Spain is located in southwestern Europe on a large percentage
of the Iberian Peninsula , which is also occupied by Portugal
on the western side. Africa is approx. 10 miles south from Gibraltar
. The Balearic Islands are located off the southeastern coast
of Spain in the Mediterranean , and the Canary Islands are approx.
60 miles west of Africa .
Travel Insurance for Spain:
Area: Europe *
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FCO Country Advice for Spain
The population is comprised of mainly Mediterranean and Nordic
races. The official language is Castilian Spanish, but other
dialects are spoken, including Catalan, Galician and Basque.
The dominant religion is Roman Catholicism.
The name Spain immediately conjures up images of Flamenco music
and dancers, bullfighting, Sangria, paella, sherry, and sun-drenched
beaches. However, Spain has much more to offer with its diverse
landscapes of rolling green hills, arid desert-like land, Moorish
palaces, castles, Roman ruins, cathedrals from the Gothic and
Renaissance periods, and cave paintings. Spain has culturally
different areas such as the northern Basque country, Andalusia
in the south, and the Balearic and Canary Islands ,
Low-cost, budget airline travel to Spain has turned the country
into a hot-spot for visitors from northern climes escaping their
own cold, damp climates. The Balaeric and Canary Islands are
popular during winter, where the resorts of Teneriffe, Lanzarote,
Ibiza and Majorca have become overrun with tourists. There are,
however, many unspoilt and uncrowded areas of Spain to be discovered.
There are hundreds of miles of coastal areas which have quiet
areas to be explored.
Spain has over 4,000 km of fantastic beaches located in the
south and eastern parts of Spain on the Mediterranean Sea , the
Bay of Biscay to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west
and south. Spain has more than 300 days of sun per year and average
temperatures are from approx. 65F – 85F (19C-29C).
Beginning at the southeastern end, the Costa Brava has lovely
coves and beaches; further south are the Mediterranean beach
areas of Costa Daurada ( Golden Coast ), Costa del Azahar (Orange
Blossom), Costa de Valencia, Costa Blanca ( White Coast ) and
Costa Calida ( Warm Coast ). Further west are the Andalusian
Costa de Almeria, Costa Tropical and Costa del Sol . The upmarket
resort of Marbella is famous for its celebrity visitors. The
Mediterranean and Atlantic Oceans are joined by the Stait of
Gibraltar. Aldalusia’s Atlantic coastal area is the Costa
de la Luz (Coast of Light ) which reaches east to the border
with Portugal . On the northern shores of Spain are the Galician
coast on the Atlantic side, and the Bay of Biscay has popular
resorts such as Santander and Donastia-San Sebastian to the Basque
Country, Cantabria and Asturias. The northern coastal areas also
enjoy a good climate but much more greenery due to increased
rainfall.
The coastal areas of the Balearic Islands , set in the Mediterranean
Sea , have some dramatic scenery with breathtaking cliffs, coves
and beautiful secluded beaches. The main islands are Majorca
, Menorca , Ibiza and Formentera.
The volcanic Canary Islands enjoy a very good climate year-round.
Some of the popular resort areas are Tenerife , Puerto de la
Cruz and Lanzarote. Gran Canaria is known for its sand dunes.
The Canary Islands are situated over 1,000 kilometres from the
Iberian Peninsula , off the coast of North Africa . They have
an exceptional year-round climate with superb beaches where you
can enjoy the sun and sea at any time of the year.
For a change of pace from the coastal resorts, the mountainous
areas of Spain are worth a visit, with the Pyrenees in the North
and to the south the Sierra Nevada range. The landscape in these
areas is tranquil with glaciers and beautiful alpine lakes, parks
and other attractions. The central part of Spain or ‘plateau’ is
the farming area where crops such as olives and grapes are grown.
In the northern part of Spain , Basque Country, there are beaches,
lovely countryside and picturesque fishing towns. These areas
are wonderful for those who enjoy nature and activities such
as hiking, fishing, mountain biking, horseback riding and mountaineering.
Southern Spain is home to one of the world’s most noble
horses, the Andalusian. The history of the Andalusian horse preceeds
the birth of Christ. The Moorish conquerors of Spain used the
horses and cross-bred them with their Arab and other breeds.
The world famous Lippizaner horses of the Spanish Riding School
in Vienna are direct descendants of the Andalusian horse and
prized for their unusual and beautiful gait, great intelligence
and yet docile temperament.
For those who love the water and water sports, the coastal
resorts have facilities for sports such as windsurfing, sailing,
snorkelling and diving. The inland lakes and rivers are great
for fishing, whitewater rafting and canoeing. For golfers, Spain
has over 200 golf courses throughout the country and because
of the climate it is possible to find golfing year-round.
For winter sports enthusiasts Spain has great opportunities
for enjoying some skiing or snowboarding in the Pyrenees and
Sierra Nevada mountains, as well as many other mountain ranges
in the country.
For art and culture lovers, the capital city, Madrid, has the
Prado Gallery with works, often collected by the kings, by famous
names such as Velazquez, Botticelli, Caravaggio, Rafael, Tintoretto,
Rubens, Van Dyck, Durer and Rembrandt, to name just a few. Other
excellent art museums and unique architecture are located in
Granada , Toledo , Madrid and Cordoba . In Barcelona there is
the Picasso Museum , the Miro Foundation, and the unique Gaudi
sculptures in Parc Guell which house many of Gaudi’s works.
Malaga has the Picasso Foundation. A must-see if you are visiting
Granada is the Alhambra Moorish palace which is located right
in the centre of the city.
There are many Tapas bars throughout Spain (called Tascas).
Tapas are basically tiny portions of tasty appetizers. They are
part of the Spanish culture and a great way to pass some time
with a glass of beer or wine and watch people go by. Sherry is
produced in Spain and tours of the facilities where you can watch
the amber liquid processed are available.
The squeamish may avoid the plaza de toros, where bullfighting
occurs in major cities such as Granada , Madrid or Seville .
However, this very old activity is a part of Spain that endures
today. Pamplona is the site of the famous and dangerous running
of the bulls which is held annually and was brought to the world’s
attention by the writer Ernest Hemingway.
The beautiful art of Flamenco can be seen and heard in bars
or nightclubs and these often dramatic and passionate performances
can be an unforgettable part of your visit to Spain . |
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