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You are not allowed to alter any portion of the link code or change the layout or targeting for any reason. small Barcelona google satellite maps image link <a href="" title="satellite maps of Barcelona"><img src="" width="260" height="150" border="0" alt="Barcelona google satellite maps" style="border:1px solid #000;"/></a> medium Barcelona google satellite maps image link <a href="" title="satellite maps of Barcelona"><img src="" width="300" height="250" border="0" alt="Barcelona google satellite maps" style="border:1px solid #000;"/></a> large Barcelona google satellite maps image link <a href="" title="satellite maps of Barcelona"><img src="" width="336" height="280" border="0" alt="Barcelona google satellite maps" style="border:1px solid #000;"/></a> latest placemarks Barcelona Map, City Map of Barcelona, Spain Barcelona Map : The largest European metropolis on the Mediterranean coast and the second largest city in Spain – Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia.

With a population of over 1.6 million, Barcelona is the second most populous city in Spain and the sixth most populated metropolitan area in Europe. It is located on the Mediterranean coast between the mouths of rivers Llobregat and Besòsand and is bounded by the ‘Serra de Collserola’ ridge to the west. It is the 11th most visited city in the world and the 4th richest city (in terms of GDP) in the European Union. As the capital of Catalonia, an autonomous Spanish region, Barcelona is the seat of the Catalan government, known as the Generalitat de Catalunya. The official languages are Spanish & Catalonian but due to the high number of tourists most shopkeepers understand English. The Legends Of Barcelona There are two very popular legends about the origins of the city of Barcelona. According to one, Hercules, the Roman demigod, founded the city but according to the other the Carthagian General Hamilcar Barca had founded the city of Barcelona. Recorded history of the city dates back to 15 BC when the Romans had turned this place into a garrison. From being a Roman outpost, this zone gradually grew in economic importance and started to shape into a large city and trading center.

The marriage of Ferdinand II to Isabella I of Castile in 1469 united Barcelona with Madrid and the city thus became very important in the Spanish political history. Barcelona has always been a stronghold of Catalan separatism and was the nerve center of the Catalan Revolt in 1640. The great plague of 1650 killed almost half the population of Barcelona. In the 18th century, a fortress was built at Montjuic that overlooked the harbor. The historic site where the French system of measurement was invented, the fortress at Montjuic overlooks the huge metropolis today. Barcelona was a Republican stronghold during the Spanish Civil War and the fall of the city on January 26, 1939, caused a huge population exodus across the French borders. The resistance of an autonomous Catalan state was crushed and Catalan as a language was suppressed. After the exodus there was a major influx of poorer masses from different parts of Spain, which created an economic imbalance in the city. The city received a major boost when it was chosen to host the 1992 Summer Olympic Games and regained its fame and prosperity.

When To Plan A Visit When it comes to Spain, a warm and sunny vacation is what most tourists have in mind. July and August do get rather crowded. June and September are sunny and reasonably comfortable months. To get the best out of your Barcelona visit do try to get to the city over Sant Jordi on April 23 each year. The city brightens up for the festivities and a number of flags and other decorations are put up. June is again a good month as the city hosts the Sonar Music Festival around the third week. Midsummer night festivities all over Barcelona are certainly delightful too. Tourist Attractions in Barcelona For anyone visiting the legendary Spanish city of Barcelona, the city offers an attractive walk through the history and cultural legacy of the country. Rich in traditions, picturesque in scenery, and steeped in the grandeur of medieval architecture, Barcelona is likely to leave you awe-struck. Sagrada Familia is the most visited tourist destination in Barcelona. It is a giant temple by master architect Antonio Gaudi and has been under construction since 1889. The temple is still 30 to 80 years away from completion and the exact time taken to complete it will depend on the resources and funds available.

This is a famous site – so make sure to mark Sagrada Familia on top of your tour itinerary. Another extremely popular tourist destination is the L’Aquarium de Barcelona. Extremely popular with kids, the aquarium of Barcelona is rich in its collection of marine creatures. Poble Espanyol de Montjuic – it simply means the Spanish Village. It is a place where you can see the different aspects of the typical Spanish rural life. It is also famous for the handicraft and artifact shops. The most famous attraction of this venue is the Flamenco live show at the Tableo de Carmen. Millions flock to Poble Espanyol de Montjuic to witness the flamenco show. Casa Mila, popularly called La Pedrera which means a quarry. Gaudi designed this architectural masterpiece and it has his signature brickwork woven design with colorful tiles. The next is the mecca for almost a majority of football fans across the world – The FC Barcelona Football Museum. If you have seen your stars play in the Barca jersey, you simply cannot miss this place.

