List of World Heritage Sites in Spain


The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Sites are places of importance to cultural or natural heritage as described in the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972. Spain accepted the convention on May 4, 1982, making its historical sites eligible for inclusion on the list.
Sites in Spain were first inscribed on the list at the 8th Session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1984. At that session, five sites were added: the "Mosque of Córdoba"; "The Alhambra and the Generalife, Granada"; "Burgos Cathedral"; "Monastery and Site of the Escorial, Madrid"; and "Park Güell, Palau Güell and Casa Milà, in Barcelona". Five sites were added in 1985, and another four in 1986. Apart from 1984, 1985, and 1986, 2000 saw the most new sites inscribed, with five that year. As of July 2019, Spain has 48 total sites inscribed on the list, third only to China and Italy. Of these 48 sites, 42 are cultural, 4 are natural, and 2 are mixed, as determined by the organization's selection criteria.
The Pirineos – Monte Perdido World Heritage Site is shared with France, while the Prehistoric Rock-Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde site is shared with Portugal. Besides that, Almadén is inscribed alongside Idrija in Slovenia. Of the 17 autonomous communities of Spain, Castile and León has the most sites, with six exclusive and three shared sites.
Additionally, Spain has established an agreement with UNESCO known as the Spanish Funds-in-Trust. The agreement was signed on April 18, 2002 between Francisco Villar, Spanish Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, and the Director-General of UNESCO, Kōichirō Matsuura. The fund provides € 600,000 annually to a chosen program. Programs include helping other member states, particularly in Latin America, with projects such as nominations processes and assessing tentative sites. Spain served as the chair of the World Heritage Committee in 2008 and 2009, and in 2009 hosted the 33rd Session of the Committee in Seville, Andalusia.

