Spain
Capital
Madrid
Population
~47.4 million
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Quick Facts
- Languages
- Spanish (Castilian - official nationwide), Catalan, Galician, Basque (co-official in regions)
- Religion
- Predominantly Roman Catholic, growing secularism
- Climate
- Diverse; Mediterranean (south/east), Oceanic (north), Continental (interior)
Culture & History
Known for: flamenco music and dance, siesta culture (less common now), La Liga football (Real Madrid, Barcelona), and diverse regions with distinct identities
Also famous for: Tapas, paella, Moorish architecture (Alhambra), bullfighting (controversial), artists (Picasso, Dalí, Gaudí)
Food: Paella, Tortilla Española, Jamón Ibérico, Tapas
Brief History
Roman province, Visigothic kingdom, Moorish Al-Andalus, Reconquista, Spanish Empire, Franco dictatorship, transition to democracy