Spain is the fourth-largest country in Europe. It has everything from stone castles and sophisticated cities to flat plains, and snowcapped mountains, all of which have made it a favored travel destination.
So, to show our love for it, we at Bored Panda put together a list of photos that accentuate Spain's geographical and cultural diversity.
Taken both by locals and tourists, these images paint an accurate picture of what it's like to live in or visit this distinct place on Earth.
This post may include affiliate links.
Shade On A Street In Jerez, Spain
Fighting The Heat: Spanish Artists Decorate The Shopping District In Malaga With A Colorful Crocheted Canopy
To get a better understanding of Spain, Bored Panda got in touch with A Lady in London, an adventurous traveler who has already visited 112 countries.
"When I think of Spain, I think of excellent food, vibrant culture, world-class cities, and rich cultural heritage," she told us.
"The things that set the country apart for me are the rich history and diverse culinary offerings."
This Forest With Trees Covered In Green Moss Right After All Of The Colorful Leaves Fell To The Ground In Basque Country (An Autonomous Region In Northeastern Spain)
Looks like something out of a fairy tale, especially shrouded in thick fog.
In Spanish-Speaking Countries, The Tooth Fairy Is A Mouse (Ratoncito Pérez). This Is My Dentist's Office
Puente Nuevo (New Bridge) In Ronda, Spain Is One Of The Most Beautiful Places On Earth
Indeed, the country's history is as rich as it gets. Remains of Stone Age populations dating back some 35,000 years have been found all throughout Spain.
Celtic people arrived there in the 9th century BCE, followed by the Romans, who dominated Spain from around 200 BCE until the Visigoth invasion in the early 5th century CE.
In the early 8th century, most of the peninsula fell to Muslims (Moors) from North Africa, and it remained under their control until it was gradually reconquered by the Christian kingdoms of Castile, Aragon, and Portugal.
Waterfall Clouds In Spain
Cordoba Patio Festival In Spain. Each Year In May, Residents Open Up Their Patios For The Public To View Their Unique Displays
Setenil De Las Bodegas, A Town In Southern Spain, Known For Its Whitewashed Houses Built Into The Surrounding Cliffs
In Salzburger Altstadt (Old City of Salzburg, Austria), many of the houses have been built with their back against Mönchsberg. There is a rather unique profession there named 'Bergputzer' (mountain patcher/mender) who climb down the city side of the cliff looking for cracks to seal. If water seeps into these cracks, it will turn to ice in the winter and expand, risking huge blocks of stone to be broken off and falling down on the houses beneath it. I wonder if the same risk and profession exist in the city pictured.
The Urinals At This Bar In Barcelona, Spain Are Interesting
A literal "Potty Mouth". Couldn't have picked a better example if they tried.
Spain was reunited in 1479 following the marriage of Ferdinand II (of Aragon) and Isabella I (of Castile). The last Muslim kingdom, Granada, was regained in 1492, and at about this time Spain established a colonial empire in the Americas.
The country became a republic in 1931 but a civil war ravaged the country from 1936 to 1939 and ended in victory for the Nationalists under Gen. Francisco Franco, who ruled as a dictator until his death in 1975. His successor as head of state, Juan Carlos I, restored the monarchy with his accession to the throne; a new constitution in 1978 established a constitutional monarchy.
Statue Of Neptune In Gran Canaria, Spain. Possibly, The Coolest Statue In The World
This Church Has Been Under Construction Since 1882 - The Basílica De La Sagrada Família In Barcelona, Spain
138 years and is set to finish in 2026.
Well lol, the architect ( Gaudí ) died, after he kicked the bucket no One had any idea of how to finish it lol, especially because his " miniatures " of the cathedral where either robbed or destroyed ( i don't remember all the details ) still, its supose to be done by 2026, but then again it was supose to be done in early 2000s then i believe was 2016 or something like that, then 2020 or 2022, now its 2026.....lol
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We went to Barca several years ago. I wasn't feeling well due to medication side effects and am not a "church" person at all, so I was really downer on going to see Sagrada Familia. I was SOOOO wrong. It's one of the most fascinating buildings I've ever seen, and the interior is like a normal church inside of of fairy tale. Truly a great experience and one I'd like to have again when I'm not churlish and nauseated.
