INGELESA HOBETZEN: I´m from Basque Country

The autonomous community of the Basque Country (Euskadi in the local dialect, País Vasco in Spanish) is a region situated in the north-east corner of Spain overlooking the Cantabrian Sea. The territory counts 3 provinces, with Vitoria-Gasteiz as capital:

• Álava (Araba), capital Vitoria-Gasteiz

• Biscaglia (Bizkaia), capital Bilbao (Bilbo)

• Guipúzcoa (Gipuzkoa), capital San Sebastián (Donostia).

Although the territory of the Basque Country occupies a small area, it is rich of history, art, culture, nature and tradition. Euskadi pullulates of museums, monuments and many interesting sites. Here the Basque idiom is still spoken, and the food tradition is almost a religion. Tourists visiting this region find a completely different image of Spain, far from the stereotypes of bullfights and flamenco, but as well rich of colours and flavours. The Basque Country - Euskadi - has a totally different feel to it from the rest of Spain, beginning with its climate, which is temperate and wet. Its landscapes are accordingly lush and its people are known for their extremely difficult language and desires for independence. As well there are significant differences between the three provinces: Vizcaya (Biscay), dominated by the resurging Bilbao; Guipuzcoa, a land of fishermen and farmers; and mountainous Alava. Navarre, once a Basque kingdom, is claimed by nationalists as part of Euskadi, but does not fall within this autonomous region.