This virtual journey has been transferred to the Cool Planet website from On the Line. Much of the information here relates to the time when the millennium dawned.

The text below has been taken from the virtual journey through Spain and is in a form which can be printed out.

welcome to Spain

This virtual journey through Spain will give you an inspiring glimpse into this fascinating land and its people. Spain is a unique country boasting an exciting, turbulent past which has left a legacy of traditions and customs still practised today. The rich diversity of art and culture reflect the influence of past eras and the features which have become characteristic of each region.

contents

sport
arts and crafts
music and dance
daily life
food
speaking out
spanish quiz
guidebook to Spain:
history
geography
facts and figures
environment
society
education
 

Spanish people love sport. Football is a national favourite: it features on prime time television and is given a lot of media coverage. Footballers are treated as celebrities and heroes. Top league soccer teams include Barcelona, which heads the table, Real Madrid, and Atlético de Madrid. The Spanish national team is also well respected and known all over the world.

Golf is very popular. Spain has nearly 200 courses. Most of these are located around the Mediterranean coast and are as busy with tourists as with locals.

Fishing is a common sport for many Spanish people because Spain has 75,000km of rivers where you can find trout, salmon and pike. Even the royal fish, sturgeon, can be caught in some areas. Sea fishing has become more widespread, and the fish caught from each coast differ greatly. You can find anything from mullets to sharks.

Basque handball is a hard-hitting ball-game played in the Basque country. It is an age-old sport which has become integral to Basque culture. There are a variety of ways of playing it. The ball is either hit with the hand or a range of bats or paddles.

One of Spain’s most famous sportsmen is Miguel Indurain, the cyclist from Navarre. He has won the Tour de France an amazing five times in a row – a world record.

Spain has a rich artistic heritage and has produced many world famous writers, artists, and architects including El Greco, Cervantes, and Gaudí. Painters such as Dalí and Picasso have been very influential in twentieth century art. The film industry has enjoyed huge international success too, most recently for the work of Pedro Almodovar who has followed in the footsteps of the surrealist genius, Luis Buñuel.

Spanish architecture reflects the influence of past eras. From the early Roman ruins, the ornate Moorish Alhambra Palace in Granada with its lace-like stone carvings to the Gothic castles and monasteries, and the fantastic modernist sculptures and monuments of Gaudí, Spain has been a melting pot, absorbing characteristics from each successive wave of settlers.

Spain also offers a wide variety of domestic arts and crafts which respect age-old traditions as well as modern decorative styles. Catalonian textiles and hand-woven rugs are world-famous; leather goods have a similar high profile and are extremely popular amongst the tourists. The spread of tourism has seen huge growth in local craft traditions. Valencia is home to an international furniture fair and offers a fine range of hand crafted wooden products, while the Balearic Islands are celebrated for their colourful painted ceramics.

Madrid is home to one of the world’s most famous art galleries, the Museo del Prado. This elaborate neo-Classical building holds a fascinating collection of Spanish, Italian, and Flamenco art dating back to the fifteenth century.

Picasso, who had a profound influence on artistic development in Spain, is considered to be one of the greatest painters of the twentieth century. Born in Malaga in southern Spain, Picasso entered the Academy of Fine Arts in Barcelona when he was just 14 years old.

His early work was influenced by post-impressionist and symbolist painters like Gauguin and Braque. His painted landscapes in tiny squares or cubes developed into Cubism. During the First World War, Picasso settled in Paris, where he married the Russian dancer, Olga Koklova. Picasso’s marriage was turbulent, and many of his paintings of this period show violent, disturbing images of women. Three Women at the Spring (1921) is one example.

During the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) the world was shocked by the bombing of the civilian town of Guernica by Nazi planes acting under General Franco’s orders. This inspired Picasso’s famous anti-war painting entitled Guernica. Death became a favourite topic in his works after that. He met the French painter, Francoise Gilot in this period, with whom he had two children.

In the 1960s Picasso produced an amazing 50 foot-tall sculpture for the Chicago Civic Centre. He also donated more than 800 exhibits to the Museum in Barcelona and was the first living artist to exhibit at The Louvre, with a special show arranged to honour his 90th birthday.

García Lorca is Spain’s most revered poet. He was murdered by the Nationalists at the start of the Spanish Civil War, and his sudden death brought him new fame. His surrealist poems carry the rhythm of flamenco and the cultural influence of his native Andalucia. They are dark explorative poems, rich in imagery. He also wrote plays: Blood Wedding and The House of Bernarda Alba are among his most famous.

