spain

a parliamentary monarchy in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula

a former colonial power

Spain infobox

History - ''Main article: History of Spain''

Prehistory - The aboriginal peoples of the Iberian peninsula, consisting of a number of separate tribes, are given the generic name of Iberians. This may have included the Basque peopleBasques, the only pre-Celtic people in Iberia surviving to the present day as a separate ethnic group. The most important culture of this period is that of the city of Tartessos. Beginning in the 9th century BC, Celtic tribes entered the Iberian peninsula through the Pyrenees and settled throughout the peninsula, becoming the Celtiberians.The seafaring Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians successively settled along the Mediterranean coast and founded trading colonies there over a period of several centuries.Around 1,100 BC Phoenician merchants founded the trading colony of Gadir or Gades (modern day Cádiz) near Tartessos. In the 8th century BC the first Greek colonies, such as Emporion (modern Empúries), were founded along the Mediterranean coast on the East, leaving the south coast to the Phoenicians. The Greeks are responsible for the name Iberia, after the river Iber (Ebro in Spanish). In the 6th century BC the Carthaginians arrived in Iberia while struggling with the Greeks for control of the Western Mediterranean. Their most important colony was Carthago Nova (Latin name of modern day Cartagena, SpainCartagena).

Roman Empire - The Ancient RomeRomans arrived in the Iberian peninsula during the Second Punic war in the 2nd century BC, and annexed it under Augustus after two centuries of war with the Celtic and Iberian tribes and the Phoenician, Greek and Carthaginian colonies becoming the province of Hispania. It was divided in Hispania Ulterior and Hispania Citerior during the late Roman Republic; and, during the Roman Empire, Hispania Taraconensis in the northeast, Hispania Baetica in the south and Lusitania in the southwest.Hispania supplied the Roman Empire with food, olive oil, wine and metal. The emperors Trajan, Hadrian and Theodosius I, the philosopher Seneca the YoungerSeneca and the poets Martial and Lucan (poet)Lucan were born in Spain. The Spanish Bishops held the Council at Elvira in 306.Most of Spain's present languages, religion, and laws originate from this Roman period.

Muslim Spain - ''Main articles: ''Al-Andalus and ReconquistaIn the 8th century, nearly all the Iberian peninsula, which had been under Visigothic rule, was quickly conquered (from 711), by Muslims (the Moors), who had crossed over from North Africa, as part of the expansion of the Umayyad empire. Only three small counties in the north kept their independence: Asturias, Navarra and Aragon, which eventually became kingdoms.Very soon the Muslim emirate split into small kingdoms. Christian and Muslim kingdoms fought and allied among themselves, with the Christians driving the Moorish forces out of the northern most parts of the peninsula within a few decades. The Muslim taifa kings competed in patronage of the arts, and Golden age of Jewish culture in Spainthe Jewish population of Iberia set the basis of Sephardic culture. Much of Spain's distinctive art originates from this seven-hundred-year period, and many Arabic words made their way into Castilian (Spanish) and Catalan, and from them to other European languages.The Moorish capital was Córdoba, SpainCórdoba, in the southern portion of Spain known as Andalucía. During the time of Arab occupation, most of the Iberian peninsula was in relative peace, with large populations of Jews, Christians and Muslims living in close quarters, and at its peak some non-Muslims were appointed to high offices. At its best it produced great architecture, art, and great Muslim and Jewish scholars played a great part in reviving the study of ancient Greek philosophy, making their own important contributions to it, and becoming one of the most important ways by which these studies were revived in Europe, with historic consequences. However there were also restrictions and imposts on non-Muslims, which tended to grow after the death of Al-Hakam III in 976, and worsened after the fall of Al-Andalus in 1031. Later waves of stricter Muslim groups from north Africa even led to some persecutions of non-Muslims, forcing some (including some Muslim scholars) to seek safety in the then still relatively tolerant city of Toledo, SpainToledo after its Christian conquest in 1085. ]]The long, convoluted period of expansion of the Christian kingdoms, beginning in 722, only eleven years after the Moorish invasion, is called the Reconquista. As early as 739, the northwestern region of Galicia, which hosted one of the most important centres of western medieval Christian pilgrimage, Santiago de Compostela, had been liberated from Moorish occupation by forces from neighbouring Asturias. The 1085 conquest of the central city of Toledo had largely brought to an end the reconquest of the northern half of Iberia. The Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212 heralded the collapse, within a few decades, of the great Moorish strongholds, such as Seville and Córdoba, SpainCórdoba, in the south-west. By the middle of the thirteenth century most of the Iberian peninsula had been reconquered, leaving only Granada as a small tributary state in the south. It ended in 1492, when Isabel I of CastileIsabella and Ferdinand II of AragonFerdinand captured the southern city of Granada, the last Moorish city in Spain. The Treaty of Granada cyberistan.org guaranteed religious toleration toward Muslims while Sephardic JewsJews were expelled that year. A 1499 Muslim uprising was crushed and was followed by the first of the expulsions of Muslims, in 1502, from Isabel's and Ferdinand's new, combined, Christian kingdom. The year 1492 was also marked by the discovery of the New World. The queen and the king funded the history changing voyages of Columbus. The defeats of the French army, by relying more on well trained regular soldiers and the heavy use of hand guns and cannon against armoured knights, in the Italian Wars from 1494, saw the emergance of the new kingdom as a European superpower.

Renaissance in Spain - Until the late of the 15th century, Castile and Léon, Aragon and Navarre were independent states, with independent languages, monarchs, armies and, in the case of Aragon and Castile, two empires: the former with one in the Mediterranean and the new, rapidly growing one in the Americas. The process of political unification continued into the early sixteenth century. It was the unification of these seperate Iberian empires that became the base of what is in now referred to as the Spanish Empire.By 1512, most of the kingdoms of present-day Spain were politically unified, although not as a modern, centralized state (in contemporary minds, "Spain" was a geographic term meaning Iberian Peninsula, not the present-day state called Spain). The grandson of Isabella and Ferdinand, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor but called in Spain Carlos I, extended his crown to other places in Europe and the rest of the world. The unification of Iberia was complete when Charles V's son, Philip II of SpainPhilip II, became King of Portugal in 1580, as well as of the other Iberian Kingdoms (collectively known as "Spain" at that time).During the 16th century, under the reigns of Charles V and Philip II, Spain became the most powerful nation in Europe. The Spanish Empire covered most territories of South AmericaSouth and Central America, Mexico, some of Asia - PacificEastern Asia (including The Philippines), the Iberian peninsula (including Portugal and its empire from 1580), southern Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands.It was also the wealthiest nation in Europe, but the uncontrolled influx of goods and minerals from Spanish colonization of the AmericasSpain's colonies in the Americas resulted in rampant inflation and economic depression. Religious wars supported by the Spanish crown, especially in the Netherlands, further burdened the empire's economy. ]]In 1640, under Philip IV of SpainPhilip IV, the centralist policy of the Count-Duke of Olivares provoked wars in Portugal and Catalonia. Portugal became an independent kingdom again, taking with it its empire, and Catalonia enjoyed some years of French-supported independence but was quickly returned to the Spanish Crown, except Roussillon.A series of long and costly wars and revolts followed in the early 17th century, and began a steady decline of Spanish power in Europe from the 1640s. Controversy over succession to the throne consumed the country and much of Europe during the first years of the 18th century (see War of the Spanish Succession). It was only after this war ended and a new dynasty—the House of BourbonFrench Bourbons—was installed that a centralized Spanish state was established and the first Bourbon king Philip V of Spain in 1707 dissolved the Aragon court and unified the kingdoms of Castile and Aragon into a single kingdom of Spain, abolishing many of the regional privileges and autonomy (fueros) that had hampered the Habsburgs.Of note during the 17th century was the cultural effloresence now known as the Spanish Golden Age.

