Finding Work in Spain

Finding work in Spain is not easy, especially outside the major cities where unemployment can sometimes be quite high. If you are a member of an EC country then you have an automatic right to live and work in Spain but if not then you may find obtaining your residence card time-consuming and frustrating. It is also necessary for non-Europeans to have their employment approved by the Spanish Ministry of Labour (Ministerio de Trabajo) and obtain a visa before entering the country.

Work In Spain-Seasonal Jobs
There is normally quite alot of work to be had in the major tourist resorts from the beginning of May until the end of September naturally enough this mostly consists of work in the hotel and catering industry with plenty of casual bar work normally available in English run bars. This type of work is notoriously poorly paid, although you can improve your wages with tips, but has the advantage that it is quite easy to get and it is not always a requirement that you speak Spanish. So if you just want to work in Spain for the summer then this type of work may suit you best.

You probably will not be able to arrange it without being in the country though and just approaching bar owners or scouring the job vacancy ads. in the local English press.

Couriers and Tour Reps.
If you speak Spanish then you may be able to get seasonal work in Spain as a courier, tour guide or sports instructors, approach some of the larger holiday companies such at Thompson Holidays to see what they have on offer.

Competition for jobs is fierce and Spanish fluency is usually necessary, even for employment with foreign tour operators. Most companies also have age requirements, the minimum being 21, although many companies prefer employees to be older. To find out which companies operate in the part of Spain you are interested in check the brochures in your local travel agency or search online but be sure to send in your application well before the season starts.

Timeshare.
A quick glance in the local English language newspapers, will show you that 75% of the jobs available are in the timeshare industry. However don’t be immediately put off, because although there are plenty of sharks and scams, there are also several reputable time share companies that have many years of success behind them and provide contracts, good commission rates and opportunities for promotion to their staff. However, all timeshare companies offer the hard sell approach to prospective buyers and if you are uncomfortable with this then it is not for you.

Semi and Permanent Jobs in Spain-Teaching English
English schools are mushrooming all over Spain and offer very good work opportunities for native English speakers. However it is normally required that you have some formal qualifications, the most widely accepted being The TEFL certificate, (teaching English as a Foreign language.) For a fairly small investment of around 1,000 euros you can obtain this certificate by attending a one month intensive course and you will then be qualified to not only work in Spain but also at many other destinations world wide.

Foreign language schools in Spain are generally well run and the wages are reasonable, they often provide accommodation for their teachers too so it can be a good way to live and work in Spain.

Details of foreign language schools can be obtained by contacting.
Centros de Enseñanzza de Idiomas, Calle Sagasta, 27, 28004 Madrid.

Private Tuition
There is a high demand for private English teachers here and many teachers employed at local language academies supplement their income by giving private lessons. You can advertise in local schools, universities and retail outlets and, once you’re established, additional students can usually be found through word of mouth, particularly for children who have failed their end of year English examinations!

Au Pairs
Both men and women between the ages of 18 and 30 are eligible for a job as an au pair. The au pair system provides young people with a great opportunity to travel, improve their Spanish and generally broaden their education by living and working in Andalucia. However, the main aim of the au pair system is to give young people the opportunity to learn a foreign language in a typical family environment. Au pairs are usually contracted to work for a minimum of six months and a maximum of a year. Most families require an au pair for at least the whole school year, from September to June. The best time to look for an au pair position therefore is before the beginning of the school year in September. Au pair agencies in Britain are listed in the Au Pair and Nanny’s Guide to Working Abroad by Susan Griffith.

Construction Industry
Many parts of Spain have seen a building boom in recent years and the construction industry employs many foreign nationals. However as most of the building sites are Spanish run it will be necessary for you to have a basic understanding of the language in order to be able to get and hold down a job.

Self- Employment.
Many people turn to running their own business in Spain as the best way to make a living in Spain. However for the un-prepared this road can be a minefield of headaches and problems. The best advice I can give is to do your homework and remember the old adage, "by failing to prepare, you prepare to fail." Get good advice from a reputable professional about the legal requirements for your particular business, opening licenses, tax declarations etc. It is a good idea to talk to other people who have started there own business and thereby learn by their mistakes.

Rightly or wrongly there are alot of foreigners resident in Spain who prefer to employ English speaking people so there are plenty of opportunities for builders, plumbers, electricians, mechanics, cleaners, hairdressers, beauticians etc. and anyone determined enough to work through the red tape and get established should end up with a good business.

