PART OF THE GLORIOUS ALHAMBRA - FABULOUS!
So, what are the top four tourist attractions in Spain – the ones that have the most visitors per year? Well, as of 2011, they were:
1. The City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia (3.7 million visitors).
2. The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona (3.2 million visitors).
3. The Prado in Madrid (2.9 million visitors).
4. The Alhambra in Granada (2.3 million visitors).
What a terrific cross-section of the old and new, dispersed right across Spain!
In fact, I think anyone who knows Spain well would probably have had all the above four placed on their list of ‘must-see’ Spanish cultural attractions, albeit possibly in a different order. Certainly, all are quite incredible and each and every one justifies a visit.
Living in Valencia, I was gratified to see the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia on the list and delighted to see that it made top place. It is extraordinary and visually quite stunning. Santiago Calatrava had an astonishing vision and it says much for the confidence of Valencia that the city embarked upon this massive, revitalisation project – let alone executed it.
It has to be said that the City of Arts and Sciences has been controversial, not least because of the cost (some 328 million Euros). However, it has, surely, been worthwhile – as a fabulous ‘millennium’ project and superb tourist attraction, that is bringing large numbers of new visitors to Valencia (the previously ‘forgotten’ third city of Spain). By comparison, the UK’s Millennium project (the Dome) looks positively tawdry and lacks the sheer scale and charisma inherent in the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia – somewhere that is guaranteed to make your spirits soar with pleasure. It epitomises the modern, vibrant culture of Spain and exemplifies Spain’s turbo-charged entry into the First World.
Incidentally, visiting the City of Arts and Sciences is also inexpensive. The Museu de la Ciences costs 7.85 Euros, the terrific Oceanographic 24.90 Euros and the Hemisferic 7.85 Euros. As there is no way that you could do all three properly in one day – you get good value for money.
The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona (entry 13 Euros) is a Gaudi masterpiece, of course, that is taking, quite literally, an age to complete. Money is the problem or rather the lack of it, as the project is ‘self-financed’ resulting in work proceeding in fits and starts. However, few would argue (whether religious or not) that the Sagrade Familia, once completed, will be one of the genuine man-made wonders of the world – all the more incredible because of the Medieval pace of construction and the tribulations involved in the project!
The Prado in Madrid (entry 12 Euros) needs no introduction. It is one of the great museums of the world, situated within a beautiful capital city replete with fine museums and culture and is a ‘must’ for anyone with an interest in fine art.
Meanwhile, the Alhambra in Granada (entry 11 Euros) must rank alongside the great palaces of the world, whilst being an integral part of the complex culture of Spain. It was the last bastion of the Moors in Spain and has a sublime beauty that should not be missed, under any account!
Finally, it is only fair to put some of the visitor numbers of the great tourist attractions of Spain beside those of other wonderful places to visit in the world. Evidently, the top of the ‘charts’ for cultural places in 2011, looks something like this:
The Louvre in Paris (8.5 million visitors)
The British Museum in London (5.8 million visitors)
The Metropolitan Museum in New York (5.2 million visitors)
The Tate Modern in London (5 million visitors).
The National Gallery in London (4.9 million visitors).
The National Gallery in Washington (4.7 million visitors).
Not, of course, that great cultural places should be competitive. That rather spoils the whole point. Nonetheless, visitor numbers are a reasonable indication of the (often justified) popularity of somewhere and a measure of their overall appeal to the majority of people.
In the case of Spain, I can only wholeheartedly recommend that you see all of the big ‘crowd pullers’ above. I defy you not to enjoy yourself and not to be amazed and delighted by what you see. So, whether you are planning your holidays in Spain or living here permanently, make the effort to see them all, they are really worth it…
Nick Snelling – Culture Spain
RELEVANT INFORMATION ABOUT TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN SPAIN
Madrid, culture capital of Spain
Valencia City of Arts and Sciences
The Alhambra and the Moors in Spain
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- Valencia
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- Barcelona
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- PART OF THE GLORIOUS ALHAMBRA – FABULOUS!
ESSENTIAL ARTICLES ON SPANISH HISTORY!
WHAT DID THE MOORS DO FOR US? – The Moors entered Spain in 711 and left (reluctantly) hundreds of years later. Although they are much reviled now, they contributed an amazing amount to both Spain and Europe.
BIG BANG - The birth of modern Spain and the astonishing rise of Spain as it was united and became the greatest power in Europe helped, of course, by its merciless conquistadors.
THE BORGIAS - Few families in the world have been as notorious as the Borgias with Lucrezia Borgia and Caesar Borgia famous worldwide. Were they really as bad that portrayed?
ALL THE KING’S MEN - Politics in Spain and the thrilling story of the death of General Franco, the development of democracy in Spain and the deadly Tejero crisis.