Few travelers can visit Galicia, Catalonia, Andalucia and the far-off Canary Islands on a single trip, but any of these sights would be the highlight of a vacation.
The Alhambra – Not just one of the top places to see in Spain, but one of the world’s most important sights for its history, architecture, art and cultural significance. Within the walls of this royal palace of Nasrid dynasty are buildings, courtyards, gardens and a mosque, intricately decorated in stone carving, mosaic, tiles, filigree and enamels.
Gaudi architecture in Barcelona – Gaudi took Art Nouveau a step farther, creating fanciful – even outrageous – buildings that have become landmarks as well as the signature pieces of this Catalonian city.
Santiago de Compostella – In the magnificent cathedral repose the relics of Saint James, the goal of pilgrims since the Middle Ages. This entire city in Galicia, with its arcaded streets and pilgrims hospital, now a posada, exudes charm.
Cesar Manrique sites on Lanzarote – Art, sculpture, architecture, nature and landscaping all combine in the imaginative works of this artist, who transformed derelict buildings, gravel pits and lava tubes into architectural and artistic masterpieces.
Seville's Cathedral – The largest cathedral in Spain and – depending on how it is measured – either the largest or the third largest in the world, the importance of this church is not just its size. The gold main altar stands several stories tall, a solid wall of saints.
El Escoriale – The monastery and palace set into the foothills near Madrid is also the pantheon for the kings of Spain, whose remains lie in an elaborate crypt under the basilica. The church, monastery and palace contain a number of works by major artists, and the vaulted and frescoed ceilings in the public parts of the monastery are well worth seeing.
The Guggenheim at Bilbao – You really have to see this building to believe it – no photograph has ever done justice to this symphony of shapes so alive that they seem ready to take wing. American architect Frank Gehry used blocks of limestone and undulating sheets of titanium to turn the notion of modern architecture on its ear.
Great Mosque of Cordoba -- So large is this mosque, with its row on row of graceful arches and pillars, that an entire cathedral built into its center after the reconquest of Spain by the Catholic Kings almost goes un-noticed.
Palacio Real -- The king’s residence from its completion in 1764 until 1931, Madrid's royal palace is on the site of the old Moorish Alcázar. The throne room, royal apartments and a gallery of paintings by such artists as Caravaggio, Goya and Velázquez are all open to the public.
Toledo – Mudejar (Moorish), Gothic and Renaissance architecture mingle and blend into a city that El Greco captured in one of his most famous paintings. The Gothic cathedral is splendid, its interior richly decorated, and a pair of synagogues are ornate in the Moorish style.
