UNTWO NAMES THREE SPANISH TOWNS AS 'BEST TOURISM VILLAGES'
The United Nations World Tourism Organization has included three Spanish villages in a list of 32 worldwide destinations of ‘Best Tourism Villages 2022’
The UNWTO has included three Spanish villages in the list of 32 Best Tourism Villages for 2022, more than any other country worldwide.
The list recognises villages which are excellent examples of rural tourism with accredited cultural and natural assets, that preserve and promote rural and community-based values, products, and lifestyle. Included destinations must have a clear commitment to innovation and sustainability in all its aspects – economic, social and environmental.
The three villages in Spain: Alquézar, Aragon; Rupit, Catalonia; and Guadalupe, Extremadura, all meet the criteria.
“We are delighted that the United Nations World Tourism Organization has placed Spain as the country with the most appearances in their list of Best Tourism Villages around the world. We aim to promote community-led tourism across Spain and are thrilled at the international recognition of Spanish sustainable tourism in all aspects.”
Alquézar, Aragon
The small medieval village of Alquézar is situated in Huesca, Aragon, by the foothills of the Pyrenees and within the Sierra Natural Park near the Canyons of Guara. The town holds samples of rock art which are declared a World Heritage Site in the Vero River Cultural Park. The collegiate church of Santa María la Mayor, declared an Historic-Artistic Site, stands above the village with a cloister of Romanesque capitals and its organ, as well as numerous hermitages.
The town has worked to create a sustainable tourism model to combat regional depopulation by making rural tourism a business activity linked to heritage, the environment, and people. After its success, the Aragonese Government is looking to extend similar plans to other municipalities within the area.
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Rupit, Catalonia
The Medieval town of Rupit lies a day trip (98km) from Barcelona. The village is famous for its stony houses, streets, squares, and bridges which are indistinguishable from the surrounding cliffs. The name Rupit even derives from the latin rupes, meaning cliff - or rock. The historic centre boasts the Sant Joan de Fabregues church and Rupit Castle, dating back to the 10th century AD. The thousand-year-old village now relies on tourism, offering services ranging from mountain biking guided tours to the Sallent Waterfall, to exploring Pedretes Cave, underneath the Rupit hanging bridge.
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Guadalupe, Extremadura
Located in the region of Las Villuercas in Cáceres province of Extremadura, Guadalupe is a historic village with cobbled streets and traditional architecture, including heritage buildings like the 14th Century Royal Monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The typical mountain village, declared an Historic-Artistic Site, grew under the wing of the Royal Monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Guadalupe is also an excellent showcase for the regional cuisine. Local dishes tend to be simple but with ingredients of excellent quality: Iberian sausages, ajoblanco (a cold soup with almonds, garlic, bread and olive oil), migas (breadcrumbs with chorizo and bacon) and caldereta de cordero (lamb stew).
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For further information on Spain as a visitor destination, please visit www.spain.info or email Spain@wearelotus.co.uk.