Along with Portugal, Greece, Malta, and Italy, Spain is the southernmost country in the European Union. Being surrounded by water on three sides out of four, it is truly a naval state. Spain is a perfect destination for those who look for a relaxed lifestyle together with a warm climate.

The cultural significance of Spain and its artistic heritage are hard to overestimate. It has given the world Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro and Salvadore Dali; El Greco, Velazquez, and Goya; Antonio Gaudi and Miguel De Cervantes. Today, new stars continue to come alight on the world stage, bringing even greater fame to the Kingdom of Spain.

The Spanish language is the pride of the nation. Thanks to the mighty Spanish Empire which existed between 15th and 20th centuries, today Spanish is the second most widely-spoken language in the world. The first modern novel, Don Quijote, was written in Spanish, and continues to excite the readers till this very day.

And not to mention the festivals! Arguably the most popular of them is La Tomatina, where people go wild by throwing squashed ripe tomatoes at each other. There are, of course, many more public happenings to check out throughout the year, which vary from majestic to quirky to, accidentally, both.

Around 90% of the country’s territory lies in the mountains or highlands. There are also coastal regions close to the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The three main climate zones are Mediterranean, continental, and oceanic.

In 2019, Bloomberg rated Spain as the healthiest country in the world.

Public healthcare is free for everyone who contributes to the social security system and has a social security number. Foreigners employed in Spain can apply for a social security number after they have received their residence permit. The conditions for using public healthcare services may vary depending on the region.

If you are not eligible for public healthcare, you will have an option to obtain a private insurance or to pay for medical services in full.

The private healthcare is considered to be of excellent quality but the costs will be up to the European standards, too.

Kindergartens

The first six years of education in Spain are known as infant education and count two stages.

The first stage is nursery school for children from three months up to three years old. A nursery school may be private or state-run but both charge fees. These costs are not covered by the state, but working mothers can get a discount.

Children from three to six years old go to preschool. Here, a child is taught to read and write, learns about basic cultural awareness and connects with nature. Preschools are often attached to state primary schools and provide free tuition.

Schools

If you’re moving to Spain with children, there are many schools to choose from: free schools run by the state, subsidized private institutions, and fully independent international schools. Some schools offer tuition in more than one language.

All children must attend school between the ages of 6 and 16, when they complete primary and compulsory secondary education. After this, students can either continue with upper secondary education to prepare for entering a university, take vocational training, or choose to conclude their education.