What to Know Before Visiting Spain?

Country Facts:
 The first ‘novel’ is attributed to a Spaniard: Spanish author, Cervantes’ is known
for his Don Quixote novel which was written in 1605.
 According to records, the first known stapler was made in the 18th century in the
Basque country for the French King Louis XV.
 Spain is responsible for giving the world the mop and bucket. This occurred in
1856.
 the precedent to the modern cigarettes, which was developed around the 17th
century was first developed in Spain.
 The first astronaut’s space suit was developed in Spain in 1935.
 Red Eléctrica de España (REE), is one of the main operators of the electrical
system in Spain.
 In A.D. 711 Muslims from Africa invaded Spain.
 The ‘Tomatina’ (the world’s biggest food fight) and the ‘Running of the Bulls’ (six
bulls chase people) are two of the most famous Spanish festivals. More than
150,000 tomatoes are usually thrown at La Tomatina.
 The Puerta del Sol “Gate of the Sun” located in Madrid, is directly in the center of
the country.
 The national anthem of Spain has no words.
 Would people believe that a 47-story skyscraper in Spain has no elevator?
 Almost 700 people in a town of Spain share their surname “Japon”.
 The U.S. has more Spanish speakers than Spain.
 It is illegal to dog walk in the streets of Madrid with more than 8 dogs.
 Spain was the 3rd most visited country in the world in 2013.
 Portugal and Spain share not only a border, but also a peninsula.
 A potato omelet. It is often in a circular shape.
 Flamenco is not actually a dance; it’s a musical style, which sometimes has
dancing in it.
 There are no laws about public nudity in Spain.
 43% of the world’s olive oil production is done in Spain.
 Spain won its first World Cup football title in 2010, which made the country the
8th country to have ever won.
 The divorce rate in Spain is 17% (relatively low compared to over 50% in the
USA).
 Owning one’s home is very important to Spanish people, and some 80% of
Spanish households do.
 Despite the beret being associated with France, the Basques in Northeast Spain
invented it.
 Spain has more than 8,000 beaches.
Source:
1. https://takelessons.com/blog/interesting-facts-about-Spain-z03/
2. https://thefactfile.org/spain-facts/

Country Flag:
Capital: Madrid is the capital of Spain.
Government: The form of government in Spain is a parliamentary monarchy, that is, a
social representative democratic constitutional monarchy in which the monarch is the
head of state, while the prime minister—whose official title is "President of the
Government"—is the head of government.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Spain
President: Pedro Sánchez is president of Spain since June 2018.
Economy: The economy of Spain is the world's thirteenth-largest by nominal GDP as
well as one of the largest in the world by purchasing power parity. The country is a
member of the European Union, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and
Development and the World Trade Organization. Spain has a capitalist mixed economy.
For the 2019 estimate, GDP per capita in Spain will be $41592 in PPP per capita and
$29961 per nominal.
Population: The population of Spain was estimated to be 46.94 million in 2019.
Religion by Percentage:  Spain Religions. Religions: Roman Catholic 68.9%, atheist
11.3%, agnostic 7.6%, other 2.8%, non-believer 8.2%, unspecified 1.1% (2019 est.)
Definition: This entry is an ordered listing of religions by adherents starting with the
largest group and sometimes includes the percent of total population.
Source: https://www.indexmundi.com/spain/religions.html

Top Spain Foods: Spain's most common food is the tortilla de patata, or potato omelet,
according to Fodor's. Other gastronomical delicacies include seafood paella, chorizo
sausage, gazpacho soup and tapas. Lunch is the biggest meal of the day, typically
consisting of a soup or salad course followed by a main entree and a small dessert.
Below are top “must try” dishes for visitors to Spain:

 Almendrados: Almendrados are traditional Spanish cookies. They're made with

a combination of blanched almonds, granulated sugar, eggs, and lemon zest.
Egg whites are first beaten until stiff, then combined with sugar, egg yolks, lemon
zest, and ground almonds. The combination is spiced with cinnamon, if desired,
 and it's then shaped into mounds or pyramids and baked until golden. Dating
back to the 15th century or before, almendrados are often made during the
festive Christmas period as a tasty dessert or snack.
 Chocolate Cliente: Although hot chocolate is an internationally-known
beverage, this Spanish version stands out for its creamy and thick consistency. It
is usually made with dark chocolate or cocoa powder, milk, sugar, and cornstarch
—which is used to achieve the typical dense texture of the drink. Optionally,
cinnamon and grated nutmeg can be used as flavorings. This type of hot
chocolate is mainly served as an accompaniment to desserts, while the most
traditional combination includes a cup of hot chocolate and freshly fried Spanish
churros. Hot chocolate became a drink of choice of the Spanish aristocracy
sometime in the 17th century, and when chocolate and cocoa became more
available, it became a staple throughout the country. It should always be served
hot, and the pastry is supposed to be dipped in the drink.
 Queso Tetilla: Queso Tetilla is an aged semi-soft cheese made with the milk of
Friesian, Swiss Brown and Galician Blonde cows in the region of Galicia. This
cheese, ripened for a minimum of 7 days, has a typical pear-like shape with a
pointed top, which is the reason why it's called tetilla, meaning nipple in Spanish.
Its flavor is distinctively mild and buttery, with aromas similar to those of vanilla
and walnuts. Queso Tetilla is usually paired with jamón Serrano, chorizo,
membrillo, and a glass of wine.
 Empanda Gallega: This traditional Galician-style empanada is prepared in the
form of a large pie that comes in a number of regional varieties. The bottom and
top crusts are always prepared with leavened dough, and although the most
typical filling nowadays includes tuna, alternative options may be based on meat,
other types of fish, seafood, chorizo, or various vegetables. The filling is almost
always enriched with onions and peppers, and while tomatoes are a common
modern ingredient, in the past they were usually left out. Empanada gallega is
typically round or square-shaped, and the top is traditionally decorated with
pieces of dough. The pie is a mainstay on various special occasions in Galicia,
and it can be served freshly baked or well-chilled.
 Ensaimada de Mallorca: Ensaimada de Mallorca is a spiral-shaped sweet
pastry made with yeast dough that is combined with eggs and lard. This type of
bread has been made on the island of Mallorca since the 17th century and the
recipe has remained unchanged to this day. The word ensaïmada comes from
saïm, meaning lard, which is the essential ingredient in this recipe. The base
recipe for ensaimada de Mallorca is very simple and includes only flour, sugar,
eggs, yeast, and water. However, there are many variations of this recipe which
had been developed during the centuries, including the likes of those with
pumpkin, cream, or chocolate.
 Jabugo: Named after a village nestled in the Sierra de Aracena y Picos de
Aroche Nature Park, in the northern part of the Andalusian province of Huelva,
Jabugo is a variety of the popular Spanish Ibérico ham or shoulder ham made
from the meat of the pure-bred Iberian pig or cross-breed of the local Manchado
de Jabugo pig, with at least 75 % Iberian blood.
  Neula: Neula is a Catalan biscuit consisting of flour, sugar, beaten egg whites,
butter, and lemon juice. The biscuits are very light and thin, and they are typically
rolled into hollow tubes. Neulas are traditionally consumed during the Christmas
season, accompanied by a Catalan sparkling wine called cava.The name neula
is derived from the word nebula, meaning fog, referring to their delicate and light
texture.
 Panelletes: Panellets are small marzipan sweets that that come in different
forms and variations. They are made from three types of marzipan; basic,
coarse, and fine, and various candied fruits or jams can be added to the
marzipan. They are an all-natural product made using as few ingredients as
possible, without the addition of any artificial colourings or preservatives. The
marzipan is made by combining one kilogram of ground almonds with one
kilogram of sugar and adding one whole egg, after which the combination is left
to rest for 24 hours. The additional ingredients are then added to the mix, and
they can include lemon and orange peel, hazelnuts, pine nuts, chestnuts, coffee,
etc. Panellets are then shaped and baked in the oven at approximately 220°C.
Traditionally prepared for the feast of All Saints, these sweets are typically
enjoyed with a glass of dessert wine on the side.
 Longaniza: Longaniza is a flavorful Spanish sausage made from pork,
traditionally flavored with cinnamon, aniseed, garlic, nutmeg, paprika, and
vinegar. It is characterized by its long, thin shape, and is often consumed sliced
and paired with bread, although it can also be consumed as it is. The sausage
has a few varieties that differ in spices, and those are popular throughout the
world, especially in countries such as Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.
 Bocadillo de queso: Bocadillo de queso is a Spanish sandwich that consists of
Spanish bread and slices of cheese. Due to the simplicity of the sandwich, both
the bread and the cheese used for the preparation of this bocadillo variety must
be of excellent quality. The most common choice for bread is a Spanish-style
baguette called barra de pan, while the selection of cheese includes various
types of cheese such as Manchego cheese, queso fresco (fresh cheese), queso
de cabra (goat cheese), Edam cheese, and blue cheese. The bread is usually cut
in half lengthwise, and it is often moistened with a drizzle of olive oil or rubbed
with ripe tomato halves on the inside. Lettuce or rocket leaves, tomato slices,
strips of roasted peppers, and slices of ham are some of the optional ingredients
that may be added to the sandwich’s filling for added flavor and a more filling
dish.

