Spain’s Cultural Heritage

Spanish culture and cultural tourism in Spain received a big boost in 2018 when the latest candidate for UNESCO World Heritage status was approved.  The Medina Azahara, 5kms to the west of Córdoba and shown in the image on above, raised the number of UNESCO sites in Spain to 46.  That’s the third highest number in the world, only Italy and China have more.  Andalucía, with a total of 8, has more than any other region in Spain.

In 2016 another example of Spanish culture getting world recognition were the Dolemenes of Antequera.  The Dolmenes are a group of three Stone Age burial mounds, between 6,000 and 7,000 years old, individually named as Menga, El Romeral and Viera.  Menga is thought to be the only dolmen in continental Europe to have its entrance pointing towards a terrestrial landmark rather than the sun.  

Seville: settled by the Romans and known as Hispalis, Seville is Andalucía’s largest city and Spain’s only river port. Columbus’s departure for the New World was from Seville, as was Magellan’s journey which led to the first circumnavigation of the world.  It was already an important trading city when it was recaptured from the Arabs in 1248 but flourished even more as the Spanish empire expanded and Seville became one of the world’s richest cities.  Three sites have World Heritage status:
The Cathedral, the 3rd largest in the world, housing the tomb of Columbus.
The Alcázar, the oldest royal palace still in use in Europe.
The Archive of the Indies, the repository housing documents recording the Spanish Empire in the Americas and the Philippines. The building is one of Seville’s finest renaissance structures.

Like many Spanish cities, the historic city centre of Seville is flat and compact and there’s no need for a car.  Lot’s of people stay away from Seville in the heat of summer but although it is often over 40ºC in July and August it’s a dry heat and Seville is a city that really knows how to live even when it’s at its hottest.  Seville claims to be the birth place of tapas, although Granada would disagree, but whoever is right there’s nowhere better for a tapas crawl in the evening, going from bar to bar.  

Córdoba

The first traces of human presence date back to the Neaderthals, the first recorded settlements were Carthaginian and the Romans conquered the city in 206 BCE.  Under the Arabs it was thought to be the most populous city in the world with as many as 500,000 inhabitants before being reconquered by Ferdinand III in 1236.  If you visit in early May you can catch the flower festival in which the patios of Córdoba are open to visitors and the residents compete with each other to produce the most beautiul displays.  The courtyards literally drip with flowers. 

Granada

After the fall of Córdoba in 1236 Granada was the only seat of Arab rule in Spain, until it too fell in 1492.  Three sites have World Heritage status:
The Alhambra, the Generalife and the Albaicín quarter.  The Alhambra claims to be Spain’s most visited building, with more than 2.3m visitors each year and it is best to plan ahead.  Everything you need to know is on this multi-lingual site.

The summer months are hot but not as extreme as Seville or Córdoba.  However, it’s very different at other times of the year given the altitude, 750m or 2,500ft above sea level.  Spring and autumn are chilly and winter is freezing, serious wrapping up is needed.  Whatever time of year you visit Granada gives you Spanish culture and an taste of authentic Spain.

Doñana National Park, one of the protection zones for the Iberian lynx.  On the Europe to Africa bird migration route so just about every bird making the journey lands to feed and rest, making Doñana a bird-watcher’s paradise. Guided tours are recommended and a useful resource to help you plan is here.

Úbeda and Baeza in Jaén province, with numerous fine examples of Arab and renaissance architecture.

Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin: prehistoric cave paintings at various sites in the provinces of Granada, Almería and Jaén.