Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.
Spain is a hospitable sunny country that beckons with its natural beauty and unique culture. Here, connoisseurs of cultural and historical monuments and lovers of active nightlife, shopping and beach relaxation can find entertainment to their liking. Spain has an incredible array of beautiful sights to offer its guests that will leave an unforgettable experience. Here are just a few of the dozens of original tourist destinations in Spain.
Dedicated to connoisseurs of aesthetics or the top 7 most beautiful places in Spain
| Nomination | a place | name | rating |
| top 7 most beautiful places in Spain | 1 | Alhambra Muslim Palace | 5.0 |
| 2 | Garden City Park Guell | 4.9 | |
| 3 | 'Paradise' nature reserve Coto de Doñana | 4.8 | |
| 4 | Ancient city of Cuenca | 4.7 | |
| 5 | Cueva de los Verdes volcanic cave | 4.6 | |
| 6 | The famous Sagrada de Familia Cathedral | 4.5 | |
| 7 | City of Arts and Sciences | 4.4 |
Alhambra Muslim Palace
Rating: 5.0
The Spaniards say: 'He who has not seen the Alhambra has seen nothing.' The old palace complex in Granada can be safely called not only an excellent example of Muslim architecture, but, in general, close to perfection. Originally created as a palace-fortress, the Alhambra has passed from hand to hand many times throughout its long 'life'.
This beautiful complex is a vivid 'witness' of the period of Moorish rule in Spain. An exquisite example of Muslim architecture, the palace is one of the most 'enduring' monuments of ancient architecture, whose age has already exceeded 800 years. Standing at an altitude of 700 m above sea level, the complex is represented by an ornate palace, citadel and mosque. On the territory of the Alhambra there are many gardens and fountains, residential buildings, baths, etc.
The unpretentious outside, inside the architectural ensemble amazes with its luxury and uniqueness of design: everywhere there is a variety of the finest carvings, authentic floral ornaments, the most complex Arabic script decorating arches, columns and carved patterned windows, ceramic tiles, etc. Many consider the palace complex to be the highest achievement of Moorish art in Europe.
Until the end of the 15th century, when the Spaniards drove the last Muslim sheikh out of the besieged city, the palace was the permanent residence of the Moorish rulers. Since 1492, the Alhambra has become the seat of the Catholic kings. Some of its buildings were demolished and, to some extent, the architecture was disfigured by new buildings. In 1812, the occupying French army blew up some of the elements of the complex, and an earthquake that occurred 9 years later increased the damage done to the Alhambra. Leopoldo Balbas, the curator of the museum complex in 1923-1936, returned it as close as possible to its historical appearance.
An interesting fact: the water supply system of the palace complex was so complicated that after the overthrow of the Muslim government, the Spaniards could not fully establish its functioning for a long time.
Garden City Park Guell
Rating: 4.9
Park Guell is an extraordinarily beautiful architectural work of the great Antoni Gaudi. Initially, the idea was to create a new model of urban life. But, unfortunately, there were not enough buyers for the constructed plots, which was due to the remoteness from the then existing city and the high cost of servicing such houses.
Instead of 62 planned mansions, only 3 were rebuilt. Today, one of them houses a public school (this is the former residence of Count Guell), the second belongs to the descendants of the famous lawyer of Catalonia, the third is the former house of Gaudí, now – his museum.
On a hilly area of 17 hectares, a place was carefully selected for each architectural element: Gaudí was careful about nature and did not touch the natural landscape, keeping all the trees as they were originally. Thanks to the difference in height, the architect managed to create an incredible ensemble of terraces, railings and fences, combined with lush greenery. To water it, a system of viaducts styled as huge trees was created.
Original buildings with whimsical decor, many columns and parabolic arches, an abundance of greenery, a complex and carefully thought-out system of roads and paths – all these are characteristic features of Gaudí, who was able to create something magical from the ordinary. A visit to the park leaves a lasting impression even among those who have been there more than once.
'Paradise' nature reserve Coto de Doñana
Rating: 4.8
The truly legendary National Park of Spain is a real 'airport' for hundreds of thousands of birds making the long flight from African latitudes to Europe. It is in these swampy wooded places that they settle down thoroughly: they build nests and breed.
Graceful pink flamingos, slender storks, severe burial eagles and many others: nowhere else in the world can you see such a great concentration of various bird species at once. Four-legged representatives of the local flora, for example, the Spanish lynx, attract no less attention.
Created on an impressively large area (770 sq. Km) in the distant 1769 near Seville (55 km), today the Doñana Park is a biological reserve that has become a national park of world importance. Such an outstanding role is due to the presence of a unique eco-system, amazingly combined with amazing, beautiful natural attractions.
Every year the park attracts about half a million tourists from all over the world, which has become an impetus for the rapid development of the hotel and entertainment infrastructure nearby. Unfortunately, such an increased interest in the park also has the other side of the coin: insufficient control over the rapidly developing tourism business is gradually turning into a threat to Doñana.
