History
Sailors and discoveries
Economy
Economy and culture
Tourism
Spain and the European Union
Leaders of international organizations
Siege of World International Organizations
Lifestyle
Gastronomy
Climate
Water
Wildlife
Vegetation
Animals
Inventions
Art
World painting masters
Nobel Laureates
Popes
The way of St James
Founders of Roman Catholic religious societies
World famous musicians and singers
Fashion designers
Sports
Hollywood Oscars
The Spanish Language: History
The Spanish Language: international presence
The Spanish language in the USA
History
The name Spain comes from the Phoenician “Sphan”, an animal similar to rabbits, very abundant in Spain when the Phoenicians arrived (XI century BC).
The oldest European human fossils, 12, 2 million years old, have been found in Atapuerca, Burgos.
The cave paintings of Altamira (Santander) are dated 14-20.000 years BC. This cave is the biggest of its kind in Europe.
The origins of bullfights are found in the minoic culture of Crete (2.800-1.500 BC). Emperor Charlemagne (800 AC) practised a sort of bullfighting.
The origins of flamenco dancing were dances of Greek islands, well known by the Romans.
Cadiz is the oldest city of Western Europe, founded by the Phoenicians in the VIII century BC.
The Romans took more than two hundred years to conquer Spain, the first European country to be invaded and the last to be united to the Roman Empire (218-17 BC).
January became the first month of the year because Roman troops in Spain wanted to come back home as soon as possible. In the year 153 BC roman legions in Spain wanted to be replaced, but that could not happen until the beginning of the New Year and the change of consul (rulers of Rome at the time), which took place in March. The year ended in January and February, so January became the first month to allow the troops to come back.
Two Roman emperors, Trajan (98-117), Theodosius the Great (379-395) and one very famous Roman philosopher, Seneca, were Spaniards. Another emperor, Hadrian, (117-138) had as well Spanish parents and may have been born in Spain.
The soldiers of the most famous legions of Julius Caesar and of the beginning of the Roman Empire were Spaniards. That was the case of the Xth legion, personally recruited by Caesar, and his favourite, which was posted in Jerusalem when Our Lord Jesus Christ was born.
The Spanish sword (flacata) was one of the most lethal weapons of the Roman Army. Its tradition has been continued up to the present day Toledo swords.
The light-house of La Coruña (II AC) is the oldest in use in the world.
The so called School of Translators of Toledo (XII-XIII centuries) was paramount to translate into Latin and Spanish, Greek, Roman, Hebrew and Arab classics that became the foundation of European culture. It was founded by Raimundo, Great Chancellor of Castile and Archbishop of Toledo (1130-1150), and its main sponsor was the king Alphonsus X (1252-1284).
The heart of the first king of Scotland, Robert de Bruce, was taken to Spain by one of his lieutenants, who died there in a battle in 1330. His body and the heart were later recovered.
Spain was the first country where fencing was ever practiced. In 1472 J. Pons wrote the first book on this sport: La verdadera esgrima (True Fencing).
Spain is the first European country where modern chess was ever played and the first to produce a book on chess: Llibre dels jochs partits dels schacs en nombre de 100 by Francesc Vincent, 1495. Apparently, the “queen” of the game was created then in honour of Queen Isabella I.
In the late XV century there were women who were professors at Spanish universities like Beatriz Galindo, La Latina or Lucía de Medrano in Salamanca and Francisca de Lebrija in Alcalá de Henares.
The first woman ambassador of modern diplomacy was Catherine of Aragon, ambassador of her father Ferdinand the Catholic to Henry VII of England (1507-1510).
Isabella I, queen of Spain (1451-1506), officially recognized the natives of America as human persons and free citizens of Spain. She is the first woman ever to appear in USA coins.
Francisco de Vitoria (1486-1546) and other Spanish professors of the “School of Salamanca” are the founders of International Law.
The disciples of Vitoria were the first university students to take notes of what the professor said, thus beginning that practice.
The Spanish army did not lose any open field battles between 1492 and 1643.
The army of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand led by Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba (XV century), was the first European one to use mines to pull down castles and to develop barbed wire and trenches for military purposes. It was also the first army to have specific units for Medical services and services corps. He also developed the concept of “manoeuvre” and the use of artillery to back the infantry.
The Spanish army was the first to use muskets, in the battle of Pavía 24 February 1525.
The first Marine Corps ever is the Spanish one, created the 28th February 1537.
Modern guerrilla (small war) warfare was first practiced in the War of Spanish Independence or Peninsular War (1808-1815).
The first geographically global empire was the Spanish one of Philip II: Europe, Africa, America, Asia and Oceania. Thus the first use of the saying: The Empire where the sun never sets. And thus the motto of the king: Non sufficit orbis (The world is not enough).
The archaeological excavations in Pompeii, Herculean and Scavi were begun from 1713 onwards by the Spanish archaeologist Joaquin de Alcubierre with the patronage of the Spanish king Charles III.
Spanish Lottery is the oldest one in the world, created at the end of the XVIII century, and one of its prizes, El Gordo de Navidad (Christmas lottery) is the biggest.
In Spain there are 15.479 listed heritage buildings and 4.993 movable goods (Ministerio de Cultura 2007).
Spain is the second country in the world with more world heritage declared by UNESCO, after Italy, just one les: 40 out of 851, 4.7% of the total (UNESCO 2008).
The Spanish Diplomatic School, created in 1942 is one of the firsts in the world. Already in 1911 a centre for future diplomats was created by the Royal Academy of Law.
back to top
Sailors and discoveries
A Spanish expedition led by Cristobal Colón (Columbus) “discovered” America on Friday the 12th October 1492 at 2 am. The expedition had almost one hundred crew and three ships: The flagship, Santa María (whose old name was “La gallega”), the Pinta and the Niña. They landed in the island of Guanahaní, that Colón named San Salvador (Our Saviour).
Núñez de Balboa was the first European to arrive to the Pacific Ocean; Magallanes crossed the Strait that bears his name; Elcano was the first person to circumnavigate the world; López de Villalobos explored and named The Philippines; Ortiz de Rete named New Guinea; Mendaña the Marquesas and Solomon Islands; Alonso de Salazar the Carolinas; and Mourelle de la Rua named Port Refuge in Tonga. According to Australian historian Oskar Spate, “these voyages can be numbered among the most remarkable in the whole history of maritime discovery” and because of them the Pacific Ocean turned to be the “Spanish Lake”.
Rodrigo de Triana, a sailor of the expedition of Colón, was the first of the crew to sight América. He was also a member of an expedition to the Pacific in 1525-1526. One of the ships of this latter expedition, the San Lesmes, is believed by many to be wrecked off the Australian coast.
The first sailor to round the globe was Juan Sebastian Elcano. Second in command of an expedition lead by Fernando de Magallanes, he left Sanlúcar de Barrameda on the 29th September 1519 with five ships and two hundred and thirty four sailors. When Magallanes died in the Philippines in 1521 he took command of the expedition and returned to Sanlúcar de Barrameda the 6th September 1522 with the ship Victoria (which means Victory) and other seventeen sailors. The king of Spain granted him a coat of arms with the legend around a globe of the earth, which said: Primus circumdediste me (You went around me first).
