Spain Madrid is the capital of Spain and

Spain

Madrid is the capital of Spain and the largest city in the Iberian peninsula. It is also the third most populous city in the European Union after London and Berlin. Its effect on and politics, as well as its major cultural influence, has ranked Madrid one of the major global cities of the world. Madrid By Caporaso - Izzo

Madrid is also the largest city in Spain, as well as in the province and the autonomous community of the same name. It is located on the river Manzanares in the center of the country, between the autonomous communities of Castilla-León and Castilla-La Mancha. By Caporaso - Izzo

Due to its economic output, standard of living, and market size, Madrid is considered one of the major financial centers of the Iberian Peninsula, together with Barcelona and Lisbon. As the capital city of Spain, seat of government, and residence of the Spanish monarch, Madrid is also the political center of Spain. By Caporaso - Izzo

The “Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias” in Valencia The Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (Valencian), Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (Spanish) or City of Arts and Sciences is an ensemble of five areas in the dry river bed of the now diverted River Turia in Valencia, Spain. By De Palma - Abate

Designed by Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava and started in July 1996, it is an impressive example of modern architecture. By De Palma - Abate

The "city" is made up of the following, usually known by their Valencian names: • El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía • Opera house and performing arts centre • L'Hemisfèric — Imax Cinema, Planetarium and Laserium • L'Umbracle — Walkway / Garden By De Palma - Abate

Spanish government Politics of Spain takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic constitutional monarchy, whereby the Monarch is the Head of State and the President of the Government is the head of government and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Federal legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. By Cecere - Iollo - D'Alessio

José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (born August 4, 1960 in Valladolid) is the President of the Government (Prime Minister) of Spain. The party he leads, the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), won the general election on March 14, 2004. Controversial actions of his government have included withdrawing Spanish troops from Iraq, legalizing same-sex marriages and giving amnesty to over 700, 000 illegal immigrants in Spain [6]. He also presided over the Spanish Parliament's approval of the Controversial Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia. By Cecere - Iollo - D'Alessio

The Spanish King Juan Carlos I, King of Spain (baptized as Juan Alfonso Carlos Víctor María de Borbón y Borbón. Dos Sicilias) was born on January 5, 1938 in Rome and is the reigning King of Spain (Rey de España). By Cecere - Iollo - D'Alessio

On 22 November 1975, two days after the death of Francisco Franco, Juan Carlos was designated King according to the law of succession promulgated by Franco. He successfully oversaw the transition of Spain to a democratic constitutional monarchy. For passing on personal power to democratize the country, he is widely revered by Spaniards. By Cecere - Iollo - D'Alessio

Juan Carlos' titles include that of King of Jerusalem, as successor to the royal family of Naples. He is also a direct descendant of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom through his grandmother, Victoria Eugenie; of Louis XIV of France through the House of Bourbon; of the Emperor Charles V, who belonged to the Habsburg dynasty of the Holy Roman Empire; of the House of Savoy of Italy; etc. By Cecere - Iollo - D'Alessio

His name, when rarely anglicised, is rendered as John Alphonse Charles Victor Maria of Bourbon (and Bourbon. Two Sicilies). He was given these names after his father (Juan de Borbon), grandfather (Alfonso XIII) and maternal grandfather (Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Two Sicilies). By Cecere - Iollo - D'Alessio

Goya Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (March 30, 1746 – April 16, 1828) was a Spanish painter and printmaker.

Goya was a jester on the court. he was also a Spanish Clown and a chronicler of history. He has been regarded both as the last of the old masters and as the first of the moderns. The subversive and subjective element in his art, as well as his bold handling of paint, provided a model for the work of later generations of artists, notably Manet and Picasso. Many of Goya's works are on display in the Museo del Prado in Madrid.