For any sort of work in Spain you will need to obtain your N.I.E. (numero de identificacion de extranjero) which you can do through the Oficina de Extranjeros, ( foreigners office) at your local police station.

Illegal Employment
Illegal employment thrives in Spain where it has been estimated that as much as 25% of the officail GNP is due to the black economy with real unemployment being at least 10% below the official government figure.

Many unscrupulous employers use illegal labor as a means to avoid the paying the high social security contributions and to be able to pay low wages for long hours and poor working conditions. Heavy fines are often imposed when offenders, which includes both the employee as well as the employer, are prosecuted so be warned!

Famous Spanish Actresses

Spain has produced some brilliant actresses who continue to reside in the hearts of their fans. Here are some of those famous actresses of Spain.

Famous Spanish Actresses

Angelines Fernandez: Born on July 9, 1922, in Madrid, Spain, Angelines Fernandez earned renown in Mexico. She was a Spanish actress to make a bright career in films and telenovelas. During the initial years of her acting career, she struggled in Spain and went to Mexico in 1947 to stay there for the rest of her life. Angelines Fernandez has acted in fourteen movies. Aged 27, she starred in Cadenas de Amor. She his known for her classic works like El Profe. Her role in El Chavo del Ocho marked her legendary performance. She traveled across the world and made appearances in plays and telenovelas. She died of a tobacco related cancer in 1994 and was buried in Mexico.

Victoria Abril: Born in Madrid, Spain, Victoria Abril has made her country proud by earning international acclaim for her performance in 'Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!’ Apart from her performances in Spanish films, she has also worked in films of France, Italy and Iceland. She has received eight nominations in the Lead Actress category for the Goya Awards and won the award once. Apart from being an actor, she is also a singer and has earned popularity in both the fields. Today, a mother of two sons, she remains being one of the finest actresses of Spain.

Elena Anaya: Born on July 17, 1975, Elena Anaya is a Spanish actress who started a career way back in 1995. She was noticed for her performance in 'Lucia y el sexo' and also played a part in 'Hable con ella'. She is well-known for her role in 'Van Helsing', in which she played a vampire. She has appeared in the music video, SexyBack in the year 2001. She is one of the very famous Spanish actresses.

Penelope Cruz: A name that cannot be forgotten while discussing famous Spanish actresses is Penelope Cruz. She had begun showing a flair for acting since her childhood. She received formal training in Spanish ballet and jazz dancing. Some of her important films during her early years of career are, ‘Jamon jamon’ and ‘Belle Epoque’. She is the proud winner of two Goya Awards, two European Film Awards and the Coppa Volpi. She is the first Spanish actress to receive a nomination in the category of Best Actress in the Academy Awards. She has achieved great success at a relatively young age and has made her mark in the world movies.

Sara Montiel: Born on March 10, 1928, Sara Montiel is a Spanish singer and actress. After her super hit performance in 1957, she became a mega star in Europe and Latin America. She was the first woman distilling sex in Spanish films. Beginning her career at an age of 16, she earned acclaim for her roles in El Ultimo Cuple and Locura De Amor. She freelanced with Warner Bros for a while after which she moved back to Spain. The name 'Sara Montiel' finds a place in the list of the most famous Spanish actresses.

Spain is surely proud to have such talented actresses rise to success in their nation. These were a few of those famous Spanish actresses who made a mark in the films and on television and won a million hearts.

Spanish History under the Visigoths

The Visigoths ruled a large kingdom in southern France in the fifth century but often they make raids across the Pyrenees Mountains into Spain.

In both contexts that as rulers of their large southern kingdom in France and as raiders into Spain they are acting as allies of Rome.

Towards the end of the 5th Century in 475 AD the then Visigothic King, Euric, declares total independence from Rome and then begins to extend his own kingdom naturally for his own personal gain and benefit.

Spain initially when Euric declared independence from Rome was of only secondary importance to say .the territory already occupied and controlled by the Visigoths in France which was much larger and at that time of much more value to Euric’s empire.

But at the start of the 6th Century in the year 507 AD Euric's son is defeated by the King of the Franks, Clovis just north of Poitiers in France.

This effectively reduces the territory that they control to the strip from the mountains of the Pyrenees to the Rhône River.

