13 Lesser-Known Historical Facts about Spain:
1. The Iberian Peninsula has been inhabited by humans for over a million years, with evidence of early settlements.
2. The Roman Empire established important cities in Spain, such as Hispalis (Seville) and Tarraco (Tarragona).
3. The Visigoths ruled Spain after the fall of the Western Roman Empire until the Muslim conquest in 711.
4. The Alhambra, a stunning palace and fortress complex, was built by the Nasrid Dynasty in Granada.
5. The Reconquista was a centuries-long effort by Christian kingdoms to reclaim territory from Muslim rulers.
6. The Spanish Inquisition, established in 1478, aimed to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in Spain.
7. Christopher Columbus's voyages, sponsored by Spain, opened the Americas to European
exploration.
8. The Spanish Empire was one of the largest empires in history, spanning the Americas, Asia, and Europe.
9. The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) was a significant conflict that led to the dictatorship of Francisco Franco.
10. The Sagrada Família in Barcelona, designed by Antoni Gaudí, is an iconic yet unfinished basilica.
11. The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) divided the New World between Spain and Portugal.
12. The Basque Country has a distinct culture and language, unrelated to Spanish or any other European language.
13. The Camino de Santiago is a famous pilgrimage route with medieval origins, leading to the shrine of Saint James.
