Culture Library

Welcome to the Spanish Culture Library! This is a place to find content that relates to cultural aspects of life in Spanish-speaking countries: food, travel, music, dance, holidays, anything special that these countries have going on.

Languages are more than the vocabulary and grammar that they’re made of — they represent people, heritage, places, and ways of life. The content you’ll find here won’t directly teach you Spanish; in fact, a great deal of it is in English. But, learning Spanish is an experience that can be enriched by learning about the people and places that use the language. 

Use this space as a break from study, as a source of inspiration, and as a way to develop a deeper connection with Spanish.

Argentina

• Short Tango Documentary
• What Defines People From Argentina?
• In Argentina, Where Culture is a ‘Right,’ a Free New Arts Center Opens
• Eva Perón
• A Brief History of the Gaucho

Bolivia

• Short Charango Documentary
• Bolivia Documentary
• Bolivia’s Rising Indigenous Bourgeoisie
• Salar de Uyuni
• 13 Important Moments That Shaped Bolivia’s History

Chile

• Chile vs. Peru: Who Really Invented Pisco
• The History of Modern Chile, Mirrored in Dance
• Riddle of the Atacama Desert
• Global Street Art – Valparaiso, Chile
• A Complete Guide to Chile’s Most Important Holiday: Fiestas Patrias

Colombia

• Colombia’s Fernando Botero
• Feria de las Flores
• Colombian Coffee Culture
• 10 Colombian Music Acts You Should Check Out

Costa Rica

• Costa Rica Animal Paradise
• Meet the Team Protecting Costa Rica’s Sea Turtle Mecca
• Costa Rica Coffee Documentary

Cuba

• The War on Cuba
• Economy of Cuba
• Short Film on Ibrahim Ferrer and His Second Album
• Trailer for Buena Vista Social Club 

Dominican Republic

• A Cinematic Look at La República Dominicana
• Five Natural Wonders of the Dominican Republic
• Divided Island: How Haiti and the DR Became Different Worlds
• Baseball in the Dominican Republic

Ecuador

• Ecuador Train Documentary
• 10 Reasons Why Quito Has an Unbelievably Good Music Scene

Equatorial Guinea

• What is Equatorial Guinea?
• This is My Hood: Los Angeles in Equatorial Guinea

Guatemala

• Discover Humanity Guatemala
• Guatemala: Ruins of the Mayan World
• Living the Language – Guatemala: The Mayans

Honduras

• African Diaspora in Honduras
• Copán Ruins

Mexico

• Dia de Muertos video
• Mexican in Spain
• Noche de Rábanos
• Quinceañera Documentary
• Discover Humanity Mexico
• A State-By-State Guide to Mexican Cuisine

Nicaragua

• Latinos try Nicaraguan food for the first time
• A cinematic look at Nicaragua

Paraguay

• Paraguay’s Obsessed With Yerba Mate | Strange Facts & History
• I am Paraguayan Documentary

Panama

• The Queens of Carnaval Panama
• Who Built the Panama Canal?
• Biodiversity Museum in Panama

Peru

• Machu Picchu 101 | National Geographic
• JADE: Graffiti, Street Art, and Murals, in Lima, Peru
• Peru’s Booming Gastronomic Scene

Puerto Rico

• Bomba Music and Dance
• Why Puerto Rico Is Not a US State
• Eat, Drink, Share Puerto Rican Food – Barbacoa Taína

Spain

• Paella Valenciana
• Mexican in Spain
• Catalonia’s independence movement
• La Tomatina Festival
• Why does Rosalía attract so many haters in her home country?
• Toledo: Spain’s Historic, Spiritual, and Artistic Capital
  • For more information: Religious History of Spain
• Camino de Santiago
• Pintxos and Tapas
• Semana Santa
• The Legacy of Franco
• A History of Tourism in Spain
• The Spanish Siesta and Work Culture

Uruguay

• Anthony Bourdain No Reservations
• Jose Mujica: ‘I earn more than I need’ – Talk to Al Jazeera
• Jose Mujica Interview

Venezuela

• Filter Stories – Venezuela Coffee Documentary
• Parranda Musical Tradition
• The Collapse of Venezuela, Explained – Vox
• History of the Arepa

General

• Geography Now