Spain: Overview
- Population: 46,733,038 (As of March 2020)
- Capital: Madrid
- Language: Spanish
- Bordering Countries: France, Portugal, Andorra
- Land Area: 192,656 square miles (498,980 sq km)
- Coastline: 3084 miles (4,964 km)
- Highest Point: Pico del Teide (Tenerife)
- Latitude & Longitude: 40.4637 Degrees North, 3.7492 Degrees West
Spain Political Map
Important Sites
Spain is a country rich in cultural and natural history. This is reflected in it’s 48 registered UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There are currently 42 cultural sites across the country, 4 natural sites, and two mixed sites. We have listed some of the main UNESCO sites below:
- Works of Antonio Gaudi (1984, 2005)
- Historic City of Toledo (1986)
- Poblet Monastery (1991)
- Roman Walls of Lugo (2000)
- Vizcaya Bridge (2006)
- Tower of Hercules (2009)
- Antequera Dolmens Site (2016)
- Donana National Park (2005)
- Teide National Park
- Pyrenees – Mont Perdu (1999)
The main UNESCO sites offer a brilliant mix of historic architecture, religious history, and a look into the ancient Roman past of Spain.
Transport Systems
Spain is an important hub between Africa, Europe, and the Americas. It has an extensive array of major ports, including commercial ports at Barcelona, Bilbao, Santander, and Cadiz. In addition to this, Spain has an excellent network of railways, roads, and air routes.
Rail Network – Spain has two main railway carriers – RENFE, and FEVE. Total length of Spanish railways is currently estimated at 14,781km of track. In addition to standard gauge railway, there is also a High Speed Rail line offering quick transfers between Madrid, Seville, Lleida, and barcelona.
Related: Biggest Cities in Spain
Road Systems – There is generally a quality road network in Spain consisting of Total Roads, Expressways, Autopistas, and Autovias. The majority of roads in Spain are maintained by the government as part of the general Roads Directorate.
Famous Tourist Attractions
Spain is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. The favorable year-round weather makes it an ideal location for those wanting to relax and soak up the Mediterranean sun. Moreover, Spain is a country with a rich cultural heritage with many influences. The following are some of the popular sites and attractions you can find on the Spain political map:
- Works of Antoni Gaudi in Barcelona (La Sagrada Familia etc.)
- The Great Mosque of Cordoba
- Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao
- Santiago de Compostela Cathedral
- Beaches of Costa del Sol
- White Towns of Andalucia
- Balearic Islands
- Canary Islands
The Balearic Islands and Canary Islands are some of the best locations to relax and rejuvenate. With beautiful beaches and great facilities for tourists, they are ideal for a quiet week in the sun. Alternatively, historic cities like Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, and Bilbao are fantastic locations for city breaks where you can explore the history and culture of this country.
Currency
Until 2002, the official Spanish currency was the Peseta. This was succeeded by the Euro. The Euro is a currency used throughout the European Union. One Euro is the main unit of currency; the minor unit is the cent – 100 cents = 1 Euro.
Currently, there are eight Euro coins, and seven Euro banknotes. As Spain uses the Euro, it’s bank rates are set by the ECB (European Central Bank). Aside from this, the Central Bank of Spain controls the management and distribution of currency in the country.
Political System & Economy
Spain is officially a Monarchy but has a central government formed by the Prime Minister and Ministers. The Prime Minister is elected by the Congress of the Deputies. They then select a team of ministers to run the Council of Ministers and general functions of the government. All laws and fundamental processes are based on the Spanish Constitution which was ratified in 1978.
In terms of administrative divisions, Spain is split primarily into Autonomous communities or the States of Spain. There are 17 communities including Catalonia, Valencia, Murcia, and Galicia. The autonomous communities report to the government, but also have a range of devolved powers.
Governance
Spain’s monarchy is a parliamentary democratic form of government. General Franco’s 36-year dictatorship ended in death on November 20, 1975, and two days later, Juan Carlos I of Bourbon dynasty came under Spanish rule. The Constitution, which determined the new political order of the country following a free election by all political parties, was adopted by the majority of the people in 1978 and entered into force with the approval of the King.
The king’s authority is largely symbolic. The main authority belongs to the Government appointed by the King. However, the King has the power to terminate the legislation and to appeal to the people on the terms specified in the Constitution.
Spain has an impressive economy and is part of the European Union. It currently ranks 13th in terms of GDP. In addition to this, its economy is classed as capitalist-mixed, and it is the 6th largest in Europe. Its citizens live in a high income economy and have high standards of human development. Spain’s main industries include:
- Machine tools
- Pharmaceuticals
- Metal Manufacturers
- Chemicals
- Ship Building
- Tourism
Geography
Spain is bordered by Morocco, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Andorra and France. The official language is Spanish. Other languages with regional prevalence are Basque, Aranca, Catalan and Galician. The country also has ethnic groups such as Romanians, Moroccans and Ecuadores. There is no mention in the Spanish national anthem. On the other hand, the third most spoken language in the world is Spanish.
Spain, with an area of 505,182 square kilometers, is the second largest country of the European Union and Western Europe after France.
It is located on the Iberian Peninsula on the south-western edge of Europe. Apart from this peninsula, the Balear Islands in the Mediterranean, the cities of Ceuta and Melilla in the north of Africa, and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean are also within the Spanish national borders. Spain is a neighbor to Gibraltar in the west, again in the Iberian Peninsula, in the north, in France, and in the south in the United Kingdom.
Spain is actually the third-largest country in Europe. Over 40% of the country is covered by what is known as the Meseta Plateau. This plateau is predominantly hilly and has an abundance of highlands. The different highlands are split by the Cordillera Central mountain range. Only when reaching the border of Portugal does the Meseta slope and form lower-lying land. Other distinct regions include:
- Cordillera Betica Mountains
- Sierra Nevada Mountains
- Andalusian Plain
- Ebro River Basin
In northern Spain, the Pyrenees form a hard border with France. Within these mountains lie the small country of Andorra, and the Basque Region. To the south, Spain juts out towards the northern coast of Africa, culminating at the British owned Rock of Gibraltar.
Climate
Climate is dry. The summers are warm, the winters are cold. There are three different climate regions in the country. In Northwest Spain, summers are mild, winters are soft. Mediterranean climate mixed with the land climate dominates the interior.
Capital
The capital is Madrid. It is also the largest municipality in Spain. The population of the city is about 3.2 million people. It is the third largest city of the European Union. Madrid is located both on the Manzanares River and in the favorite center of the country and Madrid Community. Each year, it hosts hundreds of thousands of tourists.
Population
Spain, the fifth most populous country in Europe, has a population of 46,392,756 million. It is the second largest country of the European Union with a surface area of 505,955 square kilometers.
Religion
Most of Spain’s people are Christian Catholic. With a small number of Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, this number constitutes a percentage of the population.
Art
From the paintings on the walls of Altamira caves to the works of Picasso, the Spanish art enriched the opposition carried by the Spanish land among many influences and accidents. In 1875, colored bison paintings made to the “ceiling” of the Altamira caves unearthed to the north of the country remained from the Upper Choreography period. These products are evidence of a mastery of Jesus, fifteen thousand years old. The megalithic tomb monuments rising up along the coast (Cueva de Menga dolmeni) are from the period of Cilalitas.
Sports
There are about 5 million licensed athletes in Spain. There have been great successes in sport in recent years. The most popular sports soccer throughout the country.
Cuisine
When it comes to Spanish cuisine, paella comes first. This very famous dish of the Valencia region almost stamped the Spanish cuisine. Paella; It is an extremely delicious rice dish includes chicken meat, fish, and seafood. Paella is a meal that combines the culinary cultures of the Romans and Arabs who have historically occupied Spain.
Influence of Andalusia
Gazpacho, a type of cold soup that is very popular in Spanish cuisine, is especially common in Andalusia. The name derived from an Arabic word meaning “wet bread” is also an indication of the interaction with Arabs throughout history. The most common gazpacho meal consists of tomatoes, vinegar, garlic, olive oil, bread, onion, cucumber and green pepper not cooked and darkened with breadcrumbs. Toasted bread pieces are served with chopped vegetables and solid eggs. Made in the province of Malaga in Andalusia and is a very original taste.
Different parts of Andalusia, Spain’s most populous region, have their own specialties. For example, along with the coast, a variety of seafood, paella in Sevilla, and delicious aroma gazpacho in Cordoba are the most popular of them.
