Spain is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe, with a rich history and many diverse architectural monuments. The idea of spending a vacation in this country is becoming increasingly relevant for most Russians.
Thousands of Russian tourists cross the Spanish border every year, but it must be borne in mind that if you are planning to visit this country for the first time and decide to do 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 greatly simplified by contacting the nearest travel agency, where you will find the most suitable travel route for you, which allows you to quickly see all the most outstanding sights of the country.
From this article you will find out where to turn in Moscow to draw up all the necessary documents, without which a trip to Spain becomes simply impossible.
Description
The Kingdom of Spain (the capital is Madrid) is a state located in the South-Western part of Europe and including 50 provinces.
Due to its rather advantageous location, it borders on such large countries as Portugal, Gibraltar, Morocco, France and Andorra (the kingdom to the north of Spain, which amazes tourists with its size). Andorra consists 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 take a bus to any ski resort in Andorra in just 30 minutes.
The head of state, King Juan Carlos I, who ascended the throne at the end of 1975, still rules, therefore, it is his merit that Spain has become one of the most successful and beautiful European countries in recent decades.
Basic data
Every person who decides to go to Spain should definitely visit its capital - Madrid, which, in fact, is the main cultural center of the country.
Other major cities of interest to 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 km 2 . At the same time, on its territory live:
- Castilians;
- Valencians
- Andalusians
- Asturians
- Catalans;
- Galician
- Basques.
Despite such a diversity of peoples, the main language in the country is Spanish, and only in some provinces less common dialects are used.
Geographic features
The territory occupied by the United Kingdom of Spain is for the most part occupied by a complex system of mountains surrounding a single impressive plateau called Meseta. To the north of it are the Cantabrian Mountains, which are a continuation of the Spanish mountain system - the Pyrenees, while only the southern slope is equipped for tourists to visit. Iberian mountains stretch from the northeast of the plateau. 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 pebbled beaches. At the same time, despite the fact that most of the coastal areas are cultivated, in some places you can find desert lagoons and swamps.
Culture
Unique museums, galleries and territories recognized as world heritage are the main wealth that the kingdom of Spain boasts. You can talk for hours about a country whose sights occupy an impressive part of the territory, but when you first visit Spain, you should definitely visit the country's largest museum, the Prado, whose exposition is so large that it cannot be seen in one day.
Spain is one of the leading countries in the degree of development of the educational sphere. There are more than 35 students per thousand inhabitants, which is one of the highest world rates.
Climate
Spain is characterized by climatic contrasts. Most of its territory is affected by the subtropical Mediterranean climate, which is characterized by short winters and dry and hot summers. In the north lies the “wet” part of Spain, receiving heavy rainfall in winter and summer, and in the remaining territories no more than 800 mm of precipitation falls annually.
Spain is a kingdom, in the central territories of which during the summer the temperature during the day is kept between 25-30 degrees, and at night it drops almost half. It is best to visit the country from March to June, as well as from September to October.
Moreover, despite the fact that the sea has a significant effect on temperature fluctuations, it never drops below 10 degrees. Rain is very rare, but usually torrential.
sights
The Kingdom of Spain, whose attractions are famous all over the world, also boasts its fiestas and bullfights, which are held in all major cities. Of the many historical and architectural values, the most interesting are:
- National Archaeological Museum.
- National Ethnographic Museum.
Population
Spain is a kingdom that owes directly to population growth in the wave of immigration that took place in 1970-1980. Then Europeans and Latin Americans began to actively move to the country. A smaller flow of people was seen from North America and selected African regions.
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 record high and amounts to 97.9%.
It is noteworthy that the stereotype that Spain is a kingdom in which only people of the Latin American type live is incorrect, because in the country there are separate settlements where people of exclusively the Nordic type live.
Holiday vacation
The Kingdom of Spain, whose sights are famous all over the world, attracts millions of tourists also thanks to the 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 gray.
Spain is a kingdom whose main income comes from the tourism sector. 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.
The most popular resort areas:
- Costa Brava is a place rich in picturesque bays and sandy beaches. The main vegetation here is pine trees, 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 is peculiar, and along the entire coast a special pedestrian zone has been created, due to which hotels are located on the territory as far away from the coast.
- Costa Blanca. Most beaches are characterized by the presence of white sand. This is one of the cleanest areas of the country, 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 entire coast is surrounded by a network of mountain ranges and small bays.
