This article informs you on the facts about Spain. The most important facts about Spain are arranged in order of importance.
The following are some of the facts about Spain:
Official Title: The Kingdom of Spain
Capital: Madrid
Largest cities: Madrid (5.9 million), Barcelona (5.3 million), and Valencia (1.6 million)
Population: 44.7 million as of 2006
Population density: 88.39 per square kilometer.
Area: 506,000m square meters (second largest in Europe after France)
Average Altitude: 600 meters (second highest in Europe after Switzerland)
Highest Point: Pico de Teide at 3719 meters in Tenerife
Number of tourists: Nearly 52 million every year
Foreigners in Spain: 3.7 million. Including Red Cross the number touches 4.8 million.
Political map: Parliamentary monarchy
Regions of Spain: Comprises 17 independent regions
Time zone: +1 GMT with the exception of Canary Islands
Currency: Euro since 2002
Size of the economy: Spain is the eighth largest economy in the world with a GDP of 1 trillion euros.
Labor Force: Nearly 20 million
GDP per capita: 27,767 euros per year. Ranks 25 in the world
Religious beliefs: Nearly 90% percent of Spaniards are Roman Catholic. There are no religious restrictions in Spain.
Measures of units: Weight is measured in kilograms, whereas temperature and distances are measured in degree Celsius and metric system, respectively.
Gastronomy of Spain: Spain is world famous for its Paella.
History: Spain has a rich and glorious past.
Electricity consumption: 220 volts
Emergency numbers: All emergency numbers are toll-free. 112 for general emergency services. 061 for ambulance. 080 for Fire Fighting. 091 for National Police
(used only in extreme emergencies). 092 for municipal police and 062 for civil guard.
Country code: 00-34
Opening time: The siesta is honored in much of Spain. The difference only lies in the hours. Most retail outlets are operational from 9 am till siesta time.
They reopen at around 5 pm. The southern regions of Spain open later, and the Siesta is delayed till 2 pm.
Opening hours for banks: Banks are open Monday to Friday between 9 am to 2 pm. Saturdays see banks closing by 1 pm.
Transport: Bus transport is the most economic method of transportation. City bus rides are available at as low as 0.95 Euros. If you use prepaid cards, the cost lowers to 0.59 euros. Bus routes connect the different cities very well, in comparison with trains. Madrid can be reached from Malaga in six hours by spending 20 euros. The same route by train will cost 150 euros. Taxi services, too, are inexpensive.
Tipping: It is not compulsory to tip the Spaniards.
Languages: Spanish (Catalan, Valencian, Gallego, are the languages spoken in Catalonia, Valencia, and Galicia, respectively.)
These facts about Spain should make your journey easier.
The culture of Spain is a European culture based on a variety of influences. These include the pre-Roman cultures, mainly the celts and the Iberians cultures; but mainly in the period of Roman influences.
In the areas of language and religion, the Ancient Romans left a lasting legacy. The subsequent course of Spanish history also added elements to the country’s cultural development.