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Content

1. General information about Spain

1.1 The description of the country. Interesting facts on Spain

1.2 Geographical data

1.3 Population

1.4 Languages

1.5 History

1.6 Climate

1.7 Flora and Fauna

1.8 Economy

1.9 Tourism

2. General description of the Hotel Villa Magna

2.1 Hotel Villa Magna Rooms

2.2 Restaurante Villa Magna

2.3 Terms and conditions

spain hotel villa magna



1. General information about Spain

1.1 The description of the country. Interesting facts on Spain

Spain.
Official name	Espana (Spain)
Area	504,782 sq km (12.5x the Netherlands)
Number of inhabitants	40.2 million (July 2003)
Population density	79 people per square kilometer
Capital	Madrid
Monetary unit	The Euro since 2002. (1 € = $ 1.24; 1 Dollar = € 0.7; Rate in Jan. 2009)
Fuel prices	Gas: € 0.80 to € 0.90; Diesel: € 0.70; LPG: almost not available
License plate of cars	E
Telephone country prefix	34
Internet country code	.es
Time difference	GMT+1; the same as in Holland
Road network	The main roads are quite good. There are some toll roads.
Prices in general	Prices are a bit lower than in Holland, except for the touristic places.
The best in Espana (Spain)	Barcelona as you can see on our special Barcelona pages. But Cordoba is also a very nice town.

1.2 Geographical data

Spain is located on the Iberian peninsula, of which it occupies 80% (the remaining 20% being Portugal), in the southwest of Europe. To the north are France and Andorra with the Pyrenees as a natural border. Also the Balearean islands (Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza) in the Mediterranean, the Canary islands in the Atlantic (near the Maroccan coast), and Ceuta and Melilla (located in Northern Africa) belong to the Spanish territory.

Spain is the third country in Europa as for it's size and fifth as for population numbers. It has a surface of about 505.955 square kilometers. This includes all the islands above mentioned. Spain counts more than 40 million people, most of them living in the cities or along the Costa's. Spain is divided into 19 autonomous areas, including the areas outside the Iberian peninsula. The most prosperous areas are Madrid, Catalonia and the Basque Country. Extremadura is the poorest area of Spain, adjacent to Portugal, Andalucia, Castilla La Mancha and Castillia y Lйon.

There are 5 large mountain ranges which cross the country and about 50% of the land lies considerably higher than sea level.

The sceneries vary from almost desert-like to a fertile and green land and of course there are the long coastal strips, in the east along the Mediterranean (from the Pyrenees to Gibraltar), next in the south and west to Portugal along the Atlantic Ocean.

1.3 Population

Spain counts more than 40 million people, most of them living in the cities or along the Costa's. Spanish state encompassed numerous distinct ethnic and cultural minorities. The 1978 Constitution recognizes and guarantees autonomy of nationalities and regions making up Spanish state, and seventeen autonomous communities existed in late 1980s. Major ethnic groups: Castillians, Basques, Catalans, Galicians, Andalusians, Valencians, Asturians, Navarrese, and Aragonese. There is also a small number of Gypsies. Ethnonationalistic sentiment and commitment to the ethnic homeland varies among and within ethnic communities. Nationalist and separatist sentiment run deepest among Basques.



1.4 Languages

Spanish is the main language, spoken throughout the whole of Spain. But there are some regions with an additional language. In Cataluсa people also speak Catalan, in Galicia Galician, Basque in the Basque Country and finally Valencian in the Valencian society. This can be very confusing at times, because in Cataluсa and Basque Country many people consider their dialect the main language. On schools sometimes the regional language is taught as the first language, wih Spanish as a second one. Roadsigns are often first in Basqe or Catalan and only then in the Spanish language in these autonomous regions.

1.5 History

In prehistoric times various people have crossed the Strait of Gibraltar, coming from Africa, as show the archeological findings in the caves of Altamira. Ligurians and Iberians originally have African roots. Mycean sailors played an important part in the trade with Spain. Since the 7th century BC. the Greek also participated in the trade. The Phoenicians from Carthage conquered part of Spain at the end of the 5th century BC and met with the Celts in the north of the peninsula who had arrived between 900-600 BC.

