Spain brief information. General information How old is the country Spain

Spain is the country of flamenco and bullfighting. Ancient history, culture and favorable climatic conditions have made it very popular among tourists.

Spain is almost the most southern country Europe, occupies 5/6 of the Iberian Peninsula. In ancient times, this land belonged to the Romans, then to the Vandals, Alans, Suevi, Visigoths, Basques, and Byzantines. In the 13th century, the Arabs captured the territory and a struggle began that lasted for many years. And only in 1492 the Spanish crown captured the last Muslim stronghold - Granada. The process of unifying the country began in the 15th century with the marriage of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon. In the 19th century, Spain experienced 5 revolutions, and in the 20th century - the dictatorship of Franco, but met the new century as a parliamentary monarchy.

Climate and weather

The climate varies greatly in different areas of Spain. The central part is cold and dry in winter and scorching sun in summer. In June-August, Madrid turns into a hot frying pan, but already in March the city gardens begin to bloom, in the fall rains are very rare, and even in the cool winter there are often sunny days.

Capital	Madrid
Population	46,162,024 people
Population density	91.45 people/km 2
	Spanish
Religion	Catholicism
Form of government	a constitutional monarchy
Timezone	UTC +1, summer +2
International dialing code
Internet domain zone
Electricity

On the northern coast, the cold currents of the Bay of Biscay bring moderate temperatures and heavy rain. It is better to carry an umbrella with you, otherwise you are guaranteed an unplanned shower.

Barcelona's weather is typical of the Mediterranean coast. Average annual temperature - approx. +20 ºС. It starts to warm up already in April, the water warms up by June. In winter, due to high humidity, it can be quite cool.

When is the best time to go? From April to early November Pleasant and warm weather persists throughout almost the entire territory of Spain. Ideal months to visit are May, June and September (plus April and October in the south). In July and August temperatures can exceed +45 ºС. Snowfall in the mountains begins in October, and the highest peaks are covered with snow all year round.

Nature

About 90% of Spain is mountainous. The highest ones are in the Pyrenees system, famous for one of the highest cliffs in Europe - Governey, about 1200 m high, and the waterfall of the same name 800 m high.

The central part is occupied by the Meseta plateau, average height 660 m. It consists of more than 70 mountain ranges. This is also where the most high point peninsula - mountain Mulhacen(3478 m). And the most high mountain countries - Teide volcano- is 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 Spain. One thing is that 4 out of 10 National parks are here speaks for itself. The volcanic origin of the islands has led to a variety of landscapes - tuff fields, black gorges, calderas of old volcanoes and cones of young ones.

In the south of Spain there is the only large lowland - the Andalusian lowland. In the northeast of the country in the valley of the Ebro River is the Aragonese Plain. Smaller lowlands are located along the Mediterranean Sea.

Main rivers of Spain:

• Duero Tajo;
• Guadalquivir;
• Guadiana;
• Ebro.

The landscape of Mediterranean Spain is created by coastal valleys and steep cliffs.

There are more than 2000 beaches on the Spanish coast :

• Costa Dorada;
• Costa Brava;
• Costa de Almeria;
• Costa Blanca;
• Rias Altas Mar Menor;
• Costa del Sol;
• Costa del Assar;
• Rias Bajas;
• Costa Cantabric;
• Costa de la Luz;
• Canary and Balearic Islands.

Attractions

Thousands of tourists come to Spain to see with their own eyes the rich historical heritage. And this country captivates everyone, because it really has something to show.

Madrid- one of the most beautiful capitals in the world - is ready to boast:

• Royal Palace of the 17th century;
• Plaza Mayor and its 136 Baroque buildings;
• the chapel of St. Anthony of Florida with paintings by Francisco Goya;
• Prado Museum .

Incredibly artistic city Barcelona with the bustling Rambla, the incredible creations of the brilliant Gaudi and the Gothic Quarter, it is a magnet for tourists.

From the arches of the ancient Roman aqueduct to Segovia breathtaking. It literally breathes history.

The pearl of Islamic architecture, the Alhambra Palace in Granada captivates with its beauty.

And the great ones gothic cathedrals V Burgos, Palma de Mallorca And Toledo make you think about the eternal.