19th Century - Spain was occupied by Napoleon in the early 1800s, but the Spaniards rose in arms in a ferocious guerilla war. After the Spanish War of IndependenceWar of Independence (1808–1814), a series of revolts and armed conflicts between classical liberalismLiberals and supporters of the ancien régime lasted throughout much of the 19th century, complicated by a dispute over dynastic succession by the Carlists which led to three civil wars. After that, Spain was briefly a First Spanish RepublicRepublic, from 1871 to 1873, a year in which a series of coups reinstalled the monarchy.In the meantime, Spain lost all of its colonies in the Caribbean region and Asia-Pacific region during the 19th century, a trend which ended with the loss of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Philippines, Guam, Micronesia, Palau, Northern Marianas and Marshall Islands to the United States after the Spanish-American War of 1898.Historically, the period of the mid 17th century to the early 20th centuries was a failure for the Spanish state compared to Northern Europe. The lingering decline of the Spanish empire was long-lasting, due in large part, ironically, to its spectacular earlier successes in the 15th and 16th centuries that led to the centuries of Spanish treasure fleettreasure fleets that had brought large quantities of silver and gold into the country from the American mines and spices and luxuries from Asia across the Pacific. These shipments engendered inflation that ate away at Spanish trades, crafts and commerce, making the country almost totally dependant upon imports and thereby undermined its long term economic development. In fact some of the precursors of a modern view of economics was initiated by observations of this corrosive inflationary process by the School of Salamanca. The Spanish economy was effectively hollowed out in the late 16th and early 17th centuries of the skills, industry and infrastructure that would be needed to replace the income from the American mines as they petered out during the middle and late 17th century. Making things worse were the constant wars defending the vast world empire against jealous rivals, internal splits and the European wars, especially the Thirty Years War and Eighty Years War where Spain's energies were constantly drained defending the Spanish HabsburgsHabsburg's dynastic and religious interests, including the Counter Reformation, burdening the people with taxes and military duties and diverting massive resources away from essential infrastructure such as roads - a necessary precondition to modernising such a dispersed and rugged country. It is a fact that even at the peak of the inflow of precious metals from America in the last decade of the 16th century, the main source of the crown's revenues were taxes on ordinary people. This combination of a hollowed out, unadaptable economy, the endless burden of wars and the diminished precious metals revenue led to steep economic and demographic decline in the middle and late 17th century, aggravated by failed harvests and plagues. Given the hardships it is astonishing that the Habsburg dominions held together at all at this time. There was a period of slow recovery and even some modernisation, throughout the eighteenth century, and even the beginnings of industrialisation in Catalonia, and modernisation and expansion of the iron and steel industries in the Basque country, and a spectacular growth (from a relatively low base) in general trade in the last two decades of that century, but this promising turnaround was totally disrupted by the turmoil of the Napoleonic Wars at the beginning of the 19th century that soon triggered the loss of the vast American territories and plunged the country into endemic political instability, which except for short periods, lasted until the end of the Spanish Civil War in 1939 - the fourth civil war in less than a century and a half. Pockets of modernity in Catalonia and the north would appear, but Spain's economic and political relative decline overall mirrored in general, if not in detail, the fate of other regions of Southern Europe such as Portugal, the Italian states, the Balkans and central Europe, as much of the rapidly growing global oceanic trade, pioneered by Spain and Portugal, was diverted to northwestern Europe.Although cultural contacts with Asian and African nations across the Mediterranean enriched the cultural mosaic of the region in terms of food, music, literature, architecture they did little to solve the region's social and economic challenges.Futhermore Islam, as well as the Roman culture, placed little emphasis on technological education or sustainable economic development. For centuries, the region was full of frontiersmen from both Christian and Muslim sides looking for loot, revenge and destruction of their enemies. These influences led to Spain being over-run by a numerous nobility that wished only to serve in the military or government service and were not interested in industry or trade. This attitude was especially pronounced in the south. This problem was in fact recognised by the Enlightenment era Bourbon reformers in the 18th century who tried to "ennoble" the trades. Indeed it also goes back to Charles I's way of dealing with the popular uprising known as the Castilian War of the Communities (1520 - 1522), where he suppressed the uprising caused by the burdens of excessive foreign adventurism in Europe by re-instating the power and privileges (such as not paying taxes) of the nobility to win their support. In short, as the medieval nobility were steadily losing their influence in the rival states to the north (in France the monarchy did all it could to this end as they saw the nobility as dangerous rivals and a burden on the state), Habsburg policy led to a reversal of this social evolution within Spain itself.Even after the war was over, much of the previous legacy was deeply entrenched in Spanish culture and made it poorly compatible with the rest of Europe. As the flow of gold from Latin America vanished, Spain had nothing to offer in return. However "the Disaster" of 1898, as it was called, led to Spain's cultural Silver Age at the turn of the twentieth century, liberated it from the burden of empire and once again re-started the difficult process of modernisation that had begun in the eighteenth century.

20th century - The 20th century initially brought little peace; colonization of Western Sahara, Spanish Morocco and Equatorial Guinea was attempted. A period of dictatorial rule (1923 - 1931) ended with the establishment of the Second Spanish Republic. The Republic offered political autonomy to the Basque Country and Catalonia and gave voting rights to women. However, in July 1936, against a backdrop of increasing political polarization, anti-clericalism and pressure from all sides, coupled with growing and unchecked political violence, the Republic was faced with an attempted military coup d'etat led by right-wing army generals. Although the coup initially failed, the ensuing Spanish Civil War ended in 1939 with the victory of the nationalist forces led by General Francisco Franco and supported by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. The Spanish Civil War has been called the first battle of the Second World War. After the civil war, General Francisco Franco brutally ruled a nation exhausted politically and economically.After World War II, being one of few surviving fascist regimes in Europe (though some say it was really just a brutal old fashioned reactionary regime), Spain was politically and economically isolated and was kept out of the United Nations until 1955, when it became strategically important for U.S. president Eisenhower to establish a military presence in the Iberian peninsula. This opening to Spain was aided by Franco's opposition to communism. In the 1960s, more than a decade later than other western European countries, Spain began to enjoy economic growth and gradually transformed into a modern industryindustrial economy with a thriving tourism sector. Growth continued well into the 1970s, with Franco's government going to great lengths to shield the Spanish people from the effects of the oil crisis.Upon the death of the dictator General Franco in November 1975, his personally-designated heir Juan Carlos I of SpainPrince Juan Carlos assumed the position of king and head of state. With the approval of the Spanish Constitution of 1978 and the arrival of democracy, some regions — Basque Country, Catalonia, Galicia (Spain)Galicia and Andalusia— were given far-reaching Autonomous Communities of Spainautonomy, which was then soon extended to all Spanish regions, resulting in one of the most decentralized territorial organizations in Western Europe. However, the radical nationalism in the Basque country and the terrorist group, ETA, continue to be pressing problems facing Spain.Adolfo SuárezAdolfo Suárez González, Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo Bustelo, after an attempted coup d'état in 1981, Felipe GonzálezFelipe González Márquez (when Spain joined NATO and European Union), José María AznarJosé María Aznar López and José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero have been prime ministers of Spain.

