Visit the Historic Walled Town of Cuenca in Spain
Walk into Cuencaâs old town and the geography hits you first. The historic centre is perched between the HuĂ©car and JĂșcar river gorges, with steep streets, stone walls and buildings pushed right to the edge of the cliffs. The famous Casas Colgadas, or Hanging Houses, project over the HuĂ©car gorge, while the San Pablo Bridge gives you one of the clearest views back towards them. Cuenca began as a fortified settlement under Islamic rule and was later conquered by Castilian forces in the 12th century. It developed into a royal town and bishopric, and the cityâs historic core still preserves religious and secular architecture from the 12th to the 18th centuries. UNESCO inscribed the Historic Walled Town of Cuenca in 1996 as an unusually well-preserved example of a medieval fortified city whose original townscape remains remarkably intact. Give yourself at least half a day to explore on foot. Start around Plaza Mayor and the cathedral, follow the streets towards the Hanging Houses, cross the San Pablo Bridge, then wander back through the upper town rather than rushing between landmarks. Cuenca is very walkable, although the steep terrain means comfortable footwear helps. It also works well as a trip from Madrid, with high-speed rail making the journey possible in roughly an hour. Add this to your list and explore a medieval city built into the edge of a gorge.