The Spanish artists whose works fill our pages are famous throughout the world.  Spanish painters like Velázquez, Goya, Picasso, Dalí and Miró for their canvases; Spanish architects such as Calatrava and Gaudí for their famous building designs; and Julio González, Chirino and Chillida for their sculptures… All these Spanish artists are known in artistic circles around the world. They are and remain the international ambassadors of Spanish art culture. These artists' works are exhibited both in Spanish museums and in international exhibits.

Discover these Spanish artists and their works and allow yourself to fall in love with Spanish art.

• Read more about enforex_pages_landing_block_8f159f08-9304-4ae2-88d7-9379a49c37ec

Philip II searched until he found the perfect location, El Escorial, located just 45 kilometers (28 miles) northwest of Madrid in the center of Spain. It was here that the famous San Lorenzo de El Escorial Monastery would be built in honor of Saint Lawrence Day of August 15, 1557, the day in which King Philip won his first battle in St. Quentin, France.

The project was charged to various different architects including Juan Bautista de Toledo and Francesco Paciotto. It was Juan de Herrera, however, who was the most well known and would leave his distinctive mark on the Monastery of El Escorial. He designed a sober façade without any decoration and slate roofs, a style that came to be known by the architect's name and would be later copied by other architects as a variation to Spanish Renaissance art. The El Escorial Monastery building consisted of a series of different wings surrounding interior patios around a basilica church. Here, the El Escorial Monastery building combines Castilian, Italian and Flemish stylistic elements and, by strange coincidence, the building takes the shape of grill over which Saint Lawrence was killed. Another interesting fact about the Saint Lawrence El Escorial Monastery is that until recent history it was the building with the most windows in all of Spain.

The Monastery of El Escorial was built on the concept of imitating the temple of King Solomon, a figure with whom Philip II identified with. With this idea in mind, statues of King David and King Solomon were placed in the entrance of the building.

Just like the great King represented in the Bible, King Philip also sought knowledge. With this in mind, he had one of the largest libraries of the time built within the El Escorial which included great collections of books, scientific instruments, maps and art work by some of the best artists of the time, a collection that would be further expanded by his successors. Today, visitors to the El Escorial Library can view masterpieces by the likes of Hyeronimus Bosch, Rogier van der Weyden, Titian, Diego Velazquez and Anton van Dyck. The impressive library of El Escorial also boasts an impressive collection of fresco (mural type) paintings in the Hall of Battles.

Although the whole complex is often referred to as the El Escorial Monastery, in reality it is much more than a Monastery. On one hand, there is the El Escorial Palace where the King resided with a bedroom that opened to the interior of the church so that he could assist mass even when his sickness (gout) prevented him.

The majestic El Escorial Church is preceded by the Court of the Kings. Underneath the Court of the Kings in the El Escorial complex is the crypt that holds the Royal Pantheon. The Royal Pantheon is the location of all the tombs of the kings, queens and princes of Spain over the last 500 years with some exceptions. When a member of the Spanish Royal Family dies, his or her body is moved to a secret room called the “pudridero” where the body decomposes for 30 years before it is moved to one of the small urns in the crypt.

The El Escorial complex is completed by a monastery of Augustinian monks, a private university run by the monks, and a dormitory.

• Read more about enforex_pages_landing_block_c611779e-b231-4fd3-ac7e-db848719cf70

Palau de la Música Catalana

The Palau de la Música was a project commissioned by the Catalan choral society l’Orfeó catalá, founded in 1891 by Lluís Millet and Amadeo Vives. The Palau was to be the group’s concert hall and home office. To fund construction of the building, they requested sponsorship from industries and music-loving investors that had financed the Gran Teatre del Liceu years earlier.

Construction on the Palau was carried out between 1905 and 1908 and ever since its completion it has hosted musical performances of all types from orchestras and choirs to soloists as well as theatrical shows.

The acoustics in the Palau are excellent, as is the attractive combination of innovative architectural features and stylized art deco design displayed throughout. The use of a metallic structure as the structural base, and the exuberance of sculptures along with fine ceramic, glass and metalwork all help make the Palau de la Música a must-see attraction while in Barcelona.

