Which city is the oldest in Spain. Toledo - the ancient capital of Spain

Reino de España

The capital of Spain is. It is also worth noting that the country is located at an altitude of 660 meters above sea level. Andorra and - the northern neighbors of Spain, is a western neighbor. In the south of the Iberian Peninsula, Spain borders on Gibraltar, which is part of the territory of Britain, and in the north of Africa - on Morocco. The Atlantic Ocean washes the northern and western shores of Spain, the Mediterranean Sea - the southern and eastern.

Administratively, Spain is divided into 17 autonomous regions, which, in turn, are divided into 50 small provinces.

Spain also includes sovereign territories and two autonomous African cities.

Malaga, Zaragoza - not the whole list of the largest cities in Spain.

A little more than 46 million people - these were the indicators of the population living in Spain (according to sociologists in October 2011).

The relief of Spain is represented mainly by systems of mountains and plateaus, which occupy approximately 90% of the entire territory of the country. Meseta - one of the highest plateaus, occupies a significant part of the entire territory. The largest mountain system in Spain is, which are the most inaccessible part of it. Also, the relief of this state is represented by such mountains as, for example, the Cantabrian, Catalan mountains, the system of the Iberian mountains and the system of mountain ranges, which are called the Cordillera Betica.

The Andalusian is one of the largest lowlands in Spain, which, to a small extent compared to the mountains, also represents the country's relief.

Along with the relief of the country, the climate of Spain is also diverse - from mild and humid, with a slight temperature difference, to continental and dry with sharp temperature fluctuations and little rainfall in the central part of the country.

At the present time, the International Monetary Fund has recognized Spain as the ninth state in Europe in terms of the gross domestic index. Although after the Second World War, Spain did not receive economic assistance from the United States of America, provided for by the Marshall Plan. Then the government decided to develop according to a hidden scheme, the so-called self-sufficient policy. The “Spanish Miracle” is the name given to the period of economic growth in Spain in the 1960s and 1970s. In terms of economic growth (6.6% every year for 14 years) during this period, Spain was second only to Japan.

A significant role in the economic development of Spain was played by its recognition as one of the world's largest resort centers. , Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca - the largest resorts in the country, attracting millions of tourists annually.

An independent economic branch of the state is tourism (for example, at the beginning of this century, about 60 million tourists visited the country). Madrid and Barcelona are the tourist centers of Spain.

Sights of Spain

One of the most famous sights in Spain is a square called Plaza Mayor located in Madrid. It has been the main square of the city since the beginning of the 14th century. In its center is a monument to Philip III. About 10 arches overlook the square, framing the entrances from the adjoining streets. Casa de la Panaderia - in the old days, an ordinary bakery complements the architectural ensemble of the square. Through Plaza Mayor, after passing a few blocks, you can go to the palace with the name of Santa Cruz, behind which is the Cathedral of San Isidro. The cathedral is open from morning to late evening. It is always visited by a large number of people. The cultural life of Madrid is represented by many theaters that even the most persistent tourist can hardly visit during one trip to this beautiful city.

Every year, millions of tourists will captivate and unforgettable. It is this city that is the capital of Catalonia and the second capital of Spain, the so-called "Spanish window to Europe." It is here that the views of its visitors from Mount Tibidabo and Montjuic hill open up.

Barcelona is conditionally divided into several districts. One of them is interesting for guests of the city, first of all, with a cathedral and other architectural masterpieces. The Eixample district, built in the Art Nouveau era, is famous for the temple with the name. Barcelona guests will be very interested in Catalunya Square, Ciutadella Park, and the Olympic Village. The so-called Avinguda-Diagonal (which translated into Russian means "Diagonal Avenue"), of course, will impress even the most sophisticated tourist. In order to fully enjoy all the splendor of this city and see all its sights, you will need about a week.

Of course, it should be noted among the huge list of attractions in Spain and with its intricate streets and small squares. Valencia is famous for one of the largest markets in all of Europe - the so-called Central Market. It is also worth paying attention to the Estación del Norte (Northern Station), built in the era of the popularity of such an architectural style as Art Nouveau. Near the North Station there is a bullring and a bullfighting museum. A little further, on the central square, which has a triangular shape, there is the Museum of the History of the City. In the architectural ensemble of Valencia, one should highlight the significant size of the facade of the main post office building.

How can you ignore the most beautiful city in Spain here? Zaragoza. Acquaintance with the city begins with Cesar Augusto Square, named so in connection with the Roman fortress wall, a small part of which has survived to this day. A little further is a square called Pilar. The square is famous for the fact that it houses the main temple of Zaragoza - the Basilica of Nuestra Señora del Pilar, which consists of eleven domes and is the country's second pilgrimage center, second only to the cathedral, which is located in. In the Holy Chapel, in the eastern part of the temple, you can see its main shrine - a marble column, around which believers constantly gather. Attractive views open from the observation deck of the temple, which tourists can climb with the help of an elevator. Of course, you should not ignore the Aljaferia Palace, which keeps the memory of the reign of the Arabs.

Spain - video

1. In Spain, only Spanish is spoken, so it will be most convenient to purchase a pocket Russian-Spanish dictionary that you can take with you.

2. Tips in the country are welcome, for example, in a restaurant it is customary to leave from 5 to 10% of the order amount.

3. It is worth considering the fact that in the area of \u200b\u200bmilitary ports, at military bases, as well as police and government employees, photography is prohibited.

4. It is advisable to always carry a passport with you, and preferably a photocopy of it (in order to avoid loss or theft) certified by the stamp of the hotel.

5. If you are going to visit a cafe or restaurant, first take a look at whether there are visitors there, their absence indicates the “vague” reputation of the institution.

6. It is also worth knowing that there are practically no public toilets in Spain, except at train stations and bus stations. In such cases, you can freely use the services of a restaurant or bar.

7. If you decide to visit a major Spanish resort town, then it is better to carry out the inspection by public transport than by your own car, so you will save time and do not stand in traffic jams.

Spain on the map

Useful data for tourists about Spain, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, the currency of Spain, the cuisine, the features of visa and customs restrictions in Spain.

Geography of Spain

Spain is located in the extreme southwest of Europe. She owns the Balearic and Pitius Islands in the Mediterranean Sea and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. It borders with France, Andorra, Portugal.

About 2/3 of the territory of Spain is occupied by the massive raised plateau of Meseta, surrounded by high mountains. In its central regions, large ridges of the Central Cordillera rise.

In the south rise the Toledo Mountains (the highest point is Mount Corocho de Rosigaldo, 1447 m). The southernmost edge of the Meseta Sierra Morena is raised to a height of about 900 m (the highest point is Mount Estrella, 1299 m). The Sierra Morena drops steeply to the vast Andalusian lowland with the Guadalquivir River. The Guadalquivir River flows into the Gulf of Cadiz; not far from its mouth is the vast swampy area of the Doñana National Park.

In the southeast of Spain, the folded mountains of the Cordillera Penibetica stretch with the highest peak of the country - Mount Mulasen (3482 m), crowned with snowfields and glaciers, which occupy the southernmost position in Western Europe. The Iberian mountains separate the Meseta from the Aragonese plateau. In places they exceed 2100 m (up to 2313 m in the Sierra del Moncayo). The low Catalan Mountains (average heights 900–1200 m, peak - Mount Caro, 1447 m) follow for 400 km almost parallel to the Mediterranean coast.

The Pyrenees stretch for almost 400 km from the Mediterranean Sea to the Bay of Biscay and form a powerful insurmountable barrier between the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of Europe. The highest peak is Aneto Peak (3404 m). The western continuation of the Pyrenees are the Cantabrian mountains with the highest point - Mount Peña Prieta (2536 m).

State

State structure

A constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the king. The head of government is the prime minister. The legislature is a bicameral parliament.

Language

Official language: Spanish

Local languages are widely spoken in a number of areas: Basque in the Basque Country and Navarre, Galician in Galicia, Catalan in Catalonia, Valencian in Valencia (the latter is sometimes considered a dialect of the Castilian language).

Religion

The state religion of Spain is Roman Catholic. About 95% of Spaniards are Catholics.

Currency

International name: EUR

Most banks have a currency exchange office. Usually you need to show your passport for the exchange. For credit cards of the main types, the bank issues up to 300 euros at a time (per day).

Depending on the place of currency exchange, you may be charged from zero (pay attention to the inscription “No commission”) up to 10% (of the total amount) of commission. You should not exchange currency at the airport - here the percentage of banking commission is always higher.

There are many ATMs in Spain and almost all of them accept Visa and Mastercard. Many ATMs are located indoors behind a closed door, and in order to get there, you need to swipe your card through a special device by the door.

History of Spain

In ancient times, Spain was inhabited by Iberians and was called Iberia. In the 5th century BC, the Celts came to Iberia. From their mixing, the Celtiberians were formed. Spain was alternately conquered by Carthage (late 3rd century BC), the Roman Empire (late 1st century BC), the Visigoths (5th century AD) and, finally, the Arabs (8th century AD), who formed the Caliphate of Cordoba. Cordoba became the center of Arab culture. The reconquest of the peninsula, the reconquista, took about four centuries. The regions conquered from the Arabs in the 15th century united around the united kingdoms of Castile and Aragon, becoming a single state. Absolutism was established in Spain in the 16th century. Since the discovery of America by the Spanish expedition of Columbus in 1492, Spain has been a world power, reaching its highest power in the 16th century. Under King Charles I (1515–1556) and his successor Philip II (1556–1598), Spain embarked on the path of conquest of the Americas, becoming the Spanish colonial empire. And then - wars, the struggle for the Spanish throne, revolutions, the loss of colonies and colonial partitions, peace, wars again, revolution ... - the history of the state is described on the pages of many books.

After the death of General Franco in 1975, the monarchy was restored in Spain. Juan Carlos from the Bourbon dynasty became king, who laid the foundation for democratic transformations in the country. Spain has been a constitutional monarchy since 1978. The country's legislative body is the Cortes (bicameral parliament).

Popular Attractions

Tourism in Spain

Where to stay

Since most of Spain's income is tourism, neither money nor effort is spared for its development in the country. So, today about 10 thousand various hotels, hotels, boarding houses and other accommodation options are offered to tourists. You can choose both a fashionable hotel of one of the world's chains, stay in an old castle, or rent a room in a student hostel or hostel.

The star rating of a hotel is determined by the Spanish Tourism Administration and can be graded from one to five stars. As a rule, the number of stars means the number of services provided, and the service in all hotels remains at a consistently high level. Most of the hotels in Spain are paradors - hotels of 3-5 stars, which are owned by the state. They are located in ancient buildings - the former hunting lodges of the royal family, monasteries, ancient castles, palaces. Living in such a hotel means not only good service, but also large beautifully furnished rooms with well-restored old interiors. Accommodation prices are appropriate.

If you are planning to stay on the coast of Spain for more than a week, villas and hotel-type houses are at your service. In addition, there are always many apartments, mini-hotels, private hotels at the service of tourists.

For those who prefer a vacation at minimal cost, places are offered in youth hostels. However, in this case you must carry your Youth Hostel Association membership card with you or purchase it locally.

If you are not afraid of the Spartan environment and prefer silence and solitude, you can stay in one of the 150 monasteries. Here you will have to adhere to the traditional way of life of the monastery, in some cases, clean the room and wash the dishes after eating on your own.

Throughout Spain, and especially on the coast, campsites are equipped. There is electricity, running water, many are equipped with laundries, sports grounds, restaurants, swimming pools, and other services are provided.

Popular hotels

Tours and attractions in Spain

Spain is a hospitable sunny country with an ancient history and colorful traditions, a rich cultural heritage, fashionable resorts, and stunning natural beauty. Spain is a variety of architectural masterpieces and cultural attractions, shops and restaurants, sea and mountains and, of course, charming flamenco and bullfighting.

