The country is the 3rd country of Europe in extension and the 5th in population.
There are five big mountain ranges crossing the country, and about 50% of it is located at an elevated plain.
The best known among Spain's folkloristical traditions are of course bullfights and Flamenco. Bullfights can be found to exist throughout the country. The most popular event of all is perhaps the "Running of Bulls" during the fiestas de Sanfermin in Pamplona, but bullfights all are part of any fiesta Española.
Another amazing Fiesta, is "Las Fallas de San José" taking place in March of every year in the city of Valencia, when all the city becomes the scenery of a huge party with plenty of good mood and spectacular fireworks.
You can also spend a wild week in San Sebastian during February, when La Tamburrada takes place. Madrid has its own particular Fiesta called, "San Isidro", in May. If you´re into bullfights, don't miss it. Carnival is popular throughout the entire country. The best kind of Carnival can be found in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, but if you stay at the peninsula, then Cadiz and Sitges are the places to be at.
If you want to really get to know more about Spain, come and study / work/ live here.
Shopping
Shopping hours vary between region, city, town and type of commercial establishment. Tiny stores are usually open between 8.30 in the morning and 9.30 at night (or earlier for food shops) from Monday to Friday, and from 09.30 until 2 on Saturdays. Some shops are closed on Monday’s during the morning.
In southern Spain, the siesta lasts from 1.30 or 2 till 5 o´clock. Department stores, hypermarkets and lots of supermarkets are open without taking a break for a siesta from around 9.30 or 10.00, until between 8 at night and 10 o’clock from Monday to Saturday.
You can find indoor markets, called mercados, as well as permanent street markets and travelling open-air street markets which move from area to area. Prices are usually 20% lower than in regular shops, so don’t forget to bargain!
Markets are normally open from 09.00 until 2 in the afternoon and sell a great variety of goods such as the following: food, flowers, clothes, shoes, crockery, cookware, household wares, carpets, jewellery, linen, ceramics, cassettes/CDs, arts and crafts, etc. Watch out for known name brands, as they are usually copies of the real thing.
Typical Spanish things to buy:
The best products to buy in Spain are handmade items such as ceramics, pottery, woodwork, embroidery and paintings. Leather goods from Spain are also good quality and good value for money but not very cheap. Arts and craft have survived better in Spain than in other countries in Western European countries.
Parks
Spain has more wild and beautiful places than any other country in Europe.
A total of 1,226 square kms. of the 500,000 that make up Spain have been set aside as National Parks. The Spanish Pyrenees holds some of the best wildlife habitats in Europe, with alpine wildlife merging with Mediterranean to provide a wealth of interest and activity. You should also go and see the green mountains along the north Atlantic coast, In the Picos de Europa, the National Park of La Montaqa de Covadonga, and all the way in the south of the country, Doqana, which is a stunning, but very fragile, bird sanctuary.
Other places of interests in Spain
Spain has in total seven unique national parks:
Tablas de Daimiel. Called"wet La Mancha," which represents an interior wetlands in which more than 200 species of birds can be observed.
Aigües Tortes and Lago de Sant Maurici. Means "twisted waters." Rugged Pyrenean highlands.
Caqadas del Teide. These are volcanic highlands with amazing landscapes and flora.
Timanfaya. These are recent volcanic landscapes.
Caldera de Taburiente
Garajonay. In the Canary Islands, the most important remaining laurisylvan forests.
Marmmo-Terrestre. Spain's newest. The largest non-populated island in the Mediterranean.