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Spain

Spain’s powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Subsequent failure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions caused the country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic and political power. Spain remained neutral in World War I and II but suffered through a devastating civil war (1936-39). A peaceful transition to democracy following the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975, and rapid economic modernization (Spain joined the EU in 1986) gave Spain a dynamic and rapidly growing economy and made it a global champion of freedom and human rights. More recently the government has focused on measures to reverse a severe economic recession that began in mid-2008. Austerity measures implemented to reduce a large budget deficit and reassure foreign investors have led to one of the highest unemployment rates in Europe. Spain assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2015-16 term.

🇪🇸 Spain Tourism Information…

España

Spain-Info.com

Spain Guides

In Spain

🇪🇸 The Best of Spain…

 Here is a break out of some of the most interesting and visited places. Cities or areas listed will always have more than just one thing see and do. With the popular cities or areas we list some of the best known, which should go on everyone’s, must see list when they visit.  

Central Spain
Eastern Spain
Northwest Spain
Northern Spain
Southern Spain










🇪🇸 Spain Country Information…









Capital:









Madrid













Largest City:









Madrid













Government:









Unitary Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy













Currency:









Euro (€)













Area:









Total: 505,370 km ranked 52nd water: 6,390 km land: 498,980 km













Climate:









Temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast













Population:









48,563,476 (July 2016 est.) ranked 29th













Language:









Castilian Spanish (official nationwide) 74%, Catalan (official in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community (where it is known as Valencian)) 17%, Galician (official in Galicia) 7%, Basque (official in the Basque Country and in the Basque-speaking area of Navarre) 2%, Aranese (official in the northwest corner of Catalonia (Vall d’Aran) along with Catalan; <5,000 speakers)
note: Aragonese, Aranese Asturian, Basque, Calo, Catalan, Galician, and Valencian are recognized as regional languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages













Ethnic Groups:









Composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types













Religion:









Roman Catholic 94%, other 6%













Electricity:









230V, 50Hz (European plug C,F,)













Telephone Code:









+34













Local Emergency Phone Number:









112













Internet TLD:









.es













Time Zone:









CET (UTC+1) Summer (UTC+2) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March, ends last Sunday in October













Road Driving Side:









Right













Anthem:









Marcha Real (Spanish) “Royal March”













Motto:









“Plus Ultra” (Latin) “Further Beyond”













Monarch:









Felipe VI













Prime Minister:









Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon









🇪🇸 Holidays and Observances in Spain in 2021…





Date NameTypeDetails
Jan 1WednesdayNew Year’s DayNational holiday 
Jan 2ThursdayReconquest DayProvincial HolidayGranada
Jan 6MondayEpiphanyNational holiday 
Jan 20MondayFeast of Saint SebastiánProvincial HolidayGuipúzcoa
Jan 22WednesdayFeast of Saint VicenteProvincial HolidayHuesca
Jan 22WednesdayMartyr Vicente’s FeastProvincial HolidayValencia
Jan 23ThursdayDay of Saint IldefonsoProvincial HolidayToledo
Jan 28TuesdayFeast of San JulianProvincial HolidayCuenca
Jan 29WednesdaySt. Valero’s FeastProvincial HolidayZaragoza
Feb 2SundayFestival of CandlesProvincial HolidayPalencia
Feb 3MondayDay off for Festival of CandlesProvincial HolidayPalencia
Feb 14FridayValentine’s DayObservance 
Feb 24MondayCarnival MondayProvincial HolidayCádiz, TF
Feb 25TuesdayCarnival TuesdayProvincial HolidayBA, C, GC, LU, OR, TF
Feb 26WednesdayAsh WednesdayProvincial HolidayPontevedra
Feb 26WednesdayAsh WednesdayObservance 
Feb 28FridayDay of AndalucíaAutonomous Community HolidayAndalusia
Mar 1SundayDay of the Balearic IslandsObservanceIB
Mar 5ThursdayFifth of MarchProvincial HolidayZaragoza
Mar 13FridayStatute of the Autonomous City of Melilla DayAutonomous Community HolidayMelilla
Mar 16MondayMagdalena MondayProvincial HolidayCastellón
Mar 19ThursdaySan JoseAutonomous Community HolidayCM, GA, MU, NA, PV, VC
Mar 20FridayMarch EquinoxSeason 
Mar 29SundayDaylight Saving Time startsClock change/Daylight Saving Time 
Apr 5SundayPalm SundayObservance 
Apr 9ThursdayMaundy ThursdayAutonomous Community Holiday16 states
Apr 9ThursdayFair WednesdayProvincial HolidaySeville
Apr 10FridayGood FridayNational holiday 
Apr 12SundayEaster SundayObservance 
Apr 13MondayEaster MondayAutonomous Community HolidayCT, IB, LO, NA, PV, S, VC
Apr 14TuesdayDía del Bando de la HuertaProvincial HolidayMurcia
Apr 14TuesdaySermon of the TortillasProvincial HolidayTeruel
Apr 20MondayDay of Saint Vicente FerrerProvincial HolidayValencia
Apr 23ThursdaySanta FazProvincial HolidayAlicante
Apr 23ThursdayDay of AragónAutonomous Community HolidayAragon
Apr 23ThursdaySt George’s DayProvincial HolidayCáceres
Apr 23ThursdaySt George’s DayLocal observanceCatalonia
Apr 23ThursdayCastile and León DayAutonomous Community HolidayCastile-Leon
Apr 28TuesdaySan PrudencioProvincial HolidayÁlava
May 1FridayLabor Day / May DayNational holiday 
May 2SaturdaySan SegundoProvincial HolidayÁvila
May 2SaturdayDay of MadridAutonomous Community HolidayMadrid
May 3SundayMothers’ DayObservance 
May 11MondayFeast of AnastasiProvincial HolidayLleida
May 13WednesdayDay of Saint Pedro RegaladoProvincial HolidayValladolid
May 15FridayFeast Day of St IsidoreProvincial HolidayMadrid
May 17SundayGalicia Literature DayObservanceGalicia
May 29FridaySan Fernando FairProvincial HolidayCáceres
May 30SaturdayDay of the Canary IslandsAutonomous Community HolidayCanary Islands
May 31SundayDay of Castile-La ManchaObservanceCM
May 31SundayWhit Sunday/PentecostObservance 
Jun 1MondayWhit MondayProvincial HolidayBarcelona, Girona
Jun 1MondayVirgin of AlarcosProvincial HolidayCiudad Real
Jun 1MondayFestival of HiniestaProvincial HolidayZamora
Jun 1MondayFeast of Virgin of LightProvincial HolidayCuenca
Jun 9TuesdayDay of MurciaAutonomous Community HolidayMurcia
Jun 9TuesdayDay of La RiojaAutonomous Community HolidayLa Rioja
Jun 11ThursdayVirgen de la CapillaProvincial HolidayJaén
Jun 11ThursdayCorpus ChristiAutonomous Community HolidayCM, GR, SE
Jun 12FridayDay of San Juan of SahagúnProvincial HolidaySalamanca
Jun 13SaturdaySan AntonioObservanceCeuta
Jun 19FridayCurpillosProvincial HolidayBurgos
Jun 20SaturdayJune SolsticeSeason 
Jun 22MondayFogueresProvincial HolidayAlicante
Jun 24WednesdaySaint John the Baptist DayAutonomous Community HolidayAB, CT, GA, VC
Jun 24WednesdayFeast of San JuanProvincial HolidayAL, BA, GC, LE
Jun 25ThursdayLa Saca ThursdayProvincial HolidaySoria
Jun 29MondaySan PedroProvincial HolidayBU, CS, SG, ZA
