Spain's culinary traditions rely on an abundance of locally grown vegetables and fruits as well as meats and poultry. Jamón Serrano, a cured ham, and chorizo, a seasoned sausage, are popular. Seafood and fish are popular in coastal areas.

The best-known Spanish dish, a stew called paella (pie-AY-ah), originated in Valencia, an eastern province on the Mediterranean Sea. Rice, the main ingredient, is grown in Valencia's tidal flatlands. Though there are numerous variations, paella is usually made of a variety of shellfish (such as shrimp, clams, crab, and lobster), chorizo (sausage), vegetables (tomatoes, peas, and asparagus), chicken and/or rabbit, and long-grained rice. Broth, onion, garlic, wine, pimiento (sweet red pepper), and saffron add flavor to the stew.

Every region has its own distinct cuisine and specialties. Gazpacho, a cold tomato soup, comes from Andalucía in southern Spain. Andalusians also enjoy freidurías (fish, such as sole or anchovies, fried in batter).

Cataluña (Catalonia), in northeastern Spain, is known for its inventive dishes combining seafood, meat, poultry, and local fruits. In the northern Basque country (país Vasco), fish is important to the diet, with cod, eel, and squid featured prominently.

The signature dish of Asturias, in northwestern Spain, is fabada, a bean stew. In the interior regions, such as Castilla, meats play a starring role. Tortilla española, a potato omelet, is served throughout the country. It can be prepared quickly and makes a hearty but simple dinner.

Although it is easy to assume that the Spanish specialize in savory cuisine that would be to overlook the many varied sweet dishes which the country also enjoys. You will find many traditional sweets all over Spain, some so delicious that tourists and natives travel to that region just to purchase their favorites.

Family life revolves around buying, cooking and eating food and hand me down recipes are a staple of any Spanish kitchen. Sitting down to enjoy dishes with the family is the culmination of the day's events. Spanish are passionate about their food and this is passed on from generation to generation.

Drinking

The Spanish have a relaxed attitude when it comes to drinking with groups gathering around local bars or sitting on terraces as they relax during evenings with a slow drink in hand. Teenagers drink wine with their family during a meal or natives to have a beer Clara de Limón (beer with lemon soda) or Tinto de Verano (red wine with lemon juice or carbonated water) but drinking is done in moderation.

Free tapas are regularly served alongside a drink when you order in a bar. It’s not unheard of for locals to specifically favor certain bars for the standard and range of tapas they offer. Groups of younger Spaniards gather socially with their own alcohol in public spaces before heading late to a bar or club.

Coffee is a hot beverage to be savored daily with most having it in the form of a cortado (macchiato style), café con leche (latte) or solo (espresso). During breakfast, many will also have orange juice along with their coffee. Water is always on the table when it comes to eating out and in.

When the foundation stone of the Basílica I Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família was laid in 1882, Spaniards never anticipated that the construction of this church would take well over a century. But when architect Antoni Gaudí took charge of the project a year later, he tossed the original neo-Gothic design and replaced it for a grander vision, unlike any the world had ever seen.

Gaudí worked steadily on his masterpiece until his death in 1926, at which point an estimated 25 percent of the total design was complete. Since then a series of architects have attempted to continue his legacy but progress on Sagrada Família’s construction faced a few setbacks over more than a century. Following the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, vandalism resulted in the destruction of many of Gaudí’s models.

When finally completed, the church will be comprised of three facades, two of which (the Passion facade and the Nativity façade) have already been completed, while construction of the Glory facade remains ongoing and is expected to be the largest and most impressive of the three. Some projections have Sagrada Família’s completion date as 2026, the centennial anniversary of Gaudí’s death, while others estimate construction could continue into the 2040s.

The church’s interior is defined by columns that stretch like tree branches toward the ceiling. Gaudí’s plans also called for 18 spires, eight of which are complete, as well as numerous towers, chapels, portals, and other interior features. When built, the tallest spire, which symbolizes Jesus Christ, will secure Sagrada Família’s place as the world’s largest church building.

Though still incomplete, the church sees an estimated 2.8 million visitors each year. The best to visit in the early morning or late evening as the sun shines through the stained glass windows on the walls filling the church with an abundance of color.