Naturally having now lost a very considerable part of their original territorial Kingdom in the 6th Century they are now intent to extend and expand the territory that they control in Spain.

As with all rapidly growing powers and empires they have rises and falls in their expansion plans and there is a hold up in the south of Spain from 554 A.D. when the Byzantine emperor Justinian uses his military strength to re-capture the region from Cadiz on the Atlantic coast in the South west to Cartagena on the Mediterranean in the east.

This is a coastal strip that runs more or less West to East of the Southern tip of Spain and representing less than 5% of the Country.

But within the relative short time span of only some seventy years all the territory has been recovered.
Now all of Spain is controlled by the Visigoths during the seventh century.

They have an outstanding capital at Toledo just to the South and slightly to the West of the modern Capital Madrid.

During this time there are continuing hostilities between different tribes of Visigoth’s so they were having internal power struggles not only between fellow Visigoth’s but also with the original local population which would have included Huns and Christian Catholics. Undoubtedly these would have been interesting and some what turbulent times to say the least.

However history takes an interseying turn when the Moors are invited by the Byzantine General Julian for help in what was virtually a civil war between the various factions of the successors of the Visigoth King Wittiza.

The Governor of North Africa Musa agreed to Julian's request for help and sent his deputy commander Tariq bin Ziyad with a military army which landed at Gibraltar on April 30, 711.

As I have stated the Moors did not arrive in Spain initially simply to extend the territory that they controlled.

Tariq's major victory came later in September of 711 when the Umayyad army defeated Roderic of the Visigoths at the Guadalete River.

The Guadalete River is located in the Spanish province of Cádiz, the source lies in the Grazalema Mountains at an elevation of about 1000 m, and it f;lows for some 172 km into the Bay of Cádiz at El Puerto de Santa Maria, which is to the south of the city of Cádiz.

The name derives from the arab "River of Forgefullness" it flows by some of the famous white villages including Arcos de la Frontera

As a result of that Victory and in accordance with the agreement that had been made by Julian they accepted land as a reward for their successful military service.

From here on in from relatively small toe hold in the South west tip of Spain Islam begins to expand over the majority of Iberia including Portugal.

The Algarve a beautiful part of Portugal derives its name from the Arabic for the west as it was the most western area in their sphere of influence.

The short journey across the water from Africa, bringing an army into Spain in 711, begins the first thrust of Arab expansionism in the west. In a frequently repeated pattern of history the invaders, invited to assist one side in a quarrel, rapidly take control and suppress both squabbling parties. Within a few months the Arabs drive the Visigoths from their capital at Toledo.

Soon governors are appointed by the caliph in Damascus Syria are now ruling much of Spain. The Arabs press on northwards.

Their armies move into Gaul in France, and here at last they are halted - near Poitiers in 732. The same city where some 200 years before the Franks defeated Euric’s son is 507.

In less than some 20 years the whole of the Iberian penisular had fallen.

In real terms it is fair to say that the Invasion and occupation of Spain was not really opposed. Indeed how can it of been an invasion when they where invited.

The Moslems respected the indigenous people as being people of the book meaning the bible. Jesus is regarded highly in the Muslim faith and there are many links between the three largest religions of the world if one cares to look a little beneath the surface.

Indeed in these times these three religions co-existed very well often sharing places of worship and attending each others festivals and holy days. After all most of them all work around very similar timing in their events.

The social intercourse between the various religious groups helps considerably to minimize tension in the early centuries.

However as years pass in later centuries it does unfortunately provide opportunities for persecution.

It is said that there were lower taxes and incentives to those who did actually convert.to Islam.

Also the indigenous people were probably more worried of the war like Franks who lived above the Pyrenees than they were of the Berbers from North Africa whom they had known for many years as trading partners and people of commerce.

Similar again in History to the Roman invasion of Southern England in Ad 43 where the local population whose leader was known by the adopted Roman name of Maximus had traded with and had known the Romans for some two hundred year as in indeed the Spanish population had known and traded with the noble Berbers for many hundreds of years.

Conquering the rest of Spain back to Christian rule was the intention of the Christians immediately from the time of the occupation of the Muslims from the beginning of the Eighth century.

This is when the Visigoths who were Christians were confined to Asturia a small Kingdom in the North.

The idea of regaining Spain as a Christian country becomes the sole aim of medieval noble knight hood in Spain.

It takes many hundreds of years in deed some seven hundred until Granada is finally handed over in 1492.

