La muralla de san juan: Puerto Rico’s Iconic City Wall: La Muralla
La Muralla (San Juan) – All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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dustythoughts
Manchester, CT1,759 contributions
Pleasant walkway
Aug 2021
This iconic wall was originally built by the Spanish to protect San Juan from attack; even though Puerto Rico is no longer a Spanish colony, the wall still stands and is a very nice walk. You can walk from here to La Puerta de San Juan, to the water, and to the Castillo San Felipe del Morro. You can get some beautiful views of the area from here, especially at sunrise/sunset.
Written July 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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jehenson81
Washington DC, DC22,201 contributions
Walkway
Nov 2021 • Solo
Getting to see these wall from below is a very unique experience as most walled cities I have visited are so tightly packed that you can only climb them and look down on the city. The walk way is right down by the water and lets you see the city from a different perspective. Would probably be a great place to watch the sunrise.
Written November 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ronald E
Pittsburgh361 contributions
Walkway Closed End of July
Jul 2021
The walkway that leads along the water to the fort was blocked off and said under construction. However, we did enjoy seeing the local art, got a snow cone, watched some locals dance.
Nice atmosphere. Very pretty Sunday evening in the park area.
Written August 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
The Sushi Guy 🍣
Long Island, NY14,136 contributions
Stunning Views
Jul 2019 • Couples
This wall was built to protect Old San Juan. There is a nice walk way along the wall that leads to the La Puerta de San Juan (the gate). Definitely, a scenic walk (maybe a romantic spot to watch a sunset over the water).
Written April 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Cameron M
Mobile, AL723 contributions
Walk from La Puerta de San Juan up to the back entry of Castillo San Felipe del Morro
Feb 2020
This is a wide paved walk, also known as Paseo del Morro, along the rocky shore, with expansive views across Bahia de San Juan on one side and the old stone palisades rising above you on the other side.
There are useful interpretive signs along the way with some history.
We started our walk from the southwest corner of Viejo San Juan at Parque las Polomas, up past Plaza de la Catedral, and then through the Red Gates – La Puerta de San Juan – to get on to La Muralla. We walked along until it ends at the back entrance of Castillo del Morro. You have access to a lot of the castle grounds without needed to pass the pay gate.
This is also the Save the Cats zone. There are A LOT of cats lolling about Viejo San Juan, and La Muralla seems to be the epicenter, where there are many feeding stations.
Written March 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
JoeNathan9249
Saint Paul, MN5,827 contributions
Impressive & distinctive
Jan 2020
Very impressive and unusual. Lots of interesting things to see and do along the wall.
Please see pictures below of a playground and beautiful walk found right by this wall, near the harbor.
Written February 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
TennisStar602
Florida476 contributions
This wall is so historical.
Feb 2020 • Solo
This huge wall surrounds the whole city. The wall is hundreds of years old. It is also great to take in the panoramas from the top and from the bottom of the walls.
Written February 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Johnny5588
Austin, TX64 contributions
Fascinating walk around the walls
Jan 2020
After being closed because of debris washout by the high waves, we finally got to walk this path. Nice views of the fortress and city walls, as well as the ocean and San Juan Bay.
Bring water to stay hydrated as it gets hot !! Will also walk by the Save a Gato area where feral cats are fed.
Written February 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Xflor
46 contributions
Best crab cake ever!
Oct 2019 • Friends
We were walking around looking for a place to eat, walked by a tall gentleman and asked him if there was a good Puerto Rican place nearby and he said yes, right there, I’m the chef. So we followed, place was pretty much empty (note: we were eating at an unusual hour). The chef took our order, friendly, funny, and since it was just us service was pretty casual but we liked not informalities, not having to rush since it was just us. Anyway, we all loved our meal, mofongo mostly. But I’m really writing this review to say that the crab cake arepa was the most amazing dish I’ve ever had! It’s an appetizer but you get two hearty portions.
If you like crab you don’t want to pass this up. Please don’t change the recipe, it’s a winner!
