RESEARCHED BY: MAVEEN MALIK

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SPAIN
Culture and History
 CONTENTS

TOPIC PAGE NUMBER

HISTORY

FOOD

CLOTHING

CLIMATE

ARCHITECTURE

TOURIST ATTRACTION
 HISTORY
the left, the Popular Front, in municipal elections,
Alfonso XIII left Spain and the democratic
The history of Spain dates back to the Middle republic was proclaimed in Spain. The
Ages. In 1516, Habsburg Spain unified a number Conservative Party disappeared shortly after the
of disparate predecessor kingdoms; its modern proclamation of the Republic in 1931.[2]. Five
form of a constitutional monarchy was years later the country descended into
introduced in 1813, and the current democratic the Spanish Civil War between
constitution dates to 1978. After the completion the Republican and the Nationalist factions.
of the Reconquista, the Crown of Castile began
to explore across the Atlantic Ocean in 1492, The nationalist victory in the conflict installed
expanding into the New World and marking the a dictatorship led by Francisco Franco, that
beginning of the Golden Age under the Spanish lasted until 1975. The country experienced rapid
Empire. The kingdoms of Spain were united economic growth in the 1960s and early 1970s.
under Habsburg rule in 1516, that unified the With the death of Franco in 1975 did Spain
Crown of Castile, the Crown of Aragon, and return to the monarchy, this time headed
smaller kingdoms under the same rule. Until the by Juan Carlos I, and to democracy. With a
1650s, Habsburg Spain was among the most fresh Constitution voted in 1978, Spain entered
powerful states in the world. the European Economic Community in 1986
(transformed into the European Union with
During this period, Spain was involved in all the Maastricht Treaty of 1992), and
major European wars, including the Italian Wars, the Eurozone in 1999.
the Eighty Years' War, the Thirty Years' War,
and the Franco-Spanish War. In the later 17th
century Spanish power began to decline, after
the death of the last Habsburg.
The former Spanish Empire overseas quickly
disintegrated with the Latin American wars of
independence. Only Cuba and the Philippines
and some small islands were left; they revolted,
and the United States acquired ownership (or
control, in the case of Cuba) after the Spanish–
American War of 1898. A tenuous balance
between liberal and conservative forces was
struck in the establishment of a constitutional
monarchy in Spain during the Borbonic
restoration; this period began in 1874 and ended
in 1931. The Liberal Party ( Práxedes Mateo
Sagasta) and Conservative Party (Antonio
Cánovas del Castillo) fought for and won short-
lived
control without any being sufficiently strong to
bring about lasting stability. They were
alternately in power. The Restoration began with
Alfonso XII and the Regency of Maria Christina
(1874–1898). Alfonso XII died aged 27 in 1885,
and was succeeded by his unborn son, who
became Alfonso XIII (1902-1923). Then came
the dictatorship of General Primo de
Rivera (1923-1930). Opposition to his regime
was so great that Alfonso XIII stopped
supporting him and forced him to resign in
January 1930.[1] In 1931, following a victory by
1
 FOOD
History of Spanish Food
The succession of cultures that one-by-one
set foot on the Iberian peninsula have each
left a lasting mark on every facet of Spain's
culture: language, music, art, architecture and,
of course, food. In fact, many people are
surprised to learn just how much of a delicious
Cultures Throughout the
melting pot Spain really is. History of Spanish Food
Geography of Spanish Food Endless cultures, as they passed through or
settled in Spain, have influenced the history of
Spanish food. The Phoenicians left their
The basis of the history of Spanish food of
sauces, the Greeks introduced Spain to the
course has to do with its geographical
wonders of olive oil, and Romans,
situation. First of all, the country is located on
Carthaginians, and Jews integrated elements
the Iberian peninsula and is therefore almost
of their own cooking into that of Spain.
entirely surrounded by the waters. Naturally,
However it was the Moors who, during their
due to this fortunate location, seafood forms
centuries of reign, most impacted Spanish
one of the pillars of Spain's gastronomy and
gastronomy. They introduced fruits and light
categorizes the country as having a
seasonings into the Iberian diet, as well as
Mediterranean diet. The rest of Spain is a
combinations of fruits and nuts with meats and
diverse terrain made up of mountain ranges,
fish. Rice- a genuine staple of Spanish
lush pastures, fertile farmgrounds, extensive
gastronomy- and therefore Spain's vast array
coastlines and more, which together provide
of rice dishes, come straight from the Moors,
quite the variety of fresh products. For
as does the use of saffron, cinnamon, and
example, Spain's famous hams are cured high
nutmeg. As you eat gazpacho on a hot
in the mountains, vineyards and olive groves
summer day, thank this clearly
sprawl across expanses of land, and fresh
gastronomically talented Moorish culture, as it
fruits and vegetables hail from throughout the
too comes straight from them. Conclusion?
country.
Ironically enough, the foods we consider to be
"typically Spanish" would either not exist or
would be extremely different without the
intervention of so many cultures into the
history of Spanish food.

