The heart of youth tourism - Balearic Islands, especially Menorca, Mallorca and Ibiza, famous 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: the Catalan Costa del Maresme, and the Costa de Valencia in the autonomous community of Valencia, the Andalusian resorts of Costa de la Luz, Costa Tropical, Costa de Almeria, .
Many tourists are attracted by annual festivals, a significant part of which are dedicated to local saints, folklore and traditions. Especially popular are Encierro in Pamplona, 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; film festivals Mostra de Valencia, Sitges Festival, Valladolid International Film Festival.
Economy, employment
Spain has a traditionally high unemployment rate, especially among youth. According to statistics, during 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 these days relatively few people are involved in this sector.
Winemaking is very well developed (pictured on the left). Here is a world-famous region - the country of wine and vineyards.
Cultivation of citrus fruits, vegetable growing, livestock raising and fishing are developed. Spain accounts for 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 is firmly entrenched in the list best countries for gastronomic tourism. The famous and magnificent ones contribute to this in many ways.
Residents of Spain
In ancient times, the Iberian Peninsula was inhabited mainly by Iberians, who later mixed with the Celts and assimilated by the Romans. The resulting Ibero-Roman community was successively diluted by the Germans, Arabs and 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.
Spaniards practice predominantly Catholicism (about 75%). The second and third places are occupied by Islam (over a million) and Orthodoxy (about 900 thousand people). Orthodox Christians are mainly from Eastern Europe. Almost every tenth resident of Spain is an immigrant or descendant of immigrants.
Gazpacho, Prado Museum or Sagrada Familia. But even experienced travelers may not know the interesting facts about Spain that are given in the article.
Country and people
- According to one version, the name of the country (España) goes back to the word Hispania, which in Phoenician meant “land of rabbits.”
- Throughout history the territory Spain inhabited by different ethnic groups, including Iberians, Celts, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths and Arabs.
- Euskera, spoken in the Basque Country, is one of the oldest languages in the world.
- The Spanish Empire was one of the strongest in the world.
- Spain ceded Gibraltar to Great Britain in 1713.
- An interesting fact about Spain and its history: the country remained neutral in two world wars.
- Spanish is the third most popular language in the world, with approximately 400 million speakers.
- Football is considered the national sport. Spain won its first World Cup victory in 2010.
- The match between the football clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona is the main sporting event and can almost completely paralyze the country.
- An interesting fact about the people of Spain is that the country ranks first in the world in organ donation.
- Same-sex marriage has been legal in the country since July 3, 2005.
- There are about 8 thousand kilometers of beaches in Spain.
- One of the interesting facts about the country is that the objects world heritage 44 sites in Spain are recognized by UNESCO.
- The country drinks approximately 11.2 liters of alcohol per year, which is almost twice the average. Spain is the third country in the world (and first in Europe) for drinking gin and the first in Europe for cocaine consumption. However, it is one of the European countries with lower suicide rates. However, it is not at all necessary that these interesting facts about Spain have a connection with each other.
- Javier Bardem became the first Spanish actor to win an Oscar for his role in No Country for Old Men.
- Amancio Ortega, founder of Inditex (brands Zara, Pull & Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Zara Home), is the richest person in Spain and the second richest in the world (as of 2016) after Bill Gates. Ortega earns about 2.5 million euros per day.
Cities and provinces
- An interesting fact about the country can be considered the belief that Madrid is the geographical center of the country, and the Puerta del Sol in the capital is the exact center of Madrid or even the entire Iberian Peninsula. However, in fact, this opinion is refuted by new data.
- In 1978, the center of Madrid was thought to be the rear façade of the Prado Museum. Nowadays the intersection of Goya and Serrano streets is considered to be such.
- Regarding the center of the entire Iberian Peninsula, the Puerta del Sol area was considered such in the 18th century; currently it has “moved” to the town of Cerro de los Ángeles, about 10 kilometers south of Madrid. It now houses the 14th-century chapel Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles and the Sagrado Corazón monument, built in 1919.
