people) .).

The total coastline of Spain is about 5 thousand kilometers. This means that in Spain there are a large number of beautiful beaches with clear water. Despite the fact that for some reason most tourists choose the Costa Blanca and the sunny Costa del Sol, Spain has beautiful beaches in other resorts.

Top 10 Spanish beaches, in our opinion:

• La Concha Beach - San Sebastian
• Playa de Las Catedrales - Galicia
• Playa del Silencio - Asturias
• Ses Illetes - located on the island of Formentera, Balearic Islands
• Beaches of Sitges - near Barcelona
• Nerja - Costa del Sol, Andalusia
• La Barrosa - This beach is located in Chiclana de la Frontera
• Tarifa - Andalusia
• Gandia - Costa Blanca
• Playa de los Peligros - Santander

When talking about beach resorts Spain, immediately remember the Costa del Sol, the Canary Islands, and the island of Ibiza. But Spain still has the Costa Brava, Tenerife, Mallorca, Costa Dorada, the Balearic Islands, the Costa Blanca, the Costa del Maresme, and the Costa de la Luz.

Souvenirs/Shopping

Returning from Spain, tourists may simply not pick up their suitcases, as there may be so many souvenirs in them. Therefore, we advise tourists who have visited Spain to stop at the following best Spanish souvenirs:

• Olive oil, which is the best in the world (the opinion of Italians and Greeks on this matter does not count);
• "Bota" - a bag for storing wine made of leather (such a bag costs about 30 euros);
• Saffron and other spices;
• Funny T-shirts from Kukuxumusu;
• Spanish ham;
• Flamenco CDs;
• Spanish wine;
• Souvenirs of the Spanish national football team;
• Melee weapons from Toledo.

Office Hours

Banks work:
Mon-Fri: 08:30-14.00
Some banks are also open on Saturdays.

Store opening hours:
Mon-Fri: from 09:00 to 13.30 (or 14:00) and from 16:30 (or from 17:00) to 20:00.
Every Saturday, Spanish shops are open until noon.
Large supermarkets are open all day.

Visa

Spain(Spanish España), officially - the Kingdom of Spain (Spanish and Galic. Reino de España, Cat. Regne dEspanya, Basque Espainiako Erresuma, ox. Reialme dEspanha, Astur. Reinu dEspaña) - a state in southwestern Europe. It occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula. The name of the country comes from the Phoenician "i-spanim" - "coast of rabbits".

Borders with:
Portugal in the west of the Iberian Peninsula;
British possession of Gibraltar in the south of the Iberian Peninsula;
Morocco in northern Africa (autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla);
France and Andorra in the north.

Spain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the west and north, as well as the Mediterranean Sea in the east and south.
National holiday in Spain - 12 October. This is the Day of the Spanish Nation.

Physical and geographical characteristics

Relief

The relief of Spain is very diverse. The center of the country is located at a distance of 300 km from the sea. The relief is dominated by systems of mountain ranges and high plateaus.

Plateaus and mountains make up about 90% of its territory. Almost half of the country's surface is occupied by a vast, the largest high plateau in Europe - Meseta with an average height of 660 m Meseta is distinguished by the alternation of plateaus, fold-block ridges and mountain basins. The Central Cordillera divides Meseta into two parts: northern and southern.

In the north, Meseta is bordered by the powerful Cantabrian Mountains, which stretch along the coast of the Bay of Biscay for 600 km, isolating the hinterland from the influence of the sea. In their central part is the Picos de Europa massif (from Spanish - Peaks of Europe) with heights up to 2648 m. These mountains of the Alpine type are composed mainly of deposits of the Carboniferous period - limestone, quartzite, sandstone. The Cantabrian mountains are an orographic and tectonic continuation of the most powerful mountain system Spain - Pyrenees.

The Pyrenees are several parallel ranges stretching from west to east for 450 km. This is one of the most inaccessible mountainous countries in Europe. Although on average their height is not very high (just over 2500 m), they do not have conveniently located passes. All passes are at an altitude of 1500-2000 m. Therefore, the railways going from Spain to other countries bypass the Pyrenees from the west and east. The widest and high part mountains central. Here is their main peak - Aneto peak, reaching 3404 m.

From the northeast, the system of the Iberian Mountains adjoins Meseta, the maximum height (Mon Cayo peak) is 2313 m.

Between the eastern Pyrenees and the Iberian mountains stretch the low Catalan Mountains, the southern slopes of which break off in ledges to the Mediterranean Sea. The Catalan Mountains (average heights are 900-1200 m, the peak is Mount Caro, 1447 m) follow for 400 km almost parallel to the Mediterranean coast and actually separate the Aragonese plateau from it. The areas of coastal plains developed in Murcia, Valencia and Catalonia north of Cape Palos to the border with France are highly fertile.

The entire southeast of the Iberian Peninsula is occupied by the Cordillera Betica, which is a system of massifs and ridges. Its crystalline axis is the mountains of the Sierra Nevada. In height, they are second only to the Alps in Europe. Their peak, Mount Mulasen, reaching 3478 m, is the highest point in peninsular Spain. However, the highest mountain peak in Spain is located on about. Tenerife (Canary Islands) is the Teide volcano, whose height reaches 3718 m.

Most of the territory of Spain is located at an altitude of about 700 m. It is the second highest country in Europe after Switzerland.

The only major lowland is the Andalusian in the south of the country. In the northeast of Spain in the valley of the river. The Ebro stretches the Aragonese plain. Smaller lowlands stretch along the Mediterranean Sea. One of the main rivers of Spain (and the only navigable one in the lower reaches) flows through the Andalusian lowland - the Guadalquivir. The rest of the rivers, including the largest ones: Tajo and Duero, the lower reaches of which are located on the territory of neighboring Portugal, the Ebro, Guadiana, are distinguished by sharp seasonal level fluctuations and rapids.

Large areas of the country suffer from lack of water. Related to this is the problem of erosion - millions of tons of topsoil are blown out every year.

The capital of Spain - Madrid - is located in the geographical center of the country and is the "highest" capital in Europe.

There are more than two thousand beaches on the coast of Spain: Costa Brava, Costa Dorada, Costa del Assar, Costa de Almeria, Costa Blanca, Mar Menor, Costa del Sol, Costa de la Luz, Rias -Bajas, Rias Altas, Costa Cantabrica, Canary and Balearic Islands.

Climate

Spain is one of the warmest countries in Western Europe. The average number of sunny days is 260-280. The average annual temperature on the Mediterranean coast is 20 degrees Celsius. In winter, the temperature drops below zero (in the central and northern regions of the country). In summer, the temperature rises to 40 degrees and above (from the central part to south coast). On the northern coast, the temperature is not so high - about 25 degrees Celsius.

Spain is characterized by very deep internal climatic differences, and it can only conditionally be fully attributed to the Mediterranean climatic region. These differences are manifested both in temperature and in annual amounts and precipitation patterns. In the far northwest, the climate is mild and humid with little temperature variation throughout the year and high rainfall. Constant winds from the Atlantic bring a lot of moisture, mainly in winter, when foggy and cloudy weather prevails with drizzling rain, almost without frost and snow. The average temperature of the coldest month is the same as in the northwest of France. Summers are hot and humid, the average temperature is rarely above +17 degrees. Annual rainfall exceeds 1000 mm, and in some places reaches 2000 mm.

Minerals

The bowels of Spain are rich in minerals. Of more than 100 types of minerals, only 16 are seriously developed. Among them, iron ore, quartz, pyrites, copper, gold, tin, mercury, silver, tungsten, uranium, and coal can be especially distinguished.

