Brief information about Spain. Interesting facts about Spain All about Spain in brief

Spain(Spanish España), officially - the Kingdom of Spain (Spanish and Galis. Reino de España, cat. Regne dEspanya, Basque. Espainiako Erresuma, Ox. Reialme dEspanha, Astur. Reinu dEspaña) - a state in the south-west of Europe. Occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula. The name of the country comes from the Phoenician "i-shpanim" - "coast of rabbits".

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

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

Physical and geographical characteristics

Relief

The relief of Spain is very diverse. The center of the country is located at a distance of 300 km from the sea. In the relief, the dominant role is played by systems of mountain ranges and high-mountain plateaus.

Plateaus and mountains make up about 90% of its territory. Almost half of the country's surface is occupied by the vast, largest high plateau in Europe - Meseta with an average height of 660 m. Meseta is characterized by alternating plateaus, folded-block ridges and mountain basins. The central Cordillera divides Meseta into two parts: north and south.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Climate

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

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

Minerals

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

Economy

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

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

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

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

Companies from the USA, France, Germany, Great Britain and Switzerland have strong positions in the country's economy. They own more than 50% of mechanical engineering and metallurgy enterprises. About 40% of the share capital belongs to the 8 largest Spanish financial, industrial and banking groups (Marchi, Fierro, Urquijo, Garrigues, Ruiz Mateos, etc.).

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

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

A distinctive industry is the procurement and export of cork bark.

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

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

Mining industry

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

Mechanical engineering

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

Light industry

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

Agriculture

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

Fishing

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

Population

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

The urban population is 76%. The population density is 79.7 people / km².

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

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

Over 2.7 million Spaniards live outside the country, including 1.7 million in the Americas, over 1 million in Western Europe (mainly in France and Germany).

Housing provision

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

History

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

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

In 1812-1826. achieved independence most of the Spanish colonies in Latin America, by the beginning. 20th century the remainder mainly went to the United States and Germany.

XX century

In 1923, with a living monarch, the military dictatorship of General M. Primo de Rivera was established. Already during this period, the king did not possess any power in the country. In January 1930, after the loss of support in the army, unable to rectify the state of affairs after the acute economic crisis of last year, the dictator left the country. On April 14, 1931, the last of the Bourbons, Alphonse XIII, abdicated his throne - the parties supporting him suffered a crushing defeat in the elections. The government was formed by adherents of the change of the system. Soon N. Zamora became the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Spain. Thus began the republican period.

The radical policy of the new government towards the landowners, the church, the army, extreme liberalism towards the separatist regions of the north and east met with warm support from one part of the population and a burning feeling of hatred from another. Local uprisings followed each other. Despite all the radical measures, the government has not achieved any economic success in two years. In the November 1933 elections, the Conservatives returned to the government, reforms were stopped. Now pogroms and riots throughout the country began to be carried out by their opponents - liberals and anarchists. In the next elections in January 1936, again, as in 1931, the radicals won - the People's Front with the participation of the Communist Party. The new Cortes (representative body of Spain) resumed the implementation of radical politics, hoping with extreme measures to begin to solve the deepest problems in the country's economy.

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

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

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

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

Political structure

Spain is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the king. Currently - Juan Carlos I. Legislature is a bicameral parliament - General Cortes (Congress of Deputies and Senate). Consists of the Senate (259 seats - some deputies are elected by direct universal suffrage, others - appointed by the provincial legislatures; all senators are elected for a 4-year term) and the Congress of Deputies (350 seats - elected by party lists for a 4-year term). The executive branch is headed by the Prime Minister, the leader of the party that won the most votes in the parliamentary elections.

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

Party

People's Party of Spain,
PSOI,
Communist Party,
Regionalists.

Major regional parties include the Catalan bloc Convergence and Union), the Catalan party "Esquerra Republikana", the BNP, the Canary Coalition.