Written October 27, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Eduardo T
Central Mexico and Gulf Coast, Mexico39 contributions
Amazin
Oct 2019
Amazing structure. It is just impressive how big and well kept is. It should be a place to know when in Puerto Rico
Written October 25, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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By dustythoughts
tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g147320-d487480-r850165689-La_Muralla.html”>This iconic wall was originally built by the Spanish to protect San Juan from attack; even though Puerto Rico is no longer a Spanish colony, the wall still stands and is a very nice walk. You can…
This iconic wall was originally built by the Spanish to protect San Juan from attack; even though Puerto Rico is no longer a Spanish colony, the wall still stands and is a very nice walk. You can…
more »By jehenson81
Getting to see these wall from below is a very unique experience as most walled cities I have visited are so tightly packed that you can only climb them and look down on the city. The walk way is…
tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g147320-d487480-r818220745-La_Muralla.html”>Getting to see these wall from below is a very unique experience as most walled cities I have visited are so tightly packed that you can only climb them and look down on the city. The walk way is…
more »By Ronald E
The walkway that leads along the water to the fort was blocked off and said under construction. However, we did enjoy seeing the local art, got a snow cone, watched some locals dance. Nice…
The walkway that leads along the water to the fort was blocked off and said under construction. However, we did enjoy seeing the local art, got a snow cone, watched some locals dance. Nice…
more »
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Castilla La Mancha | tvtravelclub
Castile-La Mancha is one of the seventeen Autonomous Communities that make up the State of Spain. La Mancha is made up of five provinces: Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca, Guadalajara and Toledo. Located in the very center of Spain, just south of its capital, it occupies the southern part of the ancient kingdom of Castile and the La Mancha plain. The capital of the Community is the city of Toledo.
INTIMATE GOALS. Our group consisted of eight Russian journalists invited to the Autonomous Region of Castile-La Mancha by the Governmental Council (Junta de Comunidades Castilla-La Mancha) with the support of the Spanish Ministry of Tourism. nine0003
The journey had an immodest task – to embrace the immensity. Drive through this kingdom of cheeses and wines, taste the cuisine of La Mancha, so to speak, crawl the route with a knife and fork, and, at the same time, see medieval castles and cathedrals, ancient monasteries, tiny towns lost in the 17th century that fight globalization. In La Mancha, we realized that the time machine exists and works.
The main flow of Russian tourists travels to the west and south of Spain to the sea. However, La Mancha is one of the most romantic and delicious places in Spain. “Castile” means “land of castles”. They are everywhere here. It seems that the knights have just left them for the tournament. And you should not save on gasoline, you need to go around as many places as possible. Every town of La Mancha is a miracle. Not everyone knows about it and it’s unfair! nine0003
DAY ONE. JUNE 19. CUENCA AND ITS PARADOR. Cuenca was the first stop on our itinerary. Paradors (roadside hotels) are a typical Spanish phenomenon. These are state hotels located in converted ancient monasteries or palaces in the most picturesque corners of Spain. The old building is saved from destruction, the municipality receives money, and the guests receive luxurious conditions for a relatively small fee. A double room in a parador costs an average of 100 euros per day. nine0003
The Parador of Cuenca (Parador Nacional de Cuenca), where we settled down, was located in the former Dominican monastery of San Pablo of the 16th century. Carved screens, sideboards, antique leather sofas and armchairs, giant floor candles surrounded us. Instead of crucifixes and retro black-and-white photographs, its walls were covered with postmodern paintings. From the window of my gigantic room I had a view of the medieval houses hanging over the gorge, as they are called all over the world “hanging houses” (casas kolgadas). nine0003
(INFO. Parador has an outdoor pool, gym, sauna. Double room – 100 euros per day. Parking – 15 euros. paradordecuenca.com)
FRESHNESS, FRESHNESS AND AGAIN FRESHNESS. KITCHEN LAMANCHI. The parador restaurant impresses with its high ceilings with ancient beams and huge chandeliers; perhaps, the refectory of the monastery brethren was located here. We succumbed to shameless gluttony and moved from one dish to another, as one goes from picture to picture in the Prado Museum. There was cheese, and sausages, and game to the accompaniment of local La Mancha wines. Dinner ended with homemade ice cream. Flight fatigue is gone. nine0003
Here I unraveled the secret of La Manche cuisine – its main trick is in the freshness and quality of local products. We will always remember this place because we ate well here. In Spain, no greater praise can be given to a place or a city.
