Spain is a country of flamenco and bullfighting. Ancient history, culture and favorable climatic conditions made it very popular among tourists.
Spain - almost the most southern country in Europe, occupies 5/6 of the Iberian Peninsula. In ancient times, this land belonged to the Romans, then to the Vandals, Alans, Suevs, Visigoths, Basques, Byzantines. In the XIII century, the Arabs seized the territory, and the struggle began, which lasted for many years. And only in 1492 the Spanish crown took possession of the last stronghold of Muslims - Granada. The process of unification of the country began in the XV century with the marriage of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon. Spain experienced 5 revolutions in the 19th century, and the dictatorship of Franco in the 20th century, but it met the new century as a parliamentary monarchy.
Climate and weather
The climate in different parts of Spain varies greatly. In the Central part it is cold and dry in the winter, and in the summer - the scorching sun. In June-August, Madrid turns into a hot pan, but in March city gardens begin to bloom, rains are very rare in autumn, and even sunny days often happen in cool winters.
Capital |
Madrid |
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Number of population |
46 162 024 people |
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Population density |
91.45 people / km 2 |
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spanish |
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Religion |
catholicism |
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Form of government |
a constitutional monarchy |
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Timezone |
UTC +1, summer +2 |
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International dialing code |
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Internet domain zone |
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Electricity |
On the northern coast, the cold currents of the Bay of Biscay bring moderate temperatures and heavy rains. It is better to carry an umbrella with you, otherwise an unplanned shower is guaranteed.
Barcelona's weather is typical of the Mediterranean coast. The average annual temperature is about +20 ºС. It begins to warm in April; the water warms up by June. In winter, due to the high humidity it can be quite cool.
When is it better to go? From April to early November, pleasant and warm weather lasts almost throughout Spain. The ideal months for a visit are May, June and September (plus April and October in the south). In July and August, temperatures may exceed +45 ºС. Snowfalls in the mountains begin in October, and the highest peaks are covered with snow all year round.
Nature
About 90% of Spain is mountains. The highest are in the Pyrenees system, known for one of the highest cliffs in Europe - Governorate, about 1200 m high, and the waterfall of the same name 800 m high.
The central part is occupied by the Meset plateau, an average height of 660 m. It consists of more than 70 mountain ranges. Here is the highest point of the peninsula - the mountain Mulasen(3478 m). And the highest mountain in the country is volcano Teide - Located on the island of Tenerife, which is part of the Canary Islands. Its height is 3718 m.
Canary Islands - One of the most unusual and attractive natural areas of Spain. The fact that 4 out of 10 National Parks are located here speaks for itself. The volcanic origin of the islands led to a variety of landscapes - tuff fields, black gorges, calderas of old volcanoes and cones of young ones.
In the south of Spain is the only major lowland - Andalusian. In the north-east of the country in the Ebro River Valley is the Aragonese Plain. Smaller lowlands are located along the Mediterranean Sea.
The main rivers of Spain:
- Duero Tahoe;
- Guadalquivir;
- Guadiana
- Ebro.
The landscape of Mediterranean Spain is created by coastal valleys and steep cliffs.
More than 2000 beaches on the coast of Spain :
- Costa Dorada;
- Costa Brava;
- Costa de Almeria;
- Costa Blanca;
- Rias Altas Mar Menor;
- Costa del Sol;
- Costa del Assar;
- Rias Bahas;
- Costa Cantabrica
- Costa de la Luz;
- Canary and Balearic Islands.
sights
Thousands of tourists come to Spain to see for themselves the richest historical heritage. And this country conquers everyone, because it really has something to show.
Madrid - one of the most beautiful capitals of the world - ready to boast:
- The royal palace of the XVII century;
- plaza Mayor Square and its 136 Baroque buildings;
- the chapel of St. Anthony of Florida with paintings by Francisco Goya;
- the Prado Museum .
Incredibly artistic city Barcelona with the bustling Rambla, the unimaginable creations of the ingenious Gaudi and the Gothic quarter - a magnet for tourists.
From the arches of the ancient Roman aqueduct to Segovia breathtaking. He literally breathes history.
The pearl of Islamic architecture, the Alhambra's palace Granada captivates with its beauty.
And the great gothic cathedrals in Burgos, Palma de Mallorcaand Toledo make you think about the eternal.
Food
The cuisine of Spain is very diverse. Each region of the country has its own special culinary traditions: from boiled octopus, stewed in a pot of merlan fish from Galicia to fried milk pig in Segovia and baked cod with basque cuisine garlic.
Be sure to try:
Tapas - Typical light snacks served with beer or wine. Olives in the most various combinations: with tuna, lemon, almonds; shrimp, cheese, and even pies stuffed with seafood, meat, mushrooms.
Jamon - one of the best and famous meat delicacies. A dried ham, suspended from the ceiling, can be seen in almost any bar. There is a whole culture of its use.
Paella - a rice dish, with the addition of meat, vegetables, seafood. There are many recipes for its preparation, the ingredients can be very diverse, but three always remain unchanged rice, saffron and a large paella pan.
Gazpacho - a very chilled soup of mashed tomatoes, cucumbers, olive oil and spices.
And for dessert - don’t forget about the confectionery made from honey and nuts - turron, a traditional Christmas table decoration, although now it can be tasted year-round.
You can get acquainted with Spanish winemaking thanks to specially designed routes, there are more than 10 here. And not only a tasting awaits you there - finding the perfect flavor combination of products and wine, visiting a wine cellar, getting acquainted with the production process ... In Spain, all conditions are created to fully least enjoy this drink in a country that is one of the three largest wine producers in the world.
The most famous varieties are sherry and sangria.
Accommodation
Booking a room in low and mid season is not necessary at all - you can easily find the one you like on the spot. But in high season it will be very difficult to find a free room.
Accommodation prices vary greatly, depending on the region. In Madrid, Barcelona and other popular tourist destinations for a double room you will pay at least 60 € . And, for example, in Murcia, where there are not many tourists, a room with excellent conditions can be found for 45 € .
A bed in a hostel multi-occupancy room will cost about 20 € .
You can also live in apartments or in a villa, rent an entire house or room. Here 45 € for a double room - the lowest price for this type of accommodation. As a rule, the cost comes to 80 € and higher.
Fun and relaxation
At any time of the year in Spain there are many sports and cultural events.
Make sure the Spaniards love for dressing up and noisy fun at numerous fiestas - each town has events with its own unique traditions.