Jul 11SaturdayDay of Saint BenitoProvincial HolidayPontevedra
Jul 13MondayFestival of the VaquillasProvincial HolidayTeruel
Jul 25SaturdayFeast of Saint James the ApostleAutonomous Community HolidayBasque Country, Galicia
Jul 28TuesdayDay of the InstitutionsAutonomous Community HolidayCantabria
Jul 31FridaySan Ignacio de LoyolaProvincial HolidayGuipúzcoa, Vizcaya
Jul 31FridayEid al-AdhaAutonomous Community HolidayCeuta, Melilla
Aug 3MondayFiestas ColombinasProvincial HolidayHuelva
Aug 5WednesdayFeast of the White VirginProvincial HolidayÁlava
Aug 5WednesdayThe Day of Our Lady of AfricaObservanceCeuta
Aug 9SundayThe Day of CantabriaLocal observanceCantabria
Aug 10MondayFeast of Saint LorenzoProvincial HolidayHuesca
Aug 15SaturdayAssumption of MaryNational holiday 
Aug 19WednesdayReconquest DayProvincial HolidayMálaga
Aug 19WednesdayFeast of Saint MaginusProvincial HolidayTarragona
Aug 22SaturdayThe Eighth of the Virgin of PradoProvincial HolidayCiudad Real
Aug 28FridayViernes Semana GrandeProvincial HolidayVizcaya
Aug 29SaturdayVirgin of the SeaProvincial HolidayAlmería
Sep 2WednesdayDay of the Independent City of CeutaAutonomous Community HolidayCeuta
Sep 2WednesdayDay of Saint AntolínProvincial HolidayPalencia
Sep 8TuesdayVictory DayProvincial HolidayMálaga
Sep 8TuesdayFeast of Our Lady of the CintaProvincial HolidayHuelva
Sep 8TuesdayVirgin of the PlainsProvincial HolidayAlbacete
Sep 8TuesdayFestival of Virgin of GuadalupeProvincial HolidayCórdoba
Sep 8TuesdayFeast of Virgin of the AntiguaProvincial HolidayGuadalajara
Sep 8TuesdayDay of AsturiasAutonomous Community HolidayAsturias
Sep 8TuesdayDay of ExtremaduraAutonomous Community HolidayExtremadura
Sep 8TuesdayVirgin of the VictoryAutonomous Community HolidayMelilla
Sep 8TuesdayDay of Our Lady of San LorenzoProvincial HolidayValladolid
Sep 8TuesdayDay of the Virgin of the VegaProvincial HolidaySalamanca
Sep 11FridayDay of CataloniaAutonomous Community HolidayCatalonia
Sep 15TuesdayPilgrimage of the Virgin of FuensantaProvincial HolidayMurcia
Sep 15TuesdayNuestra Señora de la Bien AparecidaAutonomous Community HolidayCantabria
Sep 17ThursdayDay of MelillaAutonomous Community HolidayMelilla
Sep 18FridayFair FridayProvincial HolidayGuadalajara
Sep 22TuesdaySeptember EquinoxSeason 
Sep 23WednesdayDay of Saint TeclaProvincial HolidayTarragona
Sep 24ThursdayVirgin of MercyProvincial HolidayBarcelona
Sep 29TuesdayFeast of Saint MiguelProvincial HolidayLleida
Oct 2FridayFeast of Saint SaturioProvincial HolidaySoria
Oct 5MondayFeast of San FroilánProvincial HolidayLeón, Lugo
Oct 7WednesdayFeast of Our Lady of the RosaryProvincial HolidayA Coruña, Cádiz
Oct 9FridayDay of the Valencian CommunityAutonomous Community HolidayValencia
Oct 12MondayHispanic DayNational holiday 
Oct 15ThursdayFeast of Saint Teresa of JesusProvincial HolidayÁvila
Oct 24SaturdaySan Rafael DayProvincial HolidayCórdoba
Oct 25SundayDaylight Saving Time endsClock change/Daylight Saving Time 
Oct 25SundayFeast of Saint FrutosProvincial HolidaySegovia
Oct 26MondayDay off for Feast of Saint FrutosProvincial HolidaySegovia
Oct 29ThursdayFeast of Saint NarcísProvincial HolidayGirona
Nov 1SundayAll Saints’ DayObservanceAN, AR, CL, EX, M, O
Nov 2MondayAll Saint’s Day HolidayAutonomous Community HolidayAN, AR, CL, EX, M, O
Nov 9MondayLa AlmudenaProvincial HolidayMadrid
Nov 11WednesdayFeast of Saint MartínProvincial HolidayOurense
Nov 25WednesdayFeast of Saint CatalinaProvincial HolidayJaén
Dec 3ThursdayDay of NavarreAutonomous Community HolidayNavarre
Dec 6SundayConstitution DayObservance13 states
Dec 7MondayConstitution Day HolidayAutonomous Community Holiday13 states
Dec 8TuesdayImmaculate ConceptionNational holiday 
Dec 9WednesdayDay of Saint LeocadiaProvincial HolidayToledo
Dec 21MondayDecember SolsticeSeason 
Dec 24ThursdayChristmas EveObservance 
Dec 25FridayChristmas DayNational holiday 
Dec 26SaturdaySt Stephen’s DayAutonomous Community HolidayCatalonia, IB
Dec 27SundayFeast of the Holy FamilyObservance 
Dec 31ThursdayNew Year’s EveObservance





