Historics Monuments of Spain Quiz | World Sites

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1. This extraordinary palace/fortress is a UNESCO Heritage Site. Its construction started in 889 to serve as a fortress and in 1333 it was modified to serve as a palace. Its style is "Mudejar" which is typical of Spain and combines the Moorish art with European styles, mainly Gothic. This palace is located in Granada and it is the main attraction of this city, visited by over two million tourists a year. What is this monument's name?

Answer: The Alhambra

After the "Reconquista", which is the eviction of north African Muslims (the Moors) from Spanish territories, the Alhambra was used again as a royal residence by Emperor Charles V, who added to it a palace which bears his name.
There is a visitor limit of 6,600 people a day, and there is such a high demand to visit that it is best to buy your tickets well in advance.

2. This monument, also a UNESCO heritage site, is a royal palace, designed in the Mudejar style with Gothic art features, and is located in the center of Seville, near the Cathedral. The original nucleus was built in the 10th century and then added to during subsequent centuries. This palace is the oldest inhabited palace in Europe, and is occupied by the Spanish royal family when visiting Seville. The palace's walls are decorated with beautiful plaster artwork and tiles. This palace is called what?

Answer: Alcazar of Seville

The Alcazar was originally built by the Almohades, a Muslim dynasty. Later, after the Spanish kings expelled the Moors from Seville, King Peter I built the lower level of the Patio de las Doncellas and Charles V added the second story in Italian Renaissance style.

There have been numerous additions and improvements made by different kings. Today, the Alcazar, the Archivo de Indias (a collection of documents about the discovery of America and Spain's connection to the Spanish colonies) and the Cathedral, with its Giralda (bell tower /minaret), form one of the most visited centers in Europe.

3. This monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also a royal residence. It was built by Phillip II, son of the Emperor Charles V, in 1563. It is made of two sections, the palace and the hunting lodge/monastery. Although it was built as a royal palace, it shows Phillip II's austerity compared to other palaces of Europe. It was also intended to house the remains of Phillip's parents, himself and his descendants, as well as serving as the center where documents concerning the Catholic Church would be kept. How is this monastery known?

Answer: El Escorial

The Escorial is located in the Sierra de Guadarrama, a mountain chain about an hour from Madrid. It was built in honor of St. Lawrence, patron of the Battle of Saint Quentin against Henry II of France; his saint's day is August 10, the same day as the battle.

The complete name of this palace is San Lorenzo del Escorial. The Royal Pantheon contains the remains of kings and those queens who had a son who became a king. Next to the Pantheon, there are also tumbs of different members of the royal families, among them, the tumb of Don Juan de Austria, half brother to Phillip II, son of Charles V and a commoner he met in Flanders. The library of El Escorial is also magnificent, with ornate walls and ceilings.

It contains 4700 manuscripts and around 40,000 books.

4. This castle is located on the Guadarrana Mountains, and was built around the end of the 11th century by King Alfonso VI. This is the castle where the Catholic Queen, Isabella of Castile, was crowned in 1474. This city, located about two hours from Madrid, has one of the most remarkable aqueducts left by the Romans. It was destroyed by the Moors in 1072 but was rebuilt in the 16th century. How is this castle known?

Answer: El Alc�zar de Segovia

The Alcazar of Segovia was built on the remains of a Moorish fortress to take advantage of its location. The Cortes Generales of King Alfonso X were celebrated in this castle and it was chosen by Phillip II to celebrate his fourth marriage to Anna of Austria. It is also said that Walt Disney was inspired by this castle when creating Cinderella's Castle.

The Alcazar, the Cathedral and the Aqueduct are Unesco heritage sites.

5. This monastery is located in the mountains near Barcelona, 4055 feet above a valley. It is home to a "Black Madonna" icon, one of only a few in Europe. The legend says this Madonna was brought by Saint Peter to Spain and thousands of pilgrims visit it every year. The monastery dates back to the 10th century although it was rebuilt several times. The monastery is the symbol of the people of Catalonia, who have always considered themselves different to the rest of the Spaniards. What is the name of this monastery?

