Spain Travel Guides

Located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula, Spain's modern history dates back to the fifth century AD when the peninsula became a Germanic-ruled region of the Roman Empire. During the Middle Ages the region came under Muslim conquest.
To the present day, signs of the diverse kingdoms that have ruled Spain are visible in the remains of Roman aqueducts to the geometric designs in palaces such as the Alhambra influenced by the Muslim culture. Likewise, Spain has extended its influence throughout the globe. During the 16th century Spain became the leading power in Europe conquering provinces scattered across Europe and the Americas. So pervasive was Spanish rule that Spanish is still the native language of more than 400 million people outside of Spain.
Continued international wars and internal unrest led to Spain's diminished status by the middle of the 17th century. The beginning of the 20th century was marked by devastating civil war and subsequent stagnation in Spain. The country has since rebounded and undergone a period of economic growth and cultural renaissance becoming a democratic nation organised in the form of a parliamentary government under a constitutional monarchy. Today, Spain has developed into the eighth largest economy in the world.