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Hola Donde estn los servicios Madrid May PDF generated using the open source mwlib toolkit. See http//code.pediapress.com/ for more information. PDF generated at Mon, May UTC Contents Articles Spain in General Spain History of Spain Spanish language Spanish cuisine Francisco Franco Bullfighting Madrid Madrid History of Madrid MadridBarajas Airport Madrid Metro Things to do in Madrid Royal Palace of Madrid Museo del Prado Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofa ThyssenBornemisza Museum Temple of Debod Buen Retiro Park Sabatini Gardens Real Jardn Botnico de Madrid El Pardo Places to Go Outside Madrid Toledo, Spain El Escorial Valle de los Cados Royal Family Spanish Royal Family House of Bourbon Juan Carlos I of Spain Queen Sofa of Spain References Article Sources and Contributors Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors Article Licenses License Spain in General Spain Kingdom of Spain Reino de Espaa MottoquotPlus UltraquotLatin quotFurther Beyondquot AnthemquotMarcha RealquotSpanish quotRoyal Marchquot Location of Spaindark green on the European continentgreen ampdark grey in the European Uniongreen Legend Capital and largest city Official languages Recognised regionallanguages Demonym Government King Prime Minister Legislature Upper House Madrid N W Spanish Aranese, Basque, Catalan/Valencian and Galician Spanish, Spaniard Parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy Juan Carlos I Jos Luis Rodrguez Zapatero PSOE Cortes Generales Senate Spain Lower House Formation Traditional date Dynastic De facto De jure Nation state Congress of Deputies th century ascension to the throne of Liuvigild Constitutional democracy EU accession January Area Total ,km st ,sqmi . Population Water estimate Density ,, th /km th /sqmi estimate GDPPPP GDP nominal Gini HDI Currency Time zone SummerDST Date formats Drives on the ISOcode Internet TLD Calling code Total Per capita Total Per capita .trillion , estimate .trillion , . very highth EUR Euro CET UTC CESTUTC dd.mm.yyyy Spanish CE right ES .es Spain /enusSpain.oggspen/ spayn Spanish Espaa, pronouncedespaa listen, officially the Kingdom of Spain Spanish Reino de Espaa , is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Its mainland is bordered to the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea except for a small land boundary with the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar to the north by France, Andorra, and the Bay of Biscay and to the northwest and west by the Atlantic Ocean and Portugal. Spain Spanish territory also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the African coast, and two autonomous cities in North Africa, Ceuta and Melilla, that border Morocco. Furthermore, the town of Llvia is a Spanish exclave situated inside French territory. With an area of square kilometres sqmi, it is the second largest country in Western Europe and the European Union after France. Because of its location, the territory of Spain was subject to many external influences since prehistoric times and through to its dawn as a country. Spain emerged as a unified country in the th century, following the marriage of the Catholic Monarchs and the completion of the reconquest, or Reconquista, of the Iberian peninsula in . Conversely, it has been an important source of influence to other regions, chiefly during the Modern Era, when it became a global empire that has left a legacy of over million Spanish speakers today, making it the worlds second most spoken first language. Spain is a democracy organised in the form of a parliamentary government under a constitutional monarchy. It is a developed country with the twelfth largest economy in the world by nominal GDP, and very high living standards th highest Human Development Index, including the tenthhighest quality of life index rating in the world, as of . It is a member of the United Nations, European Union, NATO, OECD, and WTO. History The first known peoples of presentday Spain were the Celts and the Iberians. After an arduous conquest, the Iberian Peninsula became a region of the Roman Empire known as Hispania. During the early Middle Ages it came under Germanic rule but later was conquered by Muslim invaders. Through a very long and fitful process, the Christian kingdoms in the north gradually rolled back Muslim rule, finally extinguishing its last remnant in Granada in , the same year Columbus reached the Americas. A global empire began which saw Spain become the strongest kingdom in Europe and the leading world power in the th century and first half of the th century. Continued wars and other problems eventually led to a diminished status. The French invasion of Spain in the early th century led to chaos, triggering independence movements that tore apart most of the empire and left the country politically unstable. In the th century it suffered a devastating civil war and came under the rule of an authoritarian government, leading to years of stagnation, but finishing in an impressive economic surge. Democracy was restored in in the form of a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. In , Spain joined the European Union, experiencing a cultural renaissance and steady economic growth. Etymology The true origins of the name Espaa and its cognates quotSpainquot and quotSpanishquot are disputed. The ancient Roman name for Iberia, Hispania, may derive from poetic use of the term Hesperia to refer to Spain, reflecting the Greek perception of Italy as a quotwestern landquot or quotland of the setting sunquot Hesperia, in Greek and Spain, being still further west, as Hesperia ultima. It may also be a derivation of the Punic Ispanihad, meaning quotland of rabbitsquot or quotedgequot, a reference to Spains location at the end of the Mediterranean Roman coins struck in the region from the reign of Hadrian show a female figure with a coney at her feet. There are also claims that Espaa derives from the Basque word Ezpanna meaning quotedgequot or quotborderquot, another reference to the fact that the Iberian peninsula constitutes the southwest of the European continent. The humanist Antonio de Nebrija proposed that the word Hispania evolved from the Iberian word Hispalis, meaning quotcity of the western worldquot. According to new research by Jess Luis Cunchillos published in with the name of Gramtica fenicia elemental Basic Phoenician grammar, the root of the term span is spy, meaning quotto forge metalsquot. Therefore ispnya would mean quotthe land where metals are forgedquot. Spain Prehistory and preRoman peoples Archaeological research at Atapuerca indicates the Iberian Peninsula was populated by hominids .million years ago. Modern humans first arrived in Iberia, from the north on foot, about , years ago. The best known artifacts of these prehistoric human settlements are the famous paintings in the Altamira cave of Cantabria in northern Iberia, which were created about , BCE by cromagnons. Archaeological and genetic evidence strongly suggests that the Iberian Peninsula acted as one of several major refugia from which northern Europe was repopulated following the end of the last ice age. The two main historical peoples of the peninsula were the Iberians and the Celts, the former inhabiting the Mediterranean side from the northeast to the southwest, the latter inhabiting the Atlantic side, in the north and northwest part of the peninsula. In the inner part of the peninsula, where both groups were in contact, a mixed, distinctive culture known as Celtiberian was present. Basques occupied the western area of the Pyrenees mountain range and adjacent areas. Other ethnic groups existed along the peninsulas southern coastal areas. Altamira Cave paintings, in Cantabria In the south of the peninsula appeared the semimythical city of Tartessos c.BC, whose flourishing trade in items made of gold and silver with the Phoenicians and Greeks is documented by Strabo and the Book of Solomon. Between about BC and BC, the seafaring Phoenicians and Greeks founded trading colonies along the Mediterranean coast. The Carthaginians briefly exerted control over much of the Mediterranean side of the peninsula, until defeated in the Punic Wars by the Romans. Roman Empire and the Gothic Kingdom During the Second Punic War, an expanding Roman Empire captured Carthaginian trading colonies along the Mediterranean coast from roughly BC to BC. It took the Romans nearly two centuries to complete the conquest of the Iberian peninsula, though they had control of much of it for over six centuries. Roman rule was bound together by law, language, and the Roman road. Roman Theatre of Mrida, in Badajoz Spain The cultures of the Celt and Iberian populations were gradually romanized Latinized at differing rates in different parts of Hispania. Local leaders were admitted into the Roman aristocratic class. Hispania served as a granary for the Roman market, and its harbors exported gold, wool, olive oil, and wine. Agricultural production increased with the introduction of irrigation projects, some of which remain in use. Emperors Trajan, Theodosius I, and the philosopher Seneca were born in Hispania. Christianity was introduced into Hispania in the stcentury CE and it became popular in the cities in the ndcentury CE. Most of Spains present languages and religion, and the basis of its laws, originate from this period. The weakening of the Western Roman Empires jurisdiction in Hispania began in Cathedral of the Holy Saviour, in , when the Germanic Suevi and Vandals, together with the Sarmatian Alans Asturias crossed the Rhine and ravaged Gaul until the Visigoths drove them into Iberia that same year. The Suevi established a kingdom in what is today modern Galicia and northern Portugal. As the western empire disintegrated, the social and economic base became greatly simplified but even in modified form, the successor regimes maintained many of the institutions and laws of the late empire, including Christianity. The Alans allies, the Hasdingi Vandals, established a kingdom in Gallaecia, too, occupying largely the same region but extending farther south to the Duero river. The Silingi Vandals occupied the region that still bears a form of their name Vandalusia, modern Andalusia, in Spain. The Byzantines established an enclave, Spania, in the south, with the intention of reviving the Roman empire throughout Iberia. Eventually, however, Hispania was reunited under Visigothic rule. Muslim Iberia In the thcentury, nearly all of the Iberian Peninsula was conquered by largely Moorish Muslim armies from North Africa. These conquests were part of the expansion of the Umayyad Islamic Empire. Only a small area in the mountainous northwest of the peninsula managed to resist the initial invasion. Under Islamic law, Christians and Jews were given the subordinate status of dhimmi. This status permitted Christians and Jews to practice their religions as people of the book but they were required to pay a special tax and to be subject to certain discriminations. The Alhambra palace complex, in Granada. Conversion to Islam proceeded at a steadily increasing pace. The muladies Muslims of ethnic Iberian origin are believed to have comprised the majority of the population of AlAndalus by the end of the th century. Spain The Muslim community in the Iberian peninsula was itself diverse and beset by social tensions. The Berber people of North Africa, who had provided the bulk of the invading armies, clashed with the Arab leadership from the Middle East. Over time, large Moorish populations became established, especially in the Guadalquivir River valley, the coastal plain of Valencia, the Ebro River valley and towards the end of this period in the mountainous region of Granada. Crdoba, the capital of the caliphate, was the largest, richest and most sophisticated city in western Europe. Mediterranean trade and cultural exchange flourished. Muslims imported a rich intellectual tradition from the Middle East and North Africa. Muslim and Jewish scholars played an important part in reviving and expanding classical Greek learning in Western Europe. The Romanized cultures of the Iberian peninsula interacted with Muslim and Jewish cultures in complex ways, thus giving the region a distinctive culture. Outside La Giralda, the bell tower of Seville the cities, where the vast majority lived, the land ownership system from Roman Cathedral times remained largely intact as Muslim leaders rarely dispossessed landowners, and the introduction of new crops and techniques led to a remarkable expansion of agriculture. In the thcentury, the Muslim holdings fractured into rival Taifa kingdoms, allowing the small Christian states the opportunity to greatly enlarge their territories. The arrival from North Africa of the Islamic ruling sects of the Almoravids and the Almohads restored unity upon the Muslim holdings, with a stricter, less tolerant application of Islam, and saw a revival in Muslim fortunes. This reunited Islamic state, experienced more than a century of successes that partially reversed Christian gains. End of Muslim rule and unification The Reconquista quotReconquestquot is the centurieslong period of expansion of Iberias Christian kingdoms. The Reconquista is viewed as beginning with the Battle of Covadonga in , and was concurrent with the period of Muslim rule on the Iberian peninsula. The Christian armys victory over Muslim forces led to the creation of the Christian Kingdom of Asturias along the northwestern coastal mountains. Shortly after, in , Muslim forces were driven from Galicia, which was to eventually host one of medieval Europes holiest sites, Santiago de Compostela and was incorporated into the new Christian kingdom. Muslim armies had also moved north of the Pyrenees, but they were defeated by Frankish forces at the Battle of Poitiers, Frankia. Later, Frankish forces established Christian counties on the southern side of the Pyrenees. These areas were to grow into the kingdoms of Navarre, Aragon and Catalonia. For several centuries, the fluctuating frontier between the Muslim and Christian controlled areas of Iberia was along the Ebro and Duero valleys. Loarre Castle, in Huesca vila city walls Spain The Cathedral of Burgos, jewel of the Spanish gothic style, located in the city of Burgos, capital of Castile. King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile the Catholic Monarchs. The breakup of AlAndalus into the competing taifa kingdoms helped the long embattled Iberian Christian kingdoms gain the initiative. The capture of the strategically central city of Toledo in marked a significant shift in the balance of power in favour of the Christian kingdoms. Following a great Muslim resurgence in the thcentury, the great Moorish strongholds in the south fell to Christian Spain in the thcenturyCrdoba in and Seville in leaving only the Muslim enclave of Granada as a tributary state in the south. In the th and thcenturies, the Marinids Muslim sect based in North Africa invaded and established some enclaves on the southern coast but failed in their attempt to reestablish Muslim rule in Iberia and were soon driven out. The thcentury also witnessed the Crown of Aragon, centred in Spains north east, expand its reach across islands in the Mediterranean, to Sicily and even Athens. Around this time the universities of Palencia / and Salamanca / were established. The Black Death of and devastated Spain. In , the crowns of the Christian kingdoms of Castile and Aragon were united by the marriage of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon. commenced the completion of the conquest of the Canary Islands and in Alczar of Segovia Spain , the combined forces of the Castile and Aragon captured the Emirate of Granada, ending the last remnant of a year presence of Islamic rule in Iberia. The Treaty of Granada guaranteed religious tolerance toward Muslims. The year also marked the arrival in the New World of Christopher Columbus, during a voyage funded by Isabella. That same year, Spains Jews were ordered to convert to Catholicism or face expulsion from Spanish territories during the Spanish Inquisition. A few years later, following social disturbances, Muslims were also expelled under the same conditions. As Renaissance New Monarchs, Isabella and Ferdinand centralized royal power at the expense of local nobility, and the word Espaa, whose root is the ancient name Hispania, began to be commonly used to designate the whole of the two kingdoms. With their wideranging political, legal, religious and military reforms, Spain emerged as the first world power. Imperial Spain The unification of the crowns of Aragon and Castile laid the basis for modern Spain and the Spanish Empire. Spain was Europes leading power throughout the th century and most of the th century, a position reinforced by trade and wealth from colonial possessions. It reached its apogee during the reigns of the first two Spanish Habsburgs Charles I and Philip II The Spanish Empires historical influence . This period saw the Italian Wars, the revolt of the comuneros, the Dutch revolt, the Morisco revolt, clashes with the Ottomans, the AngloSpanish war and wars with France. The Spanish Empire expanded to include great parts of the Americas, islands in the AsiaPacific area, areas of Italy, cities in Northern Africa, as well as parts of what are now France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. It was the first empire of which it was said that the sun never set. This was an age of discovery, with daring explorations by sea and by land, the openingup of new trade routes across oceans, conquests and the beginnings of European colonialism. Along with the arrival of precious metals, spices, luxuries, and new agricultural plants, Spanish explorers brought back knowledge from the New World, and played a leading part in transforming the European understanding of the globe. The cultural efflorescence witnessed is now referred to as the Spanish Golden Age. The rise of humanism, the Protestant Reformation and new geographical discoveries raised issues addressed by the influential intellectual movement now known as the School of Salamanca. Spain In the late th century and first half of the thcentury, Spain was confronted by unrelenting challenges from all sides. Barbary pirates under the aegis of the rapidly growing Ottoman empire, disrupted life in many coastal areas through their slave raids and renewed the threat of an Islamic invasion. This at a time when Spain was often at war with France. The Protestant Reformation schism from the Catholic Church dragged the kingdom ever more deeply into the mire of religiously charged wars. The result was a country forced into ever expanding military efforts across Europe and in the Mediterranean. By the middle decades of a war and plagueridden thcentury Europe the Spanish Habsburgs had enmeshed the country in the continentwide religiouspolitical conflicts. These conflicts drained it of resources and A Spanish galleon undermined the European economy generally. Spain managed to hold on to most of the scattered Habsburg empire, and help the imperial forces of the Holy Roman Empire reverse a large part of the advances made by Protestant forces, but it was finally forced to recognise the separation of Portugal with whom it had been united in a personal union of the crowns from to and the Netherlands, and eventually suffered some serious military reverses to France in the latter stages of the immensely destructive, Europewide Thirty Years War. In the latter half of the thcentury, Spain went into a gradual relative decline, during which it surrendered a number of small territories to France. However it maintained and enlarged its vast overseas empire, which remained intact until the beginning of the thcentury. The decline culminated in a controversy over succession to the throne which consumed the first years of the thcentury. The War of Spanish Succession was a wide ranging international conflict combined with a civil war, and was to cost the kingdom its European possessions and its position as one of the leading powers on the Continent. El Escorial, built in Philip IIs reign, near Madrid. During this war, a new dynasty originating in France, the Bourbons, was installed. Long united only by the Crown, a true Spanish state was established when the first Bourbon king, Philip V, united the crowns of Castile and Aragon into a single state, abolishing many of the old regional privileges and laws. The thcentury saw a gradual recovery and an increase in prosperity through much of the empire. The new Bourbon monarchy drew on the French system of modernising the administration and the economy. Enlightenment ideas began to gain ground among some of the kingdoms elite and monarchy. Military assistance for the rebellious British colonies in the American War of Independence improved the kingdoms international standing. Spain Napoleonic rule and its consequences In , Spain went to war against the new French Republic, which had overthrown and executed its Bourbon king, Louis XVI. The war polarised the country in an apparent reaction against the gallicised elites. Defeated in the field, peace was made with France in and it effectively became a client state of that country In , the secret treaty of Fontainebleau between Napoleon and the deeply unpopular Godoy led to a declaration of war against Britain and Portugal. French troops entered the kingdom unopposed, supposedly to invade Portugal, but instead they occupied Spanish fortresses. This invasion by trickery led to the abdication of the ridiculed Spanish king in favour of Napoleons brother, Joseph Bonaparte. Second of May the people revolt against the Bonapartist regime This foreign puppet monarch was widely regarded with scorn. The May revolt was one of many nationalist uprisings against the Bonapartist regime across the country. These revolts marked the beginning of what is known to the Spanish as the War of Independence, and to the British as the Peninsular War. Napoleon was forced to intervene personally, defeating several badly coordinated Spanish armies and forcing a British army to retreat. However, further military action by Spanish guerrillas and armies, and Wellingtons BritishPortuguese forces, combined with Napoleons disastrous invasion of Russia, led to the ousting of the French imperial armies from the Spain in , and the return of King Ferdinand VII. The French invasions devastated the economy, and left Spain a deeply divided country prone to political instability. The power struggles of the early thcentury led to the loss of all of its colonies in the Americas which stretched from Las Californias to Patagonia, with the sole exception of Cuba and Puerto Rico. SpanishAmerican War Amid the instability and economic crisis that afflicted Spain in the th century there arose nationalist movements in the Philippines and Cuba. Wars of independence ensued in those colonies and eventually the United States became involved. Despite the commitment and ability shown by some military units, they were so mismanaged by the highest levels of command that the SpanishAmerican War, fought in the Spring of , did not last long. quotEl Desastrequot The Disaster, as the war became known, helped give impetus to the Generation of who were already conducting much critical analysis concerning the country. It also weakened the stability that had been established during Alfonso XIIs reign. Spanish Civil War The thcentury brought little peace Spain played a minor part in the scramble for Africa, with the colonisation of Western Sahara, Spanish Morocco and Equatorial Guinea. The heavy losses suffered during the Rif war in Morocco helped to undermine the monarchy. A period of authoritarian rule under General Miguel Primo de Rivera ended with the establishment of the Second Spanish Republic. The Republic offered political autonomy to the Basque Country, Catalonia and Galicia and gave voting rights to women. Spain The Spanish Civil War ensued. Three years later the Nationalist forces, led by General Francisco Franco, emerged victorious with the support of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. Popular Front government side was supported by the Soviet Union and Mexico and International Brigades, including the American Abraham Lincoln Brigade, but it was not supported officially by the Western powers due to the Britishled policy of NonIntervention. The Civil War claimed the lives of over , people and caused General Franco and US President Eisenhower in the flight of up to a halfmillion citizens. Most of their descendants Madrid now live in Latin American countries, with some , in Argentina alone. The Spanish Civil War has been called the first battle of the Second World War under Franco the country was neutral in the Second World War, although sympathetic to the Axis. The only legal party under Francos post civil war regime was the Falange Espaola Tradicionalista y de las JONS, formed in the party emphasised antiCommunism, Catholicism and nationalism. Given Francos opposition to competing political parties, the party was renamed the National Movement Movimiento Nacional in . After World War II Spain was politically and economically isolated, and was kept out of the United Nations. This changed in , during the Cold War period, when it became strategically important for the U.S. to establish a military presence on the Iberian peninsula as a counter to any possible move by the U.S.S.R into the Mediterranean basin. In the s, Spain registered an unprecedented rate of economic growth in what became known as the Spanish miracle, which resumed the much interrupted transition towards a modern economy. With Francos death in November , Juan Carlos assumed the position of King of Spain and head of state in accordance with the law. With the approval of the new Spanish Constitution of and the arrival of democracy, the State devolved much authority to the regions and created an internal organization based on autonomous communities. In the Basque Country, moderate Basque nationalism has coexisted with a radical nationalist movement led by the armed organisation ETA. The group was formed in during Francos rule but has Spanish Constitution of continued to wage its violent campaign even after the restoration of democracy and the return of a large measure of regional autonomy. On February , rebel elements among the security forces seized the Cortes in an attempt to impose a military backed government. King Juan Carlos took personal command of the military and successfully ordered the coup plotters, via national television, to surrender. On May Spain joined NATO, following a referendum. That year the Spanish Socialist Workers Party PSOE came to power, the first leftwing government in years. In Spain joined the European Community what became the European Union. The PSOE was replaced in government by the Partido Popular PP after the latter won the General Elections at that point the PSOE had served almost consecutive years in office. Spain st century On January , Spain ceased to use the peseta as currency replacing it with the euro, which it shares with other countries in the Eurozone. Spain has also seen strong economic growth, well above the EU average, but well publicised concerns issued by many economic commentators at the height of the boom that the extraordinary property prices and high foreign trade deficits of the boom were likely to lead to a painful economic collapse were confirmed by a severe property led recession that struck the country in /. A series of bombs exploded in commuter trains in Madrid, Spain on Spain issued a new currency, the euro, in March . After a five month trial in it was concluded the bombings were perpetrated by a local Islamist militant group inspired by alQaeda. The bombings killed people and wounded more than , and the intention of the perpetrators may have been to influence the outcome of the Spanish general election, held three days later. Though initial suspicions focused on the Basque group ETA, evidence soon emerged indicating possible Islamist involvement. Because of the proximity of the election, the issue of responsibility quickly became a political controversy, with the main competing parties PP and PSOE exchanging accusations over the handling of the aftermath. At March elections, PSOE, led by Jos Luis Rodrguez Zapatero, obtained a plurality, enough to form a new cabinet with Rodrguez Zapatero as the new Presidente del Gobierno or Prime Minister of Spain, thus succeeding the former PP administration. Geography At km sqmi, Spain is the worlds stlargest country. It is some km sqmi smaller than France and km sqmi larger than the U.S. state of California. The Teide Tenerife, Canary Islands is the highest peak of Spain and the third largest volcano in the world from its base. Spain lies between latitudes and N, and longitudes W and E. Bossst Lleida, in the Pyrenees On the west, Spain borders Portugal on the south, it borders Gibraltar a British overseas territory and Morocco, through its exclaves in North Africa Ceuta, Melilla, and Pen de Vlez de la Gomera. On the northeast, along the Pyrenees mountain range, it borders France and the tiny principality of Andorra. Spain also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean and a number of uninhabited El Sardinero beach, in Santander Cantabria islands on the Mediterranean side of the Strait of Gibraltar, known as Plazas de soberana, such as the Chafarine islands, the isle of Alborn, Alhucemas, and the tiny Isla Perejil. Along the Pyrenees in Catalonia, a small exclave town called Llvia is surrounded by France. The little Pheasant Island in the River Bidasoa is a SpanishFrench condominium. Spain Mainland Spain is a mountainous country, dominated by high plateaus and mountain chains. After the Pyrenees, the main mountain ranges are the Cordillera Cantbrica, Sistema Ibrico, Sistema Central, Montes de Toledo, Sierra Morena and the Sistema Penibtico whose highest peak, the , m high Mulhacn, located in Sierra Nevada, is the highest point in the Iberian peninsula. Running from these heights are several major rivers such as the Tagus, 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. Climate Three main climatic zones can be separated, according to geographical situation and orographic conditions The Mediterranean climate, characterized by dry and warm summers. According to the Kppen climate classification, it is dominant in the peninsula, with two varieties the typical Mediterranean climate Csa climate, present in most of the country, and the Galician variant Galicia and Northwest Castilla, with summers less hot due to the proximity of the ocean Csb climate or the altitude. The semiarid climate Bsk, located in southeastern quarter of the climate classification country, especially in the region of Murcia and in the Ebro valley. In contrary to the Mediterranean climate, the dry season extends beyond the summer. Climatic areas of Spain according to the Kppen The oceanic climate Winter and summer temperatures are influenced by the ocean, and have no seasonal drought. In the coastal strip near the Basque Country, the Asturias, and in some highlands, we find essentially a quotsouthernquot nuance sometimes called quotAquitanianquot, which differs from the typical type by hotter summers average July temperature of C .F in Santander, vs C .F in Brest or Liverpool. For some authors, Galicia presents an oceanic climate too, because of lower temperatures in summer than in the typical Mediterranean climate. Nevertheless, Northwest Spain is often affected by forest fires due to the summer drought, and has more daily sunshine than the typical oceanic regions. Apart from these main types, other subtypes can be found, like the alpine climate in the Pyrenees, and a humid subtropical climate in the Canary Islands. Islands Islander population Teide, the highest mountain in Spain Tenerife, Canary Islands The city of Palma of Mallorca . Tenerife , . Mallorca , Spain . Gran Canaria , . Lanzarote , . Ibiza , . Fuerteventura , . Menorca , . La Palma , . La Gomera , . El Hierro , . Formentera , . Arosa , . La Graciosa . Tabarca . Ons Politics The Spanish Constitution of is the culmination of the Spanish transition to democracy. The constitutional history of Spain dates back to the constitution of . Impatient with the pace of democratic political reforms in and , Spains new King Juan Carlos, known for his formidable personality, dismissed Carlos Arias Navarro and appointed the reformer Adolfo Surez as Prime Minister. The resulting general election in convened the Constituent Cortes the Spanish Parliament, in its capacity as a constitutional assembly for the purpose of drafting and approving the constitution of . After a national referendum on December , of voters approved of the new constitution. As a result, Spain is now composed of autonomous communities and two autonomous cities with varying degrees of autonomy thanks to its Constitution, which nevertheless explicitly states the indivisible unity of the Spanish nation as well as that Spain has today no official religion but all are free to practice and believe as they wish. As of November , the government of Spain keeps a balanced gender equality ratio. Nine out of the members of the Government are women. Under the administration of Jos Luis Rodrguez Zapatero, Spain has been described as being quotat the vanguardquot in gender equality issues and also that quotno other modern, democratic, administration outside Scandinavia has taken more steps to place gender issues at the centre of governmentquot. The Spanish administration has also promoted genderbased positive discrimination by approving gender equality legislation in aimed to provide equality between genders in the Spanish political and economic life Gender Equality Act. However, in the legislative branch, as of July only out of the members of the Congress are women .. Nowadays, it positions Spain as the th country with more women in its lower house. In the Senate, the ratio is even lower, since there are only women out of .. The Gender Empowerment Measure of Spain in the United Nations Human Development Report is ., the th in the world. King Juan Carlos I Spain Branches of government Spain is a constitutional monarchy, with a hereditary monarch and a bicameral parliament, the Cortes Generales. The executive branch consists of a Council of Ministers of Spain presided over by the Prime Minister, nominated and appointed by the monarch and confirmed by the Congress of Deputies following legislative elections. By political custom established by King Juan Carlos since the ratification of the Constitution, the kings nominees have all been from parties who maintain a plurality of seats in the Congress. The legislative branch is made up of the Congress of Deputies Congreso de los Diputados with members, elected by popular vote on block lists by proportional representation to serve fouryear terms, and a Senate Senado with seats of which are directly elected by popular vote and the other appointed by the regional legislatures to also serve fouryear terms. Head of State King Juan Carlos I, since November Head of Government Prime Minister of Spain Spanish Presidente del Gobierno literally President of the Government Jos Luis Rodrguez Zapatero, elected March . First Vice President and Minister of Interior Alfredo Prez Rubalcaba. Second Vice President and Minister of Economy and Finance Elena Salgado. Third Vice President and Minister of Territorial Policy Manuel Chaves. Cabinet Council of Ministers Spanish Consejo de Ministros designated by the Prime Minister. The Spanish nation is organizationally composed in the form of called Estado de las Autonomas quotState of Autonomiesquot it is one of the most decentralized countries in Europe, along with Switzerland, Germany and Belgium for example, all Autonomous Communities have their own elected parliaments, governments, public administrations, budgets, and resources therefore, health and education systems among others are managed regionally, besides, the Basque Country and Navarre also manage their own public finances based on foral provisions. In Catalonia and the Basque Country, a full fledged autonomous police corps replaces some of the State police functions see Mossos dEsquadra, Ertzaintza, Polica Foral and Polica Canaria. Jos Luis Rodrguez Zapatero, Prime Minister. Spain Administrative divisions Galicia Navarre Madrid La Rioja Aragon Catalonia Valencia Castilla La Mancha Extremadura Portugal Castilla y Len Asturias Cantabria Basque Country Murcia Andalusia Ceuta Melilla France Spain Balearic Islands Canary Islands Mediterranean Sea Bay of Biscay Atlantic Ocean Andorra Atlantic Ocean Gibraltar UK The basic institutional law of the autonomous community is the Statute of Autonomy. The Statutes of Autonomy establish the denomination of the community according to its historical identity, the limits of their territories, the name and organization of the institutions of government and the rights they enjoy according the constitution. The government of all autonomous communities must be based on a division of powers comprising a Legislative Assembly whose members must be elected by universal suffrage according to the system of proportional representation and in which all areas that integrate the territory are fairly represented a Government Council, with executive and administrative functions headed by a president, elected by the Legislative Assembly and nominated by the King of Spain a Supreme Court of Justice, under the Supreme Court of the State, which head the judicial organization within the autonomous community. Spain Besides Andalusia, Catalonia, the Basque Country and Galicia, which identified themselves as nationalities, other communities have taken that denomination in accordance to their historical regional identity, such as the Valencian Community, the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, and Aragon. The autonomous communities have wide legislative and executive autonomy, with their own parliaments and regional governments. The distribution of powers may be different for every community, as laid out in their Statutes of Autonomy. There used to be a clear de facto distinction between so called quothistoricquot communities Basque Country, Catalonia, Galicia, Andalusia and the rest. The quothistoricquot ones initially received more functions, including the ability of the regional presidents to choose the timing of the regional elections as long as they happen no more than four years apart. As another example, the Basque Country, Navarre and Catalonia have fullrange police forces of their own Ertzaintza in the Basque Country, Polica Foral in Navarre and Mossos dEsquadra in Catalonia. Other communities have more limited forces or none at all like the Polica Autnoma Andaluza in Andalusia or the BESCAM in Madrid. However, the recent amendments made to their respective Statute of Autonomy by a series of quotordinaryquot Autonomous Communities such as the Valencian Community or Aragon have weakened this original de facto distinction. Subdivisions Autonomous communities are composed of provinces provincias, which serve as the territorial building blocks for the former. In turn, provinces are composed of municipalities municipios. The existence of these two subdivisions is granted and protected by the constitution, not necessarily by the Statutes of Autonomy themselves. Municipalities are granted autonomy to manage their internal affairs, and provinces are the territorial divisions designed to carry out the activities of the State. The current fifty province structure is basedwith minor changeson the one created in by Javier de Burgos. The communities of Asturias, Cantabria, La Rioja, the Balearic Islands, Madrid, Murcia and Navarre are counted as provinces as well, but were granted autonomy as singleprovinces for historical reasons. Foreign relations After the return of democracy following the death of Franco in , Spains foreign policy priorities were to break out of the diplomatic isolation of the Franco years and expand diplomatic relations, enter the European Community, and define security relations with the West. As a member of NATO since , Spain has established itself as a major participant in multilateral international security activities. Spains EU membership represents an important part of its foreign policy. Even on many international issues beyond western Europe, Spain prefers to coordinate its efforts with its EU partners through the European political cooperation mechanisms. Spain became a member of the European Union in and signed the Lisbon Treaty in . With the normalization of diplomatic relations with North Korea in , Spain completed the process of universalizing its diplomatic relations. Spain has maintained its special identification with Latin America. Its policy emphasizes the concept of an Iberoamerican community, essentially the renewal of the historically liberal concept of hispanoamericanismo, or Hispanism as it is often referred to in English, which has sought to link the Iberian peninsula with Latin America through language, commerce, history and culture. Spain has been an effective example of transition from dictatorship to democracy for formerly nondemocratic Latin American states, as shown in the many trips that Spain Spains King and Prime Ministers have made to the region. Territorial disputes Spain claims Gibraltar, a square km Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom in the southernmost part of the Iberian Peninsula. Then a Spanish town, it was conquered by an AngloDutch force in during the War of the Spanish Succession on behalf of the Archduke Charles, pretender to the Spanish throne. The legal situation concerning Gibraltar was settled in by the Treaty of Utrecht, in which Spain ceded the territory in perpetuity to the British Crown stating that, should the British abandon this post, it would be offered to Spain first. Ever since the s Spain has called for the return of Gibraltar. The overwhelming majority of Gibraltarians strongly oppose this, along with any proposal of shared sovereignty. UN resolutions call on the United Kingdom and Spain, both EU members, to reach an agreement over the status of Gibraltar. However, the Spanish claim handles in a different way the Rock and the city of Gibraltar, ceded by the Treaty of Utrecht, and, on the other hand, the isthmus that connects the Rock to the Spanish mainland. Spain notes that this territory was not Port of Melilla ceded by said Treaty and therefore asserts that the quotoccupation of the isthmus is illegal and against the principles of the International Lawquot. The United Kingdom relies on de facto arguments of possession by prescription in relation to the isthmus, as there has been quotcontinuous possession of the isthmus over a long periodquot. Spain claims the sovereignty over the Perejil Island, a small, uninhabited rocky islet located in the South shore of the Strait of Gibraltar. The island lies meters just off the coast of Morocco, km from Ceuta and .km from mainland Spain. Its sovereignty is disputed between Spain and Morocco. It was the subject of an armed incident between the two countries in . The incident ended when both countries agreed to return to the status quo ante which existed prior to the Moroccan occupation of the island. The islet is now deserted and without any sign of sovereignty. Morocco claims the Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla and the plazas de soberana islets off the northern coast of Africa. Portugal does not recognise Spains sovereignty over the territory of Olivenza. Military The armed forces of Spain are known as the Spanish Armed Forces Spanish Fuerzas Armadas Espaolas. Their Commanderinchief is the King of Spain, Juan Carlos I. The Spanish Armed Forces are divided into three branches Army Ejrcito de Tierra Navy Armada Air Force Ejrcito del Aire Emblem of Spanish Armed Forces Spain Economy Spains capitalist mixed economy is the twelfth largest worldwide and the fifth largest in the European Union, as well as the Eurozones fourth largest. Spain is also the third largest world investor. The centreright government of former prime minister Jos Mara Aznar worked successfully to gain admission to the group of countries launching the euro in . Unemployment stood at . in October , a rate that compared favorably to many other European countries, and especially with the early s when it stood at over . Perennial weak points of Spains economy include high inflation, a large underground economy, and an education system which OECD reports place among the poorest for developed countries, together with the United States and UK. However, the property bubble that begun building from , fed by historically low interest rates and an immense surge in immigration, imploded in , leading to a rapidly weakening economy and soaring unemployment. By the end of May , unemployment reached . for youths. Madrid Cuatro Torres Business Area Barcelona finance centre Before the current crisis, the Spanish economy was credited for having avoided the virtual zero growth rate of some of its largest partners in the EU. In fact, the countrys economy created more than half of all the new jobs in the European Union over the five years ending , a process that is rapidly being reversed. The Spanish economy has been until recently regarded as one of the most dynamic within the EU, attracting significant amounts of foreign investment. Spain is part of a monetary union, the Eurozone dark blue, and of the EU single market. The most recent economic growth benefited greatly from the global real estate boom, with construction representing an astonishing of GDP and of employment in its final year. According to calculations by the German newspaper Die Welt, Spain was on course to overtake countries like Germany in per capita income by . However, the GDP per capita of Spain was still lower than the European Union average at US, in , making it the second lowest in the Western Europe after Portugal. The downside of the now defunct real estate boom is The city of Valencia also a corresponding rise in the levels of personal debt as prospective home owners struggled to meet asking prices, the average level of household debt tripled in less than a decade. This placed especially great pressure upon lower to middle income groups by the median ratio of indebtedness to income had grown to , due primarily to expensive boom time mortgages that now often exceed the value of the property. Spain In / the credit crunch and world recession manifested itself in Spain through a massive downturn in the property sector. Fortunately, Spains banks and financial services avoided the more severe problems of their counterparts in the USA and UK, due mainly to a stringently enforced conservative financial regulatory regime. The Spanish financial authorities had not forgotten the countrys own banking crisis of and an earlier realestateprecipitated banking crisis of . Indeed, Spains largest bank, Banco Santander, participated in the UK governments bailout of part of the UK banking sector. A European Commission forecast predicted Spain would enter a recession by the end of . According to Spains Finance Minister, Spain faces its deepest recession in half a century. Spains government forecast the unemployment rate would rise to in . The ESADE business school predicted . Tourism During the last four decades the Spanish tourism industry has grown to become the second biggest in the world, worth approximately billion Euros, about of GDP, in . Today, the climate of Spain, historical and cultural monuments and its geographic position together with its facilities make tourism one of Spains main national industries and a large source of stable employment and development. The Spanish hotel star rating system has requirements much more demanding than other European countries, so at a given rating Spanish accommodations worth higher. Energy Spain is one of the worlds leading countries in the development and production of renewable energy. In Spain became the solar power world leader when it overtook the United States with a massive power station plant called La Florida, near Alvarado, Badajoz. Spain is also Europes main producer of wind energy. In its wind turbines generated , GWh, which accounted for . of all the energy produced in Spain. PS Seville solar power tower Transport The Spanish road system is mainly centralized, with highways connecting Madrid to the Basque Country, Catalonia, Valencia, West Andalusia, Extremadura and Galicia. Additionally, there are highways along the Atlantic Ferrol to Vigo, Cantabrian Oviedo to San Sebastin and Mediterranean Girona to Cdiz coasts. Spain boasts the most extensive highspeed rail network in Europe, and the second most extensive in the world after China. As of October Spain has a total of km .mi of high speed train linking Mlaga, Seville, Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and AVE BarcelonaMadrid Valladolid, reaching speeds up to km/h mph. Should the aims of the ambitious AVE program Spanish high speed trains be met, by Spain will have km mi of highspeed trains linking almost all provincial cities to Madrid in less than hours and Barcelona within hours. The busiest airport in Spain is the airport of Madrid Barajas, with .million passengers in , being the worlds th busiest airport, as well as the European Unions fourth busiest. The airport of Barcelona El Prat is also important, with million passengers in . Other airports are located in Gran Canaria, Mlaga, Valencia, Seville, Mallorca, Alicante and Bilbao. Spain Spain aims to put million electric cars on the road by as part of the governments plan to save energy and boost energy efficiency. The Minister of Industry Miguel Sebastian said that quotthe electric vehicle is the future and the engine of an industrial revolution.quot Demographics In the population of Spain officially reached million people, as recorded by the Padrn municipal. Spains population density, at /km /sq mi, is lower than that of most Western European countries and its distribution across the country is very unequal. With the exception of the region surrounding the capital, Madrid, the most populated areas lie around the coast. The population of Spain doubled during the thcentury, principally due to the spectacular demographic boom in the s and early s. Geographical distribution of the Spanish population in Native Spaniards make up of the total population of Spain. After the birth rate plunged in the s and Spains population growth rate dropped, the population again trended upward, based initially on the return of many Spaniards who had emigrated to other European countries during the s, and more recently, fuelled by large numbers of immigrants who make up of the population. The immigrants originate mainly in Latin America , North Africa Eastern Europe , and SubSaharan Africa . In , Spain instituted a threemonth amnesty program through which certain hitherto undocumented aliens were granted legal residency. In , Spain granted citizenship to , persons, mostly to people from Ecuador, Colombia and Morocco. A sizeable portion of foreign residents in Spain also comes from other Western and Central European countries. These are mostly British, French, German, Dutch, and Norwegian. They reside primarily on the Mediterranean costas and Balearic islands, where many are choosing to live their retirement or telework. Substantial populations descended from Spanish colonists and immigrants exist in other parts of the world, most notably in Latin America. Beginning in the late th century, large numbers of Iberian colonists settled in what became Latin America and at present most white Latin Americans who make up about onethird of Latin Americas population are of Spanish or Portuguese origin. In the th century perhaps , Spaniards emigrated, mostly to Peru and Mexico. They were joined by , in the next century. Between and it is estimated that nearly million Spaniards emigrated to the Americas, especially to Argentina and Brazil. Approximately two million Spaniards migrated to other Western European countries between to . During the same period perhaps , went to Latin America. Spain Urbanization See also List of metropolitan areas in Spain by population Source ESPON, Map of the main metropolitan areas The city of Las Palmas de G.C. The city of Girona Spain The city of Toledo Pos. City Madrid Barcelona Region Madrid Catalonia Prov. Madrid Barcelona Valencia Seville Biscay Mlaga Asturias Alicante population ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, , , , , , Valencia Valencian Community Seville Bilbao Mlaga OviedoGijn Andalusia Basque Country Andalusia Asturias AlicanteElche Valencian Community Las Palmas de G.C. Zaragoza Canarias Las Palmas Aragon Zaragoza Pos. City Madrid Barcelona Region Madrid Catalonia Prov. Madrid Barcelona Valencia Seville Zaragoza Mlaga Murcia population ,, ,, , . . , , , , , Valencia Valencian Community Seville Zaragoza Mlaga Murcia Palma de Mallorca Andalusia Aragon Andalusia Murcia Balearic Islands Balearic Islands Canary Islands Basque Country Las Palmas Biscay Las Palmas de G.C. Bilbao Peoples The Spanish Constitution of , in its second article, recognises historic entities quotnationalitiesquot, a carefully chosen word in order to avoid the more politically charged quotnationsquot and regions, within the context of the Spanish nation. For some people, Spains identity consists more of an overlap of different regional identities than of a sole Spanish identity. Indeed, some of the regional identities may even conflict with the Spanish one. Distinct traditional regional identities within Spain include the Basques, Catalans, Galicians and Castilians, among others. It is this last feature of quotshared identityquot between the more local level or Autonomous Community and the Spanish level which makes the identity question in Spain complex and far from univocal. Spain Minority groups Spain has a number of descendants of populations from former colonies especially Equatorial Guinea and immigrants from several SubSaharan and Caribbean countries have been recently settling in Spain. There are also sizeable numbers of Asian immigrants, most of whom are of Chinese, Indian, Filipino, Middle Eastern and South Asian origins the population of Latin Americans who can also be of Spaniard descent is sizeable as well and a fast growing segment. Other growing groups are Britons, , in , Germans and other immigrants from the rest of Europe. The arrival of the Gitanos, a Romani people, began in the thcentury estimates of the Spanish Gitano population fluctuate around ,. The Mercheros also Quinquis are a minority group, formerly nomadic, that share a lot of the way of life of Gitanos. Their origin is unclear. Immigration According to the Spanish government there were .million foreign residents in Spain in independent estimates put the figure at .million people, or of the total population. According to residence permit data for , about , were Moroccan, another , were Ecuadorian, more than , were Romanian, and , were Colombian. Other sizeable foreign communities are British , French , Argentine , German and Bolivian . Spain has more than , migrants from West and Central Africa. Since , Spain has experienced high population growth as a result of immigration flows, despite a birth rate that is only half the replacement level. This sudden and ongoing inflow of immigrants, particularly those arriving clandestinely by sea, has caused noticeable social tension. Within the EU, Spain has the second highest immigration rate in percentage terms after Cyprus, but by a great margin, the highest in absolute numbers. There are a number of reasons for the high level of immigration, including Spains cultural ties with Latin America, its geographical position, the porosity of its borders, the large size of its underground economy and the strength of the agricultural and construction sectors, which demand more low cost labour than can be offered by the national workforce. Another statistically significant factor is the large number of residents of EU origin typically retiring to Spains Mediterranean coast. In fact, Spain was Europes largest absorber of migrants from to , with its immigrant population more than doubling as .million people arrived. According to the Financial Times, Spain is the most favoured destination for West Europeans considering a move from their own country and seeking jobs elsewhere in the EU. The number of immigrants in Spain has grown up from , people in to .million in out of a total population of million. In alone, a regularisation programme increased the legal immigrant population by , people. Unemployment among immigrants has risen in . Spains new Plan of Voluntary Return encourages immigrants to leave Spain for three years and offers up to ,, but so far, only Ecuadorans have signed up to return. In the programs first two months last year, just , immigrants took up the offer. Spain Languages Spanish espaol or castellano, Castilian is spoken all over the country and so is the only language with official status nationwide. But a number of regional languages have been declared coofficial, along with Spanish, in the constituent communities where they are spoken Basque euskera in the Basque Country and Navarre Catalan catal in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands Valencian valenci, a distinct variant of Catalan, is official in the Valencian Community Galician galego in Galicia. There are also some other surviving Romance minority languages such as the AsturLeonese group, which includes two languages in Spain Asturian officially called quotBablequot which has protected status in Asturias, and Leonese, which is protected in Castile and Len. Aragonese is vaguely recognized in Aragon. Unlike Basque, Catalan/Valencian and Galician, these languages do not have any official status. This might be due to their very small number of speakers, a less significant written tradition in comparison to Catalan or Galician, and lower selfawareness of their speakers which traditionally meant lack of strong popular demand for their recognition in the regions in which they are spoken. In the North African Spanish city of Melilla, Riff Berber is spoken by a significant part of the population. In the tourist areas of the Mediterranean coast and the islands, English and German are widely spoken by tourists, foreign residents, and tourism workers. The languages of Spain simplified Education State education in Spain is free and compulsory from the age of to . The current education system was established by an educational law of , Ley Orgnica de Educacin, or Fundamental Law of Education. Religion Religions in Spain Catholicism Nonreligious Atheism No answer Others . . . Numbers from the following source Roman Catholicism has long been the main religion of Spain,and although it no longer has official status by law, in all public schools in Spain students have to choose either religion or ethics and Catholic is the only religion officially taught although in some schools there are large numbers of Muslim students together. According to a July study by the Spanish Center of Sociological Research about of Spaniards selfidentify as Catholics, . other faith, and about identify with no religion among which . are atheists. Most Spaniards do not participate regularly in religious services. This same study shows that of the Spaniards who identify themselves as religious, Spain hardly ever or never go to church, go to church some times a year, some time per month and every Sunday or multiple times per week. But according to a December study, of the population declared a belief in a supreme being, while described themselves as atheist or agnostic. Altogether, about of the entire Spanish population attends religious services at least once per month. Though Spanish society has become considerably more secular in recent decades, the influx of Latin American immigrants, who tend to be strong Catholic practitioners, has helped the Catholic Church to recover. Protestant churches have about ,, members. There are about , Jehovahs Witnesses. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints has approximately , adherents in congregations in all regions of the country and has a temple in the Moratalaz District of Madrid. The recent waves of immigration have also led to an increasing number of Muslims, who number approximately one million in Spain. Presently, Islam is the second largest religion in Spain, accounting for approximately . of the total population. After their expulsion in , Muslims did not live in Spain for centuries. Late thcentury colonial expansion in northwestern Africa gave a number of residents in Spanish Morocco and Western Sahara full citizenship. Their ranks have since been bolstered by recent immigration, especially from Morocco and Algeria. Judaism was practically nonexistent in Spain from the expulsion until the thcentury, when Jews were again permitted to enter the country. Currently there are around , Jews in Spain, or . of the total population. Most are arrivals in the past century, while some are descendants of earlier Spanish Jews. Approximately , Jews are thought to have lived in Spain on the eve of the Spanish Inquisition. Currently, Jews of Sephardic origin are given preferential status in the acquisition of Spanish citizenship. Santiago de Compostela Cathedral A Corua, the destination of the Way of St. James Culture Spain is known for its culturally diverse heritage, having been influenced by many nations and peoples throughout its history. Spanish culture has its origins in the Iberian, Celtiberian, Latin, Visigothic, Roman Catholic, and Islamic cultures. The definition of a national Spanish culture has been characterized by tension between the centralized state, dominated in recent centuries by Castile, and numerous regions and minority peoples. In addition, the The Hemispheric at the Ciutat de les Arts i les history of the nation and its Mediterranean and Atlantic environment Cincies, Valencia have played strong roles in shaping its culture. After Italy, Spain has the second highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world, with a total of . Spain Literature The term Spanish literature refers to literature written in the Spanish language, including literature composed in Spanish by writers not necessarily from Spain. For literature from Spain in languages other than the Spanish, see Catalan literature, Basque literature and Galician literature. Equally, for SpanishAmerican literature specifically, see Latin American literature. Due to historic, geographic and generational diversity, Spanish literature has known a great number of influences and it is very diverse. Some major literary movements can be identified within it. Miguel de Cervantes is probably Spains most famous author and his Don Quixote is considered the most emblematic work in the canon of Spanish literature and a founding classic of Western literature. Institutions The Royal Spanish Academy Real Academia Espaola or RAE, in Spanish is the institution responsible for regulating the Spanish language. It is based in Madrid, but is affiliated with national language academies in Spanishspeaking nations through the Association of Spanish Language Academies. Its emblem is a fiery crucible, and its motto is Limpia, fija y da esplendor quotIt cleans, sets, and gives splendorquot. The Institute for Catalan Studies Institut dEstudis Catalans or IEC, in Catalan is an academic institution which seeks to undertake research and study into quotall elements of Catalan culturequot. The IEC is known principally for its work in standardizing the Catalan language. The IEC is based in Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia. Officially the IEC provides standards for Catalonia proper, Northern Catalonia located in France, the Balearic Islands, and the Principality of Andorra the only country where Catalan is the sole official language. The Valencian Community has its own language academy, the Acadmia Valenciana de la Llengua. In an area known as the Franja de Ponent, the eastern edge of Aragon adjacent to Catalonia where Catalan is spoken, the rules are used de facto although Catalan is not an official language. Miguel de Cervantes Don Quixote is considered to be the first modern novel. Art Artists from Spain have been highly influential in the development of various European artistic movements. Due to historical, geographical and generational diversity, Spanish art has known a great number of influences. The Moorish heritage in Spain, especially in Andalusia, is still evident today in cities like Crdoba, Seville, and Granada. European influences include Italy, Germany and France, especially during the Baroque and Neoclassical periods. Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao Cinema Spanish cinema has achieved major international success including Oscars for recent films such as Pans Labyrinth and Volver. In the long history of Spanish cinema, the great filmmaker Luis Buuel was the first to achieve world recognition, followed by Pedro Almodvar in the s. Spanish cinema has also seen international success over the years with films by directors like Segundo de Chomn, Florin Rey, Luis Garca Berlanga, Carlos Saura, Julio Medem and Alejandro Amenbar. Spain Architecture Spanish architecture refers to architecture carried out during any era in what is now modernday Spain, and by Spanish architects worldwide. The term includes buildings within the current geographical limits of Spain before this name was given to those territories, whether they were called Hispania, AlAndalus, or were formed of several Christian kingdoms. The Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid Due to its historical and geographical diversity, Spanish architecture has drawn from a host of influences. An important provincial city founded by the Romans and with an extensive Roman era infrastructure, Crdoba became the cultural capital, including fine Arabic style architecture, during the time of the Islamic Umayyad dynasty. Later Arab style architecture continued to be developed under successive Islamic dynasties, ending with the Nasrid, which built its famed palace complex in Granada. Simultaneously, the Christian kingdoms gradually emerged and developed their own styles developing a preRomanesque style when for a while isolated from contemporary mainstream European architectural influences during the earlier Nativity facade of the Sagrada Middle Ages, they later integrated the Romanesque and Gothic streams. There Famlia Temple in Barcelona was then an extraordinary flowering of the gothic style that resulted in numerous instances being built throughout the entire territory. The Mudjar style, from the th to thcenturies, was developed by introducing Arab style motifs, patterns and elements into European architecture. The arrival of Modernism in the academic arena produced much of the architecture of the thcentury. An influential style centered in Barcelona, known as modernisme, produced a number of important architects, of which Gaud is one. The International style was led by groups like GATEPAC. Spain is currently experiencing a revolution in contemporary architecture and Spanish architects like Rafael Moneo, Santiago Calatrava, Ricardo Bofill as well as many others have gained worldwide renown. Music Auditorio de Tenerife in Santa Cruz de Tenerife Spanish music is often considered abroad to be synonymous with flamenco, a West Andalusian musical genre, which, contrary to popular belief, is not widespread outside that region. Various regional styles of folk music abound in Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, Castile, the Basque Country, Galicia and Asturias. Pop, rock, hip hop and heavy metal are also popular. Spain In the field of classical music, Spain has produced a number of noted composers such as Isaac Albniz, Manuel de Falla and Enrique Granados and singers and performers such as Plcido Domingo, Jos Carreras, Montserrat Caball, Alicia de Larrocha, Alfredo Kraus, Pablo Casals, Ricardo Vies, Jos Iturbi, Pablo de Sarasate, Jordi Savall and Teresa Berganza. In Spain there are over forty professional orchestras, including the Orquestra Simfnica de Barcelona, Orquesta Nacional de Espaa and the Orquesta Sinfnica de Madrid. Major opera houses include the Teatro Real,the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Teatro Arriaga and the El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofa. Spanish bagpipers or gaiteros, in Celanova Ourense Thousands of music fans also travel to Spain each year for internationally recognised summer music festivals Sonar which often features the top up and coming pop and techno acts, and Benicasim which tends to feature alternative rock and dance acts . Both festivals mark Spain as an international music presence and reflect the tastes of young people in the country. The musical instrument originating in Spain most popular is undoubtedly the guitar. Also typical of the northern bands of bagpipers gaiteros, mainly in Galicia and the Principality of Asturias. Cuisine Spanish cuisine consists of a great variety of dishes which stem from differences in geography, culture and climate. It is heavily influenced by seafood available from the waters that surround the country, and reflects the countrys deep Mediterranean roots. Spains extensive history with many cultural influences has led to a unique cuisine. In particular, three main divisions are easily identified Mediterranean Spain all such coastal regions, from Catalonia to Andalusia heavy use of seafood, such as pescato frito several cold soups like gazpacho and many ricebased dishes like paella from Valencia and arroz negro from Catalonia. Paella, a dish originating in the Valencian Community, Spain Inner Spain Castile hot, thick soups such as the bread and garlicbased Castilian soup, along with substantious stews such as cocido madrileo. Food is traditionally conserved by salting, like Spanish ham, or immersed in olive oil, like Manchego cheese. Atlantic Spain the whole Northern coast, from Galicia to Navarre vegetable and fishbased stews like pote gallego and marmitako. Also, the lightly cured lacn ham. Spain Sport Sport in Spain has been dominated by football since the early th century. Real Madrid C.F. and FC Barcelona are two of the most successful football clubs in the world. The countrys national football team won the UEFA European Football Championship in and and the FIFA World Cup in . Basketball, tennis, cycling, handball, motorcycling and, lately, Formula One are also important due to the presence of Spanish champions in all these disciplines. Today, Spain is a major world sports powerhouse, especially since the Summer Olympics that were hosted in Barcelona, which stimulated a great deal of interest in sports in the country. The tourism industry has led to an improvement in sports infrastructure, especially for water sports, golf and skiing. The Camp Nou, in Barcelona the largest football stadium in Europe Rafael Nadal is the leading Spanish tennis player and has won several Grand Slam titles including the Wimbledon mens singles. In north Spain, the game of pelota is very popular. Alberto Contador is the leading Spanish cyclist and has won several Grand Tour titles including three Tour de France titles. Public holidays Public holidays celebrated in Spain include a mix of religious Roman Catholic, national and regional observances. Each municipality is allowed to declare a maximum of public holidays per year up to nine of these are chosen by the national government and at least two are chosen locally. Spains National Day Fiesta Nacional de Espaa is October, the anniversary of the Discovery of America and commemorate Our Lady of the Pillar feast, patroness of Aragn and throughout Spain. The city of San Sebastin in Guipzcoa References Notes Also serves as the Royal anthem In some autonomous communities, Catalan, Valencian, Galician, Basque and Aranese Occitan are coofficial languages. Aragonese, Asturian and Leonese have some degree of official recognition quotOfficial Population Figures of Spain. Population on the April quot http/ / www. ine. es/ jaxiBD/ tabla. doperamp typedbamp diviEPOBamp idtab. Instituto Nacional de Estadstica de Espaa. . Retrieved July . quotSpainquot http/ / www. imf. org/ external/ pubs/ ft/ weo/ / / weodata/ weorept. aspxsyamp eyamp scsmamp ssdamp sortcountryamp ds. amp bramp camp sNGDPD,NGDPDPC,PPPGDP,PPPPC,LPamp grpamp aamp pr. xamp pr. y. International Monetary Fund. . Retrieved April . quotCIA World Factbookquot https/ / www. cia. gov/ library/ publications/ theworldfactbook/ fields/ . html. . Retrieved August . Spain quotHuman Development Report quot http/ / hdr. undp. org/ en/ media/ HDRENTable. pdf. United Nations. . . Retrieved November . Prior to by law, Spanish Peseta. Except in the Canary Islands, which are in the WET time zone UTC, UTC in summer. The .eu domain is also used, as it is shared with other European Union member states. Also, the .cat domain is used in Catalanspeaking territories. In Spain, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous regional languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spains official name is as follows Aragonese Reino dEspanya Asturian Reinu dEspaa Basque Espainiako Erresuma Catalan Regne dEspanya Galician Reino de Espaa Extremaduran Rinu dEspaa Occitan Reialme dEspanha The term quotKingdom of Spainquot Reino de Espaa is widely used by the Spanish Government for national and international affairs of all kind, for example Acuerdo entre el Reino de de Espaa y Nueva Zelanda http/ / noticias. juridicas. com/ basedatos/ Admin/ aiaec. html, Acuerdo entre el reino de Espaa y el reino de Marruecos http/ / www. mir. es/ SGACAVT/ derecho/ ac/ ac. html by the press El Pas http/ / www. elpais. com/ todosobre/ pais/ Espana/ ESP/ , most sold spanish newspaper and in many official documents i.e. all driving licenses http/ / t. gstatic. com/ imagesqtbnPOLvLtJBqKMhttp/ / www. motoradictos. com/ images/ / / permisoconducirespana. jpgamp t and permissions http/ / sbrabogados. files. wordpress. com/ / / carnetconducir. jpg. Additionally he Government always uses the name quotKingdom of Spainquot when signing documents, treaties and pacts within the European Union Tratado de la Unin Europea http/ / noticias. juridicas. com/ basedatos/ Admin/ tue. t. html The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though Espaa Spain, Estado espaol Spanish State and Nacin espaola Spanish Nation are used interchangeably. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in an Ordinance published in , declared that quotdenominations quotSpainquot and quotKingdom of Spainquot are equally valid to designate the Spain in international treaties...quot Anthon, Charles . A system of ancient and medival geography for the use of schools and colleges http/ / books. google. com/ idhmrAAAAYAAJamp pgPAamp dqhesperiaamp qhesperia. New York Harper amp Brothers. p.. . Burke, Ulick Ralph nd edition, . A History of Spain from the Earliest Times to the Death of Ferdinand the Catholic, Volume http/ / books. google. com/ idDuiyyWGgKECamp pgPAamp dqspain hispaniaamp qhispania. London Longmans, Green amp Co. p.. ISBN. . Linch, John director, Fernndez Castro, Mara Cruz del segundo tomo, Historia de Espaa, El Pas, volumen II, La pennsula Ibrica en poca prerromana, pg. . Dossier. La etimologa de Espaa tierra de conejos, ISBN quotFirst west Europe tooth foundquot http/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ / hi/ science/ nature/ . stm. BBC. June . . Retrieved August . Typical Aurignacian items were found in Cantabria Morn, El Pendo, Castillo, the Basque Country Santimamie and Catalonia. The radiocarbon datations give the following dates , and , BP. http/ / www. timesonline. co. uk/ tol/ travel/ specials/ artisticspain/ article. ece In recent years, some researchers have argued that Iberia might have been the original source of Celtic culture. See, Cunliffe, Karl, Guerra, McEvoy, Bradley Oppenheimer, Rrvik, Isaac, Parsons, Koch, Freeman Celtic from the West Alternative Perspectives from Archaeology, Genetics, Language and Literature publisher Oxbow Books and Celtic Studies Publications Rethinking the Bronze Age and the Arrival of IndoEuropean in Atlantic Europe, University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies and Institute of Archaeology, University of Oxford, May Rinehart, Robert Seeley, Jo Ann Browning . quotA Country Study Spain Hispaniaquot http/ / lcweb. loc. gov/ frd/ cs/ estoc. html. Library of Congress Country Series. . Retrieved August . Payne, Stanley G. . quotA History of Spain and Portugal Ch. Ancient Hispaniaquot http/ / libro. uca. edu/ payne/ spainport. htm. The Library of Iberian Resources Online. . Retrieved August . The latifundia sing., latifundium, large estates controlled by the aristocracy, were superimposed on the existing Iberian landholding system. The poets Martial, Quintilian and Lucan were also born in Hispania. Dhimma provides rights of residence in return for taxes. H. Patrick Glenn, Legal Traditions of the World. Oxford University Press, , pg. . Dhimmi have fewer legal and social rights than Muslims, but more rights than other nonMuslims.Lewis, Bernard, The Jews of Islam. Princeton Princeton University Press . ISBN p. Islamic and Christian Spain in the Early Middle Ages. Chapter Ethnic Relations http/ / libro. uca. edu/ ics/ ics. htm, Thomas F. Glick Payne, Stanley G. . quotA History of Spain and Portugal Ch. AlAndalusquot http/ / libro. uca. edu/ payne/ spainport. htm. The Library of Iberian Resources Online. . Retrieved August . The Berbers soon gave up attempting to settle the harsh lands in the north of the Meseta Central handed to them by the Arab rulers. Spain Rinehart, Robert Seeley, Jo Ann Browning . quotA Country Study Spain Castile and Aragonquot http/ / lcweb. loc. gov/ frd/ cs/ estoc. html. Library of Congress Country Series. . Retrieved August . quotRansoming Captives in Crusader Spain The Order of Merced on the ChristianIslamic Frontierquot http/ / libro. uca. edu/ rc/ rc. htm. . Retrieved August . See also Payne, Stanley G. . quotA History of Spain and Portugal Ch. CastileLen in the Era of the Great Reconquestquot http/ / libro. uca. edu/ payne/ spainport. htm. The Library of Iberian Resources Online. . Retrieved August . Payne, Stanley G. . quotA History of Spain and Portugal Ch. The Rise of AragnCataloniaquot http/ / libro. uca. edu/ payne/ spainport. htm. The Library of Iberian Resources Online. . Retrieved August . quotThe Black Deathquot http/ / web. archive. org/ web/ / http/ / www. channel. com/ history/ microsites/ H/ history/ ab/ blackdeath. html. Channel . Archived from the original http/ / www. channel. com/ history/ microsites/ H/ history/ ab/ blackdeath. html on July . . Retrieved August . quotThe Treaty of Granada, quot http/ / www. cyberistan. org/ islamic/ treaty. html. Islamic Civilisation. . Retrieved August . Spanish Inquisition left genetic legacy in Iberia http/ / www. newscientist. com/ article/ dnspanishinquisitionleftgeneticlegacyiniberia. html. New Scientist. December . For the related expulsions that followed see Morisco. Rinehart, Robert Seeley, Jo Ann Browning . quotA Country Study Spain The Golden Agequot http/ / lcweb. loc. gov/ frd/ cs/ estoc. html. Library of Congress Country Series. . Retrieved August . quotImperial Spainquot http/ / www. ucalgary. ca/ appliedhistory/ tutor/ eurvoya/ Imperial. html. University of Calgary. . Retrieved August . Payne, Stanley G. . quotA History of Spain and Portugal Ch. The Spanish Empire http/ / libro. uca. edu/ payne/ spainport. htmquot. The Library of Iberian Resources Online. . Retrieved August . Thomas, Hugh . Rivers of gold the rise of the Spanish Empire. London George Weidenfeld amp Nicholson. pp.passim. ISBN. According to Robert Davis between million and .million Europeans were captured by North African Muslim pirates and sold as slaves during the th and th centuries. quotThe SeventeenthCentury Declinequot http/ / libro. uca. edu/ payne/ payne. htm. The Library of Iberian resources online. . Retrieved August . Payne, Stanley G. . quotA History of Spain and Portugal Ch. Spanish Society and Economics in the Imperial Agequot http/ / libro. uca. edu/ payne/ spainport. htm. The Library of Iberian Resources Online. . Retrieved August . Rinehart, Robert Seeley, Jo Ann Browning . quotA Country Study Spain Spain in Declinequot http/ / lcweb. loc. gov/ frd/ cs/ estoc. html. Library of Congress Country Series. . Retrieved August . Rinehart, Robert Seeley, Jo Ann Browning . quotA Country Study Spain Bourbon Spainquot http/ / lcweb. loc. gov/ frd/ cs/ estoc. html. Library of Congress Country Series. . Retrieved August . Gascoigne, Bamber . quotHistory of Spain Bourbon dynasty from AD quot http/ / www. historyworld. net/ wrldhis/ PlainTextHistories. aspHistoryIDabamp ParagraphIDississ. Library of Congress Country Series. . Retrieved August . David A. Bell. quot Napoleons Total War http/ / www. historynet. com/ warsconflicts/ napoleonicwars/ . htmlpageamp cyquot. TheHistoryNet.com Gates , p. Gates , p. Spanish Civil War crimes investigation launched http/ / www. telegraph. co. uk/ news/ worldnews/ europe/ spain/ / SpanishCivilWarcrimesinvestigationlaunched. html, Telegraph, October Spanish Civil War fighters look back http/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ / hi/ programmes/ fromourowncorrespondent/ . stm, BBC News, February quot Relatives of Spaniards who fled Franco granted citizenship http/ / www. telegraph. co. uk/ news/ worldnews/ europe/ spain/ / RelativesofSpaniardswhofledFrancograntedcitizenship. htmlquot. Daily Telegraph UK December . Pfanner, Eric July . quotEconomy reaps benefits of entry to the club Spains euro bonanzaquot http/ / www. nytimes. com/ / / / business/ worldbusiness/ ihta. htmlscpamp sqEconomy reaps benefits of entry to the club Spains euro bonanzaamp stcse. International Herald Tribune. . Retrieved August . See also quotSpains economy / Plain sailing no longerquot http/ / www. economist. com/ displayStory. cfmstoryid. The Economist. May . . Retrieved August . quotAlQaeda claims Madrid bombingsquot http/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ / hi/ world/ europe/ . stm. BBC. March . . Retrieved August . See also quotMadrid bombers get long sentencesquot http/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ / hi/ world/ europe/ . stm. BBC. October . . Retrieved August . quotDel M al M estrategia yihadista, elecciones generales y opinin pblicaquot http/ / www. realinstitutoelcano. org/ wps/ portal/ rielcano/ contenidoWCMGLOBALCONTEXT/ Elcanoes/ Zonases/ Imagen de Espana/ ARI . Fundacin Real Instituto Elcano. . Retrieved August . quotSpain votes under a shadowquot http/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ / hi/ world/ europe/ . stm. BBC. March . . Retrieved August . quotSpain awakes to socialist realityquot http/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ / hi/ world/ europe/ . stm. BBC. March . . Retrieved August . Spain quotWorld Map of the KppenGeiger climate classification updated see p.quot http/ / www. schweizerbart. de/ resources/ downloads/ paperfree/ . pdf PDF. . Retrieved . http/ / www. citydata. com/ forum/ attachments/ weather/ dultimateclimatepollkoppenclimateclassificationkotteketal. gif http/ / upload. wikimedia. org/ wikipedia/ commons/ / / KoppenWorldMap. png quotForest fires in Spainquot http/ / www. iberianature. com/ material/ fire. html. Iberianature.com. . Retrieved . La superficie de las islas vendr dada en hectreas salvo la de las mayores islas de los archipilagos canario y balear, as como las Plazas de Soberana. John Hooper, The New Spainards, , From Dictatorship to Democracy Spains fastliving king turns http/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ / hi/ europe/ . stm BBC News Friday, January Extracted June http/ / www. senado. es/ constitui/ index. htmlSpanish Constitution in English Diverging paths on gender equality http/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ / hi/ . stm, BBC News, May . SPAIN No Turning Back from Path to Gender Equality http/ / www. ipsnews. net/ news. aspidnews, IPS News, March . quotSpain Gender Equality Law Triumphs over Rightwing Oppositionquot http/ / ipsnews. net/ news. aspidnews. ipsnews.net. . Retrieved November . Women in the current Spanish Congress http/ / www. congreso. es/ portal/ page/ portal/ Congreso/ Congreso/ Diputados/ Diputadas en activo quotWomen in National Parlamentsquot http/ / www. ipu. org/ wmne/ classif. htm. Ipu.org. February . . Retrieved May . Human Development Report / http/ / hdr. undp. org/ en/ media/ HDRENComplete. pdf, p.. quotCatalonians vote for more autonomyquot http/ / edition. cnn. com/ / WORLD/ europe/ / / catalonia. vote/ index. html. CNN. June . . Retrieved August . See also quotEconomic Survey Spain quot http/ / www. oecd. org/ document/ / ,,en,. html. Organisation for Economic CoOperation and Development. . Retrieved August . and quotCountry Briefings Spainquot http/ / www. economist. com/ countries/ Spain/ profile. cfmfolderProfileFactSheet. The Economist. . Retrieved August . and quotSwiss Experience With Decentralized Governmentquot http/ / www. worldbank. org/ wbiep/ decentralization/ Swiss Expertise/ Muralt. pdf PDF. The World Bank. . Retrieved August . Chapter . Autonomous Communities. th Article http/ / web. archive. org/ web/ / http/ / www. constitucion. es/ constitucion/ lenguas/ ingles. html. Spanish Constitution of . Accessed December quotEstatutquot http/ / www. trobat. com/ recursos/ estatutvalencia. pdf in Spanish PDF. . Retrieved July . quotNuevo Estatuto de Autonoma de Canariasquot http/ / www. gobiernodecanarias. org/ tuestatuto/ novedades. htmlpre. .gobiernodecanarias.org. . Retrieved . quotBOCAe.QXDquot http/ / www. caib. es/ webcaib/ governilles/ estatutautonomia/ doc/ estatut. ca. pdf in Catalan PDF. . Retrieved July . quotEstatuto de Autonoma de Aragnquot http/ / narros. congreso. es/ constitucion/ estatutos/ estatutos. jspcomamp tipoamp iniamp finamp inisubamp finsub. Narros.congreso.es. . Retrieved July . Cartujo.org. quotUnidad de Polica de la Comunidad Autnoma de Andalucaquot http/ / www. cartujo. org/ paga. htm. . Retrieved October . Spanish Articles and http/ / web. archive. org/ web/ / http/ / www. constitucion. es/ constitucion/ lenguas/ ingles. html. Spanish Constitution of quotTratado de Utretch Gibraltar Spanishquot http/ / www. mgar. net/ docs/ utrech. htm. mgar.net. . Retrieved August . quotQampA Gibraltars referendumquot http/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ / hi/ world/ europe/ . stm. BBC News. November . . Retrieved February . quotResolution Question of Gibraltarquot http/ / daccessddsny. un. org/ doc/ RESOLUTION/ GEN/ NR/ / / IMG/ NR. pdfOpenElement PDF. United Nations. December . . Retrieved February . quotResolution Question of Gibraltarquot http/ / daccessddsny. un. org/ doc/ RESOLUTION/ GEN/ NR/ / / IMG/ NR. pdfOpenElement PDF. United Nations. December . . Retrieved February . quotLa cuestin de Gibraltarquot http/ / www. maec. es/ subwebs/ Embajadas/ Londres/ es/ MenuPpal/ Gibraltar/ Documents/ . . . Ttulo. Prefacio. ndice. Informe . . . doc in Spanish. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain. January . . Retrieved January . Peter Gold . Gibraltar British or Spanish http/ / books. google. com/ iduYHfLPuMC. Routledge. p.. ISBN. . UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs . quotPartnership for Progress and Prosperity Britain and the Overseas Territories. Appendix Profiles for Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands amp Gibraltarquot http/ / www. fco. gov. uk/ Files/ kfile/ OT. pdf PDF. Partnership for Progress and Prosperity Britain and the Overseas Territories. . Retrieved December . quotArticle of the Spanish Constitution of quot http/ / www. casareal. es/ laCorona/ laCoronaidenidweb. html. Official site of the Royal Household of HM the King. . Retrieved August . quotArticle of the Spanish Constitution of quot http/ / www. senado. es/ constitui/ index. html. Official site of the Spanish Senate. . Retrieved November . Spain quotDoing Business in Spainquot http/ / www. ottawaregion. com/ medialib/ DoingBusinessArchivePresentations/ DoingBusinessinSpainLegalEnvironment. pdf PDF. . Retrieved July . quotSpains Economy Closing the Gapquot http/ / www. oecdobserver. org/ news/ fullstory. php/ aid/ / Spainseconomy. html. OECD Observer. May . . Retrieved August . quotGoing Underground Americas Shadow Economyquot http/ / www. frontpagemag. com/ Articles/ Read. aspxGUIDEABBCDA. FrontPage magazine. January . . Retrieved August . quotOECD report for quot http/ / www. oecd. org/ dataoecd/ / / . pdf PDF. OECD. . Retrieved August . Euro zone unemployment reaches million http/ / www. cbc. ca/ money/ story/ / / / eurozoneunemploymentmay. html. CBCNews.ca. July . The unemployment timebomb is quietly ticking http/ / www. telegraph. co. uk/ finance/ comment/ ambroseevanspritchard/ / Theunemploymenttimebombisquietlyticking. html. Telegraph. July . quotOECD figuresquot http/ / stats. oecd. org/ WBOS/ ViewHTML. aspxQueryNameamp QueryTypeViewamp Langen. OECD. . Retrieved August . Tremlett, Giles July . quotEconomic statisticsquot http/ / www. guardian. co. uk/ world/ / jul/ / spain. gilestremlett. Guardian London. . Retrieved August . quotOfficial report on Spanish recent Macroeconomics, including tables and graphicsquot http/ / www. lamoncloa. es/ NR/ rdonlyres/ EEEEDBDFBAC/ / Chapter. PDF PDF. La Moncloa. . Retrieved August . quotquotGlobal Guruquot analysisquot http/ / www. theglobalguru. com/ article. phpidamp offerGURU. The Global Guru. . Retrieved August . quotNo camp grows on both Right and Leftquot http/ / www. europeanfoundation. org/ docs/ id. pdf PDF. European Foundation Intelligence Digest. . Retrieved August . Data refer to the year . World Economic Outlook DatabaseOctober http/ / www. imf. org/ external/ pubs/ ft/ weo/ / / weodata/ weorept. aspxsyamp eyamp scsmamp ssdamp sortcountryamp ds. amp bramp c,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, sNGDPDPCamp grpamp aamp pr. xamp pr. y, International Monetary Fund. Accessed on December . quotBank of Spain Economic Bulletin /quot http/ / www. bde. es/ informes/ be/ boleco/ / bee. pdf PDF. Bank of Spain. . Retrieved August . Charles Smith, article quotSpainquot, in Wankel, C. ed. Encyclopedia of Business in Todays World, California, USA, . quotRecession to hit Germany, UK and Spainquot http/ / www. ft. com/ cms/ s/ / cfdffddadab. htmlnclickcheck. Financial Times. September . . Retrieved September . Spain faces deepest recession in years http/ / www. spanishnews. es/ spainfacesdeepestrecessioninyears/ id/ , Spanish News, January Mounting joblessness in Spain And worse to come http/ / www. economist. com/ world/ europe/ displaystory. cfmstoryid, The Economist, January quotEconomic reportquot http/ / www. bde. es/ informes/ be/ boleco/ coye. pdf PDF. Bank of Spain. . Retrieved August . Trend, Nick June . quotEuropean hotel star ratings explainedquot http/ / www. telegraph. co. uk/ travel/ columnists/ nicktrend/ / Europeanhotelstarratingsexplained. html. The Daily Telegraph. London. . Retrieved September . Morning Edition July . quotSpain Is Worlds Leader In Solar Energyquot http/ / www. npr. org/ templates/ story/ story. phpstoryId. Npr.org. . Retrieved September . quotSpain becomes solar power world leaderquot http/ / www. europeanfutureenergyforum. com/ renewableenergynews/ spainbecomessolarpowerworldleader. Europeanfutureenergyforum.com. July . . Retrieved September . quotSpain becomes the first European wind energy producer after overcoming Germany for the first timequot http/ / www. eolicenergynews. org/ p. Eolic Energy News. . . Retrieved . quotAsociacin Empresarial Elica Spanish Wind Energy Association Energa Elicaquot http/ / www. aeeolica. es/ . Aeeolica.es. . Retrieved . Mndez, Rafael November . quotLa elica supera por primera vez la mitad de la produccin elctricaquot http/ / www. elpais. com/ articulo/ sociedad/ eolica/ supera/ primera/ vez/ mitad/ produccion/ electrica/ elpepusoc/ elpepisoc/ Tes in Spanish. El Pas Ediciones El Pais. . Retrieved August . http/ / blog. raileurope. com/ highspeedrailnews/ theneedforspeedhighspeedrailineuropedoyouspeakspanish http/ / www. theolivepress. es/ spainnews/ / / / spainspeedsahead/ http/ / beta. tbo. com/ business/ business/ / oct/ / foreigncompaniesvyingforfloridahighspeedraiar/ quotAlgae Based Biofuels in Plain English Why it Matters, How it Works. algae algaebiofuels carbonsequestration valcent vertigro algaebasedbiofuels ethanolquot http/ / www. triplepundit. com/ pages/ algaebasedbiofuelsinplain. php. Triplepundit.com. July . . Retrieved November . quotSpain to Put million Electric Cars on the Roadquot http/ / www. enn. com/ energy/ article/ . Triplepundit.com. July . . Retrieved November . quotPopulation Figuresquot http/ / www. ine. es/ jaxi/ menu. dotypepcaxisamp path/ t/ eamp fileinebaseamp L. Instituto Nacional de Estadstica National Statistics Institute. . Retrieved August . Spain quotPoblacin extranjera por sexo, pas de nacionalidad y edadquot http/ / web. archive. org/ web/ / http/ / www. ine. es/ inebase/ cgi/ axiAXISPATH/ inebase/ temas/ t/ e/ p/ a/ l/ amp FILEAXIS. pxamp CGIDEFAULT/ inebase/ temas/ cgi. optamp COMANDOSELECCIONamp CGIURL/ inebase/ cgi/ . Instituto Nacional de Estadstica. Archived from the original http/ / www. ine. es/ inebase/ cgi/ axiAXISPATH/ inebase/ temas/ t/ e/ p/ a/ l/ amp FILEAXIS. pxamp CGIDEFAULT/ inebase/ temas/ cgi. optamp COMANDOSELECCIONamp CGIURL/ inebase/ cgi/ on March . . Retrieved August . quot EU Member States granted citizenship to persons in http/ / epp. eurostat. ec. europa. eu/ cache/ ITYPUBLIC/ AP/ EN/ APEN. PDFquot PDF. Eurostat. July . Migration to Latin America http/ / www. let. leidenuniv. nl/ history/ migration/ chapter. html. Universiteit Leiden. Axtell, James September/October . quotThe Columbian Mosaic in Colonial Americaquot http/ / web. archive. org/ web/ / http/ / www. millersville. edu/ columbus/ data/ art/ AXTELL. ART. Humanities . Archived from the original http/ / www. millersville. edu/ columbus/ data/ art/ AXTELL. ART on May . . Retrieved October Spain People http/ / www. britannica. com/ EBchecked/ topic/ / Spain/ / People. Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Spain http/ / www. focusmigration. de/ SpainUpdate. . . htmlamp L. FocusMigration. IGEAT IGSO, LATTS, TSAC March . ESPON project .. Study on Urban Functions Final Report http/ / www. mdrl. ro/ esponcd/ ProjectReports/ Preparatorystudiesandscientificsupportprojects/ . . finalreport. pdf. ESPON. ISBN. . Retrieved April . quotKingdom of Spain Peoplequot http/ / www. state. gov/ r/ pa/ ei/ bgn/ . htm. US Department of State. . Retrieved August . quotImmigration statisticsquot http/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ / hi/ uknews/ . stm. BBC. December . . Retrieved August . quotThe Situation of Roma in Spainquot http/ / web. archive. org/ web/ / http/ / www. eumap. org/ reports/ / eu/ international/ sections/ spain/ mspain. pdf PDF. Open Society Institute. Archived from the original http/ / www. eumap. org/ reports/ / eu/ international/ sections/ spain/ mspain. pdf on June . . Retrieved August . quotWorld Disasters Report quot http/ / www. ifrc. org/ publicat/ wdr/ . Red Cross. . Retrieved August . quot Financial crisis reveals vulnerability of Spains immigrants Feature http/ / www. earthtimes. org/ articles/ show/ ,financialcrisisrevealsvulnerabilityofspainsimmigrantsfeature. htmlquot. The Earth Times. November . quotAvance del Padrn Municipal a de enero de . Datos provisionalesquot http/ / www. ine. es/ prodyser/ pubweb/ anuario/ anudemog. pdf PDF. Instituto Nacional de Estadstica. . Retrieved August . See also quotImmigration Shift Many Latin Americans Choosing Spain Over U.S.quot http/ / www. imdiversity. com/ villages/ hispanic/ worldinternational/ pnsimmigrationshift. asp. IMDiversity, Inc. . Retrieved August . and quotSpain Immigrants Welcomequot http/ / www. businessweek. com/ magazine/ content/ / b. htm. Business Week. . Retrieved August . and quotImmigrants Fuel Europes Civilization Clashquot http/ / web. archive. org/ web/ / http/ / www. msnbc. msn. com/ id/ / site/ newsweek/ print/ / displaymode/ / . MSNBC. Archived from the original http/ / www. msnbc. msn. com/ id/ / site/ newsweek/ print/ / displaymode/ / on May . . Retrieved August . and quotSpanish youth clash with immigrant gangsquot http/ / www. iht. com/ articles/ / / / news/ spain. php. International Herald Tribune. . Retrieved August . quotPopulation in Europe in quot http/ / epp. eurostat. ec. europa. eu/ cache/ ITYOFFPUB/ KSNK/ EN/ KSNKEN. PDF PDF. Eurostat. . Retrieved August . quotPopulation series from quot http/ / web. archive. org/ web/ / http/ / www. ine. es/ inebase/ cgi/ umM/ t/ e/ p/ amp Opcaxisamp Namp L. INE Spanish Statistical Institute. Archived from the original http/ / www. ine. es/ inebase/ cgi/ umM/ t/ e/ p/ amp Opcaxisamp Namp L on November . . Retrieved August . quotEuropeans Favour Spain for Expat Jobsquot http/ / international. ibox. bg/ news/ id. News.bg. . Retrieved August . Spain to increase immigration budget http/ / www. workpermit. com/ news/ / spain/ spanishimmigrationbudgetincreases. htm, October Spains Immigration System Runs Amok http/ / www. brusselsjournal. com/ node/ , September Tremlett, Giles May . quotSpain grants amnesty to , migrantsquot http/ / www. guardian. co. uk/ world/ / may/ / spain. gilestremlett. Guardian London. . Retrieved July . Spain Tries to Buy Out Immigrants http/ / www. time. com/ time/ world/ article/ ,,,. html, TIME, October Madrid to pay surplus immigrant tradesman to go home, come back later http/ / www. reportonbusiness. com/ servlet/ story/ LAC. . MELTDOWNSPAIN/ TPStory/ query, globeandmail.com, October Spains Jobs Crisis Leaves Immigrants Out of Work http/ / online. wsj. com/ article/ SB. html, The Wall Street Journal, January quotCIA The World Factbook Spainquot https/ / www. cia. gov/ library/ publications/ theworldfactbook/ geos/ sp. html. Cia.gov. . Retrieved . quotJunta General del Principado de Asturiasquot http/ / www. jgpa. es/ portal. doTRCamp IDR. Junta General del Principado de Asturias. . Retrieved August . quotLanguages of Spain mapquot http/ / www. proel. org/ lenguas. html. Proel. . Retrieved August . La Ley Orgnica / http/ / noticias. juridicas. com/ basedatos/ Admin/ lo. html, retrieved rd September Centro de Investigaciones Sociolgicas July . quotBarmetro julio quot http/ / www. cis. es/ cis/ opencms/ Archivos/ Marginales/ / / es. pdf. p. . . Retrieved January . Spain Religion Important for Americans, Italians http/ / www. angusreid. com/ polls/ index. cfm/ fuseaction/ viewItem/ itemID/ , Angus Reid Global Monitor, December quotOctober poll, questions and aquot http/ / mas. lne. es/ documentos/ archivos/ cis. pdf PDF. Centre of Sociological Investigations. . Retrieved August . quotFederacin de Entidades Religiosas Evanglicas de Espaa FEREDEquot http/ / www. ferede. org/ general. phppagestad. Ferede.org. . Retrieved September . quotSpain LDS Newsroomquot http/ / web. archive. org/ web/ / http/ / www. lds. org/ ldsnewsroom/ eng/ contactus/ spain. Lds.org. Archived from the original http/ / lds. org/ ldsnewsroom/ eng/ contactus/ spain on December . . Retrieved September . quotMuslims in Europe Country guidequot http/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ / hi/ europe/ . stmspain. BBC. December . . Retrieved August . quotSpain Debates Burqa Ban Muslim Immigration Soarsquot http/ / www. hudsonny. org/ / spainburqabanmuslimimmigration. Hudson New York. . Retrieved July . Kamen, Henry . The Spanish Inquisition A Historical Revision. Yale University Press. pp.. quotWorld Heritage Listquot http/ / whc. unesco. org/ en/ list. UNESCO. . Retrieved August . quotThe top books of all timequot http/ / www. guardian. co. uk/ world/ / may/ / books. booksnews. The Guardian London. May . . Retrieved August . quotOriginsquot http/ / www. rae. es/ rae/ gestores/ gespub. nsf/ voTodosporId/ CEDFEDDFCCCOpenDocumentamp i. Real Academia Espaola. . Retrieved August . Jordan, Barry Rikki MorganTamosunas . Contemporary spanish cinema. Manchester University Press. Cruz, Jo . Edited by David R. Blanks and Michael Frassetto. ed. Western Views of Islam in Medieval and Early Modern Europe Perception and Other. New York Saint Martins Press. p.. http/ / www. spoonfed. co. uk/ london/ festivals/ Summer Festival Guide quotThe History of the Guitar in Spainquot http/ / www. linguatics. com/ guitar. htm. Linguatics.com. . Retrieved . Richardson, Paul August . quotSpains perfect paellaquot http/ / www. timesonline. co. uk/ tol/ travel/ article. ece. The Times London Times Newspapers. . Retrieved August . DiGregorio, Sarah December . quotSpain Gain at Mercat Negrequot http/ / www. villagevoice. com/ / restaurants/ spaingainatmercatnegre/ . Village Voice New York Voice Media Group. . Retrieved August . quotBank holidays in Spainquot http/ / www. bankholidays. com/ holidays. htm. bankholidays.com. . Retrieved August . References Literature Gates, David . The Spanish Ulcer A History of the Peninsular War. Da Capo Press. p.. ISBN. External links egovernment Portal http//www..es/ Spain https//www.cia.gov/library/publications/theworldfactbook/geos/sp.html entry at The World Factbook Spain http//www.dmoz.org/Regional/Europe/Spain/ at the Open Directory Project Wikimedia Atlas of Spain Spain travel guide from Wikitravel kbd ltgSpaneja History of Spain History of Spain The history of Spain involves all the other peoples and nations within the Iberian peninsula formerly known as Hispania, and includes still today the states of Andorra , Gibraltar , Portugal and Spain. It spans from prehistoric Iberia, through the rise and decline of a global empire, to the recent history of Spain as a member of the European Union. Modern humans entered the Iberian Peninsula about , years ago. Different populations and cultures followed over the millennia, including the Iberians, the Tartessians, Celts and Celtiberians, Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Suebi and Visigoths. In , the Moors, a Berber and Arab army, invaded and conquered nearly the entire peninsula. During the next years, independent Muslim states were established, and the entire area of Muslim control became known as AlAndalus. Meanwhile the Christian kingdoms in the north began the long and slow recovery of the peninsula, a process called the Reconquista, which was concluded in with the fall of Granada. The Kingdom of Spain was created in with the unification of the Kingdom of Castile and the Kingdom of Aragon. The first voyage of Christopher Columbus to the New World took place that same year, beginning the development of the Spanish Empire. The Inquisition was established and Jews and Muslims who refused to convert were expelled from the country. For the next three centuries Spain was the most important colonial power in the world. It was the most powerful state in Europe and the foremost global power during the th century and the greater part of the th century. Spanish literature and fine arts, scholarship and philosophy flourished during this time. Spain established a vast empire in the Americas, stretching from California to Patagonia, and colonies in the western Pacific. Financed in part by the riches pouring in from its colonies, Spain became embroiled in the religiously charged wars and intrigues of Europe, including, for example, obtaining and losing possessions in todays Netherlands, Italy, France, and Germany, and engaging in wars with France, England, Sweden, and the Ottomans in the Mediterranean Sea and northern Africa. Spains European wars, however, led to economic damage, and the latter part of the th century saw a gradual decline of power under an increasingly neglectful and inept Habsburg regime. The decline culminated in the War of Spanish Succession, which ended with the relegation of Spain from the position of a leading western power, to that of a secondary one, although it remained with Russia the leading colonial power. The th century saw a new dynasty, the Bourbons, which directed considerable efforts towards the renewal of state institutions, with some success, finishing in a successful involvement in the American War of Independence. However, as the century ended, a reaction set in with the accession of a new monarch. The end of the eighteenth and the start of the th centuries saw turmoil unleashed throughout Europe by the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, which finally led to a French occupation of much of the continent, including Spain. This triggered a successful but devastating war of independence that shattered the country and created an opening for what would ultimately be the successful independence of Spains mainland American colonies. Shattered by the war, Spain was destabilised as different political parties representing quotliberalquot, quotreactionaryquot and quotmoderatequot groups throughout the remainder of the century fought for and won shortlived control without any being sufficiently strong to bring about lasting stability. Nationalist movements emerged in the last significant remnants of the old empire Cuba and the Philippines which led to a brief war with the United States and the loss of the remaining old colonies at the end of the century. Following a period of growing political instability in the early th century, in Spain was plunged into a bloody civil war. The war ended in a nationalist dictatorship, led by Francisco Franco which controlled the Spanish government until . Spain was officially neutral during World War II, although many Spanish volunteers fought on both sides. The postwar decades were relatively stable with the notable exception of an armed independence movement in the Basque Country, and the country experienced rapid economic growth in the s and early s. The death of Franco in resulted in the return of the Bourbon monarchy headed by Prince Juan Carlos. While tensions remain for example, with Muslim immigrants and in the Basque region, modern Spain has seen the development of a robust, modern democracy as a constitutional monarchy with popular King Juan Carlos, one of the History of Spain fastestgrowing standards of living in Europe, entry into the European Community, and the Summer Olympics. Early history The earliest record of hominids living in Europe has been found in the Spanish cave of Atapuerca fossils found there date to roughly . million years ago. Modern humans in the form of CroMagnons began arriving in the Iberian Peninsula from north of the Pyrenees some , years ago. The most conspicuous sign of prehistoric human settlements are the famous paintings in the northern Spanish cave of Altamira, which were done c. , BC and are regarded as paramount instances of cave art. Furthermore, archeological evidence in places like Los Millares in Almera and in El Argar in Murcia suggests developed cultures existed in the eastern part of the Iberian Peninsula during the late Neolithic and the Bronze Age. The seafaring Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians successively settled along the Mediterranean Sea near Tartessos, modern day Cdiz. Regarding Tartessos, it should also be mentioned that according to John Koch Cunliffe, Karl, Wodtko and other highly respected scholars, Celtic culture may well have developed first in far Southern Portugal and Southwestern Spain, approximately years prior to anything recorded in Central Europe. The Tartessian language from the southwest of Spain, written in a version of the Phoenician script in use around BC, has been readily translated by John T. Koch as Celtic and is being accepted by a growing number of philologists and other linguists as the first Celtic language. In the th century BC, the first Greek colonies, such as Emporion modern Empries, were founded along the Mediterranean coast on the east, leaving the south coast to the Phoenicians. The Greeks are responsible for the name Iberia, apparently after the river Iber Ebro in Spanish. In the th century BC, the Carthaginians arrived in Iberia, struggling first with the Greeks, and shortly after, with the newly arriving Romans for control of the Western Mediterranean. Their most important colony was Carthago Nova Latin name of modern day Cartagena. The native peoples whom the Romans met at the time of their invasion in what is now known as Spain were the Iberians, inhabiting from the southwest part of the Peninsula through the northeast part of it, and then the Celts, mostly inhabiting the north and northwest part of the Peninsula. In the inner part of the Peninsula, where both groups were in contact, a mixed, distinctive, culture was present, the one known as Celtiberian. The Celtiberian Wars or Spanish Wars were fought between the advancing legions of the Roman Republic and the Celtiberian tribes of Hispania Citerior from to BC. Roman Hispania Hispania was divided 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 roughly corresponding to Andalucia, and Lusitania in the southwest corresponding to modern Portugal. The base Celtiberian population remained in various stages of Romanisation, and local leaders were admitted into the Roman aristocratic class. Roman bridge in Cordoba The Romans improved existing cities, such as Tarragona Tarraco, and established others like Zaragoza Caesaraugusta, Mrida Augusta Emerita, Valencia Valentia, Len quotLegio Septimaquot, Badajoz quotPax Augustaquot, and Palencia. The peninsulas economy expanded under Roman tutelage. Hispania supplied Rome History of Spain with food, olive oil, wine and metal. The emperors Trajan, Hadrian, Theodosius I, the philosopher Seneca and the poets Martial, Quintilian and Lucan were born in Spain. The Spanish Bishops held the Council at Elvira in . The first Germanic tribes to invade Hispania arrived in the thcentury, as the Roman Empire decayed. The Visigoths, Suebi, Vandals and Alans arrived in Spain by crossing the Pyrenees mountain range. The Romanized Visigoths entered Hispania in . After the conversion of their monarchy to Roman Catholicism, the Visigothic Kingdom eventually encompassed a great part of the Iberian Peninsula after conquering the disordered Suebic territories in the northwest and Byzantine territories in the southeast. The collapse of the Western Roman Empire did not lead to the same wholesale destruction of Western classical society as happened in areas like Roman Britain, Gaul and Germania Inferior during the Dark Ages, even if the institutions, infrastructure and economy did suffer considerable degradation. Spains present languages, its religion, and the basis of its laws originate from this period. The centuries of uninterrupted Roman rule and settlement left a deep and enduring imprint upon the culture of Spain. Germanic Occupation of Hispania thth centuries After the decline of the Roman Empire, Germanic tribes invaded the former empire. Several turned sedentary and created successorkingdoms to the Romans in various parts of Europe. Iberia was taken over by the Visigoths after . 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 quotfall of the Roman Empirequot there was a progressive quotdeRomanizationquot of the Western Roman Empire in Hispania and a weakening of central authority, throughout the rd, th and th centuries. At the same time, there was a process of quotRomanizationquot 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 , even before they were pushed into imperial territory by the expansion of the Huns. In the winter of , taking advantage of the frozen Rhine, the Germanic Vandals and Sueves, and the Sarmatian Alans Visigothic Hispania and its regional divisions in , prior to the invaded the empire in force. Three years later they Muslim conquest. 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 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. Importantly, Spain never saw a decline in interest in classical culture to the degree observable in Britain, Gaul, Lombardy and Germany. The Visigoths tended to maintain more of the old Roman institutions, and they had a unique respect for legal codes that resulted in continuous frameworks and historical records for most of the period between , when Visigothic rule in Spain began, and , when it is traditionally said to end. The proximity of the History of Spain Visigothic kingdoms to the Mediterranean and the continuity of western Mediterranean trade, though in reduced quantity, supported Visigothic culture. Arian Visigothic nobility kept apart from the local Catholic population. The Visigothic ruling class looked to Constantinople for style and technology while the rivals of Visigothic power and culture were the Catholic bishops and a brief incursion of Byzantine power in Cordoba. The period of rule by the Visigothic Kingdom saw the spread of Arianism briefly in Spain. In , Reccared, the Visigothic king at Toledo, having been converted to Catholicism put an end to dissension on the question of Arianism and launched a movement in Spain to unify the various religious doctrines that existed in the land. The Council of Lerida in constrained the clergy and extended the power of law over them under the blessings of Rome. The Visigoths inherited from Late Antiquity a sort of feudal system in Spain, based in the south on the Roman villa system and in the north drawing on their vassals to supply troops in exchange for protection. The bulk of the Visigothic army was composed of slaves, raised from the countryside. The loose council of nobles that advised Spains Visigothic kings and legitimized their rule was responsible for raising the army, and only upon its consent was the king able to summon soldiers. Greatest extent of the Visigothic Kingdom of Toulouse, c. , showing Territory lost after Vouill in light orange. The impact of Visigothic rule was not widely felt on society at large, and certainly not compared to the vast bureaucracy of the Roman Empire they tended to rule as barbarians of a mild sort, uninterested in the events of the nation and economy, working for personal benefit, and little literature remains to us from the period. They did not, until the period of Muslim rule, merge with the Spanish population, preferring to remain separate, and indeed the Visigothic language left only the faintest mark on the modern languages of Iberia. The most visible effect was the depopulation of the cities as they moved to the countryside. Even while the country enjoyed a degree of prosperity when compared to the famines of France and Germany in this period, the Visigoths felt little reason to contribute to the welfare, permanency, and infrastructure of their people and state. This contributed to their downfall, as they could not count on the loyalty of their subjects when the Moors arrived in the th century. Muslim EraalAndalus thth centuries The Arab Islamic conquest dominated most of North Africa by AD. In an Islamic Arab and Berber raiding party, led by Tariq ibnZiyad, was sent to Iberia to intervene in a civil war in the Visigothic Kingdom. Crossing the Strait of Gibraltar, they won a decisive victory in the summer of when the Visigothic King Roderic was defeated and killed on July at the Battle of Guadalete. Tariqs commander, Musa bin Nusair quickly crossed with substantial reinforcements, and by the Muslims dominated most of the Iberian Peninsula. The advance into Western Europe was stopped in northcentral France by the West Germanic Franks under Charles Martel at the History of Spain Battle of Tours in . A decisive victory for the Christian kingdoms took place at Covadonga, Asturias, in the summer of . Known as the Battle of Covadonga, the Muslims were stopped by a king, Pelagius of Asturias, who started the monarchy of the Kingdom of Asturias which later developed into the Kingdom of Castilla. The battle was one of the first stages of the Reconquista. Caliph AlWalid I paid great attention to the expansion of an organized military, building the strongest navy in the Umayyad Caliphate second major Arab dynasty after Mohammad and the first Arab dynasty of AlAndalus era. It was this tactic that supported the ultimate expansion to Spain. Caliph AlWalid Is reign is considered as the apex of Islamic power, though Islamic power in Spain specifically climaxed in the tenth century under AbdarRahman III. The rulers of AlAndalus were granted the rank of Emir by the Umayyad Caliph AlWalid I in Damascus. Emir Abdarrahman I challenged the Abbasids. The Umayyad Caliphate, with origin in Hejaz, Arabian peninsula or Emirate was overthrown by the Abbasid Caliphate or Emirate second Arab dynasty, some of the remaining Umayyad leaders escaped to Castile and declared Cordoba an independent emirate. AlAndalus was rife with internal conflict between the Islamic Umayyad rulers and people and the Christian VisigothRoman leaders and people. In the th century Abdarrahman III, from Hejaz, Arabian peninsula, grandson of the last caliph of Damascus, Syria declared the Caliphate of Cordoba, effectively breaking all ties with the Egyptian and Syrian caliphs. The Caliphate was mostly concerned with maintaining its power base in North Africa, but these possessions eventually dwindled to the Ceuta province. The first navy of the Caliph of Cordoba or Emir was built after the humiliating Viking ascent of the Guadalquivir in when they sacked Seville. In , pagan Magyars present day Hungary raided across Europe as far west as AlAndalus. Meanwhile, a slow but steady migration of Christian subjects to the northern kingdoms in Christian Hispania was slowly increasing the latters power. Even so, AlAndalus remained vastly superior to all the northern kingdoms combined in population, economy and military might and internal conflict between the Christian kingdoms contributed to keep them relatively harmless. Limits of the Kingdom of Castile and Kingdom of Aragon in . AlAndalus coincided with La Convivencia, an era of relative religious tolerance, and with the Golden age of Jewish culture in the Iberian Peninsula. See Emir AbdarRahman III the Granada massacre . Muslim interest in the peninsula returned in force around the year when AlMansur known as Almanzor, sacked Barcelona . Under his son, other Christian cities were subjected to numerous raids. After his sons death, the caliphate plunged into a civil war and splintered into the socalled quotTaifa Kingdomsquot. The Taifa kings competed against each other not only in war, but also in the protection of the arts, and culture enjoyed a brief upswing. The Taifa kingdoms lost ground to the Christian realms in the north and, after the loss of Toledo in , the Muslim rulers reluctantly invited the Almoravides, who invaded AlAndalus from North Africa and established an empire. In the th century the Almoravid empire broke up again, only to be taken over by the Almohad invasion, who were defeated in the decisive battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in . History of Spain Medieval Spain was the scene of almost constant warfare between Muslims and Christians. The Almohads, who had taken control of the Almoravids Maghribi and Andalusian territories by , far surpassed the Almoravides in fundamentalist outlook, and they treated the dhimmis harshly. Faced with the choice of death, conversion, or emigration, many Jews and Christians left. The Christian kingdoms to the North had also, at times, treated Muslims harshly. The treatment towards Jews at this time in Iberia varied greatly between and within the different Muslim and Christian kingdoms. By the midth century Emirate of Granada was the only independent Muslim realm in Spain, which would last until . Despite the decline in Muslimcontrolled kingdoms, it is important to note the lasting effects exerted on the peninsula by Muslims in technology, culture, and society. The Kings of Aragn ruled territories that consisted of not only the present administrative region of Aragon but also Catalonia, and later the Balearic Islands, Valencia, Sicily, Naples and Sardinia see Crown of Aragon. Considered by most to have been the first mercenary company in Western Europe, the Catalan Company proceeded to occupy the Duchy of Athens, which they placed under the protection of a prince of the House of Aragon and ruled until . Dynastic Union As the Reconquista continued, Christian kingdoms and principalities developed. By the th century, the most important among these were the Kingdom of Castile occupying a northern and central portion of the Iberian Peninsula and the Kingdom of Aragon occupying northeastern portions of the peninsula. The rulers of these two kingdoms were allied with dynastic families in Portugal, France, and other neighboring kingdoms. The death of Henry IV in set off a struggle for power between contenders for the throne of Castile, including Joanna La Beltraneja, supported by Portugal and France, and Queen Isabella I, supported by the Kingdom of Aragon, and by the Castilian nobility. Following the War Iberian polities circa of the Castilian Succession, Isabella retained the throne, and ruled jointly with her husband, King Ferdinand II. Isabella held more authority over the newly unified Spain than her husband, although their rule was shared. Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon were known as the quotCatholic Monarchsquot Spanish los Reyes Catlicos, a title bestowed on them by Pope Alexander VI. They married in in Valladolid, uniting both crowns and setting the stage for the creation of the Kingdom of Spain, at the dawn of the modern era. That union, however, was a union in title only, as each region retained its own political and judicial structure, and even today Spain remains internally divided. The monarchs also oversaw the final stages of the Reconquista of Iberian territory from the Moors with the conquest of Granada, conquered the Canary Islands and expelled the Jews and Muslims from Spain under the Alhambra decree, though Muslim Morisco culture remained influential. They authorized the expedition of Christopher Columbus, who became the first known European to reach the New World since Leif Ericson, which led to an influx of wealth into Spain, supplementing income from within Castile for the state that would prove to be a dominant power of Europe for the next two centuries. History of Spain Isabella ensured longterm political stability in Spain by arranging strategic marriages for each of her five children. Her firstborn, a daughter named Isabella, married Alfonso of Portugal, forging important ties between these two neighboring countries and hopefully to ensure future alliance, but Isabella soon died before giving birth to an heir. Juana, Isabellas second daughter, married into the Habsburg dynasty when she wed Philip the Handsome, the son of Maximilian I, King of Bohemia Austria and entitled to the crown of the Holy Roman Emperor. This ensured alliance with the Habsburgs and the Holy Roman Empire, a powerful, farreaching territory that assured Spains future political security. Isabellas first and only son, Juan, married Margaret of Austria, further maintaining ties with the Habsburg dynasty. Her fourth child, Maria, married Manuel I of Portugal, strengthening the link forged by her older sisters marriage. Her fifth child, Catherine, married Henry VIII, King of England and was mother to Queen Mary I. If until the th century religious minorities Jews and Muslims had enjoyed quite some tolerance in Castilla and Aragon the only Christian kingdoms where Jews were not restricted from any professional occupation the situation of the Jews collapsed over the th century, reaching a climax in with large scale massacres in every major city, with the exception of vila. Over the next century, half of the estimated , Spanish Jews converted to Christianity becoming quotconversosquot. The final step was taken by the Catholic Monarchs, who, in , ordered the remaining Jews to convert or face expulsion from Spain. Depending on different sources, the number of Jews actually expelled is estimated to be anywhere from , to , people. Over the following decades, Muslims faced the same fate and about years after the Jews, they were also compelled to convert quotmoriscosquot or be expelled. Jews and Muslims were not the only people to be persecuted during this time period. Gypsies also endured a tragic fate all Gypsy males were forced to serve in galleys between the age of and which was equivalent to a death sentence but the majority managed to hide and avoid arrest. The Spanish language and universities In the th century, there were many languages spoken in the Christian This thcentury Spanish carpet shows stylistic influences from Europe and the Islamic world. sections of what is now Spain, among them Castilian, Aragonese, Collections of the Textile Museum. Catalan, Basque, Galician, Aranese, Asturian and Leonese. But throughout the century, Castilian what is also known today as Spanish gained more and more prominence in the Kingdom of Castile as the language of culture and communication. One example of this is the El Cid. In the last years of the reign of Ferdinand III of Castile, Castilian began to be used for certain types of documents, but it was during the reign of Alfonso X that it became the official language. Henceforth all public documents were written in Castilian, likewise all translations were made into Castilian instead of Latin. Furthermore, in the th century many universities were founded in Len and in Castile, some, like those of the leonese Salamanca and Palencia were among the earliest universities in Europe. In , under the Catholic Monarchs, the first edition of the Grammar of the Castilian Language by Antonio de Nebrija was published. History of Spain Imperial Spain The Spanish Empire was one of the first modern global empires. It was also one of the largest empires in world history. In the th century Spain and Portugal were in the vanguard of European global exploration and colonial expansion and the opening of trade routes across the oceans, with trade flourishing across the Atlantic between Spain and the Americas and A map of the Spanish and Portuguese Empires in the period of Iberian Union under the across the Pacific between East Asia personal union of the Spanish monarchs . and Mexico via the Philippines. Conquistadors deposed the Aztec, Inca and Maya governments with extensive help from local factions and laid claim to vast stretches of land in North and South America. For a time, the Spanish Empire dominated the oceans with its experienced navy and ruled the European battlefield with its fearsome and well trained infantry, the famous tercios in the words of the prominent French historian Pierre Vilar, quotenacting the most extraordinary epic in human historyquot. Spain enjoyed a cultural golden age in the th and th centuries. This American empire was at first a disappointment, as the natives had little to trade, though settlement did encourage trade. The diseases such as smallpox and measles that arrived with the colonizers devastated the native populations, especially in the densely populated regions of the Aztec, Maya and Inca civilizations, and this reduced economic potential of conquered areas. In the s large scale extraction of silver from the rich deposits of Mexicos Guanajuato began, to be greatly augmented by the silver mines in Mexicos Zacatecas and Bolivias Potos from . These silver shipments reoriented the Spanish economy, leading to the importation of luxuries and grain. They also became indispensable in financing the military capability of Habsburg Spain in its long series of European and North African wars, though, with the exception of a few years in the th century, Spain itself Castile in particular was by far the most important source of revenue. The financial burden within the Columbus setting foot in the New World peninsula was on the backs of the peasant class while the nobility enjoyed an increasingly lavish lifestyle. From the time beginning with the incorporation of the Portuguese empire in lost in until the loss of its American colonies in the th century, Spain maintained the largest empire in the world even though it suffered fluctuating military and economic fortunes from the s. Confronted by the new experiences, difficulties and suffering created by empirebuilding, Spanish thinkers formulated some of the first modern thoughts on natural law, sovereignty, international law, war, and economics there were even questions about the legitimacy of imperialism in related schools of thought referred to collectively as the School of Salamanca. Despite these innovations many motives for the empire were rooted in the middle ages. Religion played a very strong role in the spread of the Spanish empire. The thought that Spain could bring Christianity to the new world certainly played a strong role in the expansion of Spains empire. History of Spain Spanish Kingdoms under the Habsburgs thth centuries Spains powerful world empire of the th and th centuries reached its height and declined under the Habsburgs. The Spanish Empire reached its maximum extent in Europe under Charles I of Spain, as he was also Emperor Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire. Charles V became king in , and the history of Spain became even more firmly enmeshed with the dynastic struggles in Europe. The king was not often in Spain, and as he approached the end of his life he made provision for the division of the Habsburg inheritance into two parts on the one hand Spain, and its possessions in the Mediterranean and overseas, and the Holy Roman Empire itself on the other. The Habsburg possessions in the Netherlands also remained with the Spanish crown. This was to prove a difficulty for his successor Philip II of Spain, who became king on Charles Vs abdication in . Spain largely escaped the religious conflicts that were raging throughout the rest of Europe, and remained firmly Roman Catholic. Philip saw himself as a champion of Catholicism, both against the Ottoman Turks and the heretics. In the s, plans to consolidate control of the Netherlands Charles I of Spain better known in the led to unrest, which gradually led to the Calvinist leadership of the Englishspeaking world at the Holy Roman revolt and the Eighty Years War. This conflict consumed much Emperor Charles V was the most powerful Spanish expenditure, and led to an attempt to conquer England a European monarch of his day. cautious supporter of the Dutch in the unsuccessful Spanish Armada, an early battle in the AngloSpanish War and war with France . Despite these problems, the growing inflow of American silver from mid th century, the justified military reputation of the Spanish infantry and even the navy quickly recovering from its Armada disaster, made Spain the leading European power, a novel situation of which its citizens were only just becoming aware. The Iberian Union with Portugal in not only unified the peninsula, but added that countrys worldwide resources to the Spanish crown. However, economic and administrative problems multiplied in Castile, and the weakness of the native economy became evident in the following century rising inflation, financially draining wars in Europe, the ongoing aftermath of the expulsion of the Jews and Moors from Spain, and the growing dependency of Spain on the gold and silver imports, combined to cause several bankruptcies that caused economic crisis in the country, especially in heavily burdened Castile. The coastal villages of Spain and of the Balearic Islands were frequently attacked by Barbary pirates from North Africa. Formentera was even temporarily left by its population. This occurred also along long stretches of the Spanish and Italian coasts, a relatively short distance across a calm sea from the pirates in their North African lairs. The most famous corsair was the Turkish Barbarossa quotRedbeardquot. According to Robert Davis between million and . million Europeans were captured by North African pirates and sold as slaves in North Africa and Ottoman Empire between the th and th centuries This was gradually alleviated as Spain and other Christian powers began to check Muslim naval dominance in the Mediterranean after the victory at Lepanto, but it would be a scourge that continued to afflict the country even in the next century. The great plague of killed , to , people, or about of the population. Altogether more than ,, deaths resulted from the extreme incidence of plague in th century Spain. Economically, the plague destroyed the labor force as well as creating a psychological blow to an already problematic Spain. History of Spain Philip II died in , and was succeeded by his son Philip III, in whose reign a ten year truce with the Dutch was overshadowed in by Spains involvement in the Europeanwide Thirty Years War. Government policy was dominated by favorites, but it was also the reign in which the geniuses of Cervantes and El Greco flourished. Philip III was succeeded in by his son Philip IV of Spain. Much of the policy was conducted by the minister Gaspar de Guzmn, CountDuke of Olivares. In , with the war in central Map of Europe in , after the Peace of Westphalia. Europe having no clear winner except the French, both Portugal and Catalonia rebelled. Portugal was lost to the crown for good, in Italy and most of Catalonia, French forces were expelled and Catalonias independence suppressed. In the reign of Philips developmentally disabled son and successor Charles II, Spain was essentially left leaderless and was gradually being reduced to a secondrank power. The Habsburg dynasty became extinct in Spain and the War of the Spanish Succession ensued in which the other European powers tried to assume control of the Spanish monarchy. King Louis XIV of France eventually quotwonquot the War of Spanish Succession, and control of Spain passed to the Bourbon dynasty but the peace deals that followed included the relinquishing of the right to unite the French and Spanish thrones and the partitioning of Spains European empire. The Golden Age Siglo de Oro The Spanish Golden Age in Spanish, Siglo de Oro was a period of flourishing arts and letters in the Spanish Empire now Spain and the Spanishspeaking countries of Latin America, coinciding with the political decline and fall of the Habsburgs Philip III, Philip IV and Charles II. It is interesting to note how arts during the Golden Age flourished despite the decline of the empire in the th century. The last great writer of the age, Sor Juana Ins de la Cruz, died in New Spain in . The Habsburgs, both in Spain and Austria, were great patrons of art in their countries. El Escorial, the great royal monastery built by King Philip II, invited the attention of some of Europes greatest architects and painters. Diego Velzquez, regarded as one of the most influential painters of European history and a greatly respected artist in his own time, cultivated a relationship with King Toledo by El Greco Philip IV and his chief minister, the CountDuke of Olivares, leaving us several portraits that demonstrate his style and skill. El Greco, a respected Greek artist from the period, settled in Spain, and infused Spanish art with the styles of the Italian renaissance and helped create a uniquely Spanish style of painting. Some of Spains greatest music is regarded as having been written in the period. Such composers as Toms Luis de Victoria, Luis de Miln and Alonso Lobo helped to shape Renaissance music and the styles of counterpoint and polychoral music, and their influence lasted far into the Baroque period. Spanish literature blossomed as well, most famously demonstrated in the work of Miguel de Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote de la Mancha. Spains most prolific playwright, Lope de Vega, wrote possibly as many as one thousand plays over his lifetime, over four hundred of which survive to the present day. History of Spain Enlightenment Spain under the Bourbons th century Philip V, the first Bourbon king, of French origin, signed the Decreto de Nueva Planta in , a new law that revoked most of the historical rights and privileges of the different kingdoms that formed the Spanish Crown, specially Crown of Aragon, unifying them under the laws of Castile, where the Cortes had been more receptive to the royal wish. Spain became culturally and politically a follower of absolutist France. The rule of the Spanish Bourbons continued under Ferdinand VI and Charles III. Great influence was exerted over Elisabeth of Parma on Spains foreign policy. Her principal aim was to have Spains lost territories in Italy restored. She eventually received FrancoBritish support for this after the Congress of Soissons. Under the rule of Charles III and his ministers, Leopoldo de Gregorio, Marquis of Esquilache and Jos Moino, Count of Floridablanca, Spain embarked on a program of enlightened despotism that brought Spain a new prosperity in the middle of the th century. Fearing that Britains victory over France in the Seven Years War threatened the European balance of power, Spain allied themselves to France but suffered a series of military defeats and ended up having to cede Florida to the British at the Treaty of Paris. Despite being on the losing alongside France against the British in the Seven Years War, Spain recouped most of her territorial losses in the American Revolutionary War, and gained an improved international standing. However, the reforming spirit of Charles III was extinguished in the reign of his son, Charles IV, seen by some as mentally handicapped. Dominated by his wifes lover, Manuel de Godoy, Charles IV embarked on policies that overturned much of Charles IIIs reforms. After briefly opposing Revolutionary France early in the French Revolutionary Wars, Spain was cajoled into an uneasy alliance with its northern neighbor, only to be blockaded by the British. Charles IVs vacillation, culminating in his failure to honour the alliance by neglecting to enforce the Continental System led to Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, invading Spain in , thereby triggering Spains War of Independence. An th century map of the Iberian Peninsula Attacking Spanish infantry about During most of the th century Spain had made substantial progress since its steady decline in the latter part of the th century, under an increasingly inept Habsburg dynasty. But despite the progress, it continued to lag in the political and mercantile developments then transforming other parts of Europe, most notably in the United Kingdom, France and the Low Countries. The chaos unleashed by the Napoleonic intervention would cause this gap to widen greatly. History of Spain Napoleonic Wars War of Spanish Independence Spain initially sided against France in the Napoleonic Wars, but the defeat of her army early in the war led to Charles IVs pragmatic decision to align with the revolutionary French. Spain was put under a British blockade, and her coloniesfor the first time separated from their colonial rulersbegan to trade independently with Britain. The defeat of the British invasions of the River Plate in South America emboldened an independent attitude in Spains American colonies. A major FrancoSpanish fleet was annihilated, at the decisive Battle of Trafalgar in , prompting the vacillating king of Spain to reconsider his alliance The Third of May by Francisco Goya, showing with France. Spain broke off from the Continental System Spanish resisters being executed by Napoleons troops. temporarily, and Napoleonaggravated with the Bourbon kings of Spaininvaded Spain in and deposed Ferdinand VII, who had just been on the throne fortyeight days after his fathers abdication in March. The Spanish people vigorously resisted Napoleons move, and juntas were formed across Spain that pronounced themselves in favor of Ferdinand VII. Initially, the juntas declared their support for Ferdinand VII, and convened a quotGeneral and Extraordinary Cortesquot for all the kingdoms of the Spanish Monarchy. The Cortes assembled in and took refuge at Cdiz. In the Cdiz Cortes created the first modern Spanish constitution, the Constitution of informally named La Pepa. The British, led by the Duke of Wellington, fought Napoleons forces in the Peninsular War, with Joseph Bonaparte ruling as king at Madrid. The brutal war was one of the first guerrilla wars in modern Western history French supply lines stretching across Spain were mauled repeatedly by Spanish guerrillas. The war in the Iberian Peninsula fluctuated repeatedly, with Wellington spending several years behind his fortresses in Portugal while launching occasional campaigns into Spain. The French were decisively defeated at the Battle of Vitoria in , and the following year, Ferdinand VII was restored as King of Spain. Spain in the nineteenth century Although the juntas that had forced the French to leave Spain had sworn by the liberal Constitution of , Ferdinand VII openly believed that it was too liberal for the country. On his return to Spain, he refused to swear by it himself, and he continued to rule in the authoritarian fashion of his forebears. Although Spain accepted the rejection of the Constitution, the policy was not warmly accepted in Spains empire in the New World. Revolution broke out. Spain, nearly bankrupt from the war with France and the reconstruction of the country, was unable to pay her soldiers, and in was forced to sell Florida to the United States for million dollars. In , an expedition intended for the colonies which, at the time, were on the verge of being lost themselves, to rebels and the Monroe Doctrine revolted in Cadiz. When armies throughout Spain pronounced themselves in sympathy with the revolters, led by Rafael del Riego, Ferdinand relented and was forced to accept the liberal Constitution of . Ferdinand himself was placed under effective house arrest for the duration of the liberal experiment. The three years of liberal rule that followed coincided with a civil war in Spain that would typify Spanish politics for the next century. The liberal government, which reminded European statesmen entirely too much of the governments of the French Revolution, was looked on with hostility by the Congress of Verona in , and France was authorized to intervene. France crushed the liberal government with massive force in the socalled Spanish expedition, and Ferdinand was restored as absolute monarch. The American colonies, however, were completely lost in , the last Spanish army on the American mainland was defeated at the Battle of Ayacucho in southern History of Spain Peru. A period of uneasy peace followed in Spain for the next decade. Having borne only a female heir presumptive, it appeared that Ferdinand would be succeeded by his brother, Infante Carlos of Spain. While Ferdinand aligned with the conservatives, fearing another national insurrection, he did not view the reactionary policies of his brother as a viable option. Ferdinand resisting the wishes of his brother decreed the Pragmatic Sanction of , enabling his daughter Isabella to become Queen. Carlos, who made known his intent to resist the sanction, fled to Portugal. Ferdinands death in and the accession of Isabella only three years old at the time as Queen of Spain sparked the First Carlist War. Carlos invaded Spain and attracted support from reactionaries and conservatives in Spain Isabellas mother, Maria Cristina of BourbonTwo Sicilies, was named regent until her daughter came of age. The insurrection seemed to have been crushed by the end of the year Maria Cristinas armies, called quotCristinoquot forces, had driven the Carlist armies from most of the Basque country. Carlos then named the Basque general Toms de Zumalacrregui his commanderinchief. Zumalacrregui resuscitated the Carlist cause, and by had driven the Cristino armies to the Ebro River and transformed the Carlist army from a demoralized band into a professional army of , of quality superior to the government forces. Zumalacrreguis death in changed the Carlists fortunes. The Cristinos found a capable general in Baldomero Espartero. His victory at the Battle of Luchana turned the tide of the war, and in , the Convention of Vergara put an end to the first Carlist insurrection. Espartero, operating on his popularity as a war hero and his sobriquet quotPacifier of Spainquot, demanded liberal reforms from Maria Cristina. The Queen Regent, who resisted any such idea, preferred to resign and let Espartero become regent instead. Esparteros liberal reforms were opposed, then, by moderates the former generals heavyhandedness caused a series of sporadic uprisings throughout the country from various quarters, all of which were bloodily suppressed. He was overthrown as regent in by Ramn Mara Narvez, a moderate, who was in turn perceived as too reactionary. Another Carlist uprising, the Matiners War, was launched in in Catalonia, but it was poorly organized and suppressed by . Isabella II of Spain took a more active role in government after she came of age, but she was immensely unpopular throughout her reign. She was viewed as beholden to whoever was closest to her at court, and that she cared little for the people of Spain. In , she attempted to form a pannational coalition, the Union Liberal, under the leadership of Leopoldo ODonnell who had already marched on Madrid that year and deposed another Espartero ministry. Isabellas plan failed and cost Isabella more prestige and favor with the people. Isabella launched a successful war against Morocco, waged by generals ODonnell and Juan Prim, in that stabilized her popularity in Spain. However, a campaign to reconquer Peru and Chile during the Chincha Islands War proved disastrous and Spain suffered defeat before the determined South American powers. In , a revolt led by Juan Prim was suppressed, but it was becoming increasingly clear that the people of Spain were upset with Isabellas approach to governance. In , the Glorious Revolution broke out when the progresista generals Francisco Serrano and Juan Prim revolted against her, and defeated her moderado generals at the Battle of Alcolea. Isabella was driven into exile in Paris. Revolution and anarchy broke out in Spain in the two years that followed it was only in that the Cortes declared that Spain would have a king again. As it turned out, this decision played an important role in European and world history, for a German princes candidacy to the Spanish throne and French opposition to him served as the immediate motive for the FrancoPrussian War. Amadeus of Savoy was selected, and he was duly crowned King of Spain early the following year. Amadeus a liberal who swore by the liberal constitution the Cortes promulgated was faced immediately with the incredible task of bringing the disparate political ideologies of Spain to one table. He was plagued by internecine strife, not merely between Spaniards but within Spanish parties. History of Spain First Spanish Republic Following the Hidalgo affair, Amadeus famously declared the people of Spain to be ungovernable, and fled the country. In his absence, a government of radicals and Republicans was formed that declared Spain a republic. The republic was immediately under siege from all quarters the Carlists were the most immediate threat, launching a violent insurrection after their poor showing in the elections. There were calls for socialist revolution from the International Workingmens Association, revolts and unrest in the autonomous regions of Navarre and Catalonia, and pressure from the Catholic Church against the fledgling republic. The Restoration Although the former queen, Isabella II was still alive, she recognized that she was too divisive as a leader, and abdicated in in favor of her son, Alfonso, who was duly crowned Alfonso XII of Spain. After the tumult of the First Spanish Republic, Spaniards were willing to accept a return to stability under Bourbon rule. The Republican armies in Spain which were resisting a Carlist insurrection pronounced their allegiance to Alfonso in the winter of , led by Brigadier General Martinez Campos. The Republic was dissolved and Antonio Canovas del Castillo, a trusted advisor to the king, was named Prime Minister on New Years Eve, . The Carlist insurrection was put down vigorously by the new king, who took an active role in the war and rapidly gained the support of most of his countrymen. A system of turnos was established in Spain in which the liberals, led by Prxedes Mateo Sagasta and the conservatives, led by Antonio Canovas del Castillo, alternated in control of the government. A modicum of stability and economic progress was restored to Spain during Alfonso XIIs rule. His death in , followed by the assassination of Canovas del Castillo in , destabilized the government. Cuba rebelled against Spain in the Ten Years War beginning in , resulting in the abolition of slavery in Spains colonies in the New World. American interests in the island, coupled with concerns for the people of Cuba, aggravated relations between the two countries. The explosion of the USS Maine launched the SpanishAmerican War in , in which Spain fared disastrously. Cuba gained its independence and Spain lost its remaining New World colony, Puerto Rico, which together with Guam and the Philippines were ceded to the United States for million dollars. In , Spain sold its remaining Pacific islandsthe Northern Mariana Islands, Caroline Islands and Palauto Germany and Spanish colonial possessions were reduced to Spanish Morocco, Spanish Sahara and Spanish Guinea, all in Africa. The quotdisasterquot of created the Generation of , a group of statesmen and intellectuals who demanded change from the new government. Anarchist and fascist movements were on the rise in Spain in the early th century. A revolt in in Catalonia was bloodily suppressed. Spains neutrality in World War I allowed it to become a supplier of material for both sides to its great advantage, prompting an economic boom in Spain. The outbreak of Spanish influenza in Spain and elsewhere, along with a major economic slowdown in the postwar period, hit Spain particularly hard, and the country went into debt. A major workers strike was suppressed in . Mistreatment of the indigenous population in Spanish Morocco led to an uprising and the loss of this North African possession except for the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla in . See Muhammad Ibn Abd alKarim alKhattabi, Annual. In order to avoid accountability, King Alfonso XIII decided to support the dictatorship of General Miguel Primo de Rivera, ending the period of constitutional monarchy in Spain. In joint action with France, the Moroccan territory was recovered , but in bankruptcy and massive unpopularity left the king no option but to force Primo de Rivera to resign. Disgusted with the kings involvement in his dictatorship, the urban population voted for republican parties in the municipal elections of April . The king fled the country without abdicating and a republic was established. History of Spain Second Spanish Republic Under the Second Spanish Republic, women were allowed to vote in general elections for the first time. The Republic devolved substantial autonomy to the Basque Country and to Catalonia. The first governments of the Republic, were centerleft, headed by Niceto AlcalZamora, and Manuel Azaa. Economic turmoil, substantial debt inherited from the Primo de Rivera regime, and fractious, rapidly changing governing coalitions led to serious political unrest. In , the rightwing CEDA won power an armed rising of workers of October , which reached its greatest intensity in Asturias and Catalonia, was forcefully put down by the CEDA government. This in turn energized political movements across the spectrum in Spain, including a revived anarchist movement and new reactionary and fascist groups, including the Falange and a revived Carlist movement. Spanish Civil War In the s, Spanish politics were polarized at the left and right of the political spectrum. The leftwing favored class struggle, land reform, autonomy to the regions and reduction in church and monarchist power. The rightwing groups, the largest of which was CEDA, a right wing Roman Catholic coalition, held opposing views on most issues. In , the left united in the Popular Front and was elected to power. However, this coalition, dominated by the centreleft, was undermined both by the revolutionary groups such as the anarchist CNT and FAI and by antidemocratic farright groups such as the Falange and the Carlists. The political violence of previous years began to start again. There were gunfights over strikes, landless labourers began to seize land, church officials were killed and churches burnt. On the other side, right wing militias such as the Falange and gunmen hired by employers assassinated left wing activists. The Republican democracy never generated the consensus or mutual trust between the various political groups that it needed to function peacefully. As a result, the country slid into civil war. The right wing of the country and high ranking figures in the army began to plan a coup, and when Falangist politician Jos CalvoSotelo was shot by Republican police, they used it as a signal to act. On July , General Francisco Franco led the colonial army from Morocco to attack the mainland, while another force from the north under General Sanjurjo moved south from Navarre. Military units were also mobilised elsewhere to take over government institutions. Francos move was intended to seize power immediately, but successful resistance by Republicans in places such as Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, the Basque country and elsewhere meant that Spain faced a prolonged civil war. Before long, much of the south and west was under the control of the Nationalists, whose regular Army of Africa was the most professional force available to either side. Both sides received foreign military aid, the Nationalists, from Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and Portugal, the Republic from the USSR and organised farleft volunteers in the International Brigades. The Siege of the Alczar at Toledo early in the war was a turning point, with the Nationalists winning after a long siege. The Republicans managed to hold out in Madrid, despite a Nationalist assault in November , and frustrated subsequent offensives against the capital at Jarama and Guadalajara in . Soon, though, the Nationalists began to erode their territory, starving Madrid and making inroads into the east. The north, including the Basque country fell in late and the Aragon front collapsed shortly afterwards. The bombing of Guernica was probably the most infamous event of the war and inspired Picassos painting. It was used as a testing ground for the German Luftwaffes Condor Legion. The Battle of the Ebro in JulyNovember was the final desperate attempt by the Republicans to turn the tide. When this failed and Barcelona fell to the Nationalists in early , it was clear the war was over. The remaining Republican fronts collapsed and Madrid fell in March . The war, which cost between , to ,, lives, ended with the destruction of the Republic and the accession of Francisco Franco as dictator of Spain. Franco amalgamated all the right wing parties into a reconstituted Falange and banned the leftwing and Republican parties and trade unions. The conduct of the war was brutal on both sides, with massacres of civilians and prisoners being widespread. After the war, many thousands of Republicans were imprisoned and up to , were executed between and . History of Spain Many other Republicans remained in exile for the entire Franco period. The dictatorship of Francisco Franco Spain remained officially neutral in World Wars I and II, but suffered through a devastating Civil War . During Francos rule, Spain remained largely economically and culturally isolated from the outside world, but 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 s, Spain began imposing restrictions on Gibraltar, culminating in the closure of the border in . It was not fully reopened until . Spanish rule in Morocco ended in . Though militarily victorious in the Moroccan invasion of Spanish West Africa, Spain gradually relinquished its remaining African colonies. Spanish Guinea was granted independence as Equatorial Guinea in , while the Moroccan enclave of Ifni had been ceded to Morocco in . The latter years of Francos rule saw some economic and political liberalization, the Spanish Miracle, including the birth of a tourism industry. Francisco Franco ruled until his death on November , when control was given to King Juan Carlos. In the last few months before Francos death, the Spanish state went into a paralysis. This was capitalized upon by King Hassan II of Morocco, who ordered the Green March into Western Sahara, Spains last colonial possession. Spain since Transition to democracy The Spanish transition to democracy or new Bourbon restoration was the era when Spain moved from the dictatorship of Francisco Franco to a liberal democratic state. The transition is usually said to have begun with Francos death on November , while its completion is marked by the electoral victory of the socialist PSOE on October . Between and , Spain was led by the Unin del Centro Democrtico governments. in the F coup dtat attempt took place. On February Antonio Tejero, with members of the Guardia Civil entered the Congress of Deputies, and stopped the session, where Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo was about to be named prime minister of the government. Officially, the coup dtat failed thanks to the intervention of King Juan Carlos. Spain joined NATO before CalvoSotelo left office. Along with political change came radical change in Spanish society. Spanish society had been extremely conservative under Franco, but the transition to democracy also began a liberalization of values and societal mores. Modern Spain From until , the social democratic PSOE governed the country, with Felipe Gonzlez as prime minister. In , Spain joined the European Economic Community EEC, now European Union, and the country hosted the Barcelona Olympics and Seville Expo . In , the centreright Partido Popular government came to power, led by Jos Mara Aznar. On January , Spain exchanged the peseta for the new Euro currency. The peseta continued to be used for cash transactions until January , . On March a number of terrorist bombs exploded on busy commuter trains in Madrid during the morning rushhour days before the general election, killing persons and injuring thousands. Although Jos Mara Aznar and his ministers were quick to accuse ETA of the atrocity, soon afterwards it became apparent that the bombing was the work of an extremist Islamic group linked to AlQaeda. Many people believe that the fact that qualified commentators abroad were beginning to doubt the official Spanish version the very same day of the History of Spain attacks while the government insisted on ETAs implication directly influenced the results of the election. Opinion polls at the time show that the difference between the two main contenders had been too close to make any accurate prediction as to the outcome of the elections. The election, held three days after the attacks, was won by the PSOE, and Jos Luis Rodrguez Zapatero replaced Aznar as prime minister. On July , the country became the first country in the world to give full marriage and adoption rights to homosexual couples Belgium has allowed samesex marriage since and coparenting since April , and the Netherlands has allowed samesex marriage since and now has a law in preparation to provide full adoption rights in equal conditions to oppositesex marriages. At present, Spain is a constitutional monarchy, and comprises autonomous communities Andaluca, Aragn, Asturias, Islas Baleares, Islas Canarias, Cantabria, Castile and Len, CastileLa Mancha, Catalua, Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, Community of Madrid, Region of Murcia, Pas Vasco, Comunidad Valenciana, Navarra and two autonomous cities Ceuta and Melilla. Notes European Voyages of Exploration Imperial Spain http/ / www. ucalgary. ca/ appliedhistory/ tutor/ eurvoya/ Imperial. html quotSpainquot http/ / encarta. msn. com/ text/ Spain. html. Encarta Online Encyclopedia. . . See also quotFirst west Europe tooth foundquot http/ / www. webcitation. org/ kwqnGivb. BBC. June . Archived from the original http/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ / hi/ science/ nature/ . stm on . . Retrieved . quotSpain History PreRoman Spain Prehistoryquot http/ / www. britannica. com/ EBchecked/ topic/ / Spain/ / Historytoctoc. Britannica Online Encyclopedia. . . Robert Chapman, Emerging Complexity The Later Prehistory of SouthEast Spain, Iberia and the West Mediterranean Koch, John . Tartessian Celtic from the Southwest at the Dawn of History in Acta Palaeohispanica X Palaeohispanica http/ / ifc. dpz. es/ recursos/ publicaciones/ / / koch. pdf. Palaeohispanica. pp.. ISSN. . Retrieved . Cunliffe, Karl, Guerra, McEvoy, Bradley Oppenheimer, Rrvik, Isaac, Parsons, Koch, Freeman and Wodtko . Celtic from the West Alternative Perspectives from Archaeology, Genetics, Language and Literature http/ / www. oxbowbooks. com/ bookinfo. cfm/ ID/ / / Location/ DBBC. Oxbow Books and Celtic Studies Publications. pp.. ISBN. . quotRethinking the Bronze Age and the Arrival of IndoEuropean in Atlantic Europequot http/ / www. oxbowbooks. com/ pdfs/ books/ Celtic West conf. pdf. University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies and Institute of Archaeology, University of Oxford. . Retrieved May . quotODonnell Lecture Appendixquot http/ / www. wales. ac. uk/ Resources/ Documents/ Research/ ODonnell. pdf. . http/ / www. aber. ac. uk/ aberonline/ en/ archive/ / / au/ quotSpain History PreRoman Spain Phoeniciansquot http/ / www. britannica. com/ EBchecked/ topic/ / Spain/ / Phoenicianstoctoc. Britannica Online Encyclopedia. . . Grout, James . quotThe Celtiberian Warquot http/ / penelope. uchicago. edu/ grout/ encyclopaediaromana/ hispania/ celtiberianwar. html. Encyclopaedia Romana. University of Chicago. . Retrieved . quotMajor Phases in Roman Historyquot http/ / www. utsc. utoronto. ca/ corbett/ clab/ RomChron. htm. Rome in the Mediterranean World. University of Toronto. . Retrieved . J. S. Richardson, The Romans in Spain The latifundia sing., latifundium, large estates controlled by the aristocracy, were superimposed on the existing Iberian landholding system. Rinehart, Robert Seeley, Jo Ann Browning . quotA Country Study Spain Hispaniaquot http/ / lcweb. loc. gov/ frd/ cs/ estoc. html. Library of Congress Country Series. . Retrieved . The Roman provinces of Hispania included Provincia Hispania Ulterior Baetica Hispania Baetica, whose capital was Corduba, presently Crdoba, Provincia Hispania Ulterior Lusitania Hispania Lusitania, whose capital was Emerita Augusta now Mrida, Provincia Hispania Citerior, whose capital was Tarraco Tarragona, Provincia Hispania Nova, whose capital was Tingis Tnger in present Morocco, Provincia Hispania Nova Citerior and AsturiaeCalleciae these latter two provinces were created and then dissolved in the rdcentury AD. Payne, Stanley G. . quotA History of Spain and Portugal Ch. Ancient Hispaniaquot http/ / libro. uca. edu/ payne/ spainport. htm. The Library of Iberian Resources Online. . Retrieved . This led to the establishment of the Suebi Kingdom in Gallaecia, in the northwest, the Vandal Kingdom of Vandalusia Andalusia and the Visigothic Kingdom in Toledo. Roger Collins, Visigothic Spain Karen Eva Carr, Vandals to Visigoths Rural Settlement Patterns in Early Medieval Spain Rhea Marsh Smith, Spain A Modern History University of Michigan Ann Arbor, p. . Rhea Marsh Smith, Spain A Modern History, p. . rhea Marsh Smith, Spain A Modern History, p. . History of Spain Rhea Marsh Smith, Spain A Modern History, pp. . Collins, Visigothic Spain Fletcher, Richard . Moorish Spain. Los Angeles, CA University of California Press. pp.. ISBN. Timelines Vikings, Saracens, Magyars http/ / www. zum. de/ whkmla/ timelines/ wh/ tlvikings. html Granada http/ / jewishencyclopedia. com/ view. jspartidamp letterGamp searchGranada by Richard Gottheil, Meyer Kayserling, Jewish Encyclopedia. ed. Ransoming Captives in Crusader Spain The Order of Merced on the ChristianIslamic Frontier http/ / libro. uca. edu/ rc/ rc. htm The Almohads http/ / www. myjewishlearning. com/ historycommunity/ Medieval/ IntergroupTO/ JewishMuslim/ Almohads. htm Catalan Company AD http/ / www. umiacs. umd. edu/ kuijt/ dba/ dba. html There is simply no consensus as to the extent, with estimates varying by many orders of magnitude, but that it occurred is not doubted See Population history of American indigenous peoples. Patrick, James . Renaissance and Reformation http/ / books. google. com/ bookspgPAamp dqcharles V was the most powerful monarch of his dayamp idiZJlLHLPYCamp outputhtml. Marshall Cavendish. pp.. ISBN, . . When Europeans were slaves Research suggests white slavery was much more common than previously believed http/ / researchnews. osu. edu/ archive/ whtslav. htm The SeventeenthCentury Decline http/ / libro. uca. edu/ payne/ payne. htm J.H. Elliott, quotImperial Spain quot, Penguin Books, , p. Hugh Thomas. The Golden Age The Spanish Empire of Charles V Henry Kamen, Philip V of Spain Simms p. Charles S. Esdaile, Spain in the Liberal Age From Constitution to Civil War, Joseph A. Brandt, Toward the New Spain The Spanish Revolution of and the First Republic Earl Ray Beck, Time of Triumph amp Sorrow Spanish Politics during the Reign of Alfonso XII, Beck, Time of Triumph amp Sorrow Spanish Politics during the Reign of Alfonso XII, John L. Offner, Unwanted War The Diplomacy of the United States amp Spain over Cuba, H. Ramsden, quotThe Spanish Generation of The History of a Concept,quot Bulletin of the John Rylands University Library of Manchester, , Vol. Issue , pp Antony Beevor, The Battle for Spain The Spanish Civil War Paul Preston, The Spanish Civil War Reaction, Revolution, and Revenge nd ed. pp Preston, The Spanish Civil War Reaction, Revolution, and Revenge pp Stanley G. Payne, Franco and Hitler Spain, Germany, and World War II Jean Grugel and Tim Rees, Francos Spain Bibliography Barton, Simon. A History of Spain excerpt and text search http//www.amazon.com/dp/ Carr, Raymond, ed. Spain A History excerpt and text search http//www.amazon.com/dp/ Casey, James. Early Modern Spain A Social History excerpt and text search http//www.amazon.com/ dp/ Edwards, John. The Spain of the Catholic Monarchs excerpt and text search http//www. amazon.com/dp/ Esdaile, Charles J. Spain in the Liberal Age From Constitution to Civil War, excerpt and text search http//www.amazon.com/dp/ Gerli, E. Michael, ed. Medieval Iberia an encyclopedia. New York . ISBN Kamen, Henry. Spain. A Society of Conflict rd ed. London and New York Pearson Longman . ISBN Lynch, John. The Hispanic World in Crisis and Change excerpt and text search http//www. amazon.com/dp/ OCallaghan, Joseph F. A History of Medieval Spain excerpt and text search http//www.amazon.com/ dp/ Payne, Stanley G. Spain A Unique History University of Wisconsin Press pages history since the Visigothic era. Philips, William D., Jr., and Carla Rahn Phillips. A Concise History of Spain History of Spain Pierson, Peter. The History of Spain nd ed. excerpt and text search http//www.amazon.com/dp/ Shubert, Adrian. A Social History of Modern Spain excerpt and text search http//www.amazon.com/ dp/ Tusell, Javier. Spain From Dictatorship to Democracy, to the Present excerpt and text search http/ /www.amazon.com/dp/ External links History of Spain Primary Documents http//eudocs.lib.byu.edu/index.php/ HistoryofSpainPrimaryDocuments Spanish History Sources amp Documents http//www.straatvaart.com Stanley G. Payne The SeventeenthCentury Decline http//libro.uca.edu/payne/payne.htm Henry Kamen, quotThe Decline of Spain A Historical Mythquot, Past and Present, Explains the complexities of this subject http//www.art.man.ac.uk/SPANISH/courses/sp/Kamendecline.html WWWVL quotSpanish History Index http//vlib.iue.it/histspain/Index.html Carmen PereiraMuro. Culturas de Espaa. Boston and New York Houghton Mifflin Company . ISBN Spanish language Spanish language Spanish, Castilian Espaol, castellano Pronunciation Spoken in Spanish pronunciationespaol, Spanish pronunciationkasteano see below Total speakers First language million to million. million as first or second language. Language family IndoEuropean Italic Romance ItaloWestern GalloIberian IberoRomance West Iberian Spanish, Castilian Writing system Latin Spanish variant Official status Official language in countries, United Nations, European Union, Organization of American States, Organization of IberoAmerican States, Union of South American Nations, Central American Integration System, African Union, Caricom, World Trade Organization, North American Free Trade Agreement, Andean Community of Nations, Mercosur, InterAmerican Development Bank, Latin Union, Antarctic Treaty. Association of Spanish Language Academies Real Academia Espaola and other national Spanish language academies Language codes ISO ISO ISO Linguasphere es spa spa AAAb Regulated by Countries where Spanish has official status. States of the U.S. where Spanish has no official status but is spoken by or more of the population. States of the U.S. where Spanish has no official status but is spoken by of the population. States of the U.S. where Spanish has no official status but is spoken by . of the population. Spanish language Spanish or Castilian espaol or castellano in Spanish is a Romance language in the IberoRomance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in centralnorthern Iberia during the th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the later Medieval period. Modern Spanish developed with the readjustment of consonants reajuste de las sibilantes that began in th century. The language continues to adopt foreign words from a variety of other languages, as well as developing new words. Spanish was taken most notably to the Americas as well as to Africa and Asia Pacific with the expansion of the Spanish Empire between the th and th centuries, where it became the most important language for government and trade. In , there were according to Ethnologue million people speaking Spanish as a native language and a total of million speakers worldwide. Currently these figures are up to and million people respectively. Spanish is the second most natively spoken language in the world, after Mandarin Chinese. Mexico contains the largest population of Spanish speakers. Spanish is one of the six official languages of the United Nations, and used as an official language of the European Union, and Mercosur. Spanish is the fastest growing IndoEuropean language in the world by numbers of native speakers. Due to its increasing presence in the demographics and popular culture of the United States, Spanish is widely considered to be the most beneficial second language for a native speaker of American English and is also highly regarded in the British Commonwealth, due to the languages immense geographic extent in Latin America and Europe for tourism. History Castilian emerged from its ancestral Vulgar Latin common Latin dialects in the th century. Latin had been brought to Iberia by the Romans during the Second Punic War around BC, absorbing influences from the native Iberian languages such as Celtiberian, Basque and other paleohispanic languages. Later, it gained other external influences, most notably from the Arabic of the later AlAndalus period. Local versions of Vulgar Latin evolved into Castilian in the centralnorth of Iberia, in an area defined by the then remote crossroad strips of Alava, Cantabria, Burgos, Soria and La Rioja, within the Kingdom of Castile see Glosas Emilianenses. In this formative stage, Castilian developed a strongly differing variant from its close cousin, Leonese, and was distinguished by a heavy Basque influence see Iberian Romance languages. This distinctive dialect progressively spread south with the advance of the Reconquista, and so gathered a sizable lexical influence from AlAndalus Arabic, especially in the later Medieval period. A page of Cantar de Mio Cid, the oldest preserved Spanish epic poem, in mediaeval Castilian. Spanish language In the fifteenth century, in a process similar to that affecting other Romance languages, Castilian underwent a dramatic change with the Readjustment of the Consonants Reajuste de las sibilantes. Typical features of Spanish diachronic phonology include lenition Latin vita, Spanish vida, palatalisation Latin annum, Spanish ao, and Latin anellum, Spanish anillo and diphthongisation stemchanging of stressed short e and o from Vulgar Latin Latin terra, Spanish tierra Latin novus, Spanish nuevo. The Gramtica de la lengua castellana, written in Salamanca in by Elio Antonio de Nebrija, was the first grammar written for a modern European language. According to a popular anecdote, when Nebrija presented it to Queen Isabella, she asked him what was the use of such a work, and he answered that language is the instrument of empire. Antonio de Nebrija author of the Gramtica , the first Grammar of modern European languages. In his introduction to the grammar, dated August , , Nebrija wrote that quot... language was always the companion of empire.quot From the th century onwards, the language was taken to the Americas and the Spanish East Indies via Spanish colonization. Miguel de Cervantes Saavedras influence on the Spanish language from the th century has been so great that Spanish is often called la lengua de Cervantes quotthe language of Cervantesquot. In the th century, Spanish was introduced to Equatorial Guinea and the Western Sahara, and to areas of the United States that had not been part of the Spanish Empire, such as Spanish Harlem in New York City. For details on borrowed words and other external influences upon Spanish, see Influences on the Spanish language. Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra Geographic distribution Spanish is recognised as one of the official languages of the United Nations, the European Union, the Organization of American States, the Organization of IberoAmerican States, the African Union, the Union of South American Nations, the Latin Union, and the Caricom and has legal status in the North American Free Trade Agreement. Country Population Spanish as a native language speakers Bilingual and as a second Spanish speakers language speakers in as percentage of countries where Spanish population is official or as a foreign language where it is not official ,, . . Total number of Spanish speakers Mexico ,, ,, ,, United States ,, ,, ,, ,, Spain ,, ,, ,, . ,, Spanish language ,, , Colombia ,, . ,, Argentina ,, ,, ,, . ,, Venezuela Peru ,, ,, ,, ,, , ,, .. ,, ,, Chile ,, ,, ,, . ,, Ecuador ,, ,, , . ,, Guatemala ,, ,, ,, . ,, Cuba ,, ,, ., ,, Dominican Republic ,, ,, . ,, Bolivia ,, ,, ,, . ,, Honduras El Salvador France Nicaragua Morocco ,, ,, ,, ,, , , .. ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, , ,, .. ,, , ,, ,, ,, , Brazil ,, , .. , , ,, Costa Rica Paraguay Puerto Rico United Kingdom Uruguay Panama Philippines Germany Italy Equatorial Guinea ,, ,, ,, ,, , .......... ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, , , ,, , , ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, , ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, , , n.a. ,, Spanish language ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, , , ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, , ,, , ,, ,, ,, ,, , , , , , , Canada Portugal Netherlands Belgium Romania Sweden Australia Poland Austria Ivory Coast Algeria Denmark Israel Switzerland Japan Bulgaria Belize Netherlands Antilles Ireland Senegal Greece Finland Hungary Aruba Croatia Andorra Slovakia Norway Russia New Zealand Guam ,,,, , .... ,, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,,, ,, ,,,,,,, ....... ,,, ,,, ,,,,,,,,,,,, .... ,,, ,,,,,,, ......... , ,, , ,,,, ,,,,,,, .. , .. US Virgin Islands Spanish language ,,, , ,, , , ,, ,, , , ,, , China ,, .... , Lithuania Gibraltar Cyprus Turkey Jamaica Luxembourg Malta Trinidad and Tobago Western Sahara , , , , , , , , n.a. , , , , , n.a. , .. , ... n.a. n.a. Other immigrants in the E.U. Other students of Spanish Total native speakers in the world bilingual and as a second language where Spanish is official Total with Spanish speakers as a foreign language ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, Hispanosphere It is estimated that the combined total number of Spanish speakers is between and million, making it the third most spoken language by total number of speakers after Chinese, and English. Spanish is the second most widely spoken language in terms of native speakers. Global internet usage statistics for show Spanish as the third most commonly used language on the Internet, after English Active learning of Spanish. and Chinese. Spanish language Europe In Europe, Spanish is an official language of Spain, the country after which it is named and from which it originated. It is widely spoken in Gibraltar, though English is the official language. It is also commonly spoken in Andorra, though Catalan is the official language. Spanish is spoken in different countries worldwide. It is also spoken by small communities in other European countries, such as the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. Spanish is an official language of the European Union. In Switzerland, Spanish is the native language of . of the population, representing the largest minority after the official languages of the country. Spain Spanish spoken in the European Union In Spain and in some parts of the Spanish speaking world, but not all, Spanish is called castellano Castilian as well as espaol Spanish, that is, the language of the Castile region, contrasting it with other languages spoken in Spain such as Galician, Basque, and Catalan. In this manner, the Spanish Constitution of uses the term castellano to define the official language of the whole Spanish State, as opposed to las dems lenguas espaolas lit. the rest of the Spanish languages. Article III reads as follows El castellano es la lengua espaola oficial del Estado. ... Las dems lenguas espaolas sern tambin oficiales en las respectivas Comunidades Autnomas... Castilian is the official Spanish language of the State. ... The rest of the Spanish languages shall also be official in their respective Autonomous Communities... The Spanish Royal Academy uses the term espaol rather than quotcastellanoquot in its publications, due to the fact that quotthe term derives from the Provenzal word espaignol, which in turn derives from the Medieval Latin word Hispaniolus, which means fromor pertaining toHispaniaquot. The Diccionario Panhispnico de Dudas a linguistic guide published by the Spanish Royal Academy states that, although the Spanish Royal Academy prefers to use the term espaol in its publications when referring to the Spanish language, both terms espaol and castellano are regarded as synonymous and equally valid. Currently, the name castellano, which refers directly to the historical context in which it was introduced in the Americas, is preferred in Spain due to the existence of regions where other official languages are spoken Catalonia, Basque Country, Valencia, Balearic Islands and Galicia as well as in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela, instead of espaol, which is more commonly used to refer to the language as a whole when relating to a global context. Americas Latin America Most Spanish speakers are in Latin America of all countries with a majority of Spanish speakers, only Spain and Equatorial Guinea are outside the Americas. Mexico has the most native speakers of any country. Nationally, Spanish is the official languageeither de facto or de jureof Argentina, Bolivia coofficial with Quechua and Aymara, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico , Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay coofficial with Guaran , Peru coofficial with Quechua and, in some regions, Aymara, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Spanish is also the official language coofficial with English in Puerto Rico. Spanish language Spanish has no official recognition in the former British colony of Belize however, per the census, it is spoken by of the population. Mainly, it is spoken by the descendants of Hispanics who have been in the region since the th century however, English is the official language. Spain colonized Trinidad and Tobago first in , introducing the Spanish language to the Carib people. Also the Cocoa Panyols, laborers from Venezuela, took their culture and language with them they are accredited with the music of quotParangquot quotParrandaquot on the island. Because of Trinidads location on the South American coast, the country is greatly influenced by its Spanishspeaking neighbors. A recent census shows that more than inhabitants speak Spanish. In , the government launched the Spanish as a First Foreign Language SAFFL initiative in March . Government regulations require Spanish to be taught, beginning in primary school, while thirty percent of public employees are to be linguistically competent within five years. Spanish is important in Brazil because of its proximity to and increased trade with its Spanishspeaking neighbors, and because of its membership in the Mercosur trading bloc and the Union of South American Nations. In , the National Congress of Brazil approved a bill, signed into law by the President, making Spanish language teaching mandatory in both public and private secondary schools in Brazil. In many border towns and villages especially in the UruguayanBrazilian and ParaguayanBrazilian border areas, a mixed language known as Portuol is spoken. United States According to census data, . million people of the U.S. population were Hispanic or Latino by origin million people, . percent, of the population more than five years old speak Spanish at home. Spanish has a long history in the United States because many southwestern states were part of Mexico, and Florida was also part of Spain, and it recently has been revitalized by Hispanic immigrants. Spanish is the most widely taught language in the country after Spanish spoken in the United States. Darker shades of blue indicate higher percentages of English. Although the United States Spanish speakers. has no formally designated quotofficial languages,quot Spanish is formally recognized at the state level in various states in addition to English in the U.S. state of New Mexico for instance, of the population speaks the language. It also has strong influence in metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, Miami, San Antonio, New York City, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Chicago and in the last decade, the language has rapidly expanded in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Phoenix, Richmond, Washington, DC, and Missouri. Spanish is the dominant spoken language in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory. With a total of ,, Spanish Castilian speakers, according to US Census Bureau, the U.S. has the worlds secondlargest Spanishspeaking population. Spanish ranks second, behind English, as the language spoken most widely at home. Spanish language Africa In Africa, Spanish is official in Equatorial Guinea coofficial with French and Portuguese, as well as an official language of the African Union. In Equatorial Guinea, Spanish is the predominant language when native and nonnative speakers around , people are counted, while Fang is the most spoken language by number of native speakers. Today, in Western Sahara, a former spanish colony, an unknown number of Sahrawis are able to read and write in Spanish, and several thousands have received university education in foreign countries as part of aid packages mainly in Cuba and Spain. It is also spoken in the Spanish cities in continental North Africa Ceuta and Melilla and in the autonomous community of Canary Islands , and ,, people, respectively. Within Northern Morocco, a former FrancoSpanish protectorate that is also geographically close to Spain, approximately , people speak Spanish as a second language. It is spoken by some communities of Angola, because of the Cuban influence from the Cold War, and in Nigeria by the descendants of AfroCuban exslaves. Asia Spanish was used by the colonial governments and the educated classes in the former Spanish East Indies, namely the Philippines, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. From to it was an official language of the Philippines. Up to it was the language of government, trade and education, and spoken as a first language by Spaniards and educated Filipinos. In the mid th century the colonial government set up a free public school system with Spanish as the medium of instruction. This increased the use of Spanish throughout the islands and led to a class of Spanishspeaking intellectuals called the Ilustrados. Although Spanish never became the language of a majority of the population, Philippine literature and press primarily used Spanish up to the s. It continued as an official language until the change of Constitution in . Following the U.S. occupation and administration of the islands in , the American government increasingly imposed English, especially after the s. The US authorities conducted a campaign of introducing English as the medium of instruction in schools, universities and public spaces, and prohibited the use of Spanish in media and educational institutions. After the country became independent in , Spanish remained an official language along with English and Tagalogbased Filipino. However, the language lost its official status in during the Ferdinand Marcos administration. In the Arroyo administration announced that it would pass legislation to reintroduce Spanish in the Philippine education system. In a Memorandum was signed between Spanish and Philippine authorities to cooperate in implementing this decree. Today, Radio Manila broadcasts daily in Spanish. Worthy of mention is the Chabacano language spoken by , people both in the Philippines and Sabah. Chabacano, a SpanishPhilippine pidgin, sounds strange to Spanish speakers but is mutually intelligible. The local languages of the Philippines retain much Spanish influence, with many words being derived from Castilian Spanish and Mexican Spanish, due to the control of the islands by Spain through Mexico City until , and directly from Madrid until . Oceania Among the countries and territories in Oceania, Spanish is also spoken in Easter Island, a territorial possession of Chile. The U.S. Territories of Guam and Northern Marianas, and the independent states of Palau, Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia all once had majority Spanish speakers, since the Marianas and the Caroline Islands were Spanish colonial possessions until the late th century see SpanishAmerican War, but Spanish is no longer used by the masses but there are still native and secondlanguage speakers. It also exists as an influence on the local native languages and is spoken by Hispanic American resident populations. Spanish language Antarctica The Antarctic Treaty regulates international relations with respect to Antarctica. Argentina and Chile, both Spanish speaking countries, claim territories according to this treaty. The Argentine Antarctica sector had a winter population of in , and in the Chilean Antarctic Territory, according to the national census of , the population was male, female. Accent variation There are important variations spoken among the regions of Spain and throughout Spanishspeaking America. One major phonological difference between Castilian, broadly speaking, the accents spoken in most of Spain, and the accent of much of southern Spain, the Canary Islands and all the Latin American accents of Spanish, is the absence of a voiceless dental fricative // as in English thing in the latter. In Spain, the Castilian accent is commonly regarded as the standard variety used on radio and television, although attitudes towards southern accents have changed significantly in the last years. In addition to variations in pronunciation, minor lexical and grammatical differences exist. For example, losmo is the use of slightly different pronouns and differs from the standard. The variety with the most speakers is Mexican Spanish. It is spoken by more than the twenty percent of the Spanish speakers million of the total million, according to the table above. One of its main features is the reduction or loss of the unstressed vowels, mainly when they are in contact with the sound /s/. Voseo Spanish has three secondperson singular pronouns t, usted, and vos. The use of the pronoun vos and/or its verb forms is called voseo. Grammar Vos is the subject form vos decs you say and object of a preposition a vos digo to you I say, while quotosquot is the direct object form os vi I saw you and indirect object without express preposition os digo I say to you. Since vos is historically the ndperson plural, verbs are conjugated as such despite the fact the word now refers to a single person Han luchado, aadi dirigindose a Tarradellas, ... por mantenerse fieles a las instituciones que vos representis GaCandau MadridBara Esp. . The possessive form is vuestro Admiro vuestra valenta, seora. Adjectives, when used in conjunction with vos, do not agree with the pronoun but instead with the real referents in gender and number Vos, don Pedro, sois caritativo Vos, bellas damas, sois ingeniosas. An examination of the dominance and stress of the voseo dialect in Latin America. Data generated as illustrated by the Association of Spanish Language Academies. The darker the country, the stronger its dominance. Two main types of voseo may be distinguished reverential and American dialectal. In archaic solemn usage, voseo expressed special reverence and could be used to address both the second person singular and the second person plural. In contrast, the more commonly known American form of voseo is always used to address only one speaker and implies closeness and familiarity. Unlike the first type, the second one need not involve vos and may instead be expressed simply in the use of the plural form of the verb even in combination with the pronoun t. The pronominal voseo employs the use of vos as a pronoun to replace t and de ti, which are secondperson singular informal. Spanish language As a subject vos employs Puede que vos tengs razn Herrera Casa Ven. instead of Puede que t tengas razn As a vocative Por qu vos la tens contra lvaro Arz Prensa Guat. .. instead of Por qu t la tienes contra lvaro Arz As a term of preposition Cada vez que sale con vos, se enferma Penerini Aventura Arg. instead of Cada vez que sale contigo, se enferma And as a term of comparison Es por lo menos tan actor como vos Cuzzani Corts Arg. instead of Es por lo menos tan actor como t However, for the pronombre tono that which uses the pronominal verbs and its complements without preposition and for the possessive, they employ the forms of tuteo te, tu, and tuyo, respectively Vos te acostaste con el tuerto Gen Ulf Arg. Lugar que odio ... como te odio a vos Rossi Mara C. Rica No cerrs tus ojos Flores Siguamonta Guat. . In other words, in the previous examples the authors conjugate the pronoun subject vos with the pronominal verbs and its complements of t. The verbal voseo consists of the use of the second person plural, more or less modified, for the conjugated forms of the second person singular vos vivs, vos coms. The verbal paradigm of voseante is characterized by its complexity. On the one hand, it affects, to a distinct extent, each verbal tense. On the other hand, it varies in functions of geographic and social factors and not all the forms are accepted in cultured norms. Extension in Latin America Vos is used extensively as the primary spoken form of the secondperson singular pronoun, although with wide differences in social consideration. Generally, it can be said that there are zones of exclusive use of tuteo in the following areas almost all of Mexico, the West Indies, Panama, most of Peru and Venezuela, Coastal Ecuador and the Andean coast of Colombia. They alternate tuteo as a cultured form and voseo as a popular or rural form in Bolivia, north and south of Peru, Andean Ecuador, small zones of the Venezuelan Andes, a great part of Colombia, and the oriental border of Cuba. The voseo pronoun is used in Central Americas Nicaragua more frequently than in neighboring countries. Tuteo exists as an intermediate formality of treatment and voseo as a familiar treatment in Chile, the Venezuelan Zulia State, the Pacific coast of Colombia, and the Mexican state of Chiapas. Areas of generalized voseo include Argentina, Costa Rica, East of Bolivia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Uruguay and the Colombian region of Valle and Antioquia. Spanish language Ustedes Spanish forms also differ regarding secondperson plural pronouns. quotUstedquot Ud. was initially the written abbreviation of quotvuestra mercedquot your grace. The dialects of Latin America have only one form of the secondperson plural for daily use, ustedes formal or familiar, as the case may be, though vosotros nonformal usage can sometimes appear in poetry and rhetorical or literary style. In Spain there are two forms ustedes formal and vosotros familiar. The pronoun vosotros is the plural form of t in most of Spain, but in the Americas and in certain southern Spanish cities such as Cdiz and in the Canary Islands it is replaced with ustedes. It is notable that the use of ustedes for the informal plural quotyouquot in southern Spain does not follow the usual rule for pronounverb agreement e.g., while the formal form for quotyou goquot, ustedes van, uses the thirdperson plural form of the verb, in Cdiz or Seville the informal form is constructed as ustedes vais, using the secondperson plural of the verb. In the Canary Islands, though, the usual pronounverb agreement is preserved in most cases. The ustedeo is mainly used in Costa Rica and Colombia In Honduras especially in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, quotustedquot is used as a formal pronoun between couples. It is used to portray respect between the romantic couple, while between colleagues and friends quotvosquot is used. quotUstedquot is also used to portray respect between someone whom is a generation older or is of higher authority. Vocabulary Some words can be different, even significantly so, in different Hispanophone countries. Most Spanish speakers can recognize other Spanish forms, even in places where they are not commonly used, but Spaniards generally do not recognize specifically American usages. For example, Spanish mantequilla, aguacate and albaricoque respectively, butter, avocado, apricot correspond to manteca, palta, and damasco, respectively, in Argentina, Chile except manteca, Paraguay, Peru except manteca and damasco, and Uruguay. The everyday Spanish words coger to take, pisar to step on and concha seashell are considered extremely rude in parts of Latin America, where the meaning of coger and pisar is also quotto have sexquot and concha means quotvulvaquot. The Puerto Rican word for quotbobby pinquot pinche is an obscenity in Mexico, but in Nicaragua it simply means quotstingyquot, and in Spain refers to a chefs helper. Other examples include taco, which means quotswearwordquot among other meanings in Spain and quottraffic jamquot in Chile, but is known to the rest of the world as a Mexican dish. Pija in many countries of Latin America and Spain itself is an obscene slang word for quotpenisquot, while in Spain the word also signifies quotposh girlquot or quotsnobbyquot. Coche, which means quotcarquot in Spain, central Mexico and Argentina, for the vast majority of Spanishspeakers actually means quotbabystrollerquot, while carro means quotcarquot in some Latin American countries and quotcartquot in others, as well as in Spain. Papaya is the slang term for quotvaginaquot in the parts of Cuba and Venezuela, where the fruit is instead called fruta bomba and quotlechosaquot, respectively. Royal Spanish Academy The Real Academia Espaola Royal Spanish Academy, founded in , together with the other national ones see Association of Spanish Language Academies, exercises a standardizing influence through its publication of dictionaries and widely respected grammar and style guides. Because of influence and for other sociohistorical reasons, a standardized form of the language Standard Spanish is widely acknowledged for use in literature, academic contexts and the media. The Royal Spanish Academy Headquarters in Madrid, Spain Spanish language Association of Spanish Language Academies The Association of Spanish Language Academies Spanish Asociacin de Academias de la Lengua Espaola, or ASALE is the entity which regulates the Spanish language. It comprises the academies of countries, ordered by date of Academy foundation Spain , Colombia , Ecuador , Mexico , El Salvador , Venezuela , Chile , Countries members of the ASALE. Peru , Guatemala , Costa Rica , Philippines , Panama , Cuba , Paraguay , Dominican Republic , Bolivia , Nicaragua , Argentina , Uruguay , Honduras , Puerto Rico , and United States . Classification and related languages Spanish is closely related to the other West Iberian Romance languages Asturian, Galician, Ladino, Leonese and Portuguese. Catalan, an East Iberian language which exhibits many GalloRomance traits, is more similar to Occitan to the east than to Spanish or Portuguese. It should be noted that although Portuguese and Spanish are very closely related, particularly in vocabulary lexically similar according to the Ethnologue of Languages, syntax and grammar, there are also some differences. While Spanish and Portuguese are widely considered to be mutually intelligible, it has been noted that while most Portuguese speakers can understand spoken Spanish with little difficulty, Spanish speakers face more difficulty in understanding spoken Portuguese. The written forms are considered to be equally intelligible, however. JudaeoSpanish JudaeoSpanish also known as Ladino, which is essentially medieval Spanish and closer to modern Spanish than any other language, is spoken by many descendants of the Sephardi Jews who were expelled from Spain in the th century. Therefore, its relationship to Spanish is comparable with that of the Yiddish language to German. Ladino speakers are currently almost exclusively Sephardi Jews, with family roots in