Spain is a country in southern Europe on the Mediteranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It borders France and Portugal. Spain is the second largest country in Western Europe after France. It includes the Balearic and Canary islands and two enclaves in North Africa. The name Spain was derived from the ancient Roman name for Iberia, Hispania. The population of about 40.000.000 live in an area of about 505.000 square kilometers. Agriculture, fishing, mining, manufac-turing and service are main activities. Tourism is an important industry. Languages spoken are Spanish, Catalan, Galician and Basque. In the tourist areas many speak German and English. The capital of Spain is Madrid.

The weather in Spain is generally hot and sunny, perfect for a vacation. The hottest time of the year is in July and August. This is the time when the beaches are most crowded. The best time to visit Spain is in the months of May, October and November when the weather is cooler though still warm enough to have a lovely relaxing time by the beach with fewer crowds. It is thought that Spain is particularly beautiful in the autumn. The Atlantic Coast has heavy rain in October and November. Madrid, being on the high central plain, is very cold in winter.

Spain is a monarchy, King Carlos and Queen Sofia the reigning monarchs. The country is proudly Roman Catholic and one of the few countries which was virtually unaffected by the rise of Protestantism due to some very devout monarchs of the time. Spain is a storied country of stone castles, snowcapped mountains, vast monuments, and sophisticated cities, all of which have made it a favoured travel destination. After Italy, Spain has the second highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world, with a total of 40.