Economy

Today's Spain is a highly developed country. In terms of total industrial production in 1995, the country ranked 10th in the world and 5th in Western Europe. GNP per capita $14,000 (1999). Major advances have been made in recent decades. After World War II, Spain was isolated. The United States did not provide the country with economic assistance (according to the Marshall plan) and Spain began to develop a closed self-sufficient economy. This entailed a high degree of state intervention in the market, an increase in the share of state ownership.

In the early 1960s, a stabilization plan was adopted, later known as the "Spanish Miracle". In 1960-1974 economic indicators grew by an average of 6.6% per year, which was higher than that of any other country in the world (with the exception of Japan). The most important role was played by the discovery of Spain as a world resort center.

In 1959-1974. more than 3 million Spaniards left the country in search of work, sending the money they earned back to their homeland. The energy crisis of 1973 hit Spain, due to its dependence on other countries, very hard, unemployment rose to 21% in 1975. But in the 1980s. Spain is back on the economic upswing. Although the growth figures were lower than those of the 1960s, they still remained the highest in Western Europe. But now the growth of production was accompanied by inflation and high unemployment (up to 22% of the able-bodied population).

In the 1990s the country has become one of the leaders of the EU (although it is still a recipient, that is, it receives subsidies to support agriculture and some areas from pan-European funds).

In the country's economy, strong positions are occupied by companies from the USA, France, Germany, Great Britain, and Switzerland. They own more than 50% of machine-building and metallurgy enterprises. About 40% of the share capital falls on the share of 8 largest Spanish financial-industrial and banking groups (Marchey, Fierro, Urquijo, Garrigues, Ruiz-Mateos, etc.).

In 2004, Spanish exports amounted to over 135 billion euros, imports - about 190 billion euros. The main partners in foreign trade are the EU countries, the USA, Latin America.

Major ports: Bilbao, Barcelona; oil - Algeciras, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tarragona, coal - Gijón. Spain is one of the largest centers of international tourism (62 million in 1997, 95% of tourists are from EU countries; the main tourist centers are Madrid and Barcelona), as well as resorts - Costa Brava, Costa Dorada, Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol. In 2004, 53.6 million foreign tourists visited Spain (2nd place in the world). The industry's revenues in 2004 were about 35 billion euros. More than 65% of tourists are from EU countries. 1.3 million people are employed in this area.

An original industry is the harvesting and export of cork bark.

The Spanish banking system is one of the most stable in Europe. Among its distinctive features, the following can be distinguished: a high degree of concentration of banking capital along with a small number of credit institutions (395), a significant level of foreign exchange reserves (13.9 billion euros), an extensive network of branches of private banks and state savings banks. The dominant role is played by national banks with 100% Spanish capital. The leader in terms of the value of market assets is the financial group Banco Santander Central Hispano, which was formed in 1999 as a result of the merger of two large banks.

GDP - 798.67 billion € (2004). Its growth was 2.6%.

mining industry

The oldest industry is mining. Spain, rich in minerals, is one of the world leaders in the extraction of mercury (about 1.5 thousand tons per year; the main center is Almaden) and pyrites (about 3 million tons per year; mainly in the Huelva region); in Europe stands out for the extraction of polymetallic and uranium ores, silver. Iron (1.4 million tons in 1996; the provinces of Biscay, Santander, Lugo, Oviedo, Granada, Murcia), lead-zinc, tungsten copper, titanium ores, quartz, gold, potash salts, etc. are mined. Oil and gas are imported. The annual oil production is about 30 million tons, and covers less than 10% of the needs. Spain ranks 9th in the world and 1st among the EU countries in the extraction of metal-containing raw materials. On energy carriers - 40th place in the world.

mechanical engineering

Among the branches of engineering, shipbuilding stands out (the old centers are located in the north of the country: Bilbao, Gijon, Santander; new ones are in the northwest: El Ferrol, Vigo, in the east: Cartagena, Valencia, Barcelona, ​​and in the south: Seville, Cadiz) (production of cars, including "Seat" concern "Volkswagen" 2.2 million in 1996; centers: Barcelona, ​​​​Madrid, Valladolid, Vitoria, Pamlon, Vigo) and the electrical industry. The production of equipment for the chemical, light, food and building materials industries is also developed.

Light industry

Of the light industries, the most important are the textile and leather and footwear industries (Spain accounts for 4% of world shoe exports). In the food industry, winemaking stands out (in terms of the production of grape wines, Spain in Europe is second only to France and Italy), the production of vegetable oil (1.7 million tons in 1996; Spain is the world leader in the production of olive oil, about 0.5 million tons per year) , fruit and vegetable and canned fish. Spain is among the top ten world manufacturers of cars, ships, forging and pressing equipment and gas compressors, machine tools, petroleum products and chemical products. St. 1/2 of industrial production is concentrated in the northeast (Catalonia), the north of the country (Asturias, Cantabria, the Basque Country) and in Greater Madrid.

Agriculture

The leading branch of agriculture is crop production (it gives St. 1/2 of the cost of production). They grow wheat (about 20% of the cultivated area), barley, corn (in the central and southern regions of the country), rice (on the irrigated lands of the Mediterranean coast; its yield in Spain is one of the highest in the world), potatoes and sugar beets, legumes, tomatoes, onions, peppers, eggplants and other vegetables (vegetables occupy 60% of the cultivated area), olives - (the leading place in the cultivation of olives in the world) - (Andalusia, Castile-la-Mancha, Extremadura), citrus fruits and tobacco. Viticulture - on the Mediterranean coast and in the areas of Castile-la-Mancha, Extremadura. In the very south of the country, almonds are grown (the leading export place in Western Europe), dates and sugar cane (in Europe they grow only in Spain), figs, pomegranates, and cotton.

fishing

Spain is among the top ten countries in the world in terms of catching fish and seafood (1.1 million tons in 1996) and their processing, and is a major exporter of fresh fish and canned fish.

Population

Population dynamics:
1900 - 18.6 million people;
1932 - 24.1 million people;
1959 - 29.9 million people;
1977 - 36.3 million people;
1996 - 39.6 million people;
2004 - 40.28 million people;
2006 - 45.13 million people;
2008 - 46.06 million people;
2009 - 46.66 million people

Urban population - 76%. Population density - 79.7 people / km².

The official language is Castilian; in the autonomous regions, along with Castilian (Spanish), other languages ​​\u200b\u200bare also official (Catalan-Valencian-Balearic in Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands, Basque in the Basque Country and Navarre, Galician in Galicia, Aran in Catalonia).

95% of believers are Catholics. Despite this, 67% of the Spanish population supported the idea of ​​officially registering same-sex marriages. Since July 2005, a law has come into force in the country legalizing same-sex marriages and granting same-sex couples the right to adopt children.

More than 2.7 million Spaniards live outside the country, including 1.7 million in the countries of North and South America, over 1 million in Western Europe (mainly in France and Germany).

Housing

Housing supply: in 2000, on average, each Spaniard had 27.5 m² of total housing space. (For comparison: in Russia, each Russian has an average of 21.6 m² (2006), in Ukraine - 22 m², in Belarus - 23 m², in Bulgaria and Hungary - 30 m² each, in Ireland - 33 m², in Portugal - 29 m² (2000), in France - 40 m² (2008), in Germany - 39 m² (2000), in Denmark - 52 m² (2000), in Luxembourg - 44 m² (2000) , in Sweden - 43 m2 (2000), Belgium - 34.5 m2 each (2000), in the USA - 65 m2, in Norway - 73 m2). The proportion of homeowners is 87% of the population, according to this indicator, Spain ranks first in the European Union [source not specified 51 days].

