Spain
Location and Geography
France is a country located in Western Europe, with its coastline on the North Atlantic Ocean, the English Channel, and the North Sea. It shares land borders with Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Spain, and Andorra. France is a country of diverse landscapes, with many mountain ranges, large lakes, and rivers.
Culture
The Basics
Spanish is the official language of Spain, however languages such as Catalan, Galician, and Basque are spoken in several communities throughout the country. Also, around 70% of the country is Roman Catholic.
Traditions
Flamenco
The Flamenco is an important part of the Spanish culture. It is a combination of music and dancing, which takes years to master. If you would like a glimpse of what this is, click here.
Running of the Bulls
Every July, the city of Pamplona hosts La Fiesta de San Fermin which is a multi-day celebration that is most famous for the “Running of the Bulls.” I wish I could’ve seen this, but I wasn’t near it. If you do go, be careful because it is extremely dangerous. Click here to learn more.
La Tomatina
La Tomatina is one of the coolest things I learned about while in Spain. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see it, but I have seen videos and it looks amazing. La Tomatina is a huge “tomato war” that takes place in Buñol, Spain every August. Everyone throws tomatoes at one another. Check it out here.
Art
Spain is home to some incredible artists, like El Greco, Diego Velázquez, Francisco Goya, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and Joan Miró. Their paintings are famous all over the world and have had a huge impact on Western art. These artists, who worked from the Renaissance to the modern day, have made a beautiful collection of art that will keep inspiring people for generations to come.
