Connect with Spanish People Who Share Stories of Their Culture!

Who Are Spanish People?

Spanish people are those who are from Spain, or whose ancestors originate in the country. The term Hispanic includes Spanish people but also encompasses anyone whose ancestry is from a Spanish-speaking locale. Hispanic countries include Spain as well as Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, Uruguay and Venezuela, and the territory of Puerto Rico.

The Heritage of Spanish People

Spanish people have a rich and diverse heritage that includes numerous ethnic lineages. The earliest Spanish people include the indigenous Basques; Ibernians, whose history in Spain dates to the 4th millennium B.C.; the Celts, who arrived in the area in the Iron Age; the Romans, who colonized the region in the 2nd century B.C.; the Galatians, who settled in Spain in 278 B.C.; Germanic Vandals, Visigoths, and Suebi, who settled in Spain in the 4th century A.D.; Muslim Berbers, who conquered the Iberian Peninsula in the 8th century.

The Roma came to Spain in the 15th century. Since 2000, Spain has had more than 4.5 million emigrants from around the world.

How Geography Shaped the Spanish People and Their Culture

Spain's location and its topography have influenced the culture of the Spanish people. About 85% of the country of Spain is located in the Iberian Peninsula, which has long been a cultural crossroads between Northern and Southern Europe, as well as connecting Africa and the Mediterranean.

The diverse landscape encompasses a high plateau in the center surrounded by mountain ranges, desert in the south, and about 3,500 miles of coastline that includes 1,388 miles on the Atlantic and Bay of Biscay, and 1,040 miles on the Mediterranean. Spain also controls the Balearic and Canary Islands.

Regional Identities of Spanish People

There are many regional identities of the Spanish people, including the Andalusians; Basque; Catalans; and Canarians of the Canary Islands, to name just a few.

Andalusians

Andalusia is the second largest autonomous region of Spain and is home to the country's largest population. Andalusia spans Spain's southern coast and has eight distinct provinces, all with individual cultural traditions and identity. Among Andallusia's cultural influences are five centuries of Muslim rule, the legacy of which is some spectacular architecture such as the Alhambra of Granada. The dance and music of flamenco in Seville brought to the region by Roma gypsies. Semana Santa or Holy Week is another hallmark of Andalusian culture, during which the predominantly Catholic residents engage in emotional, dramatic processions in demonstrations of their faith.

Basque People

Basque Country is in Northern Spain, straddling the border with France and sitting on the Atlantic coast of the Bay of Biscay. The term Basque Country refers to a collection of regions inhabited by the Basque people, known as Euskal Herria in Basque language. Basque people are one of the world's most ancient cultures, with their own language, which today is spoken by about 30% of the population. Basque culinary traditions are world renowned; there are more than 1,000 txoko, or gastronomical societies and almost 40 Michelin-starred restaurants in the region. Basque intangible cultural heritage is actively practiced in the region with lively festivals like the famous San Fermin, or "Running of the Bulls", and folk songs and dances.

Catalans

To the east of Basque Country is Catalonia, which is on the north of the Iberian Peninsula and south of the Pyrenees mountain range. Catalonia is composed of four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona and its residents' identity as Catalans is designated as a nationality by the Spanish Constitution. Catalonia is home to many distinctive cultural traditions like the "human towers" built by castellers, who climb on each other's shoulders dressed in colorful costumes during local festivals. Catalonia also has a rich built heritage that includes the architecture of Gaudi in and around Barcelona, Roman ruins in Tarragona, Arab baths of Girona, and the 12th century Cistercian Real Monasterio de Santa Maria de Poblet in Catalonia's south.

Canarians

The Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago off the Atlantic coast of Northwest Africa. The Canaries were first home to the indigenous Guanches, who came to the islands in the 1st millenium B.C. and are believed to share ancestry with the Berbers. Long a port of call for traders such as the Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginans, in the 15th century, the Castilians colonized the Canaries. Today, the islands bear the architectural imprint of Spanish Colonial architecture; La Laguna in Tenerife was named a UNESCO WOrld Heritage Site in 1999 because of the historic significance of its many churches, palaces and convents, constructed in a range of styles that include Mudéjar, Neoclassical, Modernist, Rationalist, and Contemporary. Also recognised by UNESCO is the whistled language known as Silbo of the island of La Gomera, a unique form of communication that can carry for up to three miles and is believed to date to the Guanches.

