Spain

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Overview | History | Culture | Cities of Interest | Expenses | Support | Map

Read what one of our OET's had to say about their experience in Spain

Overview:

The exuberance of the Spaniards and the glorious predictability of the summer weather have been attracting refugees from northern Europe's damp and clammy lands for decades, but Spain is much more than the Costa del Sol and warm English beer. It is drenched in the historical pageantry of empire and conquistadors, the artistic legacy of Goya, Velazquez, Picasso and Dalm, and the romance of Don Quijote, Papa Hemingway and the International Brigades.

There are four official languages in Spain. Castellan is the main language of business and government. The other spoken languages are Catalan, Galician, and Euskera (Basque). In Barcelona, like the rest of Catalonia, there are 2 official languages; Catalan, Catalonia's own and official language, and Castellan, the official language of the Spanish state as a whole. In the city almost everyone speaks Castellan as well; in the villages it's possible that they only speak Catalan, although they understand Castellan.

While Catholicism is deeply ingrained in all aspects of Spanish society, only about 40% of Spaniards are regular churchgoers. Many Spaniards have a deep-seated skepticism of the Church; during the Civil War, churches were burnt and clerics shot because they represented repression, corruption and the old order.

The current population is about 39.3 million and is growing about .25 percent annually. Spaniards are a composite of Mediterranean and Nordic ancestry, but are considered a homogeneous ethnic group.

The northern coasts enjoy a moderate climate with some rainfall year round. The southern and eastern coasts have a more Mediterranean climate, with long, dry summers and mild winters. It rains more in late fall, winter to early spring; dry season is in the summer. There may be snow in winter in Madrid and Salamanca.

History:

Most of the Iberian peninsula has been populated since prehistoric times. Early evidence of human habitation unearthed at the Atapuerca site in northern Spain are some 800,000 years old. Modern man made his appearance around 35,000 BC. Sometime around 4000 BC, much of Spain was settled by the Iberians, arriving from the east. The Celts arrived later, settling in the northern third of the peninsula. Bronze age civilization flourished in the south, culminating with the Tartessian civilization around Seville (1000-500 BC).

Around 1100 BC, Phoenician seafarers from present-day Lebanon set up trading colonies in Cadiz and elsewhere along the Spanish coast. Phocaean Greeks also traded along the north-eastern coast. With the fall of Phoenicia, the Iberian peninsula came under the rule of Carthage (present day Tunisia), but was occupied by Rome following the Punic Wars. The Romans held sway in Iberia for six centuries, laying the foundations for Spanish language and culture.

Following the fall of the western Roman empire in the fifth century AD, Spain was ruled by the Visigoths, a Germanic people who had migrated from central Europe. In 711, the Muslims of northern Africa launched an invasion across the Strait of Gibraltar, occupying most of the peninsula within a few years. Their presence lasted more than seven centuries, though the Christian kingdoms to the north increased in power over the generations, gradually driving the Moors southwards. The last Moorish kingdom, Granada (the eastern half of present-day Andalusia), was conquered in 1492.

The discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus and the expulsion of Jews and Moors from Spain were to mark Spanish history forever. Treasure from Spain's vast overseas empire pushed Spain into the forefront of European countries, but constant warfare drained resources. With the accession of the Bourbon dynasty to the Spanish throne at the beginning of the 18th century, Spain came within the French sphere of influence for the following 100 years, up to the defeat of Napoleon's army during the Peninsular War.

During the 19th century, Spain was sharply divided between conservatives and liberals, and rural and urban society. Coups d'etat and changes of government were frequent. With the increasing power of the working class, in 1931 king Alfonso XIII was forced to abdicate, and Spain was declared a republic. Conservative reaction from the church and army sparked the Spanish Civil War, which raged from 1936 to 1939 and was a prelude to World War II. Under the dictator Franco, who had been sympathetic to the Axis powers, Spain was ostracized from the community of nations until it became strategically attractive to the US during the Cold War. The first US bases opened in the 1950s. Spaniards working abroad and tourists arriving in increasing numbers brought in foreign revenue and fueled the emergence of a large middle class. When Franco finally died in 1975, the accession of King Juan Carlos to the throne and the transition to a democratic state were relatively smooth.

