To really get a feel of what Spain’s all about, you don’t have to visit one of the more crowded, touristy areas. Some of the country’s hidden gems are actually in the smaller cities. There are quite a few small towns in Spain worth visiting.
Small Towns Worth Visiting In SpainMojacar
There are two parts of Mojacar: Mojacar Pueblo and Mojacar Playa. The former is located on top of a beautiful hilltop and is the older part of town. The latter is a newer, tourist resort that is located on the sea and has a beautiful beach. This is what’s unique about it; you can see not only the sea, but the countryside as well without having to go very far.
Albarracin
This mountain town is fairly isolated and is located on the Guadalaviar River. Parts of it were destroyed in the Spanish Civil War, which is why the the old and new architecture is diverse. There are red, orange and even pink houses that line the town as well as the castle of the Banu Razin family. Points of interest include the Murallas de Albarracin, Anador Visitas Guiadas Albarracin and Casa de la Julianeta.
Besalu
One of the most interesting facts about Besalu is that because of the value of it’s architecture, it has been declared a National Historic-Artistic Ensemble. Besalu is considered to be one of the area’s best preserved medieval towns. There is a rich Jewish heritage here as it’s part of a Jewish route to Spain. While here make sure you visit the Jewish bathing area of Mikve de Besalu ( you will need to visit the tourist office beforehand). Both the Sant Pere and Sant Vicente church are worth visiting as well as the Viejo Bridge. A fun place for tourists to see, is the Micromuni which is the home to a variety of miniature items.
Catalonia
This area is filled with a lot of history and the locals are proud of it. In addition, tourists love to walk down the cobble stoned streets as you can feel as if you’ve stepped back several centuries. One of the most popular places to visit is the Sagrada Familia. This unfinished church dates back to the 18th century. Tourists should also check out The Park Guell as it has a lot of unique elements to it including beautiful gardens and sculptures.
Ourense
This landlocked province isn’t a popular place for tourists to visit. However, it’s a shame though because it’s a unique town. It’s filled with monumental buildings that date back around 2,000 years ago. The Ourense Cathedral and Botanico de Montealegre are both interesting spots for tourists to see.
Burgos
This area has a medieval feel too it. It’s filled with Gothic architecture which makes it even more interesting. A must see building is the Cathedral of Burgos, which was declared a World Heritage Site.
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Spain’s small towns are some of the country’s best-kept secrets. For a comprehensive guide to Barcelona — Spain’s most visited city — see Barcelona Must-See Sites. And budget for the Tourist Taxes in Europe now in place at many Spanish destinations.
