Spain

SPAIN Few countries can produce such a profound nostalgic feeling when you leave them as Spain can. This land in the southwest of Europe has much more to offer than you can imagine. Famous for sunny beaches, sinfully delicious dishes, and energy-boosting "siestas," Spain also offers snowy mountains to the north, architectural jewels from the times of the Mores invasion in the south, and great nightlife all over the country. Let yourself fall in love with this wonderful people who will welcome you as a life-long friend and discover with us the hottest spots in this generous country.

Area: 505.988 Km²
Population: 41.117.000
Density: 81 pop/Km²

System of government: Parliamentary monarchy
Capital: Madrid (2.957.000 pop., 5.085.000 urban aggl.)
Major cities: Barcelona 1.505.000 pop. (3.765.000 urban aggl.), Valencia 747.000 pop. (1.398.000 urban aggl.), Sevilla 703.000 pop. (1.180.000 urban aggl.), Zaragoza 611.000 pop., Malaga 534.000 pop.
Ethnic majority: Spanish (with Catalan, Galician and Basque) 97,8%, European 0,9%, African 0,6%, others 0,7%
Border countries: Portugal WEST, France and Andorra NORTH-EAST, Morocco (Ceuta and Melilla) SOUTH, Gibraltar (United Kingdom) SOUTH

Principal mountains: Pico de Teide 3718 m (Canary), Mulhacén 3478 m, Pico de Aneto 3404 m
Principal rivers: Ebro 910 Km, Tagus 790 Km (spanish tract, total 1007 Km), Guadiana 778 Km (total, with portuguese tract), Duero 700 Km (spanish tract, total 895 Km), Guadalquivir 657 Km
Principal lakes: Embalse de Alcantara (artificial)
Principal islands: Canary 7447 Km² (Tenerife 2034 Km², Fuerteventura 1660 Km², Great Canary 1560 Km², Lanzarote 846 Km², La Palma 708 Km²), Balears 4992 Km² (Mallorca 3640 Km²)
Climate: Oceanic - temperate

Language: Spanish (official), Catalan, Galician, Basque, Valencian (officials in respective regions: Cataluña, Galicia, Basque Country and Communidad Valencian)
Religion: Catholic 99%
Currency: Euro (€)

Fixed public holidays: 1/1, 6/1, 19/3, 1/5, 15/8, 12/10, 1/11, 6/12, 8/12, 25/12
Dialling code: 0034
GMT: +1

World Heritage List:

• Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín, Granada (1984, 1994) 20
• Burgos Cathedral (1984)
• Historic Centre of Cordoba (1984, 1994) 21
• Monastery and Site of the Escurial, Madrid (1984)
• Works of Antoni Gaudí (1984, 2005)
• Altamira Cave (1985)
• Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias (1985, 1998) 22
• Old Town of Avila with its Extra-Muros Churches (1985)
• Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct (1985)
• Santiago de Compostela (Old Town) (1985)
• Garajonay National Park (1986)
• Historic City of Toledo (1986)
• Mudejar Architecture of Aragon (1986, 2001) 23
• Old Town of Cáceres (1986)
• Cathedral, Alcazar and Archivo de Indias in Seville (1987)
• Old City of Salamanca (1988)
• Poblet Monastery (1991)
• Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida (1993)
• Route of Santiago de Compostela (1993)
• Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Guadalupe (1993)
• Doñana National Park (1994)
• Historic Walled Town of Cuenca (1996)
• La Lonja de la Seda de Valencia (1996)
• Las Médulas (1997)
• Pyrénées - Mont Perdu (1997, 1999) *
• San Millán Yuso and Suso Monasteries (1997)
• The Palau de la Música Catalana and the Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona (1997)
• Rock-Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula (1998)
• University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares (1998)
• Ibiza, biodiversity and culture (1999)
• San Cristóbal de La Laguna (1999)
• Archaeological Ensemble of Tárraco (2000)
• Archaeological Site of Atapuerca (2000)
• Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí (2000)
• Palmeral of Elche (2000)
• Roman Walls of Lugo (2000)
• Aranjuez Cultural Landscape (2001)
• Renaissance Monumental Ensembles of Úbeda and Baeza (2003)