From the route of the white villages of Andalusia to that of the castles of Navarre, passing by the ledge on the Mediterranean of Mallorca, we will show you 7 exceptional routes in Spain. With even a stop in front of the famous Don Quixote mills Vamos.

Route of the white villages of Andalusia

In the provinces of Malaga and Cadiz, “the white villages” were born from an old custom: that of covering the houses with lime in order to whitewash them. It was a way to endure the intense heat of Andalusian summers. Striking contrasts are brought down to the small alleys by the bright colors of the potted flowers (geraniums, bougainvilleas), the red tiled roofs and the brilliant blue of the sky.

These villages are located on top of hills, sometimes on steep slopes. A route of around 200 km links them together, in the middle of a landscape dotted with fields of wheat, olive trees, oaks.

Among the notable villages, Arcos de la Frontera, located on a rocky peak, offers a magnificent panorama of the Guadalete river. The road to white villages crosses around thirty municipalities including Ubrique, Medina Sidonia or Vejer de la Frontera. It also passes through the mountainous region of Ronda, in the Sierra de Grazalema and Los Alcornocales Natural Parks.

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Corniche de la Serra de Tramuntana (Majorca, Balearic Islands)

It is the jewel of Mallorca. Culminating at 1,436 m at Puig Major and listed as World Heritage by Humanity since 2011, the Serra de Tramuntana overlooks the west coast of Mallorca, from cliff tops, like a natural fortress.

A very winding ledge road, the Ma10, crosses it, allowing you to admire all the beauty of its landscapes. To the south, between Andratx and Esporles, the panoramas are the most impressive, with lookouts and viewpoints over the Mediterranean. Further north, Deià seduces with its old stone houses attached to a promontory crowned by a church. Just before, a road leads to Valldemossa and its Charterhouse where Frédéric Chopin and George Sand took refuge. Along the way, a few side roads, narrow and even more tortuous, tumble towards the sea and the pocket ports of Es Canonge, or Port of Valldemosa. Then, it is the arrival in the village ofSoller.

From Soller, the road heads northeast towards the Formentor peninsula, crossing the monastery of Lluc. A few kilometers before, a secondary road, winding and narrow, descends to the sublime cove of Sa Calobra: a turquoise cove covered with rocks and pines, which can also be reached via a 6-hour hike.

Route of Don Quixote (Castile-La Mancha)

The most famous Spanish novel written by Miguel de Cervantes in the early 17 th century. His hero has become an icon of classical literature: Don Quixote de la Manche. In the region of Castile-La Mancha, in the center of Spain, an itinerary suggests following the footsteps of this idealistic knight by crossing 13 towns and villages in one week. The first stage is Alcal á de Henares, listed as World Heritage by Unesco since 1998, and where Miguel de Cervantes was born. His completed university 16 th century testifies to the richness of the Spanish Renaissance.

After a break in Madrid, direction Esquivias, in the Tol è de region, where Cervantes’ wife was born. In “the city of three cultures” (Christian, Muslim and Jewish), the couple got married. In Consuegra, on the hill of Calderico, stand twelve windmills of the 16th century. Each received the name of one of the characters from Don Quixote. In Campo de Criptana, however, there are the mills that really inspired Cervantes.

In El Toboso, you can visit the house of the Dulcinea of Don Quixote, before joining Argamasilla de Alba and Ossa de Montiel, where the caves of Medrano and Montesinos, mentioned in the novel, are respectively located. The last stop in Ciudad Real, 200 km from Madrid, is to visit the Don Quixote museum.

Route of the castles and fortresses of Navarre

To defend yourself, you have to climb up. Located in the north of Spain, the kingdom of Navarre, due to its border location, has seen the construction of castles, fortresses and fortified squares over the centuries. Today, four itin e rary permit to visit no less than 19 strategic locations across the beautiful landscapes of Navarre.

The first itinerary is adventure in the Pyrenees and encounter the remains of the ch â teau of Amaiur, the Tower House Jauregia (Donamaria) and Jauregia palace (Irurita). The second, which crosses the Cuenca de Pamplona, crosses the ruins of the ch â teau-palace Tiebas, a Gothic construction of the 13 th century, and especially the fortified complex of Pamplona, built between the 16 th and 18 th centuries. With a length of 5 km, it is one of the best-preserved ramparts in Europe.

