1, Madrid Royal Palace
Madrid Royal Palace was built on the left bank of the Mansales River on the hill, it is the world's best preserved and one of the most exquisite palace. The original site of the Palace was the Habsburg Castle, which was burned down in 1734, and the construction of the new Palace began in 1738 and was completed 26 years later. The palace is a blend of traditional Spanish royal architecture and Baroque architecture, the whole is square, each side is 180 meters long.
Successive kings decorated the palace according to their own preferences, giving it a strong personal and contemporary stamp, such as the bedchamber of Carlos III, the Hall of Mirrors built by Carlos IV, and the luxurious dining room favored by Alfonso XII.
Salón del Trono: Built during the reign of Carlos II, the Salón del Trono's decor remains unchanged. The vaulted paintings in the hall tell the story of the era of the Spanish monarchs, highlighting in particular the reigns of the kings of the 18th century. Most of the hall's decorations were produced in the royal workshops, but there is no shortage of luxury items from afar, such as chandeliers with chandeliers from Venice, velvet embroidery from Naples, and bronze lion statues from Rome.
The Painting Gallery: a collection of works by painters from various schools of painting, including Juan de Flanders's Polyptych Screen of Isabella, Queen of the Catholics, Caravaggio's Heads of Salome and John the Baptist, as well as works by Velázquez and Goya.
2. Segovia
Segovia was chosen as a World Heritage Site in 1985. The Roman Elevated Diversion Bridge, built in the 1st century AD, is the symbol of Segovia and one of the best-protected monuments of the Roman Empire to date. The diversion bridge, which was used to draw water to the higher ground areas of the city, is 728 meters long, has 166 holes, and was constructed entirely of massive stone blocks, without the use of any mortar or cement.
The Casa de los Picos (House of the Diamond Tips), near the Plaza del Azoguejo (Market Square), is named for the decorative diamond-tipped motifs on its fa?ade.
The Plaza de Medina del Campo is home to two notable buildings: the Torreon de los Lozoya, with its opulent tower, and the Iglesia de San Martin, praised for its Mudéjar-style chain of arched spires.
The Catedral de Segovia, known as the "noblewoman of cathedrals," was the last Gothic structure built in Spain. An altarpiece called "Mercy" was made by Juan de Juni in 1571.
The Alcazar Castle, in the western part of the city, has a long history, but the original building has not survived and the present castle was rebuilt in 1862. There is a museum of arms in the castle, displaying military equipment once used in the fortress.
3. Zaragoza
Zaragoza is the capital of the Aragon region and a famous university town in Spain. Moors and Christians once lived here, leaving behind a rich cultural heritage. Zaragoza is also the hometown of Goya, the Spanish national treasure painter, and the center of pilgrimage to the Virgin Mary in Spain. The city's main attractions are centered around Pl. del Pilar, which can be explored on foot.
La Basilica de Nuestra Senora del Pilar: A Zaragoza landmark, the church of 11 domes and 4 towers is extremely imposing. The wet frescoes on the dome of the church were painted by Goya. The Church Gallery exhibits decorations and works of art that were originally displayed in the church. Legend has it that in 40 A.D., the Virgin Mary appeared to Santiago (or St. James) here and gave him a pillar (Pilar) on which to build a church, the Church of Our Lady of Pilar. A great festival is held every year in early October, with dances and bullfights.
Zaragoza Cathedral (La Seo): Originally a Gothic church, with additions, renovations and decorations in silversmithing, baroque and other artistic styles, the construction of the church was completed in the 14th century, the decorative screen of the central altar is a work of the 15th century, and the Crucifixion of Christ brocades were made in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Palacio de la Aljaferia: An Islamic palace built in the 11th century, it became the court of the Christian kings in the 12th century when the Kingdom of Aragon was capitalized in Zaragoza. Unique Islamic architectural features can be seen, such as arches, small mosques, holes in the walls towards Mecca, etc.. Later additions are ornate Visigothic.
The Tower of Star (Torreon de la Zuda): a walled tower from the 10th century that served as the official residence of the Moorish governor. In later renovations, a mixture of Mujaddid and Visigothic styles were used.
Goya's hometown: Fuendetedes, about 50 kilometers south of Zaragoza, is the hometown of Spain's national treasure, painter Goya. His first job after returning home from studying painting in Italy was to paint the wet frescoes in the Church of Our Lady of Pilar. Currently Goya's former residence is open as a museum, and Goya's works can also be appreciated at the Fiente Church in Muel and the Goya Museum of Prints and Drawings.
