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There is no better way to learn by yourself Spain culture and traditions than to visit this gorgeous country during your summer vacation. Be it just a road trip or a fully-fledged excursion, Spain has tons to offer, from beautiful beaches to tasty cuisine, to crazy nightlife. Picturesque mountain ranges combined with desert landscapes gives Spain a unique, one of a kind atmosphere. You can even visit some of the world’s most unique ecosystems on the Canary islands. Since Spain has so much to offer and it can be pretty intimidating to figure out a travel plan on your own, we have created this Top 10 Things About Spain Culture and Traditions list, which will surely help you decide on what to do on your trip!

Visit the beaches

Probably the most famous part of Spain are its marvelous beaches. The country boasts over three thousand miles of coastline, and some of its beaches are rated among the best this planet has to offer. For example, Playa de Ses Illetes beach, which is a part of the Balearic Islands, situated on Formentera, was considered the best beach in the world in 2016. Spanish has so many pretty beaches it will be impossible to visit them all in one trip, so prepare for several attempts at this difficult task. We assure you, however, that the memories and souvenirs you will get from this experience will bring a smile to your face for the rest of your life!

Balearic Islands

Discover the islands

Unless you’re living under a rock, you have undoubtedly heard something about the Canary Islands, Ibiza, or Mallorca. Spain has dozens of beautiful islands that vary greatly between each other, creating a unique experience each time you visit one of them. For example, the island of Ibiza is a world-famous party spot that bustles with life as much during the day as it does at night. Tenerife is home to a large number of luxurious resorts, making it a perfect destination if you’re looking for an all-inclusive vacation inside of a villa with a private beach and activities aplenty. Other islands, such as Menorca, are more peaceful and quiet, great if you’re looking for a way to escape the heavy Spanish crowds and retreat to a secluded beach for some tranquility.

Canary Islands

Spanish language

Not only is Spanish among the most commonly spoken languages of the world, as it is the language of over 400 million people, but it is also one of the most popular ones. The number of Spanish speakers increases every day as people from all over the world start to learn this beautiful language. According to some research, the United States will become the largest Spanish speaking country in a couple of decades, possibly dethroning Mexico, which is yet another incentive to learn Spanish. It will improve your future job prospects, allow you to study abroad, and most importantly, prove to be a very enjoyable experience. Spanish is relatively easy to learn, making it one the perfect opportunity to learn more about Spain culture and traditions.

Flamenco

The world-famous dancing style of Flamenco can be seen in movies, TV shows, music videos, and events all over the world. It is hard to find a dancing competition that does not feature at least one Flamenco dancer. But Flamenco is so much more than just dance moves – it is about singing, perfectly playing guitar, and, most importantly, sex-appeal. This gorgeous tradition developed in the south of Spain within the region of Andalusia and is closely connected to the Romani gypsy community which is a significant margin of the Spanish population. If dancing is not for you and you prefer to watch rather than participate yourself, the elaborate hand-crafted costumes of the flamenco dancers are sure to thrill you!

Gaze upon Spanish art

When it comes to Spain culture and traditions, nothing showcases the enormous heritage of the country than its art, which has for centuries been a crucial contributor to Western art in general. Even in prehistoric times, Spain was the main center of European art, from rock art, to Celtic art, to Iberian sculptures. The names Velazquez, Goya, and Picasso also unmistakably must mean something to you, since these Spanish artists are among the world’s best and most famous. If you happen to visit Madrid, we recommend seeing the Prado museum, which is one of the largest art museums in the world. If you want more, we wholeheartedly advise exploring the Picasso Museum in Barcelona, as well as the Salvador Dali museum in Figueres.

The Meseta

Relax in the sun

When it comes to weather and climate, Spain features some of the world’s most enjoyable conditions to relax. The warm weather stays in Spain even after the summer is long gone, making it a great tourist destination year-round. The best part about Spain, however, is the variety of its climate. You can easily find Mediterranean zones, which are characterized by hot summers and rainy winters. The Meseta, located in the center of the country, has equally hot summers and cold winters, perfect for winter vacation. Finally, within the Basque Country, you can find areas of maritime climate, in which summers are not as hot and winters are milder, perfect if you are not a fan of extreme temperatures either way!

Explore Spanish Architecture

Even though the Gothic architecture is not limited to Spain and can be seen all throughout Europe, Spain adds its own little twist to it, making it much more decorative due to its added Moorish features. Similarly, Spain added their signature flavors to both Renaissance architecture and Baroque architecture. Moreover, Romans stayed in Spain from 218 B.C. all the way until the 5th century A.D., leaving behind roads, bridges, aqueducts, and theatres, the remnants of which can sometimes still be noticed within the country. One of such architectural wonders is the Segovia Aqueduct, which boasts over 160 stone arches, all set without the use of cement. The aqueduct used to bring water from the Fuenfria Spring, located 17 kilometers away in the mountains, and is more commonly known as the Devil’s Bridge, which, according to the legend, was built by the devil himself.

