Capital of Spain Madrid or Barcelona? Kingdom of spain spain country of what world

Are you going to Spain for vacation, work or even to move to permanent residence? Overview of the country, everything every visitor to Spain needs to know to get the most out of Spanish hospitality. Photos and maps are attached

Spain is one of the most beautiful and alluring countries in the world. Probably almost everyone associates it primarily with sunny beaches and a warm, warm sea. This is the birthplace of paella, bullfighting, castanets and flamenco. The country with its rich history and culture has been one of the cultural centers of Europe for many millennia.

Spain in itself is a special country, it becomes an impossible task to generalize both geographically and culturally. Millions of people visit Spain and often having been here once, they come back again. Indeed, at present, Spain has many modern resorts. An interesting fact is that Spain is the second highest country in Europe after Switzerland.

Spain is constantly among the four world tourist destinations and this is not surprising because it does not leave anyone indifferent

general information

Geographical position

Spain(officially the Kingdom of Spain) - located in Southwestern Europe, it occupies 504.782 km² in area, due to which it is one of the fifty largest countries in the world. Most of Spain is located on the Iberian Peninsula, the rest of 12,500 km² are islands, plus 32 km² are the sovereign territories of the cities of Ceuta and Melilla, located on the coast of Africa.

Capital, cities

emergency communication: Tate:(+34) -670-848-773 - round-the-clock emergency telephone number for Russian citizens – only in case of emergency (in case of a threat to life, health and loss of documents).

Working hours: from Monday to Friday (from 9:00 to 14:00 // from 16:00 to 19:00)

Traditional cuisine

Probably many people know that one of the most famous and sought-after chefs around the world comes from Spain. In the Basque country and Catalonia itself, there are restaurants that you need to book not a week or even a month in advance, but a year in advance. This suggests that Spanish cuisine is so tasty and varied that it is definitely worth a try.

And now let's take a closer look at the most popular and traditional Spanish dishes. It will probably be right if we start the list of traditional Spanish cuisine with Paella. This dish has been mentioned since the middle of the 19th century, it is believed that it originated on the shores of Lake Albufera, so in order to try paella, we recommend that you go to Valencia. The main ingredients are rabbit and chicken, although the seafood version is considered more traditional in coastal areas.

The next dish will be relevant if you are tired of walking under the scorching sun and want to have something light to eat. Chilled Gazpacho is a great option. This dish is very popular in the southern region of Spain, Andalusia. Gazpacho contains a lot of ingredients, but at the same time they are so simple that you will most likely appreciate this dish and order it more than once.

If you cannot imagine your life without meat, do not worry, and Spain has prepared a huge gift for you. Going into any bar, not to mention restaurants, you will always see a dry-cured pork ham or jamon in front of you.

There are two types of ham:

• jamon seranno;
• Jamon Iberico (more expensive).

They differ in the methods and duration of cooking, and most importantly, the breed of pigs. At your request, one of the bar waiters cuts the ham into juicy pieces so that you can fully enjoy the taste of jamon and feel Spain from the inside.

Spain produces up to 4 million hams every year

Undoubtedly, Spanish cuisine is not limited to paella, gazpacho and jamon. As a rule, from region to region there are unique dishes.

Flamenco music and dancing, bullfights, lots of sun and fantastic beaches… In fact, Spain has much more to offer tourists. Spain has been the cultural center of Europe for many centuries. In this country, a large number of monuments from the times of the Celts, Goths, Romans and Moors have been preserved. The Alhambra Palace in Granada, the Mesquite Cathedral in Cordoba and the Royal Palace in Madrid will be no less interesting to tourists than the beaches of the Costa del Sol or, for example, the Costa Dorada.

Geography of Spain

Spain is located on the famous Iberian Peninsula, in the south of Europe. In the west, Spain borders on Portugal, in the south - on Gibraltar (owned by Great Britain), in the north - on France and Andorra. In North Africa, Spain borders on Morocco (their common border is 13 km). In the south and east, Spain is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, and in the west and northwest by the Atlantic Ocean.

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

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

Mainland Spain is a mountainous country dominated by plateaus and mountain ranges. The main mountain systems in Spain are the Pyrenees, the Cordilleras, the Cantabrian Mountains, the Catalan Mountains, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The highest peak in Spain is the extinct volcano Teide on the island of Tenerife (3,718 m).