The Americas' Impact on the

History of Spanish Food
Along with its obvious historical impact, the
discovery of the Americas with Christopher
Columbus' famous 1492 voyage resulted in
the addition of more important elements to the
history of Spanish food. As of 1520, foods
from the new lands arrived in Spain and
immediately began to integrate themselves
into the Spanish diet. Amongst the many
products that crossed the Atlantic and arrived
on Spanish turf, tomatoes, vanilla, chocolate, heavy gold necklaces with precious stones.
various beans, and potatoes - which The apparel in Spain was often made of rich
surprisingly arrived in Spain before arriving in and heavy fabrics and decorated with gold
Ireland- are all staples of today's Spanish or silver threads. But these Spanish styles
kitchen. failed to evolve with the rapidly changing
times. As a result, traditional Spanish
fashion would eventually become outdated
and give way to French dominance. Cities
like Paris were more innovative and began
to lead the way in 17th-century European
fashion.

Today, Spanish fashion is very modern, but

traditional Spanish clothing is still worn for
special events. Flamenco performers still
wear typical Spanish dresses in red, black,
or white with their hair in a bun and
sometimes a rose behind their ear. The
male flamenco performers' traditional
costumes consist of black or red tuxedo
shirts and classic slacks. Traditional
Spanish bullfighters costumes have also
remained unchanged over the years and
are elaborate costumes inspired by the
flamboyant 18th-century Andalusian styling.
They are known as “suits of lights” (traje de
luces) and easily distinguished by their use
CLOTHING of sequins, gold and silver threads, and
detailed
As Habsburg Spain grew in power, Spanish embroidery. In addition to these Spanish
fashions such as Spanish capes, costumes for specific performers, every
corsets, and farthingales became popular all region in Spain has its own traditional
over Western Europe. clothing and Spanish dresses. They are
not often worn, but you can often catch a
Farthingales were bell-shaped hoop skirts glimpse of them during regional celebrations
made up of whalebone, cloth, and intricate and parades.
cages of wire underneath women’s clothes. Most traditional Spanish clothing is reserved
The style was cumbersome for for special events and celebrations. The
Renaissance women and it took them hours most common pieces, still used today,
to get dressed. Spanish traditional clothing include: the mantilla, the peineta, and the
was heavily influenced by the Moorish gilet.
culture, which dominated parts of the
Iberian Peninsula from 711 AD until their - The mantilla is a traditional Spanish veil
expulsion in 1492. The Moorish culture piece that is often worn during religious
popularized rich embroideries with the celebrations such as Spanish weddings. It is
introduction of the use of jewels (often as a light lace or silk scarf that is worn over the
buttons) and perfume as well as heavy head or shoulders on a high comb and held
girdles and collars. in place by pins.
- The peineta is a large decorative comb
The color black became popular for special placed in the hair to hold up the mantilla. It
events and both men and women wore is usually tortoiseshell colored with a curved
body and long prongs to increase the three different climate zones in Spain, due to
height. The peineta, used on special
occasions, originated centuries ago making its large size. Visitors can generally expect a
it a traditional piece of Spanish clothing. Mediterranean climate, characterized by hot,
- The Gilet: The word gilet comes from the dry summers and mild, rainy winters. The vast
Spanish word jileco (from Arabic word
yalíka), or chaleco in modern Spanish. It is central plateau, or Meseta, has a more
a sleeveless jacket, much like a waistcoat or continental influenced climate with hot, dry
vest that forms an important part of summers and cold winters. Rain generally
traditional Spanish clothing. Historically they
were fitted and embroidered, and in the 19th falls mostly in spring and autumn. The
century the gilet was a bodice shaped like a mountains surrounding the plateau have a
man’s waistcoat. Contemporary gilets are higher rainfall and often experience heavy
used for additional warmth outdoors. In the
first edition of El Quixote, in 1605, a snowfalls in winter.
diminutive of the word appeared: gilecuelo.
North of
the
Cantabrian
mountains,
the Basqu
e Country,
Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia have a
maritime climate, with cool summers and mild
winters. The weather is often cloudy with
frequent rainfall. On the Mediterranean coast,
the climate is moderate with rain in spring and
autumn. The area around Murcia has an
almost African climate; rainfall is low and
the Calima, or heat haze, is common during
summer. On the Atlantic coast, the summers
are cooler and fairly heavy rainfall occurs
during winter. Inland, the summers are hot
and the rainfall decreases. The Balearic
Islands have a maritime climate, with
cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers.

