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Spain brief description of the country. Country Spain – information and facts

SPAIN - GENERAL INFORMATION

Territory- 504,750 sq. km. In terms of territory, Spain is the second country in Western Europe after France.

Population- 39.2 million people. National composition: Spaniards, Catalans, Galicians, Basques.

Languages:Spanish ( official language- 74% of the population), Catalan (autonomous community of Catalonia - 17%), Galician (autonomous community of Galicia - 7%), Basque (Basque Country - 2%).

Religion- 99% Catholics.

Capital- Madrid.

Largest cities - Madrid (3 million), Barcelona (1.7 million), Seville (714 thousand).

Administrative division - 17 autonomous communities. Under Spanish control there are also 2 territorial enclaves on the coast of Morocco (Ceuta and Melilla) and three groups of islands off the coast of Morocco.

Form of government- constitutional monarchy.

Head of State - King Juan Carlos.

Currency- Euro.

Banks serve clients on weekdays from 08.15 to 14.00, on Saturday until 13.00, Sunday is a day off. You can also exchange currency at exchange offices, hotels and travel agencies.

Visa regime - Schengen visa.

Time– Moscow minus two hours.

Geography of Spain

Spain is located in southwest Europe and occupies about 85% of the Iberian Peninsula. Also, Spain owns the Balearic and Pitius Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The cities of Ceuta and Melilla (in Morocco) and the islands of Vélez de la Gomera, Alucenas and Chafaranas are under Spanish control. Territory: 504,750 sq. km. Of these: land - 499,400 sq. km., water - 5,350 sq. km. Spain borders France - 623 km, Portugal - 1,214 km, Andorra - 65 km, the English colony of Gibraltar - 1.2 km, Morocco: (Ceuta) - 6.3 km, (Melilla) - 9.6 km. Total length of the border: on the ground - 1,919.1 km, coastline- 4,964 km. The central part of Spain is the Meseta plateau with the Center mountain range. Cordillera. In the north and northeast are the Pyrenees, Cantabrian, Iberian and Catalan mountains, in the south are the Andalusian mountains (Mulacen, 3478 m, the highest point of continental Spain) and the Sierra Morena mountains. Large rivers - Tagus, Duero, Ebro, Guadalquivir, Guadiana. The country is washed in the southeast by the Mediterranean Sea, in the west by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Spain is located at the intersection of important sea and air routes connecting Europe with the African and American continents. Spain also has a strategic location along the Strait of Gibraltar.

Population of Spain

Spain is considered a single nation, formed on the basis of various historical regions and ethnic groups, the main of which are Catalans (15.6%), Andalusians (15.6%), Castilians (11.1%), Valencians (9.7%) , Galicians (7.4%) and Basques (5.6%).

Most of the population of Spain (99%) are Catholics. The Catholic Church enjoys great influence in the country.

The total population of the country is 39.6 million people; population density - 78.5 people per 1 sq. km; annual population growth - 0.2%; illiteracy rate - 4.6%; life expectancy - 78 years.

Four languages are spoken in Spain: Spanish, Basque, Catalan and Galician. The official and most common language in the country is Spanish.

Climate of Spain

Spain has a Mediterranean climate. Average temperatures in January range from 4-5 °C on the Meseta plateau to 12 °C in the south; in July, respectively, from 23 to 29 °C. Precipitation 300-500 mm, in the mountains of St. 1000 mm per year (mainly in winter).

The Canary archipelago is also Spain, and you can swim on the island of Tenerife all year round. At the same time average temperature air temperature is +22-24°C, and even in August there is no sweltering heat.

Spanish cuisine

Spanish national cuisine is considered one of the best in the world in terms of quality and variety of products. Its peculiarity is the combination of numerous regional cuisines, each of which was influenced by climatic conditions and the way of life of the people of the area. National cuisine can be divided into Catalan, Valencian, Basque, etc. Madrid stands apart. Madrid-style fried meats, cod and rennet (stewed innards, cut into pieces) are equally beloved here, as are the traditional cocido madrileño (pea soups with croutons). But especially popular is Madrid's "calos" - spiced tripe with blood sausage and pepper sauce. You should definitely try at least the classic dishes. The famous Spanish omelette “tortilla”, spicy smoked sausage “chorizo”, serrano ham, sheep cheese “manchego”, delicacy specially smoked ham “jamon”. And, of course, cold gazpacho soup.

Working hours

Institutions: 9.00-13.00 and 16.00-20.00 (Monday - Friday).

Shops: 9:00-13:00 and 16:00-20:00 (Monday-Saturday). Large chain department stores: El Corte Ingles 10:00 - 21:00 (Monday-Saturday, without a break). Supermarkets: "Continente, Pryca, Alcampo, Mercadonna 9:00 (10:00) - 20.00 (21.00) Monday - Saturday, without a break. In tourist centers During the holidays, some stores are also open on Sunday.

Museums: from 9.00-13.00 and 16.00-19.00 (usually). Some museums are closed on Sunday and Monday.

Telephone
There are telephone booths anywhere in Spain from which you can call anywhere in the world. Telephone sets accept coins of 5, 10, 25, 100 and 500 pesetas. It is more convenient to call Russia from any telephone booth installed on the street or in a bar or restaurant - it is much cheaper than calling from a hotel.

Required telephone numbers:

national police – 091

local police – 092

Red Cross - 22-22-22

urgent medical care – 061

fire service – 080

exact time service - 093

Help Desk - 098

Tips
Tipping in Spain is an ancient tradition, practiced in bars and restaurants, taxis, cinemas, and hotels. Please note that a service charge may be included in your bill. Typically tip 5-10% in restaurants and taxis.

Useful tips for Spain

When going to Spain you should not count on English language. Learn Spanish words, or at least write them down on paper. A well-chosen list of 30 words will make your life immeasurably easier.
If you do not live in Moscow, a tour with a departure from your city will cost one and a half times more than a tour with a departure from Moscow. It might make sense to fly from Moscow.

If you are faced with a choice of when to go to the coast - in June or in September, keep in mind that the sea in June is noticeably cooler.

Buy and take with you a pocket-sized (so you can carry it with you) Spanish-Russian/Russian-Spanish dictionary. As practice shows, standard phrase books turn out to be practically useless; the ideal option is to know a couple of dozen basic phrases plus a dictionary in case you need to urgently translate a word.

Charter flights tend to be very late. Don't be surprised or worried, just be mentally prepared for the confusion at the airport and the fact that you will have to spend a couple of extra hours there.
The sand on the beaches varies depending on the beach - from coarse and sharp, as, for example, in Lloret de Mar, to very fine.

Popular because affordable prices Lloret de Mar is not suitable for family vacation, because it is flooded with young people from all over Europe. If that suits you, Lloret is the place to be, but if you prefer quieter, cozier places, you might be better off choosing something else.

The Costa Brava is characterized by a “sheer bottom”, when after taking four or five steps into the sea you plunge headlong. This is not particularly important for adults, but with small children who love to play in shallow water, it is still better to go to another coast.

