Culture of Spain

Spain’s culture draws from its Western roots, ongoing exchanges with other European societies, a long-standing Catholic heritage, and the distinct national and regional identities found within the country. This culture includes literature, music, visual arts, food, and also contemporary customs, beliefs, institutions, and social norms. Beyond its borders, Spanish culture forms the historical foundation of Hispanic American culture and has significantly shaped Filipino culture.

**History** Early inhabitants of Spain included Celts, Iberians, Celtiberians, Tartessians, Vascones, and colonies from Phoenicia, Greece, and Carthage. Rome conquered the entire territory early on, turning it into the province of Hispania. The Romans left a deep mark on Spanish culture, religion, politics, law, and administration—elements that still underpin modern Spain. Later historical developments added further layers to the country’s traditions. The Visigoths united Hispania and preserved Latin and Christian legacies between the fall of Rome and the Early Middle Ages. Muslim influences were significant in areas conquered by the Umayyads during the Early Middle Ages, but these were not fully absorbed into Spanish culture, leading to conflict and eventually the Christian Reconquista, which largely shaped the nation’s identity. After the Muslims were definitively defeated in 1492, Spain became a fully unified Roman Catholic country. The nation’s history and its position between the Mediterranean and Atlantic also influenced its culture and, through colonization, helped shape Latin American culture. As of 2024, about 85% of modern Spanish vocabulary comes from Latin, as do the other languages of Spain except Basque. Ancient Greek also contributed substantially, mainly through Latin. Spanish has a sizable vocabulary from medieval Arabic, other Romance languages, and smaller influences from Basque and Celtic languages. Spain holds one of the highest numbers of UNESCO World Heritage Sites globally.

**Literature** “Spanish literature” refers to works written in the Spanish language, including those by Spanish and Latin American authors. It covers poetry, prose, and novels. Because of historical, geographic, and generational diversity, Spanish literature is highly varied and draws on many influences. Key works include the *Cantar de Mio Cid*, the oldest surviving Spanish epic poem, written in medieval Spanish. *La Celestina*, published anonymously by Fernando de Rojas in 1499, is considered a masterpiece and marks the transition from medieval to Renaissance literature. *Lazarillo de Tormes* is credited with founding the picaresque novel, a genre that follows a rogue’s adventures to expose injustice and entertain. Miguel de Cervantes’ *Don Quixote*, published in two volumes a decade apart, is the most influential work from the Spanish Golden Age and perhaps the entire Spanish literary canon. It is regarded as a founding work of modern Western literature and often ranks among the greatest novels ever written.

**Painting and Sculpture** Spain’s greatest painters from the Golden Age include El Greco, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, Diego Velázquez, and Francisco Goya, who gained worldwide fame from the 17th to the 19th century and into the early 20th. The most famous Spanish artist of the 20th century is Pablo Picasso, known for his abstract sculptures, drawings, graphics, and ceramics as well as his paintings. Other leading artists include Salvador Dalí, Juan Gris, Joan Miró, and Antoni Tàpies.

**Architecture** Prehistoric architecture in Spain includes megalithic Iberian and Celtic structures. During the Roman period, urban development (such as Emerita Augusta) and construction projects (like the Aqueduct of Segovia) flourished. After the pre-Romanesque period, Al-Andalus architecture saw major contributions from the Caliphate of Córdoba (the Great Mosque of Córdoba), the Taifas (Aljafería in Zaragoza), the Almoravids and Almohads (La Giralda in Seville), and the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada (the Alhambra and Generalife). Later styles include Mudéjar (the Alcázar of Seville), Romanesque (the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela), Gothic (the cathedrals of Burgos, León, and Toledo), Renaissance (Palace of Charles V in Granada), Baroque (Granada Cathedral), Spanish colonial architecture, and Neoclassical (the Museo del Prado). In the 19th century, eclecticism, regionalism, Neo-Mudéjar, and glass architecture emerged. The 20th century brought Catalan Modernisme (La Sagrada Família by Gaudí), modernist architecture, and contemporary designs.

**Cinema** In recent years, Spanish cinema—both within Spain and by Spanish filmmakers abroad—has earned high recognition for its creative and technical excellence.