La UNESCO organization It sounds familiar to all of us, as there are multiple monuments, natural and historical spaces around the world that have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This organization seeks intercultural dialogue through culture, science, education and communication.
In Spain we have many monuments today that have been declared Heritage, and we are going to review many of them. Places that you can have nearby and that you should not miss if you have the opportunity to do so.
Alhambra of Granada
This Andalusian palatial city located in Granada, it was one of the first monuments included in the UNESCO list in 1984. The Generalife Gardens and the Albaicín neighborhood are also included. It is made up of a set of gardens, palaces and a fortress or fortress. A guided tour in which we do not miss anything is worthwhile, especially the beautiful Patio de los Leones and the vaults of the Sala de las Dos Hermanas and the Sala de los Reyes.
Cathedral of Sevilla
La Cathedral of Santa Maria de la Sede in Seville It is the largest Christian Gothic cathedral in the world. If there is something that stands out, the Giralda, which is its bell tower or tower, built like the minaret of the Koutoubía mosque in Marrakech. The upper part is Renaissance. In Seville, the Alcázar and the Archivo de Indias were also declared World Heritage Sites.
Santa María del Naranco in Asturias
Vestige of old Kingdom of Asturias, this palace is located four kilometers from Oviedo. It is a representative Asturian pre-Romanesque monument located on the slopes of Mount Naranco. In principle, it is not very clear what it was used for, although it is assumed that it was used as a palatial residence for Ramiro I. It stands out for having two levels, and the upper floor is reached by external stairs.
Dalt Vila in Ibiza
This is the top of the historic area of Ibiza town, the capital. The walls date from the XNUMXth century, and from this area you can get spectacular views. There are several doors through which you access the old town, such as the Portal de Ses Taules, the main door with two Roman walls.
Altamira cave in Cantabria
This cave preserves one of the most important pictorial and artistic representations of Prehistory. Belongs to Paleolithic, and according to historians, it could have been occupied for about 35.000 years. It was sealed in a landslide and was discovered by a hunter in the XNUMXth century. Currently, visits to the cave are only made once a week, and it is usually on Fridays, allowing only five people chosen randomly from those who visit the Altamira Museum to enter.
Burgos Cathedral in Castilla y León
Its construction began in 1221, undergoing various modifications and extensions, such as the dome or the spiers of the main façade that give it a more slender appearance. At present it is a great representation of the Gothic art in the Peninsula. You can go to worship at the masses that are held, or make free or guided visits.
Aqueduct of Segovia
This aqueduct is of Roman origin, made in the time of emperor Trajan, in the 15nd century AD. Although the most visible part is the one that crosses the Plaza del Azoguejo, in the center of the city, with a large visible arcade, it is an aqueduct that brought the waters of the mountains XNUMX kilometers to the city. Another vestige of the great engineering works of the Romans that are still preserved.
The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona
The temple of the Sagrada Familia is a Gaudí's work, and really one of the most famous, although the city of Barcelona has other representations of this great artist such as Park Güell, Casa Milá or Casa Batlló. All these works by Gaudí are a World Heritage Site. Begun in 1882, the Sagrada Familia is still under construction, as Gaudí was unable to finish it. When the work is finished it will consist of 18 towers distributed between the facades. It is a representation of the Catalan modernist style that should not be missed if you visit Barcelona.
Valencia Silk Exchange
La Lonja de la Seda or the Market of the Merchants It is a work of the Valencian civil Gothic style. It is located next to the Market Square in the old part of the city. It receives this name because silk was the main raw material when it came to trading from the XNUMXth to the XNUMXth century. Its high ribbed vaults stand out, supported by slender free-standing columns.
Old town and Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela
If there is something that pilgrims who arrive to Santiago de Compostela after a long and arduous journey want to see, it is the Obradoiro Square with the imposing Cathedral of Santiago and its baroque façade. Inside you can visit the tomb of the Apostle Santiago, the Pórtico de la Gloria and the interior with a Romanesque plant. In the old town you can also enjoy its cobbled streets and other monuments such as the Hostal de los Reyes Católicos, Praza da Quintana or Praza das Praterías.