- What can be stated with certainty is that in Puerta del Sol there is a slab of Kilometro Cero, or Km. 0 ("zero kilometer"), the point from which all roads were to be measured. It appeared in the 18th century during the reign of Philip V, after six main roads were built crossing the entire peninsula.
- Another interesting fact about Spain: the Madrid metro is considered the second longest in Europe and the sixth in the world. It is 141 miles long and counting.
- The University of Salamanca, founded in 1218, is the oldest in the country.
- Barcelona is the most visited city in Spain, with about 15 million tourists coming here every year.
- Cadiz is considered the oldest city in Spain and in Europe; it was inhabited by the Phoenicians.
- La Boquería (Mercado de Sant Josep), located in Barcelona, is considered the largest market in Catalonia.
- The most visited attraction in the capital of Catalonia is the Temple of the Holy Family (Sagrada Familia), construction has been going on for more than 200 years and is still not finished.
Gastronomy
- Spain is the second country in the world in terms of the number of bars per person. The only country that beats it in this indicator is Cyprus.
- Many bars offer customers free snacks with their drink - tapas, usually olives, nuts and dried fruits or anchovies marinated in vinegar and olive oil (boquerones en vinagre).
- Spaniards usually have lunch at 2-3 pm and dinner between 9 and 10 pm.
- An interesting fact about the country from the field of gastronomy: tomatoes, potatoes, avocados, tobacco and cocoa were imported to Europe through Spain.
- After France and Italy, the kingdom is the third largest wine producer in the world and the first country in the world in terms of vineyard area.
- Although Spain is better known in the world for red wine than white, most wineries produce white wine.
SPAIN - GENERAL INFORMATION
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% Catholics.
Capital- Madrid.
Largest cities - Madrid (3 million), Barcelona (1.7 million), Seville (714 thousand).
Administrative division - 17 autonomous communities. Under Spanish control there are also 2 territorial enclaves on the coast of Morocco (Ceuta and Melilla) and three groups of islands off the coast of Morocco.
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. You can also exchange currency 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 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 Vélez de la Gomera, Alucenas and Chafaranas are under Spanish control. Territory: 504,750 sq. km. Of these: land - 499,400 sq. km., water - 5,350 sq. km. Spain borders 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. Total length of the border: on the ground - 1,919.1 km, coastline- 4,964 km. The central part of Spain is the Meseta plateau with the Center mountain range. Cordillera. In the north and northeast - the Pyrenees, Cantabrian, Iberian and Catalan mountains, in the south - the Andalusian mountains (Mulacen, 3478 m, - highest point continental Spain) and the Sierra Morena mountains. Large rivers - Tagus, Duero, Ebro, Guadalquivir, Guadiana. The country is washed in the southeast by the Mediterranean Sea, in the west by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Spain is located at the intersection of important sea and air routes connecting Europe with the African and American continents. Spain also has a strategic location along the Strait of Gibraltar.
Population of Spain
Spain is considered a single nation formed on the basis of various historical areas and ethnic groups, the main ones being 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%) are Catholics. The Catholic Church enjoys great influence in the country.
The total population of the country is 39.6 million people; population density - 78.5 people per 1 sq. km; annual population growth - 0.2%; illiteracy rate - 4.6%; life expectancy - 78 years.
Four languages are spoken in Spain: Spanish, Basque, Catalan and Galician. The official and most common language in the country is Spanish.
Climate of Spain
Spain has a Mediterranean climate. Average temperatures in January range from 4-5 °C on the Meseta plateau to 12 °C in the south; in July, respectively, from 23 to 29 °C. Precipitation 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. Wherein average temperature 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 combination of numerous regional cuisines, each of which was influenced by 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 apart. Madrid-style fried meats, cod and rennet (stewed innards, cut into pieces) are equally beloved here, as are the traditional cocido madrileño (pea soup with croutons). But especially popular is Madrid's "calos" - spiced tripe with blood sausage and pepper sauce. You should definitely try at least the classic dishes. The famous Spanish omelette “tortilla”, spicy smoked sausage “chorizo”, serrano ham, sheep cheese “manchego”, delicacy specially 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 chain department stores: El Corte Ingles 10:00 - 21:00 (Monday-Saturday, without a break). Supermarkets: "Continente, Pryca, Alcampo, Mercadonna 9:00 (10:00) - 20.00 (21.00) Monday - Saturday, without a break. In tourist centers During the holidays, some stores are also open on Sunday.
Museums: from 9.00-13.00 and 16.00-19.00 (usually). Some museums are closed on Sunday and Monday.
Telephone
There are telephone booths anywhere in Spain 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 telephone numbers:
national police – 091
local police – 092
Red Cross - 22-22-22
urgent medical care – 061
fire service – 080
exact time service - 093
Help Desk - 098
Tips
Tipping in Spain is an ancient tradition, practiced in bars and restaurants, taxis, cinemas, and hotels. Please note that a service charge may be included in your bill. Typically tip 5-10% in restaurants and taxis.
Useful tips for Spain
When going to Spain you should not count on English language. Learn Spanish words, or at least write them down on paper. A well-chosen list of 30 words 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. It might make sense to fly from Moscow.
If you are faced with a choice of when to go to the coast - in June or in September, keep in mind that the sea in June is noticeably cooler.
Buy and take with you a pocket-sized (so you can carry it with you) Spanish-Russian/Russian-Spanish dictionary. As practice shows, standard phrase books turn out to be practically useless; the ideal option is to know 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. Don't 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 there.
The sand on the beaches varies 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 not well suited for family vacation, because it is flooded with young people from all over Europe. If that suits you, Lloret is the place to be, but if you prefer something quieter and cozy places, it's better to choose something else.
The Costa Brava is characterized by a “sheer bottom”, when after taking four or five steps into the sea you plunge headlong. This is not particularly important for adults, but with small children who love to play in shallow water, it is still better to go to another coast.
The talk about the insidious Spanish sun is completely true. Don't neglect protective creams.
To avoid getting your towels dirty with sand on the beach, it is best not to spend money on sunbeds every day, but to buy a couple of mats (it will cost about a little over a euro apiece). You can buy them right there, in nearby shops. It wouldn't hurt to buy a folding sun umbrella either. It's more expensive, about 10 euros, but it's worth it.
If you are traveling on your own, keep in mind that during the season you can rent an inexpensive 1*-2* hotel within major cities can be extremely difficult. This is more likely in nearby suburbs.
You can significantly save on city fees public transport, if you buy passes for 10 trips.
Water parks typically open in late May/early June and close by October.
In Tenerife, you can look into the crater of the Teide volcano only with a special, separately obtained permit, which travel agencies forget to warn about.
The exchange commission (if there is one) 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 several small ones.
If you need to buy beach accessories (swimsuits, towels, slippers), remember that prices for them in Spain are 3 to 7 times lower than in Moscow. For example, swimsuits - 15-20 euros. Luxury beach towels - 5-10 euros. But photographic film in Spain is more expensive - from 4 euros.
Hot tea and coffee are usually offered in hotels only for breakfast. If you are used to drinking tea in the evenings, a small camp boiler will come in handy.
EmbassySpain in Moscow
Moscow, st. Bolshaya Nikolskaya, 50/8. Tel.: +7 (495)2022161, 2022180 / Fax +7 2919171
Flamenco music and dancing, bullfights, lots of sun and fantastic beaches... In fact, Spain has much more to offer tourists. Spain has been for many centuries cultural center Europe. This country has preserved a large number of monuments from the times of the Celts, Goths, Romans and Moors. Alhambra Palace in Granada, Mezquita Mosque and Cathedral in Cordoba and 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 southern Europe. In the west, Spain borders with Portugal, in the south with Gibraltar (belongs to Great Britain), and in the north with France and Andorra. IN North Africa Spain borders Morocco (their common border– 13 km). In the south and east, Spain borders the Mediterranean Sea, and in the west and northwest it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean.
Spain includes the small Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, the “Isles of Dogs” (as they were once called Canary Islands) in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa, as well as two semi-autonomous cities - Ceuta and Melilla in North Africa.
The total area of Spain is 505,992 square meters. km, including 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. Basic mountain systems in Spain - the Pyrenees, the Cordillera, the Cantabrian Mountains, the Catalan Mountains, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The most high peak in Spain - 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 mid-10th century.
Official language
Spain is a multilingual country. Throughout Spain, the official language is Spanish (aka Castilian).
Other official languages:
- Basque language - widespread in the Basque Country and Navarre;
- Catalan - common in Catalonia, as well as in Valencia and the Balearics;
- Galician - in Galicia.
Religion
About 96% of the population of Spain are Roman Catholics. 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 (many people come 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 General Cortes, 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 Social 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 fairly cold winters (central and north-central Spain);
- semi-arid climate (south-eastern Spain, especially Murcia and the Ebro Valley);
- maritime climate (in the north of Spain, especially in Asturias, the Basque Country, Cantabria, and partly in Galicia).
The Pyrenees and 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 washes the coast of Spain in the south and east, and in the west and north-west of the country there is Atlantic Ocean. In the north of Spain there is the large Bay of Biscay.
Average sea temperature in Spain in May:
- Costa Dorado - +17C
- Costa Brava - +17C
- Costa Calida - +17C
- Almeria - +18C
- Costa del Sol - +17C
- Costa Blanca - +17C
Average sea temperature in Spain in August:
- Costa Dorado - +25C
- Costa Brava - +25C
- Costa Calida - +25C
- Almeria - +24C
- Costa del Sol - +23C
- 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 most big rivers in Spain - Tagus (1,007 km), Ebro (910 km), Duero (895 km), Guadiana (657 km) and 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 period.
Around 1200 BC. Celts appeared in the Pyrenees and 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 to the south of Spain along the coast Mediterranean Sea The ancient Greeks built their colonies.
During the Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage, Roman legionaries invaded Spain and conquered most of it. Then Spain came completely under the rule of Ancient Rome.
In 409 AD The Goths invaded the Iberian Peninsula and founded their kingdom there. However, in 711 AD. The Visigoth kingdom fell to the Moors from Africa. In the end, the Moors managed to conquer almost all of Spain. In the 10th century, Andalusia created its own Muslim caliphate.
However, Christians are trying to return the Spanish lands captured by the Moors. This period in Spanish history is known as the Reconquista.
The kingdom of Spain itself was formed in 1469 (this year the wedding of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon took place), but only in 1492 did the last Arab emir flee from Spanish territory (this happened after the fall of Granada).
After Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492, Spain received tons of silver and gold from there, thereby becoming one of the most influential and powerful countries of that time.
In 1808, Napoleon Bonaparte's troops invaded Spain, but the Spaniards stubbornly resisted them. After Napoleon's defeat 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, Spain continued Civil War, from which the nationalists led by Franco emerged victorious. During World War II, which began in 1939, Spain maintained neutrality, although it sympathized with Germany.
In 1975, Franco died and a constitutional monarchy was created in Spain.
In 1985, Spain was admitted to NATO, and in 1992 it joined the European Union.
Spanish culture
Spanish culture was greatly influenced by the ancient Greeks, as well as the ancient Romans. To this day, a large number of ancient Roman monuments have been preserved in Spain. After Spain was conquered by the Moors in the early 700s, Spanish culture came to be dominated by the Arabs. In general, the entire Middle Ages in Spain was a confrontation between Arab and Christian cultures.
It so happened that the Spaniards showed themselves most noticeably in literature and painting, although, of course, Spain had talented architects, philosophers, doctors and philosophers.
