Answer: Rio Tagus
The Tagus River surrounds Toledo on three sides providing a natural barrier to attacking armies. The Tagus is the longest river in the Iberian Peninsula. It is 1,007 km long, 716 km in Spain, 47 km along the border between Portugal and Spain and 275 km in Portugal, where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon.
While in Toledo it is worth visiting the Puente de Alcantara bridge which spans the dramatic gorge of the Tagus River. Originally an ancient Roman structure, the bridge was completely rebuilt by the Moors in 866. The present bridge dates mainly from the 13th and 14th centuries.
From Quiz: Toledo: Historic City
Answer: 7
All seven islands are inhabited to greater or lesser degrees. There are a number of smaller islands in the archipelago, notably Graciosa, but only seven contain the major populated areas. Sometimes Graciosa is added to the count, making eight.
From Quiz: The Canary Islands
Answer: Madrid
Madrid became the capital of Spain in 1561. It is by far the largest city in Spain and contains half of the region's population. After placing third in the bid for the 2012 Olympics, the city announced it will bid again for the 2016 Olympics. It lost this bid to Rio de Janeiro.
From Quiz: Autonomous Communities of Spain
Answer: Tramontana
The Tramontana mountains or Sierra de Trumuntana ('mountains of the north wind') extend for 88km from Andratx to Pollenca, with the rocky outcrops of Sa Dragonera and Cap de Formentor at either end of 10 peaks over 1,000 metres high.
Formentor is a promontory in the far north of the island, Banyas Arabi are ancient Arab baths in Palma and Son Sant Joan is the official name of Palma International Airport.
From Quiz: Destination: Majorca
Answer: Madrid
It is right in the center of Spain. Sevilla is in Andalucia and Barcelona, situated in the Catalunia, although a very large city is not the capital.
From Quiz: Spain Geographically
Answer: Madrilenos
Most Madrilenos live in apartment buildings, which have stores or offices in the lower levels.
From Quiz: Madrid, A Beautiful City
Answer: Barcelona
Located on the northeastern coast of Spain, Barcelona is the capital of the Catalonia region and the second most populous city in the country. The city is known for its stunning architecture, including the famous works of Antoni Gaudí such as the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell. During the 1992 Summer Olympics, Barcelona underwent a major transformation with the construction of new sports facilities, transportation infrastructure, and urban development projects. The games were a huge success for the city, attracting millions of visitors and boosting its international profile. Today, Barcelona remains a popular tourist destination and a hub for culture, art, and innovation.
From Quiz: Cities of Spain
Answer: Catalunya
Barcelona is the capital of the province of Catalunya. This region is well known for its economic and cultural differences with the rest of Spain. The most striking difference with the other Spanish regions though, is the Catalan language. Catalan is quite different from Spanish - it is spoken in Catalunya but also in a small part of France, the Balearic Islands and around Valencia - and the Catalan population takes great pride in using their own language.
From Quiz: It's All In Barcelona
Answer: Portugal
Portugal borders Spain to the west, Andorra and France border Spain to the north.
From Quiz: Spain
Answer: Hannibal
Hamilcar Barca (275-228 BC) fought in the First Punic War (264-241BC) and had three sons Hannibal, Hasdrubal and Mago who all fought against the Roman army in the Second Punic War (218-201 BC). Today there is a significant trade, and many shops offer all kinds of swords to their customers, whether historical or modern films' swords, as well as medieval armors and from other times, which are also exported to other countries.
From Quiz: Toledo: Historic City
Answer: Salamanca
Salamanca was originally founded by the Vaccaei. In later centuries, the city was conquered by the Carthaginians, the Romans, the Alans, the Visigoths, the Moors and the Castilian Christians. Its many ancient monuments bear testimony to its fascinating history. Visitors to Salamanca are also recommended to view the fascinating sculptures at the Convento de las Duenas, near the Cathedral.
From Quiz: Spanish Cities
Answer: Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is in located in Galicia, whereas the other three choices are all located in the warm, southern area of Andalusia. Santiago de Compostela normally has up to 21 days of rain a month during the winter months.
From Quiz: The Rain in Spain
Answer: Zaragoza
The capital in English is often written Saragossa. A novel by Jean Rhys dealing with the origins of Bertha Rochester (of 'Jane Eyre' fame) is called "Wide Sargasso Sea".
