Separated from the rest of Europe by the Pyrenees, Spain forms the Iberian Peninsula with the less extensive Portugal. Third country in Europe by extension, it includes two archipelagos: the Canary Islands in the Atlantic and the Balearics in the Mediterranean. Divided from Africa by the Strait of Gibraltar, Spain can be considered a bridge between two continents and its strategic geographical position has made it a coveted goal since ancient times. Phoenicians and Romans settled there, but it was the Moors who settled there more permanently, occupying the southern regions from the 8th to the 15th century AD. C. and leaving deep traces in culture and traditions. According to Watchtutorials, the expulsion of the Arabs from Iberian soil by Christian forces, completed in 1492, decreed the birth of Spain as a unitary political entity, starting a process of spreading and imposing a common culture, based on Catholicism. The latter has always represented the main factor of unity and one of the clearest Spanish national characteristics, while the birth of the nation has never smoothed out linguistic differences and regional independence demands. These have taken on particularly harsh tones, resulting, from the second half of the century. XX, in bloody acts of terrorism, near the Pyrenean areas (Basque Country, Catalonia), very distinct also from the geographical point of view, within the framework of a morphological profile elsewhere not too inhomogeneous, in spite of the vastness of the territory. Protagonist of European history in the sixteenth century, when the continent opened up to intense relations and trade with the rest of the world, the Spanish nation was able to exploit the opening to the Atlantic to create an overseas empire that would later become the basis of its power.
CULTURE: GENERAL INFORMATION
Describing Spanish culture actually means delving into many traditions and legacies resulting from the historical peculiarities of regions that cover very large territories, whose diversity is highlighted by the persistence, in the country, of a variety of languages: Castilian it is usually spoken only by three quarters of the population, while the remainder adopts Catalan, Galician or Basque as their first language. Spain can be considered a mosaic of cultures: ancient and modern, sacred and profane. Such a rich and varied country has produced excellence in every area and in every era (Miguel de Cervantes, El Greco, Pablo Picasso, Antoni Gaudì, Salvador Dalì) and preserves within its borders extraordinary artistic and cultural testimonies of the past. In particular, important traces remain of the Roman (Segovia, Lugo) and Arab (Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Toledo and Aragon) conquests. But it is of course Catholicism, the state religion until 1978, that has deeply influenced the culture and traditions of the Iberian state. El Escorial (monument declared UNESCO heritage in 1984) in Madrid and the sanctuary of Santiago de Compostela (one of the main pilgrimage destinations in the world). The presence of such a vast and important heritage is associated with a particular vitality in the panorama of cultural institutions: many museums have global significance and among them we can remember the Prado, the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia (Madrid), the latter dedicated to modern art; the Museu Picasso and the National Museum of Catalan Art (Barcelona); the Guggenheim Museum (Bilbao), a veritable temple of contemporary art and a source of cultural impulse and vivacity for the Basque city. The vitality of institutions such as the Guggenheim, excellent expressions of modern culture, denotes the trend towards ever greater openness on the international scene, in stark contrast to the rigid isolation that characterized Spain until the mid-seventies of the century. XX. The cultural heritage of Spain is so vast that UNESCO has registered more than forty important sites in its lists, including the ancient cities of Avila (1985), Cordoba (1984), Salamanca (1988), Toledo (1986) and the monuments of Oviedo (1985). The country has hosted major events that have contributed to its development, such as the Barcelona Olympics (1992) and, in the same year, the Seville Expo, events that have allowed the host cities to significantly improve their urban profile.
They are among the most culturally active centers UNESCO has registered in its lists more than forty important sites including the ancient cities of Avila (1985), Cordoba (1984), Salamanca (1988), Toledo (1986) and the monuments of Oviedo (1985). The country has hosted major events that have contributed to its development, such as the Barcelona Olympics (1992) and, in the same year, the Seville Expo, events that have allowed the host cities to significantly improve their urban profile. They are among the most culturally active centers UNESCO has registered in its lists more than forty important sites including the ancient cities of Avila (1985), Cordoba (1984), Salamanca (1988), Toledo (1986) and the monuments of Oviedo (1985). The country has hosted major events that have contributed to its development, such as the Barcelona Olympics (1992) and, in the same year, the Seville Expo, events that have allowed the host cities to significantly improve their urban profile. They are among the most culturally active centers events that have allowed the host cities a clear improvement of their urban profile. They are among the most culturally active centers events that have allowed the host cities a clear improvement of their urban profile. They are among the most culturally active centers Barcelona, characterized by a permanent and dynamic offer in opera and dance (Gran Teatro del Liceo), in music (Palace of Catalan Music) and in theater (National Theater of Catalonia), and Valencia. At the latter, which has drawn considerable momentum from the possibility of hosting the America’s Cup (2007), the Mediterranean Film Festival is held and the City of Arts and Sciences and the National Museum of Ceramics are located. Despite the low average level of education of its residents, Spain can boast an ancient university tradition: historic universities are those of Barcelona (1450), Granada (1526), Madrid (1508), Oviedo (1608), Salamanca (1287) , Santiago (1520), Seville (1502), Valencia (1500), Valladolid (1346) and Zaragoza (1533).
