ESPANA

BARCELONA. MADRID. VALENCIA. SEVILLE. GRANADA. TOLEDO.

BILBAO. MALAGA. PAMPLONA. SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA.
CORDOBA. ALICANTE. CACERES. CADIZ. JEREZ DE LA
FRONTERA

History of Spain
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.
Spain remained neutral in World Wars I and II but suffered through a devastating
civil war (1936-39). A peaceful transition to democracy following the death of
Dictator Francisco Franco in 1975 and rapid economic modernisation gave Spain a
dynamic and rapidly growing economy and made it a global champion of freedom
and human rights. The government's major focus for the immediate future will be on
measures to reverse the severe economic recession that started in mid-2008.
Spain joined the European Union (EU) on 1 January 1986 and
participated in the introduction of the Euro (EUR) in a two-phased
approach in 1999 (accounting phase) and 2002 (monetary phase) to
replace the Spanish Peseta (ESP).In 1982 Spain joined NATO. Spain is
also a member country of the Schengen Area in which border controls
with other Schengen members have been eliminated while at the same
those with non-Schengen countries have been strengthened.

Historical places
To visit
is a largeRoman Catholicchurch inBarcelona, designed byCatalanarchitectAntoni Gaudí.
Gaudí's work on the building is part of aUNESCOWorld Heritage Site,in November
2010Pope Benedictand proclaimed it aminor basilica,distinct from acathedral, which must be
the seat of a bishop.
Like everything Gaudí designed, it is only identifiable asModernismeArt
Nouveauthe broadest sense. The ground floor, in particular, has unusualtracery,
irregular oval windows and flowing sculpted stone work. There are few straight
lines, and much of thefaçadedecorated with a colorfulmosaicof broken ceramic tiles
(trencadís). The roof isarchedwas likened to the back of adragondinosaur.

Historical places To visit

TheRoyal Palace of Madrid(Spanish:Palacio Real de Madrid) is the official residence of the
Spanish Royal Family at the city ofMadrid, but is only used for state ceremonies. KingFelipe
VIthe Royal Family do not reside in the palace, choosing instead the more modestPalacio de
la Zarzuelathe outskirts of Madrid.
TheRoman Theatre of Méridaa construction promoted by the consulVipsanius
Agrippathe Roman city ofEmerita Augusta, capital ofLusitania(currentMérida,Spain). It was
constructed in the years 16 to 15 BCE. The theater has undergone several renovations,
notably at the end of the 1st century or early 2nd century CE (possibly during the reign of
EmperorTrajan), when the current facade of thescaenae fronserected, and another in the
time ofConstantine I(between 330 and 340) which introduced new decorative-architectural
elements and a walkway around the monument.
The Cathedral of Saint Mary of Burgos is a Catholic church dedicated to the Virgin
Mary located in the Spanish city of Burgos. Its official name is Santa Iglesia Catedral
Basílica Metropolitana de Santa María de Burgos.
TheAlhambrais a palace and fortress complex located
inGranada,Andalusia,Spain. It was originally constructed as a small fortress in AD
889 on the remains of Roman fortifications, and then largely ignored until its ruins
were renovated and rebuilt in the mid-13th century by theMoorishemirMohammed
ben Al-Ahmarthe Emirate of Granada, who built its current palace and walls.