smileyelf's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Portomarín, Spain

Old Portomarín

This stop on the Camino de Santiago stands high above the underwater ruins of a medieval town.
Brión, Spain

The Shrine of Santa Minia

The mysterious remains of a martyred teenage saint are venerated inside a small country chapel.
Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Botafumeiro

This enormous censer uses a pulley system installed over 400 years ago.
Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Shadow Pilgrim

An accidental trick of light casts the perfect shadow of a pilgrim of the Camino de Santiago against the cathedral wall.
Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Bench of Whispers

Thanks to an acoustic anomaly, this unassuming stone bench has heard one hundred years of secrets.
A Coruña, Spain

Tower of Hercules

The oldest Roman lighthouse still in use.
A Coruña, Spain

Elevador del Monte de San Pedro

This panoramic lift provides a futuristic ride up San Pedro Mountain.
A Coruña, Spain

Menhires Pola Paz

Giant granite sculptures representing family on the northern coast of Spain.
Loiba, Spain

El Mejor Banco del Mundo (The Best Bench in the World)

This humble bench is considered the most beautiful in the world.
Lugo, Spain

Roman Walls of Lugo

Remarkably intact Roman stone fortifications have encircled this Spanish city for centuries.
Ribadeo, Spain

Playa de las Catedrales

Natural stone arches form a walkable "cathedral" at low tide, then disappear entirely when the water returns.
Asturias, Spain

Villa Excelsior

An abandoned Indian-inspired mansion.
Avilés, Spain

Sculpture of Eugenia Martínez Vallejo

The young girl gained fame for her atypical size and was regarded as a curiosity by the Spanish aristocracy.
Gijón, Spain

Árbol de la Sidra

Made up of 3,200 recycled glass bottles, this tree pays homage to Asturia's love of cider.
Gijón, Spain

Jardín Botánico Atlántico (Atlantic Botanic Garden)

This enchanting green space houses a labyrinth lined with toxic plants.
San Miguel, Spain

Shell House - Casa de las Conchas

A small house in Tazones, completely covered in shells.
Ribadesella, Spain

Tito Bustillo Cave

A magnificent place to see authentic paleolithic cave paintings that are an astounding 33,000 years old.
Cuevas, Spain

La Cuevona

A road that winds through this natural cave is the only way to access the small, appropriately-named village of Cuevas.
Cabezón de la Sal, Spain

Bosque De Secuoyas (Redwood Forest)

An out-of-place grove of sequoias thrives in northern Spain.
Torrelavega, Spain

Vaulted Ceiling of Iglesia de la Virgen Grande

This magnificent brick dome was made with an unusual design method.
Santander, Spain

Magdalena Peninsula

This beautiful spit of land was once the summer playground of the king of Spain.
San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Spain

Gaztelugatxe

Hundreds of stone stairs and a winding medieval bridge connect this haunting Spanish island to the mainland.
Bilbao, Spain

Jeff Koons' Puppy

Giant topiary dog once played a role in a terrorist bomb plot.
Bilbao, Spain

Fountain of Dogs

This 19th-century fountain's namesake animal isn't what you think it is.