Spain is a kingdom under the southern sun. Interesting facts about the country, attractions

Spain is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe, with a rich history and many diverse architectural monuments. The idea to spend a vacation in this country is becoming more and more relevant for the majority of Russians.

Every year, thousands of Russian tourists cross the Spanish border, but it must be taken into account that if you are going to visit this country for the first time and have decided to do it yourself, you may face a number of certain difficulties, which will require a lot of time and energy to solve. At the same time, the registration procedure can be greatly simplified by contacting the nearest travel agency, where you will be picked up by the most suitable travel route for you, which allows you to see all the most outstanding sights of the country in a short time.

From this article you will find out where to apply in Moscow for the preparation of all necessary documents, without which a trip to Spain is simply impossible.

Description

The Kingdom of Spain (the capital city of Madrid) is a country located in the South-Western part of Europe and includes 50 provinces.

Due to its rather favorable location, it borders on such large countries as Portugal, Gibraltar, Morocco, France and Andorra (a kingdom north of Spain, striking tourists in its size). Andorra consists of seven districts and covers an area of only 468 km ². The length of its main road is only 35 km. It is noteworthy that you can get there by bus to any ski resort in Andorra in just 30 minutes.

The head of state - King Juan Carlos I, who ascended to the throne in late 1975, reigns so far, therefore, it is his merit that Spain over the past decades has become one of the most successful and beautiful European countries.

Basic data

Everyone who decides to go to Spain must necessarily visit its capital, Madrid, which is, in fact, the main cultural center of the country.
Other major cities of interest to tourism are Barcelona, Zaragoza and Valencia. They are often included in the standard tourist route.

The State of the Spanish Kingdom is 505.9 thousand km ² . At the same time, its territory is inhabited by:

• Castilians;
• The Valencians;
• Andalusians;
• The Asturians;
• Catalans;
• Galician;
• Basques.

Despite such a diversity of peoples, the main language in the country is Spanish, and only in some provinces less common adverbs are used.

Geographical features

The territory occupied by the United Kingdom of Spain, for the most part, is occupied by a complex system of mountains surrounding the only impressive plateau called Meseta. To the north of it pass the Cantabrian Mountains, which are a continuation of the large mountain system of Spain - the Pyrenees, while for tourists only the southern slope is equipped. From the north-east of the plateau stretch the Iberian mountains. It is noteworthy that most of the country's territories are located at an altitude of 600-700 meters above sea level.

The relief of the coast is marked by a significant variety. Here you can find both dunes with cliffs, and long sandy or pebbled beaches. However, despite the fact that most of the coastal areas are cultivated, in some places you can find desert lagoons and marshes.

Culture

Unique museums, galleries and territories recognized as world heritage are the main wealth that the kingdom of Spain can boast of. About the country, whose attractions occupy an impressive part of the territory, you can talk for hours, but the first visit to Spain should definitely visit the country's largest museum - "Prado", the exposition of which is so great that it can not be inspected in one day.

Spain is one of the advanced countries in terms of the development of the educational sphere. There are more than 35 students per thousand inhabitants, which is one of the highest world indices.

Climate

For Spain, climatic contrasts are characteristic. Most of its territory falls under the influence of the subtropical Mediterranean climate, which is characterized by a short winter and a dry and hot summer. In the north, there is a "wet" part of Spain, which receives abundant precipitation in winter and summer, and in other territories there is no more than 800 mm of precipitation a year.

Spain is a kingdom in the central territories of which in summer the temperature during the day is kept within 25-30 degrees, and at night it falls almost half. It is best to visit the country in the period from March to June, as well as from September to October.

In this case, despite the fact that the sea has a significant influence on the temperature fluctuation, it never falls below 10 degrees. Rain is very rare, but, as a rule, pouring.

sights

The Kingdom of Spain, whose sights are famous all over the world, can also boast of its fiestas and corrida, held in all major cities. Of the many historical and architectural values most interesting:

• National Archaeological Museum.
• National Ethnographic Museum.

Population

Spain is a kingdom that directly owes its population to the wave of immigration that took place in the 1970s and 1980s. Then Europe and Latin Americans began to move to the country. A smaller stream of people was seen from North America and selected African regions.

The average life expectancy in the country is about 80 years, which is a fairly good indicator. The level of education of the population is record high and amounts to 97.9%.

It is noteworthy that the stereotype that Spain is a kingdom in which only people of the Latin American type live, is incorrect, because in the country there are separate settlements where people of exclusively Nordic type live.

Spa holidays

The Kingdom of Spain, whose attractions are known all over the world, attracts millions of tourists also thanks to the unique resorts that satisfy any taste. However, the sand on each of the Spanish beaches is different. It can be white, gold or dark gray.

Spain - a kingdom, the main income that brings the tourist sphere. That is why the government is trying to create ideal conditions for the development of tourism. So, for example, all the beaches in the country are public, and anyone can relax on them for free.