I will not talk about tapas, about jamon – you will find these bestsellers of Spanish cuisine throughout the country. I will dwell only on what distinguishes La Manche cuisine.
Lamancha bread I would put in the first place, because for me it is the most delicious local product. Surprisingly, here bread is served with any meal. Another specific product is saffron. The local saffron is considered the best in the world. And finally, hard and fatty Manchego cheese – the famous cheese of Spain. It is made exclusively from the milk of the Mancheg breed of sheep. nine0003
In general, the cuisine of La Mancha is very simple, pastoral, described by Cervantes in the immortal “Don Quixote” and preserved to this day.
Here in La Mancha, Don Quixote fights not against mills, but at McDonald’s and Rostik’s. The dishes mentioned in the novel still live and flourish: lamb or goat meat, less often beef. A lot of game – hazel grouse, partridges, pheasants, venison and hare. The most famous local meat dishes: carcamusas venison stew, roast beef or chicken liver with the addition of chanfaina table wine, roast lamb, marinated quail, rabbit with garlic … From appetizers – ” migas” (migas manchegas), toasted bread soaked in milk with vegetables and pork sausages or bacon. Nowhere, except for La Mancha, do they cook hot stew “gaspacho manchego” (gaspacho manchego) – a broth made from stewed rabbit or poultry meat with garlic, tomatoes, white wine, sometimes mushrooms, as well as the obligatory addition of slices of bread or tortillas. Yes, the local cuisine is meat, but non-meat-eaters will not be bored here either. For example, the traditional vegetable dish “pisto” (pistou de la Mancha) is very tasty, it is prepared from peppers, tomatoes, onions and pumpkins. Vegetables are widely used: eggplant, onion, especially garlic, pepper, herbs, various spices. I won’t go into too much detail about La Mancha olive oil, it’s excellent. Let’s not forget the La Manche melon. nine0003
It is noteworthy that some local desserts taste not sweet, but salty. Those with a sweet tooth also have a place to roam: sugar-coated almonds Almendras garapinadas, small cakes made from egg yolks “yemas” (yemas de Santa Teresa). Toledo is famous for marzipans. Many monasteries prepare sweets according to old recipes: butter cookies in the form of flowers “flores manchegas” (flores manchegas) and gozinaki with nuts and figs (alahu).
Interesting fact: in 2012 the La Mancha capital Toledo was chosen as the Gastronomic Capital of Spain. And recently, the President of the Spanish Agency for Food Security (SANS), Roberto Sabrido, said in Toledo that the Autonomous Community of Castile-La Mancha took the first place in this area. nine0003
The food was great. The day is serene. It was especially pleasant to realize that in Moscow it was pouring rain, the temperature was 13 degrees, and here the sun was very moderate, gentle. And this is at the end of June! (It was believed that La Mancha was best traveled in spring and autumn. Obviously, we live in an era of climate change, soon it will be possible to come here in the height of summer to warm up).
We crossed the San Pablo bridge over a 600-meter precipice, at the bottom of which the mountain river Huecar flowed, and ended up in a medieval city on a rock. The tour of Cuenca has begun. nine0003
(TIP: The best place to start exploring La Mancha is from Toledo.
From Madrid to Toledo you can take the AVE high-speed train – 50 minutes (30 euros). You can take the express bus – 2 hours (14 euros). aisa-grupo.com
From Toledo you can travel around La Mancha by any means of transport, including AVE high-speed trains.A good option is to rent a car.The roads in this part of Spain are excellent, most of them are free.Schedule of buses from Toledo on touristbus.es)
EXCURSION. Here’s what the tour guide told us. The city of Cuenca is the capital of the province of the same name and is part of the autonomy of Castile-La Mancha. The population is 56 thousand people.
The northern limits of the great plain of La Mancha have been guarded since ancient times by the impregnable fortress city of Cuenca, during the time of Cervantes the city was famous for the production of the best fabrics in Spain.