Location of sites

World Heritage Sites

UNESCO lists sites under ten criteria; each entry must meet at least one of the criteria. Criteria i through vi are cultural, whereas vii through x are natural.
NameImageLocationCommunityUNESCO dataPeriodDescription
Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain—Cantabria, Asturias, Basque CountryThe Cave of Altamira contains examples of cave painting from the Upper Paleolithic period, ranging from 35,000 to 11,000 BC. The original listing contained seventeen decorated caves. The caves are well-preserved because of their deep isolation from the external climate.
Old Town of Segovia and its AqueductSegoviaCastile and LeónThe Roman aqueduct was constructed in the 1st century, the medieval Alcázar palace in the 11th century, and the cathedral in the 16th.
Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of the AsturiasOviedoAsturiasThe Kingdom of Asturias remained the only Christian region of Spain in the 9th century. It developed its own style of Pre-Romanesque art and architecture that is displayed in various churches and other monuments. The original entry titled "Churches of the Kingdom of the Asturias" and was extended to include other monuments such as La Foncalada.
Historic Centre of CórdobaCórdobaAndalusiaThe original listing was the Great Mosque of Córdoba, a 7th-century Catholic Church converted to a mosque in the 8th century; restored to a Roman Catholic cathedral in the 13th century by Ferdinand III. During the high period of the Moorish rule of the region, Córdoba had over 300 mosques and architecture that compared to that of Constantinople, Damascus, and Baghdad.
Alhambra, Generalife and AlbayzínGranadaAndalusiaThe three sites are remnants of the Moorish influence in southern Spain. The fortress Alhambra and the palace Generalife were built by the rulers of the Emirate of Granada. The Albayzín district contains examples of the Moorish vernacular architecture and was added to the listing in 1994.
Burgos CathedralBurgosCastile and LeónThe Gothic-style cathedral was constructed between the 13th and 16th centuries. It is the burial place of Spanish national hero, El Cid.
Monastery and Site of the EscorialSan Lorenzo de El EscorialMadridEl Escorial is one of several Spanish royal sites due to its history as a residence of the royal family. The palace was designed by King Philip II and architect Juan Bautista de Toledo to serve as a monument to Spain's central role in the Christian world.
Works of Antoni GaudíBarcelonaCataloniaThe architecture of Antoni Gaudí is part of the Modernist style, but his designs are described as highly unique. The original listing featured Park Güell, Palau Güell, and Casa Milà; the 2005 extension added Casa Vicens, the crypt and nativity façade of Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló, and the crypt at Colònia Güell.
Santiago de Compostela Santiago de CompostelaGaliciaThe Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is the reputed burial-place of the apostle James, and is the terminus of the Way of St. James, a pilgrimage across northern Spain. The town was destroyed by Muslims in the 10th century and rebuilt during the following century.
Old Town of Ávila with its Extra-Muros ChurchesCastile and LeónThe defensive wall surrounding the original town was constructed in the 11th century. It features 82 semicircular towers and 9 gates, and is one of the most complete examples of town walls in Spain.
Mudéjar Architecture of AragonAragonThe original listing contained four churches in Teruel in the Mudéjar style, a blending of traditional Islamic and contemporary European styles. In 2001, the listing was expanded to include an additional six monuments.
Historic City of ToledoToledoCastile-La ManchaToledo was founded by the Romans, served as the capital of the Visigothic Kingdom, was important in Muslim Spain and during the Reconquista, and briefly served as the capital of Spain. The city combines Christian, Muslim, and Jewish influences.
Garajonay National ParkLa GomeraCanary IslandsThe park is 70% covered by laurisilva or laurel forest, vegetation from the Paleogene period that disappeared from mainland Europe due to climate change, but had covered much of the southern continent.
Old City of SalamancaSalamancaCastile and LeónSalamanca is important as a university city, as the University of Salamanca, founded in 1218, is the oldest in Spain and among the oldest in Europe. The city was first conquered by the Carthaginians in the 3rd century, and later ruled by the Romans and Moors. The city centre represents Romanesque, Gothic, Moorish, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture.
Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in SevilleSevilleAndalusiaThe Alcázar was built during the Almohad dynasty that ruled southern Spain until the Reconquista. The cathedral dates to the 15th century and holds the tombs of Ferdinand III and Christopher Columbus. The Archivo houses documents relating to the colonization of the Americas.
Old Town of CáceresCáceresExtremaduraThe old town combines Roman, Islamic, Northern Gothic, and Italian Renaissance architectural influences, including more than 30 Islamic towers.
Ibiza, Biodiversity and CultureIbizaBalearic IslandsThe coast of Ibiza is home to posidonia oceanica, a seagrass only found in the Mediterranean that supports a diverse coastal and marine ecosystem. The island also contains numerous Phoenician ruins, and the fortified and walled older portions of the city date to the 16th century.
Poblet MonasteryVimbodíCataloniaThe monastery was founded by the Cistercians in 1151 and is one of the largest in Spain. It is associated with various royal families in medieval Spain, particularly the kings of the Crown of Aragon, a composite monarchy of the dynastic union of the Kingdom of Aragon and the County of Barcelona. It is the burial place of Ramon Berenguer IV Compte de Barcelona, Alfons II d'Aragó, Pere II d'Aragó, Jaume I d'Aragó, Pere III d'Aragó, Alfons III d'Aragó, Jaume II d'Aragó, Alfons IV d'Aragó, Pere IV d'Aragó, Joan I d'Aragó and Martí I d'Aragó.
Renaissance Monumental Ensembles of Úbeda and BaezaAndalusiaRenovations of the two towns in the 16th century were done under the emerging Renaissance style and are among the first examples of the style in Spain.
Archaeological Ensemble of MéridaMéridaExtremaduraMérida was founded in 25 BC by the Romans as Emerita Augusta and was the capital of the Lusitania province. Remains from the Roman era include a bridge, aqueduct, amphitheatre, theatre, circus, and forum.
Royal Monastery of Santa María de GuadalupeGuadalupeExtremaduraThe monastery is home of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a shrine to Mary found in the 13th century after being buried from Muslim invaders in 714. The Virgin of Guadalupe and the monastery served as important symbols during the Reconquista, culminating in 1492, the same year as Columbus' discovery of America. The Guadalupe Virgin became an important symbol during the evangelization of America.
Route of Santiago de Compostela—The Route, or the Way of St. James, is a pilgrimage from the French-Spanish border to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, where the apostle James is believed to be buried.
Doñana National ParkAndalusiaThe park consists of the delta region where the Guadalquivir River reaches the Atlantic Ocean. It is home to a diverse variety of biotopes, such as lagoons, marshlands, dunes, and maquis. The park is one of the largest heronries in the Mediterranean region and holds more than 500,000 water fowl during the winter period.
Pirineos – Monte Perdido*Province of HuescaAragon The site contains the Pyrenees mountain chain along the French-Spanish border. The Spanish portion contains two of the largest canyons in Europe, while the French side contains three large cirque walls.
Historic Walled Town of CuencaCuencaCastile-La ManchaThe Moors built the fortified city in the early 8th century, and it was captured by the Christians in the 12th century. The cathedral is the first Gothic example in Spain. The town is also famous for its casas colgadas, houses that hang over the edge of a cliff.
La Lonja de la Seda de ValenciaValenciaValencian CommunityLa Lonja de la Seda means Silk Exchange in English, and the group of Gothic buildings demonstrate the wealth of Valencia as an important Mediterranean and European mercantile city in the period.
Las MédulasPonferradaCastile and LeónThe Romans established a gold mine and worked the site for two centuries. They used an early form of hydraulic mining and cut aqueducts in the rock cliffs to provide water for the operations. The Romans left in the early 3rd century, leaving sheer cliff faces and mining infrastructure that is intact today.
Palau de la Música Catalana and Hospital de Sant Pau, BarcelonaBarcelonaCataloniaBoth buildings were constructed in the early 20th century and designed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner in the modernist Art Nouveau movement that was very popular in Barcelona in that period. The two buildings are Montaner's most famous works.
San Millán Yuso and Suso MonasteriesSan Millán de la CogollaLa RiojaThe original Suso monastery was founded in the mid-6th century, and is the location where the Glosas Emilianenses were written. The codixes are considered the first written examples of the Spanish and Basque languages, and the monastery is considered the birthplace of written and spoken Spanish. The newer Yuso monastery was built in the 16th century.
Prehistoric Rock-Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde*—Castile and León The original 1998 listing contained examples of Upper Paleolithic rock art in the Côa Valley of Portugal. In 2010 it was extended to include 645 engravings in the archaeological zone of Siega Verde in Spain. The two sites represent the most well-preserved collection of open-air Palaolithic art in the Iberian peninsula.
Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula—The site includes over 750 examples of rock art from the late prehistoric period, which feature images ranging from geometric shapes to scenes of men hunting animals.
Archaeological Ensemble of TárracoTarragonaCataloniaThe prominent Roman city of Tárraco at the site of modern-day Tarragona served as the capital of the provinces of Hispania Citerior and later Hispania Tarraconensis. The amphitheatre was constructed in the 2nd century. Most remains are only fragments or preserved under more modern buildings.
