What Makes Spain Special: Heritage, Culture and Regional Pride

Spain is a country of remarkable heritage and strong regional identities: 50 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the palaces of the Alhambra and the buildings of Gaudí, flamenco, the great pilgrimage to Santiago, several living languages and a food culture built for sharing. Here is what makes it special.

Fifty World Heritage Sites

UNESCO lists 50 World Heritage properties in Spain. Among them:

• Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín, Granada, one of the most beautiful palace complexes in the world
• Works of Antoni Gaudí, including his celebrated buildings in Barcelona
• Historic City of Toledo, shaped by Christian, Muslim and Jewish cultures
• Santiago de Compostela (Old Town), destination of the great pilgrimage
• Burgos Cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture
• Monastery and Site of the Escurial, a royal monastery near Madrid

The Camino de Santiago

For more than a thousand years, pilgrims have walked to Santiago de Compostela. The Camino still draws walkers from all over the world.

Flamenco

Flamenco, with its song, dance and guitar, is recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage and is one of Spain's most powerful cultural expressions.

Many Spains

Spanish is spoken nationwide, and Catalan, Galician and Basque are official in their own regions. Each region has its own traditions, food and festivals, and people are proud of the differences.

Great artists

Velázquez, Goya, Picasso, Dalí and Miró all came from Spain, and its museums are among the finest in the world.

Food for sharing

Tapas, paella, cured ham and long meals with friends are part of Spanish life, followed by the sobremesa, the unhurried conversation after a meal.

Carrying the pride with you

Palaces, pilgrimages, flamenco and food for sharing: Spain gives its people a great deal to celebrate. That pride is what our Spain designs are made for, and our guide to choosing a gift based on someone's home town shows how to make it personal.