21st century - On March 11, 2004, a series of bombs exploded in commuter trains in Madrid, Spain. These resulted in 191 people dead and 1,460 wounded. It also had a significant effect on the upcoming elections in Spain, due in part to the ruling government's insistence that the ETA was the prime suspect in the bombings, even as the evidence of Muslim extremist terrorism rapidly emerged from the police investigation and the press. ''see the 11 March 2004 Madrid train bombings article for more information''See also: List of Spanish monarchs, Kings of Spain family tree''

Politics - ''Main article: Politics of Spain'' , King of Spain.]]Spain is a constitutional monarchy, with a hereditary monarch and a bicameral parliament, the ''Cortes Generales'' or National Assembly. The executive branch consists of a Council of Ministers presided over by the President of Government (comparable to a prime minister), proposed by the monarch and elected by the National Assembly following legislative elections.The legislative branch is made up of the Congress of Deputies (''Congreso de los Diputados'') with 350 members, elected by popular vote on block lists by proportional representation to serve four-year terms, and a Senate or ''Senado'' with 259 seats of which 208 are directly elected by popular vote and the other 51 appointed by the regional legislatures to also serve four-year terms.Spain is, at present, what is called a ''State of Autonomies'', formally unitary but, in fact, functioning as a Federation of Autonomous Communities of SpainAutonomous Communities, each one with different powers (for instance, some have their own educational and health systems, others do not) and laws. There are some differences within this system, since power has been devolved from the centre to the periphery asymmetrically, with some autonomous governments (especially those dominated by nationalist parties) seeking a more federalist—or even confederationconfederate—kind of relationship with Spain, now the Central Government is dealing with autonomous governments for the transfer of more autonomy. This novel system of asymmetrical devolution has been described as a coconstitutionalism and has similarities to the devolution process adopted by the United Kingdom since 1997.The terrorist group, ETA (Basque Homeland and Freedom), is attempting to achieve Basque independence through violenceviolent means, including bombings and killings of politicians and police. Although the Basque Autonomous government does not condone any kind of violence, their different approaches to the separatist movement are a source of tension between the federal and Basque governments.On 17 May 2005, all the parties in the Congress of Deputies, except the PP, passed the Central Government's motion of beginning peace talks with the ETA with no political concessions and only if it gives up all its weapons. PSOE, CiU, ERC, PNV, IU-ICV, CC and the mixed group -BNG, CHA, EA y NB- supported it with a total of 192 votes, while the 147 PP parliamentaris objected.On February 20th 2005, Spain became the first country to allow its people to vote on the European Union constitution that was signed in October 2004. The rules states that if any country rejects the constitution then the constitution will be declared void. The final result was very strongly in affirmation of the constitution, making Spain the first country to approve the constitution via referendum (Hungary, Lithuania and Slovenia approved it before Spain, but they did not hold referenda).

Administrative divisions - Administratively, Spain is divided into 50 provinces of Spainprovinces, grouped into 17 autonomous communities of Spainautonomous communities and 2 autonomous cities with high degree of autonomy.

Autonomous communities - ''Main article: Autonomous communities of Spain''Spain consists of 17 autonomous communities (''comunidades autónomas'') and 2 autonomous cities (''ciudades autónomas''; Ceuta and Melilla).

Andalusia (''Andalucía'')

Aragon (''Aragón'')

AsturiasPrincipality of Asturias (''Principáu d'Asturies'' in Asturian languageAsturian/''Principado de Asturias'' in Spanish languageSpanish)

Balearic Islands (''Illes Balears'' in Catalan languageCatalan / ''Islas Baleares'' in Spanish languageSpanish)

Basque Country (autonomous community)Basque Country (''Euskadi'' in Basque languageBasque/''País Vasco'' in Spanish languageSpanish)

Canary Islands (''Islas Canarias'')

Cantabria

Castile-La Mancha (''Castilla-La Mancha'')

Castile and Leon (''Castilla y León'' in Spanish languageSpanish)

Catalonia (''Catalunya'' in catalan languageCatalan/''Cataluña'' in Spanish languageSpanish/ ''Catalunha'' in Aranese)

Extremadura

Galicia (Spain)Galicia (''Galicia or Galiza'' in Galician)

La Rioja

Madrid (autonomous community)Madrid

Murcia (autonomous community)Murcia

Navarre (''Nafarroa'' in Basque languageBasque/''Navarra'' in Spanish languageSpanish)

Land of Valencia (''Comunitat Valenciana'' in Valencian dialectValencian /''Comunidad Valenciana'' in Spanish languageSpanish, as official denominations).

Provinces - ''Main article: Provinces of Spain''The Spanish kingdom is also divided into 50 Provincesprovinces (''provincias''). Autonomous communities group provinces (for instance, Extremadura is made of two provinces: Cáceres (province)Cáceres and Badajoz (province)Badajoz). The autonomous communities of Asturias, the Balearic Islands, Cantabria, La Rioja, Navarre, Murcia, and Madrid are each composed of a single province. Traditionally, provinces are usually subdivided into historic regions or ''comarcas'' (''main article: Comarcas of Spain'').

Places of sovereignty - There are also five enclaves (''plaza de soberaníaplazas de soberanía'') on and off the AfricaAfrican coast: the cities of Ceuta and Melilla are administered as autonomous cities, an intermediate status between cities and communities; the islands of the Islas Chafarinas, Penon de AlhucemasPeñón de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la GomeraPeñón de Vélez de la Gomera are under direct Spanish administration.The Canary islands, Ceuta and Melilla, although not officially historic communities, enjoy a special status.

Geography - ''Main article: Geography of Spain'' Mainland Spain is dominated by high plateaus and mountain ranges such as the Pyrenees or the Sierra Nevada (Spain)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.Spain's climate can be divided in four areas:

The Mediterranean: mostly temperate in the eastern and southern part of the country; rainy seasons are spring and autumn. Mild summers with pleasant temperatures. ''Hot records'': Murcia 47.2 ºC, Malaga 44.2 ºC, Valencia 42.5 ºC, Alicante 41.4 ºC, Palma of Mallorca 40.6 ºC, Barcelona 39.8 ºC. ''Low records'': Gerona -13.0 ºC, Barcelona -10.0 ºC, Valencia -7.2 ºC, Murcia -6.0 ºC, Alicante -4.6 ºC, Malaga -3.8 ºC.

