Spain is the second largest country in Western Europe. The number of Armenians according to the website of the Embassy of Armenia to the Kingdom of Spain is around 40 000 people. There are many immigrants in this country although there is a large-scale emigration too. Young people are trying to seek fortune outside the country. In Barcelona and Madrid, we met Africans and Hispanics more often. For the latter, Spain is a perfect place for a suitable work and the so-called “labor migration” because there is no language barrier, they are also Spanish-language speakers. The Spanish culture has Greco-Roman roots, Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles are sometimes mixed with the Arabic here.
The Spanish music is often identified by foreigners with the flamenco and popular guitarist Paco de Lucía. Caption: the RA Embassy building in Madrid
Incidentally, there are clubs that before offering flamenco, they are introducing the audience to the history, traditions, teach how to dance it and warn, “Never say bravo, only olé.” In many facilities, particularly in the service sector, people do not almost speak English and specifically highlight, “No Inglés.” The second largest city in Spain after the capital Madrid is Barcelona, here is the luxurious “Holy Family” church Sagrada Familia Temple, Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Domènech i Montaner other architectural works and all of them are included in the list of UN World Heritage. Barcelona is the most powerful tourist center and knows to deliver its wonders as appropriate.
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Sagrada Familia Temple
As for the Sagrada Familia Temple, it was officially consecrated in 2010 personally by Pope Benedict XVI. Barcelona is a 24-hour awake city, the flow of people never stops, the main street is La Rambla that is so beautiful and at the same time very dangerous for tourists because if you are not alert, they can sneak your bag or wallet. One of the business cards of Barcelona is the Camp Nou stadium. The Gothic Quarter of Sagrada Familia is also colorful: beautiful architecture, sea of lights and street musicians.
The Montserrat
The Montserrat mountain range is also located in Spain (translated, multi-peaked mountains). This is a place where cultural and natural monuments complement each other. There are homonymic temples in Montserrat founded in 1025. Many people come to the museum section of Montserrat to bow before the statue of Our Lady of the 12th century hoping to fulfill their dreams. The dark complexion of 95-centimeter high this statue is called “Black Madonna”.
The Tibidabo
Montserrat Benedictine monastery is one of the spiritual symbols of Catalonia and one of the centers of pilgrimage for the Catholics from around the world. By the way, US President Barack Obama has also visited the “Black Madonna” or “the little dark-skinned one” as it is called by Catalans. One of the most popular markets in Europe, La Boqueria, with its fresh seafood and tasty food is also in Barcelona. The highest peak of Barcelona are the Tibidabo mountains – 512 m. Tibidabo translated means “I will give to you.” The Tibidabo mountain is topped by the temple of the Sacred Heart: a sculpture of Jesus with stretched out hands which are the tourists’ favorite places. The capital Madrid is considered to be monarch Felipe VI residence. People say that every week for several hours the local public television is broadcasting the live and events in the royal family which causes the anger of taxpayers as they are against excessive expenditures because the economic crisis is number one problem in the country.
“Black” Madonna
Unlike Yerevan, Madrid has preserved ancient houses and buildings next to the modern buildings: Madrid Royal Palace, Teatro Real (Royal Theatre) with its Opera House restored in 1850, the Buenos Retiro Park founded in 1631, the National Library of the 19th century, the National Archaeological Museum and so on.
Prado Museum
Madrid’s pride, indeed, is Prado which is considered one of the richest museums in the world. The kings’ collections of Spain underlie the basis of it. Here are kept the works of such masters as Goya, Botticelli, Caravaggio, Rembrandt and Dürer. Prado museum includes more than 8000 paintings, graphic works, medallions, samples of decorative arts and more than 700 sculptures.
Gohar HAKOBYAN
