Spain Information

Spain Culture and Information…

The Spanish people are loyal first and foremost to their home towns and villages, then to their regions and only lastly (and often less strongly) to the country itself. This translates to the immense cultural variations and no ‘typical’ Spain to visit so depending on the area you visit, your experiences will be truly unique and different. The historical mosaic of Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Gothic and Roman influences has produced a unique blend of architecture and culture, with very colourful and vibrant festivals.

Spaniards are known to be proud, stoic yet happy-go-lucky and hard to get to know but once you have made that connection, you pretty much have a friend for life. Having a reputation as thrifty, direct and unpretentious, the Spanish peoples lives had traditionally revolved around the Catholic Church and the family. But Spain’s old ways have changed very quickly in the last few decades. While the vast majority of Spaniards are still Catholic, extreme religiosity has been replaced by extreme secularism. Materialism and consumerism have affected the Spaniards as they have the rest of the world. However for many there, daily lives still focus on the family and friends and many people (especially in the countryside), still have a big lunch with the family, followed by the siesta. Many businesses even in the major cities still close as people go home to grab a quick nap.  In the evening, Spain comes back to life. Families go for a leisurely stroll and talk to their neighbours. They watch a big soccer match together, having some tapas with their beer. Dinner is light and only after midnight do most people head to bars and clubs, which may stay open until sunrise.

Spain’s landscape is very diverse. It has deserts in Andalucia, green lush forests in Galicia, plains in Castile and the majestic vast mountain ranges of the Pyrenees. The coastline is long and beaches warm and sunny almost all year round. The country also includes the Balearic Islands and the Canary islands as well as Ceuta and Melilla in Africa. Europe’s fourth largest country is a beautiful and dramatic place. The kingdom of Spain was established following the expulsion of the Moors in 1492, with the union of the kingdoms of Aragon and Castille and that was when Spain established the borders that still define its geography today. However Spain is a country of regions and people are fiercely proud of their cultural differences and speak their own language. In fact the people from the Basque country and Galicia are so proud of their own languages and traditions that they do not even regard themselves as Spanish at all.

Spain’s official name is Reino de Espana (Kingdom of Spain) but Spanirds simply call it Espana. The population of 40.5 million speak the official national language of Castilian but 17 percent speak Catalan, 7 percent Galego and 2 percent Euskara (the Basque language). It covers an area of 195,000 square miles and Spain’s long-standing claim to Gibraltar remains a nagging dispute with Britain. It has 2,000 miles of coastline. Madrid is its biggest city and Europe’s highest capital, while Barcelona, Valencia and Sevilla are its other bigger cities. Spain’s economy is strongly dependent on the tourism industry and agriculture. Clothes, shoes, olives, wine, oranges, machine parts and ships are also important money-makers for Spain. It is guided symbolically by King Juan Carlos I but Spain is a parliamentary monarchy. The country is divided into 19 autonomous regions and Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is the prime minister. It is part of the European Union and the official currency is the Euro.

The normal business hours for shops are Monday to Saturday from 9.00 to 10.00 till 1.30pm, after which they will be closed for siesta. Shops will reopen around 4.00pm till 8.00 or 9.00pm. Large shops stay open all day except for Sunday. Most businesses including restaurants and bars are closed in August for holidays. Many museums are closed on Mondays and public holidays and open on Sunday mornings. Hours change with the season so check the opening hours of the particular museum you want to go to before your visit. When travelling around by taxi, make sure that the meter is reset when you start your journey. The Metro is otherwise the easiest way to get around, particularly in the big cities. Tipping is appreciated in Spain and typically, Spanish people leave a few coins after a meal.