Nutrition

The cuisine of Spain is very diverse. Each region of the country has its own special culinary traditions: from boiled octopus, stewed whiting fish from Galicia to roast suckling pig in Segovia and baked cod with garlic from the Basque cuisine.

Be sure to try:

Tapas- typical light snacks served with beer or wine. Olives in a variety of combinations: with tuna, lemon, almonds; shrimp, cheese and even pies with seafood, meat, and mushroom fillings.

Jamon- one of the best and famous meat delicacies. A dry-cured ham hanging 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, and seafood. There are many recipes for its preparation, the ingredients can be very diverse, but three always remain the same: rice, saffron and a large paella pan.

Gazpacho- a very chilled soup made from pureed tomatoes, cucumbers, olive oil and spices.

And for dessert - don’t forget about the confectionery made from honey and nuts - turron, a traditional decoration for the Christmas table, although now it can be tried all year round.

You can get acquainted with Spanish winemaking thanks to specially designed routes, of which there are more than 10. And not only tasting awaits you there - finding the ideal taste combination of products and wine, visiting a wine cellar, getting acquainted with the production process... In Spain, all the conditions have been created for a complete 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

There is no need to book a room during the low and middle seasons - you can easily find one you like locally. But in high season Finding a free room will be very difficult.

Accommodation prices vary greatly depending on the region. In Madrid, Barcelona and other popular tourist destinations 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 multi-bed hostel room will cost on average around 20 € .

You can also live in an apartment or villa, or rent an entire house or room. Here 45 € for a double room - the most low price for this type of accommodation. Typically, the cost reaches 80 € and higher.

Entertainment and relaxation

At any time of the year, Spain hosts many sporting and cultural events.

Witness the Spanish love of dressing up and partying at the many fiestas - each town has events with its own unique traditions.

Carnival is considered one of the main holidays on the Catalan coast. Colorful parades with miracles 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 is playing Real Madrid. The Spanish national football team is the current world champion - and that says a lot.

Also popular sports in Spain include: basketball, motorsports, cycling, tennis, Formula 1, golf.

This country has a lot to offer to lovers of outdoor activities:

• windsurfing next to the waters of the Strait of Gibraltar;
• rafting in Catalonia;
• diving in Andalusia;
• riding on alpine skiing V national park Sierra Nevada.

Theme parks and water parks will delight not only children, but also adults.

Purchases

In the shops of Spanish cities you can find goods for every taste and budget.

In Madrid and Barcelona, ​​buy clothes and shoes. Local brands will delight you: Loewe, Custo, Zara and others. Be sure to visit one of the outlets - shopping centers that specialize in selling branded items from the previous season at significant discounts. For example, La Rocca Village, located 30 kilometers north of Barcelona, ​​or Las Rozas Village- 40 kilometers from Madrid.

The shoe sizing system is the same as ours, but the clothing size system is not. It's not that difficult to figure it out. Add 6 to the number you see on the label 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.

A trip 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, and jewelry. Opening hours are from 9:00 to 14:00.

Transport

The main airport of the country is Barajas in Madrid Also major airports located in Barcelona, ​​Malaga, Palma de Mallorca and Valencia. National air carrier - Iberia Airlines.

Main transport center Spain is Madrid. Major railway lines and highways converge in the capital.

The railways are run by RENFE, the state-owned railway company. There are several types of trains depending on the level of comfort and speed. You can purchase tickets at the box office railway stations and stations, as well as at travel agencies.

There are major highways along the Mediterranean coast: from the French border to Alicante and from the Cantabrian coast to Catalonia. Spanish roads are distinguished by their quality and developed infrastructure. Speed ​​limit in locality— 50 km/h. On the national highway you can speed up to 100 km/h, and on the expressway - 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 developed in Spain ferry service. The main carrier, Acciona Transmediterranea, flies to the Canary Islands, Balearic Islands and North Africa.

If you want to get around the city by public transport, then keep in mind that bus stops are indicated by yellow-green signs with the inscription bus. You must enter the bus through the front door. You tell the driver the place you need to go to and the number of people, and you receive a receipt with the indicated fare (a ticket for one trip costs about 0,70 € ). There are subways in Madrid and Barcelona.

