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Spain Portal

Spain is a largely mountainous country located in the Iberian Peninsula, consisting of various geographically diverse regions and known for its culturally diverse heritage, having been influenced by many nations and peoples throughout its history. The Spanish culture has roots in Celtiberian, Latin, Semitic , other European countries and Roman Catholicism; and an ongoing tension between the centralized state (dominated in recent centuries by Castile) and numerous regions and minority peoples. In addition, the history of the nation and its Mediterranean and Atlantic environment have played strong roles in shaping its culture. Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... The Lady of Baza, made by Iberians The Iberians were an ancient, Pre-Indo-European people who inhabited the east and southeast of the Iberian Peninsula in prehistoric and historic times. ... For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... In linguistics and ethnology, Semitic (from the Biblical Shem, Hebrew: שם, translated as name, Arabic: سام) was first used to refer to a language family of largely Middle Eastern origin, now called the Semitic languages. ... Catholic Church redirects here. ... This article or section needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ...

Regionalism

A strong sense of regional identity exists in many regions of Spain. These regions or nationalities—even those that least identify themselves as Spanish—have contributed greatly to many aspects of mainstream Spanish culture. A region can be any area that has some unifying feature. ...

Most notably, the Basque Country, Catalonia and Galicia have widespread nationalist sentiment. Many Basque and Catalan nationalists back statehood for their respective regions. Basque aspirations to statehood have been a cause of violence (notably by ETA), although most Basque nationalists (like virtually all Catalan nationalists) currently seek to fulfill their aspirations by peaceful means. Pays Basque) see Northern Basque Country. ... This article is about the Spanish autonomous community. ... Galicia (Spain) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Eugène Delacroixs Liberty Leading the People, symbolising French nationalism during the July Revolution 1830. ... Political Spain in 1854, after the first Carlist War The Arrano beltza (black eagle) flag is waved by radical Basque nationalists, mainly supporters of ETA and HB, along the Ikurriña and the Navarrese flag as a claim of unity of the Basque lands. ... Catalan nationalism, or Catalanism, is a political movement that advocates for an increased political autonomy of Catalonia, if not independence itself, from Spain and France. ... For other uses, see State (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see ETA (disambiguation). ...

There are also several communities where there is a great sense of regional identity: Andalusia, Asturias, Navarre, Balearic Islands and Valencia (the last two feeling attached to Catalan culture in different ways) each have their own version of nationalism, but generally with a smaller percentage of nationalists than in the Basque Country and Catalonia. For other uses, see Andalusia (disambiguation). ... Anthem: Asturias, patria querida Capital Oviedo Official language(s) Spanish; Asturian has special status Area  â€“ Total  â€“ % of Spain Ranked 10th  10,604 km²  2. ... “Navarra” redirects here. ... Capital Palma de Mallorca Official language(s) Spanish and Catalan Area  â€“ Total  â€“ % of Spain Ranked 17th  4,992 km²  1. ... Capital Valencia Official language(s) Valencian and Spanish Area  â€“ Total  â€“ % of Spain Ranked 8th  23,255 km²  4. ...

There are other regions which, despite a broad Spanish nationalist feeling, have strong regional identities: Cantabria, Rioja, Aragon, and Extremadura. For the Mesozoic island Cantabria, see Cantabria (Mesozoic island). ... Rioja is a wine from a region named after the Rio Oja in Spain, a tributary of the Ebro. ... Capital Zaragoza Official language(s) Spanish Area  â€“ Total  â€“ % of Spain Ranked 4th  47,719 km²  9. ... Capital Mérida Official language(s) Spanish; Area  â€“ Total  â€“ % of Spain Ranked 5th  41,634 km²  8. ...

There are also the cases of Madrid, an administrative autonomous community inside the two Castilles; the two north African autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, and the autonomous community of Murcia. Castile was the core kingdom under which Spain eventually unified after centuries of evolution and incorporations. Yet there are also strong movements in the provinces of the extinct region of Leon, pushing to separate from Castilla-Leon. This article is about the Spanish capital. ... Capital Ceuta City Official language(s) Spanish Area  â€“ Total  â€“ % of Spain Ranked  28 km²   Population  â€“ Total (2006)  â€“ % of Spain  â€“ Density Ranked  75,861    2,709. ... Capital Official language(s) Spanish Area  â€“ Total  â€“ % of Spain Ranked  20 km²   Population  â€“ Total (2006)  â€“ % of Spain  â€“ Density Ranked  66,871    3,343. ... This article is about the Spanish city. ... Coat of arms Kingdom of Castile in the 15th century. ... Capital Valladolid Area  - total  - % of Spain Ranked 1st 94,223 km² 18,6% Population  - Total (2003)  - % of Spain  - Density Ranked 6th 2,480,369 5. ...

Spain has a long history of tension between centralism and regionalism. The current organization of the state into autonomous communities (similar to a federal organization) under the Spanish Constitution of 1978 is intended as a way to incorporate these communities into the state. Autonomous communities of Spain. ... The Spanish Constitution of 1978 is the culmination of the Spanish transition to democracy. ...

