Spain has always been close to the hearts of the British. The increasing number of Brits either buying second homes or upping sticks to live their lives as expatriates on the Spanish coast means it will always feel like a home from home whenever we visit.

It’s an ideal destination for cycling holidays, wine tours, relaxing walking holidays, scuba diving or just lazing on the beach sipping Sangria.

So for lovers of all things Spanish, here’s a brief introduction to aspects of the Spanish culture which you may or may not already know.

Spanish Art
Famous for its history and art, Spain has produced some of the world’s most famous artists over the centuries. Cretian El Greco is probably one of the most famous Spanish artists whose work can be seen in the churches of Toledo and graces the walls of the famous Prado Museum in Madrid. The Prado is also home to paintings by Francisco Goya, another legendary Spanish artist. No trip to Spain would be complete without a visit to the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia museum in Madrid which displays Picasso’s famous painting ‘Guernica’. That’s not forgetting the enigmatic works or Miro and the surrealism of Salvador Dali.

Of course there are myriad cathedrals displaying an array of architectural styles which grace towns and cities throughout Spain. And no art-lover’s tour of Spain would be complete without a trip to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. And what about the culture of Barcelona or Valencia? Well, we had to stop somewhere.

Strange Festivals
For many of us Spain is not just an artist’s paradise. It’s also a nation of weird and wonderful festivals that are a curious trait of the Spanish people. Here are just a few of the festivals that take place throughout the year. No matter when you travel, you are almost bound to encounter one of them!

The Feast of Saint James
One of the highlights for holidaymakers who enjoy walking holidays in Spain is on the 25th July when every year thousands of pilgrims congregate in Santigo de Compostela for the Feast of St James. It’s estimated that over 100,000 pilgrims from all over the world will either walk 100 km or cycle 200 km along the Camino de Santiago to receive the Compostela, the official recognition from the Pilgrim’s Office in Santiago.

La Tomatina Tomato Festival
This event does exactly what it says on the tin, if you’ll excuse the pun. The last Wednesday in August each year see the world’s biggest tomato fight take place in Bunyol, near Valencia. For one whole hour visitors from around the world pelt each other with tomatoes. It’s now so popular that around 30,000 regularly join in the fun.

Batalla del Vino
The gentle town of Haro is responsible for the annual wine battle which takes place at the end of June. The town’s residents attend a cliff-side mass before throwing wine at each other and emerging like extras from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Flamenco Dancing
If you’re visiting Andalusia on your travels, you are bound to be entertained by Spanish flamenco dancers. Flamenco itself is the traditional song and dance of the Andalusia flamencos – or gypsies – with its history stretching back over hundreds of years, encompassing Gypsy, Andalucían and Moorish traditions.

If you feel drawn to try a spot of dancing try the ‘zapateado’. It comprises intricate toe and heel clicking for the men where the women’s dance focuses on graceful hand and body movements. Or there’s the ‘bail grande’ which retains hints of Indian roots (the gypsies originated from India centuries ago). All song and dance may be accompanied by finger snapping or clapping and shouting, referred to as ‘jaleo’. Fans of Strictly Come Dancing may be already familiar with some of the moves which are probably best not attempted after a few bottles of Rioja.

We hope that our brief guide to elements of the Spanish culture will whet your appetite for either your first trip or a longed-for return to this beautiful country. Perhaps we’ll see you at La Tomatina!

Kate Smedley is learning to dance flamenco for this year’s walking holidays in Spain.

This photo was used under the Creative Commons license curtsey of Flickr.com

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3256/2573482438_ac68ca8acb.jpg