Cádiz is stunning! Located on a sliver of land surrounded by white beaches with a fresh breeze blowing up from Africa. The almost-island city is well connected by road and train so transport is easy, although it is remote- way down South in Andalucía.
The city has incredible history. For example, the Spanish Constitution was signed there in 1812. Of all the places in Spain- why there? Because Cádiz used to be one of Spain's most important and cosmopolitan cities due to its role as a major trading hub.
Cádiz is said to be one of Western Europe's oldest cities, dating back at least 3100 years. From the Phoenician sailors who settled there, to withstanding invasions from the French and English, the city has continued to stand out as jewel of the Andaluz coastline.
I highly recommend a visit to the Camera Obscura for the best view of the city and some insight into its history, followed by the great array of fresh local seafood. Best dish, "sepia a la plancha".
Small roads weave between hundreds of rice fields which change colors throughout the seasons, and blossom in bright yellow.
Large pink crystals surround the evaporation ponds where salt is harvested. The various refinements of salt make for unique souvineers, as do bags of the locally grown rice.
The local food- paella! Made with fresh local rice and seafood of course! Of all the places to visit in Spain and taste Paella, the Deltebre is second only to Valencia!
And the adventure-seekers, there are kiteboards to be rented along the long narrow beach.
I first visited Cáceres in 2012. I was immediately blown away by how the Medieval architecture blended with the modern city that is growing in, amongst, and around it. It's beautiful.
Each year in May, Cáceres plays host to WOMAD, the World Music Festival. It's a real blast. Gathering amazingly talented musicians from around the globe, and stirring them into the melting pot of Spanish party life for a long weekend of nonstop madness. It's a blast!
If you're looking for a place to visit in Spain for music and architecture, Cáceres is my top pick. And if you visit during Womad, make sure to get a quiet and comfortable hotel- you'll need some rest after dancing all night at the frenetic Spanish rhythm.
Siurana is a mountain, popular with rockclimbers, with walking trails, wine tastings and wide vistas.
The sunset from Siurana is exquisite! Red rocks lit up by the setting sun. There are boutique hotels too, so I imagine it would be super romantic to stay and watch the sunrise.
With a rental car, it would be a full day trip from Barcelona. Siurana is one of the most romantic places to visit in Spain.
Wine. That's almost all I can say about Logroño. Home to the world famous Rioja wine, the area's economy and lifestyle is dominated by this delicious tipple.
That said, it is a beautiful region. Staying in Logroño, one could easily while away a long weekend visiting wineries in the region and marvelling at the red and green landscapes.
Now, I said almost. You can't survive on wine alone, so Logroño also boasts an impressive range of tapas. In fact, you'll find over 50 taperías (tapas restaurants) within a four-block area near the center of town.
Logroño lies along the Camino de Santiago, so many pilgrims stop by en route to rest and let's be honest, drink some good wine!
These were just five lesser known places to visit in Spain. There are many more...
For some visual inspiration, you may enjoy this guide to Spain with hundreds of gorgeous colour photos:
