Spain Culture: Why Spain?,The Emerging Market,From "Mañana" to "Tomorrow",The horrors of

Bullfighting for beginners:
An introduction to the 'art'

Don't think bullfighting fell from the sky and landed in Spain. Iberians hunted the local wild bull since prehistoric times until they were introduced to a religious bull-ceremony, the Mythras-cult, by Roman soldiers. When the Moors invaded Spain, they brought with them an especially aggressive bull and horsemen used this animal to practice their agility in chivalrous jousts. Sometimes Spanish noblemen were invited to take part. More...

Football in Spain:
The national sport

Football ( fútbol), or soccer, is Spain’s national sport and easily the country’s most important participant and spectator sport. Spanish football fans are among the most dedicated and fervent in Europe and are matched in their fanaticism only by the Italians. More...

The royal family:
The Spanish monarchy

The Spanish monarchy was restored to the throne in 1975 after 44 years, following the deposition of King Alfonso XIII in 1931 and 39 years of dictatorship under General Franco, who named the current King as his ‘heir’. More...

Social customs in Spain:
Traditions and habits

All countries have their own particular social customs and Spain is no exception. As a foreigner you will probably be excused if you accidentally insult your host, but you may not be invited again. More...

Religion in Spain:
Religious beliefs and organizations

Spain is a Christian country where some 77 per cent of the population claims to belong to the Catholic Church and less than 1 per cent Protestant. The majority of the world’s religious and philosophical movements have religious centres or meeting places in the major cities and resort areas, including English and American churches. More...

The Spanish police:
Structure and organization

Spain has a high ratio of police officers to inhabitants and three police forces, often with confusing and overlapping roles, although the government plans to amalgamate the three forces to improve co-ordination and make better use of skills and resources. More...

Spanish government:
The political system of Spain

Following the death of General Franco in 1975, the Spanish constitution of 31st October 1978, arguably the most liberal in western Europe, heralded a radical transformation from a dictatorship to a democratic government. More...

Crime in Spain:
Domestic violence, drug dependecy and prisons

Spain’s crime rate is among the lowest in Europe: according to figures released by the Spanish Interior Ministry in 2006, Spain has an incidence of nearly 50 crimes per 1,000 inhabitants, the lowest in the EU apart from Portugal and Ireland. In the UK, figures are 105 crimes per 1,000 inhabitants and in Germany, 80. More...

Climate in Spain:
The sunniest country in Europe

Hardly surprisingly, the overwhelming attraction of Spain for most foreigners is its excellent climate. Spain is the sunniest country in Europe and the climate (on the Costa Blanca) has been described by the World Health Organisation as among the healthiest in the world. More...

Theatre, opera & ballet:
Cultural offers in Spain

The vast majority of theatres in Spain are in Madrid and Barcelona, although there has been a huge theatre building programme throughout the country in the last decade and many smaller towns now have municipal-sponsored theatres ( teatros municipales) housed in cultural centres. More...

Expatriate clubs in Spain:
How to get connected

There’s a wealth of expatriate clubs and organisations in major cities and resort areas catering for all nationalities. More...

Restaurants in Spain:
Menus, wine, ratings and prices

Like most Latins, Spaniards live to eat (and drink) and one of the greatest pleasures of living in Spain is its abundant variety of inexpensive eating places. In fact, anyone who loves good food and wine is guaranteed a happy life in Spain, which boasts one of the healthiest diets in Europe. More...

Nightlife in spain:
Tips for living “la marcha”

Spain is famous for its vibrant nightlife, which extends until dawn and beyond in major cities such as Madrid and Barcelona (not for nothing are nocturnal Madrileños known as ‘the cats’ or los gatos). More...

Spanish music:
Rock, pop and other genres

Music of all kinds, from flamenco to rock, jazz to classical, is extremely popular in Spain and an essential ingredient of any festival or fiesta. Spain has a wealth of traditional folk music and dance, particularly flamenco and classical guitar, which are popular throughout the country. More...

Spanish art galleries & museums:
General information and tips

Spain has over 800 museums ( museos) and important collections, particularly in Madrid and Barcelona, and there has been an explosion in the number of art galleries ( galerías de arte) in the last decade throughout the country, particularly for contemporary art. More...

Meals:
What you should know about eating in Spain

The Spanish eat much later than other Europeans, with lunch ( comida or almuerzo) usually being taken between 2 and 4pm and dinner ( cena) between 9 and 11pm. People in Barcelona tend to eat dinner around an hour earlier than those in Madrid, while in tourist resorts, dinner is usually served from 7 or 8pm. More...

Libraries in Spain:
What you should know

Spain has poor public libraries, which bear no comparison to the excellent library systems in, for example, the UK and the US. Most Spaniards don’t do a lot of reading and most homes possess few books. More...

Gambling in spain:
A national obsession

The Spanish are a nation of gamblers and bet a higher proportion of their income than almost any other nation. It’s estimated that the Spanish gamble well over € 1.9 billion a year equal to around € 480 per head or some 15 per cent of the average net household income. More...

Flamenco:
The Spanish music and lifestyle

Flamenco consists of a flamboyant dance accompanied by guitar music and song ( cante), the heart of the art of flamenco, which at its best is the true classical performance art of Spain. It has been referred to as the soul of Spain and, like bullfighting, is an essential part of the country’s culture and traditions. More...