Remember when you visit the museum; get yourself a dual ticket to visit the famous Camp Nou Stadium, the VIP lounges, the changing rooms, and the ground too. Barcelona Zoo Situated in the Parc de la Ciutadella the best way to find the zoo is to go to Ciutadella Park and to follow the signs to the Zoo. The zoo houses a variety of animals, has a nice restaurant and electric cars. There are pony rides and a host of other attractions for children. The Picasso Museum is a famous museum and draws millions of art fans from across the world. This museum showcases the works of famous Pablo Picasso from his early days to the final years in a chronological order. Miro Museum This art gallery and museum houses the works of the famous artist Miro. Miro Museum not only exhibits his paintings, but his sculptures, tapestries, and early sketches as well – a unique collection of Miro’s work. National Museum of Catalunya It showcases the history of Catalonia. Remember to add the Magic Fountain of Montjuic to your itinerary. This is an extravagant show of light, water, and sound and cannot be missed. Shopping in Barcelona Barcelona is a great place for shoppers.

With a host of shopping malls and signature stores showcasing all the famous brands of the world, Barcelona does not lag much behind Paris, London, and New York. And if you are looking for some bargain shopping, Barcelona has umpteen options for budget shoppers too. The Barcelona markets are very colorful and vibrant. From food markets to books, garments to designer wear, the markets are noisy yet pleasant. The famous departmental stores of Barcelona are El Corte Ingles, Arenas Commercial Centre, Diagonal Mar, Centro Commercial Gran Via 2, El Triangle, L’illa, La Maquinsta, Moll Espana Marremagnum and Boulevard Rosa. These are the most popular departmental stores of Barcelona and you must visit a few of them to taste the flavor of shopping in Barcelona. Nightlife in Barcelona Barcelona also has a variety to offer for the party goers too. With a large number of bars, pubs, night clubs, and strip pubs, Barcelona boasts of a vibrant and happening nightlife. If you visit Barcelona and do not savor the nightlife at a club or a pub, the visit remains incomplete.

7sins bar, Dunne’s Irish bar, Eclipse Bar, Ice Barcelona & La Fianna are some of the most popular bars in Barcelona. If you wish to visit a club then the list is longer. Choose from Club Catwalk, Elephant, Harlem Jazz Club, Sala be Cool & Shoko. Also if you are in the mood for some more fun, take a VIP Limo night trip across the city. It is a great experience. Day trips are also very popular from Barcelona. Hire a car or simply take a train out of Barcelona. Visit the picturesque Zaragoza, or simply laze around the city watching the street performers on Las Ramblas. Barcelona has a lot to offer in day trips. Take one of the many trips to the other parts of Spain from Barcelona. Best Restaurants in Barcelona Regions of Spain | Learn About Spain's 17 Autonomous Regions | Spanish Fiestas Tweet Spain is made up of 17 autonomous regions known in Spain as ‘Comunidades Autónomas’. Besides these ‘communities’ the country is further divided into 50 provinces (‘provincias’). In the following summary of each ‘comunidad’ we’ve listed which province belongs to which community.

However, there are seven ‘Comunidades Autónomas’ which we’ve referred to as “single province regions” which means that they are considered to be both an autonomous region AND a province. Andalucia Whilst Andalucia is home to the mass tourism developments of the Costa del Sol it is also the land which most typifies Spain to the foreign visitor due largely to the regions love of flamenco and bullfighting. Escape the ‘costas’ and you’ll discover a historic land with great Moorish cities such as Seville, Granada and Cordoba. And no matter where you visit in this fascinating region you’ll never be far away from a fiesta. Provinces: Cádiz, Cordoba, Granada, Malaga, Sevilla, Huelva, Jaén, Almeria. Aragon Aragon is a fascinating region in northern Spain which is often overlooked by visitors. Whilst the region’s capital, Zaragoza, is well worth a visit it’s the stunning natural beauty of the Aragonese Pyrenees and its historic villages which shouldn’t be missed. The Ordesa National Park is one of the most stunning destinations you’ll ever see.