The Gypsy and the Wind

Playing her parchment moon
Precosia comes
along a watery path of laurels and crystal lights.
The starless silence, fleeing
from her rhythmic tambourine,
falls where the sea whips and sings,
his night filled with silvery swarms.
High atop the mountain peaks
the sentinels are weeping;
they guard the tall white towers
of the English consulate.
And gypsies of the water
for their pleasure erect
little castles of conch shells
and arbors of greening pine.

 (From Selected Verse, Sonnets of Dark Love translated by John K Walsh and Francisco Aragon)

Music is very important to the Spanish and is a vital part of daily life, particularly in their frequent fiestas and Saints’ days. Many forms of music and dance are enjoyed here, but perhaps the music most often associated with Spain is Flamenco. Originating in Andalucia in Southern Spain, it has spread throughout the country and can be found in most regions.

There is a lot of argument about the development of Flamenco. The vibrant rhythms suggest a strong Moorish influence although the music is clearly a fusion of Arab and Jewish elements too. No-one argues about its gypsy roots though: the very word "Flamenco" is thought to be a combination of the Arabic words felag (fugitive) and mengu (peasant).

What is certain is that this music has thrived since the fifteenth century. It has been handed down through oral tradition, performed live in bars and clubs, and now it has developed into a rare art form. Flamenco artists do more than just perform and entertain: the real experts actually engage with the audience, creating an emotional response.

There are 60 ‘classic’ Flamenco songs (cantes) and dances (danzas) which are grouped, according to beat cycles and rhythms, into soleares, tonas, tangos, and seguiriyas. The variations are numerous and often differ according to region. The very first Flamenco score to be written down was The Lucky Mask (Neri), found in an eighteenth century Italian opera. Until then it Flamenco had just survived through traditional live performances.

Castanets (castañuelas) have long been part of the great Flamenco tradition, but like every other musical instrument, there is an art to playing them. Worn on the thumb of each hand, the strings have to be perfectly adjusted to make sure that there is enough pressure to achieve the right sound. The little finger is the most important: it begins the sequence pressing the castanets together to create the clap. This has to be repeated as quickly and evenly as possible: right hand, then left, then right hand, and so on in quick succession. The best Flamenco dancers are the ones who can move their feet to the exact beat of the castanets.

Cultural events and feast days are celebrated all over Spain and are colourful reminders of ancestry and tradition. Although many are religious occasions, there is a strong pagan influence too. Some consist of carnival-style parades and processions with entire communities dressing up and disguising themselves with masks. Over 200 festivals take place annually; they are gaining an international following as more and more tourists attend them. Many are specific to certain towns, and each town has its own Saint’s day.

In the month of March, Valencia celebrates Las Fallas with a week of all-night dancing and firework displays. Many people dress up for the occasion; in particular, women dress up in traditional Valencian clothes. The city is decorated with gigantic comic papier-mâché sculptures of TV personalities and local celebrities. Seville also has a big cultural event in April called Feria de Abril where fairgrounds with music displays, dance-spectaculars, firecrackers, flags, and feasts are set up all over the city. The Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, in July, is one of Spain’s most elaborate and famous festivals. Those who are brave enough risk their lives by running through the streets with the beasts charging behind them. Semanta Santa is the Easter procession of Holy Week which takes place every year throughout Spain and is one of the most important events in the Christian calendar. Men known as penitents carry a huge statue of the Virgin Mary through the streets, followed by musicians and children.

daily life

"When I’m older I want to be a doctor and go to Peru to help people in need."

Spain is famous for the quality of its food. Food is very important to the Spanish, and because fresh produce is readily available it is easy to achieve fine, rich flavours. Garlic and olives are favourite ingredients. Flavoured cheeses, cured hams, and sausages are a Spanish speciality. Between breakfast and lunch, many people have a snack called almuerzo, which usually consists of a bocadillo - a crusty roll with perhaps a ham or cheese filling. Lunch is the main meal of the day in, served much later than in other European countries at about 2.30pm. Businesses and shops usually close for a few of hours to allow the siesta to take place. Evening meals are light and eaten later still at 10pm. Before dinner, people are likely to have a drink and eat tapas, a selection of light snacks and sweetmeats served in all bars and restaurants to accompany early evening drinks.

Eating out in Spain is very affordable. Restaurants are graded in five categories of excellence, indicated by forks. A five-fork restaurant is the absolute best and highly recommended.

