Treasures of unknown Spain in Castilla y León

Less than an hour from Madrid, this medieval village of cobbled streets will transport you to the 16th and 17th centuries, when most of its mansions were built. Its prosperity back then was thanks to the high quality cloth made there, competing with the imports from Flanders. Its Plaza Mayor is especially charming, with porticoes and pavement cafés offering shady spots to sit and have something to eat or drink. After that, you might want to visit the castle and the restored city walls. At lunchtime, follow your nose and the delicious smells coming from the asadores - restaurants specialising in roast meat. The area is famous for suckling pig and lamb. There is one time of year when Pedraza is even more special: the first two Saturdays of July, when they celebrate the Candlelit Night and Candlelit Concert. When night falls the village is lit by thousands of candles, and the silence is broken only by the sound of a classical orchestra. It is advisable to book in advance. Some more villages in Segovia worth visiting: Maderuelo, Ayllón, Sepúlveda, El Muyo, Sotosalbos… to name a few.

In the middle of Las Batuecas-Sierra de Francia Natural Park, this is one of the prettiest villages in the area, about an hour’s journey from the city of Salamanca. As you stroll around its cobbled streets, you’ll discover examples of traditional architecture, and the terracing system that enables farming on the steep hillsides, integrating perfectly with the surroundings.Mogarraz is also a kind of outdoor museum. Its façades are adorned with hundreds of portraits of past and present residents. They were painted on metal plates by a local artist who wanted to pay homage to the people who have kept the village alive over the years. Currently about 300 people live there.Some more villages in Salamanca worth visiting:La Alberca, Candealario, Cantalapiedra, San Martín de Castañar…

This village boasts five museums, 12 bookshops and a reading room, despite having fewer than 200 inhabitants. Urueña is known as a Book Town and is just a 45-minute drive from Valladolid.It retains its medieval street plan, 80% of its original fortified town wall, and the outer walls of its castle. It’s a delight to walk through its orderly streets of stone houses to the Renaissance church of Santa María de Azogue. For a lovely view of the town, climb up to the nearby chapel of Nuestra Señora de la Anunciada, an example of Lombard Romanesque architecture.Some more villages in Valladolid worth visiting: Trigueros del Valle, Villalba de los Alcores, Medina de Rioseco, Íscar, Simancas…

Soria is one of the least densely populated territories in Europe, so this village of 51 inhabitants (less than half an hour from the city of Soria) gives you a rare chance to truly connect to nature and to the local people.When you arrive, the first thing you’ll notice is the landscape, the gorge of the river Milanos, and probably some griffon vultures on the horizon. Here, there are oak wood houses with conical chimneys like something in a fairy tale, cobbled streets, a Romanesque church, a few shops selling traditional foods like torreznos (pork rinds), and a few restaurants in original settings, such as a former dovecote… And its most prized gem, the 14th century castle and keep. The scenery from here is stunning, especially at sunset.Very near the village is the holm oak forest of Calatañazor, with trees up to 14 metres tall. And just a 10-minute drive away, the natural monument of La Fuentona is a mysterious lake of crystal-clear water.

Time seems to stand still in this beautiful village. In an area known as the Valley of Silence, it is surrounded by lush forests, rivers and waterfalls in an unspoilt landscape. It can be explored in a pleasant walk through its well-tended streets of traditional stone houses with slate roofs. In winter the village looks like a Christmas card under a blanket of snow, dominated by the 10th century Mozarabe style church of Santiago.The surrounding area is perfect for nature walks. You can spend the day hiking in the Valle del Silencio or climbing the Montes Aquilianos, or even walk to some of the nearby villages, such as Espinoso de Compludo, San Cristóbal de Valdueza, Riego de Ambrós, and San Esteban de Valdueza.Some more villages in León worth visiting: Castrillo de Polvazares, Hospital de Órbigo, Molinaseca, Balboa, Oseja de Sajambre…