But soon all people in Spain were dominated by the Romans. The three provinces Tarraconensis, Baetica and Lusitana became important centres of Roman civilisation and the economy thrived. Spain had become totally romanised. But the prosperity and civilisation waned after the invasions of German tribes in the 3rd century AD. In 411 tribes sign an alliance with Rome, which enables them to establish military colonies within the Empire.

The Visigoths considered themselves the heirs of the defunct imperial power. Around the middle of the 5th century, the threefold pressures of the Suevi, from the west (Galicia), the Cantabrian-Pyrenaic herdsmen from the north and the Byzantines from the south, the Betica, forced them to establish their capital in Toledo, in the centre of the Peninsula. This was a first attempt to form a peninsular unity, independent of the rest of the empire, and therefore the Visigoths are still considered as the creators of the first Peninsular kingdom.
The Visigoths defended themselves well against the Suevi in Galicia and subdued them in the 6th century AD.; however, in the north, the Basques, Cantabrians and Asturians were more successful in resisting the Visigoth onslaught than they had been in resisting the Romans, and were almost as adept as they would be against the Moors. The Betica, from the 6th to the 11th century AD., constituted an exception within western Europe. Facing a continental Europe which was increasingly closed and fragmented, it would maintain its urban culture and its commercial and cultural connections within the Mediterranean domain; firstly, with the eastern Roman Empire, with Byzantium and later with the Muslim Caliphate.

711-ca. 1250, Muslim rule

Quarrels between the leaders became the downfall of the Visigoths. Some of them asked the Muslims from Northern Africa for help, but they had their own plans. The Muslim troops crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and defeated the Visigoth king Rodrigo at the battle of Guadalete in 711 AD. Muza ben-Nosair completes the Muslim conquest in 712 In Cordoba the Caliphate of Cordoba was proclaimed, indepent of Damascus. The caliphs strenghtened their kingdom and consolidated the economic relationship with east-Byzantium. By 950, the Germano-Roman empire was exchanging ambassadors with the Cordoban Caliphate. The small Christian strongholds in the north of the Peninsula became modest feudal holdings of the Caliphate, recognizing its superiority and arbitrage. The Cordoban caliphate had a currency-based economy, and the injection of coinage played a central role in its financial splendour. The gold Cordobes coin became the principal currency of the period and was probably imitated by the Carolingian empire. Therefore, the Cordoban caliphate was the first urban and commercial economy that had flourished in Europe since the disappearance of the Roman Empire. The capital and most important city of the Caliphate, Cordoba, had some 100,000 inhabitants, making it Europe's principal urban concentration during that epoch.

Muslim Spain produced a flourishing culture, above all after the Caliph Al-Hakam II (961-976) came to power. He is credited with founding a library of hundreds of thousands of volumes, which was practically inconceivable in Europe at that time. The most distinctive feature of this calture was the early readoption of classical philosophy by Ibn Masarra, Abentofain, Averroes and the Jew Maimonide. But the Spanish-Muslim thinkers stood out, above all in medicine, mathematics and astronomy.

The fragmentation of the Cordoban Caliphate took place at the end of the first decade of the 11th century; this came about as a result of the enormous war effort deployed by the last Cordoban leaders and the suffocating fiscal pressures. The thirty-nine successors of the united Caliphate became known as the first (1009-1090) Ta'ifas (petty kingdoms), a name which has passed into the Spanish language as a synonym for the ruin generated by the fragmentation and disunity of the Peninsula. This division occurred twice again, thereby creating second and third Ta'ifas and producing a series of new invasions from the north of Africa. The first time the Almoravides (1090), invaded the Peninsula, the second time it was the Almohads (1146) and the third, the Banu Marins (1224). This progressive weakening meant that by the middle of the 13th century, Islamic Spain was reduced to the Nasrid Kingdom in Granada. Located between the Strait of Gibraltar and Cape Gata, this historical relic did not capitulate until 2 January 1492, at the end of the Reconquest.

1250-1504, Completion of the Reconquista

In 1250 Spain had a christian rulership, except for the Nasrid Kingdom in Granada. But for 2 centuries the country was divided over several states: Castile, Aragon, Navarra and Portugal. Isabel I of Castile and Fernando II of Aragon are married in 1469, thus restoring the unity of a great part of Spain.