The capital of Spain, Madrid, is the economic and cultural center of the country, as well as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. When exploring the city, be sure to visit Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Plaza de Cibeles, Plaza de la Villa, Paseo del Prado, Gran Via and Plaza España. Among the sights of Madrid, the most interesting are the Royal Palace and its magnificent Sabatini Gardens, the Cathedral of Madrid, the Palacio de Liria Palace, the monasteries of Encarnacion and Descalzas Reales, the Royal Cathedral of St. Francis, the Church of San Antonio de los Alemanes, the Church of San Isidro, Church of San Nicolás, Temple of Debod, Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Royal Theater and San Miguel Market. Madrid is also famous for its interesting museums, among which the most popular are the Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, the Reina Sofia Art Center, the National Archaeological Museum of Spain, the Museum of Decorative and Applied Arts, the Lazaro Galdiano Museum, the Serralbo Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, the Sorolla Museum, the Military museum, the Maritime Museum of Madrid and the Lope de Vega House Museum. For travelers with children, it will be interesting to visit the Madrid Zoo, which is located on the territory of the huge Casa de Campo park and the Warner Madrid theme park in the vicinity of the city.

Barcelona - a resort city on the Mediterranean coast is considered to be the "pearl" of Spain. Barcelona impresses with amazing masterpieces of architecture, many of which were created by the famous architect Antonio Gaudi - this is the Sagrada Familia, Calve House, Mila House, Batllo House, Vicens House, Palace and Park Güell. It is definitely worth visiting the Gothic Quarter, the Royal Square, the Grand Royal Palace, the Virreina Palace, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the Cathedral, the Government Palace, Sant Jaume Square, the House of Leo Morera, the House of Amalie, the Spanish Village, the Palace of Catalan Music, Montjuic, Tibidabo, Monastery of Sant Pau del Cam, Royal Monastery, Church of Santa Maria de Pedralbes, Church of Santa Maria del Pi and Church of Santos Just y Pastor. Among the museums in Barcelona, the most interesting are the Picasso Museum, the National Art Museum of Catalonia, the Frederic Mares Museum, the Archaeological Museum of Catalonia, the Museum of Modern Art, the Barcelona Football Club Museum and the Chocolate Museum. Also popular places in Barcelona are the Aquarium, the Barcelona Zoo, the Botanical Garden, the Maremagnum, the monument to Christopher Columbus and the Siudadella Park.

Almost every Spanish city is famous for its abundance of unique historical and cultural attractions. Traveling through this amazing country, you should definitely visit the stunning architectural ensemble of the 13th century in Granada - the Moorish Alhambra Palace, the Grand Mosque in Cordoba, the Royal Palace and the famous Cathedral in Valencia, the Alcazar Palace and the Cathedral in Seville, the Alcazar Castle in Toledo and the majestic monument Roman era - Aqueduct in Segovia.

Among the famous seaside resorts in Spain, Majorca, Ibiza, Menorca, Tenerife, Costa Brava, Costa Dorada, Costa del Sol, Salou and the Canary Islands are the most popular. Spain is famous for its excellent ski slopes. The Sierra Nevada ski resort is located 32 km from Granada in the city of Pradollano, and the famous ski resort of Baqueira-Beret is located in the Pyrenees in the Val d'Aran valley.

Spanish Cuisine

By and large, all Mediterranean cuisines are somewhat similar. Therefore, it is not surprising to find echoes of Italian or French neighbors in traditional Spanish cooking. For example, in Catalan cuisine, all kinds of sauces are an obligatory and even the main component, among which there are four main ones: "sofrito" (sofrito) - from garlic, onions, tomatoes, peppers, herbs; "samfaina" (samfaina) - from tomatoes, peppers, eggplants; "picada" (picada) - from garlic, herbs, roasted almonds; "ali-oli" (ali-oli) - from garlic with olive oil. Popular dishes here include roast (cazuela), thick and fragrant monkfish soup (suquet de peix), fried pork sausages with white beans in boiling lard (mongetes amb botifara), and capi-i-pota stew from pig head and pig legs. As well as throughout the coast, white bread is loved here, generously poured with olive oil, grated with garlic and tomato, both as an appetizer for main courses and separately.

An interesting fact - in Catalonia, the love of local residents for a dish of white sweet leek served as the birth of a whole culinary ceremony called Calcotada. The process of its preparation and consumption is turned into a colorful performance. This juicy onion with a thick fleshy stalk is baked outdoors by the Catalans on a large trellis platform that sits over a hot vine fire. Ready-made onions are served with a special romesco sauce (salsa romesco), which is prepared on a nut base with tomatoes, different types of peppers, parsley, garlic, olive oil and vinegar. The "eating" ceremony takes place at long dining tables, where there are pre-prepared plates, large ceramic saucers with romesco sauce and jugs of wine. Since the onion is baked on an open fire and a charred onion can easily get dirty, the participants of the calzotada are given special aprons and light disposable gloves. The onion is held in one hand, the soft core is removed from the middle with the other, dipped in sauce and sent to the mouth.

Valencian cuisine is also famous for typical Mediterranean dishes. The locals incomparably make paella with all sorts of ingredients (from meat, fish, vegetables and seafood) and other rice dishes, including the traditional Valencian "caldero" of fish and rice, cooked on coals in a special deep frying pan. For vegetarians, this is a real expanse: vegetables - boiled, stewed, fresh - abound in the cuisine of Valencia. For example, pisto huertano (peasant-style vegetable stew) made from beets, beans and beans enjoys special love among the locals. From sweet dishes - "turron" (halvah) and ice cream, as well as pastries are an undeniable imprint of Arabic cuisine. It is interesting that it was here, in the Mediterranean (in the city of Mahon on the island of Menorca), that mayonnaise, which became the property of many peoples, was born.

Madrid stands apart in the general list of cuisines. Madrid-style grilled meats, cod and rennet (cut into pieces and stewed innards) are equally loved here, as are the traditional cocido madrileno (pea soups with croutons). But Madrid's callos, a spiced tripe with black pudding and pepper sauce, is especially popular.

The cuisine of Meseta province is dominated by vegetables, as well as legumes (beans, peas, lentils). In Meseta, pigs are specially raised, fattening them with chestnuts and acorns, and game dishes are also loved here. In Castile-La Mancha, you can try the cuisine described by Cervantes in Don Quixote: boiled meat with vegetables, meat salad and fried cracklings with scrambled eggs. Saffron, honey and sheep cheeses are also used here.

With external similarities, the northern and southern cuisines of Spain also have their own characteristics. In the Basque country, for example, "family" cooking with "home table" dishes is very common: "marmitaco" (potatoes with mackerel) and "changurro" (clams with crabs). Another well-known product is "bacalao al pil-pil" (cod in garlic sauce or Biscay). In general, dishes with inhabitants of the bottom of the sea are very common here. For example, Basques consider "kokotxas" (fins of sea pike) and eel fry to be the most delicious delicacy, they also love all kinds of shellfish - for example, boiled octopus ("pulpo a feira"), more common in Galician cuisine. Residents of other northern provinces have beans, anchovies, all kinds of dairy products and, of course, excellent cheeses of local origin (goat, sheep, cow) in a special account. The products produced here are renowned for their unsurpassed quality. In particular, the areas of La Rioja and Navarra are known for their abundant and natural food: asparagus, garlic, peppers, cucumbers, potatoes, young shoots of lettuce and other early vegetables, peaches, pears - the list is endless. The traditional dishes of these provinces are "pimientos rellenos" (sweet peppers stuffed with all sorts of fillings) and "navarro cochifrito" (spicy lamb stew). Desserts include fresh fruits in chocolate, as well as canned fruits and traditional buns. In general, it must be said that the Spaniards practically did not create their traditional sweet dishes - most of the local delicacies were inherited from the Arab culture.

Andalusian, or southern, Spanish cuisine is a fusion of the cultures of the peoples who once lived here. The famous cold soup "gazpacho" was born in Andalusia, as well as the way of deep-fried food, which is widespread in the world. This is not surprising - it is in the south of Spain that the best olive oil is produced. Of the dishes characteristic of the south, one cannot fail to mention "pescaitos fritos" - tiny fried fish eaten with head and bones, and "pinchos morinos" (thoroughly marinated and skewered meat), as well as various pork dishes (excellent habugo ham is produced in the local province of Huelva).

Spanish cuisine is endless - you can't try everything... However, in Spain you should definitely try at least classic dishes. The famous Spanish omelette "tortilla". Spicy smoked chorizo sausage. Serrano ham. Sheep cheese "Manchego". Delicious special smoked ham "jamon". And, of course, cold gazpacho soup. By the way, when you find yourself at a common table with the Spaniards and making a toast, you should definitely wish health, and while clinking glasses, say "chin-chin", imitating the ringing of crystal. This is an essential ritual! If you say a few more words in Spanish, you can forever become your own person.

Tips

Waiters, porters and taxi drivers will not refuse tips, but they do not insist on receiving them. In a restaurant, the average tip is usually 5-10% of the bill, in a taxi - the same amount. Often a tip is added to round up the bill.

Visa

Office Hours

Most museums and historical buildings are closed on Monday. On other days they usually work from 10 am to 2 pm and from 5 pm to 8 pm. Some churches are open during these hours, others only during services.

Shops are open from 10:00 to 22:00, break from 14:00 to 17:00. Bakeries and bars open from 8 am. There are no breaks in hypermarkets and department stores, but they are closed on Sundays. Markets are open only in the mornings.

Banks are open on weekdays from 8 am to 2 pm, some close as early as 1 pm. In August, most banks are closed on Saturdays.

Souvenirs

Damascus jewelry, knives and swords from Toledo, ceramics from Toledo, Valencia and Seville, filigree silver from Cordoba, leather bottles for wine - botas, castanets, Spanish dolls and bullfighting posters.

Safety

In Spain, as in most European countries, you can drive safely through the countryside. In big cities, the situation is more criminogenic, so it is better to keep credit cards and money in your belt, and when parking, do not leave things in the car in plain sight. If you feel unwell, first aid can be provided at the pharmacy.

Robbery attacks are rare in Spain, but a tourist should not walk alone in dimly lit places. It is better to carry a bag and a camera not on the shoulder, but over the shoulder. Keep small change separate from big money, for example, in your pocket: if you are threatened, give it to the attacker.

Spanish men on the streets often see women off with appraisal exclamations. This is just a custom, there is no desire to offend or scare behind it. Q&A

Question answer

What is good and attractive fabulous Spain?

The State of Spain occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula. The territory of Spain is divided into 17 autonomous communities and 2 autonomous cities. The capital is Madrid.

Spain is a country of contrasts, adventures and unforgettable holidays

According to one version, the name of the country comes from the Phoenician expression "i-spanim" - "shore of hyraxes."

The area of Spain occupies 80% of the territory of the Iberian Peninsula, as well as the Canary and Balearic Islands, the total area of Spain is 504,782 km² (together with small sovereign territories on the African coast, the cities of Ceuta and Melilla), Spain is located in Europe, being the fourth largest country after Russia , Ukraine and France. The average height of the surface of Spain is 650 meters above sea level.

Spain is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe.

The country of Spain shares land borders with:

Portugal in the west of the Iberian Peninsula;
British possession of Gibraltar in the south of the Iberian Peninsula;
Morocco in North Africa (semi-enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla and Peñon de Vélez de la Gomera);
France and Andorra in the north.

Spain is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the north and west, as well as the Mediterranean Sea in the south and east.

Spain's national holiday, Spain Day, is celebrated annually on October 12th. In 1492, Christopher Columbus, leading a Spanish expedition, went to the lands of the New World. The arrival of the first Spaniards in America is associated with the concept of "Hispanidad" - the community of Hispanic peoples.