Story

Modern man settled in the Iberian Peninsula c. 35 thousand years ago. Molecular genetic data suggest that the Franco-Cantabrian region, where the maximum population density was observed in the Paleolithic era, was the source of the genes of the majority of the modern population of Europe, at least in the female line (mitochondrial haplogroup H). It was in this region that numerous monuments of Paleolithic art were found - rock paintings (Altamira Cave, etc.) and figurines. Several types of cultures have replaced each other. Perhaps the modern Basques are the descendants of some of the first settlers in Europe after the end of the Ice Age. For 1200 years BC. e. coast began to be mastered by the Phoenicians. The colony of Gades founded by them is now the city of Cadiz. The Phoenicians and Greeks left evidence of local tribes, collectively called the Iberians, who had a fairly high culture, but broke up into many small tribes and did not have a single organization. In the 5-3 centuries. BC e. the Celts came here and mixed with the Iberians into the people of the Celtiberians. After the Punic Wars (3-2 centuries BC), the Romans began the conquest of Iberia, which ended during the reign of Emperor Augustus.

From the 2nd century n. e. Christianity began to spread here. From the 2nd floor. 5th c. n. e. the Visigoths (Visigoths) invaded here and founded a kingdom here. In 711-718. almost the entire territory of Spain was conquered by the Arabs, who included the country in their Caliphate. Soon the Caliphate disintegrated into a number of states. The rule of the Umayyad dynasty, which reached its peak in the 10th century, was held in Cordoba. The Christian kingdoms (Castile, Aragon, Leon) waged a continuous struggle for the reconquest of territory from the Moors (Reconquista). In 1492, the united kingdom of Aragon and Castile took the last stronghold of the Moors - Granada. In the same period, Spain sent its ships to the New World, conquering huge colonies. In Europe, during the reign of Emperor Charles V of Habsburg (1516-1556), Spain was the center of the Holy Roman Empire and the largest state, the support of the Catholic Church in the struggle against the reformation that had begun. The defeat of the Spanish fleet ("Invincible Armada") in 1588, the loss of the war with England in 1607 and the loss of the Dutch provinces in 1609 marked the end of influence in Europe. The influx of gold from overseas colonies did not contribute to the development of local agricultural and handicraft production. In the reign of Philip III, the era of the decline of Spain began, which was facilitated by the Inquisition, which suppressed any free thought. In the beginning. 18th century the struggle of European dynasties for the Spanish throne led to the War of the Spanish Succession, the Habsburgs were replaced by the Bourbons. In the 19th century there were 5 unfinished revolutions: in 1808-1814, 1820-1823, 1834-1843, 1854-1856 and 1868-1874. The struggle was not so much between monarchists and liberals, but between supporters of modernization and traditionalists. After all the revolutions, a constitutional monarchy was established.

In 1812-1826. achieved independence most of the Spanish colonies in Latin America, to the beginning. 20th century the rest mostly went to the US and Germany.

20th century

In 1923, under the living monarch, the military dictatorship of General M. Primo de Rivera was established. The king already during this period did not have any power in the country. In January 1930, after losing support in the army, having failed to rectify the situation after the acute economic crisis of the previous year, the dictator leaves the country. On April 14, 1931, the last of the Bourbons, Alphonse XIII, abdicated his throne - the parties supporting him suffered a crushing defeat in the elections. The government was formed by adherents of the regime change. Soon N. Zamora became the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Spain. Thus began the Republican period.

The radical policy of the new government towards the landowners, the church, the army, the extreme liberalism towards the separatist-minded regions of the north and east met with ardent support from one part of the population and a burning feeling of hatred from the other. Local uprisings succeeded each other. Despite all the radical measures for two years, the government has not achieved any success in the economy. In the November 1933 elections, the Conservatives returned to the government, and the reforms were halted. Now pogroms and rebellions across the country have already begun to be carried out by their opponents - liberals and anarchists. In the next elections in January 1936, again, as in 1931, the radicals won - the "People's Front" with the participation of the Communist Party. The new composition of the Cortes (the representative body of Spain) resumed the implementation of radical policies, hoping to start solving the deepest problems in the country's economy with extreme measures.

In July of the same year, conservative generals led by J. Sanjurho raised a well-prepared rebellion. However, in the very first days of the uprising after the death of the old leader in a plane crash, the previously indecisive F. Franco had to become the new head of the conspiracy. The nationalists turned to fascist Germany and Italy for help, the communists received help from the USSR and many left-wing parties in Europe and the world. The Spanish Civil War began. Republicans in their zone expropriated land, businesses, banks, organized the persecution of priests and monks. On the "nationalist" territory, all traditional institutions were restored, power was concentrated in the hands of Franco. The front of armed confrontation stretched across the country. In three years of slow victorious advance in battles, all the provinces supporting the Republicans were conquered. From the first to the last weeks of the war, the unyielding capital, Madrid, was under siege. During these years, Spain is the main diplomatic problem of all developed countries of the world.

In 1939, after the victory of the military, the dictatorship was extended to the whole country, political parties were banned, except for the fascist "phalanx" that supported Franco. Spain remained neutral during World War II, although it sent the Blue Division to the Eastern Front. In 1947, Spain was again declared a kingdom (the throne remained unoccupied under the regency of Franco's "caudillo").

In November 1975, after the death of Franco, Juan Carlos I was proclaimed king, the dismantling of the fascist regime and democratic reforms began. In December 1978, a new constitution came into force. In 1985 Spain joined the EU. The Basque Country and Catalonia, under the constitution of 1978, received significant autonomy, but there are also separatist movements in them. The Basque terrorist organization ETA is especially intransigent.

National holiday - October 12 (Day of the Spanish Nation, the date of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus).

Political structure

Spain - Constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the king. Currently - Juan Carlos I. The legislature is a bicameral parliament - the Cortes Generales (Congress of Deputies and the Senate). It consists of the Senate (259 seats - some deputies are elected by direct universal suffrage, others are appointed by provincial legislatures; all senators are elected for a 4-year term) and the Congress of Deputies (350 seats - elected by party lists for a 4-year term). The executive power is headed by the prime minister, the leader of the party that won the majority of votes in parliamentary elections.

In total, more than 500 political parties and public organizations are officially registered in Spain.

parties

People's Party of Spain
ISRP,
communist party,
Regionalists.

The major regional parties include the Catalan Convergence and Union bloc), the Catalan Esquerra Republican party, the BNP, and the Canary Coalition.

Events

On March 9, 2008 parliamentary elections were held in Spain. The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) won the elections. In accordance with the election results, the PSOE won 168 seats in parliament, its main rival, the conservative People's Party, won 154 seats. The remaining seats (a total of 350 seats in parliament) were divided among another eight parties, mostly regional ones. The Communists and the Greens of the United Left Coalition reduced their presence in parliament from five to three deputies. Thus, the leader of the PSOE, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, said: PSOE won by increasing the number of its deputies compared to the previous parliament

In the elections, where candidates from 92 parties ran, 75% of voters took part.

Administrative division

50 provinces included in 17 autonomous regions. Also in Spain there are 2 so-called autonomous cities (ciudades autónomas) in Africa - Ceuta and Melilla.

culture

Spain is rightfully considered a museum under open sky. The vastness of this country cherishes the cultural and historical monuments who are world renowned.

The most famous museum in Spain - the Prado Museum - is located in Madrid. Its vast exposition cannot be seen in one day. The museum was founded by Isabella of Braganza, wife of King Ferdinand VII. The Prado has its own branch, located in Cason del Buen Retiro, which houses unique collections of Spanish paintings and sculptures of the 19th century, as well as works by English and French painters. The museum itself presents large expositions of Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Flemish and German art. Prado owes its name to the Prado de San Jeronimo alley, where it is located, laid back in the Enlightenment. Currently, the funds of the Prado Museum are 6,000 paintings, over 400 sculptures, as well as numerous treasures, including royal and religious collections. During several centuries of its existence, the Prado was patronized by many kings.