The talk about the insidious Spanish sun is completely true. Don't neglect protective creams.

To avoid getting your towels dirty with sand on the beach, it is best not to spend money on sunbeds every day, but to buy a couple of mats (it will cost about a little over a euro apiece). You can buy them right there, in nearby shops. It wouldn't hurt to buy a folding sun umbrella either. It's more expensive, about 10 euros, but it's worth it.

If you are traveling on your own, keep in mind that during the season you can rent an inexpensive 1*-2* hotel within major cities can be extremely difficult. This is more likely in nearby suburbs.
You can significantly save on city fees public transport, if you buy passes for 10 trips.
Water parks typically open in late May/early June and close by October.
In Tenerife, you can look into the crater of the Teide volcano only with a special, separately obtained permit, which travel agencies forget to warn about.

The exchange commission (if there is one) of a currency, in addition to the percentage, always has a certain mandatory minimum - for example, 2 euros, so it is more profitable to change once a large sum, than several times small.
If you need to buy beach accessories (swimsuits, towels, slippers), remember that prices for them in Spain are 3 to 7 times lower than in Moscow. For example, swimsuits - 15-20 euros. Luxury beach towels - 5-10 euros. But photographic film in Spain is more expensive - from 4 euros.

Hot tea and coffee are usually offered in hotels only for breakfast. If you are used to drinking tea in the evenings, a small camp boiler will come in handy.

EmbassySpain in Moscow

Moscow, st. Bolshaya Nikolskaya, 50/8. Tel.: +7 (495)2022161, 2022180 / Fax +7 2919171

The heart of youth tourism is the Balearic Islands, especially Menorca, Mallorca and Ibiza, famous nightlife. Cultural and eco-tourism is developed in the interior regions of the country. But the core of the hospitality industry is beach resorts: Catalan Costa del Maresme, and Costa de Valencia in the autonomous community of Valencia, Andalusian resorts Costa de la Luz, Costa Tropical, Costa de Almeria, .

Many tourists are attracted by annual festivals, a significant part of which are dedicated to local saints, folklore and traditions. Particularly popular are Encierro in Pamplona, Seville Fair, Romeria de El Rocio, Tomatina in Buñol, Fallas in Valencia, carnivals in Cadiz and Canary Island Oh; music festivals Primavera Sound, Sonar, Festimad and Festival International de Benicassim; film festivals Mostra de Valencia, Sitges Festival, Valladolid International Film Festival.

Economy, employment

Spain has a traditionally high unemployment rate, especially among youth. According to statistics, during times of economic crises, every fifth Spaniard does not work anywhere.

The vast majority of the population is employed in the service sector. Historically, Spain is an agricultural country, but these days relatively few people are involved in this sector.

Winemaking is very well developed (pictured on the left). Here is a world-famous region - the country of wine and vineyards.

Cultivation of citrus fruits, vegetable growing, livestock raising and fishing are developed. Spain accounts for almost a quarter of the world's production of olives and olive oil - the most popular among tourists. Thanks to the variety of food products, it is so rich in dishes for every taste, and Spain itself is firmly entrenched in the list best countries for gastronomic tourism. The famous and magnificent ones contribute to this in many ways.

Residents of Spain

In ancient times, the Iberian Peninsula was inhabited mainly by Iberians, who later mixed with the Celts and assimilated by the Romans. The resulting Ibero-Roman community was successively diluted by the Germans, Arabs and Berbers, and several nationalities were formed. We talked about this in detail in the article "". The indigenous people of Spain: Spaniards (Castilians), Basques, Catalans and Galicians make up the vast majority of the country's population.

Spaniards practice predominantly Catholicism (about 75%). The second and third places are occupied by Islam (over a million) and Orthodoxy (about 900 thousand people). Orthodox Christians are mainly from Eastern Europe. Almost every tenth resident of Spain is an immigrant or descendant of immigrants.

Kingdom Spain(Espana - in Spanish and Spain - in English) is a country located in southwestern Europe and occupies most of the Iberian - also known as the Iberian - Peninsula. In addition, Spain owns a number of overseas territories: the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean; The Balearic and Pitius Islands in the Mediterranean Sea and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla on the northern coast of Africa.

In the west of the Iberian Peninsula, Spain borders with Portugal, in the south with the British territory of Gibraltar, in the north the country has common border with France and microscopic Andorra, and in northern Africa also with Morocco
In the west and north, the Spanish coasts are washed respectively by the open Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Biscay (also known as the Cantabrian Sea) of the latter, and in the east and south by the Mediterranean Sea
(relatively) Detailed

Basic information about Spain

As in Europe in general, there are not many populated metropolitan areas - only two cities in Spain have surpassed the million-person mark. These are Madrid and Barcelona. In terms of the number of inhabitants, even some cannot compete with the capital of Spain, Madrid (3.3 million inhabitants in the city itself and 6 million inhabitants in the metropolitan area).

The second place is occupied by the capital of the most economically developed region of the country (Catalonia), Barcelona, which counts among its inhabitants over 1.6 million people. In third place is Valencia, the capital of the community of the same name - over 800 thousand inhabitants, in fourth place is the beautiful Andalusian capital, Seville (700 thousand people).

Aragonese Zaragoza closes the top five most populated cities in the country, almost equaling Seville in terms of the number of inhabitants (over 700 thousand). In 6th place is the dynamically developing capital of the Costa del Sol, Malaga (570 thousand inhabitants).

Spain has been and remains an extremely popular country among tourists: in terms of the number of foreigners received per year, it is second only to neighboring France. There are dozens of iconic landmarks in Spain.

Sights of Spain

We will only mention those that are well known. The Escorial Palace-Monastery near Madrid, the Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona, marked by the genius of Antonio Gaudi - perhaps the most unusual temple in the world, the fortress of the Moorish kings in Granada, the Alhambra, the Montserrat Monastery in the rocks of Catalonia, Seville Cathedral - the second largest catholic church(more only in Rome) of Europe, are known even to those who have never been to this country.

Those who are planning to visit Spain will be able to discover a lot of no less interesting places. Almost any city in the country, from the megacities of Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia or Seville to provincial centers like Bilbao, Valladolid, Burgos, Zaragoza, Toledo, has an exceptionally ancient history and its own attractions.

The resorts of Spain are also naturally popular - in themselves the main and most beloved attractions of this country by tourists. Their number is so great that many allow themselves to no longer distinguish the city, simply saying: I’m going to the Costa Brava, Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol, Costa Verde or some other, smaller “costa”.

Small towns or now vast places, entire municipalities, the only reason for the growth of which was the influx of foreign holidaymakers - such, for example, as Benidorm, Marbella, Alicante or entire resort islands, Ibiza or Tenerife, are known far beyond the borders of the country and even beyond the continent.

Administratively, Spain is divided into 17 autonomous regions (Autonomous Community) and 2 autonomous cities. Regions: Andalusia, Aragon, Asturias, Balearic Islands, Valencia, Galicia, Canary Islands, Cantabria, Castile-La Mancha, Castile and Leon, Catalonia, Madrid, Murcia, Navarre, Rioja, Basque Country and Extremadura. Cities (on the African continent): Ceuta and Melilla.