A third route covers the surroundings of Tudela and the Ribera region, showing the castles of Santacara, Marcilla and Cortes. The fourth, very complete, takes you to the central area of Navarre. Highlight of the course: the fabulous royal palace of Olite. Although built for military purposes, the building has acquired a residential function over time, which is reflected in the architecture. Other exceptional site: Estella, a town called “the beautiful Estella” in 15 th century and also known as the “Toledo of the North”.

And, since you are in Navarre, take a detour to the slopes of the Bardenas Reales, in a setting worthy of the American Far West.

Teide volcano route (Tenerife, Canary Islands)

From La Laguna to Santiago del Teide, this route crosses the heart of Tenerife for a hundred kilometers, offering a striking overview of the island’s volcanic landscapes and its subtropical flora. It reveals grandiose and lunar sites, such as the Teide volcano culminating at 3,718 m and canyons worthy of the American West.

After visiting the charming historic city of La Laguna, whose old colonial-style town is classified by UNESCO, take the TF24 road, which takes you to the Teide National Park. The site includes 37 hiking trails, one of which leads to the volcano (also accessible by cable car). Along the way, several watchtowers allow you to admire mineral landscapes sculpted by lava or covered with pine forest and subtropical vegetation.

Silver Route (via de la plata) from Seville to Gijón

Connecting Seville to Gijón and crossing western Spain from north to south, the via de la Plata (or silver route), 800 km long, follows the route of an ancient Roman road through mountains and valleys, whose origins date back to the end of the Bronze Age. It was used by the Romans in the time of the emperors Hadrian and Trajan and the A66 motorway was built along the same axis.

Originally, the Roman road linking the cities of M é rida and Astorga. It was extended to Gijón, north, and S e city, south. So, start your journey with the latter, to visit its essential buildings such as the Alcazar and the majestic cathedral, where Christopher Columbus rests. The journey continues to M é rida, capital of Extremadura and seat of a Roman archaeological site, listed by UNESCO. Another city whose historic and medieval center is listed as World Heritage by Humanity: C á ceres.

The next stage is Salamanca, whose old town contains a quantity of architectural treasures, such as the Plaza Mayor, the famous university, the house of shells, the Towers of Clerecía … In the Castilla-Le region ó n, Benavente is home to the Caracol tower, a mixture of Gothic and Renaissance styles, while Astorga boasts its episcopal palace designed by Antoni Gaudí. You can continue the journey to Oviedo and Gijón, in order to taste the delights of the Asturian coast.

Route of the Caliphate, from Cordoba to Granada (Andalusia)

From the 8C to the 15C, the south of the Iberian Peninsula belonged to the Muslim world, then in full geographic, intellectual and scientific development. The Islam of lights has left a strong imprint on two cities in Andalusia: Cordoba and Granada. Between the two, the Caliphate Route shows the heritage of al-Andalus, a center of high culture in medieval Europe.

In the historic center of Cordoba, the mosque-cathedral is one of the most beautiful monuments of Islamic art in Spain. Erected in the 8C, it has undergone several modifications since – it successively changed from church, mosque and cathedral – which notably gave a labyrinth of columns inside. In terms of area, it even exceeds that of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.

After a visit to the Medina Azahara, one can take the Caliphate road, over 300 km, towards the East. We pass through cities with imposing ramparts and fortresses: Espejo, Castro del R í o and Baena. You may prefer to go through a branch to the south and see Fernán Núñez, Montemayor, Montilla and Aguilar de la Frontera.

The Caliphate Route is an opportunity to enter the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas Natural Park, whose biodiversity has earned it a UNESCO classification. We also go to meet craftsmen in many fields: ceramics, textiles, pottery, leather work. Finally, in Granada, the jewel of Hispano-Arab art is called Alhambra Palace. The smallest space of this building has been covered with decorative elements. The gardens are equally sublime.

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