In Old Cuenca, as throughout Spain, the ancient Iberians, Celts, Romans, Visigoths, Arabs, Jews and Christians left their mark – a classic Spanish set. nine0003
The first Celtic settlement arose at the beginning of our era on a rock surrounded by deep gorges. On both sides of the rock, the Hukar and Huekar rivers go around. The Arabs, who gave the city its name, conquered these lands at the beginning of the 8th century. Christians led by King Alfonso VIII retook Cuenca in 1177. The city prospered until the plague epidemic of 1588, then a series of troubles began. In the 17th century, textile production ceased, and a prosperous economy collapsed into a crisis. The revival began with the development of tourism in the 20th century. The city is so valuable that UNESCO declared it a cultural heritage of humanity as an example of a fortified medieval city, and in addition, in 2016, UNESCO designated Cuenca as the European Capital of Culture. nine0003
I liked everything about the city. An incomplete list of sights will not say anything: the Magyana watchtower and the “Hanging Houses” – the symbol of Cuenca, the Cathedral, the Museum of Abstract Art, the San Pablo Bridge, the Museum of Science, the Holy Week Museum, the San Julian Park, the Museum of Wildlife, an observation deck, on which is placed a statue of the Savior blessing Cuenca – you have to feel everything yourself. Take, for example, the Paleontological Museum, which houses the public’s favorite “Pepito”, a humpbacked dinosaur officially known as the concavenator (Latin for “hunter from Cuenca”). And all around reproduced life-size mysterious animals that were found in Castile-La Mancha millions of years ago. nine0003
Here in the city there is something to interest both adults and children, but, most of all, couples in love or newlyweds will have a good time here.
The main attraction of the city is, of course, its amazing houses “Casas Colgadas” – hanging houses of the XIV century with wooden balconies. The narrow rocky plateau is literally overgrown with them. A photo of two houses hanging over a cliff is an adornment of any guide to Spain. But Cuenca is not only these two houses. The old city is full of other houses and monasteries hovering over the abyss; from the side of the parador or the upper observation deck, this creates an amazing panorama. It seems impossible to live in these houses, but nothing, they live, they even dry their clothes. nine0003
The city itself is a web of winding narrow streets, along which you can walk for a very long time (3 walking routes from 5 to 15 km long pass through the city and its environs). As we climbed to the top of the cliff, around every turn, new, more and more breathtaking views opened up on the observation decks. Around the next turn on the opposite cliff, we saw huge blue eyes. Someone climbed a sheer cliff and drew them. It turned out “Eyes of Nature”. environmental context. What struck me – during our entire trip we did not see a single cigarette butt thrown on the road, no plastic bags, no plastic bottles – we had to state the fact that the inhabitants of La Mancha are some kind of environmental maniacs. nine0003
On the Plaza Mayor, the main square of the old city, surrounded by houses with multi-colored facades, decorated with openwork forged balconies, stood the Cathedral, pulling the whole city together in a knot. The full name of the Cathedral is Santa Maria and San Julián de Cuenca. The foundations of the Cathedral were laid back in the twelfth century in the Norman Gothic style. Then, in the fifteenth century, everything was rebuilt, in the seventeenth a breathtaking baroque altar appeared here and already in the twentieth century a neo-Gothic facade was added to it and abstract stained-glass windows were inserted. The side towers of the Cathedral remained unfinished. The twenty-first century will bring something to the Cathedral! nine0003
You can spend the whole day in the Cathedral. It is interesting to consider countless details, to photograph. The wealth of Spanish cathedrals is amazing. It can be seen that once Spain owned half the world. Luxury, bronze, marble, jasper in decoration, fabulous portal doors studded with ancient nails, coats of arms licked by time on houses … Caramba!
Overflowing with experiences, we were looking for some relief and found it at El Secreto (www.elsecretocuenca.com), a very relaxing local craft beer bar/restaurant. And then the tasting of beer and tapas (artichokes with shrimp in bechamel sauce, peppers with cheese …) smoothly flowed into dinner at the foot of the Cathedral. The restaurant was also called El Secreto, but with the addition of de La Catedral – The Secret of the Cathedral. Oh lamb ribs! nine0003
Falling asleep in a room on a bed with a story, I thought that I should spend my honeymoon here, not just one day. Well, at least two more – take a bottle of wine, cheese, chorizo sausage and have a picnic on the beach of a very beautiful mountain river Huecar. And maybe even take a dip. And along the river there is also a bike path … And visit Serrania de Cuenca, here is the “Enchanted City” (Ciudad Encantada de Valdecabras) – an amazing park of karst formations, in their outlines they resemble the ruins of an ancient abandoned city. nine0003
www.cuenca.es, [email protected]
DAY TWO. JUNE 20. ALARCON. From Cuenca to Alarcon – 87 km on the highway Madrid – Valencia. The tiny town of Alarcon with a medieval castle is located on the outskirts of the main tourist routes known to Russians – we climbed into the outback of La Mancha, into its history and geography.
Yellow plains changed to green and red. We rolled into the white villages, where tall churches rose above the houses. Finally, on a hill, they saw the castle of Alarcon. Effectively! nine0003
Once the domain of this town stretched for hundreds of kilometers, today it has shrunk to 177 people. Included in the province of Cuenca, located in the Manchuela Conquence region.
It is not known exactly when the castle appeared. According to legend, it arose during the Visigoths, in the 5th century. During the period of Moorish rule, it belonged to the Caliphate of Cordoba. In the XII century, Alfonso VIII, already familiar to us, after a long siege, finally established the dominance of Christians here. The medieval castle stands on a rock, washed by the river Hucar, was an important strategic object in the Middle Ages, and today it has turned into an interesting tourist attraction. The fortifications consist of several levels of walls, above them rises a rectangular donjon (main tower). Now the castle is open Parador de Alarcon (Parador de Alarcon) in a medieval style. The most expensive rooms are equipped in a multi-storey donjon tower. The lobby is decorated with military artifacts: armor, weapons, banners. The parador restaurant serves La Manche cuisine; in winter, costumed feasts are held here. nine0003
The main square of Alarcón was home to the municipality and the mighty fortress-like Church of St. John the Baptist (San Juan Batista). The church has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO because of the gigantic contemporary frescoes inside. The brochure presents it as the “Sistine Chapel” of our time, on the walls of which “abstraction and realism are combined. Zoomorphic paintings.” I don’t know, I don’t know, I didn’t see any realism there. It was painted for seven years by Jesus Mateo, whom the same prospectus compared with Bosch and Brueghel the Elder: like them, he supposedly tried to discern the visible and invisible in a person, in a simple way, conscious and subconscious (hello grandfather Freud!) and, creates ” personal universe.” The personal universe was dominated by black, red, a little bit of white and yellow. Scenery for a thriller. Scary, gloomy, but at the same time attracts like an abyss. It also attracts many tourists who specially come to see and listen to the interpretation of these graffiti by a local guide. All together – a real happening. nine0003
We ran around the small town, went to the beautiful church of Santa Maria, this is a parish church, the beginning of the 16th century. And again we saw a huge rich gilded altar, one of the best preserved renaissance altars. Well, I’ll tell you, these medieval wood carvers allowed themselves mouth-watering figurines. I wonder where the censorship was?
After taking pictures from the top of the Alarcón fortress, we went to the Parador Palacio del Infante Don Juan Manuel Hotel Spa in Belmonte, which was located at 9km from Alarcon.
BELMONTE – a beautiful mountain. The parador in which we found ourselves was a castle-palace of the XIV century. Ancient mothballed columns sprouted inside the palace. In the room, instead of a picture, a part of an ancient wall, similar to a rock, was taken into a frame. There was a TV nearby, but it was more interesting to look at the rock. I asked who this Juan Manuel is, after whom the castle is named. It turned out that Don Juan Manuel, the owner of the castle of Alarcon, lived in the XIV century, was a nobleman, politician, warrior and is considered the greatest writer of medieval Spain. nine0003
(INFORMATION: The Palacio del Infante Don Juan Manuel Parador is housed in a palace with superb views of Belmonte Castle, spa, garden and outdoor pool, free parking on site. origin, serves modern regional cuisine.The cost of a double room is from 90 to 120 euros per day, www.hotelspainfantedonjuanmanuel.es)
After lunch in the Parador, beautiful as elsewhere in La Mancha, we went from the town of Belmonte to Belmonte Castle . It is considered to be one of the best preserved medieval castles in La Mancha. nine0003
Some of the castle rooms have been recreated interiors of the 15th century, while others have more modern furnishings from the time of the French Empress Eugenie de Montijo. This castle is so beautiful that Hollywood often chooses it as their backdrop. It unfolds the action of the cult film “El Cid” (a national Spanish hero who became famous during the Reconquista). They also filmed Flesh and Blood, Mad Juan, Requiem for Grenada, films about the robbers from Cuenca and the hidalgo Don Quixote, and so on…. Residents of the town unanimously act in extras. Many even keep ersatz armor or historical clothing reconstructions at home, waiting for the next part-time job. nine0003
One can describe the castle for a long time, the beauty of its interior – stucco and carved wooden ceilings, collections of medieval weapons, its mysterious history, but it’s better to move on to the most interesting, to the knight tournament championship, which takes place here every year in early May. Teams from different regions of Spain participate in the championship: Catalonia, Valencia, Castile-La Mancha, Andalusia. www.castillodebelmonte.com Admission for adults – 8 euros, for children under 15 – 4 euros. nine0003
TOURNAMENTS. It seems that the people of Belmonte all year long only pretend to make wine, preserve olives, work in shops. In fact, they are all preparing for jousting competitions. By the bones, all the details of past fights are sorted out.
The combatants, who came from different parts of Spain, are dressed in real knightly armor, and they weigh about 30 kilograms! The only difference from real battles is that the swords and battle axes of modern knights are not sharpened. This is a real massacre, but without casualties. The opponent only needs to be knocked down. They compete in one-on-one, five-on-five and sixteen-on-sixteen formats. All residents of Belmonte and tourists are involved in this theatrical performance. In 2014, the fortress hosted the International annual knightly tournament of knightly battles of the World Championship “Battle of the Nations”. Teams for the festival came from Europe, the United States, Japan and New Zealand. Knights from Russia won in almost all nominations. nine0003
“Medieval” markets are constantly organized around the castle, where products and edibles from local producers are sold.
At the end of October, on the Catholic Day of All Saints, or simply Halloween, children’s attractions and master classes are organized in the courtyard of the castle, for example, on decorating a monster pumpkin. Another fun is a children’s quest around the castle. During the day, actors dressed up as vampires, witches, ghosts roam the castle, scaring tourists and children.
After Belmonte we went to the Mont Reaga bodega or winery, in our opinion. nine0003
LAMANCHA – MAIN BODEGA OF SPAIN. MONT REAGA WINERY. WINE LAMANCHI. Castile-La Mancha is the largest wine region, producing more than half of all Spanish wine. Here you will find wines for every taste: from lively, light young ones with fruity notes to complex Grand Reserves, wines with bold blends and amazing ecological drinks. The traditional varieties Airen, Garnacha, Tempranillo and Sensibel are now cultivated alongside “foreigners” Cabernet, Merlot, Sauvignon and Shiraz. The best Spanish wines are made from Tempranillo grapes. Among the local wines, it is worth highlighting the traditional white and pink semi-dry “Valdepeñas” from Ciudad Real, “Mentrida” from Toledo, dry wines “Manchuela” and “Jumilla” from Albacete, “Mondejar” from Guadalajara, “Ukles” from Cuenca and Toledo. Pitarras homemade wines are also popular. In addition, it is worth trying liqueurs: Resoli de Cuenca and Aguardente (moonshine) de Ribatahada. nine0003
Bodegas tastings are very common in La Mancha, which can be combined with hiking, cycling or horseback riding.
So, from the N-420 we entered the property of the Mont Reaga winery. Bodega was located near Belmonte near the town of Montreal de Llano (Monreal del LLano), was built in the French style and fit perfectly into the surrounding vineyards.
Before the trip, I had no idea how wine is made, now I was able to see the whole process. After wandering around the plant, we went down to the basement. Here, in numbered barrels, the wine lived its intense life: it increased in astringency, changed in color. Then the grape soul flows into bottles to become fragrant moisture, which can slightly give off an oak barrel – but in moderation so that the origin of the smell remains a mystery. The role of the winemaker is simple, but decisive. It regulates the temperature of miraculous metamorphoses. nine0129 Christie’s auction opened a wine department, and thus equated wines with works of art. For me, the Gran Reserva Mont-Reaga El Secreto wine was such a work of art: 50% tempranillo, 50% syrah (shiraz), 36 months in French barrel, 2009. O! The wines of La Mancha have become a discovery, a performance, a holiday that is always with you. ([email protected] www.mont-reaga.com, tasting – 6 euros).
In the evening after dinner in Belmont at the local open-air restaurant “La Muralla” (La Muralla – the wall), we walked back to our “palace” and got lost. La Mancha red dry fermented in our blood. We walked around the city, along its empty streets at night, we didn’t want to return to our parador, but we wanted to walk around this fantastic living Middle Ages, sing, commit madness under this black bottomless sky. nine0003
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The editors would like to thank the administration of the Autonomous Community of Castile-La Mancha, as well as the tourism department of the Spanish Embassy in the Russian Federation for organizing the press tour.
www. tutismocastillalamancha.es
Tel: (+7-495) 935 83 98
Fax: (+7-495) 935 83 96
www.spain.info
www.tourspain.es
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This resort area is considered to be an elite one, and it is simply impossible to save money on holidays in this colorful corner of Spain. But you can be sure that the conditions and service in the Costa del Sol are at the highest level; it is not for nothing that many Hollywood stars, luminaries of world politics and other equally significant people have chosen these places. nine0003
Beach holidays in Costa del Sol
Tourists choose this resort not only and not so much for swimming, but for the opportunity to have a great time and relax. It so happened that the waves washing the shores of the Costa del Sol do not indulge in too high temperatures due to the Atlantic current, but this current makes the resort a great place for surfers who are in the eternal search for a “high wave”. The temperature of the Mediterranean Sea, even on the hottest days, does not rise above +24 degrees C. In addition, the Costa del Sol is the sunniest and warmest piece of the coast of Spain. nine0003
Most popular resorts:
- Torremolinos,
- Fuengirola;
- Bealmadena-Costa;
- Mijas;
- Benalmadena;
- Marbella;
- Nerja;
- Malaga;
- Estepona and others
Once upon a time, tiny fishermen’s villages were hidden behind all these names, but today they are sunny and bright cities that attract tourists with their pleasant southern flavor and authentic atmosphere.
Spacious clean beaches await tourists on the Costa del Sol. Considering that the summer in this part of Spain is very hot, the saving sea breeze noticeably brightens up the rest. Naturally, such heat is in no way conducive to exploring the sights, so if you want to comfortably combine beach and sightseeing holidays, then it is better to choose the off-season for your trip. In autumn, for example, it is not so hot anymore, but the sea remains warm, and there are much fewer tourists on the coast.
Sights and excursions
If you can stand the heat well, you should break away from the sea coast and get to know the sights of the Costa del Sol. This resort area includes various cities with a rich history, pleasing with a large number of architectural, historical and cultural monuments. Nature did not disappoint either, generously pouring its riches into the region.
So, for the sake of impressions, it is worth going on a sightseeing tour, which will include visiting different cities. In Malaga, you can admire the majestic Alcazaba fortress. No less solid fortification is the fortress of Gibralfaro. In Malaga, in addition to the fortress, it is worth visiting the Plaza de Toros bullring and visiting the Cathedral. In Benalmadena, there is an elegant architectural complex – the castle of Colomares. nine0003
If you want to touch wildlife, go to the picturesque caves in Nerja, to the El Chorro lakes in Malaga, to the beautiful zoo in Estepona. You can refresh your impressions and have fun in the water parks of Torremolinos, Mijas, in the Tivoli Park in Benalmadena. The most beautiful botanical gardens in Mijas. Fans of Picasso’s work will be interested in the museum dedicated to this artist, located in the Buenavista Palace in Malaga. But in Ronda there is a completely different exposition, the Museum of Bandits is open there. nine0003
Where and what to eat
The Costa del Sol delights guests with the best restaurants in Andalusia. There are both fashionable establishments and cozy restaurants with traditional Spanish cuisine. As in any other resort, you can easily determine where the food is delicious and inexpensive, according to the sympathy of the locals, who cannot be fooled by tourist tricks.
The local cuisine is bright, tasty and varied. On the shore, fish restaurants are tempted, which are famous for their dishes, especially grilled sardines. Out of competition among local paella dishes. Culinary experts of the Costa del Sol know more than three hundred recipes for this wonderful dish.