Culture in Spain

Architecture

Architecture buffs will revel in the sheer variety of architectural treasures, ranging from the ultra ancient to the ultra modern, that flank the streets of Spanish cities and towns. As you travel through the country, you'll encounter sprawling Islamic palaces, stunning Gothic cathedrals, hill-top medieval castles, funky Moderniste buildings, elaborate Baroque façades dripping in adornment and much more!

Festivals

More information here: Spain Festivals

History

Spain's colorful history reads like an epic movie script- huge battles, rivaling kingdoms, cultural clashes, world-changing discoveries, great prosperity, political corruption, debilitating crisis and much, much more.

Museums

From small, private art collections to massive, multi-story science centers, Spain has a seemingly endless offering of museums and cultural central to appeal to all tastes. Peruse the works of the prestigious Prado Museum in Madrid, explore Barcelona's massive Pablo Picasso Museum, fascinate your mind at Valencia's interactive science museum, learn about Spain's bullfighting culture at any number of bullfighting museums throughout the country... the options are infinite!

Music & Dance

While flamenco tends to be the most internationally recognized, Spain's traditional music varies greatly from region to region. Each region's traditional music and dance forms reflects the many cultures and civilizations of Spain's lengthy and diverse history. For example, the gypsy population that sparked flamenco has nothing to do with the music of the northern Spanish regions of Galicia and Asturias, where the rich Celtic heritage is evident in its bagpipe music. The traditional music of the Canary Islands boasts influences from the archipielago's indigenous Guanche civilization while the popular zambra dance has its roots in he Moorish culture which once ruled the Iberian Peninsula.