Vasco Nuñez de Balboa was the first European to sight the Pacific Ocean. On behalf of the King of Spain he took possession of what he called the Southern Seas in the Golf of San Miguel, Panama, on the 29th September 1513. He made a monument to commemorate the event engraving the names of the seventy seven conquistadores present. One of them was Francisco Pizarro the future “conquistador” of Perú.
Ruy López de Villalobos named the Philippine Islands in 1544. He did it in honour of Prince Philip, later king of Spain and Portugal (Philip II).
Miguel López de Legazpi conquered the Philippine Islands between 1565 and 1572 and founded the city of Manila on the 24th June 1571.
Andrés de Urdaneta discovered in 1566 the so called “Tornaviaje”: a route from the Philippines to Mexico. It avoided the dreaded Aloysius winds, making it possible the first regular maritime link between the Pacific and America. The route was used until 1815.
Toribio Alonso de Salazar named the Caroline Islands in 1526 in honour of Charles I, King of Spain and Emperor of Germany.
Iñigo Ortiz de Rete, named New Guinea in 1545, because it reminded him of Guinea, in Africa. Together with Papúa Islands, name given by the Portuguese sailor Jorge de Meneses, they are at present named PNG.
Alvaro de Mendaña y Neira named the Salomon Islands in 1568 and the Marquesas Islands in 1595. The first as the land of the treasures of King Salomon and the second in honor of his patron, the Marques of Cañete, Viceroy of Perú. Pedro de Ortega, one of his captains, named the island of Guadalcanal to honour his hometown in Andalusia.
Pedro Fernández de Quirós, in 1606, was the first European to arrive to Vanuatu. He named some of the islands, such as Torres (the second in command of his expedition), Espíritu Santo, Santa María and Pentecostés. The 14th May 1606 he gave the first official European name to what he thought to be the Great South Land and turned to be present Espíritu Santo: Austrialia del Espíritu Santo.
Luis Váez de Torres, in September-October 1606, was the first European to cross the Straits that bear his name, and the first Spaniard to land in Australian islands (Yam, Long, Mount Ernest and Twin) and to meet its Aboriginals. He proved to Europeans that Papúa New Guinea was an island.
Francisco Mourelle de la Rúa named Port Refuge (Tonga). He anchored in the island of Vava’u the 26th February 1781 to cure the crew from scurvy and to repair the ships. He remained sixteen days and was so well received by the Tongans that he named the harbour Port Refuge, a name still in use today.
Domingo de Bonechea led expeditions that discovered some of the Tuamutu and Society islands and explored Tahiti (1772-1773 and 1774-1775). In the second expedition the chiefs of Tahiti accepted Spain’s claim to sovereignty over the island and its neighbours. To symbolise this change in status a tall cross was erected, with an inscription that read: Christus Vincit, Carolus iii Imperator 1774. Years later captain James Cook replaced it with another, reading Georgius iii, Rex.Annis 1767, 1769, 1773 et 1777. Bonechea died in Tautira, and was buried in front of the mission house.back to top
Economy
The population of Spain is around 0.68% of the world population, 46, 06 million out of an odd 6.5 billion, number 27 in population (INE June 2008, UN World Population Prospects 2006, Wikipedia).
Around 11, 13% of the population of Spain is foreign people, which is 701,023 (INE June 2008).
Spain was in 2006 the 10th recipient of international immigrants, just after UK, 636.000 persons (UN).
Spain is the OCDE country with most significant increase in immigration during the last decade. In 2007, 12% of the labour force was immigrants (International Migration Outlook 2008, OECD).
Spain has the 9th GNP in the world, 1.232 billion USA$ (IMF 2006).
Highest rate of annual increase of ODA in 2007 (OCDE, 2008).
Fifteen in level of liveability (World Economic Forum, March 2007).
Human Development Index, number 19 in the world (PNUD 2006).
Country brand Index, 7 (FuturBrand & Weber Shandwick´s, November 2007).
Competitiveness Index, 29 (World Economic Forum, 2007-2008).
Ease on doing business, 49, between Portugal and Luxemburg, (World Bank, Doing Business Report 2009; 2008: 46).
Corruption perception, number 28 in the world (Transparency International 2008 (2007, 25).
Logistics performance index, 26 in the world (World Bank November 2007).
Services Location Index, 43 (AT Kearny Global, November 2007).
Financial Development Index, 12, between Australia and Switzerland ( World Economic Forum, Financial Development Report 2008).
First world producer of olive oil, 36% of total production (UNCTAD 2005)
Second world producer of wine, 14% of total production (Organization Internationale du Vin, 2004).
Seventh world producer of cars and commercial vehicles, 4% of total production (International Organization of Motor vehicles manufacturers 2004)
Seventh world producer of fruits and vegetables, with 2, 12% of world totals (FA0 2004).
Eight world exporter of weapons (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, August 2008, SIPRI)
Between 1960 and 1974 the average growth of the Spanish GDP was 6.8 %, the highest in the world after Japan.
In Spain 84% of the families own their home. Further, there are more than 3.4 million secondary residences and an odd 23 million dwellings, one for every two inhabitants.
In Spain there is almost the same number of telephone lines (44. 4 million) as inhabitants (46, 06). There are more than 33 million mobile phone users. It is the first country in the world in the use of mobile phones for networking, videos and e-mails (August 2007).
Telefónica is the fifth Telco in the world in market capitalization and the first as a European integrated operator.
Banco Santander is the tenth largest financial institution of the world in market capitalization.
Sol Meliá is the biggest hotel chain in Latin America.
Repsol-YPF is the biggest private energy company in Latin America.
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria is the biggest private bank in Latin America.
Indra has electronic systems in 1/3 of the air traffic controls of the world. Is the second European electronic systems company in market capitalization.
Actividades de Construcción y Servicios, 6th building company of the world in global turnover ( Engineering News Record, September 2008).
Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC), 9th building company of the world in global turnover ( Engineering News Record, September 2008).
The tunnel of the M30 ring road of Madrid (San Vicente-A5) is the longest city tunnel in the world (2, 3 km).
The tunnel of Guadarrama (Madrid) for the high speed train is the fifth longest in the world (29 km).
The punctuality rate of the Spanish High Speed Train network is the highest in Europe and the second in the world after Japan (RENFE, August 2008).
back to top
Economy and culture
The Spanish language means 15% of the GDP of Spain (Instituto Cervantes 2007).
In Spain there are 63.00 cultural businesses (2% of total business), which employ 544 thousand people (2,8% of total employment), with a turnover of more than 37 billion euros per year and exports worth almost 1 billon ( Ministerio de Cultura 2007).
Spain has 1489 musea and collections, which are visited by more than 53 million people (Ministerio de Cultura 2007)
Family spending in cultural goods is almost 10,5 billion euros. (Ministerio de Cultura 2007)
Almost 54% of foreign visitors of Spain do a cultural activity (Ministerio Cultura 2007).
Spain is the fifth world producer of book titles after the USA, the UK, Germany and China with 72.914 titles (UNESCO 2005 and INE 2008).
Spain exports cultural goods, services and investments for a value of almost 3 billion euros each year, including exports of books with a total value of around 500 million euros (2004).
Spain is the fifth world exporter of books with 337 million copies.
back to top
Tourism
Spain is the second largest tourist destination in the world, after France, with 6,59% of the world total in 2007: 59,19 million persons Ministerio de Industria, Comercio y Turismo, January 2008), out of 898 ( UNWTO, January 2008).