Culture:

The Arts

Spain has an extraordinary artistic heritage. The dominant figures of the golden age were the Toledo-based artists El Greco and Diego Velazquez. Francisco Goya emerged in the 18th century as Spain's most prolific painter and he produced some wonderfully unflattering portraits of royalty. The art world in the early 20th century was influenced by a remarkable group of Spanish artists: Pablo Picasso, Juan Gris, Joan Mirs and Salvador Dalm. Spain's architecture ranges from prehistoric monuments in Menorca in the Balearic Islands, through to the Roman ruins of Mirida and Tarragona, the decorative Islamic Alhambra in Granada, Mudijar buildings, Gothic cathedrals, castles and palaces, fantastic monuments and Gaudi's intricate fabulist sculptures.

One of the world's greatest works of fiction is the 17th-century novel Don Quijote de la Mancha, written by Spain's Miguel de Cervantes. Important 20th-century writers include Miguel de Unamuno, Federico Garcma Lorca and Camilo Josi Cela, winner of the 1989 Nobel Prize for literature. Prominent feminist writers include Adelaida Garcia Morales, Ana Marma Matute and Montserrat Roig. Spanish films were once synonymous with the work of surrealist genius Lums Buquel, who spent much of his time abroad. They are now associated with the mad-cap kinky farces of Pedro Almodsvar, who has enjoyed huge international success.

The guitar was invented in Andalucma in the 1790s when a sixth string was added to the Arab lute. It gained its modern shape in the 1870s. Spanish musicians have taken the humble guitar to dizzying heights of virtuosity and none more so than Andris Segovia (1893-1997), who established classical guitar as a genre. Flamenco, music rooted in the cante hondo (deep song) of the gitanos of Andalucma, is experiencing a revival. Paco de Lucia is the best known flamenco guitarist internationally. His friend El Camarsn de la Isla was, until his death in 1992, the leading light of contemporary canto hondo. In the 1980s flamenco-rock fusion (aka gypsy rock) was developed by the likes of Pata Negra and Ketama, and in the 1990s Radio Tarifa emerged with a mesmerizing mix of flamenco, North African and medieval sounds. Bakalao, the Spanish contribution to the world of techno, has its headquarters in Valencia.

Sports

Spaniards are sports crazy, and football (soccer) is huge; try to see a match, because the atmosphere is electric. Bullfighting is also very popular, despite continued pressure from international animal-rights activists.

Food

Meals are usually later than in the rest of Europe. Breakfast (el desayuno) is very similar to the continental breakfast, and is between 9 and 11 in the morning. Lunch (la comida or el almuerzo) in restaurants is served between 1 and 3 in the afternoon. Dinner is after 9 in the evening until midnight.

Paella, gazpacho and chorizo may be familiar to most Western diners, but Spanish cuisine goes well beyond these, with a smorgasbord of rich stews, soups, beans, seafood and meats, all of which have been influential in Latin American cooking.

"Calgots" (spring onions) in spring, mushrooms in autumn and "la escudella" (a rich thick soup) in winter are, among others, the most typical dishes. Bread with tomato, "embutidos" (a type of sausage) and paella are the most common, and are found in nearly all establishments and throughout the year.

Tapas deserve a special mention; they are small portions which allow fish, meat and vegetables to be combined, and in the last few years have become a very original type of light and varied meal. Tapas are normally accompanied by red or white wine, beer or cava (sparkling catalan wine). Spanish food has a deservedly fantastic reputation, and tapas are probably one of the most civilized inventions since cold beer.

Cities of Interest:

Alicante

The capital of the most southerly province in the region of Valencia, Alicante is a little overshadowed by its more boisterous neighbor, Benidorm. To the visitor, it is an elegant city, a little shabby in places, but with an unmistakable elan. It became sadly neglected and run down in the seventies and eighties, but significant investment has been made over the last decade or so, and it once again has a nice Mediterranean bustle to it.

Alicante has long been a prosperous town, both for the rich fishing grounds reached from its harbours and the market gardens of the fertile plain inland of it. Its beaches are superb, with fine, pale sand, in some cases extending literally as far as the eye can see, and its climate is excellent, the Costa Blanca having the longest summer season in Spain, and mild winters only spoilt by occasional torrential rainstorms.

The slopes of Alicante's pavements, the layout of its streets, the salty smell breezing in from the south, all push or pull the visitor down towards the seafront, the undeniable star of the city. Its beaches, its lovely palm-tree-shaded promenade, its marina; these are the essence of Alicante. And it is still a serious working port, though less than in the past and most visitors do not see anything more seaworthy than the Tabarca ferry in the marina.

