1. Spain is UNESCO’s third-largest heritage country - after Italy and China, Spain is the country with the most UNESCO sites. Examples include the works of Antoni Gaudí, the Alhambra in Granada and the historical district of Salamanca.
2.There are more tourists per year than people living in Spain, as it is the 2nd most visited country in the world.
3. Spain has more bars per inhabitant than any other EU country - The total amount of bars recorded in the country is 279,243, which means one per 169 residents. Spain maintains this record despite around 7,000 bars and cafés closing down after the financial crisis.
4. The oldest restaurant in the world is located in Madrid (Restaurante Botín) - Botín is the oldest operating restaurant according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Its official status is supported by the mentioning of various literary figures, like Ernest Hemingway in The Sun Also Rises; Frederick Forsyth, in Icon and the Cobra; and James Michener, in Iberia. The restaurant is known for dishes like roast lamb and suckling pig, cooked in a wood-fired oven. According to rumours, Goya once worked in this restaurant before becoming a painter.
5. Spain has one of the world’s most diverse cultures - more than 5 languages are spoken throughout the country. Spanish, also known as Castillian is the official national language. Catalan is spoken in Cataluña, Basque in the Basque Country and Navarra, and Galician is spoken in Galicia; among other regional languages.
6. La Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona has been under construction for over 130 years - Antoni Gaudí started the construction of the church in 1882. Now La Sagrada Familia nears its completion. It is expected to be finished by 2026.
7. Spain has some of the most authentic festivals in Europe - Spanish people are in a constant celebration. Some of the most famous festivals are the Carnival, celebrated every year in February; The Fallas of Valencia; and La Tomatina, which has a 70-year tradition.
8. Spain wasn’t involved in either of the two World Wars - Spain adopted a sense of neutrality during World War I, as the king at the time decided that Spain would gain little benefit and have important repercussions if it got involved in either side of the war. By World War II, Spain had just finished an intense 3-year civil war and had to remain on the sidelines in order to repair the country. Even though Spain did not enter the war, the dictator Franco helped Hitler and Mussolini in various ways after they supported him during the civil war.
9. Spain has a coastline of around 6000 km - there is no wonder Spain is one of the main summer destinations. The weather is not the only thing that attracts tourists, but also the wide variety of stunning beaches.