Famous Monuments in Spain | Most Visited Monuments in Spain

There are many historical monuments in Spain that you can learn about from the past of different cultures that will change the way you see the world. It truly opens up your eyes. While you are visiting their most important monuments in Spain, it is one of the best ways to learn about local history. Spain has great weather if you are planning to visit this country you must go through its monuments where you can get an insight into the local culture and history.

List of Monuments to visit in Spain

1. Park Güell

One of the major tourist attractions in Barcelona, Parc Guell is a singular garden complex that has been designed by Antoni Gaudi. It offers one of the best views of the city and has a marvellous architecture. Park Guell is a public park that is composed of gardens and various architectural elements. It is located on the Carmel Hill in Barcelona and belongs to the mountain range of Collserola. The park was designed by Antoni Gaudi, who is considered to be the face of modern Catalan architecture. The park contains brilliant stone structures, fascinating buildings and amazing tiling. There is a dragon fountain at the entrance of this park and it is completely magical. As you go through the walkway, you can see twisting rock pillars that seem like tree trunks. There is a special terraced area on the top of the park from where you can get amazing views of the city of Barcelona.This ancient monument in Spain was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984.

Address: Carrer d’Olot, 5, 08024 Barcelona Spain.

2. Reina Sofía Museum

Founded in 1992 also known as Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, the Reina Sofía Museum is an iconic monument in Spain with one of the finest collections of Spanish contemporary art and one of the most visited museums. This place is heaven for art fans and an essential part of Madrid’s Art Triangle, together with the Prado and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums. Occupying an immense, slab-sided building, the Reina Sofía boasts an impressive façade with glass and steel lift-shafts, designed by British architect Ian Ritchie.  Nowadays, the museum is just as impressive from the back, with three buildings, principally built of glass and steel, arranged around a courtyard and all covered by a triangular, the work of French architect Jean Nouvel and zinc-and-aluminum roof. This ambitious extension project adds almost 30,000 sq m to the already vast art space in the patio to the south-west of the main edifice. It includes temporary exhibition spaces.

Address: Calle de Santa Isabel, Madrid, Spain.

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3. Puerta del Sol

Puerta del Sol is also called the Gate of the sun in Spanish. It is one of the busiest and most popular public squares in the city of Madrid. This is considered to be the center of the radial network of roads in Spain. Along with a large clock, it features many popular attractions. Puerta del Sol is referred to as the official central point in the city of Madrid. In its earlier days, it used to be the eastern gate of the city and now it is much more than that. This most famous monument in Spain is home to the famous clock tower, “Real Casa de Correos”, whose bells mark the beginning of a new year.The tower was first built as a part of the Post Office which is now the headquarters of the President of Madrid’s autonomous community. Visiting this place during Christmas or New Year is considered to be the best time and it is also broadcasted live on the television. Include the Oso y Madrono statue, which is the official symbol of the city, Calle Alcala and the equestrian statue of Carlos III, the other major attractions in this square.

Address: Puerta del Sol, 28013 Madrid Spain.

4. Basilica of La Sagrada Familia

La Sagrada Familia is one of the oldest buildings in Barcelona Spain. No other architectural masterpiece has captured the world’s fascination more than the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. The structure of this religious monument in Spain stands as one of the most famous feats of Gaudi while construction of this Roman church is yet to be completed, and is often credited as his magnum opus. Construction is said to be completed by 2026, which will see the finishing touches to work the Catalan architect started in 1882 when the foundation stone for the basilica was first laid down.  The La Sagrada Familia Barcelona sees about 2.8 million visitors come through its doors every year because of its massive popularity.

Address: Carrer de Mallorca, 401, 08013 Barcelona, Spain.

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5. Arc de Triomf

You can also check out the famous monuments in Spain for their fantastic architecture aside from enjoying great food in Barcelona. Also known as the Arco de Triunfo, this Spanish triumphal arch was designed as the main gate of access for the Barcelona World Fair in 1888. Now it leads to Ciutadella Park, which has replaced the erstwhile World Fair Grounds. Facing Passeig de Sant Joan, the Arc de Triomf is often compared to its sister arches in Paris, London and Bucharest. Many art aficionados have studied the Arc de Triomf for its hidden structural symbolism. A gateway to 19th century Barcelona, it depicts the Catalan city welcoming the nations of the world. Atop the arch shields of 49 Spanish provinces are perched, heralding the coat of arms of the city of Barcelona.

Address: Passeig de Lluís Companys, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.

6. Plaza de Cibeles

Considered as one of the famous landmarks of the city, Plaza de Cibeles is a square that has a neo-classical complex of marble sculptures and fountains. It is situated at the intersection point of Paseo de Recoletosa and Paseo del Prado, and Calle de Alcala. There are four marvelous buildings that dominate the square: The Bank of Spain, the Palacio de Linares, the Palacio de Buena vista and the Cybele Palace. The Cibeles fountain is now considered to be the icon of Madrid. This important monument of Spain is located in the heart of the city and it portrays the Greek goddess of fertility and nature, Cybele, sitting on a chariot holding a scepter along with a key, who is being pulled by two lions. The pull of wild lions signifies the power of the goddess or of nature. It was designed by Ventura Rodriques in 1782. Some say that the source of this fountain goes back to the times when Madrid was a Moorish settlement. Real Madrid football team has unofficially adopted the fountain and they use it as a meeting point for its fans when they win a cup.

Address: Calle Alcala and Paseo de Recoletos, Madrid Spain.

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7. Temple of Debod

The Temple of Debod is one of Madrid’s hidden treasures and one of the monuments to see in Madrid. It sits to the west of Plaza de España, in the Parque del Oeste. This popular ancient monument in Spain is from the second century B.C. and by the Egyptian state for helping save the Abu Simbel temple was donated to Spain, as well as from being buried under the construction of the Aswan High Dam other monuments and archaeological sites.

Address: Calle de Ferraz, 1, 28008 Madrid, Spain.

8. Casa Mila

Also known as La Pedrera, Casa Mila is a popular work by Gaudi. It is located in broad Paseo de Gracia and is characterized by rustic stone facade and it has a marvelous terrace with warrior shaped chimneys. Casa Mila, or La Pedrera, as it is known, is located at No 92 Passeig de Gracia at the junction point with Carrer Provenca. The term Pedrera refers to Quarry and it is another masterpiece by Antoni Gaudi. It was a fashionable home that was designed for the wealthy Mila family. It was initially constructed to house apartments and homes, but now it has been transformed as a museum. This most important monument in Spain is illuminated at night which makes it look beautiful.

Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 92, 08008 Barcelona, Spain.

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9. Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza

It’s not for the faint-hearted. If you want to witness bullfighting in its optimum form, this is the place to be. There is also a museum of bullfighting to spend some time on. It is one of the most attractive bull arenas in Spain. This most beautiful monument in Spain houses one of the finest bullrings in Spain, and also one of the oldest ones. Highly popular among the Spanish, especially in Seville, the Catedral del Toreo is the best place to experience the thrill of corrida (bullfight). The building has an impressive Baroque facade and the arena can accommodate about 14,000 people. Puerta del Principe is the beautiful main entrance with iron gates, made by Pedro Roldan. There is also one small and interesting museum in the plaza which traces the history of the sport from the 18th century to modern times. It has a nice collection of posters, costumes and bullheads, along with some paintings by Juan Belmonte and Joselito El Gallo, two famous bullfighters. The main season for corrida is from Easter Sunday to 12 October, and it has almost 20 fights as a whole. Overlooking the river Guadalquivir, the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza is located on Paseo de Colon.

Address: Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza, Seville, Spain.

10. Plaza Mayor

Near Puerta del Sol and the Royal Palace, located in the heart of Madrid, the Plaza Mayor (meaning Main Square in English). This historical monument in Spain is 129 meters long by 94 meters wide with porches all along the plaza surrounded by three-story buildings. Historically it’s been a gathering place that is utilized for festivities and common declarations and loaded up with memorial plaques, notable spots, and different symbols. It was built during the reign of Philip III and located near Puerta del Sol and is a grand arcaded square. The Casa de la Panaderia is the most predominant building in the square and it is a municipal and a cultural building. It is four floors high and there is a Spanish coat of arms. Various traditional shops and eateries in its vicinity you would see around the Plaza Mayor. There is a bronze statue of King Philip III at the center of the square.

Address: Plaza Mayor, 28012 Madrid, Spain.

11. Palau de la Música

Feel the excitement at the prospect of seeing a breathtaking example of the city’s modernist architecture. The Palau de la Música in Barcelona is one of the major monuments in Spain you shouldn’t miss if you love cultural attractions. There’s the self-guided tour, the open date tour, the standard tour and one that allows you to listen to a live piano or choral. With an unforgettable experience at one of the most striking concert halls, all the world over whichever tour you’ll get of the Palau de la Musica will provide you. Built between the years 1905 and 1908, the Palau de la Música Catalan was built for the Orfeo Catala, a choral society.

Address: C/ Palau de la Música, Barcelona, Spain.

12. Prado Museum

The Prado Museum is one of the most important art museums in the world. This important historical monument in Spain was designed by Juan de Villanueva and was inaugurated in 1819. Its art collection is based mainly on sixteenth to twentieth-century artwork and includes masterpieces by painters like Velázquez, El Greco, Rubens, Bosch, and Goya. There is obviously a large collection of Spanish artworks as would be expected and it remains an extraordinary experience to see these artworks in the flesh” that have graced pages of art books and websites. There is an extensive gift shop that has a very nice range of art-related offerings across the full spectrum from art books for the aficionados to art-related items more suited to the general visitor.

Address: Calle Ruiz de Alarcon, Madrid, Spain

13. Plaza de Espana

Plaza de Espana is the filming location of the famous movie Star Wars. Plaza de Espana is the site from the 1929 exhibition of the Spanish pavilion. Plaza de Espana is one of the most popular landmarks of the city of Seville because of its grandeur. Spreading over 50,000 square meters, this most visited monument in Spain is surrounded by balconies constructed in the Renaissance Neo Moorish style. The building, semi-circular in shape, curved around and follows the shape of a canal which runs through the square. There is a beautiful fountain which highlights the area while the canal is flowing peacefully nearby, also there are four footbridges over the canal. The option of renting rowboats for the tourists is available, and they can explore the “Venice of Seville” through that. Another highlight of this area is the horse-drawn carriage rides for the tourists through the park.

Address: Plaza de Espana, Seville, Spain.

14. Royal Palace

The Royal Palace of Madrid is the Spanish Royal Family’s official residence because of its proximity to Plaza de Oriente, also known as the “Palacio de Oriente”.  Took 16 years to complete, the construction of the Palace began in 1738. When this beautiful monument in Spain was inaugurated, King Charles III established his official residence in the palace in 1764.  By the “Palacio de Los Asturias”, the site of the Palacio Real was previously occupied until it was burnt down on Christmas Eve in 1734.

Address: Calle de Bailén, s/n, 28071 Madrid, Spain

So far we have discussed the best monuments in Spain, which contains the proper information regarding all the most visited monuments in Spain. I hope you might have loved reading this article and if you love to know more about Spain then kindly head to our other articles as well which will help you to get knowledge about.

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