Barcelona

If you only visit one city in Spain, it probably should be Barcelona. It's sophisticated, elegant and romantic, but has the energy of a port city. The inspiring and unique architecture of Antoni Gaudi is evident in buildings such as the Sagrada Familia church and Parc Guell, and its world-class museums include Museu Picasso and the Fundacis Joan Mirs. There is a fascinating old quarter, the Barrio Gotic, and a night scene that rivals any in the country.

As a starting point, the area around La Rambla, Plaga de Sant Josep Oriol and Plaga Reial is a good place to pick up the vibe of the city. There's a buzz of activity and a constant stream of people promenading and enjoying the scene. There are hundreds of cafis, bars, shops and sights.

In the north of the city, the fantasyland of Parc Guell showcases Gaudi's work. For more modernism, try the Paseo de Gracia and its surroundings. For one of the best modern art museums in Spain, head to the Fundacis Joan Mirs.

For retail therapy, the markets are great places to shop. The best are Els Encants Vells, a good second-hand market at Placa de les Glories Catalanes; the antiques market on Plaga Nova; and the crafts market at Placa de Sant Josep Oriol. There are also enough chic boutiques to keep the fashion-conscious happy for weeks.

When you're all shopped out, there's always food and drink to pass the time. Barcelona has a seemingly endless variety of bars that are much more than just watering holes. The greatest concentration of bars and restaurants is within walking distance of La Rambla.

Granada

In the heart of Andalucia, Granada is 60 kilometers inland from the Mediterranean sea. Despite its proximity to the coast, the city is nestled in the northern foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, and is just as close to ski resorts as it is to beaches. Surrounded by dramatic mountain ranges on three sides, Granada boasts an ideal climate and a diverse geography where students enjoy a range of activities from swimming and scuba diving to skiing and mountain climbing.

Granada also offers visitors a Renaissance cathedral considered the first of its kind in Spain. Adjacent to the cathedral is the Royal Chapel (Capilla Real), commissioned by Ferdinand and Isabella as their last resting place. (Their first resting place was a tiny chapel on the Alhambra hill which is today subsumed by a hotel, the Parador de Turismo de Granada.) The city is also blessed with a score of historic churches built by the Christians after the Reconquest in a unique style which incorporated Moorish architectural themes and came to be known as "mudijar."

Besides this opulent monumental legacy, Granada offers a wide gamut of contemporary cultural attractions, starting with the city's annual International Festival of Music and Dance, with concerts and recitals staged in the Alhambra, the Palace of Charles the Fifth and the gardens of the Generalife. Other annual festival events in Granada are devoted to jazz, theater, and the tango. Add to this the stable offerings of Granada's museums, art galleries, public exhibition halls, theaters and auditoria and you have one of Europe's most evocative and best endowed destinations for cultural tourism.

Madrid

Madrid represents a remarkable collection of museums and galleries, beautiful parks and gardens and wild nightlife. The most fitting place to start getting to know Madrid is at Puerta del Sol. Sol, as it is known to locals, is not much more than a huge traffic-junction-cum-bus-stop, but it's as central as you can get. Although Madrid is an enormous metropolis, the region which is of most interest to travelers is confined by Campo del Moro in the west and Parque del Buen Retiro in the east. The most exciting street is Gran Vma, but Plaza Mayor is the true heart of Madrid.

Be sure not to miss one of the greatest art galleries in the world, the Museo del Prado, where the main emphasis is on Spanish, Flemish and Italian art from the 15th to 19th centuries. Goya is well represented and you'll find a wealth of paintings by Diego Velazquez. For one of the best art history lessons you'll ever get, check out the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, a private assembly of paintings from Titian to Pollock. The beautiful Real Jardin Botanico, near the Prado, is a good spot to recover from an art overdose.

Madrid is the home of the world's largest bullring, Plaza de Toros Monumental de las Ventas, and is one of the best places to see a bullfight (corrida). For something a little less cruel to animals, check out a football match when local favorites Real Madrid or Atlitico de Madrid are playing at home. If you're in town on a Sunday morning, snaffle a bargain at El Rastro, one of the biggest flea markets you are ever likely to see. This is said to be the place to go if you want to buy your stereo back, so watch your pockets and bags.