Turkey, Greece or the Balkans current speakers mostly live in Israel and Turkey, and the United States, with a few pockets in Latin America. It lacks the Native American vocabulary which was influential during the Spanish colonial period, and it retains many archaic features which have since been lost in standard Spanish. It contains, however, other vocabulary which is not found in standard Castilian, including vocabulary from Hebrew, French, Greek and Turkish, and other languages spoken where the Sephardim settled. JudaeoSpanish is in serious danger of extinction because many native speakers today are elderly as well as elderly olim immigrants to Israel who have not transmitted the language to their children or grandchildren. However, it is experiencing a minor revival among Sephardi communities, especially in music. In the case of the Latin American communities, the danger of extinction is also due to the risk of assimilation by modern Castilian. A related dialect is Haketia, the JudaeoSpanish of northern Morocco. This too tended to assimilate with modern Spanish, during the Spanish occupation of the region. Spanish language Vocabulary comparison Spanish and Italian share a similar phonological system. At present, the lexical similarity with Italian is estimated at . The lexical similarity with Portuguese is greater at . Mutual intelligibility between Spanish and French or Romanian is lower lexical similarity being respectively and comprehension of Spanish by French speakers who have not studied the language is low at an estimated the same as English. The common features of the writing systems of the Romance languages allow for a greater amount of interlingual reading comprehension than oral communication would. Latin nos Spanish nosotros ns Galician Portuguese AsturLeonese ns outros irmo ns, nosotros Aragonese nusatros Catalan Italian French Romanian English noi nous autres frre frate we nosaltres noi altri archaically also ns fratello germ archaically also frare marted frater hermano germanum lit. quottrue brotherquot dies Martis martes Classical feria tertia Ecclesiastical canti nem, acc., canticum magis or plus cancin irmn hermanu chirmn brother martes terafeira martes martes,quotmartzquot dimarts mardi mari Tuesday cancin/canom cano cancin in asturian canciu canta can canzone chanson cntec song ms mis archaically also plus mais ms archaically also chus/plus mo esquerda archaically also sestra nada neca and nula rs in some expressions archaically also rem mano esquierda in asturian manzorga ms,quotmsquot ms pi archaically also pus plus mai/plus more manum sinistram acc. mano izquierda also mano siniestra man esquerda man cucha m esquerra mano sinistra main gauche mna stng left hand nihil or nullam nada rem natam acc. lit. quotno thing bornquot nada/ren nada in cosa asturian un res is the same of nada res niente/nulla rien/nul nimic/nul nothing . also ns outros in early modern Portuguese e.g. The Lusiads . noi altri in Southern Italian dialects and languages . Alternatively nous autres . Depending on the written norm used. See Reintegracionismo . Medieval Catalan, e.g. Llibre dels feits del rei en Jacme Spanish language Characterisation A defining feature of Spanish was the diphthongization of the Latin short vowels e and o into ie and ue, respectively, when they were stressed. Similar sound changes are found in other Romance languages, but in Spanish, they were significant. Some examples Lat. petram gt Sp. piedra, It. pietra, Fr. pierre, Rom. piatr, Port./Gal. pedra, Ar. piedra, Ast. piedra, Cat. pedra quotstonequot. Lat. moritur gt Sp. muere, It. muore, Fr. meurt / muert, Rom. moare, Port./Gal. morre, Ar. muere, Ast. muerre, Cat. mor quotdiequot. Peculiar to early Spanish as in the Gascon dialect of Occitan, and possibly due to a Basque substratum was the mutation of Latin initial f into h whenever it was followed by a vowel that did not diphthongize. Compare for instance Lat. filium gt It. figlio, Port. filho, Ar. fillo, Gal. fillo, Ast. fu, Fr. fils, Cat. fill, Occitan filh, Rom. fiu, but Gascon hilh Sp. hijo but Ladino fijo Lat. fabulari gt Lad. favlar, Port./Gal. falar, Ar. fablar, Ast. falar, Sp. hablar but Lat. focum gt It. fuoco, Port./Gal. fogo, Rom. foc, Ar. fuego, Ast. fueu Cat. foc, Sp./Lad. fuego. Some consonant clusters of Latin also produced characteristically different results in these languages, for example Lat. clamare, acc. flammam, plenum gt Lad. lyamar, flama, pleno Sp. llamar, llama, lleno. However, in Spanish there are also the forms clamar, flama, pleno Port. chamar, chama, cheio Rom. chema, flacr, plin Gal. chamar, chama, cheo Ast. llamar, llama, llenu. Lat. acc. octo, noctem, multum gt Lad. ocho, noche, muncho Sp. ocho, noche, mucho Port. oito, noite, muito Gal. oito, noite, moito Rom. opt, noapte, mult Ast. ocho, nueche, munchu. By the th century, the consonant system of Spanish underwent the following important changes that differentiated it from neighbouring Romance languages such as Portuguese and Catalan Initial /f/, when it had evolved into a vacillating /h/, was lost in most words although this etymological h is preserved in spelling and in some Andalusian and Caribbean dialects it is still aspirated in some words. The consonant written u or v in Latin, this was w, at the time of the merger it may have been a bilabial fricative // merged with the consonant written b a voiced bilabial plosive, /b/. In contemporary Spanish, there is no difference between the pronunciation of orthographic b and v, excepting emphatic pronunciations that cannot be considered standard or natural. The voiced alveolar fricative /z/ which existed as a separate phoneme in medieval Spanish merged with its voiceless counterpart /s/. The phoneme which resulted from this merger is currently spelled s. The voiced postalveolar fricative // merged with its voiceless counterpart //, which evolved into the modern velar sound /x/ by the th century, now written with j, or g before e, i. Nevertheless, in most parts of Argentina and in Uruguay, y and ll have both evolved to // or //. The voiced alveolar affricate /dz/ merged with its voiceless counterpart /ts/, which then developed into the interdental //, now written z, or c before e, i. But in Andalusia, the Canary Islands and the Americas this sound merged with /s/ as well. See Ceceo, for further information. The consonant system of Mediaeval Spanish has been better preserved in Ladino and in Portuguese, neither of which underwent these shifts Spanish language Writing system Spanish is written in the Latin alphabet, with the addition of the character ee, representing the phoneme //, a letter distinct from n, although typographically composed of an n with a tilde and the digraphs ch che, representing the phoneme /t/ and ll elle, representing the phoneme //. However, the digraph rr erre fuerte, strong rquot, erre doble, double r, or simply erre, which also represents a distinct phoneme /r/, is not similarly regarded as a single letter. Since ch and ll have been treated as letter pairs for collation purposes, though they remain a part of the alphabet. Words with ch are now alphabetically sorted between those with cg and ci , instead of following cz as they used to. The situation is similar for ll. Thus, the Spanish alphabet has the following letters and digraphs a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, , o, p, q, r, s, t, u, v, w, x, y, z. ch, ll. The letters quotkquot and quotwquot are used only in words and names coming from foreign languages kilo, folklore, whiskey, William, etc.. With the exclusion of a very small number of regional terms such as Mxico see Toponymy of Mexico, pronunciation can be entirely determined from spelling. Under the orthographic conventions, a typical Spanish word is stressed on the syllable before the last if it ends with a vowel not including y or with a vowel followed by n or an s it is stressed on the last syllable otherwise. Exceptions to this rule are indicated by placing an acute accent on the stressed vowel. The acute accent is used, in addition, to distinguish between certain homophones, especially when one of them is a stressed word and the other one is a clitic compare el the, masculine singular definite article with l he or it, or te you, object pronoun, de preposition of, and se reflexive pronoun with t tea, d give formal imperative/thirdperson present subjunctive and s I know or imperative be. The interrogative pronouns qu, cul, dnde, quin, etc. also receive accents in direct or indirect questions, and some demonstratives se, ste, aqul, etc. can be accented when used as pronouns. The conjunction o or is written with an accent between numerals so as not to be confused with a zero e.g., should be read as diez o veinte rather than diez mil veinte ,. Accent marks are frequently omitted in capital letters a widespread practice in the days of typewriters and the early days of computers when only lowercase vowels were available with accents, although the Real Academia Espaola advises against this. When u is written between g and a front vowel e i, it indicates a quothard gquot pronunciation. A diaeresis indicates that it is not silent as it normally would be e.g., cigea, stork, is pronounced iwea if it were written ciguea, it would be pronounced iea. Interrogative and exclamatory clauses are introduced with inverted question and exclamation marks and , respectively. Phonology The phonemic inventory listed in the following table includes phonemes that are preserved only in some accents, other accents having merged them such as yesmo or seseo these are marked with an asterisk . Where symbols appear in pairs, the symbol to the right represents a voiced consonant. Spanish language Table of consonant phonemes of Spanish Labial Dental Alveolar Palatal Velar Nasal Stop Fricative Trill Tap Lateral p f m b t d s r l n t k x Lexical stress Spanish is a syllabletimed language, so each syllable has the same duration regardless of stress. Stress most often occurs on any of the last three syllables of a word, with some rare exceptions at the fourth last or earlier syllables. The tendencies of stress assignment are as follows In words ending in vowels and /s/, stress most often falls on the penultimate syllable. In words ending in all other consonants, the stress more often falls on the last syllable. Preantepenultimate stress stress on the syllable that comes three before the last in a word occurs rarely and only in words like guardndoselos saving them for him/her/them where clitics follow certain verbal forms. In addition to the many exceptions to these tendencies, there are numerous minimal pairs which contrast solely on stress such as sbana sheet and sabana savannah, as well as lmite boundary, limite that he/she limits and limit I limited, or also quotlquidoquot, quotliquidoquot and quotliquidquot. The spelling system unambiguously reflects where the stress occurs in the absence of an accent mark, the stress falls on the last syllable unless the last letter is quotnquot, quotsquot, or a vowel, in which cases the stress falls on the nexttolast syllable if and only if the absence of an accent mark would give the wrong stress information, an acute accent mark appears over the stressed syllable. An amusing example of the significance of intonation in Spanish is the phrase Cmo quotcmo comoquot Como como como What do you mean, how do I eat I eat the way I eat. V and B The letters V and B are both normally pronounced identically as /b/ or similar, and academic authorities now state that this is the only correct pronunciation. The Royal Spanish Academy considers the /v/ pronunciation for the letter V to be incorrect and affected. However some Spanish speakers maintain the pronunciation of the /v/ sound as it is in other western European languages. The sound /v/ is used for the letter V, in the Spanish language, by a few secondlanguage speakers in Spain whose native language is Catalan, in the Valencian Community, Mallorca, and southern Catalonia. In the USA it is also common due to the proximity and influence of English phonology, and the /v/ is also occasionally used in Mexico. Some parts of Central America also use /v/ which the Royal Academy attributes to the interference of local indigenous languages. Historically, the /v/ pronunciation was uncommon but considered correct well into the th century. Spanish schools taught a /v/ pronunciation for most of the th century. Some Spaniards consider the pronunciation of /v/ for the letter V to be more poetic, and it is used by many singers such as Julio Iglesias, Juan Pardo, Paloma San Basilio, Amaia Montero and Alejandro Sanz. Spanish language Grammar Spanish is a relatively inflected language, with a twogender system and about fifty conjugated forms per verb, but limited inflection of nouns, adjectives, and determiners. For a detailed overview of verbs, see Spanish verbs and Spanish irregular verbs. It is rightbranching, uses prepositions, and usually, though not always, places adjectives after nouns, as do most other Romance languages. Its syntax is generally Subject Verb Object, though variations are common. It is a prodrop language or null subject language that is, it allows the deletion of pronouns which are pragmatically unnecessary and is verbframed. Instituto Cervantes The Instituto Cervantes Cervantes Institute is a worldwide nonprofit organization created by the Spanish government in . This organization has branched out in over different countries with centres devoted to the Spanish and Hispanic American culture and Spanish Language. The ultimate goals of the Institute are to promote the education, the study and the use of Spanish universally as a second language, to support the methods and activities that would help the process of Spanish language education, and to contribute to the advancement of the Spanish and Hispanic American cultures throughout nonSpanishspeaking countries. Cervantes Institute headquarters, Madrid References Spanish language total http/ / www. ethnologue. org/ ethnodocs/ distribution. aspbysize. Ethnologue. Retrieved August . Demografa de la lengua espaola http/ / eprints. ucm. es/ / / DT. pdf page . . million people where Spanish is official and . where it is not official with native knowladges of Spanish, and another million with limited knowladges. The figures of the census used are from to . quotIV CILE. Paneles y ponencias. Hiram Vivanco Torresquot http/ / congresosdelalengua. es/ cartagena/ ponencias/ seccion/ / vivancohiram. htm. Congresosdelalengua.es. . Retrieved . elcastellano.org http/ / www. elcastellano. org/ abr. html. krysstal.com http/ / www. krysstal. com/ spoken. html / th International Congress on Spanish Language lamoncloa.es http/ / www. lamoncloa. es/ IDIOMAS/ / ActualidadHome/ CongresoLengua. htm / toplanguagecommunity.co.uk http/ / www. toplanguagecommunity. co. uk/ spanishportal/ / uis.edu http/ / www. uis. edu/ clas/ continuingeducation/ spanish/ factsaboutspanish. html / Antonio Molina, director of the Instituto Cervantes in terranoticias.es http/ / terranoticias. terra. es/ cultura/ articulo/ espanolserasegundalenguacomunicacion. htm, elmundo.es http/ / www. elmundo. es/ elmundo/ / / / cultura/ . html / Luis Mara Anson of the Real Academia Espaola elcultural.es http/ / www. elcultural. es/ versionpapel/ OPINION/ / EstadosUnidosmashispanohablantesqueenEspana / International Congress about Spanish, http/ / www. congresovaloridioma. es/ pag/ bienvenida. html / Mario Melgar of the Mxico University lllf.uam.es http/ / www. lllf. uam. es/ fmarcos/ coloquio/ Ponencias/ MMelgar. doc, / Enrique Daz de Liao Argelles, director of Celer Solutions multilingual translation network elintercultural.net http/ / www. elintercultural. net/ / IndustriasCulturales/ Noticias/ qelespanolesactualmentelalenguacomundecasimillonesdepersonasylalenguaoficialdepaises q. html / Feu Rosa Spanish in Mercosur congresosdelalengua.es http/ / congresosdelalengua. es/ valladolid/ ponencias/ unidaddiversidaddelespanol/ espanolyportugues/ rosaf. htm / elpais.com http/ / www. elpais. com/ articulo/ carreras/ capital/ humano/ / millones/ razones/ saber/ espanol/ elpepueconeg/ elpnegser/ Tes / eumed.net http/ / www. eumed. net/ rev/ cccss/ / jrz. htm / efeamerica.com http/ / www. efeamerica. com/ hispanicworld/ spainskingpraisesnobelwinningvargasllosa. html / babellinguistics.com http/ / www. babellinguistics. com/ idiomas. htm. La RAE avala que Burgos acoge las primeras palabras escritas en castellano Spanish. http/ / www. elmundo. es/ elmundo/ / / / castillayleon/ . html www.elmundo.es quotSpanish languages quotBecoming the language for tradequot in Spain andquot http/ / sejourslinguistiquesenespagne. com/ index. html. sejourslinguistiquesenespagne.com/index.html. . Retrieved . quotSPANISH a language of Spainquot http/ / www. ethnologue. com/ / showlanguage. aspcodespn. ethnologue.com. . Retrieved . Spanish language ethnologue.org http/ / www. ethnologue. org/ ethnodocs/ distribution. aspbysize, sil.org http/ / web. archive. org/ web/ / www. sil. org/ ethnologue/ top. html, cia.gov https/ / www. cia. gov/ library/ publications/ theworldfactbook/ fields/ . html see quotWorldquot file, eldia.es http/ / www. eldia. es/ / cultura/ espanolestacrisisInstitutoCervantes. htm according to Ethnology journal, Encarta Chinese million http/ / uk. encarta. msn. com/ dictionary/ ModernStandardChinese. html, Spanish million http/ / uk. encarta. msn. com/ dictionary/ Spanish. html, English million http/ / uk. encarta. msn. com/ dictionary/ English. html. quotConcise Oxford Companion to the English Languagequot http/ / www. encyclopedia. com/ doc/ OSPANISH. html. Oxford University Press. . Retrieved July . quotSpanish Language Factsquot http/ / www. encyclopedia. com/ topic/ Spanishlanguage. aspxOSPANISH. Encyclopedia.com. . Retrieved . Crow, John A. . Spain the root and the flower http/ / books. google. com/ idgNKyQCxwCamp pgPAamp dqNebrija first spanish grammar Isabelamp cdvonepageamp q. University of California Press. p.. ISBN. . Thomas, Hugh . Rivers of Gold the rise of the Spanish empire, from Columbus to Magellan http/ / books. google. com/ idbfbWmOwCamp pgPAamp dqNebrija first spanish grammar Isabelamp cdvonepageamp q. Random House Inc.. p.. ISBN. . in Spanish PDF La lengua de Cervantes http/ / www. cepc. es/ rap/ Publicaciones/ Revistas/ / REP. pdf. Ministerio de la Presidencia de Espaa. . Retrieved . quotUN estimatequot http/ / www. un. org/ esa/ population/ publications/ wpp/ wpptexttables. pdf PDF. . Retrieved . Britannica Books of the years to esAnexoHablantes de espaol como lengua materna en el segn el Britannica Book. Sources used by the Encyclopaedia Britannica Ethnologue th edition, Joshua Project Peoples List, U.S. Census Bureau. eurobarometer http/ / ec. europa. eu/ publicopinion/ archives/ ebs/ ebsen. pdf, esAnexoHablantes de espaol en la U.E. segn el Eurobarmetro for Europe countries Spanish students for countries out of Europe according to Instituto Cervantes http/ / cvc. cervantes. es/ lengua/ anuario/ anuario/ pdf/ cifras. pdf There arent concrete sources about Spanish speakers as a second language except to Europe and Latin America countries. Demografa de la lengua espaola http/ / eprints. ucm. es/ / / DT. pdf page to countries with official spanish status. CONAPO http/ / www. conapo. gob. mx/ index. phpoptioncomcontentamp viewarticleamp idamp Itemid . cia.gov https/ / www. cia. gov/ library/ publications/ theworldfactbook/ geos/ mx. html Spanish only . Population figure for from U.S. Population in , , and http/ / factfinder. census. gov/ servlet/ SAFFPopulation, U.S. Census Bureau Hispanics older than years old US Census Bureau http/ / factfinder. census. gov/ servlet/ STTablebmyamp geoidUSamp qrnameACSYRGSamp dsnameACSYRGamp langenamp redoLogfalse Academia Norteamericana de la Lengua Espaola elcastellano.org http/ / www. elcastellano. org/ noticia. phpid, Jos Ma. Ansn noticias elcastellano.org http/ / www. elcastellano. org/ noticia. phpid, Jorge Ramos Avalos univision.com http/ / www. univision. com/ content/ content. jhtmlcid, Elbio Rodrguez Barilari congresosdelalengua.es http/ / congresosdelalengua. es/ valparaiso/ ponencias/ lenguacomunicacion/ rodriguezelbio. htm , III Acta Internacional de la Lengua Espaola http/ / www. abcdesevilla. es/ hemeroteca/ historico/ sevilla/ Cultura/ masdeexpertosparticiparanenlaiiiactainternacionaldelalenguaespaolaenlarabida. html, nytimes.com http/ / www. nytimes. com/ / / / arts/ television/ cnnenespanolrestructuresitsprogramming. html The United States is now the secondlargest Spanishspeaking country in the world, with more Spanish speakers than Spain, and exceeded only by Mexico. There are ,, Hispanic people from a total US population of more than million according to the Census Bureau http/ / www. census. gov/ popest/ states/ asrh/ tables/ SCEST. xls. ,, Hispanics older than speak Spanish at home, so there are million posible Spanish speakers as a second language with differents knowladges. In adition, there are cervantes.es http/ / www. cervantes. es/ docs/ Enciclopediadelespaolenelmundo. pdf or . million Spanish students in USA fundacionsiglo.com fundacionsiglo.com http/ / www. fundacionsiglo. com/ espanol/ cap. pdf, many of them are not Hispanics. Finally, there are million illegal Hispanics in USA, some of them arent in the census impre.com http/ / www. impre. com/ laraza/ opinion/ editorial/ / / / palidosdehambre. html. quotINE Datos bsicos ... acceso directo //quot http/ / www. ine. es/ . Ine.es. . . Retrieved . . speak Spanish as a first language eurobarometer http/ / ec. europa. eu/ publicopinion/ archives/ ebs/ ebsen. pdf quotDANEquot http/ / www. dane. gov. co/ reloj/ relojanimado. php. DANE. . Retrieved . quotSINTITULquot http/ / www. indec. mecon. ar/ nuevaweb/ cuadros/ / proyecyestimaciones. pdf PDF. . Retrieved . quot Aug., quot http/ / www. ine. gov. ve/ . INE. . Retrieved . Ezio Quispe Fernndez. quotquot http/ / www. inei. gob. pe/ . INEI. . Retrieved . quotINE Chile quot http/ / www. ine. cl/ canales/ chileestadistico/ demografiayvitales/ proyecciones/ Informes/ Microsoft Word InforPT. pdf PDF. . Retrieved . quotEcuador en Cifrasquot http/ / www. ecuadorencifras. com/ cifrasinec/ main. html. INEC. . Retrieved . Spanish language quotInformacin Demgrafica quot http/ / www. ine. gob. gt/ index. php/ demografiaypoblacion/ demografiaypoblacion/ infodemo. INE. . . Retrieved . quotUN quot http/ / www. one. cu/ aec/ datos/ . . xls. . Retrieved . quotquot http/ / www. ine. gov. bo/ indice/ visualizador. aspxahPC. HTM. INE. . Retrieved . quotINE quot http/ / www. ine. gob. hn/ drupal/ sites/ default/ files/ Resumen de la Proyeccion de Poblacion de Honduras . xls. . Retrieved . Census estimation http/ / www. digestyc. gob. sv/ Portada/ Presentacion Poblacion. pdf page of ,, population of France older than years in . Source Eurobarometer . There are , immigrants from Spain according to INE // Morocco census http/ / www. hcp. ma/ quotethnologue.comquot http/ / www. ethnologue. com/ showcountry. aspnameMA. ethnologue.com. . Retrieved . there are between and million Spanish speakers in Morocco Ammadi, educacion.es http/ / www. educacion. es/ exterior/ ma/ es/ File/ MI ARTICULO PDF OK. pdf According to a survey made in by CIDOB realinstitutoelcano.org http/ / www. realinstitutoelcano. org/ wps/ portal/ rielcano/ contenidoWCMGLOBALCONTEXT/ elcano/ elcanoes/ zonases/ lengua y cultura/ ari, afapredesa.org http/ / www. afapredesa. org/ index. phpoptioncomcontentamp taskviewamp idamp Itemid. According to the Morocco Census of , the Morocco population is ,, hcp.ma http/ / www. hcp. ma/ IBGE http/ / www. ibge. gov. br/ home/ presidencia/ noticias/ noticiavisualiza. phpidnoticiaamp idpagina of , foreigners in Brazil are from Mercosur Page http/ / eprints. ucm. es/ / / DT. pdf , spanish immigrants INE // http/ / www. ine. es/ jaxi/ tabla. dopath/ t/ p/ a/ l/ amp file. pxamp typepcaxisamp L. Annuary of the Instituto Cervantes http/ / www. cervantes. es/ imagenes/ File/ prensa/ anuario. pdf More than million students are learning Spanish. elcastellano.org http/ / www. elcastellano. org/ noticia. phpid, elespectador.com http/ / editor. elespectador. com/ brasil/ articulopresidentebrasilenoesperalosninoshablenespanol, oei.org.co http/ / www. oei. org. co/ noticias/ noticia. htm Luiz Incio Lula da Silva, president of Brazil Near million students are learning Spanish and the forecast is million in . Instituto Cervantes http/ / www. cervantes. es/ docs/ EspanolenBrasil. pdf More than million of spanish students in the private school and almost million estimated for in the public school. quotPrimera variacin del ao registr un ,quot http/ / www. inec. go. cr/ Web/ Home/ GeneradorPagina. aspx. INEC. . Retrieved . , of the population speaks Spanish U.S. Census Bureau http/ / factfinder. census. gov/ servlet/ GRTTablebmyamp geoidUSamp boxheadnbrRamp dsnameACSYRGamp langenamp redoLogtrueamp formatUSamp mtnameACSESTGRUSamp CONTEXTgrt , immigrants from Spain Spanish census , immigrants from Colombia. Open Channels and Colombian consul http/ / www. bolpress. com/ art. phpCod Ethnologue http/ / www. ethnologue. com/ showcountry. aspnamePH. There are , immigrants from Spain according to INE http/ / www. ine. es/ jaxi/ menu. dotypepcaxisamp path/ t/ pamp fileinebaseamp L // ,, Spanish ,, Spanish creole Antonio Quilis quotLa lengua espaola en Filipinasquot, pag. cervantesvirtual.com http/ / www. cervantesvirtual. com/ servlet/ SirveObras/ / . pdf, mepsyd.es http/ / www. mepsyd. es/ exterior/ au/ es/ File/ TenReasonslowres. pdf page , mepsyd.es http/ / www. mepsyd. es/ redele/ Biblioteca/ DavidSanchez/ Memoria. pdf page , spanishdifferences.com http/ / spanishdifferences. com/ Spanish/ PhilippinesSpanish. php, aresprensa.com http/ / www. aresprensa. com/ cms/ cms/ frontcontent. phpidart. The figure ,, Spanish speakers, we can find in quotPluricentric languages differing norms in different nationsquot http/ / books. google. es/ bookseivCXASpSLqXkmwOlZnlBgamp ctresultamp qPluricentric languages differing norms in different nations spanish philippines speakersamp btnGBuscar libros page by R.W.Thompson, or in sispain.org http/ / www. sispain. org/ spanish/ language/ worldwid. html./ More than million Spanish speakers and around million with Chavacano speakers according to quotInstituto Cervantes de Manilaquot elcastellano.org http/ / www. elcastellano. org/ noticia. phpid Britannica Book of the Year http/ / cvc. cervantes. es/ lengua/ anuario/ anuario/ otero/ p. htm. There are , immigrants from Spain according to INE // quot, Spanish Census , from Ecuadorquot http/ / web. archive. org/ web/ / http/ / www. mmrree. gov. ec/ mre/ documentos/ novedades/ boletines/ ano/ julio/ bol. htm. Mmrree.gov.ec. Archived from the original http/ / www. mmrree. gov. ec/ mre/ documentos/ novedades/ boletines/ ano/ julio/ bol. htm on June , . . Retrieved . quotEquatorial Guinea census quot http/ / www. populationstatistics. com/ wg. phpxamp mengproamp lngesamp datamp srtpnanamp coldqamp geo. Populationstatistics.com. . Retrieved . , of the population speaks Spanish with native knowladge and other as a second language cvc.cervantes.es http/ / cvc. cervantes. es/ lengua/ anuario/ anuario/ pdf/ paises. pdf. PMB Statistics mediaincanada.com http/ / www. mediaincanada. com/ articles/ mic/ / profile. htmlpage Spanishspeaking people over the age of . Although Canada Census told about , people who speaks Spanish in , Hispanic organizations claim about , Hispanics in , and more than , in hispanosencanada.ca http/ / hispanosencanada. ca/ portal/ content/ view/ / , dialogos.ca http/ / dialogos. ca/ revista/ numero/ articulo. htm, and currently there are near million tlntv.com http/ / www. tlntv. com/ pressReleases/ / TLN EN ESPANOL is born. pdf. Spanish language Spanish census of ,, population of Belgium older than years in . Source Eurobarometer Sweden Census SCB Page of the quotDemogeafa de la lengua espaolaquot http/ / www. ucm. es/ info/ icei/ pdf/ DT . pdf. , according to Britannica Book of the Year Page of the Demografa de la lengua espaola quotDemografa de la lengua espaolaquot http/ / eprints. ucm. es/ / / DT. pdf Between , and , in Tinduf aprendemas.com http/ / www. aprendemas. com/ Noticias/ html/ NF. HTML , in Wilaya of Oran page of Demografa de la lengua espaola http/ / www. ucm. es/ info/ icei/ pdf/ DT . pdf , sefardes Britannica Book of the Year http/ / cvc. cervantes. es/ obref/ anuario/ anuario/ otero/ p. htm , from Iberoamerica http/ / cvc. cervantes. es/ obref/ congresos/ sevilla/ comunicacion/ ponencshadas. htm Pages , of the quotDemografa de la lengua espaolaquot http/ / www. ucm. es/ info/ icei/ pdf/ DT . pdf. Centro Virtual Cervantes. quotBritannica Book of the Year quot http/ / cvc. cervantes. es/ lengua/ anuario/ anuario/ otero/ p. htm. Cvc.cervantes.es. . Retrieved . quotallaboutswitzerland.infoquot http/ / www. allaboutswitzerland. info/ swisspopulationlanguages. html. allaboutswitzerland.info. . Retrieved . quot, from Peruquot http/ / www. publico. es/ / losjaponeseslatinossesientendiscriminados. publico.es. . . Retrieved . Page of Demografa de la lengua espaola http/ / www. ucm. es/ info/ icei/ pdf/ DT . pdf . speak Spanish as a first language www.iea.ad http/ / www. iea. ad/ cres/ observatori/ temes/ llenguatrimestre. htm quotwww.iea.adquot http/ / www. iea. ad/ cres/ observatori/ temes/ llenguatrimestre. htm. www.iea.ad. . Retrieved . quotANUARIO IC quot http/ / www. cervantes. es/ imagenes/ File/ prensa/ anuario. pdf PDF. . Retrieved . New Zealand census Page of the Demografa de la Lengua Espaola http/ / eprints. ucm. es/ / / DT. pdf Spanish residents in China INE, http/ / www. ine. es/ jaxi/ menu. dotypepcaxisamp path/ t/ pamp fileinebaseamp L Page of the Demografa de la lengua espaola http/ / www. ucm. es/ info/ icei/ pdf/ DT . pdf The Spanish census claims . Spanish speakers in Western Sahara http/ / cvc. cervantes. es/ lengua/ anuario/ anuario/ otero/ p. htm but probably most of them were people born in Spain who left after the Moroccan annexation There are ,, immigrants from Spain and Latin America according to the page of the quotDemografa de la lengua espaolaquot http/ / www. ucm. es/ info/ icei/ pdf/ DT . pdf , already counted According to the Instituto Cervantes, there are million of Spanish students. But there are already counted students from U.S. ,, because it is considered the current ,, students, E.U ,, because they are considered in the eurobarometer figures demografa del espaol, page http/ / www. ucm. es/ info/ icei/ pdf/ DT . pdf, Brazil mill. with million new students in the public schools, Morocco . and Philippines ,, Canada ,, Australia ,, Ivory Coast ,, Switzerland ,, Japan ,, Senegal ., Occ. Shara ,, Norway ,, Russia , and China ,. million Spanish speakers I http/ / www. fundacionblu. org/ actaslengua/ actaconclusioneslenguaespanola. aspid and IV http/ / www. fundacionblu. org/ actaslengua/ actalenguaespanola. aspid International minutes of the Spanish language, and Instituto Cervantes http/ / www. cervantes. es/ sobreinstitutocervantes/ prensa/ / noticias/ caffarelcasaamerica. htm. million Spanish speakers diariohoy.net http/ / pdf. diariohoy. net/ / / / pdf/ c. pdf, lne.es http/ / www. lne. es/ sociedadcultura/ / colombiaconviertecapitallenguaespanola/ . html quotInstituto Cervantes quot http/ / cvc. cervantes. es/ lengua/ anuario/ anuario/ pdf/ cifras. pdf PDF. . Retrieved . quotMost widely spoken Languages in the Worldquot http/ / www. nationsonline. org/ oneworld/ mostspokenlanguages. htm. Nations Online. . Retrieved . quotCIA The World Factbook United Statesquot https/ / www. cia. gov/ library/ publications/ theworldfactbook/ geos/ us. html. Cia.gov. . Retrieved . quotInternet World Users by Languagequot http/ / www. internetworldstats. com/ stats. htm. Miniwatts Marketing Group. . . quotCIA World Factbook Gibraltarquot https/ / www. cia. gov/ library/ publications/ theworldfactbook/ geos/ gi. html. Cia.gov. . Retrieved . quotBackground Note Andorraquot http/ / www. state. gov/ r/ pa/ ei/ bgn/ . htm. U.S. Department of State Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. January . . Retrieved . BBC Education Languages http/ / www. bbc. co. uk/ languages/ europeanlanguages/ languages/ spanish. shtml, Languages Across Europe Spanish. quotSwitzerlands Four National Languagesquot http/ / www. allaboutswitzerland. info/ swisspopulationlanguages. html. allaboutswitzerland.info. . Retrieved . quotDiccionario de la lengua espaolaquot http/ / buscon. rae. es/ draeI/ in Spanish. Buscon.rae.es. . Retrieved . Diccionario Panhispnico de Dudas, , pg. . Ethnologue Paraguay http/ / www. ethnologue. com/ showcountry. aspnamePY. Guaran is also the mostspoken language in Paraguay by its native speakers. quotPuerto Rico Elevates Englishquot http/ / query. nytimes. com/ gst/ fullpage. htmlresFCEDAFAACAamp nTop/ Reference/ Times Topics/ Subjects/ E/ English Language. the New York Times. January . . Retrieved . Spanish language quotPopulation Census , Major Findingsquot http/ / web. archive. org/ web/ / http/ / www. cso. gov. bz/ publications/ MF. pdf PDF. Central Statistical Office, Ministry of Budget Management, Belize. . Archived from the original http/ / www. cso. gov. bz/ publications/ MF. pdf on . . Retrieved . quotBelize Population and Housing Census quot http/ / censos. ccp. ucr. ac. cr/ . Censos.ccp.ucr.ac.cr. . Retrieved . quotCIA World Factbook Belizequot https/ / www. cia. gov/ library/ publications/ theworldfactbook/ geos/ bh. html. Cia.gov. . Retrieved . Williams, Carol J. . quotTrinidad Says It Needs Spanish to Talk Businessquot http/ / articles. latimes. com/ / aug/ / world/ fgspanish. Los Angeles Times. p.A. . Retrieved . quotThe Secretariat for The Implementation of Spanish, Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobagoquot http/ / www. tradeind. gov. tt/ SIS/ FAQ. htm. Tradeind.gov.tt. . Retrieved . Mercosul, Portal Oficial http/ / www. mercosur. int/ msweb/ portal intermediario/ pt/ index. htm Portuguese quotSpanish becomes second language in Brazil, Mercopressquot http/ / en. mercopress. com/ / / / spanishbecomessecondlanguageinbrazil. En.mercopress.com. . . Retrieved . Lipski, John M. PDF. Too close for comfort the genesis of quotportuol/portunholquot http/ / www. lingref. com/ cpp/ hls/ / paper. pdf. Selected Proceedings of the th Hispanic Linguistics Symposium. ed. Timothy L. Face and Carol A. Klee, . Somerville, MA Cascadilla Proceedings Project. . Retrieved . U.S. Census Bureau http/ / factfinder. census. gov/ servlet/ ACSSAFFPeopleeventamp geoidUSamp geoContextUSamp streetamp countyamp cityTownamp stateamp zipamp langenamp sseonamp ActiveGeoDivamp useEVamp pctxtfphamp pgslamp submenuIdpeopleamp dsnamenullamp cinbrnullamp qrnamenullamp regnullnullamp keywordamp industry Hispanic or Latino by specific origin. U.S. Census Bureau . http/ / factfinder. census. gov/ servlet/ GRTTablebmyamp boxheadnbrRamp dsnameACSESTGamp formatUS Percent of People Years and Over Who Speak Spanish at Home , U.S. Census Bureau . http/ / factfinder. census. gov/ servlet/ STTablebmyamp geoidUSamp qrnameACSESTGSamp dsnameACSESTGamp langenamp redoLogfalse ,, People Years and Over Who Speak Spanish at Home U.S. Census Bureau . quotUnited States. S. Language Spoken at Homequot http/ / factfinder. census. gov/ servlet/ STTablebmyamp geoidUSamp qrnameACSYRGSamp dsnameACSYRG. American Community Survey Year Estimates. . Retrieved September , . El Pas http/ / www. elpais. com/ articulo/ cultura/ speak/ spanish/ Espana/ elpepucul/ elpepicul/ Tes Spanish United States Census Bureau http/ / www. census. gov/ prod/ pubs/ statab/ pop. pdfPDF.MB, Statistical Abstract of the United States page Table Languages Spoken at Home by Language quotEthnologue Equatorial Guinea quot http/ / www. ethnologue. com/ showcountry. aspnameEquatorial Guinea. Ethnologue.com. . Retrieved . quotCIA World Factbook Equatorial Guinea Last updated September quot https/ / www. cia. gov/ library/ publications/ theworldfactbook/ geos/ ek. html. Cia.gov. . Retrieved . Morocco.com http/ / www. morocco. com/ culture/ language/ , The Languages of Morocco. quotEstadisticas El idioma espaol en Filipinasquot http/ / buscoenlaces. es/ kaibigankastila/ rivera. html. Buscoenlaces.es. . . Retrieved . quot Constitution of the Republic of the Philippinesquot http/ / www. thecorpusjuris. com/ laws/ constitutions/ philippineconstitutions/ constitution. html. thecorpusjuris.com. . Retrieved See Article XV, Section Spanish Instituto Nacional de Estadsticas http/ / www. ine. cl/ canales/ chileestadistico/ censospoblacionvivienda/ censopoblvivi. php Harris Random House Unabridged Dictionary. Random House Inc.. . The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language th ed.. Houghton Mifflin Company. . Websters Revised Unabridged Dictionary. MICRA, Inc.. . quotEncarta World English Dictionaryquot http/ / encarta. msn. com/ dictionary/ Castilian. html. Encarta World English Dictionary. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.. . . Retrieved . Eleanor Greet Cotton, John M. Sharp Spanish in the Americas, Volumen , pp., URL http/ / books. google. com. mx/ booksidKXRCGxCamp pgPAamp dqMexican vowelsamp clientfirefoxavonepageamp qMexican vowelsamp ffalse Lope Blanch, Juan M. En torno a las vocales caedizas del espaol mexicano, pp. a , Estudios sobre el espaol de Mxico, editorial Universidad Nacional Autnoma de Mxico, Mxico URL http/ / www. filos. unam. mx/ LICENCIATURA/ PaginaFyF/ introduccion/ LopeVocalescaedizas. pdf. quotReal Academia Espaolaquot http/ / buscon. rae. es/ dpdI/ in Spanish. Buscon.rae.es. . Retrieved . quot Guys From Miami Fruta Bombaquot http/ / cubanfoodusa. com/ terms/ frutabomba. html. Cubanfoodusa.com. . Retrieved . quotpapayaquot http/ / www. urbandictionary. com/ define. phptermpapayaamp defid. Urban Dictionary. . Retrieved . quotScholarly Societies Projectquot http/ / www. lib. uwaterloo. ca/ society/ history/ rae. html. Lib.uwaterloo.ca. . Retrieved . quotAssociation of Spanish Language Academies Spanishquot http/ / www. asale. org/ ASALE/ asale. html in Spanish. Asale.org. . Retrieved . Spanish language quotReal Academia Espaolaquot http/ / www. rae. es/ rae/ gestores/ gespub. nsf/ voTodosporId/ CEDFEDDFCCCOpenDocumentamp i. Rae.es. . Retrieved . quotAcademia Colombiana de la Lenguaquot http/ / www. asale. org/ ASALE/ ConAALEBDIDDOCamp menu in Spanish. Asale.org. . Retrieved . quotAcademia Ecuatoriana de la Lenguaquot http/ / www. asale. org/ ASALE/ ConAALEBDIDDOCamp menu in Spanish. Asale.org. . Retrieved . quotAcademia Mexicana de la Lenguaquot http/ / www. academia. org. mx/ historia. php. Academia.org.mx. . . Retrieved . quotAcademia Salvadorea de la Lenguaquot http/ / www. asl. org. sv/ Informacion institucional. htm. Asl.org.sv. . Retrieved . quotAcademia Venezolana de la Lenguaquot http/ / www. asale. org/ ASALE/ ConAALEBDIDDOCamp menu in Spanish. Asale.org. . Retrieved . quotAcademia Chilena de la Lenguaquot http/ / www. institutodechile. cl/ lengua/ resena. htm. Institutodechile.cl. . Retrieved . quotAcademia Peruana de la Lenguaquot http/ / www. academiaperuanadelalengua. org/ academia/ historia. Academia Peruana de la Lengua. . Retrieved . quotAcademia Guatemalteca de la Lenguaquot http/ / www. asale. org/ ASALE/ ConAALEBDIDDOCamp menu in Spanish. Asale.org. . Retrieved . quotAcademia Costarricense de la Lenguaquot http/ / www. acl. ac. cr/ iq. php. Acl.ac.cr. . Retrieved . quotAcademia Filipina de la Lengua Espaolaquot http/ / www. asale. org/ ASALE/ ConAALEBDIDDOCamp menu in Spanish. Asale.org. . Retrieved . quotAcademia Panamea de la Lenguaquot http/ / apalengua. apalengua. org/ historia. Apalengua.apalengua.org. . Retrieved . quotAcademia Cubana de la Lenguaquot http/ / www. acul. ohc. cu/ . Acul.ohc.cu. . Retrieved . quotAcademia Paraguaya de la Lengua Espaolaquot http/ / www. aparle. org/ origenes. asp. Aparle.org. . Retrieved . quotAcademia Dominicana de la Lenguaquot http/ / www. academia. org. do/ content/ blogsection/ / / . Academia.org.do. . Retrieved . quotAcademia Boliviana de la Lenguaquot http/ / www. abolen. org/ Historia. html. Abolen.org. . Retrieved . quotAcademia Nicaragense de la Lenguaquot http/ / www. asale. org/ ASALE/ ConAALEBDIDDOCamp menu in Spanish. Asale.org. . Retrieved . quotAcademia Argentina de Letrasquot http/ / www. letras. edu. ar/ index. html. Letras.edu.ar. . . Retrieved . quotAcademia Nacional de Letras del Uruguayquot http/ / www. mec. gub. uy/ academiadeletras/ MarcoPrincipal. htm. Mec.gub.uy. . Retrieved . quotAcademia Hondurea de la Lenguaquot http/ / www. asale. org/ ASALE/ ConAALEBDIDDOCamp menu in Spanish. Asale.org. . Retrieved . quotAcademia Puertorriquea de la Lengua Espaolaquot http/ / www. academiapr. org/ index. phpoptioncomcontentamp viewcategoryamp layoutblogamp idamp Itemid. Academiapr.org. . Retrieved . quotAcademia Norteamericana de la Lengua Espaolaquot http/ / www. anle. us/ . Anle.us. . Retrieved . http/ / www. jstor. org/ pss/ Alfassa, Shelomo December . quotLadinokomunitaquot http/ / www. sephardicstudies. org/ quickladino. html. Foundation for the Advancement of Sephardic Studies and Culture. . Retrieved February . quotSpanishquot http/ / www. ethnologue. com/ showlanguage. aspcodespa. ethnologue. . Diccionario Panhispnico de Dudas http/ / buscon. rae. es/ dpdI/ SrvltConsultalemach, st ed. Real Academia Espaola http/ / www. rae. es/ , Explanation http/ / www. spanishpronto. com/ spanishpronto/ spanishalphabet. html at Spanish Pronto http/ / www. spanishpronto. com/ Spanish, English quotAbecedarioquot http/ / buscon. rae. es/ dpdI/ SrvltConsultalemaabecedario in Spanish. Diccionario panhispnico de dudas. Real Academia Espaola. . . Retrieved . Ch http/ / buscon. rae. es/ draeI/ SrvltConsultaTIPOBUSamp LEMAch, en Diccionario de la lengua espaola de la Real Academia Espaola Ll http/ / buscon. rae. es/ draeI/ SrvltConsultaTIPOBUSamp LEMAll, en Diccionario de la lengua espaola de la Real Academia Espaola MartnezCeldrn, FernndezPlanas amp CarreraSabat Cressey Abercrombie Eddington se da de forma espontnea en hablantes valencianos o mallorquines y en los de algunas zonas del sur de Catalua DICCIONARIO PANHISPNICO DE DUDAS Primera edicin octubre article V paragraph Spanish language Bibliography Abercrombie, David . Elements of General Phonetics. Edinburgh Edinburgh University Press Cressey, William Whitney . Spanish Phonology and Morphology A Generative View. Georgetown University Press. ISBN Eddington, David . quotSpanish Stress Assignment within the Analogical Modeling of Languagequot http// linguistics.byu.edu/faculty/eddingtond/STRESS.pdf. Language Language, Vol. , No. . doi./. JSTOR Harris, James . quotSound Change in Spanish and the Theory of Markednessquot http//jstor.org/stable/ . Language Language, Vol. , No. . doi./ MartnezCeldrn, Eugenio FernndezPlanas, Ana Ma. CarreraSabat, Josefina . quotCastilian Spanishquot. Journal of the International Phonetic Association . doi./S External links Spanish Dictionary of the RAE http//buscon.rae.es/draeI/ Real Academia Espaolas official Spanish language dictionary Spanish http//www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish/ BBC Languages Basic Spanish Grammar http//www.mylovespanish.com/ Spanish evolution from Latin http//mertsahinoglu.com/research/spanishforspeakersoflatin/ Spanish phrasebook on WikiTravel Instituto Cervantes http//www.cervantes.es/default.htm Practical Spanish http//www.learnpracticalspanishonline.com/ kbd ltgSpanu volda Spanish cuisine Spanish cuisine consists of a variety of dishes, which stem from differences in geography, culture and climate. It is heavily influenced by seafood available from the waters that surround the country, and reflects the countrys deep maritime roots. Spains extensive history with many cultural influences has led to an array of unique cuisines with literally thousands of recipes and flavors. It is also renowned for its health benefits and fresh ingredients. A famous spanish dish called Paella is consited from rice and seafood and can also be vegetarian. Seafood paella. History The first introduction of a product to the ancient Iberia was that of wheat. Wheat was thought to be brought by Iberians from the south of the peninsula. It was perhaps brought from Aquitaine in the north of the peninsula, Spanish cuisine due to the difficulty of transporting from the south. In time, the wheat of Iberia came to be considered to be the best in the Roman Empire, and became one of the main commodities of foreign trade. The Romans early approval of the wheat led to the spread of wheat from Spain to Greece and Egypt and easternly parts of Russia. There were two major kinds of diet in the peninsula. One was found in the northwest part of the peninsula, with more animal fats that correspond to the husbandry of the North. The other could be considered the precursor of the Mediterranean diet and was found in the southerly parts of the peninsula. Gastronoma manchega, Pedro Muoz, Spain Roman cuisine As early as Roman times one can say that, with the exception of products later imported from the Americas, many modern foods were consumed, although mostly by the aristocracy, not the middle class. Cooking references from that era discuss the eating habits in Rome, where foods from all of the Empires provinces were brought. So, for an example, it is known that thousands of amphorae of olive oil were sent to Rome from Spain. Nonetheless, and especially in the Celtic areas, consumption of animal products from lamb, beef, etc. was more common than consumption of vegetables. Already in that era, cabbages were well known and appreciated, and considered a panacea for various aliments. Other popular vegetables of that time were thistles such as artichokes and onions. In Roman Spain the hams of Pomeipolis Pamplona had great prestige. The export of pork products became the basis of a strong local economy. It is almost certain that lentils were already consumed in Roman Spain, because they formed a staple food for the army and because they are easy to preserve and transport. Fava beans were known from antiquity and were considered sacred by the Romans. In the Saturnalia, the later December festival in honor of Saturn, fava beans were used to choose the king of the festival. This custom is believed to be the source of the present day custom of hiding an object in the roscn de reyes similar to the sixpence traditional in a Christmas pudding until quite recently, that object was a fava bean. Garbanzos were also popular, primarily among the poorer classes. Mushrooms were common and popular in the northern part of the country. They mastered the science of grafting. According to Pliny, Tibur saw a tree that produced a distinct fruit on each of its branches nuts, apples, pomegranates, cherries, pears, but he added that they dried out quickly. Viticulture already was known and practiced by the Romans, but it seemed as well the fact that it was the Greeks who extended the vine across the Mediterranean region. This includes those wines that were most popular in the Empire. In this era the wealthy typically ate while lying on a couch a custom acquired from the Greeks and using their hands, because forks were not used for eating. Tablecloths were introduced in the st century. They came to use two plates, one flat platina or patella and the other deep catinus, which they held with the left hand. That hand could not be used for many other things while eating, given that they ate with their left arms while reclining in bed, so that only the right hand was free. They used spoons, which, like today, had different sizes, depending on what they were used for. The first spoons were made from clam shells hence, the name cuchara, with silver handles. The mode of flavoring and cooking was quite distinct from what is found in modern times. Spanish cuisine Typical dishes Among the multitude of recipes that make up the varied cuisines of Spain, a few can be considered common to all or almost all of Spains regions, even though some of them have an origin known and associated with specific places. Examples include most importantly potato omelette quottortilla de patataquot, quottortilla espaolaquot or just quottortillaquot, paella, various stews, migas, sausages such as embutidos, chorizo, and morcilla, jamn serrano, and cheeses. There are also many dishes based on beans chickpeas, lentils, green beans soups, with many regional variations and bread, that has numerous forms, with distinct varieties in each region. The regional variations are less pronounced in Spanish desserts and cakes flan, custard, rice pudding arroz con leche, torrijas, churros, and madeleines are some of the most representative examples. Other foods include Arroz con leche rice pudding Calamares a la romana Fried squid Cocido a chickpea and meat stew of sorts Cocido montas typical from Cantabria Chorizo spicy sausage Chuletillas grilled chops of milkfed lamb Gazpacho cold bread and tomato soup Gooseneck barnacles typical from Galicia Hake fish Fabada asturiana bean stew Jamn serrano cured ham Butifarra Lechazo asado roasted milkfed lamb Shellfish Marmita typical from Cantabria Paella saffron rice Fideu Peladillas, Sugared almonds, typical from Valencian Community especially, Casinos. Asturian chuletillas Andalusian quotpescatoquot frito. Iberian pork embutidos. Pescaito frito, battered sometimes in adobo fried fish, typical from Mlaga and Western Andalusia Tortilla de patatas or tortilla espaola potato omelette Turrn, a type of nougat with almonds and honey, typical at Christmas Polvorn, a type of Spanish shortbread, typical at Christmas Tortas de aceite, from Seville, a sweet olive oil pastry Olla podrida Gofio, roasted flour used in a type of porridge in the Canary islands. Meat is also very popular in Spanish cuisine sheep, lamb, pork, and beef are staples. Madrid the cocido madrileo Madrids chickpea stew and the tripe dish callos a la madrilea, strawberries from Aranjuez or melons from Villaconejos, the wines from Navalcarnero and the Ans anisette liqueur of Chinchn. Spanish cuisine Asturias is especially known for its seafood, such as fresh squid, crab, shrimp and sea bass. Salmon are caught in Asturian rivers, notably the Sella the first fish of the season is called campanu Bable word for campana, a bell tolled to signal the first catch. The most famous regional dish is Fabada Asturiana, a rich stew made with large white beans fabes, pork shoulder lacn, morcilla, chorizo, and saffron azafrn. Apple groves foster the production of the traditional alcoholic drink, a natural cider sidra. It is a very dry cider, and unlike French or English natural ciders, uses predominantly acidic apples, rather than sweet or bittersweet. The proportions are acidic , subacidic , sweet , bittersweet , bitter . Sidra is traditionally poured in by an expert server or escanciador the bottle is raised high above his or her head to oxygenate the brew as it moves into the glass below. A small amount ml is poured at a time called a culn, as it must be drunk immediately before the sidra loses its carbonation. Any sidra left in the glass is poured onto a woodchipstrewn floor or a trough along the bottom of the bar. Asturian cheeses, especially Cabrales, are also famous throughout Spain and beyond Cabrales is known for its pungent odour and strong flavour. Asturias is often called quotthe land of cheesesquot el pais de los quesos due to the products diversity and quality in this region. Other major dishes include faba beans with clams, Asturian stew, frixuelos, and rice pudding. Catalonia Alongside Valencia, Catalonia has a long tradition of ricedishes and seafood. In addition, cooked and cured sausages from Vic are famous. Perhaps the most wellknown dish is the Catalan cream, similar to crme brle. Catalan cuisine is rich, pa amb tomquet and botifarra are typical food of Catalonia. La Rioja above all its international Rioja wines, as well as its vegetable soups and its pepper and potato dishes. Extremadura Cocido extremeo a rich stew of bacon, fowl, ham, meats, and vegetables, embutidos of Iberian pork, cheeses including the indispensable torta del casar, a close relative of the Portuguese queijo da serra, pitarra wine. Andalusia Andalucia fried fish, salmorejo and gazpacho. Seafood, especially shrimp, squid, mackerel and flatfish. Jabugo ham and Sherry wine. Aragn Somontano, Borja and other wines. Jamn serrano cured ham in Teruel. Migas, very typical in small villages. Nuestra Seora del Pilar sweets in Zaragoza. quotTernasco con patatas a lo pobrequot, one of the most popular dishes in Aragn. quotBorrajasquot, vegetable typical of this zone. Peaches with red wine from Calanda, in Teruel. And quotchiretasquot, very popular in quotRibagorzaquot and quotSomontano de Barbastroquot. Murcia products of its rich gardens, such as zarangollo fish and lamb stews and the wines of Jumilla, Yecla or Bullas. They are also fantastic murcia migas. Valencia The Valencian region, specialises amongst others in the famous Paella, and is its birthplace. This dish is very popular, and its common to cook one each Sunday for family lunch. In fact, in Valencia, during Falles, one of the biggest holidays there, it is quite normal to find big paellas being cooked in the street. The typical Valencian pael contains meat and vegetables, but many other variants of ricebased dishes can be found, with shellfish, meatballs or just covered in egg quotArrs amb crostaquot. Balearic IslandsA typical islandbased diet of seafood and simple, vegetablebased dishes as well as Sobrasada. Samfaina Ratatouille and Cocas are typical of Catalan cuisine generally. Majorcas biggest export is the Ensaimada, a pastry. Basque country skillfully cooked dishes such as quottxangurro rellenoquot spider crab quotmarmitakoquot and hake and clams. Idiazabal cheese and a distinctive wine called quottxakoliquot. Piquillo peppers, filled with cod or tuna. Navarre vegetable stews, Tudelas lettuce hearts with anchovies, salmon, or a simple vinaigrette oil, salt and vinegar piquillo peppers, which are often stuffed with meat trout la Navarra cooked stuffed with bacon and cheese, Roncal and Idiazabal cheeses, curd from Ultzama, claret wine, and patxaran liquor. Galicia Caldo gallego an array of seafoods, especially octopus, cod and goose barnacles Tarta de Santiago, a tart made of almonds and lemon empanadas Albario wine from the Rias Baixas. Spanish cuisine Castilla y Len Morcilla from Len, Burgos or Valladolid black pudding made with blood and different spices, Judin de la Granja, Sopa de Ajo Garlic soup, Cochinillo asado little roast pig, Lechazo Roast Lamb, Botillo del Bierzo, Hornazo from Salamanca, a great variety of sausages like Salchichas de Zaratn and cheeses like Cheese of Serrada or Burgoss Fresh Cheese and various of the best wines in Spain Ribera del Duero wines. Dont forget Jamn de Guijuelo Spanish cured ham from Guijuelo Salamanca Chefs Today, Spanish cooking is quotin fashionquot, especially thanks in part to Ferran Adri, who in the summer of attained international renown thanks to praise in the Sunday supplement of the New York Times. His restaurant El Bulli is located in the province of Girona, near Roses. In a long article, the New York Times declared him the best chef in the world, and postulated the supremacy of Spanish cooking over French cuisine. Four other Spanish chefs hold three stars in the prestigious Michelin Guide Juan Mari Arzak /quot in San Sebastin, Guipzcoa, since Santi Santamara quotEl Racoquot of Can Fabes, Barcelona, since Martn Berasategui quotBerasateguiquot in Lasarte, Guipzcoa since Carme Ruscalleda quotSant Pauquot in Sant Pol de Mar, Barcelona since Karlos Arguiano, who over the years has presented cooking programmes on various Spanish television channels, in which he shows his communication skills and sense of humour while cooking. Simone Ortega, author of the bestselling cookbook in Spain, quot recetasquot. Sergi Arola, chef at quotLa Brochquot and a disciple of Adri. Jos Andrs, chef/owner of quotMinibar by Jos Andrsquot in Washington D.C., and a disciple of Adri. Current host of Made in Spain, airing on PBS networks. Prominent names in the history of Spanish cuisine include ngel Muro th century food expert and author of the book quotPracticnquot, which is equivalent to Ma cuisine by Escoffier. Mara Mestayer de Echage, quotMarquesa de Paraberequot author of a twovolume cooking encyclopedia with the second dedicated to the pantry that is still in print, and that contains a large number of recipes, as well as chapters dedicated to table manners. Other notable chefs specializing in Spanish cuisine Ilan Hall, winner of Top Chef Season , was known for his Spanishinspired dishes. He has worked at the acclaimed Casa Mono Spanish restaurant in Manhattan. References Museo de la Sidra, Nava Asturias, Spain. http/ / www. museodelasidra. com/ http/ / www. newsday. com/ entertainment/ tv/ nyetteloct,,. storycollnytelevisionheadlines This article draws heavily on the corresponding article in the Spanishlanguage Wikipedia, which was accessed in the version of January . External links Spanish Food amp culinary treasures http//www.uniquealmeria.com/spanishfood.html, discovered by Spanish food photographer Map of Spain http//www.red.com/spain/gmap.html, with information on the cuisine in different areas Introduction to food from Spain http//www.spanishfoodfinder.com/spanishfood.html The essence of Spanish cuisine Spanish food Spanish cuisine AZ guide to Spanish food http//www.iberianature.com/spainblog/aguidetospanishfooda/ Culture, history and dictionary Spanish food Francisco Franco Don Francisco Franco His Excellency Generalsimo Francisco Franco in Spanish Head of State Regent of the Kingdom Inoffice April November Precededby Succeededby Manuel Azaa Alejandro Rodrguez de Valcrcel th Leader of the Government of Spain Inoffice February June Precededby Succeededby Born Died Restingplace Nationality Politicalparty Spouses Residence Religion Signature Military service Allegiance Service/branch Army Juan Negrn Luis Carrero Blanco December Ferrol, Galicia, Spain November agedMadrid, Spain Valley of the FallenN W Spanish FET y de las JONS Carmen Polo, st Lady of Meirs El Pardo, Madrid Roman Catholicism Francisco Franco Yearsof service Rank Battles/wars Chief of the General Staff Rif War Spanish Civil War As President For the handover to Juan Carlos I King of Spain Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Tedulo Franco y Bahamonde December November , known simply as Francisco Franco Spanish pronunciationfanisko fako, was a Spanish military general and head of state of Spain from October whole nation from onwards, and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from until his death in November . As head of state, Franco used the title Caudillo de Espaa, por la gracia de Dios, meaning Leader of Spain, by the grace of God. From a military family, originally intent on entering the Spanish Navy, Franco instead became a soldier. He participated in the Rif War in Morocco, becoming the youngest general in Europe by . After returning to the Spanish mainland, he saw service suppressing an anarchistled strike in , defending the stability of AlcalZamoras conservative government. Following the formation of a Popular Front government, made up of Marxist, liberal republican and anarchist factions, instability heightened. Violence between militant groups spiraled out of control with assassination of conservative parliamentary leader Jos Calvo Sotelo in retaliation for the killing of Jos Castillo. Franco and his coconspirators used Calvos death as their pretext for war, even though they had already initiated the plan for their rebellion. Franco and the military participated in a coup dtat against the Popular Front government. The coup failed and devolved into the Spanish Civil War during which Franco emerged as the leader of the Nationalists against the Popular Front government. After winning the civil war with military aid from Italy and Nazi Germanywhile the communist Soviet Union and various Internationalists aided certain forces of the lefthe dissolved the Spanish Parliament. He then established a rightwing authoritarian regime that lasted until , when a new constitution was drafted. During World War II, Franco officially maintained a policy of nonbelligerency and later of neutrality, in part because Spain had not recovered from the considerable damage of the civil war. However, he supported the volunteer Blue Division who fought with the Axis on the Eastern Front. After the end of World War II, Franco maintained his control in Spain through the implementation of austere measures the systematic suppression of dissident views through censorship and coercion, the imprisonment of ideologically opposed enemies in concentration camps throughout the country such as Los Merinales in Seville, San Marcos in Len, Castuera in Extremadura, and Miranda de Ebro, the implementation of forced labor in prisons, and the use of the death penalty and heavy prison sentences as deterrents for his ideological enemies. During the Cold War, the United States established a diplomatic and trade alliance with Spain, due to Francos strong antiCommunist policy. American President Richard Nixon toasted Franco, and, after Francos death, stated quotGeneral Franco was a loyal friend and ally of the United States.quot After his death, Spain gradually began its transition to democracy. Today, preconstitutional symbols from the Franco regimesuch as the national Coat of arms or flag with the Imperial Eagleare banned by law in Spain. Early life Francisco Franco was born at on December , at Number Calle Frutos Saavedra, Ferrol currently known as Calle Mara in the citys old town. He was baptised on December at the parish church of San Francisco with the baptismal names Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Tedulo Francisco for his paternal grandfather, Hermenegildo for his maternal grandmother and godmother, Paulino for his godfather and Tedulo for the saint day of his birth. Francisco Franco The Franco family was originally from Andalucia. Since relocating to Galicia they were strongly involved in the Spanish Navy and over two centuries produced naval officers for six generations uninterrupted, right down to Francos father Nicols Franco y SalgadoArajo November February . Francos mother was Mara del Pilar Bahamonde y Pardo de Andrade February , and his parents married in . The young Franco spent much of his childhood with his two brothers, Nicols Ferrol, , a naval officer and diplomat who in time was married to Mara Isabel Pascual del Pobil y Ravello, and Ramn a pioneering aviator and a member of Esquerra Republicana, and his two sisters, Mara del Pilar Ferrol, Madrid, , later wife of Alonso Jariz y Jerz, and Mara de la Paz Ferrol, Ferrol, . Military career Rif War and rise through the ranks Francisco was to follow his father into the Navy but as a result of the SpanishAmerican War the country lost much of its navy as well as most of its colonies. Not needing more officers, entry into the Naval Academy was closed from to . To his fathers chagrin, he decided to join the Spanish Army. In , he entered the Infantry Academy in Toledo, from which he graduated in . He was commissioned as a lieutenant. Two years later, he obtained a commission to Morocco. Spanish efforts to physically occupy their new African protectorate provoked the protracted Rif War from to with native Moroccans. Tactics at the time resulted in heavy losses among Spanish military officers, but also gave the chance of earning promotion through merit. It was said that officers would get either la caja o la faja a coffin or a generals sash. Franco soon gained a reputation as a good officer. He joined the newly formed regulares, colonial native troops with Spanish officers, who acted as shock troops. In , at the age of and already a captain, he was badly wounded in a skirmish at El Biutz and possibly lost a testicle. His survival marked him permanently in the eyes of the native troops as a man of baraka good luck. He was also recommended unsuccessfully for Spains highest honor for gallantry, the coveted Cruz Laureada de San Fernando. Instead, he was promoted to major comandante, becoming the youngest field grade officer in the Spanish Army. From to , he was posted on the Spanish mainland. That last year, Lieutenant Colonel Jos Milln Astray, a histrionic but charismatic officer, founded the Spanish Foreign Legion, along similar lines to the French Foreign Legion. Franco became the Legions secondincommand and returned to Africa. On July , the poorly commanded and overextended Spanish Army suffered a crushing defeat at Annual at the hands of the Rif tribes led by the Abd elKrim brothers. The Legion symbolically, if not materially, saved the Spanish enclave of Melilla after a threeday forced march led by Franco. In , already a lieutenant colonel, he was made commander of the Legion. The same year, he married Mara del Carmen Polo y MartnezValds they had one child, a daughter, Mara del Carmen, born in . As a special mark of honor, his best man padrino at the wedding was King Alfonso XIII, a fact that would mark him during the Republic as a monarchical officer. Promoted to colonel, Franco led the first wave of troops ashore at Al Hoceima in . This landing in the heartland of Abd elKrims tribe, combined with the French invasion from the south, spelled the beginning of the end for the shortlived Republic of the Rif. Becoming the youngest general in Spain in , Franco was appointed in director of the newly created General Military Academy of Zaragoza, a new college for all Army cadets, replacing the former separate institutions for young men seeking to become officers in infantry, cavalry, artillery, and other branches of the army. Francisco Franco During the Second Spanish Republic With the fall of the monarchy in , in keeping with his longstanding apolitical record, Franco did not take any notable stand. But the closing of the Academy, in June, by War Minister Manuel Azaa, provoked his first clash with the Republic. Azaa found Francos farewell speech to the cadets insulting. For six months, Franco was without a post and under surveillance. On February , he was given a command in A Corua. Franco avoided involvement in Jos Sanjurjos attempted coup that year, and even wrote a hostile letter to Sanjurjo expressing his anger over the attempt. As a side result of Azaas military reform, in January , Franco was relegated from the first to the th in the list of Brigadiers conversely, the same year February, he was given the military command of the Balearic Islands a post above his rank. New elections held in October resulted in a centerright majority. In opposition to this government, a revolutionary movement broke out October . This uprising was rapidly quelled in most of the country, but gained a stronghold in Asturias, with the support of the miners unions. Franco, already general of a Division and aide to the war minister, Diego Hidalgo, was put in command of the operations directed to suppress the insurgency. The forces of the Army in Africa were to carry the brunt of this, with General Eduardo Lpez Ochoa as commander in the field. After two weeks of heavy fighting and a death toll estimated between , and ,, the rebellion was suppressed. The insurgency in Asturias sharpened the antagonism between Left and Right. Franco and Lpez Ochoawho, prior to the campaign in Asturias, was seen as a leftleaning officerwere marked by the left as enemies. At the start of the Civil War, Lpez Ochoa was assassinated. Some time after these events, Franco was briefly commanderinchief of the Army of Africa from February onwards, and from May on, Chief of the General Staff. General election of After the ruling centreright coalition collapsed amid the Straperlo corruption scandal, new elections were scheduled. Two wide coalitions formed the Popular Front on the left, ranging from Republican Union Party to Communists, and the Frente Nacional on the right, ranging from the center radicals to the conservative Carlists. On February , the left won by a narrow margin. Growing political bitterness surfaced again. The government and its supporters, the Popular Front, had launched a campaign against the Opposition whom they accused of plotting against the Republic. The Opposition parties, on the other hand, had reacted with increasing vigour. The latter claimed that the Popular Front had illegally obtained two hundred seats in a Parliament of members. After the loss of seats, the Opposition Parties claimed the government represented only a small minority, adding claims that the Popular Fronts parliamentary majority was the result of largescale electoral fraud, of Governmentsponsored mob terror and intimidation, of the arbitrary annulment of all election certificates in many Rightwing constituencies, and of the expulsion, the arrest, or even the assassination, of many legally elected deputies of the Right. According to the right wing opposition, the real enemies of the Republic were not on the Right but on the Left Spain was in imminent danger of falling under a Communist dictatorship, and therefore by fighting the Popular Front they, the opposition, were merely doing their duty in defence of law and order and of the freedom and the fundamental rights of the Spanish people. The days after the election were marked by nearchaotic circumstances. On February, Franco was sent to the distant Canary Islands to serve as the islands military commander, a position in which he had few troops under his command. Meanwhile, a conspiracy led by Emilio Mola was taking shape. In June, Franco was contacted and a secret meeting was held in Tenerifes La Esperanza Forest to discuss a military coup. An obelisk commemorating this historic meeting can be found in a clearing at Las Races. Outwardly, Franco maintained an ambiguous attitude almost up until July. On June , he wrote to the head of the government, Casares Quiroga, offering to quell the discontent in the army, but was not answered. The other rebels were determined to go ahead, con Paquito o sin Paquito with Franco or without him, as it was put by Jos Francisco Franco Sanjurjo, the honorary leader of the military uprising. After various postponements, July was fixed as the date of the uprising. The situation reached a point of no return and, as presented to Franco by Mola, the coup was unavoidable and he had to choose a side. He decided to join the rebels and was given the task of commanding the Army of Africa. A privately owned DH De Havilland Dragon Rapide, flown by two British MI agents, Cecil Bebb and Hugh Pollard, was chartered in England July to take Franco to Africa. The assassination of the rightwing opposition leader Jos Calvo Sotelo by government police troops, possibly acting on their own in retaliation for the murder of Jos Castillo, precipitated the uprising. On July one day earlier than planned, the African Army rebelled, detaining their commanders. On July, Franco published a manifesto and left for Africa, where he arrived the next day to take command. A week later, the rebels, who soon called themselves the Nationalists, controlled a third of Spain, but most navy units remained under control of the Republican loyalist forces, which left Franco isolated. The coup had failed, but the Spanish Civil War had begun. From the Spanish Civil War to World War II The Spanish Civil War began in July and officially ended with Francos victory in April , leaving , to , dead. Despite the NonIntervention Agreement of August , the war was marked by foreign intervention on behalf of both sides, leading to international repercussions. The nationalist side was supported by Fascist Italy, which sent the Corpo Truppe Volontarie, and later by Nazi Germany, which assisted with the Condor Legion infamous for their bombing of Guernica in April . Britain and France strictly adhered to the arms embargo, provoking dissensions within the French Popular Front coalition led by Lon Blum, but the Republican side was nonetheless supported by volunteers fighting in the International Brigades and the Soviet Union. See for example Ken Loachs Land and Freedom. Because Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin used the war as a testing ground for modern warfare, some historians, such as Ernst Nolte, have considered the Spanish Civil War, along with the Second World War, part of a quotEuropean Civil Warquot lasting from to and characterized mainly as a Left/Right ideological conflict. However, this interpretation has not found acceptance among most historians, who consider the Second World War and the Spanish Civil War two distinct conflicts. Among other things, they point to the political heterogeneity on both sides See Spanish Civil War other factions and criticize a monolithic interpretation which overlooks the local nuances of Spanish history. The first months Despite Francos having no money, while the state treasury was in Madrid with the government, there was an organized economic lobby in London looking after his financial needs with Lisbon as their operational base. Eventually, he was to receive important help from his economic and diplomatic boosters abroad. Following the July , pronunciamiento, Franco assumed the leadership of the , soldiers of the Spanish Army of Africa. The first days of the insurgency were marked with a serious need to secure control over the Spanish Moroccan Protectorate. On one side, Franco managed to win the support of the natives and their nominal authorities, and, on the other, to ensure his control over the army. This led to the summary execution of some senior officers loyal to the Republic one of them his own first cousin. Also his loyal bodyguard was shot by a man known as Manuel Blanco. Francos first problem was how to move his troops to the Iberian Peninsula, since most units of the Navy had remained in control of the Republic and were blocking the Strait of Gibraltar. He requested help from Mussolini, who responded with an unconditional offer of arms and planes Wilhelm Canaris, the head of the Abwehr military intelligence, persuaded Hitler, as well, to support the Nationalists. From July onward he was able, with a small group of mainly German Junkers Ju airplanes, to initiate an air bridge to Seville, where his troops helped to ensure the rebel control of the city. Through representatives, Franco started to negotiate with the United Kingdom, Nazi Germany and Italy for more military support, and above all for more airplanes. Negotiations Francisco Franco were successful with the last two on July and airplanes began to arrive in Tetouan on August. On August Franco was able to break the blockade with the newly arrived air support, successfully deploying a ship convoy with some , soldiers. In early August, the situation in western Andalusia was stable enough to allow him to organize a column some , men at its height, under the command of then LieutenantColonel Juan Yage, which would march through Extremadura towards Madrid. On August Mrida was taken, and on August Badajoz, thus joining both nationalistcontrolled areas. Additionally, Mussolini ordered a voluntary army, the Corpo Truppe Volontarie CTV of some , Italians of fully motorized units to Seville and Hitler added to them a professional squadron from the Luftwaffe JG/ with about planes. All these planes had the Nationalist Spanish insignia painted on them, but were flown by Italian and German troops. The backbone of Francos aviation in those days were the Italian SM. and SM. bombers, the biplane Fiat CR. fighter and the German Junkers Ju cargobomber and the Heinkel He biplane fighter. On September, with the head of the column at the town of Maqueda some km away from Madrid, Franco ordered a detour to free the besieged garrison at the Alczar of Toledo, which was achieved September. This controversial decision gave the Popular Front time to strengthen its defenses in Madrid and hold the city that year but was an important morale and propaganda success. Rise to power The designated leader of the uprising, Gen. Jos Sanjurjo died on July in an airplane crash. Therefore, in the nationalist zone, quotPolitical life ceased.quot Initially, only military command mattered this was divided into regional commands Emilio Mola in the North, Gonzalo Queipo de Llano in Seville commanding Andalusia, Franco with an independent command and Miguel Cabanellas in Zaragoza commanding Aragon. The Spanish Army of Morocco itself was split into two columns, one commanded by General Juan Yage and the other commanded by Colonel Jos Varela. From July, a coordinating junta was established, based at Burgos. Nominally led by Cabanellas, as the most senior general, it initially included Mola, three other generals, and two colonels Franco was later added in early August. On September it was decided that Franco was to be commanderinchief this unified command was opposed only by Cabanellas, and, after some discussion, with no more than a lukewarm agreement from Queipo de Llano and from Mola, also head of government. He was, doubtlessly, helped to this primacy by the fact that, in late July, Hitler had decided that all of Germanys aid to the nationalists would go to Franco. Mola considered Franco as unfit and not part of the initial rebel group. But Mola himself had been somewhat discredited as the main planner of the attempted coup that had now degenerated into a civil war, and was strongly identified with the Carlists monarchists and not at all with the Falange, a party with Fascist leanings and connections quotphalanxquot, a farright Spanish political party founded by Jos Antonio Primo de Rivera, nor did he have good relations with Germany Queipo de Llano and Cabanellas had both previously rebelled against the dictatorship of Miguel Primo de Rivera and were therefore discredited in some nationalist circles and Falangist leader Jos Antonio Primo de Rivera was in prison in Alicante he would be executed a few months later and the desire to keep a place open for him prevented any other falangist leader from emerging as a possible head of state. Francos previous aloofness from politics meant that he had few active enemies in any of the factions that needed to be placated, and had cooperated in recent months with both Germany and Italy. On October , in Burgos, Franco was publicly proclaimed as Generalsimo of the National army and Jefe del Estado Head of State. When Mola was killed in another air accident a year later which some believe was an assassination June , no military leader was left from those who organized the conspiracy against the Republic between and . Francisco Franco Military command From that time until the end of the war, Franco personally guided military operations. After the failed assault on Madrid in November , Franco settled to a piecemeal approach to winning the war, rather than bold maneuvering. As with his decision to relieve the garrison at Toledo, this approach has been subject of some debate some of his decisions, such as, in June , when he preferred to head for Valencia instead of Catalonia, remain particularly controversial from a military viewpoint. It was however, in Valencia, Castellon and Alicante where the last troops were defeated by Franco. Francos army was supported by Nazi Germany in the form of the Condor Legion, infamous for the bombing of Guernica on April . These German forces also provided maintenance personnel and trainers, and some Germans and Italians served over the entire war period in Spain. Principal assistance was received from Fascist Italy Corpo Truppe Volontarie, but the degree of influence of both powers on Francos direction of the war seems to have been very limited. Nevertheless, the Italian troops, despite not being always effective, were present in most of the large operations in big numbers, while the CTV helped the Nationalist airforce dominate the skies for most of the war. Antnio de Oliveira Salazars Portugal also openly assisted the Nationalists from the start, contributing some , troops. It is said that Francos direction of the Nazi and Fascist forces was limited, particularly in the direction of the Condor Legion, however, he was officially, by default, their supreme commander and they rarely made decisions on their own. For reasons of prestige, it was decided to continue assisting Franco until the end of the war, and Italian and German troops paraded on the day of the final victory in Madrid. Political command In April , Franco managed to fuse the ideologically incompatible nationalsyndicalist Falange quotphalanxquot, a farright Spanish political party founded by Jos Antonio Primo de Rivera and the Carlist monarchist parties under a singleparty under his rule, dubbed Falange Espaola Tradicionalista y de las Juntas de Ofensiva NacionalSindicalista FET y de las JONS, which became the only legal party in . The Falangists hymn, Cara al Sol, became the seminational anthem of Francos not yet established regime. This new political formation appeased the proNazi Falangists while tempering them with the antiGerman Carlists. Francos brotherinlaw Ramn Serrano Ser, who was his main political advisor, was able to turn the various parties under Franco against each other to absorb a series of political confrontations against Franco himself. At a certain moment he even expelled the original leading members of both the Carlists Manuel Fal Conde and the Falangists Manuel Hedilla to secure Francos political future. Franco also appeased the Carlists by exploiting the Republicans anticlericalism in his propaganda, in particular concerning the quotMartyrs of the warquot. While the loyalist forces presented the war as a struggle to defend the Republic against Fascism, Franco depicted himself as the defender of quotCatholic Spainquot against quotatheist Communism.quot The end of the Civil War Before the fall of Catalonia in February , the Prime Minister of Spain Juan Negrn unsuccessfully proposed, in the meeting of the Cortes in Figueres, capitulation with the sole condition of respecting the lives of the vanquished. Negrn was ultimately deposed by Colonel Segismundo Casado, later joined by Jos Miaja. Thereafter, only Madrid see History of Madrid and a few other areas remained under control of the government forces. On February Chamberlain and Daladiers governments recognized the Franco regime, before the official end of the war. The PCE the Spanish Communist Party attempted a mutiny in Madrid with the aim of reestablishing Negrns leadership, but Jos Miaja retained control. Finally, on March , with the help of proFranco forces inside the city the quotfifth columnquot General Mola had mentioned in propaganda broadcasts in , Madrid fell to the Nationalists. The next day, Valencia, which had held out under the guns of the Nationalists for close to two years, also surrendered. Victory was proclaimed on April , when the last of the Republican Francisco Franco forces surrendered. On this very date, Franco placed his sword upon the altar in a church and in a vow, promised that he would never again take up his sword unless Spain itself was threatened with invasion. At least , people were executed during the civil war. Francos victory was followed by thousands of summary executions from , to , people and imprisonments, while many were put to forced labour, building railways, drying out swamps, digging canals La Corchuela, the Canal of the Bajo Guadalquivir, construction of the Valle de los Cados monument, etc. The shooting of the president of the Catalan government, Llus Companys, was one of the most notable cases of this early suppression of opponents and dissenters. Although leftists suffered from an important deathtoll, the Spanish intelligentsia, atheists and military and government figures who had remained loyal to the Madrid government during the war were also targeted for oppression. In his recent, updated history of the Spanish Civil War, Antony Beevor quotreckons Francos ensuing white terror claimed , lives. The red terror had already killed ,.quot Julius Ruiz concludes that quotalthough the figures remain disputed, a minimum of , executions were carried out in the Republican zone with a maximum of , executions including , after the war in Nationalist Spain.quot In Checas de Madrid, Csar Vidal comes to a nationwide total of , victims of Republican violence , people being killed in Madrid alone. Despite the official end of the war, guerrilla resistance to Franco known as quotthe maquisquot was widespread in many mountainous regions, and continued well into the s. In , a group of republican veterans, which also fought in the French resistance against the Nazis, invaded the Val dAran in northwest Catalonia, but they were quickly defeated. The end of the war led to hundreds of thousands of exilees, mostly to France but also Mexico, Chile, Cuba, the USA and so on.. On the other side of the Pyrenees, refugees were confined in internment camps of the French Third Republic, such as Camp Gurs or Camp Vernet, where , Republicans were housed in squalid conditions mostly soldiers from the Durruti Division . The , refugees housed in Gurs were divided into four categories Brigadists, pilots, Gudaris and ordinary Spaniards. The Gudaris Basques and the pilots easily found local backers and jobs, and were allowed to quit the camp, but the farmers and ordinary people, who could not find relations in France, were encouraged by the Third Republic, in agreement with the Francoist government, to return to Spain. The great majority did so and were turned over to the Francoist authorities in Irn. From there they were transferred to the Miranda de Ebro camp for quotpurificationquot according to the Law of Political Responsibilities. After the proclamation by Marshal Philippe Ptain of the Vichy France regime, the refugees became political prisoners, and the French police attempted to roundup those who had been liberated from the camp. Along with other quotundesirablesquot, they were sent to the Drancy internment camp before being deported to Nazi Germany. , Spaniards thus died in Mauthausen concentration camp. The Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, who had been named by the Chilean President Pedro Aguirre Cerda special consul for immigration in Paris, was given responsibility for what he called quotthe noblest mission I have ever undertakenquot shipping more than , Spanish refugees, who had been housed by the French in squalid camps, to Chile on an old cargo ship, the Winnipeg. Francisco Franco World War II In September , World War II broke out in Europe, and although Hitler met Franco once in Hendaye, France October , to discuss Spanish entry on the side of the Axis, Francos demands food, military equipment, Gibraltar, French North Africa etc. proved too much and no agreement was reached. An oftcited remark attributed to Hitler is that the German leader would rather have some teeth extracted than to have to deal further with Franco. Francos tactics received important support from Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini during Front row in order from left to right Spains Foreign Minister Serrano Ser, the civil war. He remained emphatically Heinrich Himmler, and Franco in Madrid, October neutral in the Second World War, but nonetheless offered various kinds of support to Italy and Germany. He allowed Spanish soldiers to volunteer to fight in the German Army against the USSR the Blue Division, but forbade Spaniards to fight in the West against the democracies. Francos common ground with Hitler was particularly weakened by Hitlers propagation of Nazi mysticism and his attempts to manipulate Christianity, which went against Francos fervent commitment to defending Christianity and Catholicism. Contributing to the disagreement was an ongoing dispute over German mining rights in Spain. Some historians argue that Franco made demands that he knew Hitler would not accede to in order to stay out of the war. Other historians argue that he, as leader of a destroyed country in chaos, simply had nothing to offer the Germans and their military. Yet, after the collapse of France in June , Spain did adopt a proAxis nonbelligerency stance for example, he offered Spanish naval facilities to German ships until returning to complete neutrality in when the tide of the war had turned decisively against Germany and its allies. Some volunteer Spanish troops the Divisin Azul, or quotBlue Divisionquotnot given official state sanction by Francowent to fight on the Eastern Front under German command from . Some historians have argued that not all of the Blue Division were true volunteers and that Franco expended relatively small but significant resources to aid the Axis powers battle against the Soviet Union. According to the recent discovery of a World War II Document, Franco ordered his provincial governors to compile a list of Jews while he negotiated an alliance with the Axis powers. Franco supplied Heinrich Himmler with a list of , Jews in Spain, for the Nazis quotFinal Solutionquot. It is true that Franco built no concentration camps on Spanish territory, nor did he voluntarily hand Jews over to Germany. Plans for alliance fell through and Spain never carried out the Nazis plans. During the entire war, especially after , the Spanish borders were more or less kept open for Jewish refugees from Vichy France and Nazioccupied territories in Europe. Spanish diplomats, acting outside of Francos authority, extended their diplomatic protection over Jews in Hungary, Czechoslovakia and the Balkans. Spain was a safe haven for all Jewish refugees and antisemitism was not official policy under the Franco regime. In alone, roughly , Jewish refugees found safe haven in Spain. Overall, per some estimates, during World War II, Francos policies saved the lives of almost , European Jews. On June , the Spanish forces in Morocco occupied Tangier a city under the rule of the League of Nations and did not leave it until . Francisco Franco Spain under Franco Franco was recognized as the Spanish head of state by Britain and France in February , two months before the war officially ended. Already proclaimed Generalsimo of the Nationalists and Jefe del Estado Head of State in October , he thereafter assumed the official title of quotSu Excelencia el Jefe de Estadoquot quotHis Excellency the Head of Statequot. However, he was also referred to in state and official documents as quotCaudillo de Espaaquot quotthe Leader of Spainquot, and sometimes called quotel Caudillo de la ltima Cruzada y de la Hispanidadquot quotthe Leader of the Last Crusade and of the Hispanic heritagequot and quotel Caudillo de la Guerra de Liberacin contra el Comunismo y sus Cmplicesquot quotthe Leader of the War of Liberation Against Communism and Its Accomplicesquot. The use of quotJefequot alone also occurred, similar to Fhrer and Il Duce, but never caught any wide use. In , Franco proclaimed Spain a monarchy, but did not designate a monarch. This gesture was largely done to appease the Movimiento Nacional Carlists and Alfonsists. Although a selfproclaimed monarchist himself, Franco had no particular desire to proclaim himself King of Spain, nor have a King to rule the country yet, and as such, he left the throne vacant, with himself as a de facto Regent. He wore the uniform of a Captain General a rank traditionally reserved for the King and resided in the El Pardo Palace. In addition, he appropriated the royal privilege of walking beneath a canopy, and his portrait appeared on most Spanish coins and postage stamps. He also added quotby the grace of Godquot, a phrase usually part of the styles of monarchs, to his style. Flag of The Spanish State Flag of The Spanish State Franco initially sought support from various groups. He initially garnered support from the fascist elements of the Falange, but Franco visiting the inauguration of INIA, March distanced himself from fascist ideology after the defeat of the Axis in World War II. Francos administration marginalized fascist ideologues in favor of technocrats, many of whom were linked with Opus Dei, who promoted the economic modernization under Franco. Although Franco and Spain under his rule adopted some trappings of fascism, he, and Spain under his rule, are not generally considered to be fascist among the distinctions, fascism entails a revolutionary aim to transform society, where Franco and Francos Spain did not seek to do so, and, to the contrary, although authoritarian, were conservative and traditional. Stanley Payne notes quotscarcely any of the serious historians and analysts of Franco consider the generalissimo to be a core fascistquot. The consistent points in Francos long rule included above all authoritarianism, nationalism, the defense of Catholicism and the family, antiFreemasonry, and antiCommunism. The aftermath of the Civil War was socially bleak many of those who had supported the Republic fled into exile. Spain lost thousands of doctors, nurses, teachers, lawyers, judges, professors, businessmen, artists, etc. Many of those who had to stay lost their jobs or lost their rank. Sometimes those jobs were given to unskilled and even untrained personnel. This deprived the country of many of its brightest minds, and also of a very capable workforce. However, this was done to keep Spains citizens consistent with the ideals sought by the Nationalists and Franco. Francisco Franco With the end of World War II, Spain suffered from the economic consequences of its isolation from the international community. This situation ended in part when, due to Spains strategic location in light of Cold War tensions, the United States entered into a trade and military alliance with Spain. This historic alliance commenced with United States President Eisenhowers visit in which resulted in the Pact of Madrid. Spain was then admitted to the UN in . In , a syndicate from Dallas, Texas, including Jack Crichton, Everette Lee DeGolyer, and Clint Murchison sought drilling rights to petroleum in Spain. The operation was handled by Delta Drilling Company. Franco and U.S. President Eisenhower in Madrid, Spain. Political oppression Personal Standard Franco as Head of State. Coat of arms of Franco as Head of State. The Victor, another emblem used by Franco. The first decade of Francos rule in the s following the end of the Civil War in saw continued oppression and the killing of an undetermined number of political opponents. Estimation is difficult and controversial, but the number of people killed probably lies somewhere between , and , see above, The end of the Civil War. Francisco Franco Subsequently, Francos state became less violent, but during his rule nongovernment trade unions and all political opponents across the political spectrum, from communist and anarchist organizations to liberal democrats and Catalan or Basque separatists, were either suppressed or tightly controlled by all means, up to and including violent police repression. The Confederacin Nacional del Trabajo CNT and the Unin General de Trabajadores UGT tradeunions were outlawed, and replaced in by the corporatist Sindicato Vertical. The Spanish Socialist Workers Party and the Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya ERC were banned in , while the Communist Party of Spain PCE went underground. The Basque Nationalist Party PNV went into exile, and in , the ETA armed group was created to wage a lowintensity war against Franco. Francos Spanish nationalism promoted a unitary national identity by repressing Spains cultural diversity. Bullfighting and flamenco were promoted as national traditions while those traditions not considered quotSpanishquot were suppressed. Francos view of Spanish tradition was somewhat artificial and arbitrary while some regional traditions were suppressed, Flamenco, an Andalusian tradition, was considered part of a larger, national identity. All cultural activities were subject to censorship, and many were plainly forbidden often in an erratic manner. This cultural policy relaxed with time, most notably in the late s and early s. Franco also used language politics in an attempt to establish national homogeneity. He promoted the use of Castilian Spanish and suppressed other languages such as Catalan, Galician, and Basque. The legal usage of languages other than Castilian was forbidden. All government, notarial, legal and commercial documents were to be drawn up exclusively in Castilian and any written in other languages were deemed null and void. The usage of any other language was forbidden in schools, in advertising, and on road and shop signs. Publications in other languages were generally forbidden. Citizens continued to speak these languages in private. This was the situation throughout the s and, to a lesser extent, during the s, but after the nonCastilian Spanish languages were freely spoken and written and reached bookshops and stages, although they never received official status. On the other hand, the Catholic Church was upheld as the established church of the Spanish State, and regained many of the traditional privileges it had lost under the Republic. Civil servants had to be Catholic, and some official jobs even required a quotgood behaviorquot statement by a priest. Civil marriages which had taken place under Republican Spain were declared null and void unless confirmed by the Catholic Church, a difficult if not impossible requirement considering civil marriages were only possible after the couple made a public renunciation of the Catholic faith. Divorce was forbidden, and also contraceptives and abortion. Francoism professed a devotion to the traditional role of women in society, that is loving child to her parents and brothers, faithful to her husband, residing with her family. Official propaganda confined her role to family care and motherhood. Immediately after the war, most progressive laws passed by the Republic aimed at equality between the sexes were made void. Women could not become judges, or testify in trial. They could not become university professors. Their affairs and economy had to be managed by their father or by their husbands. Even in the s a woman fleeing from an abusive husband could be arrested and imprisoned for quotabandoning the homequot abandono del hogar. Until the s a woman could not have a bank account without a cosign by her father or husband. In the s and s the situation was somewhat relieved, but it was not until after Francos death that a more egalitarian view of the sexes was adopted. The enforcement by public authorities of traditional Catholic values was a stated intent of the regime, mainly by using a law the Ley de Vagos y Maleantes, Vagrancy Act enacted by Azaa. The remaining nomads of Spain Gitanos and Mercheros like El Lute were especially affected. In , homosexuality, pedophilia, and prostitution were, through this law, made criminal offenses, although its application was seldom consistent. Most country towns, and rural areas, were patrolled by pairs of Guardia Civil, a military police for civilians, which functioned as his chief means of social control. Larger cities, and capitals, were mostly under the Policia Armada, or grises quotgreysquot as they were called. Franco, like others at the time, evidenced a concern about a possible Masonic conspiracy against his regime. Some nonSpanish authors have described it as being an quotobsessionquot. Francisco Franco Student revolts, at universities in the late s and early s, were violently repressed by the heavily