If you are coming to Spain for the first time, be warned: this is a country that fast becomes an addiction. You might intend to come just for a beach holiday, or a tour of the major cities, but before you know it you'll find yourself hooked by something quite different – by the celebration of some local fiesta, perhaps, or the amazing nightlife in Madrid, by the Moorish monuments of Andalucía, by Basque cooking or the wild landscapes and birds of prey of Extremadura. And by then, of course, you will have noticed that there is not just one Spain but many. Indeed, Spaniards often speak of Las Españas (the Spains) and they even talk of the capital in the plural – Los Madriles, the Madrids.
This regionalism is an obsession, and perhaps the most significant change to the country over recent decades has been the creation of seventeen autonomías – autonomous regions – with their own governments, budgets and cultural ministries. The old days of a unified nation, governed with a firm hand from Madrid, seem to have gone forever, as the separate kingdoms that made up the original Spanish state reassert themselves. And the differences are evident wherever you look: in language, culture and artistic traditions, in landscapes and cityscapes, attitudes and politics.
Travel Facts
Full Name : Spain ; Capital City : Madrid ; Area
: 505,000 sq km, 194,981 sq miles ; Population : 42,700,000
; Currency : euro (€) ; Country Dialing Code : +34 ;
Electricity: 220V 50 HzHz ; Time Zone : GMT/UTC +1 ()
; Languages :Spanish (Castellano),Catalan, Basque, Gallegan
(Galician and Gallego) ; Religion : 85% Roman Catholic; 2%
Jewish; 2% Muslim ; Climate : The climate is moderate with
no excessive heat, cold or humidity. From July to August the daytime
temperature range is 18 to 28 °C (65° - 82° F) and from January to
February the range is -2 to 7 °C (28° - 45° F). In spring and autumn,
the daytime temperature range is 8 to 15 °C (46° - 59° F) ; Best
Time to Visit : The ideal months to visit are May, June and September
(plus April and October in the south) ; Electric Plug Details :
European plug with two circular metal pins ; International Airport
: Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD), Barcelona International Airport
Around 1100 BCE, Phoenicians from present-day Lebanon set up trading colonies along the Spanish coast. Greeks also traded along the northeastern coast...
U.S. Passport or passport of any other nationality, must have at least 6 months remaining validity from the day of entry into the country for which VISA....