Languages

Main article: Languages of Spain

While nearly everyone in Spain can speak Spanish (which is almost universally known in Spain as castellano — "Castilian" — rather than español — "Spanish") other languages figure prominently in many regions: Basque (Euskara) in the Basque Country and Navarre; Catalan in Catalonia, Balearic Islands and Valencia (where it is usually referred to as Valencian), and Galician in Galicia. Spanish is official throughout the country; the rest of these have co-official status in their respective regions and all are major enough that there are numerous daily newspapers in these languages and (especially for Catalan and Basque) a significant book publishing industry. Many citizens in these regions consider their regional language as their primary language and Spanish as secondary; these languages cover broad enough regions to have multiple distinct dialects. (Spanish itself also has distinct dialects around the country, with the Andaluz dialect being closer to the Spanish of the Americas, which it heavily influenced.) The Languages of Spain are the languages spoken or once spoken in the territory of the country of Spain. ... Basque (native name: euskara) is the language spoken by the Basque people who inhabit the Pyrenees in North-Central Spain and the adjoining region of South-Western France. ... Catalan IPA: (català IPA: or []) is a Romance language, the national language of Andorra, and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Balearic Islands, Catalonia and Valencia, and in the city of LAlguer in the Italian island of Sardinia. ... This page deals with language. ... Galician (Galician: galego) is a language of the Western Ibero-Romance branch, spoken in Galicia. ...

In addition, there is strong and growing support for other regional languages, some of them in danger of extinction. These include Asturian in Asturias, Aragonese in Aragon, and Aranese, a dialect of Gascon spoken only in the tiny Val d'Aran, but enough of a live language to be used in the public schools there. Asturian, Leonese, Astur-Leonese or Bable (Asturianu in Asturian, Llïonés in Leonese) is a Romance language spoken in some parts of the provinces of Asturias, León, Zamora and Salamanca in Spain, and in the area of Miranda de Douro in Portugal (where it is officially recognized as... Aragonese redirects here. ... Capital Zaragoza Official language(s) Spanish Area  â€“ Total  â€“ % of Spain Ranked 4th  47,719 km²  9. ... Aranese (aranés in Occitan/Gascon/Aranese) is a variety of Pyrenean Gascon (a dialect of the Occitan language), spoken in Val dAran, in northwestern Catalonia (Spain), where it is one of the three official languages besides Catalan and Spanish. ... Gascon (Gascon, ; French, ) is a dialect of the Occitan language. ... Val dAran, a small valley (620. ... The term public school has three distinct meanings: In the USA and Canada, elementary or secondary school supported and administered by state and local officials. ...

With the exception of Basque, which appears to be a language isolate, all of these are Romance languages. A language isolate, in the absolute sense, is a natural language with no demonstrable genealogical (or genetic) relationship with other living languages; that is, one that has not been demonstrated to descend from an ancestor common to any other language. ... The Romance languages (sometimes referred to as Romanic languages) are a branch of the Indo-European language family that comprises all the languages that descend from Latin, the language of the Roman Empire. ...

Climate and geography

Spain's natural surroundings have helped shape the culture of the nation. The success of the Basques in maintaining a separate culture over a period of millennia has doubtless been aided by the mountainous geography of their region. Several separate parts of Spain have strong maritime traditions, including inland ports on rivers: Seville, for example, was a major port until the Guadalquivir silted up. Since the availability of mass air transport, Spain's Mediterranean beaches, especially those along the Costa del Sol, have drawn millions of tourists, providing considerable revenue (and enormous contact with the outside world) to a long-depressed and isolated area of the country. For other uses, see Seville (disambiguation). ... The Guadalquivir is the second longest river in Spain (after the Tagus). ... The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... The Costa del Sol is a region which comprises the coastal towns and communities in the Málaga province, along the Mediterranean coastline. ...

Except for the subtropical Canary Islands, Spain can be divided into areas experiencing, respectively, a Mediterranean climate; a climate dominated by the Atlantic Ocean; and (in the inner areas) a rather extreme climate with hotter summers and colder winters than nearer the coasts. The generally warm and relatively dry summers have led to a culture in which a lot of life is lived outdoors, whether on a patio in the courtyard of a building or on a public plaza. In Madrid, many of the most popular nightclubs move for several months in the summer to an outdoor terraza much farther from the city centre than their indoor winter location, continuing in a way the older tradition of the verbena (fair). In the Mediterranean areas (and in the Canary Islands), outdoor meals can be a nearly year-round phenomenon. Anthem: Arrorró Capital Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife Official language(s) Spanish Area  â€“ Total  â€“ % of Spain Ranked 13th  7,447 km²  1. ... A patio of the Livadia Palace in Crimea. ... In Spanish-speaking cultures, a verbena is a country fair, modest amusement park, and/or a dance party, especially one held at night. ...

Contemporary culture

As recently as the mid-20th-century, much of Spain (especially outside of the major cities) remained quite distinct from the rest of Europe. In 1954, V.S. Pritchett could still write of small Spanish towns, "The inn, if there is one, will not be a hotel, nor even a fonda — the Arab word — but perhaps a posada: a place one can ride into with a mule or a donkey, where one can stable an animal and lie down oneself on a sack of straw, the other side of the stall." [Pritchett, 1954 p. 46-47] The idea of Spain as romantically backward, a country of landed aristocrats, illiterate peasants, colourful gypsies and bullfighters, and intense medieval-style religiosity, in great contrast to surrounding modern, industrialised, urbanised European countries was summed up in the saying "Africa begins in the Pyrenees", i.e. Spain was seen as more like North Africa than modern Europe. However, especially since the 1975 death of Francisco Franco, Spain has become increasingly modern, prosperous and European; Pritchett's rustic posada would be unimaginable today. Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... “Franco” redirects here. ...

