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Spain is a country located in extreme southwestern Europe. It occupies about 85 percent of the Iberian Peninsula, which it shares with its smaller neighbour Portugal.

Spain’s countryside is quaint, speckled with castles, aqueducts, and ancient ruins, but its cities are resoundingly modern. Madrid is Spain’s largest city and is also its financial and cultural centre, as it has been for hundreds of years. There are 47 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Spain.

The many and varied cultures that have gone into the making of Spain—those of the Castilians, Catalonians, Lusitanians, Galicians, Basques, Romans, Arabs, Jews, and Roma, among other peoples—are renowned for their varied cuisines, customs, and prolific contributions to the world’s artistic heritage.

Castellano is the official national language of Spain. Nevertheless, there are other co-official or unofficial languages spoken according to the cultural diversity of the Spanish regions that form an important part of the Spanish cultural patrimony. Nowadays 16 different languages (official and unofficial) are spoken on the Iberian Peninsula and the 11 islands that are an important part of the country. Languages are: Castilian, Catalan, Galician, Valencian, Basque, Balearic, Extremaduran, Cantabrian, Asturian, Aragonese, Leonese, Altoaragonese, Fala Galaico-Extremeña, Aranese, Murcian and Silbo gomero in Canaries Islands.




Spain in details

Land

Spain is bordered to the west by Portugal; to the northeast it borders France, from which it is separated by the tiny principality of Andorra and by the great wall of the Pyrenees Mountains. Spain’s only other land border is in the far south with Gibraltar, an enclave that belonged to Spain until 1713, when it was ceded to Great Britain in the Treaty of Utrecht at the end of the War of the Spanish Succession. Elsewhere the country is bounded by water: by the Mediterranean Sea to the east and southeast, by the Atlantic Ocean to the northwest and southwest, and by the Bay of Biscay (an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean) to the north. The Canary (Canarias) Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean off the northwestern African mainland, and the Balearic (Baleares) Islands, in the Mediterranean, also are parts of Spain, as are Ceuta and Melilla, two small enclaves in North Africa (northern Morocco) that Spain has ruled for centuries.

Relief

Spain accounts for five-sixths of the Iberian Peninsula, the roughly quadrilateral southwestern tip of Europe that separates the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean. Most of Spain comprises a large plateau (the Meseta Central) divided by a mountain range, the Central Sierra (Sistema Central), which trends west-southwest to east-northeast. Several mountains border the plateau: the Cantabrian Mountains (Cordillera Cantábrica) to the north, the Iberian Cordillera (Sistema Ibérico) to the northeast and east, the Sierra Morena to the south, and the lower mountains of the Portuguese frontier and Spanish Galicia to the northwest. The Pyrenees run across the neck of the peninsula and form Spain’s border with France. There are two major depressions, that of the Ebro River in the northeast and that of the Guadalquivir River in the southwest. In the southeast the Baetic Cordillera (Sistema Penibético) runs broadly parallel to the coast to merge with the mountains of the Iberian Cordillera. Along the Mediterranean seaboard there are coastal plains, some with lagoons (e.g., Albufera, south of Valencia). Offshore in the Mediterranean, the Balearic Islands are an unsubmerged portion of the Baetic Cordillera. The Canary Islands in the Atlantic are of volcanic origin and contain the highest peak on Spanish territory, Teide Peak, which rises to 12,198 feet (3,718 metres) on the island of Tenerife.

Drainage

Although some maintain that “aridity rivals civil war as the chief curse of [historic] Spain,” the Iberian Peninsula has a dense network of streams, three of which rank among Europe’s longest: the Tagus at 626 miles (1,007 km), the Ebro at 565 miles (909 km), and the Douro at 556 miles (895 km). The Guadiana and the Guadalquivir are 508 miles (818 km) and 408 miles (657 km) long, respectively.

