Autonomous communities of Spain

Spain is divided into 17 autonomous regions or autonomous communities (Spanish: Comunidades Autónomas) and 2 autonomous cities (Spanish: Ciudades Autónomas).The subdivision is enshrined in the Spanish Constitution of 1978. This was the first Constitution after Franco's dictatorship.

To prevent separatism and instability increased provided for the Constitution of 1978 in a far-reaching decentralisation. Each autonomous community has its own Government andParliament with large legislative and executive power. Also obtained In 1995 the two Spanish provinces in Africa, Ceuta and Melilla, as the city province autonomy.

Most autonomous communities are themselves divided into provinces; This is not the case in the Asturias, Cantabria, the Balearic Islands, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra and La Riojaand of course the ciudades autónomas. These regions include only one province. Further subdivision of the provinces shall be carried out in municipalities and comarcas.