Provinces: Zaragoza, Huesca, Teruel. Asturias Asturias is possibly the most beautiful of all of Spain’s 17 autonomous communities. It lies on the north coast of Spain with Galicia to the west and Cantabria to the east. It is blessed with a rugged coastline along the Bay of Biscay where there are many beautiful beaches. Its interior is even more spectacular thanks to the stunning Picos de Europa mountains. The price to pay for the lush, green landscape is high annual rainfall figures but if you enjoy touring areas of natural beauty and aren’t too concerned about the weather then you simply have to visit. Provinces: Single Province Region. Balearic Islands Whilst the Balearic Islands of Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera are well established on the tourism map they don’t get the praise they deserve for their natural beauty. There are some great holiday resorts in the Balearics but the islands have so much more to offer beyond their tourist developments. Rent a car and head a few kilometres inland and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at some of the local villages you’ll discover. Provinces: Single Province Region. Basque Country The Basque Country is different.

Located on the Bay of Biscay and bordering France this fiercely independent region is has so much to offer the visitor. The cities of Bilbao and San Sebastian are fabulous places to spend a few days whilst the interior presents a beautiful, almost Alpine, landscape. Provinces: Vizcaya, Álava, Guipúzcua. Canary Islands Lying off the northwest coast of Africa the Canary Islands are one of Europe’s top destinations for beach holidays. Year round sunshine attracts over 12 million visitors to the islands. The top tourist destinations are Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura whilst the smaller islands of El Hierro, La Palma and La Gomera offer a quieter experience. Provinces: Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Cantabria The cave paintings at Altamira confirm that people were living in modern day Cantabria 15,000 years ago. The region is centred on the lovely city of Santander where many ferries arrive from the UK. Located on the Bay of Biscay this small region is home to many lovely villages both along its coast and inland. Provinces: Single Province Region.

Castilla La Mancha Castilla La Mancha is an arid and sparsely populated land which lies between Madrid and Andalucia. Apart from being home to the Imperial city of Toledo it is best known for its Don Quijote windmills at Consuegra and for its excellent cheeses. Provinces: Guadalajara, Toledo, Cuenca, Ciudad Real, Albacete. Castilla y Léon Historic Castilla y León is the largest of Spain’s autonomous communities with borders to ten of the other regions as well as to Portugal. The Roman city of Segovia is one of its many highlights along with the university city of Salamanca. It is home to some of the country’s finest Cathedrals in Segovia, Burgos and León and is the birthplace of Saint Teresa de Avila. Provinces: Léon, Palencia, Burgos, Zamora, Valladolid, Segovia, Soria, Salamanca, Avila. Catalonia Catalonia is best known for its amazing capital city, Barcelona, which is home to the stunning architecture of Antoni Gaudí and one of the world’s greatest football teams in FC Barcelona.

But there’s a lot more to Catalonia than its capital. Tarragona and Girona are two historic cities that are well worth visiting whilst the coast of the Costa Brava offers many beauty spots. The Catalan Pyrenees are an area of outstanding beauty for nature lovers. Provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, Tarragona. Extremadura Extremadura borders Portugal in the west of Spain. It is probably the country’s best kept secret as far as tourism is concerned. The Roman city of Merida is one of the region’s highlights along with the Moorish city of Caceres. The historic towns of Trujillo and Guadalupe together with the national park of Monfrague are just a few more attractions that this fascinating ‘comunidad’ has to offer. Provinces: Caceres, Badajoz. Galicia For the best of Spain’s wonderful seafood head to Galicia, a Celtic land in the very northwest of the country where you’ll receive a warm welcome and discover a beautiful and historic land.

Santiago de Compostela is the highlight of the region for most visitors but make sure you head inland to visit the hidden valleys and take a trip along the wild coast to Cabo Finisterre. Provinces: A Coruña, Pontevedra, Lugo, Orense. La Rioja There are more than 500 wine bodegas in the region of La Rioja many of which offer guided tours and tastings. If you’re planning on staying in the region head for the lovely town of Haro which is well geared up for wine tourism. Logroño is the only town of any size which has one of the country’s best “tapas’ crawls”. Elsewhere the region is well geared up for rural tourism with some excellent walking opportunities. Provinces: Single Province Region. Madrid As well as being the capital of Spain, Madrid is also one of the nation’s autonomous regions. The beautiful Sierra de Guadarrama mountains with its many secluded villages take up much of the northern part of the region. The main destinations of interest to visitors outside the capital include El Escorial, Alcala de Henares and Aranjuez. Provinces: Single Province Region.

