Spain, whose capital is Madrid, is a European country located on the Iberian Peninsula. Spain’s culture was influenced by the invasion of the Moors, especially in the south of the country. Spain was a major colonial power, bankrolling Christopher Columbus’s voyages and setting up a vast colonial empire in North and South America. Spain was also a long-time naval rival of Britain, with Philip II’s famous armada being defeated by Queen Elizabeth I’s navy. In 1936, the Spanish Civil War began with Francisco Franco becoming the dictator in 1939 until his death in 1975. Spain is home to notable sites including Alhambra and La Sagrada Família, and El Escorial. Famous Spanish writers include Miguel de Cervantes, Lope de Vega, and Federico García Lorca.