Required

CLIMATE clothing:
Light- to
medium
There are
weights and rainwear, according to the
season.

Koeppen-Geiger classification:
There are three different climate zones in
Spain. The southwestern and southern area
has a Csa Climate; a warm temperated
Mediterranean climate with dry, warm ARCHITECTURE
summers and moderate, wet winters with the Spain is renowned worldwide for both
warmest month above 22°C over average. its architecture and its architects. In terms
of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Spain is
The western and northwestern coastal areas the country with the second highest amount of
have a Csb Climate that is characterized as a buildings on the list, beaten only by Italy.
warm temperate moist forest climate, with wet
winters, dry summers and the warmest month
Prehistoric
above 22°C on average. The Basque Country, Spanish
Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia have
a Cfb Climate, which is similar to
Architecture
the Csa Climate, but with moist conditions all
year round.

Some of the first people to settle on

the land where Spain stands today, back in
4000BC, built burial chambers out of stone.
The largest of these can be found near to the
city of Antequerra, near Málaga in Spain. The
'Cueva de Menga' is 25 metres deep, 5
metres wide and 4 metres high, and dates
back to around 3000BC.

Celts began to build walled villages,

called Castros, on mountains in the region of
Galicia. Galicia is where you can find many
examples of these Celtic settlements,
including Las Cogotas, in Ávila and the Castro
of Santa Tecla, in Pontevedra.
Roman Spanish Mudejar Style
Architecture

Mudejar architecture is a style of

architecture developed by the Moors left in
Christian Spain, yet who did not convert to the
Christian religion. This style developed from
the 12th Century, right up until the 16th
Century, and even experienced a revival in
the 20th Century by Spanish architect, Lluís
The Romans conquered the Spanish Domènech i Montaner.
peninsular and with them they brought their Mudejar is best known for its
fantastic expertise in civil engineering. The extensive use of brick as the principal building
Romans built a network of roads that linked material. Good examples of Mudejar
many of the major Spanish cities, such as architecture are the synagogues of Santa
Córdoba and Tarragona (or Taraco as it was María la Blanca and El Tránsito in Toledo,
called in Roman times). Spain.

Many bridges and aqueducts were

Romanesque
built in Spain, along with some other useful
buildings, such as the lighthouse at La Spanish
Coruña, which is still in use today.
Architecture
Pre-Romanesque The 10th and 11th Centuries were the
time when Romanesque Spanish

Architecture architecture began to develop in Spain.