Connection

The easiest way to make a call to your home country from Spain is to use telephone booths on the street. They accept coins and phone cards, which you can buy at the post office or at kiosks with a Tabacos sign.

The international code for calls from Spain is 00. To 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 mobile phone buy a prepaid card from Vodafone, Orange, Movistar or Yoigo. They can be purchased in supermarkets or online The stores Phone House.

To access the Internet, use Wi-Fi hotspots. You can find a free connection at airports, train stations, large hotels, supermarkets, libraries and cafes.

The Wi-Fi network is very developed in Spain. Only in Barcelona there are 418 free access points.

Safety

In Spain, you shouldn't walk down the street dressed like a beach. In Barcelona this pleasure will cost you 120-300 € .

Remember: red light - no road. If you forgot this rule, cook 200 € . Jumping in the wrong place will cost 80 € .

Smoking is prohibited in workplaces, in bars and restaurants whose area does not exceed 100 m2, in some hotels and on beaches.

You cannot drink alcoholic beverages in transport or public places.

Like most European countries, Spain drives on the right hand side. Passengers and drivers of vehicles equipped with seat belts must be fastened.

Spanish traffic rules prohibit driving vehicle drunk. The maximum permissible blood alcohol level is 0.5 ppm.

If the amount of the fine does not exceed 350 € , the traffic police have the right to accept it on the spot.

Theft, especially of valuables, can ruin any vacation. Unfortunately, this is a fairly common occurrence in Spain. Be especially careful on the main streets of tourist cities.

Business climate

One of the largest exhibition centers in Europe Feria de Madrid is the main platform for organizers of conferences and exhibitions in Spain. The area of ​​the center is 200,000 m2, on which there are 12 pavilions, a business center, a press club, two congress centers and parking lots for 14,000 spaces. 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.

The 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 enterprise activities and value added tax.

On regional level: property transfer tax, economic transaction tax and tax on legal documented acts.

On local level taxes are collected from individuals on real estate, motor vehicles, tax on economic activities, construction and engineering works, as well as tax on gains in the value of urban land.

VAT rates in Spain are 4%, 8% and 18%.

Real estate

Who doesn't dream of an apartment by the sea? 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, an alien number (N.I.E.) and, of course, financial resources.

To obtain N.I.E. you will need:

• open visa;
• certificate of origin of money;
• certificate from the bank about the account status;
• a contract for the payment of a deposit for a specific house and copies of documents for it.

The property must be registered in the Registro de Propiedad - Property Registry. Here you can find out all the necessary information about the property you are purchasing. When purchasing, a sales contract is drawn up, which stipulates all the conditions. After signing it, as a rule, the buyer pays about 10% of the cost. The remaining amount is paid at the time of signing the bill of sale (Escritura Publica), which is signed by the seller and the buyer in the presence of a notary.

Average property price in Spain — 245 000 € .

If you haven’t decided to buy yet, you can rent a home. Most rental apartments are furnished. Finding an empty apartment is quite difficult. How to rent housing on long term, especially in resort towns. Short-term rentals are easier, but prices can rise significantly in holidays And holiday season. A mandatory document when renting housing is a short-term or temporary contract. Usually, rent charged in advance.

Remember that during siesta many shops and restaurants close. In the period from 14:00 to 17:00 in Spain there is a traditional afternoon rest.

Tips are usually included in the bill. If not, then it is customary to leave 5-10% of the total order cost.

You can find toilets 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 local residents They speak English, but it wouldn’t hurt to learn a few phrases in Spanish. It should be noted that in Spain the official language for the entire country is Castilian Spanish, but other languages ​​are also in use. In Catalonia, for example, they speak Catalan, and in Galicia they speak Galician.

"Ola" is a universal greeting "gracias"- Thank you, "por favor"- Please.

Visa information

Spain has long been a member of the Schengen Agreement, so the sequence of actions for obtaining a tourist visa has been worked out literally to the point of automaticity.

The maximum period of stay in Spain with 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.

Visa applications in Moscow can be submitted to:

• Embassy of Spain (B. Nikitskaya St., 50/8)
• Consular Section (Khlebny lane, 28)
• Spanish Consulate General (Stremyanny Lane, 31/1)
• Visa Center (Dubininskaya St., 35).