It is of course highly complicated by the integration which has occurred between the various religious groups in many parts of Spain.

This is but one in a series of articles and in a brief article such as this one can only highlight some of the key points.

The Author JJ writes many articles on a variety of topics and for further information one of his web sites is at Marbella Spain.

Famous Spanish Conquistadors

The Spanish Empire was fighting the battle of "reconquista" for a number of decades. The battle for the Peninsula of Iberia was fought against the Muslim Moors. During this time period, the elite version of the mounted cavalry evolved to what is now known as the 'Conquistador'. The conquistadors fulfilled the multiple tasks of exploration and conquest.

The Spanish conquistadors took up the task of conquering the New World. Within a very short span of time, they brought a huge area of the American continent under Spanish rule. The Spanish Empire in the American continent covered, from the southernmost tip to the central parts of present-day Mexico. In the process of exploring the American continent, they became extremely rich, as this vast area was laden with gold and precious stones. They also introduced several plants, fruits and vegetables into the European economy. Indirectly, they contributed to the success of Spain during the Imperial period. They earned a lot of respect and held a very prestigious position in the Spanish society.

Some of the conquistadors were legendary heroes for the Spanish Empire. Amongst the famous conquistadors was Francisco Pizarro, who laid the foundation of the City of Lima, Peru. Another famous Spanish conquistador was Herneando Cortes.

Francisco Pizarro - The 'El Viejo'

Francisco Pizarro was popularly known as 'El Viejo', which in Spanish means the 'old one'. Among the Inca people, he was known as 'Apu Machu'. Francisco Pizarro was probably the most senior conquistador, in terms of age. Though being a very highly ranked conquistador, Pizarro did not belong to any of the noble families in Spain, which was unusual at that time, since most of the high ranking conquistadors belonged to nobility. Pizarro's actual date of birth or for that matter the year of birth, is also not known exactly. The only thing that is known, is that Pizarro was either born in the year 1471 or 1478, in the town of Trujillo, in Estremadura, Spain. Even though Pizarro never received any formal education or military training, he is often considered to be one of the most brilliant generals of his time.

Pizarro sailed with the crew of Alonso de Ojeda to the New World. Upon landing in the New World, Ojeda founded the city of San Sebastian. He was also a member of the 'Nunez de Balboa' expedition. This expedition reached the Isthmus of Panama on September 29, 1513. The expedition also discovered the Pacific Ocean. Another expedition in which Pizarro participated was the one that discovered present-day Costa Rica. This expedition was led by Espinosa, another famous conquistador. In the years between 1515 to 1520, Pizarro tried settling down by become a trader along the coast. Later in the 1520s, he received funding for an expedition to the south of Panama. The expedition was a financial failure, since Pizarro found relatively less gold on the coast of Colombia. In the late 1520s, Pizarro undertook another expedition into the far south, where he reached Peru.

Pizarro received the title of Governor and Captain General. These titles gave him complete authority over the regions that he conquered or explored for Spain. In the 1530s, he began his campaigns to conquer the whole of South America. During the battle against the Incas, Pizarro captured King Atahualpa. As a ransom, King Atahualpa offered Pizarro enough gold to fill the 22 feet high room in which he was held captive.

In the year 1535, Pizarro founded the city of Lima. Sadly on 26th June, 1541, followers of Pedro de Almagro assassinated Pizarro as they wanted to loot the wealth of Lima.

Even today, Francisco Pizarro is considered as one of the greatest conquistadors and explorer. He was also considered a very successful general because of his judgment skills regarding the enemy. Using only a very small amount of men, he was able to conquer a major part of the South American continent. He was successful in making Imperial Spain powerful.

Hernando Cortes

Hernando Cortes was also known as 'Cortes'. Cortes was born in the noble family of Martin Cortes de Monroy. He attended the famous University of Salamanca. He is credited with the feat of conquering more than 5 million Aztecs with a force of only 1000 soldiers.

The journey of Cortes began in the year 1502, after he left law college due to academic failure. He joined the voyage of Nicholas de Ovando and grew extremely popular among the other members of the voyage. He also proved to be an efficient soldier under the command of Spanish military man Diego Velazquez. Cortes accompanied Velazquez on the campaign against Cuba and proved his skills as a warrior. He also tried to become a rancher in the year 1514; however, his peaceful life as a rancher did not last long.