Things to do in Spain

If gorgeous architecture is not good enough for you, Spain is among the countries which have the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the whole world, summing up to a whopping 45 in total. Visit the historic center of Cordoba, which is home to multiple mosques and magnificent cathedrals, some of which go back over thousands of years. In Cuenca, you can visit the first Spanish Gothic cathedral, located on the top of a cliff overlooking a river. The prehistoric city of Toledo is sure to thrill you, as it was occupied by Romans, Visigoths, Moors and more, and is one of the most varied cities in the world, hosting synagogues, cathedrals, mosques, and many more!

Spanish Croquetas

Food and Drinks

Never tried the famous Spanish croquetas or an original Tortilla Espanola? Now is the perfect opportunity to do so! While Spanish cuisine is very popular all over the world, there is no better place to taste it than its country of origin. If you are a fan of soups, definitely try the tasty gazpacho, which is a special type of tomato soup that is served cold, usually as an appetizer. For breakfasts, we recommend tasting some of the famous cured meats Spain has to offer – Jamon and Chorizo. Finally, for the main course, you absolutely must try the local paella, which is a rice-based dish filled with delicious fresh seafood, sometimes with a mixture of chicken or rabbit, beans, and vegetables. If that’s not enough for you and you demand a tasty dessert, why not try the famous “fried milk” – a classic Spanish dessert, made out of a milk-pudding with a sugary crust?

History of Spain

Traveling to foreign countries is not only about beautiful views, sandy beaches, and tasty food. While you’re in Spain, take the opportunity and learn a thing or two about the rich history of the country. Notice the wonders and achievements of the Spanish people during the Golden Age, when the country was a superpower the whole world feared. Delve down into the atrocities of the Spanish Civil War and commemorate the memory of the victims by learning more about their past. Through both democracy and dictatorship, through being the capital of Christan Conquista and the country of Islamic Moors, Spain has always been one of the major players in world politics and their history is among the craziest and richest the world has to offer!

Every year more tourists flock to the country of Brazil, as it is becoming one of the top tourist destinations for a summer vacation in the world. The popularity began rising with the 2016 Olympic Games, which were hosted in Rio de Janeiro, as fans of sports from all over the world visited Brazil to witness their favorite athletes competing against each other. However, there is so much more to Brazil than just sports, and while it is a huge part of Brazilian culture, we cannot forget all the other beautiful things about the country. With stunning sandy beaches, over a thousand surrounding islands and plenty of natural wonders, including the famous Amazon River and rainforests, Brazil is the perfect destination of choice for nature lovers. If you would rather stay in the cities, there is also plenty of things to do – in recent years, many more attractions, hotels, and restaurants were opened to meet the needs of the coming tourists. To help you get a better grip on what Brazil has to offer, we made this Top 10 Hidden Secrets about Brazil culture and traditions list, which spots some of the lesser-known facts about the country.

Flight Network

Sandy beaches

While Mexico often brings tons of tourists every year to their beautiful beaches, people are often forgetting about Brazil. This South American country actually features tons of romantic, sandy beaches with over four thousand miles of coastline and a warm, tropical climate that will keep you warm. The coasts of Brazil are also filled with coves, islands, and even underwater cave systems, which only add to the beauty of Brazilian beaches. One of the most famous of the Brazilian beaches is Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, of which almost everyone in the world has heard. The beach is over two miles long and is usually quite busy, but the locals love mixing with the tourists and getting to know each other!

Lençois Maranhenses

Brazil is the biggest country in South America, and with such an amount of terrain to spare, diversity comes naturally. In Brazil, you can easily spot glorious waterfalls, calm wetlands, mountain ranges, jungles, and even deserts. One of the most unique landscapes you can see in the country is Lençois Maranhenses, which is a national park filled with sand dunes and pools of rainwater. There are over 600 square miles of terrain to explore in this national park, all of which are filled with sights that look as if taken from another planet. Another natural beauty of Brazil is the Amazon itself and the sprawling rainforests which surround it. If you’re lucky, you may even get to experience piranha fishing, which is a popular pastime among the locals who live close to the Amazon.

