Spain is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe, with a rich history and a variety of architectural monuments. The idea of spending a vacation in this country is becoming more and more relevant for most Russians.
Every year, thousands of Russian tourists cross the border of Spain, but it must be borne in mind that if you are going to visit this country for the first time and decide to do the paperwork yourself, you may encounter a number of certain difficulties, which will require a lot of time and effort to solve. At the same time, the registration procedure can be significantly simplified by contacting the nearest travel agency, where they will select the most suitable travel route for you, allowing you to see all the most outstanding sights of the country in a short time.
From this article you will learn where to go in Moscow to complete all the necessary documents, without which traveling to Spain becomes simply impossible.
Description
Kingdom of Spain (capital - Madrid) - state,located in the southwestern part of Europe and includes 50 provinces.
Due to its fairly favorable location, it borders on such large countries as Portugal, Gibr altar, Morocco, France and Andorra (a kingdom north of Spain, striking tourists with its size). Andorra is made up of seven districts and covers an area of only 468 km². The length of its main highway is only 35 km. It is noteworthy that you can get to any Andorran ski resort in just 30 minutes by bus.
The head of state - King Juan Carlos I, who ascended the throne at the end of 1975, is still ruling, therefore, it is his merit that Spain has become one of the most successful and beautiful European countries in recent decades.
Basic data
Everyone who decides to go to Spain should definitely visit its capital - Madrid, which is, in fact, the main cultural center of the country. Other major cities of interest for tourism are Barcelona, Zaragoza and Valencia. They are most often included in the standard tourist route.
The area of the State of the Kingdom of Spain is 505.9 thousand km2. At the same time, the following people live on its territory:
- Castilians;
- Valencians;
- Andalusians;
- Asturians;
- Catalans;
- Galicians;
- Basques.
Despite such a diversity of peoples, the main language in the country is Spanish, and only in some provincesless common adverbs are used.
Geographic features
The territory occupied by the United Kingdom of Spain is mostly occupied by a complex system of mountains surrounding a single imposing plateau called the Meseta. To the north of it are the Cantabrian Mountains, which are a continuation of the large mountain system of Spain - the Pyrenees, while only the southern slope is equipped for tourists to visit. From the northeast of the plateau stretch the Iberian mountains. It is noteworthy that most of the country's territories are located at an altitude of 600-700 meters above sea level.
The relief of the coast is very diverse. Here you can find both dunes with cliffs and long sandy or pebble beaches. At the same time, despite the fact that most of the coastal areas are cultivated, in some places you can find deserted lagoons and swamps.
Culture
Unique museums, galleries and territories recognized as world heritage are the main we alth that the Kingdom of Spain can boast of. You can talk about the country, whose sights occupy an impressive part of the territory, for hours, but when you first visit Spain, you should definitely visit the country's largest museum - the Prado, whose exposition is so large that it is impossible to see it in one day.
Spain is one of the leading countries in terms of educational development. There are more than 35 students per thousand inhabitants, whichis one of the highest in the world.
Climate
Spain is characterized by climatic contrasts. Most of its territory falls under the influence of the subtropical Mediterranean climate, which is characterized by short winters and dry and hot summers. In the north lies the "wet" part of Spain, which receives heavy rainfall in winter and summer, while the rest of the territories receive no more than 800 mm of precipitation per year.
Spain is a kingdom in the central territories of which during the summer the temperature during the day is kept within 25-30 degrees, and at night it drops by almost half. At the same time, it is best to visit the country from March to June, as well as from September to October.
At the same time, despite the fact that the sea has a significant impact on temperature fluctuations, it never drops below 10 degrees. Rain is very rare, but usually torrential.
Attractions
The Kingdom of Spain, whose attractions are famous throughout the world, can also boast of its fiestas and bullfights held in all major cities. Of the numerous historical and architectural values, the most interesting are:
- National Archaeological Museum.