However at this time, the architecture was
quite basic; the walls were thick and the use
The Pre-Romanesque period of sculptures was limited. This period is
of Spanish architecture refers to the therefore named the 'First Romanesque'
Christian art produced after the Classical Age, period. The iconic building of Spanish
yet before the Romanesque art period. The Romanesque architecture is the Cathedral of
most well known of which in Spain is Asturian Jaca in Aragon, which contains the typical
art. chessboard style decoration called 'taqueado
jaqués'.
This period was a time of innovation in
structural and design elements. Arches and
lattices became much more common in
buildings in Spain. Later, there was a heavy
Gothic Spanish
Mozarabic influence in architecture in
Asturias, in which the horseshoe shaped arch
Architecture
increased in usage. The 12th Century saw the arrival of
Gothic architecture from Europe in the
Spanish peninsular, yet it was still alternating
with the earlier Romanesque period. The true,
High Gothic style came in the 13th Century.
The Cathedrals of Burgos, Toledo and Leon
were all built in the Gothic style, with heavy
influence from Germany and Italy.

Renaissance
Spanish
Architecture Baroque is a style of architecture that
came to Spain from nearby Italy in the 16th
Century. A vernacular form of the style was
then developed and is the style of architecture
that one can see at the Plaza Mayor in
Madrid.

Some of the best examples

of Baroque architecture in Spain include the
Western Facade of the Cathedral of Santiago
de Compostela, the facades of the University
of Valladolid, and the Hospicio de San
In Spain, at the beginnings of the Fernando in Madrid.
Renaissance architecture period (the end of
the 15th Century), many former Gothic Colonial Spanish
buildings were adapted to meet the new
Renaissance style. The Palace of Charles V,
in Granada, was designed by Pedro Machuca
Architecture
and was very innovative for the time. It The former Spanish colonies in the
incorporated many elements Americas contain some of the finest examples
of Mannerism before the movement had of Hispanic architecture. The mix of Moorish,
developed properly, and was completed way Native American and Spanish elements meant
before the likes of the Italian painter buildings were fantastically blended together.
Michelangelo.
However it was later on during this
era, when the Gothic influences were finally The Americas also developed their
dropped, that Spain's true Renaissance works own Baroque style, which came into its own in
began to emerge. El Escorial, in the town of 1664. Peru exhibited the most extravagant of
San Lorenzo de El Escorial, is the finest the American Baroque styles. The monastery
example of Renaissance Spanish of San Francisco in the capital of Peru, Lima,
architecture. is particularly eccentric with two yellow stone
towers with a dark, detailed facade in the
middle.

Baroque Spanish
Architecture Neoclassical
Spanish
Architecture
 20th and 21st
Century Spanish
Architecture
The 20th Century saw the rise of
Catalan Modernism, a style that incorporated
more natural and organic
elements. Gaudí was the leading Spanish
Neoclassical architecture in Spain architect of this style. He adorned the city of
was promoted by the Madrid school of Barcelona with many fantastic buildings,
architecture, Royal Academy of Fine Arts of including his most famous work, La Sagrada
San Fernando. Neoclassicalist architecture Familia. Lluís Domènech i Montaner is also
was very technical and intellectual. another Spanish architect who developed
the Catalan Modernism movement.
Spain's most famous Neoclassical
architect was Juan de Villanueva. His most Today, there are many budding
famous building in Spain is the Museo del Spanish architects who have passed more
Prado, the art gallery in central Madrid, where into the realms of Modern architecture. Both
you can study Spanish art at its finest. Santiago Calatrava and Rafael Moneo have
19th Century pushed the boundaries of Spanish
architecture both in Spain and abroad.

Spanish
Architecture
The 19th Century was a period for
revival of old architectural styles. Hence, there
were examples of Neo-Gothic architecture,
Neo-Egyptian architecture and Neo-
Romanesque, among others. Spanish
architects would pick and choose their style
depending on its purpose. This led to a new
movement called Eclecticism. Antonio
Palacios is an example of this Eclecticism
style, with the Communications Palace of
Madrid (Palacio de Comunicaciones de
Madrid).

The 19th Century was also the period

of the Industrial Revolution. Buildings began
to incorporate some of the new materials that
this Revolution brought, including glass and
ironwork.
 10. Palacio Real

TOURIST
ATTRACTION
Spain is a surprise to those who have
the image of having to fight for towel
space at one of its crowded beaches
or sipping sangria while watching a
The Palacio Real (Royal Palace)
bull fight or flamenco. From the
of Madrid is the official residence of
ancient monuments left by the
the King of Spain although it is only
Romans and Moors, the medieval
used for state ceremonies. The Royal
castles of the interior, the white
Palace was built between 1738 to
villages in inland Andalucía or the
1755 and King Carlos III took up
vibrant cities
residence in the palace in 1764.
of Barcelona and Madrid, there is a
great mixture of cultural attractions in
Spain. 9. Running of the
The landscape varies just as widely. Bulls Find Hotels
The evergreen estuaries of Galicia
could hardly be more different from
the deserts of Almería or the rugged
mountains of the Sierra Nevada. And
then there are the countless glittering
beaches that dot the Spanish coast.
Although busy in summer even along
the coast of the big tourist Costas
some enjoyable beaches can easily
be found. Here’s a look at the
top tourist attractions in Spain.
flickr/the.joberg

Pamplona is a city in Navarra, Protected from strong winds by steep

famous for its San Fermín festival cliffs and islands, La Concha in San
held each year from July 6th – 14th. Sebastian is said by many to be one
At the heart of the festival is El of the best city beaches in Europe,
Encierro, the Running of the Bulls, an let alone Spain. Here you can go
activity that involves running in front surfing, walk along the promenade in
of a dozen bulls that have been let search of good restaurants and enjoy
loose, on a course of the town’s the beautiful views of the beach.
streets.

8. La Concha
7. Aqueduct of
Segovia

Situated between Madrid and

Valencia, Cuenca is a marvelous
example of a medieval city, built on
the steep sides of a mountain. The
many “hanging houses” are built right
The Aqueduct of Segovia is one of up to the cliff edge, making Cuenca
the best-preserved monuments left one of the most striking towns in
by the Romans in Spain. The ancient Spain, a gem in the province of
aqueduct carries water 16 km (10 Castilla La Mancha.
miles) from the Frío River to Segovia
and was built of some 24,000
massive granite blocks without the
5. Ibiza 
use of mortar. Probably constructed
around 50 AD it still provided water to
the city in the 20th century.

6. Cuenca 
 tourist attractions. It’s a design by
Antoni Gaudí, a Catalan architect
who worked on this project for almost
40 years until his death in 1926. The
construction of the basilica began in
1882 and still as yet not finished.

3. El Escorial

flickr/ST33VO

Ibiza is one of the Balearic Islands in

the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast
of Spain. The island is one of the
most popular party destinations in all
of Europe. During summer, the
island’s population doubles as
tourists flock to Ibiza to enjoy the
night clubs, beach bars and
flickr/Alvaro Oporto
restaurants.
Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra
4. Sagrada Familia  de Guadarrama, El Escorial was the
political center of the Spanish empire
under King Philip II. Philip appointed
Juan Bautista de Toledo as the
architect in 1559 and together they
designed El Escorial as a monument
to Spain’s role as a center of the
Christian world. Today it functions as
a monastery, royal palace, museum,
and school.

2. Mezquita of
The Sagrada Familia is a large
Cordoba 
Roman Catholic church in Barcelona,
and one of Spain’s most visited
 Alhambra is now one of Spain’s
major tourist attractions and many
visitors come to Granada just to see
the Alhambra.

The Mezquita (Spanish for “Mosque”)

of Cordoba is a fascinating building
famous for the forest of pillars and
arches inside the main hall. The site
was originally a Roman temple, then
a Visigothic church, before the
Umayyad Moors built the Mezquita.
After the Spanish Reconquista a
cathedral was built into the center of
the large Moorish building.

1. Alhambra

Part fortress, part palace and part

garden the Alhambra is situated on a
plateau overlooking the city of
Granada in southern Spain. The
palace was constructed in the 14th
century by the Nasrid sultans. The