Visit Unique Spanish Villages - Home on the Costa Blanca

Choosing to buy a home in the Costa Blanca put us into the wonderful position of being centrally located in this beautiful penisula. This means that we can easily travel around Spain to see and experience more our adopted country and there are some truly incredible places that should be included in your touring list. Among these are some of the most unique and fascinating villages where history comes alive and you step back in time, here are some of the villages that really leave an impression on those who see them.

Travelling North from the Costa Blanca

Montfalcó Murallat is located inland from Barcelona in the Catalonia region of Spain approxiamtely five hours drive from the northern Costa Blanca. This lovely village is one of the best preserved from medieval tims remaining mostly unaltered since the 13th century it is enclosed by sturdy stone walls. The houses are tightly packed with a central square that has a communal bread oven and a cistern to collect rainwater. This is a hill top village providing panoramic views of the countryside around it, this charming village allows you to step back in time and soak in the atmosphere of both its seculsion and intimacy.

Bulnes is a village right in the north of Spain about a 10 hour drive from the Costa Blanca but, not far from Santander and Bilbao if you are visiting that area for any reason. Its remote location in the Picos de Europa national park has kept it inaccessible other than on foot until quite recently when a funicular railway was openedin the village of Poncebos to take people to and from the village. The ride is a great adventure taking the journey to Bulnes via and man made tunnel carved through rock up to the village itself. The only other way to get there is via a mountain trail. The village itself is small and surrounded by dramatic alpine like scenery, it has stone houses and a small church which preserve its traditional and unchanged character. It is a good base for those who enjoy exploring the gorges, mountains, lakes and waterfalls and to enjoy Asturian cuisine. 

Travelling Inland from the Costa Blanca

Albarracin  is set inland from Valencia about 3 and a half hours north of the Costa Blanca in the province of Teruel, Aragon. It is best known for its excellently preserved historic centre with red sandstone buildings giving it a distinctive look. This living museum of cobbled streets, fortified walls and medieval castle Is surrounded by mountains overlooked by its hilltop castle and the main square is a lively place to meet peope with cafes, restaurants and shops.

Molina de Aragon is located in the province of Guadalarjara, about 4 hours inland and north of the Costa Blanca by car and boasts an abundance of medieval architecture. The castle is the dominant landmark overlooking the town and housing a museum telling the towns story. The countryside including the Alto Tajo Natural Park where a number of outdoor pursuits can be enjoyed surround the village in beauty. The church of Santa Maria is worth seeing for its intricate carvings and stained glass windows.

Robledillo de Gata  is a 7 and a half hour drive inland travelleing across the width of Spain towards Portugal. This ancient village dates back to the Roman era with houses made of stone, adobe and wooke with decorative iron balconies and a number of churches and chapels. The villagers has a strong community proud of their history which is celebrated with several festivals during the year. The surrounding countryside is picturesque with forests, mountains and rivers to explore.

Closer to Portugal just over 8 hours drive from the Costa Blanca is the unique village in the Zamora area of Rihonor de Castilla is on the border between Spain and its neighbour. Whilst it is a single community it has two names, within Spain it is called Rihonor de Castilla and over the border in Portugal it is called Rio de Onor. The population of the village is small with as few as 32 people permanantly residing there in 2016 these few are divided across the border with different nationalities and passports, both Portuguese and Spanish are spoken here and the village has two time zones. It’s the only village that belongs to both countries. The Village straddles a river joined by a lovely Roman bridge.

Travelling South from the Costa Blanca

Located in the South of Spain inland from Marbella, Setenil de las Bodegas is just over a 6 hour drive from the Costa Blanca. The architecture of this unusual village is its most striking feature with a lot of the houses being built into the rock face of the gorge. The visual impact of this dramatic architecture will remain with you when you leave, whitewashed houses wearing the rocks like clothing line narrow streets which are also overhung by the rock face providing natural shade on sunny days. Many  festivals are celebrated during the year but, the most famous one here takes place in May with the Feria del Queso (cheese fair) this annual event is so much more than a market, it celebrates the diversity and range of cheses produced in the area with local artisans showing off their finest recipes from creamy goats cheeses to mature sheep’s milk varieties. Here you have the chance to sample the flavours and learn about the tradition and processes used to make the cheese. In addition, there will be music, folk dancing and other local crafts for sale creating a great party atmosphere.

Conclusion

There are many, many more fascinating villages, towns and cities in Spain but, the above represent a part of the country that is truly unique. Next time you’re planning a trip away from your home in the Costa Blanca do consider adding them to your itinerary.