Developments

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

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

Administrative division

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

The culture

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

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

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

It is believed that the very first collection of the Prado Museum was formed during the reign of Carlos I, known as the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. His heir, King Philip II, became famous not only for his bad character and despotism, but also for his love of art. It is to him that the museum owes priceless acquisitions of paintings by Flemish masters. Philip was distinguished by a gloomy worldview, it is not surprising that the ruler was an admirer of Bosch, an artist known for his bizarre pessimistic fantasy. Initially, Philip acquired Bosch's paintings for El Escorial, the hereditary castle of the Spanish kings. It was only in the 19th century that the paintings were transferred to the Prado Museum. Now here you can see such masterpieces of the Dutch master as "The Garden of Delights" and "Hay Carrier". Currently, in the museum you can enjoy not only painting and sculptures, but also theatrical performances designed to "revive" famous canvases. The first such performance was dedicated to the paintings of Velazquez and was a huge success with the public.

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

Sport

Sports in Spain has been ruled by football since the beginning of the 20th century. Basketball, tennis, cycling, handball, motor sports and, more recently, Formula 1 are also important thanks to the presence of Spanish champions in all of these disciplines. Today Spain is a leading sports power in the world, and the development of sports in the country was particularly pushed by the Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona. In 2008, Spain won the European Football Championship.

Military establishment

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

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

In the new doctrine 1/2004, the main enemy of Spain (both external and internal) is terrorism. 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 it was in Kosovo, enjoying the obvious support of the world community. In addition, participation in hostilities will require permission from the Spanish Parliament.

The new military doctrine increases the role of the JEMAD Defense General Staff, which is headed by General Felix Sans. At the end of October 2004, he made a statement on the need to "balance" the unequal relations between Spain and the United States, which developed after 1953, when Spain and the United States signed a military agreement on defense cooperation, 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 switched to a professional army.

There are no laws in Spain prohibiting openly gay and lesbian people from serving in the military. On March 4, 2009, Spanish Defense Minister Carme Chacon (the first woman in this post) issued a decree overturning a pre-existing law that prohibited transgender people from serving in the military.

Spanish foreign policy

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

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

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

Russia

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

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

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

Transport in Spain.

The length of highways is 328,000 km. The car park - more than 19 million cars. 90% of passenger and 79% of cargo transportation is carried out by road. The length of the railways is 14,589 km. About 6.5% of all land transport cargo and 6% of passengers are transported.

About 300 vessels with a total displacement of 1 million 511 thousand tons are involved in sea transport. Vessels under Spanish flags carry from 30 million tons of foreign trade cargo annually. 24 seaports control almost 93% of all traffic.

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

Education in Spain.

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

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

Mass media in Spain.

Spain has a well-developed media network. 137 newspapers and about 1000 magazines are published. Most read daily newspapers: Pais, Mundo, Vanguardia, ABC, Periodico, Marka.

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

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

Siesta in Spain

At the end of December 2005, the Spanish government issued a law according to which the lunch break only in official institutions is now limited to one hour (from 12:00 to 13:00), while the institutions themselves will close at 18:00. Previously, the lunch break (the so-called siesta) in public institutions in Spain lasted from two to four in the afternoon, while the working day ended at eight in the evening. By destroying the noon siesta tradition, the Spanish authorities hope to increase productivity.

Crime in Spain

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

Why is fabulous Spain good and attractive?

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

Spain is a country of contrasts, adventures and unforgettable holidays

According to one of the versions, the name of the country comes from the Phoenician expression "i-shpanim" - "daman coast".

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

The country of Spain is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe.

The country of Spain has land borders with:

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

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

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

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

A unique atmosphere filled with fireworks, bright outfits and fiery rhythms attracts thousands of tourists here these days.

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

Why is Spain good?

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

It offers exquisite and healthy cuisine, fine wines, clean beaches, most of which have been awarded the blue flag of ecological purity, warm transparent sea, rich nature, beautiful and varied architecture, a huge amount of entertainment for every taste and for every age.

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

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

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

Tourists traveling in Spain by car come across black silhouette figures of bulls installed near the roads from time to time. Nobody asks why they are "grazing" here, because the answer is obvious. The fighting bull is a symbol of Spain, replicated in hundreds of thousands of souvenirs that people take with them in memory of the country.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Large parts of the country suffer from a lack of water. Related to this is the problem of erosion - millions of tons of the topsoil are blown out annually.

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

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

It is pleasant to live in Spain, as the State of Spain is one of the warmest in Western Europe. The average number of sunny days is 260-285. The average annual temperature on the Mediterranean coast is 20 degrees Celsius. In winter, 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 northern coast, the temperature is not so high - about 25 degrees Celsius.