The interior: Very cold winters (frequent snow in the north) and hot summers. ''Hot records'': Sevilla 47.0 ºC, Cordoba 46.6 ºC, Badajoz 45.0 ºC, Albacete and Zaragoza 42.6 ºC, Madrid 42.2 ºC, Burgos 41.8 ºC, Valladolid 40.2 ºC. ''Low records'': Albacete -24.0  ºC, Burgos -22.0 ºC, Salamanca -20.0 ºC, Teruel -19.0 ºC, Madrid -14.8 ºC, Sevilla -5.5 ºC.

Northern Atlantic coast: precipitations mostly in winter, with mild summers (slightly cold). ''Hot records'': Bilbao 42.0 ºC, La Coruña 37.6 ºC, Gijón 36.4 ºC. ''Low records'': Bilbao -8.6 ºC, Oviedo -6.0 ºC, Gijon and La Coruña -4.8 ºC.

The Canary Islands: subtropical weather, with mild temperatures (18 ºC to 24 ºC Celsius) throughout the year. ''Hot records'': Santa Cruz de Tenerife 42.6 ºC. ''Low records'': Santa Cruz de Tenerife 8.1 ºC.

Most populous metropolitan areas - # Madrid 5 603 285# Barcelona 5 328 395# Valencia 1 465 423# Sevilla 1 294 081# Málaga 1 019 292''For a more complete list, see List of cities in Spain#Most Populous citiesList of cities in Spain''

Territorial disputes -

Territories claimed by Spain - Spain has called for the return of Gibraltar, a tiny United KingdomBritish possession on its southern coast. It changed hands during the War of the Spanish Succession in 1704 and was ceded to Britain in perpetuity in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht.

Spanish territories claimed by other countries - Morocco claims the Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla and the uninhabited Penon de Velez de la GomeraVélez, Penon de AlhucemasAlhucemas, Islas ChafarinasChafarinas, and Isla PerejilPerejil islands, all on the Northern coast of Africa. Morocco points out that those territories were obtained when Morocco could not do anything to prevent it and has never signed treaties cessioning them.Portugal does not recognize Spain's sovereignty over the territory of Olivenza. Spain and Portugal disagree on the interpretation of the outputs of the Congress of Vienna (1815), which according to Portugal stated the return of the territory to Portugal. Spain claims it is a de jure sovereignty according to International law.

Economy - ''Main article: Economy of Spain'' Spain's mixed capitalist economy supports a GDP that on a per capita basis is 87% that of the four leading Western EuropeWest European economies. The centre-right government of former Prime Minister Aznar successfully worked to gain admission to the first group of countries launching the European single currency, the euro, on 1 January 1999. The Aznar administration continued to advocate liberalization, privatization, and deregulation of the economy and introduced some tax reforms to that end. Unemployment fell steadily under the Aznar administration but remains high at 9.8% as of August 2005 - but this (still unacceptable) level must be seen in the light of levels of over 20% at the start of the 1990s. Growth of 2.4% in 2003 was satisfactory given the background of a faltering European economy, and has steadied since at an annualised rate of about 3.3% in mid 2005. The Prime Minister Rodríguez Zapatero, whose party won the election three days after the Madrid train bombings in March 2004, plans to reduce government intervention in business, combat tax fraud, and support innovation, research and development, but also intends to reintroduce labour market regulations that had been scrapped by the Aznar government. Adjusting to the monetary and other economic policies of an integrated Europe - and reducing unemployment - will pose challenges to Spain over the next few years. According to worldbank.org - World Bank GDP figuresfrom 2004, Spain has the 8th largest economy in the world.There is general concern that Spain's model of economic growth (based largely on mass tourism, the construction industry, and manufacturing sectors) is faltering and may prove unsustainable over the long term. The first report of the Observatory on Sustainability (''Observatorio de Sostenibilidad'') - published in 2005 and funded by Spain's Ministry of the Environment and Alcalá University - reveals that the country's per capita GDP grew by 25% over the last ten years, while greenhouse gas emissions have risen by 45% since 1990. Although Spain's population grew by less than 5% between 1990 and 2000, urban areas expanded by no less than 25% over the same period. Meanwhile, Spain's energy consumption has doubled over the last 20 years and is currently rising by 6% per annum. This is particularly worrying for a country whose dependence on imported oil (meeting roughly 80% of Spain's energy needs) is one of the greatest in the EU. Large-scale unsustainable development is clearly visible along Spain's Mediterranean coast in the form of housing and tourist complexes, which are placing severe strain on local land and water resources.

Demographics - ''Main article: Demographics of Spain'' The Spanish Constitution, although affirming the sovereignty of the Spanish Nation, recognizes historical nationalities.The Castilian-derived Spanish languageSpanish (called both ''español'' and ''castellano'' in the language itself) is the official language throughout Spain, but other regional languages are also spoken. Without mentioning them by name, the Spanish Constitution of 1978Spanish Constitution recognizes the possibility of regional languages being co-official in their respective autonomous communities. The following languages are co-official with Spanish according to the appropriate Autonomy Statute (Spain)Autonomy Statutes.

Catalan languageCatalan (''català'') in Catalonia (''Catalunya''), the Balearic Islands (''Illes Balears'') and Valencia (autonomous community)Valencia (''València'').

Basque languageBasque (''euskara'') in Basque Country (''Euskadi''), and parts of Navarre (Nafarroa). Basque is not known to be related to any other language.

Galician languageGalician (''galego'') in Galicia (Spain)Galicia (''Galicia'' or ''Galiza'').

Occitan languageOccitan (the Aranese dialect). Spoken in the Vall d'Aran in Catalonia.Catalan, Galician, Aranese (Occitan) and Spanish languageSpanish (Castilian) are all descended from Latin and have their own dialects, some championed as separate languages by their speakers (the Valencià of València, a dialect of Catalan, is one example).There are also some other surviving Romance languagesRomance minority languages: Asturian languageAsturian / Leonese, in Asturias and parts of León (province)Leon, Zamora and Salamanca, and the Extremaduran languageExtremaduran in Caceres and Salamanca, both descendants of the historical Astur-Leonese dialect; the Aragonese languageAragonese or ''fabla'' in part of Aragon; the ''fala'', spoken in three villages of Extremadura; and some Portuguese dialectal towns in Extremadura and Castile-Leon. However, unlike Catalan, Galician, and Basque, these do not have any official status.In the touristic areas of the Mediterranean ''costas'' and the islands, German and English are spoken by tourists, foreign residents and tourism workers.Many linguists claim that most of the Spanish language variants spoken in Latin America (Mexican, Argentinian, Colombian, Peruvian, etc. variants) descended from the Spanish spoken in southwestern Spain (Andalusia, Extremadura and Canary Islands).