According to its political system, Spain is a constitutional monarchy. The king is considered the supreme head of state. The executive power in the country is represented by a cabinet of ministers headed by the prime minister, the leader of the party that won the parliamentary elections.

The main legislative branch of the country: a bicameral parliament or Cortes Generales, consisting of the Senate (upper house) and the Congress of Deputies (lower house), re-elected every four years.

Spain is entirely integrated into the European economic and defense system: the country is a member of the European Union, the eurozone (the area where the euro is used as the main currency) and NATO. Also included in international organizations UN and WTO.

Perhaps thanks to this, Spain has a developed economy: the fifth largest in terms of turnover in the European Union and the fourth in the eurozone. The estimated Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2011 should be about 1 trillion 400 billion euros. That is, per capita of every Spaniard, goods and services worth 30 thousand European “rubles” are produced per year.

By the way, judging by the research of the German newspaper Die Welt, if not for the global financial crisis that hit Spain with a hammer, then by 2011 the country would have overtaken Germany in terms of average per capita income

The leading sectors of the economy are considered to be: mechanical engineering and the textile industry (few have heard of the SEAT automobile and the clothing Zara), tourism (provides about 5% of GDP), banking (Santander Bank is the largest in the eurozone), as well as winemaking and olive oil production . In the last two sectors of human activity, the Pyrenean country occupies a leading position in Europe.

And galis. Reino de España, cat. Regne d "Espanya, Bask. Espainiako Erresuma, Ox. Reialme d" Espanha) - a state in southwestern Europe with its capital in the city of Madrid. Spain occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula. According to one version, the name of the country comes from the Phoenician expression “i-shpanim” - “coast of rabbits”. Occupies 4/5 of the territory of the Iberian Peninsula, the Canary and Balearic Islands with a total area of 504,782 km² (together with small sovereign territories on the African coast, the cities of Ceuta and Melilla), being the fourth largest country in Europe after Russia, Ukraine and France. The average surface altitude of Spain is 650 meters above sea level. The country is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe.

Physiographic characteristics

Relief

The relief of Spain is very diverse. The center of the country is located 300 kilometers from the sea. The dominant role in the relief is played by systems of mountain ranges and high-mountain plateaus.

Plateaus and mountains make up about 90 percent of its territory. Almost half of the country's surface is occupied by the vast Meseta plateau, the highest in Europe - with an average height of 660 meters. It is distinguished by alternating plateaus, folded-block ridges and mountain basins. The Cordillera Central divides the Meseta into two parts: northern and southern.

The Pyrenees are several parallel ridges stretching from west to east for 450 kilometers. This is one of the most difficult to reach mountainous countries Europe. Although their average height is not very high (just over 2500 meters), they have only a few conveniently located passes. All passes are at an altitude of 1500-2000 m. Therefore, only four railways go from Spain to France: two of them bypass the Pyrenees along the coast from the north-west and south-east, and two more railways cross the Pyrenees in the sections Aerbe - Oloron - Sainte-Marie and Ripoll - Prades, through a tunnel system. The widest and high part mountains - central. Here is their main peak - Aneto Peak, reaching 3405 meters.

The Iberian Mountains system adjoins the Meseta from the northeast, maximum height(Mont Cayo peak) - 2313 meters.

Between the eastern Pyrenees and the Iberian Mountains stretch the low Catalan Mountains, the southern slopes of which drop off into the Mediterranean Sea. The Catalan Mountains (average heights 900-1200 meters, peak - Mount Caro, 1447 meters) follow for 400 kilometers almost parallel to the coast Mediterranean Sea and actually separate the Aragonese plateau from it. The areas of coastal plains developed in Murcia, Valencia and Catalonia north of Cape Palos to the French border are highly fertile.

The entire southeast of the Iberian Peninsula is occupied by the Cordillera Betica, which is a system of massifs and ridges. Its crystalline axis is the Sierra Nevada mountains. In height they are second only to the Alps in Europe. Their summit, Mount Mulacén, reaching 3,478 meters, is the highest point in peninsular Spain. However, the highest mountain peak Spain is located on the island of Tenerife (Canary Islands) - this is the Teide volcano, whose height reaches 3718 meters.

Most of Spain's territory is located at an altitude of about 700 meters above sea level. It is the second highest country in Europe after Switzerland.

The only large lowland - the Andalusian - is located in the south of the country. In the northeast of Spain in the river valley. The Ebro is the Aragonese plain. Smaller lowlands stretch along the Mediterranean Sea. One of the main rivers of Spain (and the only navigable one in the lower reaches) flows through the Andalusian lowland - Guadalquivir. The remaining rivers, including the largest: Tagus and Duero, the lower reaches of which are located in neighboring Portugal, Ebro, Guadiana, are characterized by sharp seasonal fluctuations in level and rapid flow.

Large areas of the country suffer from water shortages. Related to this is the problem of erosion - millions of tons of topsoil are blown away every year.

Climate

Spain is one of the warmest countries in Western Europe. Average quantity sunny days is 260-285. The average annual temperature on the Mediterranean coast is 20 degrees Celsius. In winter, temperatures usually drop below zero only in the central and northern regions of the country. In summer, temperatures rise to 40 degrees and above (from the central part to the southern coast). On the northern coast the temperature is not so high - about 25 degrees Celsius.

Spain is characterized by very deep internal climatic differences, and it can only conditionally be entirely attributed to the Mediterranean climatic region. These differences are manifested both in temperature and in annual amounts and precipitation patterns.

On extreme northwest The climate is mild and humid with little temperature variation throughout the year and high rainfall. Constant winds from the Atlantic bring a lot of moisture, mainly in winter, when foggy and cloudy weather with drizzling rains, almost without frost and snow prevails. The average temperature of the coldest month is the same as in northwestern France. Summers are hot and humid, with average temperatures rarely below 16 degrees Celsius. The annual precipitation exceeds 1070 mm, and in some places reaches 2000 mm.

Completely different conditions in internal parts countries - on the plateau of Old and New Castile and the Aragonese plain. These areas are influenced by the plateau-basin topography, significant altitude and local continental air. They are characterized by relatively low precipitation (no more than 500 mm per year) and sharp temperature fluctuations between seasons. In Old Castile and the Aragonese plain there are quite cold winters with frosts and strong, sharp winds; Summers are hot and fairly dry, although maximum precipitation occurs during this season of the year. Nueva Castile has a slightly milder climate, with warmer winters but also low rainfall. Agriculture in all these areas requires artificial irrigation.

Soil

In northwestern Spain, brown forest soil is developed on the coastal plains and windward mountain slopes. The interior regions of the country - Old and New Castile, the Iberian Mountains and the Aragonese Plateau - are characterized by brown soil; in the driest treeless areas there is thin carbonate gray-brown soil with areas of salt marshes in relief depressions. Gray soils are developed in the arid landscapes of Murcia. They are non-gypsum-bearing and non-saline; when irrigated, they produce high yields of fruit and other crops. The heavy clay barros soil on the flat ancient alluvial plains is distinguished, especially favorable for the cultivation of rice.

