A recent study of Googles search results reveals which Spanish towns with less than 20,000 inhabitants are the most popular among Spanish tourists. Spain's 7,837 municipalities, which fall into this category, have been evaluated and ranked by the number of average monthly searches in the last 12 months for the terms "What to see in [municipality]" and "What to do in [municipality]". Every wanted to know where the Spanish go when they want to get away? These are the top 5 destinations...
# 5: FORMENTERA, BALEARIC ISLANDS
The smallest of the Balearic Islands has earned the reputation of being one of the most spectacular islands in Spain, if not the most, thanks to its white-sand beaches and crystal clear waters and unique biodiversity in its 82 square kilometres. Its unspoiled landscapes attract visitors, and spaces such as the La Mola viewpoint, the San Francesc Xavier nucleus, its markets or the Ses Illetes beach, a white-sand area included in the homonymous natural park, just seduce every one of them who sets foot on this island. All this makes Formentera an unbeatable destination to relax and connect with nature. It comes in at 5th on the list with 4,200 searches per month.
# 4: PEÑÍSCOLA, VALENCIAN COMMUNITY
The Castillo del Papa Luna, a 12th-century construction, forms the most emblematic postcard of Peñíscola. Anchored in the sea on a large mound, this castle reconstructs a part of the history of knights and fortresses of the lands of the Maestrazgo. Its Patio de Armas and Torre del Homenaje are an ideal balcony to observe the Mediterranean. It is also worth visiting the historic centre and, from there, visiting the Lighthouse, the Museum of the Sea and entering the Sierra de Irta Natural Park. It is not surprising, then, that it is the fourth most desired town in Spain, with 4,600 searches per month, and that its streets have become sets for series and films such as El Cid or Game of Thrones.
AT # 3: RIBADESELLA
Located along the mouth of the Sella River and on the shores of the Cantabrian Sea, Ribadesella is known worldwide for the international canoeing race on the Sella River that gathers hundreds of people every August. There is no doubt that it is one of the most visited municipalities on the north coast of Spain, and its 4,990 searches per month corroborate this. The visitor falls in love with its colourful old town, beaches such as Santa María or the Tito Bustillo cave, where you can see representations of rock art up to more than 35,000 years old.
# 2: LLANES, ASTURIAS
Thanks to having one of the best-preserved historical centres in Asturias, the centre of Llanes was declared a Historic-Artistic Site and today it is one of the most visited towns in Spain (it has 5120 monthly searches on Google). Its narrow streets invite you to get lost and discover some of its most representative monuments; such as the 13th-century walls, the Torreón, the Basilica of Santa María or the Palace of Castañaga. Outside its walls, nature lovers will be at home in natural wonders such as the Bufones de Arenillas and Santiuste, along with some thirty beaches.
# 1: COMILLAS, CANTABRIA
The architecture and the landscape make up a spectacular tandem in Comillas that has made it a Historic-Artistic Site and the most desired destination in all of Spain: according to the results of the recent study, Spaniards search this Cantabrian town 5,660 times a month on Google. Sitting on green hills and on the shores of the Cantabrian Sea, it also stands out for its past full of historical events related, to a great extent, to the 1st Marqués de Comillas, Antonio López y López. He attracted great architects of modernism such as Gaudí or Domènch i Montener, who listened to him to were able to create some of their best works here, such as Villa Quijano, better known as Gaudí's Capricho (whim), or the Pontifical University, masterpieces of architecture.