University and Historic Precinct of Alcalá de HenaresAlcalá de HenaresMadridCardinal Cisneros founded the University of Alcalá in 1499 and is the first example of the planned university city, serving as a model to other European universities and Spanish missionaries in America. The city is the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes, known for his contributions to the Spanish language and Western literature.
San Cristóbal de La LagunaSan Cristóbal de La LagunaCanary IslandsThe city has an original and unplanned Upper Town, and "city-territory" Lower Town. It was Spain's first non-fortified colonial town and served as a model for development in America. Many religious-function buildings and other public and private buildings date to the 16th century.
Palmeral of ElcheElcheValencian CommunityThe grove of date palm trees was formally laid out with irrigation systems under the Moors in the 10th century. The palmeral is a rare example of Arab agricultural practices in Europe.
Roman Walls of LugoLugoGaliciaThe walls built to protect the Roman town of Lucus in the 3rd century remain entirely intact and are the best remaining example in Western Europe.
Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de BoíVall de BoíCataloniaThe small valley at the edge of the Pyrenees contains churches in Romanesque style decorated with Romanesque murals, statues, and altars. The churches are unique for their tall, square bell towers.
Archaeological Site of AtapuercaAtapuercaCastile and LeónThe caves in the Atapuerca Mountains contain fossil remains of the earliest human beings discovered in Europe dating from nearly one million years ago. The Sima de los Huesos or "Pit of Bones" contains the world's largest collection of hominid fossils.
Aranjuez Cultural LandscapeAranjuezMadridThe landscape around the Royal Palace of Aranjuez was developed by the Spanish royal family over a course of three centuries and contains innovative horticultural and design ideas. The area was the exclusive property of the royal family until the 19th century when the modern civilian city developed.
Vizcaya BridgePortugaleteBasque CountryThe bridge was designed by Alberto Palacio to cross the Nervion without disrupting maritime traffic to the Port of Bilbao. It was built in 1893 and is the world's first transporter bridge.
Teide National ParkTenerifeCanary IslandsThe park contains Mount Teide, a volcano and the highest elevation in Spain.
Tower of HerculesA CoruñaGaliciaThe Romans built this lighthouse on a rock to mark the entrance to the A Coruña harbor. It is the only fully preserved and functioning Roman lighthouse.
Cultural Landscape of the Serra de TramuntanaMajorcaBalearic IslandsThe cultural landscape of Serra de Tramuntana on the north western coast of Majorca has been transformed by a millennia of agriculture involving water management devices such as agricultural terraces, interconnected water works -including water mills - and dry stone constructions and farms. This landscape revolves around farming units of feudal origins.
Heritage of Mercury. Almadén and Idrija*AlmadénCastile-La Mancha Almaden is an ancient mercury mining town with buildings relating to its mining history, including Retamar Castle, religious buildings, mining university and traditional dwellings.
Antequera Dolmens SiteAntequeraAndalusiaLocated at the heart of Andalusia in southern Spain, the site comprises three megalithic monuments: the Menga and Viera dolmens and the Tholos of El Romeral, and two natural monuments: La Peña de los Enamorados and El Torcal mountainous formations, which are landmarks within the property. Built during the Neolithic and Bronze Age out of large stone blocks, these monuments form chambers with lintelled roofs or false cupolas. These three tombs, buried beneath their original earth tumuli, are one of the most remarkable architectural works of European prehistory and one of the most important examples of European Megalithism.
Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe*Castile and León, Navarre, Castile-La Mancha, and Community of Madrid N/APrimeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians are used to study the spread of the beech tree in the Northern Hemisphere across a variety of environments and the environment in the forest. The addition of the Ancient Beech Forests of Germany in 2011 included five forests totaling that are added to the of Slovakian and Ukrainian beech forests inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2007. The site was further expanded in 2017 to include forests in 9 additional European countries.
Caliphate City of Medina AzaharaCórdobaAndalusiaN/AThe Caliphate city of Medina Azahara is an archaeological site of a city built in the mid-10th century CE by the Umayyad dynasty as the seat of the Caliphate of Cordoba. After prospering for several years, it was laid to waste during the civil war that put an end to the Caliphate in 1009-10.
Risco Caído and the sacred mountains of Gran Canaria Cultural LandscapeGran Canaria island1578; 2019
iii, v