Dome on sails, made in the construction of a honeycomb vault in the form of honeycombs (hexagons), Islamic architecture of Spain

It is believed that the very first collection of the Prado Museum was formed under Carlos I, known as the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. His heir, King Philip II, became famous not only for his bad temper and despotism, but also for his love of art. It is to him that the museum owes priceless acquisitions of paintings by Flemish masters. Philip was distinguished by a gloomy outlook, it is not surprising that the ruler was a fan of Bosch, an artist known for his bizarre pessimistic fantasy. Initially, Philip bought Bosch's paintings for El Escorial, the hereditary castle of the Spanish kings. And only in the XIX century the paintings were transferred to the Prado Museum. Now here you can see such masterpieces of the Dutch master as the "Garden of Delights" and "Hay Cart". Currently, in the museum you can enjoy not only paintings and sculptures, but also theatrical performances designed to "revive" the famous canvases. The first such staging was dedicated to the paintings of Velasquez and enjoyed great success with the public.

There are many more unique museums and galleries in Spain: the Picasso Museum and National Museum Art of Catalonia located in Barcelona, ​​the National Sculpture Museum in Valladolid, the El Greco Museum in Toledo, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the Museum of Spanish Abstract Art in Cuenca.

Sport

Football has ruled over sports in Spain since the beginning of the 20th century. Basketball, tennis, cycling, handball, motorcycling and, more recently, Formula 1 are also important thanks to the presence of Spanish champions in all these disciplines. Today, Spain is the world's leading sports power, the development of sports in the country in particular was spurred by the summer Olympic Games in Barcelona. In 2008, Spain won the European Football Championship.

Military establishment

On November 2, 2004, Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero announced the new doctrine of Spanish national defense 1/2004.

The former military doctrine was adopted in December 2000 by the government of José María Aznar. In particular, it attached great importance to the readiness of the Spanish armed forces to resolve possible internal social or territorial conflicts (the army, according to the Spanish constitution, protects the country not only from an external, but also from an internal enemy). The actions of the army outside of Spain were determined by its NATO membership and transatlantic solidarity with the United States.

In the new doctrine 1/2004, terrorism is declared the main enemy of Spain (both external and internal). It is noted that from now on, Spanish troops will be able to take part in international peacekeeping operations directly approved by the UN or, as was the case in Kosovo, enjoying the obvious support of the world community. In addition, participation in hostilities will require permission from the Spanish Parliament.

In the new military doctrine, the role of the JEMAD Defense General Staff, which is headed by General Felix Sans, has been increased. At the end of October 2004, he made a statement about the need to "balance" the unequal relationship between Spain and the United States that developed after 1953, when Spain and the United States signed a military agreement on defense cooperation, under which the United States received the right to use several large military bases in Spain .

In 2001, Spain abolished conscription and switched to a fully professional army.

There are no laws in Spain banning openly gays and lesbians from serving in the armed forces. On March 4, 2009, Spanish Defense Minister Carme Chacón (the first woman to hold this post) issued a decree repealing a pre-existing law that banned transgender people from serving in the armed forces.

Spanish foreign policy

In early 2004, in connection with the coming to power of the new socialist government, there was a sharp turn in Spanish foreign policy from supporting the US course to solidarity with the leaders of the European Union, in particular, on the Iraq issue: after winning the elections on March 14, 2004, the new socialist government withdrew Spanish troops from Iraq. Spain is the largest of the EU countries that did not recognize the independence of Kosovo because of similar problems with the Basques of their own.

One of the most important areas of Spanish foreign policy is Latin America. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, Spain is helping the countries of this region in the development of civil society, democratic principles, open and free trade, and in solving socio-economic problems. To achieve these goals, the Iberoamerican Community of Nations was created. Summits are held annually, at which the most important issues are resolved.

Another important area is the Mediterranean. Solving problems in this region and maintaining friendly relations and contacts with the Mediterranean countries play an important role for Spain, because it is a matter of its own security, in addition, these countries are neighbors with it, and are also important trading partners. An important project in the field of the Spanish-Mediterranean dialogue is the "Barcelona Process" - a program designed to strengthen state institutions in the countries of the Mediterranean region, develop the economy, progress in the social field, and resolve acute issues and problems of the region.

Russia

Diplomatic relations with the USSR were established on July 28, 1933. In March 1939, after General Franco came to power in Spain, they were discontinued. Diplomatic relations were restored only in 1977. On December 27, 1991, Russia was recognized by Spain as the successor to the USSR.

During the Spanish Civil War, Spanish children were transported to the USSR. The orphaned children of the Spanish anti-fascist fighters were brought up, in particular, in the Interdom in Ivanovo. Spain had no actual wars with Russia. When the Russian emperor Paul, due to disagreements between the two countries in relation to France and Malta, declared war on Spain, the Spanish government refused to recognize the state of war, telling the Russian authorities that due to the vast distance, the armies of the two countries would still not be able to meet on land, and the fleets are at sea, and therefore war is impossible.

On April 12, 1994, the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Spain was signed. Currently, bilateral relations between the Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Spain have an extensive contractual and legal basis: the basis for interaction in various fields is formed by more than 50 treaties, agreements, protocols and other documents.

Transport in Spain.

The length of motor roads is 328,000 km. Car park - more than 19 million cars. Roads carry out 90% of passenger and 79% of cargo transportation. The length of railways is 14589 km. About 6.5% of all cargo is transported land transport and 6% of passengers.

About 300 ships with a total displacement of 1 million 511 thousand tons are involved in maritime transport. From 30 million tons of foreign trade cargo are transported by ships under the Spanish flag annually. 24 seaports control almost 93% of all traffic.

The leading place is occupied by air transport. Of the 42 airports, 34 carry out regular flights. Madrid International Airport handles 56 million passengers every year. The airport in Barcelona serves about 20 million passengers annually.

Education in Spain.

Spain has a system of compulsory free secondary education from 6 to 16 years. About 70% study in public schools, 96.5% - in public universities.

The largest universities in the country: Autonomous University of Madrid, Complutense (in Madrid), Barcelona Central and Autonomous, Santiago de Compostea, Polytechnic University of Valencia.

media in Spain.

Spain has a well developed media network. 137 newspapers and about 1000 magazines are published. The most read daily newspapers are Pais, Mundo, Vanguardia, ABC, Periodiko, Marka.

The leading radio stations are SER, COPE, Radio Nacional de España (RNE).

The largest TV channels: TVE (covers the entire territory of the country), private studios Telesinko and Antena 3. The Autonomous Communities have their own regional television, which also broadcasts in national languages.

Siesta in Spain

At the end of December 2005, the Spanish government passed a law limiting the lunch break only in official institutions to one hour (from 12 pm to 1 pm), with the institutions themselves closing at 6 pm. Previously, a lunch break (the so-called siesta) in public institutions in Spain lasted from two to four in the afternoon, while the working day ended at eight in the evening. By destroying the tradition of midday siesta, the Spanish authorities hope to increase productivity.

Crime in Spain

In recent years, the proportion of immigrants among Spanish offenders has gradually increased. This is due to increased immigration to Spain (including illegal) from African countries, as well as from Latin America. Among the latter, two gangs from Dominican Republic: Dominicans Don't Play ("Dominicans do not joke") and Trinitarios ("Trinitaria" - so named after the underground organization "La Trinitaria", which fought for the independence of the Dominican Republic from Haiti in 1838).

What is good and attractive fabulous Spain?

The State of Spain occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula. The territory of Spain is divided into 17 autonomous communities and 2 autonomous cities. The capital is Madrid.

Spain is a country of contrasts, adventures and unforgettable holidays

According to one version, the name of the country comes from the Phoenician expression "i-spanim" - "shore of hyraxes."