- National Ethnographic Museum.
Population
Spain is a kingdom that directly owes population growth to a wave of immigration that took place in 1970-1980. Then Europeans and Latin Americans actively began to move into the country. A smaller flow of people has been seen from North America and selected Africanregions.
The average life expectancy in the country is about 80 years, which is a fairly good indicator. The level of education of the population is a record high and stands at 97.9%.
It is noteworthy that the stereotype that Spain is a kingdom in which only people of the Latin American type live is wrong, because there are separate settlements in the country where people of exclusively Nordic type live.
Resort vacation
The Kingdom of Spain, whose sights are known all over the world, attracts millions of tourists also thanks to unique resorts that satisfy every taste. At the same time, the sand on each of the Spanish beaches is different. It can be white, gold or dark grey.
Spain is a kingdom whose main income comes from tourism. That is why the government is trying to create ideal conditions for the development of tourism. For example, all the beaches in the country are public, and anyone can relax on them for free.
Most popular resort areas:
- Costa Brava is a place rich in picturesque coves and sandy beaches. The main vegetation here is pines, surrounding not only small villages, but also individual hotels. At the same time, in some places, sheer cliffs rise directly from the water.
- Costa Dorado. It is famous for its beaches, the sand on which has a peculiar, and a special pedestrian zone has been created along the entire coast, due to which hotels are at the maximumoffshore territory.
- Costa Blanca. Most of the beaches are characterized by the presence of white sand. This is one of the cleanest areas in the country, which received an award from the EU for the purity of water and beaches. This area is most suitable for a relaxing holiday and windsurfing.
- Costa del Garraf. It is located in close proximity to Barcelona, which makes it the most attractive for tourists. The coast is surrounded by a network of mountain ranges and small bays along its entire length.
- Balearic Islands. Ideal for the rest of the we althiest citizens of Russia.
- Majorca island. Includes over 75 beaches. It is on it that the entire royal family rests every year.
- Ibiza Island is the perfect place for those who like active pastime and parties.
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands are the most remote part of the Spanish kingdom. The archipelago consists of many islands, washed by a cold ocean current, as a result of which the water temperature rarely exceeds 24 degrees. At the same time, their main feature is that the sand on the beaches has a characteristic gray color as a result of its volcanic origin. Of course, there are also artificially created beaches on the Canary Islands, the sand on which was specially brought from other countries, but they are extremely few.
The Canary Islands are unique. For example, Lanzarote Island is a reserve of volcanoes, many of which are still active. Vegetation onisland - only artificially planted, there are no cities, but there are only small settlements.
Kingdom of Spain - the most interesting
Types of tourism:
- Excursion. Since the development of Spanish art in the Middle Ages was significantly influenced by the Arabs, most of the buildings are characterized by an oriental style. So, for example, the Alhambra palace-fortress became known all over the world due to the uniqueness of the building. The fact is that throughout the day, depending on the lighting, its walls change color.
- Ski. Every fan of outdoor activities, if desired, can visit a number of ski resorts, the total length of the slopes of which is 374 km with an altitude difference of up to 2750 m. The best time to visit them is from November to April.
- Therapeutic and wellness. If you wish, you can visit both thermal springs and specially designed balneological resorts. It is noteworthy that mineral waters can be used not only for baths, but also for inhalations.
- Beach. This type of holiday attracts thousands of tourists to Spain every year. Some of the beaches are of natural origin. Their distinguishing feature is the dark, almost black sand, formed as a result of the destruction of volcanic rocks.
- Ecotourism. In the Canary Islands, you can visit unique natural reserves, many of which have been declared heritage of mankind by UNESCO.
- Diving. In the waters of the Canaries archipelago, there is a very rich marine fauna, but the most interestinga place for lovers of underwater pastime is the coast of the island of Gran Canaria. At the same time, a large number of diving schools operate along the entire coast, where you can take a training course and rent all the necessary equipment. In addition, under the guidance of a professional instructor, you can explore the sunken ships and enjoy the unforgettable beauty of the underwater world.