The country of Spain considers this day a kind of birthday of the community of peoples of the Spanish language, the day of Spanish civilization. Spain Day has a dual character. The discovery of Columbus happened on the day of the Holy Virgin Pilar, whose image is strongly associated with the legend of the emergence of Christianity in Spain. Therefore, the noisy Fiesta del Pilar also takes place on this day. How the holiday is celebrated: Various musical, theatrical and dance events are thundering everywhere, street performances, processions of giant puppets, contests and competitions are held.

The unique atmosphere filled with fireworks, bright outfits and incendiary rhythms attracts thousands of tourists these days.

Of the fifteen mainland autonomies of Spain, four go to the Mediterranean Sea, where resort areas have been developing for several decades. Spain is a great choice for living and relaxing!

What is good about Spain?

The fact that it has the best climate in Europe, where the day is rare when the sun does not shine, filling the atmosphere with energy, light and warmth.

The fact that it offers exquisite and healthy cuisine, excellent wines, clean beaches, most of which have been awarded the blue flag of ecological cleanliness, warm clear sea, rich nature, beautiful and diverse architecture, a huge amount of entertainment for every taste and for every age.

But the most important wealth of Spain is its people, always friendly and ready to help anyone, even a stranger. That's why it's so nice to relax here, that's why you want to live here!
Spain has managed to merge together the most diverse traditions and form a great and beautiful culture.

Spain is the birthplace of Cervantes and Lorca, Gaudí and Dali. Almost the entire country is one huge open-air historical museum, surrounded by endless beautiful beaches and resort areas, many of which are considered the best in Europe.

In addition, there is a secret relationship between the Spanish and Russian souls: when you come here, you will feel comfortable.

Tourists traveling in Spain by car meet from time to time black silhouette figures of bulls installed near the roads. No one wonders why they are “grazing” here, because the answer is obvious. The fighting bull is a symbol of Spain, replicated in hundreds of thousands of souvenirs that people take with them in memory of the country.

The views of Spain and the regions of Spain are very diverse. The center of the country is located at a distance of 300 kilometers from the sea. The relief is dominated by systems of mountain ranges and high plateaus.

Features of Spain: Plateaus and mountains make up about 90 percent of its territory. Almost half of the country's surface is occupied by the vast, highest in Europe high - with an average height of 660 meters - the Meseta plateau.

In the north, Meseta is bordered by the powerful Cantabrian Mountains, which stretch along the coast of the Bay of Biscay for 600 kilometers, isolating the hinterland from the influence of the sea. In their central part is the Picos de Europa massif (from Spanish - Peaks of Europe) with heights up to 2648 m.

The Cantabrian Mountains are an orographic and tectonic continuation of Spain's most powerful mountain system, the Pyrenees.
The Pyrenees are several parallel ranges stretching from west to east for 450 kilometers. This is one of the most inaccessible mountainous countries in Europe.

From the northeast, the system of the Iberian Mountains adjoins the Meseta, the maximum height (Mon Cayo peak) is 2313 meters.

Between the eastern Pyrenees and the Iberian mountains stretch the low Catalan Mountains, the southern slopes of which break off in ledges to the Mediterranean Sea.

The entire southeast of the Iberian Peninsula is occupied by the Cordillera Betica, which is a system of massifs and ridges. Its crystalline axis is the mountains of the Sierra Nevada.

Most of the territory of Spain is located at an altitude of about 700 meters above sea level. It is the second highest country in Europe after Switzerland.

The only large lowland - Andalusian - occupies the south of Spain. In the northeast of Spain, in the valley of Spain's main fishing river, the Ebro, lies the Aragonese Plain. Smaller lowlands stretch along the Mediterranean Sea. One of the main rivers of Spain (and the only navigable one in the lower reaches) flows through the Andalusian lowland - the Guadalquivir. The rest of the rivers, including the largest ones: Tajo and Duero, the lower reaches of which are located on the territory of neighboring Portugal, the Ebro, Guadiana, are distinguished by sharp seasonal level fluctuations and rapids.

Significant areas of the country suffer from lack of water. Related to this is the problem of erosion - millions of tons of topsoil are blown out every year.

The capital of Spain Madrid is located in the geographical center of the country and is the "highest" capital in Europe.

On the coast, the views of Spain are very beautiful, there are more than two thousand beaches, and the waters of Spain are very warm. Coast of Spain: Costa Brava, Costa Dorada, Costa del Assar, Costa de Almeria, Costa Blanca, Mar Menor, Costa del Sol, Costa de la Luz, Rias Bahas, Rias Altas , Costa Cantabrica, Canary and Balearic Islands.

It is pleasant to live in Spain, because the State of Spain is one of the warmest in Western Europe. The average number of sunny days is 260-285. The average annual temperature on the Mediterranean coast is 20 degrees Celsius. In winter, the temperature drops below zero, usually only in the central and northern regions of the country. In summer, the temperature rises to 40 degrees and above (from the central part to the southern coast). On the northern coast, the temperature is not so high - about 25 degrees Celsius.

The size of Spain is 504,782 km², in this regard, Spain is characterized by very deep internal climatic differences, and it can only conditionally be attributed entirely to the Mediterranean climatic region. Due to the size of Spain, these differences appear in different parts of Spain, both in temperature and in annual amounts and rainfall patterns.

In the far northwest, Spain's climate is mild and humid with little temperature variation throughout the year and high rainfall. Constant winds from the Atlantic bring a lot of moisture, mainly in winter, when foggy and cloudy weather prevails with drizzling rain, almost without frost and snow. The average temperature of the coldest month is the same as in the northwest of France.

Summers are hot and humid, with average temperatures rarely below 16 degrees Celsius. Annual rainfall exceeds 1070 mm, and in some places reaches 2000 mm.

Completely different conditions in the interior of the country - on the plateau of Old and New Castile and the Aragonese plain. In these areas, the influence of the plateau-mountain-hollow relief, considerable height, and local continental air is felt. They are characterized by relatively low precipitation (no more than 500 mm per year) and sharp temperature fluctuations by season.

In Old Castile and the Plain of Aragon there are rather cold winters, with frosts and strong, harsh winds; summers are hot and rather dry, although the maximum precipitation falls on this season of the year.

In Nueva Castile, the climate is slightly milder, with warmer winters but also low rainfall. Agriculture in all these areas needs artificial irrigation.

The Spanish news keeps reporting that the Spanish economy is in crisis. Companies in Spain and firms in Spain cannot provide enough jobs and therefore 25% of the population is unemployed. At the same time, according to the International Monetary Fund, the country of Spain in 2015 is the fourteenth economic power in the world, according to nominal GDP.

Traditionally, the Kingdom of Spain is an agricultural country, in addition it is one of the largest producers in Western Europe; since the mid-1950s, the industrial growth of the Spanish economy has been rapid and quickly gained more weight than agriculture in the Spanish economy.

Spain's banks prepared development plans that began in 1964, helped to expand the economy, but in the late 1970s, Spain's industry entered a period of economic recession due to rising oil prices, and increased imports associated with the establishment of democracy and the opening of borders.

At the same time, the income received from tourism has increased significantly.

In the early 1960s, a stabilization plan was adopted, which later became known as the "Spanish economic miracle". In 1960-1974, economic performance grew at an average rate of 6.6% per year, which was higher than that of any other country in the world (with the exception of Japan). The most important role was played by the discovery of Spain as a world resort center.

Money from the population for purchases in Spain was greatly reduced, and in 1959-1974, more than 3 million Spaniards left the country in search of work in order to send the money they earned back to their homeland. In 1973, Spain's industry took another hit due to the energy crisis, due to Spain's dependence on other countries, unemployment rose to 21% in 1975. But in the 1980s, business in Spain began to boom again.

Although growth rates were below the level of the 1960s, they nevertheless remained the highest in Western Europe. However, in this case, the growth in production was accompanied by inflation and high unemployment (up to 22% of the able-bodied population).

In the 1990s, the country took a leading position in the EU (although it is still a recipient, that is, it receives subsidies to support agriculture and some areas from pan-European funds).

Sights of Spain. Top 10. (video):

In 2004, Spanish exports amounted to over 135 billion euros, imports - about 190 billion euros. The main partners in foreign trade are the EU countries, the USA, Latin America.

Modern Spain is one of the largest centers of international tourism (62 million people in 1997, 95% of tourists are from EU countries; the main tourist centers are Madrid and Barcelona), as well as resorts - Costa Brava, Costa Dorada, Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol. In 2004, 53.6 million foreign tourists visited Spain (2nd place in the world). The industry's revenues in 2004 were about 35 billion euros. More than 65% of tourists are from EU countries.

1.3 million people are employed in this area. The popularity of tourism is due to the fact that a trip to Spain for holidays is very cheap compared to other countries.

Spain's form of government is a parliamentary monarchy. The monarch is only a tribute to tradition and does not have any significant powers.

The head of state is the King of Spain.

Philip VI is currently King of Spain. Leticia - Queen of Spain.

The legislative body is the bicameral Parliament of Spain - the Cortes Generales (Congress of Deputies and the Senate). It consists of the Senate (259 seats - some deputies are elected by direct universal suffrage, others are appointed by the provincial legislatures; all senators are elected for a 4-year term) and the Congress of Deputies (350 seats - elected by party lists for a 4-year term). The executive power is headed by the Prime Minister of Spain - the leader of the party that won the majority of votes in the elections to the Spanish Parliament.

The constitutional oversight body is the Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitucional),
The highest court is the Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo),
The highest courts of the autonomous communities are the highest courts of justice (Tribunal Superior de Justicia),
Courts of Appeal - Provincial Audiences (Audiencias Provinciales),
District courts - courts of first instance and investigation (Juzgados de primera instancia e instruccion),
The lowest level of the judiciary are justices of the peace (juzgados de paz),
Court of Impeachment - National Audience (Audiencia Nacional),
The supreme audit body is the Court of Accounts (Tribunal de Cuentas),
The governing body of the courts is the General Council of the Judiciary (Consejo General del Poder Judicial).

In total, more than 500 political parties and public organizations are officially registered in Spain.

Spain Party Policy:

People's Party of Spain
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, PSOE,
communist party,
Regionalists.
The major regional parties include the Catalan Convergence and Union bloc, the Catalan Esquerra Republique party, the BNP, and the Canary Coalition.

Spanish foreign policy

Spanish Foreign Policy: The Preamble to the Spanish Constitution proclaims the willingness to "cooperate in strengthening peaceful relations and cooperation with all countries of the world." Currently, Spain's foreign policy is mainly based on three directions: Europe (especially the EU), the Ibero-American direction, the countries of the Mediterranean Sea.

Domestic policy of Spain: The laws of Spain cannot contradict the current Constitution of Spain and the EU. The inhabitants of Spain are equal before the law; no discrimination based on origin, race, sex, religion, social status or any other grounds specified in EU law is allowed.

Corruption and unemployment are the two main problems in Spain. At the start of the 21st century, Spain fell into a whirlpool of crisis tests and entered a period of severe, protracted financial, economic and social upheavals. The country is facing fundamental problems not only of an opportunistic but also of a structural nature. This circumstance significantly complicates and slows down the process of overcoming the crisis, as well as entering the trajectory of recovery growth.

See also our other articles:

Spain photo
Russian Spain. Full information

The economic recession, in turn, gave rise to many new problems, including political ones.

Spain is rightfully considered an open-air museum. The vastness of this country carefully preserves cultural and historical monuments that are world famous.

