Spanish Culture

World Heritage

Spain holds an immense cultural wealth, the product of many civilizations crossing paths. It has the third most sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List of any country (49 in all), among them the Alhambra in Granada, the historic center of Toledo and the works of Gaudi.

Art and Painting

Spanish painting has left a deep mark on the history of world art. The Prado Museum in Madrid is one of the most important picture galleries on the planet.

• Golden Age: The standouts are Diego Velazquez ("Las Meninas"), El Greco and Zurbaran.
• 18th and 19th centuries: Francisco de Goya, often called the father of modern art.
• Avant-garde (20th century): Pablo Picasso (founder of Cubism), Salvador Dali (Surrealism) and Joan Miro.

Literature

Spanish literature finds its greatest figure in Miguel de Cervantes. His masterpiece, Don Quixote of La Mancha, is the most translated book after the Bible. Spain has produced 6 Nobel Prize winners in Literature, including Juan Ramon Jimenez and Camilo Jose Cela.

Food

Spanish cooking is famous around the world for its variety and quality, and it is the flagship of the Mediterranean Diet.