The most well-known variety of Spanish folk music is likely flamenco, a diverse genre created by Andalusian Roma. Flamenco is known since at least the 1770s, and has been through several cycles of dwindling popularity and rebirth. The style has produced many of the most famous Spanish musicians, including singer Camarón de la Isla and guitarist Carlos Montoya. Outside of flamenco, regional Spanish folk music includes the distinct Basque trikitrixa and accordion music, Galician and Asturian gaita (bagpipe) and Aragonese jota. Though some folk traditions have died out or are moribund, some retain great popularity and have been modernized and adapted to new instruments, styles and formats. These include the popular Celtic music of Galicia, the singer-songwriter tradition of nova canço and New Flamenco.
Mainland Spain is dominated by high plateaus and mountain ranges such as the Pyrenees or the Sierra Nevada. Running from these heights are several major rivers such as the Tajo, the Ebro, the Duero, the Guadiana and the Guadalquivir. Alluvial plains are found along the coast, the largest of which is that of the Guadalquivir in Andalusia, in the east there are alluvial plains with medium rivers like Segura, Júcar and Turia. Spain is bound to the east by Mediterranean Sea (containing the Balearic Islands), to the north by the Bay of Biscay and to its west by the Atlantic Ocean, where the Canary Islands off the African coast are found.
In 1499, about 50,000 Moors in Granada were coerced by Cardinal Cisneros into mass baptisms and conversion. During the uprising that followed (known as the First Rebellion of the Alpujarras), people who refused the choices of baptism or deportation to Africa, were systematically eliminated. What followed was a mass flee of Moors, Jews and Gitanos from Granada city and the villages to the mountain regions (and their hills) and the rural country, however by 1500 Cisneros reported that "There is now no one in the city who is not a Christian, and all the mosques are churches".
The Napoleonic invasion gave the opportunity to the American colonies, led by Libertadores, to claim their independence. Between 1810 and 1824, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and the other colonies declared and won their independence. The only New World colonies Spain was left with were the islands of Cuba and Puerto Rico. The Allies fought Napoleon's forces in the Peninsular War, with Joseph Bonaparte ruling as king at Madrid. In 1812 the Cortes took refuge at Cádiz and created the first modern Spanish constitution, the Constitution of 1812 (informally named La Pepa).
Spain remained officially neutral in World Wars I and II, but suffered through a devastating Civil War (1936-39). During Franco's rule, Spain remained largely economically and culturally isolated from the outside world, but slowly began to catch up economically with its European neighbors. Under Franco, Spain actively sought the return of Gibraltar by the UK, and gained some support for its cause at the United Nations. During the 1960s, Spain began imposing restrictions on Gibraltar, culminating in the closure of the border in 1969. It was not fully reopened until 1985.
Through a policy of alliances with other European nobility and the conquest of most of South America and the West Indies, Spain began to establish itself as an empire. The Treaty of Tordesillas, negotiated by Pope Alexander VI between Portugal and Spain, effectively divided up the non-European world between these two budding empires. Massive amounts of gold and silver were imported from the New World into Spain's coffers. However, in the long run this hurt the Spanish economy much more than it helped it. The bullion caused high inflation rates, which undermined the value of Spain's currency. Additionally, Spain became dependent on her colonies for income, and when Queen Elizabeth I of England began to capture Spanish vessels on the way to and from the New World, Spain suffered massive economic losses. These effects, combined with the expulsion of Spain's most economically vital classes in the late 15th century (the Jews and the Moors), caused Spain's economy to collapse several times in the 16th century, bringing the Golden Age of Spain to a close.
Spain suffered a shocking terrorist attack, the March 11, 2004 Madrid attacks on its capital's commuter train network, killing 200. Al-Qaeda has been blamed for this attack. Some have attributed the fall of the Aznar government to this attack, which took place just two days before the 2004 elections. At first the public believed ETA was responsible for the bombing. When they learned Al-Qaeda was the true culprit, many voters lashed out at the media and Aznar's government, believing the two had colluded to deceive the public.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, Germanic tribes invaded the former empire, several turned sedentary and created successor-kingdoms to the Romans in various parts of Europe. Iberia was taken over by the Visigoths after 410.In the Iberian peninsula, as elsewhere, the Empire fell not with a bang but with a whimper. Rather than there being any convenient date for the "fall of the Roman Empire" there was a progressive "de-Romanization" of the Western Roman Empire in Hispania and a weakening of central authority, throughout the 3rd, 4th and 5th centuries. At the same time, there was a process of "Romanization" of the Germanic and Hunnic tribes settled on both sides of the limes (the fortified frontier of the Empire along the Rhine and Danube rivers). The Visigoths, for example, were converted to Arian Christianity around 360, even before they were pushed into imperial territory by the expansion of the Huns. In the winter of 406, taking advantage of the frozen Rhine, the (Germanic) Vandals and Sueves, and the (Asiatic) Alans invaded the empire in force. Three years later they crossed the Pyrenees into Iberia and divided the Western parts, roughly corresponding to modern Portugal and western Spain as far as Madrid, between them. The Visigoths meanwhile, having sacked Rome two years earlier, arrived in the region in 412 founding the Visigothic kingdom of Toulouse (in the south of modern France) and gradually expanded their influence into the Iberian peninsula at the expense of the Vandals and Alans, who moved on into North Africa without leaving much permanent mark on Hispanic culture. The Visigothic kingdom shifted its capital to Toledo and reached a high point during the reign of Leovigild, treated in some detail at its own entry.
