While Barcelona, Madrid, and Seville dominate Spain’s tourist trail, the Iberian Peninsula harbors hundreds of smaller medieval communities that remain remarkably preserved yet refreshingly uncrowded. These ancient towns, with their cobblestone streets, stone fortresses, and Romanesque churches, offer a direct connection to Spain’s multilayered past—where Christian, Muslim, and Jewish cultures intermingled to create the unique character of medieval Iberia.
Here is a list of 20 forgotten medieval towns across Spain that deserve more attention from travelers seeking authentic historical experiences beyond the usual tourist circuit.
Albarracín, Aragón
Perched dramatically on a rocky outcrop surrounded by the Guadalaviar River, this perfectly preserved medieval town features distinctive pink-hued buildings and towering defensive walls that have changed little since the 11th century. Narrow, winding streets too slim for modern vehicles climb steeply between ancient houses with distinctive wooden balconies, while the 16th-century cathedral and reconstructed Andador Tower provide spectacular views across the surrounding pine-covered mountains of the Sierra de Albarracín.
Santillana del Mar, Cantabria
Often called ‘the town of three lies’ (as it’s neither holy, flat nor by the sea despite its name), this exquisitely preserved medieval settlement features cobblestone streets lined with amber-colored stone mansions and noble houses dating from the 14th to 18th centuries. The Romanesque Collegiate Church of Santa Juliana, with its remarkable cloister, serves as the town’s centerpiece, while just a mile away lies the UNESCO World Heritage Altamira Cave with its Upper Paleolithic paintings—described as the ‘Sistine Chapel of prehistoric art.’
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Frías, Burgos
Dramatically situated atop a limestone hill, this miniature city (Spain’s smallest) is crowned by a 12th-century castle and connected to the world by a remarkable medieval bridge spanning the Ebla River. The cluster of stone and half-timbered houses cling impossibly to the hillside beneath the castle, while the 15th-century Casa de las Conchas (House of Shells) showcases the distinctive architectural details that have remained intact thanks to the town’s isolated location in northern Castile.
Pedraza, Segovia
This perfectly preserved walled town centers around a magnificent rectangular plaza mayor with a distinctive colonnade, accessible only through a single fortified gate that has protected the medieval streetscape for centuries. The harmonious honey-colored stone buildings host numerous traditional restaurants serving the famous local specialty of roast suckling pig, while the annual July concerts illuminate the entire town with thousands of candles, creating a magical atmosphere that transports visitors back to medieval times.
Ujué, Navarra
Crowning a hill with panoramic views across the plains of Navarra, this fortified village grew around the 12th-century Sanctuary of Santa María, a fusion of Romanesque and Gothic styles that attracted medieval pilgrims. The compact settlement of ancient stone houses connected by steep, narrow streets retains its medieval layout designed for defense, while the traditional migas de pastor (shepherd’s breadcrumbs) served in the village’s rustic restaurants connects visitors to the culinary traditions of this pastoral region.
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Aínsa, Huesca
The spectacular medieval core of this Pyrenean town sits atop a hill where the Cinca and Ara rivers meet, featuring a perfect rectangular plaza mayor surrounded by stone arcades and noble houses with distinctive chimneys. The 11th-century castle and Romanesque church of Santa María stand guard over the perfectly preserved medieval quarter, while the surrounding Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park provide a dramatic mountain backdrop to this frontier town once at the boundary between Muslim and Christian territories.
Laguardia, Álava
Built entirely atop a honeycombed network of wine cellars, this walled hilltop town in Rioja wine country has retained its medieval character with pedestrian-only streets too narrow for modern vehicles. The imposing Church of Santa María de los Reyes features one of Spain’s few colored stone porticoes still retaining its original 14th-century polychrome paint, while underground tours of the ancient wine cellars connect visitors to the centuries-old winemaking traditions that have shaped the town’s culture and economy.
Trujillo, Extremadura
Dominated by an Arab castle constructed on Roman foundations, this monumental town with its spectacular plaza mayor served as the birthplace for numerous conquistadors who made fortunes in the Americas and built impressive Renaissance palaces. The bronze equestrian statue of Francisco Pizarro dominates the main square, surrounded by harmonious medieval and Renaissance buildings, including the distinctive red towers of the Church of Santa María, while white storks nest atop many historic buildings throughout the spring and summer months.
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Morella, Castellón
Encircled by over a mile of perfectly preserved 14th-century walls with six gates and sixteen towers, this mountaintop fortress town appears to grow organically from the conical hill it crowns. The impressive Gothic Basilica of Santa María la Mayor features an ornate spiral staircase and remarkable choral space, while the concentric medieval streets between the castle and outer walls house artisanal workshops producing the region’s distinctive textiles, cheeses, and traditional pastries, including the honey-and-walnut filled flacons.
Alquézar, Huesca
Clustered beneath the imposing Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor, this honey-colored village perches dramatically above the Río Vero canyon in the Sierra de Guara mountains. The labyrinthine medieval streets wind between well-preserved stone houses with wooden balconies and flowerpots, while the surrounding landscape offers spectacular hiking through limestone gorges featuring prehistoric cave paintings in what is now the Sierra y Cañones de Guara Natural Park.
