Archive for 'Churches & Religious Buildings in Spain'

Oftentimes, when we discuss monasteries and religious complexes as tourist attractions, it is because there is an incredible architectural or artistic heritage to be observed on site that is has invaluable cultural heritage. However, while the Benedictine abbey of Santa Maria de Montserrat has a rich historic and cultural heritage, its ruins don't have any one specific architectural landmark.

For many, there is only one reason to visit: the statue of the Black Madonna, patron saint of Catalonia. For others, it is the mountainous backdrop of the place or the incredible views that attract them to the site. No matter your reason for visiting, this stunning complex is sure to delight as the combination of elements is pretty magical.

The monastery is located 48km west of Barcelona, at the heart of Montserrat Natural Park, and is reached by road, train or cable car. The latter two options add to the charm of visiting the site, giving you ample opportunity to soak up the views and to step back in time a little.

Spain is home to a rather large number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with 37 cultural objects among their number from walled cities to Mudejar palaces. One of the loveliest entries on this list has to be the two Renaissance cities of Úbeda and Baeza. Both are unique examples of such urban designs in Spain, where the imported Italian Renaissance stylistic influences are visible throughout in the city's churches, palaces and other buildings. Beautiful, intricate and fascinating, these two photogenic gems are the perfect, peaceful spots for history buffs and architecture fans to spend a day wandering and taking it all in. Just find a vacation rental in Andalusia and explore these fairytale cities for yourself.

Úbeda and Baeza are located at the heart of the province of Jaén in Andalusia and date to a period in the 16th and 17th centuries, when the cities were subject to renovation influenced by the emerging Italian Renaissance.

Looking like a fantastical town plucked right from the pages of Lord Of The Rings, Ronda is Malaga's most extraordinary town. Perched in a rather dramatic location on a plateau dotted by lush river valleys and bisected by the 100m fissure of El Tajo gorge, it is named for the fact that it is ‘surrounded’ by mountains. One of Spain's oldest towns, with Neolithic origins, it was first declared a city by Julius Caesar, though it didn't really begin to take shape until the 4th century AD. However, the appearance as it exists today owes itself to the period of Islamic rule and features mosques and palaces with distinctive ogives and other key architectural details of the period.

One of the most talked about and striking buildings in the world has to be Barcelona's Sagrada Familia. It is certainly one of the most famous landmarks in the city and is a truly massive building. Often referred to as a “cathedral” it is not actually the city's cathedral and is not home to a bishop's seat. Instead, it is a large and iconic church that was officially raised to a basilica and inaugurated in 2002 by Pope Benedict XVI. Work began on the building in 1882 and will supposedly be completed around 2026. As one of Gaudí's most iconic works in the city so entangled with his life, it really is a must-see for anyone who has found a vacation rental in Barcelona and is planning to explore the beautiful city.

In the middle of the 19th century, bookseller José María Boca Bella, founder of the Asociación Espiritual de Devotos de San José (Spiritual Association of Devotees of St. Joseph), planned to build a church in Barcelona and to devote it to the Holy Family – the "Sagrada Familia.