Celebrate spain’s national day, La fiesta nacional de España!

Did you know that 12 October every year is National Day of Spain? It is called Fiesta Nacional de España or Día de la Hispanidad in Spanish. On this special day, let's explore interesting facts about Spain with us.

1. El Clasico

El Clasico is a term originally used to refer to matches held in the Spanish championship, but today it refers to every match between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

2. Flamenco

A unique dance of Spain that you can easily recognize with first few notes. The term Flamenco itself refers to a Spanish musical styles developed in the 19th century. Flamenco is an art, consisting of three parts - cante (song), baile (dance) and toque (playing guitar). Flamenco today has changed a lot from its origin version, largely due to the influence of salsa, bossa nova and jazz but remains an important part of Spanish culture.

3. Tapas

Tapas is a very popular snack in Spanish cuisine, served in bars, pubs and restaurants around the country. Interestingly, tapas were originally thin pieces of meat or bread, used to cover sherry wines to protect the drink from fruit flies. But today tapas are served as main courses around the world. Don't forget to sip a glass of wine when you enjoy this special dish.

4. Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso is a Spanish painter and sculptor and was recognized as one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century by The Time magazine. His best known work is Guernica, a dramatic depiction of the bombing of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. Other outstanding works of Pablo Picasso such as The Girl in front of the Mirror, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, Le Rêve, The Crying Woman... Picasso's work is a clear reflection of the history.

5. Bullfighting

Bullfighting is a competition that originated in Spain, and today is popular all over the world. There will be three warriors, each fighting two of the six bulls. The bulls will fight to the death and they must be four years old or older and weigh at least 460 kg. There is a lot of controversy surrounding these traditions as they are often seen as unethical and are especially looked down upon by animal rights activists. Bullfighting season usually lasts from April to September. In most major cities there is at least one match per week, but there are also plenty of bullfights taking place every day.

6. Alhambra

Alhambra Castle is a palace and fortress complex located in  Granada, Andalusia, Spain, one of the finest examples of Islamic Architecture recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It was originally designed and built as a small fortress in AD 889, then converted into a royal palace in the 14th century. In the 15th century, the palaces were partially altered. to match the Renaissance style, and in the 16th century a brand new Renaissance palace was put into use.

7. Miguel de Cervantes

Miguel de Cervantes is perhaps the most famous Spanish writer of all time. His best known work is Don Quixote - a novel that is studied in schools, even in Vietnamese Literature. It's the story of a frustrated Spanish nobleman, trying to recover chivalry, and is best known for leaning over windmills. The novel has been translated into 140 languages ​​and dialects, and it is the second most translated work ever after the Bible. Cervantes had a tremendous impact not only on literature, but also on the Spanish language of his day. But an interesting thing is, Cervantes is very poor, sometimes even jailed for bankruptcy!

8. Wine

In addition to the natural beauty, splendid architecture and delicious tapas, wine tasting should definitely be part of your trip in this country. Spanish wine is famous and unique because it is made from unique local grape varieties, leaving deep impressions for diners. Famous wine-growing and wine-growing regions in Spain include Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Valdepeñas, Jerez de la Frontera, Rías Baixas and Catalonia.

Here are three  Spanish wines from renowned wineries such as Castillo de Monseran, Protos and La Rioja Alta that you should try once.

>> Discover more about the Spanish Wine Grading here.

>> Top 10 interesting facts about Spanish Wine.