Fact 1: The Tomato Capital of Europe
Spain takes tomatoes very seriously, hosting what might be the largest annual tomato fight in the world, La Tomatina. In the town of Buñol near Valencia, the streets turn red as celebrities and tourists alike gather to throw around 145,000 kg of tomatoes. This event takes place on the last Wednesday of August!
Fact 2: Siesta Time is Real
In Spain, the afternoon rest or nap, known as "siesta," is a tradition mostly in the rural areas. This practice dates back hundreds of years when manual laborers needed a break from the intense midday heat. However, in the contemporary world, the tradition has reduced significantly due to the demands of modern working habits.
Fact 3: Spain's Contribution to Culinary Delight: Tapas
Spain is the birthplace of tapas, small appetizers or snacks served with drinks at bars. The word "tapa" literally means "cover" or "lid" and it's said that slices of bread or meat were used to cover drinks and protect them from flies.
Fact 4: Home to One of the Oldest Languages in Europe
The Basque language, known locally as Euskera, is one of Europe's oldest languages. It is still spoken today, primarily in Basque Country and Navarre. Remarkably, it predates the Romance languages and has unknown origins.
Fact 5: The Second-Largest Country in Europe
Spain, after France, is the second largest country in the EU, compiling an impressive landmass of approximately 505,990 square km. Despite its size, Spain is thinly populated compared to other European nations, with just over 46 million inhabitants.
Fact 6: No Tooth Fairy Here, Just a Mouse!
In Spain, kids don't look for the tooth fairy when they lose a tooth. Instead, they await Ratoncito Pérez, a small mouse who’s said to sneak into children's rooms and exchange their lost teeth for surprises.
Fact 7: Master of Renewable Energy
Spain is a global leader in wind power, and in 2010, became the first country in the world to have wind turbines as its main source of power. To this day, Spain continues to invest largely in renewable energy sources.
Fact 8: A Land of Festivals
Spain has more festivals celebrated annually than any other European country. Some of the most popular include the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, the Fallas in Valencia and Carnival in Tenerife.
Fact 9: Your Christmas Bonus Could Get Extremely Lucky
Spain is home to the world's largest lottery draw, the Spanish Christmas Lottery, called "El Gordo" (The Fat One). It has the largest total prize pool of any lottery, with the 2020 edition amounting to €2.41 billion!
Fact 10: Spain's Calendar Has Two Valentine's Days
Along with February 14th, Spain also celebrates love on the 9th of October, "El Dia de San Dionisio", in the Valencia region. It is also known as the "Day of the Valencians".
Fact 11: Home to the West's Oldest Restaurant
Restaurant Botin, located in Madrid, has been serving food since 1725 and is recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest existing restaurant.
Fact 12: The Kingdom of Castles
Spain is estimated to have around 3,000 castles, thanks to rich history that includes Roman conquest, Islamic invasions, and Christian Reconquista. Some are in ruins but others are well-preserved and open to the public.
Fact 13: Flamenco: A Gift from Spain to Dance World
This passionate, beautiful dance style comes from Spain's Andalusian region and was declared a World Heritage treasure by UNESCO in 2010.
Fact 14: Quick Meal? Think Again!
Spanish meal times breach etiquette rules in most other cultures, with lunch times starting from around 2 pm till 4pm, and dinner not being served until 9am onwards.
Fact 15: A City Within a City
Spain houses the city of LlÃvia which, interestingly, is entirely enclosed by French land. It’s a result of a treaty signed in the 17th century and makes for a fascinating geographical quirk.
Fact 16: The Legend of Hercules
It’s believed by some that the Rock of Gibraltar was part of the 12 labors of Hercules. According to the legend, Hercules had to pass between the rock (the other being Mount Hacho, replaced by Jebel Musa in modern interpretations) marking the limit to the known world.
Fact 17: Leader in Organ Donation
Spain has the highest organ donation rates in the world, at 46.9 donors per million inhabitants as per data of 2017.
Fact 18: A Hot Geological Wonder
NÃjar, a small town in AlmerÃa, is the driest place in mainland Europe. The nearby Tabernas Desert served as a backdrop for many famous Spaghetti Western films in the 60's.
Fact 19: Land of Many Peninsulas
Spain is situated on the Iberian Peninsula, but interestingly, it includes two more - the Palos and Pagasetic Peninsulas.
Fact 20: The Spanish Anthem has No Words
Marcha Real, the national anthem of Spain, is one of only four anthems in the world that has no official lyrics. This instrumental anthem dates back to the 18th century.