Many cultures have crossed the narrow Straits of Gibraltar separating Western Europe and Northern Africa. Much of Spain's art, music and even food still reflect influences from North Africa and beyond. Its architecture often bears unmistakable characteristics of Islam. Moreover, influences from the early Roman Empire and the ancient Teutonic Goths are also abundant throughout Spain even today. In this two-part NHK documentary, we explore some of the 38 World Heritage Sites on the Iberian Peninsula, and examine the rich mixture of cultures and civilizations that created them.
