Trivia in Spain

National symbols

Flag: Horizontal tricolor of red-yellow-red with the yellow stripe twice the width of each red stripe, bearing the national coat of arms in the center

Emblem: A crowned shield-shaped emblem combining the arms of the four historical kingdoms, a crown, and pillars

Trivia & facts

• The central yellow stripe of the flag is twice the width of the red stripes, an unusual ratio
• Spain has over 50 UNESCO World Heritage Sites as of 2024, second only to Italy
• Spanish is the second most spoken native language in the world
• Spain is the world's largest producer of olive oil
• Barcelona metro escalators reverse the stand-right, walk-left convention
• Siesta is not legally mandated but remains customary in many regions
• Bullfighting is not practiced nationwide; it is banned in Catalonia
• The word "tapas" is said to originate from small plates used to cover wine glasses
• Madrid's metro network is among the longest in Europe
• La Liga is one of the oldest professional football leagues in the world