The numerous hotels, golf courses, and farm plots surrounding the park regularly pump out so much water that in recent years its level has dropped by 9 m: this can lead to the death of the park.
Ancient city of Cuenca
Rating: 4.7
The medieval rock town is an unusual testimony to a bygone era that has survived to this day. It is considered one of the most picturesque and beautiful places in Spain. A unique picturesque place, hanging over an abyss, fascinates and at the same time frightens. Cuenca is very unusually located: it stands on a rocky hill at an altitude of 956 meters above a deep gorge and is washed by rivers on both sides.
The city is considered Celtic: according to historians, it was chosen as a settlement due to its favorable location. The enemy would certainly not have gone unnoticed here. Centuries after its foundation, the city was captured by the Arabs, and then by the Christians. He 'saw' an epidemic of plague, wars, natural disasters, economic recessions and booms. Today it is a beautiful cultural and historical monument, which is (since 1996) under the protection of UNESCO.
Cueva de los Verdes volcanic cave
Rating: 4.6
The Canary Islands are attractive not only for quality beach holidays, but also for the opportunity to enjoy a unique creation of nature. This is what one of the islands of the Canary archipelago, Lanzarote, boasts. This is the 'island of volcanoes', 'the moon on earth'. Absolutely deserved names for an incredibly beautiful landscape with an unusual volcanic past.
The Cueva de los Verdes cave is one of the largest in the world of its kind. This extraordinarily beautiful natural structure arose underground after the eruption of the Monte Corona volcano more than 4000 years ago, when huge lava flows were looking for a way to the coast. Gradually solidifying, they formed a crust, under which a channel with flowing lava inside (pipe) remained for a long time. Gradually, such pipes emptied and cooled down, forming a whole network of caves.
The underground gallery stretches 6100 meters underground, meandering in a bizarre and slightly frightening shape. Its upper vault is very spacious and has perfect acoustics: all sounds sound without resonance. It often hosts entire acoustic concerts with the participation of world stars.
The lower arch of the cave is no less unique. There is the Jamios del Agua Lake. It feeds on ocean water. One of its unusual inhabitants, the albino crab, is a very rare creature that lives mainly deep in the bowels of the earth.
Tourists have access to only a couple of kilometers of the cave, but this is quite enough to enjoy the unique natural architecture of the place: mysterious, spectacular, inaccessible.
The famous Sagrada de Familia Cathedral
Rating: 4.5
Any city or country important for world tourism always has its own business card. For example, when you mention Paris, the image of the Eiffel Tower immediately pops up in your head, and Egypt is immediately associated with the great pyramids. And yet, it is the Spanish Barcelona that stands out against the background of many world sights for its architectural feature. Of course, we are talking about the unsurpassed brainchild of the famous Spanish architect Gaudí – the Sagrada de Familia Cathedral.
The architectural composition of the cathedral breathes with echoes of the past and at the same time organically fits into the present. The cathedral is a truly unique phenomenon. This is the only time in history that a long-term architectural project has such colossal significance for the whole world. The Sagrada de Familia is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Initially, the little-known Villar was appointed the architect of the project. But, by chance, he refused to implement it at the initial stage, and then the idea was picked up by Gaudí. The cathedral became his life's work. He devoted over 43 years to its construction. An out-of-the-box abstractionist, Gaudí literally gushed out with original ideas. The main one is the figurative correspondence of the building to the biblical history (the architect was a deeply devout person).
The cathedral has 3 facades – Christmas, Passion of Christ and Resurrection, each has 4 towers (total 12 – corresponding to 12 apostles). The bas-reliefs of the cathedral tell about the life and deeds of Jesus Christ.
An interesting fact: the master approached his work very scrupulously, trying to implement each idea 100%. For example, to create the plot “Beating the Babies” he made casts of stillborn children, and, embodying animals in bas-reliefs, used real “models”, putting them to sleep with chloroform.
For more than 130 years, the construction of an unusual cathedral has been underway: today, next to it you can see construction cranes, which have long become a part of the overall architectural picture. The final completion of the project is scheduled for 2030.
City of Arts and Sciences
Rating: 4.4
On an area of about 350,000 square meters in Valencia, an unusual town was built, which began to be called the city of the future of Spain. It gives tourists visiting it the opportunity to develop their inquisitive mind, learning about various scientific aspects, art, nature and technology.
An amazing futuristic picture – a kind of symbol of the new Valencia: ultramodernity, enclosed in an ancient city. The complex is represented by 6 elements: Hemisphere (documentary film), Orangery (botanical garden, art gallery), Aquarium (the largest in Europe – 45,000 species of aquatic inhabitants), Prince Felipe Science Museum (interactive science center), Palace of Arts (opera programs) , Agora (concerts, tennis matches).
This unique tourist destination will appeal to those who want to enjoy modern architectural aesthetics, usefully spend leisure time, culturally and scientifically enrich themselves.
Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.
