Introduction: Spain has a lot of flavor, in addition to Madrid, Barcelona, these resounding international metropolis, there are those who have been written into the book by the great literary Cervantes, Hemingway's countryside town.
Some are surrounded by beautiful windmills, some were once a famous medieval sword workshop, and some guard the bay quietly so that you can not bear to leave. These towns are located around Madrid and Barcelona.
Madrid is one of the must-see cities in Spain, but don't overlook its neighborhood. There are six towns around Madrid that are worth visiting, and they are so different that it's hard to say who is the most beautiful. We might as well know one by one, here is a map of the distribution of towns around Madrid.
|| Windmill Town: Consuegra
Literature lovers, before going to Consuegra, you can revisit Cervantes' Don Quixote, this is the windmill town where he charged into battle. There are 12 windmills and a reconstructed castle on the ridge next to the town, and under the blue sky and white clouds, everyone who walks in it seems to become Don Quixote. The town holds an annual saffron festival in late October, during which several windmills are turned to celebrate the harvest.
As a town rich in culture, Cervantes made Consuegra. Cervantes and Don Quixote are the pride of Spain; Cervantes kept Don Quixote in the books, but the Spaniards kept him in history: even if we have nothing, we still have Don Quixote.
Tips:
Madrid-Consuegra: 132 kilometers
Car: 1 hour and 30 minutes
| | | Ancient Roman Ruins: Segovia
Segovia was an important ancient capital in the history of the Kingdom of Spain. From the Middle Ages to the present day, Segovia has been the favorite vacation spot of the Spanish royal family, and the entire ancient city has been recognized as a World Heritage Site.
The most famous sight in Segovia is the aqueduct (El acueducto de Segovia) that stands in Plaza Azogueja, built in Roman times between the late 1st and early 2nd centuries A.D. It is the best preserved of the Roman aqueducts, and it is even emblazoned on the coat of arms to symbolize the city. The never-ending stream of tourists traveling through the narrow, winding streets of the old city, in Segovia you can also see the Alcazar Castle (Alcazar), if you think it looks familiar, then I tell you that this is the prototype of the Disney Castle. The beauty of the fantasy world can be found in reality!
By the way, when you come to Seville, you have to taste the world-famous roasted suckling pig (cochinillo asado)
Tips:
Madrid - Segovia: 90 kilometers
Car: 1 hour; Train: 55 minutes
| | | City of Stones and Saints: Avila
The city of stones and saints. Avila)
Avila is the highest city in Spain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is built on a rocky hill, surrounded by wilderness, brown, arid land, no trees, scattered with huge gray boulders, which is also ? Rock City? where the name comes from. The ancient city retains the complete walls and bunkers of the Middle Ages, and the city gates are very similar to those of Rhodes in Greece and Avignon in France, and the atmosphere of mystery and antiquity is always so attractive.
Inside the city is the Convent of St. Therese, built in 1936 on the site of Therese's former residence, which preserves her relics; the Convent of Encarnación, where Therese died after 29 years of seclusion, with her manuscripts; and the Convent of the Blessed Virgin Mary, where Therese was educated.
Tips:
Madrid-Avila: 106 kilometers
Car: 1 hour 30 minutes; Train: 55 minutes
|| Madrid's ? Weekend? : Chinchon
Chinchon, located in the southeast of the Madrid region, is a lovely little medieval town with squares, castles, and small inns that remain as they were hundreds of years ago. The most beautiful square in town, Plaza Municipal de Chinchón, was built in the 16th century and is surrounded by 234 terraces facing the square, like a big open stage. The local restaurants offer specialties that are a culinary experience not to be missed, and those who know how to live in Madrid always like to come here for a leisurely weekend.
Tips:
Madrid-Chinchon: 53 kilometers
Car: 1 hour
|| Strawberry Train Ride: Aranjuez
Aranjuez is the home of the King of Spain's Palace, and enjoying the royal gardens and taking the Strawberry Train is the main reason to come here. The main reason to come here is to see the royal gardens and ride the Strawberry Train. The best time to visit Aranjuez is in the spring, when its gardens are in full bloom, and you can also enjoy a pleasant ride on the Strawberry Train. To the sound of the station master's bell ringing, in the beautiful wooden carriages, the Strawberry Girl, dressed in traditional costume and carrying a bag full of fresh strawberries, hands passengers a sweet strawberry.
Tips:
Madrid - Aranjuez: 51 kilometers
Car: 1 hour; Train: 55 minutes
|| Cliffside Cuenca
Cuenca, which means valley in Spanish, was built by Arabs in the early 9th century. In the beginning of the 9th century, the Arabs built this city, which they managed for hundreds of years before it was recovered by the Christian Kingdom in the 12th century, and since then it has been Spanish territory. Today, you can still see the overhangs, the cathedral, the alleys, which tell the history of the city and remain unchanged over the centuries, and in 1996 Cuenca was inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
When you come to the old town, with its well-preserved medieval atmosphere, you will feel the ? The feeling of being in the air. The feeling of being in the air. Cuenca's iconic landmark, the Casas Casas Colgadas is a must-see. Built in the 14th century, this Gothic building is named for the cliff side it juts out from, and is made mostly of wood inside and out, so stand on the balcony and reap the benefits of a great view.
