The Casas Colgadas offer a glimpse into Cuenca’s architectural history: they were built in the late Middle Ages, and most were rebuilt in the 16th century. The city’s other striking buildings span different eras. Today’s Puente de San Pablo is an iron bridge inaugurated on 19 April 1903 and considered a significant example of Eiffel-style iron architecture.

Architectural history and art in the city

The Catedral de Santa Maria y San Julián also tells the story of a long building process. Construction began towards the end of the 12th century, after the city was conquered; the main structure was completed in the 13th century. The originally Gothic cathedral retains its original ribbed vault and a distinctive triforium. The Convento de San Pablo offers a different relationship between architecture and landscape: built as a Dominican monastery from 1523, it made use of the gorge’s rock formations. Today, the convent houses the Espacio Torner, with numerous works by Gustavo Torner, an artist from Cuenca.

The city’s museums are concentrated in a compact, pedestrian-friendly area, so visitors can walk between them. The Museo de Cuenca presents archaeological finds from sites across the province across three exhibition levels. On the ground floor of the Palacio Episcopal, the Museo Tesoro de la Catedral brings together works spanning eight centuries of the history of the Diocese of Cuenca. The Fundación Antonio Pérez occupies four floors and more than 30 rooms. Its collection includes works by contemporary Spanish and international artists associated with Informalism, abstraction and Pop Art.

Those interested in science can explore topics at the MUCMA Museo de las Ciencias de Castilla-La Mancha ranging from astronomy and the planetarium to a time machine and the treasures of the Earth, as well as the history of the future and the laboratory of life. Its exhibits are spread across two buildings in the old town. The Museo de Paleontología de Castilla-La Mancha in Cuenca focuses on fossils, finds and dinosaur reconstructions from important sites in the region. The Museo de Arte Abstracto offers a different perspective on art, with works by acclaimed Spanish artists, including Picasso and Goya.

City walks and the province’s landscape

Two routes offer different ways to explore the city on foot. The Hoces de Cuenca hiking trail, registered as SL-CU 10, passes through the city and follows paths along the rock faces of the old town. The Paseo del Júcar is a short walking route along the banks of the Júcar near the city, with views of different parts of Cuenca. Horse riding, climbing, via ferratas and canyoning are also available near the city. As providers and conditions may change, check the latest details before taking part in an activity.

The province of Cuenca offers a broader landscape than the city: its contrasting terrain stretches from the characteristic plains of La Mancha to the Serranía, the most mountainous area of Castilla-La Mancha. Extensive forests, unusual rock formations, deep gorges and mountain streams shape the landscape of the Parque Natural Serranía de Cuenca. The ZEC-ZEPA Serranía de Cuenca is a Natura 2000 protected area that includes the natural park and numerous natural monuments. Las Hoyas in La Cierva (Cuenca) is also significant for its geological history: this palaeontological site is an internationally recognised reference site for the Lower Cretaceous.

Festivals and cuisine

Cuenca’s cultural calendar brings together Semana Santa and Semana de Música Religiosa. Semana Santa follows the lunar calendar and takes place in March or April; the music festival accompanies it. If you would like to plan your trip around this combination, check the dates for the relevant year in advance.

Traditional Cuenca cuisine includes morteruelo, ajoarriero and zarajos. These dishes are prepared with local ingredients and recipes passed down through generations. Along with the architecture, museums and varied landscapes of the province, they offer plenty of ways to discover Cuenca according to your interests.

Discover more destinations: Cuenca, Tragacete, Tarancón, San Clemente, Monteagudo De Las Salinas, Landete, Chillarón De Cuenca, Alarcón, Olivares De Júcar, Casas De Benítez, Jábaga, Cañamares, Belmonte, La Alberca De Záncara, Villamayor De Santiago, El Provencio, Villar De Olalla, Vara De Rey, Fuentelespino De Haro, Barajas De Melo, Uña, Arcas, Casas De Los Pinos, Villarrubio, Honrubia, Mota Del Cuervo, Motilla Del Palancar, Enguídanos, Beteta, Casasimarro, Víllora, Cañada Del Hoyo, Villaescusa De Haro, Uclés, Cañete, Villalba De La Sierra, Palomera, Garaballa, La Frontera, Fuentes, Mariana, Chumillas, Pineda De Gigüela, Olmedilla De Alarcón, Talayuelas, Las Valeras, Sotorribas, Huete, Villanueva De La Jara, Pozorrubielos De La Mancha, Cólliga, Campillo De Altobuey, Laguna Del Marquesado, Molinos De Papel, Castillo De Garcimuñoz, Carboneras De Guadazaón, Villar De La Encina, Carrascosa Del Campo, Iniesta, Fuertescusa, El Picazo, Cardenete, El Cañavate, Rada De Haro, Almonacid Del Marquesado, Casas De Fernando Alonso, Los Hinojosos, Solera De Gabaldón, Pajaroncillo, Villares Del Saz, Zafra De Záncara, Huélamo, Valverdejo, Rozalén Del Monte, Salvacañete, Villar Del Maestre, Atalaya Del Cañavate, Villar Del Humo, Priego, Puente De Vadillos, Valverde De Júcar, Buendía, Piqueras Del Castillo, Casas De Garcimolina, Torrejoncillo Del Rey, Jabalera, Solán De Cabras, Valhermoso de la Fuente, Saelices, Buenache de la Sierra, El Peral, Reíllo, El Simarro, El Arrabal, Palomares del Campo, Bascuñana de San Pedro, Yémeda, Casas de Roldán, Horcajo de Santiago, Las Majadas, La Peraleja, Ribatajada, Mira, Los Eustaquios, Valdeganga de Cuenca, Verdelpino de Huete, Valdecañas, Pozoseco, Valdemoro-Sierra, Almodóvar del Pinar, Poyatos, Villanueva de Guadamejud, La Almarcha, Villar de Cañas, Las Zomas, Villanueva de los Escuderos

Return to the main travel overview: Castile-La Mancha.