Identities - The Spanish Constitution of 1978, in its second article, recognizes historic entities ("nationalities," a carefully chosen word in order to avoid "nations") and regions, inside the unity of the Spanish nation.But Spain's identity is sometimes, in fact, an overlap of different regional identities, some of them even conflicting.Castile is considered by many to be the "core" of Spain. However, this may just be a reflection of the fact that the Castilian national identity was the first one to be quashed by the Spanish Empire in the revolt of the Communards (''comuneros'').The opposite is the case of a large part of Catalans, Basques and, in some measure, Galicians, who quite frequently identify primarily with Galicia (Spain)Galicia, Catalonia and the Basque Country first, with Spain only second, or even third, after Europe. For example, according to the last CIS survey, 44% of Basques identify themselves first as Basques (only 8% first as Spaniards); 40% of Catalans do so with their autonomous community (20% identify firstly with Spain), and 32% Galicians with Galicia (9% with Spain). Even more remarkable, almost all comunities have a majority of people identifying as much with Spain as with the Autonomous Community (except Madrid, where Spain is the primary identity, and Catalonia, Basque Country and Balearics, where people tend to identity more with their Autonomous Community). Even Castille-Leon has 57% of people regarding themselves as much Spaniards as they are Castillians.The situation is even more confusing, since there are regions with ambiguous identities, like Navarre, Valencia, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, etc. There has been a lot of internal migration (rural exodus) from regions like Galicia, Andalusia and Extremadura to Madrid, Catalonia, Basque Country and the islands.Spain became a unified crown with the union of Castile and Aragon in 1492 and the annexation of Navarre in 1515. Until 1714, Spain was a loose confederation of kingdoms and statelets under one king, until King Philip V of SpainPhilip V (Felipe V) removed the autonomous status of the Aragonese crown. Navarre and the Basque Provinces, however, kept a high degree of autonomy within their legal and financial system (Fueros). Moreover, the creation of a unified state in the 19th and 20th centuries has led to the present situation, which is apparently simple, but sometimes extremely confusing. During the Second Spanish Republic (1931–1936), Catalonia and the Basque country were given limited self-government, which was lost after the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) and restored in 1978 during the Spanish transition to democracytransition to democracy.cis.es - Survey of the latest CIS (Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas) survey from which concrete data of this article have been extracted

Minority groups - Since the 16th century, the most important minority group in the country have been the Gitanos. Other historical minorities are Mercheros (or Quinquis) and Vaqueiros de alzada. The latter, meaning "Mountain cow-breeders" dwell in mountain ranges in the Principality of Asturias and have kept historically apart from the valley dwellers.The number of immigrants or foreign residents has tripled to 3.69 million in less than five years, according the latest figures (2005) of National Statics Institute. They currently make up around 10 per cent of the official total population. The rise of population in Spain in recent years was largely due to them. Nearly half of all immigrants have neither residence nor work permits.According to imdiversity.com - Imdiversity.com (2003 statistics), the largest foreign minorities are Romanian(500,000 - 1,000,000 unnoficially) Ecuadorians (375 000), Moroccans (365 846), Argentines (300,000) Colombians (244,000) and British (121 107), followed by other nationalities, as Chinese, Filipinos, Dominicans, Peruvians, Guineans, etc. A sizeable number of Spanish citizens also descends from these communities.

Religion - and Alfonso XIII of SpainAlfonso XIII]]Roman Catholicism is, by far, the most popular religion in the country. According to several sources (CIA World Fact Book 2005, Spanish official polls and others), from 80% to 94% self-identify as Catholics, whereas around 6% to 13% identify with either other religions or none at all. It is important to note, however, that many Spaniards identify themselves as Catholics just because they were baptised, even though they are not very religious at all (in fact some polls show that 14% do not believe in any God). According to recent surveys (New York Times, April 19, 2005) only around 18 per cent of Spaniards regularly attend mass. Of those under 30, only about 14 per cent attend.Further evidence of the secular nature of modern Spain can be seen in the widespread support for the legalisation of Same-sex marriage in Spainmarriage for homosexuals - over 70% of Spaniards support gay marriage according to a 2004 study by the cis.es - Centre of Sociological Investigations. Indeed, in June 2005 a bill was passed by 187 votes to 147 to allow gay marriage, making Spain the third country in the European Union to allow same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual ones. Proposed changes to the divorce laws to make the process quicker and to eliminate the need for a guilty party are also popular. In many ways modern Spain can be described as a secular country with a strong Catholic tradition.According to membership adherents.com, the second religion of Spain is the organization of the Jehovah's Witnesses with 103,784 active publishers; there are also many Protestant denominations, all of them with less than 50 000 members, and about 20,000 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day SaintsMormons. Evangelism has been better received among Gypsies than among the general population; pastors have integrated flamenco music in their liturgy. Taken together, all self-described "Evangelicals" slightly surpass Jehovah's Witnesses in number.The recent waves of immigration have led to an increasing number of Muslims, who have about 800,000 members. Muslims were forcibly converted in 1492 and then expelled in the 16th century.Since the expulsion of the Sephardim in 1492, Judaism was practically nonexistent until the 19th century, when Jews were again permitted to enter the country. Currently there are around 14,000 Jews in Spain, all arrivals in the past century. There are also many Spaniards (in Spain and abroad) who claim Jewish ancestry to the Conversos, and still practice certain customs. Spain is believed to have been about 8 per cent JudaismJewish on the eve of the Spanish Inquisition. See History of the Jews in Spain.Over the past thirty years, Spain has become a more secularised society. The number of believers has decreased significantly and for those who believe the degree of accordance and practice to their church is quite diverse.According to the latest official poll cis.es - (CIS, 2002), 80% of Spaniards self-identify as Roman CatholicCatholic, 12% as ''non-believer'', and 1% as ''other'' (the remaining 7% declined to state). Of the 1.4% identifying as ''other'', 29% identified as Evangelical Christian, 26% as Jehovah's Witnesses and 3,5% as Muslim (the rest either mentioned smaller religions or declined to state). According to the same poll, 73% believe in God, 14% don't and 12% are unsure (1% declined to state). Additionally, according to this poll, only 41% believe in Heaven. 24% of the Spaniards think that the Bible is just a fable. Only 25% of Catholics go to church at least once a week.

Culture - ''Main article: Culture of Spain''

Bonfires of Saint John

Bullfighting

Camino de Santiago

Cuisine of Spain

List of Spaniards

Music of Spain

List of Spanish football league teamsSpanish football

Spanish literature

International rankings -

Reporters without borders world-wide press freedom index 2002: Rank 39 out of 139 countries (2-way tie)

The Economist Intelligence Unit's economist.com - worldwide quality-of-life index 2005: Rank 10 out of 111 countries (above countries like the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and France)

spain
one of the best websites
http://www.justspain.com/

CiutatOci.com
Information about culture and leisure in Catalonia and Barcelona
http://www.ciutatoci.com/

Health Naturally
Creating health through using Natural Medicine. Clinic, courses and retreats.
http://www.rumanahealth.com/

ZUM Guitar Trio
ZUM es un trío de guitarras acústicas integrado por Shinkuro Matsuura (Japón), Luciano Pietrafesa (Argentina), y Fumihito Hatano (Japón). Se conocieron el año 1995 durante un Seminario dictado en West Virginia (EEUU) por la Escuela Internacional de Guitarra “Guitar Craft”. A partir de aquel año los tres guitarristas han compartido escenarios formando parte de diversos grupos como “Malevaje”, “The Berlin Guitar Ensemble” con quienes se presentaron en directo en varios tours por Alemania, Italia y Japón. En Enero de 2002 son incorporados al legendario ensamble de Guitarras “The League of Crafty Guitarists” con quienes trabajan actualmente en forma paralela a su propio proyecto. Desde el año 2002 ZUM ha girado por Alemania, España, Italia, Japón, EEUU, Chile y Argentina. Comenzarán el 2006 presentando su segundo CD “Angel Suite” en las ciudades más importantes de Argentina durante el mes de Abril/Mayo y llevarán a cabo su gira Europea durante el próximo verano. El trio utiliza la Nueva Afinación Estandar (GC New Standard Tuning) la cual provée de un sonido característico y un amplio rango sonoro. Virtuosismo y personalidad definen un repertorio que incluye Piazzolla, autores clásicos, folklore latino y artistas contemporáneos (S. Wonder, Lennon-Mc Cartney).
http://www.zumguitars.com/

