UNESCO Sites in Spain

Spain UNESCO has registered 49 sites on the World Heritage list and 31 on the tentative list.

Some places are so interesting that it’s relevant to keep them for future generations. This is why UNESCO has built a list of crucial classified properties in which superb places stand out for their aesthetic, natural, artistic, or cultural significance.

More than a thousand places are registered as Unesco’s World Heritage worldwide. Due to my interest in visiting World Heritage sites, I compiled the UNESCO list in Spain and the corresponding map.

Spain UNESCO list

1. Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín, Granada
2. Antequera Dolmens Site
3. Aranjuez Cultural Landscape
4. Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida
5. Archaeological Ensemble of Tarraco
6. Archaeological Site of Atapuerca
7. Burgos Cathedral
8. Caliphate City of Medina Azahara
9. Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí
10. Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Seville
11. Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain
12. Cultural Landscape of the Serra de Tramuntana
13. Heritage of Mercury. Almadén and Idrija
14. Historic Centre of Cordoba
15. Historic City of Toledo
16. Historic Walled Town of Cuenca
17. La Lonja de la Seda de Valencia
18. Las Médulas
19. Monastery and Site of the Escurial, Madrid
20. Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias
21. Mudejar Architecture of Aragon
22. Old City of Salamanca
23. Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches
24. Old Town of Cáceres
25. Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct
26. Palau de la Música Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona
27. Palmeral of Elche
28. Paseo del Prado and Buen Retiro, a landscape of Arts and Sciences
29. Poblet Monastery
30. Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde
31. Renaissance Monumental Ensembles of Úbeda and Baeza
32. Risco Caido and the Sacred Mountains of Gran Canaria Cultural Landscape
33. Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula
34. Roman Walls of Lugo
35. Routes of Santiago de Compostela: Camino Francés and Routes of Northern Spain
36. Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe
37. San Cristóbal de La Laguna
38. San Millán Yuso and Suso Monasteries
39. Santiago de Compostela (Old Town)
40. Tower of Hercules
41. University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares
42. Vizcaya Bridge
43. Works of Antoni Gaudí
44. Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe
45. Doñana National Park
46. Garajonay National Park
47. Teide National Park
48. Ibiza, Biodiversity and Culture
49. Pyrénées – Mont Perdu

Spain UNESCO Map

Click on the blue pins to view more relevant information about each World Heritage site in Spain.

