Gold from the Americas once flowed through its ports.

Flamenco and tapas born in its streets.

This is a love letter to Sevilla — the Pearl of Andalucía... 🧵 Long before Spain existed, Sevilla was Ishbiliya, a major city under Muslim rule.

The Moors transformed it into a cultural capital: with grand mosques, gardens, and palaces.

More than 10,000 castles have marked Spain over time.

With 2,500 still standing today.

Here are the 20 castles & fortresses that help make Spain the most enchanting country on Earth... 🧵 1. Alcázar de Segovia

Perched on a rocky hill shaped like a ship’s bow, it is said to have inspired Disney’s Cinderella Castle.

Originally a fortress, later a royal palace, it is now a museum and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

🎥: vidapuraymundo

Today, Spain celebrates the region of Asturias.

One of the best-kept secrets in Spain.

It's hard to do a place like this justice, but here's my best shot… 🧵 1. Oviedo

The elegant Asturian capital, known for its clean streets, historic churches, and statues at every turn.

Its Gothic Cathedral houses the Cámara Santa, a UNESCO treasure holding relics like the Cross of Victory.

🎥: viajaconcris_

Tomorrow, Spain celebrates Extremadura.

One of the least-visited regions in the country, but one of my favorites.

Here's why everyone should visit at least once in their lives... 🇪🇸✨ 1. Mérida

The Roman capital of Lusitania and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It has the best-preserved set of Roman monuments in Spain, including the Theatre (still in use after 2,000 years), Amphitheatre, Aqueduct of Los Milagros, and Temple of Diana.

🎥: anastasia.viajera

The White Villages of Andalucía weren’t painted for beauty.

They were limewashed to fight disease and reflect the sun.

Today, they’re some of Spain’s most iconic villages. And these are my top 10... 🧵 1. Arcos de la Frontera (Cádiz)

The “gateway” to the Route of the Pueblos Blancos.

It clings to a sandstone ridge with with dramatic cliffs plunging into the Guadalete River. And its castle and Gothic church seem to float above the valley.

🎥: rutaideal

15 beaches and coves in Spain I would love to see with my own eyes... 🧵 1. Papagayo Beach

Located on the Island of Lanzarote, Papagayo is a crescent of golden sand framed by volcanic cliffs.

Its calm, turquoise waters are perfect for swimming and snorkeling.

For many, the Province of Gipuzkoa begins and ends with San Sebastián.

But just outside the city are villages and valleys rich in history and culture.

Here’s Gipuzkoa beyond the spotlight... 🧵 1. Hondarribia

A walled Basque fishing town facing France, famed for its sea-blue balconies, pintxo bars, and 10th-century castle (now a Parador).

🎥: visiteuskadi

Spain has more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than nearly every country on Earth.

Here are the 15 you shouldn't miss... 🧵 1. Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín in Granada

A Moorish masterpiece where Islamic palaces, serene gardens, and a maze-like Muslim quarter bring medieval Granada to life.

15 reasons Spain has one of the most fascinating natural environments on Earth... 🧵 1. Spain has more blue-flag beaches (642) than any country in the world.

A distinction that recognizes a high standard of beach quality, safety, and beauty.

My favorite photos from researching Spain every day for two years... 🧵

1. The ruins of Calatañazor Castle, rising above an ocean of sunflowers in Soria. 2. A patchwork of green fields leading into Castrojeriz, heart of the Camino de Santiago.

Everyone knows Salamanca for its golden sandstone city.

But its surrounding province holds medieval villages, sacred fiestas, and landscapes that will leave you breathless.

Here’s the side of Salamanca most people never see... 🧵 1. La Alberca

The first village in Spain declared Conjunto Histórico-Artístico (1940).

Famous for its Jewish-Christian heritage, granite-and-timber architecture, and the 500-year-old tradition of releasing a pig (Marrano de San Antón) to roam freely.

🎥: hormigas_x_elmundo

Everyone knows Galicia for the Camino de Santiago, its iconic cathedral, and its legendary octopus.

