|
AREA:
|
504,782
sq km (194,897 sq miles). |
|
POPULATION
|
39,371,147 |
|
CAPITAL:
|
Madrid.
Population: 2,866,850 |
|
LANGUAGE:
|
Spanish
Catalan, Galician and Basque |
|
TIME:
|
GMT
+ 1 . |
|
ELECTRICITY:
|
220
volts AC, 50Hz. . |
When you
think of Spain you'll most likely picture bullfights, beaches and flamenco
dancing, but although these do capture the very essence of Spain, this
vibrant country has a whole lot more to offer.
Spain
is situated on the Iberian peninsula, and covers four-fifths of it, leaving
one fifth of the peninsula to its neighbour, Portugal. The Pyrenees Mountains
separate Spain from the rest of Europe, and the Strait of Gibraltar separates
the country from north Africa, by just 14km (9 miles). The northern coast
borders the Bay of Biscay and has a perpetual cloak of fine mist: it is
often called the Costa Verde, or the Green Coast. The southern coast is
extremely popular and is aptly named the Costa del Sol, or Coast of the
Sun.
Spain's
capital is Madrid, a city with a rich cultural heritage and a friendly
atmosphere. Spain's other main city, Barcelona, is a liberal and exciting
city.
Spanish
art and architecture give this country a unique ambience. Be sure to spend
time seeing Gaudi's architectural wonders and some of the country's splendid
cathedrals, many of which were built over mosques from the time of the
Moorish Occupation, which left an indelible imprint on Spanish culture.
Language
also reflects Spain's diversity, with Castilian Spanish being widely spoken,
but the different regional languages being just as important. English is
understood in the larger hotels and tourist resorts, but you'd be wise
to invest in a Spanish phrase book if you're going to venture out and discover
the more remote and interesting parts of Spain.
With
sun and golden beaches in the south, ski resorts, Gothic cathedrals, art
galleries and exhilarating festivals, Spain has something for everyone |