armed Polica Armada Armed Police. Plainclothes secret police worked inside Spanish universities. In May , an American student was arrested by university secret police in Barcelona and charged and imprisoned under martial law for the crime of wearing an old Spanish Army jacket. Although the US State Department, through its consulate in Barcelona, was notified, it elected not to intervene. Franco continued to personally sign all death warrants until just a few months before he died, despite international campaigns requesting him to desist. Spanish colonial empire and decolonisation Spain attempted to retain control of its colonial empire throughout Francos rule. During the Algerian War , Madrid became the base of the Organisation de larme secrte OAS rightwing French Army group which sought to preserve French Algeria. Despite this, Franco was forced to make some concessions. When French Morocco became independent in , he surrendered Spanish Morocco to Mohammed V, retaining only a few enclaves the Plazas de soberana. The year after, Mohammed V invaded Spanish Sahara during the Ifni War known as the quotForgotten Warquot in Spain. Only in , with the Green March, did Morocco take control of all of the former Spanish territories in the Sahara. In , under United Nations pressure, Franco granted Spains colony of Equatorial Guinea its independence, and the next year, ceded the exclave of Ifni to Morocco. Under Franco, Spain also pursued a campaign to force a negotiation on the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, and closed its border with that territory in . The border would not be fully reopened until . Economic policy The Civil War had ravaged the Spanish economy. Infrastructure had been damaged, workers killed, and daily business severely hampered. For more than a decade after Francos victory, the economy improved little. Franco initially pursued a policy of autarky, cutting off almost all international trade. The policy had devastating effects, and the economy stagnated. Only black marketeers could enjoy an evident affluence. According to Francos detractor Nicols Sartorius, a Czech engineer and conman managed to convince the general that with the waters of the River Jarama, certain herbs and secret powders, Spain could get all the petroleum it needed. On another, he was convinced of a plan to Spanish peseta coin with the image of solve the countrys terrible hunger of the s by feeding the Franco saying Francisco Franco, Leader of population of million with dolphin sandwiches. Some , Spain, by the grace of God people died of hunger in the early years of Francoism, a period known as Los Aos de Hambre The Years of Hunger, or the Hungry Years. On the brink of bankruptcy, a combination of pressure from the USA, the IMF and technocrats from the Opus Dei managed to quotconvincequot the regime to adopt a free market economy in in what amounted to a mini coup dtat which removed the old guard in charge of the economy, despite the opposition of Franco. This economic liberalisation was not, however, accompanied by political reforms and repression continued unabated, though these very reforms would lead to socioeconomic changes in Spanish society which would make the regimes continuation years later untenable. Economic growth picked up after after Franco took authority away from these ideologues and gave more power to the apolitical technocrats. The country implemented several development policies and growth took off creating an Francisco Franco economic boom that became known as the quotSpanish Miraclequot. Concurrent with the absence of social reforms, and the economic power shift, a tide of mass emigration commenced to European countries, and to lesser extent, to South America. Emigration helped the regime in two ways. The country got rid of populations it would not have been able to keep in employment, and the emigrants supplied the country with much needed monetary remittances. During the s, the wealthy classes of Francoist Spains population experienced further increases in wealth, particularly those who remained politically faithful. International firms established their factories in Spain where salaries were low, taxes nearly nonexistent, strikes forbidden and workers health or real state regulations were unheard of. Furthermore, Spain was virtually a new market. Spain became the secondfastest growing economy in the world, just behind Japan. By the time of Francos death in , Spain still lagged behind most of Western Europe, but the gap between its GDP per capita and that of the leading Western European countries had narrowed greatly and the country had developed a large industrialised economy. Regions Franco was reluctant to enact any form of administrative and legislative decentralisation and kept a fully centralised government with a similar administrative structure to that established by the House of Bourbon and General Miguel Primo de Rivera y Orbaneja. Such structures were both based on the model of the French centralised State.The main drawback of this kind of management is that government attention and initiatives were irregular, and often depended more on the goodwill of regional Government representatives than on regional needs. Thus, inequalities in schooling, health care or transport facilities among regions were patent classically affluent regions like Madrid, Catalonia, or the Basque Country fared much better than Extremadura, Galicia or Andalusia. Some regions, like Extremadura or La Mancha did not have a university. The Basque Country and Catalonia were among the regions that offered the strongest resistance to Franco in the Civil War. Franco dissolved the autonomy granted by the Second Spanish Republic to these two regions and to Galicia. Franco abolished the centuriesold fiscal privileges and autonomy the fueros in two of the three Basque provinces Guipuzcoa and Biscay, but kept them for Alava which had sided with the nationalists in the civil war. Among Francos greatest area of support during the civil war was Navarre, also a Basque speaking region in its north half. Navarre remained a separate region from the Basque Country and Franco decided to preserve its also centuries old fiscal privileges and autonomy, the socalled Fueros of Navarre. The regional privileges for Alava and Navarre were kept because Alava and Navarre had participated in the initial coup dtat against the Republican government on July . Franco abolished the official statute and recognition for the Basque, Galician, and Catalan languages that the Second Spanish Republic had granted for the first time in the history of Spain. He returned to Castilian as the only official language of the State and education. The Franco era corresponded with the popularisation of the compulsory national educational system and the development of modern mass media, both controlled by the State and in the Castilian language, and heavily reduced the number of speakers of Basque, Catalan and Galician, as happened during the second half of the twentieth century with other European minority languages which were not officially protected such as Scottish Gaelic or French Breton. By the s the majority of the population in the urban areas could not speak the minority language or, as in some Catalan towns, their use had been abandoned. The most endangered case was the Basque language. By the s Basque had reached the point where the language was close to extinction and it is now recognised that the language would have disappeared in a few decades. This was the main reason that drove the Francoist provincial government of Alava to create a network of Basque medium schools Ikastola in which were Statefinanced. Francisco Franco Francos death and funeral In , Franco designated Prince Juan Carlos de Borbn, who had been educated by him in Spain, with the new title of King of Spain, as his successor. This designation came as a surprise for the Carlist pretender to the throne, as well as for Juan Carloss father, Don Juan, the Count of Barcelona, who technically had a superior right to the throne. By , Franco had surrendered the function of prime minister Presidente del Gobierno, remaining only as head of state and commander in chief of the military. Franco is entombed in the monument of Santa As his final years progressed, tension within the various Cruz del Valle de los Cados factions of the Movimiento would consume Spanish political life, as varying groups jockeyed for position to control the countrys future. On July , the aged Franco fell ill from various health problems, and Juan Carlos took over as Head of State. Franco soon recovered on September and resumed his duties as Head of State, but one year later he fell ill once again from more health problems including a long battle with Parkinsons Disease. On October , he fell into a coma and was put on life support. Franco died just after midnight on November , at the age of , just two weeks before his rd birthday the same date as the death of Jos Antonio Primo de Rivera, founder of the Falange. It is suspected that his doctors were ordered to keep him alive by respirator and life support machines until this symbolic date of the farright. The historian Ricardo de la Cierva claims that on November around pm, he was told that Franco had already died. After Francos death, Prince Juan Carlos Francos tomb decided to bury him at Valle de los Cados, a colossal memorial that nominally honors all the casualties of the Spanish Civil War, but designed by Franco and with a distinctly nationalist tone. Chilean dictator and selfproclaimed president General Augusto Pinochet, who revered Franco and modeled himself in his image, attended his funeral, as did Bolivias dictator General Hugo Banzer. Francos legacy In Spain and abroad, the legacy of Franco remains controversial. The length of his rule, the suppression of opposition, and the effective propaganda sustained through the years has made a detached evaluation impossible. For years, Spaniards, and particularly children at school were told that Divine Providence had sent him to save Spain from chaos and poverty. With time, the regime had evolved somewhat, and the ferocious oppression of the early s was decreased to some degree in later years. The relative economic success of this period created a considerable group of grateful citizens, who found the increase in everyday standard of living more significant than any human rights abuses. Francisco Franco All public references to the Franco regime, including statues, portraits, street names, public buildings, parks, and symbols that were named after him during his reign, are currently banned by the Spanish government, while the national anthem of Spain, the Marcha Real, is no longer accompanied by the lyrics introduced by Franco. In , the BBC reported that Maciej Giertych, an MEP of the League of Polish Families, had expressed admiration for Franco, stating that he quotguaranteed the maintenance of traditional values in Europequot. Many Spaniards, particularly those who suffered under Francos rule, have sought to remove official recognition of his regime. Most government buildings and street names that were named after him during his long rule, have been renamed to their original name. Several statues of Franco and other public Francoist symbols have been removed, with reportedly the last statue in Santander having been removed in . Curiously, the city of Melilla, an autonomous city of Spain located in North Africa, has the distinction of being the only place in Spain where a statue of Franco is still visible on a public street. In , Jos Maria Aznars conservative government had voted against proposals to remove street names, statues and other symbols of the Franco era. In March , the Permanent Commission of the European Parliament unanimously adopted a resolution quotfirmlyquot condemning the quotmultiple and serious violationsquot of human rights committed in Spain under the Francoist regime from to . The resolution was at the initiative of the MEP Leo Brincat and of the historian Luis Mara de Puig, and is the first international official condemnation of the repression enacted by Francos regime. The resolution also urged to provide public access to historians professional and amateurs to the various archives of the Francoist regime, including those of the private Fundacin Francisco Franco which, as well as other Francoist archives, remain as of inaccessible to the public. The Fundacin Francisco Franco received various archives from the El Pardo Palace, and is alleged to have sold some of them to private individuals. Furthermore, it urged the Spanish authorities to set up an underground exhibition in the Valle de los Caidos monument, in order to explain the quotterriblequot conditions in which it was built. Finally, it proposes the construction of monuments to commemorate Francos victims in Madrid and other important cities. In Spain, a commission to repair the dignity and restore the memory of the victims of Francoism Comisin para reparar la dignidad y restituir la memoria de las vctimas del franquismo was approved in the summer of , and is directed by the socialist vicepresident Mara Teresa Fernndez de la Vega. Recently the Association for the Recovery of Historical Memory ARHM initiated a systematic search for mass graves of people executed during Francos regime, which has been supported since the Spanish Socialist Workers Partys PSOE victory during the elections by Jos Luis Rodrguez Zapateros government. A Ley de la memoria histrica de Espaa Law on the Historical Memory of Spain was approved on July by the Council of Ministers, but it took until October for the Congress of Deputies to approve an amended version as quotThe Bill to recognise and extend rights and to establish measures in favour of those who suffered persecution or violence during the Civil War and the Dictatorshipquot in common parlance still known as Law of Historical Memory. The Senate approved the bill on December . Among other things, the law is supposed to enforce an official recognition of the crimes committed against civilians during the Francoist rule and organize under state supervision the search for mass graves. The accumulated wealth of Francos family including much real estate inherited from Franco, such as the Pazo de Meirs, the Canto del Pico in Torrelodones or the Cornide Palace in the Corua has also been discussed. Estimates of the familys wealth have ranged from million to million euros. When Franco was sick, the A statue of Franco in Santander which was removed in Francisco Franco Cortes voted a pension for his wife, Carmen Polo. At the time of her death in , Carmen Polo was receiving more than .million pesetas four million more than Felipe Gonzlez, then head of the government. Due to Francos human rights record, in , the Spanish government banned all public references to the Franco regime and removed any statues, street names, memorials and symbols associated with the regime. Churches which retain plaques commemorating Franco and the victims of his Republican opponents may lose state aid. Franco in popular media Series and documentary portrayals Raza or Espritu de una Raza Spirit of a Race , based on a script by quotJaime de Andradequot Franco himself, is the semiautobiographical story of a military officer played by Alfredo Mayo. Franco, ese hombre That man, Franco is a proFranco documentary film directed by Jos Luis Senz de Heredia The film version of Evita includes archive footage of Franco. Argentine actor Jos quotPepequot Soriano played both Franco and his double in Esprame en el cielo Wait for Me in Heaven . Ramon Fontser played him in Buen Viaje, Excelencia Bon Voyage, Your Excellency . The movie Dragon Rapide deal about the events previous to the Spanish Civil War, with the actor Juan Diego performing Franco in the almost one of the two quotnoncomicalquot performances of Franco. Manuel Alexandre played the ultimate Franco in the TV Movie N Los ultimos dias de Franco N The Last Days of Franco , the other quotrealisticquot performance of Franco. The Goya Winner Juan Echanove played the dictator in the surrealistic movie MadreGilda MotherGilda . The comic actor Xavier Deltell played Franco in the movie Operacion Gonada Operation Gonad Various biopics from the Spanish TV, show the character of Franco in cameo appearances the biopic about the Spanish president Adolfo Suarez, the biopic about the Spanish Queen Sofia de Grecia, the biopic about the Spanish Kings cousin Alfonso de Borbon y Dampierre... ...Y al tercer ao resucito ...And On the Third Year He Rose Again deal what would happen if Franco rose from the dead. Juan Viadas played Franco in the lex de La Iglesias movie Balada Triste de Trompeta The Last Circus Other appearances The Swedish film Together depicts a celebration triggered by the radio announcement of Francos death. Franco was a running gag on Saturday Night Live, where Weekend Update anchor Chevy Chase would frequently report that quotGeneralissimo Francisco Franco is Still Deadquot. Franco is featured in the novel Triage by Scott Anderson. Franco is revealed to be Birdies former lover in Youve Got Mail Francisco Franco References Footnotes quotFrancisco Francoquot http/ / www. spartacus. schoolnet. co. uk/ WWfranco. htm. Spartacus.Schoolnet.co.uk. . Retrieved December . Beevor, Anthony. The Spanish Civil War. London Penguin, . p . Beevor, Anthony. The Spanish Civil War. London Penguin, . p . Sinova, J. La censura de prensa durante el franquismo/ The Media Censorship During Franco Regime. Random House Mondadori. ISBN X. Lzaro, A. James Joyces encounters with Spanish censorship, . Joyce Studies Annual, Jan . Rodrigo, J. Cautivos Campos de concentracin en la Espaa franquista, , Editorial Crtica. Gastn Aguas, J. M. amp Mendiola Gonzalo, F. eds. quotLos trabajos forzados en la dictadura franquista Bortxazko lanak diktadura frankistan.quot ISBN Duva, J. Octavio Alberola, jefe de los libertarios ajusticiados en , regresa a Espaa para defender su inocencia Diario El Pas, November John T. Woolley and Gerhard Peters, Toasts of the President and General Francisco Franco of Spain at a State Dinner in Madrid http/ / www. presidency. ucsb. edu/ ws/ index. phppid, The American Presidency Project. Santa Barbara, California University of California hosted, Gerhard Peters database. Accessed online May . New York Times. quotNixon Asserts Franco Won Respect for Spain.quot November , Friday, page . After the Spanish Government allowed Sephardi and other Jews to seek refuge via Spain from National Socialist areas, an urban legend appeared as a form of derision claiming that the Francos were of Sephardi ancestry. However Payne explains quotPersistent rumours about Francos alleged Jewish ancestry have no clear foundation, and Harry S. May, Francisco Franco The Jewish Connection is somewhat fancifulquot. Furthermore, quota significant portion of the Spanish and Portuguese populations have some remote Jewish ancestry if this were true of Franco he would simply be in the position of millions of other Spaniards.quotPayne , p.. quotSpains Franco had one testiclequot http/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ / hi/ world/ europe/ . stm. BBC News. May . . Retrieved March . Carmen Franco y Polo, st Duquesa de Franco http/ / www. thepeerage. com/ p. htmi on thePeerage.com. Retrieved August . quotDiscurso de Franco a los cadetes de la academia militar de Zaragozaquot http/ / www. generalisimofranco. com/ discurso. htm in Spanish. June . . Retrieved July . quotRiots Sweep Spain on Lefts Victory Jails Are Stormedquot, The New York Times, February . Muggeridge, Malcolm, editor, Cianos Diplomatic Papers, Odhams, London, Mathieson, David July . quotarticle in the Guardian about Cecil Bebbquot http/ / www. guardian. co. uk/ commentisfree/ / jul/ / post. Guardian UK. . Retrieved March . quotManifesto de las palmasquot http/ / www. generalisimofranco. com/ discurso. htm in Spanish. July . . Retrieved July . Santos Juli, coord. Vctimas de la guerra civil, Madrid, , ISBN quotSpanish Civil Warquot http/ / concise. britannica. com/ ebc/ article/ SpanishCivilWar. Enyclopdia Britannica. Concise.britannica.com. . Retrieved March . quotLa Memoria de los Nuestrosquot http/ / www. memoriahistocheeserica. org/ alojados/ periquete/ paginas/ noticias. html in Spanish. . Retrieved July . Hugh Thomas, The Spanish Civil War, revised and enlarged edition , New York Harper amp Row. ISBN . p. Thomas writes, quotto pacify, rather than to dignify, him.quot op. cit., p. . Thomas, op. cit., p. . Thomas, op. cit., p. . Thomas, op. cit., pp . Thomas, op. cit., p. . Thomas, op. cit., pp . Thomas, op. cit., p. . Thomas, op. cit., pp . The Spanish Republic and the civil war , by Gabriel Jackson, New Jersey, Giles Tremlett in Madrid December . quotSpain torn on tribute to victims of Francoquot http/ / www. guardian. co. uk/ spain/ article/ ,,,. html. Guardian UK. . Retrieved March . quotSpanish Civil War Casualtiesquot http/ / www. spartacus. schoolnet. co. uk/ SPcasualties. htm. Spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk. . Retrieved March . Recent searches conducted with parallel excavations of mass graves in Spain in particular by the Association for the Recovery of Historical Memory, ARMH estimate that the total of people executed after the war may arrive at a number between , to ,. See for example Fosas Comunes Los desaparecidos de Franco. La Guerra Civil no ha terminado http/ / www. elmundo. es/ cronica/ / / . html, El Mundo, July Spanish Francisco Franco quotMen of La Manchaquot http/ / www. economist. com/ books/ displaystory. cfmstoryid. Rev. of Antony Beevor, The Battle for Spain. The Economist June . Julius Ruiz, quotDefending the Republic The Garca Atadell Brigade in Madrid, quot http/ / jch. sagepub. com/ cgi/ content/ abstract/ / / . Journal of Contemporary History . . International justice begins at home http/ / www. firmaspress. com/ . htm by Carlos Alberto Montaner, Miami Herald, August Caistor, Nick February . quotSpanish Civil War fighters look backquot http/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ / hi/ programmes/ fromourowncorrespondent/ . stm. BBC News. . Retrieved March . quotFrench, ,Camp Vernet, Websitequot http/ / cheminsdememoire. gouv. fr/ page/ afficheLieu. phpidLangframp idLieu. Cheminsdememoire.gouv.fr. . Retrieved March . Film documentary http/ / www. histoireimmigration. fr/ index. phplgframp navamp flash on the website of the Cit nationale de lhistoire de limmigration French quotPablo Neruda The Poets Callingquot http/ / www. redpoppy. net/ pabloneruda. php. Redpoppy.net. . Retrieved March . Aderet, Ofer. quotWorld War II document reveals General Franco handed Nazis list of Spanish Jews.quot http/ / www. haaretz. com/ printedition/ news/ wwiidocumentrevealsgeneralfrancohandednazislistofspanishjews. Haaretz News Agency. June quotThe Franco Years Policies, Programs, and Growing Popular Unrest.quot A Country Study Spain lthttp//lcweb.loc.gov/frd/cs/estoc.htmlesgt Laqueur, Walter Fascism Past, Present, Future http/ / books. google. com/ booksidfWggQTqioXcCamp dq p. Oxford University Press De Menses, Filipe Ribeiro Franco and the Spanish Civil War http/ / books. google. com/ booksidInPGwKfCICamp dq, p. , Routledge Gilmour, David, The Transformation of Spain From Franco to the Constitutional Monarchy http/ / books. google. com/ booksidOSEAAAAIAAJamp qamp pgis, p. Quartet Books Payne, Stanley Fascism in Spain, http/ / books. google. com/ booksidNiDUeOCSGsCamp dq, p. University of Wisconsin Press Payne, Stanley Fascism in Spain, http/ / books. google. com/ booksidNiDUeOCSGsCamp dq, p. , Univ. of Wisconsin Press Laqueur, Walter Fascism Past, Present, Future http/ / books. google. com/ booksidfWggQTqioXcCamp dq, p. , Oxford University Press US quotJack Alston Crichtonquot http/ / www. spartacus. schoolnet. co. uk/ MDcrichton. htm. spartacus.schoolnet.co. . Retrieved April . Roman, Mar. quotSpain frets over future of flamenco.quot October . Associated Press. http/ / news. yahoo. com/ s/ ap/ / apenmu/ flamencoforforeigners http/ / search. boe. es/ g/ es/ basesdatos/ tifs. phpcolecciongazetaamp anyoamp nboamp limAamp pubBOEamp pcoamp pfi http/ / search. boe. es/ datos/ imagenes/ BOE/ / / A. tif Hamilos, Paul October . quotRallies banned at Francos mausoleumquot http/ / www. guardian. co. uk/ world/ / oct/ / spain. paulhamilos. The Guardian UK. . Retrieved January . Europe diary Franco and Finland http/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ / hi/ europe/ . stm, BBC News, July English retira la estatua de Franco http/ / www. elpais. com/ articulo/ espana/ Santander/ retira/ estatua/ Franco/ elpepuesp/ elpepunac/ TesSantander, El Pas, December Melilla no retirar la estatua de Franco si Defensa no le da otra ubicacin http/ / www. elmundo. es/ elmundo/ / / / espana/ . html April Primera condena al rgimen de Franco en un recinto internacional http/ / www. elmundo. es/ elmundo/ / / / espana/ . html, EFE, El Mundo, March Spanish Von Martyna Czarnowska, Almunia, Joaquin EUKommission Ein halbes Jahr Vorsprung http/ / www. wienerzeitung. at/ DesktopDefault. aspxTabIDamp AliasDossiersamp cobamp DosCob, Weiner Zeitung, February article in German language. Retrieved August . Luis Gomez and Mabel Galaz, La cosecha del dictador http/ / www. elpais. com/ articulo/ reportajes/ cosecha/ dictador/ elpepusocdmg/ elpdmgrep/ Tes, El Pais, September Spanish Spain OKs Reparations to Civil War Victims http/ / www. sfgate. com/ cgibin/ article. cgif/ n/ a/ / / / international/ iD. DTL, Associated Press, July Politics As Usual The Trials and Tribulations of The Law of Historical Memory in Spain http/ / www. eumed. net/ entelequia/ pdf/ / ea. pdf, Georgina Blakeley The Open University, September Proyecto de Ley por la que se reconocen y amplan derechos y se establecen medidas en favor de quienes padecieron persecucin o violencia durante la Guerra Civil y la Dictadura http/ / www. senado. es/ legis/ expedientes/ / index. html Spanish Francisco Franco Bibliography Blinkhorn, Martin . Democracy and civil war in Spain . Routledge. ISBN. Carroll, Warren H . The Last Crusade Spain . Christendom Press. ISBN. Payne, Stanley G . The Phoenix Franco Regime . Phoenix Press. ISBN. Preston, Paul . Franco A Biography. Basic Books. ISBN. Notes External links National Foundation Francisco Franco. http//www.fnff.org Works by or about Francisco Franco http//worldcat.org/identities/lccnn in libraries WorldCat catalog Bullfighting Bullfighting also known as tauromachy, from Greek tauromachia, quotbullfightquot or as corrida de toros in Spanish is a traditional spectacle of Spain, Portugal, southern France and some Latin American countries Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Ecuador , in which one or more bulls are baited in a bullring for sport and entertainment. It is often called a blood sport by its detractors but followers of the spectacle regard it as a fine art and not a sport as there are no elements of competition in the proceedings. In Portugal it is illegal to kill a bull in the arena, so it is removed and slaughtered in the pens as fighting bulls can only be used once. A nonlethal variant stemming from Portuguese influence is also practised on the Tanzanian island of Pemba. Bullfighting, douard Manet, The tradition, as it is practiced today, involves professional toreros also called toreadors, who execute various formal moves which can be interpreted and innovated according to the bullfighters style or school, toreros seek to elicit inspiration and art from their work and an emotional connection with the crowd transmitted Bullfighting through the bull . Such maneuvers are performed at close range, which places the bullfighter at risk of being gored or trampled. The bullfight usually concludes with the killing of the bull by a single sword thrust which is called estocada. In Portugal the finale consists of a tradition called the pega, where men forcados try to grab and hold the bull by its horns when it runs at them. Supporters of bullfighting argue that it is a culturally important tradition and a fully developed art form on par with painting, dancing and music, while animal rights advocates hold that it is a blood sport resulting in the suffering of bulls and horses. There are many historic fighting venues in the Iberian Peninsula, France and Latin America. The largest venue of its kind is the Plaza de toros Mxico in central Mexico City, which seats , people, and the oldest is the La Maestranza in Sevilla, Spain, which was first used for bullfighting in . Bullfighting in provinces of Spain at , exceptions should be noted as the area of Pamplona in northern, with major bullfighting. In , the Canary Islands became the first Spanish Autonomous Community to ban bullfighting and Catalonia will become the second Spanish Autonomous Community to ban bullfighting in January . Bullfighting in provinces of Spain in the th century, when bullfights were promoted by the governments as national symbol. History Bullfighting traces its roots to prehistoric bull worship and sacrifice. The killing of the sacred bull tauroctony is the essential central iconic act of Mithras, which was commemorated in the mithraeum wherever Roman soldiers were stationed. The oldest representation of what seems to be a man facing a bull is on the celtiberian tombstone from Clunia and the cave painting quotEl toro de hachosquot, both found in Spain. Bullfighting is often linked to Rome, where many humanversusanimal events were held. There are also theories that it was introduced into Hispania by the Emperor Claudius, as a substitute for gladiators, when he instituted a shortlived ban on gladiatorial combat. The latter theory was supported by Robert Graves. Picadors are the remnants of the javelin, but their role in the contest is now a relatively minor one limited to quotpreparingquot the bull for the matador. Bullfighting spread from Spain to its Central and South American colonies, and in the th century to France, where it developed into a distinctive form in its own right. Bullleaping Fresco from Knossos Bullfighting Religious festivities and royal weddings were celebrated by fights in the local plaza, where noblemen would ride competing for royal favor, and the populace enjoyed the excitement. The Spanish introduced the practice of fighting on foot around . Francisco Romero is generally regarded as having been the first to do this. This type of fighting drew more attention from the crowds. Thus the modern corrida, or fight, began to take form, as riding noblemen were substituted by commoners on foot. This new style prompted the construction of dedicated bullrings, initially square, like the Plaza de Armas, and later round, to discourage the cornering of the action. The modern style of Spanish bullfighting is credited to Juan Belmonte, Mithras killing a bull generally considered the greatest matador of all time. Belmonte introduced a daring and revolutionary style, in which he stayed within a few inches of the bull throughout the fight. Although extremely dangerous Belmonte himself was gored on many occasions, his style is still seen by most matadors as the ideal to be emulated. Today, bullfighting remains similar to the way it was in , when Francisco Romero, from Ronda, Spain, used the estoque, a sword, to kill the bull, and the muleta, a small cape used in the last stage of the fight. Styles of bullfighting Originally, there were at least five distinct regional styles of bullfighting practised in southwestern Europe Andalusia, AragonNavarre, Alentejo, Camargue, Aquitaine. Over time, these have evolved more or less into standardized national forms mentioned below. The quotclassicquot style of bullfight, in which the bull is killed, is the form practised in Spain and many Latin American countries. Spanishstyle bullfighting Spanishstyle bullfighting is called corrida de toros literally quotrunning of bullsquot or la fiesta quotthe festivalquot. In a traditional corrida, three matadores, each fight two bulls, each of which is between four and six years old and weighs no less than kg ,lb Each matador has six assistantstwo picadores quotlancers on horsebackquot mounted on horseback, three banderilleros who along with the matadors are collectively known as toreros quotbullfightersquot and a mozo de espadas Monument to a bull, Plaza de Toros de Ronda Ronda bullring, Spain quotsword pagequot. Collectively they comprise a cuadrilla quotentouragequot. The word quotmatadorquot is only used in English whereas in Spanish the more general quottoreroquot is used and only when needed to distinguish the full title quotmatador de torosquot is used. The modern corrida is highly ritualized, with three distinct stages or tercios quotthirdsquot, the start of each being announced by a bugle sound. The participants first enter the arena in a parade, called the pasello, to salute the presiding dignitary, accompanied by band music. Torero costumes are inspired by th century Andalusian clothing, and matadores are easily distinguished by the gold of their traje de luces quotsuit of lightsquot as opposed to the lesser banderilleros who are also called toreros de plata quotbullfighters of silverquot. Bullfighting Next, the bull enters the ring to be tested for ferocity by the matador and banderilleros with the magenta and gold capote quotcapequot. This is the first stage, the tercio de varas quotthe lancing thirdquot, and the matador first confronts the bull with the capote, performing a series of passes and observing the behavior and quirks of the bull. Next, a picador enters the arena on horseback armed with a vara quotlancequot. To protect the horse from the bulls horns, the horse is surrounded by a protective, padded covering called quotpetoquot. Prior to , the horse did not wear any protection, and the bull would usually Plaza de Toros Las Ventas in Madrid disembowel the horse during this stage. Until this change was instituted, the number of horses killed during a fight was higher than the number of bulls killed. At this point, the picador stabs just behind the morrillo, a mound of muscle on the fighting bulls neck, weakening the neck muscles and leading to the animals first loss of blood. The manner in which the bull charges the horse provides important clues to the matador about which side the bull favors. If the picador is successful, the bull will hold its head and horns slightly lower during the following stages of the fight. This ultimately enables the matador to perform the killing thrust later in the performance. The encounter with the picador often fundamentally changes the behaviour of a bull, distracted and unengaging bulls will become more focused and stay on a single target instead of charging at everything that moves. In the next stage, the tercio de banderillas quotthe third of banderillasquot, the three banderilleros each attempt to plant two banderillas, sharp barbed sticks into the bulls shoulders. These anger and invigorate, but further weaken, the bull who has been tired by his attacks on the horse and the damage he has taken from the lance. Sometimes a matador will place his own banderillas. If they do so they usually embellish this part of their performance and employ more varied manoeuvres than the standard quotal cuarteoquot method usually used by Banderilleros that are part of a Matadors cuadrilla. In the final stage, the tercio de muerte quotthe third of deathquot, the matador reenters the ring alone with a small red cape, or muleta, and a sword. It is a common misconception that the color red is supposed to anger the bull, because bulls, in fact, are colorblind. The cape is thought to be red to mask the bulls blood, although this is now also a matter of tradition. The matador uses his cape to attract the bull in a series of passes which serve the dual purpose of wearing the animal down for the kill and producing a beautiful display or faena. He may also demonstrate his domination over the bull by caping it especially close to his body. The faena is the entire performance with the muleta and it is usually broken down into tandas, quotseriesquot, of passes. The faena ends with a final series of passes in which the matador with a muleta attempts to maneuver the bull into a position to stab it between the shoulder blades and through the aorta or heart. The sword is called quotestoquequot and the act of thrusting the sword is called an estocada. If the matador has performed particularly well, the crowd may petition the president to award the matador an ear of the bull by waving white handkerchiefs. If his performance was exceptional, he will award two, and in certain more rural rings a tail can still be awarded. Very rarely, if the public or the matador believe that the bull has fought extremely bravely, they may petition the president of the event to grant the bull a pardon indulto and if granted the bulls life is spared and it is allowed to leave the ring alive and return to the ranch where it came from. Then the bull becomes a stud bull for the rest of its life. Bullfighting Recortes Recortes, a style of bullfighting practised in Navarra, La Rioja, North of Castille and Valencian Region, has been far less popular than the traditional corridas. There has been a recent resurgence of recortes in Spain where they are sometimes shown on TV. This style was common in the early th century. Etchings by painter Francisco de Goya depict these events. Recortes claims to differ from a corrida in the following ways Goya The Speed and Daring of Juanito Apiani in the Ring of The bull is not physically injured. Drawing blood is Madrid Etching and aquatint rare and the bull returns to his pen at the end of the performance. The men are dressed in common street clothes and not in traditional bullfighting dress. Acrobatics are performed without the use of capes or other props. Performers attempt to evade the bull solely through the swiftness of their movements. Rituals are less strict so the men have freedom to perform stunts as they please. Men work in teams but with less role distinction than in a corrida. Teams compete for points awarded by a jury. Animal rights groups such as PETA object to recortes however, some people find recortes less objectionable than traditional bullfighting since the bull survives the ordeal. Since horses are not used, and performers are not professionals, recortes are less costly to produce. Portuguese Most Portuguese bullfights are held in two phases the spectacle of the cavaleiro, and the pega. In the cavaleiro, a horseman on a Portuguese Lusitano horse specially trained for the fights fights the bull from horseback. The purpose of this fight is to stab three or four bandeiras small javelins in the back of the bull. In the second stage, called the pega quotholdingquot, the forcados, a group of eight men, challenge the bull directly without any protection or Cavaleiro and bull weapon of defense. The front man provokes the bull into a charge to perform a pega de cara or pega de caras face grab. The front man secures the animals head and is quickly aided by his fellows who surround and secure the animal until he is subdued. Forcados are dressed in a traditional costume of damask or velvet, with long knitted hats as worn by the campinos bull headers from Ribatejo. The bull is not killed in the ring and, at the end of the corrida, leading oxen are let into the arena and two campinos on foot herd the bull among them back to its pen. The bull is usually killed, away from the audiences sight, by a professional butcher. It can happen that some bulls, after an exceptional performance, are healed, released to pasture until their end days and used for breeding. Bullfighting French Since the th century Spanishstyle corridas have been increasingly popular in Southern France where they enjoy legal protection in areas where there is an uninterrupted tradition of such bull fights, particularly during holidays such as Whitsun or Easter. Among Frances most important venues for bullfighting are the ancient Roman arenas of Nmes and Arles, although there are bull rings across the South from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic coasts. The French version of bullfighting is unique in that the bulls have a choice not to fight. A more indigenous genre of bullfighting is widely common in the Provence and Languedoc areas, and is known alternately as quotcourse librequot or quotcourse camarguaisequot. This is a bloodless spectacle for the bulls in which the objective is to snatch a rosette from the head of a young bull. The participants, or raseteurs, begin training in their early teens against young bulls from the Camargue region of Provence before graduating to regular contests held principally in Arles and Nmes but also in other Provenal and Languedoc towns and villages. Before the course, an encierroa quotrunningquot of the bulls in the streetstakes place, in which young men compete to outrun the charging bulls. The course itself A bullfight in Arles in . takes place in a small often portable arena erected in a town square. For a period of about minutes, the raseteurs compete to snatch rosettes cocarde tied between the bulls horns. They do not take the rosette with their bare hands but with a clawshaped metal instrument called a raset or crochet hook in their hands, hence their name. Afterwards, the bulls are herded back to their pen by gardians Camarguais cowboys in a bandido, amidst a great deal of ceremony. The star of these spectacles are the bulls, who get top billing and stand to gain fame and statues in their honor, and lucrative product endorsement contracts. The Roman amphitheatre at Arles being fitted for a corrida Bullfighting Another type of French bullfighting is the quotcourse landaisequot style, in which cows are used instead of bulls. This is a competition between teams named cuadrillas, which belong to certain breeding estates. A cuadrilla is made up of a teneur de corde, an entraneur, a sauteur, and six carteurs. The cows are brought to the arena in boxes and then taken out in order. Teneur de corde controls the dangling rope attached to cows horns and the entraneur positions the cow to face and attack the player. The carteurs will try, at the last possible moment, to dodge A raseteur takes a rosette around the cow and the sauteur will leap over it. Each team aims to complete a set of at least one hundred dodges and eight leaps. This is the main scheme of the quotclassicquot form, the course landaise formelle. However, different rules may be applied in some competitions. For example, competitions for Coupe Jeannot Lafittau are arranged with cows without ropes. At one point it resulted in so many fatalities that the French government tried to ban it, but had to back down in the face of local opposition. The bulls themselves are generally fairly small, much less imposing than the adult bulls employed in the corrida. Nonetheless, the bulls remain dangerous due to their mobility and vertically formed horns. Participants and spectators share the risk it is not unknown for angry bulls to smash their way through barriers and charge the surrounding crowd of spectators. The course landaise is not seen as a dangerous sport by many, but carteur JeanPierre Rachou died in when a bulls horn tore his femoral artery. Tamil Nadu or Indian style Jallikattu Jallikattu or Sallikattu or Eruthazhuvuthal is a bulltaming sport played in Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebration. It is one of the oldest in the modern era. Although it sounds similar to the Spanish running of the bulls, it is different. In Jallikattu, the bull is not killed and the matadors are not supposed to use any weapon. It is held in the villages of Tamil Nadu as a part of the village festivals held from January to July, every year. The one held in Alanganallur, near Madurai, is one of the more popular events. This sport is also known as quotManju Virattuquot, meaning quotchasing the bullquot. Understanding Jallikattu or Manju Virattu Jallikattu is based on the simple concept of quotflight or fightquot. Cattle are herd and prey animals and run away from dangerous situations, but there are exceptions. Cape buffalos stand up against lions and often kill them. The Indian Gaur bull is known for standing its ground against predators and tigers are wary of attacking a full grown Gaur bull. Aurochs, the ancestors of domestic cattle, were known for their pugnacious nature. Jallikattu bulls belong to a few specific breeds of cattle that descended from the kangayam breed of cattle and these cattle are pugnacious by nature. These cattle are reared in large herds numbering in the hundreds, with a few cowherds tending to them. These cattle are for all practical comparisons, wild and only the cowherds can mingle with them without fear of being attacked. It is from these herds that calves with good characteristics and body conformation are selected and reared to become jallikattu bulls. These bulls attack not because they are irritated or agitated or frightened, but because that is their basic nature. There are three versions of Jallikattu . Vadi manju virattu this version takes place mostly in the districts of Madurai, Pudukkottai, Theni, Tanjore, and Salem. It has been popularised by television and films and involves the bull being released from an enclosure through an opening. As the bull comes out of the enclosure, one person clings to the hump of the bull. The bull in its attempt to shake him off will bolt in most cases, but some will hook the man with their horns and throw him off. The rules specify that the person has to hold on to the running bull for a predetermined distance to win the prize. In this version, only one person is supposed to attempt catching the bull. Some bulls acquire a reputation and that is enough for them to be given a unhindered passage out of the enclosure and arena. . Vaeli virattu this version is more popular in the districts of sivagangai, manamadurai and madurai. The bull is released in an open ground. This version is the most natural, as the bulls are not restricted in any way no rope or Bullfighting determined path. The bulls once released simply run away from the field in any direction. Most do not even come close to any human. There are a few bulls that do not run but stand their ground and attack anyone who tries to come near them. These bulls will quotplayquot for some time from a few minutes to several hours providing a spectacle for viewers, players and owners alike. . Vadam manjuvirattu quotvadamquot means rope in Tamil. The bull is tied to a footlong rope m and is free to move within this space. A team of seven or nine members must attempt to subdue the bull within minutes. This version is safe for spectators, as the bull is tied and the spectators are shielded by barricades. Training of jallikattu bulls the calves that are chosen to become jallikattu bulls are fed a nutritious diet so they develop into strong, sturdy beasts. The bulls are made to swim for exercise. The calves, once they reach adolescence are taken to small jallikattu events to familiarise them with the atmosphere. Specific training is given to vadam manju virattu bulls to understand the restraints of the rope. Apart from this, no other training is provided to jallikattu bulls. Bullfighting in Oman Oman is perhaps the only country in the Persian Gulf in which bullfighting is carried out. In the interiors of the country, temporary bullrings are set up for the events. AlBatena area is prominent for such events. Wide audiences turn up to see the events unfold. Omani bullfighting is however not a violent event. The origins of bullfighting in Oman are unknown though many locals here believe it was brought to Oman by the Moors of Spanish origin. Yet others say it has a direct connection with Portugal which colonized the Omani coastline for nearly centuries. Bullfighting in Oman Freestyle bullfighting Freestyle bullfighting is a style of bullfighting developed in American rodeo. The style was developed by the rodeo clowns who protect bull riders from being trampled or gored by an angry bull. Freestyle bullfighting is a second competition in which the bullfighter rodeo clown avoids the bull by means of dodging, jumping and use of a barrel. Competitions are organized in the US as the World Bullfighting Championship WBC and the Dickies National Bullfighting Championship under auspices of the Professional Bull Riders PBR. Comic bullfighting Comical spectacles based on bullfighting, called espectculos cmicotaurinos or charlotadas, are still popular in Spain and Mexico, with troupes like El empastre or El bombero torero. Hazards Bullfighting Spanishstyle bullfighting is normally fatal for the bull but it is also dangerous for the matador. Picadors and banderilleros are sometimes gored, but this is not common. Some matadors, notably Juan Belmonte, have been gored many times according to Ernest Hemingway, Belmontes legs were marred by many ugly scars. A special type of surgeon has developed, in Spain and elsewhere, to treat cornadas, or hornwounds. The bullring has a chapel where a matador can pray before the corrida, and where a priest can be found in case a sacrament is needed. The most relevant sacrament is now called quotAnointing of the Sickquot it was formerly known as quotExtreme Unctionquot, or the quotLast Ritesquot. The media often reports the more horrific of bullfighting injuries, such as the May piercing of matador Julio Aparicios chin by a bulls horn. Dead bullfighter douard Manet, c. Cultural aspects Many supporters of bullfighting regard it as a deeply ingrained, integral part of their national cultures. The aesthetic of bullfighting is based on the interaction of the man and the bull. Rather than a competitive sport, the bullfight is more of a ritual which is judged by aficionados bullfighting fans based on artistic impression and command. Ernest Hemingway said of it in his nonfiction book Death in the Afternoon quotBullfighting is the only art in which the artist is in danger of death and in which the degree of brilliance in the performance is left to the fighters honour.quot Bullfighting is seen as a symbol of Spanish culture. The bullfight is above all about the demonstration of style, technique and courage by its participants. While there is usually no doubt about the outcome, the bull is not viewed as a sacrificial victimit is instead seen by the audience as a worthy adversary, deserving of respect in its own right. Muerte del Maestro Death of the Master Jose Villegas Cordero, Stuffed bull head in a bar in San Sebastian Popularity, controversy and criticism Public opinion Bullfighting A Gallup poll found that . of Spaniards express quotno interestquot in bullfighting while . expressed quotsome interestquot and . quota lot of interest.quot The poll also found significant generational variety, with of those and older expressing interest, compared with of those between and years of age. Popularity also varies significantly according to regions in Spain with it being least popular in Galicia and Catalonia with and of those polled expressing no interest. Interest is greatest in the zones of the north, centre, east and south, with around declaring themselves fans and having no interest. Antibullfight demonstration in Zaragoza According to a poll conducted by the Sports Marketing Group in Atlanta in , . of Americans polled hated or strongly disliked bull fighting. Animal rights Bullfighting is criticized by animal rights activists, referring to it as a cruel or barbaric blood sport, in which the bull suffers severe stress and a slow, torturous death. A number of animal rights or animal welfare activist groups undertake antibullfighting actions in Spain and other countries. In Spanish, opposition to bullfighting is referred to as antitaurina. Bullfighting guide The Bulletpoint Bullfight warns that bullfighting is quotnot for the squeamishquot, advising spectators to quotbe prepared for blood.quot The guide details prolonged and profuse bleeding caused by horsemounted lancers, the charging by the bull of a blindfolded, armored horse who is quotsometimes doped up, and unaware of the proximity of the bullquot, the placing of barbed darts by banderilleros, followed by the matadors fatal sword thrust. The guide stresses that Bull dying in a bullfight these procedures are a normal part of bullfighting and that death is rarely instantaneous. The guide further warns those attending bullfights to quotBe prepared to witness various failed attempts at killing the animal before it lies down.quot Funding It has also been noted by critics that bullfighting is financed with public money. In , the Spanish fighting bull breeding industry was allocated million euros in grants, and in almost million. Some of this money comes from European funds to livestock. Bullfighting supporters argue that almost every single cultural endeavour in Europe is partially financed by public money and few of them generate the kind of revenue and taxes in return that bullfighting does through its impact on businesses like hotels, restaurants, insurances and other industries directly or indirectly linked to the spectacle. Bullfighting Style Another current of criticism comes from aficionados themselves, who may despise modern developments such as the defiant style quotanticsquot for some of El Cordobs or the lifestyle of Jesuln de Ubrique, a common subject of Spanish gossip magazines. His quotfemale audiencequotonly corridas were despised by veterans, many of whom reminisce about times past, comparing modern bullfighters with early figures. Politics Late th century / early th century Findesicle Spanish regeneracionista intellectuals protested against what they called the policy of pan y toros quotbread and bullsquot, an analogue of Roman panem et circenses promoted by politicians to keep the populace content in its oppression. During the Franco dictatorship bullfights were supported by the state as something genuinely Spanish, as the fiesta nacional, so that bullfights became associated with the regime and, for this reason, many thought they would decline after the transition to democracy, but this did not happen. Later socialdemocratic governments, particularly the current government of Jos Luis Rodrguez Zapatero, have generally been more opposed to bullfighting, prohibiting children under from attending and limiting or prohibiting the broadcast of bullfights on national TV. Some in Spain despise bullfighting because of its association with the Spanish nation and the Franco regime. Despite the long history and popularity of bullfighting in Barcelona, in it was banned in the Catalonia region, although this move has been criticized by some as being motivated by issues of Catalan independentism rather than animal rights, even when the law that banned it was proposed by an animal rights civic platform called quotProuquot quotEnoughquot in Catalan. The Spanish Royal Family is divided on the issue, from Queen Sophia who does not hide her dislike for bullfights, to King Juan Carlos who occasionally presides over a bullfight from the royal box as part of his official duties, to their daughter Princess Elena who is well known for her liking of bullfights and who often accompanies the king in the presiding box or attends privately in the general seating. The King has allegedly stated, that quotthe day the EU bans bullfighting is the day Spain leaves the EUquot. Religion In Judaism, the Talmud Nezikin Avodah Zarah discusses the Rabbis warning against visiting quotstadiums and circuses.quot Prominent eleventhcentury scholar Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaki Rashi interpreted quotstadiumsquot as referring to quota place where they taunt the bull.quot Eighteenthcentury scholar Rabbi Yechezkel Landau Noda BiYehuda was asked if one may hunt for sport. He answered that one may not, for it involves putting oneself in danger and is a demonstration of cruelty toward animals. Former Chief Rabbi of Israel Rav Ovadia Yosef was asked specifically if one may watch a bullfight. He answered that it is forbidden one must not go to places where performing acts of cruelty against animals is made into a form of amusement. Media prohibitions Staterun Spanish TVE cancelled live coverage of bullfights in August , claiming that the coverage was too violent for children who might be watching, and that live coverage violated a voluntary, industrywide code attempting to limit quotsequences that are particularly crude or brutalquot. In October , in a statement to Congress, Luis Fernndez, the President of Spanish State Broadcaster TVE, confirmed that the station will no longer broadcast live bullfights due to the high cost of production and a rejection of the events by advertisers. However the station will continue to broadcast Tendido Cero, a bullfighting magazine programme. Having the national Spanish TV stop broadcasting it, after years of history, was considered a big step for its abolition. Nevertheless, other regional and private channels keep broadcasting it with good audiences. A Portuguese television station also prohibited the broadcasting of bullfights in January , because they are too violent for minors. In March , Viana do Castelo, a city in northern Portugal, became the first city in that Bullfighting country to ban bullfighting. Mayor Defensor Moura cited torture and imposition of unjustifiable suffering as a factor in arriving at the ban. The citys bullfighting arena will be torn down to accommodate a new cultural centre. Bans Preth century Pope Pius V issued a papal bull titled De Salute Gregis in November which forbade fighting of bulls and any other beasts as the voluntary risk to life endangered the soul of the combatants, but it was abolished eight years later by his successor, Pope GregoryXIII, at the request of king PhilipII. Bullfighting was introduced in Uruguay in by Spain and abolished by Uruguayan law in February . Bullfighting was also introduced in Argentina by Spain but after Argentinas independence the event drastically diminished in popularity and was abolished in under law . Bullfighting also saw a presence in Cuba during its colonial period but was quickly abolished after its independence in . During the th and th centuries bullfighting in Spain was banned at several occasions for instance by PhilipV but always reinstituted later by other governments. th century onwards Bullfighting is now banned in many countries people taking part in such activity would be liable for terms of imprisonment for animal cruelty. quotBloodlessquot variations, though, are permitted and have attracted a following in California, and France. In , the Canary Islands became the first Spanish Autonomous Community to ban bullfighting, when they legislated to ban bullfights and other spectacles that involve cruelty to animals, with the exception of cockfighting, which is traditional in some towns in the Islands. Some supporters of bullfighting and even Lorenzo Olarte Cullen, Canarian head of government at the time, have argued that the fighting bull is not a quotdomestic animalquot and hence the law does not ban bullfighting. The absence of spectacles since would be due to lack of demand. In the rest of Spain, national laws against cruelty to animals have abolished most blood sports, but specifically exempt bullfighting. Several cities around the world have symbolically declared themselves to be AntiBullfighting Cities, including Barcelona, where the last bullfighting ring closed in . On December , Ecuadors president Rafael Correa announced that in a upcoming referendum, the country will be asked whether to ban bullfighting. Catalonia On December , the parliament of Catalonia, one of Spains seventeen Autonomous Communities, approved by majority the preparation of a law to ban bullfighting in Catalonia, as a response to a popular initiative against bullfighting that gathered more than , signatures. On July , with the two main parties allowing their members a free vote, the ban was passed to , with abstentions. This meant Catalonia became the second Community of Spain first was Canary Islands in , and the first on the mainland, to ban bullfighting. The ban takes effect in January , and would only affect the one remaining functioning Catalonian bullring, the Plaza de toros Monumental de Barcelona. It would not affect the correbous, a traditional game of the Ebro where lit flares are attached to a bulls horns. The correbous however is only seen in the municipalities in the south of Plaza de toros de Acho in Lima, Peruthe oldest bullring in South America, dating back to Bullfighting Tarragona, and is essentially Catalan. Ecuador In a referendum in May , Ecuadorians agree on banning bullfighting in the country after centuries. References http/ / www. perseus. tufts. edu/ hopper/ textdocPerseustext. . entrytauromaxi/ a, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A GreekEnglish Lexicon, on Perseus http/ / www. casinternational. org/ es/ home/ sufrimientodetorosycaballos/ corridasdetoros/ corridasdetorosenlatinoamerica/ online descriptions in English most available references are in Swahili http/ / janus. lib. cam. ac. uk/ db/ node. xspidEAD/ GBR/ / RCMS / YQ/ / Photos of Pemba bullfight on Flikr http/ / www. flickr. com/ photos/ alaindsn/ sets/ quotwww.worldstadiums.comquot http/ / www. worldstadiums. com/ northamerica/ countries/ mexico/ centralmexico. shtml. www.worldstadiums.com. . Retrieved . http/ / www. realmaestranza. com/ PAGINASR/ historiapt. htm Guillaume ROUSSEL. quotPierre tombale de Clunia Lencyclopdie LArbre Celtiquequot http/ / www. arbreceltique. com/ encyclopedie/ pierretombaledeclunia. htm. Arbreceltique.com. . Retrieved . Toro de Lidia . quotToro de Lidia Toro de lidiaquot http/ / www. cetnotorolidia. es/ opencmswf/ opencms/ torodelidia/ origenehistoria/ index. html. Cetnotorolidia.es. . Retrieved . Royal Decree /, of February, to modify and reword the Regulations of Taurine Spectacles http/ / legislacion. . es/ idesidweb. html quotbullfighting.quot Encyclopdia Britannica. . Encyclopdia Britannica Online. Jan. http/ / www. britannica. com/ EBchecked/ topic/ / bullfightinggt. quotLonghornInformation handlingquot http/ / www. itla. net/ index. cfmsecLonghornInformationamp conhandling. ITLA. . Retrieved . http/ / iacuc. tennessee. edu/ pdf/ PoliciesAnimalCare/ CattleBasicCare. pdf Isaacson, Andy, , quotCalifornias bloodless bullfights keep Portuguese tradition alivequot http/ / sfgate. com/ cgibin/ article. cgifile/ c/ a/ / / / TRURCGLG. DTL, San Francisco Chronicle. Vaches Pour Cash LEconomie de LEncierro Provenale, Dr. Yves OMalley, Nanterre University . http/ / www. mangalorean. com/ browsearticles. phparttypeFeatureamp articleid Bullfighting Spactacles State Norms in Spanish http/ / www. ganaderoslidia. com/ webroot/ rd. htm Example Los espectculos cmicotaurinos no podrn celebrarse conjuntamente con otros festejos taurinos en los que se d muerte a las reses. quotSpanish bull fighter suffers horrific injury as bulls horn enters beneath the chin and comes out of mouthquot http/ / www. nationalturk. com/ en/ bullfightinjuryasmatadorgoredthroughchininmadridspain. May , . . Retrieved May . quotEncuesta Gallup Inters por las corridas de toros In Spanishquot http/ / www. columbia. edu/ itc/ spanish/ cultura/ texts/ GallupCorridasToros. htm. Columbia.edu. . Retrieved . quotMost hated sports Going to the dogsquot http/ / nbcsports. msnbc. com/ id/ / . nbcsports.msnbc.com. . . Retrieved . quotWhat is bullfightingquot http/ / www. league. org. uk/ content. aspCategoryID. . quotRunning of the Bulls Factsheetquot http/ / www. runningofthenudes. com/ bullfightingfacts. asp. . quotICABS calls on Vodafone to drop bullfighting from adquot http/ / www. banbloodsports. com/ lnc. htm. . quotThe suffering of bullfighting bullsquot http/ / english. stieren. net/ index. phpid. . The Bulletpoint Bullfight, p. , ISBN No permitas que tus impuestos financien la tortura a los toros Acta ya. http/ / www. animanaturalis. org/ post/ NopermitasquetusimpuestosfinancienlatorturaalostorosiActuaya AnimaNaturalis Spanish Parte de nuestros impuestos se dedican a financiar estas prcticas. Cada gallego aporta euros al ao a la tauromaquia http/ / elprogreso. galiciae. com/ nova/ . html July . El Progreso Spanish Los alcaldes antitaurinos cierran el grifo a las corridas http/ / www. publico. es/ espana/ actualidad/ / alcaldes/ antitaurinos/ cierran/ grifo/ corridas Pblico Spanish quotFor a Bullfightingfree europequot http/ / www. bullfightingfreeeurope. org/ . Bullfightingfreeeurope.org. . Retrieved . quotBullfighting ban and the horns of a dilemma for Spainquot http/ / www. yorkshirepost. co. uk/ features/ Bullfightingbanandthehorns. . jp. July , . . quotCatalonia bans bullfighting in landmark Spain votequot http/ / www. bbc. co. uk/ news/ worldeurope. British Broadcasting Corporation. . . Retrieved . quotQueen Sofia of Spain Phantisquot http/ / wiki. phantis. com/ index. php/ QueenSofiaofSpain. Wiki.phantis.com. . . Retrieved . quotCasa de Su Majestad el Rey de Espaaquot http/ / www. casareal. es/ noticias/ news/ CorridaTorosPrensaidesidweb. html. Casareal.es. . . Retrieved . Bullfighting gerrit schimmelpeninck. quotCasa Realquot http/ / www. portaltaurino. com/ corazon/ casareal. htm. Portaltaurino.com. . Retrieved . quotPlaza de Toros de Las Ventasquot http/ / www. lasventas. com/ cronicas/ / portada. htm. Lasventas.com. . Retrieved . quotPlaza de Toros de Las Ventasquot http/ / asp. lasventas. com/ noticias/ noticiadetalle. aspcodigoamp codigoseccion. Asp.lasventas.com. . Retrieved . quotwww.spanishfiestas.comquot http/ / www. spanishfiestas. com/ bullfighting/ . . quotMilhamoth Shewarimquot Hebrew http/ / www. halachayomit. co. il/ DisplayRead. aspreadID, quotHalacha Yomit,quot October , accessed December . No more ole Matadors miffed as Spain removes bullfighting from state TV http/ / www. news. com/ news/ international/ article. jspcontentwA TVE explains the decision not to broadcast bullfighting is a financial one http/ / www. typicallyspanish. com/ news/ publish/ article. shtml AFP/ . quotLas corridas de toros corren peligro en TVE Nacional Nacionalquot http/ / www. abc. es/ hemeroteca/ historico/ abc/ Nacional/ lascorridasdetoroscorrenpeligroentve. html. Abc.es. . Retrieved . ASANDA. quotPROHBEN CORRIDAS DE TOROS PARA NIOS EN COSTA RICA ASANDA Asociacin Andaluza para la Defensa de los Animalesquot http/ / www. asanda. org/ index. phpnameNewsamp filearticleamp sid. ASANDA. . Retrieved . quotLandmark bullfighting banquot http/ / www. news. com/ News/ World/ News/ ,,,. html. News.com. . . Retrieved . http/ / www. allcreatures. org/ ca/ archivedesalutegregis. html Veronica Cerrato. quotDesde , Argentina sin Corridas de Toros //quot http/ / www. animanaturalis. org/ p/ . Animanaturalis.org. . Retrieved . quotBloodless bullfights animate Californias San Joaquin Valleyquot http/ / travel. latimes. com/ articles/ latrwcaliforniabullfightingjul. The Los Angeles Times. . . quotCanary Islands Government. Law /, dated April the th, for animal protection Spanishquot http/ / www. gobiernodecanarias. org/ boc/ / / . html. Gobiernodecanarias.org. . . Retrieved . quotLa prohibicin de la tauromaquia un captulo del antiespaolismo catalnquot http/ / www. elmundo. es/ elmundo/ / / / toros/ . html. El Mundo. . . Retrieved . quotLos toros no estn prohibidos en Canariasquot http/ / www. mundotoro. com/ noticia/ lostorosnoestanprohibidosencanarias/ . Mundotoro. . . Retrieved . Fiona Govan, quot Bullfightings Future in Doubt http/ / www. telegraph. co. uk/ news/ worldnews/ / Bullfightingsfutureindoubt. html,quot The Telegraph Dec. . quotLas corridas de toros irn a referendumquot by El Comercio EcuadorEl Comercio http/ / www. elcomercio. com/ / Home/ NoticiaPrincipal/ corridastorosreferendum. aspx quotCorrea anuncia consulta popular sobre corridas de torosquot by El Telegrafo http/ / www. telegrafo. com. ec/ actualidad/ noticia/ archive/ actualidad/ / / / Correaanunciaconsultapopularsobrecorridasdetoros. aspx quotCorrea anuncia consulta popular sobre seguridad, justicia y corridas de torosquot by El Universo http/ / www. eluniverso. com/ / / / / / correaanunciaconsultapopularsobreseguridadjusticiacorridastoros. htmlpamp m quotLlum verda a la supressi de les corrides de toros a Catalunyaquot http/ / www. avui. cat/ cat/ notices/ / / llumverdaalasupressiodelescorridesdetorosacatalunya. php. Avui.cat. . . Retrieved . Raphael Minder . quotSpanish Region Bans Bullfightingquot http/ / www. nytimes. com/ / / / world/ europe/ spain. htmlrefworld. nytimes.com. . Retrieved . http/ / www. typicallyspanish. com/ news/ publish/ article. shtmlixzzNKQxwpk http/ / www. irishtimes. com/ newspaper/ world/ / / . html Further reading Hemingway, Ernest Death in the Afternoon Elisabeth HardouinFugier. Bullfighting A Troubled History U. of Chicago Press, pages, ISBN Ciofalo, John J. quotThe Artist in the Vicinity of Death.quot The SelfPortraits of Francisco Goya. Cambridge University Press, . Shadow of a Bull, book by Maia Wojciechowska about a bullfighters son Poon, Wena, Alex y Robert http//www.saltpublishing.com/books/smf/.htm, Salt Publishing, London, . Novel about an American teenage girl training as a matador in contemporary Spain. Ogorzaly, Michael A, When Bulls Cry The Case Against Bullfighting, , AuthorHouse, ISBN Bullfighting External links Bullfighting Culture amp Controversy http//www.life.com/image/first/ingallery// bullfightingculturecontroversy slideshow by Life magazine Bullfighting in Barcelona http//www.thefirstpost.co.uk/ ,inpictures,newsinpictures,barcelonabansbullfightinginpicturescataloniajosetomas slideshow by The First Post Israel Lancho, Spanish Bullfighter Gored http//www.huffingtonpost.com//// israelspanishbuln.html, The Huffington Post, May , Supporting bullfighting Faq http//coloquio.com/toros/timfaq.html Story of a matador http//www.storyofamatador.com , produced by David L. Wolper Against bullfighting Complete dossier about bullfighting spanish http//www.acabemosconlatauromaquia.com CAS International Comit Anti Stierenvechten http//www.casinternational.org/en International Movement Against Bullfight IMAB http//www.iwab.org/ Federation of AntiBullfighting Societies FLAC http//www.flacanticorrida.org/anglais/indexgb.html League Against Cruel Sports http//www.league.org.uk/content.aspCategoryID Partido Antitaurino Contra el Maltrato Animal Antibullfighting party against animal abuse http//pacma.es Movimento AntiTouradas de Portugal http//www.matponline.org Madrid Madrid Madrid Flag Coat of arms Motto Fui sobre agua edificada, mis muros de fuego son. Esta es mi insignia y blasn quotOn water I was built, my walls are made of fire. This is my ensign and escutcheonquot Madrid Location of Madrid within Spain Madrid Madrid Location of Madrid within the Community of Madrid Coordinates N W Country Region Founded Government Type Body Mayor Area Land Metro Elevation Population City Rank Density Metro Demonym ,, st /km./sqmi ,, Madrilenian Spanish madrileo m madrilea f matritense CET UTC km.sqmi ,km,sqmi m ft Mayorcouncil Ayuntamiento de Madrid Alberto RuizGallardn PP Spain Community of Madrid Prehistory Time zone SummerDST CEST UTC Postal code Area codes Patron Saints Spain Madrid Isidore the Laborer Virgin of Almudena www.munimadrid.es Website Madrid Madrid English pronunciation/mdrd/, Spanishmai is the capital and largest city in Spain. The population of the city is roughly .million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be nearly million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan area is the third largest in the European Union after Paris and London. The city spans a total of .km .sqmi. Madrid urban agglomeration has the rd largest GDP in the European Union and its influences in politics, education, entertainment, environment, media, fashion, science, and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the worlds major global cities. Due to its economic output, high standard of living, and market size, Madrid is considered the major financial centre of Southern Europe and the Iberian Peninsula it hosts the head offices of the vast majority of the major Spanish companies. Madrid is the most touristic city of Spain, the fourthmost touristic of the continent, and is the th most livable city in the world according to Monocle magazine, in its index. Madrid also ranks among the greenest European cities in . The city is located on the Manzanares river in the centre of both the country and the Community of Madrid which comprises the city of Madrid, its conurbation and extended suburbs and villages this community is bordered by the autonomous communities of Castile and Len and CastileLa Mancha. As the capital city of Spain, seat of government, and residence of the Spanish monarch, Madrid is also the political center of Spain. The current mayor is Alberto RuizGallardn from the Peoples Party PP. While Madrid possesses a modern infrastructure, it has preserved the look and feel of many of its historic neighbourhoods and streets. Its landmarks include the Royal Palace of Madrid the Teatro Real Royal theatre with its restored Opera House the Buen Retiro park, founded in the thcentury National Library building founded in containing some of Spains historical archives an archaeological museum and the Golden Triangle of Art, located along the Paseo del Prado and comprising three art museums Prado Museum, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofa, a museum of modern art, and the ThyssenBornemisza Museum, housed in the renovated Villahermosa Palace. Toponym There are several theories regarding the origin of the name quotMadridquot. According to legend Madrid was founded by Ocno Bianor son of King Tyrrhenius of Tuscany and Mantua and was named quotMetragirtaquot or quotMantua Carpetanaquot. Others contend that the original name of the city was quotUrsariaquot quotland of bearsquot in Latin, due to the high number of these animals that were found in the adjacent forests, which, together with the strawberry tree Spanish madroo, have been the emblem of the city from the Middle Ages. Alcal Street and the Metropolis Building The most ancient recorded name of the city Magerit for Materit or Mageterit comes from the name of a fortress built on the Manzanares River in the th century AD, and means quotPlace of abundant waterquot. If the form is correct, it could be a Celtic placename from ritu ford Old Welsh rit, Welsh rhyd, Old Breton rit, Old Northern French roy and a first element, that is not clearly identified mageto derivation of magos field plain Old Irish mag field, Breton ma place, or matu bearquot, that could explain the Latin translation Ursalia. Nevertheless , it is now commonly believed that the origin of the current name of the city comes from the nd century BC. The Roman Empire established a settlement on the banks of the Manzanares river. The name of this first village was quotMatricequot a reference to the river that crossed the settlement. Following the invasions carried out by the Germanic Sueves and Vandals, as well as the Sarmatic Alans during the th century AD, the Roman Empire no longer had the military presence required to defend its territories on the Iberian Peninsula, and as a consequence, Madrid these territories were soon overrun by the Visigoths. The barbarian tribes subsequently took control of quotMatricequot. In the th century, the Islamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula saw the name changed to quotMayritquot, from the Arabic term quot Mayraquot referencing water as a quottreesquot or quotgiver of lifequot and the IberoRoman suffix quotitquot that means quotplacequot. The modern quotMadridquot evolved from the Mozarabic quotMatritquot, which is still in the Madrilenian gentilic. History Middle Ages Although the site of modernday Madrid has been occupied since prehistoric times, in the Roman era this territory belonged to the diocese of Complutum presentday Alcal de Henares. There are archeological remains of a small village during the visigoth epoch, whose name might have been adopted later by Arabs. The origins of the modern city come from the th century, when Muhammad I ordered the construction of a small palace in the same place that is today occupied by the Palacio Real. Around this palace a small citadel, alMudaina, was built. The citadel was conquered in by Christian king Alfonso VI of Leon and Castile in his advance towards Toledo. He reconsecrated the mosque as the church of the Virgin of Almudena almudin, the garrisons granary. In , the Cortes Generales first assembled in the city to advise Alfonso XI of Castile. Sephardi Jews and Moors continued to live in the city until they were expelled at the end of the th century. After troubles and a large fire, Henry III of Castile rebuilt the city and established himself safely fortified outside its walls in El Pardo. The grand entry of Ferdinand and Isabella to Madrid heralded the end of strife between Castile and Aragon, and the beginning of the influence of the Renaissance in Spain. Modern Age The Crown of Castile, with its capital at Toledo, and the Crown of Aragon, with its capital at Zaragoza, were welded into modern Spain by the Catholic Monarchs Queen Isabella of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon. Though their grandson Charles I of Spain also known as Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor favoured Seville, it was Charles son, Philip II who moved the court to Madrid in . Although he made no official declaration, the seat of the court was the de facto capital. Seville continued to control commerce with Spains colonies, but Madrid controlled Seville. Plaza Mayor Aside from a brief period, , when Felipe III installed his court in Valladolid, Madrids fortunes have closely mirrored those of Spain. During the Siglo de Oro Golden Century, in the th/th century, Madrid knew its ultimate glory El Escorial, the great royal monastery built by King Philip II of Spain, invited the attention of some of Europes greatest architects and painters. Diego Velzquezpainter of Las Meninas and The Surrender of Breda, regarded as one of the most influential painters of European history and a greatly respected artist in his own time, cultivated a relationship with King Philip IV and his chief minister, the CountDuke of Olivares, leaving us several portraits that demonstrate his style and skill. El Greco, another respected artist Puerta de Alcal. from the period, infused Spanish art with the styles of the Italian renaissance and helped create a uniquely Spanish style of painting. Madrid Madrid was one of the cultural centers during the Spanish Golden Century. The Spanish court attracted many top Spanish artists and writers to the city, including Miguel de Cervantes author of Don Quixote de la Mancha and the aforementioned Diego Velasquez. Furthermore, in the city were born many of the great writers of this period Lope de Vega, Francisco de Quevedo, Calderon de la Barca and Tirso de Molina, and the last of the great painters of the Golden Age, Claudio Coello. The renowned Renaissance architect Juan de Herrera designed the Plaza Mayor, which was built in the city during the Habsburg period as a central plaza. It is located near another famous plaza, the Puerta del Sol. New palaces including the Palacio Real de Madrid were built during Philip Vs reign. However, it would not be until Charles III that Madrid would become a modern city. Charles III was one of the most popular kings in the history of Madrid, and the saying quotthe best mayor, the kingquot became popular during those times. When Charles IV became king the people of Madrid revolted. After the Mutiny of Aranjuez, which was led by his own son Ferdinand VII against him, Charles IV resigned, but Ferdinand VIIs reign would be short in May Napoleons troops entered the city. From th century to present day On the second of May Spanish Dos de Mayo, , the people of Madrid rebelled against the occupation of the city by French troops, provoking a repression by the French Imperial forces and triggering the Spanish War of Independence. After the war of independence Ferdinand VII came back to the throne, but after a liberal military revolution, Rafael del Riego made the king swear respect to the Constitution. This would start a period where liberal and conservative government alternated, that would end with the enthronement of Isabellla II . She could not Plaza de Cibeles suppress the political tension that would lead to yet another revolt, the First Spanish Republic. This was later followed by the return of the monarchy to Madrid, then the creation of the Second Spanish Republic, preceding the Spanish Civil War. Madrid was one of the most heavily affected cities of Spain in the Civil War . The city was a stronghold of the Republicans from July . Its western suburbs were the scene of an allout battle in November and it was during the Civil War that Madrid became the first European city to be bombed by airplanes Japan was the first to bomb civilians in world history, at Shanghai in specifically targeting civilians in the history of warfare. See Siege of Madrid . Madrid During the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, especially during the s, the city experienced unprecedented, extraordinary development in terms of population and wealth, becoming the largest GDP city in Spain, and ranking third in Western Europe. The municipality is extended, annexing neighbouring council districts, to achieve the present extension of km. The south of Madrid became very industrialized, and there were massive migrations from rural areas of Spain into the city. Madrids newly built northwestern districts became the home of the new thriving middle class that appeared as result of the s Spanish economic boom, while southeastern periphery became an extensive working class settlement, which was the base for an active cultural and political reform. After the death of Franco, emerging democratic parties including those of leftwing and republican ideology accepted King Juan Carlos I as both Francos successor and as the heir of the historic dynasty in order to secure stability and democracy. This led Spain to its current position as a constitutional monarchy, with Madrid as capital. CTBA skyscrapers Benefiting from increasing prosperity in the s and s, the capital city of Spain has consolidated its position as an important economic, cultural, industrial, educational, and technological centre on the European continent. Climate The Madrid region features a Continental Mediterranean climate Kppen Csa with cold winters due to altitude m over the sea level in Alicante, including sporadic snowfalls and minimum temperatures often below freezing. Summer tends to be hot with temperatures that consistently surpass C F in July and August and rarely above C F. Due to Madrids altitude and dry climate, diurnal ranges are often significant during the summer. Precipitation, though concentrated in the autumn and spring, can be observed throughout the year. Madrid Water supply Madrid derives almost percent of its water supply from dams and reservoirs built on the Lozoya River, such as the El Atazar Dam. Districts Madrid is administratively divided into districts, which are further subdivided into wards barrios Madrid districts. The numbers correspond with the list in the left ....... Centro Palacio, Embajadores, Cortes, Justicia, Universidad, Sol. Arganzuela Imperial, Acacias, La Chopera, Legazpi, Delicias, Palos de Moguer, Atocha. Retiro Pacfico, Adelfas, Estrella, Ibiza, Jernimos, Nio Jess. Salamanca Recoletos, Goya, Parque de las Avenidas, Fuente del Berro, Guindalera, Lista, Castellana. Chamartn El Viso, Prosperidad, Ciudad Jardn, Hispanoamrica, Nueva Espaa, Castilla. Tetun Bellas Vistas, Cuatro Caminos, Castillejos, Almenara, Valdeacederas, Berruguete. Chamber Gaztambide, Arapiles, Trafalgar, Almagro, Vallehermoso, Ros Rosas. Madrid . FuencarralEl Pardo El Pardo, Fuentelarreina, Peagrande, Barrio del Pilar, La Paz, Valverde, Mirasierra, El Goloso. . MoncloaAravaca Casa de Campo, Argelles, Ciudad Universitaria, Valdezarza, Valdemarn, El Planto, Aravaca. . Latina Los Crmenes, Puerta del ngel, Lucero, Aluche, Las guilas, Campamento, Cuatro Vientos. . Carabanchel Comillas, Opael, San Isidro, Vista Alegre, Puerta Bonita, Buenavista, Abrantes. . Usera Orcasitas, Orcasur, San Fermn, Almendrales, Moscard, Zofo, Pradolongo. . Puente de Vallecas Entrevas, San Diego, Palomeras Bajas, Palomeras Sureste, Portazgo, Numancia. . Moratalaz Pavones, Horcajo, Marroquina, Media Legua, Fontarrn, Vinateros. . Ciudad Lineal Ventas, Pueblo Nuevo, Quintana, La Concepcin, San Pascual, San Juan Bautista, Colina, Atalaya, Costillares. . Hortaleza Palomas, Valdefuentes, Canillas, Pinar del Rey, Apstol Santiago, Piovera. . Villaverde San Andrs, San Cristbal, Butarque, Los Rosales, Los ngeles. . Villa de Vallecas Casco Histrico de Vallecas, Santa Eugenia. . Viclvaro Casco Histrico de Viclvaro, Ambroz. . San Blas Simancas, Helln, Amposta, Arcos, Rosas, Rejas, Canillejas, Salvador. . Barajas Alameda de Osuna, Aeropuerto, Casco Histrico de Barajas, Timn, Corralejos. Metropolitan area The Madrid Metropolitan Area comprises the city of Madrid and forty surrounding municipalities. It has a population of slightly more than .million people and covers an area of .,km. It is the largest metropolitan area in Spain and the third largest in European Union. As with many metropolitan areas of similar size, two distinct zones of urbanisation can be distinguished Inner ring primera corona Alcorcn, Legans, Getafe, Mstoles, Fuenlabrada, Coslada, Alcobendas, Pozuelo de Alarcn, San Fernando de Henares Outer ring segunda corona Villaviciosa de Odn, Parla, Pinto, Valdemoro, RivasVaciamadrid, Torrejn de Ardoz, Alcal de Henares, San Sebastin de los Reyes, Tres Cantos, Las Rozas de Madrid, Majadahonda, Boadilla del Monte The largest suburbs are to the South, and in general along the main routes leading out of Madrid. Submetropolitan areas A new project, has stated there are more submetropolitan areas inside Madrid metropolitan area Madrid submetropolitan areas Madrid Submetropolitan area Area Population Density km pop. pop./km . . . . . . . . ,. ,, , , , , , , , ,, ,. ,. . . . . . . ,. Madrid Majadahonda Mstoles Alcorcn Fuenlabrada Legans Getafe Parla Pinto Valdemoro Alcobendas Arganda del Rey RivasVaciamadrid Alcal de Henares Torrejn de Ardoz Colmenar Viejo Tres Cantos Collado Villalba Madrid metropolitan area Architecture Although the site of Madrid has been occupied since prehistoric times, the first historical data that concerns the city dates from the middle of the th century, when Mohammad I ordered the construction of a small palace site occupied now by the Palacio Real. Around this palace there was built a small citadel alMudaina. The palace was built overlooking the River Manzanares, which the Muslims called Mayrit meaning source of water which in turn became Magerit, and then eventually Madrid. The citadel was conquered in by Alfonso VI in his advance towards Toledo. He reconsecrated the mosque as the Temple of Debod church of the Virgin of Almudena almudin, the garrisons granary, now the Catedral de la Almudena. In the Cortes first assembled in Madrid to advise Fernando IV. Jews and Moors continued to live in the city in their quarter, still known today as the quotMoreriaquot, until they were expelled. When Philip II moved his court permanently to Madrid, the city began to be embellished with various palaces, convents, churches and other historic buildings, most of which have survived to the present. This Madrid, known as the Madrid de los Austrias, is the most artistic and culturally rich of all historical times to the city. The chief architect of the time was Juan Gomez de Mora, stylistic heir of Juan de Herrera and their sober traces, but he began to use Baroque elements.The work of this stage is the Plaza Mayor, and many Baroque religious buildings. View of the Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral from Debod Temple Madrid With the Bourbons began a new era in the city.The Royal Palace of Madrid and the buildings and monuments of the Paseo del Prado Saln del Prado and Alcal Gate deserve special mention. They were constructed in a sober Baroque international style, often mistaken for neoclassical, by the Bourbon kings. Neoclassical also appears at this time, with Juan de Villanueva, author of El Prado Museum building. He is possibly the greatest Spanish architect of those times. Royal Palace of Madrid western facade is the largest palace of Western Europe In the early th century began the construction of Gran Va, with the task of freeing the old town. They used different styles that evolve over time art nouveau, art deco, expressionist ... The Edificio Telefnica, of American inspiration, at the highest part of Gran Va, is usually considered the first skyscraper in Europe. And finally in the Francos period the totalitarian style, the two skyscrapers in the Plaza de Espaa. The Gran Via Plans for the construction of a new cathedral for Madrid dedicated to the Virgin of Almudena began in the th century, but the slow construction did not begin until . Francisco de Cubas, the Marquis of Cubas, was the architect who designed and directed the construction in a Gothic revival style. Construction ceased completely during the Spanish Civil War. The project was abandoned until , when Fernando Chueca Goitia adapted the plans of de Cubas to a neoclassical style exterior to match the grey and white faade of the Palacio Real, which stands directly opposite. and was not completed until , when the cathedral was consecrated by Pope John Paul II. On Calle Princesa, in the heart of the district of Moncloa, lies el Ejrcito del Aire, the headquarters of the Spanish Air Force. A scaleddown replica of the famous Monastery San Lorenzo del Escorial which lies about kilometers northeast of Madrid, el Ejrcito del Aire is a classic example of Fascist Neoclassicism in Madrid. Canalejas Square The financial district in downtown Madrid between the streets Raimundo Fernndez Villaverde, Orense, General Pern and Paseo de la Castellana, its original conception and its name to the quotPlan General de Ordenacin Urbana de Madridquot, approved in . The purpose of this plan was to create a huge block of modern office buildings with metro and railway connections in the expansion area of northern Madrid, just in front of Real Madrid stadium currently named the Santiago Bernabu Stadium and beside the brand new government complex of Nuevos Ministerios. A botanical garden, a library and an opera house were also included in the plans, but these were never built. Madrid Cuatro Torres Business Area is a business park that was completed in . This block contains the tallest skyscrapers in Madrid and Spain Torre Espacio, Torre de Cristal, Torre Sacyr Vallehermoso and Torre Caja Madrid. A new commercial and economic area with plenty of skylines is expected to be constructed during the next ten years according to the quotEnlargement of Castellana Street Projectquot. Madrid Barajas International Airport Terminal , designed by Antonio Lamela and Richard Rogers winning them the Stirling Prize, Torres Kio and TPS Engineers, winning them the IStructE Award for Commercial Structures was inaugurated on February . Terminal is one of the worlds largest terminal areas, with an area of , square meters ,, square feet in two separate terminals. Consisting of a main building, T , square meter, and satellite building, TS , square meter, which are separated by approximately .km mi. Hong Kong International Airport still holds the title for the worlds largest single terminal building Terminal at , square meter. The new Terminal is meant to give passengers a stressfree start to their journey. This is managed through careful use of illumination, available by glass panes instead of walls and numerous domes in the roof which allow natural light to pass through. With the new addition, Barajas is designed to handle million passengers annually. Terminal check in hall in Environment Madrid is the European city with the highest number of trees and green surface per inhabitant and it has the second highest number of aligned trees in the world, with , units, only exceeded by Tokyo. Madrids citizens have access to a green area within a minute walk. Since , green areas have increased by . At present, . of Madrids grounds are green areas, meaning that there are m of green area per inhabitant, far exceeding the m per inhabitant recommended by the World Health Organization. Retiro Park. Madrid Parque del Retiro, formerly the grounds of the palace built for Felipe IV, is Madrids most popular park and the largest park in central Madrid. Its area is more than . km acres and it is located very close to the Puerta de Alcal and not far from the Prado Museum. A magnificent park, filled with beautiful sculpture and monuments, galleries, a peaceful lake and host to a variety of events, it is one of Madrids premier attractions. The park is entirely surrounded by the presentday city. Its lake in the middle once staged mini naval sham battles to amuse royalty these days the more tranquil pastime of pleasure boating is popular. Inspired by Londons crystal palace, the palacio de cristal can be found at the southeastern end of the park. Retiro Park, trees. In the Retiro Park is also the Forest of the Departed Spanish Bosque de los Ausentes, a memorial monument to commemorate the victims of the March Madrid attacks. Atocha Railway Station is not only the citys first and most central station but also home to a distinctive indoor garden with , square meters of tropical plants. Atocha station has become a hothouse destination in itself for plant lovers, with more than species of plant life and ponds with turtle and goldfish in, as well as shops and cafes. Its a nice place to visit on a cold or wet day with its even temperature of degrees Celsius, or even on a scorching summer day as a retreat from the heat. Casa de Campo is an enormous urban parkland to the west of the city, the largest in Spain and Madrids main green lung. Its area is more than , hectares . sq mi. It is home to a fairground, the Madrid Zoo, an amusement park, the Parque de Atracciones de Madrid, and an outdoor municipal pool, to enjoy a birds eye view of the park and city take a cable car trip above the tree tops. Casa de Campos vegetation is one of its most important features. There are, in fact, three different ecosystems oak, pine and river groves. The oak is the dominant tree species in the area and, although many of them are over years old Casa de Campo, lake. and reach a great height, they are also present in the form of chaparral and bushes. The pineforest ecosystem boasts a large number of trees that have adapted perfectly to the light, dry conditions in the park. In addition, mushrooms often emerge after the first rains of autumn. Finally, the river groves, or riparian forests, are made up of various, mainly deciduous, species that grow in wetter areas. Examples include poplars, willows and alder trees. As regards fauna, this green space is home to approximately vertebrate species. The Royal Botanic Garden or Real Jardin Botanico is an hectare botanical garden located in the Plaza de Murillo, next to the Prado Museum. It was an th century creation by Carlos III and it was used as a base for the plant species being collected across the globe. There is an important research facility that started life as a base to develop herbal remedies and to house the species collected from the newworld trips, today it is dedicated to maintaining Europes ecosystem. Madrid The Royal Palace is surrounded by three green areas. In front of the palace, are the gardens of the Plaza de Oriente to the north, the gardens of Sabatini and to the west up to the Manzanares river, the famous Campo del Moro. Campo del Moro gardens has a surface area of hectares and is a scenic garden with an unusual layout filled with foliage and an air of English romanticism. The Sabatini Gardens have a formal Neoclassic style, consisting of wellsheared hedges, in symmetric geometrical patterns, adorned with a pool, statues and Campo del Moro gardens. fountains, with trees also disposed in a symmetrical geometric shape. Plaza de Oriente can distinguish three main plots the Central Gardens, the Cabo Noval Gardens and the Lepanto Gardens. The Central Gardens are arranged around the central monument to Philip IV, in a grid, following the barroque model garden. They consist of seven flowerbeds, each packed with box hedges, forms of cypress, yew and magnolia of small size, and flower plantations, temporary. These are bounded on either side by rows of statues paths, popularly known as the Gothic kings, and mark the dividing line between the main body of the plaza and the Cabo Noval Gardens at north, and the Lepanto Gardens at south. Monte de El Pardo is a mediterranean forest inside the city of Madrid. It is one of the best preserved Mediterranean Forests in Europe. The European Union has designated the Monte de El Pardo as a Special Protection Area for birdlife. This meadow, which has been used as hunting grounds by the royalty given the variety of game animals that have inhabited it since the Middle Ages, is home to flora species and vertebrae species. Rabbits, red partridges, wild cats, stags, deer and wild boars live among ilexes, cork oaks, ash trees, black Monte de El Pardo. poplars, oaks, junipers and rockroses. Monte del Pardo is part of the Regional Park of the High Basin of the Manzanares, spreading out from the Guadarrama Mountains range to the centre of Madrid, and protected by strong legal regulations. Just before crossing the city, the River Manzanares forms a valley composed by sandy elements and detritus from the mountain range. Soto de Viuelas, also known as Mount Viuelas, is a meadowoak forest north of the city of Madrid and east of the Monte de El Pardo. It is a fenced property of , hectares, which includes important ecological values, landscape and art. Soto de Viuelas is part of the Regional Park of the High Basin of the Manzanares, a nature reserve which is recognised as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, where it has been classified as Area B, the legal instrument that allows agricultural land use. Soto de Viuelas also received the statement of Special Protection Area for Birds. Monte de El Pardo and Soto de Viuelas inside the city of Madrid. El Capricho is a hectare garden located in the area of Barajas district. It dates back to . The art of landscaping in El Capricho is displayed in three different styles of classical gardenscapes the parterre or French garden, English landscaping and the Italian giardino. Madrid Rio is a linear park that runs along the bank of the Manzanares River, in the middle of Madrid. It is an area of parkland kilometres long and covers hectares in six districts MoncloaAravaca, Centro, Arganzuela, Latina, Carabanchel and Usera. It is a large area of environmental, sporting, leisure and cultural interest. Madrid Ro Madrid provides a link with other green spaces in the city such as Casa de Campo and the Linear Park of the Manzanares River. The main landscaped area in Madrid Ro is the Arganzuela Park, covering hectares where pedestrian and cycling routes cover the whole park. The Madrid Ro cycle network covers some kilometres and is linked to another bike routes. To the north, Madrid Rio connects to the Senda Real, the Green Ring for Cyclists and the E GR trail, which goes as far as the Sierra de Madrid mountain range. To the south, Madrid Ro provides access to the Enrique Tierno Galvn Park and the Linear Park of the Manzanares River, an extensive green zone running parallel to the river as far as Getafe. As well as the cycle routes there are kilometres of paths for walkers and runners. In the Saln de Pinos, a kilometre long treelined promenade, there are circuits for aerobic and anaerobic exercise, while near the Puente de Praga bridge a tennis court and seven padel tennis courts. The theme park Faunia, is a natural history museum and zoo combined, aimed at being fun and educational for children. It comprises eight ecosystems from tropical rain forests to polar regions, and contains over , animals, some of which roam freely. Economy Middle Ages to th century During the end of the Middle Ages, Madrid experienced astronomic growth as a consequence of its establishment as the new capital of the Spanish Empire. As Spain like many other European countries continued to centralize royal authority, this meant that Madrid took on greater importance as a center of administration for the Spanish Kingdom. It evolved to become an important nucleus of artisanal activity that eventually experienced industrial revolution during the th century. The city made even greater strides at expansion during the th century, especially after the Spanish Civil War, reaching levels of industrialization found in other European capital cities. The economy of the city was then centered on diverse manufacturing industries such as those related to motor vehicles, aircraft, chemicals, electronic devices, pharmaceuticals, processed food, printed materials, and leather goods. to Madrid is a major centre for international business and commerce. It is one of Europes largest financial centres and the largest in Spain. During the period from to , Madrid experienced very significant growth in its service sector. The most notable of these services are those geared towards companies, followed by transport and communications, property and financial services. These four groups generate of gross value added for Madrids economy and of gross value added for the services sector. The importance of the Barajas Airport to the citys economy is substantial. The construction of housing and public works, such as the ringroads and train network, constituted a major pillar of the economy up to . As Spain has become decentralized politically, Madrid has taken on a smaller administrative profile as compared to the rest of the Spanish state. Even so, the Community of Madrid centered upon the city of Madrid experienced the highest growth of all the Spanish regions between to . Its growth rate was higher than for the country as a whole by . during the period , and that of the Eurozone by . Bolsa de Madrid Madrid Stock Exchange Madrid Madrid has become the rd richest city in the world and third richest in Europe in terms of absolute GDP the economic output for the year was of .billion, behind the considerably larger cities of Paris billion and London billion and ahead of Moscow and Barcelona. Additionally in terms of GDP per capita, Madrid, in specific the Madrid region is the richest in Spain and one of the richest in Europe. At . of the European average of , ,/, Madrid is ahead of the all other Spanish regions above . Similarly, Madrid is just . of New Yorks purchasing power. Madrid is a worlds financial leader, rising to the top five Centers of Commerce in Europe. Madrid continues its upward trajectory as a key European city, rising from its spot at number to number globally and from number to the number spot in Europe. Madrids stable GDP, exchange rate and strong bond market, coupled with a high standard of living, place this city in the company of Europes most prominent cities London, Paris, Frankfurt and Amsterdam. Cuatro Torres Business Area AZCA Business Park Madrid is one of the cities in the Iberian Peninsula that attracts most foreign investment and job seekers. The average salary in Madrid during was , clearly above the Spanish average of . In terms of net earnings, Madrid also places first in Spain Madrid is th in the world, at .. One downside of Madrids quick growth especially over the last years has been the rising cost of living. The city has grown to become the th most expensive city in the world in . Madrid Demographics Year Municipality , , , , ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, Community , , , ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, . . . . . . . . . Madrid ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, .. ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, .. . . . . . . . . . Source INE The population of Madrid generally increased from when the city became the national capital in the midth century and stabilised at about million from the s. From around until the mid s, the citys population dropped. This phenomenon, which also affected other European cities, was caused in part by the growth of satellite suburbs at the expense of the downtown. Another reason might have been the slowdown in the rate of growth of the European economy. The demographic boom accelerated in the late s and early first decade of the st century due to international immigration, in response to a surge in Spanish economic growth. According to census data, the population of the city grew by , between and . As the capital city of Spain, the city has attracted many immigrants from around the world. About . of the inhabitants are Spaniards, while people of other origins, including immigrants from Latin America, Europe, Asia, North Africa and West Africa, represented . of the population in . The ten largest immigrant groups include Ecuadorian ,, Romanian ,, Bolivian ,, Colombian ,, Peruvian ,, Chinese ,, Moroccan ,, Dominican ,, Brazilian ,, and Paraguayan ,. There are also important communities of Filipinos, Equatorial Guineans, Bulgarians, Indians, Italians, Argentines, Senegalese and Poles. Districts that host the largest number of immigrants are Usera ., Centro ., Carabanchel . and Tetun .. Districts that host the smallest number are FuencarralEl Pardo ., Retiro . and Chamartin .. Government The City Council consists of members, one of them being the Mayor, currently Alberto RuizGallardn Jimnez. The Mayor presides over the Council. The Plenary of the Council, is the body of political representation of the citizens in the municipal government. Some of its attributions are fiscal matters, the election and deposition of the Mayor, the approval and modification of decrees and regulations, the approval of budgets, the agreements related to the limits and alteration of the municipal term, the services management, the participation in supramunicipal organizations, etc. Nowadays, mayoral team consists of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor and Delegates all of them form The Board of Delegates the Municipal Executive Committee. City Hall of Madrid Madrid Madrid has tended to be a stronghold of the Peoples Party, which has controlled the citys mayoralty since . In the regional and local elections, the conservative Peoples Party PP, centreright political party obtained seats, the Spanish Socialist Workers Party PSOE, centreleft political party obtained and United Left IU, left political party obtained . Alberto RuizGallardn Jimnez has been in office since , when he left the Presidency of the Autonomous Community of Madrid and stood as the candidate to replace outgoing mayor Jos Mara lvarez del Manzano, also from the PP. In the last local elections of , RuizGallardn increased the PP majority in the City Council to seats out of , taking . of the popular vote and winning in all but two districts. Culture Madrid is one of Spains most popular destinations and is renowned for its large quantity of cultural attractions. Art Galleries and Museums Madrid is considered one of the top European destinations concerning art museums. Best known is the Golden Triangle of Art, located along the Paseo del Prado and comprising three museums. The most famous one is the Prado Museum, the most popular Golden Triangle of Art member known for such highlights as Diego Velzquezs Las Meninas and Francisco de Goyas La maja vestida and La maja desnuda. The other two museums are the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum, established from a mixed private collection, and the Reina Sofia Museum, where Pablo Picassos Guernica hangs, returning to Spain from New York after more than two decades. The Museo del Prado is a museum and art gallery that features one of the worlds finest collections of European art, from the th century to the early th century, based on the former Spanish Royal Collection. The collection currently comprises around , paintings, , sculptures, , prints and , drawings, in addition to a large number of works of art and historic documents. El Prado is one of the most visited museums in the world, and it is considered to be among the greatest museums of art. It has the best collection of artworks by Museo del Prado. Goya, Velazquez, El Greco, Rubens, Titian, Hieronymus Bosch, Jos de Ribera and Patinir and works by Rogier van der Weyden, Raphael, Tintoretto, Veronese, Caravaggio, Van Dyck, Albrecht Drer, Claude Lorrain, Murillo and Zurbarn, among others. The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofa MNCARS is the Spains national museum of th century art. The museum is mainly dedicated to Spanish art. Highlights of the museum include excellent collections of Spains greatest th century masters, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dal, Joan Mir, Juan Gris and Julio Gonzalez. Certainly the most famous masterpiece in the museum is Picassos painting Guernica. The Reina Sofa also hosts a freeaccess library specializing in art, with a collection of over , books, over , sound recordings and almost , videos. Museo Reina Sofa MNCARS. Madrid The ThyssenBornemisza Museum is an art museum that fills the historical gaps in its counterparts collections in the Prados case this includes Italian primitives and works from the English, Dutch and German schools, while in the case of the Reina Sofia the ThyssenBornemisza collection, once the second largest private collection in the world after the British Royal Collection, includes Impressionists, Expressionists, and European and American paintings from the second half of the th century, with over , paintings. The Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando currently functions Museo Thyssen Bornemisza. as a museum and gallery that houses a fine art collection of paintings from the th to th century Giovanni Bellini, Correggio, Rubens, Zurbarn, Murillo, Goya, Juan Gris, Pablo Serrano. The academy is also the headquarters of the Madrid Academy of Art. Francisco Goya was once one of the academys directors, and, its alumni include Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dal, Antonio Lopez Garcia, Juan Luna, and Fernando Botero. The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of Juan Carlos I of Spain, but he use it only for official acts. It is a baroque palace full of artworks is one of the largest European Royal Palaces, which is characterized by its luxurious rooms and its rich collections of armors and weapons, pharmaceutical, silverware, watches, paintings, tapestries and the most comprehensive collection of Stradivarius in the world The National Archaeological Museum of Spain collection includes, among others, Prehistoric, Celtic, Iberian, Greek and Roman antiquities and medieval Visigothic, Muslim and Christian objects. Royal Armoury, Royal Palace of Madrid. Highlights include a replica of the Altamira cave the first cave in which prehistoric cave paintings were discovered, Lady of Elx an enigmatic polychrome stone bust, Lady of Baza a famous example of Iberian sculpture, Biche of Balazote an iberian sculpture and Treasure of Guarrazar a treasure that represents the best surviving group of Early Medieval Christian votive offerings and the high point of Visigothic goldsmiths work. The Museum of the Americas Spanish Museo de Amrica is a National museum that holds artistic, archaeological and ethnographic collections from the whole American continent, ranging from the Paleolithic period to the present day. The permanent exhibit is divided into five major thematical areas an awareness of America, the reality of America, society, religion and communication. The National Museum of Natural Sciences is the National Museum of Natural History of Spain. The research departments of the museum are Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Evolutionary Ecology, Paleobiology, Vulcanology and Geology. The Naval Museum is managed by the Ministry of Defence. The Museums mission is to acquire, preserve, investigate, report and National Museum of Natural Sciences display for study, education and contemplation, parts, sets and collections of historical, artistic, scientific and technical related to naval activity in order to disseminate the story sea of Spain to help illustrate, highlight and preserve their traditions and promote national maritime awareness. Madrid The Monastery of Las Descalzas Reales resides in the former palace of King Charles I of Spain and Isabel of Portugal. Their daughter, Joan of Austria, founded this convent of nuns of the Poor Clare order in . Throughout the remainder of the th century and into the th century, the convent attracted young widowed or spinster noblewomen. Each woman brought with her a dowry. The riches quickly piled up, and the convent became one of the richest convents in all of Europe. It has many works of Renaissance and Baroque art, including a recumbent Christ by Gaspar Becerra, a staircase whose paintings were painted by unknown author perhaps Velzquez and they are considered the masterpiece of Spanish illusionist paint, and Brussels tapestries inspired in paintings by Rubens. The Museo Lzaro Galdiano houses an encyclopedic collection specializing in decorative arts. The collection includes paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, Claudio Coello, Goya, Pedro Berruguete, El Greco, Hieronymus Bosch, El Aquelarre, Francisco de Goya. Lzaro Galdiano Museum. Rembrandt, Thomas Gainsborough, Thomas Lawrence and Joshua Reynolds, sculptures by Giambologna and Verrocchio th century Byzantine enamel Arab and Byzantine ivory chests Hellenistic, Roman, medieval, renaissance , baroque and romantic jewerly Pisanello and Pompeo Leoni medals Spanish and Italian ceramics Italian and Arab clothes and an interesting collection of weapons including the sword of Pope Innocent VIII. The Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas National Museum of Decorative Arts is one of the oldest museums in the city. It illustrates the evolution of the called quotminor artsquot furniture, ceramics and glass, textile, etc.. Its rooms expones , objects, of the approximate , which it has. The Museo Nacional del Romanticismo National Museum of Romanticism contains a large collection of artefacts and art, focusing on daily life and customs of the nineteenth century, with special attention to the aesthetics about Romanticism. The Museo Cerralbo houses a private collection of ancient works of art, artifacts and other antiquities collected by Enrique de Aguilera y Gamboa, XVII Cerralbo Marquis. The Museo Nacional de AntropologaNational Museum of Antropology provides an overview of the different cultures in the world, with objects and human remains from around the world, highlighting a Guanche mummy of the island of Tenerife. The Museo Sorolla is located in the building in which the Valencian Impressionist painter had his home and workshop. The collection includes, in addition to numerous works of Joaqun Sorolla, a large number of objects that possessed the artist, including sculptures by August Rodin. Madrid CaixaForum Madrid is a postmodern art gallery in the centre of Madrid. It is sponsored by the CatalanBalearic bank la Caixa and located next to the Saln del Prado. Although the CaixaForum is a modern building, it also exhibits retrospectives of artists from earlier time periods and has evolved into one of the most visited museums in Madrid. It was constructed by the Swiss architects Herzog amp de Meuron from to , which combined an old unused industrial building and hollowed it out at the base and inside and placed on top further floors which are encased with rusted steel. Next to it is an art CaixaForum Madrid. installation of green plants growing on the wall of the neighbouring house by French botanist Patrick Blanc. The red of the top floors with the green of the wall next to it form a contrast. The green is in reflection of the neighbouring Royal Botanical Gardens. Another art galleries and museums in Madrid are, among others CasaMuseo Jos Padilla CasaMuseo Manuel Benedito Museo de Antropologia Mdica Museo De La Farmacia Hispana Museo Del Reloj Grassy, at Edificio Grassy Museo Casa de la Moneda Royal Palace of El Pardo Churches Madrid has a considerable number of Catholic churches, some of them are between the most important Spanish religious artworks. The oldest church that survives today is San Nicols de los Servitas, whose oldest item is the bell tower th century, in Mudejar style. The next oldest temple is San Pedro el Real, with its high brick tower. St. Jerome Church is a gothic church next to El Prado Museum. The Catholic Monarchs ordered its construction in the fifteenth century, as part of a vanished monastery. The monasterys cloister is preserved. It has recently been renovated by Rafael Moneo, with the goal to house the neoclassical collection of El Prado Museum, and also sculptures by Leone Leoni and Pompeo Leoni. The Bishop Chapel is a gothic chapel which was built in the sixteenth century by order of the Bishop of Plasencia, Gutierre de Vargas. It was originally built to house the remains of Saint Isidore Laborer Madrids patron saint, but it was used as the Vargas family mausoleum. Inside are the altairpiece and the tombs of the Vargas family, which were the work of Francisco Giralte, a disciple of Alonso Berruguete. They are considered masterpieces of Spanish Renaissance sculpture. Almudena Cathedral, Catedral de la Almudena St. Jerome Chucrh, San Jeronimo el Real Madrid Royal Convent of La Encarnacin faade Royal Convent of La Encarnacin altair St. Isidore Cathedral was built between by order of Empress Maria of Austria, daughter of Charles V of Germany and I of Spain, to become part of a school run by the Jesuits which still exists today. Its dome is the first example of a dome drawing on a wooden frame covered with plaster, which, given its lightness makes it easy to support the walls. It was the cathedral of Madrid between and , which is the time it took to build the Almudena. The artwork inside were mostly burned during the Spanish Civil War, but it retained the tomb that holds the incorrupt body of Saint Isidore Laborer and the urn containing the ashes of his wife Maria Torribia. Royal Convent of La Encarnacin is an Augustinian Recollect convent. The institution, which belonged ladies of the nobility, was founded by Queen Margaret of Austria, wife of Philip III of Spain, in the early seventeenth century. Due to the frescoes and sculptures which houses is one of the most prominent temples in the city. The buildings architect was Fray Alberto de la St. Isidore cathedral from the Plaza Madre de Dios, who built it between and . The faade responds to Mayor an inspiring Herrerian style, with great austerity,and it was imitated by other Spanish churches. The churchs interior is a sumptuous work by the great Baroque architect Ventura Rodriguez. In the church are preserved shrines containing the blood of St. Januarius and St. Pantaleon, the second according to tradition liquefies every year on the saints day on July. San Antonio de los Alemanes St. Anthony Church is a pretty th century church which was originally part of a Portuguese hospital. Subsequently it was donated to the Germans living in the city. Madrid The interior of the church has been recently restored. It has some beautiful frescoes painted by Luca Giordano, Francisco Carreo and Francisco Rizi. The frescoes represent some kings of Spain, Hungary, France, Germany and Bohemia. They all sit looking at the paintings in the vault, which represent the life of Saint Anthony of Padua. St. Anthony church Rizis vault Royal Chapel of St. Anthony of La Florida is sometimes named the quotGoyas Sixtine Chapelquot. The chapel was built on orders of King Charles IV of Spain, who also commissioned the frescoes by Goya. These were completed over a six month period in . The frescoes portray miracles by Saint Anthony of Padua, including one which occurred in Lisbon, but which the painter has relocated to Madrid. On every June , the chapel becomes the site of a lively pilgrimage in which young unwed women come to pray to St. Anthony and to ask for a partner. St. Anthony of la Florida San Francisco el Grande Basilica was built in neoclassical style in the second half of the eighteenth century by Francesco Sabatini. It has the fifth largest diameter dome to Christianity. meters in diameter its smaller than the dome of the Romes Pantheon .meters, St. Peters Basilica . meters, the Florence Cathedral metersand the Rotunda of Mosta . meters in Malta, but its larger than St. Pauls Cathedral . meters in London and Hagia Sophia . meters in Istanbul. The church is dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, who according to legend was established in Madrid during his pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Its interior is sumptuous and its plenty of artworks, including paintings by Goya and Zurbaran. San Francisco el Grande The Cathedral of Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena is the episcopal seat of the Archdiocese of Madrid. It is a temple of meters long and high, built during the th and th century in a mixture of different styles neoclassical exterior, neoGothic interior and neoRomanesque crypt and neoByzantine abses paints. The cathedral was built in the same place which was built the Moorish citadel almudayna in Madrid. It was consecrated by Pope John Paul II on his fourth trip to Spain on June , , thus being the only Spanish cathedral dedicated by a pope. Madrid Literature Madrid has been one of the great centers of Spanish literature. In this city were born some of the best writers of the Spanish Golden Century, including Lope de Vega Fuente Ovejuna, The Dog in the Manger, The Knight of Olmedo, who reformed the Spanish theater, a work continued by Calderon de la Barca Life is a Dream, Francisco de Quevedo, Spanish nobleman and writer famous for his satires, which criticized the Spanish society of his time, and author of El Buscn. And finally, Tirso de Molina, who created the famous character Don Juan. In addition, Cervantes and Gngora also lived in the city, although they not born there. The homes of Lope de Vega, Quevedo, Gongora and Cervantes are still preserved, and they are all in the Barrio de las Letras Letters Neigtbourhood. Lope de Vega. Other writers born in Madrid in later centuries have been Leandro Fernandez de Moratn, Mariano Jos de Larra, Jose de Echegaray Nobel Prize in Literature, Ramn Gmez de la Serna, Dmaso Alonso, Enrique Jardiel Poncela and Pedro Salinas. Madrid is home to the Royal Academy of Spanish Language, internationally important cultural institution dedicated to language planning by enacting legislation aimed at promoting linguistic unity within and among the several Hispanic states ensure a common linguistic standard, in accordance with its founding statutes quotto ensure that the changes undergone by the language ... not break the essential unity that keeps all the Hispanic. quot. Madrid is also home to another internationally cultural institution, the Instituto Cervantes, whose task is the promotion and teaching of Spanish language as well as the dissemination of the culture of Spain and Latin America. Cervantes Institute headquarters. The National Library of Spain is a major public library, the largest in Spain. The librarys collection consists of more than ,, items including ,, books and other printed materials, , manuscripts, , Spanish National Library. newspapers and serials, ,, graphic materials, , music scores, , maps, , sound recording, , audiovisuals, , electronic documents, more than , microforms, etc.quot. Nightlife The nightlife in Madrid is undoubtedly one of the citys main attractions. Tapas bars, cocktail bars, clubs, jazz lounges, live music venues, flamenco theatres and establishments of all kinds cater for all tastes and ages. Every night, venues pertaining to the Live Music Venues Association La Noche en Vivo host a wide range of live music shows. Everything from acclaimed to upandcoming artists, singersongwriters to rock bands, jazz concerts or electronic music sessions to enjoy music at its best. Nightlife and young cultural awakening flourished after the death of Franco, especially during the s while Madrids mayor Enrique Tierno Galvn PSOE was in office, at this time is wellknown the cultural movement called la movida and it initially gathered around Plaza del Dos de Mayo. Nowadays, the Malasaa area is known for its alternative scene. Madrid Some of the most popular night destinations include the neighbourhoods of Bilbao, Tribunal, Atocha, Alonso Martinez or Moncloa, together with Puerta del Sol area including Opera and Gran Via, both adjacent to the popular square and Huertas barrio de Las Letras, destinations which are also filled with tourists day and night. The district of Chueca has also become a hot spot in the Madrilenian night life specially for gay population. Chueca is popularly known as the gay quarter, comparable to The Castro district in San Francisco. What is also popular is the practice of meeting in parks or streets with friends and drinking alcohol together this is called botelln, from botella, bottle, but in recent years, drinking in the street is punished with a fine and now young madrileos drink together all around the city instead of in betterknown places. Bohemian Culture The city has venues for performing alternative art and expressive art. They are mostly located in the centre of the city include in Opera, Anton Martin, Chueca and Malasaa. There are also several festivals in Madrid including the Festival of Alternative art the Festival of the Alternative Scene. The neighbourhood of Malasaa as well as Anton Martin and Lavapies hosts several bohemian cafe/galleries. These cafes are typified with period or retro furniture or furniture found on the street, a colourful non traditional atmosphere inside, and usually art displayed each month by a new artist, often for sale. Cafes include the retro cafe quotLolinaquot and bohemian cafes quotLa Idaquot, quotLa Pacaquot and quotCafe de la Luzquot in Malasaa, quotLa Piolaquot in Huertas and quotCafe Olmoquot and quotAguardientequot in Lavapies. In the neighbourhood of Lavapies, there are also quothidden housesquot, which are illegal bars or abandoned spaces where concerts, poetry reading and the famous Spanish Botellon a street party or gathering now illegal but rarely stopped. Classical music and opera The Auditorio Nacional de Msica is the main venue for classical music concerts in Madrid. It is home to the Spanish National Orchestra, the Chamartn Symphony Orchestra and the venue for the symphonic concerts of the Community of Madrid Orchestra and the Madrid Symphony Orchestra. It is also the principal venue for orchestras on tour playing in Madrid. The Teatro Real is the main opera house in Madrid, located just in front of the Royal Palace, and its resident orchestra is the Madrid Symphony Orchestra. The theatre stages around seventeen opera National Auditorium of Music. titles both own productions and coproductions with other major European opera houses per year, as well as two or three major ballets and several recitals. The Teatro de la Zarzuela is mainly devoted to Zarzuela the Spanish traditional musical theatre genre, as well as operetta and recitals. The resident orchestra of the theatre is the Community of Madrid Orchestra. The Teatro Monumental is the concert venue of the RTVE Symphony Orchestra. Other concert venues for classical music are the Fundacin Joan March and the Auditorio , devoted to contemporary music. Madrid Bullfighting Madrid hosts the largest Plaza de Toros bullring in Spain, Las Ventas, established in . Las Ventas is considered by many to be the world centre of bullfighting and has a seating capacity of almost ,. Madrids bullfighting season begins in March and ends in October. Bullfights are held every day during the festivities of San Isidro Madrids patron saint from mid May to early June, and every Sunday, and public holiday, the rest of the season. The style of the plaza is Neomudjar. Las Ventas also hosts music concerts and other events outside of the bullfighting season. Local festivities May, San Isidro Labrador Madrids patron saint. June, San Antonio de la Florida Moncloa neighbourhoods patron saint.. July, Virgen del Carmen festivities Vallecas neighbourhoods patron saint. August, Virgen de la Paloma festivities Madrids popular patron saint August, San Cayetano Cascorro neighbourhoods patron saint. August, San Lorenzo Lavapis neighbourhoods patron saint. November, Virgen de la Almudena festivities Madrids patron saint. Sport Madrid is home to La Liga football club Real Madrid, who play their home games at the Santiago Bernabu. Their supporters are referred to as Madridistas or Merengues Merengues. Real Madrid is one of the most prestigious football clubs in the world FIFA selected Real Madrid the best team of the th century, having won a record European Cups. Their hometown rivals, Atltico Madrid, are also well The Santiago Bernabu, a FIFA elite stadium. supported in the city. The players and supporters are referred to as Colchoneros The Mattress Makers, in reference to the teams red amp white jersey colours, which were determined by mattress material being the cheapest at the time of the clubs formation. In , Madrid hosted the FIFA World Cup Final. Along with Barcelona, Glasgow and Lisbon, Madrid is one of only four cities in Europe to contain two UEFA star stadia Real Madrids Santiago Bernabu and Atltico Madrids Vicente Caldern both meet the said criteria. Some of Spains top footballers are Madrileos born in Madrid, including Real Madrid former player Emilio Butragueo and co La Quinta del Buitre, quotThe Vultures Quintquot, Premier Leagues Pepe Reina, Fernando Torres and Real Madrid veterans Ral Gonzlez, Guti Hernandez and Iker Casillas. Madrid boasts a prominent place in Spanish basketball, with two clubs in the countrys toplevel Liga ACB. Real Madrids basketball section has won Spanish League championships, Spanish Cup championships, Euroleague Championships, Saporta Cups, Intercontinental Cups and have won Triple Crowns. Madrids other professional basketball club is Estudiantes that have won Spanish Cup championships. Madrid hosts the Mutua Madrilea Madrid Open. The tournament is classified as an ATP World Tour Masters event on the Madrid Arena interior Association of Tennis Professionals tour, and a Premier Mandatory event on the Womens Tennis Association tour. Caja Mgica The Magic Box, and also known as the Manzanares Park Tennis Centre is a tennis structure located at Manzanares Park, used for the Madrid Masters tournament. Madrid The city is also host to the Circuito Permanente Del Jarama, a motorsport race circuit. Historically, the city serves as the final stage of the Vuelta a Espaa cycling event, in the same way Paris serves as the conclusive stage of the Tour de France. Skiing is possible in the nearby mountains of the Sierra de Guadarrama, where the ski resorts of Valdesqui and Navacerrada are located. In the past, Madrid has bid to host the Summer Olympics, the Summer Olympics, and the Summer Olympics, which were host to Munich, London, and Rio de Janeiro respectively. The city has two major annual road running events the Madrid Marathon and the San Silvestre Vallecana km mi run tens of thousands of runners take part in these races each year. Club Real Madrid C.F. Atltico Madrid Getafe Rayo Vallecano Real Madrid Baloncesto CB Estudiantes League La Liga La Liga La Liga Liga Adelante ACB ACB Sport Football Football Football Football Basketball Venue Santiago Bernabu Vicente Caldern Coliseum Alfonso Perez Teresa Rivero Caja Mgica Established Capacity , , , , , , Basketball Palacio de Deportes de Madrid Education State Education in Spain is free, and compulsory from to years. The current education system is called LOGSE Ley de Ordenacin General del Sistema Educativo. Universities Madrid is home to a large number of public and private universities. Some of them are among the oldest in the world, and many of them are the most prestigious universities in Spain. The Complutense University of Madrid is the largest university in Spain and one of the oldest universities in the world. It has , staff members and a student population of ,. Nearly all academic staff are Spanish. It is located on two campuses, in the university quarter Ciudad Universitaria at Moncloa in Madrid, and in Somosaguas. The Complutense University of Madrid was founded in Alcala de Henares, old Complutum, by Cardinal Cisneros in . Nevertherless, its real origin dates back from , when King Sancho IV of Castile built the General Schools of Alcal, which would give rise to Cisneros Complutense University. During the course of Complutense University of Madrid, founded five schools were already operative Artes y Filosofa Arts amp Philosophy, Teologa Theology, Derecho Cannico Canonical Laws, Letras Liberal Arts and Medicina Medicine. In , during the reign of Isabel II, the University was moved to Madrid, where it took the name of Central University and was located at San Bernardo Street. Subsequently, in , a new university area was planned to be built in the district of MoncloaAravaca, in lands handed over by the King Alfonso XIII to this purpose. The Spanish Civil War turned the quotCiudad Universitariaquot into a war zone, causing the destruction of several schools in the area, as well as the loss of part of its rich scientific, artistic and bibliographic heritage. In the Government reformed the High Education, and the Central University became the Complutense University of Madrid. It was then when the new campus at Somosaguas was created to Madrid house the new School of Social Sciences. The old Alcal campus was reopened as the independent UAH, University of Alcal, in . Complutense also serves to the population of students who select Madrid as their residency during their study abroad period. Students from the United States for example, might go to Madrid on a program like API Academic Programs International and study at Complutense for an intense immersion into the Spanish Language. The beautiful setting of the campus allows students living temporarily in Madrid to have access to all of the citys public features including Retiro Park, El Prado Museum, and much more. After studying at the University, students return home with a fluent sense of Spanish as well as culture and diversity. The Universidad Politcnica de Madrid Technical University of Madrid, is the top technical university in Spain. It is the result of the merge of different Technical Schools of Engineering. The Autonomous University of Madrid was instituted under the leadership of the famous physicist, Nicols Cabrera. The Autonoma is widely recognised for its research strengths in theoretical physics. Known simply as la Autnoma in Madrid, its main site is the Cantoblanco Campus, situated miles km to the northeast of the capital M and close to the municipal areas of Madrid, namely School of Mines, Technical University of Madrid. Alcobendas, San Sebastin de los Reyes, Tres Cantos and Colmenar Viejo. Located on the main site are the Rectorate building and the Faculties of Science, Philosophy and Fine Arts, Law, Economic Science and Business Studies, Psychology, Higher School of Computing Science and Engineering, and the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education. The Medical School is sited outside the main site and beside the Hospital Universitario La Paz. The Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, whose philosophy is to create responsible freethinking people with a sensitivity to social problems and an involvement in the concept of progress based on freedom, justice and tolerance. The undergraduate degrees in Business Administration, Economics and Law are ranked first, first and second respectively among those offered by public and private universities in Spain, and its Master and PhD programs also rank top in the country. The Department of Economics is among the best worldwide, and in the top in Econometrics. Some other prestigious universities include Universidad de Alcal de Henares, rebuilt at Alcal de Henares in and the Universidad Pontificia Comillas, involved in a number of academic exchange programmes, work practice schemes and international projects with over Higher Education Institutions in Europe, Latin America, North America and Asia. Other universities in Madrid, some of them private, are Rey Juan Carlos University public, Universidad Alfonso X, Universidad Antonio de Nebrija, Universidad Camilo Jos Cela, Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca Campus de Madrid, Saint Louis University Madrid Campus and Universidad San Pablo CEU all of them private. Madrid is also home to the Escuela Superior de Msica Reina Sofa, the Real Conservatorio Superior de Msica de Madrid and many other private educational institutions. Business schools IE Business School formerly Instituto de Empresa has its main campus on the border of the Chamartn and Salamanca districts of Madrid. IE Business School recently ranked in WSJs rankings for Best MBA Programs under years. It scored ahead of usual stalwarts, INSEAD and IMD, giving it top billing amongst International MBA programs. Although based in Barcelona, both IESE Business School and ESADE Business School also have Madrid campuses. These three schools are the topranked business schools in Spain, consistently rank among the top business schools globally, and offer MBA programs in English or Spanish as well as other Madrid business degrees. Other Madrid universities that have MBA programs include Universidad Carlos III de Madrid through the Centro de Ampliacin Estudios in English or Spanish. Universidad Pontificia Comillas de Madrid in Spanish only. Universidad Politcnica de Madrid in Spanish only. Transport Madrid is served by highlydeveloped communication infrastructures, making the Spanish capital the leading logistics hub for both Spain and all of southern Europe. It also boasts a network of motorways, encompassing both ring roads and radial roads, and provides the backbone for Spains railway network, thereby providing effective connections with not only other parts of the region, but also the rest of Spain and Europe as a whole. Madrid ranks alongside Tokyo and Paris as one of the worlds three largest highspeed railway hubs. Madrid is also home to the MadridBarajas airport, Spains flagship airport and one of the largest to be found worldwide. Air Madrid is served by Barajas Airport. Barajas is the main hub of Iberia Airlines. It consequently serves as the main gateway to the Iberian peninsula from Europe, America and the rest of the world. Current passenger volumes range upwards of . million passengers per year, making it the countrys largest and busiest airport, and in it was the worlds th busiest airport and Europes fourth busiest airport. Given annual increases close to , a new fourth terminal has been constructed. It has significantly reduced delays and doubled the capacity of the airport to more than million passengers per year. Two additional runways have also been constructed, making Barajas a fully operational fourrunway airport. Located within the city limits of Madrid, just km .mi from the citys financial district and km .mi northeast of the Puerta del Sol, Madrids historic centre. The airport name derives from the adjacent district of Barajas, which has its own metro station on the same rail line serving the airport. Madrid Barajas Airport T Station The Councillor of Transports of the Community of Madrid, Manuel Lamela, announced in that the city will also be served by two new airports which are expected to be fully operative in , the first of which will be located in Campo Real, it will be initially be used for cargo flights, but also as hub for lowcost carriers, and the second one, expected to be built between the two municipalities of El lamo and Navalcarnero, which will only take over the routes operating in Cuatro Vientos Airport. Madrid National rail Spains railway system, the Red Nacional de Ferrocarriles Espaoles Renfe operates the vast majority of Spains railways. Cercanas Madrid is the commuter rail service that serves Madrid and its metropolitan area. It is operated by Cercanas Renfe, the commuter rail division of Renfe. The total length spans .km. Main rail terminals are Atocha in the south and Chamartn in the north. The most important project in the next decade is the Spanish high speed rail network, Alta Velocidad Espaola AVE. Currently, an ambitious plan includes the construction of a , kilometre ,mi network, centred on Madrid. The overall goal is to have all important provincial cities be no more than hours away from Madrid, and no more than hours away from Barcelona. As of , AVE highspeed trains link Atocha station to Seville, Mlaga, Crdoba, Ciudad Real and Toledo in the south and to Cuenca, Albacete, Valencia, Zaragoza, Lleida, Tarragona and Barcelona in the east. AVE trains also arrive from Valladolid in the north. RENFE offers AVE Alaris Altaria Talgo Atocha railway station Madrid Metro Map Metro Serving a population of some four million, the Madrid Metro is one of the most extensive and fastestgrowing metro networks in the world. With the addition of a loop serving suburbs to Madrids southwest quotMetrosurquot, it is now the second largest metro system in Western Europe, second only to Londons Underground. In Madrids metro system was expanded and it currently runs over kilometres miles of line. The province of Madrid is also served by an extensive commuter rail network of kilometres miles called Cercanas. A modern metro train type The system is the sixth longest metro in the world after London, New York, Moscow, Seoul and Shanghai, though Madrid is approximately the fiftieth most populous metropolitan area in the world. Its fast growth in the last years has also put it among the fastest growing networks in the world, on par with the Shanghai Metro and the Beijing Subway. Unlike normal Spanish road and rail traffic, Madrid Metro trains use lefthand running on some lines due to historical reasons. Madrid Buses This railway network is ably supported by an everexpanding network of city buses. The overall length of the bus network of Madrids Municipal Transport Corporation Empresa Municipal de Transportes, or EMT at yearclose , when million passengers were transported, stood at , kilometres, marking a increase over the last eight years. These routes are serviced by a growing fleet of over , vehicles, while the network as a whole is undergoing a continuous improvement process with a view to attaining the utmost standards of speed, quality and sustainability. Roads Madrid is the most important hub of Spains motorway network and is surrounded by four orbital motorways M, M, M and M. M circles the central districts and is the inner ring motorway of Madrid. Significant portions of M runs underground and its urban motorway tunnels have sections of more than km .mi in length and to lanes in each direction, between the south entry of the Avenida de Portugal tunnel and the north exit of the M south bypass there are close to km .mi of continuous tunnels. M is a ring motorway which borders Madrid at a mean distance of . Madrids motorway hub network. kilometres .mi and it has a total length of .km .mi. M is a partial ring around the city serving the metropolitan area of Madrid. It was built to help alleviate the congestion of the M from the southern to the northeastern, runs between the M and the M where the two ring motorways are more separated. M is the outer of the Madrid orbital motorways and has a total length of km .mi. It services mainly the metropolitan area at a mean distance of .km .mi. The most important radial autovas of Madrid are Signal A A A A A A A Denomination Autova del Norte Autova del Nordeste Autova del Este Autova del Sur Itinerary Madrid Aranda de Duero Burgos Miranda de Ebro Vitoria San Sebastin Madrid Guadalajara Zaragoza Lrida Barcelona Madrid Valencia Madrid Crdoba Sevilla Jerez Cdiz Autova del Suroeste Madrid Talavera de la Reina Navalmoral de la Mata Mrida Badajoz Portugal Autova del Noroeste Madrid Medina del Campo Benavente Astorga Ponferrada Lugo La Corua Autova de Toledo Madrid Illescas Toledo Radial tolled autopistas named Rn instead of An form a new system of accesses to the capital that merges with their autova counterparts far from Madrid. The main advantage to these roads is that they allow true fast travel from the first kilometer. Madrid Signal R R R R M Denomination Autopista Radial Autopista Radial Itinerary Madrid MMGuadalajara A Madrid MArganda del Rey A Autopista Radial Madrid MAranjuezOcaa A/A/AP Autopista Radial Eje aeropuerto Madrid MNavalcarnero A Madrid MMAirport terminal A International relations Twin Towns and Sister Cities List of twin towns, sister cities and partner cities Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Asuncin, Paraguay Beijing, China Berlin, Germany Bogot, Colombia Bordeaux, France Brussels, Belgium Budapest, Hungary Buenos Aires, Argentina Caracas, Venezuela Guatemala City, Guatemala La Habana, Cuba La Paz, Bolivia Lima, Peru Lisbon, Portugal Managua, Nicaragua Manila, Philippines Mexico City, Mexico Montevideo, Uruguay Moscow, Russia New York City, US Rabat, Morocco Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Rome, Italy San Jos, Costa Rica San Juan, Puerto Rico San Salvador, El Salvador Santiago de Chile, Chile Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Sofia, Bulgaria Tegucigalpa, Honduras Tripoli, Libya Warsaw, Poland Nouakchott, Mauritania Panama City, Panama Paris, France Quito, Ecuador Prague, Czech Republic Other historic buildings Cisneros House. Casa de la Villa. San Gins Church. St. Michaels Basilica. St. Barbaras Church. Royal Observatory. Congress of Deputies. Palacio de Linares. Spanish Ministry of Agriculture. Bank of Spain. Palacio de Cristal. Hospital de Maudes. Madrid Carrin Building. Spanish Air Force Headquarters. Torres Blancas. Arch of la Victoria. Casa Gallardo Royal Palace of Madrid Notes and references quotLos fuegos que conmocionaron Madridquot http/ / www. minutos. es/ noticia/ / / cronologia/ incendios/ madrid/ in spanish. minutos.es. September . . Retrieved August . Spanish D. Ramn de Mesonero Romanos . quotEl antiguo Madrid paseos histricosanecdticos por las calles y casas de esta villaquot http/ / www. cervantesvirtual. com/ servlet/ SirveObras/ / p. htm. In Oficinas de la Ilustracin Espaola y Americana. . Retrieved August . Spanish quotEl Madrid Medieval Medieval Madrid. Includes Prehistoric, roman and medieval up to the Catholic Monarchs times.quot http/ / elmadridmedieval. jmcastellanos. com/ in Spanish. History of Madrid.. Jos Manuel Castellanos. . Retrieved October . http/ / www. munimadrid. es/ portales/ munimadrid/ en/ Homevgnextfmtdefaultamp vgnextchannelccdVgnVCMdccacRCRDamp idiomaenamp idiomaPrevioenamp combo INE.es http/ / www. ine. es/ Instituto Nacional de Estadstica National Statistics Institute quotWorld Urban Areas Population amp Densityquot http/ / www. demographia. com/ dbworldua. pdf PDF. Demographia. . Retrieved August . Eurostat, UrbanAudit.org http/ / www. urbanaudit. org/ DataAccessed. aspx, accessed on March . Data for . Thomas Brinkoff, Principal Agglomerations of the World http/ / www. citypopulation. de/ world/ Agglomerations. html, accessed on March . Data for January . United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, World Urbanization Prospects revision http/ / www. un. org/ esa/ population/ publications/ wup/ WUPHighlightsweb. pdf, United Nations, , Table A.. Data for . Member of the Governing Council. Delegate for Economy, Employment and Citizen Involvement. Page http/ / www. madrid. es/ UnidadesDescentralizadas/ UDCObservEconomico/ MadridEconomia/ Ficheros/ MadridEconomiaIngles. pdf quotGlobal city GDP rankings quot https/ / www. ukmediacentre. pwc. com/ imagelibrary/ downloadMedia. ashxMediaDetailsID. Pricewaterhouse Coopers. . Retrieved November . Globalization and World Cities GaWC Study Group and Network, Loughborough University. quotThe World According to GaWC quot http/ / www. lboro. ac. uk/ gawc/ worldt. html. . quotGlobal Power City Index quot http/ / www. morimfoundation. or. jp/ english/ research/ project/ / pdf/ GPCIEnglish. pdf PDF. . Retrieved . quotMadrid is the most touristic city of Spainquot http/ / www. madridiario. es/ / Enero/ feria/ feriamadrid/ / turistasmadrid. html. Madridiario.es. January . . Retrieved October . quotMonocles Worlds Most Liveable Cities Index quot http/ / www. monocle. com/ Magazine/ volume/ Issue/ . Monocle.com. June . . Retrieved October . quotTop liveable cities Madridquot http/ / www. monocle. com/ sections/ affairs/ MagazineArticles/ TopliveablecitiesMadrid/ . Monocle.com. . Retrieved October . Greenest cities in Europe http/ / www. citymayors. com/ environment/ greenestcitieseurope. html. City Mayors . Retrieved on . quotMadridquot http/ / www. indiana. edu/ overseas/ flyers/ madies. html. Indiana.edu. July . . quotMadrid quot http/ / www. easyexpat. com/ madriden/ overviewgeography. htm. Easy expat. August . . quotMadrid History Museums Suggested Itineraries Madridquot http/ / www. indigoguide. com/ spain/ madridhistory. htm. Indigoguide.com. . Retrieved February . Xavier Delamarre, Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise, ditions errance . p. . quotEl origen del nombre.quot http/ / www. nova. es/ jlb/ mades. htm. JLL amp JRP. August . . JMcatellanos.com http/ / elmadridmedieval. jmcastellanos. com/ Prehistoric times in Madrid Spanish Only quotMadrid, de territorio fronterizo a regin metropolitana. Madrid, from being the quotfrontierquot to become a Metropole.quot http/ / www. ucm. es/ info/ hcontemp/ leoc/ madrid I. htmINDICE in Spanish. History of Madrid.. Luis Enrique Otero Carvajal Profesor Titular de Historia Contempornea. Universidad Complutense. Madrid. . Retrieved October . quotClimate in Madridquot http/ / www. meteomad. net/ index. phpoptioncomcontentamp taskviewamp idamp Itemid. Meteomad. . Retrieved October . quotMediterraneanquot http/ / www. globalbioclimatics. org/ form/ tbmed. htm. Globalbioclimatics.org. . Retrieved April . Madrid quotValores Climatolgicos Normales. Madridquot http/ / www. aemet. es/ es/ elclima/ datosclimatologicos/ valoresclimatologicoslamp kmad in Spanish. AEMet. May . . Retrieved May . quotFaunia Wikipedia, la enciclopedia librequot http/ / es. wikipedia. org/ wiki/ Faunia in Spanish. Es.wikipedia.org. January . . Retrieved January . quotOverview Economy of Madridquot http/ / www. easyexpat. com/ madriden/ overvieweconomy. htm. EasyExpat. August . . quotMadrid Economyquot http/ / www. esmadrid. com/ recursos/ doc/ en/ Negocio/ ObservatorioEconomico/ . pdf PDF. Empresa Municipal Promocin de Madrid. . Retrieved August . quotCity Mayors reviews the richest cities in the world in quot http/ / www. citymayors. com/ statistics/ richestcities. html. Citymayors.com. March . . Retrieved July . Colpisa. quotOcho regiones espaolas superan ya el PIB medio de la Unin Europea. La Verdadquot http/ / www. laverdad. es/ murcia/ / economia/ ochoregionesespanolassuperan. html. Laverdad.es. . Retrieved July . quotThe worlds best financial citiesquot http/ / www. citymayors. com/ economics/ financialcities. html. City Mayors. . quotEl salario medio bruto se acerca a . euros en el segundo trimestre del aoquot http/ / www. elmundo. es/ mundodinero/ / / / economia/ . html. elmundo.es. . . Retrieved . quotWorlds richest cities in quot http/ / www. citymayors. com/ economics/ richestcities. html. City Mayors. . Retrieved . quotWorlds most expensive cities in Rankingquot http/ / www. citymayors. com/ economics/ expensivecities. html. City Mayors. . http/ / www. ine. es/ jaxi/ menu. dotypepcaxisamp pathFtFeamp fileinebaseamp L quotForeign Population in the city of madrid. A study by the Direccin General de Estadstica of the municipality of Madridquot http/ / www. munimadrid. es/ UnidadesDescentralizadas/ UDCEstadistica/ Publicaciones/ PoblacionExtranjera/ Julio/ ExtranjerosJulio. pdf PDF. . Retrieved April . quotPleno de Madrid Spanish Onlyquot http/ / www. munimadrid. es/ portal/ site/ munimadrid/ menuitem. fbdbafabaadffcac/ vgnextoiddaaabceVgnVCMbaaRCRDamp vgnextchannelfeabcVgnVCMdcacRCRD in Spanish. Munimadrid.es. . Retrieved April . quotLocal Government Organization Spanish Onlyquot http/ / www. munimadrid. es/ portales/ munimadrid/ es/ Inicio/ ElAyuntamiento/ GobiernoyAdministracion/ JuntadeGobiernodelaCiudaddeMadrid/ JuntadeGobiernodelaCiudaddeMadridvgnextfmtespecialamp vgnextoidfaaddVgnVCMdcacRCRDamp vgnextchannelbeddeVgnVCMdccacRCRD in Spanish. Munimadrid.es. . Retrieved April . quotMuseo del Prado, official english webpagequot http/ / www. museodelprado. es/ en/ . . quotMuseo Reina Sofa MNCARS, official english webpagequot http/ / www. museoreinasofia. es/ indexen. html. . Jonathan Kandell, quotBaron ThyssenBornemisza, Industrialist Who Built Fabled Art Collection, Dies at ,quot http/ / www. nytimes. com/ / / / nyregion/ baronthyssenbornemiszaindustrialistwhobuiltfabledartcollectiondies. htmlpagewantedall New York Times, April . quotThyssenBornemisza Museum, official english webpagequot http/ / www. museothyssen. org/ en/ thyssen/ home. . quotThe Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando Museum, Madridquot http/ / www. gomadrid. com/ museums/ bellasartes. html. Gomadrid.com. . Retrieved . http/ / karaart. com/ botero/ fernandobotero. html .http/ / www. patrimonionacional. es/ Home/ PalaciosReales/ PalacioRealdeMadrid. aspx http/ / man. mcu. es/ http/ / museodeamerica. mcu. es http/ / www. mncn. csic. es/ quotPatrimonio Nacional Monasterio de las Descalzas Realesquot http/ / www. patrimonionacional. es/ Home/ MonasteriosyConventos/ MonasteriodelasDescalzasReales. aspx. Patrimonionacional.es. . Retrieved . quotFundacin Lzaro Galdiano museum websitequot http/ / www. flg. es/ museo/ museo. htm. Flg.es. . Retrieved . http//mnartesdecorativas.mcu.es http/ / museoromanticismo. mcu. es http/ / museocerralbo. mcu. es http/ / mnantropologia. mcu. es/ http/ / museosorolla. mcu. es/ quotReal Decreto /, de de julio, por el que se aprueba los Estatutos de la Real Academia Espaolaquot http/ / noticias. juridicas. com/ basedatos/ Admin/ rd. html. Noticias.juridicas.com. . . Retrieved . Librays website http/ / www. bne. es/ es/ Colecciones/ National MSO.net http/ / www. mso. net. amp quotThings to do in Madrid Popular sightseeing activities amp things to do in Madridquot http/ / www. directlinecitybreaks. co. uk/ Madrid Things To Do. Directlinecitybreaks.co.uk. . Retrieved June . quot Festival Escena Contemporneaquot http/ / escenacontemporanea. com/ / . Escenacontemporanea.com. . Retrieved June . quotFestival Alternativo de las Artes Escnicas, Madrid, Spain Things to Do Reviewsquot http/ / www. nileguide. com/ destination/ madrid/ thingstodo/ festivalalternativodelasartesescenicas/ . NileGuide.com. . Retrieved June . Addis Network S.L.. quotSpainTube Art Madrid Alternativo o complementario a ARCO Galeria Arte Rita Castellote/Arte Contemporaneo en Madridquot http/ / www. galeriaritacastellote. es/ content/ / / / / / SpainTubeArtMadridAlternativoocomplementarioaARCO. htm. Galeriaritacastellote.es. . Retrieved June . Madrid France, Jon. quotThe Best Cafs in Madrid Venere Travel Blogquot http/ / www. venere. com/ blog/ madridcafes/ . Venere.com. . Retrieved June . quotMadrids Bohemian Best Exploring Lavapis La Castizaquot http/ / en. momondo. com/ blogs/ lacastiza/ archive/ / / / lavapis. aspx. En.momondo.com. . Retrieved June . quotMadrid Neighbourhoods Lavapis... Going out, eating, drinking, and bohemian cool Notes from Madrid Tapas bars, restaurants, shopping, and nightlife in Madridquot http/ / www. notesfrommadrid. com/ category/ bybarrio/ lavapies/ . Notesfrommadrid.com. November . . Retrieved June . quotEl Rastro amp Lavapisquot http/ / www. whatmadrid. com/ lavapies. html. Whatmadrid.com. . Retrieved June . quotAuditorio Nacional de Msicaquot http/ / www. timeout. com/ madrid/ music/ venue/ / auditorionacionaldemusica. Time Out. . Retrieved August . quotOrquesta Sinfnica ChamartnHistoria in Spanishquot http/ / www. oschamartin. org/ osc/ index. phpoptioncomcontentamp taskviewamp idamp Itemid. Orquesta Sinfnica Chamartn. February . . Retrieved August . quotTeatro Real Timeout Madridquot http/ / www. timeout. com/ madrid/ music/ venue/ / teatroreal. . Retrieved January . History of the Teatro de la Zarzuela http/ / teatrodelazarzuela. mcu. es/ teatro/ historia. asp quotTeatro de la Zarzuela Timeout Madridquot http/ / www. timeout. com/ madrid/ music/ venue/ / teatrodelazarzuela. Timeout.com. . Retrieved April . quotLa Orquesta Sinfnica in Spanishquot http/ / www. rtve. es/ orquesta/ orquesta/ index. php. RTVE. . Retrieved August . Valiente, Emeterio April . Course record for Cherogony, while Gebrselassie jogs to km .milemi http/ / www. iaaf. org/ LRR/ news/ newsid. html victory Madrid Marathon report. IAAF. Retrieved on . quotSistema Educativo LOE by the Spanish Ministry of EducationSpanish Onlyquot http/ / web. archive. org/ web/ / http/ / www. mec. es/ educa/ sistemaeducativo/ loe/ sistemaeducativoloe. html in Spanish. Mec.es. Archived from the original http/ / www. mec. es/ educa/ sistemaeducativo/ loe/ sistemaeducativoloe. html on April . . Retrieved April . quotUniversidad Complutensequot http/ / www. umsl. edu/ services/ abroad/ universities/ complutense. html. MissouriSt. Louis University. July . . quotComplutense University of Madridquot http/ / portal. ucm. es/ en/ web/ enucm/ sevencenturiesofhistory. UCM. . quotUniversidad Autnomaquot http/ / www. uam. es. Universidad Autnoma de Madrid. July . . quotquotEl Mundoquot Carreras quot http/ / www. elmundo. es/ especiales/ / / cultura/ carreras/ index. html. . quotquotEl Mundoquot Masters quot http/ / aula. elmundo. es/ aula/ especiales/ / masters/ index. html. . quotDepartment of Economics, U. Carlos III de Madridquot http/ / www. eco. ucm. es. . quotwww.econphd.netquot http/ / www. econphd. net/ rankings. htm. . quotACI Passenger Traffic Data quot http/ / www. airports. org/ cda/ acicommon/ display/ main/ acicontentc. jspznaciamp cp. Airports.org. . . Retrieved . quotMadrid Metroquot http/ / urbanrail. net/ eu/ mad/ madrid. htm. Robert Schwandl. August . . Madrid city council webpage quotMapa Mundi de las ciudades hermanadasquot http/ / www. munimadrid. es/ portal/ site/ munimadrid/ menuitem. dbdababaadffcac/ vgnextoideaVgnVCMcaaRCRDamp vgnextchanneledaaVgnVCMdcacRCRDamp vgnextfmtespecialamp idContenidodaabbVgnVCMdcacRCRD. Ayuntamiento de Madrid. Madrid city council webpage. External links Metro of Madrid http//www.metromadrid.es/en/index.html Transport Information System of Madrid http//www.ctmmadrid.es/servlet/IdiomaServletxhIDIOMA Madrid travel guide from Wikitravel City of Madrid http//www.munimadrid.es/portales/munimadrid/en/Homevgnextfmtdefaultamp vgnextchannelccdVgnVCMdccacRCRDampidiomaenampidiomaPrevioenamp combo The Official Website for Madrid on Tourism and Business http//www.esmadrid.com/en/portal.do WikiSatellite view of Madrid at WikiMapia http//www.wikimapia.org/yampxampzamp lampma Photos of Madrid http//www.flickr.com/photos/tessekkur/sets// OPENCities participant http//opencities.britishcouncil.org/web/index.phppmadriden History of Madrid http//www.ucm.es/info/hcontemp/leoc/madrid.htm Development and History of the city of Madrid http//www.nova.es/jlb/mades.htm quotRenta en los Distritos de Madrid quot http//www.munimadrid.es/estadistica/economia/renta/documentos/ BRC.pdfPDF, Madrid A guide to the natural history of Madrid http//www.iberianature.com/material/wildnaturesites/ wildmadrid/madridnature.htm A guide to the gastronomy and architecture of Madrid http//madridexplore.com/ kbd History of Madrid Although the site of modernday Madrid Spain has been occupied since prehistoric times, and there are archeological remains of a small visigoth village near the modern location, the first historical data from the city comes from the th century, when Muhammad I of Cordoba ordered the construction of a small palace in the same place that is today occupied by the Palacio Real. Around this palace a small citadel, alMudayna, was built. Near that palace was the Manzanares, which the Muslims called alMajr Arabic quot ,source of waterquot. From this came the naming of the site as Majerit, which was later rendered to the Ruins of Madrids Muslim wall, built in the th century modernday spelling of Madrid. The citadel was conquered in by Alfonso VI of Leon and Castile in his advance towards Toledo. He reconsecrated the mosque as the church of the Virgin of Almudena almudin, the garrisons granary. In , the Cortes Generales first assembled in the city to advise Ferdinand IV of Castile. Sephardic Jews and Moors continued to live in the city until they were expelled at the end of the th century. In , Leon VI of Armenia was named Lord of Madrid by King John I of Castile. In , the crusader Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia had been conquered by Egyptian Mamluks and Leon V was taken prisoner to Cairo. The king of Castile felt compassion for him and ransomed him with precious stones, silks, and birds of prey. Leon Lusignan arrived ill and poor to Medina del Campo. John I granted him for life the town of Madrid, Villa Real and Andjar and a yearly gift of , maravedis. He rebuilt the towers of the Royal Alcazar. According to Father Mariana, Leon left Castile for France after the death of his protector in and died in in Paris. Federico Bravo, however states that he left after two years of ruling and five years later, the Madrilenians were conceded the revocation of the lordship by John. After troubles and a big fire, Henry III of Castile rebuilt the city and established himself safely fortified outside its walls in El Pardo, after a royal schedule issued in . To avoid cases like that of Leon, he ordered that Madrid would be thereinafter an unalienable possession of the Crown of Castile. The grand entry of Ferdinand and Isabella to Madrid heralded the end of strife between Castile and Aragon. The kingdoms of Castile, with its capital at Toledo, and Aragn, with its capital at Barcelona, were welded into modern Spain by Charles I of Spain. Though Charles favored Madrid, it was his son, Philip II who moved the court to Madrid in . Although he made no official declaration, the seat of the court was the de facto capital. Seville continued to control the Spanish Indies, but Madrid controlled Seville. Aside from a brief period, , when King Philip III installed his court in Valladolid, Madrids fortunes have closely mirrored those of Spain. During the Siglo de Oro Golden Century, in the th/th century, Madrid had no resemblance with other European capitals the population of the city was economically dependent on the business of the court itself. Plaza Mayor, from History of Madrid Philip V decided that a European capital could not stay in such a state, and new palaces including the Palacio Real de Madrid were built during his reign. However, it would not be until Charles III that Madrid would become a modern city. Charles III was one of the most popular kings in the history of Madrid, and the saying quotthe best mayor, the kingquot became popular during those times. When Charles IV became king the people of Madrid revolted. After the Mutiny of Aranjuez, which was led by his own son Ferdinand VII against him, Charles IV resigned, but Fountain of Cybele, from , at Plaza de Cibeles Ferdinand VIIs reign would be short in May Napoleons troops entered the city. On May , Spanish Dos de Mayo the Madrileos revolted against the French forces, whose brute reaction would have a lasting impact on French rule in Spain and Frances image in Europe in general. After the war of independence Ferdinand VII came back to the throne, but after a liberal military revolution, Colonel Riego made the king swear respect to the Constitution. This would start a period where liberal and conservative government alternated, that would end with the enthronement of Isabellla II . She could not calm down the political tension that would lead to yet another revolt, the First Spanish Republic, and the comeback of the monarchs, which eventually led to the Second Spanish Republic and the Spanish Civil War. The military uprising of July was defeated in Madrid by a combination of loyal police units and workers militias. After this, from , Madrid An German map of Madrid. was held by forces loyal to the Spanish Republic and was besieged by Spanish Nationalist and allied troops under Francisco Franco. Madrid, besieged from October , saw a pitched battle in its western suburbs in November of that year and eventually fell to the nationalists on March , . The Siege of Madrid saw the first mass bombing of civilians from the air by German aircraft of the Condor Legion. During the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, especially after the sixties, the south of Madrid became very industrialized and there were massive migrations from rural environments into the city. Madrids southeastern periphery became an extensive slum settlement, which was the base for an active cultural and political frame. After the death of Franco, emerging democratic parties including those of leftwing and republican ideology accepted Francos wishes of being succeeded by Juan Carlos I in order to secure stability and democracy which led Spain to its current position as a constitutional monarchy. The Metropolis Building in Gran Via. History of Madrid Befitting from the prosperity it gained in the s, the capital city of Spain has consolidated its position as the leading economic, cultural, industrial, educational, and technological center on the Iberian peninsula. On March , Madrid was hit by a terrorist attack when terrorists placed a series of bombs on multiple trains during the rush hour. This was the worst massacre in Spain since the end of the civil war in . At first the Basque separatists ETA were blamed but it was later revealed that Islamic terrorists were to blame. The Partido Popular, now in opposition, as well as certain Puerta de Europa buildings, from media outlets such as El Mundo newspaper and a small percentage of the population, continue to support theories relating the attack to a vast conspiracy to remove them from power. These theories consider that the Spanish Socialist Workers Party PSOE, ETA as well as members of the security forces and national and foreign secret services were implicated in the bombings. Nevertherless, all the investigations carried out by Del Olmo Judge in Madrid lead all suspicions towards a local terrorist Islamist cell which mainly resided in the quotbarrioquot of Lavapies that wanted to punish the Spanish government for their implication in the Iraq war, as the terrorists themselves asserted in some video tapes found at the Madrid Muslim Mosque in the aftermath of the attacks. Madrid has also expressed its desire to host the Olympic Games, and was a candidate for the games, which was finally won by London after Madrid was eliminated in the third round of the ballot. Immediately following the announcement of Londons success, the mayor of the city, Alberto RuizGallardn, spoke of bidding for the games, and in Madrid formally announced its candidature. Again they got eliminated in the third round, this time to Rio de Janeiro. References quotEl Madrid Medieval Medieval Madrid. Includes Prehistoric, roman and medieval up to the Catholic Monarchs times.quot http/ / elmadridmedieval. jmcastellanos. com/ in Spanish. History of Madrid.. Jos Manuel Castellanos. . Retrieved . Un Madrid inslito Gua para dejarse sorprender, pg. . Jess Callejo. Editorial Complutense, . ISBN . The book however talks about Leon V of Armenia. MadridBarajas Airport MadridBarajas Airport MadridBarajas Airport Aeropuerto de MadridBarajas IATA MAD ICAO LEMD Summary Airport type Operator Serves Location Hub for Public Aena Madrid, Spain Madrid, Alcobendas, San Sebastin de los Reyes and Paracuellos de Jarama, Spain Air Europa Air Pullmantur EasyJet Iberia Mint Airways Ryanair Spanair ElevationAMSL m / , ft Coordinates Website N W http/ / www. aena. es Map MAD Location within Madrid Runways Direction m R/L L/R L/R R/L , , , , Length ft , , , , Statistics Passengers Passenger change ,, . Asphalt Asphalt Asphalt Asphalt / Concrete Surface MadridBarajas Airport ,. Aircraft Movements Movements change Sources Passenger Traffic, AENA Spanish AIP, AENA MadridBarajas Airport Spanish AeropuertoMadridBarajas Internacional IATA MAD ,ICAO LEMD is the main international airport serving Madrid in Spain. In , over . million passengers used MadridBarajas, making it the countrys largest and busiest airport, and in it was the worlds th busiest airport and Europes fourth busiest airport. It opened in , and has grown to be one of the most important aviation centres of Europe. Located within the city limits of Madrid, just km .mi from the citys financial district and km .mi northeast of the Puerta del Sol, Madrids historic centre. The airport name derives from the adjacent district of Barajas, which has its own metro station on the same rail line serving the airport. The MadridBarcelona air shuttle service, known as the quotPuente Areoquot in Spanish, literally quotAir Bridgequot, is the busiest air route in Europe, with the highest number of flight operations per week before . The schedule has been reduced since February , when the MadridBarcelona highspeed rail line was opened, covering the distance in hours, and quickly became popular. Barajas serves as the gateway to the Iberian peninsula from the rest of Europe and the world, and is a particularly key link between Europe and Latin America. The airport is the primary hub and maintenance base for Iberia. Consequently, Iberia is responsible for more than percent of Barajas traffic. History The airport was first constructed in , opening to national and international air traffic on April , although regular commercial operations began two years later. A small terminal was constructed with a capacity for , passengers a year, in addition to several hangars and the building of the Avin Club. The first regular flight was established by Lneas Areas Postales Espaolas LAPE with its line to Barcelona. Later, in the s international flights started to serve some European and African destinations. Barajas Terminal Originally, the flight field was a large circle bordered in white with the name of Madrid in its interior, unpaved, consisting of land covered with natural grass. It was not until the s that the flight field was paved and new runways were designed. The first runway which started operation in was , metres long and metres wide. By the end of the decade the airport had three runways, none of which exists today. In the late s, scheduled flights to Latin America and the Philippines started. In the s, the airport supported over half a million passengers, increasing to runways and scheduled flights to New York City began. The National Terminal, currently T, began construction in , and was inaugurated later that year. In the Plan of Airports of , Barajas DeparturesTerminal Airport is classified as a firstclass international airport. By the s, large jets were landing at Barajas, and the growth of traffic mainly as a result of tourism exceeded forecasts. At the beginning of the decade, the airport reached the . million passengers, double that envisaged in the Plan of Airports of . MadridBarajas Airport In the s, with the boom in tourism and the arrival of the Boeing , the airport reached million passengers, and began the construction of the international terminal current T. In , Iberia, L.A.E. introduced the shuttle service between Madrid and Barcelona, a service with multiple daily frequencies and available without prior reservation. The FIFA World Cup brought significant reforms to the airport, with the expansion and reform of the two existing terminals. In the s, the airport expanded further. In , the first cargo terminal was constructed, and the control tower was renovated. In , it opened the North Dock, which is used as an exclusive terminal for Iberias Schengen flights. In , it inaugurated a new control tower, m tall, and then in the new South Dock opened, which implies an expansion of the international terminal. During this time, the distribution of the terminals changed The south dock and most of the International Terminal were now called T, the rest of the International Terminal and Domestic Terminal were now called T and the north dock was called T. In November , the new runway RL started operations replacing the previous , , m long, one of the largest in Europe under expansion plans called Major Barajas. In , it began the construction of new terminals T and its satellite, TS, designed by architects Antonio Lamela and Richard Rogers, and two parallel runways to the existing ones. The new terminals and runways were completed in , but administrative delays and equipment, as well as the controversy over the redeployment of terminals, delayed service until February . In , the airport processed more than million passengers. Barajas today Terminal houses all Iberia and Vueling flights along with all Oneworld alliance member airlines which include British Airways, American Airlines, LAN Airlines, Finnair, among others. Terminals T, T, and T handle Air Europa and Spanair, as well as all member airlines of SkyTeam and Star Alliance. Terminal , designed by Antonio Lamela and Richard Rogers winning team of the Stirling Prize, and TPS Engineers, winning team of the IStructE Award for Commercial Structures was built by Ferrovial and inaugurated on February , . Terminal is one of the worlds largest airport terminals in terms of area, with , square meters ,, square feet in separate landside and airside structures. It consists of a main building, T , m, and a satellite building, TS , m, which are approximately .km apart. The new Terminal is meant to give passengers a stressfree start to their journey. This is managed through careful use of illumination, with glass panes instead of walls, and numerous domes in the roof which allow natural light to pass through. With this new addition, Barajas is designed to handle million passengers annually. Terminal Terminal During the construction of Terminal , two more runways L/R and L/R were constructed to aid in the flow of air traffic arriving and departing from Barajas. These runways were officially inaugurated on February , together with the terminals, but had already been MadridBarajas Airport used on several occasions beforehand to test flight and air traffic manoeuvres. Thus, Barajas came to have four runways two on a northsouth axis and parallel to each other separated by .km and two on a northwestsoutheast axis and separated by .km. This allowed simultaneous takeoffs and landings into the airport, allowing operations an hour one takeoff or landing every seconds. Terminals , and are adjacent terminals that are home to SkyTeam and Star Alliance airlines, as well as Air Europa. Terminal is home to Iberia, its franchise Air Nostrum and all Oneworld partner airlines. Gate numbers are continuous in terminals , and A to E, but are separately numbered in terminal . Barajas was voted quotBest Airportquot in the Cond Nast Traveller Reader Awards. In December , the Spanish government announced plans to tender MadridBarajas airport to companies in the private sector for a period of up to years. Terminal at night Terminal Terminal check in hall in Traffic and statistics Passenger numbers Passengers ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, Aircraft Movements , , , , , , , , , , Cargo tonnes , , , , , , , , , , MadridBarajas Airport Source Aena Statistics Route statistics Busiest Intercontinental Routes from MadridBarajas Rank Rome, Italy ParisCharles de Gaulle, France Amsterdam, Netherlands City Passengers ,, ,, ,, Top Carriers Alitalia, Iberia, Air Europa Air Europa, Iberia, Air France EasyJet, Iberia, KLM, Transavia British Airways, Iberia Air Canada, Iberia ,Air Transat Iberia, LAN Airlines, Lufthansa, Spanair China Airlines, Air China, Spanair, Iberia Iberia, Aerolineas Argentinas, Air Europa Air Europa, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Iberia EasyJet, Iberia, Lufthansa Iberia, Lufthansa, Lufthansa CityLine Iberia, Royal Air Maroc, Air Europa Brussels Airlines, Iberia Aeromxico, Iberia Air Europa, Iberia, LAN Per Air China, Iberia, TAM Airlines Iberia, Thai Airways International Japan Airlines, Iberia, All Nippon Airways Avianca, Iberia Iberia, Air Kenya, British Airways Air India, Iberia Air Europa, American Airlines, Iberia Air Europa, Cubana de Aviacin, Iberia, Iberworld Air Europa, Conviasa, Iberia, Santa Brbara Airlines Olympic Air, Iberia, Aegean Airlines Iberia, LAN Airlines Iberia, Korean Air Iberia, Turkish Airlines Qantas, Iberia Air China, Iberia LondonHeathrow, United Kingdom ,, TorontoPearson, Canada Frankfurt, Germany ShanghaiPudong, China Buenos AiresEzeiza, Argentina New YorkJFK, United States MilanMalpensa, Italy Munich, Germany Casablanca, Morocco Brussels, Belgium Mexico City, Mexico Lima, Peru So PauloGuarulhos, Brazil Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Tokyo, Japan Bogot, Colombia Nairobi, Kenya Delhi, India Miami, United States Havana, Cuba Caracas, Venezuela Athens, Greece Santiago de Chile, Chile Incheon, South Korea IstanbulAtatrk, Turkey Sydney, Australia Beijing, China ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , MadridBarajas Airport Busiest Domestic Routes from MadridBarajas Rank City Barcelona, Catalonia Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands Passengers ,, ,, Top Carriers Air Europa, Iberia, Spanair, Vueling Airlines Air Berlin, Air Europa, Iberia, Ryanair, Spanair Air Europa, Iberia, Ryanair, Spanair Air Europa, Iberia, Spanair Air Nostrum, Iberia, Ryanair, Spanair Iberia, Ryanair, Spanair Iberia, Spanair Air Europa, Iberia, Ryanair, Spanair Air Europa, Iberia Iberia, Spanair Air Europa, Air Nostrum, EasyJet, Spanair, Vueling Airlines Iberia, Spanair Air Europa, EasyJet, Iberia, Iberworld, Ryanair, Spanair Air Europa, Iberia Iberia, Ryanair Air Europa, Iberia, Ryanair, Spanair Iberia Air Nostrum, Ryanair Air Europa, EasyJet, Iberia, Iberworld, Spanair Iberia Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands ,, TenerifeNorth, Canary Islands Valencia, Valencian Community Alicante, Valencian Community Bilbao, Basque Country Santiago de Compostela, Galicia Vigo, Galicia Malaga, Andalusia Ibiza, Balearic Islands A Corua, Galicia Lanzarote, Canary Islands Asturias, Principality of Asturias Jerez de la Frontera, Andalusia TenerifeSouth, Canary Islands Seville, Andalusia Santander, Cantabria Fuerteventura, Canary Islands Granada, Andalusia ,, ,, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Terminals, airlines and destinations Note denotes charter flights and their destinations A Qatar Airways A taxiing MadridBarajas Airport A Vueling Airbus A parked at a gate A Germanwings Airbus A parked at a gate Airlines Aegean Airlines Aer Lingus Aeroflot Aerolneas Argentinas Aeromxico Aerosur Air Algrie Air Berlin Air Canada Air China Air Europa Athens Dublin, WashingtonDulles MoscowSheremetyevo Buenos AiresEzeiza Mexico City Santa Cruz de la Sierra Algiers Palma de Mallorca Seasonal TorontoPearson BeijingCapital, So PauloGuarulhos Destinations Terminal Arrecife, Buenos AiresEzeiza, Cancun, Caracas, Dakar, Havana, Lima, LondonGatwick, Malabo, Marrakech, Mexico City begins June, Miami, New YorkJFK, Punta Cana, Santo Domingo, Tunis Asturias, Barcelona, Fuerteventura, Ibiza, Gran Canaria, Lisbon, Minorca, Palma de Mallorca, ParisOrly, RomeFiumicino, Santiago de Compostela, TenerifeNorth, TenerifeSouth, Venice, Vigo ParisCharles de Gaulle Chisinau Seasonal MontralTrudeau, TorontoPearson Seasonal Riga Air Europa Air France Air Moldova Air Transat AirBaltic MadridBarajas Airport Alitalia American Airlines Armavia Avianca Blue Air MilanLinate, RomeFiumicino Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, New YorkJFK Yerevan begins June Bogot, Cali, Medelln BucharestBneasa, Sibiu British Airways LondonHeathrow British Airways LondonCity operated by BA CityFlyer Brussels Airlines Bulgaria Air Continental Airlines Conviasa Cubana de Aviacin Czech Airlines Brussels Sofia Newark Caracas Havana, Santiago de Cuba Prague Delta Air Lines Atlanta, New YorkJFK EasyJet Amsterdam, BerlinSchnefeld, Bordeaux, Bristol, BucharestHenri Coand, Casablanca, Edinburgh, Ibiza, Lanzarote resumes June, Lisbon, Liverpool, LondonGatwick, LondonLuton, Lyon, Manchester begins November, Marrakech, MilanMalpensa, Naples, ParisCharles de Gaulle, RomeFiumicino, Tangier, Toulouse, Venice Basel/Mulhouse, Geneva Cairo Tel Aviv Dubai Helsinki A Corua, Algiers, Alicante, Amsterdam, Asturias, Athens, Barcelona, BerlinTegel, Bilbao, Bogot, Bologna, Boston, Brussels, BucharestOtopeni resumes July, Buenos AiresEzeiza, Cairo, Caracas, Casablanca, ChicagoOHare, Copenhagen, Crdoba, Dakar, Dsseldorf, Fortaleza, Frankfurt, Fuerteventura, Geneva, Granada, Gran Canaria, Guatemala City, Guayaquil, Havana, IstanbulAtatrk, Jerez de la Frontera, Johannesburg, La Palma, Lagos, Lanzarote, Lima, Lisbon, LondonHeathrow, Los Angeles, Malabo, Malaga, Marrakech, Mexico City, Miami, MilanLinate, MilanMalpensa, Montevideo, MoscowDomodedovo, Munich, New YorkJFK, Oran, Palma de Mallorca, Panama City, ParisOrly, Prague, Quito, Rabat begins July , Recife, Rio de JaneiroGaleo, RomeFiumicino, San Jos de Costa Rica, San Juan, San Salvador, Santiago de Chile, Santiago de Compostela, Santo Domingo, So PauloGuarulhos, Seville, StockholmArlanda, Tangier, Tel Aviv, TenerifeNorth, TenerifeSouth, Venice, Vienna, Vigo, Zrich Seasonal Damascus, Dubrovnik, Saint Petersburg, Zagreb EasyJet Switzerland EgyptAir El Al Emirates Finnair Iberia Iberia operated Almera, Badajoz, Bologna, Bordeaux, Dublin, Dsseldorf, Genoa, Granada, Ibiza, La Palma by Air Nostrum starts July, Leon, Logroo, Lyon, Marseille, Marrakech, Melilla, MilanMalpensa, Minorca, Montpellier, Munich, Murcia, Nantes, Naples, Nice, ParisOrly, Pamplona, Pisa, Porto, San Sebastin, Santander, Strasbourg, Tangier, Toulouse, Turin, Valencia, Vitoria Seasonal A Corua, Asturias, Catania, Corfu, Malta, Olbia MadridBarajas Airport Icelandair KLM Korean Air LAN Airlines LAN Ecuador LAN Per LOT Polish Airlines Lufthansa Lufthansa Regional operated by Lufthansa CityLine Luxair Malv Hungarian Airlines Meridiana Fly Seasonal ReykjavikKeflavik Amsterdam Amsterdam, SeoulIncheon Frankfurt, ParisCharles de Gaulle ends July, Santiago de Chile Guayaquil, Quito Lima Warsaw Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich Dsseldorf, Hamburg, Munich Luxembourg Budapest Florence ends August Mint Airways Amman, Aswan, Cairo, Luxor Niki Orbest Pullmantur Air Qatar Airways Royal Air Maroc Royal Jordanian Ryanair Vienna Cancun, Edinburgh, Menorca, Punta Cana, Santa Cruz de la Palma Cancun, Punta Cana Doha Casablanca, Marrakech Amman Alghero, Alicante, Almera, Ancona, Bari, Beauvais, Bergamo, Bologna, Brussels SouthCharleroi, Cagliari, Dublin, Eindhoven, Faro, Fez, Hahn, Ibiza, Jerez de la Frontera, Krakow, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, LondonGatwick, LondonStansted, Malta, Manchester, Marrakech, Marseille, MossRygge, Nador, Oujda, Palma de Mallorca, Pisa, Porto, Pozna begins May, RomeCiampino, Santander, Santiago de Compostela, StockholmSkavsta, Tangier, TenerifeSouth, Trapani, Turin, Verona, Weeze MoscowDomodedovo Seasonal Ponta Delgada, Terceira Caracas Jeddah, Riyadh Copenhagen Seasonal OsloGardermoen, Bergen S Airlines Sata Internacional Santa Brbara Airlines Saudi Arabian Airlines SAS Scandinavian Airlines MadridBarajas Airport Sky Work Airlines Spanair Bern begins October A Corua, Alicante, Asturias, Barcelona, Bilbao, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Fuerteventura, Ibiza, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Mlaga, Minorca, Palma de Mallorca, Santiago de Compostela, StockholmArlanda begins July, TenerifeNorth, Valencia, Vigo Geneva, Zrich Swiss International Air Lines Syrian Air TACV TAM Airlines TAP Portugal TAP operated by Portugalia Airlines TAROM Thai Airways International Transavia Travel Service Tunisair Turkish Airlines Ukraine International Airlines US Airways Uzbekistan Airways Vueling Damascus Sal So PauloGuarulhos Funchal, Lisbon Lisbon, Porto BucharestHenri Coand BangkokSuvarnabhumi Rotterdam, Amsterdam Budapest, Prague Tozeur, Tunis IstanbulAtatrk KievBoryspil, Lviv Philadelphia Seasonal Charlotte Geneva, Tashkent Alicante, BucharestHenri Coand, Barcelona, Fuerteventura, Ibiza, Lanzarote, Lisbon, Malaga, Malta, Minorca, Palma de Mallorca, ParisCharles de Gaulle, RomeFiumicino, Warsaw Seasonal Mykonos begins June BucharestBneasa, Budapest, ClujNapoca, Katowice, Prague, Trgu Mure begins June, Timioara Seasonal Warsaw Sofia Wizz Air Wizz Air Bulgaria Cargo airlines MadridBarajas Airport Airlines DHL Aviation Destinations BeijingCapital, Copenhagen, Miami FedEx Feeder operated by Air Contractors Dublin, ParisCharles de Gaulle Flyant Gestair Cargo TNT Airways Turkish Airlines Cargo UPS Airlines Maastricht/Aachen Brussels IstanbulAtaturk ChicagoOHare, Cologne/Bonn, LondonStansted Ground transport Rail The Madrid Metro Line connects the airport with Madrids city centre station Nuevos Ministerios in the heart of Madrids financial district. The Barajas Line provides a fast route from the underground stations at Terminal access to T and T and Terminal into central Madrid. The metro also provides links to stations on the Spanish railway network. The first ride in the morning leaves from Nuevos Ministerios around am, arriving at Terminals around , and at Terminal around . The Nuevos Ministerios metro station allowed checkingin right by the AZCA business area in central Madrid, but this convenience has been suspended indefinitely after the building of Terminal . In October , a bid was launched for the construction of a Cercanas link between Chamartn Station and Terminal . When finished in , a single Cercanas Line will link Madrid Barajas Terminal , with Chamartn Station and Atocha AVE highspeed train stations. Metro line at Aeropuerto T Station EMT Bus EMT Madrid Municipal Transport Company runs regular public bus Shuttle train that links Terminal with its satellite services between the airport and Madrid Avenida de Amrica station bus runs as a complete line dropping passengers off at departures of terminals , and before collecting passengers in the reverse order at arrivals EMT also have an express bus linking Barajas airport to Renfes Atocha Station the main rail station in Madrid. The EMT public night bus service N nicknamed quotBuhoquot, Owl also services from Madrid downtown Plaza Cibeles to Barajas Plaza de los Hermanos Falc y Alvarez de Toledo, m from the airport through a passageway above the highway. MadridBarajas Airport Airport parking Long and shortterm car parking is provided at the airport with seven public parking areas. P is an outdoor car park located in front of the terminal building P is an indoor car park with direct access to terminals T and T. A Parking Express facility, available for short periods only, is located at Terminal , and dedicated longterm parking is also available with , spaces a free shuttle operates between the longstay car park and all terminals. There are also VIP car parks. Accidents and incidents On September , Douglas CB ECAQE of Spantax crashed on takeoff. The aircraft was being used for training duties and the student pilot overrotated and stalled. One of the six people on board were killed. On November , Avianca Flight crashed while attempting to land. Flight struck a series of hills, causing the planes right wing to break off. The then cartwheeled, shattering into five pieces before coming to rest upsidedown. Only of the passengers survived there were no survivors among the crew. On December , Iberia Flight collided during takeoff with Aviaco DC Flight . The Aviaco DC had accidentally entered the runway as the Iberia flight was taking off. people were killed, including from the Iberia and from the Aviaco. On July , the winglet of a Thai Airways International Boeing HSTGY operating flight TG from Madrid Barajas Airport in Spain to Rome Leonardo da VinciFiumicino Airport cut off the tail of an Air France ERJ while taxing to the runway for takeoff. No injuries were reported. On the morning of December , an explosion took place in the carpark building module D attached to Terminal . A bomb threat was phoned in at approximately local time GMT, with the caller stating that a car bomb carried with kg of explosive would explode at local time GMT. After receipt of the warning, police were able to evacuate part of the airport. Later, an anonymous caller stated that ETA claims responsibility for the bombing. As a result of the explosion, two Ecuadorians who were sleeping in their cars died. The whole module D of the car park was levelled to the ground, around , tonnes of debris. It took six days to recover the body of the second victim from the rubble. On August , Spanair Flight which was travelling to Gran Canaria, veered off to the right and into the ground while climbing immediately after lifting off from runway L at local time. The McDonnell Douglas now Boeing MD with registration quotECHFPquot, was carrying people, including passengers. In the accident, people were killed, were seriously injured and were slightly injured. Prime Minister Zapatero ordered days of national mourning. On December , during the Spanish air traffic controllers strike, MadridBarajas Airport remained unoperative when all spanish air traffic controllers walked out in a coordinated wildcat strike. Following the walkout, the Spanish Government authorized the Spanish military to take over air traffic control operations. On the morning of December , the government declared a State of Alert, ordering on the controllers back to work. Shortly after the measure was implemented, controllers started returning to work and the strike was called off. MadridBarajas Airport References This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents Research Agency. of the Air Force Historical http/ / www. aena. es/ csee/ Satellitecidamp pagenamesubHomeamp SiteNameMADamp cPageamp LanguageENGB AENA passenger statistics and aircraft movements http/ / www. aena. es/ csee/ SatellitepagenameEstadisticas/ Home Spanish AIP AENA http/ / www. aena. es/ csee/ SatelliteLanguageENGBamp Sectionamp SiteNameNavegacionAereaamp cPageamp cidamp pagenamesubHome Accident history for MAD http/ / aviationsafety. net/ database/ airport/ airport. phpidMAD at Aviation Safety Network ACI Passenger Traffic Data http/ / www. airports. org/ cda/ acicommon/ display/ main/ acicontentc. jspznaciamp cp OAG reveals latest industry intelligence on the busiest routes http/ / www. oag. com/ oag/ website/ com/ OAG Data/ News/ Press Room/ Press Releases / OAG reveals latest industry intelligence on the busiest routes TPS expertise recognised at Madrid Terminal http/ / www. carillionplc. com/ news/ newsstory. aspid Ferrovial history http/ / www. ferrovial. com/ en/ index. aspMPamp MSamp MN Readers Travel Awards Cond Nast Traveller, Photo of Cond Nast Traveller http/ / cntraveller. com/ ReadersAwards/ / Airports/ . Cntraveller.com. Retrieved on . El Gobierno cambia de modelo y privatiza la gestin de aeropuertos ELPAS.com http/ / www. elpais. com/ articulo/ espana/ Gobierno/ cambia/ modelo/ privatiza/ gestion/ aeropuertos/ elpepuesp/ elpepinac/ Tes. Elpais.com. Retrieved on . Inaugurado el intercambiador de Nuevos Ministerios en Madrid con servicio directo de metro al aeropuerto http/ / www. vialibreffe. com/ hemeroteca/ / revista/ actualidad/ actualidad. htm, Va Libre, N , June Las aerolneas descartan retomar la facturacin en Nuevos Ministerios http/ / www. sepla. es/ news/ archives/ . php, ABC, July copy hosted by SEPLA. Fomento http/ / www. fomento. es/ NR/ rdonlyres/ BADFDCFAEE/ / Fe. pdf Lnea Exprs Aeropuerto. Inicio http/ / www. emtmadrid. es/ lineaAeropuerto/ index. html. Emtmadrid.es. Retrieved on . quotECAQE Accident descriptionquot http/ / aviationsafety. net/ database/ record. phpid. Aviation Safety Network. . Retrieved September . ASN Aircraft accident Boeing B HK MadridBarajas Airport MAD http/ / aviationsafety. net/ database/ record. phpid. Aviationsafety.net. Retrieved on . Accident Database Accident Synopsis http/ / www. airdisaster. com/ cgibin/ viewdetails. cgidateamp regECCFJamp airlineIberia. Airdisaster.com . Retrieved on . Accident Database Accident Synopsis http/ / www. airdisaster. com/ cgibin/ viewdetails. cgidateamp regECCGSamp airlineAviaco. Airdisaster.com . Retrieved on . Accident Photo Iberia http/ / www. airdisaster. com/ photos/ ib/ photo. shtml. AirDisaster.Com . Retrieved on . THAI clarifies incident concerning flgiht TG routed Madrid Rome http/ / www. asiatraveltips. com/ news/ ThaiAirways. shtml. Asiatraveltips.com. Retrieved on . quotExplosion hits parking lot at Madrid airportquot http/ / news. yahoo. com/ s/ nm/ / tsnm/ spainexplosiondc. Reuters. . . Retrieved . quotMadrid bomb shatters ETA ceasefirequot http/ / www. cnn. com/ / WORLD/ europe/ / / madrid. blast/ index. htmlsectioncnnlatest. Reuters. . . Retrieved . Webb, Jason Sanz, Inmaculada . quotFour hurt in Madrid airport bomb, ETA claims attackquot http/ / today. reuters. com/ news/ articlenews. aspxtypenewsOneamp storyIDTZLRTRUKOCUSSPAINEXPLOSION. xmlamp WTmodLocHomeCTopNewsnewsOnelatest. Reuters. . Retrieved . http/ / www. spanair. com/ web/ engb/ DSite/ Lastofficialnotice/ La tragedia area de Barajas se salda con muertos y heridos, varios de ellos graves http/ / elmundo. es/ elmundo/ / / / espana/ . html. elmundo.es. Retrieved on . quotSpanish airports reopen after strike causes holiday chaosquot http/ / www. guardian. co. uk/ world/ / dec/ / spanishairportstrikestateemergency. guardian.co.uk. December , . . Retrieved . quotSpanish air traffic controllers marched back to work as airports reopenquot http/ / www. telegraph. co. uk/ travel/ travelnews/ / Spanishairtrafficcontrollersmarchedbacktoworkasairportsreopen. html. telegraph.co.uk. December , . . Retrieved . http/ / www. afhra. af. mil/ MadridBarajas Airport External links Madrid Barajas Official Website in English http//www.aena.es/csee/Satellitecidamp pagenamesubHomeampSiteNameMADampcPageampLanguageENGB Madrid Airport information http//www.madridairport.info Madrid Barajas Airport information http//www.aeropuertomadrid.net Architect Website on Barajas Terminal http//www.rshp.com/render.aspxsiteIDampnavIDs,,, Accident history for MAD http//aviationsafety.net/database/airport/airport.phpidMAD at Aviation Safety Network Gallery Small control tower in Terminal Iberia aircraft in Terminal T Upper level to checkin, lower levels to Arrivals and metro station Terminal overview with Madrid city in the background The main control tower in Terminal Traffic on Runway L with Terminal in the background Madrid Metro Madrid Metro Madrid Metro Info Locale Transit type Number of lines Number of stations Daily ridership Madrid Rapid transit million/year Operation Began operation Number of vehicles Technical System length Track gauge .km .mi mmft.in Madrid Light Metro Info Locale Transit type Number of lines Number of stations Madrid Light rail / Tramway Operation Began operation Technical System length km mi Madrid Metro The Madrid Metro Spanish Metro de Madrid is a metro system serving the city of Madrid, capital of Spain. The system is the sixth longest metro in the world after London, New York, Moscow, Seoul and Shanghai, though Madrid is approximately the fiftieth most populous metropolitan area in the world. Its fast growth in the last years has also put it among the fastest growing networks in the world, rivaled by many Chinese metros such as the Shanghai Metro, Guangzhou Metro or the Beijing Subway. Unlike normal Spanish road and rail traffic, Madrid Metro trains use lefthand running on all lines due to historical reasons. A light rail system feeding the metro opened in called Metro Ligero light metro. History The first line of the Madrid metro opened on October under the direction of the Compaa de Metro Alfonso XIII, with stations and .km .mi. It was constructed in a narrow section and the stations had m platforms. The enlargement of this line and the construction of two others followed shortly after . In , the network had three lines and a branch line between Opera and Norte railway station. All these stations served as air raid shelters during the Spanish Civil War. Unofficial map network as of October Typical Madrid metro entrance, designed by After the civil war the public works to extend the network went on Antonio Palacios, at Tribunal station little by little. In a fourth line was constructed and it absorbed the branch of line between Goya and Diego de Len in , a branch that had been intended to be part of line since its construction but was exploited as a branch of line until the construction of line . In the sixties, a suburban railway was constructed between Plaza de Espaa and Carabanchel, linked to lines at Noviciado station with a long transfer and . A fifth metro line was constructed as well with narrow section but m platforms. Shortly after opening the first section of line , the platforms in line were enlarged from to m, closing Chamber station since it was too close to Iglesia less than m. Chamber has been closed ever since and has recently been opened as a museum. At the beginning of the seventies, the network was greatly expanded to cope with the influx of population and urban sprawl from Madrids economic boom. New lines were planned with large m platforms. Lines and were enlarged as well. In , bad management led to a crisis. Works already started were finished during the eighties and all remaining projects were abandoned. After all those projects, km mi of rail track had been completed and the suburban railway had also disappeared since it had been extended to Alonso Martnez and thence converted to line . Lago station in the old Line S now Line is one of the few surface stations in the Metro network. At the beginning of the nineties, control of the network was transferred to a public enterprise, Metro de Madrid. More largescale expansion projects were carried out. Lines , and were extended and a new line was constructed towards the outlying areas of Madrid. Lines and were joined together into a longer line and a new line was constructed to expand the underground network towards the airport. The enlarged line was the first Madrid Metro to leave the outskirts of