Salamanca - Natural Park of "Arribes del Duelo"

El Pozo de los Humos (smoke pot in english) is a waterfall like no other in the Iberian Peninsula. The waterfall have a freefall of 50 meters and with a large and spectacular cloud of steam. This waterfall its not the only one in the river Uces but is the biggest and more note-worthy of the bunch. Also it’s located in the heart of the Natural Park of Arribes del Duero, a Special Protection Area declared by the EU in 2002.

The park

Arribes del Duero have the biggest canons of the Iberian Peninsula, full of watercourses, precipices, a really interesting biodiversity and breathtaking vistas. One could say about its biodiversity that is a packed and concentrated version of mediterranean biodiversity.

The Hermitage of la Virgen del Castillo & Pereña de la Ribera.

At a walking distance from the waterfall, you’ll find yourself in a small town called Pereña de la Rivera, a high natural viewpoint amid canyons and river routes, has been a strategic place since Neolithic times, from which date its oldest forts. Nowadays a charming XVIII century church stands there, the Hermitage la Virgen del Castillo.

Activities, sports, tour and when should you visit

This whole place is full of small and old villages, with nice people where you can enjoy yourself with the incredible gastronomy and rich culture. If you can visit in may 14, you will enjoy their festivities of Our Lady of the Castle: mass in la Virgen del castillo, dances and a good opportunity to enjoy in community the aforementioned gastronomy. You can also, at any time of the year, enjoy some activities like horse riding and camping.

Where should you stay?

http://www.lacasadetiamatilde.com/


Even more pics of this gorgeous place.

Alicante - Valencia 

El Cid Campeador, one of the biggest Medieval Spanish icons.

Castles of Alicante are nowadays a cultural route of high tourist interest, it’s a witness of old times when christians and muslims fought to control Spain. On this route we’ll see Christian castles, Muslim Castles and Muslim Castles which were later used by the Christians. This was the era of epic and heroic deeds of the medieval Spain, the time of El Cid Campeador and the Reconquista war.

Castillo de Bañeres

An Almohad fortress built in the 13th century. Castle of irregular shape, with two campuses and a central tower 17 meters high, square plan and three heights. It has a well abn a chapel.

Nowadays, it houses the Museum Festero Bañeres.

Doble muralla de Biar

This castle is one of the oldest buildings of its kind, Muslim West class, and during the XIII century served as a border post between the Christian and Muslim territories in that part of the peninsula. It was constructed earlier, thought the date is not clear. For example, it is know that its keep of 17 meters was built in the 12th century.

Castillo de Castalla

This settlement is very, very old. It was first built in Neolithic times, with subsequent construction of the Iberians and later the Romans. On these, the Muslims built this castle in the XI century and later it was reformed by Christians in the 14th century. Only for its antiquity, this living jewel of history is worthy of special mention.

Atalaya de Villena

Date uncertain, but it’s documented in some Arabic texts that date back to 1172 and is possible that it was built on an ancient Roman villa. A stronghold important for the Arabs in Spain. Christians couldn't  take it until 1240 after three sieges. Since then it housed the Knights of the Order of Calatrava and then after some time went into possession the Infants of Castile.

Castillo de Piedra de Sax

This castle stand more than 500 meters over a cliff on which the town of Sax sits. This is another ancient site: its first construction dates back to Iberian and Roman times, although the present castle is of Almohad construction. It was conquered in 1239 by the Knights of the Order of Calatrava, and since it has been in possession of the Crown of Castile.

Some nice places in the zone that you can stay in:


http://www.escapadarural.com/casa-rural/alicante/balcon-de-biar

http://www.escapadarural.com/casa-rural/alicante/los-dos-tilos

http://www.escapadarural.com/casa-rural/alicante/la-facana



A second part covering the rest of the route is coming soon!

Castellón

This beautiful region surrounds a river, called Palancia, sandwiched between numerous mountain ranges, has always been kind to its people, allowing the development of broad and fertile meadows where lush gardens develop, in addition to numerous streams and springs.

The Palancia Rivers, the natural engine of the historical past of the whole region, born in the district of El Toro, it’s full of life. With green and lush riverbanks where the tourist could strolls through the multiple paths to find it’s way and do some sightseeing of the wonderful views.

The Alto Palancia regions holds several small populations scattered among the mountains and valleys, harmoniously arranged in a landscape that will captivate your five senses.

At the head of the river Palancia on a hill, the villa Bejis, with narrow streets and emblazoned houses it’s chaired by the remains of the castle. With a old Roman Aqueduct called “Los Arcos” very near. At a short walk distance you’ll find the towns of Teresa and Tóras, wrapped in a stunning natural setting of incredible beauty.

Following the curse of the river, Viver will impress you with it’s attractive landscapes, where water is always present throughout the region, springing with all his strength, leaving behind more than fifty natural sources of water, and at the outskirts of the town in the natural area of of La Foresta you will be be presented with a impressive waterfall that falls between the lush vegetation.

Following the river you will find even more valleys covered with almond-trees and olive-trees, with subterranean rivers, numerous springs and the range called Espadán delighting your sight.

If you love history and visiting a place that feels like traveling back in time you’ll love El Alto palancia. A lot of the towns in El Alto Palancia have one trait in common, the tracing streets and urban typologies retain Arab reminiscences from it’s Moresque past. After centuries of peaceful convivence they were exiled by order of king Felipe III at the first decade of the XVII century, leaving behind an empty region and a past of rich culture that nowadays it’s half loss with the numerous remains of castles that remains there. You will find yourself surrounded of parts of a distant past that tell a history of wars, covenants, intrigue and vassalage that ended in the exile of the definitive expulsión of the moresque people.

