Widely
known for Flamenco music and dance, bull-fights, fantastic
beaches and lots of sunshine, Spain has to offer much more
than that. It is - and has been for thousands of years -
one of the cultural centers of Europe. It has beautiful
cities and towns, offering really old monuments as well
as futuristic architecture. Its various regions are all
different one to each other, geographically, climatically
and even in personality. It is a fascinating country to
know and to know more about it.
"Spain is different!", Spaniards use to say. They
don't specify compared to what: to the rest of Europe, to
the rest of the world, or even to itself ? We don't know
it either, but we do our best to supply you with loads of
information so you can find the answer to this question
and to many more by yourself.
Spain is located at the Iberian Península, of which
it occupies approximately 80% (the remaining 20% are occupied
by Portugal), in the southwest of Europe. In the north Spain
borders on France and Andorra, with the Pyrenees as a natural
frontier. Additionally the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca
and Ibiza) in the Mediterranean Sea, Canary Islands in Atlantic
Ocean close to the Moroccian coast, and Ceuta and Melilla,
located in northern Africa, are Spanish territory.
Spain is the 3rd country of Europe in extension and the
5th in population.
There are five big mountain ranges crossing the country,
and about 50% of it are located at an elevated plain.
Landscapes are extremely varied, some almost desert-like,
others green and fertile, and of course there are the long
coasts, in the east along Mediterranean Sea from Pyrenees
to Gibraltar, and in the west (the major part of the Iberian
peninsula's western coast is occupied by Portugal) along
the Atlantic Ocean and Cantabrian Sea.
Best known among Spain's folkloristical traditions are certainly
Flamenco and bullfights. Bullfights you will find indeed
throughout the country, the most popular event perhaps being
the "Running of Bulls" during the Sanfermines
in Pamplona. But bullfights are part and parcel of any Fiesta.
Another outstanding Fiesta are "Las Fallas de San José"
in Valencia, in March, when all the city becomes the scenery
of an enormous party with lots of good mood and excellent
fireworks.
A wild week you can spend also in San Sebastian during February,
when La Tamburrada takes place.
Madrid has its Fiesta, "San Isidro", in May. If
you like bullfights, don't miss it. Carnival is popular
in all the country, the best is in Santa Cruz de Tenerife,
but if you are at the peninsula, Cadiz and Sitges are the
places to go. Well, if you want to know more about this
beautiful country, come and visit the "Tierra de Espana"!
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