Singles Holidays
Holidays for single people and solo travellers to Spain, Greece, Turkey, India, Crete, Egypt and many other popular destinations.
http://www.travelone.com

multipropiedad timesharing Acama Asociacion Consumidores Mundo Magico Abogado afectadosmultipropiedad
Acama defiende sus derechos en multipropiedad-timeshare como Asociacion de Consumidores Mundo Magico AABT 2050 Turihoteles ...
http://www.afectadosmultipropiedad.com/

HOME MANAGEMENT SERVICES
For all your holiday rental needs in San José, Almeria, Spain
http://www.hms-spain.com/

Apartments and villas for rent in Marbella
Availability on-line and local information on holiday rental properties in Marbella, Spain.
http://www.marbellasunrentals.com/

Property for Sale Costa Azahar, Costa Blanca
The Valencian Community is one of the fastest growing regions in the whole of Spain, and Homes Iber an established Spanish owned estate agent is here to help you find your dream property on the Costa Azahar and Costa Blanca.
http://www.homesiber.com/

C&C Asesores
Ready made spanish companies, advisors for investments. fiscal labour, etc. management. Our virtual offie allows you to have all your documets wherever you are. we speak english and spanish. real state management
http://www.ccasesores.com/

Cigar Shop
On line sales of Mexican Cigars
http://www.ophptrading.com/

Apexphotos travel photography
Presents magical travel, environmental and abstract photography from around the world. You can view, browse, link and buy.
http://www.apexphotos.com/

Gay Friendly Classifieds: Lodgings, Holidays, Job, Flat Swapping...
Welcome to the first Gay Friendly Classifieds Website. Find or sell your home, holidays, restaurant, job, or sell your TV... everything gay friendly. Respectful. Bienvenido a la primera web de anuncios clasificados Gay Friendly. Encuentra u ofrece tu casa, vacaciones, restaurante, trabajo... y todo Gay Friendly. Totalmente respetuoso.
http://www.domoh.com/

South of Spain Property
Developments in the South of Spain, Costa del Sol, Costa Almeria, Costa de la Luz.
http://www.southofspain.com/

Matadores Airsoft Club
Website of this spanish south team, with tons of info, complete forums, extended links, technical reviews, lots of pics, huge videos, as a spanish airsoft resource for all airsoft spaniard community.
http://www.matadoresairsoft.com/

Grupo Areaturistica.com (Turismo a Nivel Mundial)
Todo tipo de turismo a nivel mundial, representado en mas de 20 portales del grupo... Areaturistica.com Masturismo.com Masviajar.com Masrural.com Masactividades.com Masgastronomia.com Masrutas.com Maspueblos.com Masgps.com Masfotografias.com Tecnologia Movil
http://www.areaturistica.com/

Buying Property in Spain
Buying a property in Spain has access to thousands of properties for sale in Spain. We have buyers guides, hints and tips on living and working in Spain.
http://www.buying-a-property-in-spain.com

Maps Of World
Site offering high quality maps for all countries, continents, various cities, theme-based maps and related information.
http://www.mapsofworld.com/

Solfincas
Estate agent inland Andalucia, based in Campillos
http://solfincas.co.uk/

Reserva de hoteles
Central de reserva de hoteles on line
http://www.redhoteles.com/

The Total Directory and Information Guide to the Axarquia Region in southern Spain
Information, maps, articles and photographs about Axarquia`s Towns and Villages, Fiestas, Market Days, Climate, Sports, Attractions, Night Skies, Travel and Transport, Properties, Food and Drinks, Health and Beauty, Flora and Fauna, Holidays and MUCH MORE.
http://www.absoluteaxarquia.com/

Gianfranco Spada Architect
Gianfranco Spada, Official web site
http://www.gianfrancospada.com/

Charming countryside bed and breakfast in Mallorca
Charming rural hotel with rooms and houses for a relaxing hideaway to Mallorca
http://www.sa-rota.com/

http://www.losmolinosmijas.com
Spacious, well equipped apartment ideal for two in the mountain village of Mijas, Costa Del Sol, Malaga, Andalucia, Spain. Spectacular views down to the sea at Fuengirola.
http://www.losmolinosmijas.com/

Peña Inchalá
Página oficial de la Peña Inchalá seguidores del Club Baloncesto Málaga Unicaja. Amigos del baloncesto con ganas de cachondeo.
http://www.inchala.org/

Costa Blanca Property Range
Costa Blanca, Costa Calida inland properties
http://www.avantahomes.com/

sitges, hotels - Welcome to RAS - Room Advice Service Sitges
sitges, hotels in sitges, RAS -Great rates for Sitges Hotels Book online
http://www.sitges-hotel.com/

Villas in Spain
Information on villas, fincas and apartments in Spain. Comprehensive information on Spanish towns and regions.
http://villasin-spain.co.uk/

Mallorca Properties
Daily updated database of properties on Mallorca
http://www.domo-plan.com

Casas rurales Granada - CASAS BLANCAS®
Naturaleza y Ocio en la Alpujarra. Encontrará el modo de vivir y disfrutar de unas vacaciones en pleno corazón de La Alpujarra y del Parque Natural de Sierra Nevada. Venga al único sitio de la Alpujarra con: Piscina Climatizada, jacuzzi®.
http://www.casasblancas.org

Danielle Brouns
Dutch painter, restorer, teacher, portraitist
http://www.daniellebrouns.com/

CHECKEIN --- GOOD TIME
Travelsite exzeptionell
http://www.checkein.de

Turismo Rural
Ocio y Espacios Naturales en España.
http://www.naturerural.com

Little Hotels of Spain
An informative website dedicated to small interesting hotels throughout Spain.
http://littlehotelsofspain.co.uk/

International Internships, Language Courses & Accommodation
Provides services for international students as internship placements, language courses and accommodation in Germany, Spain, France and the UK.
http://www.starteasycareer.com/

Parques Naturales de España
Todos los parques naturales de España, con datos de los municipios colindantes y empresas de turismo activo y alojamiento, hoteles, casas rurales y campings.
http://www.parquesnaturales.com/

Estrella Blanca, Apartment Rental, Denia, Costa Blanca!
The apartment has one double bedroom and one twin bedroom, both with large built-in wardrobes; the lounge encompasses a double sofa bed and dining area, a Colour TV with Satellite Channels, a Multi-Region DVD Player and CD Player. A travel cot is also available at the apartment. There is a full size kitchen, modern bathroom and useful, well-equipped utility room. The cool, tile floored apartment is 85 square metres in size and the lovely spacious terrace and garden adds a further 15 square metres to the living space. All you need to bring with you during your stay are beach and bathroom towels as fresh bedding is provided, and plenty of suncream!
http://www.lasmarinas.com/