Museums of Spain: The most famous museum in Spain - the Prado Museum - is located in Madrid. Its vast exposition cannot be seen in one day. The museum was founded by Isabella of Braganza, wife of King Ferdinand VII. The Prado has its own branch, located in Cason del Buen Retiro, which houses unique collections of Spanish paintings and sculptures of the 19th century, as well as works by English and French painters.

The museum itself presents large expositions of Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Flemish and German art. Prado owes its name to the Prado de San Jeronimo alley, where it is located, laid back in the Enlightenment. Currently, the funds of the Prado Museum are 6,000 paintings, over 400 sculptures, as well as numerous treasures, including royal and religious collections. During several centuries of its existence, the Prado was patronized by many kings.

It is believed that the very first collection of the Prado Museum was formed under Charles I, known as the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. His heir, King Philip II, became famous not only for his bad temper and despotism, but also for his love of art. It is to him that the museum owes priceless acquisitions of paintings by Flemish masters. Philip was distinguished by a gloomy outlook, it is not surprising that the ruler was an admirer of Bosch, an artist known for his bizarre pessimistic fantasy.

Initially, Philip bought Bosch's paintings for El Escorial, the hereditary castle of the Spanish kings. And only in the XIX century the paintings were transferred to the Prado Museum. Now here you can see such masterpieces of the Dutch master as the "Garden of Delights" and "Hay Cart". Currently, in the museum you can enjoy not only paintings and sculptures, but also theatrical performances designed to "revive" the famous canvases. The first such staging was dedicated to the paintings of Velasquez and enjoyed great success with the public.

Spain gave: The Dali Theater Museum is a museum of the surrealist artist Salvador Dali, located in the city of Figueres, in Catalonia. The official opening of the museum took place on September 28, 1974. The center of the museum complex is the building of the old city theater, where in 1918, at the age of 14, Dali first exhibited his works in a collective exhibition together with Josep Bonaterra Gras and Josep Monturiol Puig.

The culture of Spain is diverse. There are many more unique museums and galleries in Spain: the Picasso Museum and the National Art Museum of Catalonia, located in Barcelona, the National Museum of Sculpture in Valladolid, the El Greco Museum in Toledo, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the Museum of Spanish Abstract Art in Cuenca.

The art of Spain is the fine art of world-famous Spanish artists. The Moorish heritage, especially in Andalusia, is evident today in cities such as Cordoba, Seville and Granada.

The most famous Spanish artists :

Salvador Dali - Spanish painter, graphic artist, sculptor, director, writer. One of the most famous representatives of surrealism.
Pablo Picasso - Spanish painter, sculptor, graphic artist, ceramist and designer. Founder of Cubism.
Francisco de Zurbaran - Spanish artist, representative of the Seville school of painting.
Juan Gris - Spanish painter and sculptor, one of the founders of cubism.

In Spain, children enter primary school at the age of 6 and study there for 6 years. At the age of 12 they are transferred to a secondary school where they study for 4 years. After high school, you can continue your studies at Bachillerato High School if you plan to enroll in Universities in Spain, or enroll in an FP vocational education course.

Today, Islam is spreading intensively in Spain due to the influx of immigrants from Morocco, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. More than a million Muslims live in Spain today, the vast majority of whom are immigrants and their descendants. It is estimated that between 20,000 and 50,000 Spaniards converted to Islam, and most of them live in Andalusia. The first mosque in Spain since the Moors were expelled from Spain in 1492 was built in 1982.

Bullfight in Spain, or in another way bullfight

This is a Spanish term for one of the most common forms of tauromachy. It is a spectacle for which thousands of people come to Spain every year. It's part of the Spanish culture. This is a huge number of world-famous subjects in art.

Bullfighting originated in ancient times. By the eighteenth century, she got exactly the look we see now. Bullfighting is carried out according to strict canons and rules. The most common form is the Spanish foot bullfight.

Flamenco

Spain flamenco is the general term for the southern Spanish (Andalusian) folk music - song (cante) and dance (baile). There are two stylistically and musically distinct classes of flamenco: the oldest cante hondo / jondo (hondo lit. deep, that is, a serious, dramatic style), it is also cante grande (large, high style); and the more modern cante chico (chico is literally small, that is, a lightweight, simple style).

Within both classes of flamenco, there are more than 50 subclasses (genres), the exact boundary between which is sometimes difficult to draw.

What time is it in Spain? Time in Spain now has a standard time zone: UTC/GMT +1 hour.

Daylight saving time in Spain starts on Sunday, March 30, 2014 at 02:00 local standard time.

Daylight saving time in Spain ends - Sunday, 26 October 2014, 03:00 - local daylight saving time.
It is not difficult to guess that tourist Spain lives by the clock adopted in Western European countries. Accordingly, Spain Moscow has different times and the difference is plus two hours. The time difference with Moscow in the Canary Islands is plus 3 hours.

Medieval Spain until December 31, 1900 enjoyed solar time. On July 22, 1900, in San Sebastian, the President of the Council of Ministers of Spain, Francisco Silvera, proposed to the regent of Spain, Maria Cristina, a decree to standardize time in the country; setting Spain's Greenwich Mean Time (UTC±00:00) as the standard time for the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands from January 1, 1901. The law was passed by Maria Christina of Austria on July 26, 1900.

Franco Spain: In 1940, Francisco Franco changed the country's time zone by moving the time forward one hour from 23:00 GMT on March 16 to 00:00 March 17 CET.

This translation took place during the Second World War, in order to synchronize with the times in the European countries occupied at that time by Nazi Germany. Some Western European countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands, France remained on "German time" after the war in addition to Spain.

The borders of Spain are huge, so different parts of Spain live at different times.

In Galicia, the westernmost region of the continental part, the difference between official local time and mean solar time during the summer period is at least two and a half hours.

Political moves have been made to change the time to the same time in Portugal (UTC±00:00), since this country and Galicia are at approximately the same longitude. So, for example, in Vigo in the summer, astronomical noon occurs at about 14:40, and sunset at about 22:15 local time, while in Menorca sunset occurs at about 21:20.

The inhabitants of Spain have ancient legends that are passed down from generation to generation. Different cities keep their legends of Spain.

One of the legends of Spain was born in the small town of Teruel. Like the unhappy love of Tahir and Zuhra, Romeo and Juliet, Constance and Dartagnan, the Spanish lovers Isabel and Diego also failed to unite their destinies. Isabel Segura was a girl from a rich and noble family, Diego was a poor young man.

The Isabel family made incredible efforts to separate the young, but nothing worked. Then the girl's father set a condition: "Get rich and get Isabel as a wife." Diego returned rich five years later, but it was too late. His lover is married to someone else. From grief, the young man died, and Isabel's heart could not stand it.

The townspeople, in the chapel of Saints Cosmas and Damian, revered as miracle workers, put up a sculpture of lovers holding hands. This touching story is remembered by the people of Spain, and every year on February 14, on Valentine's Day, they put on a performance dedicated to this love.

The next legend of Spain is about a cruel beauty, whose name scares small children. What did she do? The legend begins quite harmlessly, in the spirit of such stories. Many years ago, Maria lived in a small village - a girl of extraordinary beauty. She herself was sure that there was no one more beautiful than her in this world.

She drove all suitors away from herself, believing that they were not worthy of her. Once upon a time, a rich handsome Ranchero came to the village. He was brave, sang beautifully, rode a horse well. Maria, using her charms, decided to lure him into her networks. They soon got married. They had two children. But Mary believed that only she had the right to the love and admiration of her husband.

When Ranchero, returning from a trip, poured out all his love to the children, Maria was furious. And, as sad as it is to say, she took the children, tied them up and threw them into the river. Realizing what she had done, Maria sobbed. Since then, she has been called La Llorona - a weeping woman, her moans are heard at night by the river. Mothers forbid their children to go out late at night, lest La Llorona steal them.

And another legend of Spain. It says that in ancient times, a girl, deceived by her fiancé, ran to church for consolation. After all, the groom before the crucifixion swore his love to her. When she turned to God, asking him to confirm his oath, the hand of the Savior rose and remained in that position.

Based on the legends of Spain, Lope de Vega and Grillparzer wrote their works. After reading them, you can learn many more Spanish legends.

It is difficult to find an architectural structure that would attract tourists more than the castles of Spain, shrouded in many legends, which have witnessed various wars, victories and losses, triumph and sorrow. Here, literally every centimeter is saturated with history, and sometimes, it seems, you can hear the clash of swords, the cries of the vanquished and the triumph of the winners. Castles are also very romantic. Not yet to fight! There must be a love story here, whether it be a princess or just a beautiful lady and some, if not a prince, then at least a brave knight.

It is difficult for a castle lover to find a country better than northern Spain. Ancient Spain has left 10,312 castles intact to this day. The first castle in Olite was built by King Sancho VI the Strong and became a royal residence.

Now it is called the Old Palace and not only kings, but also any mortals can accommodate there - since the hotels of Spain have received this castle at their disposal. Now it is one of the hotels of the Parador Nacional chain.

Montserrat Monastery Spain. The fantastically beautiful Montserrat mountain range is located 50 km from Barcelona, among the rocks of which a Benedictine monastery is hidden - a spiritual symbol and the religious center of Catalonia, where thousands of pilgrims from all over the world flock every year. The monastery, built in IX, received the same name Montserrat, which means "cut" or "jagged mountains". Now 80 monks of the Benedictine order live on the territory of the monastery.

Palaces of Spain. Alcazar in Segovia - the palace and fortress of the Spanish kings in the historical part of the city of Segovia (Province of Castile and León, Spain). It is located on a rock located at the confluence of the Eresma and Clamores rivers, near the mountains of Guadarrama (part of the Central Cordillera). This position on the cliff makes it one of the most beautiful and recognizable palaces in Spain.

Alcazar was originally built as a fortress, but managed to visit the royal palace, the state prison, the royal artillery academy.
The fortresses of Spain today are not only tourist attractions, museums and exhibitions in Spain.

These are also hotels in perfectly preserved fortifications of the Middle Ages - full of beauty and charm of previous eras, equipped with all the amenities of the current era.

Well, those who want to admire the Moorish heart of Spanish Granada should definitely visit the magnificent Alhambra, which has been the residence of both Muslim and Christian rulers in its long life.

Spain's production is the fifth largest in the European Union (EU) (based on nominal GDP) and the twelfth in the world. In terms of purchasing power parity, it is also one of the largest in the world.

According to the classification of the International Economic Forum, which analyzes the specific positions of countries in 14 sectors of production, Spain is in the top five in almost all sectors of the average technological level, especially standing out as a manufacturer of automotive parts and accessories (tenth place in the world), industrial machinery and equipment (15th place ), audiovisual means (17th place), products of organic and inorganic chemistry (fifteenth place), metal products (thirteenth place) and footwear (third place).

But in terms of competitiveness in the field of information and communication technologies and the production of electronic components, it is only in the third ten countries. Among the 100 most famous brands in the world, Made in Spain does not have a single one, although there are industry leaders: Freyshenet (sparkling wines), Chupa Chups, Telefonica (telecommunications), Repsol (energy), Pronovias (wedding dresses) and Lladro "(porcelain figurines), as well as those included in the top three Zara, in the top five - "Sol Mella" (hotel business). Possession of a global brand is considered an important competitive advantage and one of the signs of a high level of economic development.

Agriculture occupies a special place in the structure of the economy and influence on the development of Spain. It employs 2.3% of the working-age population of Spain. A small group of landowners own large tracts of land in the south of the country. Key indicators: Spain is the third largest producer of wine in the world, the fourth - citrus, and also provides ¼ of the world's production of olives and olive oil.

Spain is also a major producer of wheat (20 percent of the cultivated area), rice (the highest yield in the world), almonds, tobacco and vegetables (60 percent of the cultivated area).

