Spain

=Spain= toc ====Fact Box **Location**: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, and Pyrenees Mountains, southwest of France **Population**: 40,525,002 (July 2010 est.) =Spain's National Anthem= media type="youtube" key="cYbuY-epYho" width="425" height="350" **Political Map**
 * Size**: 505,370 sq km
 * Capital**: Madrid
 * Date of Country Independence**: 1492, Muslim
 * Major Religions**: Roman Catholic 94%, other 6%
 * Languages**: Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%, are official regionally
 * Types of Governments**: parliamentary monarchy
 * Current leader**: Juan Carlos I
 * Voting Age**: 16
 * Date Allowing woman to vote**: 1931
 * Military Service**: have to be 20 (1820-2010)

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History Time line of Spain

• **1100 BC** Phoenician traders establish colony at Cádiz in southern Iberia. • **228 BC** Carthaginians occupy southern and eastern Iberia. • **218-220 BC** Romans defeat Carthage in Second Punic War and occupy Iberian Peninsula. • **74** Inhabitants of Iberia are granted full Roman citizenship. • **409** Visigoths occupy Iberian Peninsula. • **711** Combined Arab and Berber force from northern Africa cross Strait of Gibraltar to occupy Iberian Peninsula. • **756** Independent Emirate is established in Iberia, with Córdoba as its capital. • **913** Having re-taken territories in northern Spain, Christians establish capital in León. • **1013** Powerful Caliphate of Córdoba breaks up due to internal strife; Moorish Spain split into small feuding kingdoms. • **1212** Decisive Christian victory at battle of Navas de Tolosa spells the beginning of the end of Moorish rule in Spain. • **1492** King Fernando and Queen Isabel's army capture Granada after a long siege, the final defeat of the Moors in Spain. Jews are forced to convert to Christianity; those who refuse are expelled from Spain. Christopher Columbus sets sail on his voyage of discovery. • **1702-14** War of Spanish Succession. Bourbon dynasty accedes to Spanish throne. • **1808-14** Peninsular War. Spaniards rise against Napoleon's occupying force. Combination of guerilla tactics and support from Wellington's army end in French defeat. • **1898** Spanish American War. Spain loses Cuba and Philippines. • **1931** Spanish king is forced to abdicate. Spain becomes a republic. • **1936-39** Spanish Civil War. Bloody conflict ends with General Franco's victory. Dictatorship established. • **1975** Franco dies, Juan Carlos de Borbón is proclaimed king. Spain becomes constitutional monarchy. Democracy would bring membership of the European Community. • **1982** Spain joins NATO, becoming a member of a mainstream European organization. • **1995** Spain joins the European Community. • **2004** Islamic terrorists strike the Atocha train station in Madrid with bombs, killing nearly 300 and precipitating a change in government

Geographical Map


=Video Blog of Spain= media type="youtube" key="lOidDDP1uzE" height="349" width="425"


 * ==The short-list of National Holidays In Spain In 2007 **
 * **January 1st** - New Year’s day
 * **January 6th**- Epiphany- is based on the biblical story that tells of the Magi or Three kings who saw a bright star on the night Christ was born and followed it toBethlehem. The tradition in Spain and other speaking countries had always been to observe Christmas Day as a solemn religious occasion, reserving ThreeKings Day or Dia de Los Reyes for partying and exchanging gifts.
 * **April 6th** - Good Friday
 * **May 1st** -Labor day
 * **August 15th** –Feast of the Assumption (Asunción de la Virgen)
 * **October 12th**—Spanish National Holiday (Día de la Hispanidad)
 * **November 1st** - All Saints Day
 * **December 6th** - Constitution Day
 * **December 8th** - Inmaculada Concepción
 * **December 25th** -Christmas Day

