Previous

Spain

Next

1976/2021

First/Last visit:

Number of visits:

33

Personal Rating:

11/193

UNESCO Sites visited:

49/49

Places Visited:

Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla, Italica, Cadiz, Tarifa, Algeciras, Marbella, Malaga, Granada, Cordoba, Elche, Alicante, Benidorm, Valencia, Tarragona, Espluga de Francoli, Sitges, Girona, La Seu d'Urgell, Zaragoza, Bilbao, San Andres del Valle, Burgos, Torrelavega, Santillana del Mar, Comillas, Oviedo, Lugo, A Coruña, Santiago de Compostela, Salamanca, Avila, Segovia, El Escorial, Alcala de Henares, Toledo, Aranjuez, Cuenca, Teruel, Baeza, Ubeda, Jaen, Guadalupe,Merida, Caceres, Almaden, Palma de Mallorca, Port d'Alcudia, Fornalutx, Ibiza, Palma de Gran Canaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Puerto de la Cruz, Lanzarote (make sure to include la Graciosa island on a day trip at least), Fuerteventura, El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera.

Highlights:

Madrid stunningly beautiful Plaza Mayor, Palacio Real, the Royal Palace visited on an organized tour, the so called Golden Triangle of Art with the top notch museums of Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza and Centro de Arte Reina Sofia with Picasso's Guernica and other great masterpieces of art. Museo Naval. Plaza de la Cibeles. El Retiro Park with Palacio de Cristal. Biblioteca National. Archeological museum. Museo de America. Sobrino de Botin, supposedly the oldest restaurant in the world. Royal monastery of San Lorenzo de Escorial UNESCO with lavishly painted ceilings, royal crypts and an outstanding tapestry collection. Barcelona Hospital de la Santa Creu i de Sant Pau UNESCO, Palau de la Musica Catalana UNESCO, La Rambla and La Rambla de Mar towards the Aquarium, Spain's most famous street, it has also a very busy market. On Calle Boqueria are all the wholesalers of Fashion Accessories. La Sagrada Familia Church, where work is still ongoing for over 100 years, a project of Antoni Gaudi, and so is Park Güell, another wonderful manifestation of Gaudi's talent, both UNESCO. The Cistercian monastery of Poblet UNESCO, best reached by tour or private car from Barcelona. For the oldest Roman settlement on the Iberian peninsula, go to Tarraco, today called Tarragona UNESCO, complete with Roman Amphitheatre, Forum, Devil's bridge, museums and the beautiful cathedral. Bilbao Vizcaya bridge UNESCO, Guggenheim Museum, La Rioja Monastery of San Millan de Suso and Yuso UNESCO, Burgos Archaeological site of Atapuerca UNESCO, Spain's first Gothic Cathedral UNESCO (1221), Almaden Heritage of Mercury UNESCO mines to be visited on an interesting underground tour. Oviedo Church of Santa Maria del Naranco UNESCO, Lugo Roman Walls UNESCO, well preserved, 2km in length, up to 15m high and with 82 stout turrets, around a lovely city center to explore on foot. A Coruña Torre de Hercules UNESCO with 234 steps to climb for a great view, but also the Ciudad Vieja with Plazza de Maria Pita and its town hall, plus a few churches to explore. Santiago de Compostela UNESCO Catedral del Apostol on Praza do Obradoiro, the final station for the Camino de Santiago pilgrims.Salamanca UNESCO, an extraordinary Plaza Major, maybe the best in Spain, with the two Cathedrals, Casa de las Conchas, Universidad Civil with a exquisit sandstone façade, it is a young and vibrant city with a good vibe. Avila Old town, well preserved stone wall (muralla) with 88 watchtowers, and the Extra-muros churches UNESCO of the Romanwsque period, plus a lovely location at 1130m, mountains in the not too far distance, Basilica de San Vicente, El Monasterio de Santo Tomas. Segovia Old Town UNESCO, and its ancient Aqueduct, the highest point at 28m in Plaza Azoguejo, dont miss Plaza Major with its splendid Gothic Cathedral, fairy-tale Alcazar castle and 13th century built Iglesia de la Vera Cruz. Santa Maria de Guadalupe monastery UNESCO, one of Spain's most important pilgrimage sites, dedicated to the Virgin of Guadelupe. Caceres Old Town UNESCO with its Plaza de Santa Maria, the cathedral, climb the Torre de Bujaco with good city views, visit also the excellent Museum. The Roman mine of Las Medulas with its reddish brown peaks. Merida UNESCO Anfiteatro, Roman theatre and many more ruins, plus a museum and the 792m