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 follow 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
An incredibly mysterious and beautiful country, Spain has an equally interesting history. Its position at the junction of Africa and Europe, the Islamic world and the world of Christianity, the endless Atlantic and the closed Mediterranean left an indelible imprint on the image of Spain. There is always something to surprise here. This is a country with rich traditions and ancient history. She is incredibly attractive, beautiful and diverse. The Spanish people love their country so much that they even vacation without leaving their homeland.
Why Spain is called this way, no one can say now, not even the residents of Spain themselves. In ancient times, this land was inhabited by Iberian tribes, after whose name before our era the peninsula was called Iberia. The Greeks called this country the Land of the Evening Star - Hesperia. After the division of the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western, the Western Empire began to officially bear the name “Hesperia”. After the Romans entered Spanish lands, Spain received the name “Hispania”.
The country's historical and cultural heritage is rich and diverse. The color of Spain, its unique beauties inspired Goya, Dali, Picasso...Since ancient times, Spain has been the desired prey of various invaders. All generations of the country's rulers wanted to achieve unity in cultural development, but the country's cultural traditions, as before, are varied. Some regions are still proud of their independence and identity. Almost all of Spain is a huge historical open-air museum, which is surrounded by a ring of beautiful resort areas and seashores. This country has the most interesting architectural and historical sights.
Sights of Barcelona
In the capital of Catalonia, Barcelona, one of the most interesting provinces of Spain, many architectural monuments and the entire historical center, built in a unique Gothic style, have been preserved. The main attraction of the city is the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, which was built on the site of the Sanctuary of Jupiter.
Not far from the center of Barcelona is the Sagrada Familia Cathedral. Gaudi devoted most of his life to this Temple of the Atonement of Sins. The most beautiful thing in the cathedral is considered to be the Nativity Facade, which includes 4 towers with rich decorations and original silhouettes. Today, these towers, with a hexagonal structure decorated with twisted staircases, are the graphic symbols of Barcelona.
Particular attention should be paid to the declared World Heritage Casa Mila, which is called "La Peddera", which means "stone cave". This strange structure with 6 light wells and 2 inner palaces is a complete concept of being true to nature. On the roof of the house there is a terrace that allows you to admire the stone “menagerie”, which consists of stairs, mysterious monsters in hoods, ventilation pipes, and flowering gardens over deep courtyards. Park Güell is recognized as one of Gaudí's most interesting works. The park's terrace serves as the roof of a hall cut into the hillside.
The heart of Barcelona is Plaça Catalunya, surrounded by a great variety of attractions, among them: the Barcelona Exhibition Center, the Marcet Palace, another famous creation of Gaudí - Casa Mila or “House without Corners”, the Maritime Museum - the Columbus Monument, the National Palace, the Baroque Palace -Cuadras with the Music Museum, the Church of Las Sales and much more. The city is also home to the Barcelona Aquarium, the largest aquarium in Europe. The most exciting part is the aquarium with moving walkways, a viewing terrace, and a large exhibition hall.
Another attraction of Barcelona is Mount Tibidabo - this is the highest point of the city. At the top of the mountain is the Temple of the Sacred Heart, which is topped with a statue of Christ. Tibidabo is not just pagan gobbledygook, these are words spoken in Latin from the Gospel. Translated it means “I give it to you.” This is how the devil himself seduced Christ, demonstrating the beauty of the world from the top of the mountain. It is impossible not to mention Mount Montjuic, where the Olympic stadium with the Olympic Museum is located; life-size model of the ship "Santa Maria".
Montserrat
To the north of Barcelona is the Montserrat mountain range. These mountains are extraordinarily beautiful, interesting stone formations, in some places resembling huge idols, and in others reminiscent of wet sand castles, evoke horror and admiration at the same time.
In the mountains there is a monastery that houses the miraculous statue of the Black Madonna. According to legend, the statue was carved by Saint Luke and subsequently carried by Saint Peter to Spain. To hide the Black Madonna from robbers, she was hidden in the mountains of Montserrat, where she was lost. After 170 years, the statue was miraculously found by shepherds in a cave, where they were led by angelic singing and a mysterious radiance. A chapel was erected on that site.
Ancient monuments in Andalusia
In Andalusia you can see remarkably preserved ancient monuments: Arab towers and medieval fortresses of the 11th century, in the mountains - ancient Andalusian settlements and cathedrals. In Seville, the capital of Andalusia, the birthplace of flamenco, there is an interesting landmark, a miracle of Muslim architecture, the Alhamra palace-fortress. During the day, depending on the lighting, the towers and walls of the palace are changed. The Lviv courtyard is incredibly beautiful, surrounded by white marble columns. In the middle of the courtyard there is a fountain, the marble bowl of which rests on twelve lions. The palace has several wonderful halls: the Royal Hall, the Hall of Ambassadors with a large cedar dome and the Hall of Secrets with amazing acoustic effects. The most famous monument in Seville is the former minaret.
And much, much more...
Spain is the largest “hunting” European country, where the richest and most beautiful hunting reserve in terms of fauna and flora is located – Somiedo. The mountainous terrain of the Sierra de Cazorla is considered a real miracle of nature. In addition, Spain is known for its magnificent carnivals, festivals, fairs and bullfights.
Spain stands out among other European countries for its versatility, its appearance, each time opening up in a new way. The sights of Spanish lands are the heritage of not only Europe, but the whole world. Spain never ceases to amaze with its color, way of life, ancient cities, culture, attractions, cuisine and much, much more, for which you simply need to visit this amazing country.
