The historic cities of Cuenca and Toledo, both within easy reach of Madrid, are replete with some of Spain’s most striking centuries-old architectural treasures.
Toledo beguiles with its labyrinth of cobbled, hilly lanes, its Alcazar fortress, Renaissance and Gothic churches, Moorish mosques and synagogues hinting at past glories. Cuenca, dramatically hemmed in by the deep gorges of the Huécar and Júcar rivers, is surrounded by mountainous countryside. Besides its enchanting mix of Gothic, Baroque and medieval architecture, it is renowned for its casas colgadas – balconied abodes that dangle over one of the gorges.
Come with us as we take a walking tour of these jewels of Castilla La Mancha. To experience them at their best, it pays to visit on a weekday, and to linger overnight, once the day trippers have gone home.
In Cuenca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its evocative medieval buildings are packed into the rambling, narrow casco histórico (medieval city center) that sits on a steep promontory, bookended by river gorges. Begin your exploration at the Plaza Mayor; it is overlooked by the Baroque arches of the ayuntamiento (town hall) and the deceptively old-looking, neo-Gothic cathedral, built on the ruins of an 11th-century mosque, its present incarnation dating to 1902. Look out for its magnificent Renaissance doorway, abstract stained-glass windows and the intricate artesanado (wooden) ceiling in the chapter house.
Follow the dog-leg Calle Canónigos east of the plaza to Cuenca’s most famous attraction: the gabled casas colgadas (hanging houses), dating from the 14th century, that jut out precariously over the Río Huécar gorge. Continue downhill to the Puente de San Pablo footbridge for the best views of these extraordinary houses that seem to emerge from the rock like organic parts of the cliff, then retrace your steps.
One of the casas colgadas houses the artistic highlight of Cuenca – the Museo de Arte Abstracto, founded in the 1960s, and its airy galleries display an excellent collection of ethereal abstract canvases of Fernando Zóbel (the museum’s founder), thought-provoking pieces by Basque luminaries Jorge Oteiza, Eduardo Chillida and Néstor Basterretxea, and mixed-media paintings by Catalan heavyweight Antoni Tàpies.
From Plaza Mayor, take Calle San Pedro north to the Iglesia de San Pedro, Cuenca’s oldest church, though its current incarnation is from the 18th century. Highlights include its handsome Baroque façade, a coffered Mudéjar ceiling in one of the chapels, and the opportunity to scale the lofty belltower (former minaret) for stellar views of Cuenca. Next door is the labyrinthine 17th century Carmelite convent that houses the Fundación Antonio Pérez, a
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It was eight in the morning, and the prickly July humidity had already seeped through my skin as I hopped out of the cab in Singapore’s Little India. Greeted by the bustle of vendors setting up, I was transported back to my childhood, to days spent wandering the neighborhood with my grandmother. The aroma of fresh coriander from vibrant spice stalls spurred memories of her tangy coconut prawn curry. The musky fragrance of jasmine adorning colorful flower stalls reminded me of how she’d woven them into my braids. She never would again.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Charissa Enget, a content creator and cybersecurity architect who gained her graduate degree in Thailand. It has been edited for length and clarity.
UN Tourism and TUI Care Foundation have solidified their ongoing partnership by signing an agreement at the UN Tourism headquarters in Madrid. The agreement focuses on empowering artists and artisans, particularly women and youth, in rural tourism destinations in Africa. With this new agreement, TUI Care Foundation becomes the first partner to support the pilot phase of the Tourism for Rural Development Small Grants Programme by UN Tourism.
Holland America Line is offering a unique way to see the solar eclipse that will cross over Europe in 2026 by sailing a trio of cruises into the path of totality.
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The three startups in the list this week represent modern takes on old ways of doing business in three travel sectors: tour packages, timeshares, and hospitality tipping.
Solo female travellers are a growing and very attractive market; in fact, 14% of women travel without the company of family, friends or a partner, which translates into habits, needs and expectations, as well as specific tourist services and products. Mabrian and The Data Appeal Company-Almawave Group, analysed the female solo traveller demand worldwide* to identify five key factors that outline the profile of this segment.