Zaragoza was famous as one of the Taifas, or independent Muslim states, following the breakup of the Cordoban Califate. It was also the site of several famous martyrdoms associated with the Spanish Inquisition. Zaragoza was one of the most heavily bombed places in Spain during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939).
From Quiz: Basic Spanish Geography
Answer: Aragon
Aragon united with Castile in the late 1400s to form Spain when its King Ferdinand married Castile's Isabella. Previously, Aragon had gained its independence from Navarra (Pamplona) in 1035 and at one time stretched all the way to Naples, Sicily, and Sardinia.
From Quiz: Autonomous Communities of Spain
Answer: Segovia
The aqueducts of Segovia remarkably still deliver water to the city. Despite the fact that they are not held together by any material such as mortar or concrete, the aqueducts have not been disturbed despite storms and hurricanes.
From Quiz: Geography of Spain
Answer: The Guggenheim Museum
With a skin of titanium 0.1 inches thick (but requiring 30 tons!), Frank Gehry's masterpiece is more famous than the art inside. The dog is the "Puppy" sculpture of Jeff Koons. You can see a glimpse of both at the beginning of the James Bond movie "The World is not Enough"
From Quiz: A Grand Tour of Spain II
Answer: Sueves
The Sueves converted to Christianity around AD 500. Most of the rest of the Iberian Peninsula was settled by the Visigoths.
From Quiz: Galicia - A Celtic Nation
Answer: Rayo Vallecano
Real Madrid play at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Atletico de Madrid play at the Vincente Calderon Stadium and Rayo Vallecano play at Teresa Rivero Stadium.
From Quiz: Madrid, A Beautiful City
Answer: Madrid
Madrid is not only the capital city of Spain, but also the largest city in the country. It is home to many famous landmarks, including the Royal Palace of Madrid, the Buen Retiro Park, and the Puerta del Sol, which is considered the center of the city. Madrid is also known for its vibrant nightlife, with many bars and clubs staying open until the early hours of the morning. Additionally, the city is famous for its art museums, such as the Prado Museum and the Reina Sofia Museum, which house some of the world's most renowned works of art.
From Quiz: Cities of Spain
Answer: Las Ramblas
The Ramblas are a 2 km boulevard going from Placa de Catalunya to the sea. Thousands of people are strolling on the Ramblas every day (and night), where they watch the performing street artists, buy some flowers or have a coffee.
From Quiz: It's All In Barcelona
Answer: Moors
The Moors invaded Spain in 711 and stayed until 1492.
From Quiz: Spain
Answer: A fort
Originally constructed in Roman times and used as a palace in the third century, Alcazar Fortress is today the site of the Army Museum. It was rebuilt in the 1500s and became the first example of a square fortress with towers on each of the corners.
From Quiz: Toledo: Historic City
Answer: Barcelona
The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia, to give it its full name, is a Roman Catholic church designed by Antoni Gaudi. Construction began in 1882 and work is still ongoing during the early part of the twenty-first century. Estimated dates for completion vary from 2017 to 2026 - Gaudi himself (who died in 1926) is quoted as saying 'my client is not in a hurry'. Pope Benedict XVI is due to consecrate the church during a visit to Barcelona in November 2010.
From Quiz: Lost in Spain
Answer: Valencia
Valencia's port handles 20% of Spain's exports. In modern times, tourism has increased due to the city's many monuments and famous festivals. Every year in March, Valencia hosts the Falles, a festival ending with the burning of huge and elaborate effigies.
From Quiz: Spanish Cities
Answer: Majorca
Majorca derives its name from the Latin words "larger island", and contains two mountain ranges separated by plains in the middle. The Balearic Islands have hot summers and more mild winters.
From Quiz: The Rain in Spain
Answer: Vitoria
Vitoria-Gasteiz is the name of the capital in Basque. Three provinces make up this autonomous community: Álava, capital Vitoria-Gasteiz; Biscay, capital Bilbao; and Guipúzcoa, capital Donostia-San Sebastián.
Vitoria is the second largest city in the Spanish part of the larger Basque country. Its inhabitants are called 'bean eaters' in Basque. There are many manufacturers located here. It has sometimes been ranked second of all Spanish cities in its standard of living.