Lucena, Córdoba
Once known as the ‘Pearl of Sefarad’ for its importance as a center of Jewish culture, this Andalusian town features an unusual three-cultural heritage with distinct Christian, Jewish, and Muslim quarters. The remarkably preserved Moral Castle now houses an archaeological museum highlighting the town’s multicultural past, while the nearby Jewish necropolis and ancient pottery kilns demonstrate the historical importance of this often-overlooked town located in the heart of Andalusia’s olive oil country.
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Baños de la Encina, Jaén
Dominated by the spectacularly preserved Burgalimar Castle with its 14 intact towers built in 968 by the Caliphate of Córdoba, this Andalusian town represents one of Spain’s most impressive examples of Islamic military architecture. The contrast between the Muslim fortress and the Gothic-Renaissance Church of San Mateo demonstrates the town’s transition between cultural epochs, while the surrounding olive groves producing some of Spain’s finest oils connect modern visitors to agricultural traditions established during the Roman period.
Ciudad Rodrigo, Salamanca
Enclosed by impressive medieval walls and Vauban-style fortifications added during the 17th and 18th centuries, this border fortress town contains a wealth of noble palaces and religious buildings spanning the 12th through 16th centuries. The imposing cathedral combines Romanesque and Gothic elements with a spectacularly carved Plateresque facade, while the remarkably intact military defenses tell the story of centuries of conflict between Spain and Portugal along this strategic frontier.
Sigüenza, Guadalajara
Dominated by an imposing castle-parador with distinct square towers, this episcopal town features a monumental Gothic cathedral and a perfectly preserved medieval quarter connecting the fortress to the valley below. The distinctive architecture showcases the town’s importance as a center of ecclesiastical power, while the nearby Rio Dulce Natural Park, with its dramatic limestone ravines carved by the ‘sweet river’ provides natural beauty complementing the historical atmosphere of this often-overlooked gem in Castilla-La Mancha.
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Daroca, Zaragoza
Encircled by over 2 miles of remarkably intact medieval walls incorporating over 100 towers and pierced by spectacular gateways, including the monumental Puerta Baja, this town in Aragón preserves the multilayered history of medieval Spain. The narrow main street follows the path of an ancient ravine now channeled through the spectacular Mina—a 1,640-foot Renaissance-era tunnel excavated beneath the town to prevent flooding, while the Collegiate Church of Santa María contains exceptional Mudéjar elements showcasing the distinctive Aragonese style blending Islamic and Christian traditions.
Potes, Cantabria
Nestled in the spectacular Picos de Europa mountains, this medieval bridge town features distinctive stone architecture with wooden balconies. It is divided by the Quiviesa River and crossed by the iconic San Cayetano bridge. The restored 15th-century Torre del Infantado dominates the town center, while the surrounding Liébana region offers Spain’s deepest gorge, ancient monasteries containing rare Beatus manuscripts, and traditional production of orujo liqueur distilled in copper stills following medieval methods.
Consuegra, Toledo
Famous for its spectacular row of ten brilliantly restored medieval windmills standing sentinel along a mountain ridge alongside a 10th-century castle, this town epitomizes the Castilian landscape immortalized in Cervantes’ Don Quixote. The carefully preserved Gastronomy Museum Windmill contains original grinding mechanisms demonstrating medieval flour production, while the annual Rosa del Azafrán festival celebrates the traditional saffron harvest that has sustained the local economy since medieval times.
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Valderrobres, Teruel
Straddling the Matarraña River beneath a magnificent Gothic castle and church complex, this Aragonese town features an exceptional medieval bridge leading to a perfectly preserved old quarter with distinctive stone archways and balconied houses. The imposing Castle-Palace and the Gothic Church of Santa María la Mayor demonstrate the town’s historical importance as an archbishop’s seat, while the surrounding Puertos de Beceite mountains with their crystalline swimming holes in the Matarraña River provide natural beauty complementing the medieval architecture.
Mirambel, Teruel
Enclosed by perfectly preserved medieval walls with its original gates intact, this tiny stone town in the mountainous Maestrazgo region represents one of Spain’s most complete medieval ensembles recognized with the Europa Nostra Heritage Conservation award. The distinctive covered street passages, noble houses with elaborate ironwork, and the exceptional Convent of the Augustinian Nuns with its spectacular wooden ceiling showcase the architectural heritage, while the surrounding landscape of juniper forests and hidden valleys provides spectacular hiking through a region that has changed little since medieval times.
Urueña, Valladolid
Completely encircled by impressively intact 12th-century walls offering panoramic views across the Tierra de Campos plains, this compact hilltop town has reinvented itself as Spain’s only ‘Villa del Libro’ (Book Town) with numerous bookshops and literary activities. The Romanesque Church of Santa María del Azogue and the medieval granary demonstrate the town’s historical importance, while the nearby Monastery of La Santa Espina, with its Cistercian architecture and legendary thorn supposedly from Christ’s crown, offers additional cultural depth in this off-the-beaten-track destination.
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Echoes from Stone and Time
These forgotten medieval towns represent Spain at its most authentic—places where history remains palpable in every cobblestone street and ancient church square. The remarkable preservation of these communities stems partly from the economic stagnation that kept developers away, inadvertently protecting architectural treasures that would have been modernized in more prosperous areas.
Today, many of these towns are experiencing thoughtful revitalization through cultural tourism, traditional crafts, and gastronomy, allowing visitors to experience medieval Spain without the crowds while supporting the sustainable preservation of these architectural gems
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