Spain

Location & Geography

Spain is a country located on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe. It shares land borders with Portugal, France, Andorra, and Gibraltar. Spain is a country of diverse landscapes — from the beaches of the Mediterranean coast to the mountainous interior and the lush green hills of the north. The capital city is Madrid, and the currency is the Euro.

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. Around 70% of the country is Roman Catholic.

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.