The historical and cultural heritage of Spain is rich and diverse. The color of this country, its unique beauty inspired Picasso, Goya, Velazquez, Dali.
The influence of different peoples, religions and cultures, the border position between Europe and Africa, the isolation of the Mediterranean and the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean - all this is reflected in the majestic monuments and interesting traditions of Spain. Already in ancient times, Spain was a desirable prey for invaders - from the Phoenicians to the Romans. In the Middle Ages, most of the country was ruled by the Arabs, who invaded here in the 8th century from North Africa. By the end of the 15th century, Christians had conquered Spain and unified it. All generations of rulers tried to achieve unity in culture, but the cultural traditions of Spain are as varied as before. And some regions are still proud of their identity and independence.
Almost the entire country is one huge open-air historical museum, surrounded by a ring of beautiful seashores and resort areas, many of which are considered the best in Europe.
Madrid's cultural heritage sets it apart from many cities in the world, thanks to its incredible number of artistic, architectural and historical attractions.
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One of the main cultural attractions of the city is the Prado Museum, founded by Maria Isabella Braganza, the second wife of Ferdinand VII. In 1819 the museum moved into the present building as the Royal Museum. The museum building was commissioned by King Charles III in 1785 and designed by the architect Juan de Villanueva.
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Two other major museums in Madrid - the Reina Sofia Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum - together with the Prado Museum form the so-called “golden triangle of art”. The first contains paintings of contemporary art. In particular, the Reina Sofia Museum houses Pablo Picasso's most famous painting, Guernica, as well as works by Salvador Dalia and Joan Miró. The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum houses paintings from different eras, from the Renaissance to the works of the Impressionists, Surrealists and Cubists.
Also of interest is the collection of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, which contains 1,300 paintings, including works by Velazquez, Rubens and Goya.
IV.Organization and conduct of shopping tours in Madrid
In accordance with the individual goal of the practice: organizing shopping tours in Madrid, the main locations for such tours were identified.
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and it’s better to go shopping in Madrid in the summer. At this time, the sales season begins here. The windows begin to be full of bright inscriptions Rebajas (rebajas) - indicating seasonal discounts. And excellent weather will accompany you during long walks through the numerous shops of the city.
Shopping in Madrid is concentrated in eight main areas: Salamanca, Argüelles, Fuencarral and Chueca, Gran Via, Ourense and Asca, Preciados and Sol. Each district deserves special attention; it has its own individuality and is completely different from the others.
Salamanca is the most fashionable area of Madrid. The bright shop windows of Salamanca are replete with a variety of products from prestigious brands. Boutiques of famous fashion houses, shops with exclusive clothes and shoes, antique salons, jewelry shops and elegant restaurants are concentrated here. The main shopping streets are: Jorge Juan, Claudio Coelho, Goya, Serrano, Ortega y Gasset and Velazquez. Here you will find famous boutiques of Armani, Versace, Adolfo Dominiguez, Antonio Pernas and many other famous fashion designers.
The Arguelles area will offer you more affordable prices. It is close to the Egyptian Temple of Debod and the Parque del Oeste green area. In this area, on both sides of Princes Street, you can find many fashion boutiques. In addition, the Zara building and the huge El Corte Inglés department store are also located here. The endless areas of the department store contain hundreds of stores of famous European brands. At an affordable price, here you can buy clothes, accessories and shoes from such brands as Springfield, Zara, Mango, Pepe Jeans, Stradivarius, Massimo Dutti, and many others.
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Huencarral and Chueca are an area in the center of Madrid. This iconic place today is the cultural and creative center of the modern youth of the capital. Here you can find hundreds of boutiques, brand stores, souvenir shops, restaurants and bars. In this area there is a market created as an alternative to shopping centers (Calle Fuencarral 45. Metro Fuencarral). More than 45 stores will offer avant-garde clothing for every taste. The market constantly hosts unusual performances, film screenings and various performances.
Ourense and Asca are the business center of Madrid. There are many shopping centers and commercial stores around it. Most of the trade is concentrated on Concha Espina Avenue, Orense Street, and Paseo de la Abana. In this area, you can find various fashion boutiques and expensive clothing stores on every corner. The city's largest department store, El Corte Inglés, and two large commercial centers - Fashion Shopping and La Esquina del Bernabeu - are also located here.
Gran Via is one of the main arteries of the city. This street can be called the sister of American Broadway. Gran Via in Spanish means big or wide street. On this street there are majestic buildings built at the beginning of the twentieth century, huge multiplex cinemas and many different shops and retail stalls. From Plaza de España to Callao you can find rows of luxury shoe stores. Callao is home to rows of fashion boutiques, and there are also two large specialty stores - Madrid Rock and the house of the book La Cassa del Libro. There are many prestigious jewelry stores located near Alcalá Street. Shopping in Madrid
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Reciados and Sol are the tourist center of the city, and the most visited part of Madrid. In this area, in Puerta del Sol, you can find the zero mark of all highways in Spain. Even just strolling through the crowded streets of Preciados and Sol will be a real treat. When going shopping in this area, be sure that here you will find everything: clothing and shoe stores, fashion stores and boutiques, souvenirs, fabrics and electrical appliances, jewelry stores, boutiques with wedding dresses and accessories, restaurants, bars, shopping centers and much more.
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 and 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, Ferdinan 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 Reconquista, 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.