I highly recommend visiting in the evening when most of the tourist crowds have left. The fading sunlight filtering through the stained glass makes the interior of the church look like it has been painted in rainbow hues. Truly amazing. Antoni Gaudí was such an amazing architect and artist.
Thanks for writing this Loki. Saved me the keystrokes
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I've been there, it's a wonderful building of Art, even for an atheist one can appreciate all that Gaudi thought out 😊 And talking about Gaudi, take the time to visit Parque Güell, that is awesome!
Another cathedral being built in Spain - singlehandedly - and now with the help of one other person........ https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20170224-the-man-who-built-a-cathedral-with-his-own-hands
Up-vote for your name alone! Please let extreme ironing by echidnas be the next new competition/reality show!
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This is so beautiful and mesmerizing. I would love to see all the architects views.
I bet you would lol, the engineers and the builders would like that to lololol. ( The reason why its taking almost One and a half centuries to build it it because the plans have disapeared, Gaudí had miniatures of the different segments of the cathedral done, but after his death they where either stolen or destroyed, so most of the engineers where kind of guessing and they still are )
Load More Replies... Sagrada Família is to normal churches as biblically accurate angels are to normal angels.
Last time I was there was 1978. amazing even then. Gaudi was ... um (words fail me)
A truely incredible building, even from an atheist perspective. But once they’ve finished building it becomes a church and no more tourist walk throughs.
Gaudi! Wow, wow,wowowowowowowow!! Who could they find to match his architectural vision and creativity?
Important note on this. They're building it entirely with money from tourists visits
Been there... seen that. Avoided the giant queue of tourists by walking around it and admiring it from a distance.
There is no way that building is 138 years old. It looks like it was built last year.
Here's a photo of how it looked the year he died 370B27D2-E...2-jpeg.jpg 
The book "Origins" by Dan Brown has some scenes in La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Good book!
I went to see it while on holiday in Barcelona this summer. It is the most wonderfully bonkers building I've ever seen.
I was there 30 years ago, before the roof was put on. I climbed up one of the spires, the view of Barcelona was amazing.
They trying to build a church to accommodate every single person living there?
Na dude, it was that mentality that the " house of God " had to be massive and sumptuous remember, that cathedral is from the 18 hundreds and Spain is a " crazy " catholic country.
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All that money, time, blood, sweat and tears which could have been used for so much more. A building representing a religion that promotes so much misery, hubris and greed.
That's really a poorly thought out, over generalized blanket statement. You can find terrible people in just about any religion or belief system. Even atheists can be pure trash.
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I’ve been inside. It’s incredible. And funded by tourists entrance fees and donations. People make beautiful things for the sake of beauty. I don’t believe that to be a waste of money, in principle
Load More Replies...Water Boat Fountain (Fuente Del Barco De Agua), Located At Playa De La Malvarrosa In Valencia, Spain
Exploring The Hidden Beauty Of Andalucia, Spain
A Lady in London thinks you can see the country at various times of the year, but it depends on where you go.
"I love visiting cities like Sevilla in the spring during Semana Santa, a festival that takes place in the run-up to Easter," she said. "The streets fill with processions during the day, and the city comes alive with everyone going to the tapas bars at night."
"Madrid and Barcelona can get busy in the summer season, so I like visiting them in the winter. The Basque country is great in the summer, as cities like San Sebastian have great beaches (not to mention the food!)."
Vertical Garden In Madrid, Spain
Built In The Year 112 By The Romans Without Any Kind Of Mortar Or Cement, This Is The 15 Km Long Still Working Aqueduct Of Segovia, Spain
In Spain There's A Winery That Has A Fountain With Free Wine
El Marco, The Tiny Bridge Between Spain And Portugal, Is The Smallest International Bridge In The World. It Has A Length Of 3.2 Meters
I feel I should point out that this is not the ONLY way from Spain to Portugal! Lol
Food is a strong foundation of Spanish culture. The blend of Arab, Roman, Jewish, and Mediterranean cuisine results in a very exciting mix of ingredients and flavors.
