WhereIsSpain?SpainisalargecountryinEuropeandsharesborderswithFranceandPortugal.IthastheMediterraneanSeaonitseastcoastandtheAtlanticOceanonitsnorth,westandsouthcoast.SpainSpainFactsSpainisofficiallycalledtheKingdomofSpain.ThecapitalcityofSpainisMadrid.TheofficiallanguageisSpanish.ThepopulationofSpainisapproximately47,000,000.Spainhasveryhotweatherinthespringandsummer,makingitapopularholidaydestination,especiallywithpeoplefromtheUK.Inwinter,temperaturesinsomepartsofSpaincangetcold,sometimesbelow0°C,anditcansnow.MadridTheSpanishRoyalFamilySpainhasaroyalfamilyjustlikeintheUnitedKingdom.FelipeVIandQueenLetizialivewiththeirtwodaughters,LeonorandSofia,inPalaceZarzuela,ontheoutskirtsofMadrid.SpanishFoodTheSpanisheatamainlyMediterraneandietwhichconsistsof:freshfruitsandvegetables;avarietyofseafood;curedhamandmeat.DuetoitsproximitytotheMediterraneanSeaandAtlanticOceananditssunnyclimate,Spanishfoodtendstobefresh,colourfulandveryhealthy.TherearemanytraditionalandvariedSpanishdishesfromdifferentareasofthecountry,allinfluencedbythelocalenvironmentandsurroundings.DifferentpartsofSpainarefamousforgrowingandproducingdifferenttypesoffood.IntheveryhotandsunnysouthofSpain,therearelargeareasofwoodlandandorchardsandmanyfruitsandvegetablesflourishthere.Infact,theyaresodeliciousthattheyareexportedtocountriesallovertheworld!OliveoilisanotherpopularfoodsourceproducedinthesouthofSpain.SpanishFood:FruitsandVegetablesSpanishFood:PaellaandSeafoodAverypopulardishinSpainispaella,whichoriginatedinthecityofValenciaontheeastcoastofSpain.Thisistraditionallycookedinalargepan.Commoningredientsinpaellaarerice(SpaniardscookwithBombarice),saffron,seafoodandchicken.CodandtunaarethemostcommonlyeatenfishinSpain.SomeofthebestfishissourcedoffthenorthcoastofSpaininareassuchasGalicia,AsturiasandCantabria.SpanishFood:ChorizoandCocidoChorizoisaSpanishsausagemadefromcoarselychoppedporkandporkfatandseasonedwithsmokedpaprika,whichgivesititsreddishhue.Chorizocanbeeither‘picante’(spicy)or‘dulce’(sweet).AnotherpopularSpanishspecialityisadishcalledcocido.Thisisachickpea-basedstewwhichismadewithmeatandvegetables.SpanishFood:PanconTomatePanconTomateinEnglishliterallymeans‘breadwithtomatoes’whichdescribesexactlywhatthisdishis.PanconTomateisastaplepartoftheCataloniandietbutiseatenregularlyinmostotherareasofSpain.Itcanbeeatenonitsownasasnackorasanaccompanimenttoamealatbreakfast,lunchordinner.Cataloniaisanorth-easternregionofSpain.ThevibrantcityofBarcelonaisinCatalonia.PhotocourtesyofEwanMunro(@)-grantedundercreativecommonslicence-attributionSpanishFood:ChurroAchurroisadough-pastrythatisdeepfriedtogiveitacrunchyouterlayer.Spaniardsmayeatchurrosforbreakfast.Churrosmayalsobedippedinchocolatesauce.Doyoufancytryingone?SpanishSchoolsTheSpanisheducationsystemisdividedintofivelevels:pre-school(ages0-3),earlychildhoodeducation(ages3-6),primary(ages6-12),compulsorysecondary(ages12-16)andpost-compulsoryeducation(ages16-18).Spanishchildrengotoschoolforthreetermsofroughly11weeksandalthoughtheydonothaveasmanyhalf-termholidaysashereintheUK,theyhavealongersummerholidayandlotsofdaysoffforfestivalsandnon-teachingdays.Someschoolsmayhavealongtwotothree-hourbreakinthemiddleofthedayduringwhichmanychildrengohomeforlunchwiththeirfamilies.PlazadeEspa?aThePlazadeEspa?a,whichisinthecityofSeville,isapopulartouristsightinSpain.Quiteliterally,inEnglishitmeans‘SpainSquare’.Itisanimpressive,semi-circularbrickbuildingwithtalltowersoneitherside.PhotocourtesyofFranciscoColinet(@)-grantedundercreativecommonslicence-attributionAlhambraTheAlhambraisapalaceandfortressinGranada.Thebuildingwasconvertedintoapalacein1333byYusufI,SultanofGranadabuthasservedmanydifferentpurposesduringSpain’shistory.Thewallsofthebuildingshaveareddishtintafterbeingbakedforyearsinthesun.Photocourtesyof(@W)-grantedundercreativecommonslicence-attributionTheSagradaFamiliaOneofthemostfamousbuildingsinSpainistheuniqueSagradaFamilia.Itisalarge,RomanCatholicchurchinBarcelonaandwasdesignedbyAntoniGaudi.However,despitebuildingworkstartingin1882,thebuildingisstillunfinished!Gaudiworkedonthebuildingfor40yearsbutsadlydiedin1926,beforeitwascompleted.Sincethen,severalbuildersandarchitectshavetakenoverbutitisstillincomplete.Itishopedthatconstructionwillbefinishedin2026,whichwillmarkthecentenaryofGaudi’sdeath.Photocourtesyof(@W)-grantedundercreativecommonslicence-attributionFlamencoDancingAnimportantpartofSpanishcultureisflamencodancing.ItstartedinAndalusiainSpain,butitisnowpopularallovertheworld.