The area of ​​Spain occupies 80% of the territory of the Iberian Peninsula, as well as the Canary and Balearic Islands, the total area of ​​​​Spain is 504,782 km² (together with small sovereign territories on the African coast, the cities of Ceuta and Melilla), Spain is located in Europe, being the fourth largest country after Russia , Ukraine and France. The average height of the surface of Spain is 650 meters above sea level.

Spain is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe.

The country of Spain shares land borders with:

• Portugal in the west of the Iberian Peninsula;
• British possession of Gibraltar in the south of the Iberian Peninsula;
• Morocco in North Africa (semi-enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla and Peñon de Vélez de la Gomera);
• France and Andorra in the north.

Spain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the north and west, as well as the Mediterranean Sea in the south and east.

Spain's national holiday, Spain Day, is celebrated annually on October 12th. In 1492, Christopher Columbus, leading a Spanish expedition, went to the lands of the New World. The arrival of the first Spaniards in America is associated with the concept of "Hispanidad" - the community of Hispanic peoples.

The country of Spain considers this day a kind of birthday of the community of peoples of the Spanish language, the day of Spanish civilization. Spain Day has a dual character. The discovery of Columbus happened on the day of the Holy Virgin Pilar, whose image is strongly associated with the legend of the emergence of Christianity in Spain. Therefore, the noisy Fiesta del Pilar also takes place on this day. How the holiday is celebrated: Various musical, theatrical and dance events are thundering everywhere, street performances, processions of giant puppets, contests and competitions are held.

The unique atmosphere filled with fireworks, bright outfits and incendiary rhythms attracts thousands of tourists these days.

Of the fifteen mainland autonomies of Spain, four go to the Mediterranean Sea, where resort areas have been developing for several decades. Spain is a great choice for living and relaxing!

What is good about Spain?

The fact that it has the best climate in Europe, where the day is rare when the sun does not shine, filling the atmosphere with energy, light and warmth.

The fact that it offers exquisite and healthy cuisine, excellent wines, clean beaches, most of which have been awarded the blue flag of ecological cleanliness, warm clear sea, rich nature, beautiful and diverse architecture, a huge amount of entertainment for every taste and for every age.

But the most important wealth of Spain is its people, always friendly and ready to help anyone, even a stranger. That's why it's so nice to relax here, that's why you want to live here!
Spain has managed to merge together the most diverse traditions and form a great and beautiful culture.

Spain is the birthplace of Cervantes and Lorca, Gaudí and Dali. Almost the entire country is one huge open-air historical museum, surrounded by endless beautiful beaches and resort areas, many of which are considered the best in Europe.

In addition, there is a secret relationship between the Spanish and Russian souls: when you come here, you will feel comfortable.

Tourists traveling in Spain by car meet from time to time black silhouette figures of bulls installed near the roads. No one wonders why they are “grazing” here, because the answer is obvious. The fighting bull is a symbol of Spain, replicated in hundreds of thousands of souvenirs that people take with them in memory of the country.

The views of Spain and the regions of Spain are very diverse. The center of the country is located at a distance of 300 kilometers from the sea. The relief is dominated by systems of mountain ranges and high plateaus.

Features of Spain: Plateaus and mountains make up about 90 percent of its territory. Almost half of the country's surface is occupied by the vast, highest in Europe high - with an average height of 660 meters - the Meseta plateau.

In the north, Meseta is bordered by the powerful Cantabrian Mountains, which stretch along the coast of the Bay of Biscay for 600 kilometers, isolating the hinterland from the influence of the sea. In their central part is the Picos de Europa massif (from Spanish - Peaks of Europe) with heights up to 2648 m.

The Cantabrian Mountains are an orographic and tectonic continuation of Spain's most powerful mountain system, the Pyrenees.
The Pyrenees are several parallel ranges stretching from west to east for 450 kilometers. This is one of the most inaccessible mountainous countries in Europe.

From the northeast, the system of the Iberian Mountains adjoins the Meseta, the maximum height (Mon Cayo peak) is 2313 meters.

Between the eastern Pyrenees and the Iberian mountains stretch the low Catalan Mountains, the southern slopes of which break off in ledges to the Mediterranean Sea.

The entire southeast of the Iberian Peninsula is occupied by the Cordillera Betica, which is a system of massifs and ridges. Its crystalline axis is the mountains of the Sierra Nevada.

Most of the territory of Spain is located at an altitude of about 700 meters above sea level. It is the second highest country in Europe after Switzerland.

The only large lowland - Andalusian - occupies the south of Spain. In the northeast of Spain, in the valley of Spain's main fishing river, the Ebro, lies the Aragonese Plain. Smaller lowlands stretch along the Mediterranean Sea. One of the main rivers of Spain (and the only navigable one in the lower reaches) flows through the Andalusian lowland - the Guadalquivir. The rest of the rivers, including the largest ones: Tajo and Duero, the lower reaches of which are located on the territory of neighboring Portugal, the Ebro, Guadiana, are distinguished by sharp seasonal level fluctuations and rapids.

Significant areas of the country suffer from lack of water. Related to this is the problem of erosion - millions of tons of topsoil are blown out every year.

The capital of Spain Madrid is located in the geographical center of the country and is the "highest" capital in Europe.

On the coast, the views of Spain are very beautiful, there are more than two thousand beaches, and the waters of Spain are very warm. Coast of Spain: Costa Brava, Costa Dorada, Costa del Assar, Costa de Almeria, Costa Blanca, Mar Menor, Costa del Sol, Costa de la Luz, Rias Bahas, Rias Altas , Costa Cantabrica, Canary and Balearic Islands.

It is pleasant to live in Spain, because the State of Spain is one of the warmest in Western Europe. The average number of sunny days is 260-285. The average annual temperature on the Mediterranean coast is 20 degrees Celsius. In winter, the temperature drops below zero, usually only in the central and northern regions of the country. In summer, the temperature rises to 40 degrees and above (from the central part to the southern coast). On the northern coast, the temperature is not so high - about 25 degrees Celsius.

The size of Spain is 504,782 km², in this regard, Spain is characterized by very deep internal climatic differences, and it can only conditionally be attributed entirely to the Mediterranean climatic region. Due to the size of Spain, these differences appear in different parts of Spain, both in temperature and in annual amounts and rainfall patterns.

In the far northwest, Spain's climate is mild and humid with little temperature variation throughout the year and high rainfall. Constant winds from the Atlantic bring a lot of moisture, mainly in winter, when foggy and cloudy weather prevails with drizzling rain, almost without frost and snow. The average temperature of the coldest month is the same as in the northwest of France.

Summers are hot and humid, with average temperatures rarely below 16 degrees Celsius. Annual rainfall exceeds 1070 mm, and in some places reaches 2000 mm.

Completely different conditions in the interior of the country - on the plateau of Old and New Castile and the Aragonese plain. In these areas, the influence of the plateau-mountain-hollow relief, considerable height, and local continental air is felt. They are characterized by relatively low precipitation (no more than 500 mm per year) and sharp temperature fluctuations by season.

V Old Castile and in the plain of Aragon there are rather cold winters, with frosts and strong, harsh winds; summers are hot and rather dry, although the maximum precipitation falls on this season of the year.

In Nueva Castile, the climate is slightly milder, with warmer winters but also low rainfall. Agriculture in all these areas needs artificial irrigation.

The Spanish news keeps reporting that the Spanish economy is in crisis. Companies in Spain and firms in Spain cannot provide enough jobs and therefore 25% of the population is unemployed. At the same time, according to the International Monetary Fund, the country of Spain in 2015 is the fourteenth economic power in the world, according to nominal GDP.

Traditionally, the Kingdom of Spain is an agricultural country, in addition it is one of the largest producers in Western Europe; since the mid-1950s, the industrial growth of the Spanish economy has been rapid and quickly gained more weight than agriculture in the Spanish economy.

