Spain's Official Language Is Spanish. Also, There
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Spain’s official language is Spanish. Also, there are some major languages spoken such as Catalan, Basque and Galician. As for the population, there are estimated 46528944 people in 2017. The major ethnic groups are Basque, Galician, Castilian and Catalan. The percentages of their religions are respectively Roman Catholic (68.5%), Irreligious (16.8%) and Atheist (9.6%). Spain has a long history. It was ruled by the Roman for 500 years, then the Visigodo ruled for another 300 years. Final, the Islam ruled for 800 years. In Middle Ages some Catholicism countries, ex. Reino de Navarra, Reino de León, Castilla and Aragón merged into 2 large kingdom: Castilla and Aragón. 1469 Castilla and Aragón's heirs married. The two countries then became more united. In 1474 princess Isabel became the queen of Castilla. 1479 the Prince of Aragón— Fernando inherit the king. They come together to recapture the lost land. In 1492 Queen Isabel and King Fernando slumped. Iberian Peninsula regain possession of lost territory and became Spain. Paper money of both sides publisheed in all countries are the same. There are main shapes of buildings including window, arch, bridge and so on. The Europe map and 12- star flag of EU supplemented. The back side is a disign of the bridge, which represents having communication with other countries. There are seven different kinds of paper money. (1) Be aware of the security and thieves. Basically, you can be less aware of the security in Spain. Except for Madrid or Barcelona these kind of tourist spots, many normal cities are usually safe. However, in Madrid and Barcelona, you should be highly aware to your surroundings, especially when traveling alone or with only one person. (2) Be aware of the opening time Almost every shop or company or even a town’s museum has nearly two hour break time, which may be very different from many countries. (3) Get used to the eating habits Being affected by the meal time, restaurant’s opening time is usually later. In addition, the time Spanish eat is postponed two to three hours. They like to drink and chat while eating. (4) How to give tips? Like most of the countries in Europe, Spain also has the habit of tipping; hotels generally provide luggage carrying and room services which normally costs one Euro. The situation in the restaurants depends: if it mentioned “service included” on the bill, then you don’t have to pay it; otherwise, you have to pay 10%~15% as tips. While if it’s a regular café, just leave your change. Additionally, taking taxis also need tips, usually keep the change or 10% extra fee to the driver. (5) Attention to the signs of floors In Spain, the expression of floors is similar to French and British, their first floor is usually called the “ground floor.” The statement “Planta Baja” in Spanish stands for the same thing as “Grand Floor” in English, as for their second floor is called “Primer Planta,” etc. Therefore, notice this when looking for a certain floor, in case something awkward happened. To provide convenient to the readers who are going to Spain, the floors in this bool are shown in the same way there, where they start from the “ground floor.” (6) Blend into Latino’s enthusiasm Spanish is an enthusiastic ethnic, but Spanish boys won’t grab girls’ butts like Italian boys. For foreigners they meet at the first time, they won’t aggressively kiss cheeks as French do, but they are definitely chatty people. Don’t be “frightened” when they occasionally speak quickly and loudly, especially after they start a conversation and never stop talking. You can just smile and be a quiet audience, or you can join the “discussion” with gestures, then feel the enthusiastic atmosphere of Latins. (7) Remember your manners when visiting scenes Suitable manner is very vital when visiting each scenes, from no touching to appropriate clothes must be noticed, especially museums and churches, keep quiet when visiting these places. In addition, follow the photograph restriction; normally flashlight is not allowed to use in museums and churches, some of them even prohibit taking pictures. The rules are usually labeled at the entrance, and the churches are usually closed during a ceremony, even they’re open at that time, photographing is not allowed to avoid interference to the ceremony. Please check at the service desk so as not to be rude. 500 - The Visigoths take over much of Spain. Christopher Columbus 711 - The Moors invade Spain and name it al-Andalus. 718 - The Reconquista begins by the Christians to retake Spain. 1094 - El Cid conquers the city of Valencia from the Moors. 1137 - The Kingdom of Aragon is formed. 1139 - The Kingdom of Portugal is first established on the west coast of the Iberian Peninsula 1469 - Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon are married. 