Cultural sightseeing in Spain

Spain is a culturally rich country. There are more than 40 objects of the UNESCO World Heritage List. The country was built and developed under the influence of three religious confessions - Christianity, Islam, and Judaism - which affected the material and spiritual culture. There is a large number of museums in Spain. The largest of them, the Prado Museum, is situated in Madrid. The building, in which it is located, was constructed in the 18th century. That’s a monument of classicism. The collection of the Museum of Fine Arts embraces pieces by El Greco, Velasquez, Bosch, Botticelli, Raphael, Titian, Bassano, and Rubens. The walls of the museum hold a unique collection, which is one of the 20 most visited in Europe.

Not far from the Prado Museum, there are two other iconic museums, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and the Reina Sofia Museum. Together they create a golden triangle of the capital's art. The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum features a collection of paintings by the most famous artists from the 13th century to the present day. These include Memling, Holbein, Monet, Renoir, Degas, Picasso, Dali, and Chagall. The museum of Queen Sofia houses paintings of artists of the 20th century. The most famous among them is the Guernica by Picasso. There is also the Maritime Museum, the Museum of America, the Museum of the Jamon, National Anthropological, Archaeological Museums, and the Museum of Romanticism in Madrid.

Another center of the country's culture is the capital of Catalonia, Barcelona. The most famous and grandiose architectural structures are located there. They are mainly created by the legendary architect Antonio Gaudi. The Temple of the Holy Family or Sagrada Familia is a real landmark of the city and one of its symbols. The construction of the temple began in 1882. It does not stop until now. All elements in the building have a deep religious significance. The building is topped by numerous towers. Other, not less effective constructions of Gaudi are the house of the Batlló and the Mila House. In the house of Batlló, the traveler will not find any straight line, as Gaudi was inspired by the figure of a giant dragon. Mila House belongs to a private organization. Today, it regularly hosts exhibitions. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

In addition to exploring the heritage of Gaudi, many new cultural discoveries wait for tourists in Barcelona. The National Museum of Art of Catalonia is located in the luxurious National Palace. It has the richest collections of paintings, engravings, frescoes, and coins. The Pablo Picasso Museum is set in the ancient city palace; it has a unique collection donated by the artist's friend. The Spanish village set on 42 square kilometers, recreates the atmosphere of agrarian Spain. The Gothic quarter, located in the old part of the city, is a whole complex of buildings dating back to the 14th to the 15th century. Its main attraction is the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia of the 13th century, as well as the royal square, the Basilica of La Merce, and the Gothic church of Santa Maria del Pi.

In Valencia, travelers will be able to visit the City of Arts and Sciences. This architectural complex is  located on the bottom of a drained river. It embraces a scientific museum, an opera house and a stage for performances, a planetarium, and an oceanographic park. The Museum of Fine Arts of Valencia has one of the richest collections of paintings in the whole country. Like most iconic museums in Spain, it is set in an old building with amazing architecture. One of the most famous paintings in the collection is John the Baptist by El Greco. It is in Valencia, in the Gothic cathedral, that the cup is kept, which is officially recognized by the Catholic Church as the Holy Grail.

Monuments of medieval architecture, historical buildings are most often found in Alicante. The fortress of Santa Barbara is on the mountain in the heart of the city. At various time, it belonged to the Moors, the Spaniards, and even the English. In the vicinity, there are many other castles, including Santa Pola, Forna, Montemar, and Bjar. Tarragona can boasts with monuments of the Roman Empire. The Roman amphitheater was built around the 2nd century; it hosted battles, performances, and public executions. In the Roman Museum, tourists will be able to admire more than 25,000 ancient exhibits. You can look at these and other attractions from the Mediterranean Balcony offering a breathtaking view of the city and its surroundings.