Spain is a country in southwestern Europe with a large coastline on the Mediterranean and Atlantic oceans. It shares borders to the north and east with France, Andorra, and the tiny principality of Monaco; along the Pyrenees Mountains it has a border with France and Andorra.
Spain is a diverse country known for its artistic and architectural heritage. It is also the fourth most visited country in the world, with over 40 million international tourists visiting Spain in 2014 alone. Spain’s cuisine has also influenced cuisines all over the world.
In honor of Spain’s rich culture and beautiful land, here are just a few reasons why you should visit this unique country.
What is Spain Known For? Spain is a country with many traditions and cultural influences. From their famous football team to the beautiful beaches, there are so many reasons why Spain should be on your list of places to visit!
Madrid
Madrid is the capital of Spain. It’s also the largest city in both Spain and Europe with a population of over 3 million people. Madrid houses renowned museums like the Prado Museum, which has over 8,000 artworks including works by Bosch and El Greco.
You can also enjoy some gorgeous architecture; Madrid was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has four Royal Palaces which are all open to the public, and an extensive list of gothic churches.
Barcelona
Barcelona is Spain’s second largest city and also hailed as one of Europe’s most popular destinations for international visitors.
Like Madrid, Barcelona was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its expansive architecture like the impressive Sagrada Familia church and Gaudi houses. It has the narrowest street in the world (the Carrer de Guillem) and a beautiful coastline with beaches, coves, and colorful boats.
Bullfighting
Bullfighting is a traditional Spanish sport, and the first written records of bullfighting date back as far as Roman times. In modern day Spain, bullfights take place in arenas as well as towns as part of festivals. During the practice, a matador lures a bull into attacking by waving his cape.
Flamenco
Flamenco music and dance is a popular art form in Spain. It has been part of the country’s culture since at least the 18th century when it was brought to Spain by Romani people.
Flamenco is a combination of various influences and it’s not always what you think it is. It has evolved from traditional songs and dance, Mediterranean and Gypsy cultures. The showmanship found in flamenco music and dance moves makes it an exciting art form that many artists enjoy performing today.
Tapas
Tapas is a Spanish tradition that was first introduced back in the 18th century. It comes from the word tapar, which means “to cover” and first started as a way for people to cover their food and keep it fresh on the table.
Nowadays, tapas dishes are prepared as part of a meal or as a snack and they come in different shapes and sizes depending on the region of Spain you’re visiting. Tapas dishes include olives, prunes, white anchovies (boquerones), croquetas, tortilla de patatas (potato omelette), and many more!
History
Spain is also known for its history. Spain has a rich and diverse past with its origins in the Bronze Age, through the Roman conquest. The Spanish adopted much of the Roman Empire’s culture, language and technological innovations. They also pioneered navigation by sailing west to the New World and colonized it.
Spain has always been interested in trade and their connections with other regions of the world. They were an important center of learning during medieval times, until they came under French sovereignty in 1635. Spain was brought out of the Dark Ages and modernized in the 19th century, becoming a leading world power. They had colonies all over Africa and Asia until they lost most of their empire after World War II.
Spain’s history is unique because it has been shaped by multiple events that have happened throughout its long history.
Spanish Language
The Spanish language is spoken by over 400 million people in 22 countries, including Spain. The official language in Spain is Castilian or commonly known as Spanish. It has evolved from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire and the many languages it has encountered in territory throughout history.
Spanish is the official language of Spain and many Latin American countries. It is also the most used language on the Internet, being spoken by 918 million people all over the world.
Spanish has a long history and was established as a written language during 1492, which makes it one of the world’s oldest languages.
Wine
The first historical mention of winemaking in Spain can be found in the Greek records. Wine has been made here since the Phoenicians brought vine cuttings to Andalucia. The oldest discovered traces of grape seeds were found in Italy, dating back 7,000 years ago. In Spain, there are over 60 wine regions with each producing quality wines. Wine is a big part of the Spanish culture and they have been making wine for generations.
Spain has always had a rich history with wine, as it’s been a part of their lives since the time of the Pharaohs. The first mention of winemaking in the history of Spain dates back to the Greek records over 2,000 years ago.