Spanish food is traditional and varied and differs greatly from region to region. In the North the fish and sea food from Galicia are a speciality. Valencia excels in rice dishes, which are delicious when served with a traditional tasty chilli or marinade sauce from the Pyrenees. In the Balearic islands many delicacies are made, not least the special sweet pastries from Mallorca and the spicy sausages and cured hams.

Spain’s most famous meal is paella, and it has many variations. Seafood, snails, rabbit, or poultry can be chosen as the base ingredient for this dish, and this is then fried in a big pan with onions, peppers, and olive oil and served with saffron rice and lots of finely chopped herbs and vegetables.

Andalucia has more tapas bars than anywhere else in Spain. Rumour has it that this custom began here when a generous bar owner overlaid each drink he served with a slice of cheese or ham. Others say tapas was invented as a means to make your drink last longer. As dinner is eaten late, tapas makes a useful snack and is still regarded as informal, street-style food, although it is also served in high-class restaurants.

Tapas can range from traditional hams or mussels on cocktail sticks to carefully stuffed anchovy olives or octopus. The variety is amazing, but what makes tapas a real delight is the dips and sauces that accompany each mouthful. Toast rubbed with garlic, topped with tuna and roasted peppers and dripping with olive oil is just one example. Alternatively, you might have a piece of nutty Manchego cheese or baby-octopus, dipped in bean oil with chilli.

The best thing about preparing tapas is that it is so easy and quick. For example, vegetables can be chopped and covered in mayonnaise, spiced oil, or marinade sauces. Thin slices of ham and chunks of cheese can be served with dried bread or biscuits.

Chicken and seafood paella

The whole world has learned to love this paella, made with a mixture of fish, seafood, and chicken. There are as many paella recipes as there are chefs. This is prize-winning recipe from Galicia.

Ingredients:

2 garlic cloves, minced
8 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 teaspoon powdered saffron
Coarse salt
8 ounces olive oil
50g cured ham, chopped
100g chorizo sausage, sliced
1 kg chicken, cut into small pieces
250g squid, cut into small pieces
250g halibut, cut into small pieces
250g swordfish, cut into small pieces
500g small or medium shrimp, shelled
1 medium onion, chopped
2 tomatoes, peeled and chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
250g cooked small clams, in their shells
500g cooked mussels, reserve few shells for decoration
675g short-grain rice
1 lemon
1 litre hot chicken broth
750ml hot fish broth
Parsley sprigs and lemon wedges for garnish

Method:

In a small bowl mash the garlic, parsley, saffron, and salt. Heat the olive oil in a paella cooking pan with a 15 inch (40 cm) base. Add the chopped ham and chorizo. Fry, stirring for a few minutes. Turn out onto a warm plate. Add the chicken pieces, sprinkled with salt, to the pan and fry over a high heat until golden on all sides. Turn out onto the warm plate. Add the squid, halibut, and swordfish to the pan. Sprinkle with a dash of salt and fry. Turn out onto the warm plate. Add the shrimp to the pan and sauté for three minutes, or until barely pink. Turn out onto the warm plate. Add the chopped onion, tomato and peppers to the pan. Sauté until soft.

Return the cooked ham, chorizo, chicken, fish, and shrimp to the pan. Add the chopped parsley, minced garlic, and the cooked clams and mussels. Stir in the rice and the juice of one lemon. Fry for two or three minutes. Pour in the hot chicken and fish broth, and continue to stir. Bring to the boil. Simmer for 20 minutes without stirring. Turn off the heat and shake the pan lightly to prevent any rice from sticking. Cover with a dry towel for ten minutes. (This allows the rice to absorb any excess broth.) Garnish with lemon wedges and parsley sprigs before serving.

Start the preparation the night before, or several hours in advance.

Ingredients:

1 litre (4 cups, or 1.75 pints) milk
Peel of 1 lemon
1 cinnamon stick
6 egg yolks
6 tablespoons sugar
4 tablespoons cornstarch
Flour for dusting
2 beaten eggs
Oil for frying
Cinnamon and sugar for dusting
Powdered sugar
Optional: strawberry jam

Method:

Put milk, lemon peel, and cinnamon in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Lower the heat and simmer for ten minutes. Set aside. In another saucepan beat the egg yolks until lemon-coloured, then beat in the cornstarch. Stir in a few tablespoons of the hot milk mixture, then gradually stir in the rest. Cook over a moderate heat, stirring constantly, for about four minutes or until thickened. Discard the lemon peel and cinnamon stick. Pour into a large greased, rectangular pan and leave to cool. Then refrigerate this for several hours or overnight. Once set, cut it into small squares, dust each square with flour, and dip them in the egg mixture. Heat the oil and fry the squares until brown on all sides. Drain. Dust with a mixture of sugar and cinnamon. Just before serving, sprinkle with powdered sugar. If you wish, serve with strawberry jam.

