With its glorious climate, spectacular scenery and fine beaches, Spain has long been one of Britain's favourite destinations - for holidays, second homes and retirement. Now, the emergence of high quality clinics - coupled with the favourable prices - are making Spain important as a medical destinations as well.
The large expat population in Spain means that every kind of English speaking facility is readily available and the number of low cost flights from all British airports makes getting there easier than to almost any other European country.
Separated from the rest of Europe by the Pyrenées, Spain stretches to the tip of North Africa and comprises the Canary Islands, the Balearics and the North African cities of Ceuta and Melilla. With lush green forests, snow-tipped mountain peaks, extraordinary architecture and endless sandy beaches Spain is best described as a country of contrasts.
Traditional images of Spain might conjure up rows of holiday-makers languishing on beaches in the Costas. Since the sixties Spain has been a popular package holiday destination for the British and other Europeans, and more latterly a booming property investment market, but there is so much more to the country than busy tourist resorts. Spain has a good helping of passion - think heart-wrenching operas, heated flamenco dancing and bull-fighting which has enjoyed a renaissance since the late eighties - as well as an abundance of natural beauty, cultural and artistic cities and gastronomy which rivals anywhere else in Europe.
The country is divided into 17 autonomous regions and has four official languages; the traditional language is Castellano, and Catalan is spoken in the Catalonia region, Gallego in Gallicia and Euskera in the Basque area. Since 1975 Spain has been a constitutional monarchy which joined the EC in 1986 and hosted the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992 and Expo ‘92 in Seville. Spain's population is in the region of 44 million, with around 8.5 percent of this figure being foreigners.
The Spaniards are a nation of fun-loving people with an infectious enthusiasm for life who find any excuse for a party - there is a fiesta on almost every day of the year whether it’s to celebrate a religious event or simply the change of season. And like all of the Mediterranean countries the Spaniards place big importance on meal times, spending long leisurely lunches around the table with friends and family followed by (in the very hot regions) a siesta.
Popular Spanish dishes include Paella and plates of Tapas such as Cured Ham, Tortilla Espanola, Calamares Fritos, Gambas a la Plancha and Patatas Bravas but the many cultures and civilisations which have settled in Spain over the years have also greatly influenced Spanish cuisine and each region has its own speciality. With such importance placed on entertainment, and eating being one of their most pleasurable activities, it comes as no surprise that there are more bars and restaurants per head in Spain than in any other country.