Top Historic Sites in Southern Spain

Spain has a great deal of interesting history but perhaps the most fascinating part is the southern regions, once controlled by the Moors.

The Palacio Nazaries Courtyard at The Alhambra © Hronek | Dreamstime

One of the most famous Moorish sites left today is the Cordoba Mosque. The area was originally a Roman temple, before it became a Visgothic church and later a Moorish mosque. There is now a Catholic cathedral built into the middle of the spectacular complex.

Another important Moorish site is the Alhambra in Granada. The Nasrid sultans built the complex in the 14^th century, and it is a fortress and a palace at once. It’s a huge draw for tourists and many make the trip to Granada purely to visit the Alhambra.

The Alcazar Baths of Lady Maria de Padilla © Sergey Krasikov | Dreamstime

Over in Seville, the Alcazar may look like a Moorish palace, but it was in fact built by a Christian king. It remains a fascinating site for tourists eager to see how Moorish architecture influenced later designs. In fact, different areas of the palace were built during different eras, providing a whistle-stop tour of southern Spain’s architectural history.

If you are more interested in ancient history, head to the Roman ruins at Baelo Claudia. This well-preserved site is near the town of Tarifa, and the ruins are surrounded by beautiful countryside. It’s well worth a stop for the view even if you are not a history buff.

The south of Spain is not just about crowded beaches and package tourism. If you look beyond the obvious attractions there are some amazing historical sites just waiting to be discovered.