Sites by autonomous community

Exclusive sites refer to sites locating in a single community. Shared sites refer to sites with entries in multiple communities, including Pirineos – Monte Perdido, which Aragon shares with France, Prehistoric Rock-Art Sites in the Côa Valley and Siega Verde, which Castile and León shares with Portugal and Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests which Navarre, Castile and León, Community of Madrid and Castile-La Mancha shares with other countries of Europe.
CommunityExclusive sitesShared sites
Andalusia71
Castile and León63
Catalonia51
Canary Islands4
Galicia31
Madrid31
Extremadura3
Castile-La Mancha23
Valencian Community21
Balearic Islands2
Aragon13
Asturias12
Basque Country11
La Rioja11
Cantabria2
Navarre2
Murcia1

Tentative list

In addition to sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, member states can maintain a list of tentative sites that they may consider for nomination. Nominations for the World Heritage List are only accepted if the site was previously listed on the tentative list. As of 2016, Spain recorded 32 sites on its tentative list. At 2018, the sites, along with the year they were included on the tentative list are:
  1. Romanesque Cultural Enclave in the North of Castile and León and the South of Cantabria
  2. Bulwarked Frontier Fortifications
  3. The Silver Route
  4. Mediterranean Wind Mills
  5. Greek Archaeological ensemble in Empúries, l'Escala, Girona Province
  6. The Ribeira Sacra
  7. The Mediterranean Facet of the Pyrenees
  8. Talayotic culture of Minorca
  9. Mesta Livestock trails
  10. Roman Ways. Itineraries of the Roman Empire
  11. Ancares – Somiedo
  12. Loarre Castle
  13. Ferrol of the Illustration Historical Heritage
  14. Mining Historical Heritage
  15. Plasencia - Monfragüe - Trujillo: Mediterranean Landscape
  16. Jaén Cathedral
  17. Salty Valley of Añana
  18. La Rioja and Rioja Alavesa Vine and Wine Cultural Landscape
  19. Priorat - Montsant - Siurana. Agricultural Landscape of the Mediterranean Mountain
  20. Site of the Retiro and the Prado in Madrid
  21. The Portal of the Ripoll Monastery
  22. Hill of the Seu Vella of Lleida
  23. Monastery of Santa María de La Rábida and the Columbus Memorial Places in Huelva
  24. Church of San Salvador de Valdediós
  25. The Olive Grove Landscapes of Andalusia
  26. The Wine in Iberia
  27. Cíes Islands – Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park

    Memory of the World

In Spain there are 6 inscriptions of the category Memory of the World Programme awarded by the UNESCO: Capitulations of Santa Fe, Treaty of Tordesillas, Llibre del Sindicat de Remença, Cortes of León, materials related to the keicho era mission to Europe, and Archivo General de Simancas.

Pending transboundary nominations

In 2014, the idea to nominate the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade Route was initiated by the Mexican ambassador to UNESCO with the Filipino ambassador to UNESCO.
An Experts' Roundtable Meeting was held at the University of Santo Tomas on April 23, 2015 as part of the preparation of the Philippines for the possible transnational nomination of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade Route to the World Heritage List. The nomination will be made jointly with Mexico.
The following are the experts and the topics they discussed during the roundtable meeting: Dr. Celestina Boncan on the Tornaviaje; Dr. Mary Jane A. Bolunia on Shipyards in the Bicol Region; Mr. Sheldon Clyde Jago-on, Bobby Orillaneda, and Ligaya Lacsina on Underwater Archaeology; Dr. Leovino Garcia on Maps and Cartography; Fr. Rene Javellana, S.J. on Fortifications in the Philippines; Felice Sta. Maria on Food; Dr. Fernando Zialcita on Textile; and Regalado Trota Jose on Historical Dimension. The papers presented and discussed during the roundtable meeting will be synthesized into a working document to establish the route's Outstanding Universal Value.
The Mexican side reiterated that they will also follow suit with the preparations for the route's nomination.
Spain has also backed the nomination of the route in the World Heritage List and has also suggested the archives related to the route under the possession of the Philippines, Mexico, and Spain to be nominated as part of another UNESCO list, the Memory of the World Register. At the same time, Spain has also backed the possible nomination of "Spanish Colonial Fortifications of the Philippines" in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
In 2017, the Philippines established the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Museum in Metro Manila, one of the necessary steps in nominating the trade route to UNESCO.
Type SiteLocationNominated InImage
MixedThe Historic ManilaAcapulco Galleon Trade RoutePhilippines and MexicoUNESCO World Heritage List
Archives on the ManilaAcapulco Galleon TradeSpain, Philippines, and MexicoUNESCO Memory of the World Register