Capital of Spain

The capital of Spain is Madrid, which is now home to more than 3.3 million people. Madrid was founded by the Moors in the middle of the 10th century.

Official language

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

Other official languages:

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

Religion

About 96% of the population of Spain are Catholics belonging to the Roman Catholic Church. However, only 14% of Spaniards go to church every week (or more often).

In addition, about 1.2 million Protestants and more than 1 million Muslims now live in Spain (a lot of people from Morocco and Algeria).

State structure

Spain is a constitutional monarchy in which the head of state, according to the Constitution, is the King.

The source of legislative power is the Cortes Generales, consisting of the Congress of Deputies (350 people are elected to it) and the Senate (258 people).

The main political parties in Spain are the right-wing People's Party, the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and the Communist Party of Spain.

Spain consists of 17 communities (regions) and 2 autonomous cities (Ceuta and Melilla).

Climate and weather

In general, the climate of Spain can be divided into three main climatic zones:

• Mediterranean climate, which is characterized by hot summers and rather cold winters (central and north-central Spain);
• semi-arid climate (southeastern Spain, especially in Murcia and the Ebro Valley);
• maritime climate (in northern Spain, especially in Asturias, the Basque Country, Cantabria, and partly in Galicia).

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

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

Seas and oceans

The Mediterranean Sea in the south and east washes the shores of Spain, and in the west and north-west of the country is the Atlantic Ocean. In the north of Spain is the great Bay of Biscay.

Average sea temperature in Spain in May:

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

Average sea temperature in Spain in August:

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

Rivers and lakes

Despite the fact that Spain is a mountainous country, a large number of rivers flow through its territory. The largest rivers in Spain are the Tagus (1,007 km), the Ebro (910 km), the Duero (895 km), the Guadiana (657 km) and the Guadalquivir (578 km).

According to scientists, there are several hundred lakes in Spain, and more than 440 of them are mountain lakes. The largest lake in Spain is Sanabria, whose area is more than 11 thousand square meters. km.

History of Spain

The ancient Greeks called the indigenous inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula (the territory of modern Spain) Iberians. Iberian tribes, according to archaeological finds, came to the Iberian Peninsula from the eastern Mediterranean during the Neolithic.

Around 1200 B.C. Celts appeared in the Pyrenees, who began to mix with the Iberian tribes. Then the Phoenicians founded several of their cities in the Pyrenees - Gadir (Cadiz), Malaka (Malaga) and Abdera (Adra). Then the ancient Greeks built their colonies in southern Spain along the Mediterranean coast.

During the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage, Roman legionnaires invaded Spain and conquered most of it. Then Spain fell completely under the rule of Ancient Rome.

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

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

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

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

In 1808, the troops of Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Spain, but the Spaniards put up stubborn resistance to them. After the defeat of Napoleon in 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo, King Ferdinand IV was restored to the Spanish throne.

Due to the economic crisis and political instability in the 19th century, Spain lost almost all of its colonies. In 1895, after the war with the United States, Cuba, the last colony of Spain, was lost.

From 1936 to 1939, the Civil War continued in Spain, the winner of which was the nationalists, led by Franco. During the Second World War, which began in 1939, Spain remained neutral, although it sympathized with Germany.

Franco died in 1975 and a constitutional monarchy was established in Spain.

Spain joined NATO in 1985 and joined the European Union in 1992.

Culture of Spain

Spanish culture was greatly influenced by the ancient Greeks, as well as the ancient Romans. Until now, a large number of ancient Roman monuments have been preserved in Spain. After the Moors conquered Spain in the early 700s, the Arabs began to exert a decisive influence on Spanish culture. In general, the entire Middle Ages in Spain is a confrontation between Arab and Christian cultures.

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

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

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

For many of us, Spain is flamenco and bullfighting, which has a long tradition.

The dance and song "flamenco" appeared in the Middle Ages in Andalusia. The emergence of this dance and musical style is associated with the gypsies, but since the end of the 18th century, flamenco has become a traditional Spanish dance.

Now every two years in the Spanish Seville, an international flamenco festival called Bienal de Flamenco is held. This festival gathers thousands of participants and visitors.

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

Now in some Spanish cities there are bull races - "encierro". During these races, the bulls try to catch up with the people running through the streets. Sometimes the bulls succeed. The most famous encierros are in Pamplona.

