Geography

Area: 504,750 sq. km. (194,884 sq. mi.), including the Balearic and Canary Islands.

Cities: Capital--Madrid (5.5 million). Other cities-- Barcelona (4.9 million), Bilbao (353,950), Malaga (1.3 million), Seville (1.8 million), Valencia (2.3 million), Zaragoza (871,000). Terrain: High plateaus, lowland areas such as narrow coastal plains, and mountainous regions.

Currency: Euros
Electricity: 220 volts, two-pin plug.
Weights & measures: Metric
Languages: Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan-Valenciana 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%
Religion: Predominately Roman Catholic.
Education: Years compulsory--to age 16. Literacy—98% (2003 est.).
Work force (19.2 million): Services—65.1%; agriculture—5.2%; construction—12.5%; industry—17.2% (2005 est.).
Time Zone: One hour ahead of GMT in winter, two hours in summer. Six hours ahead of Eastern Seaboard Time. International Dialling Code: +34

Climate

Summers are hot and more moderate and cloudy along the coast; winters are cold and partly cloudy and cool along the coast.

Average temperature: 10º C (54º F) in winter, 25º C (75º F) in summer. December and January have the lowest temperatures, though the cold is often accompanied by bright sunshine. Rains tend to be in November and February/March. Spring and autumn are pleasant with mild, sunny days.

Government

Spain is a constitutional monarchy headed by King Juan Carlos I, who came to the throne in 1975. He appoints the prime minister from the party which has a majority in the Cortes (parliament).

Political parties: Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE), Popular Party (PP), and the United Left (IU) coalition. Key regional parties are the Convergence and Union (CIU) in Catalonia and the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) in the Basque country.

The Chamber of Deputies (Lower House) with 350 member elected by proportional representation every four years. The 14 Autonomous Regions (of which Barcelona is one) elect 49 members to the Senate (Upper House). The Autonomous region of Catalonia is governed by the Generalitat in Barcelona, opposite which is the Ajuntament (Town Hall), where the mayor and the city council preside.

Economy

GDP (2005): $955.1 billion in current prices (seventh-largest Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development--OECD--economy).
Annual growth rate: 3.5%.
Per capita GDP: $22,421.
Natural resources: Coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, mercury, pyrites, fluorspar, gypsum, zinc, lead, tungsten, copper, kaolin, hydroelectric power.

Entry Regulations

With a Schengen visa, you may enter one country and travel freely throughout the Schengen zone.

Internal border controls have disappeared; there are no or few stops and checks.
This means that internal air, road and train travel are handled as domestic trips, similar to travel from one US state to another.
If you do not have a Schengen visa or citizenship a passport is required. U.S. citizens can stay without a visa for a tourist/business stay of up to 90 days.

That period begins when you enter any of the Schengen countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.

If your passport is lost or stolen report it immediately to the National Police.
Visas are need by non-EU nationals, unless their country has a reciprocal arrangement with Spain.

Animal quarantine: There are no regulations in Spain but you will need health certificates before you bring your own animal into the country: regulations vary according to country of origin; the airline with which you are travelling should be able to provide the information required.

What should you bring?

In genarlly spanish people dress elegantly, though it been known that men rarely wear ties. In July and August cotton and loose-fitting garments are necessary. Respect local traditions: bathing costumes and bikinis are strictly for the beach. Fashionable shorts are fine, especially for men, but avoid really short shorts.