Festivals & fiestas:
Time to party !

Festivals and fiestas are an important part of cultural and social life in Spain, where over 3,000 are celebrated each year. The Spanish are inveterate revellers and almost every village and town has its annual fair ( feria), lasting from a few days to a few weeks. More...

Cinemas in Spain:
History and programming

Spain has over 2,000 cinemas ( cines) nationwide and around 1,300 cinema clubs. Although it has lost a lot of its former popularity to television and many cinemas have closed in the last few decades, cinema remains reasonably popular in Spain where over 10 per cent of adults see a film each week. More...

Bullfighting in Spain:
History, season and tickets

A book about Spain wouldn’t be complete without a ‘few’ words about bullfighting ( la lidia), commonly referred to as the fiesta nacional. Foreigners love or loathe bullfights and it provokes controversy even among Spaniards. To many it’s a barbaric and sadistic blood sport with no merit whatsoever and should be banned. More...

Bars & Cafes:
What you should when having a dring in Spain

One of the delights of living in Spain is the many excellent pavement cafés and bars, and in particular, their delicious coffee and inexpensive prices. Few countries can match Spain for the variety, quality, economy and number of its watering holes. Drinking habits vary considerably from region to region, although it isn’t uncommon to see Spaniards taking a brandy with their morning coffee. More...

Barcelona facts and tips:
What you don't find in the guidebooks

Most of the time it's impossible to really find out about a place until you are living there. This is part of the fun of discovering a new town, but sometimes it helps to get some pointers! More...

Why Choose Spain?:
Pros and Cons

Only sometimes in life can you take real pride in the feeling that you have got it right! Moving to Spain four years ago our aim was to raise the quality of our family’s lifestyle. We enjoy working hard to achieve it and occasionally indulge ourselves with a self congratulatory pat on the back when we hear that Spain remains the number one destination for Britons buying property overseas. More...

Surviving Spain:
How to avoid frustration

Spain has a beautiful climate (apart from when it gets too hot in the summer). Spain has amazing beaches. More...

Zapping in Spain:
The horrors of Spanish TV

The UK publication MediaWeek defines “Zapping” as “Rapid channel switching or surfing via a remote control”. Its that act you experience when the TV programme you are watching fails to hold your attention for more than a fleeting period as you click the remote control, seeking to be more “engaged”. More...

Older friends in New Spain:
From "Mañana" to "Tomorrow"

A couple of weeks ago, I asked my three kids what they missed most about the UK. More...

Spain:
The Emerging Market

“More Britons flee for a life in the Sun” screamed the headline in the Daily Express (29.03.06). The UK daily was reporting that many highly qualified professionals, numbering at least 100,000 per year, are leaving the UK for Spain. More...

Chosing a new life abroad:
Why Spain?

I know time flies when you are having fun but I can hardly believe it but the 4th anniversary of our arrival in Spain is fast approaching. As a consequence, I have started to reflect on my Spain, the Spain I have grown to know and love. More...

Language:
Languages spoken in Valencia

Many people are put off moving abroad because of the language barrier that may exist. Does this need to be a problem in Valencia? More...

From City Slickers to Cave Dwellers:
Our Story

We spent about 2 years researching Spain in general visiting the country about 8 times, starting in the Extremadura region in central Spain. This region had a lot going for it, especially the prices, which were around £20,000 for 5 acres and a house (2000). More...

Culture and way of life:
The differences

Spanish way of life and culture differs enormously from that in the UK. There are various character and attitude traits that can seem a little blunt and even offensive to people from other cultures, particularly the British. However, it is absolutely essential to remember that this is who and how they are, they are not offending each other with their touching, barging and lack of queueing, so in moving to their country the best thing you can do is to adapt yourself to work with them. More...

Beaches:
Our Top 16 Murcia Beaches

The following beaches are amongst the most beautiful in the region: More...

Transport:
Getting around in Valencia

With a relatively small and compact centre and wide boulevards connecting the outer areas of the city Valencia is easy to get around, boasting an efficient and effective transport system to boot. More...

Fiestas:
Murcia Fiesta Finder

The Murcian enthusiasm for Fiestas rivals the Madrileños (Madrid inhabitants). Each town or village has its own Patrimonio day, which you can find by looking on a calendar. More...

Food:
Murcia Food Guide

The Spanish, like many Latin cultures, make the mid–day meal their biggest, stretching it out for hours. From midday to mid–afternoon, everything shuts down, except of course for the restaurants. Then, after this long, leisurely meal (and sometimes a nap) they return to their workplaces and continue into the night. More...

Going Native:
Eating Like a Spaniard

You may have noticed that Spanish restaurants seem awfully quiet… …when you go in. This is probably because you haven’t worked out how to eat like a Spaniard yet. More...

Geocaching:
What to do when it’s too cold to go to the beach

Murcia has 320 days of sunshine a year. Right now, as I write this, it’s snowing here, only half an hour away from the Mar Menor. More...

Drip Irrigation:
How to save water

You probably know this already, but it’s pretty sunny here in Spain, particularly in Murcia and Almería. For gardeners on anything but the smallest scale, that’s a problem. More...

Articles: Culture