Predominant ingredients of Spanish gastronomy include garlic, tomato, pepper, potatoes, beans, and curated meats.
The country produces large quantities of high-quality olive oil and wine.
Spanish people enjoy a style of appetizer and snack known as tapas. Las tapas are usually a collection of small preparations like cold cuts, cheeses, croquetas (croquettes), calamares (squid), and more.
Meanwhile In Madrid, Someone Sculpted The Venus De Milo Out Of Snow
The Ticket To A Chocolate Museum In Barcelona Is A Chocolate
This Cathedral In Murcia, Spain Has A 3D Model For Blind People To Touch And Feel What The Cathedral Looks Like
There's a fabulous model outside the cathedral in València too, so you can appreciate the structure. It never occurred to me that it could be for the blind as it's so interesting for everyone. And the train station also has a model inside, as it's a really beautiful old building, that's not usually appreciated when you're rushing for a train. I wonder if all Spanish cities do this?
Selenite Cave Found In Spain
Located in Pulpi, Almería, if you wanna come, these are the coordenates 37°22′54″N 1°42′07″O / 37.381741666667, -1.7019694444444
"Once you're in Spain, getting around by train can be a great way to travel between major cities," A Lady in London said. "It's more difficult from smaller cities, though, so make sure to plan ahead and check schedules."
"Getting off the beaten path can be rewarding, too. Places like Galicia get fewer visitors than popular destinations like the Costa del Sol."
The Local Municipality In Cartagena, Spain Built A House For The Cats
Melting Ice In The Sierra Nevada, Granada, Spain
A 100-Year-Old Church In Spain Converted Into A Skatepark
I'm not sure about the skatepark but imho it would be a great idea to transform less used churches into friendly places for people to meet or hanging out. Less and less people are religious so why waste a great architecture if you can create a safe, cozy space out of it? Like, you know, it would be great to have a wonderous architecture, stained glasses and whatnot AND comfy chairs and coffee.
There Is A Restaurant In Spain Called El Diablo That Grills Its Food Over An Active Volcano
I would really love for my volcano nerd family to experience this one day!
Castillo De Coca (Castle Of Coca) - Central Spain
Trams In Seville (Spain) Have Fast Charging Batteries, Therefore Not Needing Catenaries Along The Track. The Trams Charge For About 15 Seconds Every Stop
Underwater Museum In Lanzarote Playa Blanca, Spain
This Is A Book Vending Machine. Found In Madrid, Spain. I've Never Seen One Before
The Size Of This Flag Flown On A Spanish Ship At The Battle Of Trafalgar (1805) Compared To The Size Of People Around It
The Los Ficus Building Is Built Under A Road In Tenerife, Spain. 60 Homes That Were Built In The '60s Supporting A Road That Goes Down To The Coastline
Giant Hives Hanging From The Ceiling Enclosed In A Glass Case With Outdoor Access At “Home Of Bees” In Poyales Del Hoyo, Spain
The Before And After In La Palma, Spain Where The "Cumbre Vieja" Volcano Erupted For 80+ Days In 2021
Barcelona Has Many Amazing Views But I Suggest This One From The Rooftop Bar Across From The Cathedral
This Village Is Built On A Basaltic Cliff More Than 50 Meters High And Spreads About 1 Kilometer Long (Castellfollit De La Roca, Spain)
It was formed by the erosive action of the Fluvià and Toronell rivers on the remains of lava flows from volcanic eruptions that took place over one hundred thousand years ago.
These Bins In Barcelona Have A Free Throw Line And A 3-Point Arc
Cute. Definitely encourages to throw out garbage; just hope they pickup the rebound
With The Huge Snowstorm In Madrid I Made A Moai Instead Of A Snowman (First Time Playing With Snow)
Street In Alicante, Spain
Please don't edit the photos so much. The ramblas of Alicante are beautiful without those heavily saturated colours
Temple Of The Sacred Heart, Barcelona, Spain
Beautiful Aragonite "Flowers" From A Cave In Mallorca Island, Spain
Barcelona Divided By Day And Night
Blossoms In Barcelona
Plaza De España - Seville, Spain (Summer 2019)
Found An Astronaut Carved Into The Entrance Of This 900-Year-Old Church In Salamanca, Spain
It was put there during a 1992 restoration. Still just floods the imagination.
