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            Which country in Europe has most churches and monasteries worth seeing? Some hundreds at least. France, where the gothic religious architecture started? Or Germany with so many local interesting churches, and where baroque got famous? Or Italy, where christian architecture started anyway? Or may be Spain with so many famous and very impressive churches and old romanesque or even pre-romanesque churches?
          Anyway - meanwhile I visited and photographed so many Spanish churches, that as a result I made this extra page about Spanish churches and monasteries. For a better view. 
         Not only the churches themselves are interesting, also the monasteries, cloisters with magnificent capitels, the altars and altarpieces, forfronts and chapels. I can't get enough of it to admire and photograph. I hope you will travel with me throug the richness of this European culture!!

Churches and monasteries in Spain

         A new page with only churches and monasteries of Spain, just for a better overal view of them. But I realise, that our love for Spain - especially in fall and late winter, also for the mild climate and beautiful landscapes  - will bring us many new albums with the cultural beauty of Spain. We'll see. Also on Tenerife and La Palma there are interesting churches and some cathedrals. 

          Regional there are differences in architecture and styles. In the northern parts of Spain there are numerous old romanesque churches and monasteries. Catalonia more than 800 (!).Even pre-romanesque ones from the time of the Visigoths, that invaded Spain since the 5th century. And from the 8th century the islamic Moors occupied almost entirely the Iberic Peninsula. Then the 'Reconquista' started to reconquer Spain from north to south till in 1492 as last city Granada in Andalusia was christian again. So we will find hardly or none Romanesque church in southern Spain. What happended many times, is that churches were buil on mosques, like the largest gothic cathedral of the world in Sevilla, built from 1401 on. The church tower 'Giralda' is still a mosque tower.

        Now - it would go beyond the meaning of this website to memorize the whole architecture history of Spain, which is very interesting!! You can find a short review of it in the magnificent travel guides of the 'Eyewitness travel guides' - also known as 'Capitool' guides in other languages.
       My plans for the (near) future are, to visit the northern provinces of Spain, Galicia, Navarra and Aragon. And more extensively Catalonia. Also for the beautiful landscapes. Not only the big cathedrals, but also the mostly small romanesque churches are worth a visit.
        
         Nowadays many people regard the religious heritage as a 'relic' from the past. In our modern present times we see a 'going down' of the churches themselves. But I see this as a sign of emptyness of our western culture and society. We renovate more or less churches as cultural heritage, but meanwhile we fill up ourselves wilth 'emptyness'.
An empty moral, filled with the opinion of the majority. Empty public treasuries, filled with 'debts for the future'. 'Baked air', not only of bankers but all who have just one goal in life "filling the own purse and pocket". Earning money and spending it determine social wellfare...
        Well - this is what I have to say about this subject. Very up-to-date these days. We have freedom of expression, especially for those, whom we don't agree with. Tolerance is something to do....!

       I wish all of you, visitors of my website a lot of joy with my many albums. As much as I had with seeing it all and trying to make good pictures!! 
Just see for instance the capitals and columns of the monastery of  'Santa Maria de L'Estany' north of  Barcelona, or the impressive church and monastery of  the 'Sant Pere de Rodes', in the northern part of the Costa Brava. Fall 2010. And more is coming...
Like early spring 2011 the churches of the city Orihuela south of Alicante on the Costa Blanca. And what to think of the monastery complex of the 'Santa Maria de Valldigna' in Simat in the northern part of the Costa Blanca. Architectonic jewels you just must see!!

Also from spring 2011 the 'Iglesia Mayor Prioral' of El Puerto de Santa Maria in the southwest of Spain.

Fall 2012 - our autumn-trip through the Spanish Pyrenees. What a fine combination of nature and culture, i.c. the beautiful and interesting old Romanesque churches, i.a. in the 'Vall d'Aran' and the 'Vall de Boi'.Some more than 1000 years old! And with fine frescoes too!! See 20 new albums left up.

In new 20 albums, just take a look and admire Spanish architecture of the best kind!!
From October 2010: 3 albums Barcelona cathedral. Plus 2 albums Girona cathedral.

Costa Blanca - at last I have a complete review of churches on the Costa Blanca. After many years of traveling around there in late winter\early spring I made 11 albums with many churches. Enjoy them as we did making the photos.

February - March 2014. Trip through Andalucia, Costa del Sol. Result?
14 albums of interesting churches again. 

September 2017 - we made a trip to the North-Spain regions of Navarra, Cantabria, Asturia and Castilia-Leon. So much to see. Communal churches and more the impressive cathedrals of Santo Domingo de la Calzada, Burgos in 10 albums (!!), Leon, Astorga and Oviedo. More than 1.000 photos in 40 albums to enjoy. Better than garbish on your smartphone....

November-December 2017 - The Spanish Canary Island Fuerteventura has also to offer some interresting churches. And not only impressive landscapec

March 2018 - a visit to the church basilica of Santa Maria in Elche (Elx) in the Costa Blanca; and the 'Collegian' San Patricio of Lorca more to the southwest. A very worthwile visit of 2 important churches.