On the request of Velazquez, Cortes commenced an expedition into the regions of Mexico. The objective of this expedition was to establish a Spanish colony in the mainland of Mexico. Cortes, at that time, commanded only 600 troops. He captured the town of Tabsco. In order to make a home for his army, Cortes founded the town of La Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz. One of his strange habits was that he would learn the social customs, rituals and traditions of the local people in any place that he went. He forced the Aztec Indians in Tlaxcala to sign an alliance with him. Due to his appearance, the Aztecs believed that Cortes was their God-King Quetzalcoatl, who was supposed to return according to some prophecy. Cortes faced no resistance from King Montezuma II. The actual combat that took place was very small, as the European diseases that the Aztecs were not used to, wiped out a large part of their population.

The conquests of Cortes and Pizarro were a major turn in the history of the Spanish Empire. Their expeditions also changed the vast areas of the South American continent. There are many more Spanish conquistadors, whose names and endeavors are lost in the pages of history.

The Spanish Royal Family

The Spanish royal family traces back its roots to Ferdinand II of Aragon, and Isabella I of the Kingdom of Castile. Isabella's marriage to Ferdinand unified the kingdoms of Aragon and Castile, leading to the birth of Spain. However, Spain did not come together under a single rule, until Charles I unified the two kingdoms. Let's take a brief look at the dynasties that ruled Spain.

The House of Habsburg

Charles I, belonged to the House of Habsburg, which was also known as the House of Austria. The Habsburg dynasty began with Charles I in the year 1516. It subsequently continued, until Charles II named sixteen-year-old Philip V (grandson of his sister Maria Theresa of Spain), as his successor in his will.

The House of Bourbon

A war broke out over the will of Charles II. The outcome was the coronation of Phillip V as the King of Spain, starting the rule of the Bourbons over the Spanish Empire. The Bourbons ruled in the year 1808.

The next dynasty that ruled the Spanish Empire did not last long. The only king from the Bonaparte dynasty was Joseph, who ruled from 1808 to 1813. He abdicated, when the Bourbon dynasty was restored again.

The Savoy House

The House of Savoy came to power in Spain, after Amadeo was elected King of Spain, by the will of the nation. This was the result of the Spanish Revolution that took place in the year 1868.

Restoration of the House of Bourbon

The House of Bourbon again re-established itself to power in 1874, with the coronation of Alfonso XII, son of Isabella II. His son Alfonso XIII ruled from 1886 to 1931. The Spanish royal family did not rule Spain from 1931 to 1975.

The third restoration of the House of Bourbon began with the coronation of King Juan Carlos, grandson of Alfonso XIII.

The Spanish Royal Family of King Juan Carlos I

The present royal family of Spain belongs to the Bourbon House. The family is a part of the Capetian dynasty. The ruling King Juan Carlos I, is rendered as His Royal Highness King John Charles Alphonse Victor Mary of Bourbon and Bourbon-Two Sicilies.

King Carlos is the son of Infante Juan, the Count of Barcelona and Princess Maria Mercedes of Bourbon. He is the grandson of Alfonso XIII, which made him the direct and undisputed heir to the Spanish throne. The Spanish dictator General Francisco Franco, in 1969, declared Juan Carlos as his successor and the next King of Spain. Now, Spain, once again, according to its centuries-old tradition had a king, after a gap of nearly 30 years.

The foresighted General Franco, before his death, had passed the law of Succession. According to the Law of Succession, the coronation ceremony of King Juan Carlos took place on November 27, 1975. The biggest contribution of King Juan Carlos I to the Spain is that he oversaw its transformation from a military dictatorship to a democracy. This made him extremely popular and well-respected among the Spanish people.

King Juan Carlos I is married to Queen Sofia, who was Princess Sofia of Greece and Denmark before marriage. She is the daughter of King Paul I of Greece, whose family was forced to flee form Greece in the World War II.

Princess Elena is the oldest child of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia. She is married to Jaime de Marichalar, the son of Count de Ripalda. She has two children, Felipe, born in 1998; and Victoria, born in 2000. The second child of King Juan Carlos is Princess Cristina. She is married to Inaki Urdangarin y Liebaert. The youngest child of King Juan is Prince Felipe. He is married to Princess Letizia Ortiz.

The Bourbon dynasty has been the longest ruling and the most powerful in the history of Spain. Though the concept of democracy has curtailed the powers of the kings; the Spanish royal family continues to rule the hearts of the Spanish people just like their ancestors did.

