“CUENCA, Qué hermosa!”
With Ana and Pablo, our Cuenca guides!
CUENCA is a Spanish province often overlooked in favour of its more ‘popular’ twin cities, Valencia and Madrid. Famed for it’s Casas Colgadas or Hanging Houses, Cuenca will instantly captivate you with her natural beauty. Recently named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the city’s preservation of its nature architecture dates back to the 12th century and tells a story of a small town of 50,000, proud to thrive independently – 956 metres above sea level. The town is also uniquely divided into the “Old Town” and the “New Town”, so visitors can experience the best of both worlds.
“I’ve lived here all my life, and I can’t imagine myself being anywhere else,” admitted Ana Garcia, who along with her hilarious colleague, Pablo, brought us around the city. Ana is also a member of Cuenca’s town council and works together with the city’s official tourism centre, Cuencatur.
Fortunately, RENFE (Spain’s national railway service) makes a handy stop at Cuenca if you’re on your way to Valencia or even Barcelona from Madrid’s Atocha station. It’s only a 45-minute train ride, but the sights and sounds are one to behold!
Cuenca Cathedral, which was built in 1182, was the first gothic-style cathedral in all of Spain. The façade was rebuilt in 1902 after the collapse of the old bell tower, Giraldo.
Ana Garcia, the fantastic guide and marvelous woman from Cuenca's town council, with her Futbolita postcards!
Walking at night through the old town will sensually transport you to the Middle Ages!
Part of Cuenca's city centre
Meet Pablo, the biggest Bilbao fan we know… with futbolita's postcards!
Cuenca is also renowned for its "Minimalist Food" culture as seen here
Cuenca is home to some of the finest gastronomy in Spain!
The Parador hotel in Cuenca was formerly a Monastery for Dominican Monks, making it a popular spot for tourists who're staying in the city!
5 THINGS YOU MUST DO IN CUENCA
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Visit the Hanging Houses or ‘Las Casas Colgadas‘. It’s a visual spectacle dating to back to the year 15th century, and remains in its natural state to this day. If you have time, dine at the restaurant in the Hanging Houses as well – the experience is simply worth it.
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Try the “Alajú“, the traditional Cuencan dessert. It is an Arab cake made from honey, almonds, nuts and grated orange rind. As Cuenca was one of the cities influenced by the Arabs and Moors’ takeover from the year 711 to 1492, there are remnants of Islamic culture inter-weaved in its architecture and food. If you’re a fan of alcohol, ask for the ‘Resoli’ but make sure you don’t have a long day ahead of you!
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Experience the best of Cuenca’s nature (to the view above – unbelievable!) by riding up the Quad Bikes. Ask your local tour guide to refer you to an outdoor activity centre. Other options include kayaking, trekking and our favourite : diving off a cliff into the river! (fully supervised and safe, of course). We took a quad bike all the way up to see the view, and were literally in tears by the time we reached the peak.
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Visit the Museum of Abstract Art, the Cuenca Cathedral, Cerro del Socorro and Mangana Tower which is accessible on foot via the Plaza Mayor.
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Walk through Cuenca Old City at night, especially after dinner. Ask your local tour guide for a map of the city, and put on your most comfortable shoes. The aura is simply fascinating and you will feel as though you have been transported back to medieval Europe!
THINGS TO NOTE
- Ensure that you have enough time to get off at Cuenca station (within a grand total of 2 MINUTES). After attempting to lug my baggage out of the train – with the help of four lovely old Spanish grandpas! – I barely made it to the carriage exit and found myself staring as the door closed in my face! Yes, I sat on my luggage and missed my stop. Luckily, the extremely kind train commuters and RENFE captain calmed me down, offered me a few caramel chocolates as well as a complimentary ride from Valencia station back to Cuenca. Sure, I was four hours late and literally crying into the phone while speaking to tour operators, but it’s a lesson learnt : Be at the door before the train stops!
- Ensure you have an umbrella or a windbreaker with you if you’re coming in winter or spring. Cuenca city can be extremely cold during the winter periods (temperatures can drop drastically at night and when it rains, you’ll need more than just two layers!) The best time to visit, we’ve been told, is during the summer or spring months.
- Wear comfortable shoes. If you insist on wearing heels or wedges (like us!), make sure you bring spare flats along along with socks. There are many steep terrains and cobbled walkways you will find yourself walking on, not to mention the bridges. Cuenca is a “walking city” and if you don’t drive, you will be most probably walking to see the wondrous sights, mountains, old castles and cathedral. Ladies, there is no excuse to ‘dress up’ here… get ready to explore!
FOR MORE INFORMATION…
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Futbolita in Spain 2011 was brought to you by the National Tourist Office of Spain | spain.info