This traditional building was renovated and extended beginning in the 1980s under the direction of famed architect Oscar Tusquets. The renovation works earned the following praise from Lluís Domènech Girbau, grandson of the building’s creator.

“the renovation of the concert hall and its entrances, the construction of the new building annex (…) have produced a perfectly updated work which harmonizes safety, comfort and acoustics, all in the innovative spirit that Domènech i Montaner himself would have hoped for”.

Hospital de Sant Pau

One of Domènech i Montaner’s other most celebrated achievements, the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, is the product of the merging of 6 hospitals that had been in Barcelona since 1401. The new institution was called Hospital de la Santa Creu. By the end of the 19th century, Barcelona’s population growth and medical advances had given rise to the need to build a new building.

Construction on the project began with the help of funding from a banker named Pau Gil, who had indicated his hope that the name of the hospital would include his own name. The hospital has been known ever since as the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. Lluís Domènech i Montaner’s master piece would go on to become the most outstanding public building designed in Catalan Modernisme style.

In 2001, the Hospital celebrated its 600 year anniversary and carried out works to accommodate the needs of new medical technologies. The extension works were done by a team of Catalan architects who created a main block of doctors offices connected to four hospital buildings extending outward from the main block, creating a the shape of a hand with outstretched fingers as a symbol of the humanitarian efforts the institution had put forth over six centuries.

The architectural ensemble of hospital structures, the omnipresent modernist décor and the focus on the institution’s “commitment to people” have all helped this assistance complex become an artistic emblem that facilitates humanitarian service.

The Palau de la Música Catalana and the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau are two highly recommended places to visit while in Barcelona, particularly for those interested in art and architecture.

• Read more about enforex_pages_landing_block_a4badec7-007e-46d0-99fe-75f84d8794c5

Esta ciudad, con un nombre de evocaciones árabes que significa “Palacio sobre el río Henares” no siempre fue conocida con la misma denominación.

La historia de Alcalá de Henares se remonta a la época celtibérica, en la que se atestigua un asentamiento con el curioso nombre de “Ikesanconkombouto”. Tras la conquista de Hispania por Roma, sobre este asentamiento se fundó “Complutum”, una ciudad relativamente importante que ha dejado como recuerdo el adjetivo complutense, usado como patronímico de sus habitantes junto al de alcalaíno. El nombre actual de la ciudad viene de la denominación que los árabes dieron a una alcazaba que se alzaba en el lugar, que había ido despoblándose hasta quedar reducido a una fortificación. En 1118, con la reconquista castellana de la ciudad, comenzó el renacimiento de la ciudad, teniendo como eje central un templo que hoy es la Catedral Magistral de los santos Justo y Pastor. Durante todo el siglo XII y los siguientes, el prestigio e importancia de Alcalá de Henares fueron en aumento.

Pero fue en 1499 cuando algo único y especial marcó el futuro de la ciudad del río Henares: el Cardenal Cisneros fundó en ella la Universidad Complutense, que no tardó en llegar a ser un punto de referencia en la cultura renacentista. Alrededor de la universidad se creó una ciudad pensada por y para la cultura, lo que hizo de Alcalá un modelo urbanístico y la primera ciudad universitaria.

La importancia de la lengua española va de la mano de Alcalá y su Universidad. Sirva como botón de muestra el hecho, nada baladí, de que fue en Alcalá de Henares donde Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, probablemente el escritor en lengua española más internacionalmente conocido y admirado, creador del prestigio del idioma y autor de la primera novela moderna, El Quijote, nació en 1547.

El casco histórico de Alcalá se ha mantenido con exquisito cuidado hasta el día de hoy, lo que unido a la prestigiosa Universidad que acoge, le valieron el reconocimiento internacional en 1998. Durante la desamortización del siglo XIX se trasladó la universidad a Madrid, con el nombre de Universidad Complutense en memoria de su origen. Con la llegada de los nuevos aires democráticos, en 1977, la ahora conocida como Universidad de Alcalá volvió a abrir sus aulas a los estudiantes y se puede afirmar que a día de hoy, con sus casi 30.000 estudiantes, sus más de 2.000 profesores y 35 titulaciones de Grado, más los cursos de posgrado y formación continua, la Universidad de Alcalá es un punto de referencia entre los mejores de España.

