Spain

Capital of Spain: Madrid
Top 3 Largest cities in Spain: Madrid 5.9 million inhabitants, Barcelona 5.3 million inhabitants, Valencia 1.6 million inhabitants.

Madrid has been the capital city of Spain since the 17^th century and is also the largest city in Spain and the highest Capitol in Europe, 650 meters above sea level. Madrid is the political centre of Spain and a major centre for international business and commerce.  It is bordered by the independent communities of Castile and León and Castile-La Mancha.  Because Madrid is situated on the river Manzanares its name originated from the Arabic name “magerit” meaning place of many streams. 

Geography:  Spain is Europe's fourth largest country after Russia, Ukraine, and France.  It occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula, stretching south from the Pyrenees Mountains in the North to the Straits of Gibraltar in the South.  Spain also controls the Balearic Islands of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, Gomera, Fuerteventura and Hierro in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Morocco.

Major languages: Spanish (Castilian), Catalan and its variant Valencian, Gallego (Galician), Euskera (Basque) 

Economy: Spain has many natural resources: Coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, mercury, pyrites, fluorspar, gypsum, zinc, lead, tungsten, copper, kaolin, and hydroelectric power.  Agricultural products include grains, vegetables, citrus and deciduous fruits, wine, olives and olive oil, sunflowers, livestock and poultry, dairy products, as well as seafood.  Tourism is also very important to the economy as there is over 52 million tourists visit Spain each year; Spain is in the top 3 most visited countries in the world.

Culture: Spain's historical background covers from Roman aqueducts and Islamic palaces to Gothic cathedrals, making it one of the cultural centres in Europe. It has a variety of old and modern architectural gems. Spain has been the birthplace of some of the world's great artists including El Greco, Velázquez, Goya, Dalí, Picasso, Tapies, Miró and many others. Its musical heritage contains the dramatic tones of flamenco of the south to Celtic music and gaitas (bagpipes) of the northwest.

Food and Specialities : Every region has its own distinct cuisine and specialties which are based around the abundance of locally grown vegetables and fruits as well as meats and poultry. Jamón Serrano, a cured ham, and chorizo, a seasoned sausage, are popular. Seafood and fish are popular in coastal areas. Other popular foods are cheeses, eggs, beans, rice, nuts (especially almonds), and bread (a crusty white bread, baked fresh daily, is common). Olive oil and garlic are common ingredients. The best-known Spanish dish, a stew called paella originated in Valencia. Rice, the main ingredient, is grown in Valencia's tidal flatlands. Although there are many variations, paella is usually made of a variety of shellfish
such as shrimp, clams, crab, and lobster), chorizo (sausage), vegetables (tomatoes, peas, and asparagus), chicken and/or rabbit, and long-grained rice. 
Other food associated with Spanish cuisine is the tortilla española or Spanish omelette (a thick cake of eggs and sliced potatoes), and cured hams and sausages.   Gazpacho, a cold tomato soup, comes from Andalucía in southern Spain. Andalusians also enjoy freidurías (fish, such as sole or anchovies, fried in batter). Cataluña (Catalonia), in north-eastern Spain, is known for its inventive dishes combining seafood, meat, poultry, and local fruits. In the northern Basque country (país Vasco), fish is important to the diet, with cod, eel, and squid featured prominently. The signature dish of Asturias, in north-western Spain, is fabada, a bean stew. In the interior regions, such as Castilla, meats play a starring role. Tortilla española, a potato omelet, is served throughout the country.



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