Santander

Although Santander is not a particularly large city, it is peculiarly elongated. The region's mountains forced the city's development to conform to a slightly odd shape, running west-east and hugging the northern rim of the bay. Aside from the outlying areas that have sprung up around the city (urban expansion has even affected areas like Camargo and the dockyard), there are two well-differentiated areas: the centre and El Sardinero. The centre is where you will find most of the shops, businesses and services, as well as the greater portion of monuments and tourist attractions.

The city starts at Somorrostro Hill, where the cathedral stands and where the old walled city with its castle once was. Here you will find some of Santander's most famous buildings, such as Banco de Espaqa, Correos (the post office building), Banco Santander, Plaza Porticada, Iglesia de la Anunciacisn (Church of the Annunciation) and the Ayuntamiento (city hall). Also nearby are the famous Jardines de Pereda (Pereda Gardens), presided over by a sculpture of the Cantabrian novelist himself. The cluster made up by Paseo de Pereda and Calle Castelar, completed by the Paseo Marmtimo (promenade) that runs parallel to the sea is something no visitor to Santander should miss.

A little further east, near Plaza de Caqadmo, there is a group of streets where most of the nightlife is concentrated; in the summertime, El Sardinero also has lots of nightlife. Streets such as General Mola, Hernan Cortis, Daomz, Velarde, Peqa Herbosa, Santa Lucma and Sol, as well as the surrounding ones, are full of bars and cafis where you can stop for a drink or some tapas, as well as numerous options if you want to have a boogie until the wee hours.

El Sardinero is the summer holiday area par excellence, where there are endless accommodation options (not in vain is there an avenue called Hoteles) as well as an elite residential area. Magdalena Peninsula is on at one end, with its park and Palacio Real (Royal Palace), and Cabo Menor forms the northern border, with Mataleqas Park at the top of the cape. Between the two is El Sardinero cove, with four beaches called, from south to north, Camello, Concha, Primera and Segunda. These are ideal for sunbathing, swimming in the Cantabrian Sea and enjoying the beautiful and unbeatable views of the coast. Other trips to be enjoyed while in town are visits to Jardines de Piqumo (Piqumo Gardens) and Mesones Park, a stop in at the Casino and strolling along the endless strips of sand running out to the sea.

Toledo

Toledo is one of Spain's most magnificent historical monuments. It's an intact medieval city of narrow winding streets perched on a small hill above the Rmo Tajo. The city is crammed with fascinating museums, galleries, churches and castles. Unfortunately, it is also crammed with daytrippers, so travelers wanting to enjoy the city should stay overnight and explore in the evening and early morning to see it at its best. The dominant Alcazar has been the scene of military battles from the Middle Ages right through to the 20th century. The awesome cathedral, in the heart of the city, harbors glorious murals, stained-glass windows and works by El Greco, Velazquez and Goya. Other attractions include the city's two synagogues, the Iglesia de Santo Tomi (which contains El Greco's greatest masterpiece, The Burial of the Count of Orgaz) and the Museo de Santa Cruz. Archaeologists working on Toledo's Carranque recently uncovered a 4th-century Roman basilica, Spain's oldest.

Expenses and Tips for Around Town:

The Euro is used as the currency in Spain. Here are some approximate prices:

• Coffee: $1
• Beer: $2.75
• Newspaper: $1.25
• Movie: $7.50
• Soda: $2.50
• Lunch: $9

A 5-10% tip is customary in restaurants, hotels, guides and taxis. In some cases a service charge is already added to your restaurant bill and you need to tip only if the service was particularly good.

Petty theft and con-artists may be a problem in Spain, particularly in the big cities. Pickpockets are in abundance in crowded places in larger cities and in tourist areas, especially on crowded buses, bus stops or train stations. Don't carry all your valuables on your person. Leave them in a locked suitcase or in the safe at your hotel. Make sure to write down your credit card and traveler's checks numbers in a separate location.

Take the same precautions you would in any large city. Women should not walk alone after dark, don't wear expensive jewelry, be careful with handbags, etc. Use only official taxis or radio taxis if available. For females, unsolicited comments from strangers (male) are part of the culture. Any response is considered a come-on.

Support During Your Placement:

We will be available to give you any support, advice, or guidance you may need with any issues. There will always be an emergency number for you to contact. Our aim is to ensure that you have a happy and successful experience during your stay in Spain.