How much do you know about Spanish monuments? #SpainQuiz

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Are you ready to put your knowledge of Spain to the test?

We will give you a series of questions and you can win the gold, silver or bronze medal depending on how many you get right. You can also share the result with your friends.

9If you travel to Barcelona you could spend hours admiring the beauty of the Sagrada Familia Basilica, a monument with a story that seems to come straight from a novel. Construction began in 1882, Gaudí dedicated his last years to it and the artist himself is buried in the temple’s crypt. It is expected to be completed in 2026. But, how many towers will it have when it is finished?

A: 15

B: 18

C: 22

Correct! Gaudí proposed to make 18 towers: 12 lower ones to represent the apostles and the tallest one, reaching 170-metres high, will represent Jesus Christ.

9Which of these lighthouses is the only one in the world from the Roman Empire, which has also remained fully functional from when it was first constructed to the present day?

A: The Tower of Hercules, A Coruña

B: Lighthouse of Cala Ratjada in Majorca

C: Orchilla lighthouse in El Hierro

Correct! It was probably constructed in the second half of the 1st century or at the start of the 2nd century AD. It is 55-metres high, the inside is currently open to visitors and it provides simply stunning views.

9Take a close look at this building's curved line shapes. Fascinating, isn’t it? It is so mathematically complicated that the architect had to employ advanced software used in the aerospace industry to make it a reality. But, where is it?

A: Metropol Parasol in Seville

B: Santa Cruz de Tenerife Auditorium in the Canary Islands

C: Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

Correct! The architect, Frank Gehry, used 33,000 fine titanium sheets to construct it. Today it is the jewel of the city.

9What would you say is the largest cathedral in Spain?

A: Seville Cathedral

B: Toledo Cathedral

C: Burgos Cathedral

Correct! It is so big that it is the world’s largest Catholic cathedral, and the third largest Christian church after St Peter’s in Rome and St Paul’s in London. Impressive! Another curious fact: did you know that the explorer Christopher Columbus is buried here?

9Take a good look at this work by sculptor Eduardo Chillida. It is in the city of Donostia/San Sebastian and we are showing it to you because looking at it next to the sea is an almost magical experience. But, what is this work called?

A: “Asomado al mar”

B: “La sirena de San Sebastián”

C: “El Peine del Viento”

Correct! When the wind blows fiercely, the waves hit the cliffs with such force that the air cuts through and makes a unique sound. Beautiful and evocative.

9Although it may not seem like it, this beautiful place is located inside a volcanic tunnel. However, there is abundant vegetation there, a natural lake where the so-called blind lobsters live and a large auditorium. What are we referring to?

A: Gruta de las Maravillas in Aracena

B: Cave of El Soplao in Cantabria

C: Jameos del Agua in the Canary Islands

Correct! The Jameos del Agua are on the island of Lanzarote and were designed by architect César Manrique. This artist, through his imagination, tried to perfectly combine art and nature. You can find other works by him on the island such as the Mirador del Río and the Cactus Garden.

9In which Spanish monument can you see an enormous Botafumeiro operating at a speed of 68 kilometres per hour?

A: Casa Milà

B: Monastery of El Escorial

C: Santiago de Compostela Cathedral

Correct! This is its famous Botafumeiro. 800 years ago it was used to purify the cathedral which was full of pilgrims. It is an incredible experience to see it at work: it takes eight men to raise it and start swinging it. But there are only a few dates when it is actually used (holidays such as 6 January, 23 May, 25 July, 15 August, 1 November and 8, 25 and 30 December, and other holidays that change every year). To see it working outside these dates you need to make a prior request and pay for it.

9Which building is adorned with enormous eggs, bread and mannequins?

Building decorated with eggs, bread and mannequins

A: Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres

B: Gaudí's ‘Capricho’ monument in Comillas

C: City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia

Correct! This Theatre-Museum is said to be the greatest surrealist object in the world. You will find some of Dalí’s most significant works inside and the artist’s tomb in the crypt. We very highly recommend it.

9This is the impressive aqueduct in the city of Segovia, which was constructed during the Roman Empire. It has 167 arches and is made of 20,400 granite blocks. But, what material do you think is used to join the blocks together?

A: Cement

B: Glue

C: Kryptonite

D: Nothing

Correct! The blocks were put together without any type of mortar. Legend has it that it was constructed by the devil... But they actually raised the blocks with ropes and pulleys and adjusted them with iron levers. In Roman times this aqueduct supplied around 5,000 people.

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