QUICK FACTS: España
Population:
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Capital:
Spanis
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Area:
505,988 square kilometers
(195,363 square miles)
Language:
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Religion:
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Currency:
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Life Expectancy:
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Spain is located on the continent of Europe. To the north is France and to
the east is Portgal. Located directly to the south is the continent of Africa.
Across the Strait of Gibraltar is the country of Morocco. The distance from
Spain to Morocco is only 8 miles.
The capital city is Madrid. It is located
at the direct center of the country.
Cities and towns in Spain all have a
plaza located at the center. To the left
you will see “La Plaza Mayor”, the
largest and most famous plaza in
Madrid. Here you will find cafés, street
musicians, and many locals just taking a
stroll. The plaza is also used as a
meeting place or market during
holidays.
Spanish-style bullfighting is called a corrida de
torros (literally a "running of bulls"). In traditional
corrida, three matadores, each fight two out of of
six fighting bulls, each of which i weighs up to
1,300 lbs. Bullfighting season in Spain runs from
March to October.. The most prestigious of such
fights is held for the fiesta of San Isidro in Madrid.
Flamenco is a genre of Spanish music, song and dance from Andalusia, in southern
Spain, that includes cante (singing), toque (guitar playing), baile (dance) and palmas
(handclaps). First mentioned in literature in 1774, the genre grew out of Andalusian and
gypsy music and dance styles. In recent years flamenco has become popular all over
the world and is taught in many countries.
Football ( fútbol), or soccer, is Spain’s national sport and easily the country’s most
important participant and spectator sport. Spanish football fans are among the most
dedicated and fervent in Europe. Spanish children learn to play football almost as soon
as they can walk, with the most promising players being snapped up by the major clubs
and coached from an early age in football schools.
Some Typical Spanish Foods:
Tortilla de patata:
Churros y chocolate:
Jamón:
Paella:
Tapas:
Famous Landmarks in Spain:
Museo del Prado:
Royal Palace
Royal Palace of Madrid:
La Alhambra:
La Alhambra
El Escorial:
Aqueducts of Segovia:
La Sagrada Famlia Cathedral:
Aqueducts of
Segovia
La Sagrada
Familia Cathedral
Famous Festivals in Spain:
La Tomatina Festival: This festival annually takes place in a small Spanish town called Buñol in
Valencia on the fourth Wednesday of August. The main highlight of La Tomatina is a daylong food
fight, where participants fling tomatoes at each other. More than 30 thousand people visit Buñol
every year to play with around 200 thousand pounds of tomatoes. The scene after the festival is a
red filled up streets. People believe this is a ritual to pray for good harvests next year.
San Fermín Festival (Running of the Bulls): The San Fermín Festival has been one of Spain's most
popular tourist events ever. The event is celebrated in the first week of July and lasts for 7 days in
Pamplona, Spain. Activities usually begin at 8 am in the morning and last until the evenings. The
festival’s main high light is the release of bulls to run through the streets while festival-goers try to
outrun them.
Carnival: Carnival is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are
usually during February. Carnival typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some
elements of a circus, mask and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the
celebrations,
Semana Santa: Semana Santa is a-week-long festival taking place before Easter Sunday. Local
residents carry ornate wooden floats on their backs, depicting scenes from the life of Jesus. The
processions are solemn and often silent, with only the sound of marching being heard. Participants
traditionally dress up in capes and pointed hats.