LocationWestern Europe.
Area505,988 sq km (195,363 sq miles); includes Spanish North Africa.
Population44.1 million (official figures, 2005).
Population Density87.15 per sq km.
CapitalMadrid.
Population: 5.5 million (2005).
GovernmentParliamentary Monarchy since 1978.
Recent history: Spain’s right-of-center Popular Party (PP) won a clear majority in Parliament in 2000 and was comfortably ahead in the polls before the 2004 general elections. Three days before
the elections, however, devastating terrorist attacks by Islamic extremists in Madrid killed 191 people and threw the political situation into turmoil. Unexpectedly, the Spanish Socialist Workers Party won the election and formed a minority Government under new Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. In April, Zapatero was sworn in, and he immediately ordered Spanish troops to be withdrawn from Iraq. One of Spain’s most serious domestic issues continues to be tension in the northern Basque region. The Supreme Court finally approved a government request for a permanent ban on the Basque separatist party Batasuna in March 2003, despite the party’s persistent denial that it is terrorist group ETA’s political wing. In May 2005, the government offered peace talks with ETA on condition that the group disarms.
LanguageSpanish (Castillian), Catalan (in the northeast), Galician (in the northwest) and Basque (in the north).
ReligionThere is no official religion, but the majority of the population is Roman Catholic.
TimeMainland Spain/Balearics: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
The Canary Islands: GMT (GMT + 1 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
Electricity220 or 225 volts AC, 50Hz. Generally, round two-pin plugs and screw-type lamp fittings are in use.
Head of GovernmentJosé Luis Rodríguez Zapatero since 2004.
Head of StateKing Juan Carlos I since 1975.
TelephoneIDD is available. Country code: 34. Emergency calls: 112. Area codes are incorporated within a nine digit number. The following are a selection of codes for major centers: Madrid 91, Alicante 96, Balearic Islands 971, Barcelona 93, Benidorm 96, Bilbao 94, Granada 958, Málaga and Torremolinos 95, Las Palmas 928, Santander 942, Seville 95, Tenerife 922 and Valencia 96
Mobile TelephoneRoaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good throughout most of the country.
InternetThere is a variety of Internet cafes in most urban areas.
MediaBroadcasting in Spain has witnessed a spectacular expansion in recent years with the emergence of new commercial operators and the launch of digital services.
PostThere are efficient internal and international postal services to all countries. Airmail within Europe usually takes around five days.
PressLocal newspapers published in English include the
Costa Blanca News,
Majorca Daily Bulletin and the English-language edition of
Sur (weekly). Spanish dailies with large circulations include
ABC (website:
www.abc.es),
El Marca (sports only),
El Mundo (website:
www.elmundo.es),
El País (website:
www.elpais.es),
El Perodico de Catalunya (website:
www.elperiodico.com),
La Razon (website:
www.larazon.es) and
La Vanguardia (website:
www.lavanguardia.es).
RadioTVE operates
La Primera, La 2, TVE Internacionale and
Channel 24.
Tele Conco, Antena 3 and
Cuatro are national, commercial networks.
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.
2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
6 Jan* Epiphany.
19 Mar* San Jose.
5 Apr* Maundy Thursday.
6 Apr Good Friday.
1 May Labor Day.
15 Aug Assumption.
12 Oct National Day.
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
6 Dec Constitution Day.
8 Dec Immaculate Conception.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
6 Jan* Epiphany.
19 Mar* San Jose.
20 Mar* Maundy Thursday.
21 Mar Good Friday.
1 May Labor Day.
15 Aug Assumption.
12 Oct National Day.
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
6 Dec Constitution Day.
8 Dec Immaculate Conception.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
(a) *These holidays may be replaced by the autonomous communities with another date.
(b) Additional dates are celebrated as regional public holidays. These vary from region to region.
Contact Information:Spanish Embassy in the UK39 Chesham Place, London SW1X 8SB, UK
Tel: (020) 7235 5555.
Website:
www.mae.es Spanish Consulate in the UK20 Draycott Place, London SW3 2RZ, UK
Tel: (020) 7589 8989
or 0906 550 8970 (recorded visa information; calls cost £1 per minute)
or (020) 7594 4904 (to make an appointment).
Website:
www.conspalon.orgOpening hours: Mon-Fri 0915-1415 (closed Spanish national holidays; visa information by appointment only).
Spanish National Tourist Office in the UKPO Box 4009, London W1A 6NB, UK
Tel: (020) 7486 8077
or 0845 940 0180 (24-hour brochure request line; calls cost 60p per minute).
Website:
www.spain.infoEmbassy and Consulate of the Kingdom of Spain in the USA2375 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA
Tel: (202) 728 2340
or 30 (consulate).
Website:
www.spainemb.org Spanish Tourist Office in the USA666 Fifth Avenue, Btwn 52nd and 53rd Street, 35th Floor, New York, NY 10103, USA
Tel: (212) 265 8822.
Website:
www.okspain.org
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