Jurandir Coelho

Largest cities

When it comes to the cities of Brazil, many people focus on the negative sides, such as massive swathes of favelas, which are a type of Brazilian slums. However, cities are a huge part of Brazil culture and traditions, and most of them are gorgeous sights to see. For example, the city of Curitiba, one of the largest cities in Brazil, is famous for its innovative public transportation and dozens of green spaces all around the city. Fun fact – the city actually has so many parks, that city officials use sheep to help keep the grass short, as employing enough people to take mow the lawns would be too expensive! The city is also filled with a number of great monuments and attractions to visit, including multiple museums and art galleries.

Carnival

One of the most famous features of Brazil culture and traditions is the Carnival of Brazil, usually held in March or February, just before Lent. While carnivals are popular all over Brazil, Rio de Janeiro is known for the biggest one. Actually, the Rio Carnival is considered to be the largest carnival in the world, with over two million people walking through the streets every day. The carnival is filled with costumes, parades, parties, open-air performances of samba, and food. Make sure to visit the Sambodromo, which acts as the heart of the festival in Rio and hosts most of the samba competitions between the most renowned dance schools in Brazil.

Brazil Food

Brazil is often considered to be a melting pot of cultures, which also highly influences their national cuisine, which varies from region to region. Brazilians love using root vegetables and various tropical fruits that grow in their region, with papayas, mangos, and pineapples filling the menus of most restaurants. Brazil is also known for its tasty barbecue, but they are also not afraid of fish-based dishes, such as the Moqueca, which is a stew made with fish and seafood, boiled in a mixture of diced tomatoes, coriander, and onions. For dessert, we recommend you try brigadeiros, which resemble chocolate truffles. These sweet balls of goodness are created out of condensed milk, mixed with cocoa powder and sprinkled with even more chocolate, and are served at most bakeries.

Brazil drinks

A huge portion of Brazil culture and traditions are their national drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Beer is widely popular in Brazil, with local brans filling the market and pushing out the foreign ones. When it comes to cocktails, Brazilians love using cachaça, which is a liquor made out of sugarcane juice. The most common form of cachaça is porradinha, which is half a cup of cachaça and some soda. For a more sophisticated drink, you may want to try a caipirinha, which is among the most famous of the Brazilian drinks. Caipirinha is made out of cachaça, lime juice, and some brown sugar. The famous drink actually comes from a homemade recipe used during the outbreak of Spanish Flu, but years of experimentation turned it into a popular cocktail!

Alexandre Cesar Salem e Silva

Monuments and landmarks

Brazil is filled with tons upon tons of magnificent monuments and landmarks which attract tourists from all over the world. One of such monuments is Christ the Redeemer, the most famous Christian statue in all the world. The sculpture was designed by Paul Landowski, a French sculptor of Polish descent and features a thirty-meter-tall depiction of Jesus Christ. However, Christ the Redeemer is not the only famous monument in Brazil. If you happen to be visiting the capital of Brazil, Brasilia, you may want to see the famous Cathedral of Brasilia. When in Sao Paulo, make sure to save some time to see Altino Arantes, which is a gorgeous skyscraper and one of the most popular sights in all of Brazil.

Guia do Nômade Digital

Hotels and Resorts

While you may think that hotels look more or less the same everywhere around the world, you might be surprised by what Brazil has to offer. With the recent increase in the tourism industry, more and more luxurious resorts are being built all over the country, providing a huge range of choices to wealthy travelers. If bustling hotels and all-inclusive resorts are not your things, you may instead want to choose one of the many rainforest lodges, which are becoming popular and provide the perfect setting for escaping the bustling cities. There are also many Pousadas, which are similar to bed and breakfasts, which are small, independent lodges usually run by the locals.

Goway Travel

Weather in Brazil

Unlike in most countries around the world, which are popular only during certain seasons, Brazil stays beautiful and warm all around the year, with around 300 days of sunshine annually. Even during fall and winter, you will probably not see any rain or snow and the temperatures stay high enough to forget your coat and scarf. Many locals hit the beaches all throughout the year, and they even prefer the more temperate weather off-season than the scorching heat of summer. However, remember that nights in Brazil can get quite chilly, so remember to pack something warm to wear for this occasion.

National Parks

Currently, there are over 70 gorgeous national parks all over Brazil, which show some of the best of what Brazilian nature has to offer. The first parks were opened around the 1930s, with more and more slowly being added every year. Itatiaia National Park is the oldest national park in Brazil, situated within the Mantiqueira mountains. Today, most of the Amazon rainforest belongs to national parks, as more and more dangers arise to this jungle-like environment. The largest of those is the Mamiraua Reserve, which is home to the largest selection of wildlife in the country, including over 400 species of birds, dolphins, monkeys, and rodents.