Culture of Flamenco

Flamenco is universally recognized as being practically synonymous with the culture of Spanish people it was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage Representative List in 2010. That said, this form of creative expression is vastly more complex, historically diverse, and fascinating than you could ever imagine from attending just one performance. Let PAC help you do a deep dive into this dimension of Spanish culture!

In Madrid, watch intense rehearsals by aspiring stars at the renowned Amor de Dios Studio. In Seville, believed to be flamenco's birthplace, explore the eclectic early influences on the city and the art form that span Jewish psalmodic melodies, Byzantine and Muslim chants, and ancient Hindu chords. There are so many things to do in Seville to experience authentic Spanish culture, and meeting Spanish people is always at the forefront. Experience the phenomenon of sello proprio with an afternoon browsing flamenco fashion, and be mesmerized by witnessing duende at the iconic Tablao El Arenal. Savor an intimate after-hours performance at the Museum of Flamenco Dance.

Flamenco in Seville Embodies Diverse and Alluring Cultural Heritage

Flamenco in Seville is not just a traditional Spanish dance. It is art, an experience, a culture and a way of life. A must-read before you go!

Flamenco: Madrid’s Amor de Dios Studio

Tour through the history and contemporary practice of Spain’s exuberant flamenco, recognized by UNESCO as an item of intangible cultural heritage.

Flamenco Dancer Victor Bravo Share His Passion for Art & Life

Flamenco dancer Victor Bravo of the Flamenco Museum Seville is an artist and cancer survivor whose talent is matched only by his spirit.

Intriguing Architecture of Spanish People

Mystery and symbolism are embedded into the culture of Granada. Home to the magical architectural complex Alhambra, this location is just one of the priceless examples of Moorish medieval architecture that still rest in Granada today. What was once a small fortress built by Arabs between 711 and 1492 has transformed into a palace encompassing reflecting pools built during the Nasrid dynasty, as well as the beautiful Generalife gardens built during the 13th century. Granada is also home to the popular University of Granada which has approximately 82,000 students across five campuses within the city.

The architecture of Gaudi enthralls everyone from wide-eyed children to the most sophisticated scholars. Known as “God’s architect”, Gaudi’s distinctive organic style reflects his primary inspirations: nature and religion. With seven works designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, the work of the Catalan native and staunch nationalists is beloved around the world.

Alhambra of Granada | History and Symbolism Revealed by Insider

The Alhambra of Granada is a spectacular Moorish palace in Spain. Blanca, an insider with a connection to its past, shares its secrets.

Insights on the Gaudi Architecture from Sculptor Luis Gueilburt

Gaudi architecture enthralls with its distinctive organic lines. Gaudi expert and sculptor Luis Gueilburt shares insights on Gaudi's legacy.

Cultural Legacy of Conflict

To really get a sense of the history of any country, it’s necessary to not only become acquainted with its glamorous cultural manifestations but to also make an effort to understand aspects of its past that have been dramatic but dark. The history of the Spanish people is no exception.

In Asturias, a rugged mountainous region in Spain’s northwest, La Ponte-Ecomuseum offers insights into the impact of Spain’s Civil War and the realm its director calls "marginalized heritage".

Cultural Legacy of Spain’s Civil War Inspires Museum Director

The cultural legacy of Spain’s Civil War inspires a museum director’s passion for recovering marginalized heritage. Must-read for culture lovers!

Are you spellbound by the enchanting tapestry created by different cultures across the world? Do you possess a profound curiosity to uncover vibrant examples of culture within specific nations? Are you in pursuit of a concise yet enlightening definition of culture? Whether you're an intrepid adventurer venturing to the farthest corners of the world or a passionate armchair traveler, your quest concludes here! This destination has been meticulously crafted with you in mind. We cordially invite you to embark on a captivating journey of cultural exploration, immersing yourself in our enthralling narratives that reveal the intricacies and limitless richness of the human experience!