What Do I Need To Know About Spain?
Overview
Spain officially the Kingdom of Spain, is a sovereign state largely located on the Iberian Peninsula in
southwestern Europe. Its mainland is bordered to the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea except
for a small land boundary with Gibraltar; to the north and northeast by France, Andorra, and the Bay of
Biscay; and to the west and northwest by Portugal and the Atlantic Ocean. Spain is a democracy
organized in the form of a parliamentary government under a constitutional monarchy. It is a
developed country with the world's fourteenth largest economy by nominal GDP. The climate of Spain
is diverse varying according to geographical situation and orographic conditions.
Population, Demography & Economy (2015)
 Population: 48.1 million
 Urbanization: 81.1%
 Birth Rate: 9.9 births/1,000 population
 Death Rate: 9.0 deaths/1,000 population
 Life Expectancy Male: 80 years
 Life Expectancy Female: 86 years
 Current GDP: 1.2 trillion USD (in Q2 2015)
 GDP Growth Rate: 3.1%
 Average Income: $26,259 per household (2014)
 Unemployment Rate: 21.4%
History & Culture
Spain has a long history with the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans and Visigoths who settled here in the
8th century. Muslims came to the Iberian Peninsula, kick-starting a centuries-long power struggle
between Muslims and Christians, with the latter group eventually establishing the upper hand in the
15th century. During the 16th and mid-17th centuries, the Spaniards led a charge on the newly
discovered New World, hijacking valuable minerals and metals to bankroll the Crown.
The cultures of Spain are based on a variety of historical influences, primarily that of Ancient Rome,
but also the pre-Roman Celtic and Iberian culture, and that of the Phoenicians and the Moors. It is and
has been for thousands of years, one of the cultural centers of Europe. Spanish culture is widely known
for Flamenco music and dance, bullfights, fantastic beaches and lots of sunshine. Spain has an
extraordinary artistic heritage. Spain's architecture ranges from prehistoric monuments in Minorca in
the Balearic Islands, to the Roman ruins of Merida and Tarragona.
Weather & Climate
Spain's climate varies from temperate in the north to dry and hot in the south. As it is a big country
with varying terrain and altitudes, climate can be extremely distinctive from one corner to another.
Three main climatic zones can be distinguished, according to geographical situation and orographic
conditions: Mediterranean climate, Oceanic climate and Semi-arid climate. Northern Spain generally
experiences colder temperatures than the South, while Central Spain stays hot and dry due to its
location on a plateau.
Education
Spain has a long history of higher education, with its oldest university, Universidad de Salamanca,
dating back to 1218. Its higher education system was overhauled in 2007 to embrace the three-cycle
system of the Bologna Process, ensuring compatibility with the European Higher Education Area. The
largest concentrations of leading Spanish universities are found in capital city Madrid and second city
Barcelona.
The highest-ranked Spanish university is the University of Barcelona. Other top universities include
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, University Complutense
Madrid, University of Navarra and Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
Employment Prospects
If you are an expatriate looking for work in Spain, it may appear that there are only a handful of
suitable jobs and a large number of job-seekers. However, it is possible to find employment if you
know where to look for work, particularly for those with specialist skills. Skilled trade workers,
engineers and those experienced in the finance sector are highly in demand.
There are also plenty of opportunities if you want to be a teacher of foreign languages, especially
English. Learning Spanish will be invaluable to your job hunt and would definitely increase the number
of opportunities available to you. Spain has a strong tourism industry. With a high percentage of
British tourists visiting Spain during the summer months, there is always a need for English-speaking
workers in many of the hotspots.
Things To Do
Spain is full of attractive places for tourists. From the ancient monuments left by the Romans and
Moors, the medieval castles of the interior, the white villages in inland Andalucía or the vibrant cities
of Barcelona and Madrid, there is a great mixture of cultural attractions in Spain. Besides mesmerizing
architectural heritage and soothing natural beauty, what makes Spain exciting is the busyness of El
Rastro flea market in Madrid, the nightlife frenzy of Barrio del Carmen in Valencia, the fun of La
Tomatina festival in Buñol, the terror of Pamplona Bull Running, the week-long spectacle of flamenco
during La Feria de Sevilla, the fiesta and siesta, the taste of tapas and wine, and finally, the corrida.
Top ten places to visit in Spain are:
1. Alhambra. The Alhambra is one of Spain’s major tourist attractions and many visitors come to
Granada just to see the Alhambra. Part fortress, part palace and part garden the Alhambra was
constructed in the 14th century by the Nasrid sultans. Alhambra is a supreme creation of
Moorish Spain, featuring majestic Arabic gates, intricate carvings and patios – Spain’s most
significant Islamic architecture.
2. Barcelona. Located in northeastern Spain, Barcelona is one of the country’s top travel
destinations because it offers everything tourists look for in a European city from historic
architecture to lively shopping, vibrant culture and buzzing nightlife. Unique to Barcelona are
the architectural marvels of Spain’s famous architect, Antoni Gaudi, which include the Casa
Batllo and the famous Sagrada Familia church.
3. Madrid is the capital of Spain widely known for its sizzling nightlife scene. Things one can
never miss in Madrid are Museu del Prado, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Picasso's
famous Guernica, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid's Royal Palace, Puerta del Sol and
Madrid's historic square, the Plaza Mayor.
4. Balearic Islands are an archipelago of Spain in the western Mediterranean Sea, near the
eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. The four largest islands are Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza and
Formentera. Altogether, they make for a combination that can serve as a faithful insular
reflection of continental Spain - versatile, untrammeled, fun, and beautiful.
5. Mezquita of Cordoba is a fascinating building famous for the forest of pillars and arches inside
the main hall. The site was originally a Roman temple, then a Visigothic church, before the
Umayyad Moors built the Mezquita. After the Spanish Reconquista a cathedral was built into the
center of the large Moorish building.
6. Canary Islands are located just off the southern coast of Morocco in the Atlantic. They are
popular for their beautiful beaches, mild climate and important natural attractions, especially
the Maspalomas Dunes in Gran Canaria and the Teide Volcano in Tenerife.
7. Seville. Exceptional tourist attractions, lively festivals and buzzing nightlife all make Seville one
of the best places to visit in Spain. The city is home to many beautiful and important historic
landmarks, chief of which is the grand Cathedral of Seville, where it is believed that Christopher
Columbus is buried. Another significant building is the Real Alcazar, an extravagant Moorish
palace with luxurious gardens.
8. Valencia is located in the eastern part of the country. The most impressive landmark is a
massive cultural and entertainment complex known as the City of Arts and Science. Contained
within this complex are several buildings such as a science museum, planetarium and aquarium
that are each artistic marvels in and of themselves. Every March, Valencia hosts the Fallas
Festival where each neighborhood displays papier-mâché figures of all sizes and colors.
9. Toledo is a popular destination for its wealth of historic art and architecture that dates back to
the Roman Empire dominated by the magnificent cathedral and Alcázar. Because it was
inhabited by Jews, Christians and Muslims for many centuries, the city is sometimes called the
“City of Three Cultures.”
10. San Sebastian is located in the Basque country of North Spain off the coast of the Bay of Biscay.
San Sebastian boasts also some of the best beaches in Europe with the most popular of these
being Playa de la Concha, which offers sunbathing and water activities like swimming, kayaking
and water skiing. The Old Town features many historic buildings reconstructed in the 19th
century after the city was nearly destroyed during the Napoleonic Wars.
Food & Drinks
Spain's eating and drinking culture is one of its greatest attractions, and a very sociable one too. The
Spaniards take their food seriously be it diner-style menus del dia (menus of the day) or elaborate,
nouveau cuisine in gourmet restaurants. Food is generally dictated by the seasons, whichever corner of
the country you go to.
An excellent way to understand different facets of Spanish cuisine is to sample tapas, small snacks
served with drinks in local bars across the country. They can range from gourmet canapés to simple
plates of olives, cheeses and cured meats, and may be charged or given for free. Spain’s specialty lies in
dishes like Gazpacho, Tortilla Española, Gambas al ajillo, Paella, Croquetas, etc.
Spanish drinks have also brewed up quite a storm worldwide – from the thirst-quenching sangria to
bubbly Cava to the sophisticated Rioja wine. Top wines include Sherry, Rioja and Cava.
To conclude, getting into Spain for educational or job prospects gives you a wide range of
opportunities to explore and learn. This is a country of contrasts, where the affluence and
cosmopolitan bustle of Western Europe is mixed with a distinctly southern European extravagance
and charm; where an expressive and flamboyant culture segues into afternoon naps and languid
evenings in bars and cafés; and where distinct regional identities often take precedence over a unified
national one.