Carnival is considered one of the main holidays on the coast of Catalonia. You are waiting for colorful parades with the wonders of transformation into Sitges, Tarragona and other cities.
The most popular sport in Spain is undoubtedly football. You may not even hope to buy a ticket on the day of the match, especially if Barcelona are playing with Real Madrid. The Spanish national football team is the reigning world champion - and that says a lot.
Also popular sports in Spain include: basketball, motorcycling, cycling, tennis, Formula 1, golf.
This country has something to offer outdoor enthusiasts:
- windsurfing near the waters of the Strait of Gibraltar;
- rafting in Catalonia;
- diving in Andalusia;
- skiing in the Sierra Nevada National Park.
Theme parks and water parks will please not only children, but also adults.
Purchases
In stores in Spanish cities you can find goods for every taste and budget.
In Madrid and Barcelona, \u200b\u200bbuy clothes and shoes. Local brands will please you: Loewe, Custo, Zara and others. Be sure to visit one of the outlets - shopping centers that specialize in selling branded items of the previous season with significant discounts. For instance, La rocca villagelocated 30 kilometers north of Barcelona, \u200b\u200bor Las rozas village - 40 kilometers from Madrid.
The shoe size system is the same as ours, but the clothes are not. Understanding is not so difficult. To the number that you see on the label, add 6 and get the usual size designation for us. For example, 38 (S) corresponds to 44.
Almost all stores accept credit cards. Opening hours from 10:00 to 21:00, with a break for siesta. Sunday is a day off.
Going to the market is a great opportunity to feel like a local. Here you can buy a variety of fruits, vegetables and other products, as well as clothes, shoes, jewelry. Opening hours are from 9:00 to 14:00.
Transport
The main airport of the country is Barajas in Madrid Major airports are also located in Barcelona, \u200b\u200bMalaga, Palma de Mallorca and Valencia. National carrier - Iberia Airlines.
The main transport center of Spain is Madrid. The main railway lines and motorways converge in the capital.
Railways are run by RENFE, the state railway company. There are several types of trains, depending on the level of comfort and speed. Tickets can be purchased at ticket offices of railway stations and stations, as well as at travel agencies.
The main motorways are located along the Mediterranean coast: from the French border to Alicante and from the coast of Cantabria to Catalonia. Spanish roads are distinguished by quality and well-developed infrastructure. The speed limit in the village is 50 km / h. On the national highway, you can accelerate to 100 km / h, and on the highway - 120 km / h.
Bus stations are located in almost all major cities and resort centers of Spain. You can easily get to the right place.
Also, Spain has a developed ferry service. The main carrier, Acciona Transmediterranea, flies to the Canary, Balearic Islands and North Africa.
If you want to travel around the city by public transport, keep in mind that bus stops are marked with yellow-green signs with the inscription bus. The bus should be entered through the front door. You tell the driver the place to which you need to get and the number of people, and in your hands you receive a check with the specified fare (a ticket for one trip costs about 0,70 € ) Metro is in Madrid and Barcelona.
Communication
The easiest way to make a call to your homeland from Spain is to use telephone booths on the street. They accept coins and phone cards that you can buy at the post office or at kiosks with the Tabacos sign.
The international code for calls from Spain is 00. To make a call, dial the international code, wait for the dial tone, then dial the country code, city code and the required phone number.
For calls from a mobile phone, buy a prepaid card Vodafone, Orange, Movistar or Yoigo. They can be purchased at supermarkets or at The Phone House chain of stores.
To access the Internet, use Wi-Fi access points. You can find free connections at airports, train stations, major hotels, supermarkets, libraries and cafes.
Wi-Fi network is highly developed in Spain. Only in Barcelona there are 418 hotspots.
Security
In Spain, you should not walk along the street in a beach form. In Barcelona, \u200b\u200bthis pleasure will cost you in 120-300 € .
Remember: red light - there is no road. If you forget this rule, cook 200 € . Going in the wrong place will cost you 80 € .
Smoking is prohibited at workplaces, in bars and restaurants, the area of \u200b\u200bwhich does not exceed 100 m2, in some hotels and on beaches.
Do not drink alcoholic beverages in vehicles and public places.
As in most European countries, Spain has right-hand traffic. Passengers and drivers of vehicles equipped with safety belts must always be fastened.
Spanish traffic regulations prohibit drunk driving. The maximum allowable blood alcohol level is 0.5 ppm.
If the amount of the fine does not exceed 350 € , traffic police have the right to take him on the spot.
Theft, especially of valuables, can overshadow any rest. Unfortunately, for Spain this is a fairly common occurrence. Be especially careful on the central streets of tourist cities.
Business climate
One of the largest in Europe - the exhibition center Feria de madrid - The main platform for organizers of conferences and exhibitions in Spain. The area of \u200b\u200bthe center is 200,000 m2, with 12 pavilions, a business center, a press club, two congress centers and parking lots for 14,000 seats. This is a meeting place for professionals from various fields.
ArcoMadrid and Cibeles Madrid Fashion Week are the most famous and prestigious events of the center.
Largest exhibition centers in Spain in other cities:
- Fira de Barcelona (Barcelona);
- Feria Valencia (Valencia);
- Bilbao Exhibition Center (Bilbao).
In Spain, taxation is carried out at three levels: state, regional, local.
On state level: taxes on income of individuals and legal entities, tax on the activities of enterprises and value added tax.
On regional level: property transfer tax, tax on economic transactions, and tax on legal documented acts.
On local level taxes are levied from individuals on real estate, motor vehicles, tax on economic activity, construction and engineering work, as well as a tax on the increase in the value of urban land.
Spain's VAT rates are 4%, 8% and 18%.
The property
Who does not dream of an apartment on the beach? Spain is very attractive in terms of such a purchase.
Both individuals and legal entities can purchase real estate. All you need is a valid passport, foreigner number (N.I.E.) and, of course, financial resources.
To obtain N.I.E. will need:
- open visa;
- certificate of origin of money;
- bank statement on the status of the account;
- a contract for a deposit for a particular house and copies of documents for it.
Property must be registered with Registro de Propiedad - Property Register. Here you can find out all the necessary information about the acquired property. Upon purchase, a purchase and sale contract is drawn up, in which all conditions are stipulated. After signing, as a rule, the buyer pays about 10% of the cost. The remaining amount is paid at the time of signing the deed of purchase (Escritura Publica), which is signed by the seller and the buyer in the presence of a notary.
The average price of real estate in Spain — 245 000 € .