Windsurfing is the crown sport in Spain. Due to the strong winds, the water areas of the Canary Islands are ideal for windsurfing. Sailboards can be rented on all major beaches on any of the islands
Three Kingdoms Resort Tour
Tour operators offer everyone a lot of excursion programs, but the most popular among tourists in recent years has become the Three Kingdoms tour - Spain, famous for its architectural sights, can be examined in detail within just one week.
1 day | The first day after arriving in Spain allows tourists to get used to the country's climate as quickly as possible. After your accommodation and proper rest, you will be invited to visit the architectural museum called "Spanish Village", where you will be served dinner at a national restaurant, after which you can watch the performance of the "Magic Fountain". However, please note that dinner may be canceled in case of a late arrival in Barcelona. |
2day | The day begins with a sightseeing tour of Barcelona, including a tour of all the most outstanding masterpieces of architecture. After it, you will be transferred to Valencia with a stop in the small town of Peñiscola. |
Day 3 | An acquaintance with the capital of Spain, which includes a walking tour of the central part of the city. You can see a lot of sights and visit a factory that makes porcelain products. The items you like will be available for purchase. |
4 day | You can take a walking tour of old Madrid. For those who wish, for an additional fee, you can visit a flamenco show, take an excursion to the Prado Museum and the Royal Palace, or visit the Valley of the Fallen. |
5 day | Continuation of the tour of Madrid with a visit to Columbus Square, Recoletas and Castellano boulevards, the Las Ventas monumental arena, the Deboth Temple and other attractions. Everyone can go on an excursion to Escorial for a fee. |
6 day | In the morning you will be transferred to Zaragoza, where you can make a short tour of the historic city center. Next, you will move to the Costa Brava, and after dinner you can take an evening walk. |
7 day | You can spend the whole morning and evening on this day at your discretion. Closer to lunchtimewine tasting followed by a visit to the theater-museum of Salvador Dali and a stop in the medieval city of Gerona. |
8 day | After breakfast, you will be taken to the airport and escorted to the plane, which will mark the end of the tour. |
Where to apply for a visa?
Tourists can obtain a visa by contacting the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain in Moscow. To do this, you need to make an appointment and pay the consular fee and about 800 rubles for reviewing the papers you provided.
Citizens who are going to study in one of the Spanish educational institutions or want to obtain a visa for a period of more than three months should apply for a visa to the Consulate General. If the trip is short, you need to apply for a Schengen tourist visa, which is issued by the Spanish Consulate.
In order to review and verify all the submitted documents and, as a result, to allow or refuse a visa to enter the Kingdom of Spain, the embassy can spend from 10 days to several months. It all depends on the correctness of paperwork, the purpose of the trip and the time you are going to spend in the country.
What documents do I need to provide?
Regardless of what type of visa you apply for a trip, you must provide the following documents to the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain in Russia:
- A questionnaire of the established form with two gluedphotos.
- Passport.
- Photocopy of international passport and internal passport with personal data of the owner.
- He alth insurance.
- Certificate of income from employment and a document certifying the currency exchange.
After you collect the documents listed above, you should decide on the type of visa that you receive and collect the missing ones:
- Tourist. Proof of hotel booking, flight tickets and creditworthiness.
- Business visa. An invitation from a Spanish company, with a detailed description of its activities and all the data of the person who signed the invitation. In addition, you will also need to verify your creditworthiness here.
Please note that in certain cases, the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Spain in Moscow reserves the right to require any additional necessary document. In addition, you must be prepared for the fact that you may simply be denied a visa. However, in this case, the Consulate of the Kingdom of Spain is obliged to provide an explanation of the reason for the refusal so that you can eliminate the deficiency.
If all the documents are in order, you will soon enjoy the amazing beauty of Spanish sights.