Travel Facts




US State Dept. Travel Advisory:









The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to the United Kingdom due to COVID-19. Exercise increased caution due to terrorism. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country. 













Passport/Visa Requirements:









US citizens should make sure their passport is valid at the date of their entering the country and during the length of their entire visit. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required as long as you do not stay in the country more than 6 months.













US Embassy/ Consulate:









[44] 20 7499-9000; Embassy of the United States of America, 33 Nine Elms Lane, London, SW11 7US (mailing postcode), SW8 5DB (driving/GPS postcode), United Kingdom; SCSLondon@state.gov; https://uk.usembassy.gov/













Telephone Code:









44













Local Emergency Phone:









112, 999













Internet TLD:









.uk













Vaccinations:









See WHO recommendations at http://www.who.int  













Climate









Temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one half of the days are overcast













Currency (Code)









British pounds (GBP)













Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s):









230 V / 50 Hz / plug type(s): G













Major Languages:









English, Scots, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Irish, Cornish













Religions:









Christian (includes Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 59.5%, Muslim 4.4%, Hindu 1.3%, none 25.7%













Time Zone









UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March, ends last Sunday in October; note: applies to the United Kingdom proper, not to its crown dependencies or overseas territories













Potable Water









Yes













International Driving Permit









Suggested













Road Driving Side









Left













Tourist Destinations









London (includes the Tower of London, British Museum, Parliament, Trafalgar Square); Windsor Castle; Stonehenge; Roman Baths & Georgian City of Bath; York Minster & historic Yorkshire; Chester Zoo; Cotswolds & Lake District; Hadrian’s Wall; Edinburgh; Cardiff













Major Sports









Soccer, cricket, rugby, badminton, tennis, netball, field hockey













Cultural Practices









It is considered rude to wave one’s hand or to call when summoning a waiter at a restaurant.













Tipping Guidelines









It is customary to leave 10-15% of the total bill as a tip when eating out, although some restaurants add on a service charge instead. Tip bartenders 1 pound. It is polite to tip 10-15% of the taxi fare, or round up to the nearest pound as a convenience. Tip porters 2 pounds to bring luggage to your room.









Government




Chief of State:









Queen ELIZABETH II













Government:









Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy













Capital:









London













Largest City:









London













Legislature:









London













Judiciary:









London













Ambassador to US:









Ambassador (vacant); Charge d’Affaires Michael Tatham













US Ambassador:









Ambassador Robert Wood “Woody” Johnson IV









Geography




Area:









Total: 243,61km world rank 80th, land: 241,930km, water: 1,680km













Natural Resources:









Coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, arable land









People & Society




Population:









64,430,428 (July 2016 est.) world rank 23rd England 84%, Scotland 8%, Wales 5%, Northern Ireland 3%













Population Growth:









0.51% (2018 est.)













Ethnic Groups:









White 87.2%, black/African/Caribbean/black British 3%, Asian/Asian British: Indian 2.3%, Asian/Asian British: Pakistani 1.9%, mixed 2%, other 3.7% (2011 est.)













Urbanization:









Urban population: 83.7% of total population (2019)
rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)









Economy




Economic Overview:









Leading trading power and financial center; third-largest economy in Europe after Germany and France; large coal, natural gas, and oil resources; banking, insurance, and business services, drive GDP growth













GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)









$2.92 trillion (2017 est.)













