456 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Spain - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in Spain

Barcelona, Spain

Sagrada Família

Construction of Barcelona's iconic (but controversial) church is expected to be completed in 2026—a century after the death of its architect.

Barcelona, Spain

Casa Batlló

One of Antoni Gaudí's most classic buildings is well-known for its "dragon-back" design.

Barcelona, Spain

Labyrinth Park of Horta

This semi-secret storybook hedge maze is also the oldest garden in the city.

Ronda, Spain

Three bridges and one giant canyon make up this fantastic Spanish settlement.

Barcelona, Spain

Calder Mercury Fountain

A beautiful but toxic fountain of mercury.

Barcelona, Spain

Montjuïc Cemetery

This cemetery features modernist statues as strange as its name.

Barcelona, Spain

Park Güell

Gaudí's famously flamboyant architectural style is on full display in this sprawling park and garden.

Barcelona, Spain

Bunkers of Carmel

These secluded and abandoned anti-aircraft defenses have become one the most scenic viewpoints in Barcelona.

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Unique Food & Drink in Spain

Strawberry Tree Fruit

The lychee-looking fruit appears in everything from jam and liqueur to the Aeneid and Madrid's flag.

Paparajotes

Impress Murcianos by correctly eating these fried lemon leaves.

Blue Wine

Recently introduced to France, it's the color of pool water.

Tocinillo de Cielo

This heavenly custard was born from the leftovers of sherry winemaking.

See all 47 things to eat in Spain See all 47 things to eat in Spain

Atlas Obscura Trips

Barnacles, Bluffs, and Brine: A Galician Seafood Pilgrimage

On this week-long seafood pilgrimage, we’ll delve deep into the world of barnacle hunters, oyster fisherman, lobster trap builders, razor clam-diggers, and net menders, along with the local chefs who are harnessing the incredible offerings of their coast, transforming Galician cuisine into something new and exciting.

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Post	Replies	Views	Activity
Madrid Tips	18 January 21, 2020	2465	January 21, 2020
Tips for visiting Sagrada Familia, Barcelona	12 August 29, 2019	1448	August 29, 2019
Panther Milk	2 July 30, 2019	1949	July 30, 2019
The Meninas are back again ! (Madrid, España)	1 December 2, 2019	349	December 2, 2019
Madrid: Recos for food/food business related sights?	6 February 24, 2020	652	February 24, 2020

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Stories About Spain

Scientists and soldiers were evacuated from two Antarctic research bases to a Spanish Navy vessel.

The Great Antarctic Escape

How Spanish scientists and soldiers made an epic journey home as the world locked down around them.

by Robin George Andrews

Oh, nose! Cave bears' diet-limiting sinuses may have been what spelled doom for the Ice Age beasts.

Why Europe's Cave Bears Were—and Weren't—Made for Hunkering Down

Their big sinuses were both an evolutionary boon and bust.

by Isaac Schultz

Font Romeu, France — Above the tree line just east of Andorra, the River Tet has its headwaters in many small streams that eventually converge. One June day, a fierce storm stalled over this area, dropping so much hail that it remained until the next day, and accumulated as though it were snowfall. The line at the bottom of this image represents a fence—a grazing boundary that had an effect on the hail's presentation.

See What the Pyrenees Look Like From an Antique Airplane

The mountain range offers a wealth of gorgeous, unexpected textures.

by Garrett Fisher

November 18, 2019

Alfonso Hernández Saguero with his shepherd's crook.

The Last Goatherd in Hell

Alfonso Hernández Saguero is preserving an ancient way of life and its cherished foods.

by Lauren Schenkman

September 25, 2019

Water stains and aquatic plants attest that the dolmen was recently submerged.

Drought Has Revealed Spain's Long-Submerged 'Stonehenge'

Up close with the 7,000-year-old Dolmen of Guadalperal.

by Alyssa McMurtry

September 6, 2019

A nice cool swig of water from a <em>botijo.</em>

The Art, Science, and Allure of Spain's Water-Cooling Jugs

Used from time immemorial, this traditional technology is now fading away.

by Ignacio Amigo

August 22, 2019

The 2016 Jarramplas beats his drum as a volley arrives.

The Village Where They Pelt a Man in a Monster Costume With 30 Tons of Turnips

And nobody is quite sure why.

by Lauren Schenkman

Replicas of the ship Columbus sailed across the ocean, photographed in New York in 1912.

The Ultimate Rich Kids Were the Children of Famous Explorers

Wealthy and entitled, as only the scions of conquistadors could be.

by Sarah Laskow

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