Spain's Official Name is: Kingdom of Spain.

Passport/Visa Requirements: Passport needed by citizens of the U.S. and Canada. A tourist visa is not required for a visit of up to three months. Reconfirm travel document requirements with your carrier before departure.

Capital: Madrid.

Population: 44,150,000.

Languages: Castilian Spanish (official), Catalan, Gallego, Basque, local dialects.

Predominant Religions: Christian (Roman Catholic).

Time Zone: 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+1 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is observed from the end of March to the end of September.

Voltage Requirements: 220 volts.

Telephone Codes: 34, country code; 91, city code for Madrid; 93, city code for Barcelona. Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England.Subsequent failure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions caused the country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic and political power. Spain remained neutral in World Wars I and II, but suffered through a devastating civil war (1936-39). In the second half of the 20th century, Spain has played a catch-up role in the western international community; it joined the EU in 1986.