Franco's death ended a decades-long regime of censorship, leading to an explosive growth in a wide range of cultural areas. The subsequent recognition of strong cultural autonomy for the various Autonomous Communities reinvigorated many aspects of local culture that had been almost entirely repressed since the Spanish Civil War. Spain joined the European Union in 1986. The term minority rights embodies two separate concepts: first, normal individual rights as applied to members of racial, ethnic, class, religious or sexual minorities, and second, collective rights accorded to minority groups. ... Not to be confused with the Spanish Civil War of 1820-1823. ...

Spanish pop culture

• La movida: late 1970s and early 1980s youth subculture (with affinities to punk and new wave) with a focal point in Madrid.
• El botellón. The young people gather in the thousands in public parks for the sake of having fun, meeting people, doing social life and drinking alcohol.

La Movida Madrileña (The Madrilene movement) is a sociocultural movement that took place in Madrid during the 1980s, triggered by an explosion of liberties after the death of Fascist dictator Francisco Franco, and the economic rise of Spain. ... Punks at a music festival The punk subculture is a subculture that is based around punk rock music. ... New Wave was a pop and rock music genre that existed during the late 1970s and the early-to-mid 1980s. ... Botellón on the beach. ...

Dress Style

Historically, various regions of Spain had quite distinct regional dress. Today, most people in Spain dress in a manner comparable to most other contemporary Europeans, although some regional variations persist. Dress in Extremadura and in the smaller cities of Castile remains relatively austere, even on festive occasions, while Andaluz dress on festive occasions is elaborate and ostentatious. Barcelona is one of the most stylish cities in Europe, though more restrained and with a more determinedly timeless style than Paris or Milan. Location Coordinates : Time Zone : CET (GMT +1) - summer: CEST (GMT +2) General information Native name Barcelona (Catalan) Spanish name Barcelona Nickname Ciutat Comtal (City of Counts) Postal code 08001–08080 Area code 34 (Spain) + 93 (Barcelona) Website http://www. ... This article is about the capital of France. ... Type Anti-tank Nationality Joint France/Germany Era Cold War, modern Launch platform Individual, Vehicle Target Vehicle, Fortification History Builder MBDA, Bharat Dynamics (under license) Date of design 70s Production period since 1972 Service duration since 1972 Operators 41 countries Variants MILAN 1, MILAN 2, MILAN 2T, MILAN 3, MILAN...

Customs

The siesta—an hour-long mid-afternoon break from work—is generally in decline and the typical rhythm of the day in Spain is now similar to the European norm. Many shops and some museums (though relatively few other businesses) still split their hours into two distinct periods of opening with a two or three hour break in the middle; a paseo (stroll) in the early evening remains a common custom in many smaller cities and to some extent even in the larger ones. A painting of a young woman taking a siesta. ...

Dinner here starts the latest in Europe, typically about 9 p.m. (in the east) or 10 p.m. (in the west); consequently night-life starts later, with many dance clubs (even in relatively small cities) opening at midnight and staying open until dawn; during summer in Madrid, there is nothing unusual about a live musical performance being scheduled for one or two o'clock in the morning. This rhythm has developed in accordance with the hours of the sun which rises and sets one or two hours later than in the rest of Europe. The routine perhaps lessens outdoor human activity in the period of the day when temperatures are hottest.

Architecture

Main article: Spanish architecture

Because many of its historical buildings have remained intact today, several architectural structures in Spain, and even portions of cities, have been designated World Heritage sites. These are listed at List of World Heritage Sites in Europe: Spain. Sagrada Família church, by Gaudí Spanish architecture refers to architecture carried out during any era in what is now modern-day Spain, and by Spanish architects worldwide. ... Elabana Falls is in Lamington National Park, part of the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves World Heritage site in Queensland, Australia. ... This is a list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Europe. ...

Spain was part of the Roman Empire and many areas of Spain retain significant Roman architectural remnants. The Roman aqueduct at Segovia is still in use as of 2004; Mérida, now the Extremaduran capital but once the capital of the Roman province of Lusitania, retains over 5 miles of its Roman aqueduct, Roman bridge over the River Guadiana, an arch of Trajan, and significant remnants of a Roman forum, amphitheatre, and a temple popularly accounted to have been dedicated to Diana (goddess). Another Roman bridge crosses the Tagus River at Alcántara. Lesser Roman ruins can be found in the heart of Barcelona. For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... The Aqueduct of Segovia (or more precisely, the aqueduct bridge) is one of the most significant and best-preserved monuments left by the Romans on the Iberian Peninsula. ... The factual accuracy of part of this article is disputed. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Mérida is the capital of the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain. ... In red is the province of Lusitania within the Roman Empire, 120 AD Lusitania was an ancient Roman province approximately including current Portugal, except for the area between the rivers Douro and Minho (part of Hispania Tarraconensis), and part of modern day western Spain, the present autonomous communities of Extremadura... Guadiana (Latin Anas, Spanish Guadiana, Portuguese Guadiana) - one of the major rivers of Spain, part of it is the border with Portugal, ends in the Atlantic Ocean. ... This article is about the Roman Emperor. ... The Colosseum in Rome, Italy. ... Diana was the equivalent in Roman mythology of the Greek Artemis (see Roman/Greek equivalency in mythology for more details). ... View over Tejo River from Almourol Castle in Portugal (May 2005). ... Roman bridge of Alcántara For other uses, see Alcántara (disambiguation). ...