Murcia The Costa Calida coast of Murcia in southeast Spain attracts many loyal sun worshipers to its shores all year round whilst La Manga maintains its reputation as the region’s flagship tourist destination. There are some world class golf courses in the area and excellent opportunities for scuba diving. Inland, the Parque Natural de Sierra Espuña is growing in popularity for walking holidays. Provinces: Single Province Region. Navarra Pamplona is the only well known destination in the region of Navarra and is a city that’s well worth a visit even when there aren’t bulls running down the street. Elsewhere you can drive around the countless villages that make up this rural land and find out the true meaning of the “Green Spain” that so many visitors come to find. Outdoor activities abound as you head into the mountains of the Navarran Pyrenees. Provinces: Single Province Region. Valencia As well as being Spain’s 3rd city, Valencia is also capital of its own ‘comunidad’ which stretches along the Mediterranean coast from Catalonia to Murcia. The newly redeveloped city itself is well worth a visit even if it’s only to see the incredible City of Arts and Sciences.

Whilst recent years have seen Americas Cup sailing and Formula One Grand Prix in Valencia, the vast majority of visitors to the region rarely get beyond the popular holiday resorts of the Costa Blanca to the south. Provinces: Valencia, Castellon, Alicante. CATALONIA by All About Spain Provinces: Barcelona , Girona (Gerona), Lleida (Lerida) and Tarragona . Best known apart from the capital, Barcelona, is of course the Mediterranean coast, Costa Brava an Costa Dorada , with ample beaches and mild climate, doubtlessly a first rate touristical attraction. One shouldn't forget anyhow that Catalonia offers as well high mountain ranges, the Pyrenees in the north, the curious formations of Montserrat , the inactive volcans of Garrotxa, and a wide plain area in the region's center. Catalonia has a very marked culture of its own, most evidently of Mediterranean tradition, and is distinguished of most other Spanish regions in several aspects, not at least by its language, Catalonian (although everybody speaks and understands Castilian Spanish perfectly). Certainly it is one of the most cosmopolitan places in Spain, thanks to its long tradition of international commerce.

The coast offers ideal facilities for all sorts of water sports, but everywhere you will realize about that special talent to combine the beauty of nature or monuments with modern attractions, a main reason why Catalonia developed into one of the preferred touristical destinations. Catalonia's excellent gastronomy is characterized by seafood, rice dishes, wines of great international reputation and traditional desserts like the famous "Catalonian Cream". Major attractions: Spain Spain COUNTRY OVERVIEW LOCATION AND SIZE. Spain is located in southwestern Europe. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Biscay in the northwest and by the Mediterranean Sea in the east and the south. It has a 1,214 kilometer (754 mile) land border with Portugal in the west and a 623 kilometer (387 mile) border with France and a 63.7 kilometer (39.5 mile) border with the tiny city-state of Andorra in the northeast, characterized by the Pyrenean Mountains.

In the south it has a 1.2 kilometer (.75 mile) border with Gibraltar (which legally belongs to the United Kingdom) and a 96 kilometer (59.6 mile) border with Morocco (Ceuta, Melilla). All together Spain's 504,782 square kilometer (194,896 square mile) territory, including the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic, Ceuta, and Melilla, has 1,917.8 kilometers (1,191.7 miles) of land boundaries and 4,964 kilometers (3,084.6 miles) of coastline. Spain is slightly bigger than twice the size of Oregon. Its capital, Madrid (with 2,866,850 inhabitants), is situated on the Central Plateau, and Barcelona (with 1,508,805 inhabitants), another major city, is in the northeast by the Balearic Sea (Western Mediterranean). Madrid and Barcelona are the only Spanish cities with a population over a million. POPULATION.

The population of Spain was 39,996,671 in July 2000. This compares to 37.7 million in 1981 and 38.7 million in 1984. Population growth was encouraged by the totalitarian regime of General Francisco Franco (1939-1975) through different state-sponsored programs that financially rewarded families with more than 5 children. Moreover, Spain experienced an urban boom in the 1960s and as a consequence over half the population lived in towns of at least 50,000 inhabitants by 1970. This boom was primarily a consequence of the "economic miracle" of the late 1950s and early 1960s spurred on by the stabilization plans led by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). There was rapid industrialization, agriculture was transformed, the industry and service sector came to dominate, and subsequently, there were major migratory shifts from rural to urban centers.

