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ANDORRA

As most people have no knowledge of this nation sandwiched between Franceand Spain, I
figured it was a good time for another installment of “8 Facts You Might Not Have Known…”

1) Andorra is a country

OK, maybe most of you probably know this, but there are a lot of people out there that have no
clue that Andorra is actually a country. One woman I spoke with visited the US and people
didn’t believe there was a country called Andorra. Yes, it does exist and has been around in
some form for almost 1,000 years. It has a seat in the United Nations, an Olympic team and
diplomatic relations with other countries. It is a real country.

2) Andorra is small

It is the 16th smallest country in the world by land and the 11th smallest by population. It is
only about 40km to drive from one side of the country to the other. The total population of
Andorra is about 85,000 which includes citizens and residents. What is even more shocking is
that despite its small size, the vast majority of the buildings are located at the bottom of the
valleys because so much of the land is mountainous.

3) Andorra produces a lot of Tobacco

One fact that surprised me here is how much tobacco is produced in Andorra. It takes up a lot
of what little farming space exists here. There used to be a cigarette factory in Andorra and
because of its status as a tax haven, you can purchase cigarettes here much cheaper than you
can in Spain or France. Cigarette smuggling has been a long problem (tradition) in Andorra
where people would head up to the mountain tops to take smokes into Spain or France. Andorra
is also one of the few places in Europe where you can still smoke indoors in public places.

4) Andorra is the world’s only co-principality

A principality is a place ruled by a prince. Monaco is an example of a principality. Andorra,


however, is a co-principality. They have two princes who jointly share the title of prince.
Neither of the two is from Andorra, however. One is the President of France, who is currently
Nicolas Sarkozy. The other co-prince is the Bishop of Urgell who is currently Joan Enric Vives
Sicília. The position is a constitutional one similar to the British Monarchy and holds no real
power. Except for limited things, the two princes must exercise their authority together, not
separately. They are the only country where one of their heads of state (the President of
France) is democratically elected by another country. The other prince (the bishop) is
appointed by the head of state of another country (the Pope).
5) Andorra is the only country in the world with Catalan as its official language

Catalan is spoken in Spain, bits of France and an even smaller chunk of Sardinia. However, the
only country where it is the official language is in Andorra. I’m sure there are many people in
Catalonia, however, who would like there to be at least one more country :)

6) Andorra has never been in a war in almost 1,000 years

Given its non-strategic location in the Pyrenees Mountains and lack of natural resources,
Andorra has been without conflict almost since Charlemagne came through to fight the Moors.
Technically, Andorra did declare war on Germany in WWI but never sent anyone into the
conflict. Given Andorra’s lack of participation in WWI, they were forgotten about in the Treaty
of Versailles and didn’t officially declare peace with Germany until 1957!

7) Andorra has no national bank and has never had its own currency

Andorra currently used the Euro as its currency. Before that, it primarily used the Spanish
Peseta and sometimes the French Franc. There is no national bank in Andorra so it has to go to
private banks if it wants to incur debt.

8) Andorra is not part of the EU, EFTA or the Euro zone

Andorra is not a member of most of the major European associations. Even though they use the
Euro, they are not technically part of the Eurozone. They have a special relationship with the
EU which they follow their trade rules for industry but not for agriculture. They are also not a
party to the Schengen Treaty, however, you can only access Andorra via Spain and France which
are party to the treaty and they don’t have an airport, so no one worries about them.

Albania

1. In the evenings, the locals like to walk. But it’s not just a walk. Known as xhiro, it’s an
official evening walk where every resident comes out to stretch their legs and catch up with
their neighbours. In many towns, the roads close to cars for certain hours! Apartment blocks
empty and everyone gathers at various places, walking and talking until nightfall.

2. When an Albanian is agreeing with you, he or she will shake their head, and when they are
disagreeing with you they will nod. Be warned and avoid confusion. Yes means no and no means
yes.

3. The majority of Albanians are Muslim. About 70% at last count. A 2011 census shows that
about 60% of Muslims are practicing Sunni and Bektashi Shia, making it the largest religion in
the country. About 17% are Christian, which makes it the second largest religion, and another
17% are either undeclared or atheist.

4. You’re likely to notice a large number of scarecrows in odd places. Albanians believe that a
scarecrow placed on a home or other building while it’s under construction will ward off envy
from the neighbours. Sometimes you’ll see a teddy bear serving the same purpose. The odd
part is that the scarecrow or the teddy bear will be impaled on a rod or hung by a rope like a
noose. Some also say that these talismans bring good luck.

