Important monuments of Spain

Alhambra of Granada

talk to you about important monuments of Spain it supposes to make an effort of conciseness and synthesis. Because our country has many centuries of history that have resulted in an incredible and extensive monumental and artistic heritage.

Greeks, Romans, Visigoths, Arabs and other peoples passed through the Iberian Peninsula. All have left a relevant legacy in the form of buildings and culture. From Asturias but also Andalusia and from Estremadura but also Aragon, the four cardinal points of our nation have buildings that deserve your visit and that are among the most frequented by tourists from all over the world. But, in any case, we are going to show you our selection of important monuments in Spain.

The Alhambra of Granada

Courtyard of the Lions

Courtyard of the Lions, in the Alhambra in Granada

Summit work of Andalusian architecture, the Alhambra is not a monument, but a group of them. Under this name are included the Arab citadel, beautiful gardens, old palaces and even a later monastery converted into a tourist hostel.

You can access the enclosure through several doors. Among them, those of Arms, Justice, Wine, Seven Floors or the Arrabal. On the other hand, in the citadel the Homenaje and Vela towers. But where its main wonders await you is in the Medina. There are the palaces among which two stand out. The one from Comares was built around the Patio de los Arrayanes in the XNUMXth century, while the lions it was built around the homonymous garden.

You can also see the call Mexico, rooms used to impart justice and, in the Partal area, the remains of other older palaces. On the other hand, with the name Emperor's Rooms a group of rooms built in times of Carlos I. However, they would soon fall into disuse when the palace destined for the Emperor.

It is also obligatory in the Alhambra to go through the walk of the towers, which, as its name suggests, takes you to see Los Picos, la Cautiva, las Infantas and del Agua. But the other great jewel of this monumental complex is the Generalife. It is a rural villa surrounded by ornamental gardens and orchards used by the kings of Granada as a residence for rest. It also dates from the XNUMXth century and, around it, you can also see other constructions from the Nasrid period. Among them, the Moor's chair, broken pool or the remains of Dar-al-Arusa Palace.

The Holy Family

The Holy Family

The Sagrada Familia, one of the important monuments of Spain

This religious construction in Barcelona is the work of the genius of Antonio Gaudi. But it is also an example that great works can be built with a personal style full of fantasy. His full name is Expiatory Temple of the Sacred Family and the extraordinary Catalan architect began its construction in 1882.

Curiously, it is not finished yet, but it is one of the most visited monuments in Spain. It reflects the creative plenitude of Gaudí and is the best exponent of the Catalan modernist architecture. In fact, he perfectly synthesizes all the styles that he had developed until then. Between these, the neogothic, the naturalist or the geometric.

The temple has a Latin cross plan with five central naves and a transept of three. It also has an apse with seven chapels. Externally, it has three facades, dedicated to the Birth, Passion and Glory of Jesus. Likewise, when it is finished, it will have a total of eighteen towers, among which the central one will stand out, ending in a dome and measuring almost one hundred and seventy-five meters in height.

As for its interior, the Sagrada Familia is also impressive. Gaudí's genius created an organic space that resembles a forest, with columns in the shape of a tree trunk. For their part, the vaults have a hyperboloid appearance and the windows are distributed in such a way as to allow harmonic and soft lighting to enter. Likewise, everything in the temple has symbolic value and Gaudí even took care of designing the decorative elements. This is the case of pulpits, confessionals or lecterns.

In short, the Sagrada Familia is a wonder due to the great Antonio Gaudí. Its unique character and its majesty makes it one of the important monuments in Spain.

The cathedrals, essential among the important monuments of Spain

Burgos Cathedral

Burgos cathedral

There are so many and so spectacular cathedrals in Spain that we don't want to tell you about just one, but several. Perhaps the most visited is the one in Seville for several reasons, in addition to its spectacular nature. Among them, that it is one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world. But, probably, it is also influenced by the fact of having the popular Giralda. This Arab-era minaret belonged to the old XNUMXth-century mosque and was used as a bell tower for the temple. Also preserved from then is the precious Patio de los Naranjos.