Salvador Dalí Salvador Felipe Jacinto Dalí Domènech, Marquis of Pubol or Salvador Felip Jacint Dalí Domènech (May 11, 1904 – January 23, 1989), known popularly as Salvador Dalí, was a Spanish artist and one of the most important painters of the 20 th century. He was a skilled draftsman, best known for the striking, bizarre, and beautiful images in his surrealist work. His painterly skills are often attributed to the influence of Renaissance masters. His best known work, The Persistence of Memory, was completed in 1931. Salvador Dalí's artistic repertoire also included film, sculpture, and photography. The Persistence of Memory By Baccari - Paradiso

Miguel de Cervantes Don Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra[b] (September 29, 1547 – April 23, 1616) was a Spanish novelist, poet and playwright. Cervantes is one of the most important and celebrated figures in literature and the leading figure associated with the cultural florescence of sixteenth century Spain (the Siglo de Oro). By Formato - Grasso

His picaresque novel, Don Quixote, is considered a founding classic of Western literature and regularly figures among the best novels ever written; it has been translated into more than sixty languages, while editions continue regularly to be printed, and critical discussion of the work has unabatedly persisted since the 18 th century. By Formato - Grasso

Pablo Picasso was born in Málaga, Spain, the first child of José Ruiz y Blasco and María Picasso y López. He was christened with the names Pablo, Diego, José, Francisco de Paula, Juan Nepomuceno, Maria de los Remedios, and Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad. Picasso's father was Jose Ruíz, a painter whose specialty was the naturalistic depiction of birds and who for most of his life was also a professor of art at the School of Crafts and a curator of a local museum. from an early age. By Caporaso - Izzo

The young Picasso showed a passion and a skill for drawing shortening of lapiz, the Spanish word for pencil. It was from his father that Picasso had his first formal academic art training, such as figure drawing and painting in oil. By Caporaso - Izzo

Real Madrid is a Spanish sports club best known for its football team which was three times World Champion, and also ranked as 'The 20 th Century's Best Club' by FIFA. The club, which went in place of the Spanish FA, was also one of the founding members of FIFA. They play their home games at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid. Real Madrid have been European Champions a record 9 times and have also won a record 29 La Liga titles. The club also operates a reserve football team, Real Madrid Castilla, and a successful basketball team, Real Madrid Baloncesto and are in talks to sponsor a rugby team, CRC Madrid Noroeste and a Formula One team. Real Madrid is unusual in that, unlike most football clubs, it has been owned and operated solely by its members (socios) since 1902. Real Madrid

• Banderas as Zorro in The Legend of Zorro • Birth name José Antonio Domínguez Banderas • Born August 10, 1960 (age 46) • Málaga, Andalusia, Spain Antonio Banderas José Antonio Domínguez Banderas (born August 10, 1960), better known as Antonio Banderas, is a Spanish film actor who has appeared in several highprofile Hollywood films including Assassins, Interview with the Vampire, Mariachi Trilogy, Philadelpia and The Mask of Zorro. By Baccari - Paradiso

Santiago Calatrava Valls (born July 28, 1951) is an internationally recognized and award-winning Spanish architect and engineer whose principal office is in Zurich, Switzerland. Calatrava was born in Valencia, Spain, where he pursued undergraduate studies at the Architecture School and Arts and Crafts School. Following graduation in 1975, he enrolled in the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zürich, Switzerland for graduate work in civil engineering. In 1981, after completing his doctoral thesis, "On the Foldability of Space Frames", he started his architecture and engineering practice. Classed now among the elite designers of the world, he has offices in Zurich, Paris, New York and elsewhere. Santiago Calatrava By Caroscio - Iollo

Calatrava is currently designing the future train station - World Trade Center Transportation Hub - at Ground Zero in New York City. Calatrava’s style has been heralded as bridging the division between structural engineering and architecture. In this, he continues a tradition of Spanish modernist engineering that includes Félix Candela and Antonio Gaudí. Nonetheless, his style is very personal and derives from numerous studies he makes of the human body and the natural world. By Caroscio - Iollo

Bullfighting or tauromachy is a tradition that involves professional performers (in Spanish toreros or matadores, in Portuguese toureiros) who execute various for mal moves with the goal of appearing graceful and confident, while masterful over the bull itself. Such manoeuvers are performed at close range, and conclude (in Spanish-style bullfighting) with the death of the bull by a well-placed sword thrust as the finale. By De Blasio

Labeled as a blood sport and considered a traditional event by some, or an example of animal cruelty by others, the practice generates heated controversy in many areas of the world, including Spain where the "classic" bullfighting was born. There is contention between supporters of bullfighting — who claim it is a long held and culturally important tradition — and animal rights groups — who oppose bullfighting due to the suffering of the bull and horses during the bullfight. By De Blasio

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Galicia La Coruña y Santiago de Compostela This are is known for its historical sites Santiago de Compostela – During the middle ages pilgrims came to , Santiago de Compostela from Europa. The Saints ashes are located here. This is also where the Catholic Kings spent their summers. It was queen Isabel who financed Columbus’ trip to the Americas. La Torre de Hércules Hostal de Los Reye Católicos