Barcelona Field Studies Centre
arcelona Field Studies Centre offers biology, ecology, geography and environmental field studies programmes throughout the year.
http://www.biologyfieldwork.com/

Welcome to your next home - property in Spain for sale and rentals
Real Estate agency in Aguilas, Gogo Estates offers Holiday Rentals and Spanish properties for sale on the Costa Blanca, Costa Calida, Costa de Almeria and the Costa Tropical in Spain. Apartments, penthouses, townhouses, villas and luxury property.
http://www.gogoestates.com/

international golf course design, architecture and site supervision
Austrian based international and high tech standard golf course design and landscape architecture company working in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East
http://www.golf-land-design.com

Typically Spanish
Spain news in English with bilingual directory to Spain-related websites
http://www.typicallyspanish.com/

Holiday Home La Campana
rent a holiday home at the costa blanca south of Torrevieja
http://www.ferienhauscostablanca.de/

Espana Sol Properties
ESP 121 is an independent Spanish property consultancy based in Los Pacos, Fuengirola The owners of ESP 121 have over 20 years of personal experience of buying apartments and villas on the Costa Del Sol.
http://www.esp121.com/

Lugarlatino.com
Portal y buscador Latino con Chat y muchas cosas mas.
http://www.lugarlatino.com/

Ceramics, Gifts & Foods from Spain
Hand-painted ceramics, gourmet food, candles & gifts from Spain
http://www.fromspain.com/

Wild Spain
Information on Nature and Outdoor Travel in Spain
http://www.wild-spain.com/

Spanish Property - Luxury Spanish Villas
Looking for Spanish villas or property in Spain? Let us help you! Luxury Spanish Villas are award-winning property consultants specialising in all types of properties in the Northern Costa Blanca areas of Moraira, Javea, Calpe, Denia and the Jalon Valley
http://www.luxuryspanishvillas.net/

argazkiak.com
Donostia - san sebastian photoblog.
http://www.argazkiak.com

The Rights Group SL
Providing independent professional solutions to Nothern European clients seeking to buy property in the South of Spian.
http://www.therightsgroup.com/

FASH ESTILISTAS HAIRDRESSING
We are a young company with a desire to grow and to develop quickly in the world of hairdressing. Influenced by our experiences in London we try to give a young modern touch with a difference to our customers, whilst respecting your own style.
http://www.fashestilistas.com

RYA Sailing Courses, Gibraltar, Barcelona; Costa Brava Sailing Holidays, Balearic Cruises
Trafalgar Sailing Barcelona Spain, RYA approved training centre for RYA Sailing Courses, Costa Brava Sailing Holidays - yacht charter, bareboat rental, cruising the Med; Costa Brava & Balearic Islands, Villa rental
http://www.costa-brava-sailing.com/

Westrock Property Brokers
We are International Property Brokers with over 5,000 properties listed worldwide.
http://www.westrockpropertybrokers.com/

GOLF LAS RAMBLAS
Pretty, well equipped villa for four with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, AC, satellite TV on private gated development
http://golflasramblas.co.uk/

Fotomaf Photo Gallery
Fotomaf Photo Gallery. Photos from Spain and all around the world
http://www.fotomaf.com/

Golfing Holidays Spain
Villa 4 Golf Spain offers holidaymakers the chance to find their perfect golfing holiday villa or apartment and book it direct with the owners.
http://www.villa4golf-spain.com/

Sailingboat and houseboat renting all over the word
We rent sailing boat and house boat in all the word. We are specialized in mediterraneand sea and in particulare in Greece.
http://www.marozzinitravel.com/

property investment in europe
Castles for sale guide and advise about buying a second home in Spain , Cyprus and Bulgaria
http://www.castlesofscotland.com

Nappyface International Inc.
Nappyface International Inc. is a proud sponsor of the DOT-WS revolution. Providing the tools neccessary for entreprenuers to succeed in todays rat race as well as provide original artwork and entertainment courtesy of Shahied Al-Amin d.b.a. Rising Sun aka Ras Fuji
http://www.nappyface.ws/

Quad Rentals In Spain
Quad Rentals adventure holidays, Costa del Sol, Spain quad rentals and family quad tours in the scenic mountains and surrounding
http://www.southcoastquadrentals.com/

Yacht Charter Mallorca
Yacht Charter Mallorca, Charter Segel un Motoryachten in Mallorca Spanien
http://www.mallorca-bootcharter.de/

Last Minute travel and holiday offers in Greece
Last minute travel and holiday bookings for Greece and Cyprus online.
http://www.lastminute.gr/

BRITISH SPANISH LEGAL NET
ORGANIZATION FOUNDED WITH THE PURPOSE OF CONNECTING A NEW GENERATION OF THE BEST BRITISH, SPANISH AND AMERICAN LAWYERS BASED IN THE UK, SPAIN, NORTH, CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA, WHICH PROVIDES ACCURATE LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING THE MAIN TOPICS OF PROPERTY LAW, MARITIME INSURANCE LAW AND SHIPPING LAW, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE.
http://www.britishspanishlegalnet.com/

Sterbehilfe-Gesellschaften international
adresses of right to die societies in europe and worldwide
http://www.sterbehilfe-gesellschaft.de/

Fly to let - Overseas property investment
Fly to let delivers news and information on overseas property investment in countries such as Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Croatia, Dubai, Italy, Spain, France, America, Portugal, and Turkey. Included are listings of property developments, properties for sale, and suppliers of property finance, property insurance, property maintenance and legal and professional advice.
http://fly-2let.co.uk/

Bootlace Walking Holidays
Explore the Alpujarra, Sierra Nevada, Andalucia, Spain. Spectacular mountain walks, small friendly groups. Follow the ancient trade routes of the Moors. Great company, great vegetarian food, and the great outdoors!
http://www.bootlace.com/

Spanish Property Sales and Mortgages
A Selection of Websites offering Property for sale and rent in Spain and Florida and also Mortgages on Spanish and U.K. Property
http://www.spanish-property-portal.com/

earth-photography.com
Travel photography from London, Paris, Cairo, Budapest, Prague, Vienna, Stockholm and many other stunning cities.
http://www.earth-photography.com/

Calzados Mister, S.A
High quality men's shoes from Spain.
http://www.mister.es/

Marvista Properties International
Properties for sale in the Costa Blanca, Costa Calida and Almeria.
http://www.marvistapi.com/

Barcelona Field Studies Centre
Geography, Ecology and Biology Fieldwork in Barcelona, Spain.
http://www.geographyfieldwork.com/

Safe Online Dating for Singles and Personals - IWant2MeetYou.com
Premier online dating site for singles and online personals - IWant2MeetYou.com. 1000s of members waiting to meet you! Register now, start dating for FREE! Meet your match, find a date!!
http://www.iwant2meetyou.com

Hotel Golf Costa Brava
4 star hotel located between holes 1 and 18 of Club Golf Costa Brava and only 5 kms from the sea.
http://www.hotelgolf.biz/

Safarispain.com
Quality trophy hunts in Spain. Based in Andalucia, big game hunting and the best driven bird shooting in Spain. Current clients include HRH Juan Carlos I, King of Spain.
http://www.safarispain.com/

