Spain

SAFETY: very good
The country is generally considered safe. No particular risks are reported other than petty crime (suburbs, large cities...).

TRANSPORT: excellent
A comprehensive, modern transport system covering the whole country (air, rail, bus, metro, tram, taxi, ferry), islands included, makes it possible to reach any destination. Hiring cars, motorbikes, campervans, bikes and boats is easy and convenient. There are numerous direct flights from Italy, including to the main islands (the Balearics and the Canaries).

Main airports: Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Santiago de Compostela, Seville, Granada, Málaga, Almería, Alicante, Valencia, Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza and Maó; there are also numerous domestic airports.
Main ports: Barcelona, Valencia, Cádiz, Almería, Algeciras, Málaga.

ACCOMMODATION: excellent
Spain (including the Canaries and the Balearics) has a huge choice of accommodation of various kinds, categories and prices. The international hotel classification applies (one to five stars), and there are also farm stays, B&Bs, guesthouses, apartment hotels, hostels and campsites, mountain refuges, spa and wellness centres. The choice of restaurants and sports facilities is equally varied.

COUNTRY FACTS: Full name: Kingdom of Spain – Location: south-western Europe. Borders: France and the Atlantic Ocean to the north, Portugal to the west, the Mediterranean to the south and east. It includes two cities in Morocco (Ceuta and Melilla), three small islands along the Moroccan coast (Chafarinas, Peñón de Alhucemas, Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera), the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean – Time zone: UTC +1 (the Balearics too, but the Canaries are UTC 0), the same as Italy, observes daylight saving time – Area: 504,000 sq km – Capital: Madrid – Population: 40,440,000 – Religion: 94% Catholic, 6% other – Languages: Spanish (official language); Basque, Catalan, Galician, Asturian, Leonese and Occitan are also spoken (official in their respective regions); English is fairly widely understood – Measures: metric system.

CURRENCY: euro – Credit cards: the major credit cards are accepted.

ELECTRICITY: 220 V and 50 Hz (as in Italy) – Sockets: two-pin type, bring an adapter.

DOCUMENTS: identity card valid for foreign travel. There are no customs restrictions on personal luggage (Schengen) – Driving: Italian driving licence – Car: Italian third-party insurance is sufficient for Italian vehicles.

COMMUNICATIONS AND TELEPHONES: International dialling code: 0034 – GSM: extensive network covering the whole country. Standard: GSM 900/1800 (as in Italy). Local operators: Orange, Movistar, Vodafone, Yoigo – Internet: very widespread and of good average quality – Web domain: .es – Emergency numbers: emergencies 112; ambulance 061; police 091.

RULES, LAWS AND CUSTOMS: with regard to the laws on the use or trafficking of drugs and offences against minors, the criminal penalties in force are entirely comparable to those under Italian law. Spanish law permits male and female homosexuality from the age of 16. Since 2005 the law has placed same-sex marriages on an equal footing with heterosexual ones. The islands of Gran Canaria (Canaries) and Ibiza (Balearics) are considered a gay haven. The island of Gran Canaria is a free port, so you pass through customs again on the return flight.

HEALTH: excellent overall, with very efficient public and private facilities. Italian citizens travelling temporarily who hold a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) receive the care provided by the local public health service. Pharmacies are widespread and well stocked.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: 1 January, New Year's Day; 6 January, Epiphany; 19 March, St Joseph's Day; Easter, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday; 1 May, Labour Day; June, Corpus Christi; 25 July, Día de Santiago; 15 August, Assumption; 12 October, Discovery of America; 1 November, All Saints' Day; 6 December, Constitution Day; 8 December, Immaculate Conception; 25 December, Christmas Day.

OPENING HOURS: Post offices: widespread, Mon-Fri 9.00-14.00 –Banks: very common, with cash machines; Mon-Fri 8.30-14.30– Shops: Mon-Sat 9.00-20.00 (varies) – Closing day: Sunday.