It is also the second in tourist earnings after the USA, with 7% of the world total, 47.9 billion USA dollars (WTO 2007).
Spain was the first country in the world to establish a network of listed heritage buildings as hotels (1910), the Paradores Nacionales.
Spain is the country in the world with more beaches with blue flags, 499. This means 20% of the beaches with blue flags of the Northern Hemisphere (June 2007).
back to top
Spain and the European Union(España en cifras 2008, Eurostat Yearbook 2008)
Second in extension (INE 2008).
Second in used agricultural area (INE 2008)
Seventh in wood area (EU Yearbook 2008).
Fifteen in arable land (EU Yearbook 2008).
Fifteen in built up area (EU Yearbook 2008).
Fifth in population (INE 2008).
Eighteen in density of population (INE 2008).
First population between 25 and 49 years (EU Yearbook 2008).
First expectancy of life, women (83,7 years) (INE 2008).
Second expectancy of life, men, (77,2 years) (INE 2008).
Seventh lowest infant mortality (INE 2008).
Fourteen in fertility rate (INE 2008).
Third in practising physicians per capita (EU Yearbook 2008).
Twenty fifth Youth Education Attainment level (EU Yearbook 2008).
Thirteen in students learning English in Secondary Education (EU Yearbook 2008).
Tenth oldest median age in Tertiary Education (EU Yearbook 2008).
Third in number of researchers (EU Yearbook 2008).
Twenty first in people working in S and T occupation as a percentage of employment (EU Yearbook 2008).
Sixteen in homes with internet access (INE 2008).
Twelve in domestic expenditure in R and D in proportion to GDP (EU Yearbook 2008).
Twentieth in emissions of carbon monoxide per capita (EU Yearbook 2008).
Fourteen in emissions of carbon dioxide per capita (EU Yearbook 2008).
Tenth in urban population exposure both to ozone and to particulate matter (EU Yearbook 2008).
Tenth in proportion of electricity generated by renewable energy sources (EU Yearbook 2008).
Fifth GDP at current market prices ( EU Yearbook 2008)
Share of 8,5% of total UE GDP at current market prices ( EU Yearbook 2008).
Twelfth GDP per capita at current market prices and PPS (INE 2008)
Fifth GDP in volume of business in industry and in services.
Ninth in consumption expenditure at constant prices (EU Yearbook 2008).
Eight in inequality of income distribution (EU Yearbook 2008).
Fifteen in social welfare spending as a share of GDP (INE 2008).
Seventh at risk of poverty after social transfers (EU Yearbook 2008).
Spain generates 60% of the employment of the European Union (EU 2006).
In 2006 Spain received 44, 7% of the immigrants to the European Union (EU).
Spain is the preferred European country to emigrate for Europeans (Financial Times February 19 2007).
Fifteenth employment rate (EU Yearbook 2008).
Fifth annual employment growth (EU Yearbook 2008).
Fourteenth labour productivity per person employed (EU Yearbook 2008).
Twelve labour productivity per hours worked (EU Yearbook 2008).
Third Gross fixed capital formation (EU Yearbook 2008).
Fifth in Added value non financial business economy (EU Yearbook 2008).
Eight in enterprises survival rate in the business economy (EU Yearbook 2008).
Tenth in enterprises births among active enterprises (EU Yearbook 2008).
Thirteenth in enterprises deaths among active enterprises (EU Yearbook 2008).
Third agricultural industry at producer’s prices (EU Yearbook 2008).
Third crop output at producer’s prices (EU Yearbook 2008).
Third animal output at producer’s prices (EU Yearbook 2008).
First in both catches and aquaculture (EU Fishery marketing Report 2008).
First in fish trade (EU Fishery marketing Report 2008).
First importer of fish (EU Fishery marketing Report 2008).
Second in fish consumption, after Portugal (EU Fishery marketing Report 2008).
First fishing fleet in power (36%), second in tonnage (20%) and third in vessels (15%) (European Environment Agency 2002).
Sixth in share of EU goods imports (EU Yearbook 2008).
Seventh in share of EU goods exports (EU Yearbook 2008).
Twenty in share of EU service’s exports (EU Yearbook 2008).
Twenty first in share of EU service’s imports (EU Yearbook 2008).
Third in total passengers, air transport (INE 2008).
Sixth biggest airport, total passengers carried, Madrid-Barajas, (EU Yearbook 2008).
Biggest airport national passengers carried, Madrid-Barajas (EU Yearbook 2008).
Ninth in share of total UE production of primary energy (EU Yearbook 2008).
Seventh in energy dependency rate (EU Yearbook 2008).
Third in inland freight volume relative to GDP (EU Yearbook 2008).
Fifth in inland passenger’s transport volume relative to GDP (EU Yearbook 2008).
Fourth in gross weight of seaborne goods handled in ports (EU Yearbook 2008).
Eight in maritime passengers (EU Yearbook 2008).
Eight in air freight transport (EU Yearbook 2008).
Spain is the European Union country with more restaurants, bars and cafeterias per inhabitant, one per 137, with a total of 320.953 (EU 2006).
Iberia is the European airline with more air routes with Latin America.
Pescanova is the biggest European fishing company.
Altadis is the biggest European producer of cigars.
Felipe Gonzalez, former president of the government of Spain, chairman of the group of wise persons to report on the future of Europe (14.12.2007).
European Agencies with siege in Spain: Community Fisheries Control Agency, CFCA, in Vigo; Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market-Trade Marks and Design, OHIM, in Alicante; European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, OSHA, in Bilbao; European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy, Fusion for Energy, in Barcelona; European Union Satellite Centre, EUSC, in Torrejón de Ardoz.
back to top
Leaders of international organizations
Inés Alberdi, Executive Director, United Nations Development Fund for Women (April 2008- )
Vicente González Loscertales, Secretary General, International Exhibitions Bureau
Julio López Oliván, Registrar of the Permanent Court of Justice (1936-1946) and of the International Court of Justice (1953-1960).
Enrique de la Mata, President of the League of Red Crosses and Red Crescent Societies (1981-1987).
Federico Mayor, director general of UNESCO (1987-1999).
Ana Palacio, Senior vice-president and World Bank Group General Counsel (2006- ).
Jaime de Piniés, President of the 40th session (1985) of United Nations General Assembly.
Rodrigo de Rato, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (2004-2006).
Juan Antonio Samaranch, President of the International Olympic Committee (1980-2001).
Javier Solana, Secretary General of NATO (1995-1999), European Union High Representative and Secretary General of the UE Council and of the Western European Union (1999- ).
Santiago Torres, Registrar of the International Court of Justice (1980-1986) and member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
back to top
Siege of World International Organizations
Madrid is siege to the World Tourism Organization and to the International
Olive Oil Council.
It is also the siege to the Secretaria General de la Organizacion de Estados Iberomericanos para la Educación, Ciencia y Cultura, OEI ( Secretariat of the Organization of Iberoamerican States for Education, Science and Culture) ; Secretaría General Iberomericana, SEGIB (Secretariat of the Iberoamerican Community of Nations); Organización Iberoamericana de la Juventud, OIJ ( Iberoamerican Youth Organization); Secretaria General de la Organización Iberomericana de la Seguridad Social, OISS (Secretaria of the Iberoamerican Social Security Organization);
back to top
Lifestyle
Spain is the country in the world with more organ donors per capita, 33,8 per million in 2007 (National Organization of Transplants)
Together with Sweden, Spain is the country in the world with more adoptions per capita, 23.000 (2001-2006) and the second in absolute terms after the United States (UN 2006; MTAS, November 2007).