If you haven’t decided on a purchase, you can rent a house. Most of the apartments for rent are furnished. Finding an empty apartment is quite difficult. As well as renting housing for a long time, especially in resort towns. Short-term rentals are easier, but prices can go up dramatically during the holidays and holiday season. A mandatory document when renting a home is a short-term or temporary contract. As a rule, rent is charged in advance.
Remember that during the siesta, many shops and restaurants close. Between 14:00 and 17:00 in Spain, a traditional afternoon break.
Tipping is usually included in the bill. If not, it is customary to leave 5-10% of the total order value.
Toilets you can find in bars and restaurants, airports, train stations, museums, shopping centers. Landmark - signs with inscriptions Servicios or Lavabo. Women's toilet - senoras or damas, male - senores or caballeros.
Many locals speak English, but it will not be superfluous to learn a few phrases in Spanish. It should be noted that in Spain, Castilian Spanish is official for the whole country, but other languages \u200b\u200bare also in use. In Catalonia, for example, they speak Catalan, and in Galicia they speak Galician.
Ola Is a universal greeting Gracias - thanks, "por favor" - you are welcome.
Visa Information
Spain has long been a member of the Schengen Agreement, so the sequence of steps for obtaining a tourist visa has been worked out literally before automatism.
The maximum stay in Spain on a standard visa is 90 days. However, in some cases, the consulate has the right to issue single or double entry visas valid for 3 months.
Application for a visa in Moscow is carried out in:
- Embassy of Spain (St. B. Nikitskaya, d. 50/8)
- Consular Section (per. Khlebny, d. 28)
- Spanish Consulate General (Stremyanny lane, d. 31/1)
- Visa Application Center (Dubininskaya St., 35).
You can also contact the Consulate General of Spain (ul. Furshtatskaya, d. 9) and the Visa Center (ul. Shpalernaya, d. 54), which are located in St. Petersburg.
Spain is located in the southwest of Europe. The shores of this country are washed in the north and west by the waters of the Atlantic, and in the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea. In addition to the mainland, the territory of Spain includes the Balearic and Canary Islands - popular holiday destinations.
Tours to Spain
Choosing tours to Spain, travelers choose large cities - Barcelona, \u200b\u200bGranada, Seville, Cordoba. Beach lovers choose the resorts of Costa Brava, Costa Dorada, Costa del Sol and the island of Tenerife.
In winter, you can ski and snowboard in Spain at the resorts of Sierra Nevada and Pradollano.
Visa to Spain
To visit Spain you need. Tourist passport must remain valid for at least 3 months from the end of the trip to Spain. The passport must have 2 blank pages.
Roundtrip flights to Spain
Ticket prices for 1 person departing from Berlin are shown
March
Climate and weather in Spain
The swimming season on the Mediterranean coast of Spain lasts from June to October. In the Canary Islands you can swim all year round.
July and August are best suited for visiting the Basque Country, Galicia, Barcelona, \u200b\u200bMalaga. And for walks in Madrid and Toledo, you should choose late spring or early autumn.
| In the afternoon | At night | Sea | Season | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | +13 | +4 | +13 | Beach |
| February | +14 | +5 | +13 | Beach |
| March | +15 | +6 | +15 | Beach |
| April | +17 | +8 | +17 | Beach |
| May | +20 | +12 | +18 | Beach |
| June | +24 | +15 | +22 | Beach |
| July | +27 | +18 | +24 | Beach |
| August | +28 | +19 | +26 | Beach |
| September | +25 | +16 | +25 | Beach |
| October | +21 | +12 | +22 | Beach |
| November | +17 | +8 | +20 | Beach |
| December | +14 | +5 | +16 | Beach |
Spain Resorts
While in Barcelona, \u200b\u200bit is impossible not to look at the most famous unfinished building in the world, the brainchild of the great Gaudi, the fantastic Temple of the Holy Family - Sagrada Familia. The Spanish architect Antonio Gaudi turned Barcelona into a garden of his fantasies. Many people call his style modernism, but all the creations of the genius of Gaudi are so distinctive, fabulous and unique that only one definition suggests itself: “Gaudi style”.
Sagrada Familia became the main project of the architect - he devoted 43 years of his life to the creation of drawings and the management of the construction of the grandiose temple. According to Gaudi’s plan, three facades were to appear at the temple: Christmas, the Passion of Christ and the Resurrection. Each facade should be crowned by 4 towers of enormous height - 120 meters each. These 12 towers symbolize the number of apostles. The central tower - 170 meters high - was to be erected in honor of Jesus. Sagrada Familia is open to tourists and visitors daily. You can see the interior of the temple, stained glass and stucco molding, mosaics and frescoes. The average tour time is 4 hours.
The huge fountain is located on the hill of Montjuic in Barcelona. Water cascades occupy 3 thousand square meters, and the main bowl of the fountain in the form of an ellipse is 65 meters long and 59 meters wide. The fountain is an adornment of the architectural ensemble of Plaza de España and the National Palace of Catalonia. 3620 water jets soar to a height of 54 meters. The play of light and color is provided by 120 spotlights, in the spectrum of which there are more than 50 colors. Montjuic dancing to classical music.
The amazing Park Guell is another brainchild of Antonio Gaudi. Mosaic, mysterious paths, fabulous, like “gingerbread” houses - all this is Park Guell, a fantastic garden city in Barcelona. On the roof of the columned hall is a serpentine bench, stretched around the perimeter. It is brightly decorated with mosaics and very comfortable - according to the recollections, Gaudi asked the builder to sit in soft clay to get a cast that follows the contours of the human body.
In Seville, wander through the maze of the Old Town and visit Plaza Espanya. Among the columns there are panels of tiles, each of which depicts one of the Spanish provinces.
In Valencia, paella must be eaten to the dump - it was invented here. Still worth a look at the legendary Grail and the fantastic City of Sciences and Arts at the bottom of the drained river. Knightly Toledo beckons with its castles and olive groves. And in the restaurants of San Sebastian, in the Basque Country, you need to sign up for six months - here are the best restaurants with Michelin stars.
In A Coruña, admire the lighthouse, which was built during the Roman Empire. It rises 55 meters above the ground and still works successfully.
What is Spain without mills? You can look at the "monster" that Don Quixote fought on the hill of Peace.
Costa del Sol - these are beaches, beaches and again beaches, as many as 240 kilometers of continuous beaches with magnificent sand. In Malaga, look at the world through the eyes of Pablo Picasso, who was born here.