Fun Facts about Spain

Whenever someone mentions Spain, images of bullfights, serene beaches and flamenco dancers appear before us. If you go on a holiday in Spain or have read in depth about the country, you will realize that summing up the country in these three words is not justifiable. Spain, its history, culture, geography are so diverse that if you travel the length and breadth of the country, you will find a whole lot of differences in architecture, way of living, topography, etc. For those of you who are interested in knowing more about this enigmatic country, below are some interesting and fun facts about Spain.

Interesting Facts about Spain

    * In the 16th century, Spain was among the most powerful empires of the world. During the first world war, Spain maintained a neutral position and in 1923, it began to be ruled by dictator Gen. Miguel Primo de Rivera.
    * The capital of Spain is Madrid. Its currency is Euro. The population of Spain is approximately forty five million.
    * The coastline of Spain extends 4964 Km. There are more than 8000 kms of beaches in Spain.
    * Today Christianity is the dominant religion in Spain. Around three centuries back, most of the Spanish people were Muslims.
    * Tourism is the biggest industry in Spain. After London and Paris, Benidorm, a small beach-town in Spain has the highest number of hotel rooms. Some of the other famous places in Spain are La Rambla, Valencia, Ibiza, Madrid and Bilbao.
    * Nudity is not an offense in Spain. It is legal. Same sex marriage too is considered legal.
    * Around 44% of the olive oil produced in the world comes from Spain. Three-fourth of the world's saffron comes from this country too.
    * The Spanish people claim that it was them and not British who invented fried fish. According to the them, British got the idea of fried fish from the people of Cadiz in the eighteenth century and later came up with fish n' chips.
    * One of the interesting facts about Spain is that though most of its vineyards have white grapes, still it is more famous for red wine.
    * Europe imported a lot of food products such as tomatoes, avocados, potatoes, cacao (for chocolate) and even tobacco from Spain.
    * Beret (a kind of cap) was invented in Spain and not in France, as is popularly believed.
    * Spain is one of the biggest importers of scotch whiskey. In fact it is one among the top five.
    * Paella was not originally a seafood dish. It was made with chicken, pork, rabbit and snails by the Spanish people.
    * One of the fun facts about Spain is that people in this country eat a very late lunch – between 2 pm to 4pm. Dinner is mostly had after ten in the night. Most Spaniards prefer to have breakfast in eateries or small hotels rather than having it at home.
    * The tap water in Madrid is so clean that it can be drunk as it is, without filtering.
    * Flamenco, which most of the outsiders think is just a dance, is in fact an art form which includes dancing, singing, hand claps and guitar playing.
    * One of the interesting facts about Spain for kids is that bullfighting is considered both an art and a sport in Spain. It is a very popular sport and one of the main attractions for tourists visiting Spain. There are a number of bull rings in almost all the cities of Spain, including Madrid and Barcelona.
    * There is no denying the fact that Spaniards like to eat out and party, considering that Spain has the highest number of restaurants, bars and coffee shops in the European union.
    * Soccer is the most popular sport. If there are matches going on, to get a place in a local bar is almost impossible.
    * One of the funny facts about Spain is that when the Spaniards talk to each other, they stand very close and touch each other every now and then on the shoulder while talking.
    * Another of the fun facts about Spain is that the teens date in groups till they turn eighteen. Only after that they go out as a couple.
    * One of the strangest facts about Spain is that one can get prescription medicines as "over the counter" at chemist shops.

I hope you enjoyed going through these fun facts about Spain. To really experience Spain though, you need to visit this eclectic and culturally rich country. So go ahead and do a little Spain travel, and I assure you that you will not be disappointed with what you get.

Facts About Spain

Spain is a country, that is located in southwestern Europe. It is a member of the European Union. It is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea on the south and the east, except for a small patch of land boundary with the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar, while to the north of Spain lies France, Andorra and the Bay of Biscay. The west and northwest of Spain are surrounded by Portugal and the Atlantic Ocean. Now let’s turn towards some of the facts about Spain. The official name of the state is The Kingdom of Spain. Madrid is the capital city, which is also one of the famous places in Spain. The three main cities are Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia, all of them are among the best places to visit in Spain. The size of this country is 506,000 square meters. It is the second largest country in Europe, second next to France. These were the basic facts about Spain. We will now turn towards some interesting Spain fun facts.