You’ll be delighted if you go to Alto Palancia and enjoy its rich past and culture and breath taking vistas and you’ll learn about a small but important piece of Spain rich history. And last but not least don’t ever forget about it’s delicious gastronomy.

Where to stay: http://hotelrosaledadoncel.com/en

GALICIA

These are ancient lights of the Atlantic, the waters of a Celtic nation that were once known by the Romans as the Finis Terrae, the end of the world, beyond where the sun died and monsters inhabited. Today, the cape of Finisterre harbors many lighthouses in a route of ancient celtic heritage, christian spirituality, nature and traditional fishing villages. Here we enumerate just some of the many beautiful lighthouses of Galicia and its surrounding environments.

Tower of Hercules

This 2000 years old Roman wonder, modeled after the Lighthouse of Alexandria, is the oldest lighthouse that is still in active, and the second tallest in Spain. The name honours the three days fight of Hercules and the giant Geryion, in a legend that is from Celtic origins. Hercules buried the giant’s body in the place where the lighthouse stands and orderer to build a city, Brigantium, which is why the lightouse was mostly known as farum Brigantinum (the lighthouse of Brigantium.) The city today called La Coruña, “Balcony of the Atlantic” has the Tower of Hercules represented in its coat of arms.

Tower of Hercules, near the city of La Coruña

A must visit for lovers of Ancient History.

Where to stay: http://www.casaperfeutomaria.com/

Finisterra

Lighthouse in Cape of Finisterre

This cape was the westernmost point in Europe when Romans first “discovered” it, and they believed that it was the end of the world. Thus the name, Finis Terrae. Such a place surrounded by legends and monsters contains too much history and myths to be narrated in this post alone, but enough to say that here ends of the most important pilgrimage in the Christianity, el Camino de Santiago, or Way of Saint James. And after visiting the tomb of the Apostle, many pilgrims still come a little further, into this end of all things, to burn their pilgrim clothes in a sign of purification.

The End of the World

Where to stay: http://www.dugium.com/

Nuestra Señora de la Barca

Next to this lighthouse, surrounded by the seas of Costa da Morte (in Galician, “Coast of Death”), stands the sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de la Barca (our Lady of the Boat). It’s uncertain the date, probably built around the 11th or 12th century.

A church made of rock and sea

Where to stay: http://www.casacastineira.es/en

Carnota

This beautiful environment harbors the village of Carnota, surrounded by ancient mounds and celtic forts.

Draws attention the largest hórreo in Spain -a traditional form of granary in the peninsular northwest; and the beach of Carnota, the longest in Galicia.

Where to stay: http://www.sancibranrural.com

Cedeira

The lighthouse of Punta Candelaria watches over the coasts of Cedeira, a traditional settlement of parishes like Cedeira, San Andrés de Teixido or Régoa. Along with the fishing, the livestock becomes more visible due semiferal horses ruminating on the steep landscapes of the coast, confirming a very characteristic sight along with its beautiful beaches.

Sea and horses, a common sight in Cedeira

Village of Cedeira

Where to stay: http://www.apasada.com/

Cabo Prior, Ferrol

A good time to check Ferrol, a beautiful town that witnesses population remains from prehistoric times to Celts, Phoenicians, Greeks, Roman and many other visitors, and one of the traditional leading harbour of the Spanish north seas.

Castle of San Felipe

Night in Ferrol

http://pousadadomar.blogspot.com.es/

Other Lightouses in Galicia

Cape Vilan

Cape Silleiro

Punta Laxe

Punta de Mera

Guipúzcoa

This Franciscan sanctuary devoted to the worship of the Virgin of Arantzazu and Ignatius of Loyola benefits from the highland silence and peaceful atmosphere of the Aizkorri mountain range and good road infrastructure that makes it an easy place to access by devotees and tourist alike.

The sanctuary build on the cliffs.

It is said that in this the place the Virgin of Arantzazu appeared to the shepherd Rodrigo de Balanzategui in 1468. The legend says that the Virgin Mary appeared to the shepherd over a green hawthorn and that with her appearance the two year long drought stopped with a miraculous pouring rain and all conflicts and fights finished when for the first time, without weapons, the leaders of the different sides meet where the Virgin image appeared.

The virgin of Arantzazu over the hawthorn.

To see and do in Oñati: Oñati itself it’s one the most beautiful places in the Euskadi and to add to the fascinating Sanctuary of Arantzazu you can find the Natural Park of Aizkorri-Aratz very close. If you visit at the right time you’ll find a wide variety of events and festivals, the main festivity in Arantzazu is on September 9.

The Natural Park of Aizkorri-Aratz

Where to stay

http://www.hoteltorrezumeltzegi.com/es/ar/1/inicio.html

Cordova

This Gothic Castle in the town of Belalcázar, in the province of Cordova, Andalusia, also known as Castle of Sotomayor, was built in the 15th century when the king John II of Castile granted these lands to Guitierre de Sotomayor to govern them as Count of Belalcázar. Although the castle is not quite well preserved, it still remarkable its central keep 75 m. high, its cistern and stables, and its extensive underground dungeon.

City Hall in Belalcázar

Festivities in Belalcázar

To see in Belalcázar: Parish of Saint James, of Renaissance style; Church of St. John the Baptist, Gothic-Renaissance, Convent of Santa Clara de la Columna, 15th century.

Convent of Santa Clara

Where to stay - http://www.lacruzdesanpedro.com/