Climate

Spain is characterized by the overlap of one fundamental climatic division (between humid and semiarid and arid zones) by another (the threefold division of the peninsula into maritime, continental, and mountain climates). This complexity results from the peninsula’s size, which is large enough to generate a continental thermal regime; its location close to the Atlantic Ocean and North Africa, exposing it to both maritime and Saharan influences; and its mountainous relief, which not only produces its own climatic zones but also exaggerates local aridity through the creation of rain shadows on the mountains’ leeward sides.

Business

Firms and Resources

Iron, steel, and shipbuilding have long been the dominant heavy industries in Asturias and the Basque Country, but much of this heavy industry was replaced by firms specializing in science and technology, a reflection of the government’s large-scale investment in the development of biotechnology, renewable energy sources, electronics, and telecommunications. Other leading industries include the manufacture of chemicals, toys, and electrical appliances (televisions, refrigerators, and washing machines). Consumer-oriented industries, such as food processing, construction, and furniture making, are located either close to their consumer markets in the larger cities or in rural areas where agricultural products and timber are close at hand. At the beginning of the 21st century, Madrid, Catalonia, and the Basque Country continued to dominate metallurgy, capital goods, and chemical production, but industrial production in a variety of sectors had expanded to new regions, such as Navarra, La Rioja, Aragon, and Valencia.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing

Vegetables, fruits, and cereals are the principal crops, accounting for about three-fourths of Spain’s agricultural production (in terms of value), with cereals: barley and wheat, the major crops in Spain, rice, corn (maize); other crops include cotton; tobacco, sugar beets, olives (produced in the south), a large portion of which are used for oil; and legumes (beans, lentils, and chickpeas). Fruit growing is also significant, with citrus fruits, especially oranges (grown in the regions of Valencia and Murcia). Other fruit crops include apples, apricots, bananas, pears, peaches, and plums. Spain also produces vegetables (especially tomatoes, onions, and potatoes) and nuts (almonds). Because Spain is one of the world’s largest producers of wine, grape growing is of considerable importance. The main wine-producing areas are La Rioja, the Penedès in Catalonia, Valdepeñas in Castile–La Mancha, the Duero valley in Valladolid, and Málaga and Jerez de la Frontera in Andalusia, which is also the centre of sherry production.
Forestry contributes only a tiny fraction to Spain’s agricultural production. Important forestry products are cork, eucalyptus, oak, pine, and poplar. With about 5,000 miles (8,000 km) of coastline, Spain has long had an important fishing industry, which relies on fishing grounds off its coast and as far away as the Pacific and Indian oceans. The main fishing ports are in the northwest, especially Vigo and A Coruña.

Tourism

Tourism is among Spain’s leading industries, and the country is one of the world’s top tourist destinations. Spain receives more than 55 million visitors annually—more than 10 million more people than the country’s entire population. Most visitors are European, with British, French, and German tourists making up the majority.

Taxation

Taxes in Spain are levied by national (federal), regional and local governments. Tax revenue in Spain stood at 36.3% of GDP in 2013. A wide range of taxes are levied on different sources, the most important ones being income tax, social security contributions, corporate tax, value added tax; some of them are applied at national level and others at national and regional levels. Most national and regional taxes are collected by the Agencia Estatal de Administración Tributaria which is the bureau responsible for collecting taxes at the national level. Other minor taxes like property transfer tax (regional), real estate property tax (local), road tax (local) are collected directly by regional or local administrations. Four historical territories or foral provinces (Araba/Álava, Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa and Navarre) collect all national and regional taxes themselves and subsequently transfer the portion due to central Government after two negotiations called Concierto (in which the first three territories, that conform the Basque Autonomous Community, agree their defense jointly) and the Convenio (in which the territory and Community of Navarre defense itself alone).

The tax year in Spain follows the calendar year. The tax collection method depends on the tax; some of them are collected by self-assessment, but others (i.e. income tax) follow a system of pay-as-you-earn tax with monthly withholdings that follow a self-assessment at the end of the term.