Costa Daurada, Golden Coast is the most beautiful Spanish beach resort. Luxury hotels, clear water and 200 kilometers of golden sand. Families with children like to come here, like to Mallorca: the entrance to the water is gentle, there are no strong waves.
Costa Brava is famous for its wildlife - cliffs and pines, warm sea and fresh breeze are intertwined here in a truly Spanish symphony of relaxation.
The legendary island of Tenerife attracts tourists from all over the world with its amazing beaches with dark volcanic sand.
Good to know about Spain
Tours to Spain
The prices of tours for 2 people for 7 nights with departure from Moscow
And galis. Reino de España, cat. Regne d "Espanya, Basque. Espainiako Erresuma, ox. Reialme d" Espanha) is a state in southwestern Europe with the capital in the city of Madrid. Spain occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula. According to one version, the name of the country comes from the Phoenician expression "i-shpanim" - "shore of rabbits." It covers 4/5 of the Iberian Peninsula, the Canary and Balearic Islands with a total area of \u200b\u200b504 782 km² (together with small sovereign territories on the African coast, the cities of Ceuta and Melilla), being the fourth largest country in Europe after Russia, Ukraine and France. The average height of the surface of Spain is 650 meters above sea level. The country is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe.
Physico-geographical characteristic
Relief
The relief of Spain is very diverse. The center of the country is 300 kilometers from the sea. In the relief, the dominant role is played by the systems of mountain ranges and alpine plateaus.
Highlands and mountains make up about 90 percent of its territory. Almost half of the country's surface is occupied by the vast, largest in Europe high - with an average height of 660 meters - the Meset plateau. It is distinguished by the alternation of a plateau, folded-block ridges and mountain basins. Central Cordillera divides Meseta into two parts: northern and southern.
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. Although their average height is not very large (just over 2500 meters), they have only a few conveniently located passes. All passes are at an altitude of 1500-2000 m. Therefore, only four railways go from Spain to France: two of them pass the Pyrenees along the coast from the north-west and south-east, and two more railways cross the Pyrenees in the sections of Aerbe - Oloron- Sainte Marie and Ripoll - Prades, through a system of tunnels. The widest and highest part of the mountains is the central one. Here is their main peak - Aneto peak, reaching 3405 meters.
The system of the Iberian Mountains adjoins Meseta from the north-east, 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 lead to the Mediterranean Sea. The Catalan mountains (average altitudes of 900-1200 meters, the peak is Mount Caro, 1447 meters) follow for 400 kilometers almost parallel to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and actually separate the Aragonese plateau from it. Sites 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 are the mountains of the Sierra Nevada. In height they are second only to the Alps in Europe. Their peak, Mount Mulasen, reaching 3478 meters, is the highest point of peninsular Spain. However, the highest mountain peak in Spain is located on the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands) - this is the volcano Teide, whose height reaches 3718 meters.
Most 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 major lowland - Andalusian - is located in the south of the country. In the north-east of Spain in the valley of the river. The Ebro lies on the plain of Aragon. Smaller lowlands stretch along the Mediterranean Sea. On the Andalusian lowland, one of the main rivers of Spain (and the only navigable in the lower reaches) is the Guadalquivir. The rest of the rivers, including the largest: Tahoe and Duero, whose lower reaches are located in neighboring Portugal, the Ebro, Guadiana, are characterized by sharp seasonal fluctuations in the level and rapids.
Large areas of the country suffer from a lack of water. The erosion problem is also associated with this - millions of tons of the topsoil are blown annually.
Climate
Spain is one of the warmest countries 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, temperatures drop 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 north 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 entirely attributed to the Mediterranean climatic region. These differences are manifested both in temperature and in annual totals and precipitation mode.
On far northwest the climate is mild and humid with slight temperature fluctuations throughout the year and high rainfall. Constant winds from the Atlantic bring a lot of moisture, mainly in winter, when foggy and cloudy weather with drizzling rains, almost without frost and snow, prevails. The average temperature of the coldest month is the same as in the north-west of France. Summer is hot and humid, with an average temperature rarely below 16 degrees Celsius. The annual rainfall exceeds 1070 mm, and in some places reaches 2000 mm.
Completely different conditions in interior parts countries - on the plateau of Old and New Castile and the Aragonese plain. In these areas, the influence of the plateau-basin relief, a significant height and local continental air affects. They are characterized by a relatively small amount of precipitation (not more than 500 mm per year) and sharp fluctuations in temperature over the seasons. In Old Castile and on the plain of Aragon, there are quite cold winters with frosts and strong, harsh winds; summers are hot and rather dry, although the maximum rainfall falls on this season of the year. In New Castile, the climate is slightly milder, with warmer winters, but also with little rainfall. Agriculture in all of these areas needs artificial irrigation.
The soil
In the north-west of Spain, on the coastal plains and windward slopes of the mountains, brown forest soil is developed. The internal regions of the country - Old and New Castile, the Iberian Mountains and the Aragonese Plateau - are characterized by brown soil; in the driest treeless areas, low-carbonate gray-brown soil with areas of salt marshes in depressions of the relief is represented. In arid landscapes of Murcia, gray soils are developed. They are not gypsum-bearing and not saline; when irrigated, they yield high yields of fruit and other crops. The heavy clay soil of barros stands out on flat ancient alluvial plains, especially favorable for rice cultivation.
Flora and fauna
A variety of climatic conditions - from humid in the north to arid in the south - determines the heterogeneity of the flora and vegetation of Spain. Similarities with Central Europe appear in the north, and with Africa in the south. Traces of forest vegetation in Murcia, La Mancha and Granada indicate that in the past a significant part of the territory of Spain was afforested, but now forests and light forests occupy only 30% of the country's area, with only 5% of full-fledged forest stands.
Evergreen oak forests grow in the northwest of the country. In mountain forests there are more deciduous species of oaks, along with beech, ash, birch and chestnut, which is typical for Central Europe. In the interior of Spain, small areas of dry evergreen forests with a predominance of oak are preserved in places, interspersed with pine forests and shrubs. Fragments of semi-deserts (usually on salt marshes) are found in the most arid areas of New Castile, the Aragon Plateau, and Murcia.
In areas of southern Spain where there is more rainfall, especially along the coast, typical Mediterranean shrub-grass communities such as harrig and tomillar are represented. Garriga is characterized by the participation of local species of gorse and cornflowers, for tomillara - by the presence of aromatic labyrinths (shrub species of thyme, rosemary, etc.), as well as cistus. A special variety of garriga are scattered thickets of a dwarf fan palm, which is very characteristic of Andalusia, as well as a community with a predominance of tall alpha grass, or esparto, a hardy xerophyte that gives strong fiber.