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

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

Summers are hot and humid, the average temperature is rarely below 16 degrees Celsius. Annual precipitation exceeds 1070 mm, and in some places reaches 2000 mm.

Quite different conditions in the interior of the country - on the plateau of Old and New Castile and the Aragonese plain. These areas are affected by the influence of the plateau-basin relief, significant altitude and local continental air. They are characterized by a relatively low amount of precipitation (no more than 500 mm per year) and sharp fluctuations in temperature over the seasons.

Old Castile and the Aragonese plain have fairly cold winters with frost and strong, harsh winds; summers are hot and rather dry, although the maximum precipitation occurs during this season of the year.

New Castile has a slightly milder climate, with warmer winters but also low rainfall. Agriculture in all these areas requires artificial irrigation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Landmarks of Spain. Top 10. (video):

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

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

This area employs 1.3 million people. The popularity of tourism is due to the fact that a trip to Spain on vacation is very cheap compared to other countries.

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

The head of state is the King of Spain.

Currently - Philip VI King of Spain. Leticia is the Queen of Spain.

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

• The body of constitutional review - the Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitucional),
• The highest court is the Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo),
• The highest courts of the Autonomous Communities are the Tribunal Superior de Justicia,
• Courts of Appeal - Audiencias Provinciales,
• District courts - courts of first instance and investigation (Juzgados de primera instancia e instrucción),
• The lowest level of the judicial system - justices of the peace (juzgados de paz),
• Impeachment Court - Audiencia Nacional,
• Supreme Audit Institution - Court of Accounts (Tribunal de Cuentas),
• The governing body of the courts is the Consejo General del Poder Judicial.

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

Spain party policy:

1. People's Party of Spain,
2. Spanish Socialist Workers Party, PSWP,
3. Communist Party,
4. Regionalists.
5. Major regional parties include the Catalan bloc Convergence and Union, the Catalan party Esquerra Republikana, the BNP, and the Canary Coalition.

Spanish foreign policy

Foreign policy of Spain: The preamble of the Spanish Constitution proclaims the 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 directions: Europe (especially the EU), the Ibero-American direction, the Mediterranean Sea countries.

Domestic policy of Spain: The laws of Spain cannot contradict the current Constitution of Spain and the EU. The inhabitants of Spain are equal before the law; any discrimination on the basis of origin, race, sex, religion, social status or any other grounds specified in the EU laws is not allowed.

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

See also our other articles:

• Spain photo
• Russian Spain. Full information

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

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

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

In the museum itself, large expositions of Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Flemish and German art are presented. The Prado owes its name to the Prado de San Jerónimo alley, where it is located, which dates back to the Enlightenment. The Prado Museum currently holds 6,000 paintings, over 400 sculptures, and numerous treasures including royal and religious collections. During several centuries of its existence, the Prado was patronized by many kings.

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

Initially, Philip acquired Bosch's paintings for El Escorial, the hereditary castle of the Spanish kings. It was only in the 19th century that the paintings were transferred to the Prado Museum. Now here you can see such masterpieces of the Dutch master as "The Garden of Delights" and "Hay Carrier". Currently, in the museum you can enjoy not only painting and sculptures, but also theatrical performances designed to "revive" famous canvases. The first such performance was dedicated to the paintings of Velazquez and was a huge success with the public.

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

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

Spanish Art is the visual arts of world famous Spanish artists. Moorish heritage, especially in Andalusia, is evident today in cities such as Cordoba, Seville and Granada.

The most famous painters of Spain :

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

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

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

Bullfighting in Spain, or in another way bullfighting

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

Bullfighting was born in ancient times. By the eighteenth century, she received exactly the form that we see now. Bullfighting is held according to strict canons and rules. The most common form is the Spanish foot bullfight.

Flamenco

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The inhabitants of Spain have deep legends of antiquity, which are passed down from generation to generation. Different cities cherish their legends of Spain.

One of the legends of Spain was born in the small town of Teruel. Like the unhappy love of Tahir and Zukhra, Romeo and Juliet, Constance and Dartanyan, the Spanish lovers Isabel and Diego also failed to connect their fates. Isabel Segura was a girl from a wealthy and noble family, Diego was a poor youth.

