As a European nation with rich history, art, culture, and spectacular architecture, Spain is one of the world favorite travel and vacation destinations.

Spain is located in Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean and Pyrenees Mountains, and southwest of France. Spain, including Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, and five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - Ceuta, Melilla, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, has total land area about 499,542 square kilometers, slightly more than twice the size of Oregon of the United States.

Spain has 40,280,780 (July 2004 estimate) population. Castilian Spanish is the official language. About 74% of Spanish people speak Castilian Spanish, 17% Catalan, 7% Galician, and 2% Basque.

Spain was a powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Today, Spain's mixed capitalist economy supports a GDP that on a per capita basis is 80% that of the four leading West European economies. It successfully worked to gain admission to the first group of countries launching the European single currency (the euro) on 1 January 1999.

Madrid, the Europe's highest capital located at 2120 feet above sea level, is the Spanish lively capital city for more than four centuries. With rich history and culture, Madrid has 50 museums and many tourist attractions. The Museo del Prado with world's greatest collection of classical paintings, the Pueta del Sol, the Plaza Mayor, and Palacio Real (the 18th-century Royal Palace) are some the sightseeing highlights of this sophisticated capital.

Barcelona, the host city of 1992 summer Olympics Games, presents 2,000 years of art and architecture design to the world. Designed by Antoni Gaudi, Temple Expiatori de la Sagradi Familia (Expiatory Church of the Holy Family) is Barcelona most fantastic and spectacular landmark. The Gothic Quarter, the Picasso Museum, the colorful Rambla markets, and Montjuic are other places to explore Barcelona.

Tenerife of Canary Islands, Malaga, Marbella and Torremolinos of Costa del Sol, Granada, San Sebastian, Seville and Valencia are other Spain's favorite travel and vacation destinations with natural and historical tourist attractions and luxury resort hotels with spectacular scenery.