You can also contact the Consulate General of Spain (Furshtatskaya St., 9) and the Visa Center (Shpalernaya St., 54), which are located in St. Petersburg.

Spain is located in southwest Europe. The coasts of this country are washed in the north and west by the waters of the Atlantic, and in the south and east - Mediterranean Sea. In addition to the mainland, the territory of Spain includes the Balearic and Canary Islands - popular places recreation.

Tours to Spain

When choosing tours to Spain, travelers choose large cities - Barcelona, ​​Granada, Seville, Cordoba. Beach lovers choose the resorts of the 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. The tourist's passport must remain valid for at least another 3 months from the end of the trip to Spain. The passport must have 2 blank pages.

Round-trip flights to Spain

Prices for tickets per person departing from Berlin are shown.

March

Climate and weather in Spain

Swimming season is on Mediterranean coast Spain lasts from June to October. In the Canary Islands you can swim all year round.

July and August are the best months to visit the Basque Country, Galicia, Barcelona, ​​and Malaga. And for walking around Madrid and Toledo, you should choose late spring or early autumn.

	During the day	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

Resorts in Spain

While in Barcelona, ​​it is impossible not to look at the most famous long-term construction in the world, the brainchild of the great Gaudi, the fantastic Sagrada Familia - Sagrada Familia. Spanish architect Antonio Gaudi turned Barcelona into the garden of his fantasies. Many people call his style modernism, but all the creations of the genius of Gaudi are so original, fabulous and unique that only one definition suggests itself - “Gaudi style”.

The Sagrada Familia became the architect's main project - he devoted 43 years of his life to creating the drawings and supervising the construction of the grandiose temple. According to Gaudi's plan, the temple was to have three facades: the Nativity, the Passion of Christ and the Resurrection. Each facade should be crowned with 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 to the glory of Jesus. The Sagrada Familia is open to tourists and visitors every day. You can examine the interior decoration of the temple, stained glass windows and stucco moldings, mosaics and frescoes. The average excursion time is 4 hours.

The huge fountain is located on the Montjuic hill 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 a decoration 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, the spectrum of which includes more than 50 colors. Montjuic dances to classical music.

The amazing Park Guell is another brainchild of Antoni Gaudi. Mosaics, mysterious paths, fabulous “gingerbread” houses - all this is Park Güell, a fantastic garden city in Barcelona. On the roof of the columned hall there is a serpentine bench stretching along the perimeter. It is brightly decorated with mosaics and very comfortable - according to the memoirs, Gaudí asked the builder to sit in soft clay to get a cast that followed the contours of the human body.

In Seville, wander through the labyrinth of the Old Town and visit Plaza de España. Among the columns are panels of tiles, each of which depicts one of the Spanish provinces.

In Valencia you need to eat your fill of paella - it was invented here. It is also worth seeing the legendary Holy Grail and the fantastic City of Sciences and Arts at the bottom of a 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 make an appointment six months in advance - the best establishments with Michelin stars are collected here.

In La Coruña, admire the lighthouse, which was built during the Roman Empire. It rises 55 meters above the ground and is still operating successfully.

What is Spain without mills? You can look at the “monster” with which Don Quixote fought on the Hill of Peace.

The Costa del Sol is beaches, beaches and more beaches, as many as 240 kilometers of uninterrupted beaches with luxurious sand. In Malaga, see the world through the eyes of Pablo Picasso, who was born here.

Costa Dorada, "Golden Coast" is the most beautiful Spanish beach resort. Luxury hotels, pure water and 200 kilometers of golden sand. Families with children like to come here, as in Mallorca: the entrance to the water is gentle, there are no strong waves.

Costa Brava is famous for its wildlife- rocks and pine trees, warm sea and fresh breeze intertwine here into 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.

Useful to know about Spain

Tours to Spain

Prices for tours for 2 people for 7 nights with departure from Moscow are given.