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

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

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

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

When Ranchero, returning from a trip, poured out all his love to the children, Maria was furious. And, no matter how sad it is to say, she took the children, tied them up and threw them into the river. Realizing what she had done, Maria burst into tears. Since then, she has been called La Llorona - a crying woman, her moans are heard at night by the river. Moms forbid their children to go late at night so that La Llorona does not steal them.

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

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

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

For a castle lover, it's hard to find a better country than northern Spain. Ancient Spain to this day left as many as 10312 castles. The first castle in Olita was built by King Sancho VI the Strong and became a royal residence.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The wines of Spain are among the most famous wines in the world. Traditionally, Spanish wines are considered to be more astringent and stronger than Italian and French ones. Many Spanish wines do have a strong flavor profile, especially the red Spanish wines that form the basis of Spain's wine assortment outside the country. However, Spain also produces excellent white and rosé wines.

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

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

Natural resources of Spain in mountainous regions contain a lot of minerals. Spain is in first place in Western Europe in the production of high-quality metal-containing raw materials, while there are no large deposits of most energy carriers and it has to import 97% of oil from domestic consumption and 30% of coke. Per capita fresh water reserves in the country are about 2,400 cubic meters.

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

Also striking is the long-standing geographic imbalance between the more developed northeastern region and the rest of the country.

In addition, a characteristic feature of Spain is the extremely low resistance of the economy to various kinds of crisis phenomena, as well as a pronounced dependence on various kinds of “soap bubbles” (real estate, re-mortgaging, external loans). Spain's economic development was heavily influenced by the crises of 1993 and 2008-2012, exposing a number of traditional Spanish weaknesses, partly due to cultural reasons - the decreased competitiveness of the economy associated with the country's accession to the eurozone, as well as low labor productivity compared to the countries of northeastern Europe and Asia.

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

Spain's statistics report that the decline in production is mainly to blame for the decline in the purchasing power of the population (9.9%) and the increase in the cost of purchasing new equipment and maintaining existing equipment (9.7%). The declining profitability of the industry also affected the income of intermediary organizations (the amount of money they earned decreased by 13.1%). Spain has not experienced such big production problems before.

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

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

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

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

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

Spanish recipes:

Gazpacho is a cold tomato soup. Poor peasants invented it - nourishing, cheap and fast.
Mix all ingredients:

1. Blanch the tomatoes, pour over with cold water, peel and blender.
2. Peel the cucumber, onion, garlic and peppers - in the same place.
3. Soak bread in water, add to vegetables. Instead of bread, you can sprinkle bread crumbs or just crushed ordinary crackers.
4. Season with salt and pepper to taste, add olive oil and juice from half a lemon.

Beat everything and the refreshing soup is ready.

Poor man's potatoes.

This is a classic Spanish dish and can be served with sausages or grilled chicken.

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

Spanish cuisine photo:

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

Wine of Spain is divided into several categories:

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

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

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

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

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

Red Spain or Spanish red wines is a different story altogether. High-quality red wines from Spain have good saturation, a little oak flavor and a wonderful aroma, as they mature in oak barrels. The most famous Spanish wine is produced in Rioja and is based on tempranillo grapes.

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

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 Balearic and Canary Islands are popular holiday destinations in Spain.

Tours to Spain

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 go skiing and snowboarding in Spain in 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

These are the ticket prices for 1 person departing from Berlin

March

Climate and weather in Spain

The swimming season on the Mediterranean coast of Spain lasts from June to October. You can swim in the Canary Islands all year round.

To visit the Basque Country, Galicia, Barcelona, ​​Malaga, July and August are best suited. 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

Resorts of 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 Gaudí, the fantastic Sagrada Familia - Sagrada Familia. Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi turned Barcelona into a garden of his imaginations. Many people call his style modernism, but all the creations of Gaudi's genius are so original, fabulous and unique that only one definition suggests itself - “Gaudi's style”.

The Sagrada Familia became the main project of the architect - he devoted 43 years of his life to creating drawings and supervising the construction of a grandiose temple. According to Gaudi's plan, the temple was supposed to have three facades: Christmas, Passion of Christ and Resurrection. Each facade should be crowned with 4 towers of enormous height - 120 meters each. These 12 towers symbolize the number of the 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 see the interior of the temple, stained-glass windows and stucco, mosaics and frescoes. Average tour time is 4 hours.