During the Spanish transition to democracy that followed Franco's death in November 1975 and after the establishment of the Spanish constitution in 1978, population growth decreased. The population growth was a meager 0.11 percent in 2000. According to the last census (1998), the population density is 201.3 per square kilometer (521.4 per square mile). Similar to other western European nations, this lack of growth can be attributed to the increase in the cost of living, increasing housing prices, and the incorporation of women into the workforce. The main growth centers today are Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Valencia, Sevilla, Zaragoza, Malaga, and Murcia. This reflects the importance of the Spanish "sub-cultures," in particular the importance of the Catalans and the Basques. Despite the fact that church attendance has been progressively waning, the population of Spain is predominantly Roman Catholic. The projected population for 2010 is 39,917,000. Like other Western European nations Spain will have to face the challenge of a decrease in the proportion of active population due to the aging of the nation.

Moreover, it remains to be seen how tighter immigration laws can be reconciled with the fact that the projections show that without the influx of foreign immigrants, the population of Spain will in fact decline much more significantly. This immigrant population, which has increasingly entered Spain since the mid-1980s, is concentrated from Northern Africa (Morocco) and South America (Colombia, El Salvador, and Argentina). LIVESTOCK, DAIRY, AND POULTRY. This sector has traditionally been financially the most important sector, accounting for 39 percent of overall agricultural output in 1999. However, the sector has suffered from increased competition from other EU countries, and the "Agenda2000" will gradually cut the beef support prices by 20 percent. Although economists predicted that livestock production would increase slightly in 2000 with improved pasture conditions and more rain, outbreaks of "mad cow disease" prevented such increase. BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy), which is also referred to as "mad cow disease," is a highly contagious, lethal disease of the central nervous system in cattle.

There have been several cases, particularly in Britain in the 1990s, of people who have died after eating meat from cows infected with BSE. In Spain, the first cases of mad cow disease were detected in September 2000 in Galicia, with subsequent cases arising in other provinces in Spain. The cases in Spain can be traced back to Britain; the same feed that was given to cows that developed BSE in the UK was transported and used in other western European farms. Although there have been no human fatalities reported in Spain as a result of the contamination, consumer confidence in beef plummeted. By February 2001, consumption of beef had fallen by an estimated 80 percent. More consumers turned to other meats, including fish, pork, poultry, and lamb, in spite of the subsequent rise in prices. The price of beef, in the meantime, continues to slide, which leaves the future of Spain's beef industry in doubt. HORTICULTURAL CROPS. This sector—which includes citrus, deciduous fruit, olives and olive oil, nuts, wine, and vegetables—is gaining importance to the point that its value of production now equals that of livestock, dairy, and poultry at 39 percent.

This sector has greatly benefitted from access to EU markets and accounts for 70 percent of overall agricultural exports. Both Spanish olive oil and wine production were initially subject to the tough restrictions imposed by the Common Agriculture Policy during the 1990s. However, recent policy changes have allowed for Spain's quota for olive oil production to reflect the actual production capacity. Spain's vineyards have also benefitted from policy changes; previous programs which uprooted vineyards are now replaced with new programs that concentrate on restructuring vineyards to make the Spanish wine industry more competitive. Spain produces some of the best red wines in world, with the most famous being those from the Rioja region. More than 30 percent of such wines are destined to the EU, North American, and Latin American markets. Other regions producing fine wines include Catalonia, Ribera del Duero, Navarra, and La Mancha. These wines are generally made from the Tempranillo variety of grapes and offer a distinct taste to those from France, for example, which use the Merlot variety. FIELD CROPS. This sector includes grain, tobacco, cotton, forage, sugar beets, and oil seeds.

It covers a larger area than the horticultural crops, but accounted for only 15 percent of the total value of production in 1999. The most important sector of field crops is cereals, especially wheat and barley. However, Spanish cereal production has suffered from competition from the EU, and, under the "Agenda2000," support prices for all grains will be reduced by 15 percent. The most plentifully produced field crop is alfalfa, used for animal fodder. The "Agenda2000" will also reduce area payments for oilseeds to the same level with grains, which is expected to reduce the production of the sunflower seed crop significantly. FISHING. Even though the total catch declined in the 1980s, the fishing industry is still important in Spain. The main fishing ports are Vigo and La Coruna in the Northwest. Despite Spain's vast fishing waters, Spanish fishermen have several times been arrested for fishing illegally in Canadian and Moroccan waters. The most visible conflict of late has been the so-called "Turbot War" with Canada in 1995 when Canadian authorities fired on Spanish fisherman for trespassing in Canadian waters.

