People
Rafael Nadal
Manacor, Mallorca, Spain
A left-hander from Mallorca, he won 22 Grand Slam titles, including a record 14 at the French Open.
Born: 1986 · Known for: Tennis champion
Spain: leaders, famous people, culture and history
14 places on the atlas covering people, architecture, language, culture, festivals and folklore. Highlights include Rafael Nadal, Sagrada Família, Basque (Euskara) and Tapas and the paseo.
See Spain on the map Etiquette guide
What is on the atlas
- People Rafael Nadal, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Penélope Cruz and 1 more
- Architecture Sagrada Família, Alhambra and Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
- Language Basque (Euskara) and Spanish
- Culture Tapas and the paseo
- Festivals La Tomatina and San Fermín
- Folklore Flamenco
Who leads Spain?
| King | Felipe VI |
|---|---|
| Prime Minister | Pedro Sanchez |
Office-holders as of July 2026. Governments change, so check Spain’s official government website for the latest. Full list of heads of state and government.
Famous people from Spain
- Miguel de Cervantes author of Don Quixote
- Pablo Picasso painter
- Salvador Dali surrealist painter
- Federico Garcia Lorca poet and playwright
- Antoni Gaudi architect
- Francisco Goya painter
- Isabella I of Castile queen
A short, well-known selection rather than a ranking. People pinned on the map appear in the cards below.
Etiquette tips for Spain
- Greeting Two cheek kisses are common among friends and acquaintances. A handshake is fine in business.
- Time Lunch is typically 2 to 4 pm and dinner after 9 pm. Many shops close for a midday break outside big cities.
- Dining Tipping is modest; rounding up is fine. Tapas are shared.
People in Spain
People
Pablo Picasso
Málaga, Spain
Born in Málaga, he co-founded Cubism and produced thousands of works, including the anti-war painting Guernica.
Lived: 1881–1973 · Known for: Painter and sculptor
People
Salvador Dalí
Figueres, Catalonia, Spain
Born in Figueres, he painted dreamlike scenes such as The Persistence of Memory. His theatre-museum in his home town is among Spain's most visited.
Lived: 1904–1989 · Known for: Surrealist painter
People
Penélope Cruz
Alcobendas, Madrid, Spain
Spain's most internationally recognised actress, she won an Academy Award for Vicky Cristina Barcelona and often works with director Pedro Almodóvar.
Born: 1974 · Known for: Actress
People
Pedro Almodóvar
Calzada de Calatrava, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
His colourful, emotional films such as All About My Mother and Talk to Her helped make Spanish cinema known around the world.
Born: 1949 · Known for: Film director
Architecture in Spain
Architecture
Sagrada Família
Barcelona, Spain
Antoni Gaudí's basilica, still under construction, is known for its organic towers and a nature-inspired interior.
Begun: 1882 · Style: Catalan Modernisme
Architecture
Alhambra
Granada, Spain
A palace-fortress with intricate stucco, tilework and courtyards cooled by water channels.
Built: 13th–14th century · Style: Nasrid, Islamic
Architecture
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Bilbao, Spain
Frank Gehry's titanium-clad museum helped revive Bilbao's waterfront and gave rise to talk of a Bilbao effect for cities.
Built: 1997 · Style: Deconstructivist
Language in Spain
Language
Basque (Euskara)
San Sebastián, Spain
Basque is a language isolate, with no proven relation to any other living language, spoken in northern Spain and southwestern France.
Say hello: Kaixo · Script: Latin
Language
Spanish
Madrid, Spain
Spoken by hundreds of millions of people across Spain and the Americas, with regional differences in pronunciation and vocabulary.
Say hello: Hola · Script: Latin
Culture in Spain
Culture
Tapas and the paseo
Seville, Spain
Small plates and evening strolls are part of daily social life in southern Spain, where bars serve tapas with drinks.
Tradition: Small plates shared socially
Festivals in Spain
Festivals
La Tomatina
Buñol, Valencia, Spain
Thousands of participants throw ripe tomatoes at each other in the streets in a one-hour food fight.
Usually: Last Wednesday of August · Theme: Tomato fight · Months: August
Festivals
San Fermín
Pamplona, Navarre, Spain
A week of processions, music and street parties dressed in white and red, famous for the daily encierro, in which runners dash ahead of bulls through the streets. Animal-welfare groups campaign against it.
Usually: 6–14 July · Theme: Festival of the bull run · Months: July
Folklore in Spain
Folklore
Flamenco
Jerez de la Frontera, Andalusia, Spain
A passionate art form of song, guitar and dance developed in Andalusia, with Jerez among its cradles. It is recognised by UNESCO.
Kind: Song, dance and guitar
How to use this page
This page brings together the people who lead Spain today, a short selection of well-known people from Spain, and the 14 places pinned for Spain on the atlas. Use the buttons at the top to see Spain on the map, where you can filter by theme, read a short summary of each pin and follow the link to Wikipedia for the full article. To browse the same themes across the whole world, see the people page, architecture page, language page, culture page, festivals page and folklore page.
Questions about Spain
Who is the leader of Spain?
As of July 2026: King: Felipe VI; Prime Minister: Pedro Sanchez. Office-holders change, so check the official government site for the latest.
Who are some famous people from Spain?
Well-known people connected with Spain include Miguel de Cervantes (author of Don Quixote), Pablo Picasso (painter), Salvador Dali (surrealist painter), Federico Garcia Lorca (poet and playwright) and Antoni Gaudi (architect).
Which famous people from Spain are pinned on the atlas?
People pinned for Spain include Rafael Nadal, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Penélope Cruz and Pedro Almodóvar. Open the map to read a short summary of each.
What festivals are celebrated in Spain?
Festivals on the atlas for Spain include La Tomatina and San Fermín. Open the map for photos and links to read more.
What are famous landmarks and buildings in Spain?
Notable buildings and sites in Spain on the atlas include Sagrada Família, Alhambra and Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. Open the map for photos and links to read more.
What languages and scripts is Spain known for?
Language entries for Spain on the atlas include Basque (Euskara) and Spanish. Open the map for photos and links to read more.
What food and customs is Spain known for?
Food and customs from Spain on the atlas include Tapas and the paseo. Open the map for photos and links to read more.
What folklore and music does Spain have?
Folklore and music from Spain on the atlas include Flamenco. Open the map for photos and links to read more.
How can I explore Spain on the map?
Choose See Spain on the map above, or search for Spain on the atlas. You can filter by theme, drag the Time travel slider to see who was alive and what was standing in different centuries, and open any pin for a short summary and a link to the full Wikipedia article.
What etiquette should visitors know in Spain?
Greeting: Two cheek kisses are common among friends and acquaintances. A handshake is fine in business. Time: Lunch is typically 2 to 4 pm and dinner after 9 pm. Many shops close for a midday break outside big cities. These are general customs, not legal advice.