A mere one hour south of Madrid will take you to one of the largest autonomous communities of Spain – Castilla-La Mancha. La Mancha, or Al-mansha in Arabic, alluding to the dry nature of this region. However, this is not a sterile place, on the contrary, the area has one of the largest vines’ plantations in the world. It is also a place where beautiful olive groves are in abundance and where fragrant and rich fruit orchards can be found filled with some of Spain’s best apricots and sweetest figs. However, the best-known product of La Mancha might be the delicious and world-famous Manchego cheese, made from the milk of a local sheep breed.

You may also have heard of Castilla for its vast number of Castles. This is a legacy of the “Reconquista” back in the 9th and 12th centuries when the region was one of the most important battlegrounds between Christians and Moors. Today, this is the most sparsely populated region of Spain, and one of the least visited, but it is without doubt a region which offers a wealth of experiences that truly capture the imagination.

The UNESCO World Heritage city of Toledo is the most known town in La Mancha.  We feel this is one of Spain’s great cities, with a marvellous setting atop a hill surrounded by the Río Tajo (Tagus River). Throughout its history Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities have coexisted peacefully within the town, earning Toledo the name of the “City of the Three Cultures”. Serving as a testament to its diverse medieval history are the synagogues, mosques and churches that stand together in the historic quarter. To this day, the towers of The Alcazar, a Moorish fortress built in 1085, dominate the skyline; while a couple of feet away, you can find one of Spain’s finest Gothic cathedrals.

The coming together of three Abrahamic religions has resulted in diverse tradition of food and wine that has been passed down through generation after generation. Local taverns and restaurants serve traditional country food with plenty of hearty soups, casseroles, and grilled local meat, particularly poultry and seasonal game. Toledo is worth a visit too for the new wave of tapas bars offering truly gastronomic experiences, and the growing number of chic, modern restaurants. The city attracts a fair amount of tourists, but they are mostly gone in the evening, when all feels magical, lit up by floodlights.

Further south, the town of Almagro is worth a detour for its atmospheric old center and rich architectural Renaissance heritage. The latter is the work of the Fugger brothers, Habsburg bankers who settled in the town during the 16th century. Also, at the heart of this noble town is a magnificent and unusual Plaza Mayor, dominated by rows of buildings supported by elegant Roman columns, with green-framed balconies. The town is also home of Europe’s best preserved medieval theatre and provides the venue for a celebrated international theatre festival. There are many attractive tapas bars that serve baby pickled aubergine, a real local delicacy.

Almagro, and the neighbouring area of Valdepeñas, is a centre for quality wine production. Long gone is the age of cheap bulk wine for taverns. Today, the ethos is quality. Local grape varieties, Macabeo (known as Viura in Rioja) and Parellada have been joined by other international white grapes, like Chardonnay and Viognier. The local reds, Garnacha, Cencibel (Tempranillo) or Monastrell are now cultivated alongside Merlot, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Confirming the quality approach is the high number of ‘Pagos’ – the highest tier category for Spanish wine producers.

Andalusia is the second largest and most southern of Spain’s 17 provinces. Here the land offers visitors a spectacular and enriching diversity of terrain: snow-topped sierras, high-mountain deserts, great beaches, and a fascinating system of micro gastronomies. Cities like Seville, Granada and Cordoba are strikingly beautiful and atmospheric and are deservedly famous for their grand architecture. Then, away from the crowds, there are lovely smaller towns, like Ubeda, Baeza and Jaen with unexpected and spectacular Renaissance heritage. The postcard-worthy whitewashed villages clinging onto the edge of deep gorges or perched on hilltops are a picturesque sight. The pueblos blancos, as they are called locally, are standing Moorish defensive structures along the borders between the Christian and Moorish predating the “Reconquista”.   

The cuisine is famed for its tapas, such as those produced from the local mountain cured ham. Fish, like sardines and anchovies, often fried, are established favourites too. Then there is seasonal game of wild boar and venison. Kid, partridge, and hare are local delicacies. The Moorish dominance of the Southern Peninsula for close to 800 years has also left a delicious gastronomic heritage. Think of lamb stew with honey and hot pepper, game pickled in escabeche, fish in saffron sauce or the simple yet delicious aubergine fritters with honey. Excellent olive oils are produced in abundance, and used in the local cuisine in generous quantities; the undulating fields and hilltops of Andalucía are often covered with olive groves. 

The principal wines of Andalucía are fortified wines, in particular pale, dry sherries like Manzanilla and Fino, which work well with tapas but are also excellent as an aperitif. Sherry comes from the Sherry Triangle between Jerez de la Frontera, Sanlucar de Barrameda and Puerto de Santa Maria. The wine region of Montilla-Moriles, close to Cordoba, is also worth a note. The wines follow a sherry style so are high in alcohol content but are often fermented in clay vessels. Unlike Sherry, there is no addition of fortified grape spirit resulting in wines that are slightly lighter and more delicate.