They complete the Reconquest by taking Granada (January 2nd), taking advantage of the rivalry of the last Muslim governors of Spain. Fernando III unites Castile and Leon.

1504-1700, The Habsburgs, the Catholic Monarchs

One of the most significant dates during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs was 12th October 1492: the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus. Spain became rich by the conquests in America and expanded it's empire throughout Europe. The new rulers came from the house of Habsburg, starting with Charles V of Germany who became Charles I of Spain. The setting up of the Inquisition probably was one of the worst things that happened in this time. Countless people died, guilty or innocent. Wars wear the empire out, financially. With the death of Charles II, the dinasty of the Habsburg comes to an end and the War of the Spanish Succession breaks out, in which France, England and Austria are involved.

1700-1868, The Bourbons, War of Independence

During the reign of Felipe V of Bourbon, Spain lost the its provinces in the Netherlands and Italy. But he led Spain into the Enlightenment, an epoch of harmonious foreign relations, reform and interior development. The English occupy Gibraltar. After a brief period of enforced alliance with France, which cultimated in the British defeat of a Franco-Spanish fleet at Trafalgar, Napoleon's troops invaded Spain. The bloody six-year war which followed - the Peninsular War, known in Spain as the War of Independence - in which guerrilla tactics and a scorched-earth policy were applied, dealt a death blow to the Spanish economy. In 1808 The Spanish people rose against French domination (May 2nd, 1808) and with English help defeated Napoleon.

Fernando VII and later his daughter Isabel II rue the country until 1868. During the reign of Fernando VII, the Spanish colonies of America gain their independence, except Cuba and Puerto Rico. In 1868 generals head a revolution which overthrows Isabel II.

1868-1923, The Restauracion

The first Spanish Replublic is proclaimed in 1873, but a year later the kingdom is restored with Alfonso XII as king. This period is known as the Restoration, with a liberal constitution. The war with the United States puts an end to the remains of the Spanish colonial empire: Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines are turned over to the victors in 1898. In World War I Spain remains neutral.

In 1923 the elections are won by the socialist party.1923-1939

Dictatorship, Civil War Reacting on this, General Primo de Rivera gained power by a coup d'etat and rules as a dictator.

After the municipal elections, the (second) Republic is proclaimed in 1931. Niceto Alcala Zamora is named president.

But right-wing party obtained a majority in 1933 and after a period of fascist terror Civil War broke out, 1936. It ends in 1939 and is won by the Nationalists. General Franco becomes dictator, supported by the only allowed political movement, the Falange.

1939-1975, The Spain of Franco

Franco started to get rid of all his political opponents and is quite successful in it. Spain stayed out of the 2nd World War, but volunteers of the Falange took part in the war against teh Soviet Union and German submarines were allowed to use Spanish harbours.

In 1947 Franco announces the restoration of the monarchy when he dies or retires and appoints Juan Carlos de Bourbon y Bourbon as successor with the title of King. Franco dies November 1975. King Juan Carlos The new king was as determined as he was prudent in his efforts to assure Spain a rapid democratic process. The first free democratic elections for Parliament were held in 1977 and the Spanish people approve by an 88% majority the new Constitution, which defines Spain as a Parliamentary Monarchy in 1978.

Spain joined the European Union and NATO in 1982.

News about Gibraltar:

At this moment (2001) Spain and the United Kingdom are having talks about the Gibraltar problem and want to conclude a comprehensive agreement before the summer of 2002 covering all outstanding issues including cooperation and sovereignty. But Gibraltar has it's own government and feels betrayed by these negotiations behind their backs. Occupied in 1704 by the British, it became part of the British Empire officially in 1713, under the Treaty of Utrecht. According to the constitution of 1969 of the colony the government of Gibraltar formally can agree or refuse any proposals. A majority of the inhabitants is against joining Spain and wants to keep it's independence (if only for the tax advantages).

On November 7, 2002, the inhabitants vote no against joining Spain, but Spain calls the referendum illegal.

