Spanish history, food, and culture have captured the hearts and minds of travelers everywhere, and Filipinos are no different.
The history of Spain and the Philippines have been intertwined for centuries. Our culture is peppered with Spanish influences, some of our languages infused with Spanish words.
?Spain is increasingly becoming a popular destination among Filipinos. We have had more than 50,000 Filipinos visit,? Jorge Manuel Domecq Fern?ndez de Bobadilla, Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines said in a recent event. ?Discovering Spain is a way for Filipinos to discover their own history.?
And even if you are still totally uninterested in the two countries? pasts, there are still many reasons to visit La Espa?a. Here are 5 of them.
Heritage
The Spanish have always been proud of their history and heritage, taking great care to preserve both through museums and historical sites. Spain has 43 World Heritage sites, making it the second country with the most number of such sites. It is third in the world in UNESCO-declared biosphere reserves, owing to its number of natural spaces.
Religious heritage is also an important part of Spain?s history and tourism, with churches and monasteries becoming popular pilgrimage spots. One of the most famous is the Santiago de Compostela, or the Way of Saint James, where pilgrims take any number of routes on foot to the Cathedral of the same name in Galicia.
?We have a very special way of living history,? Amb. Fern?ndez de Bobadilla said.
Food
Spain has been in the forefront of the culinary world. It is the 5th country with the most Michelin stars and has some of the world?s best chefs and restaurants?142 Michelin-starred restaurants, to be exact, and continues to pave the way globally in terms of food and wine.
Ferran Adria, one of the pillars of deconstructivist cuisine, is often the first Chef that comes to mind. Aside from being the sherry capital of the world, Jerez de la Frontera has a rich wine culture, one that could help position Spain?s vibrant wine industry as one of the most prominent in the world. It has been chosen as the european Wine City for 2014.
Sports
Football fans are gearing up for the World Cup 2014 in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, and the Spanish national team is one of the worldwide favorites.
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