4,
Avila
Avila (vila) is 1,131 meters above sea level, is Spain's highest provincial capital city. It is an ancient city that has maintained its medieval style.
Muralla Medieval (Medieval Walls): the best-protected ancient walls in Europe, built since 1090. It is 2.5 kilometers long and consists of 6 gates, 88 towers and about 2,500 battlements. The walls can be ascended through the Gate of the Palace, the Gate of Loyalty and the Gate of Carmen.
Catedral de Avila: The military fortress-like towers are particularly striking, with a fa?ade that combines both Gothic and Baroque architectural styles, and a semi-circular back nave with a double space that reflects great architectural skill. The reliquary behind the main altar is a masterpiece by Vasco de la Salza.
Basilica de San Vicente: Located just outside the city walls, the Basilica was built in the 12th century A.D. It is the most important Romanesque building in ávila, and houses the Cloisters of St. Vicente the Martyr and his Sisters, and the mausoleums are decorated with reproductions of life in those days.
Real Monasterio de Santo Tomas: also located outside the city walls, this is a classic of the Isabel Gothic style, built in the 15th century AD. There is also the mausoleum of Prince Juan, son of Fernando and Isabel, known as the "Catholic Twins", built in Italian Carrara marble, which is one of the most outstanding parts of the monastery.
Convento de Santa Teresa: St. Teresa (1515-1582) was the founder of the Barefoot Carmelites of Christianity and one of the greatest Christian theologians. Built on the site of the former residence of Santa Teresa, the convent consists of a church, an orchard and a museum in Baroque and Neoclassical styles. Also the Monastery of Our Lady of Grace, the Monastery of San José and the Monastery of the Incarnation are associated with St. Teresa.
Four Pillars Terrace (Los Cuatro Postes): 2 kilometers from Avila, off the Salamanca Highway, is the best place to see the panoramic view of Avila.
5. Burgos
Burgos is an important cultural center on Santiago's pilgrimage route and was once the capital of the Kingdom of Castile.
The Arch of the Virgin Mary: a 14th-century gateway cut into the city walls and decorated with statues of local notables. It is the way to enter the old town.
Burgos Cathedral: Built in 1221 by King Fernando III himself, this is the third largest Catholic church in Spain and has been described as "as fine as a woman's jewel". It is the most important building in the city of Burgos and a World Heritage Site. The most beautiful part of the church is the Viceroy's Chapel, the Golden Staircase, the Salmenthal Gate and several other places, there is also a cathedral museum.
Church of St. Nicholas: The best thing to see is a magnificent colorful snowflake plaster altar sculpture.
St. Esteban's Church: built in 1280, it is now a museum of altarpieces.
House of Corton: the Catholic twin kings received Columbus here in 1497 A.D. when he returned from America for the second time.
Burgos Museum: built in two buildings, the Casa Miranda and the Casa Angulo, it is divided into two parts: the Archaeological Museum and the Art Museum.
Royal Holiday Monastery: converted into a monastery by Alfonso VIII in 1187. In the Chapel of Santiago is enshrined the statue of Santiago, under whose arm knights used to receive their titles.
Miraflorescaltes Monastery: founded in 1454. The church's altar is gilded with gold and is said to have been plated with the first gold Columbus brought back from the Americas.
Expanded Information
The Kingdom of Spain (Spanish: Reino de Espa?a; English: The Kingdom of Spain), referred to as Spain, is located in southwestern Europe, the Iberian Peninsula, is located in the junction of Europe and Africa, the west neighboring Portugal, the north bordering the Bay of Biscay. Northeast and France and Andorra border, south of the Strait of Gibraltar and Morocco in Africa, the territory also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean and Africa's Ceuta and Melilla. The country is mountainous, with a total area of 505,925 square kilometers, and its coastline is about 7,800 kilometers long. The number of countries with Spanish as an official language is the second largest in the world, after English.
In the Middle Ages, there were a number of countries coexisting in the territory, and after the victory of the Spanish Restoration Movement in 1492, a unified Spanish dynasty was established. In 1494, Spain signed the Treaty of Tordesillas with Portugal*** with the intention of dividing the world into two. In the middle of the 15th century to the end of the 16th century, it became the most powerful country in Europe during the Renaissance and the Sunset Empire that influenced the whole world. 1588 the Invincible Armada was crushed by England and began to decline. After two **** and states and a monarchy, a constitutional monarchy was declared in 1978.
Spain is a highly developed capitalist country and a member of the European Union and NATO, as well as the fifth-largest economy in the Eurozone, with the 6th largest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of any European country and the 13th largest in the world.
References: