Spain - 西班牙

Kingdom of Spain（Spanish: Reino de España), commonly known as Spain (España; ancient books translated as Japanese or España), is a very diversified country.PortugalAt the western end of the MediterraneanIberiaThe peninsula borders. It hasUNESCO World HeritageRanked second in the world, second only toItaly, And has the most world heritage cities in the world.

Spanish residents are very friendly, have a leisurely lifestyle, rich nightlife, and have world-famous folklore and activities. They are considered to be an exotic country in Europe. There are many places worth visiting in Spain, such as its bustling capitalMadrid, A vibrant coastal cityBarcelona, Pamplona’s famous "Cows Running", Islamic architecture can be seen everywhere in Andalusian cities, such asSeville、GranadaandCordoba、Way of St. JamesAnd picturesqueBalearic IslandsandCanary Islands。

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Spain has amazing beaches, colorful nightlife, many cultural regions and historical cities. No matter what type of trip you plan, Spain is definitely a destination you should not miss. Spain’s geography and culture is very diverse: it not only has long stretches of sandy beaches, but also lush grasses, snow-capped mountains, and swamps and deserts in the southeast. Due to Spain’s long and white sandy beaches, summer is the peak season for tourists. If you want to stagger the crowds, you may wish to consider traveling in winter. The flow of people will not be very large.

history

Spain is located on the Iberian Peninsula between the European continent and North Africa, creating an important field status since prehistoric times. Spain used to be the first world-class imperial power, and later experienced many devastating wars and centuries of political turmoil. From the discovery of the New World, the beginning of colonization, to the involvement of countless wars of independence, Spain can be said to be one of the few countries that have had a profound impact on global history.

geography

The Kingdom of Spain ranks 51st in the world in terms of area, only about 31,000 square miles, slightly larger than California in the United States. The terrain is dominated by plateaus and mountains, including the Sierra Nevada in the south and the Pyrenees in the west. The highest peak in Spain is the Teide volcano on Tenerife in the Canary Islands.

climate

Spain’s climate is extremely diverse, even if the country alone does not include overseas colonies. The southern Mediterranean coast has a mild Mediterranean climate and a semi-arid climate, the central plain has a continental climate, and the northern region has a change between a maritime climate and a mountain climate. In addition, most of the rainfall in Spain is concentrated in the mountains rather than the plains, which is different from the general perception.

festival

• New Year-on January 1
• Three Kings Day-on January 6
• Makeup Carnival-is a Catholic festival held before Lent. The date is a bit different from year to year, usually from the end of January to the beginning of March.
• Fire Festival-March 15th ~ March 19th
• Holy Week-the week of the first Sunday after the full moon on or after March 21
• St. George's Day in Catalonia-on April 23
• Eucharist Day-every Thursday after the ninth Sunday after the full moon of the vernal equinox
• Pamplona Bull Run-from July 6th to July 14th
• Large and small towns have one of the biggest festivals-most of them are held in late summer and early autumn
• National Day-on October 12
• Christmas-on December 25
• New Year's Eve-midnight on December 31

read

• Know Spain (Traditional/Simplified Chinese)
• "Spain Travel Notes" Linda
• "The Complete Works of San Mao" San Mao (Chen Ping)
• "Ah Ding.. Travel Photo" A Ding (Lin Sai)

area

Spain is a diverse country, and contrasting regions have different languages ​​and unique historical, political and cultural traditions. Therefore, Spain is divided into 17 autonomous regions (comunidad autónoma), plus two autonomous cities. As for some autonomous regions, especially those with other official languages ​​in Spain, they have been recognized as "historical nations" with unique historical characteristics. These include the Basque Country, Catalonia, Galicia, Valencia, Andalusia and the Balearic Islands, as well as Aragon and the Canary Islands. Travelers to these parts of Spain should respect their history and language.

For ease of reference, many regions in Spain can be divided into the following:

city

• Madrid - capital.
• Barcelona -Close to the Mediterranean, it is the second largest city in Spain and a palace of art and fashion.
• Valencia -Beautiful beaches, magical buildings-Art and Technology City.
• Burgos -For five centuries, it used to be the capital of the small country of Castilla and León, and it was also a must pass through the pilgrimage route of Santiago, so it has preserved important relics of medieval splendor.
• Segovia -The ancient city of Segovia and its famous ancient Roman viaduct (Acueducto) are included in the World Cultural Heritage List.
• Salamanga -Has the oldest university in Spain.
• Toledo -Once the old capital of the Spanish Empire, it is one of the cities with the richest historical heritage in Spain. Due to the coexistence of Christians, Arabs and Jews for centuries, Toledo is known as the "city of three cultures."
• Granada -The palace complexes of La Alhambra and el Generalife, as well as the barrio del Albaicín (barrio del Albaicín) are all cultural heritages of mankind.
• Seville -Owns the Cathedral of Seville and the Tomb of Columbus, the third cathedral in Europe.
• Cordoba -The last city-state lost by the Moors who once ruled Spain.
• San Diego -The third largest pilgrimage site in the Catholic Church.

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Language

The official language of Spanish is Castilla Spanish, Catalan in Catalonia, Valencian in Valencia, and Galician in Galicia. Basque is spoken in Basque and Navarre, and there are local dialects in the Balearic Islands and other regions. Spain has a total of the five official languages ​​mentioned above, each with its own grammar and pronunciation, which is different from the local languages ​​in other parts of Spain. The basic lingua franca is Castilian.

go sightseeing

The most popular beaches are located in the Canary Islands on the Mediterranean coast. The best areas for climbing are in the Sierra Nevada in the south, Central Cordillera and the Pyrenees in the north.

