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Spain is a country that has a lot to offer in terms of tourism; places such as medieval villages, cosmopolitan cities, a lot of ancient culture, as well as the variety and quantity of different landscapes throughout the peninsula. But we do not always have to know the same places that are already famous among tourists, as there are other equally fascinating destinations, but not so well known.
That is to say, they are not the typical places that are usually visited; it is a tourism aimed at the group of travelers who like to visit certain new destinations and get out a little of the common and everyday, but equally interesting. For this we have chosen as a reference the information of the book of the author Antonio Puente Mayor, called “Spain unpublished: 100 fascinating places that you must know”, of the publishing house GeoPlaneta of 2021.
This reference allows us to expand the possibilities when traveling through this beautiful country. The author covers the entire geography of the peninsula and divides it into categories, such as Caves and Underground Treasures, Dream Landscapes, Curious Museums, among others. With this guide the idea is that the traveler can access these enclaves, which have gone unnoticed for some time, but now deserve your attention.
Some fascinating places with little known caves in Spain:
In the Province of Burgos, Ojo de Guareña:
In the autonomous community of Castilla y León is located the Province of Burgos, and in this locality we can find a karst complex called Ojo de Guareña. A labyrinth of caves and tunnels that, according to the findings, date back to the Paleolithic Era, possibly serving as shelter for many generations, until the Middle Ages.
It has about 110 km already known, which allow speleology to continue exploring this nature and formation of the subsoil, in addition to its geological evolution, as well as the wonderful flora and fauna. Among its attractions are the Palomera Cave and the Hermitage of San Bernabé, welcoming you in its hall. In other words, a combination of the religious and the natural monument, with its cave paintings.
In the province of Castellón, the Cueva de San José:
In the Valencian community, towards the northernmost part is located its capital called Castellón de la Plana. The Cueva de San José in Vall d’Uixó is a spectacular place where you can observe, in its inner part, the incredible formation of limestone rocks and at the same time the river that is located between these rocks, about 3 km long, which makes it the longest navigable and subway river in Europe.
It is said that this formation dates from about 250 million years ago. To get to know it better, you can take a boat ride, which fills you with tranquility thanks to the water, the silence and illumination of the different rooms and galleries through which you pass. In addition, UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage Site.
In the Province of Vizcaya, the Pozalagua Cave:
In the Basque Country is located this province of Biscay, whose capital is Bilbao. About 52 km from this capital, at the level of the Armañon Natural Park, in the valley of Karrantza, is located this cave; which is said to have a large number of stalactites from all over the world.
It is about 125 m long and consists of twin chasms, 4 in total, which are 40 m deep. This large cavity has stalactites that branch out in different directions and intertwine with each other, resulting in very original shapes. The Versailles Room of this subway is the most spectacular; the Repsol guide in 2013 has awarded it as the “Best Corner”.
In the province of Guadalajara, the Caves of Civica:
In the Autonomous Community of Castilla- La Mancha, in the Province of Guadalajara, is located this hamlet of Brihuega called Cívica, and some tell that it could have been a small village, and that they lived at the level of some caves that were drilled in the stone; that to this day have been abandoned. But not much is really known about the past and history of Civica.
Some loose quotations that have been found mention that a large house and farm existed there, which were bought from Mr. Antón Díaz, who resided in Cifuentes, by the Hieronymite monks in 1441. But in other texts it is mentioned that its origin comes from the Celts.
Be that as it may, its present appearance is a bit modern, since the priest Don Aurelio, who inherited this rocky labyrinth, dedicated himself between the 50’s and 70’s to carve passages and arches of medieval type in these caves; with the help of the neighboring towns. Between these restorations the priest placed the railings that can be seen in the photo.
Some fascinating and little known forests in Spain:
In the province of León, Ciñera de Gordón:
In the Autonomous Community of Castilla y León, and at the level of the municipality of La Pola de Gordón, in the region of the Central Mountain, is located the Faedo de Ciñera, a centennial forest of beech trees that reach up to 30 m in height and that has been catalogued by the Ministry of the Environment as “The Best Kept Forest in Spain”.
In it we can find Fagus, which is the beech of greater longevity of this forest. It is estimated to be about 500 years old and has a base of 6 m wide, in addition to a foliage in reddish or green tones, depending on the season; if it is autumn or summer, respectively. Fagus is also among the 100 most unique trees in Spain.
In the town of Cabezón de la Sal, the Sequoia Forest:
In the Autonomous Community of Cantabria is located this beautiful natural forest of giant sequoias, which many of the inhabitants of the area are unaware of. Some 848 trees have been counted. This forest was repopulated in the 40’s with these fast-growing and foreign species, due to an industrial need in the area during the Franco regime.
It is easily accessible and of incalculable beauty, and since then it has served for the enjoyment of both nature lovers and hikers, thanks to its imposing average heights of 36 m, with a diameter of 1.5 m.
Other fascinating places in Spain little known:
In the Province of Teruel, the Comarca de Matarraña:
In the Autonomous Community of Aragon we locate this Region of Matarraña, a land of olive trees, vineyards and natural landscapes, which has been baptized with the name of the “Spanish Tuscany”. It has 18 villages within 50 km of extension, with 9000 inhabitants. Each village has its own unique and cultural spaces.
For example, Valderrobes, which is the capital of the region, is on the list of the most beautiful villages in the country. If you cross the river Matarraña you will find the entrance of the village, where the door of San Roque is located; further up a castle of the twelfth century and also the church Santa Maria la Mayor, with its Levantine Gothic style.
And so on and so forth each village, with its own charms and much to enjoy in terms of landscapes, historical sites, culture and adventures; some are almost unknown. Among the villages to visit are Beceite, Calaceite, La Fresneda, among others.
In the Province of Girona, Lake Banyoles:
This lake is considered to be the largest in the Autonomous Community of Catalonia, with a length of 1.18 square kilometers; although centuries ago it had greater depth and extension. It is still an ideal place to practice certain water sports, such as rowing; in Barcelona 92, in the Olympic Games, it was the scene of the competition of this sport. It is also a place of tourist interest.
A curious fact is that this lake also has its legend, of a monster that lives in its depths, like the famous Loch Ness in Scotland. The story goes that the first to see it was Charlemagne, who requested the help of a monk named San Emeterio, who managed with his prayers to convince the monster to return to the bottom of the lake and not to disturb.
In the province of Lugo, the Fuciño Do Porco:
Towards the western coast of this province, in the Basque Country, is located this winding path between the cliffs, which is today a hiking route, but which in the past was the way for technicians to be able to carry out their work of service and repair of the radio beacon, which was located towards the end of this cape; that is, for the maintenance of maritime signals.
At that time this path was only known by the locals by the name of Socastro, and as of 2017 the path was reinforced at ground level and with wooden railings, for greater comfort and safety for passers-by who wish to know it.