Legal experts argue that the Canadian government clearly violated international law by firing upon a vessel which was, in fact, in international waters. Although there was a peaceful resolution to the conflict, the incident highlights concerns voiced by other countries in the past, such as Ireland and Morocco, about Spanish fishermen. INDUSTRY Ever since liberalization became a goal in the late 1950s, Spanish industry has been growing and becoming more diversified. This is particularly the case in mining, manufacturing, and metalworking. As a result, companies have grown bigger, and foreign investment has become more significant. MINING. Spain has one of Europe's most important and diversified mining sectors. Over half the production is coal, while other major products are iron, pyrites, copper, lead, zinc, tungsten, uranium, mercury, potash, and chloride. Despite its strength, Spanish mining is not sufficient to satisfy domestic demand and, therefore, Spain continues to be a large-scale importer of minerals. Due to competition from other EU countries, the Spanish mining industry has been subject to restructuring and closures, especially in the Asturian coal industry, which has led to miners' protests. The mining sector remains stagnant but is expected to recover when Spain increases its gold production.

METALWORKING. The iron, steel, and shipbuilding of Asturias and the Basque Country experienced downsizing in the 1980s. However, the sector has been recovering strongly since 1996, thanks to increased production in shipbuilding, data-processing equipment, and transportation equipment. MANUFACTURING. In the automobile industry, Spain's top exporters—Opel, SEAT, Volkswagen, Citroen, and Renault—set records in 1996 and 1999. The fact that all car producers in Spain are foreign multinationals is reflective of their strength in the economy. The German car company Volkswagen, for example, actually received large amounts of subsidies from the Spanish governments of the 1980s and 1990s to take over the (then) only native Spanish car manufacturer, SEAT. In other manufacturing activities, however, foreign multinationals play less of a role. For example, the cotton, woollen textiles, and clothing industries have maintained their importance in the economy. Predominantly located in the Catalan area since the 19th century, they are characterized as being small- and medium-sized enterprises that are family-owned.

Spain also manufactures toys, shoes, electrical appliances (televisions, refrigerators, and washing machines), and foodstuffs. Toys and shoes, in particular, have a reputation for high quality and constitute a main export for the manufacturing sector. SERVICES TOURISM. Spain overtook the United States recently as the world's second most important tourist resort. The tourist industry employs 12.5 percent of the Spanish workforce and accounts for 10 percent of GDP, with a 9 percent annual growth rate. The success of the industry stems from a variety of factors. It generally costs less to travel and vacation in Spain compared to many places in the world. Spain's already high-quality resorts are improving as aging accommodations are restored. The warm weather is another draw for tourists, especially in southern Spain. The main tourist areas are Mallorca, the Canary Islands, and the Costa Brava. The total number of tourists in 1999 was 58,588,944, and the total number of available accommodations in the country was 1,282,013.

This booming industry's role in the Spanish economy does have a downside, however; some analysts worry that the seasonal nature of the tourist industry may add to the precariousness of the Spanish labor market. FINANCIAL SERVICES. The largest Spanish bank is the BBVA (Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria), and the second largest is the BSCH (Banco Santander Central Hispano), both the fruit of mergers in 1999. BBVA is the product of the merger of the Banco de Bilbao (founded in 1857), Banco de Vizcaya (1901), and Argentaria (1983); the BSCH comes from the merger of Banco de Santander (1857), Banco Hispano-Americano (1900), and Banco Central (1919). Other important banks in Spain include Banco Urquijo, the Grupo March, la Caixa, and Caja de Madrid. The concentration of native Spanish banks in the sector stems from the Ley de Ordenación Bancaria of 1921 that disallowed foreign banks from operating in Spain for several years.

Although foreign banks were allowed to enter into Spain in the early 1960s, the stronghold obtained by main Spanish players effectively prevented outside competition. In fact, when many of the foreign banks entered the Spanish market in the late 1960s and early 1970s—such as Deutsche Bank, Barclays, and Manufacturer's Hanover Trust—they did so only with the cooperation of big Spanish financial players such as Banco Bilbao, Vizcaya, and Santander. Cooperation included the sharing of staff with members of Spanish financial institutions—especially important given the fact that many foreigners cannot speak Spanish. Despite liberalization of the financial sector, Spanish financial capital maintained its dominance. Today, Spain's financial services are diversified and fully integrated in the international financial markets. The EU single market in banking and insurance services has intensified competition, brought down interest rates, and encouraged mergers. Spanish banks are well capitalized. Beyond the main players mentioned above (BBVA, BSCH), there are 103 domestic private banks—mostly headquartered in Madrid—and 53 foreign ones—34 of which are headquartered in the EU.