Personal income tax in Spain, known as IRPF, was introduced in 1900. It represents nearly 38% of government revenues. As in other jurisdictions income tax is payable by both residents and non-residents with different rates applying. Individual residents are subject to personal income tax (IRPF) based on their income from around the globe. Non-residents are subject to IRPF only on their Spanish-sourced income. Residence status must be established when filing a Spanish tax return and has consequences for the amount of tax due. The rules are complex. Spain considers any alien to be resident if they were living in Spain for more than 183 days in the tax year. Sporadic periods of time outside of Spain are not counted towards establishing oneself as non-resident for tax purposes. An alien is also considered resident if s/he has a spouse or underage child who are residents, as well as any alien who has their main economic centre in Spain. When there is a residence conflict double taxation agreement must be checked.

VAT (known as IVA in Spanish) is due on any supply of goods or services sold in Spain. The current normal rate is 21% which applies to all goods which do not qualify for a reduced rate or are exempt. There are two lower rates of 10% and 4%. The 10% rate is payable on most drinks, hotel services and cultural events. The 4% rate is payable on food, books and medicines. An EU directive means that all countries of the European Union have VAT.

As of January 1, 2015, the corporate tax rate is 28%. In 2016 the tax will be further reduced to 25%. There is a lower tax rate for newly formed companies. The rate, which was introduced in 2015, is set at 15% for the first 2 years in which the company obtains taxable profit.

Security and safety

Domestic order is maintained by the National Police Corps (Cuerpo Nacional de Policía), which is primarily responsible for national investigations and security in urban areas, and the Civil Guard, established in 1844, which maintains security in rural areas and on the highways and controls the borders. These bodies were unified under the Ministry of the Interior to provide more efficiency in responding to security issues.

In general terms, Spain is one of the safest countries in Europe. As in any country, there are some basic safety guidelines… We recommend avoiding isolated or badly lit places, and street gambling. It's a good idea to carry only the money you need for each outing. Be alert in crowded places, such as public transport or department stores. In public parks and other places used for leisure, don't leave objects such as mobile phones or cameras unattended. Don't forget an expert tip on public safety: prevention is the best way to avoid this kind of problem. You can call the Police on 112.

Education and Academies

Education

The school system has a number of levels: preschool (to age 6), primary school for ages 6 or 7 to 11, secondary school for ages 12 to 16 (which includes technical and vocational schools), baccalaureate school for ages 17 and 18, and university.
Education is free and compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 16. Literacy exceeds 95 percent of the population.

By the end of the 20th century, there were more than 60 public and private universities, some of which were operated by the Catholic church. Access to a university education became more democratic as well: in the 1980s almost half of Spain’s university students had parents who had received no more than an elementary school education. By the early 21st century more than two-thirds of Spain’s college-age population was attending a university. Among the largest and most-prestigious universities in Spain are the Complutense University of Madrid (founded 1508), the University of Barcelona (1450), the University of Granada (1526), the University of Sevilla (1502), the University of Salamanca (1218), the University of Valencia (1499), and the University of the Basque Country (1968).

Academies

Spain’s oldest and most famous academy is the Royal Spanish Academy. Founded in 1713 under Philip V, the first Bourbon king. Its most important task is to “cultivate and set standards for the purity and elegance of the Castilian language”.

There are a number of cultural and intellectual academies and institutes, most of which date from the 18th and the 19th centuries. These include the San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts, the Royal Academy of History, and the Royal National Academy of Medicine. The most prestigious institution for research is the Council for Scientific Research (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; CSIC), an autonomous public research organization based in Madrid and affiliated with the government Ministry of Education and Science.

Health

The Spanish National Health Service has an extensive network of health centres and hospitals throughout the country. Health centres provide primary healthcare services(family medicine, paediatrician and nursing services, and there may also be midwives, physiotherapists and social workers). If circumstances require, medical attention can be provided in the patient’s home. Also, in rural areas and in small villages there are local surgeries open on certain days with visits from healthcare staff from the region. Hospitals offer specialised attention, with access via referral from primary healthcare services. There are also Accident and Emergency services available at hospitals and some health centres.