It owns the largest fishing fleet in Europe. For the extraction and processing of seafood and fish, Spain is in the top ten. Animal husbandry is developing successfully: goats and sheep are bred in arid regions, and in the north - cattle.

The wines of Spain are among the most famous wines in the world. Traditionally, Spanish wines are considered to be more tart and strong than Italian and French ones. Many of Spain's wines do have strong flavor profiles, especially Spanish reds, which form the backbone of Spain's wine range outside the country. At the same time, excellent white and rosé wines are also produced in Spain.

Clothes from Spain and bags from Spain are also very popular, as they offer you not only fashion, but also a way of life: all the most progressive trends are simple, comfortable and reliable.

Mercury is mined (1st place in the world), pyrites (2nd place in the world), iron ore, lead, zinc, uranium, coal. Ferrous metallurgy smelts steel and cast iron. The north of Spain has concentrated most of the ferrous metallurgy enterprises (in the ports of Gijón, Aviles and Bilbao), near the country's largest coal basins - Asturias and Leono-Valencia, which account for 9/10 of all coal and anthracite reserves.

The natural resources of Spain in the mountainous regions contain a lot of minerals. Spain is in first place in Western Europe in the extraction of high-quality metal-containing raw materials, while there are no large deposits of most energy sources and it has to import 97% of oil from domestic consumption and 30% of coke. Fresh water reserves in the country per capita is about 2400 cubic meters.

The economic development of Spain is hampered by traditional problems, which are the traditionally low percentage of official employment of the population and, as a result, a high level of official unemployment, which, even in years of rapid economic growth, does not fall below 8-10%, which would be a catastrophic indicator for most other countries, but is perceived as the norm in Spain. Although at the same time, the high level of official unemployment partially softens the presence of a large shadow sector of the economy, in which many illegal immigrants are employed.

Also striking is the longstanding geographic disparity between the more developed northeastern region and the rest of the country.

In addition, a characteristic feature of Spain is the extremely low resistance of the economy to various kinds of crisis phenomena, as well as a pronounced dependence on various kinds of “soap bubbles” (real estate, recreating, external loans). The economic development of Spain was strongly affected by the 1993 and 2008-2012 crises, exposing a number of traditional weaknesses of Spain, partly due to cultural reasons - the reduced competitiveness of the economy associated with the country's entry into the eurozone, as well as low labor productivity compared to the countries of northeastern Europe and Asia.

We offer you to see how the statistics of wine imports in the world looks like

Spanish statistics report that the decrease in the purchasing power of the population (9.9%) and the increase in the cost of acquiring new equipment and maintaining existing equipment (9.7%) are mainly to blame for the decline in production. The declining profitability of the industry also affected the income of intermediary organizations (the amount of money they earned decreased by 13.1%). Spain has never experienced such big production problems before.

The national cuisine of Spain has developed on the basis of the diversity of culinary traditions of its regions, due to its geographical location, climate and cultural characteristics. Spanish food is tasty, easy to prepare and mostly cheap. The most important thing is fresh products and a little skill.

The recipes of Spain are as diverse as the country itself, each region is rich in something of its own, but the main ingredients are the same almost everywhere: rice, cereals, fish, seafood and, of course, vegetables. The national dish of Spain is olla podrida, a thick soup, stew with vegetables.

Gazpacho
spanish pea soup
Walnut Mushroom Soup Puree (Welsh Recipe)
Braised Cod Biscay
Jamon with melon
Spanish tortilla with sausage and many others.

Spanish Cuisine Recipes: There are many cookbooks and even more sites on the internet dedicated to Spanish cuisine recipes. Most of the sites offer step-by-step recipes with photos, so any hostess can cook gazpacho, paella or any other Spanish dish herself.

The national cuisine of Spain is a combination of a huge number of different culinary schools, Moorish and ancient Roman with elements of African and French cuisines.
Traditional Spanish dishes are light, rich in protein and vitamins. In Spain, food is a cult, you should eat slowly, tastefully, washing it all down with excellent local wine.

Spanish dishes recipes:

Gazpacho is a cold tomato soup. It was invented by the poor peasants - satisfying, cheap and fast.
Mix all ingredients:

Blanch the tomatoes, rinse with cold water, peel and put into a blender.
Peel cucumber, onion, garlic and peppers - there too.
Soak bread in water, add to vegetables. Instead of bread, you can sprinkle breadcrumbs or just crushed ordinary crackers.
Salt and pepper to taste, add olive oil and juice from half a lemon.

Whisk everything and a refreshing soup is ready.

Poor man's potatoes.

This is a classic Spanish dish, served with sausages or grilled chicken.

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C. Grease an ovenproof dish with oil, and lay out the layers of potatoes, peppers and onions, sprinkling each level with seasonings, garlic and parsley. Put a bay leaf in front of the last layer of potatoes.
Sprinkle with paprika and drizzle with olive oil. Then heat on the stove until the oil boils.
Add wine and water so that the liquid reaches the middle of the potatoes and wait until it boils. Then put in the oven for 1 hour until the potatoes are soft and golden brown.

Spanish cuisine photo:

Spanish wines are some of the most famous wines in the world. It is believed that Spanish wine is more tart and strong than, for example, French or Italian.

The wine of Spain is divided into several categories:

Table wines (Vinos de Mesa)
Table wines proper (Vinos de Mesa)

Table wines with the right to designate "wine of the land" (Vinos de las Tierras) (local wines)

Quality wines produced in certain regions (Vinos de Calidad Producidos en Regiones Determinadas, VCPRD)
Quality wines with geographical indications (Vinos de Calidad con Indicaciones Geográficas)
Wines with appellations of origin (Vinos con Denominaciones de Origen, DO)

Wines with recognized designations of origin (Vinos con Denominaciones de Origen Calificadas, DOCa).
The abbreviation in Catalan differs from Spanish: DOQ (Denominacions d'Origen Qualificades)
Vinos de Pagos

Spain's white wines are made primarily from the Viura variety. The best Spanish white wines are those from Catalonia - Penedes and Ampurdan.

Red Spain or Spanish red wines are a different story. Quality red wines from Spain have a good saturation, a little bit of oak flavor and a wonderful aroma, as they mature in oak barrels. The most famous Spanish wine is produced in Rioja, it is based on the Tempranillo grape.

Spain's dry wines are very popular. And wines from such regions as Catalonia, Jumilla, Ribera del Duero, Navarre, Rueda, Aragon are considered the most delicious. It is very easy to buy Spanish wine if you are in the country, go to any supermarket and select the desired region among the shelves. If you are a true connoisseur and want to buy Spanish wines as a gift or for a special occasion, then go to a wine store and they will help you find the perfect combination of price and quality.

Spain is a sovereign state in southwestern Europe, a member of the European Union. Spain occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula. The territory is divided into 17 autonomous communities and 2 autonomous cities. The capital is the city of Madrid.

Spain map

general information

The official name of the country The Kingdom of Spain

Capital— Madrid.

State structure
The form of government is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the king, who, on the advice of the prime minister, approves the members of the cabinet. Spain is divided into 52 provinces, grouped into 17 autonomous regions.

Location
Spain is a state in southwestern Europe, which occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula, the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. Spain borders in the west with Portugal (the length of the border is 1214 km), in the north with France (623 km) and Andorra (65 km), in the south with Gibraltar (1.2 km). Spain is washed in the east and south by the Mediterranean Sea, in the west by the Atlantic Ocean, in the north by the Bay of Biscay (Cantabrian Sea). There are over 2,000 beaches on the coast of Spain.
The total area of Spain is 504,782 km2 (the land area is 499,400 km2). The total length of the border is 1903.2 km, the length of the coastline is 4964 km.

Climate
There are three types of climate in Spain: temperate maritime in the northwest and north; Mediterranean in the south and Mediterranean coast; arid continental climate in the interior of the country.
Spain is one of the warmest countries in Western Europe. The average number of sunny days is 260-280. The average annual temperature of almost the entire Spanish territory fluctuates between 14 and 19 °C above zero. Average January temperatures vary from 8 - 10 °С in the northern and middle parts to 10 - 12 °С in the southern part. Average temperatures in July - the hottest month - reach 18 - 20 ° C in the coastal regions of the northwest and north of the country and 26 ° C - in the Mediterranean coastal regions.
The best time for tourism is from late spring to early autumn.

Population
The population of Spain, as of 2008, is 46.06 million people. Approximately 9% of the population are immigrants. The urban population is 76%. Population density - 79.7 people / km 2.

Official language
The official language is Spanish. In some areas and provinces, the inhabitants speak the ancient local languages, for example, in Catalonia, the Basque Country, etc.

Currency

Spain is a member of the European Union, the official currency of the country is the euro (€), equal to 100 cents. You can exchange currency at banks, ATMs, exchange offices, hotels and travel agencies. Most banks work Mon.-Fri. from 8.30 to 14.30, on Saturday from 8.30 to 13.00, exchange offices from 8.30 to 19.00 (some until 20.00), ATMs are open around the clock.

The highest rate when exchanging currencies in banks, at exchange offices at airports, railway stations, shops, etc. exchange rate will be less favorable.

It is also worth remembering that most banks take a commission for the exchange service, there will also be a commission when withdrawing money through an ATM.

Time
Time is 3 hours behind Moscow time.

Important information

Visa

Citizens of the Russian Federation, when crossing the border, must have an entry permit issued at the Consular Section of the Embassy of Spain in Moscow - a visa.

A visa is issued individually in the passport of the traveler; for issuing a visa, two blank pages in the passport are required.

In accordance with the rules for issuing visas established by the Consulate General of Spain in Russia, Pegas Touristik issues visas only for citizens of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.

Customs regulations

The importation of items for personal use (personal jewelry, cameras, camcorders, cell phones, musical instruments, etc. is not restricted, however, if a customs officer suspects that an item is being imported for sale in Spain, he may require you to fill out a declaration and make a cash deposit, which will be returned upon departure from Spain upon presentation of the declaration and the item itself.

Spanish customs officers issue, upon request, receipts certifying that the item has been brought into Spain. Duty-free import per person is allowed: up to 1 liter of spirits (alcohol content over 22%) or up to 2 liters of fortified wines and liqueurs (alcohol content less than 22%), 200 cigarettes or 250 g of tobacco, 500 g of coffee, 100 g of tea, up to 50 ml of perfume and 250 ml of eau de toilette, goods and items for personal use.

The import of foreign currency into Spain is not limited. If you plan to purchase for cash in excess of 5000 €, you will need an official confirmation of the legality of importing money into the country. The export of currency is also not limited, but when exporting an amount of more than 10,000 €, it is required to fill out a declaration.

Sharp objects (nail scissors, penknives, etc.) can only be carried in checked baggage.

Prohibited for import:

drugs and narcotic drugs,
medical preparations,
firearms,
ammunition,
explosives,
pornography,
plants,
animals and birds,
food products without vacuum packaging,
Asian poultry meat
products containing meat and milk,
chocolate candies.

The ban on the import of meat and dairy products does not apply to baby and dietary food necessary for people with chronic diseases (in this case, the products must be carefully packaged).

Helpful information

emergency services

National Police - 091
Local Police - 092
Fire Department - 080
Ambulance - 061
Red Cross - 22-22-22.

The shops

Shops are open from 10:00 to 20:00, a break from 14:00 to 17:00, some shops and private shops are open until 22:00. Bakeries and bars open from 8 am. There are no breaks in hypermarkets and department stores, but they are usually closed on Sundays. Markets are open only in the mornings. In resort areas, most shops are open on Sundays. Payment for purchases can be made both in cash and by credit cards.

It is best to make purchases in large cities - Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, etc. In such cities, there are many boutiques and shops with fashionable clothes, they are usually located in the city center. Prices in stores are not higher than in supermarkets, and sometimes even lower. In the markets you can find almost everything, from groceries to antiques.