The most famous Spanish writers and poets are Lope de Vega (life years - 1562-1635), Francisco Quevedo y Villegas (1580-1645), Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (life years - 1547-1616), Baltasar Gracian (1601-1658 ), Benito Galdos (1843-1920), and Camilo José Cela (lived 1916-2002).
The most famous Spanish painters are El Greco (life years - 1541-1614), Francisco de Herrera (life years - 1576-1656), Jusepe de Ribera (life years - 1591-1652), Diego Velazquez (life years - 1599-1660) , Alonso Cano (lived 1601-1667), Francisco Goya (lived 1746-1828), and Salvador Dali (lived 1904-1989).
For many of us, Spain is flamenco and bullfighting, which have 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 from the end of the 18th century “flamenco” became a traditional Spanish dance.
Nowadays, every two years in Seville, Spain, an international flamenco festival is held, called “Bienal de Flamenco”. This festival attracts thousands of participants and visitors.
Another famous Spanish tradition is bullfighting, a bullfight that was started by the Iberian tribes who lived in the Pyrenees around 3000 centuries. BC. At first, killing a bull was of a ritual nature, but over time, it became a real art. Since the mid-18th century, bullfighting has existed in many Spanish cities.
Nowadays, some Spanish cities host bull running – “encierro”. During these races, bulls try to catch up with people running through the streets. Sometimes bulls succeed. The most famous "encierros" are in Pamplona.
Kitchen
Spanish cuisine is characterized by a wide variety of dishes. This is understandable, because each region of Spain carefully preserves not only its cultural, but also culinary traditions. In general, Spanish cuisine can be classified as Mediterranean cuisine. Two characteristic elements spanish cuisine– olive oil and garlic.
In Mediterranean Spain (from Catalonia to Andalusia), seafood is often used for cooking. Cold soups (such as gazpacho) and rice dishes (such as paella) are traditional here.
Inland Spain is characterized by thick, hot soups and stews. Ham and various cheeses are popular here.
For north coast Spain (Atlantic Ocean), including the Basque Country, Asturias and Galicia, is characterized by dishes with meat, fish and vegetables.
- Cochinillo Asado (roast suckling 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 (any fried fish);
- Patatas Bravas (fried potatoes cooked in a spicy sauce);
- Tortilla Espanola (Spanish omelette);
- Queso Manchego (Spanish sheep cheese);
- Gazpacho (this is a traditional cold tomato soup).
It is impossible to imagine sunny Spain without wine. The traditions of winemaking on the Iberian Peninsula were laid down by the ancient Greeks, who founded their colonies there. Nowadays, a large number of different wines are produced in Spain.
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:
- Xarlel-lo - Clar de Castanyer (Penedés)
- Amalia - Rubicon (Lanzarote)
- Wine Mas Plantadera Blanco Roble - Celler Sabate (Priorat)
- Malvasia semidulce - Bermejo (Lanzarote)
- el copero (Utiel-Requena)
Sights of Spain
Spain may not rank first in the number of attractions, but there is no doubt that tourists have something to see in this ancient country. The top ten best attractions in Spain, in our opinion, include the following:
Cities and resorts of Spain
The biggest spanish cities– 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 Spain has a large number of beautiful beaches with clean water. Despite the fact that most tourists for some reason choose the Costa Blanca and the sunny Costa del Sol, Spain also 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 they talk about beach resorts Spain, they immediately remember the Costa del Sol, the Canary Islands, and Ibiza Island. But in Spain there is also the Costa Brava, the island of Tenerife, Mallorca, Costa Dorada, Balearic Islands, Costa Blanca, Costa del Maresme, and Costa de la Luz.
Souvenirs/shopping
Returning from Spain, tourists may simply not pick up their suitcases, 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 opinions of Italians and Greeks on this matter do not count);
- “Bota” is 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;
- Edged weapons from Toledo.
Office hours
Banks are open:
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 lunchtime.
Large supermarkets are open all day.
