Spain (Briefly about Spain)

                               Spain

                                            (Briefly about Spain)

The country is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and the Cantabrian Gulf. Spain is at the crossroads of important sea and air routes linking Europe with the African and American continents. Most of the country is covered plateaus and mountain ranges, which are located around the plains and lowlands. Forests cover only 10% of the Spanish territory. Spain - the most mountainous country in Europe, more mountainous than even Switzerland and Germany! Spain's capital city Madrid - the most high-lying European capital. Population-3, 273 million in 2010. Madrid is located in the center of Spain at an altitude of 667 m above sea level. Through the city flows a small river Manzanares, formerly owned by the historical region of Castile. In the north-western part of the city rises the mountain range of the Sierra de Guadarrama, with its highest point Peñalara (2430 m).

Spanish language - the third most spoken language in the world in the number of people speaking it.

Spanish is the second largest in the world as a language of international communication and commerce, and yavlyaktsya one of the official languages ​​of the UN and other ORGANIZATIONS, working under the auspices of the UN.

Owning Spanish you will be able to talk to 500 million people around the world.

Spanish language - is a Romance language that originated in northern Spain. He is one of the six official languages ​​of the UN. Spanish is the native for 350 million people in 21 countries around the world, in addition, Spanish is the third most spoken in the world.

Spanish language - the official language in 20 countries, as well as the second most spoken language in the United States. Most of the Hispanic population is concentrated in the countries of Latin America. Mexico is the largest Spanish-speaking country in the world.

In the U.S., Spanish is formally recognized in different states at the state level, along with English, and also has a strong presence in major cities such as Los Angeles, Miami, San Antonio, New York, Seattle, Chicago and Baltimore.

 

 

                                         Sport in Spain

As in other European countries, the sport in Spain is one of the types of physical activity, most often practiced by the population of the country, and, in addition, the sport in Spain has a huge army of fans, who love to watch the various competitions either on TV or from the stands. In Spain, all the conditions for the population for physical training. Almost every village in the country (even the smallest) have wonderful stadiums and sports complexes, where free access.

 

"King" of all sports in Spain is football. In Spain, football brought British sailors, who played in the Spanish ports in a completely unfamiliar to the locals play. The first football club in Spain was founded in the mines of Rio Tinto in Huelva, English miners. The name of this club "Recreativo de Huelva".

 

In 1898, a group of young people who have studied before in England, founded the club "Athletic Bilbao", and a year later in Barcelona was founded by the eponymous club which has become nowadays one of the best football clubs in the world.

 

Since then, football has spread rapidly across the country and has become commonplace in Spanish. It is no longer engaged in propaganda British football in the Spanish towns and villages, and the residents of this country. By the way, an interesting fact. No less famous and award-winning in the world of football club "Real Madrid" was founded by the Catalans, who have worked in this period of time in Madrid. It turns out that the people of Barcelona have created itself "the eternal and the main rival."

 

I must say that for the Spanish football is not just a sport. After all, contemporary Spain is a country that consists of different regions, each of which has its own culture, language, traditions, and in the past also political independence. It turns out that each of the major Spanish clubs is a former medieval kingdom. For example, "Barcelona" - a team of Catalonia, "Athletic Bilbao" - represents the Basque country, and the club, "Mallorca" - is representative of the Kingdom of Major. Therefore, people from different regions of Spain compare modern football games with medieval battles, raising days of victories of their teams to the rank of a regional holiday.

 

The next most popular sport in Spain - basketball. But it should be noted that it is much less popular than football. This sport has appeared in Spain in 1921. The founder of the Spanish Basketball is considered a Catholic missionary, Father Milan, who had worked in Cuba, where he met with basketball.

 

Returning home, he began to promote a new game. True, he had a rather hard at first, because while the Spanish football has firmly become number one sport. It is said that once hid all Miyan soccer balls in a Spanish school where he taught, in order to force students to play basketball. However, despite the first difficult steps basketball, is now firmly established in Spain.

 

In addition to well-known in the world of sports are practiced in Spain and others. For example, petanque. Every evening at many Spanish areas of Spaniards are going to play this game. It is believed that this sport invented the ancient Greeks, and the Romans brought it to Spain.

 

In the Basque country enjoys great popularity aiskolares - felling large trees with an ax. In this region, it is a very popular sport, which has been a considerable number of people. Every year aiskolaresu hold a contest and the winners will receive prizes and enjoy great respect among local residents.

 

                       Traditions in Spain

Spain - a country with scattered and varied: every city, every province and every, even the smallest village has its own special charm, interesting ancient tradition, the original customs.

 

Customs and traditions in Spain are very important. One of the most interesting traditions is an afternoon nap, or, as the locals call it, "siesta". At this time, all the shops, banks and government offices are closed. It is considered uncultured appoint business meetings at this time. In addition to this tradition in Spain, there is another ancient tradition - paseo - an evening walk around the city to see friends, and - as a consequence - Ocio - idle chat after the walk, always on the street.

 

But the most important traditions in Spain are, first of all, to the family. For the Spanish children above all. They believe that if a family has a child, then it should be heard. Loud shouting and laughter of children is considered a sign of life.

 

Also by tradition in Spain birthday is celebrated more than once a year, but two. The first birthday is a real date of birth, and the second - name day is considered to be a much more important day. This is due to the fact that almost every Spaniard is named in honor of a saint.

 

No less interesting wedding traditions in Spain. After the wedding, the women do not take their husband's name, I remain. Children, thereby obtaining a double name. First the father, the second-mother. Kids get so hyphenated name - his father and mother. According to the tradition in Spain's first son is named after his father, and the daughter - mother's name.

 

Wedding in Spain arranged on the same principles as in the world, but the divorce is not easy to get. In order to officially dissolve the marriage must wait five years.