Flora and fauna

The variety of climatic conditions - from humid in the north to arid in the south - determines the heterogeneity of the flora and vegetation of Spain. The north shows similarities with Central Europe, and the south with Africa. Traces of forest vegetation in Murcia, La Mancha and Granada indicate that in the past a significant part of the territory of Spain was afforested, but now forests and woodlands occupy only 30% of the country's area, with only 5% being full-fledged closed stands.

Evergreen oak forests grow in the north-west of the country. Mountain forests contain more deciduous oak species, along with beech, ash, birch and chestnut, which is typical of Central Europe. In the interior of Spain, small tracts of dry evergreen forests, dominated by oak, interspersed with pine forests and shrubs, have been preserved in some places. In the driest areas of New Castile, the Aragonese plateau and Murcia, fragments of semi-deserts (usually on salt marshes) are found.

In those areas of Southern Spain where there is more rainfall, especially along the coast, typical Mediterranean shrub-herbaceous communities of the garrigue and tomillara type are present. Garrigue is characterized by the participation of local species of gorse and cornflowers, while tomillara is characterized by the presence of aromatic Lamiaceae (shrub species of thyme, rosemary, etc.), as well as cistus. A special variety of garrigue consists of scattered thickets of the dwarf fan palm, very characteristic of Andalusia, as well as communities dominated by tall alpha grass, or esparto, a hardy xerophyte that produces strong fiber.

Central European and African connections are evident in the fauna of Spain. Among European species, two varieties of brown bear (the large Asturian and smaller, black, found in the Pyrenees), lynx, wolf, fox, and wildcat deserve mention. There are deer, hares, squirrels and moles. The imperial eagle is found in Spain and North Africa, and the blue magpie, found on the Iberian Peninsula, has also been found in East Asia. On both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar there are genets, Egyptian mongooses and one species of chameleon.

Minerals

Minerals of Spain: The subsoil of Spain is replete with minerals. Particularly significant are the reserves of metal ores, the deposits of which are associated with the outcrops of the folded base of the Meseta or with volcanic rocks of mountain structures. Along the northwestern edge of the Meseta, within the Gallic massif, there are tin, tungsten and uranium ores in Caledonian and Proterozoic granite intrusions. A strip of lead-zinc-silver deposits stretches along the southern outskirts of Meseta. There is also a large deposit of mercury of global importance - Almaden. Iron ores are found in the north and south of Spain. They are confined to the structures of the Mesozoic and Alpine magmatic cycles. These are well-known deposits in the Bilbao region on the northern slope of the Biscay Mountains and in Almeria on the southern slope of the Beta Cordillera. In the north, in the Carboniferous sediments that fill the foothill depression of the Asturian Mountains, there is the largest coal basin in the country. In addition, there are small deposits of coal on the southern slope of the mountains and in some other areas. The Cenozoic deposits of intermountain and intramountain depressions contain strata of salts and brown coal. Significant reserves of potassium salts are located within the Ebro Plain.

It is worth noting, however, that most of the mineral deposits in the country are very modest in size and are quite depleted, like many deposits in other European regions, which makes Spain dependent on the import of minerals, mainly from North Africa.

Economy

Airports in Spain are subordinated to the public organization Spanish Airports and Air Navigation (Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea (Aena)), which in turn is subordinate to the Ministry of Development (Ministerio de Fomento de España). According to the Catalan Autonomy Act of 2006, three Catalan airports were transferred to the jurisdiction of the Generalitat of Catalonia, which manages them jointly with public organization Aerocat. With 50.8 million passengers in 2008, Madrid Airport (Barajas) is one of the busiest airports in the world. Barcelona Airport (El Prat) served 30 million passengers in 2008. Less busy airports are in Gran Canaria, Malaga, Valencia, Seville, Mallorca, Alicante and Bilbao.

Spanish airlines are: Air Europa, Air Nostrum, Air Pullmantur, Binter Canarias, Iberia LAE, Iberworld, Islas Airways, Spanair, Vueling Airlines.

Spain aims to have a million electric vehicles by 2014 as part of the government's plan to save energy and improve the environment.

Light industry

Food industry

In the food industry, winemaking stands out (Spain is second only to France and Italy in the production of grape wines in Europe), the production of vegetable oil (1.7 million tons in 1996; Spain is the world leader in the production of olive oil (about 0.5 million tons per year ), fruits, vegetables and canned fish. Spain is among the top ten global producers of cars, ships, forging equipment and gas compressors, machine tools, petroleum products and chemical goods. Half of industrial production is concentrated in the northeast (Catalonia), the north of the country (Asturias, Cantabria, Basque Country) and in Greater Madrid.

Agriculture

The leading branch of agriculture is crop production (provides over 1/2 of the cost of production). They grow wheat (about 20% of the sown area), barley, corn (in the central and southern regions of the country), rice (on the irrigated lands of the Mediterranean coast; its yield in Spain is one of the highest in the world), potatoes and sugar beets, legumes, tomatoes, onions, peppers, eggplants and other vegetables (vegetables occupy 60% of the cultivated area), olives - (leading place for growing olives in the world) - (Andalusia, Castile-la-Mancha, Extremadura), citrus fruits and tobacco. Viticulture - on the Mediterranean coast and in the regions of Castile-la-Mancha, Extremadura. In the very south of the country, almonds (the leading export destination in Western Europe), dates and sugar cane (in Europe they grow only in Spain), figs, pomegranates, and cotton are grown.

Fishing

Spain is one of the top ten countries in the world in catching fish and seafood (1.1 million tons in 1996) and processing it, and is a major exporter of fresh fish and canned fish.

The bulk of the fishing takes place off the coast of the Basque Country and Galicia. The most commonly caught fish are sardines, hake, mackerel, anchovies and cod. Every year, 20-25% of the total catch is processed into canned food.

Banking sector

Spanish banks need recapitalization in the amount of 59.3 billion euros, according to the results of stress tests posted on the website of the Spanish central bank. The financial crisis in Spain led to an explosion of separatism. The economic crisis in Spain is gradually beginning to develop into a political one. On the one hand, regions with their extremely weak banks need help from the national government. On the other hand, some territories, in particular Catalonia, believe that without the guiding and guiding hand of Madrid they would feel much better.

The crisis was not limited only to the financial sphere. Property prices fell, which in turn increased unemployment. Spanish construction company Martinsa-Fadesa has declared bankruptcy after failing to refinance its €5.1 billion debt. In the second quarter, property prices in Spain fell by 20%. In the Castile-La Mancha region, approximately 69% of all buildings built in the past three years are still unsold. Deutsche Bank expects a 35 percent fall in property prices in Spain by 2011. Spain's Prime Minister, José Luis Zapatero, blamed the European Central Bank for exacerbating the situation by raising interest rates.

