10 Breathtaking Facts About Spain

Spain, the country on the Iberian Peninsula, is located in the south of Europe. It offers a great range of cultures, unspoiled nature, significant history, and an interesting lifestyle. Here are some of the interesting facts about Spain that make it one of the world`s top destinations.
 

1.) Sagrada Familia is under construction for 130 years

The well-known Basilica in Barcelona, Sagrada Familia, has been under construction for about 130 years and is expected to be completed by 2026. The construction has started in 1882 by the architect Francesc de Paula del Villar, and a year later the project was taken over and completely modified by Antoni Gaudi.

2.) The Spanish anthem has no words

Although there have been a few versions of the text in the past, the Spanish anthem has no words since 1978. Also, the anthem called La Marcha Real (Royal March) is one of the oldest anthems in Europe. Its origin is unknown, and it was first mentioned in 1761.

3.) The legality of being nude

In Spain, there are no laws against nudity in a public place. So you can walk around completely naked and not get arrested.

4.) The oldest lighthouse in the world

Hercules Tower, the oldest lighthouse in the world is located in the Spanish Autonomous Province of Galicia. This lighthouse was built in the first century AD and is still functional. Because of its importance, the Hercules Tower has become a national monument in Spain and since 2009 has been listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

5.) The most expensive restaurant in the world

The most expensive restaurant in the world, Sublimotion, is located in Ibiza (Spain). The restaurant is part of the Hard Rock Hotel and it is opened in 2014. The “magical place in an unknown location” can only be discovered by those who have booked one of the 12 seats at the table for $1,500 per person.

6.) The tomato festival

La Tomatina Festival, the festival where people throw tomatoes at each other, is held every year in Spain. It was created in 1945 out of pure amusement and fun and since then every last Wednesday in August, with occasional government bans, residents of the city of Bunjol in Valencia have been enjoying the tomato fiesta.

7.) Lottery against the crisis

When the global financial crisis hit, every community tried handling it in its own particular way. But, the small Spanish, La Granja, tried and succeeded to pull out of the crisis in a more than interesting way. The town played the lottery and won a whopping € 700 million!

8.) LGBT rights

Spain is the first country in the world to accept homosexuality, with only 6% of the population thinking it is “morally unacceptable”.

9.) Drinking culture in Spain

Spaniards drink 11.2 liters of pure alcohol per person per year, which is almost double the world average (6.2).

10.) The New Year traditions

In Spain, a very common and popular custom known as “12 grapes of grapes” is widespread. It is believed that the following year will be happy and successful for anyone who eats 12 grapes of grapes during the last 12 seconds of the year. This tradition dates back to 1909 when the grapes were plentifully harvested, and this tradition was invented to save the grapes from decay.