The course intends to offer a reflection on Spanish cultural identity through a historical journey that starts from antiquity and reaches the contemporary. The relevance of the phenomenon of national identity will be taken into consideration not only for the Spanish state but also for the states of Spanish-speaking America. It is hoped that, at the end of the course, the students have acquired the metalinguistic and cultural competence necessary to perform their role as mediator in the best possible way.
In the list of Cultural Skills and Attitudes of the Curricular Plan of the Instituto Cervantes, a report of procedures is presented which, activated in a strategic way, allow the intercultural mediator an appropriate approach to Spanish culture and those of Spanish-speaking countries. In this perspective, communication goes beyond the mere exchange of information to embrace the understanding, acceptance of the cultural and sociocultural bases of Spanish-speaking countries, integration, historical memory, ways of life, values, beliefs, etc. The course offers the necessary tools, both in a diachronic and synchronic perspective, for the acquisition and enhancement of a knowledge of linguistic and cultural, political and social, stoic and artistic dynamics, etc. Spain and, more briefly (the programs with the center in Hispanic America and Spain alternate over the years) of Hispano America. The ultimate goal of teaching is the acquisition by the students of the metalinguistic skills that are essential in order to effectively mediate between Italy and the numerous Spanish-speaking nations.
At the end of the course, the student will be able to:
1. understand the functioning of the most important Spanish institutions;
2. to identify the salient stages in the history of Spain from their genesis to the contemporary geo-political scenario;
3. to draw an exhaustive picture of the cultural characteristics of the Iberian Peninsula and Spanish-speaking America;
4. interpret the recent choices made by Spain starting from an in-depth knowledge of historical, institutional and cultural identity and the relationship with Europe, diachronic and synchronously;
5. outline the development of the Spanish language in its multiple diatopic and diaphasic varieties.
The course offers the necessary tools for the acquisition and / or enhancement of a specialist knowledge of the linguistic / cultural, political and social dynamics of Spain and, more briefly, of Spanish-speaking countries in both a diachronic and synchronic perspective.
The ultimate aim of the teaching is the acquisition by the students of the metalinguistic skills which are indispensable for an effective mediation activity between Italy and the numerous nations influenced in various capacities and degrees by the Spanish language, media and institutions. and Hispanic Americans.

At the end of the course, the student will be able to:

1. understand the functioning of the most important Spanish institutions;
2. to identify the salient stages in the history of the Spanish American States in their genesis:
3. understand the role of Spanish-speaking countries on the contemporary geo-political scenario;
4. to draw an exhaustive picture of the Spanish and American cultural characteristics;
5. interpret the recent choices made by the various Spanish governments starting from an in-depth knowledge of historical, institutional and cultural identity;
6. outline the development of the Spanish language in its multiple diatopic and diaphasic varieties;
7. have a broad but simple repertoire of historical and cultural knowledge;
8. have a repertoire of general knowledge and different practices (cultural references, socio-cultural conventions, etc.) for business and socio-cultural transactions in the Hispanic world;