1.6 Climate

Spain covers a large area and it has territories outside the European mainland, therefore the climate in the different parts of Spain can be very different: a short summary:

The north and northwestern part:

This area is influenced by Atlantic depressions, especially in autumn and winter. But even in the summer the weather can be variable. This part of Spain has the most precipitation and cloudiness. In the interior of Spain the sun shines about 10 hours a day, averagely, but to the coast it is only 6 or 7 hours a day. The average temperature in January on the northwestern coast is about 10°C and this area rarely has frost. But the interior knows temperatures well under 0°C. In the middle of the summer (July) it can become 22°C on the coast and 25 -30°C more to the interior of the country. This area has quite a lot of precipitation: 1000 mm (coast) to more than 2500 mm in some mountainous areas. In the winter months there is rain on 16-20 days. In the summer it rains for 12-14 days a month (at least a little), but less in the interior land.

The east coast along the Mediterranean:

The mediterranean climate distinguishes itself by the mild, humid winters and the long, dry summers. The coldest month is January, and the average temperature around Barcelona then is 8°C and around Malaga about 13°C. But averages don't say everything: it can be much colder or much warmer than the average temperatures, freezing or summer temperatures.

Sometimes there isn't any precipitation at all in the summertime and when there is some, it is mostly from short during thunderstorms. But the area around Barcelona is an exception to that: even in the most dry month, July, there falls an average of 70 mm rain, mostly from heavy thundershowers. But there is always a lot of sun and temperatures vary from 28-30°C. The interior of Spain:

The big differences in altitude make the climate varied: in winter, at higher altitudes one can do winter sports and in summer it can be very hot. The more one goes into the interior of the peninsula, the colder the winters are and the hotter the summers, whereby it is colder in the north than in the south. Frost isn't uncommon in the winter. Average temperature in Madrid in January is 9°C, near Cordoba 13°C. In summertime temperatures vary from 25-35°C but sometimes they are as as high as 40°C.

1.7 Flora and Fauna

Flora and fauna in Spain have a typical Mediterranean character. Most common trees are the oak, chestnut, birch and the beech tree. On higher areas there are also coniferous woods.

The fauna has some African elements (chameleon, mongoose and others), which slowly penetrate into the north. Big mammals are: the brown bear, wolf, lynx, feral cat, wild boar, red deer, roe deer, Spanish ibex and chamois, although some of these species have become quite rare. But the last few decades there is much more attention for the protection of these species, for example by creating national wildlife reserves. There is a great variety in birdlife: the stork and several sorts of large birds of prey are still common in a lot of areas. One of the most striking species is the blue magpie, which can be found in central and south Spain and (except for Portugal) only exists in China. Of all European countires, Spain has the greatest variety of reptiles. And of course there is a lot of fish in the seas surrounding Spain, tuna being the most popular for consumption.

Spain has nine national parks and hundreds wildlife reserves.

1.8 Economy

Spain was a latecomer to economic and industrial modernization. Early in the twentieth century, economic progress was made in fitful starts, but in the 1960s the process of renewal began in earnest. Before then, the Spanish economy was one of the most underdeveloped in Western Europe, and it was sometimes characterized as a Third World economy. A spectacular period of growth and modernization during the 1960s and the early 1970s profoundly transformed the Spanish economy, bringing it much closer to the West European consumer society prototype. A new spectaculair growth is going on the last few years thanks to the Eurpean Union, but as a side effect unemployment has also grown to almost 25%. But the growth of the economy still depends on the banks, rich families, state companies and large landowners and not on the small and medium-sized businesses which would be healthier.

In 2001 the working population of Spain counted 18 million people.

8,3% of the labour force work in agriculture, although it uses more than 50% of the land surface for it. But the production per hectare is less than in other European countries. 29,9% of working population work in the industrial sector and 61,8 % in the service industry, the latte being the biggest contributor to the National Gross Product.

Most important sources of income at the moment are tourism and export.

Some Numbers (1998):

GDP: $646 billion

GDP per head: $16,500

Annual growth: 4%

Inflation: 2%

Major industries: textiles & apparel, food & beverages, metals, chemicals, shipbuilding, tourism

Major trading partners: EU (esp. France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, UK, Benelux), US

Member of EU: yes

Euro zone participant: yes

1.9 Agriculture

Because the interior of Spain is dominated by semiarid plateaus and mountains subject to temperature extremes, the most productive agricultural areas in the late 1980s tend to be the coastal regions. Thus the north and the northwest, where there is a relatively mild, humid climate were the principal cornproducing and cattle-raising areas. Apples and pears were the main orchard crops in this area, and potatoes were another of its leading products.