In Spain, medications are obtained at pharmacies. They are all marked with a green cross. You will get your prescriptions from your doctor. If you come from a country in the European Union, or your country has health agreements with Spain, you will have the same prescription drug benefits as Spanish citizens.

The health system is administered by the national Ministry of Health through a department known as the National Institute of Health (Insalud). However, as the system of regional autonomy developed, much of the responsibility for health care devolved to the regional governments.

Health care is not a government monopoly, though all but a very small percentage of the population seeks treatment at state-run clinics. Many doctors have their own offices and clinics outside the government-funded system, and many private insurance plans are available. In addition, as part of planned health-care reform measures, some public hospitals and clinics are to be transferred from state to private administration.

Medical care for EU member state

With the European Health Insurance Card you will receive the same temporary healthcare services as any other Spanish citizen. The expiry date can be found on the European Health Insurance Card and it is valid in EU countries, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Accident and Emergency services are available at hospitals. Private doctors and hospitals in Spain do not accept the European Health Insurance Card. If you require private healthcare you must settle your own bills or take out an insurance policy that covers it.

Medical care for non EU member state

Countries that have community regulations: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. They provide the same emergency medical facilities in the case of illness or accident as in any of the member states. Countries with which Spain has bilateral agreements: Andorra, Brazil, Chile, Morocco, Peru, Paraguay, Tunisia and Venezuela. You'll also receive free medical and hospital attention in case of emergency due to illness or accident. For this the certificate corresponding to your country must have been issued. If you've forgotten this certificate, you'll have to pay any hospital, medical or pharmaceutical bills in advance, and the corresponding organisation you're affiliated with will reimburse you upon presentation of the receipts. You can view the bilateral agreements on the Spanish Social Security website. Other countries:Although you'll be treated in an emergency, this treatment will require payment, so you're advised to take out medical insurance. In any case, you should contact the relevant office in your country of origin for full details regarding current requirements to receive medical care in Spain.

Daily life and social customs

Daily life in early 21st-century Spain looks little different from that in other industrialized countries of the West. There remain, however, some important practices that are peculiar to Spain. The most obvious, especially for foreign visitors, is the organization of the day and the scheduling of meals. Lunch, which is the main meal of the day, is eaten between 2:00 and 3:00 PM. Supper, a lighter meal, is also taken late, between 9:00 and 10:00 PM, or even later during the hot summer months.

Business, shopping, and school hours reflect this pattern. There is a long break—generally two to five hours long—in the middle of the day, during which most businesses are closed and the streets are not very busy. (The few exceptions are bars, restaurants, and the large department stores, which do not close at midday.) The main daily television news is broadcast at this time, as are some of the most popular programs. The workday resumes in the late afternoon, between 4:30 and 5:00 PM, and continues until about 8:00 PM.

Food and drink

Bars, which are open all day, generally serve food as well as drink, and it is a widespread custom to go for a snack before meals, especially on non-working days. The most well-known bar food, known as tapas, usually consists of prepared dishes, many of which are quite elaborate and are often smaller versions of main-course dishes. There are hundreds of different tapas, but a few typical ones are mushrooms in garlic sauce, marinated seafood, Spanish omelette, lamb brochettes, and octopus in paprika sauce.

Sports and recreation

Sports play an important part in the daily life of the Spanish people, and each region has its favourite forms of play. In mountainous Catalonia, skiing and other winter sports are popular; along the Valencia coast, windsurfing, scuba diving, and surfing have countless enthusiasts; in the Basque provinces, jai alai (a kind of racquetball) is a favourite pastime; and in Asturias and Andalusia, equestrian events draw large numbers of spectators and participants alike.

One of the most incredible things about Spain is that there’s something for everyone. The geographical diversity of the country’s landscape provides for amazing opportunities when it comes to sports in Spain. Although sport in Spain has been traditionally dominated by football (soccer as the North Americans call it) Spain offers a vast selection of sporting options ranging from the ocean to the mountains. Today, Spain is a major world sports power especially since holding the Summer Olympics in Barcelona in 1992. Many say the Olympics was the kick start to sports such as golf, skiing and water sports becoming increasingly popular all over Spain. These sports along with cycling provide people with unlimited options no matter what season it is.