Except for the subtropical Canary Islands, Spain can be divided into areas experiencing, respectively, a Mediterranean climate; a climate dominated by the Atlantic Ocean; and (in the inner areas) a rather extreme climate with hotter summers and colder winters than nearer the coasts. The generally warm and relatively dry summers have led to a culture in which a lot of life is lived outdoors, whether on a patio in the courtyard of a building or on a public plaza. In Madrid, many of the most popular nightclubs move for several months in the summer to an outdoor terrasa much farther from the center of town than their indoor winter location, continuing in a way the older tradition of the verbena (fair). In the Mediterranean areas (and in the Canary Islands), outdoor meals can be a nearly year-round phenomenon.
Roman Catholicism is, by far, the most popular religion in the country, with four in five Spaniards (80%) self-identifying as Catholics. The next group (one in eight, or 12%) is represented by atheists or agnostics. Minority religions account for one in seventy (1.4%) of all Spaniards.
The dictatorship of Miguel Primo de Rivera collapsed in 1930. Disgusted with the king's involvement in it, urban population voted for republican parties in the municipal elections of April 1931. The king was forced to resign and a republic was established.
Spain was part of the Roman Empire and many areas of Spain retain significant Roman architectural remnants. The Roman aqueduct at Segovia is still in use as of 2004; Mérida, now the Extermaduran capital but once the capital of the Roman province of Lusitania, retains over 5 miles of its Roman aqueduct, Roman bridge over the River Guadiana, an arch of Trajan, and significant remnants of a Roman forum, amphitheatre, and a temple popularly accounted to have been dedicated to Diana (goddess). Another Roman bridge crosses the Tagus River at Alcántara. Lesser Roman ruins can be found in the heart of Barcelona.
1.
Buy Property Spain. Buying Spanish Property as an investmentBuy Property Spain. Buying a property in Spain as an investment ... BUY PROPERTY SPAIN. Spanish property is a really interesting investment; one of the reasons ...
2.
Property Investment Spain : Property investment in SpainArticles, tips, guides and advice on buying investment property in Spain ... are considering buying a property in Spain as an investment, now is the time to ...
3.
Investment Property Spain La GomeraInvestment Property Spain Pueblo Don Thomas is a top-quality residential development ... for an Investment Property for sale in Spain , you have come ...
4.
Medina Elvira, Granada... Granada, offering an outstanding investment opportunity with options of upto ... Home > Spain > Property > Investment : Medina Elvira, Granada. Not registered? ...
5.
Investment Property In SpainInvestment property in Spain including guidance on Spanish property investment and affordable ... International Property Investment Network (IPIN) and Spain ...
6.
investment property spain for investment property in spainInvestment Property Spain are experts in Spanish investment property. ... Our team at Investment Property Spain offer you a wealth of experience. ...
7.
Investment Property in Portugal, Algarve and SpainMany foreigners look for investment property in Portugal, Algarve and Spain because of its proven ability to provide steady returns and capital growth.
8.
Property Investment in Spain - Spanish Property Investment Guide... Spanish Property. Secrets of Offplan Property Investment in ... Property in Spain Investment. Introduction: Investing in Spain. 400M Real Estate Investor ' ...
9.
Ward & Co Property InvestmentsProviding property investment opportunities in the U.K. and overseas for members ... Still Buoyant For investors with properties in Spain the press and media would ...
10.
Investment Property SpainLooking for an investment property in Spain? ... Off plan property investment in Spain offers further opportunities for profit. ...
11.
Property in Spain / Costa Blanca Property / Costa Calida PropertyNew Homes and Off Plan Investment Property in Spain on the Costa Blanca and Costa Calida. ... 2007 - 2008 Novocasa Property Investment Spain SL NIF: B-84654086 ...
12.
Propertysinspain.comOffers Spanish properties for sale, including apartments, townhouses, villas, ... We have thousands of properties in our portfolio for Spain, so if you can't find ...
13.
Buying Spanish Property - Spanish Properties and more... Finding your ...... holiday apartment, a property investment opportunity, or a ... Investment property. Legal advice. Mortgages. Moving to Spain. Property insurance. Renting ...