In the fauna of Spain, Central European and African ties are evident. Among the European species, two species of brown bear (large Asturian and smaller, of a black suit found in the Pyrenees), lynx, wolf, fox, and forest cat deserve mention. There are deer, hares, squirrels and moles. A burial eagle is found in Spain and North Africa, and the blue magpie found on the Iberian Peninsula is also found in East Asia. Genets, Egyptian mongooses, and one species of chameleons are found on both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar.
Minerals
Minerals of Spain: The bowels of Spain abound in minerals. Especially significant are the reserves of metal ores, the deposits of which are associated with the exits of the folded base of Meseta or with volcanic rocks of mountain structures. In the northwestern outskirts of Meseta, within the Gallic massif, in the Caledonian and Proterozoic granite intrusions there are tin, tungsten and uranium ores. A strip of lead-zinc-silver deposits stretched along the southern outskirts of Meseta. A large mercury deposit of world significance, Almaden, is also located there. Iron ores are found in the north and south of Spain. They are confined to the structures of the Mesozoic and Alpine magmatic cycles. These are the well-known deposits of the Bilbao region on the northern slope of the Biscay Mountains and in Almeria on the southern slope of the Beta Cordillera. In the north, in the Carboniferous deposits that fill the foothill depression of the Asturian mountains, there is the country's largest coal basin. In addition, there are small deposits of coal on the southern slopes of the mountains and in some other areas. In the Cenozoic deposits of intermountain and intramountain depressions, salt and brown coal deposits occur. Significant reserves of potassium salts are located within the Ebro Plain.
However, it is worth noting that most of the mineral deposits in the country are very modest and quite exhausted, like many deposits in other European regions, which makes Spain dependent on imports of minerals, mainly from North Africa.
Economy
The airports of Spain are subordinate to the public organization Spanish Airports and Air Navigation (Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea (Aena)), which in turn is subordinated to the Ministry of Development (Ministerio de Fomento de España). According to the Autonomy Act of Catalonia of 2006, three Catalan airports were transferred to the authority of the Generality of Catalonia, which is managed by the public organization Aerocat. Madrid Airport (Barajas) with a passenger flow of 50.8 million in 2008 is one of the busiest airports in the world. Barcelona Airport (El Prat) served 30 million passengers in 2008. Less busy airports are in Gran Canaria, Malaga, Valencia, Seville, Mallorca, Alicante and Bilbao.
Spanish airlines are: Air Europa, Air Nostrum, Air Pullmantur, Binter Canarias, Iberia LAE, Iberworld, Islas Airways, Spanair, Vueling Airlines.
Spain intends to have a million electric vehicles by 2014, as part of a government plan to save energy and improve the environment.
Light industry
Food industry
Wine industry is distinguished in the food industry (Spain and Europe are second only to France and Italy for grape wine production), vegetable oil production (1.7 million tons in 1996; Spain is the world leader in olive oil production (about 0.5 million tons per year) ), fruit and vegetable and fish canned foods. Spain is one of the top ten global manufacturers of automobiles, ships, press-forging equipment and gas compressors, machine tools, oil products and chemical products. Half of the industrial production is concentrated but in the northeast (Catalonia), the north of the country (Asturias, Cantabria, Basque Country) and in Greater Madrid.
Agriculture
The leading branch of agriculture is crop production (gives St. 1/2 the cost of production). They grow wheat (about 20% of the sown area), barley, corn (in the central and southern regions of the country), rice (on the irrigated lands of the Mediterranean coast; its productivity in Spain is one of the highest in the world), potatoes and sugar beets, legumes, tomatoes, onions, peppers, eggplant and other vegetables (vegetables occupy 60% of the sown area), olives - (the leading place for growing 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 place for export in Western Europe), dates and sugar cane (in Europe only grow in Spain), figs, pomegranates, and cotton.
Fisheries
Spain is among the top ten countries in the world for catching fish and seafood (1.1 million tons in 1996) and their processing, and is a major exporter of fresh fish and canned fish.
The bulk of the fishing is conducted off the coast of the Basque Country and Galicia. Mostly caught sardines, hake, mackerel, anchovies and cod. Annually, 20-25% of the total catch is processed for canned food.
Banking sector
Spanish banks need recapitalization in the amount of 59.3 billion euros, according to the results of stress tests posted on the website of the Spanish central bank. The financial crisis in Spain led to an explosion of separatism. The economic crisis in Spain is beginning to gradually develop into a political one. On the one hand, regions with their extremely weak banks need the help of the government. On the other hand, some territories, in particular Catalonia, believe that without Madrid’s leading and directing hands they would feel much better.
The crisis was not limited to the financial sphere. Real estate prices fell, which in turn increased unemployment. Spanish construction company Martinsa-Fadesa filed for bankruptcy as it failed to refinance a debt of 5.1 billion euros. In the second quarter, property prices in Spain fell by 20%. In the Castile-La Mancha region, approximately 69% of all buildings constructed in the last three years are still not sold. Deutsche Bank expects a 35 percent drop in property prices in Spain by 2011. Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Zapatero has accused the European Central Bank of exacerbating the situation by raising interest rates.
Population
Population dynamics:
- g. - 6.5 million people;
- g. - 4.5 million people;
- g. - 6 million people;
- g. - 11.3 million people;
- G. - 6.2 million people;
- g. - 11.55 million people;
- g. - 18.6 million people;
- g. - 24.1 million people;
- g. - 29.9 million people;
- g. - 36.3 million people;
- g. - 45.97 million people.
Spain has a population of 46.16 million (October 2011).
According to genetic studies at Leeds University in 2008, 20% of the modern population of Spain has Jewish roots, and 11% have Arabic and Berber roots.
Story
A culture emerges on the southwestern coast of Iberia in the Bronze Age, from which at the end of 2 thousand a civilization of Tartesses was formed, which traded metal with the Phoenicians. After the depletion of the mines, the Tartess declines.
Along the east coast of Spain in the III millennium BC. e. Iberian tribes appeared; some hypotheses link their ancestral home with North Africa. From these tribes comes the ancient name of the peninsula - Iberian. In the middle of the II millennium BC. e. Iberians began to settle in fortified villages on the territory of modern Castile. Iberians were mainly engaged in agriculture, cattle breeding and hunting, were able to make tools from copper and bronze. Iberians used the Paleo-Spanish letter created earlier by the Tartessians. The language of the Iberians was not related to the Tartessian.