5. When the communist era ended in 1991, there were roughly three million people in the
country but only 3000 cars. Communism isolated the country and for a long time, only Party
officers were permitted to use cars. In the years since, many more cars have come into the
country, and the national preference appears to be Mercedes. Blame it on the late start in
getting behind the wheel, or just cultural proclivity, but be warned: Albanians have a reputation
for being some of the worst drivers on the planet. Not only are the roads in less than ideal
condition, and not only are the cars barely drivable (think no headlights), but the drivers
themselves seem to be following individualized rules of the road. Look both ways before
crossing the road!

6. The heroine of Albania is Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu. Better known to the rest of the world as
Mother Teresa. She was born in Skopje, which is now a part of Macedonia, and is one of the
most beloved religious figures of the 20th century. She is the only Albanian to win a Nobel
prize.

7. In 1995 a law was passed requiring citizens to pay taxes on traffic-lights in their home
towns. The residents of Shkodra were taxed, just like all cities, but staged a protest. Their
reason? Shkodra has no traffic lights. It’s one of the oldest cities in Europe and the fifth
largest in Albania. With a wonderful Old Town worth visiting, history buffs will love the
restoration that’s happening. Also, the Rozafa Fortress offers incredible views over the lake.
8. The Albanian government has seen a lot of change. The government declared independence
from the Ottoman Empire in 1912. Then, in 1939, the country was successfully invaded by
Italy. Shortly after that, in 1944, Communist loyalist took control. For the next several
decades, Albania aligned itself first with Russia (until 1960) and then China (until 1978). Finally,
in 1991, the people were able to end 46 years of strife when they once again declared
independence and established a multi-party democracy. Not surprisingly, the new government
has faced some pretty incredible challenges like high unemployment, corruption, and a crippled
infrastructure. They’ve come a long way thanks to the indomitable Albanian spirit.

9. The highest point in Albania is Maje e Korabit, or Golem Korab. At over 2,700 metres, this
peak sits directly on the border with Macedonia – making the highest point for both
countries. Golem Korab attracts many tourists, particularly outdoor adventurers. From June to
September, hikers and climbers make their way to this great peak for the challenge and the
natural surrounding beauty.
10. Tirana, the capital of Albania has a lot of things in common with other European capitals –
except one. It’s one of the only capitals without a McDonalds (another is Vatican City). Tirana
is the heart of the country with a vibrant and youthful atmosphere. Post-Communist
transformation is most apparent here. It’s practically unrecognizable from its old self. Primary
colours decorate the buildings, more public squares and pedestrian streets, as well as new
business and shopping. Check out Blloku where there are great bars, as well as the grand
boulevard with interesting relics from the Ottoman Empire. If you’re in Tirana and find
yourself craving an American style hamburger, check out Kolonat, an Albania fast food chain
that has a logo suspiciously similar to McDonald’s.
11. Currently, there are more Albanians living outside the country than living inside it. As you
travel around the Balkans, you’ll see tons of qeleshes – the brimless felt hats that are a part of
traditional Albanian dress. The estimates range from seven to ten million Albanians living
throughout Europe, primarily in Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Greece. Only three million
Albanians actually live within its borders.

12. Albania has over 750,000 bunkers spread out across the land. They are hard to miss and
can be a nice car game (Be the first to spot the bunker!). They were all built during the
dictatorship of Enver Hoxha in order to protect the country from an invasion. An invasion
which never actually happened. Most are a bit of an eyesore and many Albanians dislike them
because they are a reminder of 50+ years of isolation. But a few have been repurposed into
cultural museums, artistic canvases, and business ventures.

13. Tirana, the capital is surprisingly sheik. For a country that’s had some stark years, the truly
Albanian spirit can be seen in modern Tirana. You might expect it to be dominated by grey
concrete (like other Post-Communist European cities), but there’s a ton of green space, and, of
course, lots of colour. The inspiration behind the reinvention of the city is Edi Rama. A painter
and a politician, Rama was mayor of the city for 11 years (2000-2011). Though some have
criticized him for not paying more attention to infrastructure issues, most agree that the
effects of having a lively city go a long way towards motivating people and inspiring even more
change.

14. Raki is the national drink, but be warned! Raki made out in the villages is equal to about
three normal drinks. If you’ve travelled in the Balkans, you’ve probably come across rakija or
rakia. But the Albanian versus is quite unique. It’s an old school moonshine made from grapes
that is incredibly strong. You’ll find it in most bars but be sure to pay attention to its
source. If it comes out of a repurposed plastic bottle or plain glass jug, you’re liking getting a
home-brew likely to put hair on your chest (as the saying goes!).