Famous People from Spain
> ** ** painter, sculptor, graphic artist, and designer. > > __**Pablo Picasso** Pablo Ruiz y Picasso (October 25, 1881 – April 8, 1973) was a Spanish painter and sculptor. Also one of the most recognized figures in 20th century art, he is best known as the co-founder, along with Georges Braque, of cubism. Extremely prolific throughout his long lifetime, he produced around 13,500 paintings, 100,000 prints and engravings, 34,000 book illustrations and 300 sculptures. >   > >  Some Attractions in Spain The Spanish coasts are an opportunity for a family to get away and have fun, with beautiful landscapes and Custum the ways of life. Another good thing about them is that they are a really short distance from most UK airports. Less then three hours away, perfect for a young family. Located in Aragon, Spain. This would be a perfect place to visit for me because i love the beach and it is said to be beautiful there.
 * **Fernando Torres** Born 20 March 1984, Plays for the Spain's National soccer team. [[image:http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/sports/photos/2008/06/29/spain-euro-final-xl-080630g.jpg width="289" height="164" caption="Spain is big in soccer"]] **Salvador Dali** Born 1904 till 1989. He was one of the greatest painters of all time. You will probably know him by his masterpiece,The Persistence of Memory
 * The Prado
 * Said to have some of the oldest and beautifulest art in the world. Art work going from the 11th-18th centuries, some of the most famous art work made by the most famous artistes. Some artest you might see in Prado in Madrid, Greco, Velázquez, Goya, Bosch, Tiziano, Van Dyck and Rembrandt. I would like to visit this place because it would be cool to see these beautiful peaces of art. You would be able to get there by any international airlines right to Madrid spain.**
 * Spanish Coasts**

=Sports=
 * Famous Spanish soccer player

The youngest kid on the Spanish football block who has catapulted to fame is 23 year old Francesc 'Cesc' Fabregas. He plays in the position of the central midfielder and plays for English Premier League team Aresenal in addition to playing for the Spanish National team. He started his international career in 2003 FIFA under-17 world championship. His asset is his passing range and the way he can control the offensive flow of the game play of his team. He is believed to have vision, creativity and an understanding and maturity of the game beyond his age. Raul Gonzalez Blanco, called simply as Raul, is great looks and great soccer personified. Playing as a striker, he has good ball skills and can shoot very well. Coupled with that he has the ability to hold possession or play the ball off. This 33 year old striker though needs help from the midfield. He played for Spain between 1996 and 2006. He also played Real Madrid alongside the likes of [|David Beckham], Spanish team mate Iker Casillas and [|Zinedine Zidane]. He is undoubtedly one of the best Spanish soccer players.
 * Cesc Fabregas**
 * Raul**


 * **Spain's National Sports** ** **

Football is by far the most popular team sport in Spain. Spain hosts some of the biggest and best sporting football clubs in Europe. The sports season for football in Spain starts in September and runs through until the middle or end of May. Every week more than 300,000 people in Spain run to the countries dozens of sports stadiums to watch Spanish football league games. Millions of people in Spain love to watch this sport on television. David Villa, from the National Spanish team The basketball sports season in Spain starts in September and ends in June. There are 18 basketball teams in the Spanish national league, many of which are tied to the same sporting clubs with big names in the sport of football such as Barcelona and Real Madrid. The National Spain femail basketball team Golf, tennis and cycling are all sports of growing popularity in Spain. This is due partly to recent Spanish successes in each of these sports in recent years. Spain hosts its own annual national competition which lasts three weeks and involves cycling routes that span the length and breadth of Spain. Spain have contributed some excellent male and female players to the sport of tennis in recent years, winning several international sporting competitions and encouraging young people in Spain to take up the sport. ** THE SPANISH ARMADA… ** 2008 Beijing, China Spanish Olympic Road Cycling Team Alberto Contador – Oscar Freire – Samuel Sanchez – Carlos Sastre – Alejandro Valverde ( Gold Medal ) The most famous motor sport in Spain is formula one which is staged annually at a track near Barcelona. Tickets to watch the sport are expensive, but worth the pay.
 * __Football in Spain__**
 * __Basketball in Spain__**
 * __Individual sports in Spain__**
 * __Motor sports in Spain__**
 * Race Date: || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">10 May 2009 ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Number of Laps: || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">66 <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">﻿ ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Circuit Length: || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">4.655 km ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Race Distance: || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">307.104 km ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Lap Record: || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">1:21.670 - K Raikkonen (2008) ||