The charm and romance of Spain are gifts from her many invaders. The Phoenicians and Carthaginians founded seaports; the Romans built enduring roads and bridges and gave Spain her language, evolved from Latin; and the Moors gave her irrigation, craftsmanship in steel and leather, and magnificent architecture. Even the gay little donkeys that still carry great loads about the countryside were introduced by the Moors. Shaking off the yoke of the Moors by 1492, Spain, in less than a century, became "the mistress of the world." Her daring explorers laid claim to most of South America, "to Central America and Mexico, and to what is now California, New Mexico, and Texas. She conquered North Africa, Portugal, much of Italy, and gained The Netherlands by marriage! In 1588 she reached for England. Her armada was destroyed and the empire began its slow decline. About 1/12 the size of the U.S.A. Espana now shares the Iberian Peninsula with Portugal.* The Pyrenees separate her from Europe and the Strait of Gibraltar from Africa which holds her few remaining possessions.

 

VIEW-MASTER REEL ONE

 DISCOVERER OF AMERICA From a lofty column, Christopher Columbus overlooks the harbor of Barcelona where he first reported his discovery of the New World to Ferdinand and Isabella. Spain's second largest city (pop. 1,550,000) Barcelona is peopled by Catalonians, a vigorous, sturdy race responsible for its industry. It is the chief port and the gateway to Spain's Riviera, the Costa Brava, and the starting point for our Guided Picture Tour of Spain.

 

STALAGMITE STEEPLES The unique Church of the Holy Family in Barcelona was started in the 19th century. Its architect, Antonio Guadi, adapted stalactites and stalagmites to architecture to the delight of some and displeasure of others. When completed the church will have a steeple, as seen here, for each of the twelve Apostles dominated by a tremendous 600- foot central steeple to represent Christ.