Important Facts about Spain

The geographical situation and orographic conditions of the Spain are responsible for the diverse climate that is seen in the country. Spain has continental climate in some parts around Madrid, the coastal belt has oceanic climate, there are some areas in the southeast, which have semiarid climate. There are some parts which have a Mediterranean climate as well as subtropical climate. The weather in Spain differs from one area to another. Among the interesting facts about Spain is the fact that most of the rain that happens in Spain is in the mountainous regions. The plains hardly receive any rain fall. What attracts a lot of tourists from all around the world to this country are the beaches. Spain is known for its large coastline and has more than 8,000 km of beaches.

The only official language of Spain is Spanish. However there are some groups, who speak their own languages. The names of the other languages spoken in Spain are Catalan, Valencian, Gallego and Euskera.

Since 1978, Spain has had a Parliamentary monarchy. King Juan Carlos I is the current monarch of Spain. The Parliament of Spain has bicameral legislature. The executive branch of the government consists of the Council of Ministers and is headed by the Prime Minister.

Majority of the population is made up of Roman Catholics. The rest consists of people from diverse religions like a few Protestants, Muslims and Jews. Among the fun facts about Spain is that Spain has a few thousand gypsies living in the country.

When we talk about Flamenco, we only have the flamenco dance in mind. However, in Spain, Flamenco is not just a dance form. It is actually an art form that consists of singing, dancing, guitar, hand-claps, etc.

Soccer in Spain is an important part of life of the people in Spain. It is said that Spanish children learn to walk and play soccer simultaneously. Real Madrid and FC Barcelona are two Spanish soccer teams, which are revered by soccer fans not only in Spain, but all over the world. The popularity of the sport can be judged from the fact, that Madrid alone is home to three major soccer teams, namely Real Madrid, Atletico de Madrid, and Rayo Vallecano. There are many famous soccer players from Spain, who have made the country proud.

If you are a tourist, then you would want to know about the driving rules in Spain. If you are a citizen of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, then you would want to carry your valid driver's license with you. However, if you come from any other country, then for you to drive you will have to carry your valid International Driver's License. Bad news if you have not celebrated your 18th birthday. Unfortunately you will not be able to drive in Spain. However, if you want to rent a vehicle, then you must have completed 21 years of age. If you are driving make sure you carry all the documents on you at all times during your stay in Spain.

After the Euro was introduced, Spain like most other countries of the European Union, adopted the Euro as the official currency, since January of 2002. You will find eight different coins that are in circulation. The denominations are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents, €1 and €2. It is important to note, that one Euro is made up of 100 cents. Apart from the coins, there are seven different notes in circulation. The denominations of these notes are €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200, and €500.

These were some of the facts about Spain, which will be of help to you, if you wish to travel to this European country in the future. Along with the Spain facts, you should also equip yourself with some words in Spanish, which will be of help to you for interacting with the locals.

Interesting Facts About Spain for Kids

The Kingdom of Spain, a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy is a part of the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe, with a population of 46,030,109 people. Madrid is the largest city and also the capital of Spain. The party going and life enjoying Spanish people call their country España. Moving on to some interesting facts about Spain, its history, economy and geography…

Facts About Spain: History, Geography and Economics

In the 16th century and the first half of 17th century, Spain became the strongest kingdom in Europe and a leading world power, with its colonies spreading to the gold laden South America and Mexico. The current monarch is King Juan Carlos I, who inherited the throne from General Franco, the dictator who ruled Spain (from 1939 until 1975), post the Spanish Civil War.

The economy of Spain thrives on its tourism industry. Spain is very well known for its beaches, sunny weather, scenic islands, and a Mediterranean atmosphere, which attracts a load of tourists from across the world. This makes Spain one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. For more references you may also read more on 'Spain travel'. The Teide (Tenerife, Canary Islands) is the highest peak in Spain and also the third largest volcano in the world from its base. The weather in Spain consists of extreme climates include the very hot summers and very cold winters. At 504,782 Sq km, Spain is the world's 51st-largest country, land wise.

Facts About Spain: Society and Culture

The official language of Spain is Castilian Spanish which is also the second most spoken language in the world and is spoken in 23 countries. A majority of the Spanish population is Catholic, though Spain was a Muslim country for over 300 years as it was under Moorish rule until 1492.