Asturias Home of Pre Roman Architecture. The Churches of Santa Maria del Naranco, San Miguel de Lillo and Santa Cristina de Lena are great examples. They have basilicas and column with pillars In addition you can see Visigoth influence Pre Roman Churches Santa Maria del Naranco San Miquel de Lillo Santa Cristina de Lena

Cantabria The history of Cantabria is rich with primitive drawings. The pre historic caves of Alta Mira are located Dibujo en Las Cuevas de Altamira

Pais Vasco Bilbao and San Sebastián Campo Volatin Footbridge The great Spanish writer Miquel de Unamuno was born here in 1864 Palacio de Miramar

Navarra Pamplona The name and origin of this city comes from Pompeii. In the 8 th Century the moors lived here before the arrival of Charlemagne. Palacio de Navarra

Aragon Zaragoza It is said that the Virgen La Basílica de Nuestra appeared here in the year 40 to Señora del Pilar Saint Santiago at the Basilica. Was a Roman colony conquered bye the Arabs in 714 and then Alfonso I in 1118. In 1808 and 1809 this region resisted the French invasion of Spain.

Cataluña Barcelona Obras de Antonio Gaudí Praque Guell The name of the city comes from three Spanish words: bar (café) +cel (cielo) +ona (onda) = Barcelona. It is the most populated city in Europe and the most prosperous in Spain. It has the largest port. Casa Baltó Casa Mila Iglesia Sagrada Familia

Rioja Iglesia de Santa Maria de Has an illustrious Palacio history. There are many temples and cathedrals fro the XIV and XV century. They were models for the churches of the XIII century. The French influence is visible here.

Castilla – Leon Valladolid Gregorio Favorite residence of the Catholic Kings. They were married here. Valladolid was also the residence of Carlos I. Felipe IV and his sister Ana of Austria were born here. Miguel Cervante lived here his house from the XVII century is here. This is also where Christopher Columbus died. El Colegio San Casa de Miquel Cervantes Palacio de los Reyes

Extremadura La Cuidad Vieja de Cáceres has many historical buildings. It is surrounded by a huge wall. It is full of temples and churches. Here is where you find ancient palentogist caves.

Madrid La Plaza de España Felipe II, declared Madrid the capital of Spain in 1561. It is the biggest city in Spain and the highest capitol in Europe. Puerta del Sol Plaza Mayor Plaza de Colón El Prado Fuente de Cibeles Fuente de Neptuno

MADRID La Zarzuela – The residence of the kings of Spain. Valle de los Caidos Monument to the fallen in the Spanish Civil War. El Escorial - Palacio y Monasterio de Felipe II

Comunidad Valencia Catedral de Valencia In the XV century Valencia was known for outstanding literature and art. In 1238 Jaime II conquered the Arabs. La Puerta de Serrano Las Torres

Castilla La Mancha Toledo - Segovia - Ávila The history of Toledo is the history of the Catholic Church in Spain. Toledo is known as the heart of the church. Toledo was the capital in the visigodal era. The Roman occupied Toledo in 200 a. c. It is one of the oldest cities. El Greco lived here. Segovia is famous for its two thousand year old aqueducts of Roman style. Convento de Santa Teresa El Greco Catedral San Ildefonso El Alcázar

Andalucia Córdoba -Sevilla. Granada La Mezquita EL Puente Romano Córdoba Was conquered by the Romans in 206 a. c. The Arabs arrived in 711. Christians, Arabs and Jews lived here in peace during medieval times. Sevilla, after 1492 this was the only port where ships left to the new world. Granada was the last stronghold of the Moors until January 1492, when the Catholic Kings conquered them La Torre de Oro La Catedral de Sevilla

Murcia The city of Murcia was founded by the Arab emir of Córdoba, Abd-Al. Rahman II in 825. La Catedral de Murcia

Islas Baleres One of the most beautiful turist destinations. Known for its thick rock walls especially in Trmuntana. Islas Baleres

Islas Canarias The Canary Islands are near the African coast. They offer fantastic views of the sea in any season. Garonjonay National Park

Cantabria Austurias Pais Navarra Vasco Galicia Cataluña Castilla Leon Extremadura Madrid Aragon Castilla Comunidad La Mancha Valencia Murcia Islas Canarias Andalucia Islas Baleres