This Is Madrid, Spain With Clean Air, A Rare Sight We Don't Get To See Often
Today I Saw This Girl Casually Painting In The El Prado Museum In Madrid
Castellers, Human Tower, Of Cataluña, Spain
I do love castellers. I am just vividly worried for the 5-7 YO little girls that need to climb to the top and wave the assistance.
We’re At Popcorn Beach In Fuerteventura. Real Name Rhodoliths
I have been to this place. Unfortunately many tourists took some of the 'popcorn' with them, which has already destroyed parts of this beach. Now there are hefty fines if you take some and get caught by the airport security Also the local authorities put up big signs to educate the tourists. Hopefully this will prevent people from destroying this unique beach.
A Thick Layer Of "Calima", Or Saharan Dust, Covering Large Parts Of Spain
Traditional "Tranga" Suit In Aragon, Spain. The Tradition Is Pre-Christian And Still Carries On Today
Note: this post originally had 140 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
Articles like this make me realize how superficial and uncultured my own country is... Don't think I need to mention what country I'm referring to.
To be fair, many people don't travel and think that the world is their country. My motto is .. have passport, will travel.
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I've been to Spain many times, it's A beautiful place with some sad traditions and sporting cultures that spring to mind, look up the Galgos dogs and how they are treated.
If you come to Bored Panda for cute animal pictures, don't look up galgos.
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Was it really necessary to add "Spain" to every title? Madrid (Spain), Seville (Spain)...we are not all Americans and can usually deduce that the Madrid in question in a page all about Spain is most likely the one in Spain and not the ones in Kentucky, Maine or Nebraska.
That's not nice, Pol. Not all Americans are idiots. I may not know all the cities in Spain, but I do know some of them. Please don't group all Americans together.
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Lest anyone think Spain is a paradise? Spain has corruption, far-right-wingers, misogynists, xenophobia, etc. just like any other nation you care to name. (Even your own.) And with the pandemic, their tourist industry really took a severe hit, so is BP advertising for them or something?
jeez..chill man. why are you so uptight? you need a holiday...i hear Spain is nice?
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The colored streets are a chippy of any street in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Also on Rio, there is an 18th century aquaduct that looks pretty similar to the one in Spain. Obviously, the author hasn't traveled that much to make such a statement!! Clearly...Simona Kinderytė has to grow a little older and get around a bit more b4 making such statements.
If the people weren't so racist, I'd go back to see the beauty of the country.
Articles like this make me realize how superficial and uncultured my own country is... Don't think I need to mention what country I'm referring to.
To be fair, many people don't travel and think that the world is their country. My motto is .. have passport, will travel.
Load More Replies... I've been to Spain many times, it's A beautiful place with some sad traditions and sporting cultures that spring to mind, look up the Galgos dogs and how they are treated.
If you come to Bored Panda for cute animal pictures, don't look up galgos.
Load More Replies... Was it really necessary to add "Spain" to every title? Madrid (Spain), Seville (Spain)...we are not all Americans and can usually deduce that the Madrid in question in a page all about Spain is most likely the one in Spain and not the ones in Kentucky, Maine or Nebraska.
That's not nice, Pol. Not all Americans are idiots. I may not know all the cities in Spain, but I do know some of them. Please don't group all Americans together.
Load More Replies... Lest anyone think Spain is a paradise? Spain has corruption, far-right-wingers, misogynists, xenophobia, etc. just like any other nation you care to name. (Even your own.) And with the pandemic, their tourist industry really took a severe hit, so is BP advertising for them or something?
jeez..chill man. why are you so uptight? you need a holiday...i hear Spain is nice?
Load More Replies... The colored streets are a chippy of any street in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Also on Rio, there is an 18th century aquaduct that looks pretty similar to the one in Spain. Obviously, the author hasn't traveled that much to make such a statement!! Clearly...Simona Kinderytė has to grow a little older and get around a bit more b4 making such statements.
If the people weren't so racist, I'd go back to see the beauty of the country.