There is Roman evidence that ligurs used to live in Spain, but nothing is known of their existence in the historical period.
In the late Bronze Age, the culture of the fields of funeral urns penetrates into Iberia (the remainder of which, in the historical period, were probably Lusitans), and at the beginning of 1 millennium BC. e. most of Iberia is colonized by Celtic tribes. Some of the Celts, who lived in the vicinity of the Iberians, fell under their influence, created a Celtiberian culture; the Celts, who lived in the western part, maintained a relatively conservative lifestyle, were unwritten. The Celts of Iberia became famous as warriors. It was they who invented the double-edged sword, which later became the standard weapon of the Roman army and was used against its own inventors.
XX century
XXI Century
In March 2004, 13 explosions occurred in Madrid on the outskirts of Atocha train station, resulting in 191 deaths and 2050 injuries. This attack was organized by an underground Islamic organization that followed the ideology of al-Qaeda. The explosions occurred three days before the parliamentary elections and were the response of terrorists to the participation of the Spanish military in a military operation in Iraq. Most Spaniards blamed the government of Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, who sent Spanish troops in support of the United States and Great Britain, for the attacks. The government of Aznar made this decision unilaterally, without coordinating it with the parliament (Kortesami) and despite the mass protests of civil society, speaking at thousands of demonstrations against the participation of the Spanish army in the war. In addition, mass polls conducted by a state agency indicated that about 80% of the country's population was against Spain entering the war. The People’s Party, led by Aznar, lost the election on March 14, 2004.
In early 2004, the new socialist government of José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero made a sharp turn in Spain’s foreign policy: from supporting the US course to solidarity with most EU countries. After winning the elections on March 14, 2004, the socialist government withdrew the Spanish troops from Iraq, thus fulfilling an important point in the electoral program of the Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSI). In the subsequent parliamentary elections held in 2008, the PSOI won again. New parliamentary elections in Spain took place on November 20, 2011.
In 2005, gay marriage was legalized in Spain. Thus, Spain became the third state in the world, after Holland and Belgium, which recognized the legal equality of marriage unions regardless of the gender of the spouses. At present, same-sex marriage is recognized in many countries, as well as in some states of the United States.
One of the problems of modern Spain is the problem of immigration. Mostly, residents of the Maghreb and Latin America come to Spain. At the beginning of the new century, in the EU countries, according to rough estimates, there were 2.5 million Latin Americans, 800 thousand of whom were in Spain. However, after the attacks of 2004, the attitude of the Spaniards towards immigrants changed significantly.
Political structure
Administrative division
50 provinces included in 17 autonomous regions. Also in Spain are 2 so-called autonomous cities (ciudades autónomas) in Africa - Ceuta, Melilla and the sovereign territories of Spain.
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Cities
The largest cities in Spain are:
Culture
Spain is rightfully considered an open-air museum. The expanses of this country carefully preserve cultural and historical monuments that have world fame.
The most famous museum in Spain - the Prado Museum - is located in Madrid. Its extensive exposure cannot be viewed in one day. The museum was founded by Isabella of Braganca, wife of King Ferdinand VII. Prado has its own branch located in Cason del Buen Retiro and stores unique collections of 19th-century Spanish paintings and sculptures, as well as works by English and French painters. The museum itself displays 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 in the Enlightenment. Currently, the Prado Museum funds 6,000 paintings, more than 400 sculptures, as well as numerous jewelry, including royal and religious collections. For several centuries of its existence, the Prado was patronized by many kings.
It is believed that the very first collection of the Prado Museum dates back to Charles I, known as the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. His heir, King Philip II, became famous not only for his nasty character and despotism, but also for his love of art. It was to him that the museum owed priceless acquisitions of paintings by the Flemish masters. Philip was distinguished by a gloomy worldview, it is not surprising that the ruler was a fan of Bosch, an artist known for his bizarre pessimistic fantasy. Initially, Philip acquired the paintings of Bosch for Escorial - the ancestral 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 “Ways of Hay”. Currently, the museum can enjoy not only painting and sculptures, but also theatrical productions designed to “revive” the famous canvases. The first such dramatization was dedicated to Velasquez's paintings and enjoyed great success with the public.
In Spain there are many more unique museums and galleries: the Picasso Museum and the National Museum of Art of Catalonia located in Barcelona, \u200b\u200bthe 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.
Spanish cuisine
Sport
The main sport in Spain has been football since the beginning of the 20th century. Basketball, tennis, cycling, handball, motorcycling and, more recently, Formula 1 are also important due to the presence of Spanish champions in all of these disciplines. Today, Spain is a leading world sports power, the development of sports in the country in particular has pushed the Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona. In 2008, Spain won the European Football Championship, and in 2010, the victory in the World Football Championship. In 2012, Spain won the European Football Championship over Italy with a score of 4: 0.
In general, in the 2000s, the Spanish national teams won the World and European Championships in almost all game sports: football, basketball, water polo, field hockey, roller hockey, handball, volleyball and the Davis Tennis Cup.
It is also worth noting that the football club Real Madrid is officially recognized as the best club in the world of the XX century.
Armed forces
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 actions directly approved by the UN or, as was the case in Kosovo, enjoying obvious support from the international community. In addition, permission to participate in hostilities will require the permission of the Spanish Parliament.
In the new military doctrine, the role of the General Staff of Defense JEMAD, headed by General Felix Sans, is enhanced. At the end of October 2004, he made a statement about the need to “balance” the unequal relationship between Spain and the United States, formed after 1953, when Spain and the United States signed a military agreement on cooperation in the field of defense, according to which the United States received the right to use several large military bases in Spain.
In 2001, Spain abolished military service and completely transferred to a professional army.
There are no laws in Spain prohibiting open gays and lesbians from serving in the armed forces. On March 4, 2009, Spanish Minister of Defense Carme Chacon (the first woman in this post) issued a decree abrogating a pre-existing law that prohibited transgender people from serving in the armed forces.
Foreign policy of Spain
The preamble to the Spanish Constitution proclaims its readiness to "cooperate in strengthening peaceful relations and cooperation with all countries of the world." Currently, Spain’s foreign policy is mainly based on three areas: Europe (especially the EU), the Ibero-American area, the Mediterranean countries.