Spain's banks prepared development plans that began in 1964, helped to expand the economy, but in the late 1970s, Spain's industry entered a period of economic recession due to rising oil prices, and increased imports associated with the establishment of democracy and the opening of borders.

At the same time, the income received from tourism has increased significantly.

In the early 1960s, a stabilization plan was adopted, which later became known as the "Spanish economic miracle". In 1960-1974, economic performance grew at an average rate of 6.6% per year, which was higher than that of any other country in the world (with the exception of Japan). The most important role was played by the discovery of Spain as a world resort center.

The money from the population for purchases in Spain was greatly reduced, and in 1959-1974 more than 3 million Spaniards left the country in search of work in order to send the money they earned back to their homeland. In 1973, Spain's industry took another hit due to the energy crisis, due to Spain's dependence on other countries, unemployment rose to 21% in 1975. But in the 1980s, business in Spain began to boom again.

Although growth rates were below the level of the 1960s, they nevertheless remained the highest in Western Europe. However, in this case, the growth in production was accompanied by inflation and high unemployment (up to 22% of the able-bodied population).

In the 1990s, the country took a leading position in the EU (although it is still a recipient, that is, it receives subsidies to support agriculture and some areas from pan-European funds).

Sights of Spain. Top 10. (video):

In 2004, Spanish exports amounted to over 135 billion euros, imports - about 190 billion euros. The main partners in foreign trade are the EU countries, the USA, Latin America.

Modern Spain is one of the largest centers of international tourism (62 million people in 1997, 95% of tourists are from EU countries; the main tourist centers are Madrid and Barcelona), as well as resorts - Costa Brava, Costa Dorada, Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol. In 2004, 53.6 million foreign tourists visited Spain (2nd place in the world). The industry's revenues in 2004 were about 35 billion euros. More than 65% of tourists are from EU countries.

1.3 million people are employed in this area. The popularity of tourism is due to the fact that a trip to Spain for holidays is very cheap compared to other countries.

Spain's form of government is a parliamentary monarchy. The monarch is only a tribute to tradition and does not have any significant powers.

The head of state is the King of Spain.

Philip VI is currently King of Spain. Leticia - Queen of Spain.

The legislative body is the bicameral Parliament of Spain - the Cortes Generales (Congress of Deputies and the Senate). It consists of the Senate (259 seats - some deputies are elected by direct universal suffrage, others are appointed by provincial legislatures; all senators are elected for a 4-year term) and the Congress of Deputies (350 seats - elected by party lists for a 4-year term). The executive power is headed by the Prime Minister of Spain - the leader of the party that won the majority of votes in the elections to the Spanish Parliament.

• The constitutional oversight body is the Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitucional),
• The highest court is the Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo),
• The highest courts of the autonomous communities are the highest courts of justice (Tribunal Superior de Justicia),
• Courts of Appeal - Provincial Audiences (Audiencias Provinciales),
• District courts - courts of first instance and investigation (Juzgados de primera instancia e instruccion),
• The lowest level of the judiciary are justices of the peace (juzgados de paz),
• Court of Impeachment - National Audience (Audiencia Nacional),
• The supreme audit body is the Court of Accounts (Tribunal de Cuentas),
• The governing body of the courts is the General Council of the Judiciary (Consejo General del Poder Judicial).

In total, more than 500 political parties and public organizations are officially registered in Spain.

Spain Party Policy:

1. People's Party of Spain
2. Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, PSOE,
3. communist party,
4. Regionalists.
5. The major regional parties include the Catalan Convergence and Union bloc, the Catalan Esquerra Republique party, the BNP, and the Canary Coalition.

Spanish foreign policy

Spanish Foreign Policy: The Preamble to the Spanish Constitution proclaims the willingness to "cooperate in strengthening peaceful relations and cooperation with all countries of the world." Currently, Spain's foreign policy is mainly based on three directions: Europe (especially the EU), the Ibero-American direction, the countries of the Mediterranean Sea.

Domestic policy of Spain: The laws of Spain cannot contradict the current Constitution of Spain and the EU. The inhabitants of Spain are equal before the law; no discrimination based on origin, race, sex, religion, social status or any other grounds specified in EU law is allowed.

Corruption and unemployment are the two main problems in Spain. At the start of the 21st century, Spain fell into a whirlpool of crisis tests and entered a period of severe, protracted financial, economic and social upheavals. The country is facing fundamental problems not only of an opportunistic but also of a structural nature. This circumstance significantly complicates and slows down the process of overcoming the crisis, as well as entering the trajectory of recovery growth.

See also our other articles:

• Spain photo
• Russian Spain. Full information

The economic recession, in turn, gave rise to many new problems, including political ones.

Spain is rightfully considered an open-air museum. The vastness of this country carefully preserves cultural and historical monuments that are world famous.

Museums of Spain: The most famous museum in Spain - the Prado Museum - is located in Madrid. Its vast exposition cannot be seen in one day. The museum was founded by Isabella of Braganza, wife of King Ferdinand VII. The Prado has its own branch, located in Cason del Buen Retiro, which houses unique collections of Spanish paintings and sculptures of the 19th century, as well as works by English and French painters.

The museum itself presents large expositions of Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Flemish and German art. Prado owes its name to the Prado de San Jeronimo alley, where it is located, laid back in the Enlightenment. Currently, the funds of the Prado Museum are 6,000 paintings, over 400 sculptures, as well as numerous treasures, including royal and religious collections. During several centuries of its existence, the Prado was patronized by many kings.

It is believed that the very first collection of the Prado Museum was formed under Charles I, known as the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. His heir, King Philip II, became famous not only for his bad temper and despotism, but also for his love of art. It is to him that the museum owes priceless acquisitions of paintings by Flemish masters. Philip was distinguished by a gloomy outlook, it is not surprising that the ruler was an admirer of Bosch, an artist known for his bizarre pessimistic fantasy.

Initially, Philip bought Bosch's paintings for El Escorial, the hereditary castle of the Spanish kings. And only in the XIX century the paintings were transferred to the Prado Museum. Now here you can see such masterpieces of the Dutch master as the "Garden of Delights" and "Hay Cart". Currently, in the museum you can enjoy not only paintings and sculptures, but also theatrical performances designed to "revive" the famous canvases. The first such staging was dedicated to the paintings of Velasquez and enjoyed great success with the public.

Spain gave: The Dali Theater Museum is a museum of the surrealist artist Salvador Dali, located in the city of Figueres, in Catalonia. The official opening of the museum took place on September 28, 1974. Centre museum complex makes up the building of the old city theater, where in 1918, at the age of 14, Dali first exhibited his work in a collective exhibition together with Josep Bonaterra Gras and Josep Monturiol Puig.

The culture of Spain is diverse. There are many more unique museums and galleries in Spain: the Picasso Museum and the National Art Museum of Catalonia, located in Barcelona, ​​the National Museum of Sculpture in Valladolid, the El Greco Museum in Toledo, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the Museum of Spanish Abstract Art in Cuenca.

The art of Spain is the fine art of world-famous Spanish artists. The Moorish heritage, especially in Andalusia, is evident today in cities such as Cordoba, Seville and Granada.

The most famous Spanish artists :

• Salvador Dali - Spanish painter, graphic artist, sculptor, director, writer. One of the most famous representatives of surrealism.
• Pablo Picasso - Spanish painter, sculptor, graphic artist, ceramist and designer. Founder of Cubism.
• Francisco de Zurbaran - Spanish artist, representative of the Seville school of painting.
• Juan Gris - Spanish painter and sculptor, one of the founders of cubism.

In Spain, children enter primary school at the age of 6 and study there for 6 years. At the age of 12 they are transferred to a secondary school where they study for 4 years. After high school, you can continue your studies at Bachillerato High School if you plan to enroll in Universities in Spain, or enroll in an FP vocational education course.

