Central Spain

Far from the sun-drenched coasts of the south and east or the windswept shores of the north, the regions of Central Spain seem like a distant world, closed in on itself, entrenched in a proud defence of old traditions.

Central Spain is not for noisy holidaymakers in Bermuda shorts and flip-flops: it is more suited to a slow-paced tourism, which is subjugated by the charm of the sunlit stone, loves history and culture and fondly remembers the epic yet unsuccessful exploits of the noble Don Quixote.

Start planning your tailor-made itinerary in Central Spain today, among romantic castles and medieval fortresses, sun-drenched squares, fortified villages and a thousand other attractions.

The regions of Central Spain

There are six regions in Central Spain: starting in the north-east and proceeding clockwise, we find Aragon, Castile-LaMancha, Extremadura, Castile and Leon, La Rioja; in the centre of Central Spain, in the heart of the country, is the autonomous community of Madrid.

All these regions border other Spanish regions, except Aragon, which borders France to the north, and Extremadura and Castile-Leon, which border Portugal to the west.

Madrid and its surroundings

The city of Madrid is the tourist star of the region of the same name and certainly needs no introduction. During a stay in the capital you can visit prestigious museums, sumptuous royal palaces, characteristic traditional neighbourhoods, extensive parks and squares and numerous other cultural attractions, but don’t miss the opportunity to take exciting day trips to the region’s other beautiful locations.

For example, from Madrid you can easily reach El Escorial, a charming spot in the heart of the Sierra de Guadarrama, the mountain range north of Madrid that forms a natural border to the capital’s urban area. Here, you can visit the Monastery and Real Sitio of San Lorenzo de l’Escorial (also known as Real Monasterio), the family pantheon of the kings of Spain, an early example of Herrenian architecture and a symbol of the Spanish ‘siglo de oro’.

Main Cities of Central Spain

An unmissable stop on any Central Spain itinerary is Salamanca, a city of rare beauty and home to a prestigious university founded 800 years ago. Enjoy the unique atmosphere in Salamanca’s magnificent Plaza Mayor, considered one of the most beautiful historical squares in Europe.

Toledo, the country’s ancient capital, is a city with a millennial past where traces of the Catholic, Arab and Jewish cultures can be seen, which have coexisted peacefully here for centuries, leaving a legacy of beautiful palaces and religious buildings. Its symbolic monument is the impressive Alcazar that dominates the city from above.

Another architectural marvel of central Spain is the aqueduct of Segovia, an engineering masterpiece of antiquity that has survived since Roman times.

Zaragoza, today one of the largest cities in Spain, was also founded by the Romans. It is a unique mix of architectural styles, a legacy of the different cultures and peoples that have succeeded one another here (Romans, Muslims, Jews, Christians). The 2008 World Expo gave the city a new impetus and the modern constructions built for the occasion coexist peacefully with the older ones.

Valladolid is often reduced to a city of transit, but it should not be snubbed: it is a city with a glorious past and a lively present, with a city centre full of churches, palaces and cafés!