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

• In the west of the Iberian Peninsula, Spain borders with Portugal, in the south with the British territory of Gibraltar, in the north the country has 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 by respectively open Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Biscay (also known as the Cantabrian Sea) of the latter, and in the east and south by the Mediterranean Sea
• (relatively) Detailed

Basic information about Spain

As in Europe in general, there are not many populated metropolises here - only two cities in Spain have surpassed the million-person mark. These are Madrid and Barcelona. In terms of the number of inhabitants, even some cannot compete with the capital of Spain, Madrid (3.3 million inhabitants in the city itself and 6 million inhabitants in the metropolitan area).

The second place is occupied by the capital of the most economically developed region of the country (Catalonia), Barcelona, ​​which counts among its inhabitants over 1.6 million people. 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). In 6th place is the dynamically developing capital of the Costa del Sol, Malaga (570 thousand inhabitants).

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

Sights of Spain

We will only mention those that are well known. The Escorial Palace-Monastery near Madrid, the Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona, ​​marked by the genius of Antonio Gaudi, 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 - 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 planning to visit Spain will be able to discover a lot of no less interesting places. Almost any city in the country, from the megacities of Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Valencia or Seville to provincial centers like Bilbao, Valladolid, Burgos, Zaragoza, Toledo, has exclusively ancient history and its own attractions.

• The resorts of Spain are also naturally popular - in themselves the main and most beloved attractions of this country by tourists. Their number is so great that many allow themselves to no longer distinguish the city, simply saying: I’m going to the Costa Brava, Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol, Costa Verde or some other, smaller “costa”.

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

Administratively, Spain is divided into 17 autonomous regions (Autonomous Community) and 2 autonomous cities. Regions: 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.

According to its political system, Spain is a constitutional monarchy. The king is considered the supreme head of state. The executive power in the country is represented by a cabinet of ministers headed by the prime minister, the leader of the party that won the parliamentary elections.

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

Spain is entirely integrated into the European economic and defense system: the country is a member of the European Union, the eurozone (the area where the euro is used as the main currency) and NATO. It is also a member of the international organizations UN and WTO.

Perhaps thanks to this, Spain has a developed economy: the fifth largest in terms of turnover in the European Union and the fourth in the eurozone. The 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 thousand European “rubles” are produced per year.

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

The leading sectors of the economy are considered to be: mechanical engineering and the textile industry (few have heard of the SEAT automobile and the 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 sectors 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 for many centuries cultural center Europe. This country has preserved a large number of monuments from the times of the Celts, Goths, Romans and Moors. Alhambra Palace in Granada, Mezquita Mosque and Cathedral in Cordoba and 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 southern Europe. In the west, Spain borders with Portugal, in the south with Gibraltar (belongs to Great Britain), and in the north with France and Andorra. IN North Africa Spain borders Morocco (their common border– 13 km). In the south and east, Spain borders the Mediterranean Sea, and in the west and northwest it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean.

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

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

Mainland Spain is Mountain country, where plateaus predominate and mountain ranges. The main mountain systems in Spain are the Pyrenees, Cordillera, Cantabrian Mountains, Catalan Mountains, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The most high peak in Spain - dormant volcano Teide on the island of Tenerife (3,718 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 mid-10th century.

Official language

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

Other official languages:

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

Religion

About 96% of Spain's population is Catholic, 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 (many people come 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 General Cortes, consisting of the Congress of Deputies (350 people are elected to it) and the Senate (258 people).

Main political parties in Spain - 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 fairly cold winters (central and north-central Spain);
• semi-arid climate (south-eastern Spain, especially Murcia and the Ebro Valley);
• maritime climate (in the north of Spain, especially in Asturias, the Basque Country, Cantabria, and partly in Galicia).

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

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

Seas and oceans

The Mediterranean Sea washes the coast of Spain in the south and east, and the Atlantic Ocean lies in the west and northwest of the country. In the north of Spain there is the large Bay of Biscay.

Average sea temperature in Spain in May:

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

Average sea temperature in Spain in August:

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

Rivers and lakes

Despite the fact that Spain is a mountainous country, a large number of rivers flow through its territory. The most big rivers in Spain - Tagus (1,007 km), Ebro (910 km), Duero (895 km), Guadiana (657 km) and 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 (territory modern Spain) Iberians. Iberian tribes, according to archaeological finds, came to the Iberian Peninsula from the eastern Mediterranean during the Neolithic period.