Spain is the second country in the world after Portugal in consumption of fish per cápita, and the third world importer of fish after Japan and the USA with around 6.94% of total world imports (FAO 2006).
Tenth country in the world with more sex equality (World Economic Forum, November 2007).
First European Union country with more cash dispensers per capita (INE 2008).
Top Country Brand for Night Life (FutureBrand & Weber Shandwick´s, November 2007).
Since 1885 Spain there is a parade to celebrate the arrival of the three Magi to Spain to bring presents for the children the sixth January each year: the “cabalgata de los Reyes Magos”.
Wind provides 10% of the energy consumed in Spain, nuclear reactors 20% ( Red de Energía Eléctrica, January 2008).
The fastest football kick is 129 km/h (80.1 mph) achieved by Francisco Javier Galán Màrin (Spain) at the studios of El Show de los Récords, Madrid, Spain on 29 October 2001. (Guinness World Records, October 2007)
The largest paella measured 20m 65ft 7in in diameter and was made by Juan Carlos Galbis and a team of helpers in Valencia, Spain on 8 Mar 1992. It was eaten by 100,000 people. (Guinness World Records, October 2007)
On the last Wednesday in August the town of Buñol, near Valencia, Spain, holds its annual tomato festival, the Tomatina. In 2004, 38,000 people spent one hour at this giant food fight throwing about 125 tonnes (275,500 lb) of tomatoes at each other. From the backs of lorries, attendants dump the red fruit on to the streets for people to scoop up and throw. By the time the food fight is over, the streets and everyone on them is saturated with gloppy, tomato paste. Little rivers of tomato juice, as much as 30 cm (12 in) deep, run through the town until area fire trucks come in to hose down the streets and the people on them. (Guinness World Records, October 2007)
back to top
Gastronomy
The oldest restaurant of the world is Casa Botín, in Madrid, founded in 1725 (Guinness World Records, October 2007).
The mayonnaise sauce comes from the town of Mahón, in the Spanish island of Menorca.
The French omelette was introduced in France by the Spanish Queen Ana María de Austria, wife of Louis XIII of France and mother of Louis the XIV, in the XVII century. She also introduced drinking chocolate.
The passion fruit was given that name by a Spanish conquistador in the Amazon because the inner part of the fruit reminded him of the crown of thorns of Our Lord.
Among the most internationally known Spanish dishes, we can mention: paella (rice with vegetables and sea food); jamón ibérico (ham made with meat of pigs who only eat acorns); sangria (blend of wine and fruits), gazpacho (cold tomato soup) and turrón (nougat).
British magazine "Restaurant" includes eleven Spanish restaurants amongst the best in the world (2008). In this order: El Bulli, Gerona (1); Mugaritz, Rentería (4); Arzak, San Sebastián (8); El Celler, Faura (26); Martín Berasátegui, Lasarte (29); Can Fabes, Sant Celoni (31); Asador Etxebarri, Atxpe (44); El Poblet, Denia (66); Akelarre, San Sebastián (74); Sant Pau, Sant Pol de Mar (75); and Abac, Barcelona (100).
British magazine "Restaurant" has elected El Bulli, of Ferrán Adriá, as the best restaurant in the world a record four times, three in a row, in 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Ferran Adriá is also the inventor of the concept “fast good food”.
Oriol Balaguer, chocolate artisan, has win the awards for the Best (cook) book of the world (2000) and for the Best dessert of the world (2001)
Carmen Ruscalleda is the women with more Michelin stars in the world, three in one of her restaurants and two in another one (2007).
San Sebastian is the city in the world with more Michelin stars in proportion to its population.
back to top
Climate
In Spain there are odd 2.500 hours of sun per year, which is 6.8 hours per day, very high for European standards.
The driest place in Europe is Cabo Gata in Almería.
One of the rainiest places in Europe is Bufera, Asturias.
In Spain there are twelve glaciers which occupy 290 hectares (1880 in 1894).
back to top
Water
Spain has 2.472 lakes and lagoons and 7.880 kilometres of maritime coast.
In Spain there are 1.200 big dams, with as many reservoir shores as sea shores and the highest number in the world of water dams per inhabitant, 30 per one million.
The only European river that ends in a cascade over the sea is the river Xallas, in Pontevedra, North East Spain.
Rodas beach, Cíes islands, Galicia, the best beach in the world (The Guardian 20.02.2007).
back to top
Wildlife
In Spain can be found 50% of the total species present in the European
Union. In the Canary Islands 44% of wildlife is endemic.
back to top
Vegetation
Spain has 80% of the total vascular flora species of Europe and the Mediterranean. Spain is the European country with more endemic plants.
The laurel woods of the island of La Gomera, Canary Islands, are the only ones left of the ones that existed South of the Mediterranean before the Tertiary Age (65-1, 8 million years BC).
The only place in Europe with date palms is Elche.
Madrid (4 million inhabitants) is the second national capital in the world with more street trees after Tokyo (16 million inhabitants).
back to top
Animals
Spain is the only country of Western Europe with native bears and monkeys.
There are certain species of goats (Hispanic goat), lynx (Iberian Lynx), eagles (Imperial Eagle) and bears (Brown Iberian bear) that you only find in Spain.
The canary birds come from the Canary Islands in Spain, thus their name.
Cocker Spaniels come from Spain, thus their name. They were first described in the XIV century, including their Spanish origins. Apparently, the first ones were exported to England in 1100.
The oldest spider in the world has been found in Teruel, Spain, 110 million year old.
The largest European dinosaur has been found in Teruel, Spain, the “Turiasurus riodevensis”. It is around 30-37 meters long, the second largest in the world after one found in Argentina.
The Spanish or Andalucian horse breed has its origins in the Carthusian monastery of Jerez de la Frontera, Southern Spain, where a horse called “Carthusian” was bred. It is a mixture of native horses, the “Equus Ibericus”, of the Roman period, and Arab horses.
The Spanish Riding School of Vienna founded in 1572, has its names because of the Spanish horses that were used. These horses are the origin of the Lipizzaner horses, bred in present Slovenia.
In 1770 the first public zoo opened in Spain. Before, in 1633, the king had built a big zoo and aviary in his private gardens.
One of the biggest aquariums of the world is the Oceanografic of Valencia.
back to top
Inventions
-Autogiro (a sort of helicopter), Juan de la Cierva, 1919.
-Bar football, Alejandro Campos, 1936.
-Cigarettes, XVI century, 1925.
-Galleon, XVI century.
-Guitar, XIII century.
-Lolly-Pops, Enrique Bernart, 1958 (Chupa-Chups).
-Mechanical calculator, Leonardo Torres Quevedo, 1914.
-Minipimer (mini mixer), Gabriel Lluelles, 1959.
-Mop, Manuel Jalón, 1956.
-Navaja (short dagger), XVI century.
-Pencil sharpener, Ignacio Urresti, 1945.
-Stamped paper, circa 1700.
-Stapler, Juan Solozábal and Juan Oliver, 1929.
-Submarine, Isaac Peral, 1888.
-Containers for wine and water such as the bota, botijo and porrón.