Population

Dynamics of population changes:

city - 6.5 million people;
city - 4.5 million people;
city - 6 million people;
city - 11.3 million people;
city - 6.2 million people;
city - 11.55 million people;
city - 18.6 million people;
city - 24.1 million people;
city - 29.9 million people;
city - 36.3 million people;
city - 45.97 million people.

The population of Spain is 46.16 million people (October 2011).

According to genetic research conducted by the University of Leeds in 2008, 20% of the modern population of Spain has Jewish ancestry, and 11% have Arab and Berber ancestry.

Story

On southwest coast In Iberia in the Bronze Age a culture emerged, from which at the end of the 2nd millennium the Tartessian civilization was formed, which traded metal with the Phoenicians. After the depletion of the mines, Tartessus fell into disrepair.

Along east coast Spain in the 3rd millennium BC. e. Iberian tribes appeared; some hypotheses connect their ancestral home to North Africa. From these tribes comes the ancient name of the peninsula - Iberian. In the middle of the 2nd millennium BC. e. The Iberians began to settle in fortified villages in what is now Castile. The Iberians were mainly engaged in agriculture, cattle breeding and hunting, and knew how to make tools from copper and bronze. The Iberians used the Paleo-Spanish script created earlier by the Tartessians. The Iberian language was not related to Tartessian.

There is Roman evidence that Ligurians previously lived in Spain, but nothing is known about their existence in the historical period.

In the Late Bronze Age, the culture of the urn fields (a remnant of which in the historical period were probably the Lusitanians) penetrated into Iberia, and at the beginning of the 1st millennium BC. e. Most of Iberia is colonized by Celtic tribes. Some of the Celts who lived in the neighborhood of the Iberians, falling under their influence, created the Celtiberian culture; the Celts who lived in the western part maintained a relatively conservative way of life and were unliterate. The Celts of Iberia became famous as warriors. It was they who invented the double-edged sword, which later became the standard weapon of the Roman army and was used against its own inventors.

XX century

XXI century

In March 2004, 13 explosions rocked the Atocha train station in Madrid, killing 191 people and injuring 2,050. This terrorist attack was organized by an underground Islamist organization that followed the ideology of Al-Qaeda. The explosions occurred three days before the parliamentary elections and were terrorists' response to the participation of the Spanish military in a military operation in Iraq. Most Spaniards blamed the attacks on the government of Prime Minister José Maria Aznar, which sent Spanish troops to support the US and UK. The Aznar government made this decision unilaterally, without coordinating it with the parliament (Cortes) and despite massive protests from civil society, which demonstrated in thousands of demonstrations against the participation of the Spanish army in the war. In addition, mass public surveys conducted by a government agency indicated that about 80% of the country's population was against Spain's entry into the war. Aznar's People's Party lost the elections on March 14, 2004.

At the beginning of 2004, the new socialist government of José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero made a sharp turn in Spanish foreign policy: from supporting the US course to solidarity with most EU countries. After winning the elections on March 14, 2004, the Socialist government withdrew Spanish troops from Iraq, thus fulfilling an important point in the electoral program of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE). In the subsequent parliamentary elections held in 2008, the PSOE won again. New parliamentary elections in Spain took place on November 20, 2011.

In 2005, same-sex marriage was legalized in Spain. Thus, Spain became the third state in the world, after Holland and Belgium, to recognize the legal equality of marriages regardless of the gender of the spouses. Same-sex marriage is now recognized in many countries, as well as in some US states.

One of the problems of modern Spain is the problem of immigration. Mostly, residents of the Maghreb countries come to Spain and Latin America. At the beginning of the new century, there were an estimated 2.5 million Latin Americans in the EU countries, 800 thousand of whom were in Spain. However, after the terrorist attacks of 2004, the attitude of the Spaniards towards immigrants changed significantly.

Political structure

Administrative division

50 provinces included in 17 autonomous regions. Also within Spain are 2 so-called autonomous cities (ciudades autónomas) in Africa - Ceuta, Melilla and sovereign territories of Spain.

Andalusia (Spanish) Andalucía)
Aragon (Spanish) Aragon)
Asturias (Spanish) Principado de Asturias)
Balearic Islands (Spanish) Islas Baleares, cat. Illes Balears)
Basque Country (Spanish) Pais Vasco, Basque Euskadi)
Valencia (Spanish) Comunidad Valenciana)
Galicia (Spanish) Galicia, galis. Galiza)
Canary Islands (Spanish) Islas Canarias)
Cantabria (Spanish) Cantabria)
Castile - La Mancha (Spanish) Castilla-La Mancha)
Castile and Leon (Spanish) Castilla y Leon)
Catalonia (Spanish) Cataluña, cat. Catalunya)
Madrid (as an autonomous region) (Spanish) Madrid)
Murcia (Spanish) Region of Murcia)
Navarre (Spanish) Navarra, Basque Nafarroa)
Rioja (Spanish) La Rioja)
Extremadura (Spanish) Extremadura)

Cities

The largest cities in Spain are:

Culture

Spain is rightfully considered a museum under open air. The expanses of this country carefully preserve cultural and historical monuments which have worldwide fame.

The most famous museum in Spain, the Prado Museum, is located in Madrid. Its extensive exhibition cannot be seen in one day. The museum was founded by Isabella of Braganza, wife of King Ferdinand VII. The Prado has its own branch, located in Cason del Buen Retiro and storing unique collections of Spanish painting and sculpture of the 19th century, as well as works by English and French painters. The museum itself presents large exhibitions of Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Flemish and German art. The Prado owes its name to the Prado de San Jeronimo alley, where it is located, laid out during the Age of Enlightenment. Currently, the Prado Museum's holdings include 6,000 paintings, more than 400 sculptures, as well as numerous jewelry, including royal and religious collections. Over the course of several centuries of its existence, the Prado was patronized by many kings.

It is believed that the very first collection of the Prado Museum was formed under Charles I, known as Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. His heir, King Philip II, became famous not only for his bad character and despotism, but also for his love of art. It is to him that the museum owes its priceless acquisitions of paintings by Flemish masters. Philip was distinguished by his gloomy worldview; it is not surprising that the ruler was a fan of Bosch, an artist known for his bizarre, pessimistic fantasy. Philip initially purchased Bosch's paintings for Escorial, the ancestral castle of the Spanish kings. It was only in the 19th century that the paintings were transferred to the Prado Museum. Now here you can see such masterpieces of the Dutch master as “The Garden of Delights” and “The Hay Wain”. Currently, in the museum you can enjoy not only paintings and sculptures, but also theatrical performances designed to “revive” famous paintings. The first such staging was dedicated to the paintings of Velazquez and was a huge success with the public.

There are many more unique museums and galleries in Spain: the Picasso Museum and the National Museum of Art of Catalonia, located in Barcelona, National Museum sculptures in Valladolid, El Greco Museum in Toledo, Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Museum of Spanish Abstract Art in Cuenca.