But Spain’s northwest corner holds far more magic than most people realize.

Here are 15 breathtaking sights that make Galicia one of the most underrated regions on Earth... 🧵 1. As Catedrais Beach

Natural arches and sea-carved “cathedrals” rising from the sand, revealed at low tide.

Located on the coast of Lugo, it’s considered Spain’s most spectacular geological beach formation and one of Europe’s top natural wonders.

🎥: josef_florian10

Most foreigners never make it to Extremadura.

But it's capital holds the best-preserved Roman city in Spain.

This is Mérida — and the story behind the 14th UNESCO World Heritage Site in the country… 🧵 Founded in 25 BC by Emperor Augustus, Emerita Augusta was designed as the capital of Lusitania, one of Rome’s wealthiest Iberian provinces.

Spain is home to over 8,000 towns and villages.

And in 2011, a national association set out to crown the most beautiful.

Here are the first 15 they chose — and it's no surprise why... 🧵 1. Albarracín (Teruel, Aragón)

A pink-hued medieval village wrapped in walls and perched above a gorge.

Declared a National Monument in 1961 and often called the most beautiful village in Spain.

There are 3,000 abandoned towns scattered across Spain.

Along with leper colonies, haunted mansions, and hotels from the past.

Here are 20 of the most fascinating places the country left behind… 🧵 1. Canfranc (Aragón)

One of Europe's grandest abandoned stations, tied to WWII espionage and Nazi gold shipments.

Restored and reopened in 2023 as a luxury hotel.

The year was 1808.

Napoleon’s forces surrounded Zaragoza, expecting a swift and easy victory.

What followed was one of the deadliest urban battles in European history. And it began 217 years ago today... 🧵 Napoleon’s armies swept across Spain. Madrid had fallen. Most cities gave in.

But in Zaragoza — a fiercely religious city in Aragón — the people chose to resist.

Spain’s coastline isn’t just beaches and bars.

It’s home to some of the most enchanting seaside towns in Europe.

Here are 20 of the very best — scattered along the most diverse coast on the continent... 🧵 1. Cadaqués (Catalonia)

A whitewashed coastal gem surrounded by rocky hills —

And once the muse of Salvador Dalí, who kept a house in nearby Portlligat.

Spain produces over half of the world’s olive oil.

More than Italy, Greece, and Turkey COMBINED.

But the real magic? The quality. And how it helps Spaniards live longer than anyone else in the EU… 🧵 Olive oil has been part of Spanish life for over 3,000 years.

Brought by Phoenicians, expanded by the Romans, and perfected over centuries.

The Spanish word for olive oil — aceite — comes from the Arabic "az-zayt", meaning “the olive juice.”

The most beautiful monasteries in Spain... 🧵

1. Monastery of San Juan de la Peña (Aragón) 2. Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial (Community of Madrid)

Today marks 7 years since the world lost Anthony Bourdain.

A chef, a traveler, and an enthusiast of Spain.

Here are my 20 favorite insights — on food, life, and Spanish culture — from every episode he filmed in Spain... 🧵 1. On the Irresistible Allure of Spain — and Granada

“Any reasonable sentient person who looks at Spain, comes to Spain, eats in Spain, drinks in Spain — they’re going to fall in love. Otherwise, there’s something deeply wrong with you. This is the dream of all the world. The dream is to live in Granada. Work in the morning, have a one-hour nap in the afternoon, and go out at night. Go out and see your friends, eat tapas, drink red wine, and be in a beautiful place.” - Anthony Bourdain

(Parts Unknown: Season 2, Episode 2: Spain)

The Italian Renaissance didn’t arrive in Spain through Madrid or Barcelona.

It took root in two tiny towns hidden in the hills of Jaén.

Their architecture changed the course of Spain. And I'll visit them for the first time next month...🧵 Úbeda and Baeza, just 9 km apart in Jaén province, flourished in the 16th century during Spain’s Golden Age.

Thanks to wealthy noble patrons and connections to the royal court, they became open-air showcases for Italian Renaissance ideals.