Spain is brimming with beautiful religious buildings, many of which reveal the history of this culturally rich country and its crossover from Arab rule to Christianity.
You don’t have to be religious to appreciate the scale, beauty, and awesomeness of these six churches in Spain. And no matter where you start your journey to visit one or all of them, it’s a breeze to do so by train.
1. Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral, one of the grandest churches in the world, is also the world's largest Gothic cathedral and holds UNESCO World Heritage status. Taking about 100 years to complete, the cathedral was built on the ruins of a mosque.
Seville Cathedral boasts 10 doors, including the Door of Forgiveness, the only one that remains from the original mosque. The altar showcases the figures of over 20 saints, while the tomb of Christopher Columbus is among the main attractions.
Image credit: Getty Images. Image Location: Seville Cathedral
2. La Sagrada Família
La Sagrada Família in Barcelona is probably the most famous church in Spain, yet the ambitious architectural vision of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí has been under construction for over 140 years. Despite its unfinished state, La Sagrada Família has become one of the most visited monuments in Spain and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The architectural masterpiece includes the main basilica built in the shape of a Latin cross, supported by treelike columns that create the effect of a living forest with light streaming in.
3. The Royal Basilica of Saint Francis the Great
Nestled in La Latina, Madrid's oldest neighborhood, the Royal Basilica of Saint Francis the Great is more than a place for worship. Adorned with opulent, gilded chapels, the basilica houses works of art by Spanish masters, including Francisco Goya and Antonio González Velázquez.
Another noteworthy aspect is the staggering 190ft-high dome, the largest in Spain and fourth largest in Europe.
Image credit: Getty Images. Image location: Mosque–Cathedral, Cordoba
4. Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba
Imagine the sprawling Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba as a DIY project—chaotic yet dreamy. And despite different religious styles and multiple additions spanning up to 250 years, the mosque-church is beautiful.
The original mosque (and why it’s sometimes known as the Mezquita), was converted into a cathedral in the 13th century after the Christian conquest of Córdoba in 1236.
The interior wows with vaulted domes, striped red brick and white stone arches, and multiple chapels. Equally lovely is the Patio de los Naranjos, a Moorish courtyard entrance lined with orange, palm, and cypress trees.
5. Santiago de Compostela Cathedral
The Santiago de Compostela Cathedral is the jewel in the crown of Santiago city, and it marks the end of the epic Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trail, both of which form part of the Santiago de Compostela World Heritage Site.
The cathedral was built over several centuries and straddles Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque styles. The main entrance is decorated with 200 figures representing the Apocalypse and the figure of Saint James (Santiago in Spanish) welcomes the pilgrims at the end of their journey while his tomb draws visitors inside.
Image Credit: Getty Images. Image Location: Santiago de Compostela Cathedral
6. Granada Cathedral
Another mosque-turned-church, Granada Cathedral was the first Renaissance church in Spain. The dome features stained glass, sculptures, and paintings, with the 17th-century addition of an ornate baroque façade.
Queen Isabella I of Castile commissioned the cathedral and, together with her husband King Ferdinand II of Aragon, is buried in the adjacent Royal Chapel.
What is the grandest cathedral in Spain?
In the early 16th century, Seville Cathedral in Andalusia, Spain, supplanted Hagia Sophia as the largest cathedral in the world, a title the Byzantine church had held for a thousand years.
The Cathedral of Seville is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. It can fit a soccer field inside it and is famous for its unique main altarpiece. In 1987, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site.
What famous church in Spain is still being built?
The Sagrada Familia is one of the most iconic landmarks in Barcelona, Spain, partly because it is a spectacular blend of Gothic and curvilinear Art Nouveau forms but also because it was left unfinished. Although unfinished, the church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Construction on Antoni Gaudi’s architectural masterpiece started over 100 years ago, in 1882. Its unfinished state results from design changes, financial constraints, and significant historical events such as the Spanish Civil War and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The Sagrada Familia is expected to be completed in 2026, the centenary of Gaudi's death.
Want to get around Spain by train?
If you've been inspired to make a little pilgrimage to some of Spain's most beautiful churches, download the Trainline App and find the quickest trains between cities on Spain's high-speed railways. And don't forget to check out our Spain travel guide and dedicated articles on the Barcelona–Madrid line and the Madrid–Seville line.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images. Image Location: La Sagrada Família, Barcelona