Short guide to Spain for future expatriates

4th in the HSBC ranking of the best expatriation destinations, Spain attracts by its quality of life, its climate but also its peaceful and safe atmosphere. And for good reason: this country of more than 47 million inhabitants which welcomes thousands of foreigners every year has many assets.

Geography and climate of Spain

Extending over 504,782 km², Spain presents a great variety of landscapes and reliefs. The mountainous regions of the north (Pyrenees) and south (Sierra Nevada) frame a large limestone plateau crossed by 3 rivers: the Tagus and the Douro which flow into the Atlantic via Portugal, and the Erbre, which is throws in the Mediterranean at the level of Catalonia. If the center of the country sometimes looks like a desert, economic and tourist life is concentrated on the coast where we also find the richest cities.

Spain has a varied climate:

● oceanic climate (mild and slightly rainy in winter) in the North-West of the country: Basque Country, Cantabria, Galicia.       

● Mediterranean climate (hot and dry summers, very mild winters) on the east coast: from Catalonia to Murcia, seaside towns with an attractive climate are popular for property purchases in Spain.       

● continental climate (very hot summers, cold winters) in the central plateaus: area of Castile and La Mancha in particular.       

● semi-arid climate with African influences on the south-eastern coast extending from Andalusia to Alicante.       

These geographical and climatic parameters allow the country to offer a multitude of possibilities in terms of leisure and sporting activities: downhill skiing and hiking on mountain ranges, beach and water sports on the 4,872 km of coastline, cruises on the Tagus, the Erbre or the Douro ...

The population has grown steadily over the past few years, even though the Spanish are experiencing a plummeting birth rate. This increase is explained by a record net migration which compensates for the aging of the local population. While most expatriates settle as close as possible to employment areas, close to the main cities (Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia), retirees prefer proximity to the sea and regions with a hot climate for their real estate purchase in Spain. .

Political and territorial organization of Spain

Spain is a parliamentary monarchy, governed by a prime minister appointed by the king. Two chambers share legislative power: the Senate (259 members, elected by universal suffrage or appointed by the autonomies) and the Chamber of Deputies (350 members elected by proportional representation). The country is divided into 50 provinces grouped into 19 autonomous communities, which have great freedom of action. While regionalist parties have weight in some regions (Basque National Party, Galician Nationalist Bloc, Convergence and Union in Catalonia), the main political parties are the conservative party (Partido Popular), the socialist party (Partido Socialista Obrero de España) and the ecologists and communists bloc (Izqierda Unita).

Three quarters of Spaniards speak only Castilian (the official language of the country), but other languages are spoken throughout the territory: this is the case of Catalan, spoken by 10% of the population, but also from Galician and Basque.

Spanish culture

The different peoples who have followed one another on this Iberian land have left a strong imprint, which still influences local culture and traditions today. If certain customs such as bullfighting are debated, the subject of food remains more consensual, because Spanish cuisine is certainly one of the most delicious in the world. The tapas bar crawl is a local custom which tourists and expatriates quickly get a taste for, and for good reason: from one region to another, the cooks are overflowing with inventiveness to develop these mini dishes which are eaten in the form of croquettes. , canapes, omelets and other delicious fries! Local specialties abound, such as paella, tripe or albondigas (minced meatballs). Fish and seafood are also very popular, including inland where it is always possible to enjoy a dish of stuffed squid or octopus with chili. The charcuterie and cheese are available in an infinite number of varieties, which can be enjoyed with a good glass of wine from the local wine-growing regions (Rioja, Duero, Valedepenas, etc.).

Festive country par excellence, Spain does not lose an opportunity to celebrate all kinds of religious ceremonies: feasts of the Virgin, Saint Patrons of villages or districts, Holy Week processions etc. As a result, the calendar has many public holidays, which differ from one province to another. The streets also come alive to the sound of traditional music as part of local cultural events, and feature flamenco, fandango or paso doble dancers.

Between tradition and modernity, Spain is a bewitching country with captivating traditions, rich in surprises and experiences. To discover absolutely, and to live intensely!