The majority of travellers, day-trippers and tourists are unlikely to go anywhere without their camera (or mobile phone). They want to show the rest of the world, friends and family where they are, and what they have seen. Back home, a photo will bring back good memories and remind them of events they’d perhaps even forgotten about.
And with modern technology, it’s even easier to present this pictorial information as quickly as possible. Our mobile phones and applications, such as Instagram, will ensure that those at home will get to see exactly where we are at any given time of day or night.
These days rather than telling people about our day, we prefer to photograph it. And while many believe that social media is taking over our lives, sometimes a picture can say more than a thousand words just by looking at it.
With Spain expecting a record-breaking year in terms of tourist numbers for 2015, it is very likely that an even greater number of photos have been taken than ever.
But, which are the places in this country that have been photographed the most using Instagram? Read on to find out.
Parc Güell
If you’ve been to Barcelona and not made the effort to get up to Gaudí’s Parc Güell, you’ve really missed out. This beautiful natural space is filled with modernist architecture, created by Guadí, the city’s most famous architect. As the park is situated on Carmell Hill on the outskirts of the city centre, the views from the top of the whole of Barcelona are stunning. And the park itself with an abundance of trees, greenery and quiet spaces is the perfect location to get away from the hustle and bustle of the crowded streets. Gaudí’s architecture is unique in the world, as he is known for decorating his constructions in brightly coloured tiled mosaics, creating stunning pieces of vibrant art as well as architecture. A total of 168,068 photographs of the park have been registered on Instagram.
Camp Nou
With Barcelona F.C. being one of the most famous and much-loved football teams in the world, it’s no surprise that its home ground, Barcelona’s Camp Nou, is one of the most visited attractions in Spain. In fact, the museum located within the ground is the most visited in the region of Cataluña, registering more tourists than the Picasso Museum and the Teatro-Museo de Dalí. With a capacity of almost 100,000, Camp Nou is also the biggest football stadium in the country. Instagram has registered 153,461 photographs.
Sagrada Familia Cathedral
Still in the city of Barcelona, which is the most visited city in Spain, the third most photographed place is the awe-inspiring Roman Catholic church designed by Antonio Gaudí, the Sagrada Familia. Photographs don’t really do this amazing piece of architecture any justice, as the immensity of the Gothic-style cathedral is absolutely jaw-dropping when you view it in real life. It has recently been announced that the basilica will finally be completed in 2026, but there are other parts that still need to be completed. Gaudí was unable to finish designing the cathedral as he was tragically run over by a passing tram in 1926 and died. Instagram has registered a total of 128,039 photos of the Sagrada Familia.
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
Due for redesigning and refurbishing, Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu football stadium is still one of the biggest landmarks in Europe when it comes to sport. Home to Real Madrid, the stadium was inaugurated in 1947, and it is able to be filled with 85,454 spectators at any given time. The tour of the stadium is one of the most popular attractions for visitors to the capital. Instagram has collected 113,995 photos of the stadium.
Puerta del Sol
The Puerta del Sol is regarded as a symbol of the city of Madrid. It is the most well-known and most centrally located square in the city, and a must-see for all visitors. Now a pedestrianised area, this is the centre of the shopping zone and numerous streets lined with trendy shops, bars and restaurants radiate from the centre in various directions, so that it actually resembles a sun. It is particularly spectacular at Christmas-time decked out for the festivities in all its glory. This is where much of the city’s residents and visitors congregate on 31 December for the countdown to the New Year. There are 104,885 photos on Instagram of Madrid’s Puerta del Sol.
El Retiro
If you ever visit Madrid, you should always try and leave enough time for a stroll around the capital’s most famous park – El Retiro. One of the very few statues in the world dedicated to the devil – the Fountain of the Fallen Angel by Ricardo Bellver - is located here. The park has an area of 125 hectares and contains 15,000 trees; a paradise of tranquillity and greenery right in the heart of a busy capital city. There are 80,824 photos of the Retiro Park on Instagram.
Las Ramblas
Las Ramblas is the most famous street in the whole of Barcelona. It is a lengthy 1.3km long and connects the Plaza de Cataluña with the old port at the bottom. This street is busy throughout the day and there’s always something going on to attract tourists. It’s a great place to sit and people-watch as there are hundreds of cafés, bars and restaurants lining both sides of the street. If you have money to spend in Barcelona, you can probably empty your purse within minutes, as many of the world’s most famous designers have stores here. There are 78,724 photos captured on Instagram of Las Ramblas.
Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel
The Ushuaï Beach Club Hotel is one of the most well-known hotels on the White Island and the hangout for all the A-listers when they come to party on the island. It is located just a few metres away from the Playa d’En Bossa, right in the heart of the clubbing zone. Its pool area is the setting for numerous parties throughout the summer where the world’s best deejays bang out the music night after night. The hotel has been designed and created for music lovers in mind, and even has its own recording studio where professionals and amateurs can record their own sets. In 2015, a total of 71,583 photos were taken of the hotel and uploaded onto Instagram.
Plaza de Cataluña
The Plaza de Cataluña was inaugurated by King Alfonso XIII in 1927 and occupies and area of around 5 hectares. It is one of the largest squares in the whole of the country, and one of the most important spaces within the city of Barcelona itself. This is the starting point of many of the city’s main arteries, including Las Ramblas, el Paseo de Gracia, la Rambla de Cataluña and Calle Pelayo. The square is known for its numerous fountains and works of art. There are six groups of sculptures in the square, which represent the four province capitals of the region (Barcelona, Tarragona, Gerona and Lérida), wisdom and work. Instagram has registered 56,512 photographs of the Plaza de Cataluña.
Playa de la Barceloneta
Barcelona has everything – even a beach! The Playa de la Barceloneta is the oldest and most well-known of all the beaches in the city. It’s just over 1km long and is found in the district of la Barceloneta, the fishing quarter of the city. It is a great place to eat fresh fish and seafood. There are 48,778 photos of this beach on Instagram.
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