Destinations with centuries of history: medieval towns and cities of Spain
A journey through six destinations preserving the living legacy of the Middle Ages
Scattered across northern and central mainland Spain, six towns have joined forces to preserve and promote their medieval legacy through the Network of Medieval Cities and Towns. With tourist routes, food-and-drink festivals, and a variety of cultural activities, this initiative offers a unique experience that combines living history and monumental heritage. United by history and heritage, the network is formed of Almazán, Estella-Lizarra, Hondarribia, Laguardia, Sigüenza, and Valencia de Alcántara and makes up a tourism product covering some 932 miles between the Cantabrian coast and inland Spain. The itinerary crosses sites that have successfully kept their defensive architecture, historic centers and local traditions intact. Such is the case of Hondarribia, in Gipuzkoa, where the town walls stand side by side with the vitality of the maritime fishing district. Further south, in Álava, Laguardia has preserved its medieval layout and an underground network of wineries, making wine tourism the perfect complement. Estella-Lizarra, in Navarre, is a historic crossroads where the Way of Saint James meets the Sephardic Routes. Among Romanesque churches and shopping streets, the city also offers up cuisine based on local products such as string beans (pochas) or the traditional suckling pig (gorrín).
In Castile and León, Almazán reflects the symbolic power of the Duero River, with its medieval wall, its Plaza Mayor square, and panels created by painter Hans Memling. In Sigüenza (Guadalajara), the history of the Doncel and the traces of different eras coexist in a city that was for centuries an episcopal estate, now organized into medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical areas. Meanwhile, the city’s iconic Parador has also just been fully renovated. Valencia de Alcántara (Extremadura) presents its valuable heritage, combining the memory of the Boda Regia festival with the Dolmens and a cuisine focused on local and game products. Its natural setting, among cork oaks and black storks, rounds off a tourism offering in which history becomes an experience. In addition to its cultural values, this network organizes the International Medieval Pintxos and Tapas Competition, and promotes sports with the Red-Corriendo el Medievo running network—an initiative that integrates active tourism and historical legacy.