14.
Property in Spain - Spanish Property For Sale... property in Spain, we have thousands of properties in Spain ... Investment property. Find property in... Spain property news. Buyers Market In Spain ...
15.
Investment property Spain | Spanish property investmentInvestment property Spain from Sol Seeker the Spanish property ... Investment ... to find the best investment property Spain has to offer in the ...
16.
Property Investment in Luxury Villas and Apartments Worldwide Spain ...Investment Property for sale worldwide.Luxury new Villas and Apartments in Spain Turkey Dubai Cyprus Bulgaria Florida Morocco.
17.
Investment properties SpainSpanish property, properties in Andalucia in Spain including town houses, finca, ... Watch your Spanish investment property grow. ...
18.
50 Essential property secretsArticles, tips, guides and advice on buying investment property in Spain ... Property Investment Spain. Blauverd London office: 126 Wigmore Street. W1U 3RZ. London. ...
19.
Property Investment Spain | Property Spain | Investment properties In ...Property Abroad sell investment property in Spain direct from agents, developers ... wonder Spain still leads the way for overseas property investment opportunities. ...
20.
Spanish property investment advice - golf, beach front, ski, overseas ...Spanish property advice by Property Investment on Spanish ... Investment property in Spain. Property investment potential has been another important factor. ...
21.
Spanish investment propertiesThe best website for investment properties for sale in Spain from the Costa del Sol through to the Costa Blanca from key ready developments to off plan properties
22.
Property Investment Spain : Overseas Property SpainCompass Worldwide. The experts in sourcing investment property overseas in Spain, offering sound advice and safe solutions for clients.
23.
Investment Spanish property | Property for investing in Spain for saleInvestment property for sale in Spain whether in be for long term or short term investments. ... properties in Spain is always going to generate an instant investment ...
24.
Investment Property - SpainSpanish investment property. Invest in Spanish Property on the Costa Blanca , ... Investment Property in Spain ... thinking about investment property in Spain. ...
25.
! Spanish Investment Property ~ ~ Spanish Property ~ ~ Updated: 21-08-2008UK 01491 574807 or Download Spanish Investment Property ... Rural Spanish Property Spain. Spanish Golf Villa. Spanish Investment Property ...
26.
Property in Spain - Spanish Property For SaleYour Portal for finding Property for sale in Spain ... View our portfolio of Costa Almeria investment properties with stunning sea views. ...
27.
Assetz Spain - Property Investment and Holiday Homes in SpainGet new Spain properties as soon as they are added by subscribing to our RSS feed ... Our international property investment tracker is unique in the world and used by ...
28.
Costa Del Sol Property | Property in Costa Del SolGetting a Mortgage in Spain. INVESTMENT PROPERTY. Recommended Investments. New Development Guide ... INVESTMENT PROPERTY IN SPAIN ...
29.
Spain Property Overview - Why Invest in Property in Spain? - Aquarius ...Why Invest in Property in Spain? Learn the reasons why the Spanish market ... An excellent place to buy abroad for both lifestyle and investment purposes. ...
30.
Spain property sales, Spain investment property sales, Spain property ...Spain investment property sales, property for sale, buy to let investment, holiday homes & retirement properties for sale in Spain
31.
PropertyInvestment.co.ukOffering a range of property investment services on lifestyle and investment property in the U.K. and overseas, including sourcing, analysis, financing, and ...
32.
Worldwide Property Sales (U.K.) Ltd.Featuring worldwide residential property listings. ... to buy a property for Residential, Holidays, Investment or Commercial, may we help you find it? ...
33.
Property Investments | Emerging Markets | Land for Sale | Residential ...Overseas property broker offering a selection of well-researched opportunities with genuine investment potential, in some of the most attractive emerging and ...
34.
Investment Property Forum - TotallyProperty.com For Overseas Investment ...Totally Property is a new investment property forum that caters for its ... annual visitors to Spain makes the Spanish Investment property market a wise and ...
35.
spanish property & real estate investmentSpanish property & real estate investment. Buy to Let properties and ... FAIRDEALSPAIN - Make sure your next property investment in Spain is a Fair Deal ...
36.
MRI Overseas Property Exhibition | Investment Property Abroad ...... from MRI Overseas Property, offering a wide choice of properties worldwide. ... Marbella (Málaga) 29600 SpainProfessional Associations of MRI Overseas Property ...
37.
Investment Property Murcia | Investment Property Costa Calida ...Investment Properties Milton Keynes and Corby, Spanish investment property, Spain, Turkey, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Portugal, commercial, apartments, bungalows and villas.
38.
Property Investment in SpainVillas, apartments, houses, holiday homes, townhouses, businesses and land for sale in Spain. ... What is the average required investment in these properties? ...
Investment Property Spain and Spain online resources.