1027 Best Sights in Spain

The arcaded bell tower of this 16th-century church is an architectural icon of La Laguna, visible from almost everywhere in the city. Climb to the top for 360-degree views of the rooftops and surrounding countryside. Note the odd hours: 8:30 am to 1 pm and 5:30 to 8 pm.

This isolated Romanesque church on the outskirts of town was built in 1208 for the Knights Templar. Like other buildings associated with the order, it has 12 sides, inspired by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. It's about a 30-minute walk from town (you can see this church on a cliffside from the castle windows), but the trek pays off in full when you climb the bell tower and see the Segovia skyline silhouetted against the Sierra de Guadarrama.

A six-story Moorish bell tower tops this church, which was renovated as part of an urban-renewal project that razed slums in this area. Opening times vary, but you can generally visit before and after Mass.

Construction on this church began in the 14th century, purportedly over the ruins of a mosque, and took nearly 300 years to finish. The interior is austere, with a 16th-century choir and walls lined with the tombs of prominent Cáceres citizens.

One block from the Plaza del Arenal, near the alcázar, stands the church of San Miguel. Built over the 15th and 16th centuries, its interior illustrates the evolution of Gothic architecture, with various styles mixed into the design.

Built in the 12th century and a model example of the Segovian Romanesque style, this church, a five-minute walk outside the town walls, is an architectural marvel. The exterior is notable for its arcaded porch, where church meetings were once held. The virtually untouched interior is dominated by massive columns, whose capitals carry such carved scenes as the Flight into Egypt and the Adoration of the Magi. The vaulting on the crossing shows the Moorish influence on Spanish medieval architecture. It opens for Mass only.

There's some debate over whether this church, the oldest in central Madrid, once formed part of an Arab mosque. It was more likely built after the so-called Reconquest of Madrid in 1083, but the brickwork and horseshoe arches are evidence that it was crafted by either Mudejars (workers of Islamic origin) or Christian Spaniards well versed in the style. Inside, exhibits detail the Islamic history of early Madrid.

After the basilica and La Seo, this church, with intricate Mudejar brickwork, is considered by zaragozanos to be the \"third cathedral.\" 

Hidden in a virtually unspoiled part of Toledo, this early-13th-century Mudejar church (built on the site of an earlier Visigoth one) is now the Museo de los Concilios y de la Cultura Visigoda (Visigoth Museum) with exhibits of statuary, manuscript illustrations, jewelry, and an extensive collection of frescoes. The church tower is adjacent to the ruins of Roman baths.

This rather plain church dates to the early 13th century. One of the first built here after the Reconquest, it's also one of the earliest Christian churches in all of Andalusia. It has two Romanesque portals and a curved stone altar. Volunteers oversee admissions to the church, so opening hours can be erratic—you're most likely to find it open in the morning (11–1), but check with the tourist office first.

This 12th-century Romanesque church, with its quadruple-vaulted door and 13th-century cloister, is in the corner of the attractive porticoed Plaza Mayor.

Just in from the harbor, in the shadow of Monte Urgull, is this baroque church with a stunning carved facade of an arrow-riddled St. Sebastián flanked by two towers. The interior is strikingly restful considering the bustling area. Note the sculptures The Harmony of Sound, by Maximilian Peizmann, to the right of the entrance, and By the Cross to the Light, by Eduardo Chillida, in the baptistery.

Attached to a Romanesque bell tower, this Gothic church is the most beautiful in Trujillo. It's only occasionally used for Mass, and its interior has been virtually untouched since the 16th century. The upper choir has an exquisitely carved balustrade, and the coats of arms at each end indicate the seats Ferdinand and Isabella occupied when they came here to worship. Note the high altar, circa 1480, adorned with great 15th-century Spanish paintings. Climb the tower for stunning views of the town and vast plains stretching toward Cáceres and the Sierra de Gredos.

This 12th-century church, the oldest in A Coruña, was the first stop on the Camino Inglés (English route) toward Santiago de Compostela. Originally Romanesque, it's now a hodgepodge that includes Gothic arches, a baroque altarpiece, and two 18th-century rose windows.

The church of Santiago is known for its door and its gold sculpture of the saint.

The architectural highlight of Haro, this single-nave Renaissance and late-Gothic church was completed in 1564. It has an intricately sculpted plateresque portal on the south side and a gilded baroque organ facade towering over the choir loft.

An expressive wooden sculpture of Christ on a Y-shape cross in this church was the gift of a 14th-century pilgrim on his way to Santiago de Compostela.