CLIMATE: the northern Atlantic zone and the ocean-facing slopes of the Cantabrian Mountains and the Pyrenees are marked by strong Atlantic winds, giving a humid climate with rainfall all year round. The Gulf Stream makes the winters mild and the summers cool. On the eastern coast the climate is Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers tempered by sea breezes, and mild winters. The south-central area is arid, with alternating hot, dry winds from Africa and cool continental air. Inland Spain has an arid continental climate, with little rain and marked seasonal temperature swings. The islands have a climate influenced by the sea.

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USEFUL ADDRESSES IN ITALY

Embassy of Spain
Palazzo Borghese, L.go Fontanella di Borghese 19 – 00186 Rome – Tel. 06 6840401 – Fax 06 6872256 – E-mail: emb.roma@maec.es

Consulates

Via Campo Marzio 34 – 00186 Rome – Tel. 06 6871401 – Fax 06 6871198 – E-mail: cog.roma@maec.es
Via Fatebenefratelli 26 – 20121 Milan – Tel. 02 6328831 – Fax 02 6571049 – E-mail: cog.milan@maec.es
Palazzo Leonetti, Via dei Mille 40 – 80121 Naples – Tel. 081 411157 / 414115 – Fax 081 401643 – E-mail: cog.napoles@maec.es

Spanish Tourist Office
Via Broletto 30 – 20121 Milan – Tel. 02 72004625 – Web: www.turismospagnolo.it, www.spain.info – E-mail: milan@tourspain.es

USEFUL ADDRESSES IN SPAIN

Embassy of Italy
Calle Lagasca 98 – 28006 Madrid – Tel. 0034 914233300 – Fax 0034 915757776 – Web: www.ambmadrid.esteri.it – E-mail: archivio.ambmadrid@esteri.it

Consulates
Calle Mallorca 270 – 08037 Barcelona – Tel. 0034 902050141 – Fax 0034 934870002 – Web: www.consbarcellona.esteri.it – E-mail: segreteria.barcellona@esteri.it
Calle Agustín de Bethencourt 3 – 28003 Madrid – Tel. 0034 912106910 – Fax 0034 915546669 – Web: www.consmadrid.esteri.it – E-mail: madrid.capocancelleria@esteri.it

Honorary Consulates
Calle Ercilla, 14 – 48009 Bilbao – Tel. and Fax: 944.230.772 – E-mail: bilbao.onorario@esteri.it
Avenida de la Paz, 10 – 1º B – 09004 Burgos – Tel. 947.270.723 – E-mail: burgos.onorario@esteri.it
Calle Cervantes, 8 – 51001 Ceuta – Tel. 956.514.574 – Fax 956.510.589 – E-mail: ceuta.onorario@esteri.it
Ap.do de Correos n. 314 – 18080 Granada – E-mail: granada.onorario@esteri.it
Calle Manuel María González (Bodegas González Byass) – 11403 Jerez de la Frontera – Tel. 956 357 000 – Fax 956 357 057 – E-mail: jerez.onorario@esteri.it
Calle Rosalia de Castro, 13/bajo – 15004 La Coruña – Tel. 663.787.010 – Fax 981.224.462 – E-mail: lacoruna.onorario@esteri.it
Calle Reyes Católicos, 44 – 35001 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria – Tel. 928.241.911 – Fax 928.244.786 – E-mail: laspalmas.onorario@esteri.it
C/ Atarazanas, 2/1B – 29005 Málaga – Tel. 952.365.593 – E-mail: malaga.onorario@esteri.it
Avda. Valentín Masip, 25 – Entlo. Oficina 7 – 33013 Oviedo – Tel. 680.155.013 – Fax 984.246.534 – E-mail: oviedo.onorario@esteri.it
Calle Taconera, 2 – 31001 Pamplona (Navarra) – Tel. 948.222.822 – Fax 948.223.716 – E-mail: pamplona.onorario@esteri.it
Calle Cruz Verde, 10 2ºA – 38003 Santa Cruz de Tenerife – Fax 922.241.040 – E-mail: tenerife.onorario@esteri.it
Hernán Cortés, 55 3º izq. – 39004 Santander (Cantabria) – Tel. 942.215.855 – Fax 942.310.711 – E-mail: santander.onorario@esteri.it
Calle Fabiola, 10 – 41004 Seville – Fax 954228549 – E-mail: siviglia.onorario@esteri.it