Understanding Spain's languages, history and festivals

The language landscape

Spanish, also called Castilian, is the official language across the country. Several regions also have a co-official language — meaning it holds equal official status alongside Spanish within that region. Catalan is co-official in Catalonia and used alongside Spanish in Valencia and the Balearic Islands in related forms; Basque (Euskera) is co-official in the Basque Country and part of Navarre; Galician is co-official in Galicia. Signage, official documents and everyday conversation can shift between languages depending on the region.

Historical layers

Spain's built heritage reflects a long sequence of ruling powers: Roman infrastructure and settlements across much of the peninsula, followed by the Moorish period — often referred to as Al-Andalus — which left architecture such as the Alhambra in Granada and the Mezquita in Córdoba, and later the Christian kingdoms that eventually unified much of the peninsula under a shared crown. Understanding roughly which period produced a given monument helps make sense of why the architecture in Andalusia looks so different from that in the north.

Flamenco

Flamenco is an art form combining singing, guitar and dance, with its roots in Andalusia, particularly associated with Romani, Andalusian and wider Mediterranean cultural influences over time. It is performed in dedicated venues as well as informally, and the more tourist-oriented performances can differ considerably from smaller, informal settings in style and format.

Types of festival

• Religious processions, such as those held during Semana Santa (Holy Week), involve organised marches through town centres and are a major event in many communities, particularly across Andalusia and Castile.
• Ferias — regional fairs — combine music, food and often traditional dress, and vary widely in scale and character from town to town.
• Local patron saint festivals are held in towns and neighbourhoods across the country on dates tied to the local calendar rather than a single national date.

How to plan around a festival

1. Check the regional or municipal calendar for your destination rather than assuming national dates apply everywhere; timing is set locally and varies by town.
2. Book accommodation earlier than usual if your dates overlap a known local festival, since rooms in the town itself can be scarce.
3. Expect some closures or altered opening hours around major local celebrations, including for shops, some transport services and certain sights.
4. Read up on the specific customs of that festival before attending, since etiquette can differ from an everyday visit — some processions, for instance, ask for quiet and space rather than active photography at close range.

Everyday etiquette

Greetings often involve a light kiss on each cheek between people who already know each other, though a handshake is common and safe in a first meeting or a more formal setting. Meal times run later than in much of northern Europe, as covered in the food and drink guide, and it's worth building that into any dinner reservation. Religious sites, including cathedrals and churches still in active use, often expect covered shoulders and knees; checking the specific site's guidance before visiting avoids being turned away at the door. Because customs vary by region and by setting, treat this section as a general starting point and follow the specific guidance given at each venue or event.