Today, Islam is spreading intensively in Spain due to the influx of immigrants from Morocco, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. More than a million Muslims live in Spain today, the vast majority of whom are immigrants and their descendants. It is estimated that between 20,000 and 50,000 Spaniards converted to Islam, and most of them live in Andalusia. The first mosque in Spain since the Moors were expelled from Spain in 1492 was built in 1982.

Bullfight in Spain, or in another way bullfight

This is a Spanish term for one of the most common forms of tauromachy. It is a spectacle for which thousands of people come to Spain every year. It's part of the Spanish culture. This is a huge number of world-famous subjects in art.

Bullfighting originated in ancient times. By the eighteenth century, she got exactly the look we see now. Bullfighting is carried out according to strict canons and rules. The most common form is the Spanish foot bullfight.

Flamenco

Spain flamenco is the general term for the southern Spanish (Andalusian) folk music - song (cante) and dance (baile). There are two stylistically and musically distinct classes of flamenco: the oldest cante hondo / jondo (hondo lit. deep, that is, a serious, dramatic style), it is also cante grande (large, high style); and the more modern cante chico (chico is literally small, that is, a lightweight, simple style).

Within both classes of flamenco, there are more than 50 subclasses (genres), the exact boundary between which is sometimes difficult to draw.

What time is it in Spain? Time in Spain now has a standard time zone: UTC/GMT +1 hour.

Daylight saving time in Spain starts on Sunday, March 30, 2014 at 02:00 local standard time.

Daylight saving time in Spain ends - Sunday, 26 October 2014, 03:00 - local daylight saving time.
It is not difficult to guess that tourist Spain lives by the clock adopted in Western European countries. Accordingly, it has different time Spain Moscow and the difference is plus two hours. The time difference with Moscow in the Canary Islands is plus 3 hours.

Medieval Spain until December 31, 1900 enjoyed solar time. On July 22, 1900, in San Sebastian, the President of the Council of Ministers of Spain, Francisco Silvera, proposed to the regent of Spain, Maria Cristina, a decree to standardize time in the country; setting Spain's Greenwich Mean Time (UTC±00:00) as the standard time for the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands from January 1, 1901. The law was passed by Maria Christina of Austria on July 26, 1900.

Franco Spain: In 1940, Francisco Franco changed the country's time zone by moving the time forward one hour from 23:00 GMT on March 16 to 00:00 March 17 CET.

This translation took place during the Second World War, in order to synchronize with the times in the European countries occupied at that time by Nazi Germany. Some Western European countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands, France remained on "German time" after the war in addition to Spain.

The borders of Spain are huge, so different parts of Spain live at different times.

In Galicia, the westernmost region of the continental part, the difference between official local time and mean solar time during the summer period is at least two and a half hours.

Political moves have been made to change the time to the same time in Portugal (UTC±00:00), since this country and Galicia are at approximately the same longitude. So, for example, in Vigo in the summer, astronomical noon occurs at about 14:40, and sunset at about 22:15 local time, while in Menorca sunset occurs at about 21:20.

The inhabitants of Spain have ancient legends that are passed down from generation to generation. Different cities cherish their legends of Spain.

One of the legends of Spain was born in the small town of Teruel. Like the unhappy love of Tahir and Zuhra, Romeo and Juliet, Constance and Dartagnan, the Spanish lovers Isabel and Diego also failed to unite their destinies. Isabel Segura was a girl from a rich and noble family, Diego was a poor young man.

The Isabel family made incredible efforts to separate the young, but nothing worked. Then the girl's father set a condition: "Get rich and get Isabel as a wife." Diego returned rich five years later, but it was too late. His lover is married to someone else. From grief, the young man died, and Isabel's heart could not stand it.

The townspeople, in the chapel of Saints Cosmas and Damian, revered as miracle workers, put up a sculpture of lovers holding hands. This touching story is remembered by the people of Spain, and every year on February 14, on Valentine's Day, they put on a performance dedicated to this love.

The next legend of Spain is about a cruel beauty, whose name scares small children. What did she do? The legend begins quite harmlessly, in the spirit of such stories. Many years ago, Maria lived in a small village - a girl of extraordinary beauty. She herself was sure that there was no one more beautiful than her in this world.

She drove all suitors away from herself, believing that they were not worthy of her. Once upon a time, a rich handsome Ranchero came to the village. He was brave, sang beautifully, rode a horse well. Maria, using her charms, decided to lure him into her networks. They soon got married. They had two children. But Mary believed that only she had the right to the love and admiration of her husband.

When Ranchero, returning from a trip, poured out all his love to the children, Maria was furious. And, as sad as it is to say, she took the children, tied them up and threw them into the river. Realizing what she had done, Maria sobbed. Since then, she has been called La Llorona - a weeping woman, her moans are heard at night by the river. Mothers forbid their children to go out late at night, lest La Llorona steal them.

And another legend of Spain. It says that in ancient times, a girl, deceived by her fiancé, ran to church for consolation. After all, the groom before the crucifixion swore his love to her. When she turned to God, asking him to confirm his oath, the hand of the Savior rose and remained in that position.

Based on the legends of Spain, Lope de Vega and Grillparzer wrote their works. After reading them, you can learn many more Spanish legends.

It is difficult to find an architectural structure that would attract tourists more than the castles of Spain, shrouded in many legends, which have witnessed various wars, victories and losses, triumph and sorrow. Here, literally every centimeter is saturated with history, and sometimes, it seems, you can hear the clash of swords, the cries of the vanquished and the triumph of the winners. Castles are also very romantic. Not yet to fight! There must be a love story here, whether it be a princess or just a beautiful lady and some, if not a prince, then at least a brave knight.

It is difficult for a castle lover to find a country better than northern spain. Ancient Spain has left 10,312 castles intact to this day. The first castle in Olite was built by King Sancho VI the Strong and became a royal residence.

Now it is called the Old Palace and not only kings, but also any mortals can accommodate there - since the hotels of Spain have received this castle at their disposal. Now it is one of the hotels of the Parador Nacional chain.

Montserrat Monastery Spain. 50 km from Barcelona is a fantastically beautiful mountain range Montserrat, among the rocks of which a Benedictine monastery is hidden, is a spiritual symbol and the religious center of Catalonia, where thousands of pilgrims from all over the world flock every year. The monastery, built in IX, received the same name Montserrat, which means "cut" or "jagged mountains". Now 80 monks of the Benedictine order live on the territory of the monastery.

Palaces of Spain. Alcazar in Segovia - the palace and fortress of the Spanish kings in the historical part of the city of Segovia (Province of Castile and León, Spain). It is located on a rock located at the confluence of the Eresma and Clamores rivers, near the mountains of Guadarrama (part of the Central Cordillera). This position on the cliff makes it one of the most beautiful and recognizable palaces in Spain.

Alcazar was originally built as a fortress, but managed to visit royal palace, state prison, royal artillery academy.
The fortresses of Spain today are not only tourist attractions, museums and exhibitions in Spain.

These are also hotels in perfectly preserved fortifications of the Middle Ages - full of beauty and charm of previous eras, equipped with all the amenities of the current era.

Well, those who want to admire the Moorish heart of Spanish Granada should definitely visit the magnificent Alhambra, which has been the residence of both Muslim and Christian rulers in its long life.

Spain's production is the fifth largest in the European Union (EU) (based on nominal GDP) and the twelfth in the world. In terms of purchasing power parity, it is also one of the largest in the world.

According to the classification of the International Economic Forum, which analyzes the specific positions of countries in 14 sectors of production, Spain is in the top five in almost all sectors of the average technological level, especially standing out as a manufacturer of automotive parts and accessories (tenth place in the world), industrial machinery and equipment (15th place ), audiovisual means (17th place), products of organic and inorganic chemistry (fifteenth place), metal products (thirteenth place) and footwear (third place).

