Spain is brimming with incredible monuments that showcase the rich tapestry of civilizations that have shaped this beautiful country. From the UNESCO World Heritage Site Alcazar in Seville, which exemplifies Moorish, Christian and Byzantine architecture, to Cordoba’s Mosque-Cathedral which displays Islamic architecture at its most grand.
Further north you can find Antoni Gaudi’s masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia, which remains a work-in-progress that enchants millions each year.
1. Sagrada Familia
The Sagrada Familia is a Catholic church that combines both traditional Gothic features and Art Nouveau elements. Its organic shapes, tree-like columns, and intricate details all reflect Gaudi’s desire to harmonize architecture with nature.
The basilica has three facades that depict different aspects of Christ’s life. The Nativity facade shows scenes from his childhood, the Passion facade displays Christ’s crucifixion and death, and the Glory facade will show scenes of Jesus’ return to Heaven.
The church was originally designed by Paula del Villar in 1882, but he was replaced by Gaudi after disagreements. Construction was interrupted ten years later by the Spanish Civil War, and the plans were destroyed by vandals in 1936. It was only after these events that construction resumed and began to pick up steam.
2. La Pedrera
In contrast to the soaring forms of Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera is all about curves. The building – nicknamed “The Quarry” because of its wavy stone facade – was designed by architect Antoni Gaudi and completed in 1912.
The complex wrought iron balconies of this building have been compared to abstract sculpture, and they are among the finest examples of modernista architecture in Barcelona. The undulating facade of this edifice is more organic than artificial, a feat accomplished by using varying shades of limestone sourced from different locations.
Initially, Gaudi intended to include a statue of the Virgin Mary on the building’s roof but this never happened due to disagreements with the owners. Today the property is owned by the Fundacio Catalunya-La Pedrera, and the roof and attic are open to the public.
3. The Alhambra
Located in Granada, The Alhambra is a complex of structures built during the last 250 years of Islamic rule in Al-Andalus. It includes the palace complex of the Nasrid dynasty and the adjoining Generalife gardens.
The palace’s walls are decorated with intricate carved designs, including calligraphy and floral motifs. The patterns are meticulously arranged through different molds and follow the principles of symmetry, creating an awe-inspiring display of craftsmanship.
The palace also features courtyards and fountains that evoke the antechamber of paradise. During the Muslim era, the palace served both defensive and decorative purposes. After the Christian Reconquista, the complex became a royal court and was adapted by the Catholic monarchs. Today, it is one of the best-preserved and most important monuments in Spain. Although they share some similarities, monuments and memorials differ significantly.
4. The Cathedral-Basilica of the Lady of the Pillar
The Cathedral-Basilica of the Lady of the Pillar is a Baroque monument that features an intricate facade and ornate interior. It is a shrine to the Virgin Mary, and it is often visited by pilgrims from across Spain and Latin America.
The church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who reportedly appeared here to Saint James in order to encourage him in his preaching mission. The church features a pillar of pink jasper that marks the place where she allegedly stood.
Inside the church, visitors will find an altarpiece featuring a statue of the Virgin Mary and her child, as well as two murals by Spanish artist Francisco Goya. The basilica is also the patroness of Aragon, its capital city Zaragoza, as well as the Hispanic world and the Spanish Civil Guard.
5. The Reina Sofia Museum
Situated in the building of a former hospital next to Atocha station, this museum is one of Madrid’s big three art wonderlands together with Prado and Thyssen-Bornemisza. It’s mainly dedicated to Spanish art and highlights the excellent collections of two of Spain’s greatest 20th-century masters, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali.
The collection posits a multi-narrative journey that keeps the mystery inherent to works of art alive and strengthens resistance to the single, fixed reading. Traditional genres coexist with photography, film and sound, and the figure of the artist has ceased to be the touchstone.
Don’t miss the paintings of Joan Miro, Eduardo Chillida and Pablo Gargallo or the sculptures of Luis Gordillo, Juan Gris, Jose Gutierrez Solana and Lucio Munoz. The museum also features the modern annex designed by Jean Nouvel.
6. The Walls of Avila
Described as the finest medieval remnant in all of Europe, the Walls of Avila encircle the old town of Avila. It is 2.5 kilometers long, has 88 towers and nine gates. It is the best preserved set of medieval walls in Spain and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985.
The walls were built after the reconquest of Avila by Alfonso VI of Leon and Castile in 1090 AD. Raimundo de Borgona, son-in-law of the King, oversaw the construction.
The walls were pierced by 88 semi-circular towers and thousands of battlements. The apse of the cathedral became a turret too and is an excellent example of a fortress-church. Outside the walls is the Basilica of San Vicente, a fine Romanesque church and supposedly the spot where St Vincent was martyred.
7. The Cave of Altamira
The Cave of Altamira is famous for its Paleolithic cave paintings, pictographs, and petroglyphs. It was discovered by Modesto Cubillas in 1868 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
The lateral chamber contains the majority of the cave’s art, which is a combination of engraving and painting. The artists worked at a height that varied from 3.8 to 8.7 feet so they probably had to crouch down.
The most well known images are of a herd of extinct steppe bison. One of these bison is featured on the logo of the autonomous government of Cantabria and a cigarette brand called Bisonte. The cave is closed to the public for conservation reasons. Instead, the museum that was opened in 2001 houses a reproduction of the polychrome ceiling, among other things.