Answer: Montserrat

Montserrat is a Benedictine monastery which can be easily reached, first by train, then by either cable car (enjoying extraordinary views) or by "cremallera" or electric train. Besides the monastery itself, there is a museum where we can find paintings by El Greco, Velasquez, Goya and other Spanish masters.

6. This is another monument which is a UNESCO Heritage Site. This church, which is not totally complete, is the symbol of Barcelona. Its construction started in 1882, and its style (although inspired by Gothic with Art Nouveau lines) is unique. Construction has been a very slow process as it is financed by private donations, and was also slowed down due to the Spanish Civil War. What is the name in English of this church?

Answer: Church of the Holy Family

The "Sagrada Familia" (as it called in Spanish) was designed by architect Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926). He worked on the project from 1893 until his death, by which time only one fourth of the project had been completed. In 2013, the church organization was still accepting donations to finish the project.

It is really extraordinary. Art critics have marveled at its conception and one of them, Paul Goldberger, said "it is the most extraordinary personal interpretation of Gothic architecture since the Middle Ages".

7. This monument (another UNESCO World Heritage Site) is the oldest Roman lighthouse that is still in use. Its other name is "Farum Brigantium", it is 1900 years old, 180 feet tall and it is located in a peninsula about 1.5 miles from La Coru�a in the province of Galicia in the northwest of Spain. How is this lighthouse known?

Answer: Torre de H�rcules

This lighthouse was built when Trajan was emperor of Rome, the second century after Christ. There is a legend about it, which says that Hercules beheaded Geryon and buried his head under the tower. Geryon was a winged giant with three bodies, who owned red cattle guarded by a two headed hound. One of Hercule's Twelve Labors was to steal Geryon's cattle.

8. This church, today a Catholic cathedral, is the most famous mosque in Spain because of the many pillars and arches inside its main section. It was built as a Roman temple, then became a Visigothic church, but when the Moors conquered Spain they used it a mosque. It was after the Reconquista that it became a Catholic church. Hint: the city is about 45 minutes from Seville. What is the name of this church?

Answer: Mezquita de Cordoba

The Mezquita de Cordoba was begun in the 8th century and took 200 years to complete. It used to be the third largest mosque in the world and held a bone from Prophet Mohammed's arm and an original copy of the Koran, so it was a place of pilgrimage for many Muslims.

In 1236, Christianity was restored in Cordoba after King Ferdinand III expelled the last emir and captured the city.

9. This one is not a monument but an entire city - one of the most visited cities in Spain. It is called "The City of the Three Cultures" because Christian, Jewish and Muslim culture co-existed for centuries. It is located about 70 kilometers from Madrid and in it you can find the house where El Greco lived. This city is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The name of this city is what?N

Answer: Toledo

Toledo is rich in historical places. Among the city's historical sites we must mention the Alcazar, a former palace, where the military fought the revolutionaries during the Spanish Civil War. The Cathedral of Toledo; the Synagogues of El Tr�nsito and Santa Maria la Blanca; the Church of Santo Tom�; the house and museum of El Greco are only a few of the many attractions of this beautiful city.

10. This building (located in Madrid) is important because of its contents: one of the finest art collections in the world. During the Civil War, the masterpieces were sent to Geneva and brought back afterwards. Today, this museum contains more than 8000 paintings and a large number of famous artists are represented in its vast collection. Do you know the name of this museum?

Answer: Museo de El Prado

El Prado's collection was started because King Charles III wanted Madrid to be a city comparable to Rome, Paris and London and to have a museum comparable to other European museums. He designed the building taking into consideration how the light would be used so that paintings could be admired at their best.

The War of Independence from France after Napoleon placed his brother as the ruler of Spain slowed down the building of El Prado, which was finished under King Fernando VII. Today, we can see many paintings by El Greco, masterpieces from Velasquez like "Las Meninas", "La Maja Vestida" and "La Maja Desnuda" by Goya, among many others.

Source: Author Babilonia

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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Historics Monuments of Spain Trivia Quiz

Spain is a country rich in palaces, castles, churches and fortresses which are Unesco Heritage Sites. Many styles, including Gothic and Romanesque art, Mudejar architecture and Baroque construction are present in Spain.

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