Built between 1671 and 1712, the Church of the Savior stands on the site of Seville's first great mosque, remains of which can be seen in its Courtyard of the Orange Trees. Also of note are the sculptures Jesús de la Pasión and St. Christopher by Juan Martínez Montañés. In 2003 archaeologists discovered an 18th-century burial site here. Walkways facilitate visits.

This delightful village church, up the hill from the bullring, is worth a visit. It's impeccably decorated, especially at Easter, and the terrace and spacious gardens have a splendid panoramic view.

The 1292 monastery of San Francisco was converted into a church in 1387 by nobleman Fernán Pérez de Andrade. His magnificent tomb, to the left of the west door, has him lying on the backs of a stone bear and boar, with hunting dogs at his feet and an angel receiving his soul by his head.

This 15th-century church, a few steps uphill from the church of San Francisco, is a national monument. It has Renaissance statues that were stolen in 1981 but subsequently recovered.

The tailors' guild put up the Gothic-style church of Santiago, which includes a Pórtico de la Gloria inspired by that of Santiago's cathedral. Above the door is a carving of St. James as the Slayer of the Moors—a title that hasn't aged particularly well.

Off the south coast of Mallorca, this verdant isle is one of the last unspoiled places in the Mediterranean—the largest of the 19 islands of the Cabrera Archipelago. To protect its dramatic landscape, varied wildlife, and lush vegetation, it was declared a national park in 1991. Cabrera has had its share of visitors throughout history, from the Romans to the Arabs. The only intact historical remains are those of a 14th-century castle overlooking the harbor. Tours are operated daily by the Marcabrera company. Boats depart from Colònia Sant Jordi port, 47 km (29 miles) southeast of Palma. Tours, with a stop to swim or snorkel in the mysterious Cueva Azul (Blue Cave), start from €55; two-and-a-half-hour excursions by speedboat, leaving three times a day between 1 and 5, are €70.

Dedicated to modern and contemporary art, this blocky building on the edge of the old city—where the riverbed makes a loop—houses a permanent collection of 20th-century avant-garde painting, European Informalism (including the Spanish artists Antonio Saura, Antoni Tàpies, and Eduardo Chillida), pop art, and photography.

Named after its 14th-century Carthusian monastery, this island in the Guadalquivir River across from northern Seville was the site of the decennial Universal Exposition (Expo) in 1992. The island has the Teatro Central, used for concerts and plays; Parque del Alamillo, Seville's largest and least-known park; and the Estadio Olímpico, a 60,000-seat covered stadium. The best way to get to La Cartuja is by walking across one or both (one each way) of the superb Santiago Calatrava bridges spanning the river. The Puente de la Barqueta crosses to La Cartuja, and downstream the Puente del Alamillo connects the island with Seville. Buses C1 and C2 also serve La Cartuja.

You can visit this uninhabited island that rises from the center of La Concha's bay and shields it from high swells. Ferries (around €8 round-trip) run from the mainland every 30 minutes and are packed on summer weekends. Reaching the island from the beach is a fun challenge for experienced swimmers. There's a small bar at the ferry dock and lifeguard service at a beach that reveals itself only at low tide. Bring sturdy sandals as the coastline is rocky. Within the lighthouse is a 15-ton bronze fountain called Hondalea (\"Sea Floor\"), by Basque sculptor Cristina Iglesias; unveiled in 2021 and open only on select dates (see website), its whooshing flows are meant to mimic the tides.

The eastern shore of Isla de la Cartuja holds this theme park with more than 20 attractions, including the hair-raising Jaguar roller coaster. Discounts are available online.

This carefully researched nautical museum, beloved by kids and adults alike, reconstructs the history of the Bilbao waterfront and shipbuilding industry beginning from medieval times. Temporary exhibits range from visits by extraordinary seacraft such as tall ships or traditional fishing vessels to thematic displays on 17th- and 18th-century clipper ships or the sinking of the Titanic.

Looming above the modest buildings around it, the cathedral was begun in 1492 on the site of a former mosque and took almost 300 years to build. Its chief architect was Andrés de Vandelvira (1509–75)—many more of his buildings can be seen in Úbeda and Baeza. The ornate facade was sculpted by Pedro Roldán, and the figures on top of the columns include San Fernando (Ferdinand III) and the four evangelists. The cathedral's most treasured relic is the Santo Rostro (Holy Face), the cloth with which, according to tradition, St. Veronica cleansed Christ's face on the way to Calvary, leaving his image imprinted on the fabric. The rostro (face) is displayed every Friday 10:30–noon and 5–6. In the underground museum, look for the paintings San Lorenzo, by Martínez Montañés; the Immaculate Conception, by Alonso Cano; and a Calvary scene by Jácobo Florentino.