1478 - The Spanish Inquisitions begins. 1479 - The Kingdom of Spain is formed when Isabella and Ferdinand are made King and Queen uniting Aragon and Castile. 1492 - The Reconquista ends with the conquest of Grenada. The Jews are expelled from Spain. Queen Isabella I 1492 - Queen Isabella sponsors the expedition of explorer Christopher Columbus. He discovers the New World. 1520 - Spanish explorer Hernan Cortes conquers the Aztecs Empire in Mexico. 1532 - Explorer Francisco Pizarro conquers the Incan Empire and establishes the city of Lima. 1556 - Philip II becomes King of Spain. 1588 - The English fleet led by Sir Francis Drake defeat the Spanish Armada. 1605 - Miguel de Cervantes publishes the first part of this epic novel Don Quixote. 1618 - The Thirty Years' War begins. 1701 - The War of the Spanish Succession begins. 1761 - Spain joins the Seven Years' War against Great Britain. 1808 - The Peninsular War is fought against the French Empire led by Napoleon. 1814 - The Allies win the Peninsular War and Spain is free of French rule. 1881 - Artist Pablo Picasso is born in Malaga, Spain. 1883 - Architect Antoni Gaudi begins work on the Sagrada Familia Roman Catholic church in Barcelona. The Sagrada Familia 1898 - The Spanish-American War is fought. Spain gives up Cuba, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam to the United States. 1914 - Spain remains neutral as World War I begins. 1931 - Spain becomes a republic. 1936 - The Spanish Civil War begins between the Republicans and the Nationalists led by Francisco Franco. Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy support the Nationalists. 1939 - The Nationalists win the civil war and Francisco Franco becomes dictator of Spain. He will remain dictator for 36 years. 1939 - World War II begins. Spain remains neutral in battle, but supports the Axis Powers and Germany. 1959 - The "Spanish miracle", a period of economic growth and prosperity in the country, begins. 1975 - Dictator Francisco Franco dies. Juan Carlos I becomes king. 1976 - Spain begins a transition to a democracy. 1978 - The Spanish Constitution is issued granting freedom of speech, press, religion, and association. 1982 - Spain joins NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) 1986 - Spain joins the European Union. Jose Maria Aznar 1992 - The Summer Olympics is held in Barcelona. 1996 - Jose Maria Aznar becomes Prime Minister of Spain. 2004 - Terrorists bomb trains in Madrid killing 199 people and injuring thousands. 2009 - Spain enters economic crisis. Unemployment will rise to over 27% by 2013. 2010 - Spain wins the FIFA World Cup in soccer. The economy of Spain is the EUR=35.52 NTD world's fourteenth-largest by =1.1821 USD nominal GDP, and it is also =1.5483 AUD one of the largest in the =130.1575 JPY world by purchasing power =7.519 CNY parity. The country is a member of the European Union, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the World Trade Organization. Spain has a capitalist mixed economy. (From European Central Bank) The euro was launched on 1 January 1999, when it became the currency of more than 300 million people in Europe. For the first three years it was an invisible currency, only used for accounting purposes, e.g. in electronic payments. Euro cash was not introduced until 1 January 2002, when it replaced, at fixed conversion rates, the banknotes and coins of the national currencies like the Belgian franc and the Deutsche Mark. Today, euro banknotes and coins are legal tender in 19 of the 28 Member States of the European Union, including the overseas departments, territories and islands which are either part of, or associated with, euro area countries. These countries form the euro area. The micro-states of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City also use the euro, on the basis of a formal arrangement with the European Community. Montenegro and Kosovo likewise use the euro, but without a formal arrangement. Cash payments are now made in the same currency by 340 million people — euro banknotes and coins have become a tangible symbol of European integration. All EU countries, except Denmark and the United Kingdom, which have an opt-out, are expected to join the monetary union and to introduce the euro as soon as they fulfil the convergence criteria. Sant Pau Hospital Plaça Reial On a visit to the Art Nouveau Site, This square is so beautiful, it's no you’ll be able to appreciate the wonder it was named "royal" foremost work of Lluís Domènech (reial Catalan for royal). The I Montaner. It is one of the most elegant ambiance of the Plaça important architect of the Catalan Reial is accentuated by the Art Nouveau, and also one of the fountain, streetlamps and palm most outstanding rehabilitation trees, and it is one of Barcelona's processes of recent years.