WELCOME TO HISTORY, WELCOME TO THE CULTURAL ROUTES OF SPAIN!

UAn authentic and fun tourist and cultural experience awaits you not far from home.

Perhaps those of us who work for and by the Spanish Cultural Routes Let us suffer a little from “Stendhal syndrome”, you know, the set of symptoms (palpitations, cold sweats, faltering gait, hypertension...) that the French writer and traveller, actually named Henri-Marie Beyle, claimed to have suffered when faced with the overwhelming beauty of the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence, during his celebrated trip to Italy in 1817. Like him, those of us who regularly travel along the most beautiful routes in our country (and are also responsible for promoting them and “turning them into tourist products”) may be accused of exaggeration, but believe us (if you haven't yet explored our itineraries) that this experience can be very real.

Throughout the last 400 centuries, Spain has been an undisputed protagonist in the History of Humankind. Across and along this land, a formidable archaeological, historical, artistic, religious, ethnographic legacy... cultural, in a single adjective, was accumulated over the centuries and today it greets us in practically any corner, from the great ancient (when not millennia-old) cities, to the smallest village in rural Spain, without forgetting the vast natural areas that make up the enormous landscape mosaic that shapes this surprising country.

From the time the caves of the Iberian Peninsula were decorated with the first Palaeolithic paintings and engravings, to the formation of the Holy Week traditions of Andalusia, passing through the formidable Roman heritage scattered along the Vía de la Plata route, the myth of El Cid Campeador straddling the medieval kingdoms (Christian and Muslim), and the peninsular routes of the Renaissance traversed by Emperor Charles V, the Cultural Heritage of Spain – tangible and intangible – has been growing and accumulating value, much of it timeless and of global value to humanity, as certified by the 47 UNESCO World Heritage sites that Spain possesses and the various European Cultural Routes that cross our geography.

The “Cultural Routes of Spain”, which we have the pleasure of presenting to you today as a contemporary tourist product, offer an opportunity to delve into the most authentic and unknown Spain, the Spain where the best archaeological sites, the most surprising historical architectures, the most secular traditions, and the most genuine cultural landscapes have been preserved. This is the Spain – both urban and rural – that was not colonised by the development tourism of past decades and which, in our day, in a time of pandemic and crises of so many things, reveals itself as an alternative to overcrowded and more impersonal destinations.

Our offering for all those who enjoy travelling, especially those who do so for pleasure and personal growth, is simply “Spain,” from Altamira to the 19th century. This offer includes countless heritages and experiences where a large part of this country's authenticity is preserved, along with the exclusivity offered by routes and places where history, art, and culture have converged for millennia. Through our 5 specialised thematic routes (with more sure to be added soon), we offer genuine cultural tourism, full of rigour and services provided by local communities eager to show off their heritage and themselves.

Perhaps no one has described what we wish to offer you better than the great Spanish philosopher and essayist, José Ortega y Gasset… “Spain is a whirlwind of dust on the road of history after a great people have galloped past.”. And indeed, this land is like a trail of dust stretching across millennia, for its history is rich, varied, and ancient. And one only needs to follow that trail of dust to recognise its endless length, encompassing everything from the dawn of humanity to the present day, and upon which the footprints of the many and diverse peoples who found a place to settle here have been imprinted.

We believe that our Spanish Cultural Routes They are the best possible representation of the philosopher's thought. From Prehistory to modern times, the 5 routes we present to you encompass the best of the cultural, social, and gastronomic expressions of this corner of Europe and represent an element of cohesion and integration of its lands and peoples, while also being an element of social and economic revitalisation.

In successive instalments, this blog will aim to uncover sites and things to do that are sure to surprise you. Along the paths of prehistoric rock art, we will get to know the magical places (in caves or outdoors) where the “first us” masterfully graphically depicted their rites and beliefs. Through the Vía de La Plata Route, we will travel through the heart of Roman Hispania, crossing landscapes and cities of enormous archaeological value. The Camino del Cid will transport us to the Middle Ages, visiting castles and towns where the mythical warrior fought, or simply passed through, on his way to the exile praised in the “Cantar de mío Cid”. Through the Spanish routes of Emperor Charles V, we will discover, as the great monarch did between 1517 and 1556, the most genuine and surprising Spain; finally, on the Caminos de Pasión route, you will experience the essence of Andalusia, through ten historical and heritage sites, with their own traditions, notably their Holy Week celebrations.

We want this endless journey of the Spanish Cultural Routes They transport you to other times, make you feel like other people, take you to places of unsuspected stories, but, above all, we want to offer you authentic experiences and for you to enjoy the best of our long and beautiful history. And all of this, not far from home.

See you on the road…