Spain is home to several fine examples of medieval architecture; outside of the areas that were under Muslim control, these are primarily in the Romanesque and Gothic styles. Spain is also home to several examples of Cathedral architecture. The Drassanes in Barcelona, originally a facility for building ships and now a maritime museum, is the largest and most complete medieval secular structure in the world. Church of the Intercession on the Nerl(1165) - an archetypal example of early Russian architecture. ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... South transept of Tournai Cathedral, Belgium, 12th century. ... The western facade of Reims Cathedral, France. ... Montreal (Canada) cathedral Cathedrals are among the most ambitious buildings ever conceived, far exceeding the size and complexity of most other constructions and often requiring many years to complete. ...

The architecture in southern Spain reflects its Moorish history. The Alhambra is probably the most famous example, showing a mixture of Islamic architecture and European influences. Significant Moorish buildings survive as far north as Zaragoza. Throughout Spain, many former mosque and synagogue buildings survive as Christian churches or, occasionally, converted to other uses. Good examples of this are the Church of Corpus Christi in Segovia and the Church of Santa María la Blanca in Toledo, both former synagogues, and the Mezquita (Spanish for "mosque"), a 10th century mosque in Córdoba, reconsecrated in 1236 as a Christian Church. The influence of Moorish architecture did not end with the reconquista: there were many prominent mudéjar architects, Muslims living and working in Christian Spain. For other uses, see moor. ... The Alhambra (Arabic: الحمراء = Al-Ħamrā; literally the red palace) is a palace and fortress complex of the Moorish monarchs of Granada, in southern Spain (known as Al-Andalus when the fortress was constructed), occupying a hilly terrace on the south-eastern border of the city of Granada. ... The interior of the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne. ... For other uses, see Zaragoza (disambiguation). ... The Masjid al-Haram in Mecca as it exists today A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. ... A synagogue (from , transliterated synagogÄ“, assembly; beit knesset, house of assembly; or beit tefila, house of prayer, shul; , esnoga) is a Jewish house of worship. ... The factual accuracy of part of this article is disputed. ... For other uses, see Toledo (disambiguation). ... Interior of the Mezquita The Mezquita (Spanish for mosque, from the Arabic مسجد Masjid) is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Córdoba, Spain. ... Location Coordinates : , , Time zone : CET (GMT +1) - summer : CEST (GMT +2) General information Native name Córdoba (Spanish) Spanish name Córdoba Founded 8th century BC Postal code 140xx Website http://www. ... // Events May 6 - Roger of Wendover, Benedictine monk and chronicler of St Albanss Abbey dies. ... For other senses of this word, see Reconquista (disambiguation). ... Teruel: Tower of the Cathedral, one of ten Mudéjar monuments of Aragón that comprise the World Heritage Site The Courtyard of the Dolls in the Alcázar of Seville Tower of the Santa maría church in Calatayud Las Ventas, Madrids Neo-Mudéjar bullfighting ring Mud...

When the city of Barcelona was allowed to expand beyond its historic limits in the late 19th century (a suspicious Spanish government had long kept a ring of undeveloped land around the city to make it easy for the military to deploy against any unrest), the resulting Eixample ("extension"), larger than the old city, became the site of a burst of architectural energy. Most famous among the architects represented there is Antoni Gaudí, whose works in Barcelona and elsewhere in Catalonia, mixing traditional architectural styles with the new, were a precursor to modern architecture. Perhaps the most famous example of his work is the (as of 2004) still-unfinished La Sagrada Família, the largest building in the Eixample. Antoni Gaudí i Cornet (Riudoms or Reus, 25 June 1852 – Barcelona, 10 June 1926) – sometimes referred to by the Spanish translation of his name, Antonio Gaudí – was a Catalan architect, who belonged to the Modernisme (Art Nouveau) movement and was famous for his unique style and highly individualistic designs. ... Modern architecture, not to be confused with contemporary architecture, is a term given to a number of building styles with similar characteristics, primarily the simplification of form and the elimination of ornament. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Alan Parsons Project song, see La Sagrada Familia (song). ...

Other notable Catalan architects of that period include Lluís Domènech i Montaner and Josep Puig i Cadafalch. One block on the Passeig de Gràcia contains buildings by each of the three; the clashing styles led to the nickname "manzana de la discordia", literally the "block of discord", but also a pun: "manzana" can also mean "apple", hence "apple of discord". Lluís Domènech i Montaner Editorial Montaner i Simón Casa Fuster Born in Barcelona, Lluís Domènech i Montaner (21 December 1850 - 27 December 1923) showed from a young age his passion for architecture. ... Casa de les Punxes Palau del Baro de Quadres Josep Puig i Cadafalch (October 15, 1867 - December 21, 1956) was a modernistic Catalan architect who designed many significant buildings in Barcelona. ... Kallisti is a word from the Greek language. ...

