When it comes to culture, the question is sometimes asked:
what
is culture, exactly? Is culture what people do on a daily
basis, namely, live? Or is culture, rather, a lofty expression of the
more sophisticated and complex ideas developed by the intellectual elite
of any given society? Whether you advocate for the supremacy of
high-brow culture, or consider it to be constituted by every aspect of
interaction within a social compound, in Spain you will find myriad
examples of both kinds, forming a rich and diverse phenomenon.
Rich and Varied Heritage
From the most ordinary habits, such as the variety of dishes that
together form a mouthwatering cuisine, to the institutional support for
the artistic establishment, Spain holds a surprise around every corner.
Ranging from the largely simple and straightforward characteristics of a
Mediterranean diet, with plenty of fresh produce from land and sea, to
the ingenuity of a number of recipes from the rustic center of the
country, such as roast piglet or the famous
sopa castellana, to
the crafty use of offal throughout the land,
Spanish culture
is hugely heterogeneous, due both to geographic as well as historical
circumstances.
The fascinating mosaic formed by the cultural differences found from
region to region across the country extends far beyond matters of eating
habits and dress code, however. From
patxarán in Navarra, to
orujo
in Galicia, from sherry in the region between Jerez and Cádiz, to
the sweet wine from Málaga, somewhat similar to port wine from Oporto,
the various traditions that have defined each of the regions permeate
deeply to every aspect of Spanish culture, from what digestive to follow
your meal with, to the style and material used to erect buildings in
the area.
Popular vs. High-Brow Culture
Intrinsically, the distinction between popular and high-brow culture,
which emerges with the question "
what is culture?"
might not be as drastic as it seems. A good example of this proximity
can be found in the characteristics of Spanish architecture. Dating all
the way back to Roman times, there are still perfectly solid examples of
buildings as ancient as 2000 years old. And then, from Roman to
Romanesque, Gothic, Mudéjar, Renaissance and every artistic style to
emerge thereafter, Spanish architecture has been shaped as much by
aesthetic considerations as it has been by the specific conditions
prevalent in the country.
Thus, the emergence of red brick in the region around León as the
material of choice in the construction, not only of regular homes but
also of official and even religious buildings owed less to taste than to
necessity. Similarly, the development of adobe as a viable building
material shaped the landscape of the countryside indelibly, much in the
same way as the tendencies arrived from the Frankish counties on the
other side of the Pyrenees spread from coast to coast and ultimately
determined the triumph of Romanesque architecture.
Spectacular as it is, Spanish architecture is indebted in equal
measure to circumstances of daily life, such as the coexistence of
Muslim, Christian and Hebrew communities, and to the conscious
development of aesthetic ideals. This is true of architecture, but it is
equally the case with the literature that sprung in parallel with the
culture that produced it as a reflection (in both meanings of the word)
of the reality of its time. As a matter of fact, this is true of a vast
majority of
Spanish culture, from the forging of true
national forms of expression, such as flamenco, to the paintings of
grand masters, such as Goya.
Spanish: A Lot More than a Language
We understand that when you come to Spain to learn Spanish, it's not
only about the language... you also want to see and experience new
places, take plenty of pictures, meet new people and immerse yourself in
the country's fascinating cultural scene. After all, some of the
world's top museums and wholly unique festivals are found in Spain.
Nevertheless, in order to get a genuine taste of Spanish culture, you
need not spend hours in libraries and dusty rooms: just go out there,
communicate with the people and experience first hand the cultural
paradise that is Spain.
In order for you to be able to do just that, our schools, located in
Spain's most interesting destinations, are open all year round (yes,
even during festival seasons!), and offer classes focusing on such
cultural facets as literature and
art history,
organizing all sorts of interesting cultural activities
and excursions for our valued students!
Below you can read up about a wide range of Spanish cultural topics,
ranging from history and festivals to food and drink and everything in
between.