GDP per capita









$44,300 (2017 est.)













Exports:









$441.2 billion (2017 est.)
partners: US 13.2%, Germany 10.5%, France 7.4%, Netherlands 6.2%, Ireland 5.6%, China 4.8%, Switzerland 4.5% (2017)









Travel Facts




US State Dept. Travel Advisory:









The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to the United Kingdom due to COVID-19. Exercise increased caution due to terrorism. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country. 













Passport/Visa Requirements:









US citizens should make sure their passport is valid at the date of their entering the country and during the length of their entire visit. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required as long as you do not stay in the country more than 6 months.













US Embassy/ Consulate:









[44] 20 7499-9000; Embassy of the United States of America, 33 Nine Elms Lane, London, SW11 7US (mailing postcode), SW8 5DB (driving/GPS postcode), United Kingdom; SCSLondon@state.gov; https://uk.usembassy.gov/













Telephone Code:









44













Local Emergency Phone:









112, 999













Internet TLD:









.uk













Vaccinations:









See WHO recommendations at http://www.who.int  













Climate









Temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one half of the days are overcast













Currency (Code)









British pounds (GBP)













Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s):









230 V / 50 Hz / plug type(s): G













Major Languages:









English, Scots, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Irish, Cornish













Religions:









Christian (includes Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 59.5%, Muslim 4.4%, Hindu 1.3%, none 25.7%













Time Zone









UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March, ends last Sunday in October; note: applies to the United Kingdom proper, not to its crown dependencies or overseas territories













Potable Water









Yes













International Driving Permit









Suggested













Road Driving Side









Left













Tourist Destinations









London (includes the Tower of London, British Museum, Parliament, Trafalgar Square); Windsor Castle; Stonehenge; Roman Baths & Georgian City of Bath; York Minster & historic Yorkshire; Chester Zoo; Cotswolds & Lake District; Hadrian’s Wall; Edinburgh; Cardiff













Major Sports









Soccer, cricket, rugby, badminton, tennis, netball, field hockey













Cultural Practices









It is considered rude to wave one’s hand or to call when summoning a waiter at a restaurant.













Tipping Guidelines









It is customary to leave 10-15% of the total bill as a tip when eating out, although some restaurants add on a service charge instead. Tip bartenders 1 pound. It is polite to tip 10-15% of the taxi fare, or round up to the nearest pound as a convenience. Tip porters 2 pounds to bring luggage to your room.









Government




Chief of State:









Queen ELIZABETH II













Government:









Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy













Capital:









London













Largest City:









London













Legislature:









London













Judiciary:









London













Ambassador to US:









Ambassador (vacant); Charge d’Affaires Michael Tatham













US Ambassador:









Ambassador Robert Wood “Woody” Johnson IV









Geography




Area:









Total: 243,61km world rank 80th, land: 241,930km, water: 1,680km













Natural Resources:









Coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, arable land









People & Society




Population:









64,430,428 (July 2016 est.) world rank 23rd England 84%, Scotland 8%, Wales 5%, Northern Ireland 3%













Population Growth:









0.51% (2018 est.)













Ethnic Groups:









White 87.2%, black/African/Caribbean/black British 3%, Asian/Asian British: Indian 2.3%, Asian/Asian British: Pakistani 1.9%, mixed 2%, other 3.7% (2011 est.)













Urbanization:









Urban population: 83.7% of total population (2019)
rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)









Economy




Economic Overview:









Leading trading power and financial center; third-largest economy in Europe after Germany and France; large coal, natural gas, and oil resources; banking, insurance, and business services, drive GDP growth













GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)









$2.92 trillion (2017 est.)













GDP per capita









$44,300 (2017 est.)













Exports:









$441.2 billion (2017 est.)
partners: US 13.2%, Germany 10.5%, France 7.4%, Netherlands 6.2%, Ireland 5.6%, China 4.8%, Switzerland 4.5% (2017)













Imports:









$615.9 billion (2017 est.)
partners: Germany 13.7%, US 9.5%, China 9.3%, Netherlands 8%, France 5.4%, Belgium 5% (2017)