Spain is, after China and Italy, the third country in the world with the largest number of places inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Palaces, castles, basilicas and cathedrals, walls, lighthouses… Spain’s monumental heritage is as extensive as it is varied. From north to south and from east to west, including the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla or the Canary and Balearic archipelagos, the extension of the Spanish historical, artistic and cultural legacy is unfathomable.
Civitatis, the leading company in the sale of guided tours, excursions and free tours in Spanish throughout the world, has compiled a list of the 10 most important monuments in Spain based on historical, architectural, artistic and tourist criteria.
1. The Alhambra in Granada, the jewel of the jewels
Year after year, the beautiful Alhambra in Granada occupies the podium of the most visited monuments in Spain. It is not for less, since this old Nasrid palace-fortress is unique in Europe. No other country on the Old Continent can boast of housing a construction of this style.
Granada’s Alhambra, a masterpiece of Andalusian architecture, brings together a wide range of residential complexes called Nasrid palaces, including Comares and Los Leones, where its famous fountain is located. It is also worth visiting its defensive part, where the Alcazaba is located. And, of course, the Generalife gardens, splendid at this time of year, cannot be missed on any worthwhile visit.
2. The Sagrada Familia, Gaudí’s dream
Barcelona is another destination that always reaches large numbers of visitors. One of the main culprits is the Sagrada Familia basilica. This temple, still unfinished work of the genius of modernism Antonio Gaudí, attracts thousands of tourists every year who contemplate in ecstasy the Nativity, Passion and Glory facades, as well as its luminous interior.
The basilica also houses a museum dedicated to the Catalan architect, which displays various models, plans and other objects used by Gaudí to design one of his masterpieces.
3. The Mosque of Córdoba, a treasure on the banks of the Guadalquivir
The Andalusian stage would not be understood without the Alhambra in Granada, but neither would it be without the Reales Alcázares in Seville or the old Almohad tower of La Giralda, also located in the city of Seville. Obviously, to complete this list you cannot miss the extraordinary Mosque of Córdoba, which currently constitutes the city’s cathedral.
The arches and the forest of columns of the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, as well as its Patio de los Naranjos, are already part of the essential heritage of Spain. The successive reforms and extensions carried out by Abderramán I and II, Alhakén II, Al-Mansur and Abderramán III, made this temple of the Caliphate of Córdoba shine with its own light for centuries.
4. The Alcázar of Segovia, one of the 10 most important monuments in Spain
They say that Walt Disney was inspired by the Alcázar of Segovia to design his famous fairy tale castle. Whether this legend is true or not, the truth is that the Segovian fortress captivates anyone. This former palace, which served as the residence of the Castilian kings, is an indispensable pillar of Spanish heritage for several reasons. Among them, its magnificent medieval and Renaissance rooms, such as Galera, Las Piñas or El Cordón. In addition, it is worth visiting the Alcázar to enjoy the views from the Tower of Juan II and to be able to visit the Museum of the Royal College of Artillery.
5. The cathedrals of Spain
The cathedrals of Spain could not be missing from a list referring to national heritage. But where to start? It is very difficult to cover all of them in a single section, so we will name only some of them. It is possible to start with the Burgos Cathedral, which in 2021 celebrates its eightieth anniversary. The beauty of this Gothic temple, however, has a tough rival, which could not be other than the wonderful stained glass windows of the cathedral of León.
Continuing with Gothic art, Palma de Mallorca and its cathedral have the honor of having the largest rose window in Europe. Of Gothic, and also of Romanesque and Baroque, they know a lot in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. They can also boast of these styles in the cathedral of Malaga, or in the old and new cathedrals of Salamanca.
The list is immense and many temples will remain in the pipeline, but the cathedrals of Seville, Toledo, Zaragoza, Oviedo, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria or San Cristóbal de La Laguna are also worthwhile.
6. The Monastery of El Escorial, the dream of Felipe II
The Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is one of the great monuments not only of the Community of Madrid, but of all of Spain, since it is also considered the eighth wonder of the world. Felipe II ordered its construction to celebrate the battle of San Quintín and, since then, the successive monarchs of both the Habsburg and Bourbon houses, who rest in the Royal Pantheon, have been introducing various reforms to this magnificent monumental complex.
7. The Roman theater of Mérida
Ancient Hispania left traces as significant as the Segovia aqueduct or the Roman theater in Mérida, one of the most important monuments in Spain. The stands of this large outdoor scenic space are still preserved. In fact, the theater of the old Augusta Emerita hosts the Mérida Classical Theater Festival every summer.
8. The impregnable walls of Ávila
Declared a World Heritage Site in 1985, the walls of Ávila constitute one of the main fences in Europe. The entire fortified enclosure has a perimeter of 2,515 meters, in addition to a large set of 2,500 battlements and 9 gates. During the Roman period and the Middle Ages, the construction of walls was very frequent. However, those of Ávila are considered the best preserved in Spain. With permission from Lugo, of course.
9. The Royal Palace of Madrid, the largest in Western Europe
The one in Madrid is the largest royal palace in Western Europe. For that reason alone, it is worth visiting this beautiful building in the Plaza de Oriente, where the Throne and Mirror rooms stand out.
In the Royal Palace of Madrid, the hall of the Alabarderos, the gala dining room or the Royal Chapel are also essential. In addition, the hundreds of rooms are luxuriously decorated with furniture from different periods of Art History. They even guard an extraordinary collection of Stradivarius violins.
10. The Tower of Hercules, guiding ships since the 1st century AD. c.
Located at the northern end of La Coruña, the Tower of Hercules is the only lighthouse of Roman origin that is still in operation today. This stone watchtower, dating from the 1st century AD. C., also has a viewpoint from which you will enjoy beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean.
The Tower of Hercules, one of the most important monuments in Spain, is also located in a beautiful setting where the Rose of the Winds and the Breogán sculpture are also found.
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