In memory of Spain, you can bring famous pottery (the Costa Dorada is especially famous for them), leather goods, guitars, traditional Spanish fans, products with gold and silver thread embroidery on velvet, olives and olive oil, wine and much more.

Transport

Spain has a well-developed transport infrastructure, which includes an extensive network of roads, railways, air and water communications. The length of roads is 328,000 km, and railways - 14,589 km. The leading place is occupied by air transport. Of the 42 airports, 34 carry out regular flights.

It is most convenient to move around Spain around the country, because. in almost all large and resort cities there are bus stations. Intercity buses are equipped with air conditioning, video equipment and, in most cases, toilets. It is customary to pay for travel directly on the bus, but you can save money by buying a multiple ticket.

Railway trains are divided into several categories, depending on speed and comfort. You can buy a ticket at railway stations and train stations, or at travel agencies. There you can also get detailed information about train schedules and ticket prices.

It is more convenient to travel around the city by taxi. You can take a car in the parking lot, order by phone, call from a hotel, cafe or restaurant. Taxis are usually distinguished by a light board with the inscription taxi. Each taxi has a meter, the cost of the trip will depend on its readings. At night, holidays and weekends there is an increased rate.

In Madrid and Barcelona, perhaps the most convenient transport is the metro. This is the fastest and cheapest mode of transport. Tickets are sold at the box office or vending machines at the stations.

Car rental

A car can be rented by a person who is over 21 years old, who has an international driver's license and a credit card. In some cases, they may ask for a passport. Class A and B cars are issued for cash, while in addition to the deposit, the entire rental amount for the entire period is taken in advance. You can order a car both at the rental office and through the administrator at the hotel where you live. In addition, you can order a car from Russia by ordering it from an international car rental agency in advance. Tariffs of local rental companies, as a rule, are lower than the tariffs set by well-known international ones. When renting a car for a long period, a discount is possible.

In Spain, there are several types of roads: state highways (sign N), expressways (sign A) and municipal (marked with sign C). On the highways of Spain, every 5 km there is an SOS phone from which you can call emergency services.

Police phone number: 091. The maximum allowed speed in built-up areas is 50 km/h, on highways - 120 km/h. We recommend that you observe the speed limit, because. Spain has quite high fines for speeding. Fines are paid on the spot. When traveling by car, you must have a driver's license valid in Spain, a technical equipment passport and an insurance card.

Telephone

To make calls to Russia, dial:

007 (Russian code) - (area code) - (phone number).
The dialing code for Spain is 34.
Telephone code for the Canary Islands: +34 (922).

Tips

In Spain, the service is included in the price and is 10-15% of the cost of the service. If you like the service, you can add another 5% of the amount. If the tip is not included in the bill, it is customary to leave it on the table. It is customary to leave tips for waiters, maids and porters in hotels, taxi drivers, hairdressers, etc. Maid and porters leave about 1-2 euros, taxi drivers leave an average of 5-10%.

Precautionary measures

Valuables and documents are best left in a safe at the hotel. It is advisable to make photocopies of important documents (passports, tickets, etc.) and store them separately from the originals. Money and documents should be stored in different places. In case of theft or loss of a credit card, you must immediately call the bank and block the account. In crowded places (airports, train stations, squares, etc.), watch your things, do not show the contents of your wallets in public, do not give things to strangers for storage. In case of theft or other illegal actions against you, contact the police.

In case of difficult situations (problems with the police, loss of a passport, etc.), please contact the Consulate of the Russian Federation. The duty officer works around the clock. When detained by the police, do not sign any documents, do not answer questions, do not give your documents and do not succumb to provocations and do not create conflict situations. Demand to call a representative of the consulate or the host company.

Russian Embassy in Madrid:
Address: c.Velazquez, 155, Madrid, 28002, Spain
Phone: 91 562 22 64, 91 411 08 07
Fax: 91 562 97 12
Embassy opening hours: 9.00 - 14.00, 16.00 - 19.00
Email: [email protected]

BARCELONA

Barcelona is the second most populated city in Spain and is the capital of the autonomous region of Catalonia. It has an international airport and a subway. Barcelona is a port city and is located on the Mediterranean coast. Currently, the port of Barcelona is one of the largest in the entire Mediterranean, and the city's beaches stretch for as much as 5 km.

Barcelona experienced periods of its greatest prosperity in the Middle Ages, when it reached the status of a thriving center of Mediterranean trade, and also in the 19th century, marked by intensive economic and demographic development. This stage culminated in the World Exhibitions in 1888 and 1929, which largely determined the current appearance of the city. In 1992, Barcelona was chosen to host the Olympic Games.

Barcelona is also proud of its rich historical, architectural and artistic heritage. Monuments of architectural art, buildings with historical significance and modern buildings coexist in an unusually harmonious way in the city. In 1929, the Barcelona Cathedral was declared a Monument of History and Art of National Importance. In the labyrinth of narrow streets that surround the Cathedral and form the historical center of the city, known as the "Gothic Quarter", you can find a large number of buildings of unique beauty and significance.

On the wide square of Plaza Sant Jaume rise, opposite each other, the City Hall of Barcelona - with its magnificent halls of the Salo de Sainte ("Hall of the Sta") and the Assembly Hall - and the Palace of the Generalitat (Palau de la Generalitat), with the hall of St. George and the internal Courtyard Pati dels Taronges ("Patio of orange trees"). In Barcelona, you can see the creations of the greatest architect of the modernist era, Antonio Gaudí - the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, the La Pedrera building, Batllo's house.

The city also has numerous museums, among which the Picasso Museum and the National Art Museum of Catalonia are especially famous. The Picasso Museum is popular with tourists and is one of the most visited in Barcelona with the richest collection. The ball museum was created in 1963 on the basis of a collection donated to the city by Jaume Sabater, a personal friend of the artist, and subsequently replenished with works donated by both Picasso himself and members of his family.

The central square of Barcelona is Plaza Catalunya. From here originates the famous Ramblas, which daily attracts many tourists traveling around Barcelona. This is a pedestrian boulevard along the central alley of which stretches flower, zoological and newsstands, in the lower part of the boulevard there are street vendors, pantomime artists, artists who draw portraits of everyone from life or photographs. Here you can buy various souvenirs.

The Palace of Catalan Music, located next to Via Laetana, was built by the architect Domènech i Montaner. This building is considered the pinnacle of modernism and incorporates many elements of this style.

On the waterfront of Barcelona, in the Portal de la Pau (“Gate of the World”), stands a monument to Christopher Columbus, reminding us of the arrival of the navigator in Barcelona after the discovery of America. Nearby are Drassanas (XIV century) - the best preserved of all the Gothic shipyards, and nearby - part of the fortress wall of the same era. From here, in the Middle Ages, ships were launched that participated in the most famous naval battles. Now the building of the shipyards houses the Museum of Navigation, where you can see the magnificent ships of the XIV-XV centuries. Barcelona has the largest aquarium in Europe, where you can see 11,000 marine animals from over 450 different species.

The longest avenue, Avenida Diagonal, runs through the whole city, the length of which is 14 km. Two streets pass around the city: Upper and Lower, with the help of which you can get into it from any direction without stopping at the center.

You can see an amazingly beautiful spectacle by visiting the singing fountains located on the slopes of Montjuic mountain. There is also an observation deck on the mountain, which offers a panoramic view of Barcelona. If you want to enjoy an amazing panorama of the city, you are offered a tour on the Teleferic funicular, which leaves from Montjuic. Another way to get acquainted with the city is to take a trip on the Bus Turistic double-decker bus, where you will be offered headphones with audio recordings of the excursion program in 10 different languages, including Russian. You can also explore the city by bike, which can be rented on almost every corner in the city.

Barcelona is also home to countless shops, restaurants and cafes. For grocery shopping, you can visit the popular market "La Boqueria" (or "Mercat de Sant Josep"), which is a vivid example of 18th century architecture. In the city center on Plaza Catalunya there is a large shopping center "El Corte Ingles", where on 9 floors you will find a wide selection of goods: clothing, accessories, goods for children, food and much more. In the suburbs of Barcelona there is a place called “La Roca Village”, where more than 100 outlets (discount stores) of all famous brands are collected: Hugo Boss, Lacoste, Calvin Klein, L’Occitane, Burberry, Cacharel, Puma and many others.

For sports fans in Barcelona, it is advised to visit the famous Camp Nou football stadium, as well as see the Olympic Stadium, which was reconstructed for the Olympic Games in 1992. Also, Formula 1 races are held here once a year, which attract a considerable number of tourists .

What can you bring from Barcelona? Very tasty Spanish cuisine. For your friends and relatives, you can bring local jamon ham, chorizo sausage, salchichon sausages, and various seafood to enjoy. In Spain, the production of quite tasty wine and olive oil is widespread. From local sweets you can buy Spanish halva.

COSTA BRAVA

Costa Brava, which in translation means "Wild Coast" - a strip of the Mediterranean coast in the northeast of Catalonia in Spain, the province of Girona. It extends for 160 km from the city of Blanes to the border with France. The relief of the Costa Brava is made up of impregnable cliffs and rocks, overgrown with Pyrenean pines and firs, which alternate with magnificent bays and bays with beaches of white sand and pebbles. In addition to the picturesque relief, the Costa Brava amazes guests with the extraordinary wealth of Mediterranean vegetation: thanks to the numerous streams flowing down the slopes of the Pyrenees, the land here is extremely fertile, and low mountains and hills delight the eye with an abundance of mixed - coniferous and broad-leaved - forests that go to the sea itself.

The resort is known for its ancient towns, markets and magnificent beaches. The average annual temperature on the Costa Brava is 16°C.
The history of the coast goes back over 2000 years. Here you can see the ancient ruins, the remains of the Greek and Roman civilizations. The population of the coast is about 6.5 million people. Mostly they are Catalans who speak Catalan.

Arriving in the Costa Brava, it is worth visiting the city of Lloret de Mar, which has many bars and discos, as well as the famous Marineland water park. For those who prefer walks in historical places to noisy entertainment, there is also something to see. Church of Sant Roma, which was built in 1552 in the Gothic style. During the Civil War, the church was badly damaged, and today only the Chapel of St. Sacramento and the Baptistery allow us to imagine what Sant Roma was before. The Chapel of Santa Cristina is located 3.5 km from the center of Lloret de Mar. The first document mentioning the temple is dated 1376.

In 1764, work began on the expansion of the temple, which was completed in 1772. The work was carried out on donations from the inhabitants of Lloret, and those who could not help financially were directly involved in the construction of the temple. The monument to Dona Marinera (fisherman's wife) is located on a rock at the end of Lloret beach. In 1966, the city commissioned the artist Ernest Maragal for this statue, which would become one of the symbols of the city. The bronze sculpture depicts a woman looking out to sea, meeting or seeing someone off. It is believed that if a person looks at the sea, just like a sculpture and at the same time touches her leg with his hand, then his desires, which he is thinking about at the moment, will certainly come true. In addition, in the city you can visit and see the Castle on the beach, the monument to Sardana, the Castle of Sant Joan, the monument to the angel and much more.

The Costa Brava is famous for its wines and liqueurs, which are relatively inexpensive here. As souvenirs on the coast, you can buy ceramic and leather products, tablecloths. In many cities, fairs are organized every week where you can buy clothes, souvenirs or fruits and much more.
From any town on the coast you can easily get to Barcelona, Girona, Figueres
The most famous resorts are Lloret de Mar, Blanes, Tossa de Mar and Playa de Aro.