-Women’s accessories, peineta (ornamental high comb), mantilla (a sort of veil for the hair) and mantón (a sort of shawl).
back to top
Art
The horseshoe arch was invented in Spain during the rule of the Goths (V-VII centuries AC).
The columns of the mosque of Cordoba, built on the foundations of a Christian Church, are all Roman, the mosaics were made by Byzantine artisans and its double arches are all imitation of Spanish-Roman arches.
The world largest collection of tapestries belongs to the Spanish National Heritage.
The cathedral of Seville (two hectares) is the third largest Catholic Church in Europe and the biggest Catholic cathedral in the world.
The Royal Palace of Madrid is the biggest in the world for a reigning monarch.
The Cristo del Otero, Palencia, with 30 meters, is the second world largest statue of Our Lord Jesus Christ after the Cristo del Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
back to top
World painting masters
Among the most internationally known we can mention:
El Greco (1546-1614)
Velázquez (1599-1660)
Murillo (1617-1682)
Goya (1746-1828)
Zuloaga (1870-1945)
Picasso (1881-1973)
Miró (1893-1983)
Dalí (1904-1989)
Barceló (1957-)
back to top
Nobel Laureates
Seven Literature Nobel Prizes:
José Echegaray (1904),
Jacinto Benavente (1922),
Juan Ramón Jiménez (1956),
Vicente Aleixandre (1977),
and Camilo José Cela (1989).
Two Nobel prizes in Medicine:
Santiago Ramón y Cajal (1906),
and Severo Ochoa (1959).
back to top
Popes
Saint Dámasus I (366-384).
Calixtus III (1455-1458).
Alexander VI (1492-1503).
back to top
The way of St James
The Camino de Santiago is one of the three main pilgrimages of the Roman
Catholic Church, together with the pilgrimages to Jerusalem and Rome.
It is a pilgrimage to the tomb of the apostle St James, buried at Compostela
(the Field of the Star) andit began in the IX century. Already in the
XII century 200.000 pilgrims went to Santiago.
In 1987 it was declared the first European Cultural Route by the Council
of Europe and it is part of the World Heritage declared by Unesco, in
1993, the Spanish part and in 1998, the French part.
In Europe the Milky Way was also known as the Way of Santiago because
it was used to guide the pilgrims.
back to top
Founders of Roman Catholic religious societies
St Dominic of Guzmán (1170-1221), Dominicans.
St Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), Jesuits.
St Therese of Avila (1515-1582), discalced Carmelites.
St Joseph of Calasanz (1557-1648), Order of Pious Schools (Piarist Order).
St Antonius Maria Claret ( 1807-1870), Claretian Missionaries.
St Josemaría Escrivá (1902-1975), Opus Dei.
Kiko Argüello (1939- ), Neocatechumenal Way.
back to top
World famous musicians and singers
Opera singers:
Victoria de los Ángeles.
Montserrat Caballé.
José Carreras.
Plácido Domingo.
Miguel Fleta.
Alfredo Kraus.
Pablo Sarasate.
Pop singers and Musicians:
Xavier Cugat
Julio Iglesias
Enrique Iglesias
Tete Montoliu
Alejandro Sanz
Guitarrists:
Andrés Segovia.
Narciso Yepes.
Regino Sainz de la Maza
Joaquín Rodrigo, Concierto de Aranjuez, is the most performed piece of music ever and the most popular pieze of music in Japan (2005). It is dedicated to Regino Sainz de la Maza, who played the premiere.
back to top
Fashion designers
Cristóbal Balenciaga (1895-1972).
Paco Rabanne (1934- ).
back to top
Sports
Spain hosted in Barcelona the games of the XXV Olympiad, which were held in 1992. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia Herzegovina participated for the first time in an Olympiad. Women’s judo and badminton were also introduced for the first time.
Spain has won in the Olympiads thirty six gold medals, fifty one silver, and thirty bronze. In the XIX Olympiad in Beijing won five gold medals, ten silver and three bronze.
Spain hosted the Football World Cup in the year 1982.
European Cup champion, soccer (1964, 2008).
The 32nd America's Cup (2007) took place in Valencia. The next one, in 2009, may also take place in Valencia.
Real Madrid, best soccer team ever, according to the International Football Federation.
Francisco Gento, only soccer player to win six European titles.
Men’s Basketball world champion (2006).
Handball men’s world champion (2005).
Roller men’s Hockey world champion twelve times.
David’s Cup champion, 2000 (Seville) and 2002 (Seville). Three times runner up, all in Australia: 1965, Sydney; 1967, Brisbane; and 2003, Melbourne.
Gisela Pulido, Youngest World Champio Ever (Guinness World Records 2007), Kitesurf World Champion KPWT, 2004, 2005 and 2006; PKRA, 2007 and 2008.
Josune Bereziartu, first woman to rock climb an 8c difficulty rock (1998). Golden Piton Award by magazine Climbing, 2002 as the best absolute rock climber of the year.
Miguel Indurain, Tour de France champion (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995), the first to win it five consecutive years. Only cyclist to win Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia two times, the same years (1992 and 1993). World champion time trial (1995); Olympic gold medal time trial (Atlanta, 1996).
Alberto Contador, Tour de France champion (2007), Giro d ´Italia champion (2008), Vuelta a España Champion (2008) and best young cyclist of the Tour (2007). One of the five cyclist in the world to have win the Giro, Vuelta and Tour together with Anquetil, Gimond, Hinaut and Merck.
Joan Llaneras, cycling, Champion of the World in points (1996, 1998, 2000 and 2007); Champion of the world, americana (1997, 1999 and 2006); Cup of the World (1996, 2004 and 2006); Cup of the World, americana (1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002); Cup of the World, pursuit in teams (1996); Olympic gold medal in points, (Sydney 2000, Beijing 2008).
Federico Bahamontes, Tour de France champion (1959); Tour de France, king of the mountains (1954, 1958, 1959, 1962 and 1964).
Luis Ocaña, Tour de France champion (1973).
Oscar Pereiro, Tour de France champion (2006).
Carlos Sastre, Tour de France champion (2008).
Margarita Fullana, mountain bike world champion, women (1999, 2000,2008).
Abraham Olano, world champion, cycling road (1995); world champion, cycling time trial (1998).
Angel Nieto motorcycle world champion 125 cc (1971, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984); motorcycle world champion 50 cc (1969, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1976 and 1977).
Ricardo Tormo, motorcycle world champion 50cc (1978, 1979 and 1981).
Dani Pedrosa, motorcycle world champion 250 cc (2004, 2005) and 125 cc (2003).
Sito Pons, world champion 250 cc ( 1988,1989)
Jorge Lorenzo, world champion 250 cc (2006, 2007).
Alex Crivillé, motorcycle world champion 500 cc (1999).
Alvaro Bautista, world champion 125 cc ( 2006)
Carlos Sainz, rallies world champion (1990 and 1992).
Jordi Tarrés, trial world champion, men (1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994 and 1995).
Laia Sanz, trial world champion, ladies (200-2008, except one year).
Toni Bou, trial world champion, men ( 2007 and 2008).
Rafael Nadal , Wimbledon champion (2008), with Bjon Borg and Rod Laver one of the three tennis players to win it the same year as Roland Garros; youngest Roland Garros champion (2005); the only one with Bjorn Borg to win it four times in a row (2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008). World record of victories in clay, 81 (May 2007). Longest final in Wimbledon, against Roger Federer (4 hours, 48 minutes, 2008). Olympic gold medal, single ( Beijing 2008). Principe de Asturias award for sports (2008).