Chandra Bindu Tantra Institute
Tantra is an ancient path of self discovery. A meditation practice that centers around the wisdom of the body. For thousands of years seekers have found the techniques of Tantra to be empowering and liberating. A path with heart. Of the 112 Tantric meditations, 6 of these address the spiritual aspects of lovemaking. Tantra includes sexuality as a part of the awakening process. Couples and singles find a great deal of support in deepening intimacy and openness in lovemaking through this practice. There can be a total transformation from repressed or blocked sexuality to free flowing authenticity and deep love in the realm of lovemaking. Tantra retreats, workshops and sessions with Dawn Cartwright, Chandra Bindu Tantra Institute.
http://www.dakinimoon.com/

AREA Software
Software developing services. Consulting, Development, Integration, Maintenance...
http://www.area-soft.com/

Singles Holidays
Holidays for single people and solo travellers to Spain, Greece, Turkey, India, Crete, Egypt and many other popular destinations.
http://www.travelone.co.uk

Barricas de ocasion.
Fabricacion, reparacion y venta de cubas, barricas y barriles, para crianza de vinos o decoracion.
http://www.barricasdeocasion.com/

Pr Surfing Canary surf school.
We are a Surfing School. We provide Surfing classes tothe tourists over here, that they can enjoy the best waves on the amazing beaches of Gran canaria.We also provide packages packages which includes stay and surfing classes on the islands. We also do provide services for other water sports like kite surfing, windsurfing, jetski etc. Our school is open for students from 6 to 60 years.
http://www.prsurfing.com/

Charming Accommodation Granada Spain
Accommodation in Granada , situated in the neighbourhood of the Albaicín, just in front of the Alhambra , with an own and care style. Parking and pool. Ideal for weekends, parties, with your couple, your friends or your family. Another way to stay at Hotels, where the environment and the comfort of our apartments will make you feel at home. It has a close parking, gardens..
http://www.charmingaccommodation.com/

New off plan homes for sale
A property portal for new developments
http://www.access-investment-property.com/

Spanish Holidays
Self catering holiday rentals, specialist holidays in Torrox, Axarquia, Andalucia, Costa del Sol, Spain
http://www.spanish-hols.com/

Ana Nieto Photography
Contemporary Photography Site showcasting Ana Nieto's work. Art and Fashion. More than 250 images.
http://www.ananieto.com/

Dessi Cleaning Services LTD
Cleaning and maintanance services
http://www.cleanspain.com/

Andalucian Golf Booking Costa del Sol Golf in Spain
Andalucia Spain Andalucian Golf Booking Costa del Sol Golf Courses Golf Packages for your golf holidays at the Costa del Sol Andalucia Spain
http://www.andalucian-golf-booking.com/

Villa Rentals Javea
Holiday villas to rent in Javea and Moraira, accommodating up to 12 people.
http://www.oasisvillas.com/

Escuela Montalbán
Spanish Courses in Granada since 1986.
http://www.escuela-montalban.com/

IYT Recreational + Professional Yacht Crew Courses
IYT Yachtmaster Professional training courses, MCA & USCG approved, STCW95 compliant, for sail and power yachts in Spain and worldwide through other IYT schools. IYT Yachtmaster Professional Coastal. IYT Yachtmaster Professional Offshore. IYT Yachtmaster Professional Ocean. STCW'95 safety courses. VHF radio and GMDSS courses. IYT International Bareboat courses, from beginner to expert. Personalised tailor made courses available. IYT International Crew. IYT International Bareboat Flotilla Skipper. IYT International Bareboat Captain.
http://www.ima-yachtmaster.com/

art-SITES travel guides
art-SITES is a unique series combining art books and travel guides. User-friendly, each handbook is filled with in-depth commentaries and nitty-gritty details on art museums, top-notch galleries, pioneering exhibition spaces, cutting-edge contemporary architecture, film centers, vanguard public art, sculpture parks, art fairs, festivals and bookshops. Far beyond the usual coverage of museums and monuments, these handbooks offer an excitingly different way to explore cities and discover the hinterlands. art-SITES handbooks are organized geographically for walking tours of neighborhoods or regional excursions. Entries are icon-coded, cross-referenced to handy maps and accompanied by enticing illustrations and helpful travel hints. Jargon-free discussions critically assess each site and shed light on artists and styles. There are also invaluable subject and alphabetical indexes. Whether you're a veteran tourist or armchair traveler, a Sunday painter or professional in the art world, these guides are eye-opening treasure troves.
http://www.art-sites.com/

Hotel Mesón de Don Quijote
Your place to take a rest in the D. Quixote environment. Relax, Fight against windmills, enjoy, ... like D. Quixote.
http://www.mesondonquijote.com/

Enjoy-Spain - Sfeervolle accommodaties en individuele rondreizen in Spanje, Holiday rental country houses, charming hotels and routes around Spain, Alojamientos con encanto y rutas a medida
Enjoy Spain is gespecialiseerd in accommodaties met charme en karakter. Wij bieden ook mooie rondreizen en routes op maat. Enjoy Spain is specialized in holiday rental houses, charming hotels and routes around Spain. Enjoy Spain alquila casas de vacaciones, hoteles con encanto y rutas a medida en España.
http://www.enjoy-spain.com/

Jane Butel's Cooking School
Jane Butel, the first to write about southwestern cooking, is an internationally recognized authority on the regional cooking of the American southwest. In the late 1970's, following a successful career as one of America's top Consumer Affairs executives, she launched her writing, teaching, television, consulting, and spice business. Her cooking schools in New Mexico and Scottsdale, AZ, have garnered high recognition. Bon Appetit magazine selected her school as one of the four best in the world and Gayot.com listed her hotel-based schools as the best in the US and one of the world's top ten. She is currently developing online cooking classes and a cooking club. She also conducts tours to Mexico and Spain. Pecos Valley Spice Co., a trusted source for chiles, spices, and other authentic southwestern ingredients, was founded in 1978. She continues to spice up America's favorite cuisine with recipes from the rich culinary, cultural, and historical heritage of the Southwest. She has written 18 cookbooks, including Northland's Real Women Eat Chiles, which was just released in March, 2006.
http://janebutel.com

Self catering accommodation, Nerja, Costa del Sol, Andalucia, Spain
A typical Spainish seaside town with white buildings and cobbled streets.
http://www.sunshine-breaks.com/

Si, Spain
Free exchange of information on Spanish current affairs and its historical, linguistic and cultural development. Produced by Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
http://www.sispain.org

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Official site links to each directorate as well as to attorney employment, listserv signup, FAQ, a virtual tour, the CIA Museum, press releases and reports, and reference pages on world geography, history, politics and chiefs of state. Alphabetical site index, site map, search, and a special section on terrorism.
http://www.cia.gov/

The Tourist Office of Spain
Information for travelers and travel agents.
http://www.okspain.org/

All About Spain
Guide in English, Spanish and German. Includes tourist and cultural information.
http://www.Red2000.com/

Turespaña
Instituto de Turismo de España. Ofrece amplia información para turistas así como secciones de organismos dependientes: Instituto de Estudios Turísticos, Escuela Oficial de Turismo, Paradores de Turismo y Palacios de Congresos.
http://www.tourspain.es