Spain Spain is a large country with a surprising variety of cultures, climates and geography. Separated from France by the Pyrenees, and from Africa by the Straits of Gibraltar, Spain shares the Iberian peninsula with Portugal. Mountains are a key component in Spain's climate and geography. The Central Mountain System separates Madrid and La Mancha from the Castilian plateau. And the Penbetic System cuts through Andalucia, not far from the Mediterranean coast.
Language is another key factor in Spanish culture and politics.