Also, it is very visited the Cathedral of Santiago of Compostela, both for being a pilgrimage destination and for being a Romanesque jewel. It is the style that predominates in the construction, but it also presents Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and even Neoclassical elements. wonders like the Obradoiro facade or Porch of Glory make this cathedral a unique work.

But we can't forget about the Burgos cathedral, with its predominant French Gothic style. It also received later modifications. But if it is impressive on the outside, it is no less so on the inside. It houses authentic sculptural and architectural jewels such as the Golden Staircase, gothic altarpiece of Gil de Siloé or the numerous graves among which stands out the Cid. Likewise, original is flycatcher, an articulated structure that opens its mouth when the chimes sound.

We could tell you about other magnificent cathedrals that are among the important monuments of Spain. For example, Murcia's, the one from Salamanca o Almudena's in Madrid. However, we prefer to move on to other equally extraordinary buildings.

The Cordoba's mosque

Mosque of Cordoba

Aerial view of the Mosque of Cordoba

This is the case of the impressive Mosque of Córdoba, which, however, is currently Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady. With almost twenty-four thousand square meters, it was the second largest in the world after Mecca.

Its construction began in the XNUMXth century and it is, together with the Alhambra, the most important monument preserved from the Andalusian art. However, it was also reformed several times. In fact, some of its doors, like the one in Santa Catalina it is renaissance. It is one of the many that make up the exterior of the building, in which the bell tower and the old minaret, balconies such as those on the south façade and patios such as the one on the the Orange trees.

The latter has its origin in the ablutions patio of the primitive mosque and has fountains such as Santa María or Cinamomo and cisterns such as Almanzor. As for the interior, it is very famous the hypostyle hall, with its columns and arches. But also the Mannerist altarpiece of the main chapel, the choir ensemble or the different chapels. Among them, the Real one, the one of San Ambrosio, the one of Villaviciosa or the one of Our Lady of the Conception.

Alcázar de Segovia, a fortress among the important monuments of Spain

Alcazar of Segovia

The imposing Alcazar of Segovia

This majestic XNUMXth century castle is the most visited of its kind in Spain. It towers over the valley of the Eresma and dominates the historic Castilian city. Twenty-two kings and some other of the most important characters in history have passed through it. It is also one of the best examples of a XNUMXth-century military fortress in the world.

Externally, the Alcázar is distributed in a Herrerian courtyard with a moat, a drawbridge and a keep, imposing with its square floor plan and four towers. But even more spectacular is the John II tower, which is later and Gothic, as well as the so-called Moorish terrace, which offers you a magnificent view of the Plaza de la Reina Victoria Eugenia.

As for the interior, the fortress has impressive rooms. the of the Old Palace it stands out for its twin windows and its baseboards; that of Fireplace for his portraits and tapestries; the one of Throne for its royal seats under a canopy and that of the gallery It receives this name due to its old coffered ceiling in the shape of an inverted ship's hull. The royal chamber, the chapel and other rooms such as the Weapons room complete the interior of the Alcázar.

Finally, on one of the sides of the parade ground, you can see the Museum of the Royal College of Artillery. And, as an anecdote, we will tell you that the forms of this construction are so wonderful and suggestive that it is said that they served as a model for Walt Disney for your castle Cinderella. It is no coincidence that it receives visitors from all over the world.

In conclusion, we have shown you some important monuments of Spain. But we could have told you about many others. For example, those who make up the Asturian pre-Romanesque, unique in the entire planet. Or also the majestic Roman theater of Merida, built in the XNUMXst century BC and still used for performances. Or, finally, the majestic Monastery of San Lorenzo del Escorial, a Renaissance jewel that has been called the eighth wonder of the world. All this without forgetting others such as the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Saragossa, the walls of Avila or the tower of Hercules in La Coruña, which has been standing for two thousand years. Don't you think that the important monuments of Spain are wonderful?


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