When we think of Spain, football, delicious food, fiestas, flamenco, art and their history come up in mind. There’s a whole plethora of what Spain has and how it influenced the world (especially to their ruling history!). Nevertheless, visitors would flock from all directions, making it one of Europe’s most visited countries. Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia are some of Spain’s major cities everyone frequents to. What the cities present is highlighted on this list. Scroll down to discover more!
La Sagrada Familia and Gaudi Sites
Visiting Spain is never complete without going even at least one of Antoni Gaudi’s architectural works. He greatly contributed in the Catalan Modernism style of architecture with La Sagrada Familia as his main work, one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations.
Photo by Ken Cheung
Photo by Hernan Gonzalez
Casa Batllo was built from a previously built house redesigned by Gaudi to resemble a dragon’s back.
Park Guell is a famous verdant park with mosaic-buildings, museums, sculptures and steps.
Casa Mila was his last work known as the stone quarry with its quarry-like rough hewn appearance.
Photo by Pengfei Ying
El retiro Park
Beautiful sculptures, monuments, a peaceful lake and galleries are what’s in magnificent El Retiro Park. It was owned by the Spanish royalty until the 19th century when it was open to the public. Along with Paseo del Prado, the park became a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites just last year in July.
Alhambra
Probably the most monumental Islamic architecture in Spain and a UNESCO Heritage Site, Alhambra is one of the best-preserved palaces way back from the Islamic rule in the Iberian Peninsula since the 8th century. The name Alhambra means ‘red’ in Arabic and it is named due to the reddish color of tapia or rammed earth of its outer walls.
Great Mosque of Cordoba
The Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba is a mix of Islamic and Catholic cultures. It was founded by the Umayyad ruler Abd ar-Rahman and the sheer size of the mosque was expanded in the 9th and 10th century, making it one of the world’s largest sacred building in the Islamic world. It was then converted into a cathedral in the 13th century.
Royal Palace of Madrid
Spain’s historic and architectural wonder – Royal Palace of Madrid was the official residence of the Spanish royal family. It has 3418 rooms with a floor space of 135,000 m2, making it the largest palace in Europe. It may not be the royal’s residence today but it is used for state affairs.
Photo by ddzphoto
Royal Alcazar of Seville
Considered a milestone of Muslim-Hispanic architecture, the Royal Alcazar of Seville is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Rebuilt in the site of an Abbadid Muslim Alcazar, the palace was built for the Christian King Peter of Castile. It has its magnificent garden with fountains and ornate arches.
Photo by ELG 21
Guggenheim Museum
Remarkable for its Deconstructivism in architecture, Guggenheim Museum could fascinate visitors both inside and outside the building. It was opened to the public on October 18, 1997 after it was inaugurated by Juan Carlos I of Spain. The museum houses an exhibition of over 250 contemporary works.
Photo by Jorge Fernandez Salas
Toledo City
The ancient city of Toledo was also known as the ‘Imperial City’ as it is located in the central Iberian Peninsula and the main location of the court of Charles V, Spain’s Holy Roman Emperor. It is also dubbed the ‘City of Three Cultures’ representing Spain’s Hispanic, Jewish and Islamic cultures. Since 1986, the city’s historic center was earned a UNESCO World Heritage Site title.
Puente Nuevo and El Tajo Gorge
Climbing up the El Tajo Gorge and Puente Nuevo of Ronda is good visitor experience in Spain! The gorge was constantly eroded by nature of the river Guadalevin where it served as a formidable fortress against Ronda’s enemies according to history. Visitors can go up for the panoramic views, walk the gorge’s trails, spot birds and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere.
Santiago de Compostela and its Cathedral
Santiago de Compostela is a must-visit especially to pilgrims. The city became a symbol to the Spanish Christian’s struggle against Muslims which was destroyed and rebuilt in in 11th century. The cathedral allegedly has the remains of the biblical apostle St. Jame’s buried. Moreover, it is the endpoint of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.
Photo by Victoriano Izquierdo
Prado Museum
If individuals are interested in art and paintings, taking a tour in Prado Museum is definitely worth it. Also known as Museo Nacional del Prado, it is the main Spanish national art museum, with a vast collection 12th to 19th century of masterpieces from European paintings including Italian and Flemish art.
National Museum of Art Catalunya
Another one for the art enthusiasts is the National Museum of Art Catalunya. It houses Catalan visual art including the Romanesque, Baroque, modern, gothic and renaissance art in various forms. The museum was constructed in 1929 for the International Exposition, located in Palace National Montjuic.
These places are definitely worth it to visit! Which of the following have you been to and what are your experiences?
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Read our previous Ireland post which is
10 Things to Do to Get the Most of Ireland!
in case you missed it!
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