Knowing the capitals of Spanish-speaking countries is not only useful for your Spanish studies, but also gives you a deeper understanding of the cultural and geographic diversity of these places. Expand your knowledge of Spanish and locate each country on the map to discover a very diverse culture.

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Capital cities of Spain

As you may know, Spain is the birthplace of the Spanish language, as it is where the language originated. The capital of Spain is Madrid, known for its rich history, art, and lively nightlife.

Although Spain is characterized by its well-known cities spread throughout the country and its unique culture. The country is made up of 17 Autonomous Communities, and each has its own capital. Here is the list of the 17 Autonomous Communities and their respective Spanish capitals:

• Andalusia. Almeria, Cadiz, Cordoba, Granada, Jaen, Huelva, Malaga, and Seville. Seville is the capital.
• Aragon. Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Zaragoza is the capital.
• Asturias. Its capital is Oviedo.
• Balearic Islands. It is an archipelago formed by 5 islands: Menorca, Mallorca, Ibiza, Formentera, and Cabrera. The capital is Palma de Mallorca.
• Canary Islands. It is made up of 7 islands and divided into two provinces. The province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife with: Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro. And the province of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria with: Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote. The capital is Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
• Cantabria. Its capital is Santander.
• Castilla La Mancha. Toledo, Ciudad Real, Guadalajara, Cuenca and Albacete. Its capital is Toledo.
• Castilla y León. León, Palencia, Salamanca, Burgos, Zamora, Valladolid, Soria, Segovia, and Avila. This Autonomous Community does not have a capital city, but the seat of government is in Valladolid.
• Catalonia. Barcelona, Tarragona, Lerida, and Gerona. The capital is Barcelona.
• Valencian Community. Castellon, Valencia, and Alicante. The capital is Valencia.
• Extremadura. Caceres and Badajoz; the capital is Mérida.
• Galicia. La Coruña, Lugo, Ourense and Pontevedra. Its capital is Santiago de Compostela.
• La Rioja. Its capital is Logroño.
• Madrid is the capital of Spain.
• Region of Murcia. Its capital is Murcia.
• Navarra. The name of its capital is Pamplona.
• Basque Country. Alava, Guipuzcoa and Vizcaya. It has no official capital, such as Castilla y León.

Spain also has two autonomous cities, Ceuta and Melilla, located on the African continent.

Countries on the American continent

In addition to Spain, other countries in the world also have Spanish as their official language. These places are mainly located in South and Central America, although there is also one in Africa. Here is the complete list of the 20 Spanish-speaking countries and their respective capitals:

North America:

• Mexico – Ciudad de Mexico

Caribbean:

• Cuba – La Habana
• Dominican Republic - Santo Domingo
• Puerto Rico – San Juan

Central America:

• Costa Rica – San Jose
• El Salvador – San Salvador
• Guatemala – Ciudad de Guatemala
• Honduras – Tegucigalpa
• Nicaragua – Managua
• Panamá – Ciudad de Panamá

South America:

• Argentina – Buenos Aires
• Bolivia – La Paz, Sucre
• Chile – Santiago
• Colombia – Bogotá
• Ecuador – Quito
• Paraguay – Asunción
• Peru – Lima
• Uruguay – Montevideo
• Venezuela – Caracas

Africa

• Equatorial Guinea - Malabo

In this complete list of Spanish-speaking countries and their capitals, how many Spanish capitals did you already know; did you locate all the countries on the map? Tell us about it.

Each country has its own history, culture and beauty. By getting to know the Spanish capitals, you not only expand your Spanish vocabulary, but you also connect with the cultural richness of these places. Don't you feel like visiting one of them?

So, if you want to continue expanding your knowledge of the Spanish-speaking world, don't hesitate to continue learning Spanish. At don Quijote you can choose the Spanish course that best suits your needs, your level and your age. We have schools in 11 different destinations in Spain and in 9 different countries in Latin America.

Ask us about your doubts and we will help you choose the destination that best suits your needs so that learning Spanish will be a fascinating journey for you.

The Maya

The Maya lived in an area what is now southeast Mexico (Yucatan) to parts of what is now Belize, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, among others.