Pero Alcalá de Henares no se termina en el maravilloso paseo que nos lleva a través de su casco histórico cuando venimos de la estación de autobuses o del tren por la calle libreros y la Mayor, con monumentos, facultades y edificios civiles a diestra y siniestra que nos mantendrán boquiabiertos durante todo el paseo hasta la Catedral. Al ser una ciudad universitaria volcada sobre esta institución, la vida cultural alcalaína es riquísima: encontramos el corral de comedias más antiguo de Europa, abierto ininterrumpidamente desde 1601, también se realizan en la ciudad un festival de cine, la Semana Cervantina, la entrega anual de los Premios Cervantes de literatura, la Semana Santa… y el tapeo (ya se sabe que a los estudiantes, de bolsa exigua, les encanta comer bien y beber mejor lo más barato posible) con la Ruta de las Tapas de Alcalá de Henares, que se celebra anualmente al final de la primavera.

Además, Alcalá de Henares es la cuna del Instituto Cervantes, institución encargada de la difusión de la lengua española a nivel internacional y responsable de los únicos certificados y diplomas oficiales de español como lengua extranjera.

Si estás por Madrid, media hora en tren o en autobús te permitirán entrar en este remanso de cultura e historia que se ha mantenido a salvo del bullicio y la globalización. No te lo puedes perder.

• Read more about enforex_pages_landing_block_1457ab54-18e2-4c8b-9f78-95ef464da907

La construcción del Parque Güell se llevó a cabo entre los años 1900 y 1914, y abrió sus puertas al público general en 1922. Está situado en la montaña del Carmel, en la cara de la montaña que mira al este, es decir, al Mar Mediterráneo. Para su realización se compraron y unieron dos fincas que estaban en dicha montaña: Can Muntaner de Dalt y Can Coll i Pujol; y en su origen se pensó crear una zona urbanizada de palacetes para la burguesía catalana, proyecto que no tuvo éxito.

El Parque Güell supone la plenitud artística del arquitecto catalán. En el se combinan con gran maestría todos los elementos de la etapa naturalista de Gaudí (que se desarrolla en la primera década del siglo XX). El artista perfecciona su estilo y se inspira en las formas orgánicas de la naturaleza, a la vez que aplica soluciones estructurales nuevas. Toda esta experimentación tendrá su máximo reflejo en el Templo de la Sagrada Familia, donde aplicará estas soluciones y culminará su estilo organicista.

Al Parque se accede por una entrada que simboliza la entrada al Paraíso. Está llena de alegorías y vigilada por un dragón (símbolo de Barcelona) que echa agua por su boca. A sus lados hay dos escaleras con mosaicos que dan acceso a la Sala Hipóstila o Sala de las Cien Columnas, que soportan una plaza superior. Esta sala imita el estilo de los templos griegos clásicos.

La Plaza superior tiene forma oval y unos 3.000 m2 y el borde sirve de banco. Es un banco ondulante que simboliza una serpiente. Tiene unos 110 metros de longitud. Está decorado con collages de cerámica de formas abstractas.

Para acceder a las partes más altas del parque hay unos viaductos soportados por columnas que imitan las formas de las palmeras. Son columnas esbeltas e inclinadas para soportar el peso de la parte superior.

En la cima del monte se sitúa un monumento al Calvario, con tres cruces. Se inspira en las cuevas prehistóricas que se hallaron en dicho parque. Las cruces se orientan según los cuatro puntos cardinales, y una de ellas tiene forma de flecha que apunta al cielo, aunque se desconoce su simbología.

Todos los elementos arquitectónicos se integran de tal forma en la naturaleza que apenas se distinguen y crean un entorno de ensoñación. Podemos decir que el Parque Güell es el parque mejor integrado en su entorno de toda España, y en el que podrás disfrutar de unas vistas de las que disponen solamente sus visitantes.

