Spain has a little bit of something for everyone! Roam the streets to see architectural masterpieces that have emerged over hundreds of thousands of years. Stop off along the way to share plates of traditional Tapas or Paella, watch Spaniards dance to the sounds of the Flamenco in the streets or see the in-depth artistic heritage from local entrepreneurs, and Europe’s finest artists.
There are so many interesting facts about this amazing country, we’ll take you through some of them here!
- Nearly 470 million people in the world speak Spanish as their native language. Although the official Spanish dialect in Spain is Castilian Spanish
- Not only is Madrid the capital of the city but is also the centre of the country! In the middle of Madrid you will find the Puerta del Sol (‘The Sun Gate’) which marks the exact geographical centre of Spain
- Spaniards love to eat their meals later than the norm. In general, locals eat lunch between 2pm and 4pm and dinner any time after 9pm. It will be hard to find a restaurant open for dinner before 8.30pm, and most close at 11pm on weekdays and 1am on weekends making the atmosphere on the streets at night something you need to experience for yourself!
- The most popular type of music in Spain is the Flamenco. Flamenco is thought to have been developed by the Moors who brought it to Spain from North Africa in the early A.D. 700s. The roots of the Flamenco are very multicultural and has been influenced by Andalusian, Islamic, Sephardic and Gypsy cultures – there are plenty of places to watch Flamenco dancers or we recommend trying it out yourself!
- La Tomatina, or ‘The World’s Biggest Food Fight’, is held every year on the last Wednesday of August in the town of Buñol, outside of Valencia. Over 150,000 tomatoes are thrown at each event! Imagine the clean-up…
- Spain produces 44% of the worlds Olive Oil!
- Seven of Antoni Gaudi’s architectural projects have more recently been declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites for their importance to Spanish culture, they truly are breathtaking and a must-see!
- For the stationery nerds (that’s us!), the first known stapler was made in Spain during the 18th century! The original staples were engraved with the royal emblem for French King Louis XV
Whether you are looking for history, the arts or languages, Spain is a historic and culturally rich educational destination and there has never been a better time to visit! Check out our Best of Spain tour here or contact us to speak to a program specialist.
