Inland Spain

INLAND SPAIN

a a ALCÁNTARA BRIDGE TOLEDO

CASTILE-LAMANCHA There is so much to discover in this re- gion, famous throughout the world as the setting for the novel Don Quixote de la Mancha, by Miguel de Cervantes. It is also one of the regions in Europe with the greatest number of protected natu- ral areas. The city of Toledo , the capital of Castile-La Mancha, is an open-air history mu- seum. There are splendid monumental buildings like the "alcázar" or fortress and the cathedral where you can wander through the narrow, winding streets. In Albacete you'll find one of the most importante archaeological sites in Spain called the "Tolmo de Minateda", and nat- ural splendours of great beauty like the source of the Mundo River and the Las

Lagunas de Ruidera Nature Reserve (between Albacete and Ciudad Real), where you'll be able to watch birds like the red-crested pochard, the mallard and the purple heron . The province of Ciudad Real features castles and beau- tiful monumental complexes like those in Villanueva de los Infantes and Almagro. This town is especially well known for the 17th century "Corral de Comedias" where the International Classical Thea- tre Festival is held each year. In the city of Cuenca you'll find the im- pressive "Hanging Houses" which blend seamlessly with the natural surround- ings. Another essential visit is to the Ciudad Encantada in the heart of the Serranía de Cuenca Nature Reserve, an area characterised by curious rocky

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