Geography
Covering an area of 504,784 sq km/ 194,898 sq miles, Spain is part of the mountainous Iberian peninsula of Western Europe. In the north of the country, the Pyrenees form a continuous mountain chain stretching from the rugged and stormy Atlantic coast to the balmy beaches of the Mediterranean, and its watershed delineates the border with France. In the south east of the country the Sierra Nevada takes the form of a long curving chain which rises abruptly from the plain of La Vega to the northeast of Malaga, reaching its highest altitude of 3482 close to the city of Grenada before dropping gradually to Almeria in the east. Around 100km/ 62 miles in length, the main spine of the range, which contains several 3000m/10,000ft peaks, projects ridges north and south. Between the southern ridges are long narrow ravines containing Moorish villages and farms. The valleys to the north are wilder and less accessible, the highest containing dark corries situated beneath 600m/ 2,000ft faces.

Time Zone
The time in Spain is GMT +1 hour.

Climate
The weather in the Pyrenees defies generalizations. Micro-climates abound and the temperature varies with altitude at the rate of around 6º C per 1000m or 3º F per 1000ft. In general summer temperatures are lower closer to the coast and a range from 13 - 28º C /55 - 82º F is likely. Sunshine is the norm in summer though late afternoon storms sometimes with thunder are common throughout the Pyrenees. The Sierra Nevada enjoys a stable climate with sunshine and clear weather almost guaranteed in July and August. Temperatures in the lower valleys at this time can be extreme – up to 40º C or over 100º F- but on the ridges and summits it is generally a pleasant 20º C/ 68º F.

History
At the crossroads between Europe and Africa, the Iberian Peninsula has suffered invasions from the north and south. The Romans arrived in the 3rd century BC and Roman laws, languages and customs spread throughout the peninsula. In 409 Ad the Germanic hoardes took on the roman Empire and by 419 a Visigothic kingdom had been established. The Visigoths ruled until 711, when the Muslims crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and defeated Roderick, the last Goth king. The Muslim occupation of southern Spain (which the Spanish called Al-Andalus) lasted almost 800 years. During this period, the arts and sciences prospered, new crops and agricultural techniques were introduced and palaces, mosques, schools, gardens and public baths were built. The Visigoths still held the mountainous country in the north and gradually extended their rule in a series of wars. By the end of the 13th century Christian Spain's two main powers, Castilla and Aragón were united by the marriage of Isabel, princess of Castilla, to Fernando, heir to the throne of Aragón. Known as the Catholic Monarchs, they united all of Spain and laid the foundations for the golden age. In 1478, they established the notoriously ruthless Spanish Inquisition, expelling and executing thousands of Jews and other non-Christians. In 1482, they besieged Granada, and 10 years later the last Muslim king surrendered to them. Spain developed an enormous empire in the New World, following Columbus' arrival in the Americas in 1492. Gold and silver came flooding into Spanish coffers from Mexico and Peru as the conquistadors claimed land from Cuba to Bolivia. Spain monopolised trade with these new colonies and became one of the most powerful nations on earth. However, a series of expensive wars with England, France and the Netherlands brought the economy to its knees when Napoleon's troops entered Spain in 1808 the Crown began to lose its hold on its colonies. After a protracted war the French forces were finally expelled, and in 1814 Fernando VII was restored to the Spanish throne. The disastrous Spanish-American War of 1898 marked the end of the Spanish Empire. Spain's troubles continued during the early 20th century. Following a military coup Alfonso XIII fled the country, and the Second Republic was declared. A right-wing alliance of the army, the Church, the monarchy and the fascist-style Falange Party agitated for change and following the assassination of the opposition leader José Calvo Sotelo by Republican police officers in July 1936 the army took control. The Spanish Civil War (1936-39) was a turning point in history and a precursor to the Second World War. By 1939, the Nationalists, led by Franco, had won the war. More than 350,000 Spaniards had died in the fighting, but more bloodletting ensued. An estimated 100,000 Republicans were executed or died in prison after the war. Franco died in 1975, having earlier named Juan Carlos, the grandson of Alfonso XIII, his successor. With Juan Carlos on the throne, Spain made the transition from dictatorship to democracy. The first elections were held in 1977, a new constitution was drafted in 1978. Despite a failed military coup in 1981 the new direction for Spanish politics was set. In 1986 Spain joined the EC (now the EU) and in 1992 Spain announced its return to the world stage, with Barcelona hosting the Olympic Games, Seville hosting Expo 92 and Madrid being declared European Cultural Capital. In 1996 Spaniards voted in a conservative party under the leadership of the José María Aznar, and in March 2000 he was re-elected with an absolute majority; his success has been attributed to the buoyant state of the Spanish economy, which has experienced 4% annual growth since he came to power

Currency
Spain’s unit of currency is the Euro. As of February 2006, the exchange rates are:

£1 = 1.47 Euros
$1 = 0.84 Euros

Travellers cheques can be cashed at banks and exchange offices, and usually attract a slightly higher exchange rate than cash. By far the easiest way to obtain tour travel money is from ATMs using credit or debit cards. Credit and debit cards can also be used to purchase goods and services throughout Spain and are accepted at most restaurants.

Visas
Nationals of the US, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand do not need visas for stays less than 90 days. There are no entry restrictions on passport holders of any country in the EU.

Vaccinations
You should visit your own doctor and dentist for a check-up prior to taking your trip to Spain. The following is a ROUGH GUIDE for immunization. (We must stress that this is only a basic guide to the most commonly required vaccinations for travel worldwide. You must seek and abide by the specific advice of your local doctor/medical professional).

(a) Polio (normally you will just need a booster.)
(b) Tetanus.
(c) Typhoid. A full course requires 2 injections separated by an interval of 4-6 weeks.
(d) Hepatitis (A) and (B).
(e) Rabies pre-exposure vaccination. Please refer to your doctor for advice on whether you need rabies pre-exposure vaccination. In the unlikely case of your being bitten, this vaccination does not eliminate the need for urgent evacuation to a suitable medical facility for additional treatment,. However, it does simplify that additional treatment and also prolongs the period that you can safely delay before receiving post-exposure treatment.

Given enough notice, your doctor will be able to administer all the above vaccinations.

Additional Sources of Information

Books
Walks and Climbs in the Pyrenees. Kev Reynolds
Walking in the Sierra Nevada. Andy Walmsley. Cicerone Press
The Pyrenees. Marc Dubin. Rough Guides.
Trekking in the Pyranees. Douglas Streatfeild-James. Globe Pequot Press
Trekking and climbing in Northern Spain. Jim Thompson & Ilja Schroder. Stakpole Books
The Story of Spain. Mark Williams. Santana Books

Our trip dossiers/itineraries give details of books and maps that are specific to a particular trip. Click here for details of book and map retailers.

Web
Lonely PLanet - www.lonelyplanet.com
Rough Guides - www.roughguides.com