Destination: SPAIN
Things To Know Spain Today From Pyrenees to Portugal Diversities of Spain Spanish Characters Cities, Towns and Villages Spanish Lifestyle Traveling in Spain Spanish Passions The Moorish Occupation	Diversities of Spain Regional differences are reflected in the Spanish people, their looks, their character, their attitudes and above all, their cuisine. The 800 years of Moorish occupation, the eventual unification of a number of small kingdoms, and the power and wealth of 16th-century colonial Spain have all played their part in the evolution of diverse provincial characteristics. The concept of centralized power is alien to many Spaniards, and regionalism is still strong in Spain. It has its base in the peninsula's linguistic groups: Galician, spoken in the northwest; Basque, another northern language; Castilian, or pure, central Spanish; and Catalan, based in the northeast, with Valencian a variation of this. These different languages are still spoken daily. In 1977, when the present constitution was established, various regional groups were provided for through the establishment of 17 autonomous governments. The Basque Country and Catalonia are the two regions in Spain having the most autonomy, although Basque extremists have pushed for independence.	COUNTRY Introduction Things To Know Survival Guide TimeLine Essential Info REGION CITIES Madrid Barcelona Santiago Seville MAPS World Europe TRAVEL BOOK