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Historical city

Spain is a very important transportation fortress in history: it is located between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, and between North Africa and Europe. With the colonization of the "New World" by Europe, it is also located between Europe and the Americas. Therefore, Spain has a unique historical heritage-in fact, it has the second most UNESCO intangible heritage and the most world heritage cities in the world.

In southern Spain, Andalusia retains a large number of ancient Spanish ruins.Cadiz(Cadis) is considered to be the oldest city in Western Europe that has ever been inhabited by humans, and there are remains of Roman settlements that once stood here. NearbyRonda(Ronda) is a city built on a cliff, known for its arch bridges crossing the canyon and the oldest bullring in Spain.CordobaandGranadaRetaining the most impressive sites in Spain’s Muslim history, Cordoba has red, red and white striped mosque arches, and the Alhambra palace on the peak of Granada.Seville(Seville) is the cultural center of Andalusia. It used to be the main port for accepting goods from the Americas. The largest church.

Go north through the La Mancha plateau (La Mancha) into the central region of Spain,Toledo(Toledo) may be the central city in Spanish history. This beautiful medieval city sits on a hill. Before Madrid was built, it was the capital of Spain. Further north of Madrid, the cities that can be leisurely day trips from the capital areEl escorial(El Escorial)---the center of the Spanish Empire during the Inquisition period, and is famous for its spectacular Roman aqueduct that stretches over the city squareSegovia(Segovia).

Castile-Leon (Castile-Leon) further north isSalamanca(Salamanca), famous for its famous university and historical buildings that can be seen everywhere. Galicia in northwestern Spain isSan Diego(Santiago de Compostela)---ancientWay of St. James(British: Way of St. James, West: Camino de Santiago) The end, it is said that it is also the location of the burial site of St. James. The cathedral in the city center may be the most beautiful church in Spain. There are also several notable historical centers in northeastern Spain:Zaragoza(Zaragoza) There are Roman, Muslim, Medieval and Renaissance style buildings handed down over two thousand years of history, andBarcelona(Barcelona) There is a famousGothic Quarter(Barri Gòtic).

Visitors should be aware of the opening hours and entrance fees of many ancient Spanish churches. Ticket costs generally average 8 euros. Another very important factor to consider in arranging your itinerary is that Spanish churches are open for a limited time. Unlike neighboring Italy, France, and Germany, the church in the west is only open to local congregations once or twice a day during Mass. Although the cathedrals are open all day, they only represent part of Spain's important Christian traditions. If you take into account the high ticket prices and the prohibition of taking pictures in most cathedrals, going to Spain to experience the history of Christianity is not the best choice.

Museum of Art

Spain occupies a pivotal position in Western art. Although it is greatly influenced by French and Italian artists, Spanish art has its own due to the influence of Muslims, the anti-reformation, and the subsequent decline of the Spanish Empire. Very unique style, it gave birth to famous artists such as El Greco, Diego Velázquez and Francisco Goya. In the last century, Spain’s special status in Europe gave birth to leading artists in the modernist and surrealist movements, the most famous including Picasso and Salvador Dalí.

Today, Spain’s two largest cities have collections of most of Spain’s most famous art works. MadridMuseum triangle(Museum Triangle)Prado Museum(Museo del Prado) is the largest museum in Spain. It houses Al Greco, Velázquez and Goya, as well as masterpieces from Italy, Flanders, the Netherlands and Germany. Nearby Queen Sofia National Art Center Museum(Reina Sofía) is famous for its collection of Picasso’s Guernica, and it also houses many other works by other modernist, surrealist and abstract painters.

Barcelona is known for its breathtaking collection of modern art and architecture. Here you can findPicasso Museum(Picasso Museum), it covers Picasso’s early works more comprehensively, and you can also seeAnthony Gaudi(Antoni Gaudi) architectural marvel. You can get there from BarcelonaFigueres(Figueres) a day trip, Figueres toSalvador Dali(Salvador Dalí Museum) is famous, this museum was designed by this surrealist artist himself.

Museums outside the two cities of Madrid and Barcelona are far less impressive in scale and value. Of course, there are a few more to go: El Greco’s most famous works are Collection inToledo(Toledo), there is plenty of time for a day trip from Madrid. Al Greco's most famous work "The Disrobing of Christ" is in the cathedral, but you can also find some of his works in some small museums. Located in the Basque Country in northern SpainBilbao(Bilbao) YesGuggenheim Museum(Guggenheim Museum). The museum was designed by Frank Gehry. It is not only an internationally renowned museum, but also one of the most important architectural symbols of the 20th century.

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diet

Spanish cuisine is extremely rich and unique, because different civilizations have left their delicacies and their cooking methods here. Famous foods include:

• Tapas
• Paella
• Roast suckling pig (Cochinillo)

Drink

Alcohol is also a dietary necessity. The famous ones are:

• Red wine (Vino): The most famous wines are La Rioja in the north and Jerez in the south.
• Sangria fruit wine (Sangría): It is made with red wine, sugar, brandy, water, fruit juice, cinnamon, diced peaches, and lemon zest.
• Mosto: It is unfermented wine.

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