Around 1200 BC. Celts appeared in the Pyrenees and 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 legionaries invaded Spain and conquered most of it. Then Spain came completely under the rule of Ancient Rome.

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

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

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

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

In 1808, Napoleon Bonaparte's troops invaded Spain, but the Spaniards stubbornly resisted them. After Napoleon's defeat in 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo, King Ferdinand IV was restored to the Spanish throne.

Because of 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, Spain continued Civil War, from which the nationalists led by Franco emerged victorious. During World War II, which began in 1939, Spain maintained neutrality, although it sympathized with Germany.

In 1975, Franco died and a constitutional monarchy was created in Spain.

In 1985, Spain was admitted to NATO, and in 1992 it joined the European Union.

Spanish culture

Spanish culture was greatly influenced by the ancient Greeks, as well as the ancient Romans. To this day, a large number of ancient Roman monuments have been preserved in Spain. After Spain was conquered by the Moors in the early 700s, Spanish culture came to be dominated by the Arabs. In general, the entire Middle Ages in Spain was a confrontation between Arab and Christian cultures.

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

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

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

For many of us, Spain is flamenco and bullfighting, which have 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 from the end of the 18th century “flamenco” became a traditional Spanish dance.

Nowadays, every two years in Seville, Spain, an international flamenco festival is held, called “Bienal de Flamenco”. This festival attracts thousands of participants and visitors.

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

Nowadays, some Spanish cities host bull running – “encierro”. During these races, bulls try to catch up with people running through the streets. Sometimes bulls succeed. The most famous "encierros" are in Pamplona.

Kitchen

Spanish cuisine is characterized by a wide variety of dishes. This is understandable, because each region of Spain carefully preserves not only its cultural, but also culinary traditions. In general, Spanish cuisine can be classified as 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 (such as gazpacho) and rice dishes (such as paella) are traditional here.

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

For north coast Spain (Atlantic Ocean), including the Basque Country, Asturias and Galicia, is characterized by dishes with meat, fish and vegetables.

• Cochinillo Asado (roast suckling 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 (any fried fish);
• Patatas Bravas (fried potatoes cooked in a spicy sauce);
• Tortilla Espanola (Spanish omelette);
• Queso Manchego (Spanish sheep cheese);
• Gazpacho (this is a traditional cold tomato soup).

It is impossible to imagine sunny Spain without wine. The traditions of winemaking on the Iberian Peninsula were laid down by the ancient Greeks, who founded their colonies there. Nowadays, a large number of different wines are produced in Spain.

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

Spain may not rank first in the number of attractions, but there is no doubt that tourists have something to see in this ancient country. The top ten best attractions in Spain, in our opinion, include the following:

Cities and resorts of Spain

The largest Spanish cities are 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).

General coastline Spain is about 5 thousand kilometers. This means that Spain has a large number of beautiful beaches with clean water. Despite the fact that most tourists for some reason choose the Costa Blanca and the sunny Costa del Sol, Spain also 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 they talk about beach resorts Spain, they immediately remember the Costa del Sol, the Canary Islands, and Ibiza Island. But in Spain there is also the Costa Brava, the island of Tenerife, Mallorca, Costa Dorada, Balearic Islands, Costa Blanca, Costa del Maresme, and Costa de la Luz.

Souvenirs/shopping

Returning from Spain, tourists may simply not pick up their suitcases, 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 opinions of Italians and Greeks on this matter do not count);
• “Bota” is 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;
• Cold steel from Toledo.

Office hours

Banks are open:
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 lunchtime.
Large supermarkets are open all day.

Visa

Traveling Latin America - Spain

The name of the country comes from the Phoenician “i-shpanim” - “coast of rabbits” or “coast of hyraxes”.

The capital of Spain is Madrid.

The area of ​​Spain is 504,782 km?.

The population of Spain is 46,162 thousand people.

Location of Spain. Spain is a southern European country. Occupies five-sixths of the Iberian Peninsula, the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The Pyrenees Mountains are inaccessible and isolate Spain from the rest European countries, except for Portugal, located on the western part of the peninsula. Spain is washed by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. By land it borders with Portugal in the west, with France (along the ridge of the Pyrenees Mountains) and the tiny state of Andorra in the northeast, with Gibraltar in the south.