Costa del Maresme

Costa del Maresme is part of the coast of the Balearic Sea south of the Costa Brava, located in Catalonia, in the province of Barcelona. The resort area of the Costa del Maresme stretches from Tordera and Malgrat de Mar in the north to the town of Montgat, 15 km from Barcelona in the south. This area is known for its magnificent beaches, developed infrastructure and mild Mediterranean climate.

North of Malgrat de Mar, the Costa del Maresme merges into the Costa Brava, so both coasts are often referred to as the Costa Brava. The Costa del Maresme has traditionally been a place of fishing and peasant settlements, whose inhabitants were engaged in the cultivation of grapes. The main part of the fishing industry is based in Arenys de Mar, which is the first fishing port on the Costa del Maresme. Starting from the middle of the 20th century, summer residences of wealthy residents of Barcelona, as well as several hotels, began to appear on the coast. Since the mid-80s of the XX century, as part of the development of tourism in Spain, significant funds have been invested in the construction and reconstruction of the coastal cities of the Costa del Maresme. This has led to the transformation of the Costa del Marsme into a major resort and tourist center. The basis of the activity of this region is agriculture, primarily the cultivation of vineyards, as well as the textile industry.

resort towns

Malgrat de Mar
Malgrat de Mar is a coastal village located in the northern part of the Maresme district, on the border of the provinces of Barcelona and Girona. The wide beach strip, stretching for 4.5 km, is divided into three zones: Astillero Beach, Central Beach (marked with the Blue Flag) and La Conca Beach. The main activities in the city are industry and agriculture.

There are two large natural parks in Malgrat de Mar: the Castel Park and the Francesc Macia Park. Castel Park is located on a hill from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the village. The Francesc Macia Park is one of the largest parks in the region and covers an area of more than 40,000 m². In October, an international music festival is held here. For three weeks, more than 20 choirs and musical groups from various European countries take part in this festival.

Among the cultural and historical monuments in Malgrat de Mar are the church of Sant Nicolau de Bari, the municipal library, buildings built in the modernist style, such as the Town Hall and the music school "Ca l'Arnau". The city center is full of shops, cafes and restaurants.

Santa Susanna

Santa Susanna is a seaside town located in the center of the Maresme district, in the province of Barcelona. The main source of income for the city is the flourishing here, thanks to favorable natural conditions, agriculture. Santa Susanna has the largest number of watchtowers, designed to protect against the frequent attacks of pirates dating back to the period of the 15th-18th centuries.

For active recreation in the city there is the Maritime Center, which offers tourists various water sports: sailing, windsurfing, snorkeling, water skiing, motor sports, kayaking and others.

Pineda de Mar
Pineda de Mar is a seaside town located 56 km from Barcelona, part of the Maresme district. With a long sandy beach, Pineda de Mar offers a wide range of hotels and services. Along the promenade, located in front of the beach, stretches a chain of shops, restaurants, cafes.

The historical center of the city has completely preserved its features. Here you can see the church of Santa Maria dating back to the 16th century, the restored palace of Can Halpi of the 15th-16th centuries, the protective towers of Mas Castellar and Santa Anna, and on Plaza de Catalunya you can see the most interesting buildings and palaces of the 18th-19th centuries. Also in Pineda de Mar, the remains of the Roman aqueduct Can Cua have been preserved.

The most lively centers of city life are the Plaza de les Melies (Placa de les Melies) and Paseo Maritimo promenade (Paseo Maritimo), where city festivals are held and the most popular bars and restaurants of the city are located.

Calella
Calella - located 50 km from Barcelona, near the Montnegre nature reserve. It has three magnificent beaches: Garbi beach, La Platja Gran beach and La Platja de Les Roques beach - marked with a blue flag.

The city hosts a large number of cultural, folklore events and holidays, among which are: Carnival, a festival of photography and cinema, an exhibition of roses of Catalonia, children's entertainment, international days of folklore of Catalonia and others.

Calella has many large natural areas, such as the Dalmau Park located in the city center, the Manuel Puigvert alley, designed by the modernist architect Jeroni Martorell.

One of the most attractive features of the city is its commercial activity. Throughout the year, Calella has more than 800 shops offering commercial offers. One of the popular places to trade is the open-air Saturday market, located in front of the municipal market building. In local restaurants and bars, you can taste both Mediterranean cuisine and dishes from around the world. Calella is also interesting from a cultural and historical point of view. The municipal archival museum of Josep Maria Bage contains all kinds of samples and collections of decorative stones from the 17th and 20th centuries; textile machines and samples of materials produced in the city; archaeological materials from excavations of Roman ruins and historical documents. A curious element is the Barry pharmacy with all the equipment and laboratories of the 19th century, as well as the Lluis Gallart Garcia art gallery, where you can see samples of more than 200 paintings by the masters of the city of Calella, with paintings, drawings of exceptional beauty, painted using various techniques. Also in the city there is a Cultural Gallery, which reflects the history of Calella. Collections of ancient tools, paintings, photographs and other items related in one way or another to Calella.

Proximity to the sea and the presence of a nautical club allows you to practice various water sports: water skiing, windsurfing, sailing, fishing.

COSTA DORADA

Costa Dorada (translated from Spanish as “golden coast”) is a segment of the coast of the Balearic Sea (part of the Mediterranean Sea) in southeastern Spain, extending for 200 km from Vilanova i la Geltru in the north to the city located in the Ebro Delta Alcanar in the south. Costa Dorada covers the entire coast of the province of Tarragona. The relief of the Costa Dorada is made up of long and gentle sandy beaches, which makes this coast popular with tourists. The beaches on the Costa Dorada are mostly long, wide, with fine golden sand and clear water. Among the large number of sandy beaches there are picturesque bays and bays, and unique rock formations. From the winds and cyclones from the north and west, the Mediterranean coast is well protected, first by the Pyrenees, and then by the Catalan mountains.

Thanks to its unique geographical features and mild Mediterranean climate, this place is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. There are all conditions for practicing water sports, such as windsurfing, surfing, water skiing, as well as for playing tennis or golf. On the coast there are many modern hotels of various levels, health centers and entertainment facilities. In the Costa Dorada there are many fortresses and military buildings built during the wars and which are the cultural heritage of Spain, and in the cities there are many beautiful churches, monasteries and monuments through which you can trace the history of the country. Nature lovers won't be disappointed either - there is a unique nature reserve located in the Ebro Delta.

One of the main tourist attractions of the Costa Dorada is the amusement park Port Aventura in the city of Salou. Port Aventura is the second largest amusement park in Europe, its area is 115 hectares. The park consists of five themed areas with attractions for both adults and children, each of which reflects the history of one of the world's five cultures.

Over a hundred unique theatrical performances take place in Port Aventura every day, and more than 70 restaurants and eateries with a menu of traditional dishes will help you discover the world through taste.

Despite the fact that the Costa Dorada is one of the centers of mass tourism, here you can find many cities that have retained their originality. The center of the Costa Dorada is the city of Tarragona, and the most popular resort is Salou. Other cities popular with tourists are Sitges, La Pineda and Cambrils.

Cambrils- a seaside town located in the resort area of the Costa Dorada and part of the province of Tarragona. In this hospitable town, new traditions brought from abroad and other parts of Spain are wonderfully intertwined with the roots of local culture. You can get acquainted with the history of the city in the museum "Mouli de les Tres Eres". One of the famous sights of the city is the defensive port, built in the middle of the 20th century, and the fishermen's park, the port tower of the 17th century, which served to repel pirate attacks, the buildings of the period of the Roman Empire, dating from the 1st century BC, are also of particular cultural interest. BC. and VI century. AD, Vilafortuny castle, port quarter and old town.

Sandy golden beaches, marked with the Blue Flag, stretch for 9 km. Along the beaches there is the Sea Promenade, along which you can walk or ride a bike. Also in Cambrils, tourists can fully explore the culinary traditions. The city is considered the culinary capital of the Costa Dorada. Fresh fish, the best olive oil and other top quality products are used to prepare exquisite and original dishes. Here you can taste typical traditional Cambrilian cuisine in the best restaurants specializing in fish and seafood. In addition to good cuisine, all restaurants offer a wide selection of wines and champagnes, as well as fresh confectionery products that can satisfy even the most demanding taste.

Food, souvenirs, household goods, accessories, antiques, handicrafts - all this can be purchased all year round in local shops. Most of the shops are concentrated in the narrow streets of the picturesque old town, as well as in the area of the sea promenade and the port, a favorite place for walking residents and visitors of Cambrils. Once a week, a mobile market stalls open in the old town, where you can find anything, including products from local agriculture, such as high-quality Siurana olive oil, considered one of the best in the world.

Salou

Salou is the tourist capital of the Costa Dorada, which is part of the province of Tarragona. The main attraction of the city is the famous amusement park "PortAventura" - the second largest amusement park in Europe, with an area of 115 hectares. The park consists of five themed zones with attractions, each of which reflects the history of one of the five world cultures.

The mild Mediterranean climate, golden sandy beaches and long holiday season (from May to November) attract a large number of tourists to Salou. Active guests will find in Salou a water sports centre, a municipal football field, an indoor swimming pool, a sports center and a go-kart track. For those who prefer entertainment, Salou has many restaurants, bars and all kinds of clubs, many of which are open at night. The busiest street in Salou is Carlos Buigas Street, which is full of shops, discos and restaurants. The city is recognized as one of the best shopping and gastronomic resorts on the Costa Dorada. Salou has a wide network of stores offering all kinds of goods, both Spanish and imported.

One of Salou's most picturesque attractions is Salou's Promenade, right along the coastline of Llevant Beach, the largest beach in the city, along with Platja de Ponent, Platja dels Capellans, Platja Llarga and Cala Cranx. The beaches have the European Blue Flag, which is an indicator of the cleanliness and safety of the beaches. The most popular promenade in the city is Jaime I Avenue, which today bears the name of King Jaime I, who conquered the Balearic Islands and the kingdom of Valencia. In the center of the alley there is a monument to this king, and at the end there is a charming illuminated fountain, shining at night with multi-colored jets and cascades. From the city's port, you can take exciting walks along the coast on tourist boats that depart daily for Tarragona, Cambrils and other nearby resort centers.

At 10-12 km from Salou, there are attractions such as the city of Tarragona, founded by the Romans, with a rich historical past, and the city of Reus, where you can visit the museum of the famous Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí.

La Pineda
La Pineda is a resort town located on the Costa Dorada. Along the sand and pebble beach, stretching for 4 km, there is a promenade, and along the streets there are many local cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops. In this city there is one of the famous water parks "Akvopolis" and a dolphinarium.

In La Pineda there are hotels of different stars, offering a variety of types of services that will satisfy even the most demanding vacationers. In the evening, you can go to a restaurant or go to the Pacha disco. The close location of the city of Salou (about 5-7 minutes drive) makes it possible to visit entertainment in this city. You can get to Salou by bus or taxi. In the immediate vicinity of La Pineda, there is the famous Port Aventura amusement park - a real world of adventure and unforgettable musical performances, which will be interesting not only for children, but also for adults.

In July and August, the city hosts entertainment events for children and their parents: in the Pinar del Perruquet park an open-air movie screening is organized, in the city square children are entertained by clowns, puppets and magicians. The park also hosts music and dance performances. At the end of July, the main summer festival is held here - the festival of St. Jaume, which is a mixture of such components as: traditions, culture, music and dance. A variety of festive events organized on the streets and squares of the city include concerts, dances, shows for children, fireworks, open-air cinema, etc.