Tips:
Madrid - Cuenca: 172 kilometers
Car: 2 hours; Train: 55 minutes
Above the inventory of Madrid around the flavor of the town, but some friends would like to ask, Barcelona around the interesting countryside villages there are no good place to go? Don't worry, the next continue to see.
Barcelona around the townIn the vicinity of Barcelona, there are also many like pearls scattered around the town, unlike those around Madrid, the countryside is located in the middle of the continent, the towns here because of the sea, more Mediterranean style. Some of these small seaside towns have inspired many artists.
|| The Mirror of Barcelona: Rupit
Although less than 150 kilometers away from the city of Barcelona, Rupit has nothing to do with the fashionable metropolis. Rupit is like falling into another world, because it is a place of tranquility and simplicity that transcends time and space.
The town of Lupet is a playground of light and shadow in the sunshine, with balconies embedded in the walls, eaves jutting out, and verandas on the top floors of the old houses, all of which are lit up and darkened by the sun, while the sunlit stones along the streets are brightened up by the flowers in bloom.
Tips:
Barcelona-Lupet: 110km
Car: 2 hours
|| Medieval Town: Besalu
In 1966, Besalu was designated as a National Historic Heritage Site of Spain. This small town has a mild climate and is suitable for tourism all year round. Most of the buildings in the town are Romanesque, the most famous is the Romanesque stone bridge built in the 11th century across the Flubiova River outside the town, across the bridge you can get to the town's largest square, which is bustling with markets on Tuesdays. Next to the square is the 11th-century arcade, and one of Europe's most famous religious buildings, the Church of St. Pius, originally Romanesque but later incorporating many Gothic elements.
Tips:
Barcelona-Bessalou: 135 kilometers
Car: 2 hours
|| Artistic Inspiration: Sitges
Sitges has countless aliases, ? Ibiza in miniature? The city of art? City of Art? and "the city of art". Gay Resort? and so on. Everyday life here is stacked with festivals, so to speak. the Carnival celebrations from February to March are one of the biggest and craziest festivals in Spain, with everyone drinking, singing and dancing all night long. in June, on the Feast of Corpus Christi, the streets and alleys are paved with flowers, turning the town into a colorful, fragrant garden. At the end of August, the traditional procession of the Statue of the Giants begins again with great fervor.
Tips:
Barcelona-Siches: 40 kilometers
Car: 41 minutes; Train: 55 minutes
| | | Quiet millennium-old city: Girona
Girona is a small town located in the Autonomous Community of Catalonia, Spain, on the banks of the River Ter. Girona is a small town located on the River Ter in the autonomous region of Catalonia, Spain, with a history of more than 2,000 years, and home to the world's No. 1 Michelin-starred Roca restaurant in 2013. There are colorful houses along the Ouenya River, the best-preserved 'Jewish Ghetto' in Europe, Roman gates, the largest Gothic cathedral in the nave, the remains of the ancient wall on top of the hill, and more, and you can travel through thousands of years to discover the secret of the ancient city by trekking on the ancient stone paths.
Tips:
Barcelona-Girona: 105km
Car: 1h30min; Train: 55min
|| Dali's hometown: Figueres
The year of 2004? Dali Year? has once again evoked memories of the century's world-class painter, Salvador Dalí. In 1974, Dalí founded the world-famous Teatro Museo Dalí in his hometown, which attracts art lovers from all over the world and is one of the most visited museums in Spain.
Tips:
Barcelona-Figueras: 142 kilometers
Car: 2 hours; Train: 55 minutes
|| Gold Coast: Cadaqués
Cadaqués is a little-known place, but it's a picturesque paradise. Walking through the town, you can hear the sound of the waves lapping at the reef, and as you walk deeper into the town, you can see Cadaqués Bay. This was the residence of the famous painter Dali when he was a child, he once described this seaside town facing the sea and blossoming flowers in spring as "perfect and dreamy", and claimed that the light and color of the Mediterranean coast inspired his countless creations.
Perched on steep cliffs facing the blue Mediterranean Sea and surrounded by dense olive groves, the town has one of the most beautiful coasts in Spain.
Tips:
Barcelona - Cadaqués: 174km
Car: 2 hours
|| Azurite Fishing Village: Tossa de Mar
Tossa de Mar is located on the coast of Girona, midway between the coastline of Barcelona and the French border. It was originally an old fishing village, which gradually turned into the recreational resort coastal area it is now. Tossa has beautiful beaches and an old town with a fortified wall at the southern end that offers some of the most beautiful views of this beach. It has been named one of the 25 best beaches in the world by National Geographic because of its crescent shaped beach, 400 meters long and stunning blue coastline.
Tips:
Barcelona-Marina Tossa: 107 kilometers
Car: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Summary
The mountains are majestic, the sea is vast, the sunlight is gentle, the air is pleasant, and the mind can be free; go to a small town and you You can choose to point a cup of beer on the beach, see the sunrise and sunset, you can also choose to lay a carpet on the top of the mountain, listen to the birds and insects cry, read the flowers.
Spain always has a lot of hidden charm, need a little digging and discovery. Be a backpacker, walk through the villages and towns of Spain, in different places, looking for different styles and characteristics, riding on the sunshine just right, riding on your style just right.