Alejandro de la Sota was one of the early proponents of modern architecture in Spain; the first steel framed building in Madrid is his 1961 Maravillas College Gymnasium. The exterior of the Marravillas College Gymnasium The interior of the Marravillas College Gymnasium Alejandro de la Sota Martínez (October 20, 1913 - 14 February 1996) was a Spanish architect. ... Modern architecture, not to be confused with contemporary architecture, is a term given to a number of building styles with similar characteristics, primarily the simplification of form and the elimination of ornament. ... Year 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Santiago Calatrava began to make his name from the 1980s and works internationally. His work is typified by a great understanding of engineering as well as nature. A notable building of his is the City of Arts & Sciences in Valencia. Enric Miralles possessed a highly esoteric style which has been compared to fellow Catalan Gaudí, and was beginning to be successful internationally, but died in 2000, at only 45 years old. His largest work, the Scottish Parliament Building was completed posthumously. The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao may be the most famous example of contemporary architecture in Spain, although the architect, Frank Gehry, is a citizen of United States and of Canadian descent. Santiago Calatrava Valls (born July 28, 1951) is an internationally recognized and award-winning Spanish architect and structural engineer whose principal office is in Zurich, Switzerland. ... The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... Engineering is the discipline of acquiring and applying knowledge of design, analysis, and/or construction of works for practical purposes. ... LUmbracle El Museu The Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (Valencian), Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (Spanish) or City of Arts & Sciences is an ensemble of five areas in the dry river bed of the now diverted River Turia in Valencia, Spain. ... Miralles Santa Caterina Market Enric Miralles (1955 - July 3, 2000) was a Catalan architect. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... The new Scottish Parliament Building at Holyrood designed by the Catalan architect Enric Miralles and opened in October 2004. ... The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, along the Nervión River in downtown Bilbao, with the Maman, a huge spider by Louise Bourgeois The Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, Spain, which is made of glass, titanium, and limestone. ... Frank Owen Gehry, CC (born Ephraim Owen Goldberg, February 28, 1929) is a Pritzker Prize winning architect based in Los Angeles, California. ...

The dry weather of Spain resulted in the importance of water fountains in Spanish urban design. In addition, ceramics figure prominently in architecture throughout Spain, especially in the tile roofs (though slate was traditional near the Atlantic coast) and the use of decorative tiles known as azulejos. The worlds highest fountain: King Fahds Fountain in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Three traditional fountain features: a low jet, a pair of raised basins, and sculpture with a water theme, here hippocamps (Villa Borghese, Rome) A traditional fountain is an arrangement where water issues from a source (Latin fons... Ancient Egyptian ceramic art: Louvre Museum. ... Mission, or barrel, roof tiles A tile is a manufactured piece of hard-wearing material such as ceramic, stone, porcelain, metal or even glass. ... A Ala dos Namorados. ...

Dance

• Contradanza
• Flamenco
• Pasodoble
• Sardana
• Jota

Contredanse (also contra-dance and other variant spellings) refers to several folk dance styles in which couples dance in two facing lines. ... Flamenco is a Spanish musical genre with strong, rhythmic undertones and is often accompanied with a similarly impassioned style of dance characterized by its powerful yet graceful execution, as well as its intricate hand and footwork. ... Pasodoble is a Spanish march-like musical style. ... The sardana (Catalan plural sardanes) is a type of circle dance typical of Catalonia. ... Jota is a Spanish music and dance. ...

Festivals

Many of the traditional festivals in Spain revolve around Catholic saints and historical events.

• Fallas
• Bonfires of Saint John
• El Rocío
• Carnival
• Carnival of Cádiz
• San Fermín
• Mystery Play of Elx
• Romeria
• Tomatina
• Moros y Cristianos
• Hogueras
• Semana Santa

A Falla prior to being burned Falles (in Catalan/Valencian) or Fallas (in Spanish) is a Valencian tradition which celebrates Saint Josephs Day (March 19th) in Valencia, Spain. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... This article describes the festival season. ... The Carnival of Cádiz is one of the best known carnivals in the world. ... Bulls running on July 7, 2005, Consistorial Square, Pamplona The festival of San Fermín in the city of Pamplona (Navarre, Basque Country, Spain), is a deeply-rooted celebration held annually from noon 6 July, when the opening of the fiesta is marked by setting off the pyrotechnic chupinazo accompanied... The Elche Mystery Play, a lyrical drama dating from the Middle Ages, represented, celebrated, made and lived in the Basilica de Santa María in the city of Elche the days 14 and 15 of August of each year. ... A Romería is a Spanish religious pilgrimage. ... La Tomatina La Tomatina is a food fight festival held on the last Wednesday of August each year in the town of Buñol in the Valencia region of Spain. ... Parade of a Christian filà of Moros y Cristianos festival in Alcoy. ... Holy Week (Sp. ...

Food and drink

Main article: Spanish cuisine

Spanish cuisine is made of very different kinds of dishes due to the differences in geography, culture and climate. It is heavily influenced by the variety of seafood available from the waters that surround the country. Some foods typically associated with Spain include arroz con leche, (rice with milk), which is served as a dessert, and paella, which is made with yellow rice typically garnished with a variety of meats or seafood. Spanish cuisine consists of a great variety of dishes which stem from differences in geography, culture and climate. ... Cuisine (from French cuisine, cooking; culinary art; kitchen; ultimately from Latin coquere, to cook) is a specific set of cooking traditions and practices, often associated with a specific culture. ...

As Spain has had a history with many different cultural influences, the richness and variety of its cuisine is overwhelming, but all these ingredients have made up a unique cuisine with thousands of recipes and flavours. Much influence on Spanish cuisine has come from the Jewish and Moorish traditions. The Moors were a strong influence in Spain for many centuries and their food is still eaten in Spain today. As a counterpoint, public consumption of pork (forbidden for Jews and Muslims) was a religious affirmation of being an Old Christian and pork is still enjoyed by many Spaniards. The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination... For other uses, see moor. ... For other uses, see Pork (disambiguation). ... Halal (حلال, alāl, halaal) is an Arabic term meaning permissible. In the English language it most frequently refers to food that is permissible according to Islamic law. ... Old Christian (cristiano viejo in Spanish, cristão novo in Portuguese) was a social and law-effective category used in the Iberian Peninsula from the late 15th and early 16th century onwards, to distinguish Portuguese and Spanish attested as having cleanliness of blood from the populations categorized as New Christian...

