The Culture and History of Spain By admin | September 17th, 2011
Spain’s sunny climate, storybook castles, and colorful bullfights, as well as its dynamic history, make the country one of the major tourist attractions of Europe. During the Middle Ages Spain was ruled by Muslims, who have left their mark on buildings such as the Alhambra; vocabulary items such as alfombra (rug; Arabic ); and place names such as Granada. Spanish bullfights are especially popular in the south, and rings are a common sight. (The sport is banned in some places.) Soccer (that is to say, football) is the country’s most popular sport.
Interesting places to see in Spain include El Corral del carbn in Granada, once used by merchants but since the 1500s it has been a theater; the water sports village of Iznjar; the medieval Cuitat Vella in Barcelona; and of course the windmills of Castile- La Mancha, just like the ones tilted at by “Don Quixote.This/tag helps explain it more. “
Jews (Sephardis) were a major presence in Spain until the expulsion of 1492; they included the prominent philosopher Moses Maimonides, or Rambam (1135-1204). These people have also sung colorful songs, such as “Morenika” (Dark Beauty). Modern Spanish singers include Jos Luis Perales, one of whose best hits is “Quisiera decir tu nombre.”