The pillars of Spanish culture

With its tall Gothic spiers and the unmistakable sounds of flamenco music wafting through the air, Spain has always been home to a community of artists, writers, and architects looking for ways to bring Spanish culture to the world.

Let’s look at some of the highlights of Spanish culture:

Architecture:

The oldest architectural works that remain in Spain date back to the megalithic culture, and date back to approximately 3000 BC Numerous Roman monuments are also preserved, among which the great aqueduct of Segovia and the Roman Theater of Mérida stand out.

The Moors left an impressive legacy in the form of the Great Mosque of Cordoba and the Alhambra in Granada, which is perfectly preserved in its original state.

The Gothic style was introduced in Spain in the 12th century, reaching its greatest importance during the 13th century when the cathedrals of Burgos, Toledo and León were built.

Spain also played a very important role in Modernism, the most prominent example being the works of Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona. Construction of its grand cathedral, La Sagrada Familia, began in the 1880s and is scheduled for completion in 2026, the centenary of Gaudí’s death.

Kitchen:

Considering that Spain produces 44% of the world’s olives, it is not surprising that one of the staples of Spanish cuisine is olive oil. The modern Spanish cook could not do without garlic, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and beans. Fresh bread rations will almost always be served with a meal.

The tradition of serving tapas was designed to encourage conversation, and almost every bar in Spain will offer hot or cold tapas when ordering a drink, at no extra charge. Some areas such as Almería, Granada or Jaén in Andalusia and Madrid or Salamanca are famous for that very reason.

Another traditional favorite is the churro, a type of Spanish doughnut. These are particularly delicious when dipped in a cup of thick hot chocolate.

Bullfighting:

Despite much debate about animal cruelty, bullfighting remains a very popular sport in Spain. For traditionalists, the corrida (bullfight) is about many things: death, bravery, skill, but most importantly, acting and showmanship.

Lidea (the art of bullfighting) has a long history, dating back to the mid-18th century. The modern bullfight is highly ritualized, with three distinct stages or “tercios” (tercios), the beginning of each one being announced with a trumpet sound.

The bullfight begins with a parade called a paseíllo in which the participants enter the ring to greet the presiding dignitary. Pedro Romero is widely considered the best torero (bullfighter) in the world, and he was in his seventies when he was appointed director of the Escuela de Tauromaquia de Sevilla, the country’s first bullfighting college.

Flemish:

Flamenco is the traditional song and dance of the gypsies of Andalusia. Singing, dancing and guitar are fused into exciting rhythms, often improvised and spontaneous. Flamenco can have many themes, including modern stories, politics, love, history, and humor. However, the lyrics and tone will often speak of tragedy, reflecting the suffering of its creators.

In recent years flamenco has become popular all over the world and is taught in many countries – in Japan flamenco is so popular that there are more academies than in Spain!

Flamenco exists in three forms: cante (the song), baile (the dance), and guitarra (play the guitar). The heart and soul of flamenco, however, resides in the cante tradition. The role of the singer is very important with the guitar accompanying the song.