Catedral

The Unesco World Heritage–listed cathedral is a masterpiece that’s probably worth the trip to Burgos on its own. It had humble origins as a modest Romanesque church, but work began on a grander scale in 1221. Remarkably, within 40 years most of the French Gothic structure that you see today had been completed. The twin towers, which went up later in the 15th century, each represent 84m of richly decorated Gothic fantasy and they’re surrounded by a sea of similarly intricate spires. Probably the most impressive of the portals is the Puerta del Sarmental, the main entrance for visitors, although the honour could also go to the Puerta de la Coronería, on the northwestern side, which shows Christ surrounded by the Evangelists.

The adjoining Museo Catedralicio has a wealth of oil paintings, tapestries and ornate chalices, while the lower cloister, downstairs, covers the history of the cathedral’s development, with a scale model to help you take it all in.