Kitchen

Spanish cuisine is characterized by a wide variety of dishes. This is understandable, because in every region of Spain they carefully preserve not only their cultural, but also culinary traditions. In general, the cuisine of Spain can be attributed to the Mediterranean cuisine. Two characteristic elements of Spanish cuisine are olive oil and garlic.

In Mediterranean Spain (from Catalonia to Andalusia), seafood is often used for cooking. Cold soups (eg gazpacho) and rice dishes (eg paella) are traditional here.

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

For the northern coast of Spain (Atlantic Ocean), including the Basque Country, Asturias and Galicia, dishes with meat, fish and vegetables are typical.

• Cochinillo Asado (roast pig);
• Gambas Ajiillo (fried shrimp with garlic and chili);
• Paella (rice dish);
• Pulpo a la Gallega (Galician octopus);
• Jamon Iberico & Chorizo ​​(Iberian ham and spicy sausages);
• Pescado Frito (this is any fried fish);
• Patatas Bravas (these are fried potatoes cooked in a spicy sauce);
• Tortilla Espanola (Spanish omelet);
• Queso Manchego (Spanish sheep cheese);
• Gazpacho (This is a traditional cold tomato soup).

Sunny Spain is unimaginable without wine. The traditions of winemaking on the Iberian Peninsula were laid down by the ancient Greeks, who founded their colonies there. Spain now produces a wide variety of wines.

In our opinion, the Top 5 best red wines in Spain include:

• Wine Lopez de Heredia
• Bernya (Alicante)
• Vinyes josep - Sola Classic (Priorat)
• Tempranillo - Baron fernand (Valdepeñas)
• Divus - Bodegas Bleda (Jumilla)

Top 5 best white wines in Spain:

1. Xarlel-lo - Clar de Castanyer (Penedés)
2. Amalia - Rubicon (Lanzarote)
3. Wine Mas Plantadera Blanco Roble - Celler Sabate (Priorat)
4. Malvasia semidulce - Bermejo (Lanzarote)
5. el copero (Utiel-Requena)

Sights of Spain

Perhaps Spain does not take the 1st place in terms of the number of attractions, but it is undeniable that tourists have something to see in this ancient country. The top ten attractions in Spain, in our opinion, include the following:

Cities and resorts in Spain

The largest Spanish cities are Madrid, Barcelona (1.7 million people), Valencia (850 thousand people), Seville (720 thousand people), Zaragoza (more than 610 thousand people), and Malaga (about 550 thousand people).

The total coastline of Spain is about 5 thousand kilometers. This means that in Spain there are a large number of beautiful beaches with clear water. Despite the fact that for some reason most tourists choose the Costa Blanca and the sunny Costa del Sol, Spain has beautiful beaches in other resorts.

Top 10 Spanish beaches, in our opinion:

• La Concha Beach - San Sebastian
• Playa de Las Catedrales - Galicia
• Playa del Silencio - Asturias
• Ses Illetes - located on the island of Formentera, Balearic Islands
• Beaches of Sitges - near Barcelona
• Nerja - Costa del Sol, Andalusia
• La Barrosa - This beach is located in Chiclana de la Frontera
• Tarifa - Andalusia
• Gandia - Costa Blanca
• Playa de los Peligros - Santander

When talking about the beach resorts in Spain, they immediately remember the Costa del Sol, the Canary Islands, and the island of Ibiza. But Spain still has the Costa Brava, Tenerife, Mallorca, Costa Dorada, the Balearic Islands, the Costa Blanca, the Costa del Maresme, and the Costa de la Luz.

Souvenirs/Shopping

Returning from Spain, tourists may simply not pick up their suitcases, as there may be so many souvenirs in them. Therefore, we advise tourists who have visited Spain to stop at the following best Spanish souvenirs:

• Olive oil, which is the best in the world (the opinion of Italians and Greeks on this matter does not count);
• "Bota" - a bag for storing wine made of leather (such a bag costs about 30 euros);
• Saffron and other spices;
• Funny T-shirts from Kukuxumusu;
• Spanish ham;
• Flamenco CDs;
• Spanish wine;
• Souvenirs of the Spanish national football team;
• Melee weapons from Toledo.

Office Hours

Banks work:
Mon-Fri: 08:30-14.00
Some banks are also open on Saturdays.

Store opening hours:
Mon-Fri: from 09:00 to 13.30 (or 14:00) and from 16:30 (or from 17:00) to 20:00.
Every Saturday, Spanish shops are open until noon.
Large supermarkets are open all day.