The huge fountain is located on the Montjuïc hill in Barcelona. The 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 the Plaza de España and the National Palace of Catalonia. 3620 water jets soar to a height of 54 meters. The play of light and colors is provided by 120 projectors, in the spectrum of which there are more than 50 colors. Dances Montjuic to classical music.

Amazing Park Guell is another brainchild of Antoni Gaudi. Mosaics, mysterious paths, fabulous gingerbread houses - all this is Park Guell, a fantastic garden city in Barcelona. On the roof of the pillared hall is a serpentine bench that stretches along the perimeter. It is brightly decorated with mosaics and is very comfortable - according to the memoirs, Gaudi asked the builder to sit in soft clay to get a cast, repeating the contours of the human body.

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

In Valencia, you need to gorge yourself on paella - it was invented here. It is also worth looking at the legendary Grail and the fantastic City of Arts and Sciences 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 register six months in advance - here are the best restaurants with Michelin stars.

In A Coruña, admire the lighthouse, which dates back to the days of 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 Peace Hill.

Costa del Sol is beaches, beaches and again 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, "Gold Coast" - the most beautiful Spanish beach resort. Luxurious hotels, clear water and 200 kilometers of golden sand. Families with children like to come here, as well as to Mallorca: the entrance to the water is gentle, there are no strong waves.

Costa Brava is famous for its wild nature - rocks and pine trees, 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 of dark volcanic sand.

Good to know about Spain

Tours to Spain

The prices are for tours for 2 people for 7 nights with a departure from Moscow

SPAIN - GENERAL

Territory- 504,750 sq. Km. In terms of territory, Spain is the second country in Western Europe after France.

Population- 39.2 million people. National composition: Spaniards, Catalans, Galicians, Basques.

Languages:Spanish (official language - 74% of the population), Catalan (autonomous community of Catalonia - 17%), Galician (autonomous community of Galicia - 7%), Basque (Basque Country - 2%).

Religion- 99% Catholic.

Capital- Madrid.

Largest cities - Madrid (3 million), Barcelona (1.7 million), Seville (714 thousand).

Administrative division - 17 autonomous communities. There are also 2 territorial enclaves on the coast of Morocco (Ceuta and Melilla) and three groups of islands off the coast of Morocco under Spanish control.

Form of government- a constitutional monarchy.

Head of state - King Juan Carlos.

Currency- Euro.

Banks serve clients on weekdays from 08.15 - to 14.00, on Saturday until 13.00, Sunday is a day off. Currency can also be exchanged at exchange offices, hotels and travel agencies.

Visa regime - Schengen visa.

Time- Moscow minus two hours.

Geography of Spain

Spain is located in southwestern Europe and occupies about 85% of the territory of the Iberian Peninsula. Also, Spain owns the Balearic and Pitius Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The cities of Ceuta and Melilla (in Morocco) and the islands of Velez de la Gomera, Alusenas and Chafaranas are under Spanish rule. Territory: 504,750 sq. Km. Of these: land - 499,400 sq. Km, water - 5,350 sq. Km. Spain borders with France - 623 km, Portugal - 1.214 km, Andorra - 65 km, the English colony of Gibraltar - 1.2 km, Morocco: (Ceuta) - 6.3 km, (Melilla) - 9.6 km. The total length of the border: on the ground - 1,919.1 km, the coastline - 4,964 km. The central part of the territory of Spain is the Meseta plateau with the Center mountains chain. Cordillera. In the north and north-east - the Pyrenees, Cantabrian, Iberian and Catalan mountains, in the south - the Andalusian mountains (Mulasen, 3478 m, the highest point of continental Spain) and the Sierra Morena mountains. Large rivers - Tahoe, Duero, Ebro, Guadalquivir, Guadiana. The country in the southeast is washed by the Mediterranean Sea, in the west - by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Spain is located at the crossroads of important sea and air routes linking Europe with the African and American continents. Also Spain has a strategic position along the Strait of Gibraltar.

