SPAIN: AT BREAKING POINT? A political and economic analysis for 2013 IBERIANS OF THE YEAR: The most influential people and groups of 2012

SpainX5 is a shamelessly subjective view of the country, looking at and celebrating its greatest people, places and products. With no scientific basis for its opinions, these articles are based on nothing more than gut feeling.

José Tomás

José Tomás

Famous People 1
Córdoba

Córdoba

Cities 2
Madrid

Madrid

Cities 3
Barcelona

Barcelona

Cities 4
Jesús Navas

Jesús Navas

Football Players 5
Raúl González

Raúl González

Football Players 6
Sergio Ballesteros

Sergio Ballesteros

Football Players 7
Ferran Adrià

Ferran Adrià

Famous People 8
José Tomás

José Tomás

Bullfighting may be suffering an unstoppable crisis, with attendance down and a ban coming into effect in Catalonia, but Tomás is its great hope. With a hair-raising disregard ...

Córdoba

Córdoba

Andalusia has a handful of candidates for this list, not least Granada and Seville. But the former capital of the Islamic caliphate comes out on top for several ...

Madrid

Madrid

When it comes to sights, the capital can’t compete with Barcelona. The Almudena Cathedral is pretty ugly, there’s no waterway to speak of, and the skyline is basically ...

Barcelona

Barcelona

An obvious choice for obvious reasons: the Sagrada Familia temple, the Gaudí park, Montjuïc, the finest football team on earth, more Gaudí, and a beautiful, freakish coastal skyline. ...

Jesús Navas

Jesús Navas

Not so long ago, Navas was known as much for the panic attacks he suffered on being away from his family as his sprite-like runs down Sevilla’s wing. ...

Raúl González

Raúl González

Slower than a snoozing turtle. Too bossy by half. A training ground grump. Yes, yes, all of that may be true, but love him or hate him, Raúl ...

Sergio Ballesteros

Sergio Ballesteros

Not many teams beat Real Madrid these days and not many defenders outsprint Cristiano Ronaldo. But Levante and their club captain Ballesteros have managed both this season. Weighing ...

Ferran Adrià

Ferran Adrià

The most famous chef in the world is more than a chef. He authors books, supervises “workshops” and even takes part in artistic events such as the 2007 ...