wine

Spain is one of the largest wine producers in the world, and three million tonnes of grapes are bottled each year. Rioja wine is the most famous of all its varieties. This comes from the northern Rioja region which boasts 129,050 acres of vineyards. The climate and soil in this area are perfect for grapes. Tempranillo grapes are the most common Rioja type. They ripen early on in the season, hence their name from temprano, meaning ‘early.’ They have a high-sugar/low acidic content and so combine well with other varieties.

Quality Rioja wines have a common feature: they are aged in oak casks for several years before they are ready for bottling. The oak wood is always American because it has small pores and lets in less air. This means the wine develops slowly and more smoothly and acquires the flavours it is famous for.

speaking out

Spain was called by many other names in its history such as Tartessos, Edetania, and Orphiusa. It was the Romans who gave it the name Hispania, meaning ‘land or coast of rabbits.’

Because of its central position on the Iberian peninsula between Europe and Africa, Spain was invaded frequently. Roman rule was established in the third century BC and was followed by Muslim and Arab invasions. Spain had no choice but to follow the dominant religion and principles of their conquerors. Definite influences in culture and language have remained from the days of these early settlers and are still evident in modern Spain.

In 1492 the reign of King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile began. Their marriage united the country in Catholicism and overcame the last Muslim stronghold in Granada. The royal couple were responsible for financing Christopher Colombus’ first voyage to America, and his great discovery placed Spain at the centre of the New World. For many years, Spain enjoyed a Golden Age, oversaw a large empire, and was well regarded and feared by its neighbours.

The Napoleonic wars and internal conflict which followed weakened Spain’s position, but it was the terrible war with America in 1898 which entirely defeated it. Until then the Spanish had been renowned for their naval strength, but they lost many battles at sea, and their colonies in the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Cuba were lost too. Eventually Spain became a Republic.

After a bloody war between the Nationalists and the Republicans, which ended in 1939, General Franco began his tyrannical fascist rule. This 36 year period crippled Spain economically and cut it off from the rest of the world. However, when Franco died in 1975, the monarchy was restored and King Juan Carlos took the throne.

Spain has a monarchy, but all decisions affecting the country are taken by Parliament. The royal family are very popular with the Spanish public and they support many humanitarian and moral issues. Central Parliament is called Las Cortes and is elected to power every four years by all citizens able to vote (those aged over 18). There are 554 members of Parliament.

Spain is divided into several regions with contrasting political, economic, and cultural features. Although each region has its own flag and capital they are all governed from the central capital, Madrid. Situated at 667 metres above sea level, this is the highest capital city in Europe. Madrid was established as the capital in the sixteenth century by King Philip and has remained the political centre of the country ever since. But it is not just a political centre: it is counted among the most energetic and popular modern cities in the world and is a magnet to young people.

Today, there is internal conflict due to tensions between the Government and a group known as ETA, which tries to rally recognition in support of Basque becoming a separate country. Only a minority of Basques actually want this to happen.

geography

Spain is situated in the far west of Europe and forms the largest part of the Iberian peninsula, which it shares with Portugal. Spain has 4,964 km of coast-line. In the North, Spain is bordered by France, Andorra, and the Bay of Biscay; in the East by the Mediterranean Ocean; in the South by the Atlantic Ocean, and in the West by Portugal. Spain also rules the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, and the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla in Morocco.

The landscape of Spain is varied and ranges from the wet green lands of Cantabria and Galicia to the Almerian deserts and the rugged Pyrenees mountain ranges. After Switzerland, Spain is the most mountainous country in Europe. The Canary Islands are dry and barren because they are volcanic, and the sand on the beaches in Lanzarote is crushed black lava. Spain has only seven navigable rivers, the longest of which is the Ebro stretching for 910 km.

Northern Spain, which includes the Basque country, is wild and sparsely populated. The east coast of Spain is very popular with tourists because of its white sandy beaches along the Costa Brava and also the stretches of beach on the Costa del Sol. In the summer the beaches can get very crowded because they are among the most popular European holiday destinations. More than 52 million people visit Spain each year.