Bullfighting is a traditional Spanish pastime and is also known as La Fiesta Nacional. Bullfighting in Spain in general is falling because the Catalonian regional parliament has passed a motion showing its desire to ban bullfighting in the region. Soccer (football) is also a very popular sport in Spain with the national football team participating in several international matches, not to mention the countless matches that take place within Europe.

Respect for privacy is one of the most interesting facts about Spain.Culture is that, you must call before you visit a person's home or office. Their conversations are mostly about general affairs, and they rarely discuss anything about their personal lives. They tend to stand close and frequently touch one another on the arm while conversing. Spaniards are very independent people. They move out of their parents homes at around the age of 18 and are expected to start earning and manage their own finances. The most famous type of Spanish music is Flamenco, which comprises of songs, dance and guitar music.

The staple diet of Spainish people is rice or arroz. It is an important ingredient in Spanish food and is also the main ingredient in la paella, a traditional dish of Spain, which is cooked outside in open air. It would be interesting to know that the Spanish also eat a lot of snails. Spain is the world’s biggest producer of olives which are used in pickles and to make olive oil. Read more information on Spain fun facts in this Buzzle article.

The Spanish celebrate Christmas till the 6 January! They believe that on this day the three kings had visited baby Jesus and presented him with gifts. On this day of Epiphany, children in Spain receive a lot of gifts from their parents and relatives on this day. It is similar to the tradition of Santa Claus leaving gifts for children on the eve of Christmas. Every year, on the last Wednesday of August, they celebrate a festival called La Tomatina which is tomato fight! Thousands of people join in the tomato throwing event in Buñol, near Valencia. Among the interesting facts about Spain is their New Year tradition. It is their tradition to eat 12 grapes at midnight, one grape for each stroke of the clock, and a sign of good luck. One grape is eaten for one month of the year. Adios!

Spanish Style Furniture

Characterized by the use of vibrant colors and adorned by skillful wood carvings, the Spanish style of furniture is a comfortable and also a popular type of furniture. Though the Spanish style of furniture is influenced by the English and the Moorish styles, its has retained its unique look and feel.

The main features of the furniture used in Spain, are the cabinets, chests and chairs with broad legs. Importance is given to the details and size of the furniture. The difference between Spanish furniture and other furniture styles, can be marked by the wood turnings, colors and decorations used. The decorations include the depiction of courtship, bullfighting etc. The specialty of chairs of this style, is that they are more spacious, with a wide and high back for resting. The wood obtained from the walnut tree is mostly used in furniture while cedar, mahogany, chestnut and oak are also used occasionally. A good thing about the Spanish style of furniture, is the strength and durability it possesses.

Spanish Style Furniture Items

The different furniture items of the Spanish style are the chests, varguena, decorative chairs and papalera.

Chest
These are an integral part of Spanish furniture. The prominent features of designer chests are the use of leather upholstery and decorative nails. The chest is one of the oldest items of the Spanish style of furniture and has been in use right from the Middle Ages. Spanish people also use it for seating.

Varguena
It is a writing desk commonly found in Spanish homes. A useful item in the daily lives of the Spanish, it is used for storing letters, ink, pen and paper. The varguena has compartments for keeping stationery items. It is a portable furniture item and is similar to a lap desk.

Papalera
The papalera is used to store precious things like jewelery, mostly silver items. The structure of the papalera encompasses a big cabinet with 6-8 drawers on either side. It is decorated with intricate carvings. The 'pull' of the drawers are colored gold. Legs of the papalera are round in shape and short in length. The short legs make the papalera appear low and very close to the ground.

Influences During the Renaissance Period

In the renaissance period, the Spanish style of furniture was influenced by various styles including the English, Moorish and the Italian. The carvings of wood were more intricate and articulate during this period. Lacquer was used to give the furniture a shine and the colors used were mostly red or gold. The use of lacquer for styling furniture, was inherited from the English style. Another change that took place was that the legs of chairs became more slender and were carved.

Islamic Styling

After the Moorish conquered Spain in 711 AD, the Arabesque features were introduced in the original Spanish style of furniture. The motifs of the Islamic style of furniture were a feature ingrained in the Spanish style. The motifs included the representations of plants and animals as well as different types of geometric patterns.

The Spanish style of furniture has created a niche of its own and a strong customer base. The style is liked by many and has its presence in many homes the word over.