Euro is the official currency of Spain. The banknotes of EUR 500 are not accepted in many places. No other currency is accepted in Spain apart from US dollars at very few places with a bad exchange rate.
What is the history of Spain?
The Southern part of Spain was invaded by the Iberians from North Africa around 1000 BC, followed by the Celtic settlers from France. After that, the majority of the population was Celtiberian. Spain has been ruled by the Catholics, Moors, Muslim invaders and others, which leads to the richness of its cultural heritage. King Ferdinand started expanding his empire in the 15th century, but the country's position declines after 1648 because of the thirty-year war. It was neutral during the first World War. After 1936, General Franco under the influence of Hitler and Mussolini conducted Fascist dictatorship. The democratic constitution was adopted in 1978.
What is unique about culture of Spain?
Spanish people are very patriotic towards their country as well as maintain their cultural and linguistic connection pretty well. Though it is not a highly religious country, a major part of the Spanish people are Catholics. All religions are given equal importance in Spain. The official language used in Spain is Castilian Spanish. The language varies across different parts of Spain, where some speak Catalan, Galician or Asturian. English and French are also quite popular in the major cities.
How is Spain divided into regions?
The country is divided into various autonomous regions along with two independent cities. The autonomous regions include the Euskadi, Galicia, Catalonia, Balearic Islands, Andalusia and the Valencian region. The Canary Islands near northern Africa is also a part of Spain. Spain also has a lot of beautiful cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Cadiz, Bilbao, Cordoba and many others.