Forty per cent of Spain is covered by a central plateau called the Meseta, an area of vast plains and rocky outcrops 500 metres above sea-level. This is where Madrid is situated. As it is in the centre of this plateau it has an extreme climate of very hot summers and freezing cold winters. Local people describe it as ‘nine months of winter and three months of hell.’ Most Spanish people leave the city for the summer because of the unbearable heat which soars above 40 degrees centigrade.

The climate varies greatly between regions. The north is very wet and maintains a fairly constant temperature all year round. The Spanish call this area ‘rainy Spain’ – it accounts for about a third of the country. ‘Dry Spain’ covers the rest. The tourist hot-spots in southern Spain and the Balearic islands have hot summers and mild winters which make them such popular destinations. The Sierra Nevada mountains in the south of the country are covered by snow for 200 days of the year.

facts and figures

Spain is situated in south-west Europe and has been part of the European Community since 1986. It includes the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands. It is the second largest country in Europe.

Capital: Madrid

Population: 39.7 million

Size: 505,992 sq km

Languages: Castillian Spanish (official), also Catalan, Basque, and Galician

Average life expectancy: Male 74, Female 81

Infant deaths per 1000 births: 5

Currency:   Peseta

Major industries: textiles and clothing, food, tourism, ship building, beverages, metals, and chemicals

Total external debt:  $90 billion

Communications: 100 newspapers, 312 radios, 430 TV sets, and 375 main telephone lines per 1000 people

Climate: Temperate

Time: GMT plus one hour

Places on the Line: Castelló de la Plana, Caspe, Albocácer, Villafamés,
Costa del Azahar

Sources: The World Guide 1999-2000; Economist Intelligence Unit; Spain Country Profile 1998,;http:www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook; and Power Guide; http://www.power-glidse.com/spanish/economy/html

Spain has always been associated more with farming than with industry. When it was under Roman rule it was referred to as the ‘Garden of the Empire’. Forests and woodlands cover most of the land. Although it is gradually becoming more industrialised, farming is still important, but rural areas are considerably less wealthy than the cities. Its warm climate allows Spain to grow crops like olives and oranges, for which it is famous. Fruit from Valencia is often harvested by hand and is exported all over the world.

Hunting has destroyed some of Spain’s rarer creatures, but you can still find red squirrels and red deer in the forests and woodlands. Chamois, ibexes, and marmots are common, as is a wide range of reptiles. Many of Spain’s forests have been cut down to make way for industry and urban development. However, the Alpine and mountainous regions are still fertile and support a wealth of wildlife species. The coast has been exposed to erosion and overpopulation during the summer periods, which has caused a number of environmental problems.

Poverty in northern Spain has forced many people to move to the cities to find work. In 1970 over a quarter of the population of Madrid were migrants from the countryside. By 1985 over 75 per cent of the country lived in urban areas; this figure is still increasing today. The fastest growing cities are Barcelona, Valencia, and Madrid. This movement is reflected in the kind of jobs which Spanish people now have. In 1997, out of a labour force of over 16 million, only eight per cent were employed in the agricultural sector. The rest had been recruited into industry, services, and construction. However, not everyone is lucky enough to find work and Spain’s unemployment rate remains high at 21 per cent.

As cities have expanded, so pollution has risen. Coal and iron centres in Madrid and in the north of Spain are responsible for much of this, but increasingly exhaust fumes from cars are contaminating the air. Nearly all transport in Spain (90 per cent) is by road.

Pollution of the Mediterranean Ocean is another concern. Offshore oil and gas rigs are creating harmful pollutants, which could have a damaging effect on marine life. The Spanish government has signed international agreements to try to combat this.

Sources: Economist Intelligence Unit; Spain Country Profile 1998; http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook

Spain has created many national parks to conserve its unique habitats for rare species. The varied regions of Spain are home to a diverse range of animals and birds, none more so than Doñana Park, the largest national park in Europe. Doñana’s flat salt marshes are visited by thousands of birds during the humid, wet winters. Flamingoes and geese flock there from northern Europe to nest, and herons, spoonbills, wild boar, and Iberian lynx are just a few of the creatures which can be found here. Lavender, Thyme, Rosemary, and other heath plants grow in abundance and are home to the Egyptian mongoose and Imperial eagle, which you cannot find anywhere else in Europe.

The Garajonay National Park in the Canary Islands was formed to protect the rare bay tree forests indigenous to the area. These forests make up 70 per cent of the park, which covers 4,000 hectares. High humidity and mists which gather above the forests are essential to their growth. Four hundred and fifty different plant species have been found on this reserve, and at least 34 of them are unique to the region. The protected vegetation and unspoilt conditions make this park a desirable home for many unusual animals and birds.