Madrid to arrive in RivasVaciamadrid and Arganda del Rey, two towns located in the southeast suburbs of Madrid. In the early s, a huge project installed approximately km mi of new metro tunnels. This construction included a direct connection between downtown Madrid Nuevos Ministerios and the airport, the lengthening of line , and adding service to the outskirts with a huge km loop called MetroSur serving Madrids southern suburbs. MetroSur, one of the largest ever civil engineering projects in Europe, opened on April . It includes km mi of tunnel and new stations, including a new interchange station on Line , which connects it to the city centre and stations linking to the local train network. Its construction began in June and the whole loop was completed in less than three years. It connects Getafe, Mstoles, Alcorcn, Fuenlabrada, and Legans, five towns located in the area south of Madrid. Most of the current efforts of Madrid regional government are channeled towards the enlargement of the Metro network. In the recently finished term, President Esperanza Aguirre funded a multibillion dollar project, which has added to, joined, or extended almost all of the metro lines. The project included the addition of km mi and the construction of new stations. It has carried the underground railway to many districts that had never previously had Metro service Villaverde, Manoteras, Carabanchel Alto, La Elipa, Pinar de Chamartn and to the eastern and northern outskirts as well Coslada, San Fernando de Henares, Alcobendas, San Sebastin de los Reyes. For the first time in Madrid, interurban light rail Metro Ligero or ML lines were built to the western outskirts Pozuelo de Alarcn, Boadilla del Monte mL and mL and to the new northern districts of Sanchinarro and Las Tablas mL. As a lastminute addition, a project on line connected it to the new T terminal of MadridBarajas Airport. Future expansion The Metro Authority closed sections of Line during the summer of order to install rigid overhead lines see below and install a new train control and signalling system that will reduce wait times and improve train circulation. Line reopened in midSeptember along its entire length. There are numerous expansion and improvement projects pending many suspended due to the current financial crisis as of . For example, lines and reaching Valdebebas, extending line further North towards Atocha railway station and beyond, as well as extending line to the North, opening the station Arroyo del Fresno on line and extending line further South. Station design and setup Stations in the Madrid metro reveal their age in their design older stations on the narrow lines are often quite compact, rather like the stations on the Paris Metro. They were decorated with tilings in different colour schemes depending on the station. In recent years, most of these stations have been refurbished with single coloured plates matching those in the newest ones. The stations built between the late s and the early s are slightly more spacious and most of them have cream colored walls. On the other hand, the most recent stations are built with space in mind, and are considered amongst the best in the world for their naturallike lighting and ample entryways. The colour scheme Alonso Martnez station in Line old stations are often compact, and usually not too deep underground Madrid Metro varies between stations, using singlecolored plates and covering the whole station in light colors. Recently built transfer stations have white walls, but this is not the norm. Most stations are built with two side platforms, and a handful of them the busiest transfers have a central island platform in addition to the side platforms theoretically dedicated to exits. This system was originally used on the Barcelona Metro and is called the Spanish solution. Stations with this setup include Line Cuatro Caminos Line Argelles Line Campamento, Carabanchel Line Avenida De Amrica, Manuel Becerra, Sinz De Baranda, Pacfico, Plaza Elptica, Oporto, Laguna Line Avenida De Amrica, Pueblo Nuevo Some stations have crossplatform interchange arrangement which allows extremely fast transfers between two lines. The only stations with this setup are Prncipe Po and Casa de Campo . On both occasions, Line uses the outside tracks, so passengers unboarding there leave through the quotrightquot side of the train instead of the usual left side. In addition, a few stations are built with just one island platform instead of the usual side platforms. These stations are Line Almendrales, Villaverde Alto Line Aluche Line Campo De Las Naciones, Aeropuerto T Line Rivas Urbanizaciones, Arganda del Rey Line Joaquin Vilumbrales Another system is where there is one island platform with one side platform. This system is used in the stations on Lines , amp where it is required for passengers to change to smaller trains to continue their journeys, normally to towns outside Madrid like Alcobendas or Coslada. This is done so the island platform can be used for passengers to change easily between trains. These stations are Line Estadio Olimpico Line Puerta De Arganda Line Tres Olivos Getafe Central in Line , with a Cercanas transfer new stations are built deliberately ample, with several, crossvisible levels and elevators for disabled people. Madrid Metro Overhead Power Supply Since Metro de Madrid uses a new patented system for its installations a solid track hung from the ceiling of the tunnels, instead of the usual copper or aluminium wire. This type of catenary or overhead line is rigid, making it more robust and less prone to failures. Installations outside of tunnels are rare, as they require many more support structures compared to traditional wire based overhead lines, making them more expensive to install. This system of rigid overhead power supply is also used elsewhere. Lines The Metro network has stations on lines plus one branch line, totalling km, of which approximately is underground. The only surface parts are CampamentoEugenia de Montijo , LagoCasa de Campo and Puerta de ArgandaArganda del Rey . Additionally, some km of Metro Ligero modern tram lines serve the various regions of the metropolitan area which have been deemed not populated enough to justify the extraordinary spending of new Metro lines. Most of the ML track length is on surface, usually running on platforms separated from normal road traffic. However, ML line has some underground stretches and stations. Traditionally, the Madrid metro was restricted to the city proper, but today nearly one third of its track length runs outside the border of the Madrid municipality. Today, the Metro network is divided in five regions MetroMadrid zone A the core network inside the Madrid city borders, with over two thirds of the overall length. Also includes the light rail line . MetroSur zones B and B line and the last two stations of line , Joaqun Vilumbrales and Puerta del Sur. Runs through the southern cities of Alcorcn, Legans, Getafe, Fuenlabrada and Mstoles. MetroEste zone B a prolongation of line from Estadio Olmpico to Hospital de Henares through the municipalities of Coslada and San Fernando de Henares. MetroNorte zone B opened in , includes the stretch of line from La Granja to Hospital Infanta Sofa. Services the northern outskirts of Madrid and the towns of Alcobendas and San Sebastin de los Reyes. There is a train interchange inside the line at Tres Olivos station. MetrOeste zones B and B comprised by the Metro Ligero lines and . Connects the towns of Pozuelo de Alarcn and Boadilla del Monte to line at Colonia Jardn station. TFM zones B, B and B a prolongation of line from Puerta de Arganda, the first ever outside the borders of Madrid, services the cities of RivasVacamadrid and Arganda del Rey. At most of the borders between the regions, one has to switch trains even when staying in the same line, because the train frequency is higher in the core MetroMadrid than in the outer regions. Madrid also has an extensive commuter train Cercanas network operated by Renfe, the national rail line, which is intermodal with the metro network. In fact, Cercanas stations have connections to the Metro network, which is indicated on the official map by the Cercanas logo. Many of the new lines since have been built to link to or end at Cercanas stations, like the ML line, which ends at the Aravaca station providing a fast entry into Madrid though the C or C commuter lines and arriving in only one step to the bus and Metro hub Prncipe Po . See also the list of Madrid metro stations. Madrid Metro Line Terminus Length Stations Loading gauge narrow Platform Main service by Configuration Pinar de Chamartn Valdecarros .km .mi .km .mi .km .mi .km .mi .km .mi .km .mi .km .mi .km .mi .km .mi .km .mi .km .mi .km .mi .km .mi .km .mi .km .mi .km .mi m CAF s. A M.RM.RR.M La Elipa Cuatro Caminos m CAF s. MRRM Villaverde Alto Moncloa m CAF s. MRSSRM Argelles Pinar de Chamartn m CAF s. MRRM Alameda de Osuna Casa de Campo m CAF s. B M.RM.RR.M Circular wide m CAF s. M.MM.MM.M Pitis Estadio Olmpico Hospital del Henares Nuevos Ministerios Aeropuerto AnsaldoBreda s. CAF s. MRSSRM MRSM Herrera Oria Puerta de Arganda Arganda del Rey Hospital Infanta Sofa Tres Olivos Puerta del Sur Plaza Elptica La Fortuna CAF s. amp AnsaldoBreda s. CAF s. MRMMRM MRSSRM MRSSRM MetroSur CAF s. MRMMRM pera Prncipe Po narrow m CAF s. M.RR.M ML Pinar de Chamartn Las Tablas tramway m Alstom Citadis MRRRM ML Colonia Jardn Estacin de Aravaca ML Colonia Jardn Puerta de Boadilla Notes Line is a shuttle service R stands for quotramalquot quotbranchquot Old stations are not accessible to people with disabilities but since all new stations must be accessible by law. Thus, both new stations and renewed old ones have elevators for people on wheelchairs, huge signs for the visually impaired, etc. All narrow loading gauge lines except line had originally m platforms. Line was the first to have theirs extended to m, while line had to wait until the s prior to its recent extension to the southern district of Villaverde, it was completely closed for nearly a year and thoroughly renewed. Thus, one of the worst lines of the network, both in terms of trains and facilities, became the shiniest between the narrowgauged, and was the first to receive the allnew Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles Series trains. Configurations M engine Motor, R passive Remolque, S cabless engine motor Sin cabina. Dots/dashes mean crossable/complete basic unit separation, while their absence implies a walkable aisle throughout the joined Madrid Metro units. Alstom Citadis tramways have one motor quotcarquot, one suspended, one with bogie but without motors, one suspended, one motor. Rolling stock Traditionally, the trains operating in the Madrid Metro have been built and supplied by the Spanish company Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles CAF. This was particularly true under Francisco Francos dictatorship, due to the politic of autarchy his administration initially pursued. However, in recent years the Italian Ansaldobreda has also provided trains for the wideprofile lines. Every rolling unit in the Madrid Metro has a unique ID that singles it out in the whole network. Those IDs are grouped by the rolling unit model the quotseriesquot and thus is used to categorize the trains, as they bear no uservisible statement of the model specified by the manufacturer. An ID is made up of A letter indicating the type of rolling unit M for a car with both engines and drivers cabin Spanish Motor, R for an engineless car, with or without drivers cabin Spanish Remolque and S for a cabinless car with engines Spanish motor Sin cabina. A dash separating the two components A three or four digit number indicating the units series and the position within it. Usually, the series is indicated by the thousands and hundreds i.e. indicates a series , subseries train. Trainsets currently in use Narrow profile CAF series This series has two separate subseries usually called A and B. The first batch, while reliable and practical, was extremely quotboxlikequot in its looks. They are nicknamed Pandas, after a car by Seat with the same name and similar boxy design. In contrast, the B subseries train sets can be told apart by its sleeker, rounder forms, which has granted them the nickname of quotbubblequot Spanish burbuja for their round driver cabin window. Series A series B quotbubblequot metro train on line A are currently the more numerous in the network cars at Marqus de Vadillo station. were built and delivered between and , having serviced every narrow profile line. They are also among the oldest stock in operation in the Madrid Metro, so some of them namely, those servicing lines and have been scheduled for retirement with the purchase of newer series sets. However, the most reliable ones are being refurbished and painted with new, lighter colors like the ones used in Series , and will continue to service line for the time being. Series B were delivered in lesser numbers about cars between and , with the inclusion of air conditioning and station announcements through prerecorded voice messages and LED displays. They are currently used in line , with no plans for retirement. CAF series The newest of the narrow line trainsets, series were commissioned for the reopening of line after its complete renewal in the early s. Their constituent subunits can be completely joined through crossable articulations, making it possible to go from the head to the tail without actually exiting the train. This has earned them the nickname of quotboaquot, a term usually applied in Spain to doublelength buses with such joints. They are currently servicing lines and , but newer purchases are also scheduled to replace the trains in lines and before . Series trains look rather like a narrowed version of series , while the interior uses mainly yellow and light blue tones. Madrid Metro Wide profile CAF series Currently servicing line , this model has had a long history the first trainsets were delivered in for the newlyopened, first wideprofile line , while the latest subseries, , of which trainsets of cars each were built, entered service in . They were the last to use the old, square quotboxlikequot design from CAF, which was already becoming unpopular for its exaggerate priming of effectiveness versus aesthetics. The first iteration featured a wood lookalike coating for the inner walls and a novel seat distribution in twoseat rows perpendicular to the train walls, making them look not unlike older regional trains. Subseries returned to the traditional seating along the train walls, but still included another feature from the first iteration, automatic opening of all the gates in the train. The final subseries, , has a distinct, darker color scheme and returns to the usual ondemand opening of train gates with a button on each one. Being the oldest rolling stock in operation in the wide profile lines, this series is scheduled for replacement by the newer Ansaldobreda series in , while negotiations are open for its sale to the Buenos Aires Metro. CAF series This model, of which trainsets were built and delivered in , was the first by CAF to feature a new, sleeker and rounder design. As it was to serve TFM, the stretch of line connecting Madrid to Arganda del Rey the first extension of the Metro network outside Madrid proper, its interior resembles the regional Cercanas trains more closely than any other Metro trains compact seats in couples set perpendicularly to the train walls, more places to A CAF series train entering Concha Espina grasp in case of a sudden brake/acceleration, etc. They were also the station. first to include luminous panels stating their destination, as the line they service was effectively split in two stretches, and travellers had to switch trains at Puerta de Arganda. Finally, they primed the quotboa trainquot layout see CAF s., but the walkable aisle only spanned two cars, while a trainset would usually carry or . Series is currently the main service for line . Ansaldobreda series amp The first purchase to a manufacturer other than CAF, and to a nonSpanish dealer, series trainsets service the extremely busy line , while occasionally venturing out into line for rush hour support. They were the first in the network to feature a full quotboaquot layout, allowing commuters to traverse the whole six cars. They are extremely functional, with ample .m doors and a sleek, unobtrusive design for a total capacity of , people per trainset seated. This model also features two TV screens in each car, but they are left unused, both regularly or in emergencies. Series trains are similar to their previous incarnation, but include better accesses for disabled people and more safety measures, such as visual and auditive warnings for the train gates and more effective emergency brakes. Series currently service the main part of line , from Puerta del Sur to Tres Olivos while series comprise the main fleet of line , the part of from Tres Olivos to Hospital Infanta Sofa, and are occasionally used for rush hour support on . The next batch has already started entering service on line before , replacing the part of the yearold CAF fleet. CAF series Originally designed for the MetroSur line , trainsets were built and delivered by CAF in . Each one is composed of three cars joined in the quotboaquot layout, which service line asis, while MetroSur service uses two such trainsets to form a MRMMRM configuration for a maximum of , passengers seated. The interior distribution is rather like that of series , with a bigger clear area i.e. without seating in the first car for people carrying luggage to/from the airport and disabled people in A series train waiting on line Colombia station at Madrid Metro wheelchairs. Like the narrower series trainsets, its bogies are insonorized and feature a hybrid rubberpneumatic suspension system. Series primed the introduction of regenerative braking in the Madrid Metro. The system reverses the normal circuit of the electric motors when braking, thus making the deceleration return power to the network. Also, they feature the nowstandard informative panels and gate activity warnings in the interior. This model has a stable population, which neither purchases nor retirements planned as of , though as the most current model from CAF it remains on the table for future enlargements of the Metro network. It currently services lines and , while also providing rush hour support to lines and . Light rail named Metro Ligero Alstom Citadis The vehicles serving the light rail lines are lowfloor articulated trams in a fivesection quotboaquot configuration, which allows for a maximum of passengers per tram seated. They can reach a top speed of km/h mph, but in practice they are limited to km/h mph in most track stretches, and even less in urban sprawls. The tram features a belllike proximity warning that is activated when the train approaches a station or a level crossing with A tram on quotMetro Ligeroquot line mL at Aravaca pedestrians, which has stirred complaints from people living near the station tracks for the noise generated. Safety features also include door activity warnings for passengers and emergency brakes comparatively more effective than in any other train dedicated to Metro service, as the trams, though remaining in their own lanes separated from other traffic, can cross roads and populated areas. Historic rolling stock Until the early s and the transfer of the Metro system to the Autonomous Community of Madrid, the rate of investment in the network by the central government was extremely low, and thus very old trains were used way beyond their intended lifespans. Particularly loathed was the case of line , which was serviced by the nearly yearold series and from CAF. It was not uncommon that a child would ride to school on the same train his/her parents took decades earlier. Some renewals, along with the purchases of series A and , were started by the socialist regional government of Joaqun Leguina, but in the Peoples Party took over the government with the promise to widely extend and improve the Metro service. New lines were built and old ones refurbished line service was disturbed for several years as some stations at a time were closed and refitted, while line was closed for two consecutive summers in order to expand its platforms to m. Then, new rolling stock was also requested saw the arrival of the first CAF series B, retiring the infamous series . Initially the betterpreserved series were refitted and painted in the new bluewhite color scheme from the old red corporate image, but they were also retired with the arrival of more series B and, finally, series . Madrid Metro Fares The Madrid Metro network is split into the six quotfunctionalquot zones mentioned above. Each one has a quotsinglequot ticket Billete Sencillo, valid for one trip within the zone, and a trip ticket for a comparatively lower price. When crossing zone boundaries, one has to buy a new ticket for the zone being entered. There is also a quotcombinedquot ticket, which provides for a single trip between any two points of the network except the Airport stations, which have an additional supplement of . All in all, it is possible to go from the airport to any other point of the network for .. Also, the Consorcio Regional de Transportes Regional Transportation Authority has a division of its own, with geographic zones named A through C. This body sells monthly and annual passes for unlimited trips within their zone of validity, and also a range of Tourist Passes for , , or days. All of them are accepted at the Metro stations within their zones, and passengers using a CRT pass do not have to pay the airport supplement. The Regional Transportation Consortium sells monthly and yearly passes worth unlimited trips within the zone covered on every transportation method adscribed to it Name MetroX Sencillo Metrobs MetroX viajes Sencillo Combinado Abono Transportes Joven Abono Transportes Normal Abono Transportes Edad Valid for MetroX zone Expires after trip . Price MetroMadrid and EMT buses trips MetroX Whole network A C lt y.o. A C A C gt y.o. One calendar year trips . One calendar month . . . , . . . . days . . . . Abono Transportes Anual Normal A C Abono Transportes Anual Edad A C gt y.o. Abono Turstico Abono Turstico A T all CRT zones Operators The metro is operated by its own company, under the Department of Public Works, City Planning, and Transportation of the autonomous community of Madrid. The passage between Puerta de Arganda Line and Arganda del Rey Line is operated by Transportes Ferroviarios de Madrid TFM. All of Madrids rapid transit systems are members of the Consorcio Regional de Transportes, which sells monthly passes for unlimited use of the metro, bus and commuter train networks within the area covered by the pass. Madrid Metro Notes quotMetro De Madrid Figuresquot http/ / www. metromadrid. es/ en/ conocenos/ infraestructuras/ red/ index. html. Metro De Madrid Official Website. . Retrieved . Von Mach, Stefan March . quotMadrid Light Rail Three lines to feed the metroquot. Metro Report International, of Railway Gazette International UK. Trainset sizes vary between lines m lines use six cars per train, while m lines use only four. Thus the actual number of trains varies between and . CAF description for s.A http/ / www. caf. net/ caste/ productos/ proyecto. phpcodamp idamp secdesc reversed, title says B CAF description for s.B http/ / www. caf. net/ caste/ productos/ proyecto. phpcodamp idamp secdesc reversed, title says Andn Historia del Metro http/ / www. anden. org/ historia. phppa CAF description for s. http/ / www. caf. net/ caste/ productos/ proyecto. phpcodamp idamp secdesc sales information and photos correspond to subseries CAF description for s. http/ / www. caf. net/ caste/ productos/ proyecto. phpcodamp idamp secdesc CAF description for s. http/ / www. caf. net/ caste/ productos/ proyecto. phpcodamp idamp secdesc A similar case happens as of with the Cercanas commuter network, as the Spanish government is focused in the expansion of the nationwide AVE high speed network External links Schematic map of the Metro network from the official site, in Spanish http//www.metromadrid.es/export/ sites/metro/comun/documentos/planos/Planoespsincorte.pdf Metro de Madrid official site, in Spanish http//www.metromadrid.es/ UrbanRail.net/Madrid http//www.urbanrail.net/eu/mad/madrid.htm Consorcio Regional de Transportes de Madrid http//www.ctmmadrid.es/ Andn Association of friends of Madrid Metro http//www.anden.org/somos.phppaintroamplangen ENGLISH User guide, ticket types, airport supplement and timings http//www.madridguidespain.com/ madridmetro.html Madrid Metrorailway Map. Bilingual Spanish/English. Updated October http//www.anden.org/rfi/ rficomunidadoct.pdfPDFKiB Network map realdistance http//www.cityrailtransit.com/maps/madridmap.htm Things to do in Madrid Royal Palace of Madrid Royal Palace of Madrid Courtyard of the Royal Palace of Madrid General information Architectural style Country Baroque, Classicism Spain Construction started April , Technical details Floor area unknown operator u,unknown operator u,unknown operator u, unknown operator ustrongunknown operator u,sqft Design and construction Client Architect Philip V of Spain Filippo Juvarra first of many The Palacio Real de Madrid The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the King of Spain in the city of Madrid, but it is only used for state ceremonies. King Juan Carlos and the Royal Family do not reside in the palace, choosing instead the more modest Palacio de la Zarzuela on the outskirts of Madrid. The palace is owned by the Spanish State and administered by the Patrimonio Nacional, a public agency of the Ministry of the Presidency. The palace is located on Bailn Street, in the Western part of downtown Madrid, East of the Manzanares River, and is accessible from the pera metro station. The palace is partially open to public, except when it is being used for official business. Another name used to refer to the building is the quotPalacio de Orientequot The Orient Palace. This name originates from a square on one side of the palace, the Plaza de Oriente, which also houses the Teatro Real. The palace is on the site of a thcentury fortress, called mayrit, constructed as an outpost by Muhammad I of Crdoba and inherited after by the independent Moorish Taifa of Toledo. After Madrid fell to Alfonso VI of Castile in , the edifice was only rarely used by the kings of Castile. In , King Alfonso XI of Castile convoked the cortes of Madrid for the first time. Philip II moved his court to Madrid in . Royal Palace of Madrid The Antiguo Alczar quotOld Castlequot was built on the location in the th century. It burned on December , King Philip V ordered a new palace built on the same location. Construction spanned the years to and followed a Berniniesque design by Filippo Juvarra and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo in cooperation with Ventura Rodrguez, Francesco Sabatini, and Martn Sarmiento. The new palace was occupied by Charles III in . The last monarch who lived continuously in the palace was Alfonso XIII, although Manuel Azaa, president of the Second Republic, also inhabited on it, making it the last head of state to do so. During that period was known as Palacio Nacional. There is still a room next to the Real Capilla, which is known by the name office of Azaa. Interior of the palace is notable for its wealth of art, both as regards the use of all kinds of fine materials in its construction and the decoration of its rooms with artwork of all kinds, including paintings by artists such Caravaggio, Velzquez, Francisco de Goya and frescoes of Corrado Giaquinto, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and Anton Raphael Mengs. Other collections of great historical and artistic importance that are preserved in the building are the Royal Armoury, Porcelain, Watches, Furniture and Silverware. Currently, the Patrimonio Nacional, an autonomous body under the Ministry of the Presidency, manages the owned of public property in the service of the Crown, including the Royal Palace. History of the building The direct antecedent of the Royal Palace is the Royal Alcazar, a fortress built on the same site where today stands the baroque building. Its structure was the subject of several reforms especially the facade, because the King Henry III of Castile made it one of the most popular residences, and the site gets the adjective real. His son John II built the Capilla Real and several dependencies. However, during the War of the Castilian Succession the troops Joanna la Beltraneja were besieged in the Alczar, causing several damage to the royal building. Under the Habsburg Spain, enthroned in , the Emperor Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor undertook a major restoration of the Alczar, to Renaissance features unambiguous in order to transform the outdated medieval residence in a palace suitable for his court. Philip II continued the work and showed special emphasis on the decoration of Historical evolution of the Royal Alcazar of Madrid. the building, which hired craftsmen from Italy, France and the Netherlands. However, the most important contributions of this monarch were the Golden Tower and the Royal Armory, demolished in . The Habsburgs Philip III, Philip IV and Charles II continued the project of Philip II, particularly related to the trace of the building and the facades. Philip V of Bourbon came to the throne of Spain in . The alczar of the Habsburgs, austere in comparison to the French palace where the new king had grown again, went through several reforms led by Teodoro Ardemans and Ren Carlier. On the other hand, the main rooms have been redecorated to the French taste by the Queen Maria Luisa of Savoy and the Princess of Ursins. Do not know many details of the inner side of the enclosure but yes know lots of documentation about its plant and exterior, like a drawing made in by Cornelius Vermeyen. It was a rectangular building, medieval appearance and is structured around various dependencies like the Capilla Real de los Trastmara, the Patio del Rey to the west and the Patio de la Reina to the east. Its patios courtyards were open to the public for many years and these were allowed the installation of markets. It also highlights the picture gallery of the alczar, with works by Tintoretto, Royal Palace of Madrid Veronese, Ribera, Bosch, Snchez Coello, Van Dyck, El Greco, Annibale Carracci, Leonardo da Vinci, Guido Reni, Raphael, Jacopo Bassano and Correggio, many which were lost in the disaster of . The baroque palace Christmas Eve of the alczar was destroyed by a fire originated in the rooms of the French painter Jean Ranc. Failed to be detected in time, due the warning bells were confused with the call to mass. For fear of looting, the doors of the building remained closed, hampering the inevitable evacuation of the recint. Many paintings were lost, as the Expulsion of the Moors, by Diego Velzquez. Others, such as Las Meninas, were rescued and thrown through the windows. However, View of part of the Royal Palace from Cuesta de la Vega, by Fernando Brambila c. shortly before the fire, the king ordered . Preserved in the collection of the Ministry of Economy and Finance. that much of his collection was moved to the Buen Retiro Palace. This fire wiped out definitely the old Alczar, whose last walls were finally demolished in . Filippo Juvarra was responsible for directing the work of the new palace. The Italian devised a monumental project of enormous proportions, which was not realized because of the inopportune death of the artist. Juan Bautista Sachetti, disciple of Juvarra, was chosen to continue the work of his teacher. Raised a square structure centered by a large patio also square and solving the different angles with outgoing bodies. In Charles III called to Sicilian Francesco Sabatini, architect of classicist taste that permeated the works of the palace, who was commissioned to enlarge the building. The original idea was to frame the Plaza de la Armera with a series of galleries and arcades which accommodate the different dependences and the construction of two wings over the same square, of which only completed the extension of the southeast tower known as ala de San Gil. Moreover, also planned to extend the north side by a large building that echoed the same style of the building and included three square courtyards in size somewhat smaller than the large central courtyard. The works of this expansion started quickly but were soon interrupted, leaving its foundations buried under a platform from which later built the royal stables were, demolished in the th century and replaced by the Sabatini Gardens. Thus, the palace began to be inhabited in . Ferdinand VII, who spent many years imprisoned in the Chteau de Valenay, began the most thorough renovation of the palace in the th century. The aim of this reform was to turn the oldfashioned Italian style building in a modern French style palace. However, his grandson Alfonso XII was raised to turn the palace into a Victorian style residence. The works were designed by the architect Jos Segundo de Lema and consisted in the empowerment of several rooms, replacing marble floors for parquet and the addition of furniture of the time. Royal Palace of Madrid Exterior of the palace The main facade of the Palace was built on a base pad, on which rises a series of big Tuscan pillars. It is also adorned with a series of statues of saints and kings, relocated under the reign of Charles III to give to the gates of the recint a classicist touch. At the time, Italian Sachetti decided fourteen vases and placed at the corners statues of the Aztec tlatoani Moctezuma II and the Inca Atahualpa, works by Juan Pascual de Mena and Domingo Martnez, respectively. Near the Tuscan columns are representations of Honorius, Theodosius I, Hadrian and Trajan. A medallion with classical figures topped the set. On the southern front were placed the statues of Philip V, Maria Luisa of Savoy and Elisabeth Farnese, and that of Ferdinand VI and his wife Barbara of Portugal. Also found flanking both sculptural series an allusion to Zodiac of the Greeks. Is remarkable the intervention of Juan Domingo Olivieri and his workshop, who labored more than half of the sculptures that adorned the palace at the time of Ferdinand VI. It was also the author of many heads of mask and other allegorical figures of Greek mythology, that not occupied a place as visible as other works. Detail of the facade. Reccared II and Erwig, Visigoth kings, flanking the arms of Spain. The statues do not match the names on the bases. Plaza de la Armera The square as we see it now was laid out in , according to a project by the architect Enrique Mara Repulls. However, the history of this square dates back to , the year in which Philip II ordered a building to house the royal stables. Renovated in by Jos del Olmo, the building survived until , when it had to be demolished after a fire. The Almudena Cathedral faces the palace across the square. Its exterior is neoclassical to match its surroundings while its interior is neogothic. Construction was funded by King Alfonso XII to house the remains of his wife Mercedes of Orlans. The works of construction of the temple began in and concluded in . Night view of the facade that facing the plaza. Narciso Pascual Colomer, the same architect who crafted the Plaza de Oriente, designed the layout of the plaza in , but failed to materialize. The site now occupied by the Plaza de la Armera was used for many decades as anteplaza de armas. Sachetti tried to build a cathedral to finish the cornice of the Manzanares, and Sabatini proposed to unite this building with the royal palace, to form a single block. Both projects were ignored by Charles III. ngel Fernndez de los Ros in proposed the creation of a large wooded area that would travel all around the Plaza de Oriente, in order to give a better view of the Royal Palace. A decade later Segundo de Lema added a staircase to the original design of Fernndez, which led to the idea of Francisco de Cubas to give more importance to the emerging church of Almudena. Royal Palace of Madrid Plaza de Oriente It is a rectangular square of curved header, of monumental character, whose final layout responds to a design in by Pascual y Colomer. One of its main proponents was King Joseph Bonaparte, who ordered the demolition of the medieval houses located on its site. Plaza de Oriente is rectangular, although his head located to east, forming a closed curve, headed by the Teatro Real. It can distinguish three main plots the Central Gardens, the Cabo Noval Gardens and the Lepanto Gardens. The Central Gardens are arranged around the central monument to Philip IV, in a grid, following the barroque model garden. They consist of seven flowerbeds, each packed with box hedges, forms of cypress, yew and magnolia of small size, and flower plantations, temporary. These are bounded on either side by rows of statues paths, popularly known as the Gothic kings, acting as line of division of the other two quadrants. Statues of the Gothic kings in the Plaza de Oriente. The square houses a sculpture collection of twenty Spanish kings corresponding to five Visigoth kings and fifteen kings of the early Christians kingdoms in the Reconquista. These statues, made of limestone, are distributed in two rows that cross the recint toward eastwest, on both sides of the Central Gardens. Known popularly as the Gothic kings, mark the dividing line between the main body of the plaza and the Cabo Noval Gardens at north, and the Lepanto Gardens at south. The group of statues is part of a series dedicated to all monarchs of Spain, ordered to make for the decoration of the Royal Palace of Madrid during the reign of Ferdinand VI. Were executed between and . Campo del Moro Gardens These gardens are named after allegedly camped in this place the troops of the Muslim leader Ali ben Yusuf in during an attempted reconquest of Madrid. The first works to condition the area are due to Philip IV, whose reign it were built fountains and planted different kinds of vegetation, but the overall look of the place remained largely neglected. During the construction of the new palace were various landscaping projects based in the gardens of the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso, but there was no doing anything due the lack of funds, not being until View of Paseo Principal, part of Campo del Moro Gardens. the reign of Isabel II in which started a landscaping more seriously. At this time it design a big park of Romanticist style and were installed fountains brought from the Royal Palace of Aranjuez. With the fall of Isabel II the gardens suffer a period of abandonment and neglect in which it lose a part of the design and not until the regency of Maria Christina of Austria when it began a series of rehabilitation works, giving the current design, which follows the layout of the English gardens of th century. Royal Palace of Madrid From time to time throughout his reign, for example to hold his saint day of Saint John, King Juan Carlos has held receptions and gala dinners in the gardens during the summer months. Sabatini Gardens Located on the north side, between the Royal Palace, the calle de Bailn and the cuesta de San Vicente. Of French design, are a monumental gardens created in the s of th century. Receive the name Sabatini because in this place were the stables built by the architect for service of the Palace. These gardens are adorned with a pond around which place some of the statues of Spanish kings who were originally intended to crown the Royal Palace. Geometrically sited between its rides, there are several fountains. The Republican government ordered the seizure of different properties of the Spanish Royal Family, Sabatini Gardens. including this one, giving to the City Council of Madrid to build a public park. The project was awarded to Zaragozan architect Fernando Garca Mercadal after he win in the same held competition. Interior of the palace Ground floor Royal Library The Royal Library was founded during the regency of Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies, using many of the funds that had accumulated for centuries the royal family. Most shelves were purchased by Charles IV and Alfonso XII. Also on display a selection of the best medals from the Royal Collection. Among the printed books highlights the Book of hours of Isabella I of Castile, a codex of the time of Alfonso XI of Castile, a Bible of Doa Mara de Molina and the Fiestas reales, dedicated to Ferdinand VI by Farinelli. Also important are the maps kept in the library, which analyze the extent of the kingdoms under the Spanish Empire. The bindings also play an important role, because through them it observe the evolution of bind style according to the time rococo in gold with iron lace, neoclassical in polychrome and romantic with gothic and renaissance motifs. The Archives of the Royal Palace contains about twenty thousand dossiers ranging from the Disastrous decade until the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic in . In addition, it retains some scores of musicians of the Royal Chapel, privileges of different kings, the founding order of the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, the testament of Philip II and correspondence of most of the kings of the House of Bourbon. Royal Pharmacy. Royal Palace of Madrid Royal Pharmacy During the reign of Philip II the Royal Pharmacy became an appendage of the royal family and ordered the supply of medicines, a role that continues today. The bottles were made in factories of La Granja de San Ildefonso and the Buen Retiro, there are also other items of th century made in Talavera de la Reina pottery. Royal Armoury Considered together with the imperial of Vienna, one of the best in the world, consists of pieces ranging from the th century onwards. These highlight the pieces of tournament made for Charles V and Philip II by leading armorers of Milan and Augsburg. Among the most remarkable pieces stands the armory and full tools that Emperor Charles V used in the Battle of Mhlberg, and which was portrayed by Titian in the famous equestrian portrait of the Museo del Prado. Unfortunately, part of the armory was lost during the Peninsular War and during the Spanish Civil War. Still, the armory retains some of the most important pieces of this art in Europe and worldwide, including several signed by Filippo Negroli, one of the most famous architects of the guild. Royal Armoury. Today The vast palace is richly decorated by artists such as Velzquez, Tiepolo, Mengs, Gasparini, Juan de Flandes, Caravaggio, and Goya. Several royal collections of great historical importance are kept at the palace, including the Royal Armoury and weapons dating back to the th century, and the worlds only complete Stradivarius string quintet, as well as collections of tapestry, porcelain, furniture, and other objects of great historical importance. Below the palace, to the west, are the gardens of the Campo del Moro that were given this name due to the fact that here in the year , Muslim leader Ali ibn Yusuf, encamped with his men in the attempt to recapture Madrid and its Alczar fortress from the Christians. The east faade of the palace gives onto the Plaza de Oriente and the Teatro Real opera house. To the south is a vast square, the Plaza de la Armas, surrounded by narrow wings of the palace, and to the south of that is located the Catedral de la Almudena. To the north are the Jardines de Sabatini Sabatini Gardens, named after one of the architects of the palace. On the Plaza de Armas facade, two lifesize statues on both sides of the main entrance honor the two native Emperors from the Americas, Moctezuma, Emperor of the Aztecs, and Atahualpa, Emperor of the Incas. The wedding banquet of Prince Felipe and Letizia Ortiz took place on May at the central courtyard of the Palace. The palace is open to the public and it is closed when used by the king for state functions like state banquets for visiting heads of state, official government receptions and the presentation of new ambassadors to the king. Royal Palace of Madrid Gallery Main facade. The Royal Chapel. The staircase of the Royal Palace. The Room of Porcelain. The Dining Room. Fuente de las Conchas Fountain of the Shells. Campo del Moro. Little house in the Campo del Moro. Sabatini Gardens, beside the north faade of the Royal Palace. References quotPalacio Real de Madridquot http/ / www. patrimonionacional. es/ Home/ PalaciosReales/ PalacioRealdeMadrid. aspx. patrimonionacional.es. . Ministry of Economy and Finance of Spain View of part of the Royal Palace taken from la Cuesta de la Vega. http/ / serviciosweb. minhac. es/ apps/ museo/ Pintura/ Brambila. htm Madripedia. Plaza de la Armera http/ / madripedia. es/ wiki/ PlazadelaArmera. Madripedia. Cathedral of Almudena http/ / madripedia. es/ wiki/ CatedraldelaAlmudena. Madripedia. Plaza de Oriente http/ / madripedia. es/ wiki/ PlazadeOriente. Madripedia. Campo del Moro http/ / madripedia. es/ wiki/ CampodelMoro. Madripedia. Sabatini Gardens http/ / madripedia. es/ wiki/ JardinesdeSabatini. Royal Palace of Madrid External links Palacio Real Cyberspain http//www.cyberspain.com/passion/palacio.htm Palacio Real de Madrid pictures http//www.pbase.com/ngruev/palacio Royal Palace on Google Maps http//maps.google.com/mapsqPalacioRealampsll.,.amp sspn.,.ampieUTFampzampll.,.ampspn.,.ampth Royal Palace http//www.guiaturisticamadrid.com/palacioreal.htm Description and pictures Spanish Madrid Royal Palace http//www.feelmadrid.com/royalpalace.html Museo del Prado Museo del Prado Museo del Prado Established Location Visitor figures Paseo del Prado, Madrid, Spain ,, Ranked st nationally Ranked th globally Director Website Miguel Zugaza www.museodelprado.es The Museo del Prado is a museum and art gallery located in Madrid, the capital of Spain. It features one of the worlds finest collections of European art, from the th century to the early th century, based on the former Spanish Royal Collection. Founded as a museum of paintings and sculpture, it also contains important collections of other types of works. A new, recently opened wing enlarged the display area by about paintings, and it is currently used mainly for temporary expositions. El Prado is one of the most visited sites in the world, and it is considered to be among the greatest museums of art. The principal attraction takes root in the wide presence of Velzquez, Francisco de Goya the artist more extensively represented in the collection, Titian, Rubens and Bosch, of that it possesses the best collections that exist on a global scale The collection currently comprises around , paintings, , sculptures, , prints and , drawings, in addition to a large number of works of art and historic documents. By the Museum will be displaying about works in the main buildings, while around , works are on temporary loan to various museums and official institutions. The remainder are in storage. The best known work on display at the museum is Las Meninas by Velzquez. Velzquez not only provided the Prado with his own works, but his keen eye and sensibility was also responsible for bringing much of the museums fine collection of Italian masters to Spain. Pablo Picassos renowned work Guernica was exhibited in the Prado upon its return to Spain after the restoration of democracy, but was moved to the Museo Reina Sofa in as part of a transfer of all works later than the early th century to other buildings for space reasons. Museo del Prado Painting Spanish painting The Museo del Prado has the largest collection of Spanish painting in the world, numbering more than , paintings and dating from the Romanesque period to the th century. This internationallyrenowned collection includes masterpieces by artists such as Bartolom Bermejo, Pedro Berruguete, Snchez Coello, El Greco, Ribera, Zurbarn, Murillo, Alonzo Cano, Velzquez, Goya, Vicente Lpez, Fortuny, Carlos de Haes, Federico de Madrazo. La maja desnuda, by Francisco de Goya, oil on canvass, circa The two artists who are best represented in the Prado are Velzquez and Goya. The Museum has almost paintings by the former, mostly from the Spanish Royal Collection. They include almost all the artists major compositions. The Goya collection is also rich, comprising more than paintings. While the artist worked for many years in the service of the Spanish royal family, only a few works in the Museums collection are from royal residences, such as The Family of Charles IV. When the Museum opened Goya was still alive and it was only after his death that successive directors made great efforts to acquire his paintings, for example Federico de Madrazo, who purchased the tapestry cartoons. Madrazos intention from the outset was to place Goya on the level of the great artists of the past in an homage to the leading painter of modern times. This explains why, in contrast to Velzquez, the Museum has acquired most of its works by Goya through donations, bequests and purchases. Romanesque, Gothic and Early Renaissance painting The frescoes from San Baudelio de Berlanga and Santa Cruz de Maderuelo are particularly important among the Romanesque paintings in the collection. The latter are installed in a specially designed chapel within the Museum, which reproduces the original arrangement of the paintings. FrancoGothic painting is well represented by the Saint Christopher Altarpiece, while examples of the ItaloGothic are The Saint John the Baptist Altarpiece and The Mary Magdalen Altarpiece by Jaime Serra. The International Gothic is represented by The Altarpiece of the Life of the Virgin and Saint Francis by Nicols Francs. The Prado possesses one of the masterpieces of HispanoFlemish painting Bartolom Bermejos Saint Domingo of Silos, as well as two major works, The Piet with Donors and Christ blessing, by Fernando Gallego, the best known painter working in Castile at this period. A notable work by Juan de Flandes, Court Painter to Isabella I of Castile, is the Crucifixion, acquired in . Early Spanish Renaissance paintings are represented in the Prado by the series of works by Pedro Berruguete from the monastery of Santo Toms in vila, notably Saint Dominic Presiding over an Autodafe. Other works of this period are The Virgin of the Knight of Montesa by Paolo da San Leocadio and The Flagellation by Alejo Fernndez. Saint Dominic Presiding over an Autodefe, by Pedro Berruguete . Museo del Prado El Greco and Renaissance painting. Early naturalism The Museo del Prados collection includes one of the great masterpieces of Spanish Renaissance painting, Saint Catherine by Fernando Yez, as well as one of the best known works of this period, Juan de Flandes The Last Supper. Other Spanish Renaissance artists well represented in the Museum are the Toledan painter Juan Correa de Vivar and Luis de Morales from Extremadura, particularly through his Virgin and Child compositions. Worth special mention is the group of Renaissance court portraits including images by Alonso Snchez Coello and Juan Pantoja de la Cruz. The most important artist in this section of the Museums collection is undoubtedly El Greco. The Prado owns two works painted in Italy, namely The Annunciation and The Flight into Egypt, as well as more than thirty painted in Spain. Among the latter is The Trinity from the altarpiece painted for Santo Domingo el Antiguo in Toledo, one of the first works that El Greco executed after he moved to Toledo the five great canvases from the Altarpiece of the Colegio de Doa Mara de Aragon and the famous Knight with his hand on his Breast, along with a fine group of other portraits. Among early naturalist works are outstanding paintings by Ribalta, Maino and Herrera the Elder. Also dating from this period are various important still lifes, such as Game Fowl, Fruit and Vegetables by Snchez Cotn, and the group of works by Juan van der Hamen that was enriched in by the acquisition of the Naseiro Collection. Baroque painting Represented by almost works, more than one third of his total output, Velzquez is the towering genius of this period in the Prados collection. Among his most popular paintings in the collection is The Adoration of the Magi from his Sevillian phase. From his period as Court Painter are the portraits of Philip IV, Prince Baltasar Carlos, the Infante Don Carlos and Queen Mariana of Austria, together with a sizeable collection of portraits of court dwarves such as Pablo de Valladolid. Also dating from the artists years in the service of Philip IV are various quothistoryquot paintings including Los Borrachos, Vulcans Forge and The Surrender of Breda, in addition to two major compositions from the end of his life, namely The Fable of Arachne The Spinners and Las Meninas. The Family of Philip V is here. Highly important works are also to be seen by the other figures of the Spanish Golden Age Ribera, Murillo, Zurbarn and Alonso Cano. Like Velzquez, Ribera is represented by around paintings, among them masterpieces such as Jacob and Esau and The Martyrdom of Saint Philip. Murillo is represented in the Prado by around paintings, some as celebrated as The Good Shepherd, The Holy Family with the Bird and The Immaculate Conception of los Venerables The quotSoultquot Immaculate Conception. Zurbarn is also represented by a collection of works including Saint Elizabeth of Portugal and two paintings from the series on quotThe Life of Saint Pedro Nolascoquot from the Cloister of the Merced Calzada in Seville. The same can be said of Alonso Cano, represented by paintings such as The Dead Christ supported by an Angel. Las Meninas, by Diego Velzquez, is the museums most famous work of art. The Prado has numerous religious paintings from the thcentury Madrid school, including works by Fray Juan Ricci, Pereda, Francisco de Herrera el Mozo and Claudio Coello, as well as some magnificent portraits by Carreo de Miranda. Other thcentury Spanish schools are represented, such as the Sevillian, which includes examples of the work of Valds Leal. Museo del Prado Goya and thcentury painting More than paintings by Francisco de Goya offer the visitor to the Prado the chance to analyse the artists development in considerable depth. Goyas art arises from the Spanish tradition and Velzquez was his master, as he himself said. Goya was a brilliant and unique artist on a level with the other great masters of painting and far above his contemporaries in Spain. Among the most important works by the artist in the collection of the Museo del Prado are the tapestry cartoons The Parasol and The Crockery Vendor, and portraits of The Duke and Duchess of Osuna and their Children, The Countess of Chinchn, Don Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, The Family of Charles IV and The Charles IV of Spain and His Family, , Marchioness of Santa Cruz. In addition there are the two Maja by Francisco de Goya paintings, which have acquired neariconic status. Goya as a history painter is represented by major works such as The Assault on the Mamelukes and The Executions on Prncipe Po, better known as The Second and Third of May, respectively. Among works from the last two periods of Goyas career are the Black Paintings, executed in Madrid, and The Milkmaid of Bordeaux, which the artist completed during his final years when he lived in that French city. Also forming part of the thcentury Spanish collection is a large group of still lifes by Luis Meldez small, cabinet paintings by Paret y Alczar such as The Masked Ball and Charles III eating before the Court tapestry cartoons by the Bayeu brothers and other paintings such as Antonio Carniceros The Ascent of a Montgolfier Balloon in Aranjuez. thcentury painting Goyas influence on thcentury Spanish painting can be seen in various works by Eugenio Lucas and Leonardo Alenza such as Prisoners Condemned by the Inquisition and The Spanking. Outstanding among historical works are various compositions such as The Death of Viriato by Madrazo, The Testament of Isabel the Catholic by Eduardo Rosales, and Juana la Loca before the Tomb of her Husband by Francisco Pradilla. The thcentury portrait collection is extremely extensive and includes some outstanding works. Among the most important are Vicente Lpezs Portrait of Goya, Federico de Madrazos The Countess of Vilches, and Esquivels The Contemporary Poets. The most important group within the landscape section comprises more than works by Carlos de Haes. Also well represented is Prz Villaamil with his Romantic landscapes. The Museum has some extremely fine paintings by Fortuny including Fantasy on Faust and Nude on the Beach at Portici. Also worth noting are the works by Sorolla in the collection. These allow for a study of his stylistic development, from the dark tonality of And they still say Fish is dear to the better known Luminist style of Boys on the Beach. Museo del Prado Italian painting In terms of quality and quantity the Prados collection of Italian paintings, numbering more than , works, is second only to its Spanish holdings. Many of these works were formerly in the royal collection. There were few examples of th and thcentury Italian painting in the royal collection as this was a less appreciated area until the th century. For this reason it is not as well represented in the Museum, although there are a small number of great thcentury masterpieces by Fra Angelico, Mantegna, Antonello da Messina and Botticelli, which entered the collection by different routes. Christ Washing the Disciples Feet, by Tintoretto, oil on canvas c. . thcentury painting comprises a more coherent and complete group, mainly originating from the royal collection. Venetian art of this date is the best represented among the various Italian schools. As a result of his commissions from Charles V and Philip II, Titian became the Habsburg painter par excellence. The Prado possesses more than paintings by Titian alone, as well as exceptional works by Veronese, Tintoretto and the Bassano. The extraordinary group of works by Raphael acquired by Philip IV initiated a new taste for that artist, who replaced Titian in Bourbon eyes and became the favourite of the new dynasty. Also represented in the Prado are other great masters such as Correggio and Parmigianino of the School of Parma, Sebastiano del Piombo of the Roman School and Andrea del Sarto of the Florentine. The collection of th and thcentury Italian paintings is also one of the most extensive in the Museum and once again the royal collection accounts for most of them. Many works arrived through the negotiations undertaken by Spanish ambassadors and viceroys in Rome and Naples who were instructed to secure paintings to decorate the Buen Retiro Palace, built in the th century. Another important group is due to the presence of Italian artists in Italy such as Luca Giordano, Corrado Giaquinto and Giambattista Tiepolo. The th and th centuries Museo del Prado The Annunciation, , by Fra Angelico. Equestrian Portrait of Charles V, , by Titian. The Museo del Prado has various Italian paintings from the th century, such as The Death of the Virgin by Mantegna, acquired for Philip IV, The Annunciation by Fra Angelico, and Scenes from the Story of Nastagio degli Onesti by Botticelli. Also worthy of mention is The Dead Christ supported by an Angel by Antonello da Messina, whose purchase in signified an important addition to the collection due to the works outstanding quality. The thcentury paintings include the Raphael collection, with compositions such as The Holy Family with the Lamb, The Virgin of the Fish and Portrait of a Cardinal. The Venetian school, which is one of the strengths of the Prados collection, includes a group of works by Titian including Charles V at Mhlberg, The Worship of Venus, Dane, Venus and Adonis and the artists Selfportrait. Notable works by Veronese are Venus and Adonis, Moses rescued from the Nile, and Christ among the Doctors, while important works by Tintoretto include Christ washing the Disciples Feet and the seven paintings of Old Testament scenes purchased by Velzquez during his second Italian trip. Other well represented Italian artists of this period are Correggio with the Noli me tangere, and Andrea del Sarto with The Virgin and Child between Saint Matthew and an Angel. The Prado also has pantings by Parmigianino, Sebastiano del Piombo and the Bassano. The th century The Museum has one work by Caravaggio, David defeating Goliath, as well as various by his followers, including Orazio Gentileschi who developed towards a clearly Venetian style, as evident in Moses rescued from the Nile. The most important artist of the Bolognese School, Annibale Carracci, is well represented in the Museum with Venus, Adonis and Cupid. Other artists from this school include the classicising Guido Reni, present with works such as Hippomenes and Atalanta and Saint Sebastian, and Guercino, with Susannah and the Elders and Saint Peter freed by the Angel. The Prado has a large collection of paintings by the Neapolitan artist Luca Giordano. They number around and span his entire career from his early years in Italy with paintings such as Rubens painting the Allegory of Peace to late works from the end of his Spanish years such as Charles II on Horseback, The prudent Abigail and The Capture of a Fortress. Museo del Prado The th century The Prado has an collection of thcentury Italian landscapes and a number of paintings depicting events related to the Spanish royal family. These include a View of the Palace of Aranjuez by Francesco Battaglioli, and The Embarkation of Charles III in Naples by Antonio Joli. The group of three compositions with ruins by Pini is worth singling out. A small but interesting group of Grand Tour portraits should be mentioned. These include Francis Basset, Ist Baron Dunstanville, and George Legge, Viscount Lewisham, both by Batoni. Among the extensive group of works by Corrado Giaquinto in the Prado, worth separate mention are the preparatory oil sketch for the fresco in the Royal Palace in Madrid entitled The Birth of the Sun and the Triumph of Bacchus, and the allegorical composition of Justice and Peace. Among the best examples of works by the Tiepolo family in the Prados collection are Giambattista Tiepolos Immaculate Conception, the eight canvases on the Passion from the Madrid church of San Felipe Neri by his son Giandomenico, and various pastel portraits by another son Lorenzo. Flemish painting After the Spanish School, the Flemish School is almost comparable to the Italian in terms of quality and quantity. It comprises more than , paintings and, again like the Spanish paintings, most have a provenance from the royal collection. th and thcentury painting is a particularly wellrepresented area within the Museum. While the Low Countries formed part of the Spanish Crown from the th century, Philips IIs interest in earlier Flemish Primitive paintings meant that the monarch acquired various masterpieces by its most important artists, from Rogier van der Weyden to Bosch, as well as works by later artists such as Patinir. In addition, mention should be Descent of Christ from the Cross, by Rogier van der Weyden made of Flemish and Netherlandish artists who worked for the king, such as the Netherlandish portrait painter Antonis Mor. The Prado, however, lacks paintings by some of the important artists of the Flemish school, for example Jan van Eyck and Hugo van der Goes The southern provinces of the Low Countries remained under Spanish rule after the separation of the northern provinces modernday Holland in . Thereforethe Prado possess works by the leading thcentury Flemish painters, who were subjects of the Spanish Crown. The group of paintings by Rubens is of outstanding importance, numbering more than , many of them true masterpieces and some executed in Spain during the two visits that the artist made in and . Paintings by Rubens followers Van Dyck and Jordaens complete the holdings of the leading names of thcentury Flemish painting, which also include paintings by Jan Brueghel the Elder, Paul de Vos and David Teniers the Younger. The Three Graces, by Rubens . Museo del Prado The th and th centuries The Museo del Prado does not possess a work by Jan van Eyck, the greatest master of the Flemish School, but it does have an exceptionally interesting painting entitled The Fountain of Grace executed in the masters workshop by a close pupil. Two works by Robert Campin, who initiated the thcentury Flemish style, should be mentioned Saint John the Baptist and the Franciscan Theologian Heinrich von Werl and Saint Barbara. His pupil, Rogier van der Weyden, is represented in the Prado by two of his most important masterpieces, The Descent from the Cross and The Virgin and Child. Magnificent works by other leading thcentury Flemish painters in the Museum include the Triptych on the Life of Christ by Dirk Bouts and The Adoration of the Magi Triptych by Hans Memling, as well as the panel of The Rest on the Flight into Egypt by Gerard David. The Flemish Primitive School culminates in the Prados collection with the superb collection of panel paintings by Hieronymous Bosch, the largest in any single public collection and, most importantly, the collection that includes the greatest number of major works by this painter from sHertogenbosch. These include the three triptychs of The Garden of Earthly Delights, The Adoration of the Magi and The Haywain, and The Tabletop of the Seven Deadly Sins. The Garden of Earthly Delights, by Bosch Among thcentury Flemish painting a notable place is occupied by the four panels by Joachim Patinir, The Rest on the Flight into Egypt, Landscape with Saint Jerome, Charon crossing the Styx, and The Temptations of Saint Anthony, painted in collaboration with Quintin Massys. As in the case of Bosch, this group is the largest and most important one by the artist to be found in any museum. Among the thcentury Flemish paintings in the Museo del Prado are various masterpieces by major artists. These include Quintin Massys Ecce Homo, Barend van Orleys Holy Family, Christ between the Virgin and Saint John by Gossaert and The Triumph of Death by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Among genre paintings, notable works are those by Marinus Reymerswaele and Jan Sanders van Hemessen. Portraits of this period in the Prado include the magnificent series by Anthonis Mor, most notably the Portrait of Mary Tudor and The Court Jester Pejern. They can be considered high points of this genre in the th century and in particular within court portraiture, along with those by Titian. The th century The collection of over paintings by Rubens includes a large number of his masterpieces, among them The Adoration of the Magi, Adam, Eve, The Holy Family with Saint Anne, Marie deMedici, The Duke of Lerma, The Three Graces, The Judgement of Paris, and The Garden of Love. Other works are the collaborative compositions executed by Rubens with other artists such as the series on the Five Senses which involved the participation of Jan quotVelvetquot Brueghel. The collection of portraits by Van Dyck is exceptional, particularly Sir Endymion Porter and Van Dyck, and Martin Ryckaert among the male portraits and Diana Cecil, Countess of Oxford and Maria Ruthwen among the female ones. Of the paintings by Jacob Jordaens in the Museum, the most notable are Three strolling Musicians, The Wedding of Thetis and Peleus and the splendid Family Portrait. The most important genre painter of this school and period is David Teniers, of whom the Prado owns more than paintings. Among animal painters particular attention should be paid to Frans Snyders and Paul de Vos, while Clara Peeters and Daniel Seghers are notable for their still lifes. Museo del Prado French painting The French School is the fourth best represented in the Prado after the Spanish, Italian and Flemish. With more than paintings, mainly from the Spanish royal collection, it offers an incomplete but interesting overview of French paintings from the th to the early th centuries. Best represented within this group are the th and th centuries. As in the case of the other foreign schools, historical events and the artistic taste of the Spanish monarchs determined the presence of these works in greater or lesser numbers in the various royal residences. A number of paintings by Nicolas Poussin and Claude Lorraine, the leading French, classicising painters, were directly commissioned from the artists during the reign of Philip IV to decorate the Buen Retiro Palace. In the th century the reign of Philip V marked the start of the Bourbon dynasty in Spain and French art became more appreciated by royal collectors. Various French artists worked for the first Bourbon monarch, such as MichelAnge Houasse, Jean Ranc and LouisMichel van Loo. A considerable number of works also arrived from France at this time or were acquired on the international market, including paintings by Watteau, Coypel and Rigaud. German painting Selfportrait . Adam and Eve Despite the close relationship between Spain and the Holy Roman Empire during the period of the Habsburgs, the German School is minimally represented in the Prados collection. Nonetheless, among its holdings, which mostly come from the former royal collection, there are various key works by Albrecht Drer, the most important German artist of this period. In addition, the German School collection includes thcentury paintings by Anton Raphael Mengs, Court Painter to Charles III and another leading name in German art. With regard to the th century, the Prado has four works by Drer a Selfportrait, Adam and Eve, and Portrait of an Unknown Man, all of which came to the Alczar in Madrid during the reign of Philip IV. With a provenance dating back to Philip IIs collection are the two panels by Hans Baldung Grien, Harmony or The Three Graces and The Ages of Man, and two works by Lucas Cranach the Elder Hunt in Honour of Charles V at the Castle of Torgau and Hunt in Honour of Ferdinand I, King of the Romans, at the Castle of Torgau. The largest number of thcentury German paintings in the collection are by Mengs, and visitors can see Spanish, Neapolitan and Tuscan court portraits by this artist, some of them depicting royal children, as well as a Selfportrait and various religious compositions. Museo del Prado Dutch painting The Museo del Prado possesses almost paintings of the thcentury Dutch School. It lacks works by the most important artists such as Vermeer and Frans Hals but taken together this group offers an overview of the different trends within this school. Due to historical circumstances and the hostility at times open war between the House of Orange and the Spanish Crown following their split in , few Dutch works arrived in Spain in the th century, as might be expected. Most of the paintings in the Prado come from the former royal collection and almost all were acquired in the th century. Notable among them is Rembrandts Artemisia, purchased during the reign of Charles III. Artemisia by Rembrandt, oil on canvas . The Museum has various paintings by Matthias Stomer and Salomon de Bray, including The Incredulity of Saint Thomas and Judith and Holofernes, as well as still lifes by the most important artists of the Haarlem School Pieter Claesz, Willem Claesz Heda, and Jan Davidsz de Heem. Dutch genre painting is represented by Philips Wouwerman and Adriaen van Ostade. The landscape paintings include various works by Jan Both, Herman van Swanevelt and Jacob van Ruisdael. An example of an intimately expressed portrait is Gerard Ter Borchs Portrait of Petronella de Waert, while animal painting, one of the most characteristic Dutch genres, is represented by Gabriel Metsus Dead Cockerel. British painting For historical reasons, British painting is the least well represented area in the Prados collection. Political conflicts between Spain and England from the th century until the early th century, limited contact between the aristocratic families of the two countries, and a lack of royal alliances prior to the wedding of Alfonso XIII all impeded appreciation of British art in Spain. Nonetheless, the Prado has a group of works which, although small in number, are of fine quality and were mostly acquired in the th century. Most are portraits painted in the second half of the th century and the first half of the th, by Reynolds, Gainsborough, Romney and Hoppner. The bestrepresented portraitist is undoubtedly Thomas Lawrence, with significant works such as the portraits of John Fane, th Earl of Westmorland, Miss Martha Carr and A Lady from the Storer Family. David Roberts, who is an important artist due to his associations with Spanish Romanticism, is present in the form of three paintings The Torre de Oro, Seville, The Castle of Alcal de Guadaira and The Interior of the Mosque, Crdoba. Sculpture The Prados sculpture collection numbers more than works, in addition to around fragments. Most are classical, Renaissance and Baroque sculptures and works from the th and th centuries, but the Museum also possesses some Oriental and Medieval pieces. The first group derives from the royal collection and principally comprises GrecoRoman sculptures in addition to Renaissance bronzes by artists such as the Leoni, who executed sculpted portraits of the Spanish monarchs in the th century. With the importation of sculptures from Italy, the taste for the classical revived in thcentury Spain. This was in fact one of the main reasons for Velzquezs second trip to Italy, and during his stay in Rome he was involved in the selection of works on behalf of Philip IV. Particularly important were the acquisitions made in the th century by Philip V and his queen, Isabella Farnese, who purchased the collection of Queen Christina of Sweden, to which that of Jos Nicols de Azara was later added. Museo del Prado With regard to more recent acquisitions, an important addition was the small but significant group of archaic Greek sculpture donated by Mario Zayas in , an area not represented by a single work in the Spanish royal collection. Two sculptures of Epimetheus and Pandora by El Greco are also recent acquisitions for the collection. Greek sculpture The Prado has two original works from the Archaic period, one of which is a thcentury BC kouros. Fifthcentury classicism can be studied through Roman copies of Greek sculptures by Phidias, Polyclitus, Myron and Callimachus. These include the Athena Parthenos, a magnificent miniature copy of the great image that Phidias created for the Parthenon in Athens a copy of Myrons Athena from the group of Athena and Marsyas a copy of Polyclituss magnificent Diadumenos and a copy of the four Maenad reliefs by Callimachus. Fourthcentury BC classicism is represented by Roman copies of the best artists of the period the magnificent Head of the Cnidian Venus, the Satyr in Repose by Praxitiles, Scopass Hercules, and the Head of Silenus and Head of Hercules by Lysippus. The Prado has numerous works from the Hellenistic period, all Roman copies apart from the Head of Diadocus, which is possibly Greek. Particularly fine examples among these copies are the Faun with Kid from the Pergamene School, which is the only known copy of the Greek original. Other notable works are the Hipnus, Ariadne, and a sizeable group of Hellenistic Venuses of various types Crouching Venus, Venus with the Dolphin, The Venus of Madrid, Venus with an Apple, and Venus with a Cockle Shell. Greek horse head from the Archaic Period. Sculpted in marble towards BC. Roman sculpture Museo del Prado The Saint Ildefonso Group is one of the best examples of NeoAttic eclecticism produced in the first decades of the Roman Empire. Another exceptional piece is The Apotheosis of Claudius, which stands on a Baroque pedestal. The collection of Roman portraits is extensive. On display are three representative works of the three main iconographic models used to represent the emperor Augustus in a Toga, symbolising the emperors religious and civil power Figure in a Cuirass, presented as the leader of the armies and Augustus or Tiberius in heroic Nude, depicted as a divinity after death. A sizeable group of male and female busts, including Augustus, Antoninus Pius, Clodius Albinus and Vibia Sabina indicate the interest in capturing the sitters personality evident in Roman art of this period. Largescale sculptures of the type characteristic of cult images are also to be found in the collection, including Jupiter and Neptune, as well as various mythological reliefs, among them the Bacchic Altar, a NeoAttic work of the late Hellenic period, and the Sarcophagus with the Story of Achilles and Polyxena. Bust of Vibia Sabina, sculpted in marble around AD. The sixteenth century The Prado, considers the finest examples of Renaissance sculptures in the museum to be the group of fulllength portraits, busts and reliefs of Charles V and his family the Empress Elizabeth, their son Philip II and Charless sisters, Mary of Hungary and Leonora of Austria. These bronzes and marbles portraits were created by the Italian sculptor Leone Leoni and his son Pompeo Leoni. The group include the legendary bronze of Charles V and the Fury. The collection also includes other works by various Spanish sculptors, such as the Venus by Bartolomeo Ammanati and the alabaster relief of the Allegory of Francisco I deMedici by Giambologna. El Grecos sculptures of Epimetheus and Pandora are particularly significant due to the importance of the artist and the fact that they are one of the very few known examples of sculpted nudes of a mythological type produced in Spain during the time of the Council of Trent. Sculpture of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, by Leone and Pompeo Leoni . Made of bronze towards . th and th centuries The Museum has two works commissioned by Velzquez from Matteo Bonarelli de Lucca during his second trip to Italy. These are the bronze lions that support various pietra dura panels converted into tables, and the Hermaphrodite, a copy of a classical work that was in a Roman collection. The collection also includes a copy by an unknown artist of the famous classical sculpture The Spinario. The Prado also has a series of sculpted equestrian portraits of small size depicting various Spanish monarchs. Those of Philip IV by Pietro Tacca and Charles II by Foggini date from the th century, while Philip V by Lorenzo Vaccaro is an thcentury work. Museo del Prado Drawings The Museo del Prado also has an collection of drawings representative of various schools and dating from the th to the th centuries. The collection is made up of a core group originally from the Spanish royal collection to which , or so works from the Pedro Fernndez Durn Bequest were subsequently added, along with various subsequent additions and the occasional donation. As a result, the drawings collection now numbers over , works. Spanish drawings The Spanish school is the best represented among the Museums holdings of drawings, with works dating from the late Medieval period to the Modern Age. A notable thcentury drawing is the project for the altarpiece on the high altar of San Juan de los Reyes in Toledo, attributed to Juan Guas. The collection of thcentury drawings is larger and includes works by the Valencian painter Juan de Juanes and painters from El Escorial such as Bartolom Carducho and Patricio Cajs. The thcentury drawings include magnificent sheets by Alonso Cano, Ribera, Valds Leal, Ribalta, Vicente Carducho, Eugenio Cajs, Pereda, Claudio Coello and Palomino. However, it is the th century that is best represented, both in terms of number and quality. In addition to the very large group of more than drawings by Francisco Bayeu, there are also drawings by other leading painters such as Ramn Bayeu, Salvador Maella, Gonzlez Ruiz and Paret y Alczar. Without doubt, however, the most important and celebrated part of the Prados drawings collection is the large group of works by Goya, numbering more than . Albums and series such as the Sanlcar Album, the Madrid Album, The Disasters of War, The Tauromaquia and The Proverbs mean that it is possible to study the artists stylistic evolution. Goyas influence is to be seen in the numerous drawings in the collection by Zapata, Alenza and Lucas. The group of drawings by Carlos de Haes is magnificent, more than of which came from the Museo del Arte Moderno in addition to the album with a further sheets purchased in . In addition to the names mentioned above, there is a significant group of thcentury drawings by artists such as Fortuny, Vicente Lpez, Federico de Madrazo, Prez Villaamil and Eduardo Rosales. Other schools The Italian School is very well represented in the collection with a large number of drawings dating from the Early Renaissance to the onset of Neoclassicism. There are almost drawings dating from the th century, outstanding among which are two by Michelangelo, Study of a Mans right Arm and Study of a right Shoulder and Chest, rediscovered and attributed to the artist in . In addition there are drawings by artists of the status of Pablo Veronese, Giulio Romano, Luca Cambiaso, Il Bergamesco and Naldini. The th century is represented by important examples by some of the leading painters of the time such as Annibale Carracci, Guido Reni, Guercino and Luca Giordano. Among thcentury drawings the Prado has magnificent pastels by Lorenzo Tiepolo, as well as very interesting works by Giambattista Tiepolo, Giaquinto, Batoni and Bibiena. Drawings from other schools such as the Flemish, French and German comprise a smaller group but there are significant works by Rubens, Jordanes, Teniers, Corneille Blanchard and Mengs. Museo del Prado Prints The print collection numbers around , works of which more than came from the library of Jos Mara Cervello, recently acquired by the Museum. As in the case of the drawings, the most important prints in the Prados collection are by Goya. The Museum has prints from his first series, The Paintings of Velzquez, and from later ones such as The Caprichos, The Disasters of War, The Tauromaquia and The Disparates. Other prints worthy of mention are those by Mariano Fortuny, many of them related to his period in Morocco, the two series of the Essays in Etching by Carlos de Haes and various works by Joaqun Pi i Margall, namely, The Iliad, The Odyssey, The Days and The Theogony or The Divine Comedy. Various artists collaborated on the collections of The Paintings from the Casn del Bueno Retiro, The Lithographic Collection of the Paintings of the King of Spain, Selected Paintings from the Real Academia de San Fernando and The Etcher. Among prints by nonSpanish artists, the Museum has four by Drer Hercules at the Crossroads, The Penance of Saint John Chrysostom, The Four Angels holding back the Winds, and Saint Michael defeating the Dragon, the last two from the Apocalypse series. The Prado also has prints by Anthony van Dyck, Annibale Carracci, Rembrandt and Giambattista Tiepolo. By the latter the Museum has the set of ten prints from the Vari Capricci published in . History The building that is now the home of the Museo Nacional del Prado was designed on the orders of Charles III in by the architect Juan de Villanueva in order to house the Natural History Cabinet. Nonetheless, the buildings final function was not decided until the monarchs grandson, Ferdinand VII, encouraged by his wife, Queen Mara Isabel de Braganza, decided to use it as a new Royal Museum of Paintings and Sculptures. The Royal Museum, which would soon become known as the National Museum of Painting and Sculpture and subsequently the Museo Nacional del Prado, opened to the public for the first time in November . It was created with the double aim of showing the works of art that belonged to the Spanish Crown and to demonstrate to the rest of Europe that Spanish art was of equal merit to any other national school. The first catalogue of the Museum, published in and solely devoted to Spanish painting, included paintings, although at that time the Museum housed , from the various Reales Sitios royal residences including works from other schools. The exceptionally important royal collection, which forms the nucleus of the presentday Museo del Prado, started to increase significantly in the th century during the time of Charles V and continued under the succeeding Habsburg and Bourbon monarchs. Their efforts and determination meant that the Royal Collection was enriched by some of the masterpieces now to be seen in the Prado. These include The Descent from the Cross by Rogier van der Weyden, The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymous Bosch, Knight with his Hand on his Breast by El Greco, The Death of the Virgin by Mantegna, The Holy Family, known as quotLa Perlaquot, by Raphael, Charles V at Mlhberg by Titian, Christ Washing the Disciples Feet by Tintoretto, Drers Selfportrait, Las Meninas by Velzquez, The Three Graces by Rubens, and The Family of Charles IV by Goya. In addition to works from the Spanish royal collection, other holdings increased and enriched the Museum with further masterpieces, such as the two Majas by Goya. Among the now closed museums whose collections have been added to that of the Prado were the Museo del la Trinidad in , and the Museo de Arte Moderno in . In addition, numerous legacies, donations and purchases have been of crucial importance for the growth of the collection. Various works entered the Prado from the Museo de la Trinidad, including The Fountain of Grace by the School of Van Eyck, the Santo Domingo and San Pedro Martr altarpieces painted for the monastery of Santo Toms in vila by Pedro Berruguete, and the five canvases by El Greco executed for the Colegio de doa Mara de Aragn. Museo del Prado Most of the Museums thcentury paintings come from the former Museo de Arte Moderno, including works by the Madrazo, Vicente Lpez, Carlos de Haes, Rosales and Sorolla. Upon the deposition of Isabella II in , the museum was nationalized and acquired the new name of quotMuseo del Pradoquot. The building housed the royal collection of arts, and it rapidly proved too small. The first enlargement to the museum took place in . The main building was enlarged with short pavilions in the back between and . The next enlargement was the incorporation of two buildings nearby but not adjacent into the institutional structure of the museum the Casn del Buen Retiro which housed the bulk of the th century art from to , and the Salon de Reinos Throne building, formerly the Army Museum. The last enlargement , designed by architect Rafael Moneo, is an underground building which connects the main building to another one entirely reconstructed. During the Spanish Civil War, upon the recommendation of the League of Nations, the museum staff removed paintings, drawings and the Dauphins Treasure and sent the art to Valencia, then later to Girona, and finally to Geneva. The art had to be returned across French territory in night trains to the museum upon the commencement of World War II. One of the main promenade entrances to the Prado is dominated by this bronze statue of Diego Velzquez. Since the creation of the Museo del Prado more than , paintings have been incorporated into its collection, as well as a large number of sculptures, prints, drawings and works of art through bequests, donations and purchases, which account for most of the New Acquisitions. Numerous bequests have enriched the Museums holdings, such as the outstanding collection of medals left to the Museum by Pablo Bosch the drawings and items of decorative art left by Pedro Fernndez Durn as well as Van der Weydens masterpiece, The Virgin and Child and the Ramn de Errazu bequest of thcentury paintings. Particularly important donations include Barn Emile dErlangers gift of Goyas Black Paintings in . Among the numerous works that have entered the collection through purchase are some outstanding ones acquired in recent years including two works by El Greco, The Fable and The Flight into Egypt acquired in and , Goyas Countess of Chinchn bought in , and Velzquezs portrait of The Popes Barber acquired in . In , the Museum executed the Moneos project to expand its exposition room to , square meters, hoping to increase the yearly number of visitors from . million to . million. The thcentury Cloister of Jernimo has been removed stone by stone to make foundations for increased stability of surrounding buildings and will be reassembled in the new museums extension. Hydraulic jacks had to be used to prevent the basement walls from falling during construction. Museo del Prado Historic structure The Museo del Prado is one of the buildings constructed during the reign of Charles III Carlos III as part of a grandiose building scheme designed to bestow upon Madrid a monumental urban space. The building that lodges the Museum of the Prado was initially conceived by Jos Moino y Redondo, conde de Floridablanca and was commissioned in by Charles III for the reurbanizacin of the Paseo del Prado. To this end, Charles III called on one of its favorite architects, Juan de Villanueva, author also of the nearby Botanical Garden and the City Hall of Madrid. The prado quotmeadowquot that was where the museum Gate of Goya in the north facade of the museum. now stands gave its name to the area, the Saln del Prado later Paseo del Prado, and to the museum itself upon nationalisation. Work on the building stopped at the conclusion of Charles IIIs reign and throughout the Peninsular War and was only initiated again during the reign of Charles IIIs grandson, Ferdinand VII. The structure was used as headquarters for the cavalry and a gunpowderstore for the Napoleonic troops based in Madrid during the War of Independence. Nearby museums Very close to the Prado, the Villahermosa Palace houses the ThyssenBornemisza Museum, the bulk of whose collection was originally privately gathered and not part of the state collection, but which well serves to fill the gaps and weaknesses of the Prados collection, such as Dutch and German painting the Thyssen Bornemisza has been controlled as part of the Prado system since . Near the Museo del Prado are two other national museums the Museo Arqueolgico houses some art of Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome formerly in the Prado Collection the Museo Reina Sofa houses thcentury artwork. These two museums supplement the Prado, as do the Buen Retiro and ThyssenBornemisza Museum all within a short walk of each other. Directors The serial Directors of the Prado have affected its development. Diego Angulo iguez, . Xavier de Salas, . Jos Manuel Pita Andrade Francisco Calvo Serraller, . Jose Maria Luzon Nogu Alfonso y Prez Snchez Fernando Checa, . Miguel Zugaza, present. Museo del Prado Works of art The Holy Trinity, , by El Greco The Knight with His Hand on His Breast, c. , by El Greco The Surrender of Breda, , by Diego Velzquez Agnus Dei, , by Francisco Zurbarn La Inmaculada de Soult, , by Bartolom Esteban Murillo The Prado in Google Earth In , the Prado Museum selected of its most important paintings to be displayed in Google Earth and Google Maps at extremely high resolution, with the largest displayed at , megapixels. The images zoom capability allows for closeup views of paint texture and fine detail. The displayed paintings are Las Meninas by Diego Velzquez The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch The Descent from the Cross by Rogier van der Weyden Artemisia by Rembrandt Self Portrait by Albrecht Drer The Third of May by Francisco Goya The Nobleman with his Hand on his Chest by El Greco Portrait of a Cardinal by Raphael Emperor Charles V on Horseback by Titian Jacobs Dream by Jos de Ribera The Immaculate Conception by Giambattista Tiepolo The Annunciation by Fra Angelico Crucifixion by Juan de Flandes The Three Graces by Peter Paul Rubens Museo del Prado References quotExhibition and museum attendance figures quot http/ / www. theartnewspaper. com/ attfig/ attfig. pdf. London The Art Newspaper. April . . Retrieved May . http/ / www. museodelprado. es Prado website http/ / www. museodelprado. es/ en/ ingles/ collection/ description/ . See also Museo del Prado, Catlogo de las pinturas, , Ministerio de Educacin y Cultura, Madrid, No ISBN, which lists about , paintings. Many works have been passed to the Museo Reina Sofia and other museums over the years others are on loan or in storage. On the new displays, see El Prado se reordena y agranda. europapress.es here in Spanish http/ / www. europapress. es/ cultura/ noticiamuseopradoreordenaagranda. html http/ / www. museodelprado. es/ en/ thecollection/ sculpture/ thesixteenthcentury/ quotChronology of the expansionquot http/ / www. museodelprado. es/ en/ ingles/ theextension/ chronologyoftheextension/ . . Retrieved . Chronology of Museo del Prado, http/ / www. museodelprado. es/ index. phpidSpanish Museo del Prado Articles and Information http/ / neohumanism. org/ m/ mu/ museodelprado. html Snchez, Alfonso y Prez. quotAngulo iguez, Diego,quot http/ / www. museodelprado. es/ enciclopedia/ enciclopediaonline/ voz/ anguloiniguezdiego/ Enciclopedia Online, Museo Nacional del Prado Spain, retrieved quotXavier de Salas,quot http/ / www. biografiasyvidas. com/ biografia/ s/ salasxavier. htm Biografias y vidas Spain, retrieved Riding, Alan. quotThe Prado Loses Another Director,quot http/ / www. nytimes. com/ / / / arts/ thepradolosesanotherdirector. html New York Times US. May , , retrieved Tremlett, Giles. quotPrado director is hung out to dry,quot http/ / www. guardian. co. uk/ world/ / dec/ / gilestremlett The Guardian UK. December quotSpanish museum director quits,quot http/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ / hi/ entertainment/ . stm BBC News UK. December , retrieved . Titova, Irina. quotThe Hermitage wears Prado,quot http/ / www. sptimes. ru/ story/ The St. Petersburg Times Russia. March , , retrieved Tremlett, December . Giles Tremlett January , quotOnline gallery zooms in on Prados masterpieces even the smutty bitsquot http/ / www. guardian. co. uk/ artanddesign/ / jan/ / museumsinternetgoogleearthprado, The Guardian, quotThe Prado in Google Earthquot http/ / www. google. com/ intl/ en/ landing/ prado/ . . Retrieved . External links Museo del Prado website http//www.museodelprado.es Prados online Shop http//www.tiendaprado.com Museo del Prado, the main paintings http//www.museodelprado.es/index.phpidampL The Prado Museum History and Photos http//www.feelmadrid.com/pradomuseum.html Works of Art Owned by the Prado http//www.museumsyndicate.com/owner.phpowner The Prado Museum Description and Photos http//www.guiaturisticamadrid.com/museoprado.htm Spanish Information about the Prado museum map, price, contact, opening hours, etc. http//www.muselia.com/ spain/madrid/pradomuseum// Prado in Google Earth, extra high resolution http//www.google.com/intl/en/landing/prado/ Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofa Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofa Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofa Established Location September , Madrid, Spain Visitor figures ,, Director Website Ranked nd nationally Ranked th globally Manuel BorjaVillel http/ / www. museoreinasofia. es The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofa MNCARS is the official name of Spains national museum of th century art informally shortened to the Museo Reina Sofa, Queen Sofia Museum, El Reina Sofia, or simply The Sofia. The museum was officially inaugurated on September , and is named for Queen Sofia of Spain. It is located in Madrid, near the Atocha train and metro stations, at the southern end of the socalled Golden Triangle of Art located along the Paseo del Prado and also comprising the Museo del Prado and the Museo ThyssenBornemisza. The museum is mainly dedicated to Spanish art. Highlights of the museum include excellent collections of Spains two greatest th century masters, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dal. Certainly the most famous masterpiece in the museum is Picassos painting Guernica. The Reina Sofa collection has works by artists such as Juan Gris, Joan Mir, Julio Gonzlez, Eduardo Chillida, Antoni Tpies, Pablo Gargallo, Pablo Serrano, Lucio Muoz, Luis Gordillo, Jorge Oteiza, Jos Gutirrez Solana and others. International artists are few in the collection, but there are works by Robert Delaunay, Yves Tanguy, Man Ray, Jacques Lipchitz, Lucio Fontana, Yves Klein, Max Ernst, Richard Serra, Bruce Neuman, Julian Schnabel, Clyford Still, cubist still lifes by Georges Braque and a large work by Francis Bacon. It also hosts a freeaccess library specializing in art, with a collection of over , books, over , sound recordings and almost , videos. The central building of the museum was once a th century hospital. Extensive modern renovations and additions to the old building were made starting in . In , portions of the new museum were opened to the public, mostly in temporary configurations that same year it was decreed by the Ministry of Culture as a national museum. Its architectural identity was radically changed in by Ian Ritchie with the addition of three glass circulation towers. An m ,ft expansion costing million designed by French architect Jean Nouvel opened October . Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofa References quotExhibition and museum attendance figures quot http/ / www. theartnewspaper. com/ attfig/ attfig. pdf. London The Art Newspaper. April . . Retrieved May . New Director named http/ / www. typicallyspanish. com/ news/ publish/ article. shtml Popular culture references The museum features, as a major protagonist, in Jim Jarmuschs The Limits of Control . External links Official website http//http//www.museoreinasofia.es ThyssenBornemisza Museum ThyssenBornemisza Museum ThyssenBornemisza Established Location Director Website Paseo del Prado, Madrid, Spain Guillermo Solana http/ / www. museothyssen. org The ThyssenBornemisza Museum, or in Spanish Museo ThyssenBornemisza, is an art museum near the Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain. It is known as a part of the quotGolden Triangle of Artquot, which also includes the Prado and the Reina Sofia galleries. The ThyssenBornemisza fills the historical gaps in its counterparts collections in the Prados case this includes Italian primitives and works from the English, Dutch and German schools, while in the case of the Reina Sofia the ThyssenBornemisza collection, once the second largest private collection in the world after the British Royal Collection, includes Impressionists, Expressionists, and European and American paintings from the second half of the th century, with over , paintings. The competition was won after in Baron Thyssen having tried to enlarge his Museum in Villa Favorita and searched for a location in Europe. History The collection started in the s as a private collection by Heinrich, Baron ThyssenBornemisza de Kszon . In a reversal of the movement of European paintings to the United States during this period, one of the elder Barons sources was the collections of American millionaires coping with the Great Depression and inheritance taxes, from which he acquired such exquisite old master paintings as Ghirlandaios portrait of Giovanna Tornabuoni once in the Morgan Library and Carpaccios Knight from the collection of Otto Kahn. The collection was later expanded by Heinrichs son Baron Hans Heinrich ThyssenBornemisza , who assembled most of the works from his relatives collections and proceeded to acquire large numbers of new works to produce what is one of the worlds finest private art collections. In , the Baron married Carmen Cervera a former Miss Spain and introduced her to art collecting. Carmens influence was decisive in persuading the Baron to decide on the future of his collection and cede the collection to Spain. The museum was opened in after an agreement was reached between the Baron and the Spanish government. A year later, the collection was bought outright. The Baroness remains involved with the museum. She personally decided the salmon pink tone of the interior walls and in May publicly demonstrated against plans of the Mayor of Madrid, Alberto RuizGallardn to redevelop the Paseo del Prado as she thought the works and traffic would damage the collection and the museums appearance. ThyssenBornemisza Museum The collection The Old Masters were mainly bought by the elder Baron, while Hans focused more on the th and th century, resulting in a collection that spans eight centuries of European painting, without claiming to give an allencompassing view but rather a series of highlights. One of the focal points is the early European painting, with a major collection of trecento and quattrocento i.e. th and th century Italian paintings by Duccio, and his contemporaries, and works of the early Flemish and Dutch painters like Jan Van Eyck, Albrecht Drer, and Hans Holbein. Other highlights include works by the most famous Renaissance and Baroque painters, including Titian, Sebastiano del Piombo, Caravaggio, Rubens, Van Dyck, Murillo, Rembrandt and Frans Hals and wonderful portraits by Domenico Ghirlandaio and Vittore Carpaccio. Also important for the Museums collection are Impressionist and PostImpressionist works by artists like Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas and Vincent Van Gogh, as well as twentieth century masterpieces, like a Cubist work by Picasso or late works by Piet Mondrian and Edward Hopper. A collection of works from the museum is housed in Barcelona in the Museu Nacional dArt de Catalunya. References http/ / www. museothyssen. org Jonathan Kandell, quotBaron ThyssenBornemisza, Industrialist Who Built Fabled Art Collection, Dies at ,quot http/ / www. nytimes. com/ / / / nyregion/ baronthyssenbornemiszaindustrialistwhobuiltfabledartcollectiondies. htmlpagewantedall New York Times, April . Toms, Llorens Laura Suffield translator . Guide to the ThyssenBornemisza Museum nd edition ed.. Spain Lunwerg editores SA. ISBN. External links Official website http//http//www.museothyssen.org EducaThyssen http//www.educaThyssen.org/ website of the Research and Further Studies Department Virtual visit http//www.googleartproject.com/museums/thyssen in the Google Art Project Temple of Debod Temple of Debod The Templo de Debod or Temple of Debod is an ancient Egyptian temple which was rebuilt in Madrid, Spain. The temple was built originally km south of Aswan in southern Egypt very close to the first cataract of the Nile and to the great religious center dedicated to the goddess Isis, in Philae. In the early nd century BC, Adikhalamani Tabriqo, the Kushite king of Mero, started its construction by building a small single room chapel dedicated to the god Amun. It was built and decorated on a similar design to the later Meroitic chapel on which the Temple of Dakka is based. Later, during the reigns of Ptolemy VI, Ptolemy VIII and Ptolemy XII of the Ptolemaic dynasty, it was extended on all four sides to form a small temple, X m, which was dedicated to Isis of Philae. The Roman emperors Augustus and Tiberius completed its decorations. From the quay there is a long processional way leads to the stonebuilt enclosure wall, through three stone pylon gateways and finally to the temple itself. The pronaos, which had four columns with composite capitals collapsed in , and is now lost. Behind it lay the original sanctuary of Amun, the offering table room and a later sanctuary with several siderooms and stairs to the roof. In , due to the construction of the Great Dam of Aswan and the consequent threat posed to several monuments and archeological sites, UNESCO made an international call to save this rich historical legacy. As a sign of gratitude for the help provided by Spain in saving the temples of Abu Simbel, the Egyptian state donated the temple of Debod to Spain in . The Temple of Debod at night Temple of Debod The temple was rebuilt in one of Madrids parks, the Parque del Oeste, near the royal palace of Madrid, and opened to the public in . The reassembled gateways appear to have been placed in a different order than when originally erected. Compared to a photo of the original site, the gateway topped by a serpent flanked Templo de Debod in Egypt before relocation to Spain. sun appears not to have been the closest gateway to the temple proper. It constitutes one of the few works of ancient Egyptian architecture which can be seen outside Egypt and the only one of its kind in Spain. Temple of Debod References Dieter Arnold, Nigel Strudwick amp Sabine Gardiner, The Encyclopaedia of Ancient Egyptian Architecture, I.B. Tauris Publishers, . p. Dieter Arnold, Temples of the Last Pharaohs, Oxford University Press, . p. Arnold, Temples of the Last Pharaohs, p. http/ / digitalgallery. nypl. org/ nypldigital/ dgkeysearchdetail. cfmtrgamp strucIDamp imageIDamp wordcolidAamp samp notwordamp damp camp famp kamp lWordamp lFieldamp sScopeimagesamp sLevelamp sLabelTheMiddleEastinEarlyPrintsandPhotographsamp totalamp numamp imgsamp pNumamp posseemore External links Ayuntamiento de Madrid Templo de Debod http//www.munimadrid.es/templodebod/ Spanish th century travellers descriptions and prints of the Debod temple http//ascendingpassage.com/ NTheTempleofDabod.htm Buen Retiro Park The Jardines del Buen Retiro or Parque del Buen Retiro literally quotGardensquot or quotPark of the Pleasant Retreatquot, or simply El Retiro, is the largest park of the city of Madrid, capital of Spain. The park belonged to the Spanish Monarchy until the late th century, when it became a public park. Location Buen Retiro Park Parque del Buen Retiro is a large and popular .km acres park at the edge of the city center, very close to the Puerta de Alcal and not far from the Prado Museum. A magnificent park, filled with beautiful sculpture and monuments, galleries, a peaceful lake and host to a variety of events, it is one of Madrids premier attractions. The park is entirely surrounded by the presentday city. Monument to Alfonso XII History of the park and palace In , at the time of Isabella I r. the Jeronimos monastery was moved from an unsuitable location elsewhere to the present site of San Jeronimo el Real Church, and a new monastery built in Isabelline Gothic style. The royal family had a retreat built as part of the church. King Philip II r. moved the Spanish court to Madrid in . Philip had the Retiro enlarged by his architect Juan Bautista de Toledo, and formal avenues of trees were laid out. Paseo de la Argentina Buen Retiro Park The gardens were extended in the s, when Gaspar de Guzmn, CountDuke of Olivares, Philip IVs powerful favourite, gave the king several tracts of land in the vicinity for the Courts recreational use. Olivares determined to build, in a place that the king liked, a royal house which should be superior to those villas that Roman nobles had been setting up in the hilly outskirts of Rome during the previous century. Although this second royal residence was to be built in what were then outlying areas of Madrid, it was actually not far from the existing Alczar or fortress residence, and the location in a cool, wooded area proved to be ideal. In the s, under the supervision of architects Giovanni Battista Crescenzi and Alonso Carbonell, several building were erected in great haste, two of which are still standing the quotCasn del Buen Retiroquot which served as a ballroom, and the building that today houses the military museum, the Museo del Ejrcito, which includes the grand entrance hall, the quotSaln de Reinosquot Hall of Kingdoms, its wall decorated with paintings by Velzquez and Zurbarn and frescoes by Luca Giordano. The CountDuke of Olivares commissioned the park in the s, worked on by Cosimo Lotti, a garden designer who had worked under Bernardo Buontalenti on the layout of the Boboli Gardens for Cosimo I, Grand Duke of Tuscany. Water was a distinguishing trait of the garden from the outset the great pond, Estanque del Retiro, which served as the setting for mock naval battles and other aquatic displays, the great canal, the narrow channel, the chamfered or bellflower pond, created along with the chapels the basic layout of the gardens. Buen Retiro was described as quotThe world art wonder of the timequot, probably the last great creation of the Renaissance in Spain. Buen Retiro became the center of Habsburg court life at a time when Spain was the foremost power in the world. During the reigns of Philip IV and Charles II several magnificent plays were performed in the park for the royal family and the court. The gardens were neglected after the death of Philip IV in , but have been restored and changed on many occasions, notably after being opened to the public in and becoming the property of the municipality in . Crystal Palace Fountain of the Falling Angel detail, by Ricardo Bellver Monument to General Arsenio MartnezCampos Philip V ordered the creation of a parterre, the only Frenchstyle garden in the complex. During the reign of Ferdinand VI, Buen Retiro was the setting for magnificent Italian operas. Charles III saw to the beautification of its perimeter, replacing the old walls with elegant wroughtiron railings. Juan de Villanuevas Astronomical Observatory was built during the reign of Charles IV . Buen Retiro Park The Buen Retiro Palace was used until the era of Charles III. Most of the palace was destroyed during the Peninsular War with the First French Empire. The reign of Queen Isabella II saw profound changes in the quotRetiroquot. During the queens minority, the gardens enjoyed a particularly prosperous period, with the planting of shade and fruit trees, and previously unplanted areas like the quotCampo Grandequot, were landscaped as well. The gardens eventually passed to public ownership in , at the time of the overthrow of Queen Isabella. El Retiro gradually became the green heart of the city. At the beginning of the th century, the monument to Alfonso XII was erected next to the pond, designed by architect Jos Grases Riera. Countless statues, fountains and commemorative monuments have filled the park and converted it into an openair sculpture museum. The nineteenthirties and forties witnessed the creation of new gardens attributed to Chief Gardener Cecilio Rodriguez who designed and built the rose bed and the gardens that have been named to honor him. Rosaleda del Retiro Parque del Buen Retiro Features of the Park Close to the northern entrance of the park is the Estanque del Retiro quotRetiro Pondquot, a large artificial pond. Next to it is the monument to King Alfonso XII, featuring a semicircular colonnade and an equestrian statue of the monarch on the top of a tall central core. The Rosaleda rose garden. Among the many rose bushes of all kinds stands the Fountain of the Falling Angel, erected in , whose main sculpture El Angel Cado at the top is a work by Ricardo Bellver inspired by a passage from John Miltons Paradise Lost, which represents Lucifer falling from Heaven. It is claimed that this statue is the only known public monument of the devil. The few remaining buildings of the Buen Retiro Palace, including Casn del Buen Retiro and the Museo del Ejrcito, now house museum collections. The Casn has a collection of th and th century paintings, including art by the Spanish painter Joaqun Sorolla. The Ejrcito is one of Spains foremost Army museums and it houses quotLa Tizonaquot the sword of the famous Spanish warrior El Cid. There are displays of armor, a cross carried by Christopher Columbus on his sea voyage to the New World and other artifacts. Artificial mountain Casita del Pescador Buen Retiro Park Statue Since assuming its role as a public park the late th century, the quotParque del Retiroquot has been used as avenue for various international exhibitions. Several emblematic buildings have remained as testimony to such events, including the Minig building, popularly known as the Velzquez Palace by architect Ricardo Velzquez Bosco, and the Palacio de Cristal quotCrystal Palacequot, a glass pavilion inspired by The Crystal Palace in London, undoubtedly the gardens most extraordinary building. Built along with its artificial pond in by architect Ricardo Velzquez Bosco for the Philippine Islands Exhibitions, it was first used to display flower species indigenous to the islands. The landscapestyle gardens located in the former quotCampo Grandequot are also a reminder of the international exhibitions that have taken place here in the past. The Paseo de la Argentina, also popularly known as Paseo de las Estatuas quotStatue Walkquot, is decorated with some of the statues of kings from the Royal Palace from the Royal Palace, sculpted between and . There are now art galleries in the Crystal Palace, Palacio de Velzquez, and Casa de Vacas. In the Retiro Park is also the Forest of the Departed Bosque de los Ausentes, a memorial monument to commemorate the victims of the March Madrid attacks. Activities From late May through early October, every Sunday at midday, the Banda Sinfnica de Madrid gives free concerts from the bandstand in the park near the Calle dAlcala. Manuel Lillo Torregrosa composed Kiosko del Retiro to this bandstand. The Park also features an annual Book Fair. Around the lake, Retiro Pond, many puppet shows perform, and all manner of street performers and fortune tellers. Rowboats can be rented to paddle about the Estanque, and horsedrawn carriages are available. Buen Retiro Park Notes The creation of Buen Retiro is narrated in Jonathan Brown and J.H. Elliott, A Palace for a King the Buen Retiro and the Court of Philip IV, . Gardens Guide Buen Retiro http/ / www. gardenvisit. com/ garden/ parquedelbuenretiro Catlogo de la Exposicin Nacional de Bellas Artes quotCatalogue of the National Fine Arts Exhibitionquot, Madrid, , p. . Also mentioned, among others, by professor Carlos Reyero in his book Escultura, museo y estado en la Espaa del siglo XIX historia, significado y catlogo de la coleccin nacional de escultura moderna, , Alicante, , ISBN Christopher Webber May . quotBanda Sinfnica Municipal de Madridquot http/ / www. zarzuela. net/ ref/ reviews/ banda. htm. . quotOne of Madrids most pleasant summer traditions is that of band music in the Parque de el Retiro. The Banda Sinfnica de Madrid gather in the handsome bandstand close to the Calle dAlcala every Sunday lunchtime between late May and early October to present varied repertoire extending from Albniz and Granados through Shostakovich to zarzuela selections and popular pasodobles.quot External links Parque del Buen Retiro a Gardens Guide history http//www.gardenvisit.com/historytheory/ libraryonlineebooks/mlgotheinhistorygardenartdesign/buenretiroparkmadrid The parks entry in a Walking Tour of Madrid http//www.ctspanish.com/maps/retiro.htm Music Video filmed mainly in front of Palacio Velazquez of the Retiro Park http//www.youtube.com/ watchvJyALEypgY Sabatini Gardens The Sabatini Gardens in Spanish Jardines de Sabatini are part of the Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain, and were opened to the public by King Juan Carlos I in . They honor the name of Francesco Sabatini , an Italian architect of the th century who designed, among other works at the palace, the royal stables of the palace, previously located at this sight. In , clearing of the stable buildings was begun, and construction Sabatini Gardens, with the Royal Palace. of the gardens begun, which were only completed in the late s. The gardens have a formal Neoclassic style, consisting of wellsheared hedges, in symmetric geometrical patterns, adorned with a pool, statues and fountains, with trees also disposed in a symmetrical geometric shape. The statues are those of Spanish kings, not intended originally to even grace a garden, but originally crowding the Sabatini Gardens adjacent palace. The tranquil array is a peaceful corner from which to view the palace. External links Picture of Sabatini Gardens The Quirky History of the Sabatini Gardens illustrated article Statue of Alfonso VI of Castile at the Sabatini Gardens F. Corral, . References http/ / www. traveladventures. org/ continents/ europe/ madridparks. shtml http/ / www. sitebits. com/ / sabatinigardenschillingwithkings. html Real Jardn Botnico de Madrid The Real Jardn Botnico de Madrid Spanish for Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid is an hectare acre botanical garden located at Plaza de Murillo, next to the Prado Museum in Madrid Spain. The garden was founded on October , , by King Ferdinand VI, and installed in the Orchard of Migas Calientes, near what today is called Puerta de Hierro, on the banks of the Manzanares River. It contained more than , plants collected by Jos Quer y Martnez, botanist and surgeon. In King Charles III ordered the garden moved to its current Villanueva Pavilion, with statue of Carl Linnaeus in front location on the Paseo del Prado, with design by architects Francesco Sabatini and Juan de Villanueva that organized the garden into three tiered terraces, arranging plants according to the method of Linnaeus. This new site opened in . Its mission was not only to exhibit plants, but also to teach botany, promote expeditions for the discovery of new plant species and classify them. The garden was greatly augmented by a collection of , plants brought to Spain by Alessandro Malaspina in . Real Jardn Botnico de Madrid The Spanish War of Independence in caused the garden to be abandoned, but in director Mariano de la Paz Gralls y de la Aguera revived it with a new greenhouse and refurbishment of the upper terrace. Under his leadership a zoo was created in the garden, but subsequently relocated to the Parque del Buen Retiro. Between and the garden suffered heavy losses, first losing hectares .acres to the Ministry of Agriculture in , then losing trees in to a cyclone. Since the garden has been dependent on the Spanish National Research Council CSIC and in was declared Artistic Garden. In , after decades of hardship and neglect, the garden was closed to the public for restoration work to its original plan. It reopened in . Todays garden Todays garden is divided into three major outdoor sections and two greenhouses. Total collections include about , plants and flowers, and , trees. It also contains a substantial herbarium. Terraza de los Cuadros collections of ornamental plants, medicinal, aromatic, endemic and orchard gathered around a small fountain. All are planted in boxedged plots. At its southern end is a rock garden. Terraza de las Escuelas Botnicas a taxonomic collection of plants, ordered phylogenetically and set within plots about small fountains. Terraza del Plano de la Flor a diverse collection of trees and shrubs, as designed in the midnineteenth century in the romantic English style. It contains the Villanueva Pavilion, built in as a greenhouse, and a pond with bust of Carl Linnaeus. Statue of Jos Quer y Martnez in the gardens Royal Botanical Garden, Madrid The gardens two greenhouses are divided into four rooms. The Gralls greenhouse dates from the nineteenth century and exhibits tropical plants and bryophytes. The newer structure supports three climates tropical, temperate, and desert. The herbarium was established in , and now contains about a million specimens from around the world organized into two collections phanerogams and cryptogams. External links The RJBM official website in English An, C., S. Castroviejo, A. Fernndez Alba, Real Jardn Botnico de Madrid, Pabelln de Invernculos, . Colmeiro y Penido, Miguel, Bosquejo histrico y estadstico del Jardn Botnico de Madrid, . El Jardn botnico de Madrid. Un paseo guiado / Botanic Garden of Madrid. A guided walk, Madrid, . El Real Jardn Botnico de Madrid Ciencia, Coleccin y Escuela, Real Jardn Botnico, Madrid, . Alessandro Malaspina, Andrew David, Felipe FernandezArmesto, The Malaspina Expedition, , Hakluyt Society, . Real Jardn Botnico de Madrid References http/ / www. rjb. csic. es/ jardinbotanico/ jardin/ lenen El Pardo El Pardo Ward of Madrid The Royal Palace of El Pardo Country Aut. community Municipality District Population Elevation Postal code Spain Madrid Madrid FuencarralEl Pardo , m El Pardo is a ward barrio of Madrid belonging to the district of FuencarralEl Pardo. As of its population was of , . El Pardo History The ward was first mentioned in and still it was an autonomous municipality of the Community of Madrid. One of the most notable buildings is the quotRoyal Palace of El Pardoquot, ordered by King Henry III of Castile and built in . It was the first construction built in the area . The Palace of El Pardo was the residence of General Franco when he was head of the Spanish State. Geography El Pardo is located in the northern suburb of Madrid, close to the Manzanares river. Part of its area is covered by a forest named Monte de El Pardo El Pardo Mountain. The ward contains a neighbourhood named Mingorrubio. Photogallery The Manzanares at Monte de El Pardo Panoramic view of the Monte de El Pardo The gardens of the Quinta del Duque del Arco References Spanish Population statistics of Madrid http/ / www. munimadrid. es/ UnidadesDescentralizadas/ UDCEstadistica/ Publicaciones/ DemograPobla/ CifrasPoblacion/ Series/ Ficheros/ DistritosYbarrios/ datos. xls xls Spanish Infos about the Royal Palace on www.patrimonionacional.es http/ / www. patrimonionacional. es/ Home/ PalaciosReales/ PalacioRealdeElPardo. aspx External links Spanish Bibliography about El Pardo http//www.zotero.org/groups/elpardo Places to Go Outside Madrid Toledo, Spain Toledo City Toledo at sunset The Alczar on the left and Cathedral on the right dominate the skyline Flag Coat of arms Toledo Coordinates N W Country Autonomous Community Province Comarca Partido judicial Settled Government Mayor Emiliano GarcaPage Snchez PSOE Spain CastileLa Mancha Toledo Toledo Toledo ca. th Century B.C. Toledo, Spain Area Land Elevation Population INE Total Postcode Area codes Twin Cities Toledo Nara Agen Safed Veliko Tarnovo Aachen Corpus Christi Website USA Japan France Israel Bulgaria Germany USA http/ / www. aytotoledo. org/ .km.sqmi m ft Toledo Latin Toletum, Arabic ulayulah is a municipality located in central Spain, km south of Madrid. It is the capital of the province of Toledo. It is also the capital of autonomous community of CastileLa Mancha. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in for its extensive cultural and monumental heritage as one of the former capitals of the Spanish Empire and place of coexistence of Christian, Jewish and Muslim cultures, as well as the place where harsh religious persecutions were held against the Jews. Many famous people and artists were born or lived in Toledo, including AlZarqali, Garcilaso de la Vega, Eleanor of Toledo, Alfonso X and El Greco. It was also the place of important historic events such as the Visigothic Councils of Toledo. As of , the city has a population of , and an area of .km . square miles. History Having been populated since the Bronze Age, Toledo Toletum in Latin grew in importance during Roman times, being a main commercial and administrative centre in the Roman province of Tarraconensis. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Toledo served as the capital city of Visigothic Spain, beginning with Liuvigild Leovigild, and was the capital of Spain until the Moors conquered Iberia in the th century. Under the Caliphate of Cordoba, Toledo enjoyed a golden age it became a very large cosmopolitan city with an overwhelming Muladi population. This extensive period is known as La Convivencia, i.e. the coexistence of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Under Arab rule, Toledo was called Tulaytulah. After the fall of the Caliphate, Toledo was the capital city of one of the richest Taifas of AlAndalus. Its population was Puerta del Sol. overwhelmingly Muladi, and, because of its central location in the Iberian Peninsula, Toledo took a central position in the struggles between the Muslim and Christian rulers of northern Spain. The conquest of Toledo by Alfonso VI of Castile marked the first time a major city in AlAndalus had fallen to Christian forces it served to sharpen the religious aspect of the Christian reconquest. Toledo, Spain On May , , Alfonso VI of Castile took Toledo and established direct personal control over the Moorish city from which he had been exacting tribute, ending the medieval Taifas Kingdom of Toledo. This was the first concrete step taken by the combined kingdom of LeonCastile in the Reconquista by Christian forces. After Castilian conquest, Toledo continued to be a major cultural centre its Arab libraries were not pillaged, and a tagteam translation centre was established in which books in Arabic would be translated from Arabic or Hebrew to Spanish by Arab and Jewish Remains of Roman circus at Toledo. scholars, and from Spanish to Latin by Castilian scholars, thus letting longlost knowledge spread through Christian Europe again. For some time during the th century, Toledo served as the capital city of Castile, and the city flourished. However, soon enough the Spanish court was moved, first to Valladolid and then to Madrid, thus letting the citys importance dwindle until the late th century, when it became the capital of the autonomous community of CastileLa Mancha. Nevertheless, the economic decline of the city helped to preserve its cultural and architectural heritage. Today, because of this rich heritage, Toledo is one of Spains foremost cities, receiving thousands of visitors yearly. Historical populations Year Pop. . . . . Toledos Alczar Arabicized Latin word for palacecastle became renowned in the th and th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces. Economy The metalworking industry has historically been Toledos economic base, with a great tradition in the manufacture of swords and knives and a significant production of razor blades, medical devices and electrical products. Soap and toothpaste manufacture, flour milling, glass and ceramics have also been important. Zocodover square after the famous Corpus Christi festivities. Toledo, Spain According to the Statistical Institute of CastillaLa Mancha, in the distribution of employment by sectors of occupation was as follows . of the population engaged in the services, . in construction, . in industry and . in agriculture and livestock. The Museum Santa Cruz. The manufacture of swords in the city of Toledo goes back to Roman times, but it was under Moorish rule and during the Reconquista that Toledo and its guild of swordmakers played a key role. Between the th and th centuries the Toledo swordmaking industry enjoyed a great boom, to the point where its products came to be regarded as the best in Europe. Swords and daggers were made by individual craftsmen, although the swordmakers guild oversaw their quality. In the late th and early th century production began to decline, prompting the creation of the Royal Arms Factory in by order of King Carlos III. The Royal Factory brought together all the The Puerta de Bisagra. swordmakers guilds of the city and it was located in the former mint. In , recognizing the need to expand the space, Carlos III commissioned the architect Sabatini to construct a new building on the outskirts of the city. This was the beginning of several phases of expansion. Its importance was such that it eventually developed into a city within the city of Toledo. Toledo, Spain In the th century, the production of knives and swords for the army was reduced to cavalry weapons only, and after the Spanish Civil War, to the supply of swords to the officers and NCOs of the various military units. Following the closure of the factory in the s, the building was renovated to house the campus of the Technological University of CastillaLa Mancha in Toledo. Unemployment In the last decade, unemployment in absolute terms has remained fairly stable in the city of Toledo, but in Historical swords and souvenirs of Toledo this figure increased significantly nearly compared to , with the number of unemployed rising from , to , figures at March each year, according to the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla La Mancha. Of this , one third of the increase took place in the first quarter of , with , unemployed in December rising to , in March . By gender men are more affected , unemployed than women ,, while the age group most affected is between and years of age, with unemployed. From the standpoint of the professional activity of the unemployed, the vast majority of registered unemployed in the city of Toledo, with of the total, were in the services sector, corroborating the importance of the tertiary sector in the citys economy. Distribution of unemployed by sector March Sector Agriculture and fisheries Industry Construction Services No previous job Unemployed . . . , . . According to other statistics from the same source, almost half the unemployed in the city of Toledo , persons are among those whose education does not go beyond the compulsory secondary level. However, there are groups whose level of studies is such that they have not been registered as unemployed, such as those who have completed class professional training, or those with virtually nonexistent unemployment rates less than ., which is the case of unemployed with high school degrees or professional expertise. The largest demographic of the unemployed represents those who have no qualifications .. Culture The old city is located on a mountaintop with a degree view, surrounded on three sides by a bend in the Tagus River, and contains many historical sites, including the Alczar, the cathedral the primate church of Spain, and the Zocodover, a central market place. From the th century to the th century about thirty synods were held at Toledo. The earliest, directed against Priscillian, assembled in . At the synod of the Visigothic King Reccared declared his conversion from Arianism the synod of decreed uniformity of liturgy throughout the Visigothic kingdom and took stringent measures against baptized Jews who had relapsed into their former faith. Other councils forbade circumcision, Jewish rites and observance of the A vista de Toledo the city of Toledo as depicted in the Codex Vigilanus in . Sabbath and festivals. Throughout the seventh century, Jews were flogged, executed, had their property confiscated, were subjected to ruinous taxes, forbidden to trade and, at times, dragged to the baptismal font. The council of Toledo, Spain assured to the archbishop of Toledo the primacy of Spain. At Guadamur, very close to Toledo, was dug in the Treasure of Guarrazar, the best example of Visigothic art in Spain. As nearly one hundred early canons of Toledo found a place in the Decretum Gratiani, they exerted an important influence on the development of ecclesiastical law. The synod of concerned itself with the execution of the decrees of the Council of Trent and the last council held at Toledo, , was guided in detail by Philip II. Toledo was famed for religious tolerance and had large communities of Vista de Toledo the View of Toledo by resident Muslims and Jews until they were expelled from Spain in Jews El Greco c. . and Muslims. Todays city contains the religious monuments the Synagogue of Santa Mara la Blanca, the Synagogue of El Transito, Mosque of Cristo de la Luz and the church of San Sebastin dating from before the expulsion, still maintained in good condition. Among Ladinospeaking Sephardi Jews, in their various diasporas, the family name Toledano is still prevalentindicating an ancestry traced back to this city the name is also attested among nonJews in various Spanishspeaking countries. In the th century, Toledo was a major cultural center under the guidance of Alfonso X, called quotEl Sabioquot quotthe Wisequot for his love of learning. The Toledo School of Translators, that had commenced under Archbishop Raymond of Toledo, continued to bring vast stores of knowledge to Europe by rendering great academic and philosophical works in Arabic into Latin. The Palacio de Galiana, built in the Mudjar style, is one of the monuments that remain from that period. The Cathedral of Toledo Catedral de Toledo was built between and modeled after the Bourges Cathedral, though it also combines some characteristics of the Mudjar style. It is remarkable for its incorporation of light and features the Baroque altar called El Transparente, several stories high, with fantastic figures of stucco, paintings, bronze castings, and multiple colors of marble, a masterpiece of medieval mixed media by Narciso Tom topped by the daily effect for just a few minutes of a shaft of light from which this feature of the cathedral derives its name. Two notable bridges secured access to Toledo across the Tajo, the Alcntara bridge and the later built San Martn bridge. The Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes is a Franciscan monastery, built , in a remarkable combination of GothicSpanishFlemish style with Mudjar ornamentation. Toledo was home to El Greco for the latter part of his life, and is the subject of some of his most famous paintings, including The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, exhibited in the Church of Santo Tom. Toledo was famed for its production of iron and especially of swords and the city is still a center for the manufacture of knives and other steel implements. When Philip II moved the royal court from Toledo to Madrid in , the old city went into a slow decline from which it never recovered. Toledo, Spain Gastronomy The marzipan of Toledo is considered one of its finest food products. Toledos cuisine is the cuisine Castillarooted in its traditions and is closely linked to hunting and grazing. A good number of recipes are the result of the combination of Moorish and Christian influences. Among his specialties include the lamb roast or stew, as cuchifrito, and beans with partridge or stewed partridge, the carcamusas, the crumbs, the porridge Mancha and the tortilla to the lean. Two of the foods that have brought fame to the city of Toledo are the Manchego cheese and marzipan, which has a denomination of origin itself, the marzipan of Toledo. Holidays quotBomba Toledanaquot, typical tapa from Toledo. Virgen del Valle This pilgrimage is celebrated on May at the Ermita de la Virgen del Valle, with a concentration popular holiday in that place. Easter Declared of National Tourist Interest, is held in spring with various processions, highlighting those that take place on Good Friday, and religious and cultural events. Since the Civil War, most of the steps were burned or destroyed, so it had to create new steps or using images from other churches and convents Toledo. Being a city Toledo Castile, Holy Week is characterized as austere and introspective, as well as beauty, due in part to the beautiful framework in which it takes place Toledo. Many people take advantage of the Easter break to visit the monastery A restaurant in the streets of Toledo. churches that are only open to the general public at this time of year. Corpus Christi Feast declared International Tourist Interest. Its origins lie in the thirteenth century and is probably the most beautiful Corpus Christi there. The processional cortege travels around two kilometers of streets and richly decorated awnings. In recent years, following the transfer of the traditional holiday Thursday present Sunday, was chosen to conduct two processions, one each of these days, with certain differences in members and protocol between them. Virgen del Sagrario On August they celebrate the festival in honor of the Virgen del Sagrario. Procession is held inside the Cathedral and drinking water of the Virgin in jars. Apart from these festivals should be noted that patterns of Toledo are San Ildefonso, Toledo Visigoth bishop whose feast day is January . Santa Leocadia, virgin and martyr of Roman Hispania, which falls on December . Toledo, Spain Main sights Historic City of Toledo UNESCO World Heritage Site Old city of Toledo StateParty Type Criteria Reference Region Spain Cultural i, ii, iii, iv Europe Inscription history Inscription th Session Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. Region as classified by UNESCO. The city of Toledo was declared a HistoricArtistic Site in , UNESCO later given the title of World Heritage in . Sights include Castillo de San Servando. Medieval castle near the banks of the Tagus river and the Infantry Academy. The Gothic Cathedral, dating from the thirteenth century. Inside there is the Clear from Narciso Tome, in Baroque. Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes, in Elizabethan Gothic style th century The Renaissance MuseoHospital de Santa Cruz th century Museo de El Greco. Housemuseum designed as a recreation of the artists home, which was lost centuries ago. It houses several important paintings. Santa Mara la Blanca, the oldest synagogue building in Europe still standing, now owned by the Catholic Church. Synagogue de el Transito, in the Jewish Quarter. It is home to the Sephardic Museum. Hospital de Tavera Museum Duque de Lerma. Renaissance style, dates from the sixteenth century. Influenced the layout of El Escorial. Church of Santiago del Arrabal, in Mudjar style. Iglesia de Santo Tome. Mudejar style, the fourteenth century, houses the famous Burial of Count Orgaz, by El Greco. El Cristo de la Luz, a small mosqueoratory built in , later extended with Mudejar apse for conversion into a church. Galiana Palace th century, in Mudejar style. Torneras Mosque th century. Toledo, Spain Alcazar fortress th century, located in the highest part of town, overlooking the city. From it houses the collection of the Army Museum. Puerta de Bisagra Nueva. The main entrance and face of Toledo. Puerta de Bisagra The main entrance to the city in Andalusian times. Puerta del Sol. Mudejar style and built by the Knights Hospitallers in the fourteenth century. Puerta Bab alMardum. The oldest city gate of Toledo. New Gate of Hinge, by Alonso de Covarrubias th century, based on Arabic structures. Old door hinge or Puerta de Alfonso VI. Cambrn gate, of Muslimth century origin. San Romn Museum of the Councils and Visigoth culture. Ermita del Cristo de la Vega, in Mudjar style th century. Alcntara bridge, Roman bridge across the Tagus Puente de San Martin, medieval bridge across the Tagus. To mark the fourth centenary of the publication of the first part of Don Quixote, the Council of Communities of CastileLa Mancha designed a series of routes through the region crossing the various points in the novel are cited. Is known as the Route of Don Quixote and two of pathways designed, sections and , are based in Toledo those linking the city with La Mancha Castile and Montes de Toledo exploiting the natural route which passes through the Cigarrales and heads to Cobisa, Nambroca Burguillos of Toledo where he takes the Camino Real from Sevilla to suddenly turn towards Mascaraque Almonacid de Toledo, deep into their surroundings, near Mora, in La Mancha. This stretch MascaraqueToledo of the Route of Don Quixote has recently been included in an official way on the Camino de Santiago in Levantine branch with origins in Cartagena, Alicante and Valencia, as both routes share declared European Cultural Route route on this stretch . Infrastructure Toledo has since long been obligatory step in the center of the peninsula. The roads leading to historic Toledo are still used and in many cases have provided the basis to existing roads leading into the city. Roads From Toledo part of N, which links this city with Cuenca by Ocaa and Tarancn. It is currently in the process of transformation in the future A motorway Castilla La Mancha, which will link Maqueda where it joins the motorway Extremadura, Toledo, Ocaa where it attaches to the Motorway of Andalusia, Tarancn where connects with the motorway Levante, Cuenca and Teruel. The old National Road MadridToledoCiudad Real was transformed in the late s in the current A as a result of splitting and deleting the path that the various crossings counted Illescas, Yuncos, etc.. . Cambrn Gate The split path can take km south of Toledo, in effect Ciudad Real, where it continues as conventional road. At this point, the A connects with the Highway of the Vineyard that reaches Tomelloso. It is planned to extend the A, by a toll road, to Ciudad Real and Jan. In the early twentyfirst century was built, in order to decongest the access of Madrid, the toll motorway AP. Toledo, Spain Another way of State Highway Network that Toledo is part of the N, ToledoMaqueda vila Adanero. Part of the route of this road will be replaced by that of the aforementioned Highway of Castilla La Mancha. In addition to these roads, from Toledo depart several regional and provinciallevel linking the capital with the regions of Montes de Toledo, La Jara and La Mancha. Rail In the midnineteenth century Toledo was one of the first Spanish cities to receive rail service, being attached to the Madrid Aranjuez line which was inaugurated by Elizabeth II on June of . The current station style NeoMudjar, was inaugurated on April of and is a remarkably beautiful building, especially the paneling in the main hall of the same. With several ups and downs in terms of technical equipment and services this is the line that served the city until the early twentyfirst century on July of the last conventional train service between the two capitals ended and work began on the highspeed link , Madrid Toledo, which entered service on November of , thanks to which travel time to Madrid has been reduced to just under minutes. Toledo Railway Station Health In the early s of the twentieth century began the construction of the Residence Health Social Security quotVirgen de la Saludquot. The original building still remains in use, although successive extensions were added maternity, outpatient clinics, operating rooms, etc.. Into the existing complex. The complex was also extended to move the clinic to a new nearby building, now converted into Specialty Center San Ildefonso. On October of inaugurated the National Hospital of Paraplegics who becomes the center of reference, both nationally and internationally, in the treatment of these lesions. Also carries out a major work of social integration of their patients. Hospital of Tavera built between . The transfer of powers from the state health at the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla La Mancha will give new impetus to the health infrastructure, manifested in with the commencement of construction of the new General Hospital of Toledo in the Santa Mary Benquerencia. Also have been provided to the different parts of the relevant health centers. In the Toledo Hospital Complex is also integrated Geriatric Hospital Virgen del Valle, a result of reform and modernization of old tuberculosis hospital built in the mid twentieth century. The center is located outside the city, Toledo, Spain near the Parador Nacional de Turismo Conde de Orgaz. With regard to private health, at present the city of Toledo has several centers Hospital de las Tres Culturas, Clnica Nuestra Seora del Rosario, and so on. Sport The city of Toledo suffered from a shortage of sports facilities. Much of this problem was resolved when the Central School of Physical Education of Army moved its headquarters to the premises of the Academy of Infantry. In the s, the city council took over the old facilities quotN quot W / ., . of the military center, which include in Today an athletics track, Olympic swimming pool and an indoor sports hall, from the former military installations, and numerous outdoor courts built in the area of the former runway of application, having been demolished and the old gym complex pools indoor and outdoor. Besides these facilities, the city of Toledo has covered sports pavilion in the districts of Santa Maria de Benquerencia, Santa Barbara, San Anton Complejo Deportivo quotLeaping Horsequot outdoor pools in sugar, Palomarejos, Santa Maria de Benquerencia, Santa Barbara, Santa Teresa and indoor swimming pools in the gardens of the Alcazar old town, St. Mary of Benquerencia and St. Anton. Toledo has a soccer team, the Club Deportivo Toledo, which returns in to the Second Division B, after Third season. The club plays its matches in the municipal field Leaping Horse, opened in . The team he played for seasons in second division and reached the promotion play with Real Valladolid for promotion to First Division in /, but was defeated on aggregate . They have been part of the player and Abel Resino, Luis Garcia, Rufete or Casquero. Toledo also has teams of handball. The Toledo Handball, after years in the Division de Honor B, start the season as ASOBAL new club for the first time in its history. A refurbished town hall quotJavier Lozano Cid , with capacity for around , spectators, is its new headquarters. Moreover, the city has two other Division II team in the National, the Toledo Handball LbaroB and Club Deportivo Amibal. Toledo has two basketball teams the CIS Toledo, with a long history that has gone through ups and downs in both regional and in national leagues EBA and has just promoted to st Autonomic, and CB polygon , in Currently the most representative, whose team has promoted male, years after leaving, to EBA League to start the / season. This club based in the Santa Maria de Benquerencua has one of the largest quarries of CastillaLa Mancha. Another sport representative of the Imperial City is athletics. This striking sport has since April with the Toledo Athletic Club, that is characterized by its actions, mainly in crosscountry, where he managed a large number of medals in the championships team Spains specialty, in addition to their combined male and female military in the late s in the st division league national track. Among the athletes who have passed through its lanes are great athletes as Julio Rey, Roberto Parra, Chema Martinez and Julia Lobato. Cycling, meanwhile, after the mythical victory in the Tour de France in by Federico Bahamontes, The Eagle of Toledo, has been one of the sports with more followers in the city, although, at present, no school despite having a velodrome in the Santa Maria de Benquerencia. Other leading professional cyclists in the city have been Nemesio Jimnez Mexico Olympic and Angel de las Heras. The FS and Volleyball Toledo Toledo Association Toledo complete representation in the National League of First and Second Division, after a brief journey in Fantasy, respectively, while the Toledo Rugby Club, with many noisy fans, is immersed in the League Madrids Primera Liga. Club Deportivo Toledo Toledo, Spain At the individual level, the swimmer Javier Noriega and Julio Rey marathon athletes are more representative of the city, both in Athens Olympics and Beijing , in recent years. Rey, Spanish current marathon record holder, with h. , announced his retirement in October . Toledo Other sports are famous footballers Roberto Fresnedoso, Miguel Angel Ruiz, Luis Laguna, Pedro Pablo Braojos now coach and Luis Garcia, the latter serving goalkeeper on the CD Tenerife, and the indoor football players international Javier Lorentechampion Antonio Adeva Europe and World champion, not forgetting the former Spain coach Javier Lozano Cid world champion. In handball, highlighted in the goalkeepers . ASOBAL Fermin Ballesteros Toledo Handball Lbaro and Gonzalo PerezVargas FC Barcelona. Media Various local and provincial newspapers are published in the city. In addition, national newspapers such as the daily ABC publish unique local editions. Among the local newspapers that should be highlighted are the subscriptionbased La Tribuna de Toledo, and Toledo Day, as well as the free Global Castilla la Mancha and Toledo News. The general information weekly magazines Echoes and Here are also published. There is also local media in television, radio and Internet. The regional public television headquarters are in Toledo where CastillaLa Mancha TV resides. In addition, there are six local television stations, as well as local fare Localia, the diocesan channel TVPopular, Teletoledo, Regional Channel News and Tribune Television. For radio stations, there is the dean of radio Radio Toledo Onda Cero, as well as COPE, Cadena SER, RNE, RCM and Radio Here, and the local fare Onda Polygon and the diocesan station Radio Santa Maria. Within the digital and social media, Wave Toledo, Toledo Magic, Toledo Digital, and La Cerca. Gallery Alczar of Toledo A view across the river of the old wall of Toledo August Zocodover square in Toledo. Alcntara bridge Puerta del Cambrn Santa Maria la Blanca Synagogue Roofs and buildings Puerta del Sol Toledo, Spain Shopping street Craft shop El Transito Synagogue International relations Twin towns Sister cities Toledo is twinned with Agen, France, since June , Aachen, Germany, since October , Corpus Christi, United States, since September , Damascus, Syria, since April , Guanajuato, Mexico, since October , Havana, Cuba, since Nara, Japan, since September , Safed, Israel, since September , Toledo, United States, since Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria, March , References needed This articleincorporates text from a publication now in the public domainSmith, William, ed. quotarticle name quot. Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London John Murray. Notes quotEconoma de Toledoquot http/ / www. grupoteresa. com/ modules. phpnameGuiaTuristicaamp filepueblosamp idamp page. . Retrieved July . quotInstituto de Estadstica de CastillaLa Mancha Ficha municipalquot http/ / www. ies. jccm. es/ Fichasmunicipales/ Fichas/ . pdf. . Retrieved July . quotlacerca.com Las espadas forjadas en Toledo se remontan a la poca romanaquot http/ / www. lacerca. com/ noticias/ lasespadasforjadastoledoseremontanepocaromana. html. . Retrieved July . quotInstituto de Estadstica de la Junta de Comunidades de CastillaLa Mancha Datos estadsticos de Toledo Todos los Informes gt Informes por Temas gt Estadsticas Municipales gt Mercado de Trabajoquot http/ / difusion. ies. jccm. es/ wds/ ReportFolders/ ReportFolders. aspx. . Retrieved April . S. Katz, The Jews in the Visigothic Kingdoms of Spain and Gaul, Cambridge . Cited in Paul Johnson writer, A History of the Jews, p. http/ / whc. unesco. org/ en/ list/ http/ / whc. unesco. org/ en/ list http/ / whc. unesco. org/ en/ list/ searchamp searchbycountryamp typeamp mediaamp regionamp orderregion quotSister Citiesquot http/ / www. toledoturismo. com/ turismo/ contenido/ mastoledo/ toledohistoria/ ciudadeshermanadas. aspx. Toledo Turismo. Patronato Municipal de Turismo. . Retrieved . Toledo, Spain External links Municipality http//www.aytotoledo.org/ Exhibit on Toledo, Ohio Sister City Agreement http//www.toledosattic.org/details.aspdid Photography of Toledo by Antony Marsh http//www.markcundy.co.uk/antonymarshphotography/Toledo. html http//historiadefermosa.com quotLa Historia de Fermosaquot Abraham S. Marrache, Hebraica Ediciones , a historical novel in Spanish about the love affair in between King Alfonso VIII of Castile and the young Toledan Jewess, Fermosa. Sunset in Toledo http//acheret.co.il/en/cmdarticles.ampactreadampid, Eretz Acheret http// www.acheret.co.il/en Magazine Legends of Toledo http//www.leyendasdetoledo.com/ Free Audio Guide of Toledo ES/EN http//www.madshuttle.com/ El Escorial El Escorial El Real Monasterio de El Escorial A distant view of El Real Monasterio de El Escorial Location Coordinates Architect Governing body San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain .N .W Juan Bautista de Toledo Ministry of the Presidency UNESCO World Heritage Site Official name Monastery and Site of the Escorial, Madrid Type Criteria Designated Reference State Party Region Cultural i, ii, iv th session Spain Europe and North America Spanish Property of Cultural Interest Official name Monasterio de San Lorenzo Type Criteria Designated Reference Real property Monument June R.I. Location of El Escorial within Madrid El Escorial El Escorial is a historical residence of the king of Spain, in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, about kilometres miles northwest of the capital, Madrid, in Spain. It is one of the Spanish royal sites and functions as a monastery, royal palace, museum, and school. El Escorial comprises two architectural complexes of great historical and cultural significance El Real Monasterio de El Escorial itself and La Granjilla de La Fresneda, a royal hunting lodge and monastic retreat about five kilometres away. These sites have a dual nature that is to say, during the th and th centuries, they were places in which the temporal power of the Spanish monarchy and the ecclesiastical predominance of the Roman Catholic religion in Spain found a common architectural manifestation. El Escorial was, at once, a monastery and a Spanish royal palace. Originally a property of the Hieronymite monks, it is now a monastery of the Order of Saint Augustine. Philip II of Spain, reacting to the Protestant Reformation sweeping through Europe during the th century, devoted much of his lengthy reign and much of his seemingly inexhaustible supply of New World gold to stemming the Protestant tide. His protracted efforts were, in the long run, partly successful however, the same counterreformational impulse had a much more benign expression thirty years earlier in Philips decision to build the complex at El Escorial. Philip engaged the Spanish architect, Juan Bautista de Toledo, to be his collaborator in the design of El Escorial. Juan Bautista had spent the greater part of his career in Rome, where he had worked on the basilica of St. Peters, and in Naples, where he had served the kings viceroy, whose recommendation brought him to the kings attention. Philip appointed him architectroyal in , and together they designed El Escorial as a monument to Spains role as a center of the Christian world. Faade of the Monastery of El Escorial On November , , UNESCO declared The Royal Site of San Lorenzo of El Escorial a World Heritage Site. It is an extremely popular tourist attraction, often visited by daytrippers from Madrid more than , visitors come to El Escorial every year. Design and conception El Escorial is situated at the foot of Mt. Abantos in the Sierra de Guadarrama. It is a bleak, semiforested, windswept place that owes its name to nearby piles of slag or tailings, called scoria, the detritus of longplayedout iron mines in the Guadarrama. This austere location, hardly an obvious choice for the site of a royal palace, was chosen by King Philip II of Spain, and it was he who ordained the building of a grand edifice here to commemorate the Spanish victory at the Battle of St. Quentin in Picardy against Henry II, king of France. He also intended the complex to serve as a necropolis for the interment of the remains of his parents, Charles I and Isabella of Portugal, himself, and his descendants. In addition, Philip envisioned El Escorial as a center for studies in aid of the CounterReformation cause. The buildings cornerstone was laid on April , . The design and construction were overseen by Juan Bautista de Toledo, who did not live to see the completion of the project. With Toledos death in , direction passed to his apprentice, Juan de Herrera, under whom the building was completed in , in less than years. El Escorial Since then, El Escorial has been the burial site for most of the Spanish kings of the last five centuries, Bourbons as well as Habsburgs. The Royal Pantheon contains the tombs of the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V who ruled Spain as King Charles I, Philip II, Philip III, Philip IV, Charles II, Louis I, Charles III, Charles IV, Ferdinand VII, Isabella II, Alfonso XII, and Alfonso XIII. Two Bourbon kings, Philip V who reigned from to and Ferdinand VI , as well as King Amadeus , are not buried in the monastery. The floor plan of the building is in the form of a gridiron. The traditional belief is that this design was chosen in honor of St. Lawrence, who, in the third century AD, was martyred by being roasted to death on a grill. St. Lawrences feast day is August , the same date as the Battle of St. Quentin. El Escorial floor plan, based on the floorplan of Solomons Temple. In fact, however, the origin of the buildings layout is quite controversial. The grilllike shape, which did not fully emerge until Herrera eliminated from the original conception the six interior towers of the facade, was, by no means, unique to El Escorial. Other buildings had been constructed with interior courtyards fronting on churches or chapels Kings College, Cambridge, dating from , is one such example the old Ospedale Maggiore, Milans first hospital, begun in by Antonio Filarete, is another gridlike building with interior courtyards. In fact, palaces of this approximate design were commonplace in the Byzantine and Arab world. Strikingly similar to El Escorial is the layout of the Alczar of Seville and the design of the Alhambra at Granada where, as at El Escorial, two courtyards in succession separate the main portal of the complex from a fullyenclosed place of worship. Nonetheless, the most persuasive theory for the origin of the floor plan is that it is based on descriptions of the Temple of Solomon by the JudeoRoman historian, Flavius Josephus a portico followed by a courtyard open to the sky, followed by a second portico and a second El Escorial was constructed from a plan based on the descriptions of Solomons courtyard, all flanked by arcades and temple. enclosed passageways, leading to the quotholy of holiesquot. Statues of David and Solomon on either side of the entrance to the basilica of El Escorial lend further weight to the theory that this is the true origin of the design. A more personal connection can be drawn between the Davidwarrior figure, representing Charles V, and his son, the stolid and solomonically prudent Philip II. Echoing the same theme, a fresco in the center of El Escorials library, a reminder of Solomons legendary wisdom, affirms Philips preoccupation with the great Jewish king, his thoughtful and logical character, and his extraordinary monumental temple. The TempleofSolomon design, if indeed it was the basis for El Escorial, was extensively modified to accommodate the additional functions and purposes Philip II intended the building to serve. Beyond being a monastery, El Escorial is also a pantheon, a basilica, a convent, a school, a library, and a royal palace. All these functional demands resulted in a doubling of the buildings size from the time of its original conception. Built primarily from locallyquarried gray granite, square and sparselyornamented, El Escorial is austere, even forbidding, in its outward appearance, seemingly more like a fortress than a monastery or palace. It takes the form of a gigantic quadrangle, approximately m by m, which encloses a series of intersecting passageways and El Escorial courtyards and chambers. At each of the four corners is a square tower surmounted by a spire, and, near the center of the complex and taller than the rest rise the pointed belfries and round dome of the basilica. Philips instructions to Toledo were simple and clear, directing that the architects should produce quotsimplicity in the construction, severity in the whole, nobility without arrogance, majesty without ostentation.quot Aside from its explicit purposes, the complex is also an enormous storehouse of art. It displays masterworks by Titian, Tintoretto, El Greco, Velzquez, Roger van der Weyden, Paolo Veronese, Alonso Cano, Jos de Ribera, Claudio Coello and others. The library contains thousands of priceless manuscripts for example, the collection of the sultan, Zidan Abu Maali, who ruled Morocco from to , is housed at El Escorial. Giambattista Castello designed the magnificent main staircase. Sections of the building In order to describe the parts of the great building in a coherent fashion, it may be useful to undertake an imaginary walking tour, beginning with the main entrance at the center of the western facade The patio of the kings The first thing you find upon arriving to El Escorial is the main Faade. This has three doors the middle one leads to the Patio de los Reyes and the side ones lead to a school and the other to a monastery. On the faade there is a niche where the image of a saint has been placed. The Patio de los Reyes is an enclosure that owes its name to the statues of the Kings of Judah that adorn the faade of the Baslica, located at the back, from which you can access from the patio. This spectacular basilica has a floor in the shape of a Greek cross and an enormous cupola inspired by St. Peters Basilica in Rome. The naves Patio of the Kings and the Basilica. are covered with canyon vaults decorated with frescoes by Lucas Jordn. The large chapel is one of the highlights in the basilica, presided by steps of red marble. Its main altarpiece is meters high and divided in compartments of different sizes where are find bronze sculptures and canvas authored by Tibaldi, Zuccari or Leoni. In the Capitulary and the Sacristy Rooms, painting such as Josephs Coat by Velzquez, The Last Supper by Titian, or The Adoration of the Sacred Host by Charles II by Claudio Coello are on exhibit. Under the royal chapel of the Basilica is the Royal Pantheon. This is the place of burial for the kings of Spain. It is an octagonal Baroque mausoleum made of marble where all of the Spanish monarchs since Charles I have been buried, with the exception of Philip V, Ferdinand of Savoy, and Amadeus of Savoy. The remains of Juan de Borbon, father of Juan Carlos I Spains current king, also rest in this pantheon despite the fact that he never became king himself. The enclosure is presided over by an altar of veined marble, and the sarcaphogi are bronze and marble. also find the Pantheon of the Princes, where the bodies of the queens who did not have a crowned succession and the princes and princesses were laid to rest. This part was built in the nineteenth century. After the Basilica is the Patio of the Evangelists. This is a gardened patio in whose center rises a magnificent pavilion by Juan de Herrera in which you can find sculptures of the Evangelists. Around the patio are the galleries of the main cloister, decorated with frescoes in which scenes from the history of the Redemption are represented. In the East gallery, you find the splendid main stair case with a frescodecorated vaulted ceiling depicting The glory of the Spanish monarchy. Next is the Palacio de los Austrias, also known as the Casa del Rey House of the King, which is found behind the presbytery of the basilica. The outbuildings of this palace are distributed around the patio of the Mascarones, of Italian style. Inside the House of the King are the Sala de las Batallas Hall of Battles, which contains frescoes of El Escorial the battles of San Quintn and Higueruela, among others. The next building contains the rooms of Philip II and of the Infanta Isabel Clara Eugenia. Another outbuilding is that of Alcoba del Rey, housing the bed in which Philip II died. The basilica The basilica of San Lorenzo el Real, the central building in the El Escorial complex, was originally designed, like most of the late Gothic cathedrals of western Europe, to take the form of a Latin cross. As such, it has a long nave on the westeast axis intersected by a pair of shorter transepts, one to the north and one directly opposite, to the south, about threequarters of the way between the west entrance and the high altar. This plan was modified by Juan de Herrera to that of a Greek cross, a form with all four arms of equal length. Coincident with this shift in approach, the bell towers at the western end of the church were somewhat reduced in size and the small halfdome intended to stand over the altar was replaced with a full circular dome over the center of the church, where the four arms of the Greek cross meet. Dome of the Basilica of El Escorial Clearly Juan Bautista de Toledos experience with the dome of St. Peters basilica in Rome influenced the design of the dome of San Lorenzo el Real at El Escorial. However, the Roman dome is supported by ranks of tapered Corinthian columns, with their extravagant capitals of acanthus leaves and their elaborately fluted shafts, while the dome at El Escorial, soaring nearly one hundred metres into the air, is supported by four heavy granite piers connected by simple Romanesque arches and decorated by simple Doric pilasters, plain, solid, and largely unprepossessing. It would not be a flight of fancy to interpret St. Peters as the quintessential expression of Baroque sensuality and the basilica at El Escorial as a statement of the stark rigidity and grim purposefulness of the Inquisition, the two sides of the CounterReformation. The most highlydecorated part of the church is the area surrounding the high altar. Behind the altar is a threetiered reredos, made of red granite and jasper, nearly twentyeight metres tall, adorned with gilded bronze statuary by Leone Leoni, and three sets of religious paintings commissioned by Philip II. To either side are gilded lifesize bronzes of the kneeling family groups of Charles and Philip, also by Leoni with help from his son Pompeo. In a shallow niche at the center of the lowest level is a repository for the physical elements of the communion ceremony, a socalled quotHouse of the Sacramentquot, designed by Juan de Herrera in jasper and bronze. To decorate the reredos, or altar screens, the kings preferences were Pantheon of the Evangelists Michelangelo or Titian, but both of these giants were already more than eighty years old and in frail health. Consequently, Philip consulted his foreign ambassadors for recommendations, and the result was a lengthy parade of the lesser European artists of that time, all swanning through the construction site at El Escorial seeking the kings favor. El Escorial Palace of Philip II Situated next to the main altar of the Basilica, the residence of King Philip II is made up of a series of austerely decorated rooms. It features a window from which the king could observe mass from his bed when incapacitated by the gout that afflicted him. Hall of Battles Fresco paintings here depict the most important Spanish military victories. These include a medieval victory over the Moors, as well as several of Philips campaigns against the French. Wall in the Hall of Battles Pantheon of the Kings This consists of twentysix marble sepulchers containing the remains of the kings and queens regnant the only queen regnant since Philip II being Isabella II, of the Habsburg and Bourbon dynasties from Charles I to the present, except for Philip V and Ferdinand VI. The sepulchers also contain the remains of royal consorts who were parents of monarchs. The only king consort is Francis of Asis de Bourbon, husband of queen Isabella II. The most recent remains in the sepulcher are those of King Alfonso XIII. Those of his wife, as well as his son Juan, Count of Barcelona, and daughterinlaw Maria de las Mercedes the parents of the current king, Juan Carlos I, lie at a prepared place called a pudridero, or decaying chamber. There are two pudrideros at El Escorial, one for the Pantheon of the Kings and the other for that of the Princes, which can only be visited by monks from the Monastery. In these rooms, the remains of the deceased are placed in a small leaden urn, which in turn will be placed in the marble sepulchers of the pantheon after the passage of fifty years, the estimated time necessary for the complete decomposition of the bodies. Detail of the Court of the Kings, in El Escorial Pantheon of the Kings When the remains of Juan and Maria Mercedes are deposited in the Royal Pantheon, they will, in a sense, constitute exceptions to tradition. First, the Count Barcelona was never able to reign, due to the institution of the Second Republic and the exile of Alfonso XIII and his entire family, though they are the parents of a King, and their remains are in the Pantheon. Second, the Pantheon also contains the remains of Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, who, although the wife of a King, was never the mother of a king in the strict sense. Some, however, do consider Juan to have been de jure King of Spain, which in turn would make Queen Victoria Eugenia the mother of a king. With the interment of Juan and Marias remains, all the sepulchers in the Royal Pantheon will be filled no decision has yet been announced as to the final resting place of the currentlyliving members of the Royal Family. There has already been one exception to this old tradition Elisabeth of Bourbon is for the moment the only queen in the pantheon who has not been mother to a King. That is because her only son, the presumed Heir to the Throne, died after her. El Escorial The walls of polished Toledo marble are ornamented in goldplated bronze. All of the wood used in El Escorial comes from the ancient forests of Sagua La Grande, on the socalled Golden Coast of Cuba. Pantheon of the Princes Completed in , this is the final resting place of princes, princesses and queens who were not mothers of kings. With floors and ceiling of white marble, the tomb of Prince John of Austria is especially notable. Currently, thirtyseven of the sixty available niches are filled. Art Gallery Consists of works of the German, Flemish, Venetian, Lombard, Ligurian and more Italian and Spanish schools from the fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Wooden model of the roof Architectural Museum Its eleven rooms showcase the tools, cranes and other materials used in the construction of the edifice, as well as reproductions of blueprints and documents related to the project, containing some very interesting facts. Gardens of the Friars Constructed at the order of Philip II, a great lover of nature, these constitute an ideal place for repose and meditation. Manuel Azaa, who studied in the monasterys Augustinianrun school, mentions them in his Memorias Memoirs and his play El jardn de los frailes The Garden of the Friars. Students at the school still use it today to study and pass the time. Library The Casita del Principe, was built in to designs of Juan de Villanueva, for the Prince of the Asturias, the future Philip II donated his personal collection of documents to the Carlos IV building, and also undertook the acquisition of the finest libraries and works of Spain and foreign countries. It was planned by Juan de Herrera, who also designed the librarys shelves the frescoes on the vaulted ceilings were painted by Pellegrino Tibaldi. The librarys collection consists of more than , volumes, located in a great hall fiftyfour meters in length, nine meters wide and ten meters tall with marble floors and beautifully carved wood shelves. Benito Arias Montano produced the initial catalog for the library, selecting many of the most important volumes. In he was granted the privilege of receiving a copy of every published work, though there is no evidence that he ever took advantage of this right. The vault of the librarys ceiling is decorated with frescoes depicting the seven liberal arts Rhetoric, Dialectic, Music, Grammar, Arithmetic, Geometry and Astronomy. El Escorial The reliquaries Following a rule approved by the Council of Trent dealing with the veneration of saints, Philip II donated to the monastery one of the largest reliquaries in all of Catholicism. The collection consists of some relics, which are stored in sculpted reliquaries designed by Juan de Herrera. Most of them were constructed by the artisan, Juan de Arfe Villafae. These reliquaries are found in highly varied forms heads, arms, pyramidal cases, coffers, etc. and are distributed throughout the monastery, with the most important being concentrated in the basilica. Adjacent buildings Juan de Herrera also designed the Casas de Oficios or Official Buildings opposite the monasterys north faade, and his successor, Francisco de Mora, designed the Casa de la Compaa Company Quarters. References This article draws heavily on the December version of the corresponding article in the Spanishlanguage Wikipedia. http/ / whc. unesco. org/ en/ list/ UNESCO . quotThe Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial and Natural Surroundingsquot http/ / whc. unesco. org/ en/ tentativelists/ / . . Retrieved . Mary Crawford Volk Kubler, George . quotBuilding the Escorialquot http/ / www. jstor. org/ pss/ . The Art Bulletin The Art Bulletin, Vol. , No. . doi./. . Retrieved . Fodors Review . quotReal Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorialquot http/ / www. fodors. com/ world/ europe/ spain/ madrid/ review. html. . Retrieved . Juan Rafael de la Cuadra Blanco . King Philip of Spain as Solomon the Second. The origins of Solomonism of the Escorial in the Netherlands, en The Seventh Window. The Kings Window donated by Phillip II and Mary Tudor to Sint Janskerk , p. concept amp editing Wim de Groot, Verloren Publishers, Hilversum ed.. Hilversum Uitgeverij Verloren. ISBN. Ren Taylor . Arquitectura y Magia. Consideraciones sobre la Idea de El Escorial, Ediciones Siruela, Madrid, enhanced from monograph in Rudolph Wittkowers festschrift. . Hermetism and the Mystical Architecture of the Society of Jesus in quotBaroque Art The Jesuit Contributionquot by Rudolf Wittkower amp Irma Jaffe MSN Encarta . quotEl Escorialquot http/ / www. microsoftencarta. org/ media/ ElEscorial. html. . Retrieved . Tenth International Symposium on High Performance Computer Architecture . quotEl Escorialquot http/ / www. ac. uma. es/ hpca/ pamphlets/ elescorial. pdf. . Retrieved . The Latin cross, with its long descending arm, is the form most familiar to western Christians as the cross on which Christ was supposed to have been crucified. Michelangelo died in , scarcely a year after the first stones at El Escorial were laid, and Titian, when asked to come to Spain, respectfully refused on the basis of his advanced age. External links Practical Information for Public Visits http//www.patrimonionacional.es/en/infprac/visitas/escorial.htm Patrimonio Nacional Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial http//www.patrimonionacional.es/en/ escorial/escorial.htm Jardin del Monasterio de El Escorial a Gardens Guide review http//www.gardenvisit.com/ge/eles.htm El Escorial Monastery History and Photos http//www.feelmadrid.com/elescorial.html Photos of El Escorial http//musique.free.fr/espagnenew/thumbnails.phpalbumamplangenglish Maps showing areas of outstanding natural beauty, educational, scientific or cultural importance in Spain http// www.maps.dataspain.com/worldheritage/elescorial.html El Escorial tourist and travel connexions guide Eng http//www.madridguidespain.com/ valledeloscaidos.html COPYRIGHT IN THE RENAISSANCE http//books.google.es/booksidQijgkYdxgMCamp printsecfrontcoverampdqprivilegiowitcombeampeiqkhSdXWOpTElQSiXLCg El Escorial HISTORIA DEL REAL MONASTERIO DE SAN LORENZO http//books.google.es/ booksidcCfcRCDIkCampdqquevedohistoriaescorialampprintsecfrontcoverampsourceblamp otsyrNkOUHBampsigurUJZPJvXZSniraemOisamphlesampsaXampoibookresultampresnuma mp ctresult Valle de los Cados The Valle de los Cados in English Valley of the Fallen is a Catholic basilica and a monumental memorial in the municipality of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, erected at Cuelgamuros Valley in the Sierra de Guadarrama, near Madrid, conceived by Spanish dictator Francisco Franco to honor and bury those who fell during the Spanish Civil War. It was also claimed by Franco that the monument was meant to be a quotnational act of atonementquot. The monument, a landmark of thcentury Spanish architecture, was designed by Pedro Muguruza and Diego Mndez on a scale to equal, according to Franco, quotthe grandeur of the monuments of old, Santa Cruz del Valle de los Cados, view from the esplanade which defy time and forgetfulnessquot. Together with the Universidad Laboral de Gijn, it is the most prominent example of the original Spanish NeoHerrerian style, which was intended as a revival of Juan de Herreras late renaissance architecture, exemplified in El Escorial. This uniquely Spanish architecture was widely used in public buildings of postwar Spain and is rooted in International classicism exemplified by Albert Speer or Mussolinis Esposizione Universale Roma. The monument precinct encloses over acres .km of Mediterranean woodlands and granite boulders on the Sierra de Guadarrama hills, over feet m over sea level where stand the Basilica, the Benedictine Abbey, the Hospedera, the Valley and the Juanelos, four cylindrical monoliths dating from the th century. The most prominent feature of the monument is the towering meterhigh ft cross erected over a granite outcrop meters over the basilica esplanade and visible from over miles km away. Work started in and took over eighteen years to complete, the monument being officially inaugurated on April , . According to the official ledger, the cost of the construction totalled . billion pesetas, funded through National Lottery draws and donations. As a surviving artifact of Francos rule, the monument and its Catholic basilica remain controversial, particularly because of the construction workforce were convicts, some of them Popular Front prisoners. The complex is owned and operated by the Patrimonio Nacional, the Spanish governmental heritage agency, and ranked as the third most visited monument of the Patrimonio Nacional in . The Spanish socialist government closed the complex to visitors at the end of , basing the decision on safety reasons connected to restoration on the facade. Controversy arose upon this decision, as the closure was attributed by part of the public opinion to the quotMemoria Historicaquot law enacted during president Zapateros mandate, as supported by some media. Other media support that the abbey monks are misinterpreting the closure due to restoration works with a political decision. The works include the Piet sculpture prominently featured at the entrance of the crypt, using hammers and heavy machinery. In November, , alleging safety reasons, the Spanish government closed down the Basilica for Mass. Mass was celebrated in the open during several weeks with an attendance of . faithful, in a rainy day on November . Checkpoints were set up, according to government sources, to prevent political manifestations Valle de los Cados such as Falange flags, in accordance to the Law of quotMemoria Histricaquot. However, Catholic sources claimed that the government was simply trying to interfere with the celebration of the Mass. Basilica, cross and abbey Rising above the valley is one of the worlds largest basilicas, Baslica de la Santa Cruz del Valle de los Cados Basilica of the Holy Cross of the Valley of the Fallen, hewn out of a granite ridge, and the tallest memorial cross in the world, a .metrehigh construction of stone. In , Pope John XXIII declared the underground crypt a basilica. The dimensions of the underground basilica, as excavated, are larger than those of St. Peters Basilica in Rome. To avoid competition, a partitioning wall was built near the inside of the entrance and a sizable entryway was left unconsecrated. The monumental hieratic sculptures over the main gate and the base of the cross culminated the career of Juan de valos. The monument consists of a wide explanada esplanade with a spectacular view of the valley and the outskirts of Madrid in the distance. A long vaulted crypt was tunnelled out of solid granite, piercing the mountain to the massive transept, which lies exactly below the cross. On the wroughtiron gates, Francos neoHabsburg doubleheaded eagle is prominently displayed. On entering the basilica, visitors are flanked by two large metal statues of art deco angels holding swords. There is a funicular that connects the basilica with the base of the cross. There is a spiral staircase and a lift inside the cross, connecting the top of the basilica dome to a trapdoor on top of the cross, but their use is restricted to maintenance staff. The Benedictine Abbey of the Holy Cross of the Valley of the Fallen Spanish Abada Benedictina de la Santa Cruz del Valle de los Cados, on the other side of the mountain, houses priests who say perpetual Masses for the repose of the fallen. The abbey ranks as a Royal Monastery. Benedictine Abbey Central Nave of the Crypt Dome inside the Basilica Valley of the Fallen The valley that contains the monument, preserved as a national park, is located km northeast of the royal site of El Escorial, northwest of Madrid. Beneath the valley floor lie the remains of ,, whose names are accounted for in the monuments register. Valle de los Cados Although the valley contains both Nationalist and Republican graves, the tone of the monument is distinctly Nationalist and antiCommunist, containing the inscription quotCados por Dios y por Espaaquot quotFallen for God and Spainquot, reflecting the close ties of Francos Nationalist regime to the Catholic Church. Additionally, the timing of Francos announcement of the decision to create the monument suggests one side is being commemorated more than the other on April , the day of the victory parade to celebrate the first anniversary of his triumph over the Republic, Franco announced his personal decision to raise a splendid monument to those who had fallen in his cause. Francos tomb In , after Francos death, the site was designated by the interim government as the burial place for the Caudillo, who actually did not desire to be buried in the valley, but in Madrid. Unlike the fallen of the Civil War who were laid to rest in the valley exterior to the basilica, Franco was buried inside the church. His grave is marked by a simple tombstone engraved with his name, on the choir side of the main altar between the altar and the apse of the Church behind the altar, from the perspective of a person standing at the main door. Franco was the second person buried in the Santa Cruz basilica. Franco had earlier interred Jos Antonio Primo de Rivera, founder of the Falange, the Spanish fascist party that aided his ascension to power, under a modest gravestone on the nave side of the altar. Primo de Rivera died November , , exactly years before Franco, whose grave is on the exact opposite side of the altar. Virgen de Loreto A somewhat Controversial Monument Presenting the monument in a politically neutral way poses a number of problems, not least the strength of opposing opinions on the issue. The Times quotes Jaume Bosch, a farleft politician seeking to change the monument, as saying quotI want what was in reality something like a Nazi concentration camp to stop being a nostalgic place of pilgrimage for Francoists. Inevitably, whether we like it or not, its part of our history. We dont want to pull it down, but the Government has agreed to study our plan.quot The charge that the monument site was quotlike a Nazi concentration campquot refers to the use of convicts, including Popular Front war prisoners, trading their labour for a conviction redemption quotThe drilling of the Risco de la Nava was undertaken by San Roman, an affiliate of the incumbent construction company Agroman. The workforce Francos tomb Valle de los Cados was provided by the despair and hardship of the post war period. These were joined by Republican prisoners who were promised a conviction redemption for risking their lives working on the monument construction ..., which in amounted to six hundred. Other souces point out up to . prisoners and speak about forced labour. The Spanish law did not allow for forced labour, but recognized the possibility of voluntarily redeeming two days of conviction for each working day to reduce the burden of a large convict population that included many war and political prisoners. This benefit was increased to six days when labour was carried out at the basilica with a salary of pesetas per day, a fairly reasonable salary for that time, with the possibility of the family of the convict benefiting from the housing and children schools built on the valley for the other workers. Only convicts with a good behaviour record would qualify for this redemption scheme, as the works site was considered to be a low security environment. The motto used by the Spanish Nationalist government was quotel trabajo enoblecequot quotwork ennoblesquot. According to the official programme records, , workers participated directly in the construction, some of them highly skilled, as required by the complexity of the work. of them were convicts. During the eighteenyear construction period, the official tally of workers who died as result of accidents during the building of the monument totalled fourteen. Since the leftleaning Spanish government, which has been following a policy of the removal of Francoist symbols from public buildings and spaces, has had an uneasy relationship with a monument that is the most conspicuous legacy from Francos rule. Political rallies in celebration of the former dictator are now banned by the Law of Historical Memory, voted on by the Congress of Deputies on October . This law dictated that quotthe management organisation of the Valley of the Fallen should aim to honour the memory of all of those who died during the civil war and who suffered repressionquot. It has been suggested that The Valley of the Fallen be redesignated as a quotmonument to Democracyquot or as a memorial to all Spaniards killed in conflict quotfor Democracyquot. Some organisations, among them centrist Catholic groups, question the purpose of these plans, on the basis that the monument is already dedicated to all of the dead, civilian and military of both Nationalist and Republican sides. Closure of the monument In November , Patrimonio Nacional controversially ordered the closure of the basilica for an indefinite period of time, alleging preservation issues which also may affect the Cross and some sculptures. These allegations have been contested by experts and the religious community that lives in the complex, and had been seen by some conservative opinion groups as a policy of harassment against the monument. In , the Pieta sculpture group started to be quotdismantledquot with hammers and heavy machinery, which according to the Juan de Avalos trust may result into irreparable damage of the masterpiece. As result, the trust has filed several lawsuits against Spanish government . Several parallelisms has been made between the Piet and the Buddhas of Bamyan by liberal and conservative groups. On the other hand, Spanish government followers assert that this process is fair to socialists, communists, and anarchists fallen during the Spanish Civil War. Valle de los Cados In Popular Culture The Valle de los Cados appears in Richard Morgans novel Altered Carbon, where it is being used as a base of operations for one of the major antagonists, Reileen Kawahara. References Diario de la Sierra de febrero de . quotUna decisin polmica Ordenan el cierre del Valle de los Cados por tiempo indefinidoquot http/ / www. diariodelasierra. es/ / / / unadecisionquetraerapolemicaordenanelcierredelvalledeloscaidosportiempoindefinido. . Retrieved de abril de . http/ / www. elpais. com/ solotexto/ articulo. htmlxrefelpepinacamp typeTesamp anchorelpepunac quotEl desmontaje de La Piedad del Valle de los Cados, a mazazo limpioquot http/ / www. elmundo. es/ elmundo/ / / / madrid/ . html. El Mundo. April . . Retrieved de abril de . quotImages that show how the sculpture is being destroyedquot http/ / www. elvalledeloscaidos. es/ . . Libertad digital November . quotValle de los cados cerrado por orden gubernativaquot http/ / www. libertaddigital. com/ sociedad/ valledeloscaidoscerradoporordengubernativa/ . . Retrieved November . quotLa Cruz monumentalquot http/ / www. vki. net/ cmonumental. htm. . The Valle de los Caidos http/ / wais. stanford. edu/ Spain/ spainthevalledeloscaidos. html Spain reclaims Francos shrine http/ / www. timesonline. co. uk/ tol/ news/ world/ article. ece Cesar Vidal. quotComo se realiz el Valle de los Caidosquot http/ / revista. libertaddigital. com/ comoserealizolacruzdeloscaidos. html EJP http/ / www. ejpress. org/ article/ news/ Cristina Rodenas, quotValle de los Caidos, Cronologiaquot http/ / www. abc. es/ / nacionalnacional/ fundacionfranciscofrancoconvocara. html ABC, September , . quotBoletn Oficial de las Cortes Generales, de octubrequot http/ / www. congreso. es/ publicoficiales/ L/ CONG/ BOCG/ A/ A. PDF, report about the resolution voted at the Congreso de los Diputados http/ / www. timesonline. co. uk/ tol/ news/ world/ article. ece, Times online quotUna decision Polemica, ordenan el cierre del Valle de los Caidos por tiempo indefinidoquot http/ / www. diariodelasierra. es/ / / / unadecisionquetraerapolemicaordenanelcierredelvalledeloscaidosportiempoindefinido/ Diario de la Sierra November Pio Moa quotEl Valle de los Caidos y los Talibanesquot http/ / blogs. libertaddigital. com/ presenteypasado/ elvalledeloscaidosylostalibanes/ Libertad Digital, February , quothttp/ / www. libertaddigital. com/ sociedad/ elhijodejuandeavalosdenunciaapatrimonioporeldesmontajedelapiedad/ quotJuan de Avaloss son claims against demolition of his father sculpturequot. quot. Morgan, Ricahard K. . Altered Carbon. Del Rey Book. p.. ISBN. External links WAIS Forum on Spain, http//wais.stanford.edu/Spain/spainthevalledeloscaidos.html quotSpain the Valley of the Fallenquot includes quote from Francos decree, April , Abada de la Santa Cruz del Valle de los Cados http//www.valledeloscaidos.es Official Website Spanish. El Valle de los Caidos http//www.ctv.es/USERS/fnff/valle.htm an apologetic account Spanish Fundacion Francisco Franco, Valle de los Caidos http//www.fnff.es/francohombre.htm another apologetic account from Francos Memorial Trust Spanish Valley of the Fallen http//www.madridguidespain.com/valledeloscaidos.html Practical visitor information and Photos. http//skyscraperpage.com/cities/buildingID The Valley of the Fallen http//www.feelmadrid.com/valleyofthefallen.html History and Photos. Pio Moa, Manifesto for historians regarding the Valley of the Fallen http//blogs.libertaddigital.com/ presenteypasado/unmanifiestoparaloshistoriadores/ Apologetic manifesto from a leading Spanish historian to debunk the well publicised myths around the construction of the monument and the policy of harassment from the government Spanish Royal Family Spanish Royal Family The Royal Family of the Kingdom of Spain consists of the current king, Juan Carlos, his spouse, Queen Sofia of Spain and their direct descendants. The Spanish royal family belongs to the House of Borbn. The Royal Family is not to be confused with the Family of the King, the former is strictly composed by the King and his Consort the Prince and Princess of Asturias and their daughters and the Infantas of Spain, their consorts and children. The Family of the King refers to the extended family of the Monarch. The Kings two daughters hold the title Infanta Princess of Spain, with the style Her Royal Highness. Their husbands hold no title of their own but are styled His Excellency The Duke of ltwifes ducal titlegt. Their children hold the style of His or Her Excellency and the rank of a Grandee of Spain. The Kings heir bears the title Prince of Asturias with the style His Royal Highness. The wife of a Prince of Asturias holds the title Princess of Asturias with the style Her Royal Highness. The children of the Prince of Asturias have the title Infante/Infanta and the style Royal Highness. If the heirs of King Juan Carlos I were to expire, the Constitution reserves the right for the Cortes Generales legislature to designate the successor branch in a manner suitable for Spain. List of members The Royal Family includes HM The King HM The Queen The Kings wife TRH The Prince and Princess of Asturias The Kings son and his wife HRH The Infanta LeonorThe Prince of Ausuriess eldest daughter HRH The Infanta Sofa The Prince of Austuriass second daughter HRH The Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo The Kings eldest daughter HE Don Felipe de Marichalar de Borbn The Duchess of Lugos eldest son HE Doa Victoria de Marichalar de Borbn The Duchess of Lugos daughter HRH The Infanta Cristina, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca and HE Iaki Urdangarin Liebaert, Duke of Palma de Mallorca The Kings eldest daughter and her husband Spanish Royal Family HE Don Juan Valentn Urdangarn de Borbn The Duchess of Palma de Mallorcas eldest son HE Don Pablo Nicols Urdangarn de Borbn The Duchess of Palma de Mallorcas second son HE Don Miguel Urdangarn de Borbn The Duchess of Palma de Mallorcas third son HE Doa Irene Urdangarn de Borbn The Duchess of Palma de Mallocras daughter Extended family the Family of the King The Kings sisters The Kings two sisters renounced their rights of succession upon marriage, but those renunciations took place before the adoption of the Constitution and were not ratified by the Cortes. Both sisters bear the title Infanta of Spain with the style Her Royal Highness. Their children have the right to the status of Grandee and the title Excellency like the children of Infanta Elena and Infanta Cristina. HRH Infanta Doa Pilar de Borbn, Duchess of Badajoz ad personam. HRH Infanta Doa Margarita de Borbn, Duchess of Soria ad personam, nd Duchess of Hernani hereditary title. The Spanish Royal Family The Queen, the Prince and Princess of Asturias with their daughter, Infanta Leonor and the King with his grandson, Pablo Urdangarn House of BourbonTwo Sicilies HRH Don Carlos Maria Alfonso Marcel of BourbonTwo Sicilies amp BourbonParma, Infante of Spain, Prince of the two Sicilies, Duke of Calabria born , cousin of the King, from the BourbonTwo Sicilies family, received the title Infante of Spain by Royal Decree dated December , . Although it is often stated that this title was given in recognition of Don Carlos status as head of the House of BourbonTwo Sicilies, the wording of the decree does not support that view. The King refers to quotLas circunstancias excepcionales que concurrenquot the exceptional circumstances that concur in Don Carlos. The reference is to circumstances, not a single circumstance. The decree then cites Don Carlos representation of the ties between his family and the Spanish Crown as one of those circumstances. For whatever reason, the King chose not to specify what he meant. Although Don Carlos claims to be the rightful King of the Two Sicilies, his position is disputed. Don Carlos is also the senior heir of Infanta Doa Mercedes, Princess of Asturias, the eldest sister of King Alphonso XIII of Spain who was heiress presumptive to the throne for her entire life. Alphonso XIII was born months after his fathers death if he had been a girl Maria de las Mercedes would have become Queen. Alphonsos first child was not born until after his sisters death. Don Carlos father, Don Alphonso de BorbnDos Sicilies who was heir presumptive to the Spanish Throne from , and King Juan Carlos of Spains mother were siblings. Don Carlos mother belongs to the BourbonParma family that used to rule the Italian Duchy of Parma. His wife belongs to the French branch of the House of Bourbon. His wifes mother belonged to the Brazilian branch of the Bourbons. Being a representative of the family descended from someone who nearly became Queen, descended from two former heirs presumptive, having immediate connections father, mother, grandmother, wife, motherinlaw to all branches of the vast Bourbon Dynasty, and the family that provided the mother of the current King is much more relevant to Spain that any link Don Carlos might have with the long defunct Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. The title was not extended to Don Carlos wife who was born HRH Anne Marguerite Brigitte Marie dOrlans, Fille de France, Princess of Orlans, a member of the French Royal House. Their children would ordinarily have the status of Grandee with the title Excellency but instead generally use the title Princess of BourbonTwo Sicilies based on Spanish Royal Family their fathers descent from the former Kings of the Two Sicilies, although his wife is officially styled Her Royal Highness Princess Anne of BourbonTwo Sicilies, Duchess of Calabria. From Don Carlos mother HRH Princess Alicia of BourbonParma is infanta of Spain by marriage to Infante Alfonso November February , eldest child and son of Prince Carlos of BourbonTwo Sicilies and his wife Mercedes, Princess of Asturias. Current Accession to Throne In , General Franco designated Prince Juan Carlos de Borbn, with the new title of King of Spain, as his successor. This designation came as a surprise for the Carlist pretender to the throne, as well as for Juan Carloss father, Don Juan, the Count of Barcelona, who technically had a superior right to the throne. By , Franco had surrendered the function of prime minister Presidente del Gobierno, remaining only as head of state and commander in chief of the military. As his final years progressed, tension within the various factions of the Movimiento would consume Spanish political life, as varying groups jockeyed for position to control the countrys future. In July , the aged Franco fell ill from various health problems, and Juan Carlos took over as Head of State. Franco soon recovered, but one year later he fell ill once again from more health problems including a long battle with Parkinsons Disease. Franco died on November and Juan Carlos became King. The king and queen As a young man Juan Carlos completed his fouryear military training and then received a rigorous two year liberal education in the European tradition as insisted upon by his father Don Juan, Count of Barcelona, in . Impatient with the pace of democratic political reforms, King Juan Carlos, known for his formidable personality, dismissed Carlos Arias Navarro and appointed the reformer Adolfo Surez as President of the Government in . The next year the king signed into law the new liberal democratic Constitution of Spain, which was approved by of voters. Juan Carlos quotquick wit and steady nervequot cut short the attempted military coup in when the king used a specially designed command communications center in the Zarzuela Palace to denounce the coup and command the militarys eleven captaingenerals to stand down. Following the events of Juan Carlos has led a less eventful life, according to author John Hooper. The king does not open hospitals and bridges as often as monarchs in other nations rather he has worked towards establishing reliable political customs when transitioning one government administration to another, emphasizing constitutional law and protocol, representing the Spanish State domestically and internationally, all the while maintaining a professionally nonpartisan yet independent monarchy. In while celebrating his anniversary, the king said he wanted to represent all Spanish people. Juan Carlos set a modest tone for his kingship as early as when he declared that he and his family would continue to reside at the modest Palacio de Zarzuela, rather than the Palacio de Oriente in Madrid. Additionally, the king, who can still look awkward at large events, did not resurrect any formal Royal Court, much to the disappointment of some in the aristocracy. The kings charms are best evident in smaller and less formal events, according to Hooper. Juan Carlos, publicly perceived as a kind of action man or G.I. Joe, is fond of sports and enjoys skiing in winter and sailing in the summer, and likes to play snooker after dinner. Such is the kings enthusiasm for sailing that he competed in the Summer Olympic Games in the Dragon Class, and each year he and the royal family holiday in Majorca where they are photographed sailing by the media. It is this image of the king enjoying himself that is somewhat instilled in the public mind in recent years, according to Hooper. In his younger years Juan Carlos enjoyed and was reportedly good at squash, tennis, and karate. However, the king has angered environmental activists when Spanish Royal Family he engaged in bear hunting in Romania in . Queen Sofa, on the other hand, is opposed to the wearing of furs and of bullfighting, and is quotsomething of a vegetarianquot, according to author John Hooper. Born in a Princess of Greece and Denmark, Sofa enjoys sailinga passion she shares with her husband. As a young woman Sofa qualified as a reserve for the Greek sailing team at the Summer Olympics. Initially their shared passion for sailing threatened to stifle their relationship as Sofa later recalled quotI once went sailing with him when we were still engaged, and I shall never understand how I was able to marry him after thatquot Juan Carlos married Sofa in Athens at the Church of Saint Dennis on May . Exile is another experience which had bonded Sofa and Juan Carlos, according to Hooper. Sofa and the Greek Royal Family went into exile in South Africa ahead of the Nazi invasion of Greece, and she and her family did not return to Greece until she was eight. Of Juan Carlos and Sofas shared experiences in exile John Hooper wrote quotBoth the King and Queen were given a lesson in their early years that no member of the British Royal Family receivedthat, for a monarch, the penalty for failing to judge correctly the mood of his or her country, can be exile and debilitating irrelevance.quot The queens interests over the years have been more intellectual, and Sofa may be given credit for encouraging Juan Carlos in his transition of Spain from an authoritarian dictatorship to a liberal democracy. According to author John Hooper, it is noteworthy that shortly after Juan Carlos married Sofa he began his secret meetings with politicians and others as early as . Sofa demonstrated her empathy and solidarity with Spanish families when she sent her children to secular schools known for their progressive methods. When the parents at Felipes school boycotted the increase in meal prices, Sofa took the side of the parents, sending Felipe to school with sandwiches in packed lunches. Sofa is far more religious then her husband or her children, having converted to Catholicism just before her marriage. Queen Sofa sparked controversy in a autobiography when she commented on gay marriage in Spain. This and other comments by the queen opened the monarchy to rare criticism in , with the Zarzuela palace issuing an apology on behalf of the queen for the quotinexactquot quotes attributed to her. King Juan Carlos, known to be far more liberal then his wife, was reportedly incensed by the autobiography, with reporters stating the king will fire palace officials who allegedly approved official royal endorsement of the book. Other members The kings heir is his youngest child Felipe, Prince of Asturias b. , who married Letizia, Princess of Asturias b. on May in the Cathedral Santa Mara la Real de la Almudena in Madrid. The Prince and Princess of Asturias have two daughters, TRH the Infantas Leonore b. and Sofa b. . HRH Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo, b. is the kings eldest child and mother of two with Jaime de Marichalar, Their Excellencies Felipe Juan b. and Victoria Federica b.. Infanta Elena and Jaime de Marichalar got divorced in . HRH Infanta Cristina, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca, b is the kings middle child and mother of three boys and a daughter with Iaki Urdangarn, Duke of Palma de Mallorca, Their Excellencies Juan Valentn b. , Pablo Nicols b. , Miguel b. , and Her Excellency Irene b. . The king has two sisters HRH Infanta Doa Pilar de Borbn, Duchess of Badajoz b. and mother of five, and HRH Infanta Doa Margarita de Borbn, Duchess of Soria, nd Duchess of Hernani b. and mother of two with HE Carlos Zurita, Duke of Soria b. . However, both sisters renounced any claim to the Spanish Crown before their marriage and before the Constitution was ratified. If the heirs of King Juan Carlos I were to expire, the Constitution reserves the right for the Cortes to designate the successor branch in a manner suitable for Spain, and presumably the Cortes would consider the claims of these heirs. Spanish Royal Family Public role Members of the Spanish Royal Family, quotthe royalsquot, are often asked by nonprofit charitable, cultural, or religious organizations within Spain or internationally to become their patrons, a role the Spanish constitution recognizes and codified in Title II Article j It is incumbent for the monarch quotto exercise the High Patronage of the Royal Academiesquot. Royal patronage conveys a sense of official credibility as the organization is scrutinized for suitability. A royal presence often greatly raises the profile of the organization and attracts media publicity and public interest that the organization may not have otherwise garnered, aiding in the charitable cause or cultural event. Royals use their considerable celebrity to assist the organization to raise funds or to affect or promote government policy. Additionally, members of the royal family may also pursue their own charitable and cultural interests. Queen Sofa devotes much of her time to the Queen Sofia Foundation Fundacin Reina Sofa while Prince Felipe chairs the Prince of Asturias Foundation Fundacin Prncipe de Asturias, which aims to promote quotscientific, cultural and humanistic values that form part of mankinds universal heritage.quot The Prince of Asturias Foundation holds annual awards ceremonies acknowledging the contributions of individuals, entities, and/or organizations from around the world who make notable achievements in the sciences, humanities, or public affairs. Prince Felipe serves as president of the Codespa Foundation, which finances specific economic and social development activities in Latin American and other countries, and serves as president of the Spanish branch of the Association of European Journalists, which is composed of achieving communications professionals. Prince Felipe also serves as honorary chair of the Ministry of Culture National Awards Ceremonies. Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo, the kings eldest daughter, is the Director of Cultural and Social Projects of Mapfre Foundation, while Infanta Cristina, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca, the kings youngest daughter, served as the Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations for the nd World Assembly on Ageing, and is a member of the Dali Foundation Board of Trustees, president of the International Foundation for Disabled Sailing, and Director of Social Welfare at the La Caixa Foundation in Barcelona where she lives with her family. The king, queen, and Infanta Cristina are all members of the Bilderberg Group, an informal thinktank centered on United States and European relations, and other world issues. References Real Decreto / http/ / www. boe. es/ g/ es/ basesdatos/ doc. phpcoleccioniberlexamp id/ The fascist dictator General Francisco Franco had thought to mold the young Juan Carlos to succeed him and retain the fascist regime Franco had established following the Civil War. During his young adulthood, Juan Carlos did not reveal that he shared many of the political sentiments with his father, who had been judged by Franco as too liberal to be King of Spain. Franco had once commented to Juan Carlos that he had more chance then his father to be king. Juan Carlos father wished to reestablish constitutional monarchy in a democratic Spain, and even Sofa, Juan Carlos wife since , had counseled Juan Carlos that the only way a restored monarchy would be legitimate was with the support of the people, not followers of a totalitarian regime. According to author John Hooper, it is noteworthy that shortly after Juan Carlos married Sofa he began his secret meetings with politicians and others as early as . Juan Carlos was born in while the royal family was then in exile during the Second Spanish Republic and Civil War which followed, but returned to Spain for his education in . By Juan Carlos completed his formal military training, two years in the army collage in Saragossa and a year each in the navy and the air force. Juan Carlos father insisted on a liberal academic university education for his son, and a panel of six eminent academics drafted a special twoyear course in liberal studies that Juan Carlos received in Madrid between and . After his university education, Juan Carlos spent a few weeks in each of the government ministries to learn how they operated, and in Franco designated Juan Carlos as his successor, with the Cortes overwhelmingly endorsing the appointment. To drive home the point that Juan Carlos was Francos successor, according to author John Hooper, Juan Carlos received the title Prince of Spain rather than the traditional Prince of Asturias John Hooper, The New Spainards, , An Engaging Monarchy John Hooper, The New Spainards, , From Dictatorship to Democracy quotSpains fastliving king turns quot http/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ / hi/ europe/ . stm. BBC News. . . Retrieved . Spanish Royal Family Burnett, Victoria . quotQueen Sofia Unamused by a Book Quoting Herquot http/ / www. nytimes. com/ / / / world/ europe/ sofia. html. nytimes.com. . Retrieved . quotQueen of Spains Gay Marriage Comment Ignites Controversyquot http/ / www. foxnews. com/ story/ ,,,. html. FoxNews.com. . . quotQueens outburst sparks debate about the monarchy in Spainquot http/ / www. efluxmedia. com/ newsQueensoutburstsparksdebateaboutmonarchyinSpain. html. efluxmedia.com. . . NewsEditor . quotSpains queen criticized for antigay commentsquot http/ / lgbtqnews. com/ gaynews/ spainsqueencriticizedforantigaycomments. aspx. lgbtqnews.com. . Retrieved . quotSpanish Queen alone in antigay commentsquot http/ / www. expatica. com/ nl/ news/ dutchnews/ SpanishQueenaloneinantigaycomments. html. .expatica.com Dutch News. . . Retrieved . Rhodes, Matt . quotSpain Gay Anger Over Spanish Queen Bookquot http/ / news. sky. com/ skynews/ Home/ WorldNews/ SpainsQueenSofiaPilarUrbanosNewBookCausesControversyDueToCommentsAboutGayMar riage/ Article/ lposWorldNewsSecondWorldNewsArticleTeaserRegionamp lidARTICLESpainsQueenSofiaPilarUrbanosNewBookCausesControversyDueToCommentsA boutGayMarriage. sky.com. . Retrieved . Giles, Ciaran . quotSpain Gay marriage bill clears hurdlequot http/ / web. archive. org/ web/ / http/ / www. planetout. com/ news/ article. html/ / / . Planetout.com. Archived from the original http/ / www. planetout. com/ news/ article. html/ / / on . . Retrieved . Morris and Larraz, Sarah and Theresa . quotQueen draws ire over gay marriage commentquot http/ / www. reuters. com/ article/ oddlyEnoughNews/ idUSTREUJH. reuters.com. . Retrieved . quotquotLa Infanta Elena y Jaime de Marichalar firman el convenio de su divorcioquot quotInfanta Elena and Jaime de Marichalar sign their divorce papersquotquot http/ / www. elperiodico. com/ default. aspidpublicacioPKamp idiomaCASamp idnoticiaPKamp idseccioPK in Spanish. El peridico. . . Retrieved . Constitucin espaola de Ttulo II. De la Corona http/ / es. wikisource. org/ wiki/ Constitucinespaolade Queen Sofia Foundation http/ / www. fundacionreinasofia. es/ Prince of Asturias Foundation http/ / www. fundacionprincipedeasturias. org/ Codespa Foundation http/ / www. codespa. org/ epages/ Codespa. sf Delivery of the National Awards of the Ministry of Culture http/ / translate. google. com/ translatehlenamp slesamp uhttp/ / www. casareal. es/ indexidenidweb. htmlamp eiVpHSuHsBKGtgftayXCwamp saXamp oitranslateamp resnumamp ctresultamp prev/ searchqSpanish monarchyamp hlenamp rlscom. microsoftIESearchBoxamp rlzIGGLLen Infanta Elena http/ / www. casareal. es/ sarelena/ indexidenidweb. html Infanta Cristina http/ / www. casareal. es/ sarcristina/ indexidenidweb. html Mark Oliver June . quotThe Bilderberg groupquot http/ / www. guardian. co. uk/ news/ / jun/ / netnotes. markoliver. The Guardian. . quotBilderberg Meeting of Assemblesquot http/ / www. prnewswire. de/ cgi/ releaseid. PR Newswire. June . . quotBilderberg Group Meets In Athens Amid Tight Securityquot http/ / www. nasdaq. com/ aspx/ stockmarketnewsstory. aspxstoryiddowjonesdjonlineamp titlebilderberggroupmeetsinathensamidtightsecurity. NASDAQ. . Spanish Royal Family http//www.marbellaguide.com/blog/thespanishroyalfamily/ House of Bourbon House of Bourbon Bourbons redirects here for other uses of the term Bourbon, please see Bourbon disambiguation House of Bourbon Country France, Navarre, Spain, Luxembourg Ancestral house Capetian Dynasty Titles King of France King of Navarre King of Spain Duke of Orlans Duke of Vendme Duke of Bourbon Duke of Parma King of the Two Sicilies Grand Duke of Luxembourg Duke of Seville Final sovereign France and Navarre Charles X Parma Roberto I Two Sicilies Francesco II Current head France and Navarre Legitimists and Orlanists Henry VII of Orlans France and Navarre Blancs dEspagne Louis XX present Spain King Juan Carlos I present Parma Duke Carlos present Two Sicilies DISPUTED Duke Carlos of Calabria or Duke Carlo of Castro present Luxembourg Grand Duke Henri I present Founding Robert, Count of Clermont, the sixth son of Louis IX of France House of Bourbon Deposition France and Navarre July Revolution Parma Annexation by Kingdom of Sardinia Two Sicilies Italian unification Ethnicity French House of Orlans House of OrlansBraganza House of BourbonTwo Sicilies House of BourbonParma Cadet branches The House of Bourbon English /brb.n/ French pronunciationbu.b is a European royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty /kpin/. Bourbon kings first ruled Navarre and France in the th century. By the th century, members of the Bourbon dynasty also held thrones in Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Parma. Spain and Luxembourg currently have Bourbon monarchs. Bourbon monarchs ruled Navarre from and France from until the overthrow of the monarchy during the French Revolution. Restored briefly in and definitively in after the fall of the First French Empire, the senior line of the Bourbons was finally overthrown in the July Revolution of . A cadet branch, the House of Orlans, then ruled for years , until it too was overthrown. The Princes of Cond BourbonCond were a cadet branch of the BourbonVendmes and, in turn, were senior to the Princes of Conti BourbonConti. Both these lines became extinct in the early nineteenth century. Philip V of Spain was the first Bourbon ruler of Spain, from . The Spanish Bourbons in Spain the name is spelled Borbn and rendered into English as Borbon have been overthrown and restored several times, reigning , , , and to the present day. From this Spanish line comes the royal line of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and , and Sicily only in , the BourbonSicilies family, and the Bourbon rulers of the Duchy of Parma. Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg married a cadet of the BourbonParma line, and thus her successors, who have ruled Luxembourg since her abdication in , have also technically been members of the House of Bourbon. Isabel, Princess Imperial, the declared heiress and thriceregent of the nowdefunct Empire of Brazil married twenty years before their deposition Gaston, comte dEu a prince of Orlans, and their descent, known as the OrlansBraganza, would have ascended that throne, had the empire not ended in . From the time of Hugh Capet to Charles X , the Senior Capets were also the Kings of France. Origins The preCapetian House of Bourbon was a noble family, dating at least from the beginning of the th century, when the estate of Bourbon was ruled by a Lord who was a vassal of the King of France. In , Robert, Count of Clermont, sixth son of King Louis IX of France, married Beatrix of Bourbon, heiress to the lordship of Bourbon. Their son Louis was made Duke of Bourbon in . His descendant, the Constable of France Charles de Bourbon, was the last of the senior Bourbon line when he died in . Because he chose to fight under the banner of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and lead a life of exile, his title was discontinued after his death. However the junior line of La MarcheVendme remained, the ruling house of the Dukedom of Vendme. The BourbonVendme branch were to become rulers of the Kingdom of Navarre on the northern side of the Pyrenees in and then of France, with Henry III of Navarre becoming Henry IV of France House of Bourbon France The rise of Henry IV The first Bourbon King of France was Henry IV. He was born on December in the Kingdom of Navarre. Antoine de Bourbon, his father, was a ninth generation descendent of King Louis IX of France. Jeanne dAlbret, his mother, was the Queen of Navarre and the niece of King Francis I of France. He was baptized Catholic, but raised Calvinist. After his father was killed in , he became Duke of Vendme at the age of , with Admiral Gaspard de Coligny as his regent. Five years later, the young duke became the nominal leader of the Huguenots after the death of his uncle the Prince of Cond in . Henry succeeded to Navarre as Henry III when his mother died in . That same year Catherine de Medici, the influential mother of King Charles IX of France, arranged for the marriage of her daughter, Margaret of Valois, to Henry as a peace offering between the Catholics and Huguenots. Many Huguenots had gathered for the wedding held on August and were massacred by the Catholics in the St. Bartholomews Day Massacre. Henry saved his own life by converting to Catholicism. He repudiated his conversion in and resumed his leadership of the Huguenots. The period from to was relatively calm in France, with the Huguenots consolidating control of much of the south with only occasional interference from the royal government. Extended civil war erupted again in , when Franois, Duke of Anjou, younger brother of King Henry III of France, died, leaving Navarre next in line for the throne. Thus began the War of the Three Henries, as Henry of Navarre, Henry III, and the ultraCatholic leader, Henry of Guise, fought a confusing threecornered struggle for dominance. When Henry III was assassinated on July , Navarre became the first Bourbon king of France as Henry IV. Much of Catholic France, organized into the Catholic League, refused to recognize a Protestant monarch and instead recognized Henry IVs uncle, Charles, Cardinal de Bourbon, as king as Charles X, and the civil war continued. Henry won a crucial victory at Ivry on March , and following the death of the Cardinal the same year, the forces of the League lacked an obvious Catholic candidate for the throne and divided into various factions. Nevertheless, as a Protestant, Henry IV was unable to take Paris, a Catholic stronghold, or to decisively defeat his enemies, now supported by the Spanish. He reconverted to Catholicism in he is said to have remarked, quotParis is well worth a massquot and was crowned King of France at the Cathedral of Chartres on February . Early Kings of France Henry granted the Edict of Nantes on April , establishing Catholicism as an official state religion, but otherwise assuring the Huguenots the right to practice their religion. However, it did not grant full civil and religious equality to the Huguenots. This compromise ended the religious wars in France. That same year the Treaty of Vervins ended the war with Spain, adjusted the SpanishFrench border, and resulted in a belated recognition by Spain of Henry as king of France. Ably assisted by Maximilien de Bthune, duc de Sully, Henry reduced the land tax known as the taille promoted agriculture, public works, construction of highways, and the first French canal started such important industries as the tapestry works of the Gobelins and intervened in favor of Protestants in the duchies and earldoms along the German frontier. This last was to be the cause of his assassination. House of Bourbon Henrys marriage to Margaret, which had produced no heir, was annulled in and he married Marie de Medici, the niece of the grand duke of Tuscany. A son, Louis, was born to them in . Henry IV was assassinated on May in Paris. Louis XIII was only nine years old when he succeeded his father. He was to prove a weak ruler his reign was effectively a series of distinct regimes, depending who held the effective reins of power. At first, Marie de Medici, his mother, served as regent and advanced a proSpanish policy. To deal with the financial troubles of France, Louis summoned the Estates General in this would be the last time that body met until the eve of the French Revolution. Marie arranged the marriage of Louis to Anne of Austria, the daughter of King Philip III of Spain. In , however, Louis conspired with Charles dAlbert, duc de Luynes to dispense with her influence, having her favorite Concino Concini assassinated on April of that year. After some years of weak government by Louiss favorites, the King made Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal Richelieu, a former protg of his mother, the chief minister of France in . Richelieu advanced an antiHabsburg policy. He arranged for Louis sister, Henrietta Maria, to marry King Charles I of England, on May . Her proCatholic propaganda in England was one of the contributing factors for the English Civil War. Richelieu, as ambitious for France and the French monarchy as for himself, laid the ground for the absolute monarchy that would last in France until the Revolution. He wanted to establish a dominating position for France in Europe, and he wanted to unify France under the monarchy. He established the role of intendants, nonnoble men whose arbitrary powers were granted by and revocable by the monarchy and superseded many of the traditional duties and privileges of the noble governors. Although it required a succession of internal military campaigns, he abolished the fortified Huguenot towns that Henry had allowed. He involved France in the Thirty Years War against the Habsburgs by concluding an alliance with Sweden in and, actively, in . He died in before the conclusion of that conflict, having groomed Cardinal Jules Mazarin as a successor. Louis XIII outlived him but by one year, dying in at the age of fortytwo. After a childless marriage for twentythree years he had a son with Anne on September , whom he named after himself. Henry IV of France, the first Bourbon King of France House of Bourbon Louis XIV and Louis XV When Louis XIV succeeded his father he was only four years old he would become the most powerful king in French history. His mother Anne served as his regent with her favorite Jules Mazarin as chief minister. Mazarin continued the policies of Richelieu, bringing the Thirty Years War to a successful conclusion in and defeating the noble challenge to royal absolutism in a series of civil wars known as the Fronde. He continued to war with Spain until . In that year the Treaty of the Pyrenees was signed signifying a significant shift in power, France had replaced Spain as the dominant state in Europe. One of the terms of the treaty arranged the marriage of Louis to his cousin Maria Theresa, the daughter of King Philip IV of Spain, by his first wife Elizabeth, the sister of Louis XIII. They were married in and had a son, Louis, in . Mazarin died on March and it was expected that Louis would appoint another chief minister, as had become the tradition, but instead he shocked the country by announcing he would rule alone. Royal Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of France and Navarre. Louis intended to glorify France by making war on his neighbors. For six years he reformed the finances of his state and built formidable armed forces. France fought three wars between and and gained some minor territory. Maria Theresa died in and the next year he married Franoise dAubign, marquise de Maintenon. She had great influence over him especially in matters of religion. Louis XIV was staunchly Catholic and he revoked the Edict of Nantes on October , undoing the religious tolerance established by grandfather, Henry IV, almost a hundred years before. The last war waged by Louis XIV proved to be one of the most important to dynastic Europe. In , King Charles II of Spain died without a son. Louiss son the Grand Dauphin, as nephew to the late king, was closest heir, and Charles willed the kingdom to the Dauphins second son, the Duke of Anjou. Other powers, particularly the Austrian Habsburgs, who had the next closest claims, objected to such a vast increase in French power. Initially, most of the other powers were willing to accept Anjous reign as Philip V, but Louiss arrogance and blunders soon made the English, the Dutch, and other powers join the Austrians in a coalition against France. The War of the Spanish Succession began in and raged for years. In the end Louiss grandson was recognized as King of Spain, but Spains other European territories were largely ceded to Austria, and France was nearly bankrupted by the cost of the struggle. Louis died on September ending his seventytwo year reign, the longest in European history. House of Bourbon The reign of Louis XIV was so long that he had outlived both his son and eldest grandson. He was succeeded by his greatgrandson Louis XV. Louis XV was born on February and was thus aged only five at his ascension, the third Louis in a row to become king of France before the age of ten. Initially, the regency was held by the Philip, Duke of Orlans, Louis XIVs nephew, as nearest adult male to the throne. This Regency period was seen as one of debauchery and loose morals following the austere nature of the latter years of Louis XIVs reign, which had seen a series of cripplingly expensive wars and the Kings turn to religiosity. Louis XIV with Louis le Grand Dauphin, Louis, duc de Bourgogne, and Louis, duc de Bretagne Following Orlanss death in , another junior Bourbon, the Duke of Bourbon, the representative of the BourbonCond line, became Prime Minister. It was expected that Louis would marry his cousin, the daughter of King Philip V of Spain, but this marriage was cancelled by the duke in so that Louis could marry Maria Leszczynska, the daughter of Stanislas, former king of Poland. Bourbons motive appears to have been a desire to produce an heir as soon as possible so as to reduce the chances of a succession dispute between Philip V and the Duke of Orlans in the event of the sickly kings death. Maria was already an adult woman at the time of the marriage, while the Infanta was still a young girl. House of Bourbon Nevertheless, Bourbons action brought a very negative response from Spain, and for his incompetence Bourbon was soon replaced by CardinalAndre Hercule de Fleury, the young kings tutor, in . Fleury was a peace loving man who intended to keep France out of war, but circumstances presented themselves that made this impossible. The first cause of these wars came in when Augustus II, the elector of Saxony and king of Poland died. With French backing Stanislas was again elected king. This brought France into conflict with Russia and Austria who supported Augustus III, duke of Saxony and son of Augustus II. Stanislas lost the Polish crown, but he was given the Duchy of Lorraine as compensation, which would pass to France after his death. Next came the War of the Austrian Succession in in which France supported King Frederick II of Prussia against Maria Theresa of Austria, archduchess of Austria. Fleury died in before the conclusion of the war. Shortly after Fleurys death in Louis was most influenced by his mistress the Marquise de Pompadour. She reversed the policy of France in by creating an alliance with Austria against Prussia in the Seven Years War. The war was a disaster for France, losing most of her overseas possessions to the British in the Treaty of Paris in . Louis only son died in making his grandson the Dauphin. Maria, his wife, died in and Louis himself died on May . A posthumous mural commissioned around by Philippe de France.It shows the French Bourbon Family around that time. It includes Henrietta Maria of France d , exiled Queen of England Philippe I, Duke of Orlans, founder of the House of Orlans his first wife Princess Henriette d the couples first daughter Marie Louise dOrlans later Queen of SpainAnne of Austria d the Orlans daughters of Gaston de France Louis XIV the Dauphin of France with his wife Maria Theresa of Spain with her third daughter MarieThrse de France, called Madame Royale d and her second son PhilippeCharles de France, duc dAnjou d. The first daughter of Gaston stands on the far rightAnne Marie Louise dOrlans. The picture frame with the children are the other daughters of Louis and Maria Theresa who died in and . House of Bourbon French Revolution Louis XVI had become the dauphin of France upon the death of his father, the son of Louis XV, in . He married Marie Antoinette of Austria, a daughter of Maria Theresa, in . Louis intervened in the American Revolution against Britain in , but he is most remembered for his role in the French Revolution. France was in financial turmoil and Louis was forced to convene the EstatesGeneral on May . They formed the National Assembly and forced Louis to accept a Philip V of Spain and his family with his second wife, Elisabeth of Parma. constitution that limited his powers on July . He tried to flee France in June , but was captured. The French monarchy was abolished on September and a republic was proclaimed. The chain of Bourbon monarchs begun in was broken. Louis XVI was executed on January . Marie Antoinette and her son, Louis, were held as prisoners. Many French royalists proclaimed him Louis XVII, but he never reigned. She was executed on October . He died of tuberculosis on June at the age of ten while in captivity. The French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars spread nationalism and antiabsolutism throughout Europe, and the other Bourbon monarchs were threatened. Ferdinand was forced to flee from Naples in when Napoleon Bonaparte deposed him and installed his brother, Joseph, as king. Ferdinand continued to rule from Sicily until . Napoleon conquered Parma in and compensated the Bourbon duke with Etruria, a new kingdom he created from the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. It was shortlived, as Napoleon annexed Etruria in . King Charles IV of Spain had been an ally of France. He succeeded his father, Charles III, in . At first he declared war on France on March , but he made peace on June . This peace became an alliance on August . His chief minister, Manuel de Godoy convinced Charles that his son, Ferdinand, was plotting to overthrow him. Napoleon exploited the situation and invaded Spain in March . This led to an uprising that forced Charles to abdicate on March in favor of his son, Ferdinand VII. Napoleon forced Ferdinand to return the crown to Charles on April and then convinced Charles to relinquish it to him on May. In turn, he gave it to his brother, Joseph, king of Naples on June. Joseph abandoned Naples to Joachim Murat, the husband of Napoleons sister. This was very unpopular in Spain and resulted in the Peninsular War, a struggle that would contribute to the downfall of Napoleon. House of Bourbon The Bourbon Restoration With the abdication of Napoleon on April the Bourbon Dynasty was restored to the kingdom of France in the person of Louis XVIII, brother of Louis XVI. Napoleon escaped from exile and Louis fled in March . Louis was again restored after the Battle of Waterloo on July. The conservative elements of Europe dominated the postNapoleonic age, but the values of the French Revolution could not be easily swept aside. Louis granted a constitution on June to appease the liberals, but the ultraroyalist party, led by his brother, The standard of the French royal family under the Ancien Rgime and the restoration period. Charles, continued to influence his reign. When he died in his brother became king as Charles X much to the dismay of French liberals. In a saying ascribed to Talleyrand, quotthey had learned nothing and forgotten nothingquot. Aftermath Charles passed several laws that appealed to the upper class, but angered the middle class. The situation came to a head when he appointed a new minister on August who did not have the confidence of the chamber. The chamber censured the king on March and in response Charles proclaimed five ordinances on July intended to silence criticism against him. This almost resulted in another revolution as dramatic as the one in , but moderates were able to control the situation. As a compromise the crown was offered to LouisPhilippe, duke of Orlans, a descendant of the brother of Louis XIV, and the head of the Orleanist cadet branch of the Bourbons. He was proclaimed King of the French on August. The resulting regime, known as the July monarchy, lasted until the Revolution of . The Bourbon monarchy in France ended on February , when LouisPhilippe was forced to abdicate and the shortlived French Second Republic was established. Some legitimists refused to recognize the Orleanist monarchy. After the death of Charles in his son was proclaimed Louis XIX, though this title was never formally recognized. Charles grandson Henri, comte de Chambord, the last Bourbon claimant of the French crown, was proclaimed by some Henry V, but the French monarchy was never restored. Following the collapse of the empire of Emperor Napoleon III, Henri was offered a restored throne. However Chambord refused to accept the throne unless France abandoned the revolutioninspired tricolour and accepted what he regarded as the true Bourbon flag of France. The tricolour, originally associated with the French Revolution and the First French Republic, had been used by the July Monarchy, the Second Republic and both Empires the French National Assembly could not possibly agree. A temporary Third Republic was established, while monarchists waited for the comte de Chambord to die and for the succession to pass to the Comte de Paris, who was willing to accept the tricolour. Henri lived until , by which time public opinion had come to accept the republic as the quotform of government that divides us least.quot His death without issue marked the extinction of the French Bourbons. Thus head of the House of Bourbon became the now eldest male heir of the dynasty Juan, Count of Montizn of the Spanish line of the house who was also Carlist claimant to the throne of Spain. His heir as eldest Bourbon and head of the house is today Louis Alphonse, Duke of Anjou. By an ordinance of Louis Philippe I of France of August , it was decided that the kings children and his sister would continue to bear the arms of Orlans, that LouisPhilippes eldest son, as Prince Royal, would bear the House of Bourbon title of duc dOrlans, that the younger sons would continue to have their existing titles, and that the sister and daughters of the king would only be styled quotprincesses dOrlansquot, which meant the Orlans royalty did not take the name quotof Francequot. Philip V The Spanish branch of the House of Bourbon was founded by Philip V. He was born in in Versailles, the second son of the Grand Dauphin, son of Louis XIV. He was Duke of Anjou and probably never expected to be raised to a rank higher than that. However King Charles II of Spain, dying without issue, willed the throne to his grand nephew the Duke of Anjou, younger grandson of his eldest sister MarieThrse, daughter of King Philip IV of Spain who had married Louis XIV of France. Having a Bourbon king on both the French and Spanish thrones disturbed the balance of power in Europe and upon Charles IIs death on November a Grand Alliance of European nations united against Philip. This was known as the War of Spanish Succession. In the Treaty of Utrecht signed on April Philip was recognized as king of Spain, but Sicily was ceded to Savoy and the Spanish Netherlands, Milan and Naples went to Austria. Philip had two sons from his first wife. After her death he married Elizabeth Farnese, niece of Francesco Farnese, Duke of Parma, in . She presented Philip with three sons, for whom she ambitioned Italian crowns. Thus she induced Philip to occupy Sardinia and Sicily in . A Quadruple Alliance of Britain, France, Austria and the Netherlands, was organized on August to stop him. In the Treaty of The Hague signed on February Philip renounced his claim to Sardinia and Sicily, but assured the ascension of his eldest son with Elizabeth to the Duchy of Parma upon the current dukes death. Philip abdicated in January in favor of Louis I, his eldest son with his first wife, but Louis died in August and Philip resumed the throne. When the War of the Polish Succession began in they saw it as another opportunity to advance the claims of their sons and recover at least part of the former possessions of the Spanish Crown on the Italian peninsula. Philip signed the Family Compact with Louis XV, his nephew and king of France. Charles, duke of Parma since , invaded Naples. At the conclusion of peace on November control of Parma and Piacenza was ceded to Austria which had occupied the duchies but was now forced to recognise Charles as King of Naples and Sicily. Philip also used the War of the Austrian Succession to win more territory in Italy. He did not see it to its conclusion because he died in . Ferdinand VI and Charles III Ferdinand VI, second son of Philip V and his first wife, succeeded his father. He was a peaceloving monarch who kept Spain out of the Seven Years War. He died in in the midst of that conflict and was succeeded by his halfbrother Charles III. Charles was the eldest son of Philip and Elizabeth Farnese. He was born in and had become Duke of Parma when the last Farnese duke died in . Following Spains victory over the Austrians at the battle of Bitonto, it proved inexpedient to reunite Naples and Sicily to Spain, so as a compromise Charles became King of Naples, as Charles IV and VII of Sicily. Following Charles accession to the Spanish throne in he was required, by the Treaty of Naples of October , to abdicate Naples and Sicily to his third son, Ferdinand, thus initiating the branch known as the Neapolitan Bourbons. Charles revived the Family Compact with France on August and joined in the Seven Years War against Britain in the reformist policies he had espoused in Naples were pursued with similar energy in Spain, where he completely overhauled the cumbersome bureaucracy of the state. As a French ally he opposed Britain during the American Revolution in June , supplying large quantities of weapons and munitions to the rebels and keeping one third of all the British forces in the Americas occupied defending Florida and what is now Alabama, which were ultimately recaptured by Spain. Charles died in . House of Bourbon BourbonParma Elizabeth Farneses ambitions were realized at the conclusion of the War of the Austrian Succession in when the Duchey of Parma and Piacenza, already occupied by Spanish troops, were ceded by Austria to her second son, Philip, and combined with the former Gonzaga duchy of Guastalla. Elizabeth died in . Bourbon monarchs outside France Upon the fall of the Napoleonic empire, Ferdinand I was restored to the throne of the kingdom of the Two Sicilies in . His subjects revolted on July and he was forced to grant a constitution on July. Austria invaded in March and revoked the constitution. He was succeeded by his son, Francis I, in and by his grandson, Ferdinand II, in . Another revolution erupted on January and Ferdinand was also forced to grant a constitution on February. This constitution was revoked in . Ferdinand was succeeded by his son, Francis II, in May . When Giuseppe Garibaldi captured Naples on September Francis restored the constitution on July in an attempt to save his sovereignty. He fled to the fortress of Gaeta, which was captured by the Piedmontese troops on February his kingdom was incorporated in the Kingdom of Italy on March , after the fall the fortress of Messina surrendered on March , although the Neapolitan troops in Civitella del Tronto resisted until March. After the fall of Napoleon, Napoleons wife, Maria Louisa, was made Duchess of Parma. As compensation, Charles Louis, the former king of Etruria, was made the Duke of Lucca. When Maria Louisa died in he was restored to Parma as Charles II. Lucca was incorporated into Tuscany. He was succeeded by his son, Charles III, and grandson, Robert I, in . The people of Parma voted for a union with the kingdom of Sardinia on March . After Italian unification in the Bourbon dynasty in Italy was no more. Ferdinand VII was restored to the throne of Spain after the fall of Napoleon in March . Like his Italian Bourbon counterpart his subjects revolted against him in January and he was forced to grant a constitution. A French army invaded in and the constitution was revoked. Ferdinand married his fourth wife, Maria Christina, the daughter of Francis I, the Bourbon king of Sicily, in . Despite his many marriages he did not have a son so on June he was influenced by his wife to abolish the Salic Law so that her daughter, Isabella, could become queen depriving his brother, Don Carlos, of the throne. Isabella II succeeded her father when he died on September . She was only three years old and Maria Cristina, her mother, served as regent. Maria knew that she needed the support of the liberals to oppose Don Carlos so she granted a constitution in . Don Carlos found his greatest support in Catalonia and the Basques country because the constitution centralized the provinces thus denying them the autonomy they sought. He was defeated and fled the country in . Isabella was declared of age in and she married her cousin Francisco de Asis, the son of her fathers brother, on October . A military revolution broke out against Isabella in and she was deposed on September. She abdicated in favor of her son, Alfonso, in , but Spain was proclaimed a republic for a brief time. When the First Spanish Republic failed the crown was offered to Isabellas son who accepted on January as Alfonso XII. Don Carlos, who returned to Spain, was again defeated and resumed his exile in February . Alfonso granted a new constitution on July that was more liberal than the one granted by his grandmother. His reign was cut short when he died in at the age of twentyeight. Alfonso XIII was born on May after the death of his father. His mother, Maria Christina, the second wife of Alfonso XII served as regent. Alfonso XIII was declared of age in and he married Victoria Eugnie Julia Ena of Battenberg, the granddaughter of the British queen Victoria, on May . He remained neutral during World War I, but supported the military coup of Miguel Primo de Rivera on September . A movement towards the House of Bourbon establishment of a republic began in and Alfonso fled the country on April . He never formally abdicated, but lived the rest of his life in exile. He died in . The Bourbon dynasty seemed finished in Spain as in the rest of the world, but it would be resurrected. The Second Spanish Republic was overthrown in the Spanish Civil War, leading to the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. He named Juan Carlos de Borbn, a grandson of Alfonso XIII, his successor on July . When Franco died on November a Bourbon monarch was restored to the throne of Spain two days later as Juan Carlos I. The new king oversaw the Spanish transition to democracy the Spanish Constitution of , approved on September , recognized the monarchy. Though it is not as powerful as it once was under Louis XIV and it no longer reigns in its native country of France, it is by no means extinct, and the House of Bourbon has survived to the presentday world of republics. In a couple of generations or so, the reign of the Bourbons will end in Spain, as the Spanish legislature will almost certainly change the succession law to equal primogeniture. Since the BourbonParma line has reigned agnatically in Luxembourg through Grand Dukes Jean and his son Henri. Thus, with SemiSalic law of succession, Luxembourg would become the last bastion of Bourbon rule in Europe. List of Bourbons from Louis XIV onwards Main article Descendants of Louis XIV of France List of Bourbon rulers France Monarchs of France Dates indicate reigns, not lifetimes. Henry IV, the Great Louis XIII, the Just Louis XIV, the Sun King Louis XV, the WellBeloved Philippe II of Orlans Regent Louis XVI Claimants to the throne of France Dates indicate claims, not lifetimes. Louis XVI Louis XVII Louis XVIII Monarchs of France Dates indicate reigns, not lifetimes. Louis XVIII Charles X LouisPhilippe House of BourbonOrlans House of Bourbon Legitimist claimants in France Dates indicate claims, not lifetimes. Charles X Louis XIX Henri V Unionist Legitimists and Orlanists claimants in France Dates indicate claims, not lifetimes. Philippe, Comte de Paris Philippe VII Philippe, Duc dOrlans Philippe VIII Jean, Duc de Guise Jean III Henri, Comte de Paris Henry VI Henri, Comte de Paris, Duc de France Henry VII Present Legitimist claimants in France Spanish branch Dates indicate claims, not lifetimes. Jean III Charles XI Jacques I Charles XII Alphonse I respectful of the international treaties and of the ancient laws and customs of the Kingdom of France, he never claimed the Throne of France Henri VI Alphonse II Louis XX present Spain Heads of the Spanish House of Bourbon Dates indicate years as head of the house, not lifetime. Where reign as king of Spain is different, this is noted. Philip V and Louis I ruled less than one year Ferdinand VI Charles III Charles IV Ferdinand VII, El Deseado King , Isabella II Queen Alfonso XII King Alfonso XIII King Juan, Count of Barcelona Juan Carlos I present King present House of Bourbon Carlist claimants in Spain Dates indicate reigns, not lifetimes. Carlos V Carlos VI Juan II Carlos VII Jaime III Alfonso Carlos I Xavier I Carlos Hugo I Sixto Enrique I present Luxembourg Grand Dukes of Luxembourg Dates indicate reigns, not lifetimes. Jean Henri present Other significant Bourbon titles Dukes of Bourbon Dukes of Montpensier Dukes of Vendme Dukes of Anjou Kings of the Two Sicilies Dukes of Parma Dukes of Orlans Princes of OrlansBraganza Princes of Cond Princes of Conti Notable Bourbon branches Notable legitimate branches House of BourbonOrlans Called the House of Orlans and holders of the title Duke of Orlans. This house was founded by the younger brother of Louis XIV Philippe I, Duke of Orlans. This is the oldest and thus, the most genealogically junior surviving cadet branch of the House of Bourbon. House of BourbonTwo Sicilies House of BourbonParma House of BourbonBraganza also called Branch of the Infant Gabriel House of BourbonOrlansBraganza called the House of OrlansBraganza and now representing the Brazilian Imperial Family House of BourbonMontpensier extinct House of BourbonCond extinct House of BourbonConti extinct House of Bourbon House of BourbonLa Marche extinct House of BourbonSoissons extinct Notable morganatic branches House of BourbonOrlansGalliera called the House of OrlansGalliera Notable illegitimate branches BourbonBusset BourbonVendme extinct at the death of Louis Joseph de Bourbon, duc de Vendme, great grandson of Henry IV of France BourbonMaine extinct at the death of Louis Charles de Bourbon, comte dEu, grandson of Louis XIV BourbonPenthivre extinct at the death of Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon, duc de Penthivre in but his daughter Louise Marie Adlade de BourbonPenthivre who died in inherited all of the BourbonPenthivre wealth / References The Royal Household of His Majesty the King Welcome http/ / www. casareal. es/ smrey/ indexidenidweb. html The English language version of the Official Royal Family website is rendered as Borbon Frieda, Leonie, Catherine de Medici In French Ils nont rien appris, ni rien oubli. There is no historic evidence linking the saying to Talleyrand. It may derive from a similar lamentation about the royalists, found in a letter by Charles Louis Etienne, chevalier de Panat, a French naval officer, dated January and sent from London to Mallet du Pan personne na su ni rien oublier, ni rien apprendre quotnobody has been able to forget anything, nor to learn anythingquot, included in A.Sayou, ed . Mmoires et correspondance de Mallet du Pan http/ / books. google. com/ booksidLZpCAAAAYAAJamp pgPA. II. p.. . Letter of the Count of Barcelona to the Spanish Minister of Justice http/ / www. heraldica. org/ topics/ national/ spsucc. htmjuan Further reading Bergamini, John D. The Spanish Bourbons The History of a Tenacious Dynasty. Putnam, . Petrie, Sir Charles. The Spanish Royal House. Geoffrey Bles, . Seward, Desmond. The Bourbon Kings of France. Barnes amp Noble, . Van Kerrebrouck, Patrick. La Maison de Bourbon, . v. Villeneuve dAscq, France The Author, . only Vol. amp Vol. have been published as of . J. H. Shennan, The Bourbons The History of a Dynasty London, Hambledon Continuum, . Klaus Malettke, Die Bourbonen. Band I Von Heinrich IV. bis Ludwig XV. Stuttgart, W. Kohlhammer, Band II Von Ludwig XV. bis Ludwig XVI. / Stuttgart, W. Kohlhammer, Band III Von Ludwig XVIII. bis zu Louis Philippe Stuttgart, W. Kohlhammer, . Juan Carlos I of Spain Juan Carlos I of Spain Juan Carlos I King of Spain more Reign Anointment Predecessor Heir apparent President of the Government Consort Issue Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo Infanta Cristina, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca Felipe, Prince of Asturias Full name Juan Carlos Alfonso Vctor Mara House Father Mother Born Religion House of Bourbon November present years, days November aged Francisco Franco Felipe, Prince of Asturias Sophia of Greece and Denmark Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona Princess Maria Mercedes of BourbonTwo Sicilies January Rome, Italy Roman Catholic Church Juan Carlos I of Spain Spanish Royal Family HM The King HM The Queen HRH The Prince of Asturias HRH The Princess of Asturias HRH Infanta Leonor HRH Infanta Sofa HRH The Duchess of Lugo HE Don Felipe HE Doa Victoria HRH The Duchess of Palma de Mallorca HE The Duke of Palma de Mallorca HE Don Juan Valentn HE Don Pablo HE Don Miguel HE Doa Irene Royal styles of King Juan Carlos Reference style Spoken style His Majesty Your Majesty Alternative style Sire Juan Carlos I baptized as Juan Carlos Alfonso Vctor Mara de Borbn y BorbnDos Sicilias born January is the reigning King of Spain. On November , two days after the death of dictator Francisco Franco, Juan Carlos was designated king according to the law of succession promulgated by Franco. The Spanish throne had been vacant for years in when Franco named Juan Carlos as the next head of state. The Spanish Constitution of , voted in referendum, acknowledges him expressly as King of Spain. The Spanish Constitution, Title II the Crown, Article , Subsection , affirms the role of the Spanish monarch as the personification and embodiment of the Spanish nation, a symbol of Spains enduring unity and permanence and as such, the monarch is the headofstate and commanderinchief of the Spanish Armed Forces in a system known in Spanish as quotmonarqua parlamentariaquot parliamentary monarchy. King Juan Carlos successfully oversaw the transition of Spain from dictatorship to parliamentary democracy. Juan Carlos married Sophia of Greece and Denmark in . The couple have three children and eight grandchildren. Juan Carlos I of Spain Polls from show that he is widely approved of by Spaniards. According to the Spanish Constitution, the monarch is also instrumental in promoting IberoAmerican relations, the quotnations of its historical communityquot. In this capacity, the King of Spain serves as the president of the IberoAmerican States Organization, representing over ,, people in member nations worldwide. In he was considered the most popular leader in all IberoAmerica. Early life Juan Carlos of Spain was born to the Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona and the Princess Mara Mercedes of BourbonTwo Sicilies in Rome, Italy, where his grandfather, King Alfonso XIII and other members of the Spanish royal family had settled following the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic in . His early life was dictated largely by the political concerns of his father and General Franco. He moved to Spain in to be educated there after his father persuaded Franco to allow this. He began his studies in San Sebastin and finished them in at the San Isidro Institute in Madrid. He then joined the army, doing his officer training from to at the Military Academy of Zaragoza. Juan Carlos has two sisters and one brother Infanta Pilar, Duchess of Badajoz born , and Infanta Margarita, Duchess of Soria born and his younger brother Alfonso. In March , Juan Carloss younger brother Alfonso died in a gun accident at the familys home Villa Giralda in Estoril, Portugal. The Spanish Embassy in Portugal issued an official communiqu Whilst His Highness Prince Alfonso was cleaning a revolver last evening with his brother, a shot was fired hitting his forehead and killing him in a few minutes. The accident took place at . hours, after the Infantes return from the Maundy Thursday religious service, during which he had received holy communion. Very quickly, however, rumours appeared in newspapers that the gun had actually been held by Juan Carlos at the moment the shot was fired. Josefina Carolo, dressmaker to Juan Carloss mother, said that Juan Carlos pointed the pistol at Alfonso and pulled the trigger, unaware that the pistol was loaded. Bernardo Arnoso, a Portuguese friend of Juan Carlos, also said that Juan Carlos fired the pistol not knowing that it was loaded, and adding that the bullet ricocheted off a wall hitting Alfonso in the face. Helena Matheopoulos, a Greek author who spoke with Juan Carloss sister Pilar, said that Alfonso had been out of the room and when he returned and pushed the door open, the door knocked Juan Carlos in the arm causing him to fire the pistol. In Juan Carlos spent a year in the naval school at Marin, Pontevedra and another in the Air Force school in San Javier in Murcia. In he graduated from the Complutense University. He then went to live in the Palace of Zarzuela, and began carrying out official engagements. Prince of Spain, The dictatorial regime of Francisco Franco had come to power during the Spanish Civil War, which had pitted democrats, anarchists, socialists, and Communists supported in part by the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and by international volunteers, against conservatives, monarchists, nationalists, and fascists, with the latter group ultimately emerging successful with the support of neighbouring Portugal and the major European Axis powers of Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. Despite his alliance with monarchists, Franco was not eager to restore the deposed Spanish monarchy once in power, preferring to head a regime with himself as head of state for life. Though Francos partisan supporters generally accepted this arrangement for the present, much debate quickly ensued over who would replace Franco upon his death. The far right factions demanded the return of a hardline absolute monarchy, and eventually Franco agreed that his successor would be a monarch. Franco, a Carlist by some accounts, had no intention of restoring the constitutional form of monarchy known during the th Century or the republican form of government created by the Spanish Constitution of . Juan Carlos I of Spain The heir to the throne of Spain was Juan de Borbn Count of Barcelona, the son of the late Alfonso XIII. However, General Franco viewed the heir with extreme suspicion, believing him to be a liberal who was opposed to his regime. Franco then considered giving the Spanish throne to Juan Carloss cousin Alfonso, Duke of Anjou and Cdiz. Alfonso was known to be an ardent Francoist and would marry Francos granddaughter, Doa Mara del Carmen MartnezBordi y Franco in . In response, Juan Carlos started to use his second name Carlos to assert his claim to the heritage of the Carlist branch of his family. Ultimately, Franco decided to skip a generation and name Juan de Borbns son, Prince Juan Carlos, as his personal successor. Franco hoped the young prince could be groomed to take over the nation while still maintaining the ultraconservative nature of his regime. In , Juan Carlos was officially designated heir and was given the new title of Prince of Spain not the traditional Prince of Asturias. As a condition of being named heirapparent, he had to swear loyalty to Francos Movimiento Nacional, which he did with little outward hesitation. Prince Juan Carlos met and consulted Franco many times while heir apparent and often took part in official and ceremonial state functions standing alongside the dictator, much to the anger of hardline republicans and more moderate liberals, who had hoped that Francos death would bring in an era of reform. During , Juan Carlos publicly supported Francos regime. Although Francos health worsened during those years, whenever he did appear in public, from state dinners to military parades, it was in Juan Carlos company as he continued to praise Franco and his government for the economic growth and positive changes in Spain. However, as the years progressed, Juan Carlos began meeting secretly with political opposition leaders and exiles, who were fighting to bring liberal reform to the country. He also had secret conversations with his father over the telephone. Franco, for his part, remained largely oblivious to the princes actions and denied allegations from his ministers and advisors that Juan Carlos was in any way disloyal to his vision of the regime. During periods of Francos temporary incapacity in and Juan Carlos was acting head of state. Near death, on October , Franco gave full control to Juan Carlos. On November, following Francos death, the Cortes Generales proclaimed Juan Carlos King of Spain and on November, Juan Carlos was anointed king in a ceremony called Holy Spirit Mass, which was the equivalent of a coronation, at the Jernimos Church in Madrid. He opted not to call himself John III or Charles V, but by his Spanish name of Juan Carlos I. Restoration of the monarchy After dictator Francos death, King Juan Carlos I quickly instituted reforms, to the great displeasure of Falangist and conservative monarchist elements, especially in the military, who had expected him to maintain the authoritarian state. He appointed Adolfo Surez, a former leader of the Movimiento Nacional, as Prime Minister of Spain. Royal trips of King Juan Carlos I from until today. Juan Carlos I of Spain On May , the leader of the only recently legalized Spanish Socialist Workers Party PSOE Felipe Gonzlez, accompanied by Javier Solana, visited Juan Carlos in the Zarzuela Palace. The event represented a key endorsement of the monarchy from Spains political left, who had been historically republican. Leftwing support for the monarchy grew when the Communist Party of Spain was legalized shortly thereafter, a move Juan Carlos had pressed for, despite enormous rightwing military opposition at that time, during the Cold War. On June , Spain held its first postFranco democratic elections. In , a new Constitution was promulgated that acknowledged Juan Carlos as rightful heir of the Spanish dynasty and King specifically, Title II, Section asserted Juan Carlos right to the throne of Spain by dynastic succession in the Borbn tradition, Juan Carlos greeting Nicolae Ceauescu, President of Romania, as quotthe legitimate heir of the historic dynastyquot rather during his visit to Spain in than as the designated successor of Franco. The Constitution was passed by the democratically elected Constituent Cortes, ratified by the people in a referendum December and then signed into law by the King before a solemn meeting of the Cortes. Further legitimacy had been restored to Juan Carlos position on May , when his father, Don Juan whom many monarchists had recognized as the legitimate, exiled King of Spain during the Franco era, formally renounced his claim to the Throne and recognized his son as the sole head of the Spanish Royal House, transferring to him the historical heritage of the Spanish monarchy, thus making Juan Carlos both the de facto and the de jure rightful King in the eyes of the traditional monarchists. Juan Carlos, who had already been King since Francos death, gave an acceptance address after his fathers resignation speech and thanked him by confirming the title of Count of Barcelona that Don Juan had assumed in exile. It was a sovereign title associated to the crown. An attempted military coup, known as F, occurred on February . In this coup the Cortes were seized by members of the Guardia Civil in the parliamentary chamber. Believed to be a major factor in foiling the coup was the public television broadcast by the king, calling for unambiguous support for the legitimate democratic government. Certainly, in the hours before his speech, he had personally called many senior military figures to tell them that he was opposed to the coup and that they had to defend the democratic government. When Juan Carlos became king, Communist leader Santiago Carrillo nicknamed him Juan Carlos the Brief, predicting that the monarchy would soon be swept away with the other remnants of the Franco era. After the collapse of the attempted coup mentioned above, however, in an emotional statement, Carrillo told television viewers quotGod save the king.quot The Communist leader also remarked quotToday, we are all monarchists.quot If public support for the monarchy among democrats and leftists before had been limited, following the kings handling of the coup, it became significantly greater. According to a poll in the newspaper El Mundo in November , . of Spaniards thought Juan Carlos was quotgood or very goodquot, . quotnot so goodquot, and only . quotbad or very badquot. Even so, the issue of the monarchy reemerged on September as photos of the king were burnt in public in Catalonia by small groups of protesters wanting the restoration of the Republic. In July , Juan Carlos was the target of an enraged protester and some think a possible royal assassin when Juan Mara Fernndez y Krohn, who had previously tried to take the life of Pope John Paul II, began shouting Juan Carlos I of Spain quotMurderer Murdererquot at the king in reference to the adolescent shooting of the kings younger brother and then approached him in a very threatening manner. Role in contemporary Spanish politics The election of socialist leader Felipe Gonzlez to the Spanish prime ministership in marked the effective end of the Kings active involvement in Spanish politics. Gonzlez would govern for over a decade, and his administration helped consolidate the democratic gains and thus maintained the stability of the nation. While the king is generally reckoned as having a merely ceremonial role in politics, he commands great moral authority as an essential symbol of the countrys unity. Under the constitution, the King has immunity from prosecution in matters relating to his official duties. This is so because every act of the King as such and not as a citizen needs to be undersigned by a government official, thus making the undersigner responsible instead of the king. Offences against the honour of the Royal Family are specially protected by the Spanish Penal Code. Under this protection, Basque independentist Arnaldo Otegi and cartoonists from El Jueves were tried and punished. The King gives an annual speech to the nation on Christmas Eve. He is the commanderinchief of the Spanish armed forces. When the media asked Juan Carlos in if he would endorse the bill legalizing gay marriage that was then being debated in the Cortes Generales, he answered quotSoy el Rey de Espaa y no el de Blgicaquot quotI am the King of Spain, not of Belgiumquot a reference to King Baudouin I of Belgium, who refused to sign the Belgian law legalising abortion. The King gave his Royal Assent to Law / on July the law legalizing gay marriage was gazetted in the Boletn Oficial del Estado on July, and came into effect on July. The King center standing with the presidents of all the other Iberoamerican Nations present at the XVIII IberoAmerican Summit. In November at the IberoAmerican Summit in Santiago de Chile, during a heated exchange, Juan Carlos interrupted Venezuelan President Hugo Chvez and asked him, quotPor qu no te callasquot quotWhy dont you shut upquot. Chvez had been interrupting the Spanish Prime Minister, Jos Luis Rodrguez Zapatero, while the latter was defending his predecessor and political opponent, Jos Mara Aznar, after Chvez had referred to Aznar as a fascist and quotless human than snakesquot. The King shortly afterwards left the hall when President Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua accused Spain of intervention in his countrys elections and complained about some Spanish energy companies working in Nicaragua. This was an unprecedented diplomatic incident and a rare display of public anger by the King. Juan Carlos I of Spain Popularity in Portugal and the Iberian Union question A poll from taken in Portugal shows that of the Portuguese were in favour of an Iberian Union and wished to become Spanish having Juan Carlos I as their King which could also be a sign of discontent with local politicians, and followed attentively the Spanish Royal Familys life, while a similar poll taken in Spain states that . of the Spanish also wish an Iberian Union, a number that rises to . in ages between and . A new poll from presents a rise in the Portuguese supporters of such a union from . to . and in the Spanish supporters from to .. Family and private life Juan Carlos was married in Athens at the Church of Saint Dennis on May , to HRH Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark, daughter of King Paul. She was Greek Orthodox but converted to Roman Catholicism in order to become Spains queen. They have two daughters and a son. Infanta Elena Mara Isabel Dominica Infanta Cristina Federica Victoria Antonia Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso, Prince of Asturias In , Juan Carlos, a keen sailor, competed in the Dragon class event at the Olympic Games, though he did not win any medals. In their summer holidays, the whole family meets in Marivent Palace Palma de Mallorca and the Fortuna yacht, where they take part in sailing competitions. The king has manned the Bribn series of yachts. In winter, they usually go skiing in BaqueiraBeret and Candanch Pyrenees, where the king has occasionally ended with a broken leg. Juan Carlos also enjoys bear hunting. In October , he angered environmental activists by killing nine bears of which one was a pregnant female in central Romania. In August , it is alleged that Juan Carlos shot a drunken tame bear Mitrofan during a private hunting trip to Russia. The Office of the Spanish Monarchy denies this claim, which was made by the Russian regional authorities. King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofa with U.S. President George W. Bush and Laura Bush . The King in . Juan Carlos and Sophia are fluent in several languages. They both speak Spanish, English, and French. The king also speaks fluent Italian and Catalan. Unlike the queen, Juan Carlos does not speak any German, nor her native language, Greek, a fact he regrets. Juan Carlos is an amateur radio operator and holds the call sign EAJC. His fondness of incognito motorbike riding has raised urban legends of people finding him on lonely roads. Even to the extent that a biker out of petrol stranded on a hot sunny day was assisted by a fellow motorcyclist who returned with a small container of petrol, the goodSamaritan on removing his helmet was apparently, Juan Carlos. Juan Carlos is member of the World Scout Foundation. Juan Carlos I of Spain Health A benign tumour was removed from King Juan Carlos lung in an operation carried out in the quotHospital Clnicquot of Barcelona on Saturday May . The year old Monarch was expected to be allowed home in three or four days, and able to renew full physical activity in a fortnight. The operation came as a result of the Kings latest annual checkup, and doctors said the procedure went well and Juan Carlos would not need any further followup treatment. At a press convention the operating team said that the mm tumour which had been removed under a general anaesthetic from the right lung contained no malignant cells. This is good news, said doctor Laureano Molins, who had directed the operation. The king is featured on the Spanish and euro coins Titles, styles, honours and arms Titles The current Spanish constitution refers to the monarchy as quotthe Crown of Spainquot and the constitutional title of the monarch is simply Rey/Reina de Espaa that is, quotking/queen of Spainquot. However, the constitution allows for the use of other historic titles pertaining to the Spanish monarchy, without specifying them. A decree promulgated November at the Council of Ministers regulates the titles further, and on that basis the monarch of Spain has a right to use quotmay usequot those other titles appertaining to the Crown. Contrary to some belief, the long titulary that contains the list of over kingdoms, etc., is not in state use, nor is it used in Spanish diplomacy. In fact, it has never been in use in that form, as quotSpainquot was never a part of the list in pre era when the long list was officially used. Royal Monogram This feudal style was last used officially in , in the titulary of Isabella II of Spain before she became constitutional Queen. Juan Carloss titles include that of King of Jerusalem, as successor to the royal family of Naples. Juan Carlos I of Spain Titles in official use King of Spain, of Castile, of Len, of Aragon, of the Two Sicilies Naples and Sicily, of Jerusalem, of Navarre, of Granada, of Toledo, of Valencia, of Galicia, of Majorca, of Seville, of Sardinia, of Crdoba, of Corsica, of Murcia, of Menorca, of Jan, of Algeciras, of Gibraltar, of the Canary Islands, of the East and West Indies and of the Islands and Mainland of the Ocean Sea Archduke of Austria Duke of Burgundy, of Brabant, of Milan, and of Neopatra New Patras Count of Habsburg, of Flanders, of Tyrol, of Roussillon and of Barcelona Lord of Biscay and of Molina Honours Sovereign of the Order of the Golden Fleece Spain The Standard of the King of Spain. Grand Master of the Royal and Distinguished Order of Charles III Spain Grand Master of the Royal Order of Isabel the Catholic Spain Grand Master of the Royal and Military Order of St. Hermenegildo Spain Grand Master of the Royal and Military Order of Saint Ferdinand Spain Grand Master of the Order of Montesa Spain Grand Master of the Order of Alcntara Spain Grand Master of the Order of Calatrava Spain Grand Master of the Order of Santiago Spain Grand Cross of the Legion d Honor franch Knight Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry Portugal Knight th of the Order of the Garter United Kingdom Royal Victorian Chain United Kingdom Knight of the Order of the White Lion Czech Republic Knight of the Order of the Rajamitrabhorn Thailand Knight Grand Cross of Justice of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George House of Bourbon Knight of the Order of Saint Januarius House of BourbonTwo Sicilies Knight of the Order of the Most Holy Annunciation House of Savoy Lord Protector of the International Order of St Hubertus Other honours The king has been the recipient of numerous honorary degrees, including from University of Santo Tomas, Philippines Harvard University Southern Methodist University where, in , he formally opened the Meadows Museum, housing the largest collection of Spanish art outside Spain, and Georgetown University. Juan Carlos also has received honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from New York University, the University of Cambridge and the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands October . In , NYU opened the King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center to promote research and teaching on Spain and the Spanishspeaking world in the historic Judson Hall and adjacent buildings on Washington Square in New York City. He is also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution organization. In , he received the Jean Monnet award of the Jean Monnet Foundation for Europe for his work on integrating Spain into the European Juan Carlos I of Spain Community. Juan Carlos I Park, the main municipal park of Madrid, was named after the king. The Spanish Antarctic Base on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named for King Juan Carlos I of Spain. The multipurpose warship Juan Carlos I of the Spanish navy is named for King Juan Carlos I. Juan Carlos also was awarded the Charlemagne Prize in . Ancestors King Juan Carlos is a direct descendant of many famous European rulers from different countries. He is a descendant of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom through his grandmother, Victoria Eugenie of Louis XIV of France through the House of Bourbon of the Emperor Charles V, who belonged to the Habsburg dynasty of the Holy Roman Empire. The Capetian dynasty to which he belongs is the oldest in Europe. Some of his distant ancestors include Joan, Duchess of Burgundy and queen consort of Philip VI of France. He is a descendant of Maria Leszczyska, daughter of King Stanislaus Leszczynski of Poland, and Queen Consort of France through an unbroken line of Bourbon princesses who married within the Bourbon house. Hes also a descendant of Pelagius, first king a.C during the Reconquista, as descendant of the kings of Castile and Leon, and through him the Visigothic kings. The King is a direct descendent of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. The Coat of arms of the King of Spain. References Notes http/ / www. casareal. es/ smrey/ indexidenidweb. html The English language version of the Official Royal Family website is rendered as Borbon, while in Spanish it is Borbn His name, while rarely anglicised, is rendered as John Charles Alphonse Victor Mary of Bourbon and BourbonTwo Sicilies. He was given these baptismal names after his father Juan de Borbn, grandfather Alfonso XIII and maternal grandfather Prince Charles of BourbonTwo Sicilies. quotThose Apprentice Kings and Queens Who May One Day Ascend a Throne,quot http/ / select. nytimes. com/ gst/ abstract. htmlresFCFDACAADFFamp scpamp sqakihito and Windsoramp stcse New York Times. November . Ttulo II. De la Corona, Wikisource http/ / es. wikisource. org/ wiki/ Constitucinespaolade Title II, Article , Subsection , Text The King is Head of State, the symbol of its unity and permanence. He arbitrates and moderates the regular functioning of the institutions, assumes the highest representation of the Spanish State in international relations, especially with the nations of its historical community, and exercises the functions expressly conferred on him by the Constitution and the laws El Rey es el Jefe del Estado, smbolo de su unidad y permanencia, arbitra y modera el funcionamiento regular de las instituciones, asume la ms alta representacin del Estado espaol en las relaciones internacionales, especialmente con las naciones de su comunidad histrica, y ejerce las funciones que le atribuyen expresamente la Constitucin y las leyes Spanish Los espaoles de hoy y el franquismo http/ / www. elpais. com/ especiales/ / rey/ rey. swf, quotThe Spaniards of today and Francoismquot, El Pas, undatedAdobe Shockwave file, part of Un rey para una democracia http/ / www. elpais. com/ especiales/ / rey/ , . Accessed online December . Juan Carlos most popular leader in IberoAmerica spanish http/ / www. elmundo. es/ elmundo/ / / / internacional/ . html Quoted in Paul Preston, Juan Carlos Steering Spain from Dictatorship to Democracy New York W.W. Norton, , . Preston, . Title II, Section , Subsection quotThe Crown shall be inherited by the successors of H.M. Juan Carlos I de Borbn, the legitimae heir of the historic dynasty.quot quotLa Corona de Espaa es hereditaria en los sucesores de S. M. Don Juan Carlos I de Borbn, legtimo heredero de la dinasta histrica.quot Juan Carlos I of Spain English Tarvainen, Sinikka September . Spanish royals worried about protests against monarchy. EUX.TV., September . Retrieved on December from http/ / eux. tv/ article. aspxarticleId. Dutch Cardyn, Hans undated. Belager koning Albert komt er goedkoop vanaf. Het Belgische Koningshuis, undated. Retrieved on December from http/ / www. gva. be/ dossiers/ k/ koningshuis/ actua/ actua. asp. English Basque convicted for king insult http/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ / hi/ europe/ . stm, BBC News, November . Accessed online December . quotDon Juan Carlos, sobre el matrimonio gay Soy el Rey de Espaa y no el de Blgicaquot http/ / www. elmundo. es/ elmundo/ / / / espana/ . html. El Mundo. May . . Retrieved January . Spanish quotDisposiciones Generalesquot http/ / www. boe. es/ boe/ dias/ / / / pdfs/ A. pdf PDF. Boletin Oficial del Estado. June . . Retrieved January . Spanish Spanish quotEl Rey Don Juan Carlos a Hugo Chvez quotPor qu no te callasquotquot http/ / www. antena. com/ anoticias/ servlet/ Noticiasdestino. . / an/ noticia/ noticia. jspamp sidicomsiamp id. Antena . November . . Retrieved November . quotKing Juan Carlos to Hugo Chvez Why dont you shut upquot Spanish quotNunca se haba visto al Rey tan enfadado en pblicoquot http/ / www. elperiodico. com/ default. aspidpublicacioPKamp idiomaCASamp idnoticiaPKamp idseccioPK. November . . Retrieved November . quotNever has the King been seen so angry in publicquot http/ / diario. iol. pt/ noticia. htmlidamp divid http/ / aeiou. expresso. pt/ dosportuguesesqueremuniaoibericaf Romania Elite Hunting Spree Sparks Calls For Better Animal Protection http/ / www. rferl. org/ featuresarticle/ / / bdaaaafefcc. html, RFE/RL, January quotRoyal row over Russian bear fatequot http/ / news. bbc. co. uk/ / hi/ world/ europe/ . stm, BBC, October quotEinladung zun Pressegesprch am .SeptemberWorld Scout Foundation in sterreichSeine Mjestt Carl XVI von Schweden zu Gast in Wienquot http/ / www. ppoe. at/ presse/ pdf/ wsfpressegespraech. pdf in German PDF. Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen sterreichs. . Retrieved September . Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George . quotMembership of the Constantinian Orderquot http/ / www. constantinianorder. org/ index. phpoptioncomcontentamp viewarticleamp idamp Itemid. Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George http/ / www. constantinianorder. org/ . . Retrieved October . The Royal House of the Two Sicilies . quotMEMBERSHIP OF THE ROYAL ILLUSTRIUOS ORDER OF ST. JANUARIUSquot http/ / www. bourbontwosicilies. org/ english/ januariusmembership. html. The Royal House of the Two Sicilies http/ / www. bourbontwosicilies. org/ . . Retrieved October . The Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation http/ / www. chivalricorders. org/ orders/ italian/ annunz. htm Website ChivalricOrders.org English quotHonorary Doctorates conferred upon HM the Kingquot http/ / www. casareal. es/ smrey/ doctoradosidenidweb. html/ . website. Official site of the Royal Household of HM the King. . Retrieved February . English Honorary doctors http/ / www. uu. nl/ uupublish/ homeuu/ homeenglish/ aboututrechtuniv/ factsandfigures/ honorarydoctorat/ honorarydoctors/ main. html, Utrecht University. Accessed online December . English Edward F. Butler, Spains Involvement in the American Revolutionary War, Part http/ / www. sar. org/ mxssar/ spinvo. htm, National Society of Sons of the American Revolution, November . Accessed online December . English quotInternational Distinctions awarded to HM the Kingquot http/ / www. casareal. es/ smrey/ premiosidenidweb. html/ . website. Official site of the Royal Household of HM the King. . Retrieved February . Scolovsky, Jerome. quot Spains Royal Family Under Fire http/ / www. npr. org/ templates/ story/ story. phpstoryId.quot National Public Radio. October . Retrieved on March . English http/ / www. militarytoday. com/ navy/ juancarlos. htm, www.MilitaryToday.com Juan Carlos I. Accessed online January . Paul Preston, Juan Carlos Steering Spain from Dictatorship to Democracy, W W Norton amp Co Inc, June . ISBN . Ronald Hilton, SPAIN King Juan Carlos http//wais.stanford.edu/Spain/spainkingjuancarlos.html. Juan Carlos I of Spain External links Official website of the Spanish Royal Family http//www.casareal.es Royal House of Spain http//pages.prodigy.net/ptheroff/gotha/spain.html Royal House of Greece http//pages.prodigy.net/ptheroff/gotha/greece.html Juan Carlos I Family Tree http//public.genoom.com/trees/familiareal/juancarlos Spanish king tells Chavez to shut up http//news.bbc.co.uk//hi/americas/.stm Voices of the Transition A Political History of Spain, http//www.voicesofthetransition.net/ Spanish Biography of Juan Carlos I at CIDOB Foundation http//www.cidob.org/es/documentacion/ biografiasliderespoliticos/europa/espana/juancarlosi His pedigree not necessarily reliable http//freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/jamesdow/s/f. htm Earth Times article http//www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/.html Spain supports the monarchy http//www.angusreid.com/polls/view/ spaniardsclearlysupportthemonarchy/ Royals http//news.yahoo.com/s/afp//enafp/spainroyals Queen Sofa of Spain Sofa Queen consort of Spain more Tenure Spouse Issue Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo Infanta Cristina, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca Felipe, Prince of Asturias Full name English Sophia Margaret Victoria Frederica Spanish Sofa Margarita Victoria Federica Greek House Father Mother Born House of Bourbon House of SchleswigHolsteinSonderburgGlcksburg Paul of Greece Frederika of Hanover November Athens, Greece November present Juan Carlos I of Spain Queen Sofa of Spain Signature Religion Roman Catholicism Queen Sofa of Spain ne Princess Sophia Margaret Victoria Frederica of Greece and Denmark Spanish Sofa de Grecia y Dinamarca Greek , Vaslissa Sofa tis Ispanas born November is the wife of King Juan Carlos I of Spain. By birth, she is a Princess of Greece and Denmark. Early life and family Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark was born in Psychiko, Athens, Greece on November , the eldest child of the King Paul of Greece and his wife, Queen Frederika , a former princess of Hanover. Queen Sofia is a member of the SchleswigHolsteinSonderburgGlcksburg dynasty. Her brother is the deposed King Constantine II of Greece and her sister Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark. However, since the abolition of the monarchy, the royal titles are not recognized by the Constitution of Greece. Princess Sophia spent some of her childhood in Egypt where she took her early education in El Nasr Girls College EGC in Alexandria, then went to South Africa during her familys exile from Greece during World War II. They returned to Greece in . She finished her education at the prestigious Schloss Salem boarding school in Southern Germany, and then studied childcare, music and archeology in Athens. Sofia also studied at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. She represented Greece in sailing at the Summer Olympics. Marriage and family On May Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark married Infante Juan Carlos of Spain, whom she met on a cruise of the Greek Islands in , in Athens at the Church of Saint Dennis. In doing so, she relinquished her rights to the throne of Greece and converted to Roman Catholicism from Greek Orthodoxy, an act of convenience in order to become more palatable to Catholic Spain. Further, the Latin transliteration of her Greek name , was changed from Sophia to the Spanish variant Sofa, which nonetheless is pronounced identically to the original Greek version. Sofia was able to bring a cool realism to the marriage and shifted Juan Carlos from the sphere of influence of his father Don Juan to a more realistic rapprochement with Franco. In , Prince Juan Carlos, who was never Prince of Asturias, the traditional title of the heir to the throne, was given the official title of Prince of Spain by the Spanish state this was a title suggested by Sofia herself. Juan Carlos acceded to the throne as Juan Carlos I in . The couple have three children HRH Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo born December , HRH Infanta Cristina, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca born June , and HRH Felipe, Prince of Asturias born January . The King and Queen have eight grandchildren, four boys and four girls Felipe and Victoria from the Infanta Elena Juan, Pablo, Miguel and Irene from the Infanta Cristina and Infanta Leonor, and Infanta Sofa, named in her honor, of Prince Felipe all of whom are in the line of succession to the Spanish Throne. Queen Sofa of Spain Ancestry Queen Sofa is both a greatgreatgranddaughter paternally and a greatgreatgreatgranddaughter maternally of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and is, through several lines, her husbands third cousin. She is a first cousin of Ernst August of Hanover Pretender, and through her greatgrandfather George I of Greece, she is a second cousin to Charles, the Prince of Wales. Through Christian IX of Denmark and Queen Victoria, she is also related to Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and thereby related to all the royal families of Europe. She is also a first cousin once removed of Elizabeth IIs husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Queen Sofia is of Hohenzollern descent through her mother, Frederica of Hanover, and through her paternal grandmother, Sophia of Prussia, and of Romanov descent through her fathers paternal grandmother, Olga Constantinovna of Russia. Royal duties Spanish Royal Family HM The King HM The Queen HRH The Prince of Asturias HRH The Princess of Asturias HRH Infanta Leonor HRH Infanta Sofa HRH The Duchess of Lugo HE Don Felipe HE Doa Victoria HRH The Duchess of Palma de Mallorca HE The Duke of Palma de Mallorca HE Don Juan Valentn HE Don Pablo HE Don Miguel HE Doa Irene Besides travelling with her husband within Spain and abroad, the Queen has her own agenda. She is the executive president of the Queen Sofa Foundation, which in sent funds for relief in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and is the honorary president of the Royal Board on Education and Care of Handicapped Persons and the Foundation for Aid for Drug Addicts. She takes special interest in programs against drug addiction, travelling to conferences in both Spain and abroad. The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofa is named after her, as is Reina Sofa Airport in Tenerife. Queen Sofia is often seen representing the Spanish Royal Family at weddings of other European royal families, most recently at the wedding of Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, and Daniel Westling in and the Queen Sofa of Spain wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in , since her husband the King has expressed his wish not to attend weddings and other such royal functions. As a keen supporter of sports of all kind, the Queen also attended the final match of the Wimbledon Championships Mens Singles where she watched Spanish tennis champion Rafael Nadal win for a second time, as well as the FIFA World Cup where the team from Spain was crowned as world champion. She has been working closely with Dr. Muhammed Yunus on his Grameen Bank or quotVillage Bankquot, which offers microcredits to women across the world. Sofa has travelled to Bangladesh, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador and Mexico to support the activities of the organization led by Yunus. Queen Sofia of Spain has also been a strong supporter of Somaly Mams efforts and that of the NGO she founded, AFESIP Agir pour les Femmes en Situation Prcaire, in combating child prostitution and slavery in Cambodia. In , Somaly Mam was awarded the prestigious Prince of Asturias Awards for International Cooperation in the presence of Queen Sofia. The Queen is an Honorary Member of the San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts and of the Royal Academy of History. She has received Honorary Doctorates from the Universities of Rosario Bogot, Valladolid, Cambridge, Oxford, Georgetown, Evora, St. Marys University, Texas, and New York. Life and lifestyle In addition to Greek and Spanish, she also speaks French, English, Italian, and German. Her Majesty is also considered as one of the most fashionable royals in Europe and theres always great interest in her clothing at royal gatherings. Opinions Greek Royal Family HM The King HM The Queen HRH The Crown Prince HRH The Crown Princess HRH Princess MariaOlympia HRH Prince ConstantineAlexios HRH Prince AchileasAndreas HRH Prince OdysseasKimon HRH Prince AristidisStavros HRH Princess Alexia, Mrs Morales HRH Prince Nikolaos HRH Princess Tatiana HRH Princess Theodora HRH Prince Philippos An interview for the occasion of the Queens th birthday with Opus Dei journalist Pilar Urbano revealed some details of the Queens conservative ideals on politically debated issues and the lifestyle of the Queen. Strong controversy arose from comments against the samesex marriage law recently approved by the Spanish Parliament, Queen Sofa of Spain and also against Gay Pride demonstrations. quotI can understand, accept and respect that there are people of other sexual tendencies, but why should they be proud to be gay she asked. quotShould they ride on a parade float and come out in protests If all of us who are not gay were to parade in the streets, wed halt the traffic in every city. On the subject of gay marriage, legal since in Spain, she offered these thoughts quotIf those people want to live together, dress up like bride and groom and marry, they could have a right to do so, or not, depending on the law of their country, but they should not call this matrimony, because it isnt. These opinions forced the Spanish Monarchy to be the center of the claim for a new Spanish Republic during Gay Pride Parade in Madrid, in which participation of left party Izquierda Unida included showing more than republican flags. She also critizised the military intervention in Afghanistan, where Spanish troops were taking part at the moment, her defence of religious education in schools, and her conviction that gender violence publicity will encourage new cases to happen. Her opinions were the object of lively criticism from LGTB associations and from Spanish intellectuals. Also responding were Spanish republican political parties like IU and ERC. Government party decided to keep silence, while conservative party PP decided to do so, after a first criticism of the Queens political intervention from its representative. Also controversial were her publicly exposing private conversations between King Juan Carlos of Spain and King Hassan II of Morocco, and her revealing King Juan Carloss autocratic references to Spanish regions as quotmy landsquot mis tierras. She mentioned her relationship with her daughterinlaw Letizia Ortiz, a former divorce, saying that Letizia has brought her closer to the people, and that she and Letizia spend time together and visit restaurants and shops. On the election of Barack Obama, she said how surprised she was that for the first time in the USA a black candidate might be elected as president, and said she does not tolerate racism. She also mentioned that the King would never abdicate, and that she is against abortion and euthanasia. After the uproar, a press release was issued mentioning that the Queen considered her words were expressed in private conversations and were inaccurate. Pilar Urbano defended herself saying that the book had been sent to the Palace for approval and that everything in the book is documented. Some members of the Spanish royal family, including the Kings sister, the Infanta Pilar, Duchess of Badajoz who declared her total agreement with Sofia, supported the Queens opinions. Royal styles of Sofa, Queen of Spain Reference style Spoken style Her Majesty Your Majesty Alternative style Maam Queen Sofa of Spain Titles, honours and arms Titles Here is a list of titles Queen Sofa held from birth in chronological order Her Royal Highness Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark Her Royal Highness Princess Sofa of Spain Her Royal Highness The Princess of Spain Her Majesty The Queen of Spain present Spanish honours Dame Grand Collar of The Royal and Distinguished Order of Charles III. Dame of the Royal Order of Queen Maria Luisa ,rd lady on May . Foreign honours Collar of the Order of the Aztec Eagle Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Royal House of Chakri Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion Knight of the Order of the Elephant Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav Member of the Order of the Seraphim Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross Grand Cross of the National Order of the Lgion dhonneur Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olga and St. Sophia Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon Collar Lady of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem Order of the White Double Cross Dame Grand Cordon of the Order of Chula Chom Klao Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Queen of Sheba Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Ojaswi Rajanya Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer Order of the Precious Crown, First Class Dame Grand Cross decorated with Grand Cordon of the Order of St. James of the Sword Wissam alMohammadi Lady of the Order of the Golden Lion of Nassau Dame Grand Cross of Justice of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George Grand Cross with Grand Cordon of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic Order of the White Eagle Poland, Royal Monogram Queen Sofa of Spain The personal coat of arms of HM Sofia, Queen of Spain. It contains the coat of arms of Kingdom of Greece right. Arms The personal coat of arms of the Queen impales the Spanish Royal Arms her husbands shield to the dexter viewers left with her fathers shield, the arms of King Paul of Greece Azure a cross argent inescutcheon, the coat of arms of Denmark as used when George I became king of Greece and showing the dynastic link to the SchleswigHolsteinSonderburgGlcksburg dynasty a shield containing a cross argent fimbriated gules from the Danish flag and subcoats representing Denmark, Schleswig, the former Kalmar Union, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Holstein, Stormarn, Dithmarschen, Lauenburg, Oldenburg, Delmenhorst, and the former Danish royal titles of King of the Wends and Goths. All surmounted by the Spanish Royal Crown Crowns arches differenced as consort and surrounded by the Collar of the Order of Charles III. The Queens coat of arms has no official status. In Spain only the coats of arms of the King and the Prince of Asturias are official. Queen Sofa of Spain References Royal house of Bourbon http/ / web. archive. org/ web/ / http/ / www. geocities. com/ Heartland/ Hills/ / , Unknown publisher, unknown date accessed January Her majesty the Queen http/ / www. sispain. org/ english/ politics/ royal/ queen. html www.sispain.org unknown date accessed January quotNo nos queman a nosotros. Son trozos de papel. Ya se apagarnquot. Confesiones polmicas de la reina Sofa en un libro al cumplir aos en www. elpais.com http/ / www. elpais. com/ articulo/ espana/ nos/ queman/ trozos/ papel/ apagaran/ elpepiesp/ elpepinac/ Tes Malestar en el colectivo homosexual por las palabras de la Reina en www.elpais.com http/ / www. elpais. com/ articulo/ sociedad/ Malestar/ colectivo/ homosexual/ palabras/ Reina/ elpepusoc/ elpepusoc/ Tes PP y PSOE ordenan guardar silencio sobre las declaraciones de la Reina en www.elpais.com http/ / www. elpais. com/ articulo/ espana/ PP/ PSOE/ ordenan/ guardar/ silencio/ declaraciones/ Reina/ elpepiesp/ elpepinac/ Tes Spanish The Arms of the Queen of Spain http/ / blogdeheraldica. blogspot. com/ / / lareinadoasofia. html. Blog de Herldica November . accessed June Spanish The Arms of the Queen of Spain Collar changed http/ / blogdeheraldica. blogspot. com/ / / lasarmasdelareina. html. Blog de Herldica November . accessed June External links Official website of the Spanish Royal Family http//www.casareal.es/ Official website of the Queen Sofia Foundation http//www.fundacionreinasofia.es Royal House of Greece http//pages.prodigy.net/ptheroff/gotha/greece.html Royal House of Spain http//pages.prodigy.net/ptheroff/gotha/spain.html Queen Sofia Family Tree http//public.genoom.com/trees/familiareal/sofiadegrecia Article Sources and Contributors Article Sources and Contributors Spain Source http//en.wikipedia.org/w/index.phpoldid Contributors , jarbarf, sic, April, ketan, lorenzo, e, rt, dylan, , ...xxx, deseptiembre, help, qaz, a, .., A Softer Answer, A, ACP, AKMask, AThing, ATurtle, AVM, Aan, Aaron Einstein, Abberley, Abby , Abductive, Acather, Accurizer, Acsb, Acuts, Adam Scott , Adashiel, AdeMiami, Adelbrecht, Adrian, Adrian.benko, Adrin V.M., Aeporue, Aeusoes, Afdacool, Afinebalance, Afrox, Agent, AgnosticPreachersKid, Ahoerstemeier, Ahuskay, Aidel, Aizhen, Ajraddatz, Ak, Akadruid, Akanemoto, Akon, AlanBarnet, Albrecht, Alegonka, Alesis, AlexLM, Alexander Domanda, Alexander Vigo, Alexf, AlexiusHoratius, Alfanje, Alferez, Alfonc, Ali K, AlistairMcMillan, Alphaboi, Alphachimp, Alvarosv, Alx, Amalthea, Ambil, American, Amorim Parga, Anand Karia, Anaxial, Andersmusician, Andonic, Andrew Powell, Andrew, Andrewlp, Andrewpmk, Andromeda, Andy Marchbanks, AndyZ, Andyluciano, Andys, AngelPerez, Angelo De La Paz, Anger, Angr, Anietor, Ankithreya, Anna Lincoln, AnonyLog, Anonymous editor, Antandrus, Ante Aikio, AntonioMartin, Aperium, Appraiser, Aquintero, Aranel, Aranherunar, Arcimpulse, Arctic.gnome, Arg, Ariagia, Ariasne, Armindo, Arnoutf, Art LaPella, Artdemon, Artorius, Asbestos, Asciident, Ashlux, Ashmoo, Ashwinosoft, Asidemes, Asocall, Aspects, Assasin Joe, Asterion, Astho, Astrakan, Astrotrain, AtTheAbyss, Atanasio, Atleastimnotfat, Atob, Atomic, Atomicdor, Atoric, Aude, Auslli, Austrian, Avala, Avalon, Avatarion, Avieso, Avionics, Avriette, Avt tor, AxG, AxelBoldt, Aymx, Az, B, B. 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