Population of Spain

Spain is considered a single nation, formed on the basis of various historical regions and ethnic groups, the main of which are Catalans (15.6%), Andalusians (15.6%), Castilians (11.1%), Valencians (9.7%) , Galicians (7.4%) and Basques (5.6%).

Most of the population of Spain (99%) is Catholic. The Catholic Church is very influential in the country.

The total population of the country is 39.6 million; population density - 78.5 people per 1 sq. km; annual population growth - 0.2%; illiteracy rate - 4.6%; life expectancy is 78 years.

Four languages ​​are spoken in Spain: Spanish, Basque, Catalan and Galician. The state and most spoken language in the country is Spanish.

Climate of Spain

Spain has a Mediterranean climate. Average temperatures in January are from 4-5 ° С on the Meset plateau to 12 ° С in the south, in July, respectively, from 23 to 29 ° С. Precipitation is 300-500 mm, in the mountains of St. 1000 mm per year (mainly in winter).

The Canary archipelago is also Spain, and you can swim on the island of Tenerife all year round. At the same time, the average air temperature is + 22-24 ° C, and even in August there is no sweltering heat.

Spanish cuisine

Spanish national cuisine is considered one of the best in the world in terms of quality and variety of products. Its peculiarity is the unification of numerous regional cuisines, each of which was influenced by the climatic conditions and the way of life of the people of the area. National cuisine can be divided into Catalan, Valencian, Basque, etc. Madrid stands alone. Madrid-style fried meat, cod and rennet (stewed entrails cut into pieces) are equally loved here, as are the traditional cosido madrileños (pea soups with croutons). But the most popular is the Madrid "calos" - spiced tripe with blood sausage and pepper sauce. You should definitely try at least the classic dishes. Famous Spanish omelet "tortiya", spicy smoked sausage "chorizo", ham "serrano", sheep cheese "manchego", gourmet special smoked ham "jamon". And, of course, cold gazpacho soup.

Work time

Institutions: 9.00-13.00 and 16.00-20.00 (Monday - Friday).

Shops: 9: 00-13: 00 and 16: 00-20: 00 (Monday - Saturday). Large department stores: El Corte Ingles 10:00 - 21:00 (Monday Saturday, no break). Supermarkets: "Continente, Pryca, Alcampo, Mercadonna 9:00 (10:00) - 20:00 (21:00) Monday - Saturday, no interruption. In tourist centers, during the holidays, some shops are open on Sunday.

Museums: from 9.00-13.00 and 16.00-19.00 (as a rule). Some museums are closed on Sunday and Monday.

Telephone
Anywhere in Spain there are telephone booths from which you can call anywhere in the world. Telephone sets accept coins of 5, 10, 25, 100 and 500 pesetas. It is more convenient to call Russia from any telephone booth installed on the street or in a bar or restaurant - it is much cheaper than calling from a hotel.

Required phones:

national police - 091

local police - 092

Red Cross - 22-22-22

urgent medical assistance - 061

fire service - 080

exact time service - 093

referral service - 098

Tips
Tipping in Spain is an ancient tradition, practiced in bars and restaurants, taxis, cinemas, hotels. Please note that service charges may be invoiced. Typically, the tip is 5-10% in restaurants and taxis.

Useful tips for Spain

Going to Spain do not count on English. Learn Spanish words, or at least write them down on a piece of paper. A well-chosen 30-word list will make your life immeasurably easier.
If you do not live in Moscow, a tour with a departure from your city will cost one and a half times more than a tour with a departure from Moscow. Perhaps it makes sense to fly from Moscow.

If you are faced with a choice when to go to the coast - in June or September, keep in mind that the sea is noticeably cooler in June.

Buy and take with you a pocket-sized (so you can carry it with you) Spanish-Russian / Russian-Spanish dictionary. As practice shows, standard phrasebooks turn out to be practically useless, the ideal option is knowing a couple of dozen basic phrases plus a dictionary in case you need to urgently translate a word.

Charter flights tend to be very late. Do not be surprised or worried, just be mentally prepared for the confusion at the airport and the fact that you will have to spend a couple of extra hours in it.
The sand on the beaches is different depending on the beach - from coarse and sharp, as, for example, in Lloret de Mar, to very fine.