- Balearic Islands. Ideal for relaxing the most wealthy citizens of Russia.
- Mallorca island. Includes over 75 beaches. It is on it that the entire royal family rests annually.
- Ibiza Island is an ideal place for lovers of active pastime and parties.
Canary Islands
Canary Islands - 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. However, their main feature is that the sand on the beaches has a characteristic gray color as a result of its volcanic origin. Of course, on the Canary Islands there are also artificially created beaches, the sand on which was specially brought in from other countries, but there are extremely few of them.
Canary Islands are unique. So, for example, Lanzarote Island is a reserve of volcanoes, many of which are still active. The vegetation on the island is only artificially planted, there are no cities, but there are only small villages.
Kingdom of Spain - the most interesting
Types of tourism:
Sightseeing . 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. For example, the Alhambra palace-fortress became known throughout the world due to the uniqueness of the building. The fact is that throughout the day, depending on the lighting, its walls change color.
Alpine skiing . Every outdoor enthusiast can visit a number of ski resorts, the total length of which is 374 km with a height difference of up to 2750 m. The best period for visiting them is from November to April.
Health-improving. If you wish, you can visit both thermal springs and specially designed balneological resorts. It is noteworthy that mineral water can be used not only for baths, but also for inhalation.
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 sand of a dark, almost black color, formed as a result of the destruction of volcanic rocks.
Ecotourism. In the Canary Islands, you can visit the unique nature reserves, many of which are declared by UNESCO the heritage of mankind.
Diving The waters of the Canary Archipelago have a very rich marine fauna, but the most interesting 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 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 inspect sunken ships and enjoy the unforgettable beauty of the underwater world.
- Windsurfing is a crown sport in Spain. Due to the strong winds, the water areas of the Canary Islands are ideal for windsurfing. You can rent a sailing board on all the major beaches of any of the islands.
Holiday tour "Three Kingdoms"
Tour operators offer many comers many excursion programs, however, the Three Kingdoms tour has become the most popular among tourists in recent years - Spain, famous for its architectural sights, can be examined in detail in 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 accommodation and proper relaxation, you will be offered to visit the architectural museum called “Spanish Village”, where dinner will be served at the national restaurant, after which you can watch the performance of the “Magic Fountain”. However, please note that dinner may be canceled if you arrive late in Barcelona. |
2 day | The day begins with a sightseeing tour of Barcelona, which includes an examination of all the most outstanding architectural masterpieces. After it, you will be transferred to Valencia with a stop in the small town of Peniscola. |
3 day | Acquaintance with the capital of Spain, including a walking tour of the central part of the city. You can see a lot of attractions and visit the factory that manufactures porcelain. The copies you like can be purchased. |
4 day | You can take a walking tour of old Madrid. For those who wish, for a fee, you can visit the Flamenco show, make an excursion to the Prado Museum and the Royal Palace, or visit the Valley of the Fallen. |
5 day | Continuation of a tour of Madrid with a visit to Columbus Square, Recoletas and Castellano Boulevards, the monumental LasVentas Arena, the Temple of Debot and other attractions. Everyone for a fee can go on an excursion to Escorial. |
6 day | In the morning you will be transferred to Zaragoza, where you can take a short tour of the historic city center. Then you will be transferred to the Costa Brava, and after dinner you can take an evening pedestrian walk. |
7 day | All morning and evening that day you can spend at your discretion. Closer to dinner, a wine tasting is held, 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 aboard the plane, which marks 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 must make an appointment and pay the consular fee and about 800 rubles for the consideration of the papers you provided.
For a visa to the Consulate General should apply to citizens who are going to study at one of the Spanish educational institutions or want to get a visa for a period of more than three months. 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 documents submitted 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 that you are going to spend in the country.
What documents do you need to provide?
Regardless of what type of visa you apply for a trip, the following documents must be submitted to the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain in Russia:
- An application form with two glued photographs.
- International passport.
- A photocopy of the passport and internal passport with the personal data of the owner.
- Health insurance.
- Certificate of income from the place of work 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 . Confirmation of hotel reservations, airline tickets and creditworthiness.
- Business visa. An invitation from a Spanish company, with a detailed description of its activities and all the details of the person who signed the invitation. In addition, here you will also need to confirm your creditworthiness.
Keep in mind that in certain cases the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Spain in Moscow reserves the right to require any additional required document. In addition, you should 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 amazingly beautiful Spanish attractions.