Getting to Know Spain

During the 16th and 17th century, the most powerful country in Europe was Spain. During this time, this country has expanded its power and its territory through its colonies all over the world. They colonized almost the entire south and Central America, Mexico, some areas in the United States, Philippines, Guam, Marianas Islands, south Italy, Sicily, as well as some parts of European countries such as Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium and Netherlands. Today, the economy of Spain is ranked ninth worldwide. The World Bank, likewise, declared that its economy is the fifth largest economy in Europe.

Based on the record maintained in at the Padron municipal, the population of Spain has reached the 45 million mark as of 2007. The increase in population is attributed to the return of many Spaniards who had earlier left the country to live in some European cities. Moreover, the huge number of foreign immigrants who came and took up residency in the country contributed to the population increase.

Spain: A Popular Destination

Aside from its improving economy and colorful history, Spain is also popular as a tourist destination. Aside from its many historic cities and cultural regions, the country is also known for its beautiful beaches and enjoyable nightlife. Moreover, this European haven prides itself for having the second highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It has a total of 40 sites and comes in second only to Italy.

Madrid, Barcelona, Pamplona and Sevilla are just few of the more popular places in Spain. Madrid is the capital city of this European country while Barcelona is famous for being a coastal city and also for the architecture works of Antoni Gaudi. Meanwhile, Pamplona is famous for its bulls and Sevilla, on the other hand, is widely acknowledged as the city where the flamenco dance was born.

How to Get To Spain

Tourists who wish to visit Spain and view all its wonderful sceneries can get into this city through plane, through train or through a bus. Those who are already in neighboring European countries can reach Spain by riding a train or a bus. The train system of the country is very modern and has a high punctuality rate. The only problem with this mode of transportation is that not all areas in Spain have a train station. Bus travel, on the other hand, is very popular and also very practical especially for those who have no extra money to waste. Several private bus companies offer routes to all of the important cities in Spain. Bus fare is pegged at 8 Euros for every one hundred kilometers traveled.