general information

Kingdom
capital: Madrid
area: 506 000km2
population: 46,8 millions
population density/km2: 92
EU member since 1986
national holiday: October 12

• Scorpion sting. In two parts of Spain, a careless footstep could see you hopping around and screaming. The Mediterranean scorpion lives in the country's driest spots, while in the north of the country the European black scorpion is waiting to give you a dash of venom.

• Bear maul. It sounds like madness, but brown bears were recently reintroduced to the Pyrenees. 

• On October 12th 1492, Christopher Colombus discovered America. That day is now a national holiday in Spain.

• Spain welcomes 50 millions tourists a year. The tourist sector accounts for 15% of employment among the active population.

• Spain also has the cities of Ceuta and Melilla on the coast of Morocco and Llivia in the French Pyrenees.

• Spain is a large country with large autonomous regions: Catalonia, the Basque Country, Galicia and Andalusia, and several official languages.

• Gibraltar, at the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula, is still claimed by Spain.

• In 1190, Spain stopped giving financial support to the Catholic Church. Since then, taxpayers who make donations to the church can deduct them from income tax, up to a certain amount.

Sun, beaches and lots of Sangria in what attracts travellers to Spain, as well as Flamenco dancers, handsome toreros and delicious paellas. Located on the Mediterranean Sea and cut off from the rest Europe by the Pyrenees, Spain is the holiday destination for all sun-loving travellers. Admire the art of Gaudi in Barcelona, party hard in Madrid and go on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.