Description

1. The Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín is a cultural site in Granada, Spain that features a palace complex and fortress from the Nasrid Dynasty, along with gardens, a summer palace, and a historic neighborhood known as the Albayzín.
2. The Antequera Dolmens Site is a prehistoric burial site in Antequera, Spain that features three megalithic monuments, including Menga Dolmen, Viera Dolmen, and Tholos of El Romeral.
3. The Aranjuez Cultural Landscape is a cultural site in Aranjuez, Spain. It includes the Royal Palace of Aranjuez and its gardens, designed in the 18th century, and features a mix of styles including Baroque, Renaissance, and Neoclassical.
4. The Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida is a cultural site in Mérida, Spain that features several well-preserved Roman ruins, including an amphitheater, a theater, a circus, and a bridge over the Guadiana River.
5. The Archaeological Ensemble of Tarraco is a cultural site in Tarragona, Spain that features well-preserved Roman ruins, including a forum, a circus, an amphitheater, and an aqueduct, which were part of the ancient city of Tarraco.
6. The Archaeological Site of Atapuerca is located in northern Spain and contains evidence of the earliest human occupation in Europe.
7. Burgos Cathedral is a Gothic cathedral in Burgos, Spain, considered one of the finest examples of Spanish Gothic architecture.
8. The Caliphate City of Medina Azahara was a medieval Islamic city built in the 10th century near Cordoba, Spain.
9. The Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí is a collection of nine churches in the Vall de Boí in the Catalan Pyrenees, built in the 11th and 12th centuries.
10. The Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Seville is a group of buildings in Seville, Spain, which includes the Cathedral of Seville, the Alcázar palace complex, and the General Archive of the Indies.
11. The Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain contains some of the earliest known examples of prehistoric cave art, dating back over 35,000 years.
12. The Cultural Landscape of the Serra de Tramuntana is a mountain range on the island of Mallorca, Spain, which has been shaped by centuries of human activity, including farming and the cultivation of olive groves.
13. The Heritage of Mercury. Almadén and Idrija are mercury mines in Spain and Slovenia, respectively, which played a key role in the global mercury trade.
14. The Historic Centre of Cordoba is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Cordoba, Spain, which contains some of the most important examples of Islamic architecture in the Western world.
15. The Historic City of Toledo is in central Spain and is known for its historic architecture, including the Cathedral of Toledo and the Alcázar of Toledo.
16. The Historic Walled Town of Cuenca is a medieval fortified city in the Castilla-La Mancha region of Spain.
17. La Lonja de la Seda de Valencia is a Gothic-style building in Valencia, Spain, originally used as a silk exchange.
18. Las Médulas is a historic gold-mining site located in the province of León in northwestern Spain.
19. The Monastery and Site of the Escurial, Madrid is a historic complex of buildings in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, near Madrid, Spain, which includes a royal palace, monastery, and library.
20. The Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the Asturias is a collection of pre-Romanesque buildings in Asturias, Spain, built between the 8th and 10th centuries.
21. The Mudejar Architecture of Aragon is a group of buildings in Aragon, Spain, that show the influence of Muslim and Christian art and architecture.
22. The Old City of Salamanca is a historical city in Spain’s Castilla y León region. It is known for its well-preserved medieval and Renaissance architecture, including the Plaza Mayor, Salamanca Cathedral, and the University of Salamanca.
23. The Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros Churches is a walled city located in the Castile and León region of Spain, with notable landmarks including the medieval Walls of Ávila, the Cathedral of Ávila, and several Romanesque and Gothic churches outside the city walls.
24. The Old Town of Cáceres is a historical city in the Extremadura region of Spain. It is known for its well-preserved medieval and Renaissance architecture, including the Palace of the Golfines de Abajo, the Casa del Sol, and the Tower of Bujaco.
25. The Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct is a historic city in Spain’s Castile and León region. It is known for its well-preserved Romanesque and Gothic architecture, including the famous aqueduct, the Alcázar of Segovia, and the Cathedral of Segovia.
26. Palau de la Música Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona is a group of buildings in Barcelona, Spain, designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner in the Catalan modernist style.
27. The Palmeral of Elche is a palm grove in Elche that dates back to the 8th century and is considered an important example of Arab agricultural practices in Europe.
28. Paseo del Prado and Buen Retiro, a landscape of Arts and Sciences is a cultural landscape in Madrid, that includes the famous Prado Museum, the Retiro Park, and several other important cultural institutions.
29. The Poblet Monastery is a Cistercian monastery in Catalonia, Spain, considered one of Europe’s most important monasteries.
30. The Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde are rock art sites in Portugal and Spain that date back to the Upper Paleolithic period.
31. The Renaissance Monumental Ensembles of Úbeda and Baeza are two historic cities in the Andalusia region of Spain, known for their well-preserved Renaissance architecture and urban planning.
32. The Risco Caido and the Sacred Mountains of Gran Canaria Cultural Landscape is a cultural landscape in the Canary Islands, Spain, that includes a group of pre-Hispanic caves and other sites that are considered important to the indigenous Canarian culture.
33. The Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula is a collection of rock art sites in Spain and Portugal that date back to the Neolithic period and are considered an important example of prehistoric European art.
34. The Roman Walls of Lugo is a well-preserved set of defensive walls that encircle the historic city of Lugo, Spain, and date back to the late 3rd century AD.
35. The Routes of Santiago de Compostela is a pilgrimage route with important cultural and historical significance in Northern Spain.
36. The Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe is a medieval monastery in Extremadura, Spain, known for its rich history and art.
37. San Cristóbal de La Laguna is a historic Canary Islands town known for its colonial architecture and layout.
38. San Millán Yuso and Suso Monasteries are two monasteries in La Rioja, Spain, known for their role in developing the Spanish language.
39. Santiago de Compostela (Old Town) is the historic center of the city of Santiago de Compostela in Northern Spain, known for its cathedral and other important landmarks.
40. The Tower of Hercules is a lighthouse in the city of A Coruña in Galicia, believed to be the oldest Roman lighthouse still in use today.
41. The University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de Henares is a historic university town in Madrid, Spain, known for its cultural and intellectual significance.
42. The Vizcaya Bridge is a suspension bridge in the Basque Country, Spain, known for its innovative design and importance in engineering history.
43. The Works of Antoni Gaudí refer to several buildings and structures designed by the Catalan architect, known for his unique style and contributions to the Art Nouveau movement.
44. The Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with several forests in different countries, known for their biodiversity and ecological significance.
45. Doñana National Park is a nature reserve in Andalusia, Spain, known for its unique ecosystem and biodiversity.
46. Garajonay National Park is a nature reserve in the Canary Islands known for its laurel forest and biodiversity.
47. Teide National Park is a nature reserve in Tenerife, Canary Islands, known for its volcanic landscape and unique ecosystem.
48. Ibiza, Biodiversity, and Culture are a UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes the island of Ibiza and several other smaller islands, known for their cultural and ecological significance.
49. Pyrénées – Mont Perdu is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with several mountain peaks and valleys in France and Spain, known for their natural beauty and ecological importance.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Spain have protected places for their cultural and natural importance.

Sites on the Tentative List

1. Romanesque Cultural Enclave in the North of Castile-Leon and the South of Cantabria
2. Bulwarked Frontier Fortifications
3. The Silver Route
4. Mediterranean Wind Mills
5. Greek Archaeological ensemble in Empúries, l’Escala, Girona
6. The Ribeira Sacra, Lugo and Orense
7. The Mediterranean Facet of the Pyrenees (France-Spain)
8. Talayotic Culture of Minorca
9. Mesta Livestock trails
10. Roman Ways. Itineraries of the Roman Empire
11. Ancares – Somiedo
12. Loarre Castle
13. El Ferrol of the Illustration Historical Heritage
14. Mining Historical Heritage
15. Plasencia – Monfragüe – Trujillo : Paysage méditerranéen
16. Jaén Cathedral (extension of the Renaissance Monumental Ensembles of Úbeda and Baeza)
17. Valle Salado de Añana
18. La Rioja and Rioja Alavesa Vine and Wine Cultural Landscape
19. Priorat-Montsant-Siurana paysage agricole de la montagne méditerranéenne
20. Le Portail du Monastère de Ripoll
21. Turó de la Seu Vella de Lleida
22. Monastery of Santa María de La Rábida and the Columbus Memorial Places in Huelva
23. Church of San Salvador de Valdediós
24. The Olive Grove Landscapes of Andalusia
25. The Wine in Iberia
26. Cíes Islands–Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park
27. The Hadrianic city of Italica
28. Group of Mozarabic buildings on the Iberian Peninsula
29. The Episcopal See of Egara and its pictorial decoration (5th-8th centuries)
30. Les témoignages matériels de la construction de l’État des Pyrénées : la Co-principauté d’Andorre
31. Sigüenza and Atienza Sweet and Salty Landscape