Visa

Brief information about the country

Foundation date

Official language

Spanish

Form of government

Parliamentary monarchy

Territory

504,782 km² (51st in the world)

Population

47 370 542 people (26th in the world)

Timezone

CET (UTC+1, summer UTC+2)

Largest cities

Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Valencia, Seville

$1.536 trillion (13th in the world)

Internet domain

Telephone code

A colorful, cheerful, sunny country located in the southwest of Europe. It occupies approximately 85% of the territory of the Iberian Peninsula, as well as the Balearic and Pitius Islands in the Mediterranean Sea and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. In Spain, there are many cities with a history of more than one millennium, works of architectural art and pristine beaches, which attract travelers from all over the world to this fertile land. The heights of the Pyrenees, the Sierra Morena and the Andalusian mountains do not leave indifferent outdoor enthusiasts: ski resorts with equipped slopes and magnificent landscapes welcome hundreds and thousands of tourists every year. The country of flamenco and bullfighting, as it is also called, is visited annually by an average of 30 million tourists. Canary and Balearic Islands can be called a real paradise for a beach holiday.

Airfare low price calendar

in contact with Facebook twitter

Madrid - the modern capital of Spain, dynamic city. Fans of historical values ​​will find in Madrid amazing royal palaces and residences, squares where the main historical events and holidays took place, churches.

Madrid - the cultural capital of Europe, a visit to the Prado Museum is a mandatory item in the program of any educated guest of the city. Also, however, as well as visiting the main Retiro Park. In addition to famous monuments, the streets, squares and squares of Madrid are filled with original and unusual sculptural compositions of modern style.

Attractions of Madrid Photo

Spain and its capital Madrid are associated with the words:

• Corrida - the sounds of "paso doble", the figure of a bullfighter stretched out by a slender figurine and the last throw of the bull - the moment of truth.
• Flamenco - guitar rhythm, screaming singing, frantic burst of heel shots and palm strikes.
• Lorca. His poems, embodied the essence of the Spanish character.
• Fiesta is a holiday.
• Siesta is an afternoon rest.
• Real Madrid is a football club.

Direct tickets from Moscow to Madrid

Puerta del Sol - the central square of Madrid

Puerta del Sol- the central square of Madrid elliptical shape. Madrid is the center of Spain. Therefore, it is here that the zero kilometer of Spain is located. From here all the roads of the country lead. The square is decorated with two monuments: a monument to Charles III and a bronze sculpture "Teddy Bear and Strawberry Tree". People here like to make appointments. On the Puerta del Sol is the oldest post office building (1761). It is decorated with clocks. Madrid people love to celebrate the New Year here!

Plaza Mayor also claims to be the main city square. Buildings with balconies, located in the form of a quadrangle, enclose the square in their arms, and the through arches in the buildings are its nine gates. In the center of the square, a bronze equestrian sculpture of the Spanish King Philip III was erected on a granite pedestal. Plaza Mayor is the commercial and cultural center of Madrid. Restaurants, bars, cafes, numerous souvenir shops, street artists and musicians entertain the tourists of the capital.

Ancient Egyptian Temple of Debod built over 2200 years ago. It was a gift from Egypt to Spain for helping save the Temple of Abu Simbel. It is located in a beautiful park in Madrid near Plaza España (entrance to the Temple is free). From here you have an excellent view of the panoramas of Madrid, the Royal Palace, the Casa de Campo park.

Royal Palace- the main symbol of the city and the most beautiful landmark of Madrid. Here is the "Royal Armory" and a collection of medieval weapons. The magnificent facade of the palace, 130 meters long, with 240 balconies and 870 windows, shot up to a height of 33 meters. Amazing architecture, rich interior decoration of 30 rooms and halls of the palace, its 44 stairs will surprise tourists on excursions that are held daily from 9 to 17 (except for days of official ceremonies).

The Royal Palace of Madrid is a must-see attraction in Spain! The Royal Palace of Madrid is the residence of the kings of Spain. It is worth noting that the King of Spain Juan Carlos I visits it only on the days of official ceremonies, and does not permanently live in these crowned apartments. Luxurious interiors, magnificent crystal chandeliers, collections of weapons and porcelain, Flemish tapestries and a unique collection of Stradivarius violins await tourists in the palace. Local guides will tell you about the famous "secrets of the Madrid Palace".

