Facts About Spain: From Beaches to Bulls
Spain is the second largest country in Europe, and there are many fascinating and interesting facts about Spain. Espana, as it is called in Spanish, is home to bull fighting, beaches and delicious tapas, so it is no mystery that Spain is one of the most popular European tourist destinations.
Spain is located in southwest Europe on what is known as the Iberian Peninsula. France is directly to the north of Spain, and Portugal is tucked nicely into the western side of the country. To the north and northwest is the Atlantic Ocean, and to the east and south is the Mediterranean Sea. Across the Mediterranean from Spain are the African countries of Morocco and Algeria. The Strait of Gibraltar separates European Spain from African Morocco by only 8 miles at its narrowest point.
Almost 60 million visitors come to Spain every year, making this Western European country the third most visited country in the world. The three largest cities are Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia. Other popular vacation locales include Sevilla, Salamanca, Malaga, Granada and Tenerife, part of the Canary Islands off the south western coast of Spain.
Although Spain does experience a variety of weather patterns, this country is popular with vacationers because of its vast coastlines that offer warm temperatures nearly all year round. Much of coastal Spain experiences very mild weather in the winter months, and there is generally not much rain. It is hotter during the summer, but still very appealing to visitors.
The official name of this country is actually the Kingdom of Spain, and the capital city is Madrid. Spain’s population is about 45 million people, and the official language is no surprise: Spanish. There are a few different dialects, however, depending on the region of the country.
The government of Spain is known as a parliamentary monarchy, which means that the King of Spain is the head of state but he is not the absolute ruler of the nation. Spain’s King shares leadership duties with an elected prime minister and there is also a Spanish constitution. This type of government is found in other countries like Australia, Canada, Japan and the United Kingdom.
Spanish businesses follow the custom of closing down each day for Siesta. Since lunch is usually the biggest meal of the day, stores around Spain will close around noon or 1 p.m. for Siesta and then reopen a few hours later after a satisfying meal and rest period. It is not unusual, either, for Spaniards to eat a light dinner as late as 9 or 10 at night.
One of the most unusual and controversial facts about Spain is its relationship with bull fighting. This sport is an ingrained part of Spanish history, and it has been a part of Spanish culture since ancient times. Although surrounded by controversy, Spanish bull fights still attract millions of spectators every year.