Spain’s Best Kept Secrets: 5 Unheard Villages You Cannot Afford To Miss Out On

Spain is the epitome of a loud zesty life that’s full of color, chaos and energy. The crazy festivals, the very animated locals, and the cities that are almost always brimming with energy are testimony to that. But, surprisingly, there’s a quiet and unknown side to Spain too, in the form of its cozy little villages. These are villages that have been safely hidden away from the rest of the world by nature, but are just as impressive as their urban counterparts. Here are five of Spain’s hidden gems of villages, which are nothing but a delightful balm to the tired soul.

Parade of Nations, Spain by Joel Kramer

Vejer de la Frontera

A perfect mix of unmatchable charm, deeply embedded history and breathtaking views, Vejer offers you undisturbed vacation on a platter. The village is dotted with some amazing restaurants, pretty boutiques and quaint bars. All of these set in a foreground of the postcard-like beaches of El Palmar, Cadiz and Jerez. No McDonald’s, no high-end restaurants, you’ll rarely find a place that’s so beautifully disconnected from the otherwise highly-commercialized world. And you’ll almost never find a place that lets you have absolutely delectable lunch in one continent, while staring at another!

Vejer de la Frontera, Spain by Thibaut Brix

Guadalupe

Guadalupe is an interesting blend of simple and elegant, and quiet and sprightly. It’s not very rural, nor is it a Podunk town, neither is it a bustling urban city. It sits somewhere perfectly in between. You know you’re entering a very special place, the moment the first sights of the monastery crop up from the streets. Guadalupe is surrounded by lush fields on one side, tall mountains on the other. You’ll find most homes with balconies adorned with meticulously arranged flowers. Fountains, colorful storefronts, intricately designed stonework are a common sight here. And then there’s the typical Spanish chapel, complete with fancy artworks, terracotta roofs, medieval arches and the like. The whole scene is so unreal; the feeling is pretty much equal to walking into an idyllic painting.

Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe, Spain by PILAR J

Calatanazor

If you want to witness a scene set entirely in elegantly carved stone, and preserving every essence of the long forgotten medieval era, Calatanazor is the place you should already be on your way to. At one point in history, this village was ruled by Muslims, so you’ll also find interesting influences of Muslim architecture in the otherwise catholic setting. In addition, there’s the Valley of Blood, where you can still hear the distant ring of battles fought in the ancient past. Here’s a village with its worn out ruins and facades, away from the burst of excitement that Spain is, basking in that golden Spanish sun like nothing’s wrong with the world at all.

Calatañazor, Spain by a_marga

Capileira

Capileira is a village that is as well stocked with fascinating stories of the Moorish colonists, as it is with charm and intrigue. The village sits snugly on a hilltop, and can be peered and craned at from the foothills. Ominous mountains and lush forests protect Capileira and its charming churches, tiny alleyways and quaint little white houses with their wrought iron balconies. The view, from every possible angle, at any possible time is just plain breathtaking.

Capileira, Spain by Joscelyn Upendran

Aiguablava

Aiguablava sits on a small rocky outcrop, facing a turquoise blue bay that’s dotted with tiny boats and kayaks. On one side you have a dense green hill that gently slopes into the sea, and on the other there’s the rocky area heavily loaded with abundant vegetation. Add to that the charming little beach tucked neatly in between. Aiguablava’s cuisine reflects every bit of abundance and variety nature has bestowed upon it. You’ll find exotic cheeses, heavenly red wines, unforgettably awesome sea cuisine blended perfectly with olives, vegetables and garlic. Not only is this a fireworks of flavors in your mouth, conveniently for you, the cuisine here also happens to be delightfully healthy!

Aiguablava, Spain by Xavier Badosa

This article was contributed by Thomas Staw; he is a keen blogger and a reader. He works for White Beach Holidays Ltd which offers great holiday villas in Lanzarote for rent. You can book Casa Femes direct online through their website.

Tags: Aiguablava, Calatanazor, capileira, Guadalupe, Vejer de la Frontera

Category: Cities, Cities