Sights, Spain

Cuenca

There are plenty of things to do in Cuenca. In fact, this Spanish city is famously celebrated for is the diverse range of sightseeing activities to explore. Cuenca has even been awarded as a World Heritage Site, due to its fascinating medieval ruins, memorable buildings and breath-taking Júcar and Huécar rivers.

Cuenca city is located in east-central Spain, set amongst tall-standing mountains and surrounded by ancient cathedrals. Visit New Cathedral of Cuenca, and discover the intricate Romanesque-revival architecture, particularly obvious from the three blue and white domes which form this cathedral. Alternatively, travel back to the 16th century and uncover the captivating religious artwork showcased in the Old Cathedral of Cuenca museum.

Another traveller favourite in Cuenca city, is El Cajas National Park. Head over to this spectacular natural reserve and embark on a hike, stay overnight on a camping trip or even take a day trip over to watch the stunning local wildlife graze.

La Palma

Explore breath-taking sights in La Palma – one of Spain’s spectacular Canary Islands, filled with spectacular scenery, quaint towns and fascinating viewpoints. There is so many sightseeing adventures to embark on over at La Palma, from the views at Caldera de Taburiente National Park, to the Teneguía volcano.

There are a number of other vivacious volcanoes to visit in La Palma, including Cumbre Vieja – a volcanic ridge which previously erupted in the 20th century, and once more in 1949. The naturally-forming volcanoes symbolise the different types of history and scenery which can be found in La Palma.

Discover the highest point on La Palma island – Roque de los Muchachos, a rocky mound which boasts beautiful scenery and clear blue skies. Alternatively, wander down the winding, cobbled streets at Santa Cruz de la Palma – the famous port town in the island’s capital, Santa Cruz de la Palma.

Museo del Prado

Located in the Spain’s wonderful capital, Madrid, Museo del Prado is a must-see sight to visit during your Spain holiday. Museo del Prado, more commonly referred to as the Prado Museum, is a famous monument showcasing immersive Spanish art since as early as 1819. Architect, Juan de Villanueva worked his magic to ensure this art museum looked as luxurious as the paintings inside it.

View famous paintings, amazing drawings and sculptures and make your own interpretations on what each piece represents. The art featured in the Prado Museum has actually been coined as one of the greatest collections of European art to date, with the museum itself being regarded as one of the finest art museums in the entire world. Enjoy works from some of Spain’s greatest artists, including Francisco Goya, El Greco, Hieronymus Bosch and Peter Paul Rubens, to name a few.

Royal Palace of Madrid

The Royal Palace of Madrid, also known as Palacio Real is a truly mesmerising monument and is actually the largest royal palace in the whole of Western Europe. So, a trip over to Madrid to see this immersive sight should certainly feature on your list of things to do on your Spain holiday.

Inside the palace lies a museum filled with astounding paintings, tapestries, rustic furniture, ceramics and much more. Embark on a guided tour, or simply head over to the Royal Palace with your partner, friends or family and explore this cultural and historical building for yourselves.

A great tip – if you purchase a Madrid Card, a visit over to the Royal Palace museum is actually free.Make sure you stroll by Compo del Moro, too, which are the palace gardens located here; offering rows of beautiful land, nature and local wildlife. For further sightseeing, the neighbouring square, Plaza de Oriente is a perfect place to visit, featuring sculptures of famous Spanish monarchs.

San Lorenzo de El Escorial Monastery

San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a magical town located in the south-eastern side of the Sierra de Guadarrama, just 29 miles away from Spain’s thriving capital, Madrid.

Spain holidays are all about embracing culture, and learning from the sightseeing adventures you embark on, as well as enjoying the glorious sunshine. Admire the focal point of San Lorenzo de El Escorial – the awe-inspiring monastery, sitting amongst the Guadarrama mountain range. Either overlook this wondrous sight from afar, or go inside and explore the beauty that lies within this magical, religious monastery.

Impressively, this monastery is home to as many as 1,200 doors, 2,600 windows. Tapestries are also draped and hung across the rustic walls of the San Lorenzo de El Escorial monastery, but what most Spanish tourists rush to see is the exquisite, barrel-vaulted library where over 40,000 books, documents and archives live.