The province of Jaen in southestern Andalucia is the largest producer of olive oil in the world, the historic city of Jaen is the world’s (unofficial) capital of olive oil. The landscape is dominated by tangerine-coloured valleys and covered by rows of manicured olive trees, evoking much of the rural romance of southern Spain. In a country that takes great pride for being one of largest olive oil producers in the world, Andalucía accounts for its biggest share of top quality extra-virgin olive oil. From the almost 200 olive varieties in Spain, Jaen olive groves are dominated by the Picual, Royal and Arbequina varieties, resulting in much appreciated thick, strong-bodied olive oils.

Discreetly concealed among the countless olive groves of the Jaen province are the Andalusian Renaissance towns of Ubeda and Baeza. Both towns account for a long and rich history and are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Ubeda in particular is deservedly celebrated by the unusually rich Renaissance architecture of palaces and stately mansions.

The city of Cordoba is surrounded by a bucolic countryside of acorns and olives. It is a landscape that contrasts with what was once the greatest city in the western world, as the capital of the Moorish kingdom of Al-Andalus. In the 9th and 10th centuries, the centre of the world’s scientific and philosophic advances and a place where the three religious’ beliefs – Islamic, Jewish and Christian – coexisted peacefully. The old quarter, clustered around the mosque (or mezquita as it is known in Spanish), evokes a feeling that not that much has changed since the 10th century. For this reason, the mezquita stands as one of the most intimate examples of Moorish heritage in Europe.

Even to the most seasoned of travellers Cordoba has much to offer. There are many architectural highlights from the Roman, Arabic, Renaissance and Baroque eras. The medieval Jewish quarter is a delight to explore. Its whitewashed streets are filled with twisted alleyways that hold surprises around every corner. Likewise, the downtown area is very atmospheric and full of good, authentic restaurants and tapas bars. This is also where the everyday hustle and bustle of local life takes place, and the general atmosphere is quite different from that of the tourist center around the mezquita.

The city of Granada, at the foothills of the magnificent snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada, has one of the most dramatic locations in Spain. Under Moorish rule it was an international centre of culture. Today Granada displays an intriguing mix of an Arabic way of life and Spanish passion. Mosque sites have given way to churches, bath houses to bakeries and former teas shops now serve tapas. In no other part of Spain is the tapeo, or tapas crawl, as present as it is in Granada. Many bars still observe the tradition of the free signature tapas dish with a glass of sherry or caña (beer) as this was where the tradition originated. The local cuisine is rich: feast on cardoons with almond sauce, baby broad beans with ham and fantastic cured sheep’s cheese flavoured with rosemary, delicious local ham and albóndigas (meatballs).

Rising above the city is the famous Alhambra Palace, one of Europe’s most stunning monuments. Yes it is famous, but it is extraordinary as well. Built by the Nasrid Sultans, the rulers of the last Spanish Muslim Kingdom, the austere exterior of this romantic fortress cum palace gives no hint of the sumptuous halls and enchanting gardens within. Its series of courtyards and gardens with softly playing fountains are spectacular, with glorious views of Granada. Close to the Alhambra is the Albaicín area, built in the 7th century. This is Granada’s oldest quarter which is charmingly full of pedestrian narrow streets with oriental tea rooms and spice shops, tapas bars, and rustic craft shops. Along the meandering cobblestone alleys there are beautiful stone villas with Moorish decoration and private gardens that leave a scent of jasmine in the air in the evening.  Still downtown, bordering the Albaicín, are the Granada Cathedral and the royal chapel, the burial grounds of the Catholic monarchs Isabella of Castille and Ferdinand of Aragon. Definitely worth a visit.

The majestic city of Seville in southern Andalusia offers visitors a stunning list of grand sites and hidden gems. Built up over time along the banks of the Guadalquivir river, its occupants, from Moorish to Romans to Christians, have left a remarkable footprint. Think of the deservedly famous Real Alcazar, built in the XI Century under Muslim rule and later remodelled by Christian kings.

Or on a contemporary note, the Metropol Parasol, which was completed in 2011 is a striking example of urban renewal. This exotic structure, running 150 meters long in plywood and initially unloved, has grown in the hearts of locals and foreigners alike – thanks to the bars and restaurants it houses but also by the elevated walkways that offer fabulous views of the city. This is also a city of cobbled streets and lovely courtyards filled with fountains, tropical plants and colourful tiles. There is simply so much to discover in this magical city.