Language: In terms of the number of speakers and dominance, the most prominent of
the languages of Spain is Spanish (Castilian), spoken by about 99% of Spaniards as a
first or second language. Catalan (or Valencian) is spoken by 19%, Galician by 5%, and
Basque by 2% of the population.

Dress for Men and Women: Spanish men and women generally have a more
“European” taste for fashion, and comfort is often of lesser importance. In the warm
spring and summer months, Spanish women wear light cotton pants, skirts and dresses
(of many styles and lengths) with sandals, dress shoes or fashion sneakers.
Holidays: There are several national holidays in Spain such as:
 New Year's Day
 Good Friday
 Easter Sunday
 Labor Day in Spain
 Labour Day
 Assumption of Mary
 Fiesta Nacional de España
 All Saints' Day
 Christmas Day
 Constitution Day
Travel Tips:

 Spain’s not a small country – there’s no point just visiting Madrid or Barcelona
and thinking you’ve seen the whole of Spain… the country is vast and diverse –
both in culture and geography.
 Everyone knows the locals knows where the best spots are and that holds
particularly true in Spain.
 There are some pretty beautiful cities in Spain, including but not limited to the
amazing; Valencia, Madrid, Barcelona and Granada, but don’t think the cities are
all there is to see! The beautiful Mediterranean coast, mountainous Basque
region and the plains around Madrid all provide ample stomping ground for us
travellers to see and explore a different aspect of this stunning country.
 Don’t be fooled into thinking that Spain has one national identity! Catalonia and
the Basque region both have very strong identities that people are very rightly
proud of.
 The language, food, culture and even architecture changes quite dramatically.
 While adapting to new time-zones is a regular challenge for travelers, visitors to
Spain have the added complication of getting used to the country's late schedule.
Spanish 'afternoon' lasts until around 8:00 pm, the time when most restaurants
open up for the evening. 
 Some of Spain's best food is found in the north of the country where tapas comes
in the form of tasty pinchos or pintxos.
 Spain does have an excellent high-speed rail network, operated by Renfe but
unfortunately it can be very expensive to use.
 There are no shortage of fiestas to choose from in Spain with some of the world's
most famous celebrations taking place there each year.
 One thing that travelers in Spain need to be aware of, before they even set foot
in the country, is that visits to a few of the major sites and attractions do need to
be booked in advance.
 Spain’s got some pretty dazzling buildings with the likes of Gaudi, Calatrava and
Miralles. Make sure people take some time to enjoy some of the breathtaking
buildings that have been erected in this millennia and the last!
Top 10 Attractions and places to visit:

1. La Sagrada Familia
2. Park Güell
3. Alhambra
4. Ibiza
5. Casa Milà
6. Casa Batlló
7. La Rambla, Barcelona
8. Gran Canaria
9. Museo Nacional del Prado
10. Seville
Spain Boys Name:
 Mateo
 Santiago
 Jose
 Leonardo
 Carlos
 Juan
 Antonio
 Lorenzo
Top Universities in Spain:
1. University of Barcelona
2. Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona
3. Complutense University of Madrid
4. University of Valencia
5. Autonomous University of Madrid
6. University of Granada
7. Pompeu Fabra University
8. University of Salamanca
9. Polytechnic University of Catalonia
10. Polytechnic university of Valencia
Top 10 Websites:
1. Google.com
2. Youtube.com
3. Google.es
4. Amazon.es
5. Live.com
6. Wikipedia.org
7. Yahoo.com
 8. Facebook.com
9. Blogspot.com
10. Elpais.com
Top 3 Search engines used:
1. Google
2. Bing
3. Yahoo
Top exports:
 Vehicles
 Computer
 Oil
 Electrical machinery
 Pharmaceuticals
 Plastics
Top 5 Cars:
Top cars in Spain includes:
1. Seat lbiza
2. Dacia Sandero
3. Nissan Qashqai
4. Peugeot
5. Seat leon
Natural Disasters:
Many types of natural disasters occur in Spain such as:
 Fire
 Flood
 Landslides
 Tornadoes
Home Designs / Architecture:
Most Spaniards prefer to live in apartment blocks. Here is what the typical residential
area in any Spanish city looks like. Most Spanish apartments involve white walls, stone
floors, and windows with shutters. Although Spanish apartments tend to have big
kitchens, they are used exclusively for cooking.
Deaths and Mortality:
Spain death rate was at level of 9.2 per 1,000 people in 2019, up from 9.1 per 1,000
people previous year, this is a change of 1.25%.
Source: https://knoema.com/atlas/Spain/Death-rate