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UNESCO Cities of Spain: 15 Heritage Pearls

SpainForAll · 03.06.2026
Spain has 49 UNESCO sites—third in the world after Italy and China. Of these, 15 are entire cities. 1. TOLEDO (1986) — The Old Town of three cultures (Christian, Muslim, Jewish) on a hill overlooking the Tagus River. 2. SALAMANCA (1988) — The Baroque Plaza Mayor, Europe's oldest active university (1218). 3. CÁCERES (1986) — The medieval old town, the best-preserved in Spain. Game of Thrones filmed season 7 here. 4. ÁVILA (1985) — City walls with 88 towers (1090), Basilica of St. Vincent. 5. SEGOVIA (1985) — Roman aqueduct (1st century AD, 28 m high, dry), Alcázar (inspiration for Disney's Castle), the last Gothic cathedral in Spain. 6. CORDOBA (1984) — Mezquita-Catedral, Medina Azahara, Jewish Quarter. 7. GRANADA — Alhambra + Albaicín (1984, expanded 1994). 8. SEVILLE — Cathedral + Alcázar + Archives of the Indies (1987). 9. SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA (1985) — Old Town + Cathedral of the Camino's End. 10. CUENCA (1996) — Casas Colgadas (hanging houses over the ravine). 11. ALCALÁ DE HENARES (1998) — the first planned university city, birthplace of Cervantes. 12. SAN CRISTÓBAL DE LA LAGUNA, Tenerife (1999) — the first undefended colonial city (a model for Havana and Lima). 13. ÚBEDA + BAEZA, Jaén (2003) — Renaissance twin cities of Andalusia. 14. MÉRIDA (1993) — Roman theatre (16 BCE), amphitheater, aqueduct — the finest Roman ruins in Spain. 15. TARRAGONA (2000) — Tarraco Arqueológico — the finest Roman ruins on the Mediterranean coast.

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