• Chorizo, a paprika pork sausage.
• Cocido, a stew with beans and meat.
• Cuisine of Cantabria
• Fabada Asturiana, beans with chorizo and lard.
• Fideuà, a noodle paella
• Gazpacho, a cold soup or a liquid salad.
• Jamón, cured ham
• Paella, a rice dish
• Sangría, a wine cooler
• Tortilla de patatas, potato omelette.

Chorizo (in Spanish; IPA: [tʃoriθo] or [tʃoɹɪso]) or Chouriço (in Portuguese) is a term encompassing several types of pork sausage originating from the Iberian Peninsula. ... Fabada Asturiana, a typical dish of Asturias Fabada Asturiana, often simply known as Fabada, is a rich bean stew, originally from and most commonly found in Asturias, but widely available throughout Spain and in Spanish restaurants world-wide. ... Fideuà (pronounced fee-theh-WAH, IPA /fiðewa/; from fideu, Catalan/Valencian for noodle) is a typical dish of Valencia, Spain. ... Gazpacho with blended ingredients. ... Jamón ibérico on display on a market in Barcelona, Spain. ... Valencian paella. ... A bottle of home-made sangría with wine, sliced orange and sugar Sangría is a wine punch typical from Spain. ... For other uses of the word, see cooler (disambiguation) A cooler most commonly is an insulated box, used to keep food or drink cool. ... A portion of tortilla Full tortilla de patatas Wikibooks Cookbook has more about this subject: Spanish Omelette Tortilla de patatas (Spanish for potato omelette, but sometimes also referred to as Spanish omelette in English) is a popular dish in Spain that can be served either cold or hot. ...

Music

Main article: Music of Spain

Spain's musical output includes a long history of innovation in Western and Andalusian classical music, as well as a domestic popular music industry, and diverse styles of folk music. Modern Spain has a number of performers in the fields of rock and roll, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop, electronic music is also common between spaniards and djs such as dj marta or alex trackone are very well known in the spanish parties. For many people, Spanish music is virtually synonymous with flamenco, an Andalusian genre of music, but is not representative of all country. ... This article is about the genre of classical music in the Western musical tradition. ... Andalusian classical music is a style of classical music found across North Africa, though it evolved out of the music of Andalusia between the 10th and 15th centuries. ... For the music genre, see Pop music. ... Folk song redirects here. ... Rock and roll (also spelled Rock n Roll, especially in its first decade), also called rock, is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles. ... Heavy metal redirects here. ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... Hip hop music is a style of music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ... For other uses, see Electronic music (disambiguation). ...

The best-known variety of Spanish folk music is probably flamenco, a diverse genre created by Andalusian Roma. Flamenco has been known since at least the 1770s, and has been through several cycles of dwindling popularity and rebirth. The style has produced many of the most famous Spanish musicians, including singer Camarón de la Isla and guitarist Carlos Montoya. Flamenco is a Spanish musical genre with strong, rhythmic undertones and is often accompanied with a similarly impassioned style of dance characterized by its powerful yet graceful execution, as well as its intricate hand and footwork. ... Languages Romani, languages of native region Religions Christianity, Islam Related ethnic groups South Asians (Desi) The Roma (singular Rom; sometimes Rroma, Rrom) or Romanies are an ethnic group living in many communities all over the world. ... Events and Trends For more events, see 18th century United States Declaration of Independence ratified by the Continental Congress (July 4, 1776). ... Camarón de la Isla (born December 5, 1950, Cádiz, Spain; Died July 2, 1992, Barcelona, Spain), stage name of flamenco singer José Monge Cruz. ... Carlos Montoya was a prominent Flamenco guitarist. ...

Outside of flamenco, regional Spanish folk music includes the distinct Basque trikitixa and accordion music, Galician and Asturian gaita (bagpipe) and Aragonese jota. Though some folk traditions have died out or are moribund, some retain great popularity and have been modernized and adapted to new instruments, styles and formats. These include the popular Celtic music of Galicia, the singer-songwriter tradition of nova canço and New Flamenco. The trikitixa or eskusoinu (hand sound) is a two-row Basque diatonic button accordion, with right-hand rows keyed a fifth apart and twelve unisonoric bass buttons. ... For other uses, see Accordion (disambiguation). ... The (Galician) gaita or gaita do fole is a traditional bagpipe used in Galicia (Spain), and Portugal. ... A bagpipe performer in Amsterdam. ... Jota is a Spanish music and dance. ... Celtic music is a term utilized by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic peoples of Northern Europe. ... The term singer-songwriter refers to performers who both write and sing their own material. ... Flamenco Nuevo (New Flamenco) is synonymous with contemporary flamenco and is a modern derivitave of traditional flamenco (see the cafés cantantés period, and Rámon Montoya (1880-1949)). Although the most important early pioneers of modern flamenco are widely accepted to be the guitarist Paco de Lucía...

The first distinctly modern popular music of Spain began to appear in about 1959. Soon, Ye-Yé dominated the Spanish charts, followed by the import of American and British rock, French singers and other pop stars. Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Yé-yé is a style of pop music, popular in France in the 1960s. ...

Spanish music today mainly consists of pop/rock/punk bands such as El Canto Del Loco , La Oreja De Van Gogh , Edurne , and Amaral. This new type of music has dominated the charts in Spain today, and many believe it will continue to do so for some time. El Canto del Loco is a Spanish pop rock band. ... La Oreja de Van Gogh (Spanish: Van Goghs Ear) was a Latin Grammy winner Spanish pop band from Donostia-San Sebastian. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Amaral is a music group from Zaragoza, Spain. ...

Film

Main article: Cinema of Spain

While mid-century Spanish directors such as Luis Buñuel worked mainly in exile, film has prospered in Spain since the reestablishment of constitutionalism. Among the leading late 20th- and early 21st-century Spanish film directors are: The art of motion-picture making within the nation of Spain or by Spanish filmmakers abroad is collectively known as Spanish Cinema. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

• Pedro Almodóvar, Double Oscar Winner; 1999 "Foreign language film" (Todo sobre mi madre) and 2002 "Original Screenplay" (Hable con ella)
• Alejandro Amenábar, 2004 Oscar winner for "Foreign language film" (Mar Adentro).
• Pablo Berger
• Manuel Martin Cuenca
• Mateo Gil, who works with Amenábar on most of his films.
• Álex de la Iglesia
• Julio Medem, director of Lucía y el sexo
• Ventura Pons, directs mainly in Catalan
• Carlos Saura, whose five decades as a director include numerous films centered on dance (especially flamenco, as well as the official film of the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.

Spain also has some rather notable "B movie" directors, such as: Pedro Almodóvar Caballero (pronounced ) (born September 24, 1949 in Calzada de Calatrava, Spain) is a Spanish film director, screenwriter and producer. ... Academy Award The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are the most prominent and most watched film awards ceremony in the world. ... The 72nd Academy Awards ceremony (also known as Oscars 2000) took place at Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium, and was Billy Crystals seventh time hosting the Awards. ... The Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Foreign Language Film is a yearly US award for the best film in a language other than English, released in the period October - September in the country of origin. ... Poster for Todo sobre mi madre All About My Mother (Todo sobre mi madre) is a 1999 film written and directed by the Spanish auteur Pedro Almodóvar, starring Cecilia Roth, Marisa Paredes, Candela Peña, Antonia San Juan and Penélope Cruz. ... 75th Academy Awards Sunday, March 23, 2003 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California Host Show: Steve Martin Crew Producer: Gil Cates Duration 3 hours, 30 minutes The 75th Academy Awards ceremony was originally intended to be an especially festive celebration of the ceremonys 75th anniversary. ... // The Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay is the Academy Award for the best script not based upon previously published material. ... Talk to Her (Hable con ella) is a 2002 film written and directed by the Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar, starring Javier Cámara, Darío Grandinetti, Leonor Watling, and Rosario Flores. ... Alejandro Fernando Amenábar Cantos (born March 31, 1972 in Santiago, Chile) is a Spanish film director, widely considered one of the most important Spanish directors working today even though he has directed only four films. ... The 77th Academy Awards, honoring the best in film for 2004, were held on February 27, 2005, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California. ... Mar adentro (English title: The Sea Inside) is a 2004 film by the Chilean-Spanish director Alejandro Amenábar, written by Mateo Gil and Amenábar. ... Mateo Gil Rodríguez (b. ... Álex de la Iglesia (born December 4, 1965) is a Spanish film director. ... Julio Medem (born 21 October 1958) is a Spanish writer and film director. ... Lucía y el sexo (Sex and Lucía) is a 2001 Spanish film, written and directed by Julio Medem and starring Paz Vega and Tristán Ulloa. ... Ventura Pons (born July 25, 1945 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain) is a Catalan director. ... Catalan IPA: (català IPA: or []) is a Romance language, the national language of Andorra, and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Balearic Islands, Catalonia and Valencia, and in the city of LAlguer in the Italian island of Sardinia. ... Carlos Saura (born 4 January 1932, Atarés, Huesca) is a Spanish film director. ... Flamenco is a Spanish musical genre with strong, rhythmic undertones and is often accompanied with a similarly impassioned style of dance characterized by its powerful yet graceful execution, as well as its intricate hand and footwork. ... The 92 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were held in 1992 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. ... Location Coordinates : Time Zone : CET (GMT +1) - summer: CEST (GMT +2) General information Native name Barcelona (Catalan) Spanish name Barcelona Nickname Ciutat Comtal (City of Counts) Postal code 08001–08080 Area code 34 (Spain) + 93 (Barcelona) Website http://www. ... The King of the Bs, Roger Corman, produced and directed The Raven (1963) for American International Pictures. ...

• Santiago Segura, director of the Torrente Trilogy.

Santiago Segura Silva (born July 17, 1965) is a Spanish film actor, scriptwriter, producer and director. ...

Sport

Main article: Sports in Spain

Sport in Spain is dominated by Fútbol, with La Liga, the country's professional league, drawing large attendances; Real Madrid and FC Barcelona are traditionally the most successful teams. The national team, however, underperforms consistently at the World Cup, although it did win the 1964 European Football Championship. Currently Spain is captained by Raúl González, who is very much the Golden Boy of Spanish football – he also is the top scorer for the national team and captain of his club, Real Madrid. Spain hosted the 1982 FIFA World Cup. Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... A player (wearing the red kit) has penetrated the defence (in the white kit) and is taking a shot at goal. ... (Professional Football League), commonly known as La Liga and also known as Primera División, is the professional football league in Spain. ... Real Madrid Club de Fútbol is a Spanish sports club most widely known for its professional football team based in Madrid. ... Futbol Club Barcelona, known familiarly as Barça (IPA: baɾ.sÉ™), is a sports club based in Barcelona, Catalonia. ... First international  Spain 1 - 0 Denmark  (Brussels, Belgium; 28 August 1920) Biggest win  Spain 13 - 0 Bulgaria  (Madrid, Spain; 21 May 1933) Biggest defeat  Italy 7 - 1 Spain  (Amsterdam, Netherlands; 4 June 1928)  England 7 - 1 Spain  (London, England; 9 December 1931) World Cup Appearances 12 (First in 1934) Best... The FIFA World Cup Trophy, which has been awarded to the world champions since 1974. ... The 1964 European Football Championship, then called the European Nations Cup, was the second edition of the European Football Championship, held every four years and endoresed by UEFA. The final tournament was held in Spain. ... The UEFA European Championship is the main football competition of the mens national football teams governed by the UEFA. Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the European Nations Cup, changing to the name European Football Championship... For other uses, see Raúl González (disambiguation). ... The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th staging of the World Cup, was held in Spain from June 13 to July 11. ...

In Tennis, Spain won the 2005 Davis Cup championship, with teenager Rafael Nadal leading the line. Cycle racing is a major sport, hosting the 3rd biggest stage race in UCI ProTour, the Vuelta a España. Navarran Miguel Indurain is one of only five Spanish men to win the famous Tour de France. Recently, F1 Champion Fernando Alonso has spurred a rise in Formula One popularity in Spain. For other uses, see Tennis (disambiguation). ... The great Australians Lew Hoad and Ken Rosewall with the Cup in 1953 The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in mens tennis. ... Nadal redirects here. ... Bicycle racers at the 2005 Rund um den Henninger-Turm in Germany Road bicycle racing is a popular bicycle racing sport held on roads (following the geography of the area), using racing bicycles. ... The UCI ProTour is a competition under the International Cycling Union (UCI). ... The Vuelta a España bicycle race is one of the three Grand Tours of Europe. ... “Navarra” redirects here. ... Miguel Ángel Indurain Larraya (born July 16, 1964, Villava, Navarre) is a retired Spanish road bicycle racer. ... For other uses, see Tour de France (disambiguation). ... The Formula One World Drivers Championship (WDC) is awarded by the Fédération Internationale de lAutomobile (FIA) to the most successful Formula One race car driver over a season, as determined by a points system based on Grand Prix results. ... Fernando Alonso Díaz (born July 29, 1981 in Oviedo, Spain) is a Spanish Formula One racing driver and reigning, two-time, world champion. ... F1 redirects here. ...

Bullfighting is an icon for Spain, and despite slight recent declines in attendance it is still alive and well across the country, though is threatened by Animal Rights organizations. Another traditional Spanish sport is Pelota. Jai-alai, related to Pelota, is also a very popular sport which its first written references can be traced to XIII century in France. Spain has also achieved degrees of success in middle distance running, Golf, Basketball and Handball, amongst others. Bullfighting, Edouard Manet, 1865-1866. ... Pelota Vasca or Pelota Valenciana (in Spanish; pilota in Basque, Valenciano and Catalan; pelote in French, from Latin pila) is a name for a variety of court sports played with a ball using ones hand, a racket, a wooden bat (pala), or a basket propulsor, against a wall (front... Jai-Alai (IPA: in English and IPA: in Basque) means Merry Festival in the Basque language. ... Middle distance track events are track races longer than sprints up to (and arguably including) 5000 meters. ... This article is about the sport. ... Basketball in Spain is organized in a way similar to football, which is different from the system employed by the NBA in North America. ... The Spanish handball league is divided into divisions. ...

At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Spain's athletes won 19 medals (3 gold, 11 silver and 5 bronze), finishing 20th in the medal table. In the all-time Olympic Games medal count Spain is 34th with 30 gold medals and 97 total medals. The ceremony for the lighting of the flame is arranged as a pagan pageant, with priestesses dancing. ... This article is about the capital of Greece. ... Flag of Spain Spain competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens under the IOC country code ESP (from the Spanish España). ... This is the full table of the medal count of the 2004 Summer Olympics. ... An all-time medal count for all Olympic Games from 1896 to 2006, including Summer Olympic Games, Winter Olympic Games and a combined total of both, is tabulated below. ...

In basketball, Spain won the gold medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championships in Japan. Official logo Spains Gold Medal ceremony The 2006 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Japan from August 19 to September 3, 2006. ...

See also

• List of Spain-related topics
• Hispanic culture
• Catalan Traditions
• Spanish gardens
• Toledo steelmaking
• Sport in Spain

This is a list of topics related to Spain. ... The Hispanic world The term Hispanic culture pertains to cultures found in Spain and to the cultures of any country that was colonized by the early Spanish conquistadors. ... This article is about the Spanish autonomous community. ... Spain has a long tradition of making gardens. ... For other uses, see Toledo (disambiguation). ... Sport in Spain has been traditionally dominated by football (soccer) (since the early 20th century), cycling and bullfighting (since the 17th century). ...

References

Pritchett, V.S., The Spanish Temper (1954). Alfred A. Knopf, New York.

External links

• Spanish language and culture
• http://www.idealspain.com/Pages/Information/Culture.htm
• Latino arts
• Classic Cuban cooking
• Spanish Festivals - What's on When? (from About.com)
• Outstanding Festivals in Spain and Their Schedules

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