Sights of Spain
Spain is considered to be one of the warmest countries in Europe. From all ends of our vast planet, tourists come here to sunbathe, swim in the sea, as well as get acquainted with the traditions of the Spanish people and their cultural and architectural heritage. If you look at Spain, you can see that it represents a large historical open-air museum, which is surrounded by a ring of sea beaches and resort areas, which are considered to be among the best in Europe.
The most ancient historical monuments of culture of Spain belong to the Paleolithic era. These include rock paintings on the walls in the cave of Altamira. The ancient tribes of the Iberians who inhabited the Iberian Peninsula in the 1st millennium BC left the gigantic ruins of the stone walls in Tarragona. Bridges, aqueducts, arches and amphitheaters remind of the stay of the Romans in Spain. The Roman bridge Alcantara across the Tagus River has been perfectly preserved to this day. The bridge consists of six arches, which in the middle is crowned with a triumphal arch. The glorious ruins of the Roman amphitheaters in Sagunto and Merida, which can seat up to six thousand spectators, stand before the eyes of numerous tourists. And in Bar and Medina preserved arches, the construction of which dates from 107-102 years BC.
In their time, the Arabs had a great influence on the development of culture, art and architecture. Monuments such as the Alhambra’s palace-fortress in Granada, La Giralda Minaret in Seville, and the mosque in Cordoba have become world-famous.
The Alhambra is a palace-fortress, the construction of which refers to the XIII century. This is truly a miracle of Muslim architecture. Throughout the day, depending on the lighting, its walls and towers change color. The courtyard of Lviv is charmed with its beauty, which is surrounded by white marble columns. In the middle of the courtyard there is a fountain, whose huge bowl rests on twelve lions. There are several magnificent halls in the palace, which are of particular interest – the Royal Hall with golden lace arches in the form of stalactites, then the Ambassadors Hall, which is crowned with a huge cedar dome, and the Hall of Secrets with its amazing acoustic effects.
Mosque-Cathedral in Cordoba (VIII – X century). After the famous Kaaba in Mecca, it takes second place. It occupies an area of 175×140 meters. This double monument is a mosque and the cathedral shows the attempt of the Christian state to get rid of a hint of Muslim influence. After the city was taken by Christians in 1236, according to the decree of King Ferdinand III, the mosque was turned into a Christian cathedral. All 19 doors to the courtyard were closed, and chapels were built along the walls of the building. The construction of the minaret was turned into a bell tower.
La Giralda. This building is a former minaret of a mosque, which was built by the Arabs in the twelfth century. The premise of the mosque itself was not preserved, and the minaret was converted by Christians into the bell tower of the cathedral. This is the most famous monument of architecture in Seville, whose silhouette is notable for its amazing grace and beauty. The height of the bell tower is 97 meters, which offers a beautiful panorama of the city.
Medieval castles. To this day in Spain, a large number of medieval castles have been preserved, they are also called paradors. They are located in a picturesque and quiet corner, where tourists are provided with excellent opportunities for recreation. These buildings and facilities are equipped with full comfort and convenience – TV, telephone, heating and ventilation system, mini-bar and air conditioning. Also for lovers of active recreation there are gyms, tennis courts and swimming pools.
Windmills. In the area of Criptana, at the mountain of Mills and the Hill of the World you can see a large number of windmills. Some of them are used for their intended purpose and grind the grain into flour. The second part is used as an exhibition for visiting tourists.
Madrid. The capital of Spain, which is of great interest for tourists. At their service is the National Museum of Painting and Sculpture of Prado, and many other museums that cannot be avoided in one day. Of particular interest are the Royal Palace of the 18th century, the Sabatini Gardens, the Botanical Garden, Bueno-Petiro Park, the Church of San Francisco el Grande, the El Espiral Monastery, the residence of the Monarch Zarzuela, and the Memorial to the Victims of Civil War – Valley of the Fallen.
Barcelona Tourists will be interested in visiting the Museum of Catalan Art and Pablo Picasso, the Sagrada Familia, the Gothic Cathedral of Santa Yunania, the church of San Pablo del Campo, the fortress of Montjuic, as well as the Maritime and Archaeological Museums.
Toledo. There are many architectural monuments of the Moorish period. Of great interest are the Gothic church of San Juan delos Rees, Alcazar Castle, and the Plaza del Zoko – the place of burning heretics.
