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Morella is an extraordinary example of a Gothic town and has the designation of 'Place of Cultural Interest' and is well worth a visit if you are in the area.

The highlights are, first of all, the castle and medieval walls, erected in the 14th century. Within the old enclosure, there are notable churches, like the Santa María la Mayor Archpriest (1263-1330), Gothic with Baroque details; the old San Francisco Convent (13th century); the San Juan Churches (15th century), Gothic with Neoclassical decorations, and the San Nicolás Church, Gothic; and the San Marcos and San Pedro Mártir Chapels.

As far as civil architecture is concerned, the Casa de la Villa (14th and 17th century), and the Ciruana, Piquer, Rovira and Cardinal Ram Houses are all worth mentioning, as well as the hospital (15th century).

Likewise, walking through the network of streets full of staircases, passing by the porticos of Blasco de Alagón, completing a loop around the mountain via the Alameda and contemplating the outside of the medieval Santa Llúcia aqueduct, are essential for getting to know this wonderful town.

Two points of interest stand out in the municipality of Morella: the cave paintings of Morella La Vella, and the Sanctuary of the Virgen of Vallivana. Every six years since 1673, a procession climbs to the virgin of the city. On the edges of the highway, there are many chapels where pilgrims perform prayers and supplications on their 22-kilometre march.

Alcalá de Henares is the city where Miguel de Cervantes was born, writer of the world-famous Don Quixote de la Mancha. Its University and historic neighbourhood are what makes this town so special. The main axis of the historic centre of Alcalá de Henares is the Calle Mayor. The birthplace of Cervantes is located on this very road, which has now been converted into a museum that recreates the atmosphere of a 16th and 17th century home. However, of all the buildings in the town, there is one that stands out in particular: the University. Founded by Cardinal Cisneros, its walls welcomed some of the greatest Spanish minds such as Lope de Vega, Calderón de la Barca and Quevedo.
 

 Alcala de Henares was the first university city that was specifically planned urbanistically to be so, making it unique in the world. And it was so successful that it effectively became the blueprint for other university cities around Europe and America. Cardinal Cisneros was the mind behind the planning and was the one responsible for choosing a somewhat uninhabited area in between the Plaza del Mercado and the gates of Guadalajara, to establish what would become the famous academic district in the 15th Century. The district included all the housing that was necessary for the teachers and their families and all the buildings needed to house the services and suppliers of the university, such as the printers or bookstores. This radical form of urbanism was new for the times but contributed in such a way to the development of the field of humanities that UNESCO declared Alcalá de Henares a World Heritage City in 1998.

July or August are not always the best months to grab a break and many people increasingly postpone their vacations to take them in October. If you prefer being in Spain, not spending a lot and disconnecting completely surrounded by nature, here are five cheap destinations to travel to in October! What are you waiting for?
 

Ronda (Malaga)

Probably one of the most beautiful towns in all of Andalusia and where you can enjoy impressive parks and nature reserves in the open air. This land of Arabs and Phoenicians is capable of catching the eye of everyone who walks through it. Its strategic location, nestled in the middle of the Depression of Ronda and surrounded by the mountains, is part of the undeniable charm of this inland town. The Tajo de Ronda is a wonder of nature, where, at more than 100 meters high this ravine seems to defy gravity.

Among the essential things to see in Ronda, its Arab baths date back to the 13th century and are the best-preserved baths in Europe. The bullring is one of the oldest in Spain and its Balcón del Coño is the most visited viewpoint in Ronda, due to its curious name and the views it offers of the Tagus gorge. Also essential is the Bandit Museum, which covers the fascinating history of these thieves and seducers who have inspired hundreds of films. Or the Mudejar-style Mondragón Palace, which hides three Arabic-style interior courtyards worth visiting. If you're hungry, one of the top restaurants in Ronda is Bar Lechuguita. With rich and varied tapas from € 0.90, it is one of the compulsory stops to charge your batteries.

Llanes (Asturias)

The north of Spain is undoubtedly one of my favourite destinations. Llanes is a fascinating fishing village where you can find an old town that has been declared a Historic-Artistic Site. It is idyllic to stroll along its fantastic beaches surrounded by amazing cliffs formed of white limestone rock, which meet green meadows giving rise to a picture that will leave you speechless. The wild Cantabrian Sea, with the Bufones de Pría, is a sight worth seeing in autumn.

The Paseo de San Pedro or the Cubes de la Memoria are some of the places that you can visit in Llanes, although without a doubt, the most special monument is its Torreón from medieval times and built in the 13th century. It is declared a National Monument.