Canary Islands - Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria(Gran-Canaria in Spanish) is the third largest island in the Canary archipelago. From afar, the island looks like a big mountain, in the center of which rises Pico de Las Nieves, its height is 2 thousand meters. The whole island is dotted with deep ravines stretching from the top of the peak to the ocean coast. The island's capital, Las Palmas, is located in the northeast. It is the largest city of the Canaries and every four years it replaces Santa Cruz de Tenerife as the capital of the Canary Islands.
The climate of Gran Canaria is tropical trade winds, moderately dry and hot. The comfort of the climate of Gran Canaria is determined by the ocean, the cold Canary Current and the proximity of Africa. Also, the climate is influenced by the mountain range that divides the island of Gran Canaria into south and north. In one day, you can travel around the entire island, while visiting different microclimatic zones. The south coast of Gran Canaria is sunny and hot, and snow can lie on the mountain peak. The maximum temperature in August and June reaches 30°C. These are the hottest months in the Canary Islands. In April, May, September and October the air temperature does not fall below 27°C.

Maspalomas stands out among the resorts of the island of Gran Canaria. This is the most popular and most famous resort of the island. Maspalomas is able to satisfy the needs of any tourist. From almost every hotel you can get to the fashionable promenade, where the calm atmosphere contributes to a quiet walk and solitude. The resort has a huge number of various restaurants or bars offering dishes for every taste.
Puerto Rico. A small tourist town in the southwest of the island, located in a valley surrounded by gardens. Puerto Rico has long been famous for attracting lovers of sea sports. There are also a huge number of various shopping centers and a lot of entertainment, and nightlife is in full swing until the morning.

Puerto de Mogan.
Port Mogan is considered the best tourist city of Gran Canaria. It is built in the style of folk architecture and combines the port and the typical character of a fishing village. The houses, located on the slopes of the cliff, are built on the basis of local traditions: white walls and straight shapes and colored windows and doors. Puerto Mogan is so quiet and peaceful that it is the best place for couples in love who want to be together. Only here you can relax from the hustle and bustle of city life and the crazy pace.

San Augustine- a quiet town with hotels on the first line and a good beach of gray sand. It is believed that San Augustine has the best private medical clinics in the Canary Islands and one of the largest thalassotherapy centers in Europe. This resort may be of interest to those tourists who are too crowded in Playa del Inglés. This tourist town is suitable for a leisurely beach holiday.

Playa del Inglés- a place for those who are not tired of life. After all, she, life, boils here day and night. Playa del Inglés has several times more hotels and apartments than the rest of the coastal resorts combined. On the resort's three-kilometer beach of the same name, there is the Anexo II shopping center, where you can dine in one of the many restaurants and buy every little thing; next to it - water activities. On the island, you can not only relax on the magnificent beaches, but also make exciting trips to local attractions. These are botanical gardens, and historical complexes, and traditional villages and settlements. The Jardín Canario Botanical Garden is one of the main natural attractions of Gran Canaria. The garden is located near the settlement of Tafira. There are more than 5,000 species of plants found in the local nature. Bandam Peak. This is a volcano crater, the diameter of which reaches one kilometer and a depth of more than two hundred meters. From the top of the crater offers an amazing view of the capital of the island of Gran Canaria and the central part of the island.

Artenara- a mountain village located at an altitude of 1270 m above sea level. Artenara is one of the oldest villages on the island and is an architectural phenomenon: most of the old houses here are built into the rocks and at the same time equipped with all modern amenities. Of particular interest is the village church of La Ermita de la Cuevita, set in a mountain cave.

Cueva Pintada. This archaeological complex is the largest in the Canary archipelago. Cueva Pintada Cave is located in the archaeological park and consists of six communicating caves, decorated with drawings of primitive people who lived in these places.

MAJORCA

Mallorca (Mallorca, Mallorca) is the largest island of the Balearic archipelago and the largest island of Spain. The wonderful climate, beautiful nature contributed to the great popularity of Mallorca among both ordinary tourists and world celebrities, some of them, such as Michael Schumacher, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, even bought houses here. Of all the regions in Spain, Mallorca is considered the region with the highest standard of living. As in all the Balearic Islands, the number of sunny days per year is more than 300. The warmest time is from July to August, the temperature rises above 30 degrees, but the Embat sea wind does not make you feel the sweltering heat.
Mallorca is considered the most environmentally friendly resort in Spain, there are about forty protected areas, the island is protected by the state.

Mallorca has a very diverse terrain. Mountains occupy the northwest and east, the highest point is Puig Major, 1445 meters, but this place is in a protected military zone and tourists are not allowed there. The neighboring peak is a little lower, this is Puig Massanella, 1352 meters, the entrance is open for tourists here. Through this mountain range (Serra de Tramuntana) there are 13 railway tunnels. The central part is a large plain, smoothly turning into a rather rocky northern part of the island with steep cliffs and beautiful bays along the coast. There are a lot of windmills on the flat part, which are the official symbol of Mallorca. In the eastern part of the island are the so-called Dragon Caves - unique caves with a beautiful underground lake Martel. In them, tourists are given a rare opportunity to listen to live music concerts.

The island has a lot of entertainment for almost every taste. There are several water parks (Aqualand, Western Park), Marineland Marine Park (according to rumors, the very first dolphin show in the world took place here), adventure parks (La Reserva, Jungle Park), many national parks and reserves, various shows (among them there are even jousting tournaments). Tourists can also take up various sports: windsurfing, diving, cycling, sailing, fishing, horse-drawn races and even just hiking, but special attention is paid to golf. Mallorca has more than 20 golf courses and hosts the famous Open de Baleares and the Mallorcan Grand Prix. Tourists arrive at Mallorca's Son Sant Joan airport. During the summer, this airport becomes one of the busiest in Europe.

Throughout its history, Mallorca has been repeatedly conquered by different peoples, the culture of each of which has left an indelible imprint on the island and its attractions. The island is the summer residence of the Spanish royal family, which was originally an Arab fortress and a Spanish treasury. From time to time, tourists have the opportunity to participate in official ceremonies.

Canary Islands - Tenerife

Tenerife island- the largest among the islands of the Canary archipelago. Since the middle of the last century, it has become one of the most popular resorts in Europe, and this love is fully justified - there is no such unique climate and natural beauty anywhere else. The name of the island can be translated as " white", presumably it was so named because of the peak of the Teide volcano towering over it, covered with snow. The island is divided by a mountain range into two parts: southern and northern. The climate in the south of the island is dry, almost rainless, sunny and warm with minimal fluctuations in average daily and average annual temperatures. In the north it is cooler, high humidity, air temperature is 2-5 degrees lower than in the south. But this is offset by lush vegetation and landscapes of incredible beauty. Tenerife is the only resort in Europe where you can swim all year round, but this mainly applies to its southern part.

All beaches of the island are municipal and therefore free. One of the most famous beaches of the island is Playa de Las Teresitas, located near the capital. Its main difference from most of the beaches of the island is the white sand brought here from the Sahara desert. Almost all beaches are covered with black volcanic sand, which is believed to have healing properties. There are especially many black beaches in Puerto de la Cruz. The coast of the resorts of Las Americas and Los Cristianos is a continuous chain of beaches, the most popular beach in the area is Playa de la Vista, with imported golden sand
One of the most famous and popular resorts is Las Americas. The city was created specifically for tourists, it is located on the coast an hour's drive from the capital. Las Americas has everything you need for a comfortable stay for tourists: many bars, restaurants, discos and nightclubs; hotels for every taste and budget. The second most popular resort is Los Cristianos. This resort is focused on a more relaxed family vacation, so it is popular with European tourists of retirement age. Puerto de la Cruz is one of the first resorts on the island, now it has become a business center, those who are oppressed by the regularity and tranquility of resorts come here to relax. And most often, tourists come here for the purpose of shopping and sightseeing.

El Medano is another well-known resort. It is located away from other resorts and has its own specifics. El Medano is a paradise for lovers of water sports, divers. Costa Adeje. The southwestern part of the island of Tenerife is notable for the fact that it is here that Costa Adeje is located, the resort is a continuation of Las Americas, and is extremely popular in Europe. This contributes to the atmosphere of silence and comfort. Everything here is designed for the convenience of tourists. Hotels with a high level of service, comfort, a wide network of shops and entertainment venues. In addition, there is a huge number of small shops for all tastes and budgets. The resort is also very developed sea and water sports. Playa Paraiso is a small resort area in the southwest of Tenerife. "Paradise Beach" - this is how the name of this place is translated into Russian - is located in a rather secluded place, at a distance of 12 km from the center of tourist life in the south of the island - the resort of Las Americas.

In fact, the central part of Playa Paraiso consists of four high-rise and outwardly very similar hotels on the ocean coast, in the names of which the word “Paraiso” is present. Shops, cafes and restaurants are located along the highway that crosses the territory of the resort. The rocky coast is not suitable for swimming, so tourists prefer to sunbathe or by the pools, or go to the beaches of Las Americas, which can be reached by bus (20-30 minutes) or car (10 minutes).

The capital of the island of Tenerife, and one of the two capitals of the Canary Islands, is Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The service sector is primarily developed in the city. Santa Cruz is positioned as a paradise for shoppers; in the central part of the city there are many shops popular among visitors to the island. The city has a developed network of bus routes, there is also a tram line to La Laguna. Santa Cruz has the largest seaport in the Canary Islands, and the second largest in all of Spain. Despite the rich history, the city cannot boast of an abundance of historical sights. Among the architectural monuments of the city, the Palacio Palace (Cabildo) Insular is the seat of the government of Tenerife; Palacio Carta Palace (1742, now a bank), the Church of St. Francis (17th century) in the Baroque style; Pilar church (18th century) with a painted vault.

Ibiza island

The island of Ibiza is part of the Balearic archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is not too small, and varied enough not to be boring, and not too large; so that after a few days of rest you will feel at home there.

Since ancient times, the island has attracted conquerors and pirates. The history of the first settlements (Carthaginians) on it dates back to the 7th century BC. The Carthaginians were replaced by the Romans, then the Arabs, the Visigoths, and finally the Catalans. Each of these peoples left a mark on the history and culture of the island. Ibiza is popular not only among Western youth, but also among most of the world's beau monde: artists of all directions, movie and music stars, top DJs, models, millionaires, journalists, politicians and businessmen.

The coast of Ibiza is indented with countless rocky bays, and among the greenery of rural areas, dazzling white houses of small resort villages are scattered everywhere.
The small island has everything to please every taste of vacationers: well-maintained and wild beaches, hotels of various categories, luxury villas, campsites, tennis courts and golf courses, nightclubs, bars, restaurants, boutiques and hippie markets, an old fortress, narrow cobbled streets, wonderful landscapes, fantastic nature, pines, cacti and palm trees.

Ibiza has 58 beaches for every taste and color: fully equipped with a wide range of services, completely wild, beaches for water sports, as well as quiet and cozy - for a serene sleep after a stormy night at the club.
Ibiza is the most fashionable European resort, distinguished by its specific atmosphere, people, nature and, of course, unique megaclubs (discotheques), which are rightfully considered one of the best not only in Europe, but also in the world.

With the onset of night, the island turns into one continuous holiday. Along the embankments and central streets of the cities of Ibiza and San Antonio, a motley crowd of vacationers is moving, mixed with dancers from nightclubs dressed in carnival costumes, transvestites, drag-queens, etc. The nightlife of Ibiza is a unique combination of European youth clubs and Spanish traditional nightlife.

Its own atmosphere reigns in the Playa d'en Bossa area, one of the main tourist centers of the island. It is here that the legendary Space Club, famous for its after-parties, is located. - clubs known for their foam parties, gathering up to 10,000 people every night (Amnesia, Privilege). The night party in Ibiza does not end even in the morning: "After-parties" start at 6 am and last until 3 pm. Then the "movement" continues in music bars and right on the beach.
Every summer, the most famous DJs from Europe and the world come to the island: D. Morales, Sa$ha, Carl Cox, etc., and in winter, DJs from the best clubs in Ibiza perform in the most famous discos around the 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.