Spain is the third country in the world in terms of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, so there are countless places we would like to show you. We have selected some of the most representative monuments of the country, we hope you’ll like them!
Galicia
Located in the northwest of Spain, Galicia is heavily influenced by its Celtic heritage and folklore – bagpipes are widely used. This region is known for its greenery, steer coastline and wide and unspoiled beaches. Today, we will visit its capital, Santiago de Compostela (Saint James, in English).
- The Santiago de Compostela Cathedral: a place of pilgrimage and the end of the Way of St James, the Cathedral is an impressive monument, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site (as part of Santiago’s Old Town). The Cathedral was built over the burial place of Saint James the Great, one of the apostles.
Cantabria
Located on the north of Spain, by the Cantabrian Sea, the region is, as Galicia, known for its lush vegetation, wet climate and mountain ranges, such as the Cantabrian Mountains, one of the mains in Spain. Today we will visit two of its monuments, one located in the picturesque seaside resort of Comillas and the other, in Santander, the capital of Cantabria.
- Palacio de Sobrellano: a neogothic palace built in 1888 and furbished with Dalí furniture. The town of Comillas, despite its small size, is home to important monuments, such as El Capricho de Dalí, Comillas Pontifical University and the Palace itself, who was the first building in Spain to have electricity.
- Palacio de la Magdalena: built as a Royal Family summer residence under the eclectic style, it is now city-owned, and also the most visited monument in Santander. Nowadays, conferences and other educational events take place at the Palace.
Basque Country
The Basque Country is located, as well, on the north of Spain, but borders with France on the northeast of the region. It is known for its mountainous landscape, filled with green valleys and, above all, for its gastronomy – with the pintxos being its most distinct feature. Today, we will visit two of the Basque Country’s most known buildings.
- Guggenheim Museum: a contemporary art museum designed by Frank Gehry and considered a masterpiece of contemporary architecture. It is located in Bilbao, by the Nervion river, and entailed a regeneration of the city in all aspects. It is one of the largest museums in Spain and gathers around 1.2 million visitors per year.
- Kursaal: a congress and conference centre, located in the city centre of San Sebastian and home of the San Sebastian International Film Festival. Its cube shape is one of the landmarks of the city.
Castile and León
Castile and León is the largest region in Spain, but also sparsely populated. It is located in the north of the Iberian peninsula, however, is landlocked. A plateau surrounded by high peaks on the north, east and south, it is also known for its production of cereals, wine areas and for its rich historic and artistic heritage (Romanesque and Gothic, mainly). We will visit three monuments, in the Castilian cities of Burgos, Salamanca and Segovia.
- Miraflores Charterhouse: an impressive Carthusian charterhouse located on the outskirts of the city of Burgos. It is considered a late-Gothic jewel and its Altarpiece, gilded with the first shipment of gold from the Americas, and the Sepulchers of John II of Castile and Isabella of Portugal, are some of the most relevant features of the charterhouse.
- New and Old Cathedral of Salamanca: Salamanca has two cathedrals, built next to each other. Because of the growth of the city, thanks to its University, founded in 1218, the local government decided a new cathedral was needed, approving the construction of a second cathedral. The Old Cathedral was founded on the 12th century and completed two centuries later, whereas the New Cathedral was founded on the 16th century and completed, as well, two centuries later.
- Alcazar of Segovia: this outstanding medieval fortress is located at the top of a hill overlooking the city of Segovia and its surroundings. The Alcazar served as a Royal palace, a prison, a military academy and, more recently, as a museum.
Castile-La Mancha
The land of Don Quixote, its mainly known for its vast plains – except for mountainous chains on the east. Almost 45% of its territory is woods or mountains, and there are more than 100 natural spaces. Also, Castile-La Mancha is the Spanish region with the highest number of castles and has historically been a melting pot, where the three main religions coexisted. We will stop by Toledo to discover one of its main buildings.
- Alcazar of Toledo: this fortification is located in the highest part of the city and it’s its most distinct feature. The building went from Roman palace to fortress and played a crucial role in the Spanish Civil War. Nowadays, it is the Museum of the Army. The building is a great example of a medieval building with Renaissance features.
Extremadura
Located on the west of Spain, bordered by Portugal, Extremadura is known for its wildlife, its mountains and dehesas, a vast area of grassland where oak is widely present and Iberian pigs live. Today, we will visit Merida, who was one of the most important cities of Roman Hispania and is the city with more Roman monuments than any other in Spain.
- Roman Theatre of Merida: considered one of the most famous and known landmarks of Spain. It was built on 15 BCE and has undergone through some renovations over the centuries. Its impressive stage, 17 metres high, is its main distinguishing feature. For the last 90 years, it has welcomed the Festival of Classic Theatre of Merida, the oldest of its kind in Spain.
Valencian Community
Located on the east of Spain, by the Mediterranean sea, the Valencian Community is known worldwide for the paella, the most known Spanish dish ever. The community is also famous for its oranges, rice and for being a hub for the turrón (nougat) production. Today, we will visit Valencia’s most visited attraction.
- City of Arts and Sciences: a science complex divided into six spaces, including an IMAX cinema with a planetarium, a science museum, an oceanographic with over 500 species and an opera house. It was designed by Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava.
We do hope you have enjoyed this virtual tour in some of Spain’s most known monuments and museums. Hopefully, we will see you here soon.
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