 

But funerals are different from the funeral in other countries. And traditionally in Spain are very fast. The bodies of the dead are not buried, so to speak and put their rented "niche". This means that the coffin with the remains placed in a cell, and it is there as long as they pay the rent. If you do not make payment on time, pull out the coffin and buried in the general cemetery, and his place was taken by another inmate whose families are unable to pay its "living."

 

 

 

            

 

 

             

 

 

                  

                   Football club Spain

 Tennis       

           

 

      

               The text of the anthem of Spain

 

¡Viva España! 
Cantemos todos juntos 
con distinta voz 
y un solo corazón.

 
¡Viva España! 
Desde los verdes valles 
al inmenso mar, 
un himno e hermandad.

 
Ama a la Patria 
pues sabe abrazar, 
bajo su cielo azul, 
pueblos en libertad.

 
Gloria a los hijos 
que a la Historia dan 
justicia y grandeza 
democracia y paz.

 

 

Story Spain.

 

The first human settlements on the Iberian Peninsula, where now and is a modern Spain, appeared even in the period of the Paleolithic era, and 15 thousand years ago this territory was already has a high level of culture.

In I century B.C. the Phoenicians founded the port of Годир (modern Kazis), and the Greeks several colonies in the area of modern Barcelona. In V-IV centuries BC, the Carthaginians had taken most of Andalucia and the Mediterranean coast, established the new Carthage. As a result of the defeat in the second Punic war Carthage gave Rome all its Spanish possessions.

In 50 B.C. under the power of Rome was the whole of Spain. In the V century the Peninsula came Germanic tribes, which have established a Kingdom in Barcelona, and then in Toledo. In the VIII century, the larger part of the Peninsula captured the Moors. Unification of Spain in one Kingdom was completed by the end of the XV century. To the middle of the XVIII century, Spain had lost most of its territories outside the Iberian Peninsula, as well as Gibraltar.

In the course of the XIX century in Spain passed the civil war. The last civil war took place in 1936-1939 years, as a result of which came to power Franco. In 1975, Spain has entered on the path of democratic development.

Spain has always been famous for the early development of high culture, which contributed to the almost 800-year-old Moorish presence. Already in the beginning of VIII century in the backward Europe began to enter the new technologies and valuable knowledge from the East.

The period XVII-XVIII century is called the Golden age of Spanish painting. This century is represented by such names as Jose de Ribera, Francisco Zurbaran, Murillo, Velazquez. It should also be noted internationally renowned artists: El Greco, Goya, Picasso and others.

Each region of Spain has its own specificity and is completely different from other areas of language and culture.

 

I wonder what the Spanish call their country in the plural - Spain, bearing in mind that each area is unique. This uniqueness especially characteristic for Catalonia and its capital Barcelona with the famous boulevards, parks and the largest in Europe zoo, museums, the Cathedral of the Holy family - Barcelona. Unique and ancient Gerona, with its narrow streets and the longest a wide staircase of the main Cathedral of St. Mary (XVII century) and the Church of San Фелиз (XIII century). Very near Figueres with a personal Museum of Salvador Dali.

A special beauty differs Aragon. The surrounding landscape, located near the Pyrenees, leave an unforgettable impression. One of the attractions of this area should be pointed out: the Old Cathedral «La Seu» (XII-XVI century). Provincial Museum (Plaza de los Sitios) with the portraits of the work of Goya in Zaragoza, the Gothic Cathedral (XIV century) with 14-th stone statues of the saints in full size.

 

 

 

Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. It is the Royal residence of the Bourbons and meets the Spanish Parliament. The first mention of the city belong to the XI century, and the capital of Spain, he was in the middle of the XVI century.

 

Madrid is located in the center of the Iberian Peninsula, on the banks of a small river Мансаранес, at an altitude of 667 meters above sea level. Owing to such arrangement, the climate of Madrid is continental, with hot summers, colder than on the coast in winter, and low precipitation.

 

The population of Madrid is approximately 3.2 million people, and the whole of Madrid agglomeration - about 5.8 million persons (data for the end of 2005). The city occupies an area of about 600 km2.

 

Madrid - one of the most beautiful cities in the world. In its medieval buildings, and the classic architecture of XVIII-XIX centuries. He survived the modernization of the beginning of XX century, when, instead of the old narrow streets were laid broad new, on which the buildings were built in the art Nouveau style, and the civil war and the defence of франкистов, during which many of the buildings were destroyed. As the tourist centre of Madrid began to develop in the second half of the XX century and now the capital of Spain is annually visited by about 7 million tourists.

 

The Royal grandeur of Madrid, the former and the present, which is emphasized in the architectural ensembles and places of interest. Among them it is necessary to highlight the Ensemble Royal Palace with the adjoining gardens Sabatini and Campo del Moro and the Plaza de Oriente, Plaza Mayor square, Puerta del Sol, Plaza de Cibeles.

 

The three main Museum of Madrid form a so-called Golden triangle, in the tops of which are the Museum of the Prado Museum, the Queen Sofia Museum and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. Among the other museums should be noted the national archaeological Museum, the Museum of Lazaro Galdiano Museum and America.

 

Madrid is connected with the world and the rest of Spain roads, railway transport and aviation. The airport of Madrid Barajas (Barajas) serves annually 40 million passengers and is one of the largest hubs in Europe. In Madrid two station - Чамартин (Chamartin and Atocha (Atocha). From the station Чамартин sent to the international train in Portugal and in France, and from the railway station Atocha in several directions in Spain go high speed train AVE. In Madrid, in front of the Royal mail to Puerta del Sol, is located 0 kilometer, from which begins the countdown of the 6 national highways Spain.