Spain looks pretty small on a world map, but this country has produced an extraordinary culture.

在世界地图上看似渺小，西班牙这个国家却创造出璀璨的文化。

by Luke Dodds and Matthew Brown

All over the world, people have no problem recognizing the music, art, dance, or food that comes from Spain. Spanish culture is unmistakable.

When a person thinks of Spain, the first thing that comes to mind might be flamenco dancing. Passionate and lively, usually performed to the accompaniment of fast guitars, flamenco dancing originated in southern Spain, and it has strong gypsy roots. Bullfighting is another of Spain's most famous attractions, and it is not just for tourists; bullfighting is enormously popular with the Spanish themselves. Thrilling and artistic, a bullfight is a match between a toreador, or bullfighter, and a bull. Bullfighting is one of Spain's long-standing traditions that might seem quite different from the ways of the modern world.
　　
Spain is known as a country of romance, and for good reason. The history of Spain had its starting point not in a war over territory or the discovery of a new continent, but in a marriage. In 1469, Queen Isabella of the Kingdom of Castile married King Ferdinand of the Kingdom of Aragon, joining two of the most powerful Christian kingdoms in what is known as the unification of Spain. This unification began the period of Spanish history that saw three centuries of global exploration, trade, and conquest, carrying the Spanish language and culture all over the world.
　　
No longer one of the world's strongest empires, Spain's political power has declined over the years, but its culture is as inspiring and well known now as ever. The spirit of Spain continues to inspire the world.
中文翻译

全世界的人都认得出西班牙的音乐、艺术、舞蹈或食物，不会把西班牙文化和其它文化搞混。
　　
一想到西班牙，脑中首先浮现的应该是佛朗明哥舞。这种热情洋溢的舞蹈源自西班牙南部，与吉普赛有很深的渊源，表演时通常有快节奏的吉他伴奏。西班牙另一项最吸引人的便是斗牛，不仅观光客喜欢，也广受西班牙人的欢迎。斗牛是斗牛士与公牛之间的竞赛，不但刺激同时兼具艺术性。斗牛是西班牙人长期沿袭的传统之一，虽然这与现今世界似乎显得格格不入。
　　
西班牙被公认是个浪漫的国度，这不是没有道理的。这个国家的历史肇始于一场婚礼，而不是因为争夺领土的战争或发现新大陆。1469 年，卡斯提尔王国的伊莎贝拉女王与阿拉贡王国的费迪南德国王成亲，这两个强大基督教王国的联姻被视为是西班牙的统一，开启了该国长达三世纪到世界各地探险、贸易和占领土地的历史序幕，连带使西班牙的语言和文化散布到全世界。
　　
西班牙如今已不再是世界强国之一，政治影响力也式微多年，但其文化仍一如以往，深具启发性且广为人知。西班牙的精神仍不断启发全世界。