Andalusia, the southern region of Spain, has gained unique tastes to Spanish cuisine due to its long occupation of the Arab occupation. The Andalusian cuisine is under the influence of the cuisines of the North African countries. It consists mainly of carbohydrate foods. Also, it occupies a great place in the seafood kitchens thanks to the coasts to the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean. Wheat, grapes, and olives make up traditional agricultural products. Eggs, tomatoes, garlic, onions, olives, and peppers are also abundant in this kitchen.
The foods named Tapas are an important taste that enriches the pieces of Spanish food. You can find these in small bars/restaurants ‘Tasca‘. Tapas served in small portions in small glasses accompanied by a glass of wine or beer are mostly made from dishes with cheese, meat, egg vegetables.
Olive oil, the symbol of the Mediterranean cuisine, is also and ingredients in almost every meal and salad in Spain. The main ingredients of Spanish desserts are honey, almonds and egg whites. This reflects the influence of the Arabic food culture that has lived in these regions for many years.
Spain FAQs
What are the 5 regions of Spain?
There are no clear regions in Spain however, we can give 5 general distinct areas. The Canary Islands, The Balearic Islands, central Spain, northern Spain and the Pyrenees, and Southern Spain.
Where is Spain on a map of the world?
Spain is located in south west Europe. It borders to the north with France, and to the east of Portugal. The eastern coast of Spain lies in the Mediterranean Sea.
What is Spain famous for?
Spain is famous for many things – Paella (the national dish), Football, Siestas, Ibiza, Flamenco Dancing, and its beautiful beaches, for example. People usually associate Spain with fine weather and fine food.
How far is it from Barcelona to Madrid?
The actual distance between these two major cities is 505km. In terms of transport, a road journey takes approximately 6 hours. Alternatively, a rail journey takes 2 hours 30 minutes.
What is the Currency of Spain?
Spain has been using the Euro since 2002. The mark of the euro is € and the code is EUR. The currency of the country before 2002 is Spanish peseta.
The Spanish peseta is the currency used in Spain from 1869 until 2002, the international currency code ESP. The abbreviation Pts. was written as Pta. Peseta was used in practice in Andorra, though not officially with the French franc. 1 Peseta consisted of 100 centimos.
Although it is not official, it consists of 1 Peseta and 4 Real. However, these sub-units came out of use in the 1970s. Peseta derives from the word “peceta” in Catalan. The meaning of this word is a small part. The peseta was changed from 1 Euro = 166.386 peseta set in 1999.
From 1 January 2002, Spain began using the Euro. In 2002, the euro was the currency of choice in Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Finland and Austria. The euro is the common and monolithic part of the European Monetary Union, the last stage of the Common Market system that European countries have established to raise the welfare level.
What is the Official Language of Spain?
The official language of Spain is Spanish.
In Spain, which has a multicultural structure, languages such as different Basque, Catalan and Galician are spoken in various regions.
– Catalan is the language spoken in and around Barcelona.
– Basque is the language spoken in and around Bilbao, also called “Basque Country” in Spain.
– Galician is the language spoken in the north-western, oceanic coast of Spain.
Especially in Spain and Mexico, Spanish is the most widely spoken language after English, which is valid in most parts of the world. Spanish, the Indo-European romance language, is also a very complicated and melodious language.
The world’s longest special names are in Spanish, and there are artisans who distinguish between masculine and feminine as in the whole of the Roman languages.
Features of Spanish
“La” refers to articulate feminine, “el” refers to the male. The end of the male names always ends with “O”, the female names always end with the letter “A”. While the length of names in Spain is a sign of nobility, each man has four names.
The real name of the world-famous painter Salvador Dali is “Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dalí i Domènech”.
“Al and el” passed from Arabic to Spanish, and “al” was used extensively, particularly in male names. Like Alberto, and Alfredo.
Spoken in a vast geographical area, it has different speech, dialect and dialectical features such as the same American English and British English. Although the language structure and origins are the same, in some words, meaning differences can emerge in expressions.
Linguists explain the reason for this as the immigration of the Andalusia region too much. This migratory mobility led to the more frequent use of Andalusian Spanish instead of Castilian Spanish.
According to a recent survey, the world’s best Spanish is spoken in Valladolid, Spain, while the worst Spanish is spoken in Peru.