SPAIN

Spain has always been a country of frontiers, and this is the source of her true wealth. For this reason Spain is a country with a great heritage to maintain; the remains of its many different identities throughout its rich history. This historically rich heritage and its current national identity creates the echoes of countless conquests in the voices of its ethnically and geographically diverse regions. Although Spain is one of the oldest nation-states in Europe, this ethnically diverse society has many cultures and languages living side by side.

In the name of national unity, Franco allowed only Castilian to be spoken in public. But at home native speakers nurtured the Galician, Basque and Catalan languages, which, along with various Spanish dialects, survived a ban of almost 40 years under Franco's brutal regime. Currently, this multicultural society is considered to be one of the most vibrant, colorful and creative nations in Europe.

Spain, influenced throughout many centuries by occidental and oriental cultures, is a country with a surprising variety of landscapes and ways of living. Its richness has been built up by Iberians, Celts, Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans, Goths, Moors, Jews, Muslims and Christians.

Being in Spain is like traveling in a time machine thanks to the impressive legacy of all this civilizations. From the archeological remains of prehistory to the pieces of art and architecture of Picasso, Dali or Gaudi, Spain offers a great variety of possibilities for visitors.

Spain is situated in southwestern Europe. It occupies the Iberian Peninsula and is bathed by the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and the Cantabrian Sea. It also includes the Balearic Island in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic and the cities of Ceuta y Melilla. It's total surface area is 504,788 sq. kms.