There are also 50 confederated savings banks and 12 regional savings bank federations that are, in principle, non-profit making. They concentrate on private savings and loans and financing public and private projects. To this day, Spanish investment and brokerage entities have increased in number and in the volume of their investments. The credit market is structured around private banks. TELECOMMUNICATIONS. The sector is registering spectacular increases. The main operator of telecommunications is Telefónica, but, given recent liberalization initiatives, other operators such as Airtel and Amena have gained significant market strength in a short period of time. The mobile telephone market increased from 14 million to 19 million users during the first half of 1999. Growth is also expected in the cable television sector, even though only 10 percent of the population subscribes to these services. Although the number of PCs per household is low in Spain compared to other industrialized states, it is projected that falling PC prices and cuts to prices on local calls will allow for PC consumption to triple within 5 years. AVIATION. The EU liberalized the aviation sector due to increased demand for air transport services.

As a result, many new local airlines are in competition with the main national airline, Iberia. Two major new competitors, Spanair and Air Europa, have daily flights between major cities in Spain as well as the rest of Continental Europe and the United Kingdom. DEPENDENCIES Regions - Wines from Spain – Far From Ordinary Regions External Links Regions The world’s greatest wine regions share one aspect in common: they are married to grapes that ripen slowly and exhibit fascinating flavors within differing microclimates. Spain’s reputation as a warm and easy ripener of all manner of fruit might seem to disqualify it for vinous greatness, but altitude changes everything. Green Spain The northern and northwestern portion of Spain, exposed to the northern Atlantic, can be cool to cold, wet, and green—thus its name, España Verde. The sheltering fortification of the Cordillera Cantábrica, looming above Rioja, is unavailable to much of Green Spain as it stretches from Galicia to the Pyrenees. Explore Green Spain » Duero River Valley The seat of power for much of Spain’s history, this area hosts extremely elevated but easily workable vineyards along and beyond the banks of the Duero River.

Some of the famed wine names in Spain reside in Ribera del Duero, such as Vega Sicilia and Pesquera, and regions such as Toro and Rueda are on the shortlists of anyone pursuing emerging Spanish brands. Explore Duero River Valley » Ebro River Valley The Sierra de Cantabria mountains shelter some of Spain’s most important vineyards, including those in Rioja and Navarra. Farther south, Calatayud, Campo de Borja, and Cariñena offer great value. To the east, vineyards nestled along the base of the foothills of the Pyrenees hold vineyards as well, where tributaries of the River Ebro nurture the vineyards of DO Somontano and the rare Moristel grape that charms many tasters with its tangy fruit and easy ways, along with more muscular Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and other red varieties. Explore Ebro River Valley » The Meseta The “tabletop” that represents the center of the elevated plateau that is Spain is not a uniformly flat, hot, and arid place.

Instead, there are significant mountainous spots that offer the possibility of making high–quality wines, based upon strong differences between daytime and nighttime temperatures (grapes seem to like diurnal temperature swings). Explore The Meseta » The Mediterranean Coast The warmth of the coast from the French border to Almería can be mitigated by high altitudes, whether in Cataluña or in Valencia. Throughout most of this area, world–class wines are appearing in places such as Priorat and Montsant, as well as established areas such as Penedés. Cava, the most famous sparkling wine in the world after Champagne. Explore The Mediterranean Coast » Andalucía With temperatures easily surpassing 100°F in the summer, this is an area ideal for fortified and dessert wines. Everything conspires to make a singularly successful fortified wine that comes in a plurality of styles. Although we call all of them Sherry, each of these styles—Manzanilla, Fino, Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Oloroso, and Pedro Ximénez—expresses a unique set of aromas and flavors.

Explore Andalucía » The Islands With the Canaries off in the Atlantic and the Balearics lying in the middle of the Mediterranean, both groups of islands enjoy temperatures that are relatively moderate. Make no mistake, these divisions defined above must make the Spanish crazy: a country barely held together for much of its existence doesn’t take kindly to this American gerrymandering. 19 Regions and Islands of Spain: From Worst to Best 19 Regions and Islands of Spain: From Worst to Best Which Area of Spain Should You Visit and Why? Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters Thanks, You're in! There was an error. Please try again. Please select a newsletter. Please enter a valid email address. Did you mean ? Pictures of Spain - Photo Galleries of Spain Updated February 18, 2016. Many people who are new to Spain and not sure what to visit want to know about the Best Cities in Spain . But what if you don't want to spend all your time on a train, joining the dots between Spain's far flung cities? I'd suggest sticking to a single region and exploring that in depth before moving on. But not all Spanish regions are created equal.

