Ubeda and Baeza, Spain - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Ubeda and Baeza, Spain

Weather: Showers early, 44/66F.

Route: From Cordoba 147 km east on A-4.

Population: Ubeda - 34,602, Baeza - 15,902

Significance: Ubeda and Baeza are towns near each other than have incredible Renaissance architecture.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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El Salvador chapel (from whc.unesco.org)

Basilica de Santa Maria (from whc.unesco.org)

Cordoba, Spain - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Cordoba, Spain

Weather: Rain showers early with some sunshine later, 50/73F.

Route: From Merida 222 km SW from N-432.

Population: 325,708

Places to visit: Mezquita Cathedral de Cordoba, Jewish Quarter, Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos, Palacio de Viana, Roman bridge, Museo Arqueologico de Cordoba, Calahorra Tower, Medina Azahara, Museo de Julio Romero de Torres, Casa Analusi, Palacio de la Merced.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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The Cathedral of Cordoba, which was originally a Mosque (from whc.unesco.org)

The main square in Cordoba (from whc.unesco.org)

Merida, Spain - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Merida, Spain

Weather: Light rain early with thunderstorms developing in the afternoon, 54/71F.

Route: From Guadalupe 125 km WSW EX-116 and N-430.

Population: 59,358

Significance: In 29 B.C., under the leadership of Emperor Augustus, Rome overtook all of the Iberian peninsula. Merida was one of the most important centers of power for the Romans. There are still many buildings standing from Roman times, including a bridge, amphitheatre, circus and water supply system.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site 

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The amphitheatre (from whc.unesco.org)

A Roman tile mosaic (from whc.unesco.org)

Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Guadalupe, Spain - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Guadalupe, Spain

Weather: Light rain with thunderstorms by evening, 51/65F.

Route: From Caceres 120 km east on A-58 and EX-102.

Population: 1,988

Significance: In the 13th century a shepherd found a statue of the virgin Mary. The statue became an object of veneration because it was supposedly hidden there in the 8th century, when Muslims invaded and took over most of the Iberian peninsula. The monastery was built mostly in the 14th and 15th centuries. It became connected to the new world when Christopher Columbus made it his first visit after returning from the new world - to thank god for his discovery.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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The monastery (from whc.unesco.org)

The statue of the virgin Mary that was found by the shepherd (from whc.unesco.org)

Caceres, Spain - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Caceres, Spain

Weather: Light rain with thunderstorms, 54/66F.

Route: From Salamanca 202 km south on A-66.

Population: 96,068

Significance: An incredible diversity of Islamic, Roman, Gothic and Renaissance buildings. 

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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Caceres main square (from whc.unesco.org)

Caceres Cathedral (from whc.unesco.org)

Salamanca, Spain - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Salamanca, Spain

Weather: Cloudy, some light rain, 44/65F.

Route: From Avila 104 km WNW on A-50.

Population: 143,978

Significance: Salamanca is one of the oldest university towns in Europe - the university started in the 11th century. However, the city dates back to well before the Romans - in the 3rd century BC Hannibal of the Carthaginians took the town.  The town has examples of many types of architecture from the 15th century to the 18th century.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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The Plaza Mayor (from whc.unesco.org)

The old city at night (from whc.unesco.org)

Avila, Spain - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Avila, Spain

Weather: Cloudy with periods of light rain, 45/61F.

Route: From Segovia 64 km WSW on N-110 and AP-51.

Population: 57,657

Significance: The walls of this town are some of the most complete I've seen. The town was built in the 11th century as Christians were attempting to defend themselves and fight against the Muslims who had conquered them.  It is also known as the city where St. Teresa was born.  There is also a large Gothic cathedral here.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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The walled city (from whc.unesco.org)

Avila Cathedral (from whc.unesco.org)

Segovia, Spain - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Segovia, Spain

Weather: Cloudy with showers, 46/63F.

Route: From Alcala de Henares 126 km NW on A-6.

Population: 51,683

Significance: The jewel of Segovia is a 2,000 year old aqueduct that brought water into the town up until the 19th century. It is incredibly well preserved. Watch the video below to see how it has been so durable.  There is also a 16th century cathedral and a fairy tale castle first built in the 12th century, but rebuilt in the 19th century.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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The aqueduct (from whc.unesco.org)

The old town and cathedral (from whc.unesco.org)

Alaca de Henares, Spain - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Alaca de Henares, Spain

Weather: Generally sunny, 41/55F.

Route: From Madrid 35 km ENE on A-2.

