Places to see in ( Castile La Mancha - Spain ) Cuenca

Places to see in ( Castile La Mancha - Spain ) Cuenca

Cuenca is a city set in the mountains of east-central Spain. Founded by Moors, it retains its Historic Walled Town with steep cobbled streets and medieval castle ruins. Perched on a limestone spur high above the Júcar and Huécar rivers, it's most famous for its well-preserved "casas colgadas," or hanging houses. Cantilevered over the Huécar gorge, they seemingly cling to the cliffs’ edges.

In the Region of Castile-La Mancha, between the Júcar and Huécar river canyons, you will find this city with the UNESCO World Heritage designation for its wealth of monuments. Its historic centre looks out over rocky canyon walls in the heart of the Cuenca Mountains. The Cathedral, Casas Colgadas (Hanging Houses) and cobbled streets charm the most hardened traveller. A former Dominican convent houses the Cuenca Parador Hotel, where guests can rest and enjoy the region's most traditional recipes. One of the best times for visiting the city is during the Religious Music Week, a festival of International Tourist Interest. Art, history, adventure sports, spas and hunting are some of the opportunities offered by this province in Castilla-La Mancha.

Cuenca’s old town has the UNESCO World Heritage designation, and the city spreads out from atop a promontory overlooking the ruins of its Moorish castle, the ancient Kunka fortress. Meanwhile, below, the modern city grows on the Júcar plain. The “upper city” - the medieval streets that give the city its character - begins beside the parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Luz, next the San Antón bridge. Here begins a tour of the hills, steps and viewpoints which provide beautiful views.

The first stop might be the church of San Felipe Neri, a sober construction which becomes a focus at Easter, with the singing of the traditional "Miserere" on its steps. Inside it is decorated with Baroque and Rococo motifs. On the other side of the Plaza del Carmen you can climb to the Plaza de la Torre Mangana, a former watchtower for Cuenca and one of the symbols of the city, visible from any other point. Very nearby is the Science Museum.

Before reaching the Plaza Mayor, you walk through the Plaza de la Merced, where you can see good examples of Cuenca Baroque in the church and convent of La Merced, and in the great seminary of San Julián. In the Plaza Mayor stand the arches of the Town Hall and the Gothic Cathedral of Nuestra Señora de Gracia, built on the site of a former mosque. Its structure alternates Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements, the result of a long period of construction. Its unfinished monumental façade accompanies the wooden balconies and wrought iron grilles of the square's aristocratic houses, whose ground floors are occupied by inns.
Behind the church a street begins leading to the Casas Colgadas, symbolic monuments in the city, which date from the 15th century.

One of the houses contains the Museum of Spanish Abstract Art, one of the best in Spain. The wooden balconies of the Casas Colgadas hang over the course of the Huécar, but you have to cross the river to get one of the best panoramic views. On this bank, you can visit the city's Parador de Turismo the former convent of San Pablo. The chance to stay here can only be compared with the chance to taste the mouth-watering Conca recipes offered by its restaurant. "Zarajos" (roast lamb tripe), "morteruelo" (a kind of pâté served hot) or ajoarriero (cod stew) are some of the local dishes, to which can be added vegetable stews, roasts and river fish. Almonds, honey and figs are included in all kinds of imaginative cookery and make up the dessert known as "alajú" (a cake made of honey, figs and almonds).

As for drinks, wines with the La Mancha Denomination of Origin and "resolí", a liqueur made with coffee, sugar and orange peel, are outstanding.
Returning to the Cuenca urban layout, here you will find corners full of charm where there are fountains, little arches and narrow streets. Between the Cathedral and the Casas Colgadas we can also visit the Provincial Museum, the Casa del Curato, the Diocesan Museum and the Bishop's Palace.

( Castile La Mancha - Spain ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting Castile La Mancha . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Castile La Mancha - Spain

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