long Roman bridge over Rio Guadiana. Alcala de Henares University City UNESCO, a bit east of Madrid, Birth house of Cervantes.Toledo the Imperial City UNESCO, Plaza de Zocodover, the imposing Alcazar fortress. Historic Alcantara bridge. Aranjuez Cultural landscape UNESCO, royal residence (more than 300 rooms, inspired by Versailles) and the lush gardens. Medieval Cuenca Historic Walled Town UNESCO with a great old center, narrow steep streets of brick and stone, good museums, and the pittoresque Casas Colgadas or Hanging houses. Plaza Major with the unfinished cathedral. Mudejar Architecture of Aragon in Teruel including the Cathedral with colourful ceramic tiles. Fundacion Amantes with the mausoleum housing the mummified remains of Isabel and Diego, tragic 13th century lovers. Torre de el Salvador. Granada the Moorish-Hispanic treasure of Alhambra UNESCO with its colossal chambers and magnificiant ceilings. El Eshavira, a dark, smokey haunt of flamenco and cool jazz music. Cordoba UNESCO Mezquita exquisit mosque, an outstanding beauty of the 8th century, medieval small synagoga, the Roman bridge crossing the Guadalquivir river, Hammam Banos Arabes. Valencia the futuristic City of Arts and Science with Europe's largest auquarium, la Lonja de la Seda UNESCO, a 15th centery Gothic masterpiece of a Trade Hall, the Central market with over 1000 stalls, Plaça de la Virgen with landmark 13th century cathedral de Santa Maria and basilia. Balearic Islands like Ibiza UNESCO for both cultural (old town of Dalt Vila, Portal de ses Taules, Phoenician Necropolis of Puig des Molins with an excellent museum) and biodiversity sites like the Salines area near the airport, also nearby Formentera with its salt flats and flamingos, it also has great hiking paths.Mallorca enormous gothic cathedral overlooking the sea, Palau de l'Almudaina, a previous muslim castle, Castell de Bellver, look for the many elegant courtyards, called here patis. Serra de Tramuntana UNESCO with a very beautiful rugged landscape with pineforests and olive trees, famous villages like Deia, Fornalutx, and perhaps the most scenic drive on the island, going to Sa Calobra, in an eternal series of hairpins bends, to the river gorge of Torrent de Pareis. Formentor Beach and its posh luxury hotel. Port d'Alcudia. Cala Mesquida excellent white sandy beach. Menorca is an oasis of tranquility. Sevilla UNESCO the intriguing, beautiful complex of Alcazar Palace with the Salones de Carlos V, and its lovely gardens. The cathedral with the tomb of Christopher Columbus. Archivo de indias. Plaza de Espana. Medina Azahara Palace and Gardens UNESCO (takes time as access is by special bus only), Palmeral of Elche UNESCO with more than 11,000 palm trees, mostly dates. Canary Islands Gran Canaria Las Palmas Casa de Colon, Playa de las Canteras and its busy promenade, Jardin Botanico Viera y Clavijo, UNESCO Risco Caido Cultural landscape, Dunes of Maspalomas near Playa des Ingles, known for its nightlife and bars. Puerto de las Nieves, Cenobia de Valeron caves, Galdar's own charm. Lanzarote Timanfaya National Park, Cueva de los Verdes, Charming Teguise village, Playa del Papagayo. Playa de las Conchas on incredibly beautiful la Graciosa island. Tenerife National Park of Teide UNESCO with good Miradores, stop at Roque de la Grieta, volcanic landscape, Teleferico to the summit, 3718m, Spain's highest mountain, San Christobal de la Laguna with pittoresque mansions UNESCO, Rural Park of Anaga in the North with great vistas, Loro Park near Puerto de la Cruz. Gomera Garajonay National Park UNESCO, the most idyllic of the Canary Islands with impressive Laurel forest, relaxing valleys and changing landscapes, you need a car! La Palma National Park Caldera de Taburiente with great views towards Roque de los Muchachos, there is an astronomical observatory up here. El Hierro the least touristic of the islands, the tiny capital of Valverde, Mirador de la Peña with great views. Fuerteventura Mirador de Sicasumbre, Corralejo village and beaches, Pozo Negro, Costa Calma, worth the long way is the excursion to Playa de Coffee plus House Winter and its strange story behind, visited Doñana National Park UNESCO from Sanlucar de Barrameda on a half day excursion by boat up the Guadalquivir river, then 4 wheel drive.