15. The traditional dress of Albania uses wool, cotton, and silk, with embroidered patterns and
symbols like the silver and gold Albanian eagle. Other symbols are pagan in origin and include
moons, stars, suns, and snakes. Each region has its own traditions and would be happy to explain
the subtle differences. If you’re looking for a good gift to take home, try buying a pair of
Opinga – the traditional shoe worn by both men and women.
Greece

 The official name of Greece is the Hellenic Republic.


 Greece is located in southeast Europe, close to both Africa and Asia.
 In 2011 the population of Greece was around 11 million.
 The capital and largest city in Greece is Athens. Other major cities include Thessaloniki,
Patras and Heraklion.
 Around two thirds of the Greek population live in urban areas.
 Greek is the official language spoken in Greece.
 Greece is a member of the European Union and uses the Euro as its currency.
 Greece is a developed country with a high standard of living. Important industries include
the service sector, agriculture and tourism.
 Greece is a popular tourist destination and home to over a dozen World Heritage Sites.
 Greece features thousands of islands, including destinations such as Santorini and
Mykonos.
 Greece is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe.
 The highest mountain in Greece is Mount Olympus, it has over 50 peaks with the highest
reaching 2917 metres (9570 feet).
 Ancient Greece is said to have laid the foundation for Western civilization, having a large
influence on the Roman Empire and European culture.
 The Olympic Games originated in Ancient Greece.
 Athens most recently hosted the Summer Olympic Games in 2004.

Italy

Italy is easy to recognize on any world map, as the country is shaped like a high-heeled boot, as
you can see on the map above. It looks like the boot is kicking a ball, which is the island of
Sicily, don’t you think?

Italy Facts: Geography

Beautiful Cavoli on the island of Elba

Italy has more than 7,600km (4,722miles) of


coast line as the peninsula is located for a
large part in the Mediterranean sea. Italy has
two bigger islands Sicily and Sardegna and
many smaller ones such as Capri, Elba and
Ischia. In the North, the mountain range of
the Alps separates Italy from the other
European countries France, Switzerland,
Austria and Slovenia.
Italy has many hills and mountains and the highest mountain of Italy can be found in the Italian
Alps which are the mountain range in Italy's north. It is the Monte Bianco, better known as
Mont Blanc, which is 4,807m or 15,776ft. There are many long and deep lakes in the North of
Italy, bevor the country flattens in the Po Valley. The river Po is Italys longest river.

The Apennines are another big mountain range which go all along the boot and separate the East
and the West of the country. And in Italy, there are volcanos!

Eruption of Etna - See the lava flowing down the slopes

In the South of Italy you will find Italy’s three active


volcanoes: Vesuvius near Naples, Etna on Sicily and Stromboli
off the Coast of Italy. Italy is subdivided in 20 regions, like
Tuscany, Veneto (around Venice) and Lazio (around Rome).

Did you know that Italy surrounds two of the world’s


smallest countries? These are San Marino in Northern Italy,
the oldest republic in the world and Vatican City in Rome, the smallest country in the world.
Vatican City is led by the Pope and is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, led by
the Pope.

Italy Attractions for Kids

Rialto Bridge in Venice/Italy

 Florence: Home of many of the Italian


artists such as Michelangelo with many famous
museums
 Pisa: 'Hold' the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Quite a sight!
 Venice: Lagoon City build on islands and

known for its Carnival

Foro Romano in Rome

 Rome: Great place to learn about Romans and ancient


history
 Ravenna: See stunning mosaics and splendid churches
 Tuscany: great place to chill in the countryside with lovely
towns and villages
 Alps: Great for skiing, hiking and relaxed holidays and Bolzano’s Natural History Museum
with Oetzi, the mummy from the Ice-age is great for kids too.

There are so many great places in Italy to visit, just to many to mention here. Check out our
special page of Italian landmarks and attractions read more exciting facts about wonderful
Italian places.

Italy Facts: Animals in Italy

Sheep are held mainly in Southern Italy and the donkeys still help farmers in remote villages to
carry heavy loads over steep terrain.

Some years ago there was a big scare in Italy about brown bear, which attacked farm animals in
Northern Italy. Brown bears are protected in Italy, as there are only few bears left in the wild
now.

In the Alps you will very likely see the marmots, which make a
very high pitched calling sound. And if you are very lucky you
might even spot a lynx - see the little hair tuffs on the ears?

Eurasian Lynx

More Italy Facts: Italian Language

Italian is a language which is coming from Latin and you still can recognize the roots.

However not all people in Italy speak proper Italian, but one of its many Italian dialects. Some
of the older people, can neither speak Italian, but only the local dialect or will speak only
German when living in the Northern Region of Alto Adige, a French dialect in the Valle d’Aosta
or Ladino in the Trentino.

The pronunciation is soft and very melodic and so is


still used in opera and is popular by young
musicians. So even German composers used the
language in opera as it sounds much softer than
German.

Try to say football (soccer) in Italian? - Calcio

Most young people in Italy learn to speak English, French or German as well in school.

Some Italy Facts about Italian People


Italians love sports. Cycling, Skiing, Soccer and Motor Racing are just some of the sports
Italians have very strong interest in and good teams of sportsmen and -women. The Italian
soccer league is followed by many Italians abroad too: Inter Milan, Lazio Roma and Juventus
Turin are just some of the Italian soccer teams which are favoured by Italians.

The family is very important for Italians, where there are still many big families including
grandparents, parents and children in the household. Italians love their food, which is usually
prepared freshly by the “Mama”, but more and more men love to cook and break away from the
typical image of the Italian "macho" and nowadays help in the household or stay at home with
the kids while the women goes to work.

Christopher Columbus

Italians are famous for their inventions and discoveries. The Italian explorers Christopher
Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci discovered the Americas while Marco Polo explored the East.

Leonardo da Vinci was a scientist and artist who was the first to prove the world is round and
not flat and Alessandro Volta, was the prioneer who did studies in electricity, hence the name
'Volt' describing a unit of electricity.

Did you know that Italians also invented the piano and the thermometer?

More Italy Facts about Famous Italians for Kids: Explorers, Inventors and more

Italian Food

The Italian main dishes contain: pork and beef, seafood as well as potatoes, rice and pasta
(wheat and egg noodles) products and of course, tomatoes.

Typical Italian food - which ingredients can


you name?

Pizza is surely one of the most famous exports


and in Italy it is usually baked in a wood-fired
oven and very thin, but loaded with fresh
vegetables or thinly sliced ham, salami,
artichokes or olives.The Italian pasta is
renowned worldwide and there are more than 200 different shapes.

Italians love their food and many dishes are based on fresh vegetables and seafood too. There
are delicious sweet cakes in Italy, like the Panettone (a yeast cake with raisins), Panforte (a
hard and flat fruit cake) and almond pastries like amaretti.

Here is some typical Italian food:

 Pizza: probably the most famous Italian dish, it was invented in Napoli/Naples around
1860
 Calzone: folded up pizza bread filled with tomatoes, ham, cheese and all kinds of filling
 Pesto: thick green sauce with olives, herbs and olive oil, pine kernels and parmiggiano
cheese. Healthy and mmmmh!
 Gelato: ice-cream is an Italian invention
 Lasagna: layered pasta dish with tomato, mozzarella cheese and mince meat filling.
 Mozzarella: Italian cheese balls, originally made from buffalo milk
Spain

Spain is a wonderful country that has much to offer the visitor. Not in vain is the third
country in the world that receives more tourists, only behind France and USA. That's why
today we want to tell you 10 fun facts about Spain you sure did not know. And if you still
want more, you can travel to Spain with Renfe-SNCF en Coopération trains in the most
comfortable and fast way, without long queues or waiting and getting to the center of your
favorite Spanish city.

1. The center of Spain

The kilometre 0 of all Spanish roads, at Puerta del Sol in Madrid.

The first of our fun facts about Spain is that Madrid is not only the capital of Spain. It is also
the geographical center of the country. And in the center of Madrid you can find the Puerta
del Sol ("The Sun Gate"), which is the center of the country and the Spanish radial road
system.

2. The first modern novel is Spanish

The fun fact about Spain is that the first "modern" novel, the book translated into more
languages after the Bible, and the one that holds the title of best book in history, was written
by a Spaniard, Miguel de Cervantes. It is "Don Quixote" and was written in 1605.

3. Around 406 million people in the world speak Spanish.

Peoples in the street


A fun fact about Spanish is the second language in the world with more native speakers. It
comes right after Chinese and right before English. Spanish was born in Spain, but today it is
spoken throughout the American continent and in some places in Africa and Asia.

4. In Spain, different languages are spoken.

Another fun fact about Spain is that although Spanish is the majority language, Spain has 4
co-official languages. They are Catalan, Basque, Galician and Aranese. There is other Romance
minority languages, though not official, that have special recognition, such as the Astur-Leonese
group (bable) and Aragonese (aragonés) in Aragon. You can think of it as English and French in
Canada.

5. The highest Spanish mountain is not in Spain.

Spain’s higher mountain, Teide, at Tenerife island

Well, it is in Spain, but not in the Iberian Peninsula. A fun fact about Spain is that the
highest mountain in the country is Mount Teide (3718 meters). This mountain is situated in
the Canary Islands and is an active volcano. As a consequence of its eruptions, the beaches of
the island of Tenerife are of black sand instead of white.

