The Costa del Azahar bathes this Mediterranean city where the beaches give way to a medieval old town that’s full of stately homes. The best way to explore it is by walking; its pedestrian streets will take you to the Church of San Bertolomé, a baroque shrine that’s well worth a visit, and to the marina. Outside the heart of the town you’ll come across the Iberian settlements of Puig de la Nao and Tossa.

Verín is a beautiful town in the province of Ourense on the banks of the river Támega. It’s home to the Cabreiroa and Sousas water springs, places of interest such as the Plaza de la Merced, the Plaza Mayor, the walkway along the river Tamega, the Alameda gardens, among others, and the outstanding Medieval fortification of Monterrei, today a Parador de Turismo.

Vielha is a small Pyrenean town, capital of the Val d'Aran, has a beautiful historic quarter where you can find all kinds of shops specialising in adventure sports, high mountain and snow sports. And if there is one thing Vielha is known for, it is its stunning scenery. Surrounded by the mountains of the Catalan Pyrenees, the town is the perfect destination for mountain sports and nature lovers, as the ski resort of Baqueira is just 20 minutes away by car. When the snow is not there, Vielha's surroundings invite you to go hiking, mountain biking and sightseeing in the most traditional corners of the area.

A visit to Seu d’Urgell should start with the old town, where you’ll find the most iconic monument in the city: the Cathedral of Santa Maria, the only Romanesque cathedral that remains in Catalonia. After visiting it and admiring its three naves and its granite cloister, you might stroll through the arcaded streets of the medieval city. In the Calle de los Canónigos and the Calle Mayor you’ll find some of the most-photographed spots in La Seu. The most-visited places also include the Diocesan Museum, the church of Sant Miquel and the Town Hall.

The Ribadeo estuary, which is part of the River Eo, Oscos and Tierras de Burón Biosphere Reserve, is a natural inlet of great ecological and environmental significance, and also the setting for all kinds of nautical and sporting activities.

Most of the historic centre of Pontevedra is pedestrianised. It is home to treasures such as the Basilica of Santa María La Mayor, a jewel of Gothic architecture, and the Church of the Pilgrim Virgin, a chapel with a scallop-shaped floor plan which is beautifully illuminated at night. Another point of interest is the Museum of Pontevedra, whose collections are spread over five different sites: the Convent of Santo Domingo, the Sarmiento Palace, the Castro Monteagudo building, the García Flórez building and the Fernández López building.

Ferrol es una ciudad marinera que mantiene el encanto de su origen pesquero en sus calles y tradiciones. Los barrios de Ferrol Vello, el barrio modernista de La Magdalena, las Murallas de La Cortina del siglo XVIII, o los castillos de San Felipe y la Palma son parte de sus atractivos. Como también lo es el Arsenal Militar, construido en el siglo XVIII y estrechamente ligado a la historia de la ciudad como centro de construcción naval. En el interior de su recinto se encuentran el Museo de la Construcción Naval, el Museo Naval y la Biblioteca de la Zona Marítima del Cantábrico.

Baiona is a medieval fortified town dominated by the Parador. The best way to discover Baiona is to lose yourself in the historical quarter or take a bike and ride along the sea promenade. Legend has it that Baiona was the first port to hear the news of the discovery of America, and this event commemorated every first weekend in March with the Fiesta de la Arribada, when the town dresses and goes back to the Middle Ages. You can enjoy the sights of the medieval market and shows on the beaches presided over the by the museum-replica of the ship, La Pinta. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity as you relax and enjoy the peace and quiet of the city walls or make the day last with a glass of wine at a terrace bar.

 

But that’s not all. Baiona also means nature. The views from the town show you one of the reasons why : the Isles of Cíes. This virgin natural paradise, included in the Parque Nacional de las Islas Atlánticas de Galicia, is home to the “most beautiful beach in the world”, the Playa de Rodas. There are other spectacular beaches close to the Parador, such as La Ribeira, La Concheira and La Barbeira, where you can do all kinds of water sports such as sailing. Baiona’s strategic location also allows you to visit other places such as Vigo, Tui, Pontevedra and even Portugal.

Guadalupe is a beautiful town that nestles in the heart of the Geopark of Villuercas-Ibores-Jara, in Extremadura, one of the most unique landscapes in the region. The best way to get to know it is by losing yourself in the cobbled streets and discovering the traditional buildings, such as the Royal Monastery of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, a monumental Gothic-Mudejar sanctuary declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While you’re here, you shouldn’t miss the Plaza de Santa María and the old Jewish quarter, or the local museums, which contain works by Goya, El Greco, Pedro de Mena and Juan de Flandes. Everything forms part of a unique setting that will take you back to another age.

 

Guadalupe is surrounded by a unique landscape that brings together culture and nature. Nearby you’ll find beautiful routes such the Isabel la Católica Trail, which follows the footsteps of the famous queen, impressive buildings such as the Hermitage of El Humilladero and the Arca del Agua, and charming mountain villages such as Cañamero, Logrosán and Berzocana. And if you’re looking for a different kind of experience, the Parador offers exclusive Starlight activities for stargazing.

The Sierra de Cazorla, Segura y las Villas Natural Park, one of the first in the country, is the largest protected natural area in Spain and the second largest in Europe. It’s located 102 kilometres from Jaén, framed by the expanse of olive trees that is characteristic of the Andalusian landscape, and in 1983, it was designated a Biosphere Reserve. It’s one of Spain’s most visited natural parks for its rich and varied plant and animal species. It is precisely this diverse landscape that makes it an ideal destination for lovers of hiking, biking, water and air sports and rock climbing.