Spain

Land and People

Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain, is the largest of three sovereign nations that make up the Iberian Peninsula—the others being Portugal and Andorra—located in Southern Europe. To the west and to the south of Galicia, Spain borders Portugal. To the south, it borders Gibraltar and, through its cities in North Africa (Ceuta and Melilla), Morocco. To the northeast, along the Pyrenees mountain range, it borders France and the tiny principality of Andorra. The Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, a number of uninhabited islands on the Mediterranean side of the Strait of Gibraltar, and a small exclave town called Llívia in Catalonia surrounded by French territory, all belong to Spain.
Madrid is the capital and the largest city in Spain with a population of over 3 million. It is located on the river Manzanares in the center of the country. Due to its geographical location, wealth and history, Madrid is considered to be the main financial center of the Iberian Peninsula, and the political center of Spain.
As the former capital of the old Spanish Empire, Madrid has been bestowed with a degree of cultural predominance. Museums such as Museo del Prado, the Museo Reina Sofia, and the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza are major tourist attractions in the city. Other cultural highlights include the Royal Palace of Madrid and the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Following the return of democracy in 1975, and its integration into the European Union, Madrid experienced an increasingly important role in the economy of Europe making it one of the most important European metropolis. The residents of Madrid are called madrileños.

Recreational activities

Spain offers a variety of sport and leisure activities. Sport freaks just love Spain: water, wind and sun lovers, those who prefer to hike (it has many secluded areas), mountain climbers, you can even go skiing – there is something for everyone. Spain also has a lot to offer on a cultural level: learn to dance the Flamenco, visit the many squares, palaces, parks and gardens. Make the most out of your stay. The fiery temperatment of the people of Spain is contagious!

Language

Spain has four different languages: The official language is Castilian, and this is spoken in most of the country, 17% of the population speak Catalan, 7% Galician and 2% Basque.

Spanish Cuisine

In Spain, especially in the North and North West, there is a great variety of Seafood to be enjoyed: mussels, oysters, crayfish and crabs, squid and octopus, and so on. On the Eastcoast they offer a large choice of rice dishes. The South is known for its "fritos" (fried food), and in the centre they have a lot of different stews made with meat and sausages, vegetables and chick peas.
The very famous "Paella" is always popular. This dish actually originated from Valencia.

Flamenco

The Flamenco dance originated from Andalusia. It reflects the Spanish life style. The original Flamenco can be seen in Andalusia (Màlaga, Jaén, Sevilla and Córdoba) and in Madrid.

Climate

Spain has a very warm climate with hot and dry summers, and mild and humid winter months. This however can vary due to the size of this country. The south is mainly dry and hot, and the north west humid and cool.