Golf in Spain

Another increasingly popular sport in Spain is Golf. Spain has become the golfing mecca of Europe as the country offers both world class courses amongst beautiful scenery in a climate ideal for playing all year round. Golf’s appeal is rapidly growing amongst the Spanish people and the number of quality golf courses in Spain is increasing at a phenomenal rate with many property developments actually being built around golf courses themselves. This is happening largely around the Costa del Sol or the ‘Costa del Golf’ as it is sometimes called.
No matter where you live in Spain there’s a golf course close to home: Almeria (In the north eastern end of Andalucia you can play golf in Europe’s only desert. The Valle del Este and Desert Springs courses are two first class courses surrounded by desert making you feel like you’re anywhere else in the world, except in Spain), Catalunya (Catalunya has several wonderful courses including the PGA “Golf de Catalunya” near Girona and the highly rated Emporda Golf Club), Murcia (The La Manga resort in the province of Murcia in south east Spain has three of Europe’s finest courses and has played host to five Spanish opens. The Costa Blanca, Costa Azahar and Costa Dorada along the east coast also offer some great courses that are interspersed amongst the coastline’s popular tourist resorts. Las Ramblas at Torrevieja, La Sella at Denia and nearby Oliva Nova are also amongst the many east coast resort complexes. This area has attracted ex-pat buyers and golf crazy holidays goers, especially in the past few years)

Walking and Cycling in Spain

Spain is a walker’s paradise. There’s something for everyone from experienced hikers to backpackers to those who would rather take a stroll through the bodegas (vineyards) and have a few dinks. Travel by foot is definitely the best way to get a true taste of the real Spain and it’s easy to do.
One monumental place to note when considering where to go walking and exploring is in the town of Santiago, on the Santiago de Compostela. The Santiago de Compostela was the final destination of the legendary medieval way of pilgrimship Camino de Santiago (Way of Saint James), and is now considered by Unesco a World Heritage Site.
Cycling has been an important sport in Spain since the 1940s. The Vuelta a España (Spanish for "Tour of Spain") is one of the most important cycling events in the world, together with the Tour de France (French for "Tour of France") and Giro d'Italia (Italian for "Tour of Italy") stage races, collectively known as the Grand Tours.

Horse Riding in Spain

If you love to ride, Spain is one of the best places to see via horseback. The incredible terrain provides for some beautiful trails and long scenic routes for riders of all levels. Whether you’d rather a relaxing two-hour tour through the countryside or a challenging two-week vacation on horseback you can find it in Spain.

Skiing in Spain

There’s no better way to take advantage of Spain’s mountainous terrain than by strapping on the skis when the snow begins to fall. Spain is the second highest country in Europe with an average altitude 2,000 feet and offers many great opportunities for skiing, snow boarding and other winter activities. Two popular destinations are the Pyrenees and the Sierra Nevada ski areas that offer both challenging terrain and beginner hills for those who’d rather take it easy.

Water sports in Spain

With well over 4000km of coastline Spain has excellent facilities for a wide variety of water sports including water-skiing, windsurfing, surfing, diving, rowing and canoeing. As well in the northern mountains in Spain you can find white-water rafting and canoeing in the rapids. When it comes to water sports in Spain, Andalucia has distinguished itself as the hub, due to the proximity of the coastlines as well as the numerous lakes and reservoirs surrounding the area. There are clubs for most water sports in all major Costa resorts and instruction is generally available upon request. If you don’t have a board-No Problema! Most of the larger sports shops on the beach stock surf boards as well as some smaller specialty shops.

Football in Spain

Spain boasts some of the greatest football teams in the world arguably only beaten by England and Italy. Real Madrid, is the most successful soccer team in Europe with FC Barcelona close behind. Football in Spain is relatively inexpensive with tickets available at times for less than 20€ from the clubs themselves. The Spanish Football season runs from mid September to mid May. There are four professional leagues with promotion and relegation taking place at the end of each season.

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