Population: 193,751

Significance: Although there is history here since Roman times, Alaca de Henares was mostly built in its present form in the 16th century as a planned university town by Cardinal Jiménez de Cisneros, and was used as a model for colonies in South America.  It was also the hometown of Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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The Rectorado of the University (from whc.unesco.org)

The main courtyard of the University (from whc.unesco.org)

Madrid, Spain

 Place: Madrid, Spain

Weather: Cloudy with showers, 47/65F.

Route: From Toledo 73 km NNE on A-42.

Population: 3,223,334

Places to visit: Prado National Museum, Parque del Retiro, Royal Palace of Madrid, Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Museo Sorolla, Museo Arqueologico Nacional, Palacio de Cibeles.

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The old town of Madrid (from tripsavvy.com)

Palacio de Cibeles (from forbes.com)

Toledo, Spain - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Toledo, Spain

Weather: Cloudy with showers, 48/71F.

Route: From Cuenca 179 km west on A-40.

Population: 84,282

Nicknames: The Imperial City and The City of Three Cultures

Significance: Toledo has been an important city since Roman times. It is called the City of Three Cultures because Muslims, Jews, and Christians have all made major contributions to the city. 

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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Aerial view of the city (from whc.unesco.org)

Toledo Cathedral (from whc.unesco.org)

Cuenca, Spain - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Cuenca, Spain

Weather: Cloudy with occasional rain showers, 37/62F.

Route: From Valencia 200 km WNW on A-3.

Population: 54,898

Significance: Cuenca is built on a narrow ridge between two rivers. It was originally constructed by Muslims in the 8th century, due to its defensive position. It was reconquered by Christians in the 12th century.  Many of the houses hang out over the cliffs.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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The town and surrounding countryside (from whc.unesco.org)

One of the larger "hanging houses" (from whc.unesco.org)

Valencia, Spain

 Place: Valencia, Spain

Weather: AM showers, 55/66F.

Route: From Teruel 144 km SSE on A-23.

Population: 801,456

Places to visit: Bioparc Valencia, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Oceanografic Valencia, Parroquia de San Nicolas de Bari y San Pedro Martir, La Lonja de la Seda (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Valencia Cathedral, Jardi del Turia.

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Center for Arts and Sciences and Opera House designed by Santiago Calatrava (from passportandplates.com)

Old town by the beach (from bookmundi.com)

Teruel, Spain - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Teruel, Spain

Weather: Cloudy with occasional rain showers, 43/70F.

Route: From Poblet Monastery 368 km SW on AP-2 and A-23.

Population: 35,691

Significance: Teruel is situated in Aragon, a part of Spain that was occupied by Muslims until the 12th century. After Christians retook the area there were some Muslims who stayed behind - the Mudejar.  These Muslims helped to build the new churches, but with an Arabic style.  There are churches like this all over Aragon.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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The Cathedral of Teruel (from whc.unesco.org)

A ceiling in one of the churches (from whc.unesco.org)

Poblet Monastery, Spain - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Poblet Monastery, Spain

Weather: Light rain early with showers in the afternoon, 45/65F.

Route: From Barcelona 125 km west on AP-7 and AP-2.

Significance: Built between the 12th and 15th centuries, it is one of the largest Cistercian Abbeys in the world. It had such great importance that several Kings and Queens of Catalonia and Aragon are buried here.  The monastery still has 30 active monks.

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The monastery has surrounding agricultural land that is still managed by the monks (from whc.unesco.org)

The fortified walls of the abbey (from whc.unesco.org)

Barcelona, Spain - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Barcelona, Spain

Weather: Cloudy, some light rain likely, 50/61F.

Route: From Taull 300 km SE on N-230 and A2.

Population: 1,620,323

Places to visit: Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, Casa Batllo, Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau, Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Parc de Montjuic, Parc Guell, Monestir de Santa Maria de Lluca, Museu Picasso, Museu d'Historia de Barcelona.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage websites for two architects of Barcelona - Antoni Gaudi and Lluis Domenech i Montaner.

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Aerial view of the city including Basilica de la Sagrada Familia (from 10best.com)

Staircase at Parc Guell (from whc.unesco.org)

Taull, Spain - Vall de Boi - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Taull, Spain

Weather: Partly cloudy skies, 41/62F.

Route: From Toulouse 220 km south on A64 and N-230.

Significance: Taull is one of a handful of towns in the Vall de Boi that have Romanesque churches from the 11th and 12th centuries that were made UNESCO World Heritage Sites.  The Vall de Boi is the the Catalan region of Spain, high in the Pyrenees mountains.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

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St. Climent de Taull (from whc.unesco.org)

Interior mural in St. Climent de Taull, a masterpiece of Romanesque art (from whc.unesco.org)