RUTA CIUDADES MONUMENTALES ESPAÑA (MERIDA, SALAMANCA, BAEZA)

About the destination: Seville has a special colour, this effervescent city is filled with captivating traditional architecture in colours of lemons, plums and oranges. The River Guadalquivir runs approximately north-south through Seville. Most of the city, including the old quarter of Barrio de Santa Cruz, is on the east bank, while the Barrio de Triana lies on the west bank. At midnight, impromptu singing, clapping and guitar playing fill bars and streets. By day, the diversity of the city’s heritage becomes apparent. The Romans, Moors, Catholic Spaniards, and now, hordes of tourists have all tried to claim Seville as their own. Indeed, Seville has never failed to spark the imagination of newcomers. From the street, the cathedral seems unimpressive; you must go inside to get some sense of its dimensions. Massive pillars support the vaulted roof, and the wealth of treasure is fabulous beyond belief. Another major sight of the city is La Giralda, which was the minaret of the Almohad mosque. From the top, there’s a fantastic view of the city across the barbed spires and buttresses of the roof. La Torre del Oro, a symbol of the city, originally covered in golden tiles, watches over the town as it has always done since 1220. Seville at night is wonderful, everything takes on a mystical air able to hypnotize and if you know how to live it, you will fall under its spell.

About the destination: Merida is the capital of the Extremadura region in Spain. The Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993. Mérida is a perfect city for cultural tourism. The main tourist attractions are the Roman Theatre and Amphitheatre; Los Milagros Aqueduct, the Diana’s Temple, or the Roman Bridge, whose construction gives meaning to the existence of this town and because of its strategic value it is a crucial element for trading and all the wars that took place in the east of the peninsula.

About the destination: What a pleasure it is to walk around a city like Cáceres, where every stone tells a piece of history. Its monuments dating from medieval times are one of the best preserved. Explore the narrow alleyways of the Ciudad Monumental, the old town, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO, and decorates the city’s skyline with spires, gargoyles, turrets and enormous storks' nests. The monumental highlights are many, with the exceptional Plaza Mayor, an unforgettable highlight, as well as the excellent Museo de Cáceres housed in a 16th-century mansion and built over an evocative 12th-century aljibe (cistern), a surviving element of Cáceres' Muslim castle. Cáceres is a favourite place for nature-lovers due to its wealth of natural resources just a short distance from the city centre, which include the Monfragüe National Park and a nature reserve. The Jerte valley is also well worth visiting in spring to see the cherry trees in blossom. Take advantage of the cool of the night, when the crowds have gone, to discover a city that takes you directly to the past.

About the destination: Salamanca is an architectural tapestry woven in sandstone. Though there are excellent examples of Roman, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and baroque structures, the golden stone itself is the thread of continuity and harmony. Nonetheless, this ancient university town, has many monumental highlights. Plaza Mayor, considered by many the most beautiful main square in Spain is a fine place for admiring architecture. The town hall is the large, elegant building in the centre of the square. Two beautiful cathedrals stand side by side: the New Cathedral boasts beautiful Plateresque facades and it is the only entrance to the connecting old, Romanesque Catedral Vieja. The university, the focal point of the city, is one of the best examples of Spanish Plateresque style. Salamanca at night is a party. The illuminated city is the meeting point for hundreds of students collecting tapas and beer. But make no mistake, it is also a city to enjoy a quiet night, savoring some wine on a terrace of Plaza Mayor.

About the destination: Toledo flourished in the medieval era during the peaceful coexistence of Christians, Muslims and Jews. This fact has left behind a dignified and slightly mystical walled city. Toledo’s monuments crowd together in a dizzying anarchy of periods and styles, held together in a medieval matrix of sagging houses, churches, synagogues, and mosques. The city that El Greco portrayed in a few of his rare landscapes has changed little over the years. Surrounded by Rio Tajo, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site and is one of Spain’s most visited cities. Artifacts of Christian, Muslim and Jewish origin continue to complement one another in this city, often within the same building. The cathedral is a complex banquet of architectural and artistic styles. Two synagogues, Sinagoga del Tránsito and Sinagoga de Santa Maria la Blanca, and a museum, the Museo Sefardi, are all that remain of what was once the largest Jewish community in Spain. Reminders of the Muslim presence are visible near the Puerta del Sol a 14th century Mudéjar gate and the 10th century mosque, Mezquita del Cristo de la Luz. The legends and traditions of Toledo seem to come alive at sunset. Visitors can explore the city’s mysterious medieval atmosphere walking through its narrow streets in one of the many night tours organized throughout the city. It is a fascinating experience that will transport travellers to another era.

About the destination: Baeza is a municipality of Spain, the capital city1 of said municipality and head of the homonymous judicial party. It is located in the same geographical center of the province of Jaén (in the northeast of the Autonomous Community of Andalusia) located in the region of La Loma, which is considered its western capital.

About the destination: Úbeda is a town in the province of Jaén. This town, declared World Heritage, is one of the most beautiful places in Jaén. Úbeda is one of the few Renaissance jewish cities preserved in Spain. So, not only the Renaissance period has marked their inhabitants’ lives, but also the vestiges of the Muslim and Jewish cultures can be observed on their narrow and paved streets. The Natural Park of Despeñaperros is also near to Úbeda, and it is an interesant place, declared Biosphere Reserve by the UNESCO.

About the destination: The Muslim rulers of Granada adored and adorned this provincial capital. Ignore the low apartments of Granada and look up: the majestic clay-red Alhambra palace looms against the Sierra Nevada, Europe’s sunniest ski slopes. And the refreshing coastline is also nearby. The Alhambra, the red one in Arabic, is an Islamic monument of universal fame ad unfaded grandeur, built on a hill covered with splendid woods and gardens. The numerous courtyards and rooms inside the palaces of the Casa Real are among the finest examples of Mudejar art and architecture. Constructed after the Reconquista of Granada to replace the mosque on the site, the Cathedral of Granada is the first purely Renaissance cathedral is Spain. The Royal Chapel, reached by a separate entrance, contains the elaborate tomb of Ferdinand and Isabella, along with Isabella’s splendid private art collecting. South of the Cathedral is the Albayzin, the old Arab quarter, a set of winding alleyways with Moorish-style archways decorating the walls. Granada is famous for its holy week celebrations, which include festivities and processions. For less cultural diversion, stick to the student pubs around the university.