I’m sure you’re familiar with UNESCO World Heritage Sites which are selected because of their ‘special cultural or physical significance’. Spain began to participate with UNESCO in 1982 and originally five sites were selected for inclusion:
- the Mezquita in Cordoba
- the Alhambra in Granada
- Burgos Cathedral
- Park Güell, Palau Güell and Casa Milà in Barcelona
- El Escorial outside Madrid
Today Spain is the second most represented country on the list of World Heritage Sites with 44 which is one less than Italy. Two of the sites are shared, one with France and another with Portugal.
Gaudi’s Parc Güell in Barcelona
Tárraco Roman Ruins in Tarragona
| YEAR | NAME | COMUNIDAD |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Historic Centre of Cordoba | Andalucia |
| 1984 | Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzin, Granada | Andalucia |
| 1984 | Burgos Cathedral | Castilla y Leon |
| 1984 | Monastery and Site of El Escorial, Madrid | Madrid |
| 1984 | Parque Güell, Palacio Güell & Casa Mila in Barcelona | Catalonia |
| 1985 | Altamira Cave | Cantabria |
| 1985 | Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct | Castilla y Leon |
| 1985 | Monuments of Oviedo & the Kingdom of Asturias | Asturias |
| 1985 | Santiago de Compostela (Old Town) | Galicia |
| 1985 | Old Town of Avila, with its Extra-Muros churches | Castilla y Leon |
| 1986 | Garajonay National Park | Canary Islands |
| 1986 | Mudejar Architecture of Aragon | Aragon |
| 1986 | Historic City of Toledo | Castilla La Mancha |
| 1986 | Old Town of Caceres | Extremadura |
| 1987 | Cathedral, Alcazar & Archivo de Indias in Seville | Andalucia |
| 1988 | Old City of Salamanca | Castilla y Leon |
| 1991 | Poblet Monastery | Catalonia |
| 1993 | Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida | Extremadura |
| 1993 | Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Guadalupe | Extremadura |
| 1993 | Route of Santiago de Compostela | Galicia |
| 1994 | Doñana National Park | Andalucia |
| 1996 | Historic Walled Town of Cuenca | Castilla La Mancha |
| 1996 | La Lonja de la Seda de Valencia | Valencia |
| 1997 | Las Médulas | Castilla y Leon |
| 1997 | Palau de la Música Catalana & Hospital de Sant Pau | Catalonia |
| 1997 | San Millán Yuso and Suso Monasteries | La Rioja |
| 1997 | Monte Perdido – Pyrenees | Aragon |
| 1998 | University & Historic Alcalá de Henares | Madrid |
| 1998 | Rock-Art of the Mediterranean Basin | Various |
| 1999 | Ibiza, Biodiversity and Culture | Balearic Islands |
| 1999 | San Cristóbal de La Laguna | Canary Islands |
| 2000 | Archaeological Ensemble of Tárraco | Catalonia |
| 2000 | Palmeral of Elche | Valencia |
| 2000 | Roman Walls of Lugo | Galicia |
| 2000 | Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí | Catalonia |
| 2000 | Archaeological Site of Atapuerca | Castilla y Leon |
| 2001 | Aranjuez Cultural Landscape | Madrid |
| 2003 | Renaissance Monuments of Ubeda & Baeza | Andalucia |
| 2004 | Vizcaya Bridge | Basque Country |
| 2007 | Teide National Park | Canary Islands |
| 2009 | Tower of Hercules | Galicia |
| 2010 | Prehistoric Rock-Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde | Castilla y Leon |
| 2011 | Cultural Landscape of the Serra de Tramuntana | Balearic Islands |
| 2012 | Heritage of Mercury: Almadén and Idrija | Castilla La Mancha |
Not surprisingly many of these sites have cropped up in recent blog posts and newsletters as we’ve taken a look at some of Spain’s top tourist attractions and some of the country’s most impressive cathedrals.
My Spain “Bucket List”
Looking through the list I see 11 of the sites that I haven’t visited which are the following:
- Garajonay National Park
- Poblet Monastery
- Las Médulas
- San Millán Yuso and Suso Monasteries
- Rock-Art of the Mediterranean Basin
- San Cristóbal de La Laguna
- Archaeological Ensemble of Tárraco
- Palmeral of Elche
- Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí
- Archaeological Site of Atapuerca
- Heritage of Mercury: Almadén and Idrija
Hopefully, I’ll be able to tick off a few more this summer. Any thoughts on other sites that ought to be added to this list by UNESCO? Comments welcome below.
