With 49 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Spain ranks fourth in the list of countries with most UNESCO Sites worldwide. It’s no surprise that these places attract thousands and in some cases even millions of visitors per year! But with so many to choose from, it can be difficult to decide where to go and which landmarks to visit. Here are five UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Spain that are worth visiting, from the famous ones to the underdogs.
- The works of Gaudí, Barcelona
Barcelona is one of the top destinations for anyone considering a holiday in Spain. The city is home to seven world-famous buildings by architect Antoni Gaudí that were recognised by UNESCO as world heritage. While most visitors never skip the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell, two of his most famous works, Gaudí’s other works are definitely worth a visit as well! With their unique designs, Casa Batlló and Casa Vicens are two houses that you cannot miss when you are in Barcelona. They are two opposites: Casa Batlló has an extremely eclectic design and symbolises the fight of Saint George (the region’s patron saint) against the dragon, while Casa Vicens is very symmetric and was based on the Moorish architecture present in Southern Spain. Other works of Gaudí are the crypt in Colonia Güell and Casa Mila. The best way to discover all of Gaudí’s masterpieces is with a walking tour through the city!
- Teide National Park, Tenerife
Visit the Teide National Park and walk along the crater of a still-active volcano! This park on Tenerife is named after the volcano at its centre, and was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its unique landscape. The volcanic soil is home to flora and fauna that cannot be found elsewhere in the world! While the park is an amazing place to visit for anyone that wants to explore its otherworldly landscape, Teide is the perfect park to visit with space lovers. Thanks to its one-of-a-kind geological conditions, the Teide National Park is also important for space exploration research and has been used to test rovers and other instruments for Mars missions. There is also an observatory in the park open to visitors, and stargazing tours are available for everyone who wants to take advantage of the clear skies and low light pollution on the island.
- The Alhambra, Granada
One of the most iconic landmarks of Spain, the Alhambra in Granada, welcomes more than 2.3 million visitors every year! This UNESCO Site is a fortress that used to be the residence of the emirs ruling over Andalusia in the 13th and 14th century. It is very well preserved and consists of a fortress and defensive area, the actual palace of the emirs and extensive gardens with water feature, beautifully cultivated plants and trees and shaded areas where you can rest after exploring the sprawling complex. Because the Alhambra is so popular you need to book your tickets well in advance, especially in the summer months. Don’t miss out on this spectacular monument! ANd while you are in Granada, don’t skip out on visiting the Albayzin, the old moorish quarter of the city. This neighbourhood is filled with enchanting buildings, beautiful nooks and crannies and several viewpoints from which you can admire the Alhambra from afar.
- The Cave of Altamira, Cantabria
The Cave of Altamira near the village Santanilla del Mar houses the first European cave paintings that were confirmed to be of prehistoric origin, with the earliest art being added to the cave 36,000 years ago. The art was discovered in 1868 and mainly depicts local wildlife, although there were also some sculptures of human faces and handprints among the archeological discoveries. The artists used the natural curves of the rock wall to give their paintings a 3D effect, something that was not seen before in other prehistoric art. While you used to be able to visit the cave until 2002, they were closed to visitors for preservation purposes. You can still visit the outside of the cave, and the museum where you will be able to enjoy exact replicas of the artwork inside. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of a kind in Spain, and should be on your list of must-visit places when you plan a holiday to the north of Spain!
- The Tower of Hercules, A Coruña
As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Tower of Hercules is certainly unique because it is still in use today. The tower is actually an old Roman lighthouse, built in the late 1st century AD, and is the only Roman lighthouse that is still used today for maritime signalling. On top of the that, it is the oldest still existing lighthouse in the world! The lighthouse gets its name, Tower of Hercules, from a myth saying that Hercules buried the head of a giant that he defeated on this exact place. The lighthouse has only been extensively restored once in the 18th century, and its structural integrity has been named by UNESCO as one of the reasons for the tower becoming a World Heritage Site. The Tower of Hercules truly is a remarkable wonder of engineering! Today, the tower attracts many visitors and is a popular detour for pilgrims and other visitors to Santiago de Compostela.
