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Date Published: 26/05/2022

ARCHIVED - The Times 20 prettiest villages in Spain

ARCHIVED ARTICLE -

These are the most beautiful Spanish towns, according to The Times

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - The Times 20 prettiest villages in Spain

Spain is home to some of the most striking and well admired landscape in all of Europe, with a dazzling mixture of rugged, lonely mountain-side retreats and picture-perfect coastlines with impossibly blue water.

With such a lot of variety, it’s difficult to choose Spain’s prettiest villages, but The Times has come up with a list of the 20 most beautiful spots in the country, gleaned from Los Pueblos Más Bonitos de España.

Founded in 2011, this selective band of experts only considers villages with a maximum population of 15,000, and locations are judged on their “architectural or natural heritage”, protection of historical buildings and the general prettiness of the town.

Just 105 areas make the final cut, and below is the Top 20 pick of The Times.

1. Genalguacil (Malaga)

The Times has highlighted tranquil Genalguacil as “a hidden white village of unexpected beauty”, harbouring one of the finest river beaches in Andalucía and a haven for creativity, with 150 art installations dotted around the village and an arts festival in August. But half the fun of Genalguacil is getting there: the hairpin bends from Estepona down into the village along the MA8304 has been hailed as “either one of the prettiest or scariest roads in Spain”.

2. Pampaneira (Granada)

This town in the Poqueira Gorge, in the Alpujarras on the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada de Granada, is another gem that has caught the attention of The Times for its “dazzling white houses and waterfalls of geraniums”.

3. Lucainena de las Torres (Almería)

A tiny village of just 600 inhabitants east of the Tabernas desert, the “houses are as white as Simon Cowell’s teeth, the spotless streets lined with meticulously groomed flowerpots”.

4. Castillo de Castellar (Cadiz)

This once neglected pueblo has been transformed into a local gem, with several stand-out features: whitewashed, car-free streets, pretty homes surrounded by wrought iron and jasmine, cheap tapas and wine and a truly unique history.

5. Almonaster la Real (Huelva)

The most striking feature of this town is its 10th century mosque, but Almonaster is also famous for its cobbled streets, bullring and picturesque homes.

6. Setenil de las Bodegas (Cadiz)

This tiny town makes it onto the list thanks to its famous caves and local wine.

7. Agulo (La Gomera)

The black rock beach, its banana plantations and its cobbled streets are the great charms of Agulo, a town that can make you believe that you are in Peru, says The Times.

8. Teguise (Lanzarote)

Teguise, the original capital of Lanzarote, is built behind a volcano just back from the coast. The objective was to distract the pirates, the full history of which is celebrated in the town’s museum.

9. Alcudia (Mallorca)

This Roman city is famous for the street markets held on Tuesdays and Sundays, but it also stands out for its tapas, Roman amphitheatre and its medieval and Renaissance districts.

10. Guadalest (Alicante)

Situated in the Marina Baixa area of the Costa Blanca, no visit to Valencia is complete without a stroll through the streets of Castell de Guadalest or a leisurely glass of wine in the square.

11. Morella (Castellón)

This walled village is famous for its iconic castle, but visitors should’t miss out on the huge variety of local cheeses on offer.

12. Tazones (Asturias)

Full of fishermens’ cabins and with a small port, Tazones is the ideal place to walk along local paths and enjoy the typical gastronomy: scallops and cider.

13. Bulnes (Asturias)

Though a little difficult to access, Bulnes is well worth the effort for its spectacular viewpoint over the most sacred mountain in Spain: Naranjo de Bulnes.

14. Cudillero (Asturias)

Located 40 minutes by car west of Gijón , Cudillero has its own language: Pixueto. It is characterised by small and colourful fishermens’ houses, which cascade prettily down to the water’s edge.

15. Valverde de la Vera (Caceres)

If you want to try the region’s famous paprika, there is no other place to go than Valverde de la Vera. With green gardens and cobbled streets, it also has Garganta de Cuartos, a magnificent natural water park.

16. Alcala del Jucar (Albacete)

Undulating rocks provide this Albacete town with a unique landscape, along with the caves and castle which give the area its name.

17. Mirambel (Teruel)

This walled town of 150 inhabitants in a forgotten corner of Aragon was once the base of the Knights Templar and a key battlefield in the Spanish War of Independence, the Carlist Wars and the civil war.

18. Uruena (Valladolid)

This town in Castilla y León has a 12th-century church, four museums and a total of eleven bookshops and is surrounded by striking medieval orange walls.

19. Bagergue (Lleida)

Bagergue has been described as the most beautiful village in the Pyrenees and also offers a variety of outdoor pursuits like cycling, hiking and rafting.

20. Potes (Cantabria)

Situated east of the Picos de Europa nature reserve, Potes is a small medieval town best visited in the autumn, when the walnut harvest has begun. Only then can you savour the typical Lebanese stew, made of chickpeas, potatoes, beef, chorizo and black pudding.

You might also like: The Times 8 best beaches in Spain 2022

Images: Getty Images

Image 12: Wikimedia Commons

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