But in terms of competitiveness in the field of information and communication technologies and the production of electronic components, it is only in the third ten countries. Among the 100 most famous brands in the world, Made in Spain does not have a single one, although there are industry leaders: Freyshenet (sparkling wines), Chupa Chups, Telefonica (telecommunications), Repsol (energy), Pronovias (wedding dresses) and Lladro "(porcelain figurines), as well as those included in the top three Zara, in the top five - "Sol Mella" (hotel business). Possession of a global brand is considered an important competitive advantage and one of the signs of a high level of economic development.

Agriculture occupies a special place in the structure of the economy and influence on the development of Spain. It employs 2.3% of the working-age population of Spain. A small group of landowners own large tracts of land in the south of the country. Key indicators: Spain is the third largest producer of wine in the world, the fourth - citrus, and also provides ¼ of the world's production of olives and olive oil.

Spain is also a major producer of wheat (20 percent of the cultivated area), rice (the highest yield in the world), almonds, tobacco and vegetables (60 percent of the cultivated area).

It owns the largest fishing fleet in Europe. For the extraction and processing of seafood and fish, Spain is in the top ten. Animal husbandry is developing successfully: goats and sheep are bred in arid regions, and in the north - cattle.

The wines of Spain are among the most famous wines in the world. Traditionally, Spanish wines are considered to be more tart and strong than Italian and French ones. Many of Spain's wines do have strong flavor profiles, especially Spanish reds, which form the backbone of Spain's wine range outside the country. At the same time, excellent white and rosé wines are also produced in Spain.

Clothes from Spain and bags from Spain are also very popular, as they offer you not only fashion, but also a way of life: all the most progressive trends are simple, comfortable and reliable.

Mercury is mined (1st place in the world), pyrites (2nd place in the world), iron ore, lead, zinc, uranium, coal. Ferrous metallurgy smelts steel and cast iron. The north of Spain has concentrated most of the ferrous metallurgy enterprises (in the ports of Gijón, Aviles and Bilbao), near the country's largest coal basins - Asturias and Leono-Valencia, which account for 9/10 of all coal and anthracite reserves.

The natural resources of Spain in the mountainous regions contain a lot of minerals. Spain is in first place in Western Europe in the extraction of high-quality metal-containing raw materials, while there are no large deposits of most energy sources and it has to import 97% of oil from domestic consumption and 30% of coke. Fresh water reserves in the country per capita is about 2400 cubic meters.

The economic development of Spain is hampered by traditional problems, which are the traditionally low percentage of official employment of the population and, as a result, a high level of official unemployment, which, even in years of rapid economic growth, does not fall below 8-10%, which would be a catastrophic indicator for most other countries, but is perceived as the norm in Spain. Although at the same time, the high level of official unemployment partially softens the presence of a large shadow sector of the economy, in which many illegal immigrants are employed.

Also striking is the longstanding geographic disparity between the more developed northeastern region and the rest of the country.

Besides, feature Spain is extremely low resistance of the economy to various kinds of crisis phenomena, as well as a pronounced dependence on various kinds of "soap bubbles" (real estate, recreating, external loans). The economic development of Spain was strongly affected by the crises of 1993 and 2008-2012, exposing a number of traditional weaknesses of Spain, partly due to cultural reasons - the reduced competitiveness of the economy associated with the country's entry into the eurozone, as well as low labor productivity compared to the countries of northeastern Europe and Asia.

We offer you to see how the statistics of wine imports in the world looks like

Spanish statistics report that the decrease in the purchasing power of the population (9.9%) and the increase in the cost of acquiring new equipment and maintaining existing equipment (9.7%) are mainly to blame for the decline in production. The declining profitability of the industry also affected the income of intermediary organizations (the amount of money they earned decreased by 13.1%). Spain has never experienced such big production problems before.

The national cuisine of Spain has developed on the basis of the diversity of culinary traditions of its regions, due to its geographical location, climate and cultural characteristics. Spanish food is tasty, easy to prepare and mostly cheap. The most important thing is fresh products and a little skill.

The recipes of Spain are as diverse as the country itself, each region is rich in something of its own, but the main ingredients are the same almost everywhere: rice, cereals, fish, seafood and, of course, vegetables. The national dish of Spain is olla podrida, a thick soup, stew with vegetables.

1. Gazpacho
2. spanish pea soup
3. Walnut Mushroom Soup Puree (Welsh Recipe)
4. Braised Cod Biscay
5. Jamon with melon
6. Spanish tortilla with sausage and many others.

Spanish Cuisine Recipes: There are many cookbooks and even more sites on the internet dedicated to Spanish cuisine recipes. Most of the sites offer step-by-step recipes with photos, so any hostess can cook gazpacho, paella or any other Spanish dish herself.

The national cuisine of Spain is a combination of a huge number of different culinary schools, Moorish and ancient Roman with elements of African and French cuisines.
Traditional Spanish dishes are light, rich in protein and vitamins. In Spain, food is a cult, you should eat slowly, tastefully, washing it all down with excellent local wine.

Spanish dishes recipes:

Gazpacho is a cold tomato soup. It was invented by the poor peasants - satisfying, cheap and fast.
Mix all ingredients:

1. Blanch the tomatoes, rinse with cold water, peel and put into a blender.
2. Peel cucumber, onion, garlic and peppers - there too.
3. Soak bread in water, add to vegetables. Instead of bread, you can sprinkle breadcrumbs or just crushed ordinary crackers.
4. Salt and pepper to taste, add olive oil and juice from half a lemon.

Whisk everything and a refreshing soup is ready.

Poor man's potatoes.

This is a classic Spanish dish, served with sausages or grilled chicken.

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C. Grease an ovenproof dish with oil, and lay out the layers of potatoes, peppers and onions, sprinkling each level with seasonings, garlic and parsley. Put a bay leaf in front of the last layer of potatoes.
2. Sprinkle with paprika and drizzle with olive oil. Then heat on the stove until the oil boils.
3. Add wine and water so that the liquid reaches the middle of the potatoes and wait until it boils. Then put in the oven for 1 hour until the potatoes are soft and golden brown.

Spanish cuisine photo:

Spanish wines are some of the most famous wines in the world. It is believed that Spanish wine is more tart and strong than, for example, French or Italian.

The wine of Spain is divided into several categories:

• Table wines (Vinos de Mesa)
• Table wines proper (Vinos de Mesa)

• Table wines with the right to designate "wine of the land" (Vinos de las Tierras) (local wines)

• Quality wines produced in certain regions (Vinos de Calidad Producidos en Regiones Determinadas, VCPRD)
• Quality wines with geographical indications (Vinos de Calidad con Indicaciones Geográficas)
• Wines with appellations of origin (Vinos con Denominaciones de Origen, DO)

• Wines with recognized designations of origin (Vinos con Denominaciones de Origen Calificadas, DOCa).
• The abbreviation in Catalan differs from Spanish: DOQ (Denominacions d'Origen Qualificades)
• Vinos de Pagos

Spain's white wines are made primarily from the Viura variety. The best Spanish white wines are those from Catalonia - Penedes and Ampurdan.

Red Spain or Spanish red wines are a different story. Quality red wines from Spain have a good saturation, a little bit of oak flavor and a wonderful aroma, as they mature in oak barrels. The most famous Spanish wine is produced in Rioja, it is based on the Tempranillo grape.

Spain's dry wines are very popular. And wines from such regions as Catalonia, Jumilla, Ribera del Duero, Navarre, Rueda, Aragon are considered the most delicious. It is very easy to buy Spanish wine if you are in the country, go to any supermarket and select the desired region among the shelves. If you are a true connoisseur and want to buy Spanish wines as a gift or for a special occasion, then go to a wine store and they will help you find the perfect combination of price and quality.