The capital of the Bajo Aragon district of eastern Aragon, the town of Alcaniz stands on the banks of the Guadalope river, some 430 kilometres from the countries capital Madrid. Overlooked by its castle which was formerly the HQ of the Order of Calatrava, Alcaniz has a population of 16,392, and a history going back to the Moorish occupation. It suffered various conflicts before finally being taken from muslim control in 1179, by Alfonso II of Aragon. Places to visit in Alcaniz include the Santa Maria la Mayor church, the town hall, the Lonja and the castle which has now been turned into a parador (hotel). Alcaniz can be reached from the N-232, between Hijar and Monroyo, 120 km from Zaragoza, the regional capital.
October 25, 2010
September 10, 2010
Cuenca Hotel Buenavista
Hotel Buenavista Cuenca Spain
For your visit to the Spanish city of Cuenca, you will hardly find a better place to stay than the Hostal Buenavista, which is ideal for both leisure and business guests, and perfect for touring this historic city. Offering non-smoking rooms, all with internet access, air-con, and TV, the Buenavista also has outdoor swimming pool, disabled facilities, twenty four hour reception and room service, and a choice of recreational and leisure facilities. Located in the Castilla-La Mancha region of Spain, Cuenca is one of the most highly visited cities in the region, seconded only by the magnificent Toledo, one of the finest cities in Europe. Popular as a day trip destination from Madrid, Cuenca will not disappoint those who choose to visit, whether it be to see the 12th century cathedral or the ruined Moorish castle. Rooms in the Hostal Buenavista are offered from just 52 euros per night (£43), for a great value stay in Cuenca. If you wish to get to the city from outside of Spain, you will need to use Madrid airport from where you can get a transfer, bus, train or even hire a car in order to travel the 130km to Cuenca. Madrid airport is of course served by most of the main United Kingdom airports, so getting a cheapish flight there should be easy. An alternative airport that you could use for Cuenca, is Albacete, which is about 50 kilometres away. To reach Cuenca by road you can use the A-40 from Madrid or other roads if you are travelling from a different direction.
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August 29, 2010
Hotel la Vida de Antes Consuegra
Hotel la Vida de Antes Consuegra
Offering comfortable accommodation in the town of Consuegra in the Castilla-La Mancha region of Spain, the Hotel la Vida de Antes is handily situated near to the main town square, and close to local facilities and attractions. Housed in a 19th century mansion, this charming hotel offers dining room, reading lounge, café/bar, terrace, meeting room, free wireless internet access etc. Consuegra is famous for its castle and row of traditional windmills which stand on a hill above the town, making it one of the most photogenic places in the Castilla-La Mancha region, the windmills all have names and are used for such things as the tourist information office for the town, some are still in working order. Consuegra lies to the south-east of Toledo and Madrid and is a popular day excursion for visitors to both cities, but if you prefer to stay overnight then the Hotel la Vide de Antes could be the ideal stopping off point for you with rooms offered from around 67 euros per night. Consuegra can be accessed via the CM-42, it is around 136km from Spain’s capital city, Madrid.
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August 28, 2010
Guadalajara Spain
A city, municipality and province, located to the north-east of Madrid, Guadalajara was once greater than its illustrious neighbour, which is of course now capital of Spain. Many centuries of conflict and wars brought Guadalajara to its knees, and rendered it a mere shadow of its former self. Sitting beside the River Henares, present day Guadalajara has a population of 75,493 inhabitants, with its history, which stretches back to the times of the Romans, lost in its modern day look, though some gems can still be found by its visitors. Once a favourite base of the Mendoza family, Guadalajara still boasts the former palace of this rich family (now restored), in the form of the Palacio de los Duques del Infantado, well worth a visit if you are in the area.
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August 20, 2010
Valdepenas Castilla-La Mancha
Located in the Ciudad Real province in the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha, the city of Valdepenas is best known for its wine industry which has taken place since the times of the ancient Iberians. Its 47 vineyards produce some 50 million litres of wine each year, both for local consumption and for export. Valdepenas itself has little to commend it being a mostly modern city though you might want to visit the Iglesia de la Asunción if you are especially interested in churches. A good reason to visit is however to visit the local Bodegas (especially on the road to Madrid) to taste some of the famous wines and also learn a little of how the wines are produced, if you are a wine fanatic then you should visit during September when the wine festival is in full swing. One of the larger cities of the Castilla-La Mancha region, Valdepenas has a population of around 32,000 and a municipal area of 487 square kilometres. Nearby towns and villages include Moral de Calatrava, Santa Cruz de Mudela, Villanueva de los Infantes and Manzanares. Castilla-La Mancha Map.
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August 9, 2010
Siguenza Castilla-La Mancha
Parador de Siguenza
A small town located about 120 kilometres east of Madrid, Siguenza is dominated by its ancient castle, now a parador (hotel) which was restored in the 1970’s after being severely damaged during the Spanish Civil War. The town itself has a population of around 5,000, and among its many attractions are its cathedral, begun in the 12th century and built from the pinkish stone typical of the town’s buildings. Those interested in religious art can head for the Museo Diocesano del Arte. If you wish to stay overnight in Siguenza, you should consider the Parador de Siguenza Hotel, housed in the Moorish castle, overlooking the town, here you can soak in the history of this fascinating place.
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