5 Medieval Spanish Towns – Toledo Spain
5 Medieval Spanish Towns and Villages That You Shouldn’t Miss
The Middle Ages were a period of war and upheaval throughout Europe. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) was ruled by Germanic Visigoths before being invaded by the Moors from North Africa. There then followed nearly a thousand years of “reconquest” as Spanish armies battled to defeat the Moorish Caliphates.
Today there are dozens of villages and towns across Spain where, with a little imagination, you can step back in time to the Middle Ages. The following are 5 of my favorites:
5 Medieval Spanish Towns – Albarracin, Spain
#1 Toledo
Toledo was one of the most important cities in Medieval Spain. The old walled city has a strong Christian, Muslim and Jewish heritage which has remained almost untouched by the passage of time. The main attractions include the 13th Century Cathedral, the 10th Century Alcazar and the Sephardic museum. Having said that, for me the highlight of a visit to Toledo is just wandering the narrow streets and losing yourself in the city’s vibrant past.
5 Medieval Spanish Towns
#2 Albarracín
Albarracín dates back to the 10th Century AD and gets it’s name from the medieval ruler Ibn-Racin. Often overlooked by foreign visitors, Albarracín is considered to be one of the most beautiful medieval villages in Spain and is increasingly popular with Spanish tourists. The surrounding area is also popular with hikers and climbers and there are several good hotels and restaurants in the village.
5 Medieval Spanish Towns – Peñíscola, Spain
#3 Peñíscola
The fortified old town of Peñíscola was built on a rocky peninsula jutting out into the Mediterranean Sea. During the 13th Century the town was controlled by the legendary Knights Templar who built the impressive castle which was the backdrop for the classic 1960’s movie “El Cid” starring Charlton Heston and Sophie Loren.
5 Medieval Spanish Towns – Avila, Spain
#4 Ávila
The imposing 40 foot high granite walls surrounding Ávila were constructed during the 12th Century. The best views are to be had by approaching the city at night when the walls are floodlit. During your visit you should also sample the delicious Yemas de Ávila which are available in most of the town’s bakeries and pay a visit to the funky Museo Teresiano museum which houses a collection of unusual religious artifacts.
#5 Frías
If you have some time to spare, your own transport and fancy getting right off the beaten track I suggest you pay a visit to Frías. With a population of less than 300 people, this tiny medieval village boasts an impressive Romanesque stone bridge and a rather precarious 12th Century castle.
Author Bio
Richard got bitten by the travel bug during a one month trip round Europe. Since then he’s traveled extensively in Europe, Asia, Mexico and South America. He currently lives in Barcelona where he blogs at Barcelona Lowdown.
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I love your photo of Toledo! Stunning medieval place, indeed. Looking forward to visit it one of these days.
Nichelle recently posted..5 Reasons to Take the Family on Outdoor Excursions
Hi Nichelle,
Toledo is one of my favorite cities in Spain. The photo was shot from the towers of the Iglesia de San Ildefonso. The church itself is fairly ordinary but as you can see, the views from the towers are superb!
Richard recently posted..Besalú â A Medieval Gem in the Heart of Catalonia
Toledo is a cool little town. I think you would enjoy.
Great tips and a brilliant reminder that there are so much more to see in Spain than Barcelona, Madrid and the Costa del Sol! 🙂
Thanks Saana,
Spain is a huge country with lots of places besides the spots you mentioned that beckon exploration.
Spain is a place I would like to see more of, and I would love to visit Morocco one of these days.
Thanks for your reply and welcome to Morocco! have a happy Tour,
Ahhh amazing! I have been only to Toledo, and I loved it!
I still have to visit the other ones, all of them look great. I am passionate about medieval towns! 🙂
Its my first time here on your blog and I love it! Impossible not be inspired by all your travels!
I wish you an amazing weekend,
Allane
Packing my Suitcase recently posted..Surviving winter in Winnipeg
Thanks Allane,
I appreciate stopping by.
Nice list and photos! I have never been to Spain, but these cities looks so romantic and interesting. I will add them to my list. 🙂
Milena Yordanova recently posted..Castel Sant’Angelo: The Fortress of the Popes
Barcelona and Madrid are awesome, but Spain has so much more to offer.
I haven’t been to any of these, which is a bit bad because I live about 2 1/2 hours from the Spanish border with France. I have started to drop into the Costa Brava a little since living here and I have to admit I am now being drawn ever closer to Spain. I would love to live right on the border so I can just nip in and out when I like. I have already found some fabulous places, Pals, Begur, Tamarui & Llafranc. Truly stunning, so I really need to explore further.
Hello Brian,
I need to explore more of Spain myself. I hear Costa Brava is amazing.
Yes it is, a stunning part of Spain but you have to get close to the French border for the best parts. If you find yourself in Spain again you should check it out.
Brian recently posted..Lautrec Medieval Village