Manuel Santana, Wimbledon champion (1966), Forrest Hills champion (1965), Roland Garros champion (1961, 1964).
Conchita Martínez, Wimbledon champion (1994).
Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario, Roland Garros champion (1989, 1994 and 1998).
Manuel Orantes, Masters champion (1976).
Sergui Bruguera, Roland Garros champion (1993 and 1994).
Andrés Gimeno, Roland Garros champion (1972).
Carlos Moyá, Roland Garros champion (1998).
Albert Costa, Roland Garros champion (2002).
Juan Carlos Ferrero, Roland Garros champion (2003).
Severiano Ballesteros, Golf British Open champion (1979, 1984 and 1988), Dunhill British Masters Champion (1986), Ryders Cup (1985, 1987 and 1995).
Fernando Alonso, world champion Formula 1 (2005 and 2006).
David Meca, Marathon World Champion, swimming (1998), Long Distance Swiming World Champion ( 2000, 10 kms; 2005, 25 kms); world record double ( 7h, 18m) and triple (14h, 5m) crossing of the Straits of Gibraltar, swimming, 4th July 2008.
Javier Gómez Noya, world champion Triatlon (2008).
Francisco Fernández, World record 10.000 metres walk ( 27th July 2008, 37:53.09).
Ernesto Fernández Regueira, world champion of Rubik’s clock (Budapest 2007)
back to top
Oscars
To the best foreign film:
Volver a empezar by José Luis Garci (1982).
La belle époque by Fernando Trueba (1993).
Todo sobre mi madre by Pedro Almodóvar (1994).
Mar adentro by Alejandro Amenábar (2004).
Other Oscars:
Juan de la Cierva, Scientific and technical award (1969) because
of the invention of optical image motion compensators.
Manuel Gil, Best Art direction (1970), Patton.
Antonio Mateos, Best Art direction (Set decoration) (1970), Patton.
Manuel Gil, Best Art direction (1971), Nicholas and Alexandra.
Antonio del Castillo, Best costume design (1971), Nicholas and
Alexandra.
Néstor Almendros, Cinematography (1978), Days of Heaven.
Pedro Almodóvar, Best original Screenplay (2002 ), Talk
to Her
Daniel Martí and Montse Ribé, Best makeup (2006),
El laberinto del fauno.
Pilar Revuelta, Best Art Direction (Set decoration) (2006), El
laberinto del fauno.
Javier Bardem, Best support actor (2008), No country for old
men
Luis Buñuel was the scriptwriter of Le discret charme de la bourgeoisie,
Oscar to the best foreign film in 1973.
back to top
The Spanish Language: History
Spanish was born during the IX century in northern Spain in the territories
around Burgos, Logroño, Oviedo and Pamplona.
The first book completely written in Spanish was written around the
year 1207, the Cantar de Mio Cid, by Per Abbat, about a famous Spanish
Knight called El Cid Campeador. However, the first written text that
uses the Spanish language is dated on the 13th June 964, the so called
Codex 46.
The first European grammar was the Spanish Grammar, published on the
18th August 1492, followed by the Portuguese, 1536 (Fernando de Oliveira);
Italian, 1552 (count Giangiorgio Trissino, Castellano); French, 1550
(Louis Meigrete, Le tretté de la grammere françoze); and
English, 1762 (Robert Lowth, Introduction to the English Grammar).
The first official reference to the term "Spanish language" was made
by the Emperor Charles I in 1536.
The first Spanish dictionary was the Tesoros de la lengua castellana
o española, Madrid 1611, by Sebastián de Covarrubias Horozco.
The Fuero Real, El Espéculo and Las Partidas (1252-1265) are
the first European Law codes not written in Latin. They were written
in Spanish.
The Grande e General Estoria(1284) and the Estoria de España
(1284) were the first European history books not written in Latin. They
were written Spanish.
The first Spanish university was the University of Palencia (1184-1263).
The oldest standing Spanish university is the University of Salamanca
(1218).
Elizabeth I of England spoke Spanish and Spanish theatre plays were
among her favourites.
To teach Spanish in Central Europe during the XVII century was a good
business.
Spanish literature has created three international literary characters:
Don Juan, the prototype of male lover; Don Quixote of La Mancha, the
prototype of idealist; and La Celestina, the prototype of corrupt woman.
The virtual library, Biblioteca Virtual Cervantes (www.cervantesvirtual.com),
launched in 1999 has reached more than 500 million visits (January 2009).
back to top
The Spanish Language: international presence
Spanish is the fourth native language most spoken in the world with
450 million people (UNESCO 2006), which is, 6.9% of the world total
(6,5 billion). It is spoken in three continents, and twenty two countries.
These occupy 12.207.187 square kilometres, 9.1% of the earth’s surface.
Spanish is spoken by 94.6% of the population of the countries where it is official, while French is 34.6% and English 27.6% (2006).
The Spanish language is the second most studied foreign language in the world after English, studied by 14 million people worldwide, six of them in the USA.
The foreign language most studied in Germany is Spanish.
At the World Wide Web (2004) Spanish has the fourth position in web pages after English, German and French. More than 14% of the pages written in Spanish on the web come from the USA. Gabriel Garcia Márquez is the living author mostly quoted in Internet, and the third in absolute terms after Shakespeare and Descartes.
Spanish is the second language with more Google searches in the world after English (Google, August 2008).
One hundred and eighty thousand foreign students study the Spanish language at Spanish universities.
Spain is the European Union country which receives more foreign university students under the well known Erasmus scheme of grants. Eight out of the ten most preferred universities to enjoy these grants are in Spain (EU 2005).
Spanish is the second language most demanded by European multinationals (20%) after English (29%) (EU February 2007).
According to Steven Roger Fisher (A history of language) in three hundred years only Mandarin, English and Spanish will survive.
The Instituto Cervantes, created in 1991, is the main international
centre for the teaching of the Spanish language, has 68 centres in 39
countries, 800 staff and 120.000 students. It organizes more than 5.000
cultural events each year. Its Internet teaching centre, El Centro Virtual
Cervantes, has 16 million visitors each year.
The scholarships MAEC-AECI granted by the government of Spain allow
non graduate and graduate students to enrol in any Spanish education
centre during a whole academic year with the possibility of extension.
Don Quixote of La Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes is the most translated book after the Bible and the third most sold.
Don Quixote is the main character of an odd 300 films and 80 pieces of music, including 33 ballets, 17 operas and at least one musical.
The day of the burial of Cervantes, the 23rd April, was declared by
UNESCO the International Day of the Book, at the request of the International
Union of Publishers.
.
back to top
The Spanish language in the USA
In the USA Spanish is spoken by 44.3 million people, 14.8% of the population,
the biggest minority. It represents half of the total population growth
of the USA (U.S.Census Bureau, 17 may 2007). This means, approximately,
11% of the families, 7% of electorate. At the present growth rate, 33%
of the population of the USA in the year 2050 will speak Spanish. Its
average age is 27.4 years and one third has less than 18 years.
Spanish is the only minority language present in all states and all
counties; it is the majority language in hundreds of cities; Spanish
is co-official in New Mexico since 1846 and it is the biggest population
of the state (44%).