• Read more about enforex_pages_landing_block_350f7511-1a12-4e46-85b2-2fa7b5d67425

With Mediterranean and continental marine climates with varying temperatures and irregular rainfall, Spanish animal and plant life varies greatly. Spain boasts diverse terrains with mountainous regions, a Mediterranean and Atlantic Coast with a lot of dry terrain between, aiding to the diverse Spanish native wildlife. In Europe, Spain is second only to France with a total of 128 different mammal species.

Spain also maintains a considerable amount of land as nature reserves to preserve and protect wildlife in Spain.  According to the 2009 EUROPARC – Spain State Protected Natural Areas Yearbook, Spain has declared 550.000 hectares (184.009 of which are marine areas) of the Canary Islands as nature reserves. Only 1% of Spain’s sea surface is protected but 12.1% of its land surface is officially preserved. This figure jumps to 28% if you take into account the Natura 2000 protected areas, converting Spain into the European country with the most protected spaces.  Every year, the list of certified protected areas grows in an attempt to save the native Spanish animals and plants.

Among Spain’s indigenous animals are a wide variety of deer, Iberian wild goats, tortoises, bats, snakes, and small reptiles and amphibians. Larger native Spanish animals are mostly endangered including Cantabrian brown bears, Iberian wolves and Iberian lynxes.  Due to Spain’s key location for migratory birds traveling from Europe to Africa, Spain is fantastic for bird watching and is home to a large number of bird species. Some Spanish native birds include species of vultures, eagles, kites, bustards, storks and flamingoes.

Endangered Wildlife in Spain

According to the 2009 infamous “Red List,” created by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Spanish peninsula and surrounding waters are home to 227 endangered species including: 16 mammals, 15 birds, 19 reptiles, 6 amphibians, 61 fish, 26 mollusks, 35 invertebrates and 49 plant species.

Overpopulation of coastal zones has endangered animals like the monk seal and the fish eagle while Spanish wetlands have been reduced drastically putting at risk the habitats of numerous other species. Some animals have adapted to centuries of human development and changing farming techniques while others such as rodents, bats, salamanders and birds have been badly affected. Other threats endangering Spanish wildlife include contamination (pollution Pesticides, industrial residues, plastics, toxic gasses, toxic waste) and fire (10 - 20 million hectares destroyed annually).

Despite conservation efforts, many native Spanish animals are recognized as endangered wildlife.  Among the critically endangered animals are: the Iberian Lynx (the most endangered cat species in the world), the Mediterranean Monk Seal, the Hierro Giant Lizard and Spengler's Freshwater Mussels.  Endangered wildlife endemic to Spain include the: broom hare, Canary shrew, Osorio shrew and Canary big- eared bat.  Other animals at risk of regional extinction in Spain include Cantabrian brown bears and various whale and bat species, among others.

• Read more about enforex_pages_landing_block_d7478b67-59b1-4ce1-938e-472a5f3a2246

Dolphins, whales, sharks…you name it and it's pretty likely to be there. Striped, common and bottle-nosed dolphins bouncing out of the waters are regular sights if you know where to look, as are long-finned pilot whales, sperm whales and, if you're lucky, Orcas! The Bay of Biscay and Gibraltar's Bay of Algerciras are the most popular areas in which to go whale-watching. You are generally guaranteed to see something!

Sharks also inhabit the Mediterranean and the Atlantic waters close to the Spanish coast, they are often caught, intentionally or otherwise, by local fishermen. Don't be alarmed however, they rarely venture too close to the shores and although there have been isolated attacks in recent years, they are very rare!

The Spanish Mediterranean is home to a few colonies of one of the world's rarest mammals. Hunted for its skin during the twentieth century, the monk seal was thought to be extinct in Europe in 1992. However, thanks to a huge protection programme there is now hope; a number of small colonies have been spotted off the Spanish coast! Today, the biggest threat to their survival is skindiving. Monk seals inhabit underwater caves and are very easily disturbed, females will often abort their young when alarmed, for example by divers.

