THE COUNTRY
Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Subsequent failure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions caused the country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic and political power.
A peaceful transition to democracy following the death of dictator Francisco FRANCO in 1975, and rapid economic modernization (Spain joined the EU in 1986) gave Spain a dynamic and rapidly growing economy, and made it a global champion of freedom and human rights.
Spain is the euro-zone's fourth-largest economy. The country has faced increased domestic turmoil in recent years due to the independence movement in its restive Catalonia region.
- Alhambra & Generalife Gardens;
- Barcelona's Sagrada Familia & Gaudi Sites;
- Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba;
- Prado & Paseo del Artes;
- San Lorenzo de El Escorial;
- Guggenheim Museum Bilbao;
- Alcazar of Seville;
- Royal Palace in Madrid;
- Coa Valley & Siega Verde;
- Cave of Altamira;
- Routes of Santiago de Compostela;
- Valley of the Fallen
- Private Jets, Helicopters and Airliners
- Finest Onboard Catering
- Ground Transport and Yachts
- Luxury Villa & House Rentals
- Local Guide & 24/7 Assistance
- Customized Global Services
TO BE KNOWN
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The State's CapitalMadrid
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Time ZoneUTC +1
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Telephone Code34
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Total Area505 370 Km2
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Population47 222 613 (2023 est.)
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Main LanguagesCastilian Spanish, Catalan, Galician
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CurrencyEuros (EUR)
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GDP Per CapitaUSD 37900
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Airports135
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Heliports13
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast
Spanish 84.8%, Moroccan 1.7%, Romanian 1.2%, other 12.3% (2021 est.)
Dinner is served later in Spain than in many other countries. It is common for the meal to be served around 9 p.m.
Paella — a one-pot dish consisting of saffron-flavored rice simmered in a broth of garlic, tomatoes, freshly cooked vegetables, and meat and/or seafood
High-income core EU economy; diversified trade portfolio; continental tourism locale; high government spending and debt; prone to political financing corruption; negatively impacted by COVID-19; important port and customs infrastructure; key clothing/footwear supplier