Spanish cuisine

Sport

The main sport in Spain has been football since the beginning of the 20th century. Basketball, tennis, cycling, handball, motorsports and, more recently, Formula One are also important due to the presence of Spanish champions in all of these disciplines. Today Spain is a leading world sports power; the development of sports in the country was particularly stimulated by the Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona. In 2008, Spain won the European Football Championship, and in 2010, they won the FIFA World Cup. In 2012, Spain won the European Football Championship over Italy with a score of 4:0.
In general, in the 2000s, the Spanish national teams won the World and European Championships in almost all team sports: football, basketball, water polo, field hockey, roller hockey, handball, volleyball and the Davis Cup in tennis.

It is also worth noting that the Real Madrid football club is officially recognized the best club world of the 20th century.

Armed forces

The new doctrine 1/2004 declares terrorism to be the main enemy of Spain (both external and internal). It is noted that from now on, Spanish troops will be able to take part in international peacekeeping actions directly approved by the UN or, as was the case in Kosovo, enjoying the obvious support of the world community. In addition, participation in hostilities will require permission from the Spanish Parliament.

In the new military doctrine, the role of the General Defense Staff JEMAD, headed by General Felix Sanz, has been increased. At the end of October 2004, he made a statement about the need to “balance” the unequal relations between Spain and the United States, formed after 1953, when Spain and the United States signed a military defense cooperation agreement, under which the United States received the right to use several large military bases in Spain.

In 2001, Spain abolished conscription and switched to a completely professional army.

There are no laws in Spain prohibiting openly gays and lesbians from serving in armed forces. On March 4, 2009, Spanish Defense Minister Carme Chacón (the first woman to hold this post) issued a decree repealing a previous law that prohibited transgender people from serving in the armed forces.

Spanish foreign policy

The preamble of the Spanish Constitution proclaims its readiness to “cooperate in strengthening peaceful relations and cooperation with all countries of the world.” Currently, Spain's foreign policy is mainly based on three directions: Europe (especially the EU), the Ibero-American direction, and the Mediterranean countries.

Today Spain has diplomatic relations with all UN countries. More recently, Spain has relations with Bhutan (since October 2010), South Sudan (after its independence from Sudan in July 2011) and the state of Karibati (since September 2011).

On April 12, 1994, the “Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Spain." Currently, bilateral relations between the Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Spain have an extensive legal framework: the basis for interaction in various areas is formed by more than 50 treaties, agreements, protocols and other documents.

Morocco

Morocco occupies one of the key places in Spanish foreign policy, for which the Moroccan Kingdom is the most important African partner, if only due to its territorial proximity. The main directions of Spanish policy in Morocco are: issues related to the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, the unresolved problem with Western Sahara, problems of illegal migration, issues of stopping drug smuggling, etc.

Relations between Spain and the Maghreb countries began to develop most actively after the Socialist Party came to power in Spain in 1982.

Under the government of the People's Party, led by Prime Minister J. M. Aznar, who were in power from 1996 to 2004, relations could not be called good and were characterized rather by instability, in particular the conflict around the island of Perejil (Leila) occupies a prominent place. in 2002.

The Socialists, who returned to power in April 2004 under the leadership of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, were determined to improve relations with their neighbors and especially with Morocco. After the meeting between Mohamed VI and Juan Carlos in 2005, relations between the two monarchs improved markedly. The conflict in Western Sahara, which arose quite a long time ago, has always had an adverse impact on relations between the two countries. After the failed quadripartite conference, Morocco authorized the Green March on Western Sahara in 1975 with the goal of "cleansing" Western Sahara from Spain. The result was an agreement between Spain, Mauritania and Morocco to transfer temporary control of the Sahara to Morocco and Mauritania.

An important component of relations between the two countries are close economic ties. In 1995, the Moroccan government decides to put everything on foreign investors, the most important of which are Spain and France.

Peacekeeping missions

The Spanish armed forces, consisting of 3,000 people, took part in 5 peacekeeping missions of the EU, NATO, and the UN. These missions are: International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan; EUFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina; KFOR in Kosovo; FINUL to Lebanon and the UN mission to Darfur (Chad).

Various questions

Transport in Spain

The length of roads is 328,000 km. Car park - more than 19 million cars. 90% of passenger and 79% of cargo transportation is carried out by road. Length railways- 14589 km. About 6.5% of all cargo is transported ground transport and 6% of passengers.

IN maritime transport about 300 vessels with a total displacement of 1.511 million tons are involved. Vessels flying Spanish flags transport over 30 million tons of foreign trade cargo annually. 24 sea ports control almost 93% of all transportation.

Air transport takes the leading place. Of the 42 airports, 34 provide regular flights. Through international airport 56 million passengers pass through Madrid every year. The airport in Barcelona serves about 30 million passengers annually.

Education in Spain

Spain has a system of compulsory free secondary education from 6 to 16 years of age. About 70% study in public schools, 96.5% study in state universities.

The largest universities in the country: Autonomous University of Madrid, Complutense (in Madrid), Barcelona Central and Autonomous, Santiago de Compostea, Polytechnic University of Valencia.

Media in Spain

Spain has a well-developed media network. 137 newspapers and about 1000 magazines are published. The most read daily newspapers: Pais, Mundo, Vanguardia, ABC, Periodico, Marka. Magazines for women "Patrones", Labores del HOGAR, Moda.

The leading radio stations are SER, COPE, Radio Nacional de España (RNE). The international department of Spanish National Radio, known as Radio Exterior de España, broadcasts in Spanish and six foreign languages. The Russian service for Spanish foreign broadcasting has been operating (with a short break) since the times of Franco, but is less known than similar broadcasters in Russian from the USA, Germany, and France.

The largest television channels: TVE (covers the entire country), private studios Telesinko and Antena 3, as well as the 24-hour news channel Canal 24 Horas, broadcasting all over the world. IN autonomous communities It has its own regional television, broadcasting also in national languages.

Siesta in Spain

Crime in Spain

In recent years, the proportion of immigrants among Spanish offenders has gradually increased. This is due to increased immigration to Spain (including illegal) from African countries, as well as from Latin America. Among the latter, two gangs from Dominican Republic: Dominicans Don’t Play (“Dominicans don’t joke”) and Trinitarios (“Trinitarians” - named after the underground organization “La Trinitaria”, which fought for the independence of the Dominican Republic from Haiti in 1838).

Real estate market in Spain

The average cost per square meter in Spain for the 1st trimester of 2011 is 1777.6 euros (1793.8 euros - new construction; 1764.8 euros - second-hand). The most high prices(in €/m²): San Sebastian - 3762.3; San Cugat del Valles - 3282.6; Getcho - 3224.3; Barcelona - 3103.5; Pozuelo de Alarcon - 2964.0; Madrid - 2921.0.

The main real estate in Spain are villas, apartments and apartments. On at the moment buying real estate in Spain has become more profitable, since on August 20, 2011, the Spanish government temporarily changed the tax - VAT on the purchase of new housing from 8% to 4%.