Two senators, five majors of big cities, one governor and 10% of present
government posts are held by Hispanics (2005).
At universities, 60% of the students of modern languages study Spanish.
USA university students prefer to study in Spanish speaking countries
after the English speaking ones.
The doctorates in Spanish language and Literature are more numerous
than the equivalents titles of French and German literature put together
(2005).
back to top
Australia-Spain
Curiosa
The Australian merinos have their origins in Spain, some of them directly, the “Spanish merinos”. The first twenty six merino type sheep were introduced in Australia in 1797 from Cape Hope, South Africa. Merinos are originally the typical Spanish sheep; bred five thousand years ago by the Tartessos at the valley of the river Guadalquivir, southern Spain.
The first camels to arrive in Australia came from Spain. The first ones were brought to Port Adelaide from Tenerife, Canary Islands, in 1840 in the ship Appoline. Out of six only one survived, its name was “Harry”. The famous explorer John Horrick bought it.
The Spanish dollar (eight reales coin) was an international currency during the XVI-XVII century. The USA and Australian dollar take their names from it. The symbol $ may come from the Spanish heraldic signs of the columns of Hercules printed in the coins.
In 1792 the British brought Spanish dollars to Australia and from 1813 to 1828 this coin became the legal currency of Australia, but making a hole in the centre (the holey dollars).
There are more than 320 places in Australia with Spanish names.
Guitars began to be made in Australia in the 1950s.
Spanish Jesuit priest, St Francis Xavier (1506-1552) is the patron saint of Oceania, including Australia.
The most expensive painting ever sold at auction in Australia is Pablo Picasso´s Sylvette, sold by Duetscher-Menzies Gallery by 6,9 million AUSD dollars the 18th June 2008.
The Spanish language in Australia
There are almost ninety thousand Spanish speaking people (ABS Census 2006).
The lectores sent by the government of Spain to universities around the world, intend to reinforce wherever needed the teaching of Spanish during a whole academic year, with possibility of extension up to three years. Until 2005 there was only one in Australia, at La Trobe University, but since 2006 there were two more, one at University of Queensland, Brisbane, and another at Flinders University, Adelaide. Since 2009 there will be two more, one at The University of Sydney and another at The University of Melbourne.
There are eleven advisers and teachers in Primary and Secondary schools sent by the Spanish Government.
Music
The Abbey of New Norcia, founded by Spanish monks has been an important centre of sacred music and its most celebrated composer has been Esteban Moreno (1899-1953).
Two operas written by Australian authors have Spanish stories, Medea, by Gordon Kerry, based on the book of the same title by Spanish philosopher, Seneca; and Quirós, by Peter Sculthorpe, based on the poem of the same name by James Mc Auley about Pedro Fernández de Quirós. Sculthorpe made a suite for orchestra, “Quirós” to commemorate the IV hundredth anniversary of this Spanish explorer in 2006. He has also composed: Nourlangie, Little Nourlangie and New Norcia and Visions of Captain Quirós.
Other pieces of classical music with Spanish inspiration written by Australian composers are: , Betty Beath, The cry; Colin Brumby, Three songs from a Spanish madrigal; David Cundy, Spanish evening; Richard Meale, Las alboradas and Three Miró pieces; Vincent Plush, Cristóbal Colón-Guamiquiná, and Pacífica.
Time line
21 December 1605: Pedro Fernández de Quirós and Luis Vaez de Torres,
leave El Callao, Perú, with the ships San Pedro y San Pablo, San Pedro
and Los Tres Reyes.
12 May 1606: Quirós and Torres enter St Philips and St James’s Bay (Bay
of Pigs) in Vanuatu.
13 May 1606: first landing of Quirós and Torres in Vanuatu.
Sunday 14 May 1606, Whitsunday: Quirós names Austrialia del Espíritu
Santo and takes possession of it on behalf of the King of Spain and
Portugal, Philip III.
11 June 1606: Quirós leaves Santo for good.
26 June 1606: Torres leaves Santo for good.
21 September 1606 : Torres sights the Australian continent (Granville
Allen Mawer).
1-9 October 1606: Torres crosses the Straits that bear his name (Brett
Hillder).
3-4 October 1606: Torres anchors off Cape Cornwall (Brett Hillder).
21 October 1606: Quirós arrives to Acapulco.
22 May 1607: Torres arrives to Manila.
October 1607: Quirós arrives to Spain.
1615: Quirós dies in Panama.
7 December 1792: Alejandro Malaspina with the corvettes Descubierta
and Atrevida, leaves Cadiz, Spain, for a journey through the Pacific.
12 March 1793: Malaspina arrives to Botany Bay.
11 April 1793: Malaspina leaves Botany Bay for good.
24 February 1793: Malaspina arrives to New Zealand.
21 September 1794: Malaspina arrives back to Cadiz.
1797: the first merinos or “Spanish sheep” arrive to Australia.
1813-1828: 40.000 reales de a ocho become currency in Australia as the
so called “holly dollars”.
1846: fathers Rosendo Salvado and Jose Serra found the Monastery of
New Norcia, Western Australia.
24th October 1853: Appointment of the first Consul of Spain in Sydney,
Antonio Arrom de Ayala
1 January 1855: Antonio Arrom de Ayala, takes office.
1928-1929: first visit to Australia of the Spanish Armada training vessel,
Juan Sebastian Elcano (Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney). It was its maiden
world voyage.
1935: José Paronella opens Paronella park, Mina Creek, Queensland.
1955-1958: Spanish boxer, Ricardo Marcos “Bolita”, semi-heavy Australian
boxing champion.
1959: first organized arrival of Spanish immigrants by boat, on board
the ship Montserrat. The last group arrival on ship took place in 1961.
1964: James Mc Auley publishes Captain Quirós: a poem.
1964: first Spanish club opens, the Spanish Centre of Victoria.
11 July 1964: first newspaper in Spanish published.
26th October 1967: Establishment of diplomatic relations between Spain
and Australia
3rd May 1968: The embassy of Spain in Australia opens.
1970: the first Andalucian horses arrive to Australia.
1972-1974: Spaniard’s son Al Grasby, minister of Immigration of the
Commonwealth.
1980: Peter Sculthorpe composes Visions of Captain Quirós, music for
guitar and orchestra.
1 July 1982: World premiere of the opera Quirós by Peter Sculthorpe,
broadcasted by the ABC as a part of the commemorations of the 50th anniversary
of ABC television.
1997-1998: the Juan Sebastian Elcano, tours Fremantle, Melbourne, Hobart
and Sydney (LIX training voyage), and participates in the naval parade
of 26th January 1998 celebrating the Bicentennial of Australia.
13-19 June 1988: State Visit of the King and Queen of Spain, Don Juan
Carlos and Doña Sofia. A statue of Pedro Fernández de Quirós is donated
to Sydney City Council. It now stands at Latin American Square, Sydney.
5-10 July 1990: official visit of the Crown Prince of Spain, the Prince
of Asturias, Don Felipe, Canberra, Sydney, Ulurú, Darwin and Kakadú.
2002: The novel “Quirós”, by John Toohey is published.
17 September-16 October 2005: Sculpture garden Don Quixote and Sancho
Panza tilting at windmills at Floriade, Canberra to commemorate the
400th anniversary of the publication of Don Quixote de la Mancha, by
Miguel de Cervantes.
