¡Hola! Welcome to the land of passion, sunshine, and history—Spain, a vibrant nation occupying most of the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. There are around 48,000,000 people living here, and the capital is Madrid, a city known for its elegant boulevards, world-class art museums, and expansive parks. The official language is Spanish (Castilian), but several regions also speak their own co-official languages like Catalan, Galician, and Basque.
Spain covers about 505,992 square kilometers (195,365 square miles). The country is roughly twice the size of the state of Oregon in the U.S., or about the same size as Thailand. It is the second-largest country in the European Union and features a diverse landscape ranging from the snowy Pyrenees mountains to the volcanic terrain of the Canary Islands.
The most popular sport is Football, with world-famous clubs like Real Madrid and FC Barcelona commanding global audiences. Their national animal is the Bull, which has long been a symbol of Spanish culture and strength, while the Iberian Lynx is their most celebrated and protected wild species.
The flag consists of three horizontal stripes of red, yellow, and red, with the yellow stripe being twice the width of the red ones and featuring the national coat of arms, where the red and yellow represent the historic kingdoms of Spain and the coat of arms symbolizes the unity of the nation.
The food is a world-renowned celebration of fresh ingredients and regional variety. You must try Paella, a saffron-infused rice dish originally from Valencia, usually cooked with seafood or meat. Another favorite is Jamón Ibérico, a high-quality cured ham that is a staple of Spanish life. For a fun dining experience, try Tapas or Pinchos, small plates of various snacks shared with friends over a drink. For dessert, don’t miss Churros con Chocolate, fried dough pastry dipped in thick, hot chocolate.
Spain is home to the Sagrada Família in Barcelona, Antoni Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece and one of the most unique cathedrals in the world. The country features the Alhambra in Granada, a stunning Moorish palace and fortress complex that showcases the height of Islamic architecture in Europe. You can visit the Prado Museum in Madrid, which houses one of the world’s finest collections of European art. For a unique experience, head to the Camino de Santiago, an ancient network of pilgrim routes stretching across the north of the country. Interestingly, Spain is the world’s leading producer of olive oil, accounting for nearly half of the global supply!
From the rhythmic stomping of Flamenco in Seville to the crystal-clear waters of the Balearic Islands, Spain is a land of endless festivals and timeless beauty. ¡Gracias! That means “Thank you!”