Today, Spain has diplomatic relations with all UN countries. Recently, Spain has relations with Bhutan (since October 2010), South Sudan (after its independence from Sudan in July 2011) and the Caribbean state (since September 2011).
On April 12, 1994, the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Spain was signed. At present, bilateral relations between the Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Spain have an extensive legal framework: more than 50 treaties, agreements, protocols and other documents form the basis for cooperation in various fields.
Morocco
In Spain’s foreign policy, Morocco is one of the key places for which the Moroccan kingdom is the most important African partner, if only because of its territorial proximity. The main areas of Spanish policy in Morocco are: issues related to the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, the unresolved problem with Western Sahara, the problems of illegal migration, the issues of stopping drug smuggling, etc.
Relations between Spain and the Maghreb countries began to develop most actively after the Socialist Party came to power in Spain in 1982.
Under the government of the People’s Party, led by Prime Minister H. M. Aznar, who were in power from 1996 to 2004, relations could not be called good and they were more likely to be unstable, in particular, the conflict around the island of Perehil (Leila) occupies a prominent place. in 2002.
The socialists, who came back to power in April 2004, led by José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, were determined to improve relations with their neighbors, primarily with Morocco. After the meeting of Mohamed VI and Juan Carlos in 2005, relations between the two monarchs improved markedly. The conflict in Western Sahara, which arose a long time ago, always had an adverse effect on relations between the two countries. After a frustrated quadripartite conference, Morocco in 1975 authorized the Green March to Western Sahara with the goal of “cleansing” Western Sahara from Spain. The result was an agreement between Spain, Mauritania and Morocco on the transfer of temporary control of the Sahara to Morocco and Mauritania.
An important component of relations between the two countries is close economic ties. In 1995, the Moroccan government decides to put everything on foreign investors, the most important of which are Spain and France.
Peacekeeping missions
The armed forces of Spain, consisting of 3,000 people, took part in 5 peacekeeping missions of the EU, NATO, and UN. These are the missions: International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan; EUFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina; KFOR in Kosovo; FINUL in Lebanon and the UN mission in Darfur (Chad).
Various questions
Transport in Spain
The length of roads is 328,000 km. Car fleet - more than 19 million cars. By road, 90% of passenger and 79% of freight traffic is carried out. The length of railways is 14589 km. About 6.5% of all land transport cargo and 6% of passengers are transported.
About 300 vessels with a total displacement of 1.511 million tons are involved in maritime transport. Vessels under the Spanish flag carry more than 30 million tons of foreign trade cargo annually. 24 seaports control almost 93% of all traffic.
The leading place is held by air transport. Of 42 airports, 34 operate regular flights. 56 million passengers pass through Madrid International Airport each year. The airport in Barcelona serves about 30 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 state universities.
The largest universities in the country: Madrid Autonomous University, 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 widely read daily newspapers: Pais, Mundo, Vanguardia, ABC, Periodiko, Marka. Women's Magazines Patrones, Labores del HOGAR, Moda.
The leading radio stations are SIR, COPE, Radio Nacional de España (RNE). The International Department of Spanish National Radio, known as Radio Exterior de España, broadcasts in Spanish and six foreign languages. The Russian service of the Spanish broadcasting has been working (with a short break) since the time of Franco, but is less known than similar broadcasters in Russian from the USA, Germany, France.
The largest television channels: TVE (covers the entire territory of the country), private Telesinko and Antena 3 studios, as well as round-the-clock news channel Canal 24 Horas, broadcasting around the world. Autonomous communities have their own regional television broadcasting, including in national languages.
Siesta in Spain
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 the Dominican Republic became especially active: Dominicans Don't Play (“Dominicans don't joke”) and Trinitarios (“Trinitarians” - named after the underground organization “La Trinitaria”, which fought for the independence of the Dominican Republic from Haiti in 1838 )
Real estate market in Spain
The average cost per square meter in Spain for the first trimester of 2011 is 1777.6 euros (1793.8 euros - new construction; 1764.8 euros - second-hand). The highest prices (in € / m²): San Sebastian - 3762.3; San Cugat del Valles - 3282.6; Getcho - 3224.3; Barcelona - 3103.5; Pozuelo de Alarcon - 2964.0; Madrid - 2921.0.
The main real estate in Spain is villas, apartments and apartments. At the moment, buying property in Spain has become more profitable, since on August 20, 2011, the Spanish government temporarily changed the tax - VAT when buying new housing from 8% to 4%.
Telecommunications in Spain
In astronomy
In honor of Spain, the asteroid (804) is named Spain, discovered on March 20, 1915 by the Spanish astronomer Jose Comas Sola at the Fabra Observatory in Barcelona. It was the first asteroid discovered from Spain.
see also
| Portal "Spain" | |
| Spain in Wiktionary | |
| in Wikisource | |
| Spain on Wikimedia Commons | |
Gazpacho, Prado Museum or Sagrada Familia. But those interesting facts about Spain that are presented in the article may not even be known to experienced travelers.
Country and People
- According to one version, the name of the country (España) goes back to the word Hispania, which in Phoenician meant "land of rabbits."
- Throughout history territoryOf Spain inhabited by various ethnic groups, including Iberians, Celts, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths and Arabs.
- Euskera, spoken in the Basque Country, is one of the oldest languages \u200b\u200bin the world.
- The Spanish Empire was one of the strongest in the world.
- Spain ceded Gibraltar to Britain in 1713.
- An interesting fact about Spain and its history: in two world wars, the country remained neutral.
- Spanish is the third most popular language in the world, spoken by approximately 400 million people.
- Football is considered a national sport. Spain won the first victory at the World Cup in 2010.
- The match between the football clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona is the main sporting event and can almost completely paralyze the country.
- An interesting fact about the people of Spain can be considered that the country ranks first in the world in organ donation.
- Same-sex marriages in the country are permitted by law from July 3, 2005.
- In Spain, there are about 8 thousand kilometers of beaches.
- One of the interesting facts about the country is the fact that 44 places in Spain are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
- About 11.2 liters of alcohol are drunk per year in the country, which is almost twice the average. Spain is the third country in the world (and the first in Europe) to drink gin and the first in Europe to consume cocaine. However, this is one of the European countries with a lower suicide rate. However, it is not necessary at all that these interesting facts about Spain are interconnected.
- Javier Bardem was the first Spanish actor to receive an Academy Award for his role in the film “Old Men Can't Be Here.”