Galicia, which consists of Spain's four westernmost provinces directly north of Portugal, had a concentrated farm population living on intensely fragmented plots. Accordingly, per capita farm income was low, compared with that of the northern provinces lying to the east, where there were fewer people and higher per capita income levels because of a more diversified economy that included industry, mining, and tourism.

Catalonia, on the northeast coast, also has a climate that permits diversified agriculture. At the end of the 1980s, livestock particularly the expanding poultry industry was important in the area. Modern farming methods, including the use of tractors, were more advanced here than they were in the rest of the country. South of Catalonia, along the narrow Mediterranean coast, or Levante, was Spain's principal area of intensive, irrigated horticulture. Orange trees, orchard fruits, rice, and vegetables were produced in this region, and farther to the south, fig trees and nut trees were grown.

Andalusia, which includes all of tillable southern Spain, was another major agricultural area in the late 1980s. It was also the target of several agricultural planning programs. Although olive trees grow throughout the Mediterranean coastal region, as well as in parts of the Meseta Central (Central Plateau), they constituted the most important crop in Andalusia, particularly in the province of Jaen. Other warm-weather crops, such as cotton, tobacco, and sugarcane, were also produced in Andalusia, as were wine and table grapes.

The vast dry plateau region of central Spain contrasted sharply with the country's relatively productive areas. The production of agricultural commodities was particularly difficult in central Spain because of a lack of rainfall, a scarcity of trees and other vegetation, extremes of temperature, and harsh, rocky soil. Nevertheless, the farmers of the region grew wheat and other grains, raised sheep and goats, maintained vineyards, and carried on other agricultural activities.

Import:

Total value of import in 1996: 89.700 million Euro (Eurostat yearbook 1997). Most important importing countries: France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Most important products: vehicles and other transport necessities, chemicals, machinery, capital goods. Merchandise imports generally exceeded merchandise exports by about one-third. In the 1980s, manufactured goods constituted about two-thirds of all imports, fuels as much as one-fifth, and other raw materials and foods about one-tenth each.

Export:

Total value of export in 1996: 80.800 million Euro (Eurostat yearbook 1997). Importing export partners: France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Although famous for its production of citrus fruits, olives, and wine, about 70% of Spain's exports consists of manufactured products while foodstuffs accounts for 17 percent. Raw materials make up about 4 percent of Spain's exports, and fuel products about 6 percent.

Infrastructure:

State railroad system covers about 15,000 kilometers. The total road network amounted to about 330,000 kilometers, of which 7,000 kilometers are super highways and about 20,000 are main roads. 77% of the transportation of goods and 89% of the transportation of people use the road as the most important means of moving. There are about 200 ports, of which the two most important are Bilbao and Barcelona.

Important rivers are the Tagus, the Ebro, the Rio Guadiana, the Rio Gudalguivir and the Douro.

Spain has about fourty civil airports, the international ones are at Barcelona, Gran Canaria, Mбlaga and Madrid.

1.10 Tourism

Although historical sites and unique cultural features have always made Spain attractive to foreign visitors, the tourist boom that began in the mid-1950s was based primarily on the recreational assets of the Mediterranean seashore areas. The most popular areas are the Costa Brava, Costa del Maresme, Costa Dorada in the east and Costa del Sol in the south of Spain. The popularity of the Costa de la Luz in the south along the Atlantic Ocean is growing fast over the last few years. But the government tries to prevent too much building of supersized luxurious hotels and apartments (like the Mediterranean coast) because the biggest and most beautiful nature reserve of Europe is also in this area, the Coto Doсana. Every year, millions of migratory birds stay here for the winter. But the winter of 1999 was so dry that most of the swamps dried out and the birds left to another place.

Next to it's beautiful climate, beaches and nature, Spain als has a rich cultural history. The many beautiful cities, like Sevilla and Cуrdoba in Andalucia and Barcelona, are very popular among tourists who want to see something more than only sea and beaches.