Some should be at the absolute top of your list of destinations, others less so. How tongue in cheek do I intend the idea of 'worst' regions? Considering the abusive vitriol I received for my article on the Worst Cities in Spain , I should probably explain myself a little. I truly would not recommend the first two places on this list. There is really no point in visiting, unless you want to see what a European enclave looks like in Africa. The next couple of places are not bad, they're just a little dull, especially considering the sights in the surrounding regions: they mainly suffer from simply not being different enough from the more impressive regions nearby. If you really want to be off the beaten path, these regions still offer traditional Spanish cuisine, architecture and the varied landscape that makes Spain famous. If you hate to see another tourist on your travels, these could be the regions for you. After these, the other places are all worth a visit. They represent the full spectrum of what Spain can offer the visitor. I've given my personal preference based on my experiences in the regions and what I like to do when traveling, but I don't believe everyone will want to visit the region that comes top of the list.

One proviso for how I arranged this list: I'm not going to rate beaches too highly. If you want a beach vacation, you can usually book a great resort package online. I assume that if you are visiting my site, you are looking for something a bit more cultural. Fishing port in Melilla. Yeray Díaz Zbida/Creative Commons 19. Melilla Melilla and Ceuta are both Spanish enclaves in North Africa and amount to the same thing to the visitor to Spain: they are there as ports to catch a ferry from mainland Spain to Morocco. But you're better going to Tangiers in Morocco itself instead. Melilla is even worse than Ceuta because the stretch of the Mediterranean between here and mainland Spain is so wide that the crossing takes much, much longer. Best For: Putting Spain's hypocritical stance on Gibraltar into perspective. Spain is allowed enclaves in Africa but the UK is not allowed them in Iberia? Alternatively... Visit Morocco by traveling from Tarifa in Andalusia to Tangiers. continue reading below our video Beware! The 5 Most Common Travel Scams Ceuta Beach. Mario Sánchez Bueno/Creative Commons 18.

Ceuta The better of the two Spanish enclaves, but you're still better off going to Tangiers instead. Best For: That Gibraltar connection again. Alternatively... Again, travel from Andalusia to Morocco. Juanedc/Creative Commons 17. Aragon Trapped between Madrid, Barcelona and the northern Spain delights of the Basque Country and the Rioja wine region, Aragon has its own stretch of the Pyrenees, though most of the best skiing is found on the French side. Zaragoza has two cathedrals, both of which are great, but then I could say 'there is a nice cathedral' for every region in Spain. Read more about the region of Aragon . Best For: Stopping for lunch en route from Madrid to Barcelona. Alternatively... La Rioja and the Basque Country are nearby but with a whole lot more to do. Arenagroove/Creative Commons 16. Cantabria The Picos de Europa mountain range is found partially in Cantabria, but you can visit them from Asturias too. Santander's beaches are found in a bay, which means you can see land as you look out 'to sea', which is a nice curiosity.

One of Gaudi's lesser known works, El Capricho de Gaudi, can be found in Comillas. Best For: Greenery, seafood and being even more off the beaten path than the other quiet green, seafood-obsessed regions nearby. Alternatively... Galicia and Asturias are just as green and relatively tourist-free. Roman ruins in Cartagena. Felipe Ortega/Creative Commons 15. Murcia The weather here is nice, which is great for visiting the beaches, but that is true for the whole of the south coast. The city of Murcia has a nice cathedral, but this is true for most cities in Spain. Cartagena has some impressive Roman ruins. Read more about the region of Murcia . Best For: Beaches and Roman ruins. Alternatively... Catalonia has both of these, particularly the city of Tarragona. Learn the Pamplona bull run route so you don't get run into a fence!. Image: Asier Solana Bermejo/Creative Commons 14. Navarra (Navarre) Pamplona, famous for the Running of the Bulls , is fast becoming a regional star for its cuisine, but then so are nearby San Sebastian and Logroño .

Navarra is wine country, but the nearby regions of La Rioja and the Basque Country are both better and more accessible for visitors. Read more about the region of Navarra Best For: Wine and bull runs. Alternatively... La Rioja.

Question: In what region of Spain is Barcelona located?
Answer: Catalonia