Cibeles Fountain - Madrid, Spain

Cibeles Fountain- the second symbol of Madrid, flaunting on the square of the same name. The center of the composition is the image of the goddess of fertility of the land Sibeles riding a chariot, which is carried by two lions. The fountain was designed in 1777 under King Charles III by the sculptor V. Rodriguez. Today it is surrounded by majestic buildings: the Palacio de Buenavista, the Palacio de Linares, the Communications Palace - the main Post Office and the Bank of Spain.

Prado Museum in the Spanish capital is the pride of the country. Some tourists believe that the Prado Museum is the fashion house of the famous Italian clothing brand. It's time to clarify that the Prado Museum in Madrid is a collection of the best paintings of the late Renaissance and modern times. The Prado Museum in Madrid is the museum of the "Great Names". The world-famous works of Albrecht Durer, Rubens, Diego Velasquez, El Greco, Goya, Titian, Hieronymus Bosch, Raphael and other masters of painting are exhibited here. 7600 paintings, 8 thousand drawings and thousands of sculptures make up the collection of the Prado Museum. The word "prado" is translated from Spanish as "meadow". In the 19th century, the place where the museum is located today was not located in the center of the city, but on its outskirts. On Sunday, admission to the Prado Museum is free.

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is another attraction of Spanish Madrid and a painting gallery. This richest collection was collected by the German baron Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza (a major industrialist). The philanthropist bought masterpieces from American collectors during the Great Depression and returned them to Europe. This congregation ended up in Spain thanks to Carmen Cervera (the baron's wife).
The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum has a unique collection of paintings by painters of the Dutch, English and German schools, Italian primitivists. The works of Rembrandt, Kazimir Malevich, Pablo Picasso, Dürer and Titian flaunt here.

Reina Sofia Museum is one of the modern museums in the world. Here are collections of modern paintings and works by famous artists Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, Juan Gris. The most famous painting is Guernica by Pablo Picasso, 1937.

Circulo de Bellas Artes– original building and cultural center. Exhibitions, theatrical performances and concerts are held on its squares. But its main attraction is its huge roof terrace, which offers a magnificent panoramic view of Madrid.

Attraction of Madrid - Retiro Park

Madrid's main park - Retiro Park. This well-groomed park is spread over an area of ​​12 hectares. Sculptural compositions, ponds and landscaping of the park leave unforgettable impressions for a long time. Here you can relax, go boating, lie on the lawn, watch puppet shows and listen to music. Of particular interest in the Retiro Park is crystal palace. This landmark building (Pavilion - greenhouse) was built at the end of the 19th century for the World Exhibition. Here is one of the three fountains of the park - Fountain Fallen Angel. The park is adorned with a majestic building - King Alphonse's memorialXII. The high pedestal stele, which is crowned with an equestrian sculpture of King Alphonse XII, seems to hover over a beautiful colonnade, which frames the monument from behind as an amphitheater, and the lake in front of it.

Falling Skyscrapers (Gate of Europe) in 1996 appeared on the Plaza de Castilla. Glazed two towers - twins 115 meters high, tilted vertically at an angle of 15 degrees to each other - the third symbol of Madrid.

San Miguel Market- the most famous ordinary food market in Madrid. Now it is a giant market-restaurant of exclusive delicacies and tapas bars, consisting of 33 shops, as well as a favorite meeting place for the Spaniards. It is also open at night.

La Latino- the oldest district of Madrid. During the day you can wander through the narrow streets, looking at the architectural heritage of the past, and at night there is a wide selection of bars and tablaos. The most famous club-bar in the area is Cardomomo, where you can enjoy Flamenco Show and taste national cuisine.

High quality professional "Flamenco Show" is a fusion of incendiary flamenco, soulful national Spanish vocals, guitar rhythm, heartbeats, heels and palms with modern plasticity.

• This is the dance. He came from the gypsies. Dance professionals will lead you into their mysterious world of emotional, passionate and unbridled gaze art! Real flamenco is when a fantastic rhythm merges with the magnificent grace of the dancer, and the magical power emanating from it brings the audience to a state of nirvana. In the dance, the tenderness of a girl and the brutal rock of a woman are combined, and everything is subordinated to one thing - the conquest of a man!
• This is singing. This is the melody of naked feeling! At the beginning - stretching and seething singing, which is saturated with pain, passion and feelings of the singer, and then the singer himself becomes a melody of delight.
• This is a guitar: chaotic, virtuoso in the hands of the maestro, bewitching in Spanish!