The origins of the Basque language are a much debated mystery. Most agree it's not Indo-European. In the modern day, many linguists have argued that it autonomously developed on site. The language was not written until the 16th century.
Basque is a challenging language. To say "I do not understand," one says in Basque, "Ez dut ulertzen."
From Quiz: Basic Spanish Geography
Answer: Catalonia
Catalonians speak with what sounds like a lisp as part of their Catalan dialect. Barcelona, the capital, hosted the 1992 Summer Games. The region was encompassed into the Kingdom of Aragon in 1157.
From Quiz: Autonomous Communities of Spain
Answer: Portugal
Spain occupies approximately 80% of the Iberian Peninsula while Portugal occupies about 20%. Andorra, Gibraltar and a small part of France are on the peninsula. Iberia is also the national airline of Spain.
From Quiz: Geography of Spain
Answer: 9 P.M.
You better eat a big lunch. If you're out late, you will still see lots of activity at midnight, even in smaller towns.
From Quiz: A Grand Tour of Spain I
Answer: Barajas
It's an international airport and also doubles as a domestic airport connecting most major Spanish cities.
From Quiz: Madrid, A Beautiful City
Answer: Pamplona
Located in the northern region of Spain, Pamplona is the city where the annual 'Running of the Bulls' takes place. This event, also known as the San Fermin festival, attracts thousands of visitors from around the world every year. The festival begins on July 6th and lasts for nine days, with the bull runs taking place each morning. Participants run alongside six bulls through the streets of Pamplona, trying to avoid being gored or trampled. The tradition dates back to the 14th century and has become a symbol of Spanish culture and tradition.
From Quiz: Cities of Spain
Answer: Eixample
The Eixample is the central part of town and is truly a unique example of urban planning. The architect Cerda designed this part of town at the end of the 19th century to create a perfect environment for Barcelona's fast expanding population
From Quiz: It's All In Barcelona
Answer: Andalucia
Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga, Andalucia in 1881.
From Quiz: Spain
Answer: Peseta
The euro was introduced on 1st January 2002 as the currency unit for most member countries of the European Union. It has since been adopted by non-member states, including Montenegro and Kosovo. Members not using the euro include Denmark, Sweden and the UK, although Eire has adopted it. Before the changeover, the peseta was used in Spain, the escudo in Portugal, the lira in Italy and the guilder in the Netherlands.
From Quiz: Lost in Spain
Answer: Oviedo
The heir to the Spanish throne holds the title of Prince of Asturias. Visitors are recommended to take a detour from the main tourist rush to Spain to visit this gem of a city, in the foothills of the Picos de Europa. Don't miss the pre-Romanesque churches and ancient artifacts on display in the Camara Santa of the cathedral.
From Quiz: Spanish Cities
Answer: Sierra Nevada
Sierra Nevada means "snowy mountain range" in Spanish, and it is where Mulhacén, the tallest mountain peak in continental Spain, rises. The Sierra Nevadas are also home to the southernmost ski resorts on the Mediterranean Sea.
From Quiz: The Rain in Spain
Answer: It is the highest mountain in Spain.
At 3,717m Mt Teide (or Pico del Teide in Spanish) is indeed the highest point in Spain despite the fact that the islands lie off the coast off Africa. It is also the highest point in the Atlantic Ocean, standing some 7,800m from the seabed. Teide is a volcanic peak which, whilst currently dormant, is considered to be the 13th most dangerous volcano in the world by the United Nations Committee for Disaster Mitigation in view of its close proximity to major towns.
From Quiz: The Canary Islands
Answer: Galicia
The capital of Galicia is Santiago de Compostela. The region's people were originally Celts, and it has historic ties to Portugal. Although Santiago de Compostela is the capital, La Coruna is the largest city in the region.
From Quiz: Autonomous Communities of Spain
Answer: Teide
Teide stands at 3,718 meters in height and is located on the island of Tenerife. Many people believe the highest point is located in the Pyrenees Mountains on the mainland.
From Quiz: Geography of Spain
Answer: One of the top three destinations for medieval pilgrimages
It was the third most important pilgrimage site after Rome and Jerusalem. It's importance is due to being the site of the tomb of Saint James the apostle. One can stay in the original inn and hospital for sick pilgrims, now a parador.
From Quiz: A Grand Tour of Spain II