Located in the south of Europe, Spain is a sunny, lively and culturally rich country. Reputed for its gastronomy, its unique monuments and its warm and festive way of life, Spain is a destination of choice for discovering a new culture and getting away from it all. Let’s discover together, the treasures of this country! 

Before diving into the spanish culture, what do you know about Spain? Take the test!

Some key information about Spain

• Capital: Madrid. This is the biggest city of Spain with more of 3.5M inhabitants. It is also the home of the Royal Family and the Spanish Government.
• Population: 46+ millions
• Mediterranean climate

What languages do they speak ? 

In Spain, they mostly speak Spanish also called “Castillan”, but there are 3 other official languages in Spain : Catalan, Galician and Basque.

At school, you learn Castillan. If you want to practice your Spanish with a Spanish teenager of your age, don’t hesitate to go on World is a Village platform and contact a native you would like to talk to. 

Spanish lifestyle

The Spanish way of life differs from the French, English, German or American way of life. A telling example of the difference in lifestyle is that of meal times. They usually have lunch between 1pm and 3pm and dinner is around 9pm or 10pm. 

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But in order to discover and understand the Spanish culture, it is necessary to go to meet its inhabitants, exchange with them, and discover their cultural heritage. 

Let’s dive into Spanish culture 

Spanish Gastronomy

Spain is very well known for its rich culinary culture: dishes, tapas, wine, beer (called “cerveza”)… If you go to Spain, you are sure to be delighted with it. 

One of the best known traditional dishes is paella. It is rice, cooked with vegetables (peppers, red beans…), meat (chicken, duck) and shrimps, seasoned with saffron. 

This dish comes from the city of Valencia, on the west coast of Spain. If you are lucky enough to go there one day, stop for a paella in one of these restaurants, you won’t be disappointed.

Churros Recipe 

The World is a Village’s team made some churros. It was delicious that we decide to share with you the recipe ! Bon appetit !

Music and dance 

As we told you, Spain is a very lively and festive country. Spanish people often meet in bars and restaurants to play music, sing and dance.

One of the most famous styles is Flamenco. But Flamenco is not just a dance: it is above all a musical style. This musical style mixes guitar, voice and clapping called “palmas”. 

On the dance side, Flamenco is an intense, moving and unique dance. The women put on a dress with which she plays while dancing. 

Flamenco is passed down from generation to generation and is a central element of Spanish culture. 

Have a look on a Flamenco presentation in live : 

Rosalia, the flamenco Pop Star! 

While you may or may not recognize Rosalía now, you will soon. With seven unique albums under her belt and numerous hits with Latin music heavyweights, the 26-year-old singer-songwriter won big at the Latin Grammys with Best Album Of The Year for her second studio album, “El Mal Querer.” Before she hits the red carpet at the Grammys to honor her two nominations, here’s everything you need to know about Rosalía: click here.

Cinéma 

Spain is also well known for its cinema which has had an important place in the movie world and has brought up iconic personalities. 

You probably have heard about the actors Penelope Cruz or Antonio Banderas (Zorro), and the well know film director Pedro Almodovar…

If not, let’s discover together some Spanish films that spread the Spanish culture all over the world. 

• Todo Sobre Mi Madre, by Pedro Almodovar, featuring excellent acting from numerous stars including Penelope Cruz.
  
• El Laberinto del Fauno, by Guillermo del Toro. It is a bit of a horror and fantasy movie all rolled up into one. It has been described as Alice and Wonderland for grownups and currently enjoys a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
  
• Una Noche, by Yasmin Levy. It is loosely based on a true story. The film appeared in 2012 to high acclaim and currently has an 81% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Which sport do Spanish people love ?

…Football, of course !

Real Madrid, FC Barcelona… The Spanish have very well known and successful national football teams! Spanish people love football, there is a real popular excitement around this sport. 

They won the World Cup once, in 2010. 

Famous historical and cultural Spanish monuments 

Do you know some famous monuments in Spain ? Have you ever seen one of them ?

The Alhambra in Granada, the Prado Museum, the Guggenheim in Bilbao… Spain has no shortage of historical and cultural sites to visit. 

But one of the best known and most impressive one is the Sagrada Familia! It is a basilica that was designed by Antonio Gaudi, a famous Spanish architect. Its construction began in 1882 but was never finished. Its style is very particular and brings together different types of architecture in a single monument.  

Do you like its architecture? 

National Hymn

Finally, let’s discover together the Spanish national anthem. It’s called “La Marcha Real”. It is one of the oldest anthems in the world. Click to listen to it. 

Influencers 

You want to hear Spanish spoken on a daily basis thanks to influencers? Here are some of the most famous influencers in Spain:

We hope this article has taught you something about this wonderful country that is Spain. Feel free to share your discoveries with us, with the #worldisavillage. And don’t forget to take the quiz on Spain !