16 September-15 October 2006: Sculpture garden Spain, at Floriade, featuring
a sculpture of galleon San Pedro to commemorate the 400th anniversary
of the crossing of Torres Strait by Luis Váez de Torres.
12 October 2006: Unveiling of a bust of Quirós at Windsor Walk, opposite
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra to commemorate
the 400th anniversary of the voyages of Pedro Fernández de Quirós and
Luis Váez de Torres to the Southern Seas.
27 October 2006: Friday: World premiere of suite “Quirós”, by Peter
Sculthorpe, performed by the Orchestra of the Sydney Conservatorium
of Music, conducted by Imre Palló, pianist Gerard Willems.
1-20 March 2007: F100 warship Alvaro de Bazán, tours Australia: Perth,
Adelaide and Sydney.
20 June 2007: The government of the Commonwealth chooses the offer of
Spanish company Navantia to build three Air Warfare Destroyers and two
Amphibious Ships.
16th October 2007 The Australian National University and the Ministry
of Culture signed a Protocol of Cooperation to cofinance cultural activities
related to Spain.
14th November 2007: Dr Carl Muñoz-Ferrada wins the Ethnic Business Award.
12th June 2008: First grants by the Program of cooperation between the
Australian National University and the ministry of Culture of Spain.
The Spanish language in Australia
There are almost ninety thousand Spanish speaking people (ABS Census 2006).
The lectores sent by the government of Spain to universities around the world, intend to reinforce wherever needed the teaching of Spanish during a whole academic year, with possibility of extension up to three years. Until 2005 there was only one in Australia, at La Trobe University, but since 2006 there were two more, one at University of Queensland, Brisbane, and another at Flinders University, Adelaide. Since 2009 there will be two more, one at The University of Sydney and another at The University of Melbourne.
There are eleven advisers and teachers in Primary and Secondary schools sent by the Spanish Government.
Bibliography
ABADÏA, Nueva Nursia, Music at New Norcia, Adriatic Bookbinders, 1980.
BAERT, Annie, Le paradis Terrestre, un mythe espagnol en Océanie. Les
voyages de Mendaña et de Quirós 1567-1606. Paris, L’Harmatan, 1999.
CINCOTTA, Vincent J., Zarzuela.The Spanish Lyric Theater, University
of Wollongong Press, 2005, 766 pags.
COLLINGDRIDGE, George A., The first discovery of Australia and New Guinea,
being the narrative of Portuguese and Spanish Discoveries in Australian
Region between 1492-1606. Sydney, 1906.
COUTINHO, Gago, Portugueses no descobrimiento da Australia. En “A Nautica
dos descobrimientos “, Portugal. 1969, pp. 139-190.
ESTENSEN, Miriam, Discovery The Quest for the Great South Land, Sydney,
Allen and Unwin, 1998
ESTENSEN, Miriam, Terra Australis Incognita.The Spanish quest for the
mysterious Great South Land, Sydney, Allen and Unwin, 2006, 274 págs.
FERNANDEZ DE NAVARRETE, Martín, Colección de los viajes y descubrimientos
que hicieron por mar los españoles desde fines del siglo XV. Buenos
Aires, 1946.
FERNÁNDEZ-SHAW, Carlos M, España y Australia. Cinco siglos de Historia.
Spain & Australia. Five Centuries of History. Madrid, Ministerio
de Asuntos Exteriores, 2000, 199 págs.
FERNÁNDEZ-SHAW, C. M. (2001): España y Australia. Quinientos años de
relaciones, Madrid, Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores. 2000, 574 págs.
GARCIA, Ignacio: Spanish Fiction Writing in Australia.
GARCÍA-ABÁSOLO, Antonio (1997): España y el Pacífico, Madrid, DG. Relaciones
Culturales, Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, 1997.
HERRERA, Antonio de, Historia general de los hechos castellanos en las
islas y tierra firme del Mar Océano. Madrid, 1726-1730.
HERVÉ, Roger, Découverte fortuite de l’Australie et de la Nouvelle-Zelande
par des navigateurs portugais et espagnols entre 1521 et 1528. Paris,
Bibliothèque Nationale, 1982.
HILDER, Brett, El viaje de Torres. Edición de Francisco Utray. Madrid,
Ministerio Asuntos Exteriores, 1990.
HILDER, Brett, The voyage of Torres, Brisbane, University of Queensland
Press, 1980.
KELLY, Celsus, Austrialia Franciscana. Vol I. Madrid, 1963.
KENDRICK, John, Alejandro Malaspina, Portrait of a Visionary, Montreal,
McGill-Queen University Press, 1999.
KEVIN, Tony, Walking the Camino. A modern pilgrimage to Santiago, Melbourne,
Scribe Publications, 2007, 320 págs.
LANDIN, Amancio (Coord.), Descubrimientos españoles en el mar del Sur.
Madrid, Banesto, 1991.
LANGDON, Robert, The lost caravel, Sydney, Pacific Publications, 1975.
LANGDON, Robert, The Lost Caravel Re-Explored, Sydney, Brolga Press,
1988.
McAULAY, James, Captain Quirós: a poem. Angus and Robertson, 1964.
MARTÍ, P. Fray Joaquín, Las Misiones Católicas de Nueva Holanda, Madrid,
Centro de Publicaciones y Documentación, Secretaria General Técnica,
Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores, 1987.
MAWER, Granville Allen, Torres Strait Revisited (1606-2006), en The
Hydrographic Journal, Part 1, No 122, October 2006, págs. 31-33; y Part
2, No 123, January 2007, págs.15-19.
MELLÉN, Francisco, Españoles en Australia en el siglo XVI. En “Revista
española del Pacífico”, nº 14, Año XI, pp. 223-235. AEEP. Madrid, 2001.
MINISTERIO DE ASUNTOS EXTERIORES, Spanish Pacific from Magellan to Malaspina.
Madrid, Spanish Ministry of Foreign affairs and Lunwerg Editors, S.A,
1988.
PALAU, Mercedes & OROZCO, Antonio, Malaspina 92, Madrid, Real Academia
Hispano-Americana, 1994.
PÉREZ, Dom Eugenio, Kaluburu.
PÉREZ, Dom Eugenio, New Norcia.
PÉREZ, Dom Eugenio, La Misión de los Benedictinos Españoles en Australia,
Madrid, Gabinete de Publicaciones y Documentación, Ministerio de Asuntos
Exteriores, 1990.
ROS, Dom Eladio, La música en Nueva Nursia. Adriatic Bookbinders, 1980.
SALIER, Cecil W., Lawrence Hargrave. A Prelude to Biography. En “Jour.
& Proc. of the Royal Australian Historical Society”, vol. 15, Part
III, 1929, pp. 142-188.
SANZ, Carlos, Australia, su descubrimiento y denominación. Dirección
General de Relaciones Culturales Min. Asuntos Exteriores. Madrid, 1973.
SPATE, Oskar H.K, The Spanish Lake, Canberra, Australian National University,
1979 and 2006.
SPATE, Oskar H.K, El Lago Español. Australian National University and
Casa Asia, 2006.
SPEIGHT, D.L. and K.L. (2004): Australia´s Spanish Knight, 2004.
TOOHEY, John, Quirós, Sydney, Duffy and Snellgrove, 2002.
ZARAGOZA, Justo, Historia del descubrimiento de las regiones austriales
hecho por el general Pedro Fernández de Quirós, Editorial Dove.