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Given its rich cultural and historical heritage, Spain is home to a wealth of impressive buildings and monuments, showcasing the storied past, involving ancient kingdoms and fallen icons, as well as the visionary focus on the future of this fabulous country. In the following article, you'll find our selection of 8 of the most spectacular buildings and landmarks for you to explore on your next trip to Spain.
The Alhambra is the symbol of Granada in Andalusia and an iconic Spanish landmark; a palatine complex from the Moorish and medieval Islamic Dynasty, perched on a hill and overlooking the city from 100 metres above it. It is one of the most visited sites in Spain and is recognised as one of the finest examples of the architectural genius typical of Muslim and Moorish rule in medieval Spain. A visit to the Alhambra will leave you both inspired and exhausted, as it is impossible to discover all of its secrets and hidden gems in one visit.
This site is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And one can't leave without seeing its Nasrid Palace from the Nasrid Dynasty, the Palace of Carlos V, and the Generalife. The latter is one of Spain's most gorgeous gardens. Here you can find a plethora of beautiful flowers, plants, and fountains, as well as Nasrid's charming summer Palace. This garden was designed in the 13th century by a group of 35 expert gardeners.
The Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, located in the heart of the Sierra de Guadarrama in Madrid, was the historical residence of the Spanish kings. It has served as a monastery, basilica, a library, a university, a royal palace, a school and a hospital. This multifaceted royal building is a true feast for the eyes, full of charm and beauty. It is comprised of two structural complexes which are La Granjilla de la Fresneda and the royal monastery. It is also home to a large number of monuments from its different periods. Given its beauty, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, together with Aranjuez and Alcalá de Henares are included in the Madrid Region's World Heritage programme.
The Sagrada Familia is a basilica that is now the most popular symbol of Barcelona, as well as Antonio Gaudi's most famous monument. Its construction had initially begun in 1882 under the architect Francisco de Paula del Villar, not long before he resigned. Antoni Gaudí then stepped in to take over the construction and completely redesign this church into a mixture of Gothic style and Art Nouveau, using the highly detailed facades and interiors to tell the story of Christ's birth and passion. It is therefore advisable that visitors augment their trip to La Sagrada Familia with a guided tour, which can reveal much of the hidden meanings enshrined in much of the building's details. Sadly, Antonio Gaudí didn't live to see the basilica finished, with the building still undergoing development to this day. It is expected to be finished in 2026, in time to mark the 100 year anniversary of the death of Gaudí. This impressive monument is still one of the most important and most visited landmarks in Spain and is rightly recognised as UNESCO's World Heritage Site.
The City of Arts and Science, also known as the Príncipe Felipe science museum, is a real feast for the soul and senses. This breathtakingly modern building is composed of a leisure and cultural centre, designed by famous architect Santiago Calatrava, offering an avant-garde vision of the 21st-century. It is comprised of a Hemisfèric state-of-the-art Imax film, a planetarium and an innovative laser show. It boasts a 9 km long garden that passes the city and various museums, sports amenities and spectacular bridges. Visitors can see a wealth of interesting buildings such as El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia (2005), L'Oceanogràfic (2003), and L' Àgora (2009), El Museu de les Ciènces Príncipe Felipe (2000), and L' Umbracle (2001). The Museu de les Ciènces, one of the most popular of the whole complex, is a magnificent building themed by interactive scientific exhibits, where visitors can partake in unusual science experiments.
The Mezquita of Córdoba or the Cathedral of Córdoba was built during the reign of Abd al-Rahman I in 784 AD under Muslim rule. However, the site was enlarged various times by the Moorish Dynasties over the centuries before the Christians took over in 1236. The building was then turned into a Roman Catholic cathedral, yet still maintaining Muslim characteristics from its initial construction. It went on to influence Islamic architecture for centuries to come and today stands alongside Granada's Alhambra as a popular landmark in Spain and a testament to the creative genius of Andalusia's former rulers.
The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is one of the finest exponents of Romanesque architecture in Spain, and one of the most important centres of Christianity.
Thousands of the faithful make a pilgrimage to the city of Santiago de Compostela every year, following one of the many pilgrim routes to this cathedral.
The Cathedral of Sevilla is a magnificent gothic-style temple, constructed shortly after the demolition of a Moorish Mosque located on the same spot from the 15th-century to the 16th-century. It is considered one of the biggest cathedrals in the world and is also a UNESCO's World Heritage Site. What's more, it is also the final resting place of Christopher Columbus and his son, Fernando Colón. The dimensions of the building are imposing, as the designers pursued grandeur and sturdiness from the outset.
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