Spain, also known as Hesperia or Iberia, is a diverse country with a lot to offer travelers. Its countryside is quaint and speckled with castles, aqueducts, and ancient ruins. Its cities, such as the Andalusian capital of Seville, are famed for their music and traditional folkways. Its national capital, Madrid, is a bustling metropolis with winding streets and plenty of museums and bookstores. And its beaches are some of the most picturesque in Europe.
Spain’s topography is characterized by the presence of two major depressions, that of the Ebro River and the Guadalquivir River, and by the system of mountain ranges (Sistema Penibetico) that form the backdrop of the Mediterranean coastline. The country also has a wide variety of landforms and soil types: alluvial, or riverine, deposits are common in the major valleys; calcareous brown forest soils are limited to humid Galicia and Cantabria; acidic southern brown soils limit crop choice on crystalline rocks; and saline soils occur mostly in the coastal plains and the Guadalquivir River basin.
The natural environment is richly varied, with an abundance of fauna and flora, as well as numerous ecosystems, including forests, deserts, grasslands, mountains, wetlands, and the Mediterranean coast. Among the most noteworthy areas are the Sierra de Gata, in the north of the country, the Jerte Valley, and the Monfrague Nature Reserve, which are all great places to hike. The fauna is abundant with African-type animals, such as zebra and wildebeest, and with typically Spanish species, like the Andalusian ibex or wild boar and the weasel.
In terms of cultural heritage, the country is replete with masterpieces of art, especially the works of its Golden Age painters, such as Zurbaran, Velazquez, and Murillo. The latter is best known for his religious portraits, but he also painted fascinating scenes of everyday life in the streets and plazas of his native city of Seville.
Throughout its long history, Spain has been one of the most culturally vibrant nations in the world. This is partly due to its privileged geographical location, which allowed it to be an important trade hub and a meeting point for various cultures. It is also due to the fact that Spain has always been a highly diverse country, populated by many ethnic, racial, and religious groups. Today, it is a multiethnic, secular society that offers full political rights to its citizens, including the right to free movement within its territory. There are no significant restrictions on freedom of speech or assembly, and it has a relatively high level of human development. Its judicial system is fair and efficient, and there are few repressive social policies. Its government is committed to promoting social justice and equality, and its laws provide for significant autonomy to the country’s traditionally rooted national minorities, such as the Catalans and Basques. It is a member of the European Union.