Popular for its affordable prices, Lloret de Mar is poorly suited for families as it is flooded with young people from all over Europe. If that suits you, Lloret is the way to go, but if you prefer a quieter, more cozier location, it's better to choose something else.

The Costa Brava is characterized by a "steep bottom", when after making four or five steps into the sea you dive headlong. This is not particularly important for adults, but with young children who like to play in shallow water, it is still better to go to a different coast.

Talk about the insidious Spanish sun is completely true. Don't neglect protective creams.

In order not to get sandy towels on the beach, it is best not to spend money on sun loungers every day, but to buy a pair of mats (it will cost about a little euro apiece). You can buy them right there, in nearby shops. It also doesn't hurt to buy a folding sun umbrella. It is more expensive, about 10 euros, but worth it.

If you are traveling on your own, keep in mind that it can be extremely difficult to rent an inexpensive 1 * -2 * hotel within the boundaries of large cities during the season. In the nearest suburbs, this is more likely.
You can significantly save on city public transport if you buy tickets for 10 trips.
Water parks usually open in late May - early June and close by October.
In Tenerife, you can look into the Teide volcano crater only with a special separately obtained permit, which travel agencies forget to warn about.

The exchange commission (if any) of a currency, in addition to interest, always has a certain mandatory minimum - for example, 2 euros, so it is more profitable to change a large amount once than small ones several times.
If you need to buy beach accessories (swimwear, towels, slippers), remember that their prices in Spain are 3 to 7 times lower than in Moscow. For example, swimwear costs 15-20 euros. Luxury beach towels - 5-10 euros. But film in Spain is more expensive - from 4 euros.

Hot tea and coffee in hotels is usually offered only for breakfast. If you are accustomed to having tea in the evenings, a small camping boiler will come in handy.

EmbassySpain in Moscow

Moscow, st. Bolshaya Nikolskaya, 50/8. Tel .: +7 (495)2022161, 2022180 / Fax +7 2919171

The heart of youth tourism is the Balearic Islands, especially Menorca, Mallorca and Ibiza, which are famous for their nightlife. Cultural and eco-tourism is developed in the interior regions of the country. But the basis of the hospitality industry is made up of beach resorts: Catalan Costa del Maresme, and Costa de Valencia in the autonomous community of Valencia, Andalusian resorts Costa de la Luz, Costa Tropical, Costa de Almeria,.

Many tourists are attracted by annual festivals, a significant part of which is dedicated to local saints, folklore and traditions. Especially popular are the Ensierro in Pamplona, ​​the Seville Fair, Romeria de El Rocio, Tomatina in Buñol, Fallas in Valencia, carnivals in Cadiz and the Canary Islands; music festivals Primavera Sound, Sonar, Festimad and Festival International de Benicassim; Mostra de Valencia Film Festivals, Sitges Festival, Valladolid International Film Festival.

Economy, employment

Spain has a traditionally high level of unemployment, especially among youth. According to statistics, in times of economic crises, every fifth Spaniard does not work anywhere.

The vast majority of the population is employed in the service sector. Historically, Spain is an agricultural country, but nowadays relatively few people are involved in this area.

Winemaking is very well developed (pictured on the left). Here is the world famous region - the country of wine and vineyards.

The cultivation of citrus fruits, vegetable growing, animal husbandry and fishing are developed. Spain is almost a quarter of the world's production of olives and olive oil - the most popular among tourists. Thanks to the variety of food products, it is so rich in dishes for every taste, and Spain itself has firmly established itself in the list of the best countries for gastronomic tourism. In many ways, the famous and magnificent contribute to this.

Residents of Spain

In ancient times, the Iberian Peninsula was inhabited mainly by the Iberians, who later mixed with the Celts and assimilated by the Romans. The formed Ibero-Roman community was successively diluted by the Germans and Arabs with the Berbers, and several nationalities were formed. We talked about this in detail in the article "". The indigenous people of Spain: Spaniards (Castilians), Basques, Catalans and Galicians make up the vast majority of the country's population.

The Spaniards are predominantly Catholic (about 75%). The second and third places are occupied by Islam (over a million) and Orthodoxy (about 900 thousand people). The Orthodox are mostly from Eastern Europe. Almost every tenth resident of Spain is an immigrant or descendant of immigrants.