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- inigo@sensationalspain.com
- August 13, 1989
- The only European country with cities on African soil in Spain. Ceuta and Melilla are on the borders of the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea, sharing soil with the Moroccan border.
- Soccer: More than a century of rivalry (Real Madrid v.s. FC Barcelona) Spain is very popular for having two of the best soccer teams: Real Madrid and Barcelona.
- Spain has had some of the most important pioneers’ writers. Spain is highly known for its literature. For example, one of Spain’s oldest preserved epic poems is El Cantar del Mio Cid, to represent the reconquest of Spain from the Moors.
- In Spain, we don’t have the tooth Fairy; we have the Ratoncito Perez. You might be wondering what it is; instead of having a tooth fairy that takes your teeth when it falls when you are a kid, we have a mouse.
- Many different groups of people have settled in Spain throughout history, including Iberians, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths, Celts, Basques, and the Moors (Muslims who came from North Africa).
- The quill pen is thought to have originated in Spain about 1,400 years ago.
- The most enduring contribution of Spain to the world is its language, which was imported to the Americas with the expansion of the Spanish Empire in the 16th century.
- Since the Pyrenees Mountains were such a significant barrier in the north, and Spain is just 9 miles from Morocco in the south, Spain shares much of its early history with Africa.
- Moorish rule (711-1492) Spain experienced a significant period of Moorish (Islamic) rule known as the Al-Andalus. In 711, the Umayyad Caliphate of Damascus invaded the Iberian Peninsula and quickly established control over most of the region.
- Reconquista (Christian reconquest, ended in 1492) The Reconquista was a long process of Christian reconquest that spanned several centuries. Christian kingdoms in northern Spain gradually pushed back against Moorish rule, reclaiming territories one by one.
- Spanish Armada (defeated by England in 1588) In 1588, King Philip II of Spain launched the Spanish Armada, a fleet of warships, with the aim of invading England and restoring Catholicism.
- Spanish Golden Age (16th-17th centuries) The Spanish Golden Age refers to a period of remarkable cultural, artistic, and literary achievements in Spain.
- Flag
- Madrid
- Bullfighting
- History
- Lifestyle
- Barcelona
- Painters
- Moorish Architecture
- Dia de Sant Jordi
- Caga Tío
We’ll begin with the nation’s symbolic flag. Spain is known for its yellow and red flag, colloquially called “Rojigualda” in Spanish. The Spanish flag has changed many times over its tumultuous history, but the colors have more or less always stayed the same. It was under the reign of Isabella II (1843) that Spain gained a flag that represented the...
A good place to start exploring Spain is its capital. Madrid is one of the more understated and underrated capitals of Europe, although it’s actually the third-largest city in the European Union. From a focal standpoint, Madrid’s streets are full of alleyways and balconies with overflowing beards of flowers. The locals know there’s plenty to be pro...
We mentioned earlier that bullfighting might have had something to do with Spain’s national colors. Chances are you’ve heard that Spain is famous for its controversial stance on bullfighting, and with good reason. Spaniards have been bullfighting (“corrida de toros”) since the Roman era, and its popularity has extended beyond Europe to Latin Americ...
Bullfighting isn’t the only controversial part of Spanish history and culture. It’s not discussed much these days, but less than 50 years ago Spain was a very different place to the one we know today. Spain is famous for its modern history involving a civil war, dictatorship, and the return to monarchy and democracy. Shortly before the outbreak of ...
War and bullfighting aside, Spain is famous for being a nation of friendly and easygoing people. Forget about rushing through life and take your time to enjoy all of life’s pleasures big and small – it’s what the Spaniards do. Of course, modern life has changed the routines of many. The famous “siesta” where some Spanish farmers take an after-lunch...
Rumor has it that Spain’s second-largest city, Barcelona, is actually older than Rome. Some even say it was named by Hercules himself. What is certain, however, is that Spain is known for its Catalonian capital, Barcelona. My last visit to this city had me entranced, and I don’t doubt you will feel the same way. Ed Sheeran couldn’t resist singing a...
A visit to Barcelona will show you multiple glimpses of some of Spain’s most esteemed artists. Spain is known for being the home country of many prestigious painters, from classical to baroque and modern. The two most renowned artists from Spain hail from Catalonia, and are none other than Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí. Pablo Picasso was born in ...
While we’re on the subject of art, Spain is also known for Moorish architecture, a distinct design style that’s a product of almost 800 years of Islamic rule. “Moors” is a catch-all term for the Arabs and Berbers from North Africa (from what is now known as Morocco) who ruled Al-Andalus, a huge portion of the Iberian Peninsula, for almost 400 years...
This is more of a fun aside, but if you happen to be in Catalonia on 23 April, you’ll notice a dreamy aura spreading over the province. Catalonia’s answer to Valentine’s Day is somehow even more romantic and thoughtful than you might have imagined, and it occurs on St George’s Day. St George’s Day (La Diada de Sant Jordi) is a Catalan holiday that ...
While we’re still in Catalonia, we can’t forget about Caga Tío, or “poop log” as he’s known in English. Spain is famous for having some unique traditions, and the best of all relating to Christmas has to be Catalan’s Christmas symbol, Caga Tío or Tío de Nadal (Christmas log). He’s the pooping log equivalent of Santa in Catalonia. Kids “feed” Tío fo...
- La Sagrada Familia. Location 📍 | Barcelona, Spain | C/de Mallorca, 401, 08013. One of the most iconic historical places in all of Spain is La Sagrada Familia, which is the number one tourist attraction in the whole country.
- Seville Cathedral. Location 📍 | Sevilla, Spain | Av. de la Constitución, s/n, 41004. Southern Spain, otherwise known as Andalucía, features one of the country’s best historical sites in the region’s capital city; the Seville Cathedral.
- Royal Palace of Madrid. Location 📍 | Madrid, Spain | C. de Bailén, s/n, 28071. Of course, one of the best cities to visit in Spain is its capital in the centre of the country; Madrid.
- Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. Location 📍 | Santiago de Compostela | Praza do Obradoiro, s/n, 15704. The north of Spain is a full of historical cities, no more so than the Galician capital in the north west; Santiago de Compostela.
6) The legacy of the Roman Empire: Hispania. We continue moving forward along the time line. In Spain, there are still traces of the Roman colony of Hispania that have survived the ravages of time. This is the era of gladiators, emperors and impressive feats of building and engineering.
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Feb 13, 2024 · Image Credit: Shutterstock. 5. El Escorial. Intended to mark the celebration of Spain’s victory over the French in the Battle of St Quentin, El Escorial was constructed between 1563 and 1567 by Juan Bautista de Toledo, a Spanish architect who had spent much of his career in Rome.