One of the wonders of the world

1.2 Million tourists visit the ruins of Chichen Itza every year. Chichen Itza is ideal as a day trip from one of the many resorts in the area such as Playa del Carmen. Chichen Itza was founded between 600 and 900 AD by the Mayans. However, it was not until the 10th century AD that the city became important to the Maya. From then on, Chichen Itza was one of the most important Mayan cities. In 1850, the city was discovered by archaeologists. Since 1988, the city has been listed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. On July 7, 2007, El Castillo, located in Chichen Itza was listed as one of the wonders of the world.

El Castillo is the most famous Mayan monument in the world. El Castillo is a pyramid that is also a calendar, the Mayan calendar. The pyramid consists of 18 levels, these levels equal the 18 months that make up a year. The number of steps of the pyramid, together with the upper platform makes a total number of 365, which represents the number of days per year in the Mayan calendar. Finally, the pyramid has a total of 52 separate planes on the sides of the pyramid, which equals the number of years in a century in the Mayan calendar. El Castillo is 30 meters high, unfortunately it is no longer possible for the public to climb the pyramid.

In addition to its function as a calendar, the pyramid has another wonderful effect. On March 21 and September 21, the beginning of spring and autumn, the position of the sun creates a beautiful shadow play. The position of the sun and thus its shadow makes it appear as if a 34-meter-long snake climbs up the pyramid's steps, and slides back down the other side of the pyramid. This phenomenon attracts hundreds of visitors from all over the world every year.

Furthermore, there are many other monuments in Chichen Itza. For example, there is the largest ball court in the Mayan world. There are also several temples present including the temple of tables, the temple of warriors and the temple of jaguars. You can also find an observatory called El Caracol. This observatory was used by the Maya to make astronomical observations through the slots in the roof of the dome.

Mexico is an enormous country, where cultures with thousands of years of history live together with a modernity that keeps an eye to the north while continuing to treasure its traditional values. It's a country to get away to and enjoy: dreamy beaches (on the Caribbean and the Pacific coasts), impressive pre-Columbian era archeological ruins, and unique traditions. Also, Mexican folklore is widely known and appreciated, not to mention its cooking!

Let's take a look at ten recommendable places for relaxing and enjoying weather and the friendliness of the Mexican people, in Spanish of course. Creating a list of recommended places always presents the problem of where to begin. That's why in our attempts to be fair, we're relying on good old fashioned alphabetical order...

1. Acapulco

On the coast of the state of Guerrero, 390 kilometers from Mexico City, this is one of the most internationally known vacation destinations in Mexico. The Acapulco Bay, in all its magnificent beauty, invites us to dive into its warm waters. (Nearest don Quijote Spanish School in Mexico: Oaxaca).

2. Cancun

This is without a doubt the number one vacation destination in Mexico. Located in the state of Quintana Roo, (the eastern-most state of the country) this city has quickly developed from a small isolated fishing town into the most important tourism center in Mexico, which guarantees an international atmosphere and first-class hotel facilities.

An example of just how popular this destination is; the airport here receives an average of 200 international flights per day. White sand beaches, modern hotel resorts and a subtropical climate with an average temperature of 270 C. all year round, all invite us to relax here.

3. Guanajuato

We find this colonial gem, capital of the state with the same name, in Mexico's interior. The city of Guanajuato reached a high level of development in the colonial age due to gold and silver found in the region. In the beginning of the 19th century, Guanajuato witnessed a great victory for revolutionary insurgents, headed by the priest Father Hidalgo, over Spanish troops when they took over the Alhóndiga de las Granaditas and massacred troops and civilians who'd taken refuge inside the building. It's one of the most relevant moments in the country's history.

Today, Guanajuato is an important university city and home to the Festival Cervantino, probably the most important artistic presentation in Mexico, and even in all of Latin America. This is the perfect place to study Spanish and enjoy tradition, art and culture in all its dimensions.

4. Mexico City

The capital of the republic is also the oldest metropolis in America and the second most populated city in the Americas after Rio de Janeiro. The Distrito Federal (or deefe as Mexicans refer to the city) features two areas that are listed as UNESCO world heritage sites: the Historic Center, where for example we find: the Metropolitan Cathedral, an American archeological treasure, the National Palace, where we can view Diego Rivera's frescos, offering observers the story of the Mexican Revolution in images.

The second area is the Ecological park Xochimilco. The park is like a small Venice-turned-garden. The city also has many museums: the National Museum of Anthropology, The National Museum of Art and the National Museum of History. All of Mexico can be found in el deefe, as long as you know where to look. (Nearest don Quijote School: Oaxaca)

5. Monterrey

In the state of Nuevo León, in the north of Mexico, we find one of the most important cities in the country due to its strong economy, trade and industry. Its tourist attractions are not just limited to its architecture, which joins colonial and modern styles, Monterrey is known as "the city of mountains", as the city is like a fortress surrounded by mountains... and by impressive sites such as the Cascada Cola de Caballo National Park and the Cumbres de Monterrey National Park, one of the biggest in the country. The balance of urbanism and nature makes Monterrey an ideal place to visit in Mexico. (Nearest don Quijote School: Guanajuato)

6. Oaxaca

The capital of the state with the same name, on the isthmus that unites the body of the country with the southern peninsula of Yucatan, this is one of the most beautiful colonial cities in Mexico. It has maintained its ancestral traditions, its vibrant arts and its way of life. Rich in archeological sites, we'll make our way through baroque temples, 16th century convents, colonial era buildings and numerous museums... it's a city of calmness and culture, a city that invites us to experience customs and traditions with its residents, chatting with them in Spanish. (Nearest don Quijote School: Oaxaca)

7. Playa del Carmen

In the state of Quintana Roo, just a few kilometers from the tourist center of Cancun, we find a place that offers the best of the Caribbean coasts, with endless white sand beaches and emerald blue waters where you can touch bottom with your eyes and observe its gorgeous natural marine life on the sea floor. The city maintains the advantages of a small town. It's a place where you can sit back on a terrace and enjoy wonderful weather and a sense of peacefulness floating in the air. Or you can take a short boat trip over to the Island of Cozumel, an island that invites us to go diving in its tropical waters. Playa del Carmen is a place for relaxing, and concentrating on Spanish in a quiet environment, a nice contrast to the hyperactive commotion of mass tourism destinations. (Nearest don Quijote School: Playa del Carmen)

8. Puerto Vallarta

In the heart of Banderas Bay, on the Pacific coast of the state fo Jalisco, Puerto Vallarta is "laid back" center for tourism and eco-adventure. The beaches here remind us of movies like the classic "la noche de la iguana" (Night of the Iguana), especially if we take a walk on Playa Mismaloya. Enjoying the stunning sunsets that have made it famous is one option for way to cap off our Spanish class at the school Solexico. At night we can go for walks on the lively Playa de los Muertos, to the south of the pier and the Cuale River. (Nearest don Quijote School: Guanajuato)

9. Santiago de Querétaro

This is the capital of the state of Querétaro, whose name comes from the Tarascan Querendaro, later adopted by the Spanish and used in its current form. The city, declared an official UNESCO world heritage site in 1996, offers the visitor a perfectly preserved baroque area with perfectly arranged clean streets and proverbial peace and quiet. Along with the harmony and safety of the old town, Santiago de Querétaro is also a successful city: the University of Aeronautics in an international leader in its field and the booming economy make this the third wealthiest city in Mexico, only behind Mexico City and Monterrey. (Nearest don Quijote School: Guanajuato)

10. Xalapa

For many, this city located in the state of Veracruz, with its engaging cultural activity, is the most beautiful in Mexico. The vibrant culture here has lead many Mexican people to know the land of the jalapeño chili peppers as "the Athens of Veracruz", not due to any architectonic similarities, but due to tireless, unstoppable and nearly permanent cultural activity. Culture is everywhere in Xalapa: numerous museums, omnipresent art exhibits, constant concerts, libraries, bookstores, theaters, movie theaters... This is one cultural center we won't want to miss. (Nearest don Quijote School: Oaxaca)