6. UNESCO's third largest heritage country

Another fun fact about Spain is that it has 44 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Only Italy and
China have more. Probably the most famous UNESCO World Heritage Site is the Sagrada
Familia cathedral in Barcelona. This building was begun to build in 1882 and is believed to be
finished in 2026.

7. The Sistine Chapel of Prehistory is in Spain

Bull of Altamira
Near Santander lies the Altamira cave. In this cave a lot of prehistoric drawings have been
discovered of very varied shape and meaning. The fun fact about Spain is that this cave is so
impressive and of historical importance that people began to call it the Sistine Chapel of
Prehistory.

8. We have chocolate thanks to the Spanish

A fun fact about Spain is that thanks to the colonies that the Spaniards established in the
American continent and their relations with North Africa, today we can all enjoy oranges,
avocados, cacao, potatoes or sugar. The Europeans did not know any of these things until the
fifteenth century.

9. Christmas is very special in Spain

The Three Wise Men, who are believed to give presents to Spanish children on the evening of
January 5th.

The Spaniards celebrate Christmas, the New Year and also the feast of the Three Wise
Men during the winter holidays. This time of the year is very special and they live it very
intensely. A fun fact about Spain is that it is traditional to eat twelve grapes at a time to
receive the new year. It is more difficult than it seems, but the Spaniards swear that achieving
that gives good luck for the rest of the year.

10. The Spaniards tend to speak loudly

This is a fun fact about Spain and Spaniards. You can easily spot Spaniard anywhere, because
they are the ones that speak in the loudest voice. It is part of the Spanish character and it is
something that contributes to create that special atmosphere.
Portugal

University of Coimbra - one of the oldest universities in


Europe

Source

2. Portuguese is the official language of 9 countries


Over 236 million people world-wide are native Portuguese speakers. Portuguese is the official language of Portugal,
Brazil, Cape Verde, Angola, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Principe, Sao Tome, and Equatorial Guinea. Portuguese
is also spoken in Goa (India), Macao, and East Timor.

3. Portugal is the oldest country in Europe


Portugal has had the same defined borders since 1139, making it the oldest nation-state in Europe. Afonso
Henriques was proclaimed the first King of Portugal in 1139 and the country remained a kingdom for almost 800
years thereafter, until 1910.

4. The oldest bookstore in the world is in Portugal's capital

Bertrand bookstore (pictured above, located at the corner), was established in 1732, is located in the capital of Portugal -
Lisbon. | Source

5. Portugal is the largest cork producer in the world


Portugal produces 70% of the world's cork exports. Main importers of Portuguese cork are: Germany, the U.K., and
the U.S. The country also has the largest cork forest.
6. One of the oldest universities in Europe is in Portugal
The University of Coimbra was established in 1290, making it one of the oldest universities on the European
continent.

Vasco da Gama Bridge

Source

7. Portugal has the longest bridge in Europe


The Vasco da Gama Bridge in Lisbon is 10.5 miles (17 kilometers) long, making it the longest in Europe.

8. Portugal and England have the oldest diplomatic alliance in


the world
The Anglo-Portuguese Alliance was signed in 1373 and is in force until this day! Both countries entered wars to
defend the other, including the United Kingdom entering the Iberian Peninsular War and Portugal entering World
War I. Talk about having someone's back!

9. Portugal is one of the world's top surf spots


Portugal has a coastline that spans 497 miles (800 kilometers) and it's known to have 364 days of surf!

The iconic Tram 28 in Lisbon


Source

10. In 1755, Lisbon was struck by one of the most powerful


earthquakes in European history
On the 1st of November in 1755, Lisbon was struck by about a 9.0 magnitude earthquake, which was followed by a
tsunami, and fires that brought the city to rubble! Furthermore, the earthquake struck on All Saints Day, a major
holiday when the churches were filled with burning candles. The earthquake struck, toppling the candles, causing
major fires. 275,000 residents were killed and 85% of the buildings were destroyed! People talk about the
devastating earthquake to this day.

11. Portuguese Fado was classified as world cultural heritage


by UNESCO
Fado (fate in Portuguese) is a music genre that originates in urban Lisbon. It's a type of mournful and heart-touching
folk music sung by the common people. The music genre was recently added to the World's Intangible Cultural
Heritage list.

12. Portugal was the first colonial power to abolish slavery


Portugal abolished slavery all the way back in 1761 - that's half a century before Britain, France, Spain, or the
United States

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