Famous People from Spain

Pablo Picaso Pablo Picasso was born on 25 October 1881 in Málaga, Spain and died on 8 April 1973 (aged 91) in Mougins, France. He was a Spanish painter, draughtsman and sculptor. He is best known for co-founding the Cubist movement, and for the wide variety of styles that he helped develop and worked in. Among his most famous works are the proto-Cubist Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (1907) and Guernica (1937).

Salvador Dalí Salvador Domènec Felip Jacint Dalí i Domènech, Marquis of Dalí de Púbol (May 11,1904 – Jan 23, 1989), commonly known as Salvador Dalí, was a prominent Spanish surrealist painter born in Figueres. Dalí was a skilled draftsman, best known for the striking and bizarre images in his surrealist work. His painterly skills are often attributed to the influence of Renaissance masters.  His best-known work, The Persistence of Memory, was completed in 1931. Dalí's expansive artistic repertoire includes film, sculpture, and photography, in collaboration with a range of artists in a variety of media.

MIGUEL DE CERVANTES SAAVEDRA Actually if you were to know of only one Spanish novelist (which would be a shame), you probably could not pick a more interesting individual than Cervantes.  Cervantes was born in 1547 in the town of Alcalá de Henares.  He became a soldier in Italy in 1570 and lost the use of his left hand in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.  He published in 1606 the novel "Don Quixote".  The novel received immediate acclaim and he was recognized as one of the greatest authors of his time.  While writing "Don Quixote" he also wrote "Novelas Ejemplares (Exemplary Stories)" which was published in 1613. Cervantes was not only a novelist.  He also in his lifetime publish several collection of poems and a number of plays, most of which are still performed today.

Antoni Gaudí Antoni Plàcid Guillem Gaudí i Cornet (25 June 1852 – 10 June 1926) was a Spanish architect who worked during the Modernisme (Art Nouveau) period but became famous for his unique and highly individualistic designs regarded as beyond the scope of Modernisme. His most notable works include La Sagrada Familia and Casa Mila.

EL CID He was born Rodrigo (or Ruy) Díaz de Vivar.  Vivar was the town where he was born.  It is near Burgos.  He was born in 1040 or 1043. Historians are not sure of the date.  He died in Valencia in 1099. His name, "El Cid" was given to him by the Moors. El Cid was brought up in the court of King Fernand I and he lived in the household of the King's eldest son, who was to be the future Sancho II. In 1065 Fernand I died. He divided his kingdom among his three sons, Sancho, Alfonso and Garcia, and his two daughters, Elvira and Urraca.   

Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler was born in 8 May, 1975 in Madrid, Spain. Better known as Enrique Iglesias, is a Spanish pop music singer.Iglesias is the son of famous Spanish singer Julio Iglesias and model Isabel Preysler. He has 9 albums released: Spanish Studio albums Enrique Iglesias (1995),Vivir (1997), Cosas del Amor (1998),Quizás (2002) English studio albums Enrique (1999),Escape (2001),7 (2003), Insomniac (2007); Bilingual studio albums Euphoria (2010)

Antonio Banderas José Antonio Domínguez Bandera (born August 10, 1960), better known as Antonio Banderas, is a Spanish film actor, film director, film producer and singer. He began his acting career at age 19 with a series of films by director Pedro Almodóvar and then appeared in high-profile Hollywood films including Assassins, Evita, Interview with the Vampire, Philadelphia, Desperado, The Mask of Zorro, Spy Kids and the Shrek sequels.

Penelope Cruz Penelope Cruz Sanchez, better known as Penelope Cruz is a Spanish actress. She was born on 28 April 1974 in Alcobendas, Community of Madrid, Spain. She has donated both her time and money to charities. Cruz has volunteered in Uganda and India, where she spent one week working for Mother Teresa; she donated her salary from The Hi-Lo Country to help fund the late nun's mission. Some of her films include “Vicky Christina Barcelona”,“Volver” and “Vanilla Sky”. Known outside her native country as “the Spanish enchantress”!

Rafael Nadal Rafael "Rafa" Nadal Parera was born on 3 June 1986 in Manacor, Majorca, Spain. He is a Spanish professional tennis player, currently ranked No. 1. He has won many tournaments including Australian Open in 2009, French Open in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008,2010,Wimbledon in 2008, 2010, US Open in 2010, Olympic Games gold medal in 2008.

Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso Díaz (born 29 July 1981) is a Spanish Formula One racing driver and a two-time World Champion who is currently racing for Ferrari, alongside Felipe Massa. On 25 September 2005, he won the Formula One World Driver's Championship title, at the age of 24, breaking Emerson Fittipaldi's record of being the youngest Formula One World Drivers' Champion. After retaining the title the following year, Alonso also became the youngest double Champion.

presented by Students from “Ivan Vazov” Primary School Vidin, Bulgaria