- Amancio Ortega, founder of Inditex (trademarks Zara, Pull & Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Zara Home), is the richest man in Spain and the second richest in the world (for 2016) after Bill Gates. Ortega earns about 2.5 million euros per day.
Cities and provinces
- An interesting fact about the country is the belief that Madrid is the geographical center of the country, and Puerta del Sol in the capital is the exact center of Madrid or even the entire Iberian Peninsula. However, in fact, this opinion is refuted by new data.
- In 1978, it was thought that the center of Madrid was the rear facade of the Prado Museum. Now, it is generally accepted that the intersection of Goya and Serrano streets.
- Regarding the center of the entire Iberian Peninsula, the Puerta del Sol was considered such in the XVIII century, at present he has “moved” to the town of Cerro de los Ángeles, about 10 kilometers south of Madrid. Now there is the 14th century chapel Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles and the Sagrado Corazón monument, built in 1919.
- What can be said with accuracy is that in the Puerta del Sol there is the Kilometro Cero, or Km. 0 (“zero kilometer”), the point from which all roads should have been measured. It appeared in the XVIII century under the reign of Philip V, after they built six main roads that cross the entire peninsula.
- Another interesting fact about Spain: the metro in Madrid is considered the second longest in Europe and the sixth in the world. Its duration is 141 miles, and this number continues to grow.
- The University of Salamanca, founded in 1218, is the oldest in the country.
- Barcelona is the most visited city in Spain, about 15 million tourists come here every year.
- Cadiz is considered the oldest city in Spain and in Europe, it was inhabited by the Phoenicians.
- La Boquería (Mercado de Sant Josep), located in Barcelona, \u200b\u200bis considered the largest market in Catalonia.
- The most visited attraction in the capital of Catalonia is the Temple of the Holy Family (Sagrada Familia), construction has been going on for more than 200 years and has not yet been completed.
Gastronomy
- Spain is the second country in the world by the number of bars per person. The only country that defeats it in this respect is Cyprus.
- In many bars, customers are offered complimentary snacks - tapas, usually olives, nuts and dried fruits or anchovies in vinegar and olive oil marinade (boquerones en vinagre).
- Spaniards usually dine at 2–3 p.m. and have dinner between 9 and 10 p.m.
- An interesting fact about the country from the field of gastronomy: tomatoes, potatoes, avocados, tobacco and cocoa were imported to Europe through Spain.
- After France and Italy, the kingdom is the third wine producer in the world and the first country in the world by vineyard area.
- Although Spain is better known in the world for red wine than white, in most wineries it is white that is produced.
Everything you need to know about Spain
- Official language
Spanish; - The official name of the country
The Kingdom of Spain; - Location
Spain is a country located in southwestern Europe and is considered a member of the European Union. A well-known fact about Spain is that the state occupies most of the Perinean Peninsula. All almost 80% of the territory of Spain includes the Iberian Peninsula, the Canary and Balearic Islands. Spain is the fourth largest country in Europe after Russia, Ukraine and France. Not every tourist who is interested in all the facts about Spain knows that it is the most mountainous country in all of Europe; - Government structure
The form of government is the Constitutional Monarchy.
The king is the head of state .; - Capital of spain
city \u200b\u200bof Madrid; - Currency
Remembering all the known facts about Spain, the first thing that comes to mind is that the country is a member of the European Union. In this regard, the official monetary unit is the EURO (€), equivalent to 100 cents .; - Difference in time
Spanish time is 3 hours behind Moscow; - Electrical voltage
220V
All tourists, as a rule, are interested in collecting information about the country, with what states the kingdom borders and which sea in Spain. Spain has a rather interesting location - in the north and west it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, and in the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea.
And here are all the land borders that Spain has:
- in the west - with Portugal;
- in the south - with Gibraltar;
- in the north - with France and Andorra;
- in North Africa, with Morocco.
All the most important about the climate in Spain
One can safely speak of Spain as the warmest country in Western Europe.
The number of sunny days in a year is 260 - 285 days. Everything, of course, is changeable and changeable, but basically (according to statistics) this is so.
The average annual air temperature is + 20ºС.
The climate of Spain regarding the territory of the country is very interesting:
- in winter, air temperature in the northern and central regions can drop below zero degrees;
- in summer, at the very height of the season, in the central and southern regions of the Mediterranean coast, the temperature can rise to 40 ° C, and in the northern part of the coast it can be no more than + 25 ° C.
All this information gives a brief, but understandable idea of \u200b\u200bSpain as a resort country for heat-loving tourists.
All the most interesting facts about the population of Spain
According to the census of October 2011, the population of Spain is 46.16 million people.
All almost 76% of the population are urban - this is evidenced by statistics from the same period.
95% of the inhabitants of Spain are Catalans, which did not prevent 67% of them from expressing their consent on the issue of legalizing same-sex marriage.
9% of the population are expatriates.
All about Spain's resort cities
Largest cities in Spain
- Madrid -;
- Barcelona -;
- Valencia -;
- Seville
- Zaragoza
- Malaga.
Spas in Spain
The place where the country is located is not stingy with its resorts in Spain. Any tourist will find where to relax in Spain, taking into account their preferences. Whether it's just an excursion or a beach holiday.
- Barcelona
- Costa Brava;
- Costa del Maresme;
- Costa Dorada;
- Gran Canaria;
- Mallorca -;
- Tenerife -
By visiting one of the resorts in Spain, you can get some ideas about it as a country as a whole. Although in reality it is difficult to judge Spain in one part of it.
Some more interesting information about Spain
- Shop hours are from 10:00 to 20:00. Break - from 14:00 to 17:00;
- Bars and bakeries open at 8:00;
- Shopping is best done in major cities in Spain, because all the boutiques of famous brands are located there;
- Pottery, leather goods, fans, olive oils and wines will bring to mind about Spain;
- Leaving a tip in Spain is not necessary, because they are already included in the cost of services and make up 10-15% of it. If you liked the service so much and you want to thank the institution, then it is customary to leave a tip at a rate of 5%;
- The national holiday is celebrated on October 12 and is called "Day of the Spanish nation."
| Spain flag | Coat of arms of Spain |
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Visa to enter the country
All citizens of the Russian Federation must know whether they and their companions need a visa to Spain.
Tourists who want to go on vacation to Spain must be aware of this before the trip without fail. A visa is issued at the Consular Section of the Embassy of Spain in Moscow.
Spain is the very country that you want to know as much as possible, but you can never know absolutely everything! Spain every time opens in a new way. This is evidenced by the fact that the number of tourists returning to the country is growing every year.