Cuisine
Spanish cuisine has its roots in the country’s long history and geographic location on the Iberian Peninsula. It’s a combination of many foods from Europe, Africa and Asia. There are two traditional food seasons: cold and hot seasons. The warm season includes fresh vegetables, salads and seafood. The cold season includes meat dishes, stews and soups.
Spain is known for its delicious cuisine which can be pretty much anything! It has a rich history of food culture that dates back to the time of the Pharaohs in Egypt. Spanish cuisine was also influenced by various other cultures throughout its years, like when it was invaded by the Romans, who brought their cuisine to Spain.
Architecture
Spanish architecture has evolved over many centuries. Some of the most important historical events influenced their architecture style, like the Roman conquest and the Renaissance (1400-1600s). The most representative styles are Baroque, Romanesque and Gothic.
Spain is known for its beautiful architecture all over the world because almost every single corner has something amazing to see. From old castles to historical monuments, Spain has plenty of things that will make your jaw drop! Most of their architecture dates back to ancient times when different civilizations were building things like Roman aqueducts and castles.
Gaudi
Gaudi was a Barcelona-born architect whose works are unique and show early modernism. He’s best known as the mastermind behind the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, which has been under construction since 1882.
Spain is famous for having one of the most famous architects in history-Antoni Gaudi! He’s best known for designing the Sagrada Familia Cathedral, which began construction in 1882. His style of architecture is unique and was highly influenced by nature.
Football
Spain is one of the most successful and top-rated national teams in the world. The Spanish National Football Team has participated a record 11 FIFA World Cups and two UEFA European Championships.
Beside the National Football Team, Spain is widely known for having some of the best players in the entire world! They also have two of the top football clubs-Real Madrid and Barcelona-with both winning many titles throughout history. One of their most famous moments was when they won in 2010.
Valencia
Valencia’s main attractions are the City of Arts and Sciences, which is a huge complex that includes museums, an opera house, theaters, gardens and more. It’s the most visited area in the city with over 4 million visitors every year.
The City of Arts and Sciences was created in 1998 by architect Santiago Calatrava on the site of an old silk factory. The building includes six themed areas: Memory of the World; Oceanographic; Earth; Universe; Knowledge; Light; and Music.
Tomatina
One of Spain’s quirkiest traditions is the Tomato Festival, or Tomatina, which takes place every year in the small town of Bunol on the last Wednesday in August. The festival celebrates local food and requires participants to throw tomatoes at each other until the town square is completely soaked in tomatoes!
The Town of Bunol celebrates their most famous tradition with a tomato feast that began in 1945. The event lasts for one day with two parts: preparation and celebration. First, all tomatoes are distributed to participants who must eat them before they can enter the square to fight for over three hours with over 150 tons of tomatoes!
Tennis
Spain produces some of the top tennis players in the world! Rafael Nadal is one of their most famous players with 14 Grand Slam titles under his belt. He started playing professionally in 2001 at age 18 and won over 61 titles, which makes him the fourth highest ranked player of all time!
Horse Riding
Spain is also known for its love affair with horse riding, which dates back to around 500 BC. One of their most famous horse breeds is the Andalusian horse, which is used primarily for dressage.
Their horse style can be found all over, from noblemen riding on them to farmers using them for work. All types of people love to ride horses in Spain and it’s a popular way to see the country while enjoying nature.
Beaches
Spain is a top destination for luxury resorts and beautiful beaches. Their most popular vacation location is Mallorca, which has over 200 miles of coastline. Many other Mediterranean civilizations also influenced the properties here as you can still see remnants from Greece and Roman empires!
Ibiza
Spain is filled with amazing castles and towns that have a deep history. One of the most famous medieval towns in all of Europe is Ibiza Town, which is located on the Balearic Island of Ibiza. The town was founded around 400 BC by Greek settlers from Phocaea as a trading port called “Ebusus”.
*Wrap It Up
pain has a wide variety of tourist attractions that you should explore. From it’s famous arts and architecture to the old world charm, there are tons of reasons why you should visit this unique country.
This top 18 things we’ve mentioned here will introduce your readers to some interesting Spanish culture and history so they can start planning their trip abroad!
Read more: What Is Portugal Known For?