The Spanish state embraces a huge number of ethnic and cultural groups. As the country is divided into regions, people often identify themselves by their homelands. There are many regional groups with different cultural traditions and languages, such as the Basques, Catalans, and Galicians.

Virtually all Spanish are Roman Catholics. Until 1978 this was the official religion of Spain, but there is now religious freedom, and the country is becoming more secular. The Church still maintains a special status and has a high income. A lot of this money is donated to the poorest members of the community and charities.

Castillian is the official language of Spain but many other languages and dialects are spoken across the country, of which Basque, Galician, and Catalan are the most dominant. In Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, road signs appear in the local tongue alongside the official Castillian. Spanish is still the third most widely spoken language in the world, after English and Mandarin. Three hundred million people in 21 countries speak Spanish as their first language, partly due to the Spanish colonisation of Latin America.

The population of Spain has been increasing gradually throughout the century, but recently there has been a steep decline in the birth rate, with population growth in 1999 at approximately 0.1 per cent. The transformation of Spain from an agricultural to an industrial nation has been reflected in the family structure: traditional extended families have been replaced by a more mobile nuclear unit. The number of single-parent families has risen by ten per cent, and there is a distinct decline in the number of marriages. Divorce is still fairly new to Spain. It wasn’t legalised until 1981, so the divorce statistics are considerably lower than in other European countries.

Public health-care in Spain still lags behind other European Union countries, although it has improved considerably since Franco’s death. The welfare system has still not been implemented evenly across Spain and there is poor distribution of health-care. Resources and expenditure on public health is minimal. Contagious diseases such as typhoid, tuberculosis and leprosy still affect poorer areas of Spain. There is a big discrepancy between facilities in the cities and those available in rural areas.

One of Spain’s biggest social problems is the increasing number of homeless people. There are now an estimated 273,000 living on the streets or in hostels while 15 per cent of housing remains empty. Unemployment and family breakdown are the two main contributory factors to homelessness in Spain. The Government does not allocate enough funds to make adequate provision for the whole population and consequently low-income families suffer first. For them, renting or buying a house is an expensive option. Council houses are not being built at a sufficient rate to combat the problem, and basic social benefits are not enough to cover family expenses.

Most homeless people in Spain are men (with an average age of 42). In Madrid there are many younger drug addicts who sleep rough, and an increasing number of women are among them.

The Church has founded 129 institutions and hostels to offer shelter to the homeless. Day centres also provide washing and cooking facilities. A national homeless day was announced in Spain on 18 January 1998 with the slogan ‘a shelter by right’. Fundraisers and charities aim to give long-term help to the homeless, offering

health-care, social development, and help to improve their chances of employment.

Some homeless people manage to support themselves by selling the popular street magazine La Luz de la Farola (Streetlight).

Primary schooling (aged 6-14) is compulsory in Spain, and any student wishing to opt out of secondary school is obliged to undergo vocational training until the age of sixteen. At this age they take the bachillerato exams which are the equivalent of the United Kingdom’s GCSEs. If they are successful they can then take a pre-university course. In 1985 an estimated 89 per cent of students attended secondary school, and 26 per cent went on to graduate from university.

Nearly half of all Spanish schools are private, and many of these are run by the Catholic Church. The religious schools are considered superior to the state-funded schools.

All the answers to the following questions can be found in the Spain virtual journey and guide book pages.

 1.What is the name of the festival which takes place throughout Spain in Holy Week?

2. Which Spanish cyclist won the Tour de France five times in a row?

3. What type of grape is used to make the famous Rioja wine?

4. Which King and Queen financed Christopher Colombus’ great voyage?

5. What is the Spanish currency called?

6. Name the largest national park in Europe.

7. How long did General Franco rule the country as a dictator?

8. Which mountains in the south of Spain are covered by snow for 200 days of the year?

1. Semanta Santa is the name of the Easter-time festival in Spain.

2. Miguel Indurain won the Tour de France bicycle race five times in a row.

3. Tempranillo grapes are used to make Rioja wine because they ripen early.

4. King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile funded Christopher Colombus’ great voyage.

5. The Spanish currency is the Peseta.

6. Doñana Park is the largest national park in Europe.

7. General Franco ruled Spain for 36 years, from 1939-1975.

8. The Sierra Nevada mountains in the south of Spain are covered by snow for 200 days of the year.