Closer to shore, there are plenty of jellyfish, sea urchins and stingrays. Most jellyfish are harmless but there are a few Man-of-Wars lurking around, whose tentacles can grow up to 20metres long! Man-of-Wars are not technically a jellyfish, but a colony and if you are unlucky enough to get caught by one the best thing to do is 'relax' and slowly slide away. Jellyfish and Man-of-War stings should be bathed in sea water, not fresh water, as this can re-trigger the sting. Brightly-coloured and wildly-formed sea urchins are abundant in the Spanish seas, they are beautiful to look at but be careful not to stand on them! Sting-rays are also popular sights in shallower waters, they are not aggressive creatures but may graze you with their tail if trodden on, so look out!

For a chance to see some of these weird and wonderful creatures close up, why not visit some of the east coast's stunning aquariums? Valencia is home to the largest aquarium in Europe, Aquarium de Valencia, which is part of the famous City of Arts and Sciences. This huge sea-life centre is home to fish and wildlife from all over the world, from the tropics to the Antartic. It has an excellent global warming exhibition and an open-air pool too, where you can watch dolphin shows!

Further north, built only 10 years ago, Barcelona's world-class aquarium is one of the city's top attractions. It contains fish and sea-life from all corners of the planet, with certain tanks and areas designated to certain oceans, for example the Caribbean, Great Barrier Reef and Red Sea tanks, with all of their vivid colors and strange shapes. By far the most complex of the aquariums however, is the Mediterranean tank, which has reconstructed protected areas of the Spanish coastline in order to raise awareness about preserving the seas.

There is also a smaller aquarium in Benidorm called Mundomar, or SeaWorld, it has a number of enclosures featuring turtles, sea lions and dolphins.

Away from what to catch sight of and what to avoid, there are millions of smaller fish and crustaceans that are fished and eaten each year. Before the tourism boom in the 1970's, the fishing industry largely supported the east coast's economy. Today, the Spanish fishing fleet is the largest in the EU with around 80,000 sailors and 400,000 labourers! In 2000, Spain exported 99.9 million tonnes of canned fish worth around $300 million, in addition to 149.9 million tonnes of crustanceans and mulloscs, worth around $390 million!

Delicious paella, juicy prawn salad, fresh lobster or crispy calamares served with a bitter slice of zesty lemon are just a few of the tasty dishes freshly served up from the ocean here on the costas. Other popular catches are plaice, tuna, sardines, hake, mackeral, swordfish, octopus, anchovies and mussels. In fact, Spain is the world's biggest exporter of mussels after China.

So, whether you're eating it, watching it or swimming with it, Spain's sea-life is a major part of its industry, its culture and its allure. Grab the opportunity to learn as much about it (or eat as much of it) as you can!

• Read more about enforex_pages_landing_block_fc9e6d07-cd14-49d0-878b-efb5c4770d0d

Characteristics of the Brown Bear

One of the most impressive characteristics of the Spanish brown bear is its enormous head and two small eyes. Its ears are small and rounded and its fur ranges from dark brown, almost black to very light blonde, or nearly white. Sometimes several mixed shades are present in the same animal. However, Cantabrian and Pyrenees brown bears tend to have darker, more blackish-colored legs than their European counterparts. Because of this, the brown bear population, along with the Pyrenees bears, has even been categorized as a subspecies of the main European population known as Ursus arctos pyrenaicus, although this is highly debated.

Female brown bears come into season during the summer months of June and July. The males are attracted to the odor that the females emit; if two males lay claim to the same female then a fight for mating rights occurs. These fights normally end in injury, and sometimes in the death of one of the suitors. The victorious male will then pursue the female, who may initially reject him, for several days as they get to know each other. The mating ritual will follow, which may last for several days more.

After the long mating ritual, the male brown bear leaves the female. Several months later, she will search for a den to hibernate and give birth. An interesting thing about the brown bear is that after a brief period of growth, the fertilized egg stops growing and floats freely in the bear's uterus until fall. When the mother enters into hibernation, if she is fit enough to bare the pregnancy, the embryo will implant and continue growing. This phenomenon is called delayed implantation.