Madrid - the capital of Spanish Fashion.
Madrid is famous for its popular shopping areas: Barrio de Salamanca, Mercado de Fuencarral, Chueca.
Barcelona also has "shopping areas": Las Ramblas, Paseo de Gracia, Plaza de Cataluna, Avenida Diagonal.
These two Spanish metropolitan areas are in the top three absolute leaders in boutique shopping in Europe in terms of concentration of outlets in large commercial centers and world-leading trends, as well as safety and proximity to convenient public transport lines.

Madrid Warner Park (Pargue Warner) in June 2014, it expanded and added another highlight to its entertainment mosaic - Warner Beach. Warner Beach is the sixth themed area of ​​Warner Park. This is a unique new attraction - the Aquapark. The park-beach is located inside an already existing large park and attracts tourists to "water procedures" that help to survive the sultry Spanish summer with the help of tunnels, slides, themed children's pools with animated characters. The opening hours of this recreation area (unlike the other five year-round ones) are seasonal: from the beginning of June to the end of September.

Cost of living in Madrid

Bloodless bullfighting for tourists in Spain

Spain has the Alhambra, Goya, flamenco, Montserrat, but the main thing is bullfighting. spanish bullfight is a deeply national and at the same time promoted throughout the world “brand”.

Small and fragile, but endowed with reason, a man fights against the uncontrollable force of nature. Even in a bloody bullfight, a man did not always come out victorious, because back in the 19th century, every 25th fight ended in the death of a matador, since the bull had remarkable physical strength on the side.

In the 21st century, bloody bullfighting is banned: humane treatment of the animal prevailed. The first ban on this bullfight was announced in 1991 in the Canary Islands. In 2008, television broadcasts of bullfights were stopped. On June 28, 2010, the Catalan Parliament also decided to ban it.

Today, the Catalans show the public an old tradition in a new way: humane bullfighting, where the bull is not killed. It can be seen, for example, in Catalonia, in Alfa de Carles estate.

"Good" bullfight is a beautiful show where a man and an animal give the audience delight. In the arena, as before, the main irritant is the red cape of the matador. Torero opposes the animal with his dexterity, agility, flexibility, intelligence and desire to win! The main thing in the show is the elegance of evading the bull! The modern matador, like the ancient Greek Theseus, jumps over the animal, holding on to its horns like a handrail. It's very spectacular! But beware, bullfighter: the bull does not give up! No wonder they say that the bulls are very stubborn, but this is the “trick” of the fight! That's why it's impressive!

Alcala in Spain

If you come to rest in Spain, do not forget to visit the suburbs of Madrid - the small town of Alcala.

Alcala is the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes— the creator of the character who fights windmills. Be sure to make an excursion to the university, named after the creator of Don Quixote, and to the house-museum of Miguel de Cervantes, where he finished the first part of the world-famous novel Don Quixote in 1603-1606. On the second floor, in the study of the Spanish writer, a copy of the first edition of his book is carefully kept.

The Comedy Theater of Alcala is the oldest operating theater in the world, over 400 years old. The theater of the Cervantes times keeps its shrine - an old stone flooring covered with a modern glass floor, as well as a secret room-box for important people.

Monument "Don Quixote and his faithful squire Sancho Panso"- a meeting place for lovers on a bench and an entourage for great photos of travelers from all over the world from beautiful Spain!

The Kingdom of Spain.

The name of the country comes from the Phoenician "i-spanim" - "coast of rabbits".

Capital of Spain. Madrid.

Plaza of Spain. 504784 km2.

Population of Spain. 40038 thousand people

Location of Spain. Spain is a southern European country. It occupies five-sixths of the Iberian Peninsula, the Balearic and Pitius Islands and the Canary Islands. The Pyrenees mountains are inaccessible and isolate Spain from the rest, except for those located on the western part of the peninsula. Spain is washed by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It borders on land with Portugal in the west, with (along the crest of the Pyrenees) and a tiny state in the northeast, with Gibraltar in the south.

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

Spanish form of government. .

Head of State of Spain. King.

Spain's highest legislature. The Cortes Generales (Parliament), consisting of two chambers, are elected for 4 years.

Supreme executive body of Spain. Government.

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

Official language of Spain. Spanish, the use of Catalan, Galician and some other minority languages ​​is legal.

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

Spanish currency. Euro = 100 cents.