Telecommunications in Spain

In astronomy

The asteroid (804) Spain, discovered on March 20, 1915 by Spanish astronomer José Comas Sola at the Fabre Observatory in Barcelona, is named after Spain. It was the first asteroid discovered from Spain.

Climate and weather

The climate varies greatly in different areas of Spain. The central part is cold and dry in winter and scorching sun in summer. In June-August, Madrid turns into a hot frying pan, but already in March the city gardens begin to bloom, in the fall rains are very rare, and even in the cool winter there are often sunny days.

Capital	Madrid
Population	46,162,024 people

Population density	91.45 people/km 2
	Spanish
Religion	Catholicism
Form of government	constitutional monarchy

Time zone	UTC +1, summer +2
International dialing code
Internet domain zone
Electricity

On the northern coast, the cold currents of the Bay of Biscay bring moderate temperatures and heavy rain. It is better to carry an umbrella with you, otherwise you are guaranteed an unplanned shower.

Barcelona's weather is typical of the Mediterranean coast. Average annual temperature - approx. +20 ºС. It starts to warm up already in April, the water warms up by June. In winter, due to high humidity, it can be quite cool.

When is the best time to go? From April to early November, pleasant and warm weather persists throughout almost the entire territory of Spain. Ideal months to visit are May, June and September (plus April and October in the south). In July and August temperatures can exceed +45 ºС. Snowfalls in the mountains begin in October, and the most high peaks covered with snow all year round.

Nature

About 90% of Spain is mountainous. The highest ones are in the Pyrenees system, famous for one of the highest cliffs in Europe - Governey, about 1200 m high, and the waterfall of the same name 800 m high.

The central part is occupied by the Meseta plateau, with an average height of 660 m. It consists of more than 70 mountain ranges. This is also where the most high point peninsula - mountain Mulhacen(3478 m). And the most high mountain countries - Teide volcano- is located on the island of Tenerife, which is part of the Canary Islands. Its height is 3718 m.

Canary Islands- one of the most unusual and attractive natural areas of Spain. The fact that 4 out of 10 National Parks are located here speaks for itself. The volcanic origin of the islands has led to a variety of landscapes - tuff fields, black gorges, calderas of old volcanoes and cones of young ones.

In the south of Spain there is the only large lowland - the Andalusian lowland. In the northeast of the country in the valley of the Ebro River is the Aragonese Plain. Smaller lowlands are located along the Mediterranean Sea.

Main rivers of Spain:

Duero Tajo;
Guadalquivir;
Guadiana;
Ebro.

The landscape of Mediterranean Spain is created by coastal valleys and steep cliffs.

There are more than 2000 beaches on the Spanish coast :

Costa Dorada;
Costa Brava;
Costa de Almeria;
Costa Blanca;
Rias Altas Mar Menor;
Costa del Sol;
Costa del Assar;
Rias Bajas;
Costa Cantabric;
Costa de la Luz;
Canary and Balearic Islands.

Attractions

Thousands of tourists come to Spain to see with their own eyes the richest historical heritage. And this country captivates everyone, because it really has something to show.

Madrid- one of most beautiful capitals world - ready to boast:

Royal Palace of the 17th century;
Plaza Mayor and its 136 Baroque buildings;
the chapel of St. Anthony of Florida with paintings by Francisco Goya;
Prado Museum .

Incredibly artistic city Barcelona with the bustling Rambla, the unimaginable creations of the brilliant Gaudi and Gothic Quarter- a magnet for tourists.

From the arches of the ancient Roman aqueduct to Segovia breathtaking. It literally breathes history.

The pearl of Islamic architecture, the Alhambra Palace in Granada captivates with its beauty.

And the great Gothic cathedrals in Burgos, Palma de Mallorca And Toledo make you think about the eternal.

Nutrition

The cuisine of Spain is very diverse. Each region of the country has its own special culinary traditions: from boiled octopus, stewed whiting fish from Galicia to roast suckling pig in Segovia and baked cod with garlic from the Basque cuisine.

Be sure to try:

Tapas- typical light snacks served with beer or wine. Olives in a variety of combinations: with tuna, lemon, almonds; shrimp, cheese and even pies with seafood, meat, and mushroom fillings.

Jamon- one of the best and famous meat delicacies. A dry-cured ham hanging from the ceiling can be seen in almost any bar. There is a whole culture of its use.

Paella- a rice dish with the addition of meat, vegetables, and seafood. There are many recipes for its preparation, the ingredients can be very diverse, but three always remain the same: rice, saffron and a large paella pan.

Gazpacho- a very chilled soup made from pureed tomatoes, cucumbers, olive oil and spices.

And for dessert - don’t forget about the confectionery made from honey and nuts - turron, a traditional decoration for the Christmas table, although now it can be tried all year round.

You can get acquainted with Spanish winemaking thanks to specially designed routes, of which there are more than 10. And not only tasting awaits you there - finding the ideal taste combination of products and wine, visiting a wine cellar, getting acquainted with the production process... In Spain, all the conditions have been created for a complete least enjoy this drink in a country that is one of the three largest wine producers in the world.

The most famous varieties are sherry And sangria.

Accommodation

There is no need to book a room during the low and middle seasons - you can easily find one you like locally. But in high season it will be very difficult to find a free room.

Accommodation prices vary greatly depending on the region. In Madrid, Barcelona and other popular tourist places for double room you will pay no less 60 € . And, for example, in Murcia, where there are not many tourists, a room with excellent conditions can be found for 45 € .

A bed in a multi-bed hostel room will cost on average around 20 € .

You can also live in an apartment or villa, or rent an entire house or room. Here 45 € for a double room - the most low price for this type of accommodation. Typically, the cost reaches 80 € and above.

Entertainment and relaxation

At any time of the year, Spain hosts many sporting and cultural events.

Witness the Spanish love of dressing up and partying at the many fiestas - each town has events with its own unique traditions.

Carnival is considered one of the main holidays on the Catalan coast. Colorful parades with miracles of transformation into Sitges, Tarragona and other cities.

The most popular sport in Spain is undoubtedly football. You may not even hope to buy a ticket on the day of the match, especially if Barcelona is playing Real Madrid. The Spanish national football team is the current world champion - and that says a lot.

Also popular sports in Spain include: basketball, motorsports, cycling, tennis, Formula 1, golf.

This country has a lot to offer to lovers of outdoor activities:

windsurfing next to the waters of the Strait of Gibraltar;
rafting in Catalonia;
scuba diving in Andalusia;
riding on alpine skiing V national park Sierra Nevada.

Theme parks and water parks will delight not only children, but also adults.

Purchases

In the shops of Spanish cities you can find goods for every taste and budget.

In Madrid and Barcelona, buy clothes and shoes. Local brands will delight you: Loewe, Custo, Zara and others. Be sure to visit one of the outlets - shopping centers that specialize in selling branded items from the previous season at significant discounts. For example, La Rocca Village, located 30 kilometers north of Barcelona, or Las Rozas Village- 40 kilometers from Madrid.

