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Universidad Civil
The visual feast of the entrance facade is a tapestry in sandstone, bursting with images of mythical heroes, religious scenes and coats of arms. Its dominated by busts of Fernando and Isabel. Founded initially as the Estudio General in 1218, the university reached the peak of its r
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MACBA
Designed by Richard Meier and opened in 1995, MACBA has become the citys foremost contemporary art centre, with captivating exhibitions for the serious art lover. The permanent collection is on the ground floor and dedicates itself to Spanish and Catalan art from the second half of
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Monestir de Sant Joan de les Abadesses
Who gallops through the hills around Sant Joan de les Abadesses on stormy nights, engulfed in flames and accompanied by ravenous black dogs? If you believe the stories, its the legendary cursed Count Arnau, whose association with the Monestir de Sant Joan de les Abadesses has beque
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Palau Güell
Finally reopened in its entirety in May 2012 after several years of refurbishment, this is a magnificent example of the early days of Gaudí’s fevered architectural imagination – the extraordinary neo-Gothic mansion, one of the few major buildings of that era raised in Ciutat Vella,
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Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar
Brace yourself for this great baroque cavern of Catholicism. The faithful believe that it was here on 2 January AD 40 that Santiago saw the Virgin Mary descend atop a marble pilar (pillar). A chapel was built around the remaining pillar, followed by a series of ever-more-grandiose
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Mercat de la Boqueria
Mercat de la Boqueria is possibly La Rambla’s most interesting building, not so much for its Modernista-influenced design (it was actually built over a long period, from 1840 to 1914, on the site of the former St Joseph monastery), but for the action of the food market within. One
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Casa Batlló
One of the strangest residential buildings in Europe, this is Gaudí at his hallucinogenic best. The facade, sprinkled with bits of blue, mauve and green tiles and studded with wave-shaped window frames and balconies, rises to an uneven blue-tiled roof with a solitary tower. It is o
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Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar
At the southwest end of Passeig del Born stands the apse of Barcelona’s finest Catalan Gothic church, Santa Maria del Mar (Our Lady of the Sea). Built in the 14th century with record-breaking alacrity for the time (it took just 54 years), the church is remarkable for its architectu
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Plaza de Toros & Museo Taurino
East of central Madrid, the Plaza de Toros Monumental de Las Ventas (Las Ventas) is the most important and prestigious bullring in the world. A visit here (especially as part of a guided tour, which must be booked through Las Ventas Tour in advance) is a good way to gain an insight
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La Pedrera
This undulating beast is another madcap Gaudí masterpiece, built in 1905–10 as a combined apartment and office block. Formally called Casa Milà, after the businessman who commissioned it, it is better known as La Pedrera (the Quarry) because of its uneven grey stone facade, which r
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Basílica de San Francisco El Grande
Lording it over the southwestern corner of La Latina, this imposing and recently restored baroque basilica is one of Madrid’s grandest old churches. Its extravagantly frescoed dome is, by some estimates, the largest in Spain and the fourth largest in the world, with a height of 56m
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Catedral de San Salvador
Echoes of Seville colour Jerez dramatic cathedral, a surprisingly harmonious mix of baroque, neoclassical and Gothic styles. Standout features are its broad flying buttresses and intricately decorated stone ceilings. Behind the main altar, a series of rooms and chapels shows off th
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Empúries
Exploring this evocative archaeological site and its accompanying museum allows you to immerse yourself in a strategic Greek, and later Roman, trading port. A lively audio guide commentary (included in the price) unravels the history of the Greek town in the lower part of the site,
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Plaza Mayor
Trujillos main square is is one of Spains most spectacular plazas, surrounded as it is by baroque and Renaissance stone buildings topped with a skyline of towers, turrets, cupolas, crenellations and nesting storks. In the plazas northeastern corner is a large equestrian statue of t
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Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando
Madrid’s ‘other’ art gallery, the Real Academia de Bellas Artes has for centuries played a pivotal role in the artistic life of the city. As the royal fine arts academy, it has nurtured local talent, thereby complementing the royal penchant for drawing the great international artis
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Palau de lAlmudaina
Originally an Islamic fort, this mighty construction opposite the Catedral was converted into a residence for the Mallorcan monarchs at the end of the 13th century. The King of Spain resides here still, at least symbolically. The royal family are rarely in residence, except for the
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Museo Lázaro Galdiano
This imposing early-20th-century Italianate stone mansion, set discreetly back from the street, belonged to Don José Lázaro Galdiano (1862–1947), a successful businessman and passionate patron of the arts. His astonishing private collection, which he bequeathed to the city upon his
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Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo
Home to the majestic monastery and palace complex of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, this one-time royal getaway rises up from the foothills of the mountains that shelter Madrid from the north and west. Although it attracts its fair share of foreign tourists, this prim little town and
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Teatre
The first name that comes into your head when you lay your eyes on this red castle-like building, topped with giant eggs and stylised Oscar-like statues and studded with plaster-covered croissants, is Dalí. An entirely appropriate final resting place for the master of surrealism, i
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Parque del Buen Retiro
The glorious gardens of El Retiro are as beautiful as any you’ll find in a European city. Littered with marble monuments, landscaped lawns, the occasional elegant building (the Palacio de Cristal is especially worth seeking out) and abundant greenery, it’s quiet and contemplative d
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