Discover Spain

Spain is a splendid country, with a rich history and open, enthusiastic people. Its cities are alive throughout the night, and its countless villages have maintained their traditions and festivals. Come to Spain and fall in love with all that it has to offer

About Spain

Spain is incredibly culturally varied. From ancient influences of the Romans, Visigoths, and Moors to religious influences from catholicism, islam, and judaism. Add to that the regional influences such as basque in the north or gypsy heritage in the south, and you start to understand the enormous variety of foods, architecture, language, and traditions that Spain has to offer.
Spain is home to the world’s oldest restaurant—Restaurante Botín, established in 1725, is still serving up delicious Spanish cuisine in Madrid!
The Spanish live into the night. Parties often don’t start until after midnight and can easily last until sunrise the next day.
Spain produces almost half of the world’s olive oil. You’ll find olives and olive oil in many traditional Spanish dishes.
The Spanish are very social. Don’t be surprised to be included in a group out of the blue, and taken along in whatever it is they were doing
While Spain is famous for its siesta, a study showed that only 40% of Spaniards actually take it. And when they do, it’s more often on their free days than during work days

Population: 47 million

Language: Castilian Spanish (& Catalan, Galician, Basque)

Capital: Madrid

Currency: Euro

Food

Paella

Paella is a famous Spanish dish from Valencia, known for its rich flavors and vibrant colors. Traditionally eaten along Spain’s Mediterranean coast, it’s made with rice, saffron, seafood, and sometimes meats or vegetables.

Pinchos

Pinchos, or pintxos in Basque, are small Spanish tapas from northern Spain. Often enjoyed in bars, they’re served on bread and held with a toothpick, topped with seafood, meats, or vegetables.

Jamón

Spain’s famous cured ham, jamón, is enjoyed nationwide, particularly as jamón ibérico or jamón serrano. Known for its melt-in-the-mouth texture and deep, savory flavor, it is served thinly sliced on its own, on a sandwich, or paired with cheeses, bread, and wine in tapas bars and gatherings.

Festivals

La Tomatina

La Tomatina, celebrated in Buñol on the last Wednesday of August, is a unique Spanish festival where participants throw ripe tomatoes at each other in a massive, good-natured food fight

San Fermin

San Fermín, held annually in Pamplona, is a traditional festival known for the thrilling running of the bulls, where participants sprint through the streets alongside the bulls each morning

Semana Santa

Semana Santa, Spain’s Holy Week, features solemn processions with participants in traditional robes and pointed hoods that may raise some eyebrows to those familiar with U.S. history

Famous for

Soccer

Soccer is a deeply rooted passion in Spain, home to world-renowned clubs like FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, whose long-lasting rivalry is followed by fans around the globe.

Flamenco

Flamenco, originating in Andalusia, is an expressive art form combining singing, guitar playing, and passionate dance, reflecting Spain’s diverse cultural influences and emotional depth

Beaches

Spain’s beaches, stretching along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, are famous for their golden sands, clear blue waters, and vibrant atmosphere, making them some of Europe’s most popular summer destinations

Tips for exchange students going to Spain

Get ready to shift your rhythm. Especially if you’re from a more northern country, expect to eat and sleep later than you’re used to. It’s quite common to eat lunch around 2 or 3, and only eat dinner around 10
Learn some Spanish. Spanish is an incredibly rewarding foreign language to learn: there are a lot of native speakers to practice with, plenty of resources are available, it’s not too difficult, and learning it opens up most of Latin America to you