Cuenca

A tour of the historic centre

It’s worth climbing the hills and winding streets into the centre of this town between the gorges of the Júcar and the Huécar to enjoy the amazing views. Be sure to see the Plaza Mayor, with the arcaded Town Hall and the pretty Cathedral, which was begun in the late 12th century.

Behind the Cathedral, a street leads to the Hanging Houses, the symbol of Cuenca. Three of them can be visited: Casa de la Sirena (there is a restaurant inside) and the Casas del Rey, home to the Museum of Spanish Abstract Art, with works by famous artists like Tápies, Chillida and Saura.To get spectacular photos of the hanging houses, master your fear of heights and cross the iron footbridge of Puente de San Pablo. At the other end is the Convent of San Pablo, now a Parador and one of the best places to spend the night in the city, which looks even more stunning at night in the floodlights.Cuenca will also surprise you with curious places like the “skyscraper” of the San Martín district or the tunnel you can walk through on Calle Alfonso VIII. If you like museums, there are more to see: the Antonio Saura Foundation, the Antonio Pérez Foundation, the Science Museums… And if you’re interested in local traditions, the Easter Museum is devoted to the city’s most famous fiesta.

Castilian cuisine and places to swim

Cuenca is certainly good to look at. But it’s easy to find something good to eat, too. At mealtimes, you can find the best of the hearty local dishes in the Castilian-style restaurants: morteruelo (meatloaf), ajoarriero (a cod dish), the local liqueur resolí, alajú for dessert… On and around the Plaza Mayor you will find plenty of bars, although other areas also have good restaurants, such as the Castillo district in the upper part of the town, always bustling thanks to its pavement cafés and viewing points over the gorge. And if you want something different, there are more modern restaurants with signature cuisine, flamenco taverns, and a bar carved out of the ground floor of a palace. The natural side of the city can be enjoyed most in summer, when you can have a dip in the Hoz de Júcar swimming area, followed by a delicious rice with lobster at a nearby restaurant. Another option is walking the Cerro del Socorro route, or if you want to see a really unusual place, taking a 30-kilometre side trip to see the bizarrely eroded rocks of Ciudad Encantada, some shaped like animals or human figures.