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Spain is one of the most beautiful places in the world and also a famous tourist destination. The country is well-connected with global history and has different spots depicting historical significance. Apart from these, Spain is also an adobe of great natural abundance.
Thus, here you can find a huge number of visiting spots, and some of them are also world heritage sites. Scroll through this article to know about such UNESCO world heritage sites in Spain and their details.
Spain is well-known for its beautiful ancient monuments and palaces from different historical periods. Alhambra is such an instance that is situated in Granada. The castle of Alhambra was built during the reign of Ibn al-Ahmar of the Nasrid dynasty. Later, Charles V rebuilt the fortress in Renaissance style. Thus, due to its rich historical significance, UNESCO decided to wall it as a world heritage site.
Córdoba is a great city in Spain with numerous mosques and historic buildings open for public visit. The city speaks the glorious history of medieval Spain that used to rival the famous kingdom of Baghdad, Constantinople, Damascus, etc. This historic spot of Islamic cultural epicentre is now a great tourist spot for global people.
Another great architectural excellence in Spain is Escorial Monastery. This great mediaeval excellence was originally built by Juan Bautista de Toledo; however, he could not complete it, and after his death, Juan de Herrera completed this building. The surrounding area has prominent instances of ancient political practices, so tourists can explore different aspects of the royal elegance of early Spain.
Altamira Cave is a prehistoric cave famous for its primitive drawings. This palaeolithic cave is a great global tourist attraction because it has the earliest form of human art. The area is highly maintained and all set for displaying a piece of the ancient world of modern human forefathers. Apart from visiting this cave, tourists can also explore art galleries and the bounteous nature here.
Segovia Aqueduct is another world heritage site in Spain that is extremely famous among tourists for its rich historical and cultural elegance. Here tourists can explore great Roman art and architecture. In early times, this aqueduct supplied water to the city from the Frio River. The most attractive feature of this 2950 ft long and 94 ft tall aqueduct is that there is no clamp or support to hold this massive granite structure.
Santiago de Compostela is another historical site in Spain famous for showing the classic battle between Christianity and Islamic cultures. The city was completely ruined, however, rebuilt in the ancient age, and now it is one of the most famous cities to visit in Spain. People can explore different ancient buildings depicting Gothic, Roman, and Baroque styles.
Toledo is another famous city in Spain renowned for its great historical significance that speaks for the ancient Roman era. Over the years, many kingdoms settled in this city, and thus, it became an epicentre of cultural amalgamation. Here tourists can see everything from Cathedrals to Mosques and explore the rich diversity and architectural excellence.
Cáceres is a famous city in Spain with a deep historical significance. The city was originally a battleground. Here tourists will explore the classic collision between Christians and moors. Apart from this, the city has also witnessed different settlements, so it is a hotspot for cultural amalgamation. Tourists can visit different architectural excellence made with a mixture of Italian Renaissance, Islamic, Roman, and Gothic styles.
Royal Alcázar is one of the 3 famous monuments in the heart of Seville. This famous monument is full of Moorish culture and the great historical excellence of medieval Spain. Further, the building also depicts the influence of Christian Andalusia and Almohad Civilization. Apart from its historical significance, the building is famous for its beautiful artistic design.
Cuenca was a city of Moors in medieval Spain. However, in the 12th century, it became a royal town after the Castilians' settlement. Cuenca is a place of famous monuments and historical buildings, such as La Cathedral de la Inmaculada Conception de Cuenca, Museo Catedral Vieja, etc., depicting Gothic art and culture.
Las Medulas is a perfect instance of the rich biodiversity of Spain. However, this place has become a UNESCO world heritage site in Spain because of the ancient gold mines. Apart from this, the lofty cliffs and picturesque natural beauty of this place also deserve special mention. So, besides exploring Roman history, you can also enjoy a variety of other things in Las Medulas.
Alcalá de Henares is a unique place in Spain which is home to universities and 16th-century buildings. Situated in Madrid's Autonomous Community, Alcalá de Henares was the first planned University town in the world. Being one of the best UNESCO world heritage sites in Spain, you can visit different famous places such as the Cervantes House Museum, university, regional archaeological museum, cathedral, etc.
In the list of buildings and architecture, Palmeral is a natural spot that has become a world heritage site of UNESCO. There are about 200,000 palm trees in Palmeral de Elche, and Romans planted these trees way back in history. Apart from exploring this place, one can also enjoy watching other famous spots nearby, such as Museo Escolar de Pusol and Mystery Play of Elche.
Úbeda and Baeza are two famous cities in Spain with many attractions to offer to global tourists. These 2 cities have Moorish and Reconquista influences from the history of early Spain. Monumental Ensembles of Úbeda and Baeza are a collection of UNESCO heritage sites that people explore for their high architectural significance. The Renaissance influence in these sites also attracts history lovers from all over the world.
Barcelona is a must-visit spot in Spain. Home to different famous monuments, Barcelona is the perfect portrayal of the authentic culture of Spain. Casa Batlló is one of the famous monuments in Barcelona, which is a marvellous architectural excellence. Apart from Gaudi's art pieces, this is also a great monument in Spain.
It is one of the most famous Spain heritage sites with a great natural abundance and a lot to offer to tourists. Here you can explore the lifestyle of 5 different endangered bird species. Besides, it is one of the most famous spots for watching incredible Atlantic biodiversity. It is also one of the largest Mediterranean heronries, where migratory waterfowls gather in large numbers each year.
On the island of Tenerife, Teide National Park is one of the most beautiful places in Spain and a famous vacation destination. The park is an abode of geological diversity and has a plethora of attractions. The scenic landscape will never fail to mesmerize you with its gorgeous beauty. However, the most important attraction of this island is the volcanic structure in its heart.
Mont Perdu in Spain has become a UNESCO world heritage site not only for its breathtaking beauty but for the exclusive lifestyle of the local people. Here people are mainly farmers and live a humble life that perfectly represents the village life of Europe. Further, Mont Perdu has the deepest canyons in Europe. Thus, tourists can spend quality time here by exploring nature and local mountain villages and enjoying the tranquillity.
Crossed by the middle courses of the Mino and Sil rivers in the provinces of Lugo and Orense, Riberia Sacra is a wine-growing region located in northwestern Spain. This area is renowned for the monumental wealth of the Riberia. Here you can find numerous hermitages and monasteries located on the steep slopes of the areas.
Situated in the southern foothills of the Pyrenees Loarre Castle is one of the oldest fortified castles in Spain. This Romanesque Castle offers great views over the Huesca Valley. You can also see other religious buildings like the church and the crypt. The winding road of the castle is also known for biker’s delight.
Jaén Cathedral, located in Santa Maria Square is considered one of the most significant monuments representing the Spanish Renaissance. Some of the interesting features of this Cathedral are the choir stalls, the upper galleries, a relic of the Holy Face of Jesus, the Vandelvira masterpieces, and a statue of Our Father Jesus.
Monastery of Santa María de La Rábida, also known as La Rábida Monastery, is famous for its Gothic-Mudejar style monastery. It represents the global Hispanic American community and Americanism as an intellectual trend. This monastery is surrounded by beautiful botanic gardens that are worth visiting.
Found on the Atlantic coast in northwest Spain, Galicia National Park covers the land and sea of four Galician archipelagos. Its ecosystem offers a variety of habitats including tidal flats, dunes, coastal lagoons, sea caves, sandbanks, cliffs, and dunes.
To be granted UNESCO World Heritage status, a site must possess outstanding universal value and meet at least one of the following criteria: