UNESCO sites in Spain. Cities of Spain under the protection of UNESCO Cultural heritage of UNESCO Spain

Sunny Spain is rich in both clear days and unique attractions that have grown out of its amazing history and combine the features of many diverse cultures - ancient, which has come down to us since the times of the Holy Roman Empire; Islamic, left over from Arab rule; European - Christian and Jewish, from the Middle Ages.

One of the warmest Western European countries can offer tourists both a beach holiday on the luxurious Mediterranean coasts and numerous excursion programs to ancient cities, each of which contains its own set of attractions.

Highland Avila was founded by the Veton tribe in the 5th century. BC. The main attractions of the city are the Avila Cathedral, built first in Romanesque, then in Gothic and only in the 18th century in Baroque style. And the ancient fortress wall, consisting of eighty-eight towers and nine gates, is more than two and a half kilometers long. Avila also has two important religious monuments: the Church of San Juan Bautista, where St. Teresa, and the Convent of Encarnacion, where she spent twenty-seven years of her life.

Hotels: Avila city

Founded as a Celtic settlement, Cuenca did not immediately become a Spanish city. At one time it belonged to the Romans, the Moors, and the Arabs. Today, Cuenca boasts a unique collection of medieval monuments belonging to different cultures: the Gothic Cathedral of the 12th century, the Magnana watchtower built under the Moors, the unusual Church of San Miguel, which combines Arabic and Gothic motifs.

Hotels: Cuenca city

Located on the island of Tenerife, the city was founded in 1496. At one time it functioned as the capital of the Canary Islands. San Cristobal de la Laguna is known for its vernacular architecture. Its historical monuments are of a religious nature. These include the first church of Tenerife - Iglesia de la Concepción (XV century), a convent of the 17th century and the Cathedral, rebuilt from a small church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the 18th century.

Hotels: city of San Cristobal de la Laguna

Founded at the beginning of the new era (29-34) and flourishing under the Moors, Cáceres has retained to this day the medieval charm of its architecture, combining elements of Roman, Islamic and Gothic culture. The old town with majestic fortress walls and towers, the Cathedral of Our Lady and medieval mansions of the nobility coexist in Caceres with the unique Jewish quarter of San Antonio, formed in the 13th-15th centuries.

Hotels: Caceres city

Salamanca, located in western Spain, got its name after its conquest by Hannibal. During its existence, the city managed to be under both Roman and Arab rule. In the 11th-12th centuries, the Christian population returned to Salamanca. The historic city center with its Baroque Plaza Mayor, Roman bridge and numerous medieval cathedrals has been a UNESCO site since 1988.

Hotels: Salamanca city

The birthplace of Cervantes and the seat of the oldest Spanish University, founded in the 15th century by Cardinal Cisneros, is 35 km away. from . The main attractions of the city, protected by UNESCO, are located in the historical center - the Gothic cathedral church of the 12th century, the Cathedral of the Holy Children, the Archbishop's Palace, the square and the Cervantes House, the College Street and the Martyrs' Gate.

Hotels: Alcala de Henares

The ancient capital of Spain was founded in 192 BC. as a Roman outpost "Toletum". Today, the ancient city contains architectural traces of different eras and cultures: the ruins of an ancient amphitheater and a Roman aqueduct, the former Cristo de la Luz mosque (10th century) and the oldest European synagogue Santa Maria la Blanca (12th century), the Cathedral St. Mary's (XIII-XV centuries) and numerous Catholic churches and monasteries.

Hotels: Toledo city

The ancient Andalusian city, founded during the Phoenician colonization, reached its cultural and scientific heyday in the tenth century, when it became the capital of the Muslim state - the Cordoba Caliphate. Along with Arab architectural monuments, the main one of which is the Cathedral Mosque (Mezquita), Cordoba has a unique Roman bridge, built under Octavian Augustus, and the largest Synagogue in the country of the 14th century.

Hotels: Cordoba city

The legendary city is known throughout the Christian world as the burial place of the relics of the Apostle James. The Santiago Cathedral (it is where the sacred remains are kept), built in the 11th-13th centuries, combines in its façade the features of Spanish Romanesque and Baroque architecture. It is the end point of the pilgrimage road “The Way of St. James” that runs through the entire country and is included in the UNESCO List.

Hotels: city of Santiago de Compostela

UNESCO World Heritage Sites are a great guide when planning your route. Preparing for a trip to northern Spain, we took a list of UNESCO cultural heritage sites and chose places to see both nature and cultural sites. (List at the end of the article).

Once upon a time we were racking our brains: how to build a route around the country, if there is so much of everything and everything is so tasty, and we want not to miss out on the important things, and at the same time not to go along well-trodden tourist paths.

In the end, we came to the following conclusions:
If you want to see the country, choose UNESCO World Heritage Sites - you won’t go wrong. UNESCO's goal is to make known and protect objects that are unique in their kind. We decided not to look for a street or a cute cafe - there are many of these in any city, but there are unique cultural or natural objects that have already been compiled into a list and are known. These are the ones that are worth spending time on in preparation.

Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona. Sagrada Familia

In addition, such UNESCO-protected sites can be viewed in Google Street View maps. By “walking” through the objects without leaving home, you can immediately decide: do you want to visit there, see with your own eyes a cathedral, square, palace, monastery, cave, or find something more interesting.

Park Guella in Barcelona

Of course, sites included in the UNESCO list are crowded places. There are a lot of tourists. But, in our opinion, it’s worth it!

Cathedral of Burgos

In addition to cultural monuments, natural sites are also under UNESCO protection. Here tourists disperse (there are no crowds in a river valley, canyon or national park) and you can calmly enjoy the beauty, silence, and outlandish wonders of nature.

Alfajeria Palace. Representative of Mudejar architecture

In ours, we included natural UNESCO sites and World Cultural Heritage sites so that you can walk around the cities and relax in nature.

Spain ranks third in Europe - there are 44 sites under UNESCO protection. Holds first place. In Italy there are 48 such sites. UNESCO is constantly expanding the list and introducing new unique places.

Despite the fact that we traveled for 26 days and traveled 1800 km by car, we were able to see only 7 (?) World Cultural Heritage sites included in the UNESCO list for Spain.

We chose the northern part of Spain for our trip, but we couldn’t miss Madrid and Toledo. So the photographs are not only of the northern part of Spain.

List of cultural and natural World Heritage sites protected by UNESCO. Spain:

The original list in Spanish can be viewed on the UNESCO website: http://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/es

UNESCO World Heritage List in Spain (44)
Cultural
Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzin, Granada (1984)

Alhambra, Generalife and Albaicín in the city of Granada
Rising above the modern Lower Town, the Alhambra and Albacín, located on two adjacent hills, form the medieval part of Granada. To the east of the Alhambra fortress and residence are the magnificent Generalife Gardens, the former country residence of the emirs who ruled this region of Spain in the 13th and 14th centuries. The residential area of ​​Albacín is a rich repository of Moorish folk architecture, with which the traditional architecture of Andalusia is harmoniously combined.

Aranjuez Cultural Landscape (2001)

Cultural landscape of the palace and park ensemble of Aranjuez
This cultural landscape, home to a royal residence for 300 years, demonstrates a complex interrelationship: between nature and human activity, between meandering natural streams and geometrically designed parkland, between rural and urban environments, between forested landscapes and the elaborate architecture of palace buildings.

Archaeological Ensemble of Merida (1993)

Archaeological ensemble in the city of Mérida
The ancient Roman colony of Augusta Emerita, which now became the city of Merida in Extremadura, was founded in 25 BC, at the end of the Spanish Campaign, and was the capital of the province of Lusitania. The well-preserved remains of the ancient city include a large bridge over the Guadiana River, an amphitheater, a theatre, a large arena and a unique water supply system. This is an excellent example of an ancient Roman provincial capital.

Archaeological Ensemble of Tarraco (2000)

Archaeological complex of Tarraco
The city of Tarraco (modern Tarragona) was the main administrative and commercial center in ancient Roman Spain and the center of the cult of the emperor for all the Iberian provinces. The city was built up with many beautiful buildings, some of which were discovered as a result of a series of successful excavations. Although most of the finds are fragmentary, a large number of monuments have been preserved under later buildings. The finds provide a clear idea of ​​the greatness of this capital of the ancient Roman province.

Archaeological Sites of Atapuerca (2000)

Archaeological finds in the caves of Atapuerca
Caves in the Sierra de Atapuerca contain rich fossil evidence of the earliest human habitation in Europe, from about 1 million years ago until the present era. They represent a unique source of information, the scientific study of which provides invaluable information about the appearance and lifestyle of these distant ancestors of ours.

Burgos Cathedral (1984)

Cathedral in the city of Burgos (Catedral de Burgos)
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Burgos was founded in the 13th century, at the same time as the great cathedrals of Ile-de-France, and completed in the 15th-16th centuries. The entire history of Gothic art is reflected in its beautiful architecture and unique art collection, including paintings, carved choir pews, altar reliefs, tombstones and stained glass windows.

Catalan Romanesque church of Val de Boi (2000)

Romanesque churches in Vall de Boí, Catalonia
Narrow and surrounded by steep mountains, the Val de Boi valley is located in the highlands of the Pyrenees, in the Alta Ribagorza region. Each village in this valley has a Romanesque church and is surrounded by a network of fenced fields. On the higher slopes there are extensive, seasonally used pastures.

Cathedral, Alcazar and Archivo de Indias in Seville (1987)

All together these three buildings (Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Seville)
form a remarkable group of monuments located in the very center of Seville. The Cathedral and Alcazar date from the period from the Reconquista of 1248 to the 16th century and reflect the influence of Moorish style, being an important testament to both the Almohad civilization and Christian Andalusia. The Giralda Minaret is a masterpiece of Almohad architecture. It stands next to the five-aisle cathedral, which is the largest Gothic building in Europe. The sarcophagus of Christopher Columbus is located here. The ancient Lonja (exchange) became the “Archive of the Indies”, containing valuable documents from all the archives of the Spanish colonies in America.

The Cave of Altamira and the Paleolithic Rock Art of Northern Spain (1985)

Altamira Cave
and Paleolithic rock art in northern Spain
this new name was given to the Altamira Cave site, listed in 1985. Seventeen caves containing rock art dating back to the Paleolithic period were added to the original site. This ensemble is the apogee of Paleolithic rock art, which spread throughout Europe - from the Urals to the Iberian Peninsula - in the period from 35,000 to 11,000 BC. These caves are perfectly preserved due to their deep location, which protected them from climatic changes. The caves are included in the List as unique evidence of the creative being of primitive man and the existence of a cultural tradition. These are a kind of masterpieces of the first type of creative activity fully mastered by man, contributing to a better understanding of an important period of human history.

Cultural landscape of the Serra de Tramuntana (2011)

Cultural landscape of the Serra de Tramuntana
is located on a steep mountain ridge that runs parallel to the northwestern coast of the island of Mallorca. Millennia of farming with limited resources have transformed the area. A developed system for managing water circulating along the borders of former feudal estates has developed here. The landscape is remarkable for its agricultural terraces and interconnected water supply system, including water mills, as well as dry stone structures and farms.

Mercury deposits in Spain and Slovenia (2012)

Idrija and Almaden (Almaden and Idrija), province: Ciudad Real - World Heritage Site of Mercury. They are one of the largest deposits of mercury in the world, which has been mined here since Roman times to the present day.
Over the entire period of operation of the mines, more than 250,000 tons of mercury were extracted.

Historic Center of Cordoba (1984)

Historic center of Cordoba (Córdoba)
Cordoba's greatest period of prosperity began in the 8th century, after the Muslim conquest, when some 300 mosques, countless palaces and public buildings were built, the city rivaling the splendor of Constantinople, Damascus and Baghdad. In the 13th century, under Ferdinand III the Saint, the Great Mosque of Cordoba was converted into a cathedral, new defensive structures were erected, most notably the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos and Torre Fortaleza de la Calahorra (el Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos and Torre Fortaleza de la Calahorra).

Historic City of Toledo (1986)

Historic center of Toledo
Having been successively an ancient Roman settlement, the capital of the Visigothic kingdom, a fortress of the Emirate of Cordoba, an outpost of the Christian kingdoms in the fight against the Moors, and, in the 16th century, the temporary residence of the great power Charles V, Toledo is a repository of evidence of more than two thousand years of history. His masterpieces are a synthesis of a variety of cultures that developed under the influence of three world religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Fortified part of the city of Cuenca (1996)

Fortified part of the city of Cuenca (Ciudad histórica fortificada de Cuenca)
Founded by the Moors as a fortress in the heart of the Cordoba Caliphate, Cuenca is a rare example of a well-preserved medieval fortified city. Reconquered by the Castilians in the 12th century, it became a royal city and the center of a diocese, rich in important buildings such as Spain's first Gothic cathedral and the famous "casas colgadas" (hanging houses), which, indeed, seem to be suspended on a steep cliff above the Huecar River. The advantageous location of the city is also manifested in the dominance of its fortress towers over the entire picturesque area.

Complex of buildings of Lonja de la Seda in Valencia (1996)

Complex of buildings of Lonja de la Seda in Valencia (La Lonja de la Seda de Valencia)
Built between 1482 and 1533, this group of buildings was originally used for the silk trade (hence its name, the Silk Exchange). These buildings are also a masterpiece of late Gothic architecture. The grand premises of the Sala de Contratación (Transaction Hall) best reflect the power and wealth of this major Mediterranean trading city during the 15th-16th centuries.

Las Medulas ancient gold mining area (1997)

Ancient gold mining area of ​​Las Médulas
In the 1st century. AD The authorities of the Roman Empire, using the hydraulic method, began to exploit gold deposits in northwestern Spain. After 200 years, the Romans who developed the deposits left, leaving inclined adits along the mountain slopes, as well as extensive dumps, now used for agricultural needs.

Architectural ensemble of Escorial (1984)

Architectural ensemble of Escurial
In plan, this monastery, built at the end of the 16th century in Castile, in an exceptionally beautiful place, resembles the brazier on which, according to legend, St. Lawrence suffered martyrdom. Its austere architecture, in contrast to previous styles, had a significant influence on Spanish architecture over the next half century. It was a refuge for the mystic king, and in the last years of the reign of Philip II it became the place from which political leadership was exercised over much of the world.

Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of Asturias (1985)

Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of Asturias (Oviedo y del reino de Asturias)
In the 9th century, throughout the entire Iberian Peninsula, the center of the Christian religion glowed only in the tiny kingdom of Asturias. The Proto-Romanesque architectural style developed here, which played a significant role in the development of religious architecture throughout the region. The highest manifestations of this style can be seen in the example of the churches of Santa María del Naranco, San Miguel de Lillo, Santa Cristina de Lena. , Cámara Santa and San Julián de los Prados in and around the ancient capital city of Oviedo. Nearby is an outstanding modern hydraulic structure known as La Foncalada.

Monuments of the Mudejar style in Aragon (1986)

Monuments of the Mudejar style in Aragon (Arquitectura mudéjar de Aragón)
The development of Mudejar art in Aragon in the 12th century was a consequence of the political, social and cultural conditions prevailing in Spain after the Reconquista. This art, nourished by Islamic traditions, also reflected the influence of various modern European styles, most notably Gothic. Existing until the beginning of the 17th century, this art is characterized by the extremely refined and inventive use of bricks and glazed tiles in architecture, especially in the construction of bell towers.

Old Town in Salamanca (1988)

Old town in Salamanca
This old university town northwest of Madrid was in the 3rd century BC. conquered by the Carthaginians. Then it was an ancient Roman settlement, and later, until the 11th century, it was under the rule of the Moors. One of the oldest European universities, it flourished during the “golden age” of Salamanca. In the historical center of the city there are important monuments of the Romanesque, Moorish, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles. Particularly impressive is the Plaza Mayor with its galleries and arcades.

The Old Town of Avila and the Churches Outside Its Walls (1985)

The old town of Avila (Ávila) and the churches outside its walls
Founded in the 11th century to protect Spanish territories from the Moors, this “city of saints and stones”, the birthplace of Saint Teresa and the burial place of the Grand Inquisitor Torquemada, has retained its rugged medieval appearance. The restraint of form can be seen in the Gothic cathedral and in the fortifications with 82 semicircular towers and nine gates, which are the most complete in all of Spain.

Old Town in Caceres (1986)

Old town in Caceres
The history of the city, which took place in the battles of the Moors with Christians, is reflected in its architecture, which mixes a variety of styles - ancient Roman, Islamic, northern Gothic and Italian Renaissance. Among the 30 towers that have survived from Muslim times, the most famous is the Torre del Bujaco.

Old town of Segovia and aqueduct (1985)

Old town of Segovia and ancient Roman aqueduct
The ancient Roman aqueduct in Segovia, built around 50 AD, is perfectly preserved. This impressive structure with its two tiers of arches is an integral part of the magnificent historical city of Segovia. Other important monuments are the Alcazar, founded in the 11th century, and the Gothic cathedral of the 16th century.

Palace of Catalan Music and Sant Pau Hospital in Barcelona (1997)

Palace of Catalan Music and Sant Pau Hospital in Barcelona (Palau de la Música Catalana y hospital de Sant Pau).
These two beautiful buildings in Barcelona were erected by the Catalan Art Nouveau architect Luis Domenech i Montaner. The Palace of Music of Catalunya is a magnificent building, with a steel frame and full of light and space, and was decorated by many famous artists of the time. The San Pau Hospital also features bold architectural designs and finishes, while at the same time being fully tailored to the needs of patients.

Palmeral - palm groves around the city of Elche (2000)

Palmeral Elche - a landscape of date palms, including an elaborate irrigation system, was formed towards the end of the 10th century, i.e. at a time when the Arabs still dominated most of the Iberian Peninsula, and when the Muslim city of Elche was being built. Palmeral is an oasis and agricultural production system in an arid climate. It is also a unique example of Arab farming technology in Europe. The cultivation of date palms in Elche has been known at least since the time of the Iberians, i.e. from about the 5th century BC.

Monastery of Poblet (1991)

Monastery of Poblet
This Cistercian monastery in Catalonia is one of the largest in Spain. In its center is a 12th century church. The austere, majestic monastery, housing the fortified royal residence and the pantheon of the kings of Catalonia and Aragon, is a very impressive sight.

Paleolithic Rock Art of Ciega Verde (1998)

Paleolithic rock art of Siega Verde (Valle del Côa, Siega Verde)
Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1998, the prehistoric rock art sites of the Coa Valley represent a unique collection of rock art from the Upper Paleolithic period (22,000-10,000 BC). It is the most striking example illustrating the emergence of human artistic creativity. The archaeological zone of Ciega Verde, located in the region of Castilla e Leon, complements this monument. There are 645 engravings carved on the walls of caves formed by water erosion. These engravings, mostly symbolic, depict animals. However, some of them are also geometric figures and schematic images. The prehistoric rock art assemblage of the Coa Valley and Ciega Verde forms the most significant open-air Paleolithic rock art site located on the Iberian Peninsula.

Monumental Renaissance ensembles in the cities of Úbeda and Baeza (2003)

Monumental Renaissance ensembles in the cities of Úbeda and Baeza (Úbeda y Baeza)
The urban morphology of two small cities, Úbeda and Baeza, located in southern Spain, developed during the time of the Moors in the 9th century and the reconquista in the 13th century. Cities actively developed in the 16th century in accordance with the style of the Renaissance. These innovations were due to the arrival of new humanistic ideals in Spain from Italy, which later had a great influence on the architecture of Latin America.

Rock art in the Mediterranean part of the Iberian Peninsula (1998)

Rock art in the Mediterranean part of the Iberian Peninsula (Basin)
The Mediterranean part of the Iberian Peninsula contains a very large number of rock art objects dating back to the late prehistoric period. The paintings, the style and content of which are recognized as unique, clearly and convincingly reflect the lifestyle of a person in that transitional era.

Roman walls of Lugo (2000)

Roman walls of Lugo
These fortress walls were built at the end of the 3rd century to protect the ancient Roman city of Lucus. They remain intact throughout, providing an excellent example of ancient Roman fortifications in Western Europe.

Road to Santiago de Compostela (1993)

Road to Santiago de Compostela
In 1987 it was declared the first European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe. The road begins from the Franco-Spanish border, was and continues to be used by pilgrims. The approximately 1,800 historic buildings along the road, both religious and secular, are of great historical interest. The road played a decisive role in establishing cultural connections between the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of Europe in the Middle Ages. It remains a testament to the strength of the Christian faith among people of all social classes throughout Europe.

Royal Convent of Santa Maria de Guadalupe (1993)

Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Guadalupe. The monastery clearly illustrates four centuries of development of Spanish religious architecture. It is a symbol of two significant events in world history that occurred in 1492: the reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula by Catholic kings and the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus. The famous statue of the Virgin Mary became a significant symbol of the Christianization of much of the New World.

City of San Cristobal de la Laguna (Canary Islands) (1999)

The city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna is located on
Canary Islands and has two centers: the more ancient Upper Town, which has a spontaneously developed layout; and the Lower City, the first ideal "city-territory", organized in accordance with certain scientific concepts. Its wide streets and squares are home to many beautiful churches, public and private buildings built in the 16th-18th centuries.

Monasteries of San Millan in Yuso and in Suso (1997)

Monasteries of San Millán in Yuso and in Suso (San Millán de Yuso y de Suso).
The monastic community, founded by Saint Aemilian in the mid-6th century, became a place of pilgrimage. A beautiful Romanesque church built in honor of this saint still stands in the town of Suso. It was here that the first literary texts were created in the Castilian language, on the basis of which one of the most widely spoken languages ​​in the modern world, Spanish, was subsequently formed. At the beginning of the 16th century, the community received a beautiful new monastery in Yuso, below the old complex; this monastery still flourishes today.

Santiago de Compostela (1985)

Old town in Santiago de Compostela
This famous pilgrimage site in northwestern Spain has become a symbol in the struggle of Spanish Christians against Islam. Destroyed by Muslims at the end of the 10th century, the city was completely rebuilt in the next century. With its buildings in a variety of styles (Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque), Santiago's Old Town is considered one of the most beautiful urban areas in the world. The most ancient monuments are concentrated in the area of ​​​​the tomb of St. James and near the cathedral with the famous Portico de la Gloria (Portic of Glory).

Tower of Hercules (2009)

The Tower of Hercules (Torre de Hércules) is an active lighthouse in the northern part of the city of La Coruña (Galicia). Built during the Roman Empire, it is considered the oldest lighthouse in the world. The structure has a height of 55 meters and stands above the waters of Betanzos Bay of the Atlantic Ocean.

University and Historical Precinct of Alcala de Henares (1998)

University and historical part of the city of Alcalá de Henares
Founded by Cardinal Jiménez de Cisneros in the early 16th century, Alcalá de Henares was the world's first purpose-planned university town. She was the original model for Civitas Dei (City of the Lord), an ideal urban community that Spanish missionaries brought to America. It also served as a model for universities in Europe and other parts of the world.

Biscay Bridge (2006)

Biscay Transport Bridge (Puente de Vizcaya),
connects the banks of Ibaizabal, the estuary of the Nervion River northwest of Bilbao. It was designed by Basque architect Alberto de Palacio and its construction was completed in 1893. The 45-meter-tall metal bridge, with a span of 160 meters, was the world's first bridge designed to carry people and crews in a highly suspended gondola. The bridge became a model for many similar bridges in Europe, Africa and America, only a few of which have survived to this day in very small numbers. Thanks to its innovative use of lightweight stranded steel cables, the bridge is recognized as one of the outstanding architectural metal structures of the Industrial Revolution.

Works by Antonio Gaudi (1984)

Works by Antoni Gaudí (Barcelona and surroundings)
The four buildings built by the architect Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926) in and around Barcelona added to his Park Güell, Palais Güell and Casa Mila in Barcelona, ​​which were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984. The buildings confirm Gaudí's exceptional creative contribution to the development of architecture and construction technology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These monuments represent an eclectic and, at the same time, very individual style, which is expressed in the design of parks, sculpture and all types of decorative arts, as well as in architecture. These four buildings are: Casa Vicens (1883-1885); part of Gaudí's work on the Sagrada Familia church (1884-1926 - Nativity façade and crypt); Casa Batlo (1904-1906) and crypt in Colonia Güell (1898-1905).

Natural
Doñana National Park (1994)

Doñana National Park
Doñana National Park in Andalusia occupies the right bank of the Guadalquivir River estuary near its confluence with the Atlantic Ocean. This area is famous for the diversity of its landscapes, including lagoons, swamps, mobile and fixed dunes, bushes and forests, maquis. Representatives of five rare and endangered bird species live here, one of the largest heron colonies in the Mediterranean has settled, and over 500 thousand waterfowl fly here for the winter.

Garajonay National Park (1986)

Garajonay National Park in the Canary Islands.
Virgin laurel forests occupy about 70% of the territory of this park, located in the very center of the island of La Gomera, part of the Canary archipelago. The presence of water sources led to the development of lush vegetation on the island - similar to that which existed here in Tertiary times and which in Southern Europe has almost disappeared as a result of climate changes.

Teide National Park (2007)

Teide National Park
The stunningly beautiful Teide Nature Reserve is also a treasure trove of information about the geological processes that determine the evolution of the ocean islands. Its main attraction is the highest peak in Spain, the Teide Pico Viejo stratovolcano with a height of 3,718 meters. Reaching a height of 7,500 meters in relation to the seabed, it is listed as the third highest volcanic formation in the world. Teide National Park is of global importance: it preserves traces of the geological processes that determined the evolution of the ocean islands.

Mixed
Ibiza, Biodiversity and Culture (1999)

Ibiza Island: Biodiversity and Culture (Ibiza)
Ibiza (Ibiza, Ibiza), is part of the Balearic Islands and perfectly illustrates the interaction between marine and coastal ecosystems. Dense thickets of Posidonia (ocean algae), one of the main endemics of the Mediterranean Sea, are an important condition for maintaining the species diversity of marine organisms in the coastal zone. The Ibiza bears evidence of its rich history. Archaeological excavations in the area of ​​the settlement of Sa Caleta and in the necropolis of Puig des Molins confirm that the island played a major role in the economic development of the Mediterranean even in prehistory, especially during the times of Phenicia and Carthage. The fortified Upper Town (Alta Vila) is an outstanding example of Renaissance military architecture and greatly influenced the construction of Spanish fortified settlements in the New World.

Mont Perdu region in the Pyrenees (1997)

Mont Perdido region in the Pyrenees
In the center of this remarkable high mountain range, covering the border region between France and Spain in the Pyrenees, rises the limestone mountain Mont Perdu, reaching 3352 meters. The 30,600-hectare heritage site includes two of Europe's deepest canyons (on the Spanish side) and three large glacial cirques (on France). The local pastoral landscapes illustrate an agricultural way of life that was previously very typical of the mountainous regions of Europe, but which has now been preserved only in this part of the Pyrenees Mountains. Villages, fields and farms, mountain pastures and roads remind us of past times.

Among the country's many cultural and historical attractions, there are even entire islands included in the World Heritage Site. Thus, Spanish Ibiza is almost entirely included in this list. All thanks to the amazing nature and unique architectural monuments. Rare marine organisms live off the coast of the island. They feed on posidonia. This is a species of algae considered endemic, that is, very rare. But not only this fact makes him famous throughout the world. Posidonia is the longest type of algae, reaching up to 8 m. In addition, Mediterranean pine grows on the island. Like olive bushes, these trees have formed the landscape of Ibiza for seven thousand years.

As for the architectural attractions that constitute the UNESCO heritage in Spain, among them it is worth noting the Cathedral in the city of Burgos. This is one of the oldest Catholic sanctuaries in the country, built in the Gothic style. Its history goes back over eight hundred years. Not only the exterior, but also the interior of the cathedral is an object of admiration. Inside you can see a gilded staircase, sculptures and altars, as well as relief images of gospel scenes. In addition, the cathedral is decorated with beautiful stained glass windows.

A real miracle of engineering, protected by UNESCO in Spain, is the Biscay Transport Bridge. It was built at the end of the 19th century. The bridge was the first such structure in the world. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it allows cargo to be transported across the river, which does not become an obstacle for ships passing along it.

Speaking about the natural heritage of Spain, it is worth mentioning the Garajonay National Park on the island of La Gomera. There are virgin forests with laurel trees. In addition to them, you can find over five hundred different species of plants and trees here. There are many sources of water in the park, which gives rise to lush vegetation. This ecosystem is truly unique, which determined the inclusion of this reserve in the World Heritage Site.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites are places of special cultural or natural significance. In total, there are 44 such sites in Spain, of which 39 are cultural, 3 are natural, and another 2 are mixed.

It is worth noting that only a few of them are described here, since there is simply not enough space to describe all such significant monuments. So let's look at some UNESCO heritage sites in Spain.

The heart of the historical center of Cordoba is the Cordoba Cathedral Mosque -
Catholic church built in the 7th century, converted into a mosque after the conquest of Cordoba by the Moors in the 8th century and converted back into a church in the 13th century after the Christians recaptured Cordoba. During Cordoba's Moorish rule, Cordoba had approximately 300 mosques and its architecture was compared to Constantinople, Baghdad and Damascus.

Cathedral of Burgos

This Gothic cathedral was built between the 13th and 16th centuries. The national hero of Spain, the famous El Cid, is buried here.

Works by Antoni Gaudi, Barcelona, ​​Catalonia

Gaudí's architectural style is usually described as "modernism", but it is a very distinctive modernism. Initially, Park Güell, Palau Güell and Casa Mila were included in the World Heritage List, and in 2005 Casa Vicens, one of the façades of the Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlo and the Chapel of Colonia Güell were added to the list.

Altamira Cave and Paleolithic art in northern Spain

The Altamira Cave contains images from the Upper Paleolithic era from 35,000 to 11,000 BC. A total of seventeen caves are included in the list. The drawings are well preserved due to the isolation of the caves from climate change.

Old town of Segovia and its aqueduct

The Roman aqueduct in Segovia was built in the 1st century AD, the medieval Alcazar in the 11th century, and the cathedral in the 16th century.

Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of Asturias

The Kingdom of Asturias remained the only Christian region in Spain in the 9th century. A special style of pre-Romanesque architecture was formed here, in which churches and other historical buildings of that time were built. Initially, only Asturian churches were included in the World Heritage List, but later other historical monuments were also included in it, such as La Foncalada, an ancient drinking water fountain.

Old town of Santiago de Compostela

The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is considered the burial place of St. James, it is also the end point of the Way of St. James pilgrimage, which runs through northern Spain. The old city was destroyed by Muslims in the 10th century and rebuilt in the 11th century.

Old town of Avila, Castile y Leon

The defensive wall surrounding the old city was built in the 11th century. With its 82 semicircular towers and 9 gates, it is one of the best preserved defensive walls in Spain.

Architecture of Aragon in the Mudejar style

The list includes ten buildings built between the 12th and 17th centuries in the Mudejar style, a mixture of traditional Islamic and modern European architecture.

Historic center of Toledo

Toledo was founded by the Romans, was the capital of the Visigothic Kingdom, was an important city in Islamic Spain and during the Reconquista, and at one time was even the capital of Spain. The city's architecture displays Christian, Islamic and Jewish influences.

Garajonay National Park, La Gomera, Canary Islands

The territory of the national park is 70% covered with laurel forests - vegetation characteristic of the Tertiary period and disappeared in Europe due to climate change, although such forests once covered the entire territory of southern Europe.

Old town of Caceres, Extremadura

The architecture of the old city shows the influence of Roman, Muslim, Northern Gothic and Renaissance architecture. There are thirty well-preserved Moorish-style towers here.

Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzin, Granada, Andalusia

These three sites resulted from Muslim ownership of southern Spain.
The Alhambra Fortress and the Generalife Palace were built by the rulers of the Emirate of Granada. The Albayzin district of Granada contains outstanding examples of characteristic Moorish architecture.

Cathedral, Alcazar and Archive of the Indies, Seville, Spain

The Alcazar is a royal palace built during the rule of Seville by the Moorish Almohad dynasty. The cathedral was built in the 15th century and is where Ferdinand III and Christopher Columbus are buried. The Archives contains documents detailing the colonization of America.

Old town of Salamanca

Salamanca has a reputation as a student city, as the local university was founded in 1218 and is the oldest in Spain and one of the oldest in Europe. The city was first conquered by the Carthaginians in the 3rd century and was later controlled by the Romans and Moors. The city center of Salamanca is a mixture of Romanesque, Gothic, Moorish, Renaissance and Baroque architecture.

Monastery of Poblet, Vimbodi, Catalonia

The monastery was founded by the Cistercians in 1151 and is one of the oldest in Spain. It was the residence of many medieval royal families of Spain, especially the kings of Aragon. The monarchs of Aragon are buried here - Alfonso II, Joan I, Joan II, James I, Ferdinand I and Pere IV.

Archaeological Ensemble of Merida

Merida was founded in 25 BC and was the capital of the province of Lusitania. An aqueduct, a bridge, an amphitheater, a theatre, a circus and a forum remain from the Roman era.

Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Guadalupe, Extremadura

The monastery houses a shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe, discovered in the 13th century after she was buried by Muslims in 714. The monastery and shrine served as an important symbol during the Reconquest, which ended in 1492. The shrine was also a symbol of the conversion of Indians to Christianity in America.

Way of Saint James

This pilgrimage route runs from the French-Spanish border to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, where according to legend the Apostle James is buried.

Historic city of Cuenca

The Moors built a fortified city in the 8th century. In the 12th century it was captured by Christians. Cuenca Cathedral is the first Gothic cathedral in all of Spain. The city is also famous for houses that seem to hang from cliffs.

Silk Exchange of Valencia

The Silk Exchange is a group of Gothic buildings in the center of Valencia, highlighting its power and wealth during the Middle Ages.

Palace of Catalan Music and Sant Pau Hospital, Barcelona

Both buildings were built at the beginning of the 20th century by Lluis Domenech i Montaner in the Art Nouveau style that was very common in Barcelona at that time.

Monastery of Escorial, Autonomous Community of Madrid

El Escorial is one of the historical residences of the Spanish royal family. The palace was designed by King Felipe II and the architect Juan Bautista de Toledo. The main idea of ​​El Escorial is to indicate the central place of Spain in the Christian world.