The town of Ronda — home of the bullfighting museum, the beautiful city high in the mountains and architecture, the walls the bridges. It is a secluded treasure.
Hi Daniel
Absolutely. Ronda certainly gets a vote from me.
Regards
Gerry
I was surprised not to see Santa Maria de Monserrat Monastery in Catalonia on the UNESCO World Heritage list. I have visited many UNESCO sites around the world and it should definitely be on this list.
Hi Bonnie
I’d have to agree & suspect that we’ll see Montserrat included one day.
Thanks
Gerry
Hi Gerry: The first one I was thinking about was El Puente Nuevo de Ronda and El Monasterio de Montserrat. and I was not the only one! How can we vote?
Greetings from Holland
Elly
Hi Elly
Sites are nominated then considered by the World Heritage Committee. It isn’t simply a question of voting for them. Details on how to send recommendations appear at http://whc.unesco.org/en/faq/
Thanks
Gerry
Hi Gerry
As always, an interesting article. Just to clarify a few things. Even though the “La Lonja de la Seda de Valencia” is in the the centre of Valencia, it is part of the Comunidad of Valenciana, and NOT Valencia. Likewise with the “Palmeral De Elche” – in the province of Alicante and the Comunidad de Valenciana, and NOT Valencia.
Finally, are you sure you have all the Spanish Heritage sites (UNESCO) listed here?
The city of Elche, is renowned for having 2 UNESCO nominated World heritage sites, one for its Palmeral (Palm Groves – an oasis of over 200,000 Palm Trees) AND a second for its annual Mystery Play, (El Misteri d’Elx en Valenciana dialect), the Mystery Play of Elche, the only play in the world that is acted in its entirety within a temple, in this case the Basilica de Santa María, every year between 11th and 15th of August, and recognised by UNESCO in 2001.
Hi Mike
As a native English speaker I choose to use the name “Valencia” or “Valencia Region” to describe “La Comunidad Valenciana”. At times I’ve referred to the “Valencia Community” which seems very false. The same issue arises with “Madrid” as I don’t like to translate “Comunidad de Madrid” to “Madrid Community” so I tend to use “Madrid Region”. The top of the column says “Comunidad” so I doubt very much whether anyone will be confused.
As for missing sites, there are 42 on this list and 44 in total. The missing two are not in Elche they are as follows:
They have now been added to the blog post.
The UNESCO website simply refers to Palmeral de Elche (2000). The Mystery Play is recognised by UNESCO as a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” rather than a World Heritage Site.
Regards
Gerry
I too was surprised to see Montserrat is not included – one of my favourite places
Ronda of Malaga province is my choice. Besides the site of the second oldest bull ring, the houses and bridges with unique arches and mountainous scenes depict interesting tourist attractions. A great site.
Plenty votes for Ronda 🙂
I think Albarracín (Aragón) should be included for its other time and other worldliness.The sense of isolation, history, it´s hiking and cave art are all worthy of UNESCO STATUS.
I went to Montserrat in 1999 and if they had not mutilated it as by the time I returned in 2006, I would say it was worth it. While still impressive and sublimely beautiful, they have overbuilt for the sake of mammon and destroyed a beautiful natural and architectural ensemble. Still, Montserrat is worth every second.
Hi Eric
There’s a lot of sights of interest in Aragon that don’t get much attention from visitors. The Mudejar architecture of the region is included in the list at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/378.
Thanks for your suggestion.
Gerry
The first place that came to mind when I read the list was Ronda. One day . . .
Regards
Sierra de Aracena National Park. A area of outstanding natural beauty, ‘olde’ Spain at its very best with regional cuisine, traditions and culture. Now made easier to explore with added, designated walks and trails.
It may be Monserrat in Barcelona … Sagrada Familia in Barcelona too
Certainly two major contenders … the Sagrada Familia would get my vote.
Hi Gerry: I would vote for Ronda, Sagrada Familia in Barcelona and Casco Viejo in Bilbao.
Saludos! Guillermo.
Great choices Guillermo
Living in Murcia we have visited four of your list….have just returned from a great 4 days around Priego de Cordoba…..a lovely town full of culture and heritage which nobody seems to know about….and the tapas are superb…..perhaps not World Heritage material but great nevertheless.