One of the main advantages of renting a car is the freedom that it gives you in order to visit other places beyond big cities and make trips without depending on public transport’s schedules or limitations. Do you want to know what things to do in Valencia if you are in the region and want to see the area beyond its capital?
Wine harvesting in 7 incredible wine museums
Wine tourism has been on vogue for some years now and is expected to remain fashionable for a long time. Wine has something special about it that is attracting more and more people every year. Most world-class wineries in Spain are open to visitors, offering luxury beauty treatments and 5-star stays. This is a business that involves much more than grapes, and where you can even participate in the wine harvest. For free, of course. There are also museums where you can learn the best of wine culture without having to bend down to pick grapes.
Visit Toledo named 2016 Spanish Gastronomy Capital
Toledo’s traditional cuisine
Toledo’s traditional cuisine can be defined as tasteful and evocative, expressive, bright, frank and direct, consistent and nutritious. A joyful assembly between simplicity (its products) and sublimation (the ingenuity of its people). Because its ingredients are rather humble, Toledo’s gastronomy requires high doses of wit and ability to make the best of each product and succeed in the harmony of tastes. These were the arguments that the town of Toledo used to promote its candidacy for next year’s Spanish Gastronomy Capital contest. The La Mancha city will hold the title from January 1st 2016, taking up the baton from Caceres. The culinary term coincides with the celebration of its 30th anniversary as UNESCO’s World Heritage site.
A fairy tale castle route in Badajoz
Winter in Extremadura
This winter, let’s head south to the Spanish region of Extremadura where we will be able to explore the areas of Tentudia and Sierra Suroeste. These landscapes will transport us to the times of Knights Templar, Arab legends and endless battles . This land is marked by hills and meadows of oaks, the silent witnesses during centuries of military conflicts between Muslims and Christians. This is the reason why we can still run into citadels and fortresses today that help us imagine the kind of life the inhabitants of this region lived for centuries . This is a route to feel like a real medieval knight!
Thessaloniki, the place where East meets West
Greek city
The Greek city of Salonica or Thessaloniki, the place where East meets West, has always been a meeting point of civilizations. The capital city of the Macedonian region, located by the Thermaic Gulf, is a perfect blend of modernity (it is the center of university life and the second city in importance and population in Greece) and a turbulent history. You will be able to see it on its streets and tavern-filled squares if you pay enough attention.
Beyond the capital: the most beautiful villages in Madrid
Beyond the capital, but also beyond the well known villages of Alcala de Henares, Aranjuez and San Lorenzo del Escorial. The Madrid area has charming villages, scattered in a natural environment full of mountains, plateaus and river basins: Madrid treasures villages with splendid buildings, town squares full of historical heritage, and monumental streets. You just need to drive a few kilometers to enjoy a fantastic day trip, a weekend getaway, or a short holiday. Heritage, history, gastronomy, leisure, nature, relaxation and much more in the 801 localities (179 municipalities) that make up the Madrid region. We have selected five for our list, the most beautiful villages in Madrid, you shouldn’t miss these out.