The cubs are born in January or February, after only two months of pregnancy, while the mother is in hibernation. She will wake up briefly to give birth. During this period, both the mother and the cubs will have to survive on the accumulation of fat that the she has gained before hibernation. The Spanish brown bear cubs have no hair when they are born and weigh only about 350 grams.

With the arrival of spring, the mother bear and her little ones emerge from the den and the learning period of the cubs begin. The cub depends completely on its mother, as previously mentioned, for about a year and a half. It is a fundamental learning period during which brown bears will use their intelligence and individual personalities to learn all of the necessary skills to survive.

Spanish brown bears, as well as other brown bear species, in the wild live to the age of about 25-30 years. In captivity, they can live even longer.

As a general rule, the Spanish brown bear avoids humans and it's difficult to sight them in the wild. However, if you happen to come across one, try not to be scared! Do not scream because it may provoke the animal, just get out of their way as quickly as possible because brown bears can be unpredictable.

• Read more about enforex_pages_landing_block_0f667a62-4105-4206-86c5-83ee38906b84

Two of the biggest names in Spanish Basketball are perhaps Pau Gasol and his younger brother Marc; Pau became a powerful NBA forward and center, having joined the Junior Program in Barcelona at just 16. Impressively, in 2009, Pau was the first Spanish player, with the Lakers, to win the NBA finals. During the 2012-2013 Season, his brother Marc earned the title of ‘defensive player of the year’ for the NBA. Other well known players include Jose Calderon, Juan Carlos Navarro, Ricky Rubio and Rudy Fernandez. These players amongst others were part of the 2006 victory at Japan’s World Basketball Championships, and were awarded the Prince of Asturias Sports Award as a result of their excellent play. Not only has the Spanish men’s team earned a multitude of medals at the Eurobasket (gold in 2009 and 2011) but from both the 2008 and the 2012 Olympics, the team took home the silver medal. Women’s basketball in Spain is equally very impressive; winning bronze at three Eurobasket tournaments (2001, 2003 and 2005), silver in 2007 and gold in 1993 and 2013, the team also earned bronze at the World Basketball Championships in 2010.

The success of the Spanish basketball team is sometimes linked to a generation inspired by the American ‘dream team’ of players, which included Michael Jordan and Larry Bird; indeed, a handful of Spain’s World Champions play in the NBA. Transferring from Spanish teams such as FC Barcelona to play in the NBA, where salaries are much higher, is not uncommon, but many of Spain’s biggest names in Basketball have instead opted to stay in Spain, where although play may be famously more conservative and perhaps less ‘spectacular’, the sport is picking up pace and Spanish teams are highly regarded on an international scale. The contrast between the careful tactical play and smooth teamwork characteristic of Spanish teams, and the ‘slam-dunk’ performances, packed full of high jumps and incredible physical talent associated with the NBA is often noted, but with the 17th FIBA World Cup for basketball being held in Spain in 2014, the sport is only set to inspire more young people, to steamroll in popularity.

• Read more about enforex_pages_landing_block_43025dbe-86bd-44a2-ae34-6d6063184ee8

Important and Interesting Facts about Spain

In this section you will find important interesting facts about Spain including statistical, geographical, and political facts about Spain.