Administrative divisions of Spain. Consists of 17 autonomous regions: Andalusia, Aragon, Asturias, Balearic Islands, Basque Country, Valencia, Galicia, Canary Islands, Cantabria, Catalonia, Castile-Lamancha, Castile and Leon, Madrid, Murcia, Navarre, Rioja, Extremadura, which unite 50 provinces, as well as 2 cities (Ceuta and Melilla), located on the northern coast of Africa and are independent administrative units.

Spain's form of government is Constitutional Monarchy.

The head of state of Spain is the King.

The highest legislative body of Spain is the Cortes General (parliament), consisting of two chambers, elected for 4 years.

Higher executive agency Spain - Government.

Major cities in Spain are Barcelona, ​​Valencia, Seville, Zaragoza, Bilbao, Malaga.

The official language of Spain is Spanish; the use of Catalan, Galician, Basque, Aranese and some other languages ​​of national minorities is legalized.

Religion of Spain. 99% are Catholics.

Ethnic composition of Spain. 72.8% are Spaniards, 16.4% are Catalans, 8.2% are Galicians, 2.3% are Basques.

The currency of Spain is Euro = 100 cents.

Climate of Spain. Most of Spain has a subtropical Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. However, it varies significantly from the northwest to the southeast of the country and depending on the altitude. In addition to the large number of mountain ranges and plateaus, which make up 90% of the total area of ​​the territory, the climate is greatly influenced by its proximity to Africa. The average annual temperature throughout the country fluctuates around + 20°C. In Southern Spain, the average daily temperature is + 26 °C for almost 200 days a year. The most precipitation falls in the north and northwest of the country, while the central and southeastern regions are drier. That is why Spain is conventionally divided into “dry” (annual precipitation up to 500 mm) and “wet” (up to 900 mm per year). Spain is the highest mountainous country in Europe after Switzerland. The most powerful mountain system- Pyrenees, main peak of which is Aneto Peak (3404 m).

Flora of Spain. Not counting the flora Canary Islands, Spain is home to about 8,000 plant species, many of which are found only in this area. Of the once vast forests, only a small part remains in the north of the country. In “humid” Spain, beech, elm, oak, chestnut, ash, linden, and poplar grow. Higher in the mountains the forests turn into water meadows. The richest vegetation is on the North Atlantic slopes of the Cantabrian Mountains and the Galician Massif - which is why these areas are called “green” Spain. On the plain of the Ebro River at the foot of the mountains, evergreen shrubs and grasses grow, and semi-desert vegetation with a predominance of wormwood and salt marshes is also found. In “dry” Spain, Mediterranean vegetation predominates, evergreen shrubs and subshrubs - maquis, garigues and tomillars. In the far south there are thickets of the low-growing Hamerops palm - the only wild palm in Europe.

Fauna of Spain. Animal world Spain is also very rich and diverse. In the north, the fauna is Central European - many deer, roe deer, and wild boars. IN mountainous areas Red deer and Pyrenean ibex have been preserved. Sport hunting of deer is permitted. Sometimes you can see a brown bear in the Cantabrian and Leon mountains. Among the predators there are a small number of wolves, foxes, and at the mouth of the Guadalquivir - Spanish lynxes. Macaques live near Gibraltar - the only representative of this species of monkey in Europe. Spain rightfully occupies a leading place in Europe in the number of bird species found here. Among them are hawks, eagles, griffins, and falcons. There are a lot of colonies of waterfowl - geese, ducks, herons, flamingos, white storks.
Spain is also home to a large number of species of reptiles - lizards, snakes, chameleons, and in the semi-deserts in the south of the country - tarantulas and scorpions.

In the estuaries and coastal waters of the Atlantic there is a lot of fish - mainly sardines, in smaller quantities - herring, cod, anchovies and various types of shellfish. The Mediterranean Sea is home to tuna, salmon, anchovy, crayfish and lobsters.

Rivers and lakes of Spain. Largest rivers Spain - Tajo, Duero, Ebro, Segura, Guadalquivir, Guadiana. The lakes are small and located mainly in the mountains.

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