It's not just Barcelona, Madrid or Valencia to discover!
You know the must-see Spanish destinations inside out. And for all that, you can't imagine not live your next vacation elsewhere than in Spain. Here are five alternatives to complete your Hispanic panorama.
1. Toledo rather than Madrid
1 hour by car from Madrid, Tolède completes Spanish immersion. The city known as “with three cultures”, due to the presence of Jewish, Arab and Christian communities for many centuries, offers an alternative to history buffs.
Synagogues, cathedrals and mosques are all key stops that will tell the story of the rich hours of this medieval city in central Spain. Capital of the autonomous community Castile-La Mancha, its past as an imperial city can be visited through ramparts and fortresses. It is good to get lost in the old center of Toledo. Especially on the Cigarreles circuit, where lookouts offering the best view to understand and discover Toledo. Finally, a tour would not be complete without a passage through the Toledo cathedral as well asAlcazar.
> Another alternative in the area: take the road to Ciudad Real, where you will enter the scenery of the adventures of Don Quixote. The mills will be an integral part of the trip.
2. Girona rather than Barcelona
If Gaudi's Sagrada Familia no longer holds any secrets for you, leave Barcelona to explore the surrounding area. Girona is only a hundred kilometers away. Less than 6 hours from Paris, the city offers another glimpse of Catalonia. Its cathedral, built between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries, is the largest church in Catalonia.
Taking advantage of a city break, the curious will also stroll through the Jewish quarter, one of the most important in Europe in the Middle Ages. Girona is of course also a destination for gourmets who have booked several months in advance at the El Celler de Can Roca table. The Catalan address has established itself for several years at the top of the list of the 50 best restaurants in the world.
> Another alternative in the area: you can get off the beaten track to the north as far as Figueres, made extremely famous by Salvador Dali. Art lovers visit the artist's theater-museum there. The site is as popular as the Guggenheim in Bilbao.
3. Cadiz rather than Gibraltar
Symbol of the European coast bordering nearby Africa, Gibraltar makes more than one dream. The British rock is not the only destination in southern Spain, however. To change the Costa del Sol, and its essential stops, Malaga and Gibraltar, it is better to aim for the Costa de la Luz, West. City famous for its carnival, Cadiz is a great stopover for tourists who want a peaceful vacation. The city is pedestrianized. The historic district is only accessible by taxis. To visit : the cathedral, the Torre Tavira, the museum of Cadiz...
The more adventurous can consider Cadiz as a stopover before taking the boat to the Canaries. While waiting for the departure, they will bask on one of the beaches, in the old town, or in the modern part.
> Another alternative in the area: the Routard recommends taking a look at the side of the village Arcos de la Frontera, a rock that overlooks the Rio Guadalete. A haven of peace, certainly touristy, which will delight amateur photographers for its plunging view of Andalusia.
4. Cordoba rather than Seville
In central Andalusia, Granada attracts the curious who can't wait to enter the Alhambra while others take the Spanish pulse in the cobbled alleys of Seville's Santa Cruz district. And yet, travelers would be wrong to impose only these two choices there. Córdoba, or Córdoba, is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will visit the Mezquita, a mosque-cathedral considered to be the most important Islamic monument in the West.
In the historic center, the alcazar is a fortress that is also worth a visit, as is the old Jewish quarter. Córdoba is also lived by walking its alleys and tasting the charm of a Moorish-style hammam and, why not, attending a flamenco show?
> Another alternative in the area: on the road to Baena, you will make a memorable historical discovery. The Roman city of Parque Arqueologico de Torreparedones remained buried underground for many centuries. Since 2011, history buffs have been discovering a veritable ancient site there, which has not yet revealed all of its secrets.
5. Oviedo plutôt than Gijon
Escape the trendy style of Gijon to go deeper into the lands of Asturias. Oviedo, the capital of the principality, offers more authenticity with its old quarter which lends itself wonderfully to holidays. It is pedestrian. You can easily go through visits and take your time tasting the specialty: the carbayon, an individual almond cake iced with a thin layer of sugar.
A walk in the city is essential to discover Plaça de Porlier, the courtyard of the University and that of the old market. The San Salvador cathedral is a must. It gives access to the Holy chamber, where the Shroud of Oviedo is kept, a fabric that would have been placed on the face of Jesus after his crucifixion.
> Another alternative in the area: you have to approach the outskirts of the city of Oviedo to reach Mount Naranco, where the Iglesia Santa Maria del Naranco will appeal to all lovers of ancient palaces. It was there that the Asturian king took up his summer quarters in his early days in the XNUMXth century.
These 5 cities are much less well known than their neighboring sisters, but they are all equally charming. A bit less touristy, so maybe also more authentic ... It's up to you to see what you prefer to discover in a country.