2. General description of the Hotel Villa Magna

2.1 Hotel Villa Magna Rooms

Standard Room

Standard room offers 1 single bed or 2 single beds with air conditioning, bathrobe, bathroom amenities, CD player, color TV, disabled facilities, DVD player, hairdryer, heating, internet access, mini bar, non-smoking rooms, safe in room, telephone and voice mail.

Amenities

· Free internet in room

· No smoking rooms/facilities

General

No smoking rooms/facilities

Concierge

Pet friendly

Elevators

Activities

Fitness center or spa

Fitness Center

Spa

Dining

Bar/Lounge

Restaurant

24 hour room service

Services

Business center

Laundry service

Childcare Service

In-Room Safe

Meeting/Banquet facilities

Barber/Beauty shop

Conference facilities

Doctor on call

Currency exchange

Internet

Free internet in room

Parking

Parking

Accessibility

Handicapped rooms/facilities

Nearby points of interest

· Chamberi: 0.5 mi

· Fuencarral: 0.8 mi

· Cortes: 1 mi

· Old Quarter: 1.1 mi

· Nuevos MInisterios Rail Station: 1.2 mi

· Descalzas Reales: 1.2 mi

· Plaza de Oriente: 1.4 mi

· Atocha Station: 1.4 mi

· Plaza de la Villa: 1.5 mi

· Campo del Moro: 1.8 mi

· Atocha Rail Station: 1.9 mi

· Puerta de Toledo: 2 mi

· Castellana Avenue North: 2 mi

· Tetuan: 2.2 mi

· Arturo Soria Metro Station: 2.5 mi

Dining



2.2 Restaurante Villa Magna

We continue to innovate. Our team of young experienced chefs introduces a collection of traditional favourites with a twist of modern culinary themes that will tantalize the palette and please the senses.

Tse Yang Restaurant

Tse Yang Restaurant offers lovers of Cantonese cuisine an authentic culinary experience. Discover the most refined flavours prepared by the team of talented Chinese chefs on the Villa Magna hotels ground floor off the Patio Magnum.

The Lounge

The Lounge, off the Lobby of the Villa Magna, is the ideal setting to meet friends, discuss business or enjoy a relaxing meal at any time of the day.

Magnum Bar

The elegant Magnum Bar buzzes from the early evening cocktail crowd through to the late night tete-a-tetes. Seating is available at tufted velvet banquettes, along the curving bar or out on the patio.

Hotel Policies

Check-in:

3:00 PM

Check-out:

12:00 PM

2.3 Terms and conditions

Rates quoted in currencies other than the hotel's base currency are subject to the rate of the international exchange. Rate may change throughout stay. Rate may reflect average nightly rate. Extra charges may apply. Incidental charges, such as room service, are not included in the rate.

The amenities and/or facilities may not be located at the hotel, but within a reasonable distance, and additional charges may apply for use.

The Hotel Villa Magna offers guests an amazing blend of luxury, classic style and all the conveniences guests expect from a 5-star hotel. A highly trained, multilingual staff is on hand to look after the needs of guests, with a butler service available for selected rooms. The Hotel Villa Magna offers a fully equipped business center and wireless Internet connection throughout the building, along with a valet car park, private parking and a limousine transfer service. In addition, a car wash service is available to guests.

The elegant Hotel Villa Magna offers exclusive rooms and suites in Madrid's fashionable Salamanca area. All accommodation has free Wi-Fi, marble bathrooms and views onto Serrano Street or Castellana Avenue.

The large, luxurious rooms in Villa Magna Hotel have antique-style furniture and modern finishes. All rooms have laptop safes with in-built chargers. Some rooms have rain showers.

The Wellness Club at the hotel offers a range of treatments, including massage. The fitness centre has cutting-edge cardio equipment.

The property's Restaurante Villa Magna offers traditional cuisine with a modern twist, and the Tse Yang Restaurant offers classic Cantonese dishes. The elegant Magnum Bar and the Lounge serve cocktails, champagne and tapas.

The hotel is located close to Madrid's Golden Mile shopping district and is within 10 minutes' walk of Santiago Bernabйu Stadium.

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