Spain’s most beautiful church (and the world’s tallest): one of its façades is a World Heritage Site

• Fascinating Spain

• Catalonia

In a country replete with a medley ofchurches, it may seem inconceivable to select Spain’s most outstanding one. From majestic medieval cathedrals to astonishing modern temples, Spain reveals a penchant foraudaciously monumental works of architecture.

What unites these colossal churches is theircapacity to elevate the spiritin a way few other buildings manage to do. Nevertheless, the architectural language used to achieve this feat is as diverse as it is singularly aspirational. These edifications express Christianity’s elaborate symbolism and offer an otherworldly experience to those who cross its thresholds.

León Cathedral, one of Spain’s most intriguing churches. | Freepik

What the travel community says

Cathedralsand prominent churches arealways popular tourist destinations. As a consequence, the España Fascinante community provides outstanding insights into all of Spain’s principal temples.

Our search for Spain’s most cherished churches owes a debt of gratitude to our readers for sharingthe reasons behind their decisions.

The cream of the crop of Spanish churches

Upon viewing the finalists for Spain’s most spectacular temple,cathedrals clearly dominate the pack. As a measuring stick, the fifth-place winner is the historicWorld Heritage SiteofCórdoba’s Mosque-Cathedral. It was described by one voter as a jewel beyond compare.

Fourth place’sBurgos Cathedralis one of Europe’s most magnificent Flamboyant Gothic cathedrals. A stylistic triumph in Spain, this cathedral offers unique flourishes, including the automaton puppet, Papamoscas, which opens its mouth when marking the time, and themasterly embellished lantern tower.

• There are 6 cities in Spain that have 2 cathedrals

The third most voted temple,León Cathedral, is another tour de force of European Gothic architecture. Popularly known as the Pulchra Leonina (the Beauteous Leonese), the cathedral stands out for its stained-glass windows and its blend of tradition with modernity tocreate an indescribable interior ambienceof slender forms and airy lightness.

Spain’s most beautiful church. | Shutterstock

The number two spot further highlights the impact of the Gothic architectural style on Spain.Seville Cathedral, however, is no ordinary Gothic cathedral. In fact, it is the world’s largest such cathedral andreaders praise its stunning interior. Its unparalleled treasures include the Capilla Real, the gigantic pipe organ and the colossal altarpiece.

The number one choice: the world’s tallest and most captivating church

The religious temple voted most impressive by the community isalso the most difficult to classify. Not only is it the tallest such building in the world, it boasts a World Heritage façade and is, in fact, still a work in progress. This is none other than theSagrada Familia Basilica, Antoni Gaudí’s fascinating edifice that continues to enchant the world.

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Barcelona’s icon par excellence is not strictly Gothic orModernistin style or even a cathedral.Antoni Gaudí’s visionary temple is the culmination of his creative ambition and a majority of voters describes it as whollydifferent from the rest and remarkably cozy. The Sagrada Família is undoubtedly one of Spain’s most exceptional churches.

You can also read this article in Spanishhere.

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Источник: Fascinating Spain