The most popular resort areas:

• Costa Brava - a place rich in picturesque bays and sandy beaches. The main vegetation here are pine trees, surrounding not only small villages, but also individual hotels. In some places, sheer cliffs rise directly from the water.
• Costa Dorado. It is famous for its beaches, the sand on which is peculiar, and along the entire coast a special pedestrian zone has been created, due to which the hotels stand on the most remote from the coast territory.
• Costa Blanca. The majority of beaches are characterized by the presence of white sand. This is one of the cleanest areas of the country, received from the EU a reward for the purity of water and beaches. This area is most suitable for a relaxing holiday and windsurfing.
• The Costa del Garraf. Located in the immediate vicinity of Barcelona, which makes it the most attractive for tourists. The entire coast is surrounded by a network of mountain ranges and small bays.
• Balearic Islands. Ideal for a vacation of the wealthiest citizens of Russia.
• The island of Mallorca. Includes more than 75 beaches. It is on it that every year the royal family rests.
• The island of Ibiza is an ideal place for lovers of active pastime and parties.

Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are the most remote part of the Spanish kingdom. The archipelago consists of many islands washed by a cold oceanic current, as a result of which the water temperature rarely exceeds 24 degrees. At the same time, their main feature is that the sand on the beaches has a characteristic gray color as a result of its volcanic origin. Of course, in the Canary Islands there are artificially created beaches, sand on which is specially imported from other countries, but there are very few of them.

The Canary Islands are unique. For example, Lanzarote Island is a reserve of volcanoes, many of which still operate. Vegetation on the island is only artificially planted, there are no cities, and there are only small settlements.

Kingdom of Spain - the most interesting

Types of tourism:

• Excursion . Since the development of Spanish art in the Middle Ages was significantly influenced by the Arabs, for most of the buildings the Oriental style is characteristic. Thus, for example, the Alhambra castle fortress became known throughout the world due to the uniqueness of the building. The fact is that throughout the day, depending on the lighting, its walls change color.

• Skiing . Everyone who likes active rest, if desired, can visit a number of ski resorts, the total length of the trails is 374 km with a difference of altitudes up to 2750 m. The best period for visiting them is from November to April.

• Health-improving. If you want, you can visit both thermal springs and specially designed balneological resorts. It is noteworthy that mineral waters can be used not only for baths, but also for inhalations.

• Beach. This type of holiday annually attracts thousands of tourists to Spain. Some of the beaches are of natural origin. Their distinctive feature is the sand of a dark, almost black color, formed as a result of the destruction of volcanic rocks.

• Ecotourism. In the Canary Islands, you can visit the unique nature reserves, many of which are declared by UNESCO to be the property of mankind.

• Diving . In the waters of the Canary archipelago is a very rich marine fauna, but the most interesting place for fans of underwater pastime is the coast of the island of Gran Canaria. At the same time, a large number of scuba diving schools operate throughout the coast, where one can take a training course and rent all necessary equipment. In addition, under the guidance of a professional instructor you can inspect wrecks and enjoy the unforgettable beauty of the underwater world.

• Windsurfing is the most important sport in Spain. Because of the strong wind, the water areas of the Canary Islands are ideal for windsurfing. A sailing board can be hired on all major beaches of any of the islands.

Three Kingdoms Resort Tour

Tour operators offer a lot of excursion programs for everyone, however, the tour "Three Kingdoms" has gained the most popularity among tourists in recent years. Spain, famous for its architectural sights, can be inspected in detail in just one week.

Where to apply for a visa?

Tourists can get a visa by contacting the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain in Moscow. To do this, you need to make an appointment and pay a consular fee and about 800 rubles for consideration of the papers you provide.

The visa to the Consulate General should be addressed to citizens who are going to study in one of the Spanish educational institutions or want to obtain a visa for a period of more than three months. If the trip is short, it is necessary to issue a Schengen tourist visa, which is issued by the Spanish Consulate.

In order to review and verify all the documents submitted and, as a consequence, to allow or refuse to grant a visa to enter the Kingdom of Spain, the embassy can spend from 10 days to several months. Everything depends on the correctness of the documents, the purpose of the trip and the time that you are going to spend in the country.

What documents do I need to provide?

Regardless of what kind of visa you make out for a trip, the following documents must be submitted to the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain in Russia:

• The questionnaire of the established sample with two glued photos.
• International passport.
• A photocopy of the passport and internal passport with the personal data of the owner.
• Medical insurance.
• A certificate of income from the place of work and a document certifying the currency exchange.

After you collect the documents listed above, you should determine the type of visa that you receive, and collect the missing:

• Tourist . Confirmation of hotel booking, air tickets and credit status.
• Business visa. An invitation from a Spanish firm, with a detailed description of its activities and all the data of the person signing the invitation. In addition, you will also need to confirm your creditworthiness.

Please note that in certain cases, the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Spain in Moscow reserves the right to demand additionally any necessary document. In addition, you should be prepared for the fact that you can simply refuse to issue a visa. However, in this case, the consulate of the Kingdom of Spain must provide an explanation of the reason for the refusal in order that you can eliminate the shortcoming.

If all the documents are in order, you will soon enjoy the amazing beauty of the Spanish sights.