It's always a good time
to travel to Spain. That's because this country in southern Europe has all the
ingredients to make your visit an unforgettable experience. Cities which bear
the marks of a rich mixture of cultures, monuments and natural spaces awarded
the World Heritage designation by the UNESCO, some of the world's most
important museums, beaches to suit everybody, a pleasant climate all year
round, the healthy Mediterranean diet, typically Spanish traditions such as
flamenco and bullfighting... You'll find it very easy to get here thanks to the
multitude of international connections available in Spain. Come and be
captivated by the Mediterranean character and by the openness and friendliness
of its people. Surrender to the magic of its streets. This is a place where
life is always enjoyed to the utmost.
Before you come
Most of the territory
of Spain (over 47 million inhabitants and with its capital in Madrid) is
located on the Iberian Peninsula, although the country also has two
archipelagos (the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands) and the cities of
Ceuta and Melilla, on the coast of Africa.
All these areas are
perfectly connected by means of a wide-ranging and comprehensive transport
network (you can reach Spain and move around once you're there by plane, train,
boat, car…) which means that in very little time you can get to major cities
such as Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Malaga, Nerja …
Spain is one of the
warmest countries in Europe, and has over 3,000 hours of sunshine a year. The
Canary Islands, due to their geographic location, have an annual temperature of
22°C on the coast.
Remember it, Spain is
more than beach, sun, flamenco and bullfighting
Geographical location
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In the south east of
Europe
Spain covers an area of
505,955 square kilometres, which places it amongst the fifty largest countries
in the world.
The largest part of the
territory is located in the Iberian Peninsula, the remainder, approximately
12,500 square kilometres, are islands, -Balearics and the Canary Islands- plus
32 square kilometres that are accounted for by the cities of Ceuta and Melilla,
situated on the coast of Africa. The situation of the Iberian Peninsula in the
extreme south west of Europe and only 14 kilometres away from the African
continent, endows Spain with a great strategic value: projecting into the
Mediterranean on one side and acting as an intersection on the path to Africa
and America on the other. The fact that a large part of Spain is peninsular
also explains the length of its coastline, which runs along the Atlantic Ocean
and the Mediterranean Sea. As a result of its position, between 36 and 43
degrees North latitude, the climate ranges from the mild oceanic climate in the
North, to the continental Mediterranean in the centre and the Mediterranean in
the East and South, factors which combine to create a wet Spain in the North
and mountainous areas, green Spain with luxuriant forests and a dry Spain in
the Mediterranean.
GLOBAL SITUATION
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Nearly 47 million
inhabitants
The Spanish population
now stands at nearly 47 million, and the country has an area of 505,986.36
square kilometres.
To this we must add the
fact that life expectancy in Spain is one of the highest in the world (82.29
years). Life expectancy for Spanish women, at 85.13 years, is also one of the
highest in the European Union.
Spain is a
non-confessional state, and freedom of worship is recognised in its
Constitution. However, most Spaniards profess the Catholic faith, which is
deeply rooted in society.
Castilian/Spanish is
the nation's official language. There are also officially-recognised languages
in the following Autonomous Regions: Catalonia, Galicia, the Basque Country,
Valencia and the Balearic Islands (where they speak a particular variety of
Catalan).
EUROPEAN UNION
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Spain in the European
Union
On January 1 1986 Spain
entered the European Union as a full member.
CULTURAL WEALTH
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Spain: mosaic of
cultures
Originating in its rich
historical flux, the Spanish culture has played an important role throughout
time.
Spain is, above all, a
mosaic of cultures. Heterogeneous. Old and modern. Refined and popular. Holy
and secular. Plural and diverse. The variety of its cultures attracts. The
historic heritage dazzles. The vital power of its people fascinates. Spanish
culture is extremely rich and touches upon all forms of artistic expression.
From literature to painting, music to architecture, the theatre to sumptuary
arts.
Cultural tourism is
becoming an alternative to sun and beach tourism, as a result of the wealth and
quality of the museums, monuments, fiestas and traditions, not to mention the
expositions and various cultural displays.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
________________________________________
Concern for the
environment
Spain, although it can
be considered a mountainous territory and semi-arid in many aspects, is home to
a fauna and flora of great richness and biodiversity.
Spain is a habitat with
over 8,000 plant species. Forests account for around 30% of the territory,
although these do not always correspond to native species. Traditional
reforestation practices carried out particularly in the late 19th century have
lead to an overall presence of pine and eucalyptus stands. Spain's
environmental conservation policy was launched many years ago, and has been
considerably enhanced in recent years. One of the fundamental pillars of this
government policy has been protection, by means of initiatives such as the
National Parks, Nature Reserves and Game Reserves. However, most of these
competences have now been transferred to the Autonomous Regions, who have
enacted a range of different protection models. The most important threats to
the environment are deforestation (forest fires), erosion, desertification and
contamination of river water. This problem is common to the whole of Europe,
and the positive balance between agriculture, rational exploitation and
conservation of the environment is one of the most important issues for the
country. Therefore both agriculture and tourism (which also affects the state
of environmental conservation) are today strictly regulated, in order to allow
these sectors to prosper and grow without affecting the environment. For all
these reasons, Spain is a country with a strong –and increasing– commitment to
conserving the environment.
TO BE CONTINUED: PRACTICAL TIPS
Travel Tips
Travel Tips
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