Among the great names in Spanish arts figure painters such as Velázquez, Murillo, Zurbarán, Sorolla, Dalí or Picasso, writers such as Cervantes and Quevedo and composers such as Manuel de Falla and Albéniz.

Spain has a huge historic, artistic, bibliographic and documentary legacy that represents the key to national collective life; it is the third country in the world in terms of the number of monuments declared to be of world historic value.

Madrid has three fine museums which house masterpieces of universal art: the Museo del Prado, the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía.

Literature

The Spanish literary industry has undergone a boom over the last years. The literary industry has also helped popularise the Spanish language throughout the world. The Instituto Cervantes has played an important role in promoting and teaching the Spanish language and spreading Spanish and Latin American culture.

Festivals

Spain celebrates Christmas, Holy week and Carnaval (Shrovetide), and all towns and cities hold festivals lasting several days for their own patron saint. The best-known festivals include the San Fermines in Pamplona, the Fallas in Valencia, the Feria de Abril in Seville and San Isidro in Madrid.

Towns issue guides with information on all cultural activities (concerts, exhibitions, conferences, museums, paintings, theatre, etc.). For your leisure time, you can choose from a wide range of festivals, and the tourist offices can provide you with information on the historic and cultural aspects.

Bullfights

Bullfighting is very widespread and widely accepted by the majority of Spanish people for whom it is a very important artistic and cultural expression. Nonetheless, it is one of the most controversial traditions in Spain, particularly for a certain sector of the population and for international animal protection organisations.

Cinema

Spanish cinema has carved a significant niche for itself in the European and world market, with internationally renowned and award-winning directors such as Pedro Almodóvar, José Luís Garcia, Fernando Trueba and top calibre actors such as Antonio Banderas, Javier Bardem, the most renowned internationally, and others such as Carmen Maura, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón and Victoria Abril.

Sports

As regards sport, most Spanish cities have excellent sports facilities. The most popular spectator sport is football, but basketball, cycling and athletics are also very popular. Other keenly-practiced sports include golf, tennis, skiing, fishing, water sports such as yachting, and so-called 'adventure sports' such as microlight aircraft flying, hang-gliding or white-water rafting which have increased in popularity in recent times.

Cuisine

One of the greatest assets of Spanish cuisine is its quality and variety. Rather than referring to a national cuisine, we should refer to numerous regional cuisines. Paella, Galician empanada and caldo, Asturian fabada, callos a la madrileña and the Spanish tortilla are some of the country's most representative dishes.

Foreigners should bear in mind that eating habits in Spain may differ greatly from their own country, especially where eating times are concerned as these may be much later. As most people work from 09:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00, many have to eat in restaurants.

The family is still of paramount importance in Spain. Although both friendships and work are very important, the family occupies place of honour. This tradition takes on many forms and structural organisation in Spain tends to be patriarchal in nature.

Text last edited on:06/2005

Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2006
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