The shoe sizing system is the same as ours, but the clothing size system is not. It's not that difficult to figure it out. Add 6 to the number you see on the label and get the usual size designation for us. For example, 38 (S) corresponds to 44.

Almost all stores accept credit cards. Opening hours from 10:00 to 21:00, with a break for siesta. Sunday is a day off.

A trip to the market is a great opportunity to feel like a local. Here you can buy a variety of fruits, vegetables and other products, as well as clothes, shoes, and jewelry. Opening hours are from 9:00 to 14:00.

Transport

The main airport of the country is Barajas in Madrid There are also major airports in Barcelona, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca and Valencia. National air carrier - Iberia Airlines.

The main transport center of Spain is Madrid. Major railway lines and highways converge in the capital.

The railways are run by RENFE, the state-owned railway company. There are several types of trains depending on the level of comfort and speed. You can purchase tickets at the box office railway stations and stations, as well as at travel agencies.

There are major highways along the Mediterranean coast: from the French border to Alicante and from the Cantabrian coast to Catalonia. Spanish roads are distinguished by their quality and developed infrastructure. Speed limit in locality— 50 km/h. On the national highway you can speed up to 100 km/h, and on the expressway - 120 km/h.

Bus stations are located in almost all major cities and resort centers of Spain. You can easily get to the right place.

Spain also has a developed ferry service. The main carrier, Acciona Transmediterranea, flies to the Canary Islands, Balearic Islands and North Africa.

If you want to get around the city by public transport, keep in mind that bus stops are marked with yellow and green signs that say bus. You must enter the bus through the front door. You tell the driver the place you need to go to and the number of people, and you receive a receipt with the indicated fare (a ticket for one trip costs about 0,70 € ). There are subways in Madrid and Barcelona.

Connection

The easiest way to make a call to your home country from Spain is to use telephone booths on the street. They accept coins and phone cards, which you can buy at the post office or at kiosks with a Tabacos sign.

The international code for calls from Spain is 00. To call, dial the international code, wait for the dial tone, then dial the country code, city code and the required phone number.

For calls from mobile phone buy a prepaid card from Vodafone, Orange, Movistar or Yoigo. They can be purchased in supermarkets or at The Phone House chain of stores.

To access the Internet, use Wi-Fi hotspots. You can find a free connection at airports, train stations, large hotels, supermarkets, libraries and cafes.

The Wi-Fi network is very developed in Spain. Only in Barcelona there are 418 free access points.

Safety

In Spain, you shouldn't walk down the street dressed like a beach. In Barcelona this pleasure will cost you 120-300 € .

Remember: red light - no road. If you forgot this rule, cook 200 € . Jumping in the wrong place will cost 80 € .

Smoking is prohibited in workplaces, in bars and restaurants whose area does not exceed 100 m2, in some hotels and on beaches.

You cannot drink alcoholic beverages in transport or public places.

Like most European countries, Spain drives on the right hand side. Passengers and drivers of vehicles equipped with seat belts must be fastened.

Spanish traffic laws prohibit driving while intoxicated. The maximum permissible blood alcohol level is 0.5 ppm.

If the amount of the fine does not exceed 350 € , the traffic police have the right to accept it on the spot.

Theft, especially of valuables, can ruin any vacation. Unfortunately, this is a fairly common occurrence in Spain. Be especially careful on the main streets of tourist cities.

Business climate

One of the largest exhibition centers in Europe Feria de Madrid is the main platform for organizers of conferences and exhibitions in Spain. The area of the center is 200,000 m2, on which there are 12 pavilions, a business center, a press club, two congress centers and parking lots for 14,000 spaces. This is a meeting place for professionals from various fields.

ArcoMadrid and Cibeles Madrid Fashion Week are the most famous and prestigious events of the center.

The largest exhibition centers in Spain in other cities:

Fira de Barcelona (Barcelona);
Feria Valencia (Valencia);
Bilbao Exhibition Center (Bilbao).

In Spain, taxation is carried out at three levels: state, regional, local.

On state level: taxes on income of individuals and legal entities, tax on enterprise activities and value added tax.

On regional level: property transfer tax, economic transaction tax and tax on legal documented acts.

On local level taxes are collected from individuals on real estate, motor vehicles, a tax on economic activity, construction and engineering work, as well as a tax on the increase in the value of urban land.

VAT rates in Spain are 4%, 8% and 18%.

Real estate

Who doesn't dream of an apartment by the sea? Spain is very attractive in terms of such a purchase.

Both individuals and legal entities can purchase real estate. All you need is a valid passport, an alien number (N.I.E.) and, of course, financial resources.

To obtain N.I.E. you will need:

open visa;
certificate of origin of money;
certificate from the bank about the account status;
a contract for the payment of a deposit for a specific house and copies of documents for it.

The property must be registered in the Registro de Propiedad - Property Registry. Here you can find out all the necessary information about the property you are purchasing. When purchasing, a sales contract is drawn up, which stipulates all the conditions. After signing it, as a rule, the buyer pays about 10% of the cost. The remaining amount is paid at the time of signing the bill of sale (Escritura Publica), which is signed by the seller and the buyer in the presence of a notary.

Average property price in Spain — 245 000 € .

If you haven’t decided to buy yet, you can rent a home. Most rental apartments are furnished. Finding an empty apartment is quite difficult. How to rent housing on long term, especially in resort towns. Short-term rentals are easier, but prices can rise significantly during holidays and holiday season. A mandatory document when renting housing is a short-term or temporary contract. As a rule, rent charged in advance.

Remember that during siesta many shops and restaurants close. In the period from 14:00 to 17:00 in Spain there is a traditional afternoon rest.

Tips are usually included in the bill. If not, then it is customary to leave 5-10% of the total order cost.

You can find toilets in bars and restaurants, airports, train stations, museums, shopping centers. Landmark - signs with inscriptions Servicios or Lavabo. Women's toilet - senoras or damas, male - senores or caballeros.

Many local residents They speak English, but it wouldn’t hurt to learn a few phrases in Spanish. It should be noted that in Spain the official language for the entire country is Castilian Spanish, but other languages are also in use. In Catalonia, for example, they speak Catalan, and in Galicia they speak Galician.

"Ola" is a universal greeting "gracias"- Thank you, "por favor"- Please.

Visa information

Spain has long been a member of the Schengen Agreement, so the sequence of actions to obtain tourist visa worked literally to the point of automaticity.

The maximum period of stay in Spain with a standard visa is 90 days. However, in some cases, the consulate has the right to issue single or double entry visas valid for 3 months.

Visa applications in Moscow can be submitted to:

Embassy of Spain (B. Nikitskaya St., 50/8)
Consular Section (Khlebny lane, 28)
Spanish Consulate General (Stremyanny Lane, 31/1)
Visa Center (Dubininskaya St., 35).

You can also contact the Consulate General of Spain (Furshtatskaya St., 9) and the Visa Center (Shpalernaya St., 54), which are located in St. Petersburg.

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