• Spain Official Name: Spain is called España en Spanish which is said to come from the Roman name Hispania. The official name of Spain is: El Reino de España (The Kingdom of Spain).
• Spain's Geography: Spain is located in southern Europe and occupies 85% of the Iberian Peninsula. Apart from that, the nation is also made up of the Balearic Islands (located to the east of the peninsula in the Mediterranean Sea), the Canary Islands (+1.000 km/621 mi south of the peninsula just off the coast of Africa), 2 cities in Northern Africa called Ceuta and Melilla, and three small island possessions off the coast of Morocco: the islands of Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera. Additionally, Spain is the closest country to Africa, with a separation of only 14 km (8.7 mi) at the closest point.
• Span's Borders: Mainland Spain shares borders with France and Andorra in the northeast, Portugal in the west and to the south it shares a very small border with Gibraltar, UK. Additionally, Melilla and Ceuta share borders with Morocco.
• Spain's Climate: The climate in Spain is very diverse throughout the various Spanish regions. Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of central Spain has very cold winters.
• Regions: Spain has 17 autonomous communities: Madrid, Catalonia, Valencia, Andalusia, Basque Country, Asturias, Galicia, Aragon, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Castile-La Mancha, Castile-Leon, Cantabria, Extremadura, La Rioja, Murcia and Navarra. Each autonomous community has a capital. Madrid is not only the capital of the autonomous community of Madrid, but also of the whole country.
• Spain's Beaches and Coasts: Spain has 4,964 km/3,084 mi. of coastline beaches. You can bathe in the Mediterranean Sea to the south and east, in The Bay of Biscay to the north, and in the Atlantic Ocean to the west.
• Spain's Languages: 74% Castilian Spanish (official language). Regional official languages include: Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Euskera (Basque) 2%.
• Spain's Major Cities: Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Seville.
• Spain's Size: 194,897 mi² or 504,782 km², a little more than double the size of the Oregon State, USA and the second largest country in Western Europe and the 51st largest country in the world.
• Spain's Population: 40,525,002 (Estimation: July 2010).
• Spain's Time zone: +1 GMT. In Canary Islands: +0 GMT.
• Spain's Currency: The Euro € replaced the Spanish Peseta in 2002.
• Spain's Flag: Horizontal bands in red and yellow with a coat of arms displaying emblems of the traditional kingdoms of Spain.
• Spain's Independence: 1492; when Granada was seized and the Muslim occupation of Iberian Peninsula ended with the unification of several kingdoms forging present-day Spain.
• Spain's National Day: 12 October - celebrates Columbus' arrival to the Americas in 1492.
• Spain's National Anthem: La Marcha Real (The Royal March). The anthem has no lyrics.
• Spain's Life Expectancy: average of 80 years old, one of the highest in the world.
• Spain Religion: Approximately 90% + of the population is Roman Catholic. However, only about 20% regularly go to church.
• Spanish Government: Political Structure: Parliamentary monarchy (since 1978).
• Spanish History: Browse topics in our section on Spanish History.
• Spanish Gastronomy: Learn about the Mediterranean diet and Spanish eating customs or browse through our Spanish Recipes.

Facts about Spain for Kids

Now that you know all the important facts and fun facts about Spain, we also have some Spain facts for kids. The following facts are some of our favorite fun facts about Spain for kids.

• In Spain there is no tooth-fairy, but rather a little rat called Ratoncito Pérez that leaves gifts or money under your pillow.
• In Spain kids celebrate something similar to 2 birthdays: their actual birthday and the day of their Saint (based on their name).
• Kids also celebrate something similar to two Christmas holidays: The 25th of December and also the 6th of January, Three Wise Men day. Normally, they get gifts on both days.
• On Three Wise Men day, they are big parades called a cabalgatas in which traditionally the three wise men appear on camels and everyone in the parade throws candies to the crowds.
• No need for Disneyland, in Spain there are plenty of amusement and water parks to keep any kid busy.
• A popular puffed air snack in Spain is called gusanitos which means “little worms”.
• In local festivals, costumed characters known as cabezudos and gigantes (Big-heads and Giants) chase children through the streets chastising them and giving them treats. A good example is the festival of La Mercé in Barcelona.
• The 28th of December is the day of Santos Inocentes (Innocent Saints). It is much like April Fools day and children make mischief and play tricks on people.
• Hot chocolate (chocolate caliente) in Spain is very thick and often eaten with churros (fried pastries with cinnamon). Ask for a Cola Cao if you want what most Westerners would consider hot chocolate. It is typically Spanish, often eaten at breakfast, kids love it, and it is really tasty!
• First communions are very important in Spain and the God parents have significant roles in the festivities.
• Important kids cartoons include Pocoyó and Los Lunnis.
• There are lots of events that kids will love in Spain.

• Read more about enforex_pages_landing_block_561916d8-9da8-41c5-af34-358fe9078bf0