The Alhambra and Generalife Gardens

Venture over to the immersive Alhambra and Generalife Gardens in Granada, Spain to experience stunning orchards, gardens and even entertainment, from dance to music festivals. The Generalife Gardens originally neighboured The Alhambra, separated by Rey Chico hill, but now both belong to the same site.

Holidaymakers can embrace the perfect patios, the breath-taking viewpoints and stunning landscapes which feature here. The Generalife Gardens is the perfect spot if you’re looking to get away from the busier sightseeing activities in central Spain; you can sit back, relax and be at one with nature as you watch and listen to the trickling of the waterfalls located here.

Travellers can even embark on a guided tour of the Alhambra and Generalife Gardens. Your tour guide will take you back through Granada’s long and fascinating history, shedding some light on how these magical gardens came to be and why they are so immensely popular when it comes to sightseeing in Spain.

The Aqueduct of Segovia

The Roman aqueduct, the Aqueduct of Segovia is a beautifully-preserved feat of engineering, located one hour away from Madrid, Spain’s bustling capital city. The aqueduct stretches far and wide. In fact, it’s so large it crosses from one side of the city to the other.

This remarkable aqueduct is formed of several arches, to allow the water to gently pass through to Segovia. The Aqueduct of Segovia has actually been standing for almost 2,000 years, which is why many holidaymakers venture over here – to see this fascinating symbol of history and its impressive architectural structure.

The Aqueduct of Segovia was originally built under Roman Empire, supplying water from the Frio River to the main city. This remarkable monument stands at 28.5 metres tall, featuring extraordinary brickwork for the time it was built, back in the second half of the 1st A.D. century.

The historic city of Toledo

Spain holidays are all about exploring the local cities, old and new. Visit Toledo – an impressive UNESCO World Heritage City, also coined as the “city of three cultures”. Located nearly 44 miles away from Madrid, this old and historic city is the perfect place to venture to on a day trip.

This ancient city sits atop a mossy hill, soaring above the plains of Castilla-La Mancha and is home to some impressive churches. Visit the church of Santo Tomé in the old Jewish quarter of Toledo City, to discover brilliant history. Wander down streets dotted with quaint local souvenir shops and enjoy a bite to eat at many restaurants located in Toledo.

From Madrid, hop on a train, a bus or even rent a car for the day and drive over. Alternatively, walk uphill for around 20-25 minutes to reach historic Toldeo. Whichever route you take, all forms of transport ensure you see the beautiful sights and scenery on your way over to this magical Spanish city.

The Mosque of Cordoba

Visiting beautiful Córdoba in Spain is an experience in itself, but one that is best enjoyed after a trip over to the spectacular Mosque of Córdoba. Locally, this mosque is known as ‘Mezquita-Catedral’, and stands as one of the oldest remaining structures from the Muslim rule in Spain, during the late 8th century.

The Mosque of Córdoba was first founded by Abd al-Rahman, who encouraged and promoted agriculture, so much so he imported fruit trees from his previous home to Spain. In fact, orange trees still grow in the mosque’s courtyard, showing that history continues to grow and replenish at this fascinating sight.

Embrace immersive ribbed domes, intricate arches and just overall fascinating architecture that was so carefully curated so long ago, over one thousand years ago, in fact. The brilliant architecture in the Mosque of Córdoba features across several different rooms. Wander through the diverse range of rooms, from the dome, the horseshoe arch, the mihrab and the famous hypostyle hall.

The Royal Alcázar of Seville

The Royal Alcázar of Seville should certainly feature on your sightseeing itinerary when holidaying in Spain. This medieval royal palace was originally built by Castilian Christians, to house Christian King Peter of Castile. Today, the Royal Alcázar of Seville stands as an attractive and original monument, which symbolises the merge of Spanish Christian and Moorish architecture. The beautiful walled gardens are a big part of the beauty of Alcázar, too, as well as the profound art, architecture and long-serving history.

If you want to build further knowledge on the history of this beautiful sight, and skip the busy ques in advance, book onto an informative guided tour, tailored to either your small or large group.

Seville itself is a beautiful city, with historic and cultural sightseeing attractions around every

corner. So, once you’re finished exploring the Alcázar, wander round the winding streets and uncover more fascinating building and scenery.