Cazorla (Jaén)

If you enjoy nature, this is one of the enclaves in Andalusia that very few know. The Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas Natural Park is one of the largest protected areas in Spain where you can witness more than 200,000 hectares of pure nature and find animals in the wild. If you want to take a trip in October, Cazorla is one of the best destinations where you can enjoy heart-stopping landscapes with good company. In addition, it has very good prices.

You mustn’t forget to also visit the Castillo de la Yedra, the hermitage of San Sebastián or the church of San Francisco. Gachas Serranas, Segureño lamb or Los andrajos are just part of the fantastic gastronomy that can be found in the famous Mesón Leandro. You will not regret it!

Nuévalos (Zaragoza)

Here you can find a great variety of natural spaces in the surrounding area, where you can enjoy contact with nature and relax during your visit. Its diverse landscapes range from the high Pyrenean peaks, in the north of Aragon, to spectacular valleys carved by the rivers that descend from the Teruel mountains. Mountains with glaciers, river gorges, forests that in autumn become a unique sight ... Authentic jewels of nature. In addition, in the vicinity of Nuévalos stands one of the most visited monuments in Aragon due to its undoubted beauty: the Monasterio de Piedra Park.

But the Monasterio de Piedra is not the only attraction in this town. In its urban area, beautiful buildings are erected, such as the Casa del Obispo or the parish church of San Julián. At the top of the town stand the remains of what was an old fortress, of which only its 14th-century tower remains.

As for the local gastronomy, the Torres Restaurant is one of the best options after your visit to the Monasterio de Piedra. Excellent homemade food and a large number of dishes to choose from. 

Posada de Valdeón (León)

Located on the banks of the Cares River that divides the Picos de Europa and at an altitude of 927 meters above sea level, Posada de Valdeón is a town and at the same time a municipality that is located within the Picos de Europa National Park, specifically between the Central and Western Massifs of the park.

Among the streets of the town, there are various amenities such as restaurants or shops where you can buy the famous Valdeón Cheese. Here you can discover the Parish Church of Santa Eulalia inside which a 12th-century Romanesque baptismal font is preserved. In addition, excavations have discovered a medieval necropolis that indicates the site of the old Church of San Pedro de Barrejo.

If you are a mountain lover, this is your ideal place. The Ezkurra Rural House is perfect to stay during your visit to where you can walk and enjoy nature.

In Spain, there are a large number of towns of medieval origin that have great historical and cultural value. There are some that are well known to everyone, such as Olite (Navarra), Pals (Gerona) or Sigüenza (Guadalajara). However, CNN has listed a rarely visited medieval town as one of the most beautiful in Europe. This is Regencós, located in the province of Gerona.

The municipalities on the list are Guimarães (Portugal), Roscoff (France), Anghiari (Italy), Nafplio (Greece), Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Mazara del Vallo (Sicily), Giethoorn (Netherlands), Clovelly (United Kingdom), Dinkelsbühl (Germany), Korčula (Croatia), Kenmare (Ireland), Piran (Slovenia), Reine (Norway), Regencós (Spain), and Tarnów (Poland).

On the CNN website, the description of Regencós says: «As it goes for the tourist coasts of Spain, the Costa Brava, in Catalonia, is relatively quiet. Regencós is just south of the 'Triangle Dalí', the area where the artist lived and worked, a hilly area of ​​sleepy medieval villages. Regencós, somewhat older, has remains of its medieval walls, a beautiful church, and traditional stone houses».

What is there to see in Regencós?

Regencós is a small town, with just 276 inhabitants, located in the Bajo Ampurdán region, very close to Bagur and Pals.

One day is more than enough to get to know all the attractions of the town. The most important monument is the Church of San Vicente, built at the beginning of the 19th century on the remains of the old Parish of Begur.

It is also interesting to see the remains of the medieval wall from the end of the 14th century and the beginning of the 15th. Very few remains are preserved because most of the wall was demolished or annexed to the houses of the municipality.

Surroundings

To take advantage of the getaway, there are several very interesting towns a few kilometres from Regencós, such as Peratallada. A medieval town that has maintained its structure and its most traditional essence. Strolling through its narrow cobbled streets is like taking a trip back in time to the Middle Ages.

To enjoy the Mediterranean Sea, Calella de Palafrugell is a privileged destination on the Costa Brava. Port Bo Beach is fantastic, located in the